Dark Reel - Find the Killer...

THE MAKING OF DARK REEL

Making a feature film is a near impossible feat. There are too many things that can go wrong. Even with the best planning in place, things will go awry. However, if a film is that rare entity that's going to make its way through to completion, it is only with a step-by-step process of overcoming each of the inevitable and countless hurdles along the way. Then, when that feature film actually does get made, it's enough to convince the most cynical that higher powers were overseeing the production. The spring of 2006 was a creative time for writer director Josh Eisenstadt. He had this idea percolating in his head about a film he wanted to make. There were lingering notions about a ghost – perhaps a holdover from his childhood days at the "haunted" Hotel Del Coronado. Was she a figment of a collective century-old imagination? Or the real thing? He had also been thinking a lot about Hollywood tragic endings of days gone by, such as the dismemberment murder of aspiring starlet, Elizabeth "Black Dahlia" Short. But it was the mysterious death of Thelma Todd in particular that seemed to be speaking to him. With many a trip over Topanga Canyon to the beach, he had found himself making that U-turn on Pacific Coast Highway and wondering about that abandoned structure. Things change with great frequency in Los Angeles but that building had remained the same throughout his lifetime.

He did a little research and discovered the history of that building. It had once been Thelma Todd's Sidewalk Café, a restaurant with a reputation for sordid activities beyond simply serving up meals to Malibu-bound diners. It was within the garage of that Spanish-style building where Thelma Todd's dead body was found. The LAPD said the cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning. Murder? No one ever knew for sure.

These were the elements that first set the wheels in motion. Those wheels would eventually lead down the road to the feature film Dark Reel.

Although Josh had written his own scripts in the past, this time he sought out screenwriter Aaron Pope, who had a sensibility much like his own. They met to discuss the storyline. Aaron said he'd have something ready within three weeks time. And he did! A few rewrites later and the script was ready to go.

You might say it all began to coalesce one spring evening in '06, when Eisenstadt's dad walked into a local haunt, Bronco Burrito. He was there to retrieve his take-out order. It was an unusual night at the little burrito shack, because the orders weren't ready. A younger guy was there waiting for his food too. In the miniscule waiting area, the two men struck up one of those "…so, what do you do…" conversations. Turned out the younger fellow. was in the film business. Josh's dad said that was interesting because his son was a director trying to get a film off the ground. The younger man said he knew plenty of people in the movie biz. Scribbling his name and number on one of the take-out menus, he said, "Have your son call me. I might be able to hook him up with actors or special effects people."

Mr. Eisenstadt passed along the information to his son and that was that. A few weeks later, Josh came across the scrap of paper on which was written the phone number of David Forline. It was more or less of a lark but he decided why not? He gave David a call and the two agreed to meet at the Pizza Cookery in Encino to discuss the project. Well, it turned out that David was looking for a
project too -- one that he could produce. Owning and operating a blacksmith shop, Reaper's Forge, and producing weapons and armor for
major studio films, had inspired him to pursue his dream to produce a film.

After their first meeting Josh gave David a DVD sample of his work, a short film titled "Inner Balance" which sealed the deal. They were now a team and together they would make the film based on the script Josh had commissioned. At the time the script was titled "Starlet." Then it became "Spotlight." Neither title seemed right. David suggested it needed to be more horror specific – Reel Dark. David's wife, Jenapher reversed the words -- don't you think Dark Reel sounds better? Dark Reel Productions
was born!

They quickly went into action pulling together a dream list of actors. First on their list was LANCE HENRIKSEN, an actor who is seldom not making a new film. It took a little time but soon Lance was attached. What could go wrong now with the popular veteran star committed to acting in Dark Reel?

Not having worked in the horror genre before, Josh approached fellow filmmakers, asking their opinions. Which "scream queen" is the most talented actress? TIFFANY SHEPIS was the unanimous response and soon she too was on board.

EDWARD FURLONG seemed perfect for the part of the B-Movie fan-boy. TONY TODD had been on their short list of actors as had MERCEDES McNAB and RENA RIFFEL. Veteran character actor TRACEY WALTER, who first came to Josh's attention as "Blinky Watts" in David Lynch's short-lived comedy series, "On the Air" was also cast early on.

Casting director Joe Lorenzo arranged for a whirlwind of auditions and before long, the entire cast was in place. It seemed like every young actress in town sent in headshots and resume for the role of Scarlett May, but it was ALEXANDRA HOLDEN who nabbed it. WHIT HERTFORD, known to horror fans from "Poltergeists 2" and "Nightmare on Elm Street 5", cracked up everyone with his standout audition for the small but memorable role of the "Onion Chef."

The cast was so tantalizing that it raised the eyebrows of many, including six-time Academy Award winner RICK BAKER, who donned a pirate outfit and jumped aboard the SS Dark Reel.

A flurry of activity was now swirling around the newly formed Dark Reel Productions as they established November 7, 2006 as the first day of principal photography.

Setting the shoot date for November was an audacious and risky move. Although Los Angeles is generally a sunny, warm location, the days grow short in November and December, the nights can turn chilly and worst of all, the skies may just send down a heavy downpour. Several outdoor scenes were scheduled with costly locations. Everyone held their breath hoping that 2006's dry spell might continue just a little longer.

Miraculously it did and the Pirate Wench moviewithin-the-movie went off without a weather hitch.

Not so for the pool scenes in the San Fernando Valley as the weather did become quite frosty. The old line about the “…the coldest winter I’ve ever spent was a summer in San Francisco…” was similarly true for that Los Angeles autumn.

As the shoot went on into December, the temps dropped lower and lower. By the final frigid weeks, skiwear was the order of the day, at least for the crew.

The actresses in the pool party scenes were less fortunate, but at least the water was heated. Ah, if only the homeowner's pool heater hadn't gone on the fritz just before the shoot! A last minute improvisation in the form of a giant heating contraption raised the water temperature to a level that would not risk hypothermia in the actresses. Sure, there were a few cases of ear infections, stomach flu and runny noses. But the show must (and did) go on!

The actual filming was complete by January of 2007 though much more remained to be done. Putting all the parts together. Transferring. Correcting color. Adding effects. Adding the musical score. Correcting sound. Foley sounds. ADR. Titles. Credits. By November of 2007, Dark Reel was finished. Done. Complete. Then in opening days of 2008, the process began anew. Showing it, promoting it, submitting it, shopping it. Yep, like I said… making a film is a near impossible task. Only the brave need apply.

• •

Dark Reel - A Dark Reel Productions movie. This film is not yet rated.

LANCE HENRIKSEN - TRACEY WALTER - TIFFANY SHEPIS - RENA RIFFEL - ALEXANDRA HOLDEN with TONY TODD and EDWARD FURLONG
executive produced by: JOHN & AMY DOWDLE • produced by: DAVID FORLINE, co-produced by JENAPHER FORLINE • directed by: JOSH EISENSTADT
Copyright © DarkReel.com, Dark Reel Productions. All rights reserved.