Indie
First Image From Jim Mickle’s ‘Stake Lane’, New Details
Bloody Disgusting got their hands on the first ever still from Jim Mickle’s Stake Land, which began shooting last week in Pennsylvania under the eye of producer Larry Larry Fessenden. Starring Danielle Harris (Halloween 4, Halloween 5, Halloween, Halloween II), among many others, Stake Land is a post-apocalyptic vampire story in the style of The Grapes of Wrath. Mickle directed the popular indie film Mulberry Street. Beyond the break you can check out the still and find brand new details with details on the recent casting of Kelly McGillis (Top Gun, Witness, The Accused).
Dark Sky Films and Glass Eye Pix announced today that Kelly McGillis (“Top Gun,” “Witness,” “The Accused”) has joined the cast of the epic vampire road film “Stake Land,” currently filming in New York and Pennsylvania.
The film, written by Jim Mickle and Nick Damici and directed by Jim Mickle (“Mulberry Street”), takes place following a global spread of vampirism. McGillis plays a nun who joins a small team of survivors (including Damici, Danielle Harris of “Halloween” and “Halloween 2” and Conor Paolo of “Gossip Girl”) as they make a treacherous journey north to safety through the war-torn U.S. McGillis’ character, “Sister,” faces a crisis of faith during the vampire bloodshed, ultimately taking up arms to do battle with her newly formed family unit.
Says Dark Sky’s EVP Greg Newman, “Jim and Nick have written a uniquely intense part for “Sister”, and we are thrilled to see Kelly McGillis in the role. This is a very ambitious project, with a genuinely epic sweep, and we cannot wait to bring it to audiences next year.”
The film is produced by Dark Sky Films and Larry Fessenden’s Glass Eye Pix with producers Derek Curl, Peter Phok, Brent Kunkle, Adam Folk, and Fessenden, who also appears in the film. Says Fessenden, “I have been wanting to work with Jim Mickle since I saw his short films years ago. My enthusiasm for his approach to genre was peaked with MULBERRY STREET, so when we were putting together the Dark Sky Slate, Mickle was on my short list of directors. I think this one will add legions of fans.”
Glass Eye Pix and MPI recently teamed up to produce Ti West’s “House of the Devil,” which is slated for a fall release from Magnolia pictures and “Bitter Feast,” which recently wrapped principal photography.
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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