Connect with us

News

Tom de Ville, Alex Wolpert, and Nick Hudson on Creating ‘Corvidae’

Published

on

Writer/director Tom de Ville had no idea when he wrote the script for his short filmĀ Corvidae just how long it would take to bring his dark fairy tale to life. In fact, when he and his fellow producers Nick Hudson and Alex Wolpert joined me to discuss the film in a recent interview, I was surprised to learn the 11 minute which debuted this weekend at Fright Fest in London was over a decade in the making.

“I actually came up with the idea and wrote the script 15 years ago after I read an article about how smart crows are and how they can actually hold grudges,” de Ville explained. “I was fascinated by that idea and I turned it into a story about a girl who helps a crow and they help her in return.”

The script sat on a shelf for almost 10 years, but it was never far from de Ville’s thoughts, and a few years ago, when a friend told him she knew someone who was looking to produce short films, he excitedly forwarded the script to Alex Wolpert who then forwarded it along to Nick Hudson.

The men were knocked out by what they read, and it wasn’t long before the film was in production, and de Ville found himself in the director’s chair.

“I loved the fact that it was so evocative and brooding,” Wolpert said. “It wasn’t crude; it came across beautifully on the page. I was really rattled by it.”

“That darkness spoke to me,” Hudson agreed. “I had a German mother who would find the most terrifying books to read to me when I was a child, and the script was very much like those stories.”

de Ville was actually ahead of the game when it came time to start bringing the pieces ofĀ Corvidae together. Early on, he’d had concept art drawn up by both Brad Kovar and Dave Lupton.

The talented artists seemed to intrinsically understand the story that the writer was trying to tell, and much of their work such as Lupton’s bully masks and Kovar sense of movement and environment translated directly to the screen. The artwork also served them all well when it was time to talk casting.

Concept art by Dave Lupton

“One of the things I like most about Nick and Alex is their commitment to working with the best people,” de Ville said. “I remember Alex, during our casting meeting, saying ‘What aboutĀ Game of Thrones They’ve got some great child actors on there.’ As soon as he said it, Maisie Williams popped into my head.”

Game of ThronesĀ had only two seasons under its belt at the time, but Williams was already proving herself a talented actress capable of expressing a great deal of emotion in a single look. That talent would be key as her role, and the film itself, were almost completely silent.

They sent the script to her agent who passed it along and after a Skype meeting with de Ville, the young actress agreed to come aboard.

“Everyone expects this tale of us camping outside her home to try to get her involved in the film,” Hudson laughed. “But it was really by the book, and a lot of credit goes to Maisie for seeing it and responding so quickly. We were pretty ambitious, but so was she.”

Still, there were more challenges ahead for the first time director, some of which he had not anticipated at all.

“I like the idea of a silent film because it seems more filmic in its visual nature,” the writer/director pointed out. “And I love the idea that the lack of dialogue makes it seem a bit more universal, but I, rather foolishly, also thought that lack of dialogue meant that I wouldn’t really need a sound department!”

“We really had to heighten sound even more,” Hudson agreed.

“It’s true we had to make up for the lack of dialogue in all kinds of ways,” Wolpert also chimed in. “But it’s nice that people around the world can watch it without having to read or resort to bad dubbing.”

The men lucked out again, though, as sound designer Vincent Watts and composer Adam Norden joined the project. They instinctively understood the needs of the film, and used their considerable gifts to heighten the already intense film.

Norden’s theme for the central character, Jay (Williams), is especially good with its ability to encapsulate a multitude of emotions throughout its variations in the film, climbing from hushed somber tones to an almost primal shriek as the story’s events unfold. Watts, meanwhile, fills each moment with just the right amount of natural and ambient sounds to flesh out the world ofĀ Corvidae beautifully.

Now, after almost five years in post-production, working on the film’s completion as time permitted around other projects and as technology progressed to meet their needs, the three are excited to release their film into the world, and all three pointed to the things they’ve learned and why they’ve come to love the art of a short film.

“In one sense, itā€™s always been a great medium to develop material. We believe that a short has potential to go to the next level,” Wolpert explained. “[Corvidae] has been a fantastic exploration of the material that showed me that itā€™s got real legs and it has the depth to develop it further.”

“With a short, youā€™re not worried distribution based on box office performance. I think thatā€™s kind of liberating,” Hudson added. “For me, itā€™s a nice experimental way of telling compelling stories.”

“It was a real process but it was one that Iā€™m so glad that I could go through it because I learned an incredible amount,” de Ville pointed out. “It gave me so much confidence to do other things. Thatā€™s the joy of making short films.”

Corvidae made its debut this weekend at Fright Fest in London and will soon be hitting the road for showings on the international film festival circuit. Check out the trailer below!

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

News

New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

Published

on

Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden MartellĀ 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

Published

on

Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines childrenā€™s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Panā€™s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milneā€™s 1926 childrenā€™s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

Published

on

Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothersā€™ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending thatā€™ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothersā€™ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

Embed Gif with Clickable Title