Film Name: Horror-Scopes Volume One
Directors: Tony Sands, Maria Lee Metheringham, Dani Thompson, Davin Jeayes, Alexander Churchyard, Pablo Raybould, Anna Dixon, Luna Wolf, Martin W. Payne, Richard Elson, John Foxen, Annie Knox, Mj Dixon
Writers: Alexander Churchyard, Mj Dixon, Davin Jeayes, Annie Knox, Pablo Raybould, Tony Sands, Dani Thompson, Luna Wolf, Anna Dixon, Eve Oliver
Starring: Pauline Peart, Stacy Hart, Peter Tilley, Jack Glanville, Claire Louise Amias
Horror-Scopes aims to bring 12 of Indie Horrors’ brightest talents together to tell 12 star-crossed tales of Horror Scope-based horror.
In a new interview leading up to the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival, I got a chance to ask writer-director Martin W. Payne a few questions about what we can expect from his segment of Horror-Scopes Volume One.
Horror-Scopes Volume One will be showing at Horror-on-Sea at 8 pm on Friday 13th January.
Q. Your film Horror-Scopes Volume One has been selected to play at the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival. Can you tell us what we can expect from the film and your segment Sagittarius?
A. Can I tell you what to expect from the whole film? No! Other than a Mycho film is always going to be watchable and the mix of talent creating the segment short films within HorrorScopes means that there will be a good mix of talent on screen and behind the camera. But that’s because all the segments have been filed in isolation. As for SAGITTARIUS then hopefully you’ll get the feeling that this is a horror but its not an outright gorefest or psychological film – perhaps more of a thriller, maybe an introduction to a couple of characters with their own stories to be told elsewhere.
Q. How did you get involved in the horror anthology and what attracted you to the film?
A. I’ve worked for Mycho previously (MASK OF THORN, SLAYPRIL FOOLS VII) and basically was invited to join in by MJ. Producing and directing a short film can be fun and less stressful than a feature film – although there were plenty of stresses along the way. The filming was one of the last to happen because of a couple of shoot date changes.
Q. What were some of your influences when writing the script for your segment and for the look and style of the film?
A. I wanted to bring in the feel of a ‘James Bond’ style thriller, with a diabolical criminal mastermind out to rule the world, and a strong female ‘James Bond’. I also wanted the Dame Judi Dench style character to be in charge of what actually happens in the story. I guess I was also strongly influenced by a suggestion that I made at Pat Higgin’s MasterClass at Horror on Sea where he encouraged filmmakers to look at what they had available to bring to a “no budget independent horror movie” – I said a “pub with a cellar that concealed the lair of a criminal mastermind…” … mwahahah!
Q. Did you make any changes from the original script during filming?
A. We shot the entire segment in just under 12 hours, starting at 4 pm, and in two indoor locations with an outdoor location. I’d also been let down by one of the cast slightly and so had to replan the look of one of the characters and that led to an entire scene being cut at 3 am on the shoot. But that also proved to be a benefit as the 7-minute run time limit was tough to achieve in the edit – Jason Impey (DoP and Editor) achieved the short run time, but we also have a longer, more flowing, version that is 13 minutes long (and still doesn’t have the end scene / shot I really wanted, but them’s the breaks…)
Q. What were some of your favourite moments during filming?
A. One moment was certainly when starting to film Peter Tilley (CASTING KILL) playing SAGITTARIUS when his first script direction was “eat a donut” – and he totally went for it, eating four mini donuts before trying to say his line. Unfortunately, the short run time means that didn’t make the cut, plus we couldn’t hear him speak through the donut in his mouth that he was struggling to eat, so we had to do a second take. Yup, more donut for Peter! I also enjoyed having Pauline Peart (THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA [1973] and CARRY ON GIRLS [1973]) playing JUPITER and really bringing the Dame Judi vibe to the character.
Q. Did you experience any issues during filming?
A. As mentioned, we had to change the shoot date three times – due to the Covid-19 pandemic impact – and also the lead female actor had to be changed three times because of timing. A quick shout-out to Charlie Bond (POWERTOOL CHEERLEADERS VS THE BOYBAND OF THE SCREECHING DEAD) for suggesting Stacy Heart (DEAD AIR) as MERCURY (Charlie was eager to take the role but was concerned that she might have been suffering from Covid-19 two days before the shoot and managed to find her own replacement) with Stacy bringing everything I would have wanted that main character to be like.
Q. What do you hope people take away after watching the film?
A. Hopefully SAGITTARIUS will be seen as a nicely flowing short film that isn’t much on bloody horror but works well as a thriller with some great performances from the three principal actors.
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are currently working on?
A. There are a few in the pipeline but it’s quiet at the moment but always up for being asked to act for others in the UK indie horror world, and that’s what being at Horror on Sea Film Festival is all about. I have been asked to provide a short film for HorrorScopes Two – within three hours of being advised of the subject I had that script written and now just need to organise the shoot and, quick spoiler alert, that short will be titled EQUUS.
Q. If someone was looking to write and direct their own film what advice would you give them?
A. The important thing about a first film is that it is just that – the first film. If you don’t make it, who will? Practically though, make contact and surround yourself with good people – SAGITTARIUS would not exist without the cast and especially the crew: Jason Impey (DOP/Editor), Rachel Simpson (Assistant Producer), and particularly Katie Johnson (Makeup Artist).
Horror-Scopes Volume One will be showing at Horror-on-Sea at 8 pm on Friday 13th January. You can purchase tickets and merchandise for the festival on the website here
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!
