CINEMA
THE THREE FILMS PROJECT:
LOST IN THE HOUSE AT NIGHT ON FIRE
LOST IN THE WOODS AT NIGHT ON FIRE
LOST IN THE WORLD AT NIGHT ON FIRE
Strawberry Flavored Plastic was a fully independent feature film that originated with a single concept and was produced, finished, marketed, shopped, repped, sold and released based on pure grit, ingenuity and passion.
I made my first film for $13,800.
I worked at my day job six days a week for over a year to save, invest, build and do pre-production every one of those days from 7pm until the wee hours. I secured every one of our 25 locations for free.
Our production truck was a rented 1987 red Chevrolet van. We cooked all of our meals as a family. Utilizing our community, politicking, deal-making, handshaking and being an honest and excited filmmaker and human being, we brought in a feature for under $20,000. (Most industry people after watching the film assumed the budget to hover around the $150,000 mark!)
Nobody knew who we were so, equipped with merely a laptop, I personally reached out and formed bonds with a handful of critics and word quickly spread. We ended up with 35 positive reviews, a 100% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, and that hustle resulted in our film getting sales repped, playing the Marche du Cinema at Cannes, and being sold to Breaking Glass Pictures in January 2019 and released in May of that year. We were in The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, all of the top horror publications and our movie now sits proudly on our shelves!
I say none of this to brag; it simply shows what a talented Film Family of go-getters, hustlers and passionate artists can accomplish. We didn’t have other producers, agents, managers or guidance. We were our own army and we figured it out ourselves. And we succeeded.
This is what BEMIS. was born from. While my first film was made in a time when I was less connected with my faith, as my faith and conviction has grown, my focus and determination has abounded and been refocused. We are the truly independent motion picture studio and production company. Our approach is shockingly simple: to produce low-budgeted, highly-marketable feature films for a new generation that tells original, moral, God-driven and faith-laden types of stories that cross all genres. Enter the next phase of XNIGHTSAINT: Lost in the World at Night on Fire.
This Project is comprised of three films: Lost in the House at Night on Fire and its sequel, Lost in the Woods at Night on Fire. These two films will be recut and reordered with additional footage added for the longer film, Lost in the World at Night on Fire. “But wait, Colin. Three films? Have you fully lost your mind?” There’s no place to aim but the top.
Many of the most expensive elements of filmmaking we will condense or fully eliminate in order to not only shoot the horrifying original Lost in the House at Night on Fire, but its sequel, Lost in the Woods at Night on Fire, shortly thereafter, with the same cast and crew. These films will be wholly original, stand-alone horror pictures that will stand on their own and tell their own stories, but they are also fully connected, as Woods is a direct sequel to House and are very much in intimate conversation. They needn’t the other to survive, but both seen in success will explore a wild, horrifying world, rich with overlap and intertwining narratives, characters and arcs.
House takes place almost exclusively at one house, while Woods takes place almost exclusively in the woods (the irony!) This drastically minimizes costs. We will gather all of the necessary and desired cast, crew, rentals, equipment, insurance, etc., to shoot both films in short order! Then, when both films are done, we will be releasing a combined cut of both films, with exclusive scenes NOT seen in either original film. This, we humbly feel, is how you MAXIMIZE the power of a dollar.
We simply do not see scary, Christian Horror movies being made. They don’t exist. But they will. This film will have a heightened purpose; it will feature prominently Divine Mercy, a love of Jesus and Mary, and so much more. This is a series of films where a woman’s faith in God is what renders her victorious.
Our ethos at XNIGHTSAINT that began with our first film continues with Lost in the World at Night on Fire: utilize brilliant cast and crew members in well-written, highly-marketable tales with a low budget. Many cast and crew worked for FREE on our first movie; with this budget we will compensate every single human being that works on the film as fairly as possible. Every dollar goes to what is essential: insurance, equipment, safety protocols, time, healthy food for our team, necessary rentals and a quality final product.
We are tired of flipping on any and every streaming service and seeing none of our values or beliefs displayed. Further, we’re tired of seeing our faith mocked, ridiculed and disrespected. We are the independent film studio that wants to offer a solution. Let’s bring God mainstream. We are your answer to Hollywood. Take back entertainment.
Every studio began somewhere. a24. Paramount. Warners. XNIGHTSAINT wants to create a positive, independent atmosphere where artists flourish, jobs are created, investors are rewarded and amazing stories are told outside of the studio system. We want to change the landscape. This next film is merely the beginning: the opportunity to prove ourselves on the next level, to prove our work ethic, concept and ethos, and to create something bigger. To create something special. I have worked for over thirty years to generate these opportunities: for myself, for my employees and for my investors. XNIGHTSAINT is climbing to the next level. Buy the ticket, take the ride!
I thank you from the depths of me for taking the time to read about this journey of ours. We can’t express our gratitude or appreciation for your time, efforts and interest.
Let’s make a movie!