I'm going to be an extra in a horror film: The Last Showing, by my friend and fellow HWA member, Anthony DeRouen! I first met Anthony during the 2017 Bay Area Book Festival in Downtown Berkeley at the Horror Writers Association booth. Anthony happened to be at the booth that day, and what I remember most about that initial meeting was his enthusiasm for the horror genre and his upcoming films. His passion for what he was doing was palpable, and I couldn’t help but be excited for him.
After officially joining the HWA, I chatted with Anthony a bit more and got to hear about his journey as a filmmaker. You read and hear and see videos about filming and the work that goes into it, but being able to hear the process explained from someone you know is daunting. It’s a metric shit-ton of work, and the number of moving pieces is staggering.
One day, Anthony mentioned that he needed extras for his film, and I’m happy (more like mad excited) to be able to say that I “got to be an extra for a horror film.” But not only that, I got to be an extra for someone who was doing something he believed in.
Image copyright: Anthony DeRouen. (Anthony standing on the right.) I’m the one dressed in black, long hair, and clapping.
From left to right: Grayson Dere, Laura Jean Mummert, Anthony DeRouen.
The film is The Last Showing and features the lovely Lara Jean Mummert. The expected release date is later this year. Here’s the film's blurb: A theater is terrorized by an apparition that manifests during the last nightly showing.
I don't know about you, but I've definitely daydreamed about horror stories taking place inside empty theaters. Think about it: large dead screens, numerous vacant seats, countless abandoned rooms...
Image copyright: Anthony DeRouen
A second film Anthony is working on is He Takes and Returns, which is also scheduled for 2018 and will first haunt California horror film festivals, followed by out-of-state circuits.
Image copyright: Anthony DeRouen
Check out the trailer:
If you happen to see these films in your area, go check them out!
Anthony DeRouen was born and raised in Redwood City, California. Anthony began writing short stories and fan fiction in 2008. He has published one novel and written two others in the A Show for the Gods series: Precipice, Diviner, and End of Dreams.
Following his love for telling stories, Anthony began drafting horror tales. The first He Takes and Returns, will film in October 2017 while The Last Showing - a short film based off a feature length screenplay Anthony wrote - completed principal photography in August. Both films will be released in 2018.
