Russ Emanuel Continues His Pandemic Series But Needs Your Help
Long time friend of the site, film-maker Russ Emanuel, is continuing his Pandemic franchise with his latest film “Staycation”. The Pandemic franchise started with the award-winning “Routine”, which itself began as a test for a new camera. The project ended up bigger than its original goal and got accepted into several prestigious film festivals including FilmQuest (one of the top genre fests in the US), Coney Island Film Festival, Big Apple Film Festival, and the Glendale International Film Festival.
“Staycation” expands upon the idea set about by “Routine”, opening up the narrative into a bigger world with higher stakes. It’s also the first 25% of an eventual feature film which is already written. “Routine” and “Staycation” builds a world that easily presents itself with great franchise possibilities within the popular science fiction/horror genre.
However, Russ has started a campaign to help him finish the movie.
Filming took place during November 2020 and they were able to get all of their shots, but because production took place right in the midst of the pandemic, the costs due to COVID were a lot more than originally anticipated. Most of the extra costs went to HVAC air filtration units, PPE kits, hiring Covid personnel, and rapid testing services. Also, post-production will include extensive visual effects, motion graphics and compositing. Additionally, there will be a music score and elaborate sound design work.
Russ told us “Some people asked me why they should contribute when we reached 100% and that’s a valid question. Two things: one, we added more actors due to cameo perks and more name actors and we must now film them and each day for crew, locations, food, logistics can cost $1500 to $2500 per day. The other thing is that Staycation is the first 25% of a feature and we can now film for the feature too so the more money we raise the closer to completing the feature itself. Just please realize I don’t ask for these contributions lightly. Thanks as always everyone, much love.”
The Staycation Indiegogo Campaign is currently in In Demand Phase with the original intention to raise finishing funds for the portions already filmed but the campaign has proven much more successful than anticipated (at 180% aka $36,023) So head on over to their campaign page HERE and help them out to hit their goals!
