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Horror of horrors, the indie filmmakers of Champaign, Urbana<\/strong>, and the cities beyond have a lot<\/em> of pent-up anxieties and on-screen conflicts they want to throw at us in the current wave of productions! Navigating what\u2019s going down and who\u2019s scaring whom is becoming a bit of a challenge, almost like choosing which way to turn in the cornfield mazes<\/a><\/span> and haunted houses<\/a><\/span> that will be up and running soon in anticipation of Halloween<\/strong>. However, getting lost within the woods and confronting the fears that await is currently in vogue. Down one path, we might cower as an archetypal masked killer goes up against wary heroes who need to plumb the deepest strengths to survive. Down another, we might cringe as undergraduates willingly refuse to let sleeping rural myths lie for the sake of a grade. Choose yet another, and \u2026 we\u2019re cajoled into dancing, laughing, and swooning our way to the bloody end. Oops!<\/em> Wrong turn, perhaps?<\/p>\n Sure enough, behind Tree Number 3 is an indescribable terror that will take on an isolated group of young people just like in the other scenarios, and it will also be the one coming after the viewing public first. While Swede Films<\/strong> begins their initial edit for FINAL SUMMER<\/strong><\/a><\/span> and Into the Night Motion Pictures<\/strong> wraps their location shoot on HUNTING FOR THE HAG<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, another crew is pushing forward to complete their own inaugural full-length creation that will possibly have the longest combined run time and certainly has the longest title, CHASE AND SHEP\u2019S SUMMER CAMP OF HORRORS!<\/strong> This cheery outburst of forestry, frolicking, and frightful shenanigans is the next big step in the ambitions of collaborators and good friends Chase Todd<\/strong> and Aaron \u201cShep\u201d Sheppard<\/strong> who reside in and near Champaign County<\/strong>, respectfully.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n It is pretty clear in the few viral videos posted so far for SUMMER CAMP<\/strong><\/a><\/span> that \u201cfun\u201d is the main ingredient both at \u201cCamp Chasenshep\u201d and under the duo\u2019s umbrella brand, The Chase & Shep Show<\/strong>. They have hit their stride rather quickly, laying down more than 100 episodes of their eponymous podcast since launching it a little less than a year ago, and the thematic permutations have helped keep the endeavor fresh. For every \u201cMental Health Monday\u201d show, where they banter real talk about their lives, there is a horror movie review marathon. For every \u201cFantastic Friday\u201d show, centered on something catching their fancy in entertainment, there are charmingly weird remix videos and found footage edits set to their own music tracks. And now, Chase & Shep are narratively inclined. We\u2019ll see very shortly how they fare.<\/p>\n Once I made it out of the virtual thicket that is the official Chase & Shep website<\/a><\/span>, I invited Todd to gab about SUMMER CAMP<\/strong>. He generously offered an insight as to why they decided to go this route, a coincidental choice given the other projects in progress in east central Illinois<\/strong>, and what they aim to achieve for themselves as well as offer an audience with this particular show. Listening to a smattering of their podcasts in the meantime, it is clear they are thoughtful fellows who are realistic in their aims and unabashed in their love of music, storytelling media, and pop culture. S\u2019mores is always better!<\/p>\n CHASE AND SHEP\u2019S SUMMER CAMP OF HORRORS!<\/strong> will arrive on Friday, September 17<\/strong>, with a two-episode debut on YouTube<\/strong> and weekly episodes thereafter until the end of October. It stars Tony Garcia, Isabella Cooper, Dylan Heck, Jon McEwen, Katherine Bokenkamp, Natalie Wise<\/strong>, Sheppard, Todd, and Judah<\/strong> and Isaac Phelps<\/strong>, who played a mad scientist in the online kids\u2019 show, SUPERZUZAA<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n ~ Jason Pankoke<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Read on, MacDuff\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n C-U Blogfidential:<\/strong> Chase, we thank you for hiking on over to Camp CUBlog<\/strong> so we can talk about activities and crafts that are worth it while huddled around computers or basking in the great outdoors! I\u2019ve been looking through the Chase & Shep<\/strong> website and archives \u2026 do you <\/em>ever sleep?<\/em><\/p>\n Chase Todd:<\/strong> We get plenty of sleep! Ever since we originated The Chase & Shep Show<\/span><\/strong> with \u201cThe 25 Slays of Christmas\u201d [last year] we\u2019ve just let the show grow organically. After so many failed projects banking on people to be reliable, we finally just said \u201cscrew it\u201d and started making content ourselves.<\/p>\n [CHASE & SHEP\u2019S SUMMER CAMP OF HORRORS!<\/strong>] is a prime example of a lot of that. What began as us just wanting to make something cool and scripted grew into our first full-blown production and, at any given time, there\u2019s usually only one to three of us behind the camera! It\u2019s been a fun experience though and I\u2019ve learned a lot. It\u2019s felt like filmmaking boot camp in a lot of ways and I\u2019m excited to take all this knowledge and growth into our future projects.<\/p>\n CUBlog:<\/strong> So, even with the multiplicity of videos that fans can find at ChaseAndShep.com<\/span><\/strong><\/a> and the YouTube<\/strong> channel<\/a><\/span>, you consider SUMMER CAMP<\/strong> your \u201cfirst full-blown production\u201d\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n CT:<\/strong> I do. Technically, my short film A DISTINCT LACK OF HOLIDAY CHEER<\/strong> is officially my first production I did. And, EASTER SUNDAY<\/strong> was conceived, shot, and released in the span of a week, but this is the first time we\u2019ve had a fully scripted series, shooting on location at Camp Drake<\/strong>, holding auditions, all that jazz. This is definitely the first time I\u2019ve had something I\u2019ve written truly come to life on screen, which has been an incredible experience.<\/p>\n The series itself will be eight episodes long, but the trailer [released on August 13<\/strong>] only contains footage from the first four [episodes] so there are plenty of surprises in store!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CUBlog:<\/strong> Ah, that was my next question. I wasn\u2019t sure if it was a single short or more. I see that at least one head will roll, given the kid in the group picture [shown above].<\/em><\/p>\n CT:<\/strong> Yes indeed. We have a lot more bloody goodness lined up. As creators, even, we\u2019ve been kept on our toes with the story as we recently rewrote the entire back half of the show about a week ago. A lot of rolling with the punches but, thankfully, we\u2019re a comedy and that gives us a lot of flexibility when it comes to certain elements of the show \u2013 particularly, [the fact that we] never really [have] campers at our camp!<\/p>\n CUBlog:<\/strong> The closest I got to camp was when we were about done with eighth grade and our prize was basically going to camp for a weekend. They did their best to group kids who were already friends, and they paired girl teams with boy teams. We named our combined team \u201cTeenage Wasteland.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n CT:<\/strong> I went to 4-H<\/strong> camp the summer after fourth grade and it was everything the movies promised me it would be!<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n CUBlog:<\/strong> Oh, there were movies about that? [laughs]<\/em><\/p>\n SUMMER CAMP<\/strong> is a work in progress, then. You\u2019ll start releasing episodes before you finish? How often will an episode come out?<\/em><\/p>\n CT:<\/strong> Yeah, we\u2019re currently still in production and will wrap [by] early September. We will release the first two episodes on Friday, September 17<\/strong>, and release an episode weekly from there. We will also do live shows after the premieres of each episode, sort of TALKING DEAD<\/strong> style, and a making-of documentary titled ONE HELL OF A SUMMER<\/strong> after the show has concluded.<\/p>\n [That\u2019s o]n top of a billion other things we\u2019re releasing in October.<\/p>\n CUBlog:<\/strong> October <\/em>is the gateway for fun! I hope it all goes swimmingly at Camp Chasenshep. Why did you decide to make SUMMER CAMP<\/strong>?<\/em><\/p>\n CT:<\/strong> We decided to make SUMMER CAMP<\/strong> because we wanted to make something we\u2019d like to see personally. I don\u2019t know of too many raunchy, R-rated horror comedies being made in the area and, as someone who has been in and been friends with members of CMM [Champaign Movie Makers<\/strong><\/a><\/span>] for so long and knowing the kind of movies and shows we like as fans, I was always surprised to see people never attempt to make something like this. Half surprised, I should say, because the other reason we decided to make this is to prove we could, to ourselves and the naysayers who have told me all the ways we couldn\u2019t do something rather than come up with a way we could.<\/p>\n CUBlog:<\/strong> How are you and Shep splitting duties on this project?<\/em><\/p>\n CT:<\/strong> I am the director, screenwriter, editor, producer, camera guy, etc., etc., etc., and Shep is the co-creator, co-producer, runs our social media, and serves as most other things behind the camera. When Shep and I are acting on screen, our friend EZ [Eric Zarnesky<\/strong>] is our third and final man working behind the scenes.<\/p>\n CUBlog:<\/strong> At the same time, how has filming gone with your adventurous cast, which includes Dylan Heck, Isabella Cooper, Jon McEwen, Katherine Bokenkamp, Natalie Wise<\/strong>, and Tony Garcia<\/strong>?<\/em><\/p>\n CT<\/strong>: The cast has been great to work with. Shep and I feel really lucky to have the cast we ended up getting and we\u2019re looking forward to working with them all again for future projects. It was a cool learning experience for all of us since we had a blend of stage actors who had never done film before, a few with some experience under their belt, and a few people who weren\u2019t even actors at all.<\/p>\n CUBlog:<\/strong> Can you tell us about the slasher and summer camp movies that you\u2019ve been looking to for inspiration in making the show?<\/em><\/p>\n CT:<\/strong> Even though the trailer may make it seem otherwise, there is next to no slasher influence in the show. There is<\/em> a very small recurring character who is an obvious riff on FRIDAY THE 13TH<\/strong>, but the show draws a lot more influence from the EVIL DEAD<\/strong> franchise and CABIN IN THE WOODS<\/strong> as far as the horror elements go.<\/p>\n We usually pitch the show as WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER<\/strong> meets CABIN IN THE WOODS<\/strong> although, thinking on it now, WET HOT<\/strong> and ASH VS. EVIL DEAD<\/strong> is probably the more accurate description. And, nestled in the middle of all the R-rated horror-comedy craziness is a clich\u00e9 coming-of-age teen romance. HEAVYWEIGHTS<\/strong> and FEAR STREET PART TWO: 1978<\/strong> influenced elements of the show as well.<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n CUBlog:<\/strong> Awesome. That totally explains the \u201cBook of the Dead\u201d inscribed in marker in the teaser. [laughs]<\/em><\/p>\n Did you realize that FINAL SUMMER<\/strong> was in the pipeline when you decided to do SUMMER CAMP<\/strong>?<\/em><\/p>\n CT:<\/strong> We were not aware of FINAL SUMMER<\/strong> until we looked into Camp Drake as our shooting location and found out there was another \u201csummer camp\u201d horror production going on there. I had grown up on the same road as Camp Drake [also known as Camp Robert Drake<\/span><\/strong> in Fairmount<\/strong><\/span><\/a>] and was surprised to hear it!<\/p>\n CUBlog:<\/strong> Who knew, right? [laughs]<\/em><\/p>\n CT:<\/strong> The guy who runs the camp asked me if we were \u201cthe U of I guys\u201d when we were there [on one] Saturday, and I had to tell him, \u201cNope. We\u2019re the other guys with no money.\u201d<\/p>\n CUBlog:<\/strong> So, you chose somewhere else?<\/em><\/p>\n CT:<\/strong> Nope! We\u2019ve been shooting at Camp Drake since the end of June and we\u2019ll be right back out there to shoot the finale once FINAL SUMMER<\/strong> has wrapped up!<\/p>\n In our show, there is a time warp in the middle of the forest and I desperately wanted to pitch to [FINAL SUMMER<\/strong> filmmaker John<\/strong>] Isberg<\/strong> a \u201cJay and Silent Bob in SCREAM<\/strong>\u201d type cameo, but we do reference Camp Silverlake within our show. Every camp has their rivals across the lake. [laughs]<\/p>\n CUBlog:<\/strong> Clever. Are you going to go to events like the Dark History & Horror Con<\/strong><\/a><\/span> [coming to the I Hotel and Conference Center<\/strong> in Champaign<\/strong> in late October] to promote SUMMER CAMP<\/strong> when you\u2019re all done?<\/em><\/p>\n CT:<\/strong> We haven\u2019t really thought about doing anything like that, but probably not. The show will be available completely free on YouTube<\/a><\/span>, a big factor into why the show is full of needle drops we can\u2019t afford, and we\u2019ve got a lot of other projects lined up that we\u2019ll be ready to move on to.<\/p>\n Our number one goal above everything else with this show was to make something cool and fun and to take these experiences and apply them to future endeavors. We\u2019ve talked about releasing a \u201cLegalized Cut\u201d where we replace all the music with original content, but it will just depend on the reception and where we\u2019re at with other things.<\/p>\n CUBlog:<\/strong> Sure. The projects worth the trouble will let you know. There has been much talk of achieving professionalism in various C-U film circles over the years, which is fine, yet it\u2019s also nice to just kick back and have fun with projects as the number one goal, isn\u2019t it?<\/em><\/p>\n CT:<\/strong> Very much so. We\u2019re not afraid of our show to look cheap because it is. It\u2019s just a matter of knowing how to lean into what you have to work with. Are we actual competition in the realm of Marvel Studios<\/strong> or James Gunn<\/strong>\u2019s musical taste [as expressed in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY<\/strong>]? No. But, I\u2019ll be goddamned if we won\u2019t pretend like we are anyway!<\/p>\n We may not have a budget or a crew or the bells and whistles of a FINAL SUMMER<\/strong>, but we will still approach our project like it\u2019s just as big. Even with the things we don\u2019t have, we still bring professionalism to the set that has started to garner us a reputation as good dudes to work with and we\u2019re both really proud of that. And, if you\u2019re not having fun making art, what\u2019s the point?<\/p>\n CUBlog:<\/strong> Great attitude. I hope it serves you both well.<\/em><\/p>\n CT:<\/strong> Thank you. I appreciate that.<\/p>\n CUBlog:<\/strong> Where do you both live now and what do you do when you\u2019re not media making?<\/em><\/p>\n CT:<\/strong> I live in Savoy<\/strong> and Shep is over in Villa Grove<\/strong>. I\u2019ve taken the last year just to pursue media making. I\u2019ve wanted to make movies and tell stories since I was four years old, so I finally just took a leap of faith. Shep works at Schnucks<\/strong> in Savoy as his day job \u2013 that\u2019s how we met a few years ago, he was originally my boss \u2013 and the rest of the time is spent as a musician and a father.<\/p>\n CUBlog:<\/strong> It always says something when you stick with the plan, even if it takes a while for it to play out.<\/em><\/p>\n I appreciate the time, glad I could chat with you for the first time in forever.<\/em><\/p>\n CT:<\/strong> It\u2019s been nice chatting with you as well! I really appreciate you reaching out and wanting to shine a light on our crazy production!<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n Interview conducted August 9-30, 2021, via Facebook IM.<\/em><\/p>\n CUBlog Interview \u00a9 2021 Jason Pankoke<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Back to the fore, MacDuff\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Visit the Interview Index<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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