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Life’s already a circus, right? You’re juggling work, relationships, and your own existential dread, and then someone suggests you go to the countryside for a peaceful escape. You’re thinking fresh air, calm vibes, and maybe some organic veggies on the side. But instead, what you get is a series of weirdly overenthusiastic conversations, a questionable bowl of soup, and—oh yeah—a tick bite that might just turn your whole world upside down.

Well, welcome to The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick, a film that promises tranquility but delivers tension, weirdness, and a whole lot of strange vibes. Director Pete Ohs isn’t just playing with horror here—he’s toying with your mind, nudging you into a world where nothing feels quite right. Like a bad trip to a wellness retreat, it leaves you questioning everything.

Zoë Chao in The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick...

American Cinematheque’s Proof Film Festival announced the Filmmaker Award winners at their second annual festival in Culver City on Sunday.

This year’s festival featured 46 official short film selections. Each one had to convey a proof of concept of how the filmmakers would develop their short into a full-length feature or series.

Liz Sargent’s “Take Me Home” took home the Grand Jury Award. Her short film follows two sisters, Anna and Emily, as they share a rocky reunion after their mother’s passing. The two navigate Anna’s cognitive disability as they rebuild their relationship. Along with the award, Sargent also received a $60,000 camera package, courtesy of Panavision, to assist her with fleshing out a larger project from their proof-of-concept submission.

Giselle Bonilla’s “The Musical” won the Audience Choice Award. In the short, Doug Lebowitz, a middle school theater director, decides to take down his ex-girlfriend’s...

The American Cinematheque has announced the schedule of events and list of speakers for this year’s Proof Film Festival, which will take place from Oct. 18-20 at the Culver Theater. The festival will feature 46 official selections in addition to industry panels, special screenings, centerpiece conversations and the Proof Pitch Deck Show & Tell.

The in-person panelists include Margaret Cho, Carlos López Estrada, Danny Madden, Sean Wang, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Morgan Cooper, Valerie Bush, Karen Maine and more.

The festival has also chosen eight participants for its Proof Pitch Deck Show & Tell, which will give each team the opportunity to pitch their film decks to industry professionals. Those participants are “Eat the Children” from Andrew Merrill, “The Lambing” from Jillian Corsie, “Photocopy” from Mike Klubeck, “Silver Spoon” from Lucy Porter, “Poppyfields” from Maria Belafonte, “House of Dixie” from Netta Walker, “Paul Ruins a Wedding and Destroys an Entire Community” from Brad Roelandt...

15 Cameras is a standalone horror film that follows a couple who spiral into obsession and voyeurism after discovering hidden cameras in their new duplex. Director Danny Madden wanted the movie to explore the concept of our voyeuristic society and the idea that anyone can be watching at any time. The film was initially planned to feature Neville Archambault, the actor who played the Slumlord in the previous movies, but he passed away, leading to changes in the story and a focus on new characters.

Written by Pj McCabe, 15 Cameras is currently available to stream On Demand. The horror movie succeeds 13 Cameras and 14 Cameras but can be watched as a stand-alone film. When married couple, Cam and Sky, buy a duplex, they believe they're making a worthwhile investment in their future. However, once Cam finds hidden cameras throughout the house and a lair full of monitors, he spirals down...

Plot: When married couple Cam and Sky move into a property formerly owned by the voyeuristic, homicidal slumlord from the previous films, Cam discovers that the place is still equipped with cameras and monitoring equipment. He begins to follow in the slumlord’s creepy footsteps… while also starting to fear that the slumlord is still lurking around.

Review: In the 2015 film 13 Cameras, writer/director Victor Zarcoff and actor Neville Archambault introduced viewers to one of the most repugnant characters ever put on the screen: slack-jawed, perverted, homicidal slumlord Gerald. That film had one hell of a downer ending, so thankfully it received a sequel three years later – 14 Cameras, with Archambault reprising the role of Gerald and Zarcoff writing the screenplay for Scott Hussion and Seth Fuller to direct. Again, the door was left wide open for a sequel, with Gerald still up to his woman-capturing ways. So it’s good that,...

Stars: Will Madden, Angela Wong Carbone, Hilty Bowen, James Babson, Shirley Chen, Hannah Mckechnie, Skyler Bible, Courtney Dietz, Erik Leupp, Donna Allen, Brianne Moncrief, Jim Cummings, Stephen Ruffin | Written by Pj McCabe | Directed by Danny Madden

The “cameras” franchise – for yes, 15 Cameras is actually the Third film in the series – has had a bit of a fractured history. The first film debuted at Frightfest 2015 under the title Slumlord, then was released a year later under the title 13 Cameras. Two years later the rest of the world would get 14 Cameras, whereas here in the UK the film was quietly put out on VOD platforms as I See You… with zero fanfare or much fan reaction for that matter either.

Now comes 15 Cameras. Released some five years after the original sequel this film, sadly, does not feature Neville Archambault’s creed serial-killing, camera-watching Gerald, after the actor passed away last year. This...

Seven years ago, Victor Zarcoff introduced the world to a perverted creep named Gerald in his horror thriller 13 Cameras – and five years ago, Gerald returned to menace more people (including future Prey star Amber Midthunder) in the sequel 14 Cameras. Sadly, Neville Archambault, who played Gerald in both of those films, passed away unexpectedly last year at the age of 66. But Gerald’s legacy lives on in the upcoming sequel 15 Cameras, which is set to receive a VOD release from Gravitas Ventures on October 13th. With that date right around the corner, a trailer for 15 Cameras has arrived online and can be seen in the embed above.

Directed by Danny Madden from a screenplay by Pj McCabe, the new sequel has the following synopsis: When Cam and Sky bought their duplex, it seemed like the perfect investment opportunity for the young couple; a starter home, a mortgage offset by renters,...

"There's nothing to be afraid of..." Gravitas Ventures has unveiled an official trailer for an indie horror film titled 15 Cameras, this time directed by Danny Madden. This is actually a sequel to two other indie horror films: 13 Cameras (from 2015), and then 14 Cameras (from 2018). A whole new writer & director are on this one, continuing the concept of a creepy voyeur putting cameras in people's apartments. It follows the young couple Cam & Sky, who buy a duplex together as a starter home. However, they discover hidden cameras and the disturbing secrets of the previous owner. Becoming obsessed with spying on others, their marriage unravels and their voyeurism has consequences when new tenants move in downstairs. The film's ensemble cast features Will Madden, Angela Wong Carbone, Hilty Bowen, James Babson, Shirley Chen, Hannah Mckechnie, Skyler Bible, with Jim Cummings & Stephen Ruffin. Looks like it's not a quiet creeper, it gets loud and wild and intense.

In the wake of 13 Cameras and 14 Cameras, Gravitas Ventures will next be unleashing 15 Cameras, and the third piece of the trilogy is coming to VOD on October 13, 2023.

From 30 Bones Cinema & Hood River Entertainment, 15 Cameras is written by Pj McCabe, directed by Danny Madden, and stars Will Madden, Angela Wong Carbone, Hilty Bowen, James Babson, Shirley Chen, Hannah Mckechnie, Skyler Bible, Courtney Dietz, Erik Leupp, Donna Allen, Brianne Moncrief, Jim Cummings, and Stephen Ruffin.

In the upcoming horror sequel…

“When Cam and Sky bought their duplex, it seemed like the perfect investment opportunity for the young couple; a starter home, a mortgage offset by renters, and even a guest room for Sky’s sister, Carolyn. But as Sky and Cam slowly uncover hidden cameras and secrets of the duplex’s previous owner, obsession consumes their marriage and they both fall into destructive forms of voyeurism. When new tenants move in downstairs,...

Exclusive: Curate Management founder Britton Rizzio has promoted TV and film literary manager Courtney Conwell to partner, Deadline has learned.

Rizzio formed Curate in November to provide a hands-on and global approach to representation and saw a coveted roster of clients align with the new venture, one of the few female-owned literary management firms in Hollywood.

“I’m thrilled to be able to elevate Courtney and have always seen her as a leader. She’s forward-thinking, doesn’t settle for status quo, and is a fierce protector of her clients’ voices,” Rizzio tells Deadline. “Curate represents innovative and ground-breaking thinkers, my goal is to build a team of managers and producers who reflect those values.”

Conwell’s roster includes visionary storytellers such as writer/director Emily Carmichael (Jurassic World Dominion), Our Lady J (Pose), Sarah Lampert (Ginny and Georgia), Emma Fletcher (Social Justice Warrior), Corina Maritescu (Joe vs. Carole), Emily Kaczmarek...

There is an endearingly throwback vibe to Pete Ohs’ “Jethica,” a deadpan supernatural dramedy that lasts less than 70 minutes, but feels animated by a host of ghosts, not just of individual movies, but of entire filmmaking movements past. In particular, the restrictions of shooting in a pandemic seem to have liberated some of the gonzo spirit of an early-90s microbudget indie, the kind that happened when a gang of friends, armed with little more than enthusiasm and weapons-grade cinephilia, maxed out their credit cards on a couple of weeks in the desert and came back with sunburn on their noses and an inspired riff on a genre or six in the can.

But if the mix of dead-serious themes and playful, why-the-hell-not approach gives off a youthful, almost film-studenty energy, the actual craft is well above amateur-level. Ohs wears well the hats of director, editor and co-writer (alongside the...

Writer/director/actor Jim Cummings joins hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante to discuss a few of his favorite movies.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Thunder Road short film (2016)

Thunder Road (2018)

The Wolf Of Snow Hollow (2020)

The Beta Test (2021)

Jack Reacher (2012)

The ’Burbs (1989) – Ti West’s trailer commentary, Burbs-Mania from Tfh

Big (1988)

War Of The Worlds (2005) – Glenn Erickson’s 4K Blu-ray review

Psycho (1960) – John Landis’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings

Children Of Men (2006)

Y Tu Mama Tambien (2002)

Russian Ark (2002) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary

The Beach (2000)

Titanic (1997)

28 Days Later (2003)

Victoria (2015) – Eduardo Rodriguez’s trailer commentary

Krisha (2015)

Dogtooth (2009)

Inside Out (2015)

Toy Story (1995)

Finding Nemo (2003)

Wall-e (2008)

Up (2009)

Rosemary’s Baby (1968) – Mark Pellington’s trailer commentary, Oren Peli’s trailer commentary

False Positive (2021)

Repulsion (1965) – Michael Lehman’s trailer commentary

Seduced And Abandoned (1964)

Divorce Italian Style (1961)

La Dolce Vita (1960) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary

My Beautiful Girl, Mari (2002)

Speed Racer...

No One Gets Out Alive: "Ambar (Cristina Rodlo) is an immigrant in search of the American dream, but when she's forced to take a room in a boarding house, she finds herself in a nightmare she can't escape."

Director: Santiago Menghini

Writers: Jon Croker, Fernanda Coppel

Based on the Novel No One Gets Out Alive by Adam Nevill

Cast: Cristina Rodlo, Marc Menchaca

Producers: Jonathan Cavendish, Will Tennant

Executive Producers: Andy Serkis, David Bruckner, Philip Robertson, Adam Nevill, Jon Croker

Releases globally on Netflix on September 29, 2021

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Mean Spirited: "Michelle Veintimilla, Neville Archambault, and Will Madden join the cast for Mean Spirited, the solo directorial debut from Jeff Ryan. The film, which is co-written by Ryan and Joe Adams, is a found-footage horror-comedy set to begin shooting this fall.

Madden will star as Andy, an up-and-coming Vlogger whose attempts to reconnect with his estranged friend, Bryce (played by Ryan) fall...

Schitt’s Creek Star Joins Hot Docs Food Film

Exclusive: Schitt’s Creek star Dustin Milligan has boarded doc Food For The Rest of Us as executive producer. The film, which had its world premiere at Doxa, will also play at Hot Docs next month. Milligan is best known for his performances in Rutherford Falls, Schitt’s Creek and RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race. The film follows young people across the U.S. striving for a better world through food, including an Indigenous-owned, youth run organic farm in Hawaii, a Black urban grower in Kansas City, a female Kosher Butcher in Colorado working with the Queer Community, and an Inuit community in the Northwest Territories employing traditional harvesting methods to grow fresh produce in a community greenhouse. Pic is directed by Caroline Cox, produced by Tiffany Ayalik and Caroline Cox and is executive-produced by Stuart Henderson and Milligan. The actor said: “Being born...

MTV Documentary Films has acquired Imagine Documentaries and Delirio Films’ documentary short “Coded: The Hidden Love of J.C. Leyendecker.”

Directed by Ryan White, “Coded” tells the story of early 20th century gay illustrator J.C. Leyendecker, whose advertising work was often coded with LGBTQ imagery. Despite Leyendecker’s success — he had more Saturday Evening Post covers than Norman Rockwell — his legacy has largely gone unnoticed.

The film, narrated by Neil Patrick Harris, won the best documentary short award at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival.

MTV announced the acquisition on Thursday morning.

“I’m thrilled to partner with [executive producer, MTV Documentary Films] Sheila Nevins and the team at MTV Documentary Films to bring ‘Coded: The Hidden Love of J. C. Leyendecker’ to a global audience,” White said in a statement. “The personal story of J.C. Leyendecker has been in many ways lost to history, so I hope ‘Coded: The Hidden Love of J. C.

“Beast Beast” is not your typical teen drama. There are no fights about who’s going with who to Prom. No drama about boyfriends and girlfriends. But writer-director Danny Madden’s debut feature is able to capture the awkwardness and the split-second choices that teens are faced with on a daily basis in an honest, often brutal way. And clearly, this honesty is a large part of what attracted Alec Baldwin to the project.

Continue reading Alec Baldwin & Danny Madden Talk The Honesty Of ‘Beast Beast’ And Social Media’s Impact On Teens [Interview] at The Playlist.

Story of multi-ethnic Gen Z-ers in the southern US is more interested in checking off a list of liberal talking points than lending its characters depth

Here’s another indie flick that mistakes handheld camera movements for emotional intimacy. Produced by Alec Baldwin, Danny Madden’s second feature has a host of characters and storylines that are just as empty and unfocused as the migraine-inducing cinematography. Revolving around of group of multi-ethnic Gen Z-ers in the American south, this message-heavy film tries hard to tackle urgent issues such as social media, familial conflicts and, above all, gun violence. The film only succeeds at peddling barely tolerable coming-of-age cliches.

The kids in Beast Beast hail from all walks of life. There is Krista (Shirley Chen), a spunky Asian theatre kid who blooms on stage yet wilts at home in the presence of her neglectful parents. She is charmed by Nito (Jose Angeles...

Sebastian Stan and Denise Gough set off on a whirlwind weekend romance in Monday, a romantic drama that IFC Films released in theaters and on-demand Friday.

It’s the fourth feature from director Argyris Papadimitropoulos, who also wrote and produced the film.

Here is the plot: When Mickey (Stan) is dragged away from his DJ set by a drunken friend and introduced to Chloe (Gough) one hot summer night in Athens, the attraction between the pair is immediately palpable. So palpable that before they know it they’re waking up naked on the beach Saturday morning. And so it goes that a one-night stand on Friday turns into a whirlwind weekend romance that leads to serious conversations when they face the harsh sunlight on Monday morning.

The pic was an official selection at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival and the 2020 Toronto Film Festival. Check out the trailer below.

Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman...

Chekhov’s Gun has never felt more ominous than as part of an arsenal on the wall of a lonely teenager’s bedroom in a slice-of-life movie about modern American high schoolers. In fact, it sometimes feels as if “Beast Beast” writer/director/composer Danny Madden has underestimated the dark cloud such a thing can cast over every inch of his story, even if the inevitability is so obviously the point (and even if the gun doesn’t go off when and where you assume it will).

On one hand, ; as a phenomenon that follows god-awful gun laws and online radicalization with the same meteorological certainty that thunder follows lightning. We see it coming before any of Madden’s characters do, and his film would be held together by our own nauseated helplessness even if it weren’t so percussive, well-acted, and perversely fun to watch. For better or worse,...

"So I guess we're not having any fun today?" Vanishing Angle has released official trailer for indie coming-of-age film Beast Beast, which originally premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival last year to some solid reviews. This looks like a super indie, shoot-from-the-hip, creative low key story about "what it means to come of age in an era marked by technology and social media, where violent clashes awaken dormant passions and teenagers are faced with growing up all too quickly." The cast of newcomers includes Shirley Chen, Will Madden, and Jose Angeles. Reviews say that the film "captures Gen Z in a compelling, raw form. Insightful and terrifying... ambitious and intriguing." Terrifying indeed. This definitely does look a bit wild and crazy, maybe a bit too wild and crazy, but perhaps I just don't understand all the kids these days... Here's the official trailer (+ two posters) for Danny Madden's Beast Beast,...

Jim Cummings is perhaps as recognized for talking about making movies as he is at making them. If you pay attention to American indie films, Cummings has carved out a career the past decade as producer and actor, and now directing his own movies. In his Thunder Road follow-up The Wolf of Snow Hollow, Cummings plays John Marshall, a deputy carrying the weight of his sheriff father (played by Robert Forster in his final movie) who is in decline, and trying to keep his predilection for booze in check. When a werewolf shows up in Snow Hollow, Marshall is tasked with stopping the beast, but turning his attention to this bloodthirsty foe, everything he balances in his personal life comes unraveled.

As the film now arrives in theaters and digitally, we spoke with Cummings about casting Robert Forster, what it’s like to direct yourself in a movie where you’re the star,...

Vimeo is tapping its filmmaking community to spotlight small businesses who have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic through a new initiative dubbed 'Stories In Place'.

Vimeo chose filmmakers for the project by inviting all Staff Picked creators to apply.. Eight filmmakers were ultimately chosen to helm videos about small businesses that meant something to themselves and their communities. Vimeo provided creators grants to fund production, and also matched these grants with a donation to each of the featured businesses. All of the films were created in 12 days while sheltering in place, Vimeo says.

For instance, Law Chen made a film about New York Chinese restaurant 886 (see below), which has been shut down by the pandemic but is making bento boxes to donate to hospitals and healthcare workers, while Danny Madden made an animated film about how Los Angeles bike shop Coco’s Variety is handling a high demand for repairs,...