Update!!! Set Building & Casting!
9 months ago – Mon, Feb 05, 2024 at 04:08:05 AM

Update!!! Set Building & Casting! 

At the moment we're busy as bees building sets. Some of the jobs take ages... for example. For the segments inspired by 'Cool Air' and 'Watcher by the Dead' consists of a large round room. Now, we had repainted what we had but upon inspection the dilapidated state of that room just couldn't be hidden from camera. Peeling wallpaper, hanging ceilings, old wood-chip blurgh. 

In our film, it's supposed to be a gentleman's club (with one paint-scheme) and a hospital ward with another. But, without significant alteration it would look like neither. It also needed a historic inspired refit to fit with the anachronistic style of our late 60s/early 70s imagined world. 

So what does that mean? 

It means this! We stripped the plaster off the ceiling, and walls. We took up the floor (which was rotten) and cleaned it up, and we're laying down new a new plywood base. This will give us a sturdy, environment to work in. 

However, while there are a lot of things we can do, there are some things the crew can't do... for example slick plasterwork. Let's just say, we're at the mercy of their timetable and it can sometimes get frustrating. 

Over the floor, we're going to put down victorian style floor tiles, (heritage off-white, squares, with a 3 deep, green square border). I think that will work for a lot of different paint styles in the room. 

We also rescued this large Edwardian fireplace, which we'll be putting into the room. The original fireplace had been bricked up. But, as we know from any Amicus or Hammer film from old, there has to be a scene where our hero leans on the mantelpiece, and turns to his friend... with some foreboding warning! 

Casting News

In addition to set building we've also cast Dorian Todd (whom you might recall from the Kickstarter video) in our 'Watcher by the Dead' segment, as well as Sam Barclay). 

They'll be co-starring with Michael Daviot (the older chap, from the Kickstarter video!) and I'm sure they'll do a marvelous job. This will be the first segment we're filming. 

Here they both are, in an exciting (but un-announced) new Hex Studios title! Dorian on the left, and Sam on the right! 

Keep Updated! 

Of course, most of you will want to be updated via Kickstarter, and that's perfectly fair. However, if you want more regular updates with little bits of information, then please follow me on Facebook (introduce yourself with a message) or follow me on Twitter too! 

Also, please share our new Backerkit Store too! And, if you'd like to upgrade your previous pledge to get a credit in our movie, please private message me! 

Quick Update My Friends!
10 months ago – Sun, Dec 31, 2023 at 01:57:58 PM

Quick Update My Friends! 

Greetings my wonderful comrades in all things indie filmmaking and classic Horror! Please accept my heart-felt best wishes for a wonderful New Year! 

In the meantime rest assured that my own Christmas Holidays have been torn to pieces by the delectable preparations for our 'In the Grip of Terror' film and the completion of rewards for our previous title 'The Slave and the Sorcerer'

So, what's happening next! 

Before we broke off for the Christmas Holidays our courageous minions began building the set for our first segment 'The Watcher by the Dead' as well as additional set building for our hospital sets for 'Cool Air'. 

When we get back after New Years, the lads will be working on this, and I'll set up the secret Facebook Group for Amicus Fans to keep posted! Apart from that, just rest assured we're working our asses off! 

The Stretch Campaign is LIVE!
11 months ago – Wed, Nov 08, 2023 at 07:23:12 AM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

Announcing our Amicus 'Stretch Campaign' Pre-Launch Page!
12 months ago – Tue, Oct 31, 2023 at 06:58:35 AM

Announcing the 'Stretch Campaign' Pre-Launch Page!

Link here

So, we've just completed a pre-launch for our new Amicus Stretch Campaign. Yes, you read that right! We're planning a secondary mini-campaign that will offer both past and new rewards to support the production and independent distribution of the first Amicus horror film in over three decades. 'In the Grip of Terror' channels classic horror portmanteau reminiscent of 'Dr. Terror's House of Horrors' and 'The House that Dripped Blood'. For our American friends who might not be familiar with Amicus films, think of them as akin to the Creepshow films in format, but quintessentially British in style, infused with a touch of classic British Gothic!

Currently, to ensure you don't miss out, simply click on the all-important link right here and then hit the 'Notify Me on Launch' button. By doing this, you'll receive a notification the moment the campaign goes live. This way, we can come together, much like the planeteers, and conjure up our own Captain Planet of Horror. Admittedly, that's a terrible metaphor, but you catch my drift!

To put it another way, we're keen on a solo venture, albeit backed by our community. The upside? We reinvest in ourselves, forging a distribution path that could encompass a potential theatrical release, and the reassuring notion that every penny earned from the film goes directly to the artists. This, in turn, fuels our ability to craft more cinematic experiences. Our campaign boasts enticing stretch goals, like an AMA video chat featuring Amicus Goddess Megan Tremethick and a Gothic horror narrative crafted and narrated by yours truly, slated to be among the film's extras!

As the campaign progresses, we'll roll out fresh rewards. So, ample reasons abound to click that link and press that 'Notify Me on Launch' button!

Turn Back

While on the subject, I'd like to champion Stuart Ashen's avant-garde folk-horror film 'Turn Back'. Stuart, a fellow horror aficionado and a gifted filmmaker, delves into the legend of 'Black Shuck', a mythical and malevolent hound haunting the British Isles. Delve into this eerie tale here: http://kck.st/3Q8z8yb.And, why do we even need this stretch campaign for Amicus and our film 'In the Grip of Terror' I hear you cry? Probably, while pounding the plastic walls of your shower cubicle covered in unsavoury filth (well, that's perhaps only me). The rationale is two-fold. Primarily, we're seeking additional funds and resources to spearhead a unique film distribution method without the shackles of predatory distributors. It sounds straightforward, but the challenge is real, and it's imperative we crack it.

Our Glorious Victory Marks only the Beginning!
12 months ago – Fri, Oct 27, 2023 at 02:38:37 PM

Our Glorious Victory Marks only the Beginning! 

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of our campaign to revive Amicus, starting with our debut feature film, 'In the Grip of Terror'. Each one of you has played a pivotal role in this achievement, and I want to assure you that plans are in motion to fulfill our campaign stretch goals.

I'm thrilled to announce that 'The Observer', a renowned UK newspaper, may soon feature an article about the reinvigorated Amicus and the fantastic campaign we embarked on together!

More updates are on the horizon. Currently, I'm on the set of a horror film. Over the past few days, I've been contending with patchy Wi-Fi while spending long hours adorned with fake blood, eyes, and lots of goo!

In the days ahead, we'll introduce a supplementary stretch campaign to help us reach our ultimate campaign goal. You can anticipate many more updates (I know I've mentioned this already, but it's worth reiterating!).

Our accomplishments mark just the beginning of our exhilarating journey to rejuvenate a Horror Film Studio and create an exceptional horror movie. We're gearing up, ready to embark on this adventure beyond the Shire. I hope you've packed an axe! :P

Warm regards, 

Lawrie Brewster