Update #23: More early work - Kevin's college thesis film!
Kevin here! Without repeating what Jordan said about Craw Lake (the same struggles apply to this movie as well), I wanted to share my thesis film from Loyola Marymount University with you all. It's entitled An Occurrence at Chihuahua City. Here's my account:
It must have been about 2 years before I made this movie that I remember going back to Portugal where my Dad had recommended I read some of Ambrose Bierce's work. I love the macabre and the paranormal and Bierce was infamous for his very morbid and ahead-of-his-time short stories.
So, naturally I listened to my Dad's advice and bought Ambrose Bierce's collection of short stories. They were all phenomenal 3-5 page tales, but what really started to interest me most was Bierce's personal life...
- In 1913, in his seventies, he packed up and wandered into Pancho Villa ruled Mexico to join his army. A year later he was never seen again and what happened to him remains a mystery to this day.
And that's just what I chose to make my thesis about - the fictionalized accounts of what happened to Ambrose Bierce after he wandered off into Mexico. Bored yet?! Well it's a western with cowboys and aliens and sweet CGI! Oh wait wrong window… Sorry 'bout that.
The title was inspired by Bierce's famous story that later became the Twilight Zone episode, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. The episode is fantastic and I recommend everyone watch it.
You may be asking - wait a minute Kevin, don't you want to shoot, not direct? Well inquiring mind, now I do yes, but not back then. I was trying things, figuring out what I wanted to do. I figured you would enjoy seeing what the minds behind ThanksKilling were doing back in school. For class credit that is.
Oh and by the way, we were editing ThanksKilling while working on both our thesis films. Somehow we found the time to manage both, AND graduate on time!
Anyways, here it is, hope you enjoy. I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below!
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on August 6, 2011.
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And your name will be listed on Facebook and our future site as one of TURKIE'S BESTIES!
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And get personally scolded by The Killer Turkey himself! On our future TK Sequel website and the DVD, we'll feature a video of the Turkey bashing each and every backer. Pledge $5 if you dare -- no one is safe from his beratement!
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And be amongst the first to own the movie – Receive an exclusive AUTOGRAPHED DVD of the ThanksKilling Sequel before its official release! We promise this limited edition's artwork and packaging will kick some major tail feathers, so don’t miss out on pre-ordering the movie. You’ll also receive a TURKEY SWAG PACK that includes exclusive stickers, buttons, postcards, and more! (Free US shipping. Canada shipping, please add $5, intl please add $10)
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And have your giblets rocked – You’ll receive the AUTOGRAPHED DVD, TURKEY SWAG PACK, and a THANKSKILLING T-SHIRT! But wait…pledge in the next…ah f@#k it…pledge whenever and you’ll also get a custom GRAVY FLAVORED CONDOM as referenced in the first movie. (Don’t worry, condom not actually gravy flavored…perhaps). (Free US shipping. Canada shipping, please add $5, intl please add $10)
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And receive the ultimate plucking – Just one slightly easy payment gets you the AUTOGRAPHED DVD, TURKEY SWAG PACK, THANKSKILLING T-SHIRT, GRAVY FLAVORED CONDOM, and a FULL SIZED MOVIE POSTER for the mystery sequel! As one final bonus, we’ll even throw in a custom GGMF (“GOBBLE, GOBBLE, MOTHERF%@#ER”) BRACELET! (Free US shipping. Canada shipping, please add $5, intl please add $10)
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And consider yourself a FOWL-MOUTHED PRODUCER like the best of 'em! Your name will scroll like no other in the end credits under the heading "Fowl-Mouthed Producers" and we'll even list you on IMDB, should you wish that upon your career. And since you've got a knack for profanity, we'll let you choose your FAVORITE SWEAR WORD to appear beside your name in the credits! Have fun with it -- "Nick Rubin: Butt Sniffer!" You'll also get stuffed with the DVD, T-Shirt, Poster, and all the swag listed above!
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And TALK TURKEY with the ThanksKilling creators! Kevin and Jordan will hold a personal phone call or video chat with any backers, answering questions about the movie or the film industry and our experiences in general. Sound boring? Then lets chat about mall-walking, infomercials, or laundry detergent instead. We only deal with obnoxious producers so this reward gets you the FOWL-MOUTHED PRODUCER package as well as the DVD, T-Shirt, Poster, and Swag!
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And open an early Thanksgiving present of TWO TICKETS to the CAST AND CREW SCREENING in Los Angeles (transportation and accommodations not provided). These tickets are light as a feather, but carry an immense amount of fun! Come hang out with the creators and stick around for a Q&A and one-on-one time with the bizarre forces behind ThanksKilling! Also included is the FOWL-MOUTHED PRODUCER deal and all the rewards prior!
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And GET KILLED ON-SCREEN by THE KILLER TURKEY! That's right -- we'll give you an on-screen death in the ThanksKilling Sequel at the hands of the fowl-mouthed villain himself. This is the moment your parents have been raising you for! Now we can't promise how elaborate your death will be, as sometimes all it takes is a quick slice and dice... But you'll also get professionally taken pictures of yourself in gore make-up, alongside the Turkey, and with the cast and crew! Transportation and accommodations to set not included, but when you arrive we'll be sure to greet you with your very own THANKSKILLING CAST/CREW T-SHIRT!
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SPIRIT OF THE TURKEY MOVIE PROPS! Own the original, screen used TALISMAN NECKLACE that the turkey wore in the original ThanksKilling as well as the miniature prop TOTEM POLE that was pissed on to awaken the turkey. Each prop comes encased with a certificate of authenticity. You'll also get every single reward prior!
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And become an EXECUTIVE PRODUCER of the ThanksKilling Sequel! Your name will appear in the OPENING CREDITS and you'll be invited to visit the set during production and editing sessions during post (transportation and accommodations not provided). You'll also be one of THE FIRST to see the trailers, marketing materials, finished film, and to hold your own copy. This is the ultimate exclusive behind-the-scenes perk to go with every previous reward (except movie props) you'll get as well!
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And for the first time ever -- CHOOSE WHEN YOU WANT THANKSGIVING! You pick the time, date, and location...and we bring you this -- the ULTIMATE THANKSKILLING PARTAAAAY! Available cast & crew will come to your hometown, office, frat house, church (uh, yeah), etc for a PRIVATE SCREENING, Q&A, and THANKSGIVING FEAST! Gather everyone from your high school or college to raise the money to get us there, and we'll bring tons of prizes and help pack the house! This would be an absolute blast!
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Connected as ThanksKilling Sequel (5155 friends)
Hey everyone! What to say, what to say... Welp, my childhood was spent on a farm in Ohio where I was fascinated by science-fiction and horror, and I often snuck into my brother's VHS collection to watch Rated-R movies. At age 13, I sold all my game systems at my grandma's garage sale to buy my first camcorder (high8mm, woo hoo!). Eventually, I moved to Los Angeles right out of high school to attend Loyola Marymount University, where I studied Film Production and Screenwriting. My first student film went on to play at the Los Angeles Screamfest the same year another short I did the effects makeup for premiered ahead of "30 Days of Night". Before graduating, I held an internship at Wes Craven's production company during prep on "The Last House on the Left". I thought I made it big less than a week after graduation when I sold and developed a pitch to ABC for a horror anthology web series, where I would serve as series creator and director of all episodes. After a year of work, the project fell through and was never produced, marking my first taste of life in Hollywood! I currently reside in Los Angeles where I spend as much time as I can writing, scuba diving, and escaping the thing that haunts me most...ThanksKilling!
