It’s a full house on this episode of BEHIND THE LENS as we take a trip to the dark sinister side with actor/writer/producer NIKI McELROY talking SHADY GROVE while ZACH KOEPP is on board talking about his chilling thriller THE WILLOWBROOK. Both Niki and Zach are filmmakers from whom I want to see more – a lot more! I genuinely like their individual work and their work ethics and storytelling skills.
Kicking off the show is actor/co-writer/producer NIKI McELROY talking about her new film, the creepy and bloody, SHADY GROVE. We should all know by now to avoid any and all remote cabins in the woods, but our group of friends in SHADY GROVE just can’t resist the escape from the hustle and bustle of life.
Directed by Dale Resteghini, SHADY GROVE tells the story of a young African-American couple, Shaina (Niki McElroy) and Mark (Todd Anthony), as they leave behind their party lifestyle to find tranquility in an isolated rental cabin with their friend, Elijah (Juhahn Jones). It doesn’t take long for them to realize they have checked into a sinister nightmare as the locals reveal the true reason for their solitude. SHADY GROVE is a fictional story that incorporates the role of women in Greek mythology and sets them in our current and controversial Roe vs. Wade world.
Thoughtful, articulate, and a joy to speak with, Niki goes into detail about the “making of” SHADY GROVE. A woman who pays great attention to detail on the page and on the screen, it’s a refreshing conversation as we dig into the story and its genesis and themes, the importance of location (and trekking to it), working in confined spaces, performance, juggling hats, and so much more.
And then a big welcome to writer/director ZACH KOEPP who also joins us live talking about his chilling thriller, THE WILLOWBROOK.
Written and directed by Zach and starring Jessica Bishop, Erin Day, and Lawrence J. Hughes, THE WILLOWBROOK is the tale of “a renowned wellness influencer who invites one of her recently overdosed followers to seek recovery at her small-town manor. Once the follower arrives, she realizes the dark world existing within the manor is not what she–nor millions of others–perceived from the internet.” And boy does Zach give us dark and twisted!
Open and candid, Zach covers all aspects of the “making of” THE WILLOWBROOK. You can hear his excitement as we discuss various aspects of the production and his thought process for design, cinematography, casting, performance, and more.
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