After ten years helping other genre filmmakers bring monstrosities to the screen, special FX makeup artist Teresa Fahs says she is ready to breathe life into her own undead creations. The CEO of Gorify.com, a one-stop special effects make-up resource for the do-it-yourself zombie, has written and is currently seeking funds for “Haunting Kira,” which she plans to direct in November and release theatrically on Mother’s Day next year.
“Over the years, I have become proficient at visually translating a script into reality,” Fahs said. “What I haven’t had a chance to do, is really push the special effects envelope from the writing and directing perspective.”
Now that is changing as Fahs looks to bring fans something different than the normal scare fare they’ve grown accustomed to with modern horror. The genre has been watered down with remakes, sequels, PG-13 ratings, as well as stale and predictable kills and plot twists. Fahs promises her “Haunting Kira” screenplay stays far away from those pitfalls.
“I’ve had all these amazing gore bits, scares, and kills floating around in my head for years,” Fahs said. “I also had an original zombie concept that goes beyond the typical shooting gallery, and I needed to bring it to the screen. Then one day it all just gelled together. Writing the script was really just the process of yanking it out of my brain.”
Fahs describes “Haunting Kira” as a ghost story, a zombie film, a gorefest, and a strange trip that is like “Being John Malkovich” meets “The Shining” meets “Night of the Living Dead.”
“It’s got paranormal activity, re-animated and decaying corpses, painfully realistic gore, frenzied and meaningful kills, and an ending that will hopefully make audiences want to see it all again, and again, and again,” Fahs said. “‘Haunting Kira’ also explores issues of death and immortality, the impact of physical pain on behavior, commentary on medical professionals, how women’s self-image is attached to her appearance, the effects of aging on personality, and more. It’s not a preachy story though. It’s more like a journey into your worst fears with no way out.”
Fahs is partially funding the film’s budget with revenue earned from Gorify.com. She hopes to find matching funds from investors and is also offering fans a chance to be a part of the production. They can make pledges on Fundable.com and in return for their donations of $50-$1,000 they will receive screen and IMDb credits, a DVD copy of the project and progressive perks depending upon the amount pledged.
One of Fahs’ most recent credits as a makeup artist was for “The Hillywood Show,” a highly popular online series with more than a million viewers. The creators and directors of the show - the Hindi sisters - have nothing, but praise for the Goddess of Gore.
“Teresa’s SFX make-up is by far some of the best work we have ever seen,” Hilly Hindi said. Hannah Hindi added, “Her note to perfection and quality is simply amazing. She demonstrates her passion and love for the art in a way that is completely inspiring.”
Fans can haunt Kira on Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/HauntingKira
And Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Haunting-Kira/109687279816?ref=s
Donations by fans can be made via the following link:
http://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupaction.2009-06-26.8815610215
Other Links:
http://www.gorify.com/hauntingkira.html