Scene and Heard: It’s Almost Time …

Way back when I joined the Hollywood East community, I happened upon a movie trailer that made a lasting impression on me. The level of filmmaking was rarely seen in RI, and the effect was downright bloody disgusting. Under the moonlight, amidst the thick fog creeping in, we see cold glittering eyes, a spray of fresh blood and the promise of something deep inside that’s almost, well … Almost Human.

I posted the trailer to as many groups and pages as I could, because I was proud that this film came out of our little state. I later learned that the producers lived right here in Rhode Island. Enter Anthony Ambrosino and Nick Delmenico of Project 989, and Josh Ethier and Joe Begos of Channel 83 Films. They all have produced other films, but this one continues to draw attention for them. It’s been hailed as a cross between The Thing and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Writer/Director Joe Begos said, “I’ve always wanted my first film to be a gritty, dirty, low budget splatter movie made with my friends, just like Sam Raimi and Peter Jackson did for their first features, and it feels amazing that it actually happened and that people are responding to it.” About shooting in his home state, Joe added, “I love the feeling New England adds, I grew up loving Stephen King and in his stories the setting of Maine is like its own character. I wanted to elicit that same feeling with Rhode Island.” That he did – the film feels like a throwback to the old school retro horror flicks, from the coloring to the creepy sets to the monster movie fog reflected in the eyes of the person – or thing – that is terrorizing the people of the small rural town.

Getting into one of the five most important film festivals – The Toronto Film Festival – is a pretty big thing for the boys from RI. Josh Ethier is lead actor and also editor on Almost Human. He added, “Joe and I have been making films together since we were teenagers, and to go from Western Coventry to the Midnight Madness program at TIFF is a dream come true.”

Rhode Island is represented very well both behind the camera and in front of it. The cast includes some great New England actors –Vanessa Leigh, Tony Amaral III, Susan T. Travers, Michael LoCicero, Jami Tennille, David Langill, Diana Porter, Andre Boudreau, Kevin Cahill, and many more. Graham Skipper, a California resident, is in a lead role as Seth Hampton. I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of these folks, like Tony, Susan, Kevin and Andre, and I hope I do so again.

The Toronto Film Festival runs from September 5^th through the 15^th. Soon  Almost Human makes its debut to the world in the Midnight Madness lineup. Check out their trailer and get a sneak peek into what this madness is all about.  http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/festival/2013/almosthuman

I see a road trip coming up soon for the makers of this film, but more importantly, I see a bright future for the cast and crew of Almost Human.