As I read through this inspiring story of Chris Stuckmann‘s journey to bring his indie horror film “Shelby Oaks” to life, I couldn’t help but feel a deep connection to his experiences and the tenacity of his spirit. This young filmmaker, who gained internet fame for his movie reviews, found himself facing a new challenge: creating something far more ambitious than he had initially imagined.
Chris Stuckmann, known for his fondness for horror, hasn’t been deterred in making his film “Shelby Oaks.” With its world premiere at Fantasia Festival just around the corner, he shares with amusement that the anticipation of audience reactions has occupied his thoughts for approximately five years. Fortunately, he has created a daring masterpiece capable of holding its own against many of his cherished films.
A passionate filmmaker, who made his directorial debut at the young age of 15 with a film inspired by “Field of Dreams,” gained widespread recognition as an early YouTube sensation. Known for his heartfelt and genuine film critiques, Stuckmann has amassed over two million followers since starting his channel 13 years ago. Beginning in his simple setup with two “Dark Knight” posters behind him, Stuckmann kept his clear-cut film reviews relatable to everyday cinema enthusiasts, despite upgrading his backdrop and equipment over time.
In no time, being a successful YouTuber replaced his role as a school bus driver. However, he had been working on personal projects and producing short films outside of his YouTube career. A profound idea hit him during the filming of his yearly Halloween special in 2016. For this special, they rented a cabin in the Tennessee woods with his wife, Samantha Elizabeth, to discuss “cabin in the woods” movies.
He describes an experience where the two of them created a sketch about a masked, knife-wielding assailant in the woods, taking turns portraying the killer and the victims. They produced it without the help of a film crew, making it a cherished memory from their time in Tennessee. During their six-hour drive back to Ohio, they discussed their growing frustration with the long wait for their projects to get off the ground. Determined to take action, they decided to finance and create a self-produced piece centered around missing YouTubers.
The idea evolved into “Shelby Oaks.” Following this progression, Stuckmann held a discussion with Paper Street Pictures at Fantastic Fest 2019, kickstarting the project’s momentum. His determination was further fueled when his March 2022 Kickstarter campaign exceeded its $250,000 target in just two days, amassing a total of $1,390,845 from 14,720 supporters. This surplus funding was used to extend the shoot duration and secure essentials such as adequate compensation for the crew and top-notch equipment.
The movie “Shelby Oaks,” directed by Stuckmann, maintains secrecy regarding its specific plot details to preserve surprises. It centers around a woman on a quest to locate her missing sister, who was a YouTube paranormal investigator. With the subject matter being unclear, viewers are left guessing if the film will be handheld throughout, mimicking a YouTube video style, or filled with online culture references and slang. While Stuckmann and his cinematographer experiment with certain aspects of form and narrative, “Shelby Oaks” stands out as a cinematic production. The shots are carefully planned to intensify the fear and drama in scenes, surpassing the capabilities of typical online content.
“During lengthy conversations with Baird for weeks on end, Stuckmann came to the conclusion that launching a Kickstarter was a viable solution. Initially, they lacked the financial resources to bring their ideas to life. However, Baird’s encouragement and belief in their ambitious project inspired Stuckmann to consider this option. Together, they explored examples of successful indie horror campaigns and gained insight into the costs involved.”
After the shooting phase began, Stuckmann assured that the entire team remained focused on the project. His online popularity didn’t concern him, and he continued to be recognized solely as a filmmaker during production.
On the first day, he acknowledged that he was new to this particular role, having no prior experience in filming, despite his long-standing passion for movies. He wanted to put everyone at ease, ensuring they felt secure and welcomed. We shared a message emphasizing safety, comfort, and open communication. Anyone with concerns or suggestions, no matter how small or big, was encouraged to share them. Many of these ideas were incorporated into the film production as we believed in creating a collaborative movie-making experience.
In recent weeks, “Shelby Oaks” has received two significant endorsements in the horror genre: Firstly, it was revealed that Mike Flanagan, the creator of “The Haunting of Hill House,” will serve as an executive producer. Secondly, Neon, a popular distributor known for its successful releases, acquired the film. This news came shortly after the successful premiere of Oz Perkins’ “Longlegs.”
Since Flanagan contacted Stuckmann regarding his critique on “Oculus” in 2013, they have been casual acquaintances. Following this interaction, they started exchanging messages. Flanagan then proposed reading one of Stuckmann’s screenplays that he had written.
“He shared his notes and comments with me, which proved invaluable. This shift led us to discuss technical matters, but we also worked on improving scripts through exchanging feedback.”
As a devoted cinephile, I eagerly followed Stuckmann’s Kickstarter campaign for “Shelby Oaks.” Intrigued by the buzz surrounding this upcoming production, I couldn’t help but reach out to Stuckmann directly. To my delight, he welcomed me into the fold and graciously invited me to read the script and contribute to the project.
Upon my return, I approached him and requested his feedback on the initial rough draft. His response was, “I’d be happy to help in any way I can.” Since then, our collaboration has been a truly rewarding experience.
In an email to EbMaster, Flanagan expressed his admiration for Chris’s diligence, intelligence, abilities, and tenacity.
He expressed deep engagement with the successful Kickstarter campaign for “Shelby,” recalling his own experience funding “Absentia” through the platform back in 2010. This revived memories of his beginnings, as the entrepreneur’s tenacity and self-reliant spirit resonated with him. Watching his fundraising videos, he reminisced about his Kickstarter journey and the challenges of breaking into a tough industry. Impressed by his friend’s perseverance and teamwork, he was inspired to keep pursuing his own dreams.
As for the Neon deal, Stuckmann says he feels like a kindred spirit with the team.
“He shares that they are avid movie fans. During our face-to-face gathering, the conversations were filled with references to our favorite films. Their passion for cinema runs deep, and they value the filmmakers as well. They are dedicated to ensuring that everyone involved in the production is enthusiastic about creating movies. It may sound unusual, but it’s a welcoming and secure environment.”
Regarding the future, Stuckmann is dedicated to filmmaking and reducing the frequency of his YouTube reviews. However, he remains enthusiastic about promoting excellent movies through his platform. Additionally, he plans to utilize YouTube to provide insight into the filmmaking process, allowing more viewers to appreciate the effort involved in creating a feature film.
In an ideal world, I would continue creating films and occasionally discuss my favorite movies, while also granting my audience a peek into the filmmaking process. I aim to provide unique access, offering insights that haven’t been shared extensively before. My objective is to demystify the movie-making experience for viewers by revealing the intricacies behind it. Many online movie commentators tend to soften or overlook certain aspects of production.
Flanagan was pleased to help out his friend in any way he could during the process of creating “Shelby Oaks.”
“His encounter and tale about Chris brought back memories of my own professional beginnings,” he shares. “I’m truly enjoying following his progress on an intriguing journey, and it’s been a delight to offer some support along the way.”
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2024-07-20 20:47