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Why Psyclops?
Old icons are being recycled and no one attempts an assault on the Gods of Horror. Films such as Aliens vs Predator, Freddy vs Jason, Jason X, Terminator 3, the resurrection's of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Dawn of the Dead offer nothing new. Fans are screaming for fresh meat and we have it. Psyclops is a unique character with the potential to be as big as Leatherface, Jason Voorhees, Alien, or the Predator. He could be the next Freddy Krueger. We can already see the kids dressing up as Psyclops for Halloween.
Horror i$ good
Horror has broad international appeal, thus massive potential for theatrical distribution and a long shelf life through sell-thru and rental. A violent brutal horror film may not win an Oscar, but it does have great merit. It can be remarkably cheap to make, does not require a name cast and has a large, voracious audience. Australia and the US are just a fraction of the horror market. Nations where horror films are far more popular and respected include - Spain (pop 42m) - Italy (pop 60m) - Mexico (pop 95m) - Japan (pop 128m) & Brazil (pop 170m). In each of these nations, horror represents a significant percentage of box office, sell-thru and rental. Each has its own horror conventions, festivals and awards. No other genre, other than science fiction, has such a dedicated and supportive fan base. Horror films that capture the imagination of an audience can become international cult icons that last for generations.Recent highly successful horror films include Cabin Fever, 28 days later, Jeepers Creepers 2 and Australia's own Undead. Cabin Fever (budget US$1.5m), had an opening weekend gross of over US$8.6m. Undead had great success locally and internationally. Undead was the most $ucce$$ful Australian film of 2003.
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Development
The writer Steven Willems, is a lifelong horror fan. The script has been in development since 2000 and was a recent quarter finalist in The Big Australian International Scriptwriting Competition (1500+ entries). The strength of the script is a simple, yet effective narrative driven by real characters. The tension and horror build with terrifying intensity, carefully punctuated with humour to offer moments of relief. The script has often been read in a single, nail-biting sitting.Psyclops was invited to participate in the X (cross) Media Lab, a world-class development forum, attended by television, film and game industries experts. The unique character, the strength of the script and the team were all recognised and enthusiastically endorsed during the 3 days of work shops. Topics included; cross-platform content, interactivity, and merchandising. Besides being a fantastic learning experience, we are enjoying ongoing discussions with some really great people.
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Setting and Mood
The primary location is native Australian bushland near a beautiful secluded beach. This glorious paradise, where the characters spend their first day surfing and enjoying the Australian summer, has a deceptive dark side.The bush is a potentially harsh and threatening environment from which there is no easy escape. This is enhanced by the characters of complete isolation from civilisation. As the light of day fades and the full moon rises, dark twisted trees claw at the writhing sea mist.The cabin is a character itself; an old ruin with darkened corners and broken windows. It's haunted appearance sends chills down the spine, much like the Bates House did in Psycho. Thick dust and rotting weeds envelope this isolated remnant of humanity. Something terrible happened here. Something which suggests that no-one who values life, should linger.
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Casting
Unlike mainstream films, a recognisable name is traditionally unnecessary. The most successful horror films, including Halloween, Friday the 13th, and The Evil Dead, had no recognisable names in the cast. The recent success, Cabin Fever, was shot by a first time director with a no-name cast; as was the Australian hit, Undead. Fans of horror do not judge a film by names appearing on the cover. They are more drawn to elements such as blood, violence and an interesting, distinctive killer. Many big name actors got their breaks in horror films. Johnny Depp - A Nightmare on Elm Street; Bruce Campbell - Evil Dead; Jamie Lee Curtis - Halloween; Tom Hanks - He Knows You Are Alone; Meg Ryan - Amityville 3-D; Renee Zelwegger - Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre; Hugh Grant - The Lair of the White Worm; Demi Moore - Parasite; Ben Affleck - Phantom. Hayley Carr has been chosen to play Ashley, the heroin in Psyclops. She is a beautiful and talented actress with broad experience AND the 2003 GKR Karate World Champion in the women’s 16-20 years division. Hayley is the perfect choice to fight our vicious killer to the death. Searching for the other key roles has begun, with a focus on finding actors who can bring a bit of their own personality to the characters. Casting
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Shooting Format
Psyclops is to be shot on Super 16. The compact cameras allow for flexible shooting, with great potential for creative movement, framing and lighting. Production costs are significantly reduced by faster set-up times.
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