We get a boatload of news from horror filmmakers, musicians, writers, and artists each week. We unfortunately
don't have the staff to get a news angle on all of them but it's still stuff we think you'd be interested in. So as a means to
get you the same news they send us, we're going to use this place for their press releases.
April 28, 2005
Harbinger Pictures Formed
Here's a release we just received from a newly formed horror production company:
On the 25th anniversary of the passing of Director Mario Bava, we celebrate his legendary accomplishments as well as his groundbreaking vision and love of horror, with the formation of Harbinger Pictures. Harbinger is a production and rights house specializing in the re-imagining and re-creation of classic and international feature films. We will also be bringing you new films written by some of the best award-winning horror authors from around the globe. Harbinger's films will be budgeted and produced in the two to eight million dollar range. These films are intended for theatrical release through various top distributors in North America, Europe, and Asia. A strong emphasis on film festival screenings will be a major goal in all of our undertakings.
Harbinger is the brain child of Jeff Ritchie. For those of you not familiar with Mr. Ritchie, Jeff is a 10 year veteran of the horror film industry, who has produced and written such cult films as "Soulkeeper", "American Crime", and "Cookers" (Watch for the latter to be released theatrically across North America this summer). Jeff is joined by Don Dunn, another horror professional who has overseen the budgets of many genre-related films in the last five years, including "Cookers" and "Soulkeeper". Most recently Don gained recognition as the producer of "Reeker" (one of the fan favorites at this year's South by Southwest film festival). The final component in this partnership is David Bond, founder of the Exofest International Film Festivals, a consultant to various studios and international horror productions, and publisher of the upcoming Exophagy Magazine.
During their first year of production, Harbinger's main focus will be completing three projects. First up will be a re-imagining of the 80's cult classic, House on Sorority Row, which will be filmed in the south late this summer and into the early fall. The company has secured interim financing thru a co-production with Richard Mann's RPM Productions, and is currently interviewing directors from both Europe and Asia.
The second production, The Fort Kent Massacre, is a twist on the Indian legend of shape-shifting. The story recounts the tragic events that befell a small northern town after the First World War. The project will be a Canadian co-production and will be filmed in Vancouver and Alberta during the winter.
Our final production for the first fiscal year will have us rejoin our partnership with Richard Mann to do a remake of a yet to be determained Mario Bava film.
The second year will see our production schedule raised to four films, including the remake of a classic asian film and a retelling of the Orms legend in classic movie monster style.
