FilmQuest genre film festival and GeekTyrant have teamed up to promote and share officially selected films from FilmQuest filmmakers to promote their films, their work and their careers.
This horror short film is titled Allergic excessive reaction and it comes from the director Zackary Eglington. We’ve also included an interview that gives you the opportunity to get to know the director and the film he made.
In the film, “During an annual Freddy vs. Jason festival, four friends experience the consequences of an allergic reaction.”
This is a lot of fun for us! We’ve always talked about promoting emerging filmmakers and we’ve found a great way to do it!
Without spoilers, tell us what your film is about, its characters and its themes. Is this a proof of concept or a standalone story?
My film is about four friends on a weekend-long horror movie marathon with Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger when an allergic reaction turns into a real-life murderous revenge slasher movie.
It started as a standalone story, but while I was making it I got the idea to make a feature film based on this idea.
What was the inspiration for your film? How did the idea come to you?
Based on a true story where I thought I killed my friend with peanuts from the cookies I brought to Freddy vs Jason Fest. Our friendship has never been the same.
Tell us about yourself. What is your background? How long have you been a director?
I’ve been a filmmaker for about 20+ years. But a lifelong storyteller.
What inspires you to work in genre cinema and tell these types of stories?
I love telling stories about friends in the most ridiculous and terrible situations. And genre cinema helps elevate those situations to absurd and terrifying levels.
What was your favorite part of the filmmaking process for this project?
Directing the actors to say the things I had written them to say and perform is probably my favorite part of the process.
What are you most proud of about this film?
I decided to create something crazy that emerged from a real situation I lived in. And then I managed to make it even better than the real story.
What is a favorite story or moment from the making of the film that you would like to share?
During a scene where the two main characters fight on the floor. One of them accidentally kicked the other in the face. But what could have been disastrous, turned out to be one of the best parts. Full contact with no one injured. We ended up using that shot in the film and it’s fantastic.
What was the most challenging moment or experience you had while making your film?
It’s actually been pretty smooth sailing. We shot this film in two days, two months apart, and everyone was thrilled with their work and we did some pretty complex blocking with the actors and dialogue scenes without any problems.
The most challenging thing was waiting for the makeup to be done. But even then it was great. We worked backwards so as not to confuse any of the phases of the allergic reaction.
If so, how did your film change or differ from the original concept during pre-production, production, and/or post-production? How has it changed the way you approach future projects?
It stayed pretty true to what I wrote. But the actors improvised some of the dialogue and I keep that in mind now because some of my favorite moments come from the actors improvising.
One thing I’ve learned is that if you truly believe in a gag or moment you’ve written, you do everything you can to get it. There are two moments that I wish I had fought for, because I feel like those scenes, when finished, would be much better if I had stayed true to my ideas in completing them.
Who were some of your collaborators and actors in the film? How did you start working together?
Matt Mercer, a very talented actor, was in my film almost ten years before this short film and we have remained in contact and friends over the years.
The others were friends they had worked with before. Ace Marrero, Andrew Nathaniel Morris and CB Mullen.
This was my second but more involved short film with cinematographer Nick Novotny and we plan to work together again.
Our audio mixer was now Academy Award winner and great friend Phil Bladh. And he really helped me with his great job of him.
Kate Klein has worked on numerous projects and is a fantastic special effects makeup artist. This was the first time we worked together but hopefully not the last!
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received as a filmmaker and what would you like to say to new filmmakers?
Don’t be afraid to collaborate. Listen to people’s opinions. It may not always be right, but you can have some amazing moments and experiences.
In 2010, I pitched an idea to one of my best friends ever. She loved it. So much so that he encouraged me to actually make it happen. We did it together in January 2011 and made a feature film. My advice would be to find that person who will support you and ride the wave with you.
What are your plans for your career and what do you hope this film does for that? What kinds of stories would you like to tell moving forward?
I hope this movie takes on more of a long version of itself. But I also want to tell more stories of friends being mean to each other.
What’s your next project and when can we expect to see it?
My upcoming short film “You’re an Angel” will premiere at Panic Fest in April of this year and will hopefully screen at more festivals throughout the year!
Bonus question no. 1: What is your favorite movie of all time?
Karate Kid or Young Frankenstein.
Bonus question no. 2: What is the film that most inspired you to become a director and/or had the greatest influence on your work?
Mallrats.
Enjoy the movie! To see more of Eglinton’s work, click here.
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by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
