Visual production company BiG MACHiNE recently completed “Living Nightmares,” a series of 10 original short films or “shockumentaries” for AMC Fearfest, hosted by Kevin Smith, executive producer of AMC’s Comic Book Men. n nScreening the best in contemporary and classic horror films, AMC Fearfest 2012 puts the traditional movie-and-a-host format to rest. BiG MACHiNE, led by director Steve Petersen, created nearly 40 minutes of scripted, live-action content to coincide with each night’s film selection such as “From Dusk Till Dawn” and “Halloween.”n nThe first short, “Abduction,” debuted on Monday, October 15th during “Friday the 13th Part 2.” The remaining original films will roll out, one by one, during primetime movie screenings until Halloween night.nn
nTo view some of the original shorts on YouTube click here.n nConceived to frighten and enlighten AMC viewers with a blockbuster dose of scary, each 3- to 5-minute film explores the possibilities lurking behind the bone-chilling myths of our favorite movies, from alien abduction and co-habitating spirits, to cannibalism and the dangers of Halloween. BiG MACHiNE leveraged verité cinematography and compelling storytelling to create the authentic documentary feel each fictional film exhibits.n nPetersen explains that he took multiple cues from his recent docudrama work such as the “Real Vice Miami” and “Valentine’s Day Massacre” series for Investigation Discovery and Nation Geographic Channel, respectively; moreover, he enlisted virtually every stage of filmmaking he has perfected over the years through BiG MACHiNE, both visually and production-wise — from scripting action-packed, effects-driven reenactments, to casting and interviewing real-life subjects involved in infamous crimes and daunting historical events.n n”We strove for these ‘shockumentaries’ to confront people’s deepest and darkest fears,” says Petersen. “We scripted and staged the investigative elements and interviews to evoke intense, emotional elements of realism similar to what we’ve dealt with interviewing real-life people in our long-format work. We had a good idea about how to set that tone and pacing both in the script and filming. This also included coaching actors to believably portray human traits in scary moments and heightening the cinematic feel.”n nProduction took place on sound stages and various on-site locations throughout Los Angeles. A major emphasis of the project was the visual design, with much attention towards establishing the right look, sound and feel. Further enhancing the documentary aesthetic were motion design segments explaining various scientific theories with an artistic quality typical of BiG MACHiNE ‘s award-winning commercial, promo, and opening titles work.n n”‘Living Nightmares’ aims to make mundane and everyday experiences a terrifying proposition, so art direction was all about staging believable atmospheres such as offices, hospitals, homes and even sidewalk interviews in classic investigative documentary fashion,” Petersen adds. n nBiG MACHiNE additionally helmed the network promos, graphics packages and celebrity host segments for the Halloween movie event featuring Kevin Smith. For the promos, the team worked with Smith shooting at a studio in downtown LA over the course of one day.n nThe AMC Fearfest collaboration cements BiG MACHiNE‘s evolution from a design & VFX company to a full-service creative & production agency, as evidenced by its body of content-driven work in long-format docudramas, high-end commercials, promos, and network packages.n n"AMC presented us with an exciting filmmaking commission," concludes Petersen. "It gave us a unique opportunity to go beyond the typical network promo and tap our diverse filmmaking range and resources for creating original, scripted content."n nCLICK HERE for more on BiG MACHiNE and AMC Fearfest.nnCreditsnProduction Company: BiG MACHiNEnDirector: Steve PetersennExecutive Producer: Sean OwolonProducer: David BerrentnnEditors:nNick Pezzillo (Blood Work, Sleep No More, Invasion & Abduction)nBrian Avenet-Bradley (Cannibals, Hallows Eve, Breaking Point & Bugged to Death)nKevin Murray (Evil Spirits)nSteve Petersen (Dead Pool)n nAbout BiG MACHiNE:nBiG MACHiNE is an award-winning visual production company founded in 2003 by Steve Petersen and Ken Carlson. BMD has produced visuals for everything from: film titles, advertising, TV shows, games, multi-screen experiences and mobile devices. Recent clients include Ubisoft, Nike, NFL Network, Warner Bros. / ABC, and Colgate. www.bigmachine.net
Contact:
BiG MACHiNE Mark Tillman Contact Mark via email
Who Needs Los Angeles? We Do.
One doesn't have to be a statistician to know that there are fewer commercials being shot in the U.S. today for the American market than ever before, and a dramatic decrease in L.A. in particular. In the last five years, as reported by FilmLA (the office tasked with issuing permits), L.A. commercial production has dipped 31 percent. But here’s the thing: This doesn’t mean that L.A. has lost its importance as the production center of the world. Production in L.A. is vital. It is the go-to. It’s where you can count on access to exemplary crews, a support infrastructure second to none, varied location and backlot options, a large population of on-screen talent and (fairly) predictable weather. The fact is, with overall decline and now the devastation of the fires, we’re on the brink of losing this mainstay resource. Without employment opportunities and now many without homes, talented and trained crew are bound to leave either the industry or the LA area for other opportunities, unless there are enough job opportunities to sustain a solid living. Now is the time when we ALL must support and bolster this community. Production is needed in L.A., now! Of course, advertising is a business, and marketers’ money should be spent as efficiently as possible, BUT we have to think beyond each production and know that if we lose the incredible resource of L.A. production as we know it, then marketers, agencies and the industry loses in the long run. Over the past several days, some agencies have issued directives to production companies that are unilaterally pushing upcoming production options out of L.A. The fact is L.A. is a large area, and many sections of the city and county are not directly impacted... Read More
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