We are Indie Horror has had the opportunity, and honor, to view some of the many films in the LeglessCorpse Films (LC Films) library. LC Films is a film distributing, and now production, company behind such titles as anthology film Volumes of Blood Don’t Look in the Basement 2, a sequel to the 70s cult classic, and the bizarrely trippy Dolly Deadly (check out reviews in the links provided). LC Films has a way of coming across and distributing some of the best indie horror films around.
I actually had the chance to speak to owner and operator of LC Films, Chad Armstrong, via e-mail, in an interview you can read in full below. Chad had a lot to say about the Indie horror community and filmmaking, shedding some real and honest thoughts and advice about DIY filmmaking and film school. We also talked about his upcoming film Deimosimine (which he is the director and creator of the project) and some of the setbacks in bringing that project to life. Read the full We are Indie Horror interview with Chad Armstrong and check out the teaser trailer and behind the scenes images from upcoming Deimosimine below.
We are Indie Horror:Correct me if I’m wrong, but according to your IMDB, you were born and raised in Long Beach, CA. You began LC Films in Alabama, and you’ve carved up a nice little piece of the indie horror community. Do you think LC Films works better away from the saturation of filmmakers and distribution companies, etc. in the L.A area?
Chad Armstrong: Honestly, I don’t think location has anything to do with it in this day and age where technology allows you to communicate with people in real time, send files directly, etc. We actually have very few films from filmmakers in Los Angeles, plus indie horror is more rampant throughout the country. Everyone in L.A. is trying to make the next big Blockbuster and everyone thinks they are somehow bigger than they are. That’s one of the reasons I moved from California. However, as far as LeglessCorpse.com, it certainly would benefit us as most of the bigger talent is based out of that area for interviews, festival appearances, premiere screenings etc. That’s something we wish we could do more of.
WAIH: Tell us about LC Films.
CA:We distribute pretty much any indie horror film and have started opening the doors to other genres. We’ve made some great partners which allows us to get these extremely low budget films on Itunes, Amazon Prime, and major VOD services, and in many cases major retail outlets. [Actually], we have very little recoupable costs, which most distributors will inflate, like charging to re-cut a trailer, and changing artwork, etc., which other companies will charge huge chunks of money for, whether it needs to be done or not. We believe the filmmakers know their films best and allow them to keep their own artwork, have the trailers cut the way they want them cut. We may make suggestions, but at the end of the day it’s the filmmaker’s film, not ours.
WAIH: What is your next project, “Deimosimine?”
CA: Deimosimine is our first feature film we are actually producing under the LC Films label partnered with Ibyte Films. The film has not been finished yet but the word has gotten out. We have already been approached by distribution companies interested in it but, we will put our faith in our own hands and self distribute like we do with the other guys.
Everyone was confused about the title (who our first writer Ray Scanlon came up with), so our first teaser trailer explains where this weird title came from and a little about what to expect from the film. [Editor’s Note: You can check out the trailer below].
It’s been almost 2 years in the making with our indiegogo campaign not reaching the funding goal, but we forged ahead and are raising funds as we go. The film is actually almost complete, we have some major monster set pieces that need to be shot, which of course is expensive since we have over 4 practical creatures that are all different. Reason being is, it’s not a family of creatures that we can use the same sculpt and molds and just paint differently, they are all VERY different, so it’s taking some time, but it’s a very bloody, fun, and emotional film.
I have to acknowledge writer and partner Andrew Thompson for writing a crazy script that actually has character development, emotional elements, and at the same time adding the crazy over-the-top creatures and FX that I wanted in the film. Our FX guy Dennis Preston is doing an amazing job and Tara G. Merryman is doing an amazing job assisting him and filling in for him when he’s not on set, since he is nine hours away and very busy, he can’t be on set every time, so Tara has taken the lead on occasion and has done an amazing job as well.
WAIH: As a filmmaker yourself, how do you feel about indie horror in our current era?
CA: It has its ups and downs. There is a lot of crap out there so it’s hard to find the gem in the bunch, but they are out there. And who knows, a lot of people may think Deimosimine is part of the crap, but we are making the film we would want to see, with production value. Production value goes a long way and is easy to achieve, you don’t need ten thousand dollars worth of equipment to achieve it like most people think.
On the flip side, I think it’s great that there are so many films out there, and even these films that fall into the crap field will just make the filmmakers stronger for their next film. Becoming a filmmaker is not about going to school. It’s about making films, listening to the critics and fans, and learning from your mistakes. No film school will ever teach you as much as going out and making a film, and making a film is much cheaper than some of these film schools.
WAIH: Tell us about the Legless Corpse Film Festival.
CA: Oh man, we have so many great films this year. We are having it at a huge historic theater. It was built in the 1950’s and has been renovated, just a gorgeous theater. [It’s called] The Princess Theatre [located] in Decatur, Alabama. We are honored to be having it there and I owe our Event Coordinator, Ginger Vandiver, for setting that up.
But not only do we have two days of kickass films, we will have a zombie walk, live makeup demonstrations, the cast and crew from Deimosimine, a green screen photographer, $100 costume contest, and we’ll be having special screenings of Chopping Block, Don’t Look In The Basement 2, and the premiere of Volumes Of Blood: Horror Stories, which falls on the same day as the filmmaker’s premiere in Kentucky. Plus a premiere screening of The Makings Of An Addict, a feature documentary on the making of Deimosimine directed by Greg Martin, which of course we are excited about. It’s still early, we are planning so much more.
WAIH: I’ve had the pleasure of watching some of the films distributed by LC Films, like Volumes of Blood and Don’t Look in the Basement 2, are there any you particularly enjoy?
CA: Oh see, you’re trying to get me in trouble, haha. I love all the films, that’s why we decided to distribute them. Don’t Look In The Basement 2 is one because I was so pushing to distribute the film because I loved it, and it’s not even my kind of horror, it’s more supernatural, which I’m not a big fan of, but they nailed it. Volumes Of Blood because it’s a great film, but also opened a lot of doors for us which in turn helped out films that followed it. Our most recent Dolly Deadly… is the most unique, experimental, batshit film I’ve seen in a long time. Heidi Moore (director) truly is a visionary and thinks outside the box and really dives into the psychological aspect of horror and just plays with your mind, a very fun film.
WAIH: Lastly, any advice for up and coming filmmakers?
CA: Just make your film, no matter the budget or resources, and no matter how good or bad you think it is, show it. Not to your mom and dad and friends, but put it out there and get feed back. Don’t listen to the trolls on the internet that say “this is a piece of shit” or ‘this film is great”, those don’t mean anything. Listen to the people that give you details about what they liked and didn’t like about it and absorb that, and use it on your next film. Don’t let the haters stop you from doing what you want. For every one hater post, there are twenty that enjoyed it but didn’t bother to comment, because it’s easier to tear people down these days instead of lifting them up.
You can still help out with Chad Armstrong’s Deimosimine by pre-ordering a special signed limited edition BluRay with a one-of-a-kind candid Polaroid, Here. If you purchase anything from the link provided it all goes towards the project, here it is in Chad’s own words: “The great thing about buying anything from the site is that all the money goes towards finishing the film, and everyone who buys anything will actually get reimbursed from the profits of the film, like mini investors, which is pretty cool!”
Catch all the LC Films latest on their official site Twitter, and Facebook Page
