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

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

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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

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).

Makeup artist Ashley Benatar adds more stage blood to actor Stephanie Roy's gut wounds.

Actors Eli Kranski (Alex) and Stephanie Roy (Marcy) prepare themselves for Marcy's gory death scene.

Actor Stephanie Roy (Marcy) relaxes with a hot cup of coffee after shooting her character's grisly demise.

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

Friday, September 17, 2004

Making DEMON RESURRECTION: The Window Fight, September, 2004

One of the most elaborate and dangerous parts of the DEMON RESURRECTION shoot, was the window fight between Kate, played by actress and stuntwoman Laurie Miller, and a trellis-climbing demon, played by co-producer, actor and stuntman Edward Wheeler. Wheeler and Miller, planned the scene out themselves, fashioning special props and equipment for use in the scene, including the break-away trellis and the "landing pad" that Ed eventually drops onto.

Second unit DP, Stephen Snow, in a safety harness, photographed much of the action while hanging off the edge of the house's roof....

Laurie Miller (Kate) confronts the demon on the trellis as it climbs toward the second floor bedroom window.

Director William Hopkins grabs a shot of Edward Wheeler, the trellis-climbing demon.

2nd Unit DP, Stephen Snow, in a safety harness, preparing to shoot the window fight.

The "landing pad," constructed of a mattress, cardboard boxes and wooden sawhorses,
onto which Edward Wheeler, as the trellis-climbing demon, will drop.

Actor Laurie Miller (Kate) pushes the house's latticework trellis - and the demon clinging to it - away from the bedroom window, sending demon actor and stuntman Edward Wheeler flying toward the makeshift "landing pad."

DEMON RESURRECTION actor, stuntman and co-producer, Edward Wheeler, laughs in the
face of danger as he readies to perform the window/trellis stunt.

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

https://www.facebook.com/DemonResurrection

http://www.twitter.com/demonresurrect

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Thursday, September 16, 2004

Making DEMON RESURRECTION: In the Makeup Chair, September, 2004

In addition to much of the on-set gore effects shot during principal photography, makeup artist Ashley Benatar was also responsible for all beauty makeup and hairdressing for the production's large cast...

Actor Laurie Miller (Kate) gets a touch-up from makeup artist Ashley Benatar.

Actor Damian Ladd (John) waits his turn in the makeup chair.

Actor Amanda Knox Pennington sports grisly facial wounds, courtesy of makeup artist Ashley Benatar.

Actor Joe McClean lies back while "ripped flesh" is applied by makeup artist Ashley Benatar.

Makeup artist Ashley Benatar touches up actor Damian Ladd's body makeup during a night shoot.

Actor Eli Kranski in the makeup chair.

Makeup artist Ashley Benatar applies more fake blood to actor Eli Kranski's neck wound as he prepares to film his gory death scene

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

https://www.facebook.com/DemonResurrection

http://www.twitter.com/demonresurrect

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Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Making DEMON RESURRECTION: Demons in Costume, September, 2004

By the time principal photography commences on DEMON RESURRECTION, nearly twenty full demon costumes have been completed in the production's creature shop by director William Hopkins, co-producer Edward Wheeler and producer Frank Cilla. (The rough canvas robes were created by cast member and stunt director, Laurie Miller.) On almost every day of the shoot, between five and fifteen demons are needed on set, so the actors playing these creatures spend a lot of time in costume, roaming the sixteen acres surrounding the Long Island house used in the production...

Co-producer Edward Wheeler coordinates some stunt action with the demon performers.

Actor and stunt coordinator Laurie Miller gives the demon performers a quick spritz prior to shooting.

The demon masks, hands and chest-plates were turned out by William Hopkins, Edward Wheeler and Frank Cilla in the production's creature shop. The rough canvas robes were created by cast member and stunt director, Laurie Miller.

Makeup artist Ashley Benatar is menaced by a horde of demons in a lull between shots.

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

https://www.facebook.com/DemonResurrection

http://www.twitter.com/demonresurrect

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Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Making DEMON RESURRECTION: The Shoot Begins, September, 2004

By mid-September, the DEMON RESURRECTION cast and crew was on location in Long Island and the production was underway...

Director Hopkins (L) and co-producer Edward Wheeler.

The cast and crew, on set, and ready to do a take.

The Canon XL-1S used throughout the DEMON RESURRECTION shoot. The camera is connected via Firewire to a MacBook, through which the video signal passes before being stored on an external hard drive.

Director William Hopkins (R) and co-producer Edward Wheeler discuss the features of the Long Island location with its owner, Peter Opromolla (R).

The wooden barricades on the windows, the six-sided stained-glass window, and the tabernacle containing the grimoire are a few of the modifications and additions to the living room of the Long Island house used in the DEMON RESURRECTION shoot.

The cast waits while a shot is set up. From left to right: Stephanie Roy (Marcy), Chad Kessler (Michael), Joe McClean (Steven), Laurie Miller (Kate) and Alexis Golightly (Grace). In the foreground with back to camera is crew member Jerry Woods, preparing to operate the boom mic.

Eli Kranski (Alex) and Bashir Solebo (Denton) wait with other cast members as a shot is set up.

Second Unit DP, Stephen Snow (L), and actor Caroline Adams (R) in demon costume.

The director's copy of the script lies open on top of the floor monitor as the cast relaxes between takes.

Laurie Miller dons Steven's yellow shirt and stands in for actor Joe McClean on a day when the actor was unavailable.

Everybody's "just dead" after a long day of shooting.

Laurie Miller (Kate) applies some "sweat" to Alexis Golightly's brow during a break in shooting.

2nd Unit DP Stephen Snow fills in as the boom operator during an evening shoot in Grace's bedroom.

Edward Wheeler helps Alexis Golightly (Grace) with the "blood-knife" prop.

Edward Wheeler monitors the action on a Macbook while crew member Jerry Woods works the boom mic during a shoot in the guest bedroom.

Alexis Golightly (Grace), getting bloodied during a bedroom scene.

Alexis Golightly (Grace) in a lighter moment on set.

Actors Damian Ladd (John), Joe McClean (Steven) and Eli Kranski (Alex) prepare to shoot a scene in which John's body is temporarily laid to rest in the guest bedroom.

Actor Bashir Solebo (Denton) and co-producer Edward Wheeler, prepare for a scene.

Crew member Jerry Woods holds a reflector as actors Bashir Solebo (Denton) and Damian Ladd (John) shoot a scene near a cliff overlooking Long Island Sound.

Alexis Golightly (Grace) and Damian Ladd (John) shoot the film’s love scene near a cliff overlooking Long Island Sound.

The love scene was shot with a minimum of crew to preserve the feeling of intimacy between the two actors.

Acting is hard work.

The white bag in the background is not a sack of cocaine for the wrap party, but rather a sandbag used to anchor tripods and c-stands.

Actor Joe Zaso as Toth's henchman, on the cult compound set in the final days of principle photography.

Producer Frank Cilla on the cult compound set in the closing days of principle photography.

Actor Caroline Adams shooting additional scenes on a Bronx mock-up of the archaeological dig set, a year after completion of principle photography in Long Island.