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"The Bunker" Official Web Site Now Live
Blind Director Begins Lensing First Film In Late August
Miami, FL, August 1-- Horror author and comic book creator Joe Monks has
announced that the official web site for his new film, The Bunker, is now up
and running and can be found at: http://www.sightunseenpictures.com. The
site features information about the film, the director, the unique story
behind this venture, cast & crew information, a film blog, and information
on becoming a producer, among other things.
Monks, who is blind, has been working on the film for the better part of a
year, completing the script, purchasing equipment, and finally beginning
pre-production this past June.
The Bunker is the story of Julia Jennings, the daughter of a New York State
congressman, who has run away in the wake of his announcing his bid for
reelection. The hardnosed New York politico has dealt with this once before,
but this time if word leaks out it is certain to mean scandal--the kind of
scandal that could bring down his reelection bid. The congressman decides to
go outside the law, hiring some shady private help in looking for his
daughter. Jennings is willing to pay people to find the missing teenager,
hiring the kind of men used to finding people. People who don't want to be
found. But unbeknownst to those seeking the 16 year old runaway, Julia has
been snatched off the street by a sadistic kidnapper and serial murderer.
The maniac has secreted Julia away in an underground bunker, setting the
countdown to the girl's slaughter in motion. Julia knows exactly when her
final hour will arrive, but what tortures await her in the meantime?
Monks, whose story "Chance Meeting" was optioned for the screen by Japanese
publishing powerhouses Bunkasha in tandem with DK Publishing for the first
installment of the Flowers on the Razorwire DVD series, steps behind the
camera this time out, to direct the piece, from his own original screenplay.
While he understands that being blind is a significant hurdle, it is not the
only one he has to overcome.
"This isn't about being a blind guy who happens to be making a film," Monks
told The Hacker's Source. "This is about making a movie despite being blind.
Every director has hurdles to overcome. I happen to have a unique one most
don't have to consider. The bottom line is, though, can I make a good film,
and can I bring my vision to the screen, regardless of whether or not I can
see it?"
Monks has lined up some seasoned help in bringing his characters to life.
Terry M. West (Flesh For The Beast) portrays the menacing, child-abducting
madman, and producer/director Ted A. Bohus (Return of the Aliens Deadly
Spawn, Nightbeast, Hell On Earth) stars as the savvy congressman who will do
anything to be reelected. Debuting as Julia is Miami theatre actress Saskia
Gonzalez, who Monks believes is going to be an instant hit with the horror
crowd.
"Saskia has a scream that shook the tripod," Monks told Robert Able of indy
film site In The Meatgrinder. "She's got instant scream queen written all
over her, and she can definitely go beyond that in future roles. She isn't
just a one-dimensional victim witha great set of lungs, she can deliver a
line, hit her cues and she's believable. I think fans are going to love her
from the minute she appears on screen."
The Bunker, which will be the second installment of the Flowers on the
Razorwire film series, is expected to wrap second unit photography in
October. Principal photography begins August 19th in Miami, with location
shooting in both New York and Los Angeles before the end of the year. Monks
expects the film to be ready by the beginning of 2006, with an eye on the
2006 film festival season to showcase it.
"We have already had inquiries about showing it at certain festivals and we
haven't shot a frame," the blind director said in a statement. "I know we're
a curiosity, but that's still a pretty good upside, particularly if my team
delivers the kind of product I believe they can."
Monks has engineered a low-priced buy-in program to those interested in
supporting the project, with info available on both the official
http://www.joemonks.com web site and the newly launched
http://www.sightunseenpictures.com web site. Those buying certain items from
Monks' vast catalog of prior work will get to see their names roll in the
credits as supporting producers, helping finance the film, and keeping Monks
from having to rely on producers or investors who often want a say in how
the filmmaking process goes.
"I only get one shot at doing this my way," says Monks. "Next time around,
who knows? But for my first film, I want control over everything...even the
stuff I can't see. If this is going to be my vision, then I want final say
in the decisionmaking, not somebody telling me I can't shoot something or
interfering because they wrote a check."
For more information on Monks, the film The Bunker, Flowers on the
Razorwire,or to schedule an interview, e-mail Joe at:
Joe@sightunseenpictures.com
or:
editor@chantingmonks.com
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