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SYNOPSIS: Hellion is a 7-minute short film about fraidy-cat, Petey Wilson (7) and his two hell-raising brothers. And what happens when the Wilson boys working class dad comes home to a raging bonfire and the babysitter duct taped to the side of the house? Boy, are those boys gonna get it.  

STARRING: Deke Garner, Tommy Hohl, Arthur Dale, Jonny Mars (Wuss, The Happy Poet), Madison Burge (Friday Night Lights)

PREVIOUS WORK: Check out the audience award winning short film Love Bug by Kat Candler.

A Word from the Director...

Hellion is loosely based on the story of my moms three younger brothers getting a belt spanking when they were still in elementary school. Its a film about what it means to be a man at seven years old and the complicated relationship between father and son.

Ive always been a fan of my moms stories about her three younger brothers and their hellion ways. The stories theyd spin at family gatherings would send me into fits of laughter but more often make my stomach turn. From a knife in an eye, setting cars on fire oh boy. Luckily her brothers turned out okay, but oh the pain they put her poor parents through as kids Shed probably never admit it, but moms brothers were those kids.

We all knew the bully, hell raising kids who lived down the street. Theyd wreak havoc on the whole neighborhood. I think thats why I was always drawn to the Herdman children from the childrens book, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. I always wished I had the guts to not care what people thought and be tough like that. But instead I was the one getting bullied in elementary school and nicknamed chubby cheeks. And yep, still stings. 

What is this movie going to look like?

The character design of Hellion is in the vein of the original 1963 Lord of the Flies and Gummo. These are shirtless, barefoot, grimy kids who get away with murder in their single fathers absence. The small, southern world these boys live in is timeless. Im using films like The Last Picture Show and to a lesser degree Overboard (yes, that Goldie Hawn movie) to create the design of the house both inside and out-- using more muted tones, browns and blues. Its a house where the matriarch has been gone for some timea house that has since been ruled by boys.

This is a kids film at heart. Its their story, from their perspective. And thats why were implementing what Spielberg did so beautifully in E.T. keeping the camera at the kids level. Well be slightly exaggerating the lighting. Exterior day shots are using all available light, creating summer flares and a rich, golden, crackling fire that they dance around. The interior night shots will be darker and more looming creating the horror and suspense of whats happening behind that bedroom door. The camerawork will be smooth and fluid through the use of a Glidecam, keeping things constantly moving.

Hellion is a perfect film for audiences of all ages. Specifically, its a great family film. With that said, we plan to target children and family film festivals first and foremost.

Having spent two years on the childrens festival circuit with our last film, Love Bug, weve been lucky to establish many relationships with festival programmers and childrens programs.

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