STAY AWAY FROM THE WATERFRONT - AN INTERVIEW WITH JASON B. WHITTIER

I got a few minutes with writer, actor, producer Jason B. Whittier who kindly shared some info on upcoming horror/thriller Waterfront Nightmare. Jason wrote, casted and executively produced the film which sounds like it will provide an original take on the teen slasher film with smart scares and that all important twist! Thanks to Jason for chatting with me and please do read on below to find out about Waterfront Nightmare and much more!

Hacked in the Head: Hi Jason ! Thank you for taking the time to talk to me. Upcoming indie horror Waterfront Nightmare which you wrote, are the executive producer for, and also acted as casting director for, looks great. Can you tell me a bit more about the movie?

Jason: “Waterfront Nightmare” is a psychological thriller, with a stylized horror feel and elements of the teen slasher genre, in which seven college friends spend their spring break in a remote waterfront cabin only to discover that their lives are in jeopardy. The partying stops when they each start disappearing one by one. It is a familiar story line, however, the realistic nature of the killer are very unique and the twist make this film very different. Clark Birchmeier is the director and producer who did an incredible job on his first feature. Kyle Adcock was the DP and did a great job with some incredible and unique shots. Nate McAlpine did a fantastic job editing and made the film that much more suspenseful. We are currently finishing up ADR and sound design in post-production. Within the couple of weeks the film should be complete.

HitH: How was the shoot for the movie? I know Andrew Roth starred in the film, a great guy, so I imagine the making of the film must have been pretty fun?

Jason: Production was an 18 ½ day shoot in late July to mid-August in 2011. We shot most of the film from 8:00pm to 8:00am. The entire shoot went very well. Andrew Roth was amazing to work with. He is extremely talented, very professional, and was so much fun to be around on set. The entire cast and crew had an amazing time on and off set. Luckily we were sponsored by 3 beer companies, which you can imagine led to many fun nights and mornings. The cast and crew were great to work with. Everyone had good chemistry, moral was high, and we didn’t have any major problems.

HitH: Were there any particular challenges you faced while making Waterfront Nightmare? Also are there any stand-out performances you are particularly proud of and want to share?

Jason: The first major challenge was finding financing. We were in pre-production for about 10 months, which was mainly due to lack of funding. Luckily we received some donations, and had a few small investors. During the production the other challenge we faced was our HMI light went out the last two nights of the shoot. We were shooting from 8:00pm to 8:00am, so the rental house was closed and it was also the weekend, so they were not open the next day as well. Luckily, our director (Clark Birchmeier) was flexible to change around a few scenes to accommodate our HMI light going out.

There were so many stand-out performances. We are blessed that we had such an amazing cast. Dominic Gabriel, EJ Assi, Simone Wasserman, and Bree Michaels were the lead cast, and they did incredible jobs. Their roles were so dynamic and we were extremely happy with their performance. Mark Boyd, Kef Lee, and Andrew Roth also did amazing jobs as supporting cast. Typically with low budget films the acting is sub-par, however, our entire cast did an excellent job.

HitH: What are the release plans for the movie? Self distribution, VOD, wide release?

Jason: Once we finish post-production, we will be submitting the film to various festivals around the U.S. and overseas. We already have several interested distributors. We will likely have a worldwide release, VOD, Netflix, and hopefully a limited theatrical.

HitH: So you must enjoy the horror genre right? What do you love most about it and are there any favourite films you would like to mention?

Jason: I love horror movies and psychological thrillers. The adrenaline from fear and suspense is invigorating and something no drug can make you feel. Some of my favorite films are “Identity”, “Fear”, “I know what you did last Summer”, “Cape Fear”, “The Exorcist”, and many more. HitH: What's next for Jason B. Whittier? I see there is a new movie in the works, The Secret Village. Sounds good! Can you share any further details about the film with us?

 “The Secret Village” is currently in post-production as well. Swamy Kandan did a great job directing and producing. It is a suspenseful thriller about a journalist named Rachel, who is determined to unravel the mystery behind an outbreak of strange events in a small town. She meets with a local who is willing to share the events which are reminiscent of the Salem ergot poisonings. However, with the local’s sudden death, and her friend’s disappearance, all leads come to a dead end. Rachel is left alone to unravel the villagers’ secret. The film stars Jonathan Bennett (“Mean Girls”) , Ali Faulkner (“Twighlight- Breaking Dawn”) ,

Richard Riehle (“Office Space”), and Stellio Savante (“My Super Ex-Girlfriend”)

My next film in the works is called “Crazed”, which currently in development and will have a much larger budget. I don’t want to give away too many details yet, however, there is a director attached with two notable producers as well. The film is also a psychological thriller about revenge, manipulation, seduction, and jealousy. A sweet high school girl (Kayla) from a trailer park throws a party with her boyfriend (Austin) and friends while her parents are away for the weekend. Austin's wealthy family will not accept their relationship. Despite their strong resistance, he goes to the party with his two friends. Three neighbors (a pedophile, a drug dealer, and a schizophrenic) make the rich boys feel uneasy when they arrive. A jealous ex-girlfriend of Austin shows up at the party with her two snooty friends. Things quickly spiral out of control as they all disappear and wake up in a strange basement. "Crazed" has some horror elements, however, it is more of a psychological thriller with a huge twist at the end.

I’ve got a few other scripts I am finishing and re-writing at the moment as well. This is just the beginning.

HitH: If you were going to make any kind of movie other than in the horror or thriller genres, what would it be and why?

Jason: I love many types of films. I’m a huge fan of comedies. It is difficult to write comedy, and I am a very sarcastic person, so it would be a nice challenge for me.

HitH: Finally Jason, would you like to share anything else with readers?

Jason: Thank you so much for your time! Stay tuned for news on festivals, premieres, and release at http://www.waterfrontnightmare.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/WaterfrontNightmare

HitH: Thank YOU Jason!