Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories is an anthology series by six directors. John William Holt talks to us about this critically acclaimed anthology or a collection of stories. These sees a young couple who plan to buy an old home. They ask for one last tour of the property to recheck then close the deal.
Their guide through the property is a Realtor that may have more in store than they bargained for. Moving from one floor to the next floor, they begin to discover seven tales of terror, that will leave you (audience) asking…How many stories does this home have?
Volumes of Blood if now available on Amazon Prime
indieactivity: Give us a background of your experience with VOBHS (Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories)?
John William Holt (JWH): Feeding Time was a segment already by P.J. Starks. Which I totally dug the TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE vibe, but felt it could use a little more connection to the audience. I have like 8 min running time to pull you in.
Then spend the rest of the time doing these awful things to this character so the audience will feel something for him. I turned to Jason Turner who can take these ideas and make them into something great. Just a writer that knows what he’s doing. The script is your foundation so it better be tip top and that’s what Jason does. His understanding of character, story, structure and theme is incredible.
Did you start writing with a cast in mind?
John William Holt (JWH): After reviewing the changes I knew exactly who I wanted to cast. Caleb Shore was the actor for the job. He’s so damn charming and reads on camera as such. He was perfect, like I said pull the audience in and care for him when the blood starts to flow. P.J. has cast Shelby Mullins who was perfect for her role and wonderful to work with. My little monster is by the son of my longtime wardrobe mistress Barbie Clark.
How long it take to finish the script?
John William Holt (JWH): Maybe a week of going back n forth. It wasn’t a ton of changes just fine tuning to our sensibilities.
Caleb Shore on his role as Boone in Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories
When did you form your production company – what was the motivation for its formation?
John William Holt (JWH): We started RED BAND FILMS about three years ago. The reason is just because we love movies. From company logos to end credit sequences love it all. We also wanted to make movies our way and what we want to see, unexpected and challenging stories.
What was the first project out of the gate?
John William Holt (JWH): THE DOOMS CHAPEL HORROR is what got us out into the world. Before that it was work for hire and winning some short film festivals. It wasn’t until we proved that we could finish a feature film, and on budget, we were taken seriously.
During the production of VOB: Horror Stories, what scene was the hardest to shoot?
John William Holt (JWH): Shooting the film wasn’t that hard it was mostly conditions. It was the middle of July in a house with no air conditioning and lighting a second story room from the outside. I wanted a stylized moon glow coming from outside the blinds to signal a change in atmosphere.
So, it was ladders rigged with lights. It was tough and time consuming but our crew didn’t give second thought and made it happen. I love the way it looks. Austin Madding, a very talented filmmaker and my longtime cinematography partner/camera operator always pulls off what I’m after. Downstairs very normal and upstairs very exaggerated. Which is the idea of everyday looking houses on your street, but if you get past the front door some insane shit could be going on.
Kentucky filmmaker P.J. Starks describes his journey to the big screen
What works better in this latest production that mightn’t have worked in the last one you did?
John William Holt (JWH): It’s always hard. You are always learning. The answer is infinite.
Is there anything about the independent filmmaking business you still struggle with?
John William Holt (JWH): Money and time is the hardest part. Sure, you can make an amazing low budget film with little effects but as you grow in filmmaking you want to keep pushing to try dangerous new things. And that takes money and time. You don’t get enough of either when making a film.
You directed the film, what measure of input did it take to don these hats?
John William Holt (JWH): To have a cohesive film as the director you must have input on everything.
Let’s talk finance, How did you finance the film?
John William Holt (JWH): We came into fully produced film so I didn’t have much to do with that part.
How much did you go over budget?
John William Holt (JWH): Again, I didn’t handle the money I was told “we could do this and this”, and that’s what we did. I’m 100% we stayed in budget. In managing it-you line out and breakdown the script to exactly what you need and how to do it.
How important is marketing? Do you think a project can make any dent without it these days?
John William Holt (JWH): Marketing is everything after your film is complete. It’s frustrating as a horror fan and filmmaker when you see how some of these companies handle the marketing of horror. We know what we want and how we want it. P.J. Is perfect for that role. Number one he is a horror fan and loves the genre which puts him light years ahead of any marketing dept. P.J. is relentless on social media and that’s what it takes to get the word out there.
What do you hope audiences get from your film?
John William Holt (JWH): A fun ride.
What else have you got in the works?
John William Holt (JWH): Right now, our segment KILLING THE DANCE is in Rocky Gray’s 10/31 Anthology horror film and that’s out in the world. We were very lucky in that project. Not only are surrounded by other incredible filmmakers but he let us have total control and said go to it. From script, casting, editing to score it was all us. So thankful for that. Real creativity. That’s what he hired us for-to do our thing. So grateful.
Have a music video for Legendary Shack Shakers out there titled AFTER YOU’VE GONE and directed the live action portion to a second video by the same band called SING A WORRIED SONG that features wonderful old school animation that premiered on Rolling Stone. We will be filming another Anthology segment on the film CRYPTIDS produced by Justin Seaman and Zane Herschberger. Who are brothers in horror and such amazing filmmakers. They’ve been so good to us and again freedom to make whatever we want.
Patiently waiting for P.J.’s summoning for us on DEVIL’s KNIGHT: VOLUMES OF BLOOD III. We are in talks for cinematography on several other films.
And finally, Jason is currently working on the script for our next full feature film for RED BAND FILMS.
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