It Came From Indiegogo!: The Void

Image Owned by Cave Painting Picture. Created by Justin Erickson

You know when people say "Remember when John Carpenter made cool films?" or "What happened to all the practical effects in movies?" what they were talking about was their desire for 'The Void', a new film being crowd-sourced through Indiegogo. The story, although kept mostly in the dark, the basic plot is outlined on the fund page as:

In the middle of a routine patrol, officer Daniel Carter happens upon 

a blood-soaked figure limping down a deserted stretch of road. 

He rushes the young man to a nearby rural hospital staffed by a skeleton crew, 

only to discover that patients and personnel are transforming into something inhuman. 

As the horror intensifies, Carter leads the other survivors on a hellish voyage 

into the subterranean depths of the hospital in a desperate bid to end the nightmare 

before it's too late.

See, perfectly vague. But then I watched the teaser trailer, made with only a couple hundred dollars.

Oh, my God! If they can do that with so little just imagine what could happen with full funding. The tone and style of the film rely heavily on apocalyptic horror, much in the same way Carpenter had done years earlier with his so-called  "Apocalypse Trilogy", while also featuring   Cronenberg influenced body horror. This is where most of the money seems to be aimed towards in the campaign.  It seems they need our donations less for actual production and more for practical effects. 

This is commendable.  Most crowd-sourced films are to begin production or raise finishing funds (meaning they ran out of money) but team behind 'The Void' seems like they could finish the film without us. Hell, the teaser shows you have efficient they are with little to nothing. Rather then just make another low-budget horror they want to raise the money to assist in making the film more magnificent in scale, more grandiose. More goreish (Is goreish a word? It really should be). They want the film to be bigger. 

The name dropping of Carpenter and Croneberg earlier is not a pale comparison as 'The Void' team cite both filmmakers as examples of influences in their pitch, specifically when talking about the proposed special effects. What made films like 'The Thing' and 'The Fly' so essential was not only their deeply human stories (which both, narratively, are) but also the genius use of practical effects to depict what years earlier was thought of us impossible. 

So the question becomes not "why do they need my money?" but "who can make a film seemingly for no money?".

 

Oh, I don't know, just the forces of Astron-6.

You know, Astron-6? 'Fireman'? 'Father's Day'? 'Manborg'? Nothing ringing a bell?

Sorry, I forgot other people have normal lives.

Astron-6 is a filmmaking collective that first met at a Winnipeg short film competition that would later join forces to make shorts and features films, many of them tributes to that glorious time in the home video era filled with green screens and synth scores. Like a true collective each person may handle a different area of production with its member's talents ranging from actors to writers to poster artists to special effects (this last one will come back later). Eventually Troma founder Lloyd Kaufman saw one of these shorts and gave them the opportunity to make their first feature film, 'Father's Day'.

After that they went on to make two more feature film, 'Manborg' and 'The Editor', all while still producing shorts. And now Astron-6 is making 'The Void'.

Well, not exactly. 

Astron-6 is a collective, where everyone in the group works on the film as a whole, but 'The Void' is more a personal passion projects for two of its members: Steven Kostanski and Jeremy Gillespie.

Both have worked on other genre films, Steven as a special effects team member and Jeremy as a visual designer, besides their Astron-6 output. Steven was even the director of record for 'Manborg'. Both also recently teamed up for the short film 'W is for WISH' as part of the 'ABC of Death' anthology film. But why 'The Void'? Let them explain it.

 

I'm going to mention this name one more time: John Carpenter. The man made what we generally agree is the feel and flavor of the modern horror film. That seems like overstating something (and feel free to burn me in the comment section. Love to have a discourse on the subject) but from 'Halloween' onward the Carpenter style influenced more 80's films then most. Mood. Tone. Score. Pacing. Cinematography. All at some point were used by other filmmakers to enhance their film. Why does this tie into 'The Void'? Cause it's pure Carpenter. The recent wave of retro horror ('Hobo with a Shotgun', 'Wolf-Cop', 'Father's Day', 'The Sleeper', 'It Follows', ETC.) is less a sign of filmmakers tapping a well but more a occurrence of children of this era of horror films coming into their own and reliving what made them fall in love with the genre to begin with.

You see it in the booming horror revival soundtrack market with synth scores being the main influence. In the specialty VHS market with small distributors releasing obscure and new films on what "experts" claim is a dead media (BTW, media doesn't die it just goes underground). You see it in the films that look like lost time-pieces to a begone decade while still feeling new and fresh. Many of these filmmakers ask "What if?" What if this film was a lost relic of the 80's? What if this film was popular enough that it had it's own video game adaptation? What would that look like?

We Can Dream

This is both a act of nostalgia and wanting to be part of something larger. Perhaps we shouldn't look at these films as throwbacks but as part of the larger narrative of a unique medium. The refusal of letting a filmmaking style wither and die. One that favors building tension, crafted tone, practical effects, and moody soundtracks over POV pop-ups and CGI artificialness.

'The Void' wants to be a part of that tradition. Let's let it be.

$10USD

"THE BOOK OF THE VOID" 

Create a personal imprint on the world of THE VOID by having your own artwork or prose be included in a page of a cult diary that will be featured in the film. 

Contribute at this level or above, and we'll send you a page from the diary for you to print off and fill with nightmarish sketches and/or creepy prose. 

All contributors will subsequently receive a digital download of the completed diary, which will feature art from both contributors and production artists. 

Plus exclusive e-mail updates.

$15USD

"Welcome To The Fold"

This perk earns you a BUTTON and magnetic BOTTLE OPENER, both sporting the film's logo! (Shipping included!) 

Plus, as an official funder of THE VOID, you'll also receive priority access to campaign updates, as well as exclusive FUNDERS ONLY content including videos, concept art and sneak peeks at the script.

$20USD

"The Sounds of Astron-6"

Gift your ears with the sweet sounds of ASTRON-6, as composed by Jeremy Gillespie, in this limited edition digital download. 

Includes the music from FATHER'S DAY, MANBORG, THE EDITOR and more! 

Plus, as a funder, you'll also receive a page in The Book of THE VOID, priority access to campaign updates, as well as exclusive FUNDERS ONLY content including videos, concept art and sneak peeks at the script.

$25USD

"THE VOID (Digital Download)"

Own a digital copy of THE VOID to watch in the comfort of your own home when it first becomes available on VOD platforms. 

Plus, as a funder, you'll also receive priority access to campaign updates, as well as exclusive FUNDERS ONLY content including videos, concept art and sneak peeks at the script.

$35USD

"Message from Bio-Cop"

Receive or send your friend a message from BIO-COP! 

Choose this perk and we'll email you a link to download a brand-new short film starring the world's most miserable crime fighter: BIO-COP. 

Each short will also feature a personalized message to you from BIO-COP himself! 

 Plus, as a funder, you'll also receive priority access to campaign updates, as well as exclusive FUNDERS ONLY content including videos, concept art and sneak peeks at the script.

$45USD

"Official T-Shirt"

Cement your commitment to THE VOID by adorning our logo on an official T-Shirt! 

You’ll also receive a button and magnetic bottle opener to help spread the word of THE VOID (Shipping included!).

Plus, as a funder, you'll also receive priority access to campaign updates, as well as exclusive FUNDERS ONLY content including videos, concept art and sneak peeks at the script.

$55USD

"Credited Thank You!"

Contribute at this level, and we'll commit a sincere THANK YOU to print in the credits of the final film! 

You’ll also receive a digital download of the film upon its VOD release, our friend BIO-COP will send you a video message, and you'll also receive a button and magnetic bottle-opener to help you spread the word. 

 Plus, as a funder, you'll also receive priority access to campaign updates, as well as exclusive FUNDERS ONLY content including videos, concept art and sneak peeks at the script!

$65USD

"THE VOID Digital Cult Combo"

Headlining this limited perk is a digital e-book detailing THE MAKING OF THE VOID; including exclusive concept art, cast/crew interviews and behind-the-scenes trivia. 

You'll also receive a digital download of the film upon its VOD release, a THANK YOU in the end credits, and our friend BIO-COP will send you a message.

Plus, as a funder, you'll also receive priority access to campaign updates, as well as exclusive FUNDERS ONLY content including videos, concept art and sneak peeks at the script.

$120USD

"Limited Edition Poster (Justin Erickson/Graham Humphreys/Ghoulish Gary Pullin)"

Receive a Limited Edition 18x24 poster for THE VOID illustrated by either Justin Erickson of Phantom City Creative, Graham Humphreys, or Ghoulish Gary Pullin. 

Act quick, the poster is being sold in limited quantity, and will be one of 100 numbered prints. 

Also receive a digital download of the film upon its VOD release, and exclusive web-updates about the making of the film.

$250USD

"Complete Cult Combo + Poster"

For true acolytes of THE VOID! 

Receive a signed Blu-Ray upon its North American release date, as well as THE VOID Digital Cult Combo. 

Plus we’ll ship you an official T-Shirt, button, and magnetic bottle-opener to help spread news of THE VOID (shipping included). 

Plus you get one of our limited edition posters! 

 

As a funder of THE VOID, you'll also receive exclusive film updates, as well as a page in the BOOK OF THE VOID.

$3000USD (On Sale)

"Be In The Film: The Disciples"

Adorn the robes of the mysterious Disciples (as seen in our proof-of-concept trailer), be featured in the film as a Disciple, and best of all KEEP the costume! 

One night accommodation covered, and travel is also covered for contributors from North America or Europe. 

Also includes: THE VOID Complete Cult Combo + 1 poster (your choice) + official and limited ed. 

T-Shirt. Plus access to exclusive web content.

$5000USD (ON SALE)

"Be in the Film: Key Monster"

Have your face lifecast by Steve Kostanski and incorporated into one of the key monsters in the film! 

We will fly you to Toronto in May, pick you up from the airport and whisk you to our shop for the day's work. 

Afterwards, you will have dinner with us, and be put up in a hotel for the night! 

You will also receive an Asst. Producer credit, as well as: THE VOID Complete Cult Combo + 1 poster (your choice) + official and limited ed. T-Shirt + premiere ticket (travel to fest not included).

We  here at CultSig! have a particulely strange obsession with the Astron-6 short Bio-Cop. This was a trailer attached to 'ManBorg' (2012) advertising the home video release of the greatest 80's cop film never made.

This is Bio-Cop