Here is a short horror film for you to watch called The Angry Mage and the Blasphemy of the House of Imitation.
It’s a punk rock horror movie about a raucous punk band who face off against an evil mime who tries to stop them from completing their music video.
This short is shared in partnership with FilmQuest Film Festival, where we try to shine a light on some of the indie genre films and shorts filmmakers are creating.
We spoke to the filmmakers who created the short film, Jason Sheedy. It’s a lot of fun, so I hope you enjoy it!
Please tell us, without spoiling anything, what your film is about, its characters, and its themes. Is it a proof of concept, or a standalone story?
This is a horror comedy short film about a raucous punk band consisting of band members Johnny Buzzsaw, Ripper and Kevin who must face a demonic pantomime intent on stopping them from completing their music video. This is a standalone story, but we’d also like to expand it into a feature film!
What was the inspiration for your film? How did you come up with this idea?
We were inspired to make this film after a screening of Midnight Madness at FilmQuest. We wanted to create an experience that was our own, wrapped in a crazy collection of horror and hilarity. So, we started brainstorming, and after a night of Taco Bell and good old-fashioned hookups, the story of The Angry Mage was born.
Tell us about yourself. What is your background? How long have you been a filmmaker?
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been covering my friends in fake blood and running around with a camera on my hand. These interests took me to film school in Savannah, Georgia, where I met the core team I still work with today. After school we shot a feature film (basically like going to film school again) and lately we’ve been focusing on various short films which has been a great way to explore different ideas and meet lots of other filmmakers as well as touring online and at festivals creativity in.
What inspires you to work in genre films and tell these kinds of stories?
There’s something truly satisfying about genre movies. I love the broad genres of horror, science fiction, and fantasy, broken down into dozens of subgenres. There are endless possibilities here, which makes me curious and excited – as a filmmaker, it’s a very satisfying space to be in.
What was your favorite part of the filmmaking process on this project?
For this particular project, it was really fun to connect my musical interests with my filmmaking interests. I grew up in a band, so I enjoyed writing some of the music for this film, which you can listen to at magesofragefilm.com!
What are you most proud of about this film?
We were inspired by the FilmQuest Midnight Madness screening and we were lucky enough to attend the Midnight Madness screening the following year and even win Best Comedy Short. I can’t think of a better complete moment in this movie than this.
What’s your favorite story or moment from the making of the film that you’d like to share?
For me, my favorite filming moment is usually the last shot on set – it’s that feeling when you’re one step closer to accomplishing the goal you set after months of planning, overthinking, problem solving, etc. I feel like anything can be worth doing that is challenging and you have to step out of your comfort zone and accept the chance that you might fail, so when you’re nearing the end and you’ve gained everything you need to go into the position with confidence , there is nothing that can be done.
What was the most challenging moment or experience you had while making the film?
We all wore a lot of hats on this shoot and it was exhausting at times. It’s an exhausting feeling when it’s all done and you’re like, “Yeah, we did it. It was worth it.” But when you’re doing it, you’re like, “Wait, why did I do this to myself? “All kidding aside, I’m so grateful for the cast and crew who were so easy-going but extremely hard working. Even during the most challenging of times, it was still a super fun shoot and I couldn’t be happier with how it all came together.
If so, how did your film change or differ from the original concept during pre-production, production, and/or post-production? How does this impact the way you approach future projects?
Who are your collaborators and actors in this film? How did you start working together?
Brett Brooks (“The Ripper”) and I made a short horror film together in college and we’ve been friends ever since. Over the years we have made numerous projects together, from short films to feature films and even music. In addition to acting, he is an extremely talented illustrator and writer and even co-created the film with me. Matthew Noonan (“Kevin”/DP) and I also met in college and started making movies a few years later when we realized we shared a love for horror movies and video games. I met Chris Meyers (“Pime”) when I was in college, but this was the first project he’d performed for me and it was incredible to work with him. He really gave the character more life than I could have hoped for.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received as a filmmaker?
Some of the best advice I ever got was to make movies. “You want to be a filmmaker, make movies.” This has been said many times, but I really think it’s the simplest, most actionable advice you can get. I’m learning how to become a better storyteller with every film I make. Another valuable piece of advice I received in my directing class was: “Hey, shut up.” Granted, I talked too much, so it was a good lesson in giving clear, concise direction, It’s also a good reminder to trust your collaborators and stay open to possibilities outside of your own ideas.
What are your plans for your career? What stories would you like to tell in the future?
I would love the opportunity to make another feature film, and I hope to engage audiences with this and other films we make. I’ve always been a fan of horror and sci-fi, but I love blending genres and focusing on creating memorable characters who face supernatural or otherworldly conflicts.
What’s your next project?
We also have a few short film projects in the works, including a horror/sci-fi short called “The Reclaimers” that’s currently playing on the festival circuit, and a musical called “To Hell With You” that’s expected to be released this fall. festival tour.
Where can we find more of your work? Do you have a website or YouTube/Vimeo channel? Social media handle?
My movies are all available on my website jasonmsheedy.com, but I also have a YouTube (@JasonSheedy) and a Vimeo channel (https://vimeo.com/jasonsheedy). I’m most active on Instagram, where I post movie updates or pictures of my dog (@jasonmsheedy). And check out magesofragefilm.com for movie clips and more!
Bonus Question #1: What is your favorite movie?
“That Thing” by John Carpenter
Bonus Question #2: Which film inspired you the most as a filmmaker and/or influenced your work the most?
“Evil Dead” – The idea of a group of friends heading into the woods with cameras and dreams was so relevant to me for much of my childhood. Our movie wasn’t The Evil Dead , but I fell in love with that scrappy DIY style of going out and trying stuff.