News and Notes from William Hopkins, Indie Filmmaker in NYC: 2004

Sunday, October 10, 2004

Making DEMON RESURRECTION: The Cult Compound Shoot, October, 2004

The final few days of principal photography on DEMON RESURRECTION...

The cult compound scenes are shot on producer Frank Cilla's Long Island property. During the day, Toth (Will McDonald) reads passages from the bible to his followers while slipping drugged wine to Grace (Alexis Golightly).

Once the sun goes down, the cast and crew begin work on the scenes in which Grace is offered to the cult's demon god...

Actor Dan Almekinder sits with other cult members during the shooting of the cult compound scene.

Actor Will McDonald (Toth)

Director William Hopkins, sets up a daytime shot of Grace (Alexis Golightly) on the "cult compound" set.

Director William Hopkins shoots the final appearance of Kim, the archaeologist, played by Caroline Adams.

Daniel Almekinder (L) and Laurie Miller (R) prepare the cult compound set for a nighttime shoot.

Actor Joe Zaso dons a jacket to keep warm as he waits to shoot a scene on the final night of principal photography of DEMON RESURRECTION.

Alexis Golightly (Grace) and Joe Zaso (Toth's Assistant) try to stay warm during shooting of the cult compound scenes.

Director William Hopkins chats with actor Will McDonald (Toth) and black-robed cult members during a break in shooting.

Buy the DVD: http://www.demonresurrection.com

https://www.facebook.com/DemonResurrection

http://www.twitter.com/demonresurrect

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UPDATE 11/18/2017: The newly remastered version of DEMON RESURRECTION in 1080 HD & Widescreen is now available at http://dresurrection.vhx.tv

Or stream it on Amazon (Prime members watch for free): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MZXWKBT

Also available on...

Vimeo-on-Demand: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/102966

and on Pantaflix: https://www.pantaflix.com/en/movie/Demon-Resurrection-watch-online-pm741064

Saturday, October 9, 2004

Making DEMON RESURRECTION: The Pit Shoot, October, 2004

Principal photography continues into October of 2004. The same location, producer Frank Cilla's Long Island property, does double duty as both the archeological excavation site and the Toth's cult compound.

The scene of Toth resurrecting the skeletal corpses in the pit, as well as as the final scene of the film, Toth being dragged into the pit by Grace's zombified friends, are shot at night as the production nears completion...

Edward Wheeler and Laurie Miller set up the "blood-knife" effect for actor Will McDonald (Toth).

The "blood knife" has a tube taped to one side of the blade which runs to a syringe loaded with stage blood which is held off camera by Ed Wheeler. When Toth runs the blade (which has had its edge dulled) over his palm, Ed pumps the stage blood through the tube, giving the appearance that Toth is cutting his own hand. At least, this is the way it's supposed to work. It took several takes before we got it right.

As there was a need for a large number of demons on the night of the pit shoot, Laurie was one of several cast and crew members who volunteered to put on the mask and robes, which explains her attire in these shots.

Stephanie Roy models the latest trends in zombiewear.

Makeup artist Ashley Benatar applies some last minute gore to the zombified friends.

The worst thing about playing a zombie, says Joe McClean (Steven), is having your skin and clothes covered in Karo syrup for hours on end. The syrup, with red food dye added, makes convincing stage blood but it's uncomfortably sticky and attracts insects.

By the night of the pit shoot, which was one of the last nights of principal photography, we had pretty much given up on the zombies' feet. We had fashioned skeletal foot coverings for the zombie performers to wear, but they never looked right on camera. So the actors were allowed to wear their regular shoes and we just framed the shots to avoid showing the zombies' feet.

The pit that was the centerpiece of the archaeological dig set, was dug by producer Frank Cilla and co-producer Edward Wheeler. It took several hours to get all that dirt out and several more hours to get it all back in again after the shoot was completed.

Edward Wheeler demonstrates to actor Will McDonald (Toth) the proper method of clawing one's way out of a pit.

Director William Hopkins lines up a shot of Toth in the pit.

Damian Ladd (John) and Will McDonald (Toth) rehearse their climatic confrontation.

Buy the DVD: http://www.demonresurrection.com

https://www.facebook.com/DemonResurrection

http://www.twitter.com/demonresurrect

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Making DEMON RESURRECTION - 2004 Cast Interviews

A playlist of interviews of several members of the DEMON RESURRECTION cast, in makeup, on location, on the next to last day of principal photography, back in October, 2004...

Below, the cast of DEMON RESURRECTION...

Alexis Golightly as Grace

Laurie Miller as Kate

Bashir Solebo as Denton

Damian Ladd as John

Eli Kranski as Alex

Will McDonald as Toth

Joe McClean as Steven

Chad Kessler as Michael

Amanda Knox Pennington as Barbara

Joe Zaso as Toth's Assistant

Edward Wheeler as Peter, Archaeologist #2

Caroline Adams as Kim, Archaeologist #1

Stephanie Roy as Marcy

Buy the DVD: http://www.demonresurrection.com

https://www.facebook.com/DemonResurrection

http://www.twitter.com/demonresurrect

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Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Making DEMON RESURRECTION: Staircase Action, September, 2004

More elaborate and potentially dangerous stunt work on the DEMON RESURRECTION shoot: co-producer and stunt coordinator Edward Wheeler and stunt performer Jerry Woods take turns diving off the living room stairs into a landing pad fashioned from cardboard boxes. Wheeler jumps over the bannister from near the top of the flight, while Woods makes an even more perilous jump from the landing at the top of the stairs. Wheeler's jump doesn't make it into the final cut of the film, but Wood's does...

Seen from near the top step, the staircase on which the battle between Denton and the demons will be staged. This still was taken during location scouting, months before principal photography commenced. The sculptures and other bric-a-brac at the bottom of the flight will be removed before shooting begins.

The cardboard box "landing pad" onto which Woods and Wheeler will be jumping.

Director William Hopkins discusses the set-up with actor and stunt coordinator Laurie Miller.

Edward Wheeler gets into costume as he prepares to perform the staircase jump stunt.

Actor Bashir Solebo (Denton) relaxes with a few of the demon performers while the staircase jump stunt is readied.

Buy the DVD: http://www.demonresurrection.com

https://www.facebook.com/DemonResurrection

http://www.twitter.com/demonresurrect

*************************************

UPDATE 11/18/2017: The newly remastered version of DEMON RESURRECTION in 1080 HD & Widescreen is now available at http://dresurrection.vhx.tv

Or stream it on Amazon (Prime members watch for free): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MZXWKBT

Also available on...

Vimeo-on-Demand: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/102966

and on Pantaflix: https://www.pantaflix.com/en/movie/Demon-Resurrection-watch-online-pm741064

Sunday, September 19, 2004

Making DEMON RESURRECTION: Marcy Gets Ripped, September, 2004

Another elaborate stunt/makeup/special effects scene in DEMON RESURRECTION involves the character of Marcy, played by actor Stephanie Roy, being pulled through a shattered bay window by a crowd of demons while her friends, Steven and Alex (Joe McClean and Eli Kranski), struggle to pull her back, inadvertently dragging her over jagged shards of glass.

Edward Wheeler and Laurie Miller choreographed the scene; actors/stunt performers Caroline Adams and Daniel Almekinder provided assistance, and makeup artist Ashley Benatar created the on-set gore effects...

Preparing for Marcy's death scene; from left to right, actor Joe McClean (Steven), actor and stuntman Daniel Almekinder, actor Stephanie Roy (Marcy), actor and stuntwoman Caroline Adams, and actor and stunt coordinator Laurie Miller (Kate).