Exclusive Interview: Tim Hannigan (MurderFest)

MurderFest on Prime Video

https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0ODV9FWWG2SU6HADX80SH7L75E/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

What made you want to get involved in the film industry?

I have loved movies my entire life, especially horror movies. I started writing screenplays as a hobby and was surprised when my scripts actually generated some attention with various people in the industry. To me there is nothing more satisfying than creating something scary to share with people. So I decided to take the writing further and start creating our own independent films.

From script–to–screen, how close did MurderFest come to its original vision?

We were definitely able to capture the story we wanted to tell with Murderfest. Collaborating with an incredible group of actors as well as highly creative people on the crew helped us create something even better than what we had in the script. Of course, with micro-budget filmmaking there is always pressure in terms of both time and money so there are times where you do not allow yourself to get over-indulgent as a director but you never sacrifice the story.

What was your favorite day on set and why?

I honestly enjoyed each and every day on set – making a horror film with great people is a dream come true! If I had to pick just one day – there a sequence in the film involving three loggers chopping and splitting wood with a gas-powered log splitter out in the middle of the forest when they are preyed upon by multiple killers. In one single day we had to film four murders involving numerous maniacs. We were literally up to our elbows in brains, intestines, severed limbs and fake blood. I love gore gags and trying to figure out how to make them work so getting to do four of them in a day was awesome. A lot of work – but totally worth it.

What scene did you enjoy directing the most?

There is a sequence where a group of campers are hanging out around a fire in the middle of nowhere. It involved our largest group of characters in what is a very funny scene. All of the cast and crew involved in that scene were having a blast – struggling not to laugh both in front of and behind the camera in every shot. I really believe that when the cast and crew are having fun making a movie that comes across in the final product so people should really enjoy that scene.

What is the biggest obstacle you faced while making MurderFest?

I think the biggest obstacle we faced was filming outdoors in the woods with only limited dates available for shooting. Our cast and crew had to contend with fire ants, mosquitoes, heat and unpredictable weather. We were constantly monitoring weather radar and, ultimately, we were only rained out on one night of shooting. After that experience you really appreciate why big budget films shoot in studio environments as much as possible.

What was your proudest moment during production?

One of my favorite scenes in the movie involves our lead character Tarin played by Deniella Alexis interrogating someone linked to Murderfest played by Michael Lake. Deniella’s performance is absolutely amazing and Michael brings an incredible level of realism to what happens to his character. As a movie fan I enjoyed watching that scene unfold as we shot it and as a writer/director I was very proud of that moment. When you write dialogue and get to see an actress like Deniella deliver it with a level of intensity beyond what you could have hoped for it really makes you feel like you have accomplished something.

How do you get a film to stand out in the crowd in today’s landscape?

It is really hard because there are so many low budget horror films out there now but I truly believe that there is room for all of these films. We released our prior film “Heinous Acts” on streaming just a couple of years ago with no real advertising behind it and we were shocked to see how that movie – which was a few years old when we released it – found an audience. People who love horror are always looking for something new and are willing to take a chance on a low budget indie movie that does not have a studio machine behind it. The horror community is also really good at supporting each other – indie filmmakers support other indie filmmakers and it is wonderful to be a part of that.

What other filmmakers inspire you to do what you do?

I grew up idolizing filmmakers like Sam Raimi, John Carpenter, Wes Craven and Don Coscarelli. Filmmakers who did not need a studio or a big budget to find ways to express their creativity. In terms of working at the budget level that we are at, Robert Rodriguez and his book “Rebel Without A Crew” hugely inspired me, as well as a filmmaker and YouTube personality J. Horton – whose YouTube channel on microbudget filmmaking really inspired me to try to make a movie with this scope on such a limited budget.

What is your favorite horror decade and why?

I have to go with the 1980s. Growing up in the 80s the local video store was my church, and horror movies were my religion. I feel so fortunate to remember a time when you were looking forward to the next Friday the 13th film being released, or learning about a new movie called A Nightmare On Elm Street from a buddy who rented it. Home video gave incredible access to some of the most important horror films ever made and we were watching them without any idea that one day these movies would be considered classics.

What is the next step in your filmmaking career?

Now that Murderfest is finally completed we are getting to work on our next horror feature film which we plan to shoot in the Spring of 2025. We have two different ideas right now so

we are going to work on them both over the winter and decide which one we are going to go with.