<\/p>\n
~~~~~<\/p>\n
With due respect given to the waning pandemic, creatives and artists are pushing forward with projects all over Champaign County<\/strong> and filmmaking is no exception. We\u2019ll be pointing out what\u2019s good in the coming months but for the moment, dearest readers, let\u2019s address a most immediate need for a production that is less than a week away from launching in our neck of the woods \u2026 and we do<\/em> mean \u201cthe woods.\u201d<\/p>\n Location filming is set to begin next Monday, August 9<\/strong>, on a stylish \u201cretro\u201d slasher movie called FINAL SUMMER<\/strong>, hailing from writer\/director John Isberg<\/strong>\u2019s Swede Films<\/strong> of Urbana<\/strong> and partly crewed by folks who have participated in his Workshop Films Collective<\/strong> group<\/a><\/span>. According to social media postings<\/a><\/span> and an interview with Danielle Million<\/strong> at Ghoulish<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span> about his feature debut, Isberg sees FINAL SUMMER<\/strong> as a love letter to horror thrillers of a certain bent as well as an opportunity to modernize traits of the genre, such as how female characters inform the story, and explore the ways in which past trauma can affect the behavior of survivors as brand-new chaos erupts around them. What little exists online for FINAL SUMMER<\/strong> so far, such as the proof-of-concept trailer filmed a year ago at the same campground where principal photography will take place<\/a><\/span>, is purposely vague about the menace that lies in wait.<\/p>\n Similar to how shoots have gone in the area for Shatterglass Studios<\/strong> and Dreamscape Cinema<\/strong> in recent years, Swede Films will rely on a team of veterans, professionals, and dedicated newcomers from both near and far to bring the project to fruition. Isberg and Chicago<\/strong>-based freelancer and podcaster Kevin Lau<\/strong> are producing FINAL SUMMER<\/strong>, while executive producer Adam Moyer<\/strong> is branching back into theatrical cinema with this film \u2013 his career began on the set of THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION<\/strong> \u2013 after nearly two decades of working in television. The core cast, which includes Anastasia Kasimos, Charlee Amacher, Cole Carter, Fabian Guererro, Jenna Kohn, Myles Valentine, Rico Whitehead<\/strong>, and Seth Boyer<\/strong>, will portray camp counselors and the like. Adult roles are to be played by Chicago stage actress Jessica Kadish<\/strong>, University of Illinois<\/strong> associate professor of acting Robert Gerard Anderson<\/strong>, and former Parkland College Theater<\/strong> artistic director Joi Hoffsommer<\/strong>, who echoes the late Betsy Palmer<\/strong> in the teaser.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n Isberg has also cast a few recognizable talents in FINAL SUMMER<\/strong>, although the scope of their respective involvement has yet to be confirmed. Thom Mathews<\/strong>, known for Eighties horror movies like FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VI<\/strong> and THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD<\/strong>, will appear along with Tom Atkins<\/strong>, a familiar face in several John Carpenter<\/strong> adventures and memorable as the detective in NIGHT OF THE CREEPS<\/strong>. Also signed are respected actor Bishop Stevens<\/strong> from GIRL ON THE THIRD FLOOR<\/strong> and SLICE<\/strong> as well as busy B-movie personality John Stokes<\/strong> who, believe it or not, is suiting up as “Jason” himself in the fan film VOORHEES: NIGHT OF THE BEAST<\/strong> later this fall. Additional cast and crew members will fill out the Internet Movie Database<\/strong> profile<\/a><\/span> as things progress with FINAL SUMMER<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n