Phoenix – Month and Day, 2013 – The art of successful filmmaking is giving the audience something they don’t know they want until they see it. The trends of mythological creatures, and pirates, and zombies, and superheroes—all in their own time—have risen to the surface and subsided over time as though basking in their “15 minutes of fame,” and then stepping aside for the next big trend in film to take the spotlight. As anything, trends evolve and even potentially resurface with new age and technological abilities. So, as it stands today, what’s next? Well, the answer is quite simple: Vampires.
No, not the feminine Edward Cullen-type of vampire. “When we say ‘vampire,’ we’re referring to the bloodthirsty, corpse-infecting, animalistic creatures that audiences have yet to experience in its full potential,” says creator and director Ryan Johnston. “The ones that, with proper funding, are exactly what we’re dying to deliver in Helsing.
Helsing is a short film (ranging from about 20-30 minutes), produced and directed by ARTofWAR Pictures. Viewers may be familiar with the original motion picture, Van Helsing, following the story of the titled character as he hunts down Dracula. In the shortened version AoW has created, Helsing’s screenwriter Will Hirsch, alongside Ryan, have taken certain elements of Van Helsing and his story and have fabricated a world that retells the story of the vampire hunter in an entirely new, intriguing light. Both Will and Ryan are currently working on a full length feature script, using this shortened version to give people a taste of what the feature-length story could bring with the right budget and the right resources.
Within this new version, Van Helsing is introduced as a younger gentleman, immortal in the curse he was given when he was bit by a vampire and lived. His drive to hunt Dracula stems from his never-ending desire to avenge his love of whom Dracula massacred decades earlier. In this, audiences also meet new characters such as Luke—a young idolizing priest who is sent by the church to join Helsing in his conquest, serving as not only a sidekick in a “Starsky and Hutch”-fused duo, but also as a lovable comedic relief that gives depth and dynamic to the already intensive storyline. In the realm of vampires, the cast and crew of Helsing have incorporated new faces such as the leading antagonist, Moria, who is Dracula’s right-hand woman. Within the shortened script as well as the feature-length script, audiences are able to embark on a journey, diving deeper into the history of Vampires as they exist in this world, fusing a Western style with an underlying “steam punk” appeal that is directly represented through not only the dialogue, but also the visual appeal in this film.
When it comes to most Kickstarter film campaigns, viewers are usually told exactly what it is their money is going toward (ie. Craft services, special effects, equipment, etc.). With a crew consisting of some of the best students and alumni of The Film School at Scottsdale Community College, ARTofWAR has eliminated the need for an extraneous budget just to cover their bases. The $5,000 that this team is hoping to fund is going to more than just food to feed the crew; it is going to the creation of this new world that audiences have yet to see, and is going to the benefit of filmmakers who are capable of leaving their mark in this world someday with the right support and the right opportunities to get there.
ARTofWAR is taking a risk in putting all of their funds and faith into Helsing, but they cannot do it without your help. The time is now for vampires to rise to the filmmaking occasion. Considering Kickstarter is an “all-or-nothing” funding system, the hopes to raise the $5,000 within the 30-day time limit is greatly dependent on the support of filmmakers and moviegoers alike. With that, ARTofWAR Pictures continuously promotes their upcoming endeavor, Helsing, through Facebook (at facebook.com/helsingthemovie), Instagram (@artofwarpictures), as well as personal inquiries from those who are interested in the story that AoW hopes to bring to life.
You can access their Kickstarter campaign at Kickstarter.com/projects/artofwar/helsing, which will be up and running until July 24th, 2013.
If you’d like to know more information about Helsing and the team, please email artofwarpictures@gmail.com.
© Helsing is a copyright of ARTofWAR Pictures, LLC Patent Pending.
