NIGHTMARE AT CAMP BLOODBATH, 6min., USA, Comedy
Directed by Dylan Arnow
After discovering their lodge totaled by a neighboring camp, two counselors are stalked and prayed upon by the local legend Terrance Fisher in his slapstick parody.
Get to know the filmmaker:
1. What motivated you to make this film?
I wrote Nightmare at Camp Bloodbath as a feature originally. After winning a handful of screenplay contests and getting into some festivals I decided to turn the film into a short. A “proof of concept” you could say.
2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
I started writing the short in February, which we shot in May, and had it edited and completed by August. So about 6 months.
3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Silly fun.
4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Definitely deadlines, a tight shooting schedule, and my perfectionist tendencies.
5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
Just tons of smiles on my face. Hearing people say they got the references, they could feel my love of the genres, and that they got a laugh out of it means the world to me. Making people laugh is the best feeling in life in my personal opinion. So seeing and hearing it from a ton of people really is special.
Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
Ever since I was a child I always had movie or tv ideas, trying to write comics or plays. So from a young age, I was always into telling stories but the inclination to want to be a filmmaker and make a career out of it didn’t come until the end of high school for me.
7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Oof, that’s a good question. And sadly I know the answer haha. For some odd reason 12-year-old me had this goal of watching Sweeney Todd 100 times before the end of the year. I didn’t make it to 100 but I got about halfway so I guess that? Embarrassing I know haha.
8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
I’d say this probably to every festival, just an expo or panel where filmmakers can meet with potential investors or producers looking for new projects or new filmmakers to add to their repertoire.
9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How have your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
Oh, nothing but high praises. Around age 19 or 20 I found a “screenplay contest site” I submitted paid a fee and never heard anything back. From there on out, I figured all of those were a scam. But I’ve been using FilmFreeway for almost 2 years now and it’s just a great and easy site to navigate. 10/10 highly recommend it.
10. What is your favorite meal?
I don’t have one per se, but I can say as of right now Korean BBQ is my jam!
11. What is next for you? A new film?
As of now, I’m starting a new job at a production company called 4Reel Productions, where I’ll be making videos and photoshoots for their social media platforms. I’ll also be an associate producer on shoots the company does. And as for making a new film, the goal is to get “Nightmare at Camp Bloodbath” the feature funded and produced. If you guys liked the short, you’re gonna love the feature!
Matthew Toffolo's Summary 