Horror punk rock short film THE MAGICIANS OF ANGER AND THE PROFANATION OF THE MIMICCIO HOUSE

Here’s a horror short film to watch called The Wizards of Anger and the Desecration of the House of Mimicry.

It is a punk rock horror film that follows a loud punk band who clashes with a demonic mime artist intent on stopping them from finishing their music video.

This short film is shared in partnership with the FilmQuest Film Festival, where we seek to showcase some of the independent genre films and shorts created by filmmakers.

We have included an interview with the director who created the short film, Jason SheedyIt’s very funny, I hope you like it!

Without spoilers, tell us what your film is about, what its characters and themes are. Is it a proof of concept or a standalone story?

This is a short horror comedy film about a loud punk band consisting of band members Johnny Buzzsaw, Ripper and Kevin who have to deal with a demonic mime artist intent on stopping them from finishing their music video. It’s a standalone story, but also something we’d like to expand into a feature film!

What was the inspiration for your film? How did you get the idea?

We were inspired to make this film after a screening of Midnight Madness at FilmQuest. We wanted to create our own experience that would fit into that crazy collection of horror and hilarity. So, we started brainstorming and, after a thrilling evening of Taco Bell and old fashioneds, the story of The Mages of Rage was born.

Tell us about yourself. What is your background? How long have you been a director?

I’ve been covering my friends in fake blood and running around with a camera strapped to my hand since I was a kid. These interests led me to film school in Savannah, Georgia, where I met the core team I still work with today. After school, we shot a feature film (which was basically like a re-take on film school) and more recently we’ve been focusing on a variety of short films, which has been a great way to explore different ideas and meet lots of other filmmakers and creatives both online and on the festival circuit.

What drives you to work in genre cinema and tell these kinds of stories?

There’s something so satisfying about genre filmmaking. I love that the broad genres of horror, science fiction, and fantasy open up into dozens of subgenres. There are endless possibilities and that keeps me curious and excited—it’s a very satisfying space to play in as a filmmaker.

What was the part of the process of making this project that you enjoyed the most?

For this particular project, it was really fun to combine my musical interests with my film interests. I grew up playing in bands, so I enjoyed writing some music for the film, which you can listen to at magesofragefilm.com!

What are you most proud of about this film?

We were inspired by a FilmQuest screening of Midnight Madness and were fortunate enough to be included in the following year’s Midnight Madness screening and even won Best Comedy Short. I couldn’t think of a better time to bring this film full circle.

What is your favorite anecdote or moment from the making of the film that you would like to share?

For me, my favorite moment of filming is often the last take on set: it’s that feeling you get when you’re moments away from accomplishing what you set out to do after months of planning, thinking, problem-solving, etc. I think anything worth doing is challenging and you have to step out of your comfort zone and accept the possibility of failure, so when you’re about to wrap up and have everything you need to go into post-production with full confidence, there’s no better feeling.

What was the most challenging moment or experience you had while making your film?

We all wore a lot of hats during this shoot and it was pretty exhausting at times. It was the kind of exhaustion where when you’re done you’re like, “Yeah, we did it. It was worth it.” But in the process you’re like, “Wait, why am I doing this to myself?” Seriously, I’m incredibly grateful for an easygoing but very hardworking cast and crew. Even in the most difficult moments, it was still a super fun shoot and I couldn’t be happier with how it all went.

If so, how did your film change or diverge from its original concept during pre-production, production, and/or post-production? How did this change the way you approach future projects as a result?

Who were some of your collaborators and actors in the film? How did you start working together?

Brett Brooks (“Ripper”) and I worked together on a horror short in college and have been friends ever since. We’ve worked on a ton of projects together over the years, from shorts to features, and even music. In addition to acting, he’s an incredibly talented illustrator and writer and even co-wrote this film with me. Matthew Noonan (“Kevin”/DP) and I also met in college and started making films a few years later when we realized we both had the same love for horror films and video games. I also met Chris Mayers (“The Mime”) in college, but this is my first acting project, and he was incredible to work with. He really brought that character to life more than I could have ever hoped for.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received as a director, and what would you say to new directors?

One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was to simply make movies. “If you want to be a director, make movies.” It’s been said many times, but I really think it’s the simplest and most practical advice you could ever get. I’m learning to be a better storyteller with every film I make. Another great piece of advice I received in a filmmaking class was, “Hey, shut up.” I admit, I used to talk too much, so it was a good lesson in giving clear, concise directions, and also a good reminder to trust your collaborators and keep an open mind to possibilities outside of your own ideas.

What are your career plans and what do you hope this film will do for your career? What kind of stories do you want to tell moving forward?

I would love to have the opportunity to make another feature film, and my hope with this film and the others we’ve made is to build an audience. I’ll always be a fan of horror and science fiction, but I like to mix genres and focus on creating memorable characters who deal with supernatural or otherworldly conflicts.

What is your next project and when can we expect to see it?

We have other short film projects in the works, including a horror/sci-fi short called “The Reclaimers,” currently playing in festivals, and a horror-comedy short called “To Hell With You,” which we hope will be playing in festivals this fall.

Where can we find more of your work and where can interested parties contact you? Do you have a website or YouTube/Vimeo channel? Do you have any social media profiles?

All my films can be seen on my website jasonmsheedy.com, but I also have a YouTube channel (@JasonSheedy) and a Vimeo channel (https://vimeo.com/jasonsheedy). I’m most active on Instagram, where I post updates about the films or photos of my dog ​​(@jasonmsheedy). And check out magesofragefilm.com for outtakes from the film and more!

Bonus Question #1: What is your all-time favorite movie?

“The Thing” by John Carpenter

Bonus Question #2: What film most inspired you to become a filmmaker and/or had the greatest influence on your work?

“The Evil Dead” – the idea of ​​a group of friends heading out into the woods with a camera and a dream was so close to how I spent a lot of my childhood. Our movies weren’t “Evil Dead,” but I fell in love with that DIY improv style of going out and trying something.