Catching Up With The Indie Monster Movie Scene - Giant Gila Monster, Godaizer, Jersey Devils & Giant Shoulders

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Sources: Avery Guerra, Kenneth Barker, Hillary Yeo

I really have to apologize for not keeping on top of all the really cool stuff that lands in my email each week about some really cool independent film features that I am sure many of you would enjoy knowing about. I don't mean to make excuses but it is the holidays and this boy has a job so time is at a premium.

Over this past week especially there were a few items that deserved their own articles but as I just mentioned time was one thing I didn't have ... yadda yadda yadda. So here is a rather brief recap with links where you can find out more about these projects.

The Giant Gila Monster

Film makers Tony Randel and Jim Wynorski are presently working on a remake of the 1958 cult classic "The Giant Gila Monster" in Franklin, Indiana and is in need of about a hundred extras to get squished by said Gila Monster. The film which stars Don Sullivan, who was the star of the original, will be aired under the title "Gila!" on the SyFy Channel sometime in 2012. This time around the idea of using a real gila monster as the monster is being pushed aside for a CGI creation.

The plot ... well that's simple .... a small Mid-Western town in the 1950s gets menaced by a giant mutated lizard. Nuff said.

If you would like to be in the film here is the info from a member of the production:

“We are shooting 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM December 16th at the Fitness center in Franklin college in Franklin Indiana (The address is: The Franklin College Fitness Center, Grizzly Drive, Franklin, Indiana). We are looking for extras to dress in jeans, white t-shirt (plain) and running shoes.”

For more in formation and some pics from the set visit Undead Backbrain - Update: The Search for Gila Monster Fodder Begins!

Godaizer

For just over a year now I have been talking from time to time about a short animated film that I really liked called "Godaizer". The film is the creation of digital animator Hillary Yeo and is basically an homage to such Japanese giant robot series as "Tetsujin 28-go", "Mazinger", "Ultraman: The Next" and "WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3".

Yeo took her little film out on the festival circuit in 2011 and found it to be "a sobering experience." There are a lot of people doing digital animation these days and the competition is pretty rough perhaps. Anyway Yeo has decided to skip film festivals and post the entire 20-minute film online for everyone to enjoy. Here it is in it's entirety:

Godaizer Animated Short. (Full Length 19 min version.) from hilscreate on Vimeo.

On The Shoulders Of Giants

British film maker Kenneth Barker has just posted a reworked teaser trailer for his upcoming retro scifi film "On The Shoulders Of Giants". The film is an homage to such classic 1950's popcorn flicks as "Forbidden Planet" and "This Island Earth". Give it a look see:



The film which was supposed to already be out has been pushed back to a summer 2012 release due to the amount of special effects needed for the production.

Jersey Devil Expeditions

As you know Monster Island News is you crypto horror movie headquarters and I have yet another such film for you today. Thomas Smith of Fighting Owl Films is presently looking for funding to get his film "Jersey Devil Expeditions" off the ground.

Here is the plot:

Jersey Devil Expeditions, a horror adventure focusing on the legend and folklore of the mythical Jersey Devil. Filled with humor, scares and romance, the story explores what happens when the employees of a ragtag roadside attraction known as Jersey Devil Expeditions -- popular for its camping trips, in which guests search for and eventually "encounter" the mysterious creature -- learn that the legend has come to life. Stalked in the forest, the guests and their guides must fend off the terrifying beast and find a way to put an end to the bloody legend.

Smith has a screenplay in hand and has even put together a teaser trailer for the film .... dig the creepy nursery rhyme in this one!



Anyone interested in helping Smith with his film should visit FIGHTING OWL FILMS.

That's it for this week folks .... have a merry Christmas!

GODAIZER - A Giant Robot And Monster Orgasmotron

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Hillary Yeo

Last December I posted an article about a great new animated giant robot short called "Godaizer" which has been a three year labor of love for film maker Hillary Yeo. Today, thanks to Yeo, I was able to view the finished product and let me tell you I was left nearly speechless. What Yeo has been able to capture is the pure essence of both the giant robot and giant monster genre in one amazing 20-minute film.

Think of "Godaizer" as "Tetsujin 28-go", "Mazinger", "Ultraman: The Next" and "WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3" all assembled together to mash up in a perfect union with a bow on top.

There is no way that any fan of either Japanese anime or Tokusatsu could walk away from this one without feeling totally satisfied. The animation is beautiful and seamless, the robot design for "Godaizer" is timeless, (as if it jumped off the screen from a 70s Japanese cartoon) the monster is a nasty looking as can be and the combat sequences look pure Tsuburaya/Tanaka/Honda.

Here is a short synopsis of the plot:

An independent computer animated short about a robot repair warehouse run by a old man and his grandson where old decommissioned giant robot Godaizer is kept.

When a giant monster is awoken, its time for Godaizer to rise again and defeat it. But at what cost is it going to take to take down the monster?

At this time Yeo has entered "Godaizer" in a few festivals, including the Long Island International Film Expo. The film maker is also trying to get the word out there about his short film, which I am more than happy to aide him with, and has found the process to be a little harder than he first anticipated. True, it is hard to get noticed in this modern age where entertainment is literally at your fingertips, but I am more than confident that when people are able to see "Godaizer" the word will spread like wildfire.

Yeo has created something special here so don't be surprised if his career takes a major step forward after this.








See Also: More Robot Mayhem In Hillary Yeo's GODAIZER