Known for 2022's wildly outrageous breakout rom-com, Boxanne, Delaware-based Red Cup Films is proud to announce a new family-friendly horror film featuring professional stuntman Les Price as the Boog.
WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Red Cup Films has released the trailer for The Boog, in partnership with Philly-based professional stuntman, actor, and voiceover artist Les Price. The Boog is a kid-friendly monster movie partially inspired by the pandemic, celebrating the heroic efforts of everyday families facing down a new kind of horror.
The Boog: A Moving Picture by Brian Wild, premieres in Summer 2023. Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpT9qQjMz_M
Filmed in Wilmington, Delaware, this short film stars Les Price, Dona Gregorio, and Bill Weeden. It's the brainchild of Red Cup Films owner, producer, director, and writer Brian Wild.
"A friend tell me about Blobfest at the Colonial Theater," said Wild, referring to the annual Phoenixville film festival that commemorates the classic 1958 movie along with the famous run-out scene filmed on location.
"Blobfest runs a short film contest," Wild continued. "And the rules are simple: it has to be blob related, it can only be three minutes long, and it has to be family friendly sci-fi." Family-friendly was a new adventure for Wild, whose previous film Boxanne was a dark humor rated R rom-com.
"I have two kids of my own, and after making Boxanne - which they're not allowed to watch - I wanted to make something they could," Wild said. "They're always saying 'Dad, dad, when are you gonna make a movie that we can see!' That was definitely important for me - to make the next production something we could enjoy together."
As the plot took shape in Wild's mind, he found himself drawing inspiration from current events.
"I immediately thought of a future pandemic, because it's only a matter of time before we get hit with another one, right? The events take place in 2023, there's a new version of the virus - but now it only affects children. And how does it manifest? Well, it comes out of these kids' noses and morphs into a giant booger man. The constant and deadly specter of the pandemic, made flesh at last. Something scary, but also something you can see, touch, and fight - face-to-face."
With the plot in mind, Wild turned to casting.
"I had a connection with Dona Gregorio, who lives in LA now, but used to be Philly-based," Wild said. "I wanted to do something with a strong female lead, honoring the honestly superhuman efforts moms like my wife put forward during the hardest years of the pandemic. Dona's strong physical fitness background means she could quite literally kick a monster's butt."
Gregario has appeared on HBO, Netflix, Comedy Central, MTV, USA, Apple TV, TruTv & Bravo, and is a certified personal trainer/health coach.
"Similarly, I knew I needed a really believable monster," Wild continued. Les Price, a Philly-based professional stuntman and actor, sprang immediately to mind.
Wild, who always prefers to work with locally based talent, has been following Price's career for years. Price had recently been a featured Alpha Zombie in Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead, prompting Wild to reach out.
"When I saw the clips, combined with his previous work in Deathouse and Alpha Rift, I knew Les would be perfect for this role," Wild said. "I didn't want anyone else playing my monster."
"I was instantly interested," Price said. "The script is reminiscent of classic horror shorts like Tales from The Crypt and Goose Bumps, but with a modern spin, and I was excited to work with Dona. Then when Brian added Bill Wheedon to the cast, I was thrilled to be working with him again - I grew up watching Troma Films, and later got the chance to work directly with Bill on them."
Price's encyclopedic knowledge of films is staggering, and with good reason.
"I was raised in my mom Franny DiCicco's video store on Spruce Street. I've always watched everything I could get my hands on," Price recalled. "But I had a special affinity for horror. It's still a trip, realizing I've been on screen with some of my heroes."
Over the years, Price has worked with horror icons Zack Snyder, Lloyd Kaufman, Kane Hodder, Dee Wallace, Danny Trejo, Tony Todd, and more. The genre has a special meaning for Price.
"My pops, Les Harrison Price, was the first Black drag queen to perform on the East Coast, and a famous Shirley Bassey impersonator. Entertainment is in our blood. We used to watch horror movies together every weekend - he loved them," Price said. "Our big family event was always my godfather Henri David's Halloween Ball, and I grew up surrounded by celebrities and highly skilled SFX artists."
Wild and Price share more than a love of the horror genre. They're both passionate about the industry as a whole, and they share a common life philosophy.
"I made Boxanne because I hit my mid-40s, and I knew what I wanted to create, and beyond that - I was looking for the next challenge. Ultimately, the meaning of life is taking ownership of moving something from point A to point B, and I always pick the heaviest object," Wild laughed. "Leaning back onto my early life's creative endeavors, that's kind of what I attached to that responsibility. I was going to prove to myself that I could pick up this ambitious production, include all these people and musicians, and get it from point A to point B successfully."
Price is no stranger to that mindset.
"Ever since I was a kid, it's always been 'What's next, what can I conquer,' then move on and achieve. I'm an MMA fighter, I've worked as executive/ celebrity security, I was a bouncer for half of Philly's clubs in my early 20s, a personal trainer and a gym manager, doing body doubling and SFX prop modeling, way before I moved into professional stunts and acting. These days, I've branched out into voiceover, which has been really fun. I'm voicing one of the main characters in Ajaka, a new African anime," said Price, referring to Spoof Animation's upcoming series AJAKA: Lost in Rome.
Wild and Price teaming up to bring The Boog to life has been a creative dream for both. Things only got more exciting with the addition of Shaun Dougherty, a local composer.
"Because we have a big fight scene, I wanted the score to reflect the quality of the action," Wild said. "Working with Shaun means our end result is going to be significantly enhanced."
"I was thrilled to hear that Shaun would be joining us. Brian's a very innovative director and producer, and he really knows how to use audio to enhance the visual in film," added Price. "This really is going to be 'Wild' - in more ways than one."
About Brian Wild
Brian Wild is a filmmaker based in Wilmington, Delaware where he lives with his wife and two children. Brian works full time for a concert production company and likes to make videos with his friends as well as photographing live music. Brian has a background in theater, illustration and graphic design.
About Les Price
Les Price is an actor, stuntman, and voiceover artist who was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is best known for his work as a stunt performer and the featured "Alpha Zombie" in Zack Snyder's (Army of the Dead) ALPHA RIFT (2021), (#FREEMEEK) the MEEK MILLS Amazon Original Docu-series, CREED II (2019) DEATH HOUSE (2018), HUSTLE (2022),ELEMENTARY (2013), as well voice of Project 440, Savannah Sauce Co., the narration of (Highway 666), and the One Plus 5T Android smartphone commercial. With his unique set of skills ranging from VO to stunts to creature performer, combined with consistent dedication to perfecting his craft, Les has easily become someone to look out for.
Media Contact
Brian Wild, Red Cup Films, 1 267-243-3444, [email protected]
Les Price, [email protected]
SOURCE Red Cup Films
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