The film crew behind a new Afro-folk horror film is hoping to shoot in Oak Bluffs, but town fees are raising concerns the production locally might not be possible.
A crew of up to 20 people behind “Dark Tide: A Short Film” are hoping to shoot in late September and early October at several locations in Oak Bluffs including Sea View Avenue and Circuit Avenue.
But at $1,000 a day to film, the team behind the small-budget production is questioning their filming location.
Film director Taelor Scott, noting that they were hoping to film several days, said it could be a small miracle if they were able to pull it off.
The film’s synopsis seems to revolve around vengeful “spirit daughters of a West African mermaid.”
“When her longtime friend, Ethan, ghosts her in the middle of organizing their community festival, Brooke’s resentment inadvertently invokes the vengeful spirit daughters of a West African mermaid,” a description of the film reads. “Meanwhile, in his bid to gain social status, Ethan’s luck is tested as he stumbles into spectral wrath in this short coastal folk-horror drama,” the film synopsis reads.
Scott said during the Oak Bluffs select board meeting on Tuesday this was more akin to a “homegrown project” so it wouldn’t need as much to film compared to larger projects.
The board unanimously approved the filming under certain conditions, including ending filmings by 11 pm, getting further permission from relevant town departments like police and highway, and paying the town’s $1,000 per day filming fee.
But Scott said the short film only has a budget below $40,000, so she would need to check with her executive producer. The town does not provide waivers or discounts for the daily filming fee.
“So, I guess our only option is to find another almost 10 grand for the project in about two weeks,” she said.
Additionally, the project is being produced under a short film agreement with SAG-AFTRA, the labor union for media and entertainment professionals like actors. Under the agreement, the project cannot spend more than $50,000 to produce the short film.
Scott said it may take a “miracle” for the filming to occur in Oak Bluffs, but still wanted the town’s approval. The board obliged, with the conditions.
There is no loss here. The town will be fine without the filming and the money and the producer will be better off by filming on the mainland. The costs of the ferry alone for a production of 20 people and the associated trucks and gear will far exceed the $1000/day they are splitting hairs over. And just wait until they meet selectwoman Gail Barkmaniac. They will wish they had never heard of the place.
I can think of about 20 seaside towns that would be cheaper, easier and more welcoming to film in this time of the year. Something tells me that the cache of saying it was filmed on MV has a lot to do with why they wanted to do it here in the first place.
It would be nice if the town could give them a reduced fee considering it’s a short film with a tiny budget. It would be a nice gesture.
People take videos on their phones constantly. When is the town going to start charging them?
Yes, it would be nice to offer a reduced fee. A film with a tiny budget usually means artists trying to make a film without financial help or input from large film companies. Independent art is essential. There was a film made here years ago. Mow Crew. Our friends and neighbors were in the film. I was curious and went to Youtube, typed in Mow Crew, and there it was, Written and directed by Taylor Toole. (Contains brief nudity and strong language.) Full movie. Free.
It is all about collaboration. The Town, The Businesses, The GoFund to the Community. It could also evolve into anything bigger. It’s not the Olympics, low budget, hello
Im not a horror film lover, but then the last film I saw in a big theatre was ALIEN. SO i will volley up a bit. Email
hardymarkf@yahoo.com.
What would a compromise look like? Perhaps, if a reduced price were agreed upon, could there be language in a contract that states if this short film makes it big and exceed profit expectations, what ever that is…. They would in turn, finish paying the full 1000 dollar a day price. Whatever the difference is?
Just an I wonder moment.
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