About this project

We’re looking to put the finishing touches on the first feature film ever directed by a blind filmmaker. Yep—director Joseph M. Monks, who lost his eyesight as a result of diabetic retinopathy, isn’t visually impaired or legally blind, but rather, lights-out, 100% sightless. Despite the fact that there’ve been substantial challenges along the way, and plenty of naysayers who refused to believe making this film was possible, The Bunker is no joke or publicity stunt. The movie has screened at film festivals, at comic & horror conventions, received critical praise from the likes of the Miami Herald, Fangoria Magazine, Rue Morgue, The Hacker’s Source, and other genre trades and web sites, and has already received distribution offers. The film has even attracted the attention of international recording artists, including a Billboard chart-topping band who’ll be providing a song for the film.

Money raised will be used for post-production expenses, including adding a professional film look; recording studio time for voiceovers and ADR (additional dialogue recording); sound re-recording; mixing of the score and matching it to the final edit, and producing high-quality screeners and media packages for distributors. With those few remaining elements completed, this movie, and the Making of... documentary, chronicling the production--which survived two hurricanes, the original composer’s suicide, sabotage from within and other nightmares--will be ready for release.

The Bunker is a horror film/psychological thriller focusing on sexy newcomer Saskia Gonzalez, who plays Julia, the daughter of New York congressman Robert Jennings. A rebellious teenager, Julia runs away from home the night her father announces his bid for reelection. Unfortunately for the 16-year-old, before she can be located by her parents or the police, she is snatched off the streets of lower Manhattan by sadistic kidnapper Terry M. West (The Blood Shed, Flesh for the Beast), who has a hideous fate in store for her. As the grains of sand in Julia’s hourglass begin to run out and West’s intentions are revealed to her, it becomes a race against time. Will the police find the underground bunker where she’s been imprisoned? Will the mobsters the concerned congressman has turned to in order to save his daughter—and political career—be able to get to Julia before the kidnapper’s timetable for murder reaches its end? Or will Julia, faced with two desperate alternatives, find another means of escape, one far more chilling than anything her demented captor has in store...

“I expected it (The Bunker) to be enjoyable, but this was so much more. The script is solid. The production values are good. The direction and editing are excellent. A solid story told well. I was suitably impressed--nice job!” --Carnell, FANGORIA Magazine features writer

“A well-crafted, well-executed story that will stay with you long after the final credits roll. The Bunker is as frightening as the headlines on CNN, because it’s just as real, and twice as disturbing.” --Franklin E. Wales, Editor, The Hacker’s Source

“Pretty soon, people won’t even pay attention to the fact Joe can’t see, because his film stands on its own. It’s that good...you’ll forget a blind guy directed it.” --Mike Koneful, HorrorBiz

“For a lot of people, this film has got to be inspiring. And, look at the money he saves by not having to use a monitor!” --Ted A. Bohus, Producer, The Deadly Spawn We’ll be updating progress on the project thru the film’s official website, via Kickstarter updates, the Sight Unseen INSIDER video blog, Twitter and social media sites like FaceBook and MySpace. Plus, if we give those Diaspora boys a run for their money, who knows? Maybe your name’ll appear in an upcoming project as well. (Be nice if we attracted an agent, too. Hint-hint.)

You don’t get any guarantees in life, but we can make you this promise. You may have seen and/or contributed to unique projects before, but this film stands out because it’s truly groundbreaking. This is something that’s never been done before. Frank Darabont (Director, The Shawshank Redemption), has called the blind filmmaker aspect, “The single most unique moviemaking hook I’ve ever heard.” But if that’s not enough, then just check out the cool stuff you get for helping out.