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!

Kenneth Barker Goes Sci Fi Retro Style For ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Kenneth Barker

Today I was contacted by an indie film maker in the UK named Kenneth Barker about his film project "On The Shoulders Of Giants". The film, as Barker explained to me, is an homage to the classic sc fi films of the 1950's, namely Forbidden Planet. Like American film maker Christopher Mihm, Barker's love for the "golden age" of space films has taken him on a wonderful journey to distant world's filled with a big robot, laser guns, UFO shaped space craft and, though we don't see her in the trailer, undoubtedly a heroine to rival Anne Francis herself.

Here is the scoop:

In the 23rd century mankind had finally travelled beyond the confines of Earth's solar system and made contact with intelligent extraterrestrials. New forms of atomic propulsion has finally made space exploration to distant worlds possible.

During starship Andromeda’s maiden voyage its Einstein-Rosen (ER) drive is successfully tested. A vessel equipped with an ER drive is capable of crossing the galaxy in days by travelling through self-generated wormholes. The ER drive was designed by the child science genius N'tron Zepethar.

Fifteen years earlier the starship Leviathan (with Zepethar aboard and propelled by his first version of an ER drive) disappeared on its maiden voyage. As the only other vessel equipped with an operational ER drive the Andromeda is reassigned to the Leviathan's rescue mission.

The Andromeda’s crew locate the crashed Leviathan on Theta-25L, a desolate planet 45,000 light years from Earth. Whilst attempting to contact the Leviathan, the Andromeda's captain is killed. This untimely tragedy imposes the captaincy on Commander Jane Altaire.

After fifteen years on Theta-25L, Zepethar is the sole survivor of the Leviathan's crew.

When Commander Altaire begins searching for answers to the Leviathan’s demise it soon becomes apparent both Zepethar and Theta-25L harbour terrifying secrets...



"On The Shoulders Of Giants" is in post-production over at Water On The Rock studios in the UK for a Fall 2011 release.