Indie
‘Texas Chainsaw’ Inspired ‘Summer of Saw’ Shoots This August
Joshua Allan Vargas is in pre-production on a new The Texas Chain Saw Massacre inspired film entitled Summer of Saw.
The pic is being produced by the film’s own Sally Hardesty – Marilyn Burns, Jason Poh, Joshua Allan Vargas, and Parrish Randall. Vargas is writing and directing.
“It was an adventure during that summer of 1973 that I never dreamed we’d still be talking about some 40 years later,” said Burns. “But it is an experience I am thankful for and it’s one that I want to share more of with the fans of the film… and in greater detail. This biopic with Josh and Parrish allows me to do that. It’s my story… and my gift to say thank you to the many people who’ve supported the original film all of these years. I think people will be entertained, that’s for sure!“
“After working for Josh on his disturbing, yet fact based crime thriller biopic based upon Wayne Henley, In A Madman’s World, the topic of discussion came up about possibly telling Marilyn Burns’ story specific to her triumphs, challenges and, as well, her very real reasons for screaming during her summer of playing Sally Hardesty in the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre back in 1973,” says Randall of the project. “Having known Marilyn for a few years now, I knew her story would make for a great and entertaining film that genre fans would enjoy seeing…and I knew that they’d even be shocked by a number of the revelations that the film would bring to the fore…if Marilyn were willing. HBO’s tale of Tippi Hedren’s experiences had just aired and done well amongst genre fans, illustrating that we all love films that reenact those true tales about the making of our favorite horror classics. The screenplay is based on Marilyn’s words, her recollections and her memoirs…so what you’ll see is the reality of her experiences during and after the classic horror film’s making. There were triumphs and there were adversities… but it’s all true… and her story is definitely it’s own movie!”
“I think its an interesting movie to do because we get to explore how these young filmmakers in the 70’s inadvertently made film history with what they thought to be a seedy little horror movie that would never play more than a few drive-ins,” mused director Vargas. “Its got the whole “Rocky” factor going for it. Its not gonna be a quirky fanboy love-letter. Its gonna be a gritty-yet-highly-inspirational docudrama that shows just what these people went through to get that film to the audience.”
Shooting begins in August.
Her House of Horrors, the horror division of Independent Production House WOMXNOGRAPHY, has launched its Bite Size Short Grant Program, ahead of its film festival Dollhouse of Horror, which will take place in March 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
The Bite Size Short Grant Program awards $2,000 film grants to female-identifying and queer horror filmmakers. Shorts must be able to be made for $2,000, with a minimum runtime of 8 minutes. Submissions are now open on Filmfreeway, and are being judged by a panel of horror lovers and content creators.
The 2024 Bite Size Short Grant Program judge lineup is as follows:
“James H. Carter II- A documentary director, film producer, podcaster, marketing specialist, and writer. James is the founder and co-owner of Creepy Kingdom. Creepy Kingdom was founded in 2011 and is a multimedia website, and production studio specializing in creepy content. Their primary focus lies at the intersection of childlike fantasy and the macabre, covering horror films, theme parks, haunts, and much more. Beyond their extensive media coverage, Creepy Kingdom hosts events, offers original merchandise, and engages in film production under the Creepy Kingdom Studios brand producing original films like “Foolish Mortals”, exploring Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” fan culture, and “Georgie”, featuring Tony Dakota from the original “It” miniseries.
“In addition to founding Creepy Kingdom, James has won awards for his documentary work, including the award-winning “Foolish Mortals,” which has earned him recognition. He has been featured on Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween special.
“Ashleeta Beauchamp is the editor-in-chief of Peek-A-Boo! Magazine, a cheeky horror magazine created to uplift marginalized writers, artists, models and other creators within the horror community. She also runs The Halloween Coalition, a community group to provide support and marketing for horror and Halloween events around the Southern California area.
“Titeanya Rodríguez is a multi-hyphenate creative, and the founder and owner of HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, home of DOLLHOUSE OF HORROR and the horror division of WOMXNOGRAPHY. As a fellow storyteller and a self-proclaimed artivist, Titeanya’s mission is to create opportunities for women of color and queer women, across film, tv, sports, music, and beyond. She is also the creator of the BITE SIZE SHORT grant program.”
Winners will have a one-night theatrical screening at Regal Cinemas. Submissions Close April 8 at Midnight. Winners will be announced on May 27, 2024. Shorts must be shot and through post-production by June 30, 2024. The screening will take place on July 8, 2024, in Los Angeles, CA.
WOMXNOGRAPHY, HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, and Rodriguez are represented by Azhar PR, Granderson Des Rochers, and Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir.
To submit your short to the Bite Size Short Grant Program, go to the FilmFreeway link here.
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