Zombies invade Holiday Lake near Clyde
Source: http://online.indianagazette.com/
The zombie apocalypse seems to be starting in Indiana County. At least for Clyde residents.
Filming for the movie “12/24,” a zombie horror film that is set during Christmas Eve, is ongoing in the area around Holiday Lake.
The independent film studio Gargoyle Entertainment, of Pittsburgh, is shooting scenes for this project around the lake, using many residents’ land as sets. The shoots have been going on for the last few weekends, and are to resume tonight, (as in Saturday night) with about four days of shooting to go before they take a wrap.
While scouting for sets, the Clyde area was suggested to Matt Bonacci, partner in Gargoyle Entertainment and producer of the film, by Bonacci’s brother, a resident of the area.
“It was perfect because the location looked like it was in the middle of nowhere, which is what I was going for,” said Anthony Colliano, writer and director.
Among a few places they used as sets was John Berkavich’s trailer.
“My brother (Rich Lowers) lives across the street from where I am building a house, and they asked to use the trailer,” Berkovich said.
Residents Rich and Connie Lowers were also hosts of the film crew, providing catered food from the Subway restaurant they operate.
“They were all great. Whatever we needed, they helped us out,” Colliano said.
According to Berkovich, some 50 to 60 people came to witness the zombie invasion. Some of the onlookers were even turned into zombies themselves, becoming extras in the movie.
The movie, which originally started as a Mafia film and evolved into a zombie horror project, follows a story line similar to the blockbuster “Crash,” according to Colliano. The plot breaks off into different story lines, which eventually come together to show how the characters are connected.
The film stars Tiffany Shepis, from Los Angeles, who can be seen in the film “Nightmare Man,” and Scot Davis, who was in “Unrest.” Both movies have appeared in “8 Films to Die For,” a collection of the eight scariest films of the year, which was released by After Dark Films.
Also featured is Sam Nicotero, who “is a legend in Pittsburgh,” according to Colliano, and was in the “Mothman Prophecies” and “Children of the Living Dead.” Jason Winn and Davanney Pinn also appear in the film.
WCW pro wrestler Maestro is even featured in the project in a cameo role.
Handling the blood and gore is Jesse LeChok. Ed Daniels provides computer animation and some editing. Photography is being handled by Jordan Deckham, and the score is provided by Luke Mayernik, who also composed a requiem for the late Fred Rogers.
Colliano would like the film to be completed by August so it can be entered in film festivals around the Pittsburgh area.
“Hopefully we can show it in a local theater,” Colliano said.
The film’s creators like the setting around the lake so much that they plan to do future projects around this area, Colliano said.
Colliano said Gargoyle Entertainment’s next project will be shooting in the Seven Springs area.
