REMEMBER – Our Journey So Far

Welcome back to our movie newsletter! For those who just subscribed, we’re a filmmaking team working on an independent horror film called REMEMBER.

Here’s the basic story:

Haunted by the mysterious death of her mother, a young girl begins to suspect that a supernatural force is stalking her. As the people around her begin to disappear, everyone seems to forget that they ever existed.

Last month, we sent out a poll to our subscribers, asking which title best fits our story. We gave you five options, including the original title of REMEMBER, and the results are in!

By more than double, it looks like the top choice was to keep the same title. All the other choices put up some tough competition (minus The Forgetter, which no one liked), but REMEMBER pulled ahead by more than double the runners-up.

Thanks to everyone who voted, both on this newsletter and through social media. Now that the results are in, we can also announce our gift card winner!

Congratulations to Madeline from South Carolina! We’ll contact you soon about your $25 prize.

It’s the middle of summer. Vacations are in full swing and everyone’s just a bit more relaxed. What better time for a flashback?

Two summers ago, our cast and crew got together to make our movie. We had a single location (a very cool cabin in the woods), and we were all set to finish filming in a couple weeks. Unfortunately, we were working under strict COVID protocols.

There are plenty of benefits to filming in one location, both financially and story-wise. We planned to make a lean, contained horror film without having to switch locations. Unfortunately, the downside was that everyone was together, so if one person got sick, the whole project derailed.

We made it about a third of the way through filming before that happened, which forced us to regroup and retool.

Our new film is still called REMEMBER, but it’s now a very different story. Without giving too much away, we’re basically making a prequel to what that cabin-in-the-woods movie was supposed to be. The core premise and main character are still the same, but the focus has shifted.

While it wasn’t easy to step away from the project in 2022, it helped us in a couple big ways. By refocusing the story toward a family unit instead of a friend group, we’re able to tackle some new, exciting ideas.

We learned from our first attempt and expanded the story to multiple locations, making sure that the script matched our budget. Plus, we met some wonderful actors and crew, and we really fell in love with the area.

While that 2022 film was not meant to be, it helped shape our new project into something scary, surprising, and very special.

Evan Purcell is a cowriter and producer for REMEMBER. Originally from California and Arizona, Evan has travelled all over the world, working at schools and summer camps in Tanzania, Bhutan, Ukraine, Russia, China, and Kazakhstan. He also writes young adult novels and scripted podcasts. He first came up with the idea for REMEMBER four years ago, and the project has come a long way since then.

What part of the filmmaking process are you most excited about?

So far, I really enjoyed our first table read. Even though I wasn’t there in person, I loved listening to our actors deliver lines in ways that I hadn’t expected. When it comes to the actual production, I’m excited about everything, but there’s one specific death scene in the script that I’m really looking forward to. (I won’t spoil what happens, but I know it’s going to be a fun day on the set.)

What films most inspire you?

I’ve been a horror fan since I was six years old, when I saw my very first horror film, Leprechaun. After that, I was obsessed. I love how horror movies can go to places that other genres can’t, and how the characters are always pushed to their limits. It’s cathartic. While writing the first draft of REMEMBER, I was inspired by the original Evil Dead (for its cabin-in-the-woods vibes) and A Nightmare on Elm Street (for its final girl). I also took some inspiration from the comedy Groundhog Day for how it sets up and expands on its own rules.

Tell us about a past project that you’re proud of.

When I was leading a drama camp in Ukraine, I put on about a dozen original plays throughout the summer. With each session, I helped my students write their scripts, make their costumes, and choreograph whatever dances or fight scenes that they wanted to include. I think my favorite play was a ten-minute spoof of Pirates of the Caribbean that I made with a group of seven-year-olds. We had some issues with our kraken costume and the final swordfight (choreographed to “Uptown Funk”), but when it finally came time to perform for the public, it was a huge success. I’ll always remember that one.

As always, thanks so much for reading! Please share this newsletter with your friends. And if you’re interested in other ways to get involved, check out our website with more information.

Next time, we’ll dive into costumes and clothing! It’s going to be fun!