Lake Runs Red

Here is the interview I did with Jason Riesgraf and Jeff Fuller, the producers of a new film coming out called Lake Runs Red. The past few weeks I have been talking to these guys about the film, and I must say I am very excited about it.

So, lets get into this interview and inform all of you about Lake Runs Red.

What is the movie about?

Jason: “Lake Runs Red’ is a conceptual examination of the themes of rejection, family, friendship, and choices. The film is contemporary, fresh, and visceral. The story starts with two gorgeous college coeds, Lauren (Kaci Wegleitner) and Melissa (Lauren Morris), who are on the verge of final exams prior to their graduation. The girls decide to embark on a last minute road trip to Lauren’s parents’ secluded northern Minnesota lake cabin to get away from the non-stop party culture of their college campus. While there, Lauren reconnects with her warm, loving father Paul (Michael Hertenstein) and confronts her cold, emotionally distant mother Gwen (Helene Donohue). Along the way though, Lauren and Melissa are followed by a deeply disturbed and mercurial stranger named Bruce (CJ DeVaan), who mysteriously shows up at Paul and Gwen’s isolated lake home, uninvited. Bruce carries a dark and disgusting secret that he violently forces upon the family with sadistic authority.

What can we expect from this film? Suspense, gore?

Jeff Fuller: “Lake Runs Red” isn’t just your run of the mill horror film. It’s a completely new brand of hardcore horror experiences. We like to think that “Lake Runs Red” will reinvent the home-invasion thriller, for the independent film crowd. Fans can not only expect suspense in the traditional horror sense, but also a diverse blend of thriller, contemporary noir, practical horror effects, ultraviolent perversions, and torture pornographic eye candy.

Jason Riegraf: The film will be visceral. It will make you feel excited, with a tinge of disgust. Visually, it will be gritty, dirty, and gross but with a contemporary, bleached out aesthetic. The photography and production value will be exceptional. As a filmmaker, I want the audience to sit on the edge of their seats in anticipation, but also feel uncomfortable as the story unfolds. When the film ends, I want the audience to leave speechless and slightly disturbed. If the audience exits “Lake Runs Red” and asks themselves how someone could even think about creating such filth, then I’ve done my job. However, I should mention that while the violence and torture depicted in the film is over the top and extreme, it’s not necessarily gratuitous. There’s a reason for its existence and it all correlates back to the core story we’re telling about rejection as it relates to the cut off seclusion of a rural existence.

What are your horror influences?

Jason Riesgraf: Horror is where my heart is. I’ve been in love with horror films since I was 9 years old, starting with the film “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984). I’ve been particularly influenced by the new wave of extreme horror and torture porn directors, Rob Zombie, James Wan, and Eli Roth to name a few. “The Devil’s Rejects” (2005) is actually my favorite horror film. I’ve also really enjoyed other classics like “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974) and the original “Halloween” (1978). I believe I bring a fresh and young perspective to the horror genre.

Where did you get the idea for the story?

Jason Riesgraf: The weekend cabin culture is prevalent up here in Minnesota. It’s a relatable pastime that many Minnesotans, Wisconsinites, and Midwesterners in flyover country can relate to. There’s something inherently spooky about the seclusion of northern Minnesota, which makes it a perfect setting for a horror film. As for the characters, dialogue and relationships, those are actually semiautobiographical. There are key elements to the plot and characterization that apply directly to my personal life, which I unfortunately can’t reveal because I don’t want to spoil the movie for the fans. It’s no surprise to my friends and family that I chose horror as the genre for my first film. Personally, home invasion films scare me the most. Home is where you should feel the safest. Having someone invade your place of safety is an incredibly frightening concept to me. In terms of biggest influences for “Lake Runs Red,” Bryan Bertino’s “The Strangers” (2008) and Alexandre Aja’s “High Tension” (2003) were the two films that truly inspired me to become a horror filmmaker and had a huge impact on the atmosphere of our film.

Where are you filming?

Jason Riesgraf: We are filming in various locations throughout Minnesota. The majority of principal photography took place in thenorthern Minnesota city of Aitkin. My producer and director of photography, Mike Ascher very generously supplied the main lake cabin where we shot most of the film. Additional scenes are also being filmed in the immediate Twin Cities metropolitan area.

What time period is the movie set in?

Jason Riesgraf: The time period is set in the present day.

Do we know any of the cast?

Jason Riesgraf: The film stars Kaci Wegleitner in her first lead role in a feature film. Kaci is an accomplished model, brand ambassador, and professional makeup artist based in Minneapolis. She displayed excellent leadership for our cast behind the scenes. Her co-star is Lauren Morris, an actual college student majoring in theatre. This is Lauren’s first feature film role ever. We probably pushed Lauren the hardest emotionally and physically. She does a terrific job. It’s hard to believe this is her first film. In a supporting role is Michael Hertenstein as the father, Paul. Michael recently retired and is pursuing acting (his life long dream) full time as a career. In another critical role, is Helene Donohue who plays Gwen, the mother. Lake Runs Red marks Helene’s return to feature films. Helene is an accomplished television and commercial actress who has most notably appeared in Oliver Stone’s “The Doors” and James Cameron’s “The Abyss.” And last but not least is C.J. DeVaan, a well known local community theatre actor and short film producer. He plays Bruce, a mysterious stranger who crosses paths with the girls.

Tell me about your crew?

Jason Riesgraf: I’ve got the best crew in the Twin Cities independent film community. Along with Jeff Fuller running marketing, publicity and social media, we’ve got my wife, Stephanie Riesgraf who is handling all of the budget, legal, and events planning. J. Dan Moores is my creative partner, producer, and 1st assistant director. He’s helping out with set management, performance direction, casting, and sales representation. Mike Ascher is my other producer and director of photography. He’s also managing the locations and lighting for the film. Rounding out the team we have Tiffany Shaw and John Vang contributing various production services to keep the trains running on time. Katie Triplett is our absolutely amazing makeup artist. And finally BobKat Productions, a local up and coming special effects studio, run by Robert Cormican and Keagan Mueller, are contributing as special effects technicians.

How has the production experience been so far?

Jason Riesgraf: I’ve worked on film and television sets previously in various camera and post production roles, but this is my directorial debut where I’m responsible for the entire story and production. It’s been a humbling, but amazing experience. I’m very fortunate to have such a talented and passionate cast and crew. Production has gone remarkably well. We’ve developed a real close knit family on this production. We are currently about to conclude principal photography, where we are one crucial scene away from wrap. The cast and crew could not be more excited to see the finished product as we begin the extremely long grind into post-production and phase two marketing.

How has the horror community on the Internet reacted to the film so far?

Jeff Fuller: The marketing and awareness “for Lake Runs Red” has been remarkable so far. The positive and immediate response has surprised even me. Since this is Jason’s first feature film, we’re building the film’s brand from scratch. There are a lot of unknown factors that accompany a lack of brand awareness, but so far we’re conquering them one by one. The horror community has embraced us online and we’re committed to not letting them down. Twitter has been our most effective tool for reaching out to horror fans and independent film enthusiasts. Sparking that ongoing conversation with horror fans has been a really rewarding experience.

Any buzz for the film in Minnesota?

Jason Riesgraf: Indie films are alive and well here in Minneapolis. Our team has been hitting the street hard with networking events this past month, at a few local film festivals. The cool thing is, as we get out and speak with people at the festivals, we’re finding that there’s already an outside local awareness for “Lake Runs Red,” which is really fun. It’s great to know that our marketing and publicity efforts are working so far. I am intently looking forward to next October 2015, when we can finally show off the finished product.

When is this movie expected to come out?

Jeff Fuller: Barring any unforeseen complications, we are targeting an October 2015 release date.

Will there be a VHS release? Or will it be DVD and Blu ray?

Jeff Fuller: We’re weighing all marketing and release strategies carefully at this time. The release can get complicated, as many film festivals require exclusivity in premiering the films, usually based on geography, but also in terms of distribution media. It’s important for us to explore the festival circuit, as well as widespread release. Theatrical, DVD, Blu Ray, VOD, and VHS are all viable options. We recently learned that there’s a meaningful collector’s market for VHS cassette releases actually. We’re sensitive to those collectors, as well as early adopters of VOD and streaming media. The team is going to examine our target audiences carefully and adjust our distribution strategies accordingly when the time is right. Regardless of whichever distribution media are chosen however, we are committed to ensuring that “Lake Runs Red” is as accessible as possible to our audience and fans.

Where can fans find out more information about “Lake Runs Red”?

Jeff Fuller: We’re actually going to be launching our official movie website, www.LakeRunsRed.com, next week on October 31st, 2014, Halloween day! It’s going to include never-before-seen production photos, in depth information about the cast and crew, a press release archive, and a hub for our social media. We’re really optimistic that the launch will be well received.

Jason Riesgraf: We were holding off on launching the website, until the timing was right. With Halloween coming up, the timing could not be more perfect. The team is super excited for this launch. Jeff did an awesome job with the site. I think it’s really going to be the best way for fans, press, and investors to connect with us in a new, formal capacity.

Jason Riesgraf

Jeff Fuller