BURRILLVILLE – Just one week after the first short film based on his work won a film festival award, Burrillville-based artist and writer Jim Weicherding received more exciting news, with a second film adapted from his creations also garnering recognition.
Weicherding’s film and series pilot Night Chillers received first place in the horror/thriller genre at the Long Island Cinema Festival in New York. The previous week, Outlaw Run, a short based on the local writer/artist’s characters, took first place in the Indie Soul Best Picture category at the Boston International Film Festival.
Night Chillers was shown twice as a world premiere at the Long Island festival, which received thousands of submissions from movie producers worldwide. Eight submissions were selected for awards in the genre, with Night Chillers taking first place overall. Weicherding wrote the novella in 2012, and founded Outlaw Run Productions with director Dawn Natalia last year to produce both films.
“Dawn and Robert Marsella were not only the behind the camera talents producing and directing the film – both were stars featured in the film,” he said.
Natalia played the role of Jill, a nurse at an area hospital where residents seek shelter from a severe storm. But the true horror actually lurks within those hospital walls. The film, Weicherding said, is a terrifying story about a small rural town being victimized by unknown Cryptids bent on a causing harm to anyone crossing their path.
“The cast and crew were exceptional with most shifting gears from Outlaw Run action-drama film production over to the Night Chillers horror genre film and never missed a beat,” Weicherding said. “Everyone involved with the filming of Night Chillers deserves ‘thank yous’ for doing such a great job and offering their assistance throughout the entire filming process.”
The writer said the films were produced in quick succession, and each took months to complete.
“Everyone is happy about the outcome and future of this potential horror film franchise,” he said.
Weicherding is currently writing a novella titled Night Chillers – Hunters Moon that will be published soon and has the potential to become a franchise film sequel. He said he is also creating a line of Night Chillers apparel, products and merchandise that will include bedroom nightlights and household items for everyone that loves horror.
He notes that the horror/ thriller film genre has the largest fanbase in the world with millions of fans in America alone.
The original film has also attracted attention from other film festivals, and Night Chillers is set to appear at regional Comic Cons, Terror Cons and Horror Cons, and Weicherding with it for various meet and greets, signing autographs and selling merchandise to the film’s growing fanbase, along with other talent from the cast and crew.
Night Chillers is scheduled for a screening at the Block Island Film Festival on Wednesday, May 27 starting at 8 p.m., and Outlaw Run will screen the following day at 9 a.m.
The local artist and NRI NOW Sunday Cartoon contributor said he’s proud to help put Burrillville on entertainment industry map.
“Producing and coordinating movies is not easy, but the rewards could be life changing,” he said.
