CLINTON —
Dark characters dead and undead will parade through town in the next few months. Local horror sensation duo Marlena “Midnite” Metzger and Robyn Graves are in the process of filming their first film, “Dawn of Dracula.”
“We are excited to do something different and new,” Metzger said. “So far things are going well.”
The two are best known for their heavily syndicated show, “Midnite Mausoleum,” which airs on 64 stations in 27 states. Their new film is an homage of the Dracula movies made by Hammer Productions in the U.K. and more specifically Dracula A.D. and Satanic Rites Of Dracula. Scenes are set in 1977, so the group is busy assembling locations that can be easily adapted to the time period.
“Finding locations that look like England in 1977 is not easy, but we are looking for spots that are older and can pass for that time period,” Metzger said.
While the show has been on four years, the girls had never really thought much about making a film. Powell had always wanted to make a movie and the girls agreed to take on the challenge with help from friends and fans. The determined actors are funding the low budget film on their own along with donations through Indiegogo.com.
“Working on a film with a limited budget is a lot different from your typical film, but it also gives us the opportunity to tweak things that aren’t working and be more organic,” Metzger said.
Generous donors will get the chance to be a part of the film, which will have 16 speaking roles, alongside the two stars. All filming will take place in Iowa at various office and apartment locations and they are still looking for additional filming locations and 1970s vintage props and extras. The budget is estimated at about $17,000 and production is expected to be wrapped up by April, followed by a limited theatrical release in the summer. Metzger and Powell plan to enter “Dawn of Dracula,” in film festivals as well.
As far as future movie opportunities, the group is going to wait and see.
“We will see how it goes,” Metzger said. “We are always open to new things.”
When she is not busy filming, Metzger also runs Tiney’s Comics at 516 S. Second St. For more information on the film visit the “Dawn of Dracula” Facebook page. To donate to the project log on to www.indiegogo.com/dawnofdracula2013.
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