Writer Kelli McNeil says she was already “deeply insecure about [her] work” when she handed over an early draft of Daruma — a drama about Patrick (Tobias Forrest), a veteran and quadriplegic who discovers he’s the father of a young girl born from a one-night stand years earlier — to her fiancé, director-cinematographer Alexander Yellen.
“She goes off to the other room, and I start reading the script, and by page two, I’m laughing,” says Yellen, who’s worked in various capacities on shows like Z Nation and Euphoria. “She goes, ‘This is a drama.’ I said, ‘No, it’s not. It’s a dark comedy and it’s great.’”
McNeil began writing the script back in 2017, long before it would premiere at 2023’s Dances With Films Fest in L.A. and screen last month as part of Slamdance’s Unstoppable program, where Peter Farrelly signed on as executive producer to help bolster its profile.
“She goes off to the other room, and I start reading the script, and by page two, I’m laughing,” says Yellen, who’s worked in various capacities on shows like Z Nation and Euphoria. “She goes, ‘This is a drama.’ I said, ‘No, it’s not. It’s a dark comedy and it’s great.’”
McNeil began writing the script back in 2017, long before it would premiere at 2023’s Dances With Films Fest in L.A. and screen last month as part of Slamdance’s Unstoppable program, where Peter Farrelly signed on as executive producer to help bolster its profile.
- 2/9/2024
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"FraXtur" is an upcoming post-apocalyptic television series. This series was co-created by Zack Ward (Don't Blink) and Deinstitutionalized LLC's Christopher Douglas-Olen Ray. Filming on the series began this past Spring in and around Los Angeles, with cinematographer Alexander Yellen ("Z-nation"). Casting and story details have also been announced. "FraXtur" will find an audience soon as a group of teens must survive in a new, brutal world. From the synopsis, an experiment goes wrong at a science center. Here, a group of teenagers are pushed into another dimension. This new dimension exposes the characters to a world, 100 years after an apocalyptic war. Now, these teens must find a way to survive in this very different landscape as warring bands fight for any remaining resources. The "FraXtur" cast consists of many familiar names. The regular cast includes: Brittany Curran of The Magicians, Denise Richards (The Toybox), Karl Yune ("Arrow") Camille Winbush ("The Bernie Mac Show...
- 6/19/2018
- by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
For those who were curious about this film we profiled last October, when it was in production, you should know that it's now available for streaming on Netflix, if you have a Netflix streaming account. The thriller was previously titled Wards Island, when we first alerted you to it last year, but it's now called Battledogs. The film, which stars Dennis Haysbert, Ariana Richards, Ernie Hudson, Craig Scheffer, and Bill Duke, centers on a viral outbreak in New York City that turns the infected into werewolves. Alexander Yellen is its director, making his directorial debut. The film was shot in Buffalo, which stood in for New York...
- 12/27/2013
- by Natasha Greeves
- ShadowAndAct
Recapping... the thriller was previously titled Wards Island, when we first alerted you to it last October. It's apparently now called Battledogs. I think I like the old title more. The film, which stars Dennis Haysbert, Ariana Richards, Ernie Hudson, Craig Scheffer, and Bill Duke, centers on a viral outbreak in New York City that turns the infected into werewolves. Alexander Yellen is its director - a cinematography primarily, making his directorial debut. The film was shot in Buffalo, which stood in for New York City, where the real Ward Island is located. Haysbert plays Lt. General Christopher Monning; Bill Duke plays...
- 5/20/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
TromaDance returns to terrorize Asbury Park, NJ for their 14th annual edition, which will be held — for free! — at Asbury Lanes on April 12-13. It’s two days and nights of gonzo short films from all over the world, plus a few low-budget feature-length genre excursions and one documentary.
But, the big highlight of the fest will be a special workprint preview screening of Troma daddy Lloyd Kaufman’s latest epic of grotesqueness and debauchery: Return to Nuke ‘Em High Vol. 1, the fourth trilogy-busting entry in the classic Nuke ‘Em High series. This will screen on the 13th at 8:00 p.m. and will be preceded by a Q&A with the always entertaining Kaufman himself.
Other features include Quentin Dupiex’s 2nd flick, the missing dog comedy Wrong; angry birds of prey return to terrorize L.A. in James Nguyen’s Birdemic 2; werewolf soldiers invade NYC in Battledogs; a...
But, the big highlight of the fest will be a special workprint preview screening of Troma daddy Lloyd Kaufman’s latest epic of grotesqueness and debauchery: Return to Nuke ‘Em High Vol. 1, the fourth trilogy-busting entry in the classic Nuke ‘Em High series. This will screen on the 13th at 8:00 p.m. and will be preceded by a Q&A with the always entertaining Kaufman himself.
Other features include Quentin Dupiex’s 2nd flick, the missing dog comedy Wrong; angry birds of prey return to terrorize L.A. in James Nguyen’s Birdemic 2; werewolf soldiers invade NYC in Battledogs; a...
- 4/12/2013
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Cry havoc! We have the first trailer from this weekend's Syfy offering Battledogs locked, loaded, and ready to set forth a stream of deadly pee all over this floating fire hydrant we call Earth. Check it out.
Battledogs, directed by Alexander Yellen and written by Shane Van Dyke, stars Dennis Haysbert, Craig Sheffer, Wes Studi, Kate Vernon, Ernie Hudson, Bill Duke, and Ariana Richards, who can also been seen in theatres this weekend thanks to the release of Jurassic Park 3D. Good week for her, huh?
Look for the premiere of Battledogs on Saturday, April 6, at 9Pm (Et/Pt).
Synopsis
When a werewolf virus threatens to decimate New York City -- and the world -- a rogue general uses the disease to create an army of super soldiers.
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Watch as things get hairy in the comments section below.
Battledogs, directed by Alexander Yellen and written by Shane Van Dyke, stars Dennis Haysbert, Craig Sheffer, Wes Studi, Kate Vernon, Ernie Hudson, Bill Duke, and Ariana Richards, who can also been seen in theatres this weekend thanks to the release of Jurassic Park 3D. Good week for her, huh?
Look for the premiere of Battledogs on Saturday, April 6, at 9Pm (Et/Pt).
Synopsis
When a werewolf virus threatens to decimate New York City -- and the world -- a rogue general uses the disease to create an army of super soldiers.
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Watch as things get hairy in the comments section below.
- 4/3/2013
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
DeInstitutionalized LLC has released the first trailer for the supernatural thriller A House is Not a Home. In the film, a family moves into a haunted home. They are terrorized by something in the shadows and an occult priest can do nothing to save them. A House is Not a Home has gathered an excellent cast. Bill Cobbs plays a real estate agent in the clip, who sells the Williams family a possessed house. As well, actor and producer Gerald Webb is Ben Williams. Williams is a family man who is trying desperately to protect his family. Fans of film might also recognize Eddie Steeples as the occult priest, despite his very different aesthetics. Richard Grieco and Melvin Gregg round out the cast, in this clip. Release Date: 2013. Director: Christopher Douglas-Olen Ray. Director of Photography: Alexander Yellen. Producers: Gerald Webb and Christopher Ray. Co-producer: Richard Grieco. Cast: Bill Cobbs, Eddie Steeples,...
- 1/22/2013
- by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Director: Griff Furst.
Writer: Richard Matheson and Geoff Meed.
You know you are cheap when you find yourself rooting around bargain bins for the best horror deals. Sometimes, this characteristic pays off and that is the case with The Midnight Horror Collection: Flesh Eating Zombies. This late 2010 release offers four features for under ten dollars. Included in this film anthology are Grave Mistake, Awaken the Dead, Last of the Living and the film reviewed here, I Am Omega. Echo Bridge Entertainment re-released each of these films for fans of the undead on celluloid August, 2010.
I Am Omega is one of The Asylum's mockbusters, which attempted to capitalize on the looming success of I Am Legend, starring Will Smith. Both films were released within a month of each other and this film is another action film based on Richard Matheson's novel, I Am Legend. Like an '80s action throwback,...
Writer: Richard Matheson and Geoff Meed.
You know you are cheap when you find yourself rooting around bargain bins for the best horror deals. Sometimes, this characteristic pays off and that is the case with The Midnight Horror Collection: Flesh Eating Zombies. This late 2010 release offers four features for under ten dollars. Included in this film anthology are Grave Mistake, Awaken the Dead, Last of the Living and the film reviewed here, I Am Omega. Echo Bridge Entertainment re-released each of these films for fans of the undead on celluloid August, 2010.
I Am Omega is one of The Asylum's mockbusters, which attempted to capitalize on the looming success of I Am Legend, starring Will Smith. Both films were released within a month of each other and this film is another action film based on Richard Matheson's novel, I Am Legend. Like an '80s action throwback,...
- 2/28/2011
- by Remove28DaysLaterAnalysisThis@gmail.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.