Horror Short Film Slate 2025
Hunger&Dread — Horror Filmmaking in Chicago
In this blog, I’ll do a quick review of the short films we made through Hunger&Dread in 2024 and talk about our plans for 2025.
2024 was a busy year for me. I took a screenwriting course and developed a couple of feature length scripts. Through my company Hunger&Dread, we made two short films: Walking Through Darkness and Alone in the Woods.
Walking Through Darkness
A photographer goes exploring with her camera and finds something she never expected.
Walking Through Darkness was filmed in under five hours. We had a small cast and crew. Director, Director of Photography, Production Assistant, and two people helping with behind the scenes photography and video. We had one actor on set and I played a small role in the film.
We filmed this short in Bridgeport, Chicago in an industrial area. I’ve often explored this place and thought it would be fun to shoot something here. At one point in the shoot, a police cruiser rolled up to where we had our camera tripod. It sat there for about a minute and then decided to drive off.
We were getting ready for the last shot and it started raining. We were able to get our coverage before wrapping.
Alone in the Woods
A woman goes on a hike in the woods when she finds a lost child.
Another short script that I wrote a few years ago. While we were on set for less than eight hours, this production was much larger. We had a cast and crew of thirteen people with me helping in multiple roles. I hired longtime colleague Zile Bish to direct. I have been a fan of her work and seeing her comedy short, Last Date, I believed she could pull this off. She brought Estrella Vargas for Director of Photography and a talented crew to support her vision.
Call time was 7AM and the crew trekked into the woods with the gear necessary to shoot the film.
Before lunch a stag deer trotted through the set.
We were getting ready for the last shot when it started drizzling. We packed up everything and loaded out of the set. We ended up wrapping the shoot after load out.
This year promises to be exciting.
Our Slate in 2025
We have three short films in pre-production between now and June.
Knocking
The knocking woman wants to come in. Winnie, an introverted woman is followed by a wandering spirit. When she settles in for a comfy night at home she hears a knock at the door and finds a nightmare waiting for her
Press Play
A man records and replays his memories on micro cassette tape. Imprisoned by his auditory obsession with the past, the tapes start to talk back revealing the truth he refused to see. He struggles with these ghosts and what they mean for his present.
Apparition
Be careful what you bring home. George comes home to find his apartment full of thrift store clothing and other nick knacks and his girlfriend Cassandra talking to someone in the kitchen.
Each of these films will likely be shot in a day or less with a small cast and crew.
Final thoughts
As the year progresses, I plan on sharing experiences from the set and what I’ve learned making films.
What’s are your filmmaking goals for the year ahead? What did you learn on set last year? What are you excited to see this year?
Thank you for stopping by.
If you would like to support our 2025 slate, please connect: army[at]hungeranddread[dot]com
Check out what I’m working on: Hunger & Dread
Check out the Hunger & Dread YouTube Channel
Check out my last blog post: How to Make a Moody Christmas Holiday Short Film in One Day
