Genre vet Jon Briddell returns to the scare factory for Eric Blue’s unique and undeniably suspenseful Beacon Point, premiering June 10 at Dances with Films.
I think it’s fair to say you’re no stranger to horror, Jon. What is it about the genre that keeps you coming back?
That’s a good question. A lot of times it’s simply for the money. In the case of Beacon Point, it was because the story and location was so good. Horror films are always so much fun to work on.
Do you recall the first horror film you did? How was the experience?
Man, you have to go way back. I’ve been doing this for a while. “Midnight Movie” was shot in 2005 and was a lot of fun as was “Dead Stop” in 2007. Both of these films were great to work on although while filming “Dead Stop”, I got the flu and had a 102 fever for 2 days.
And where does Beacon Point rank among them?
One of the very best if not the best. Great cast. Great Crew. Great Director. Great story.
What’s the difference working in TV to film? You’ve done a fair bit of both…
TV shoots move very fast and with film you have a little more time. There is very little if any rehearsal on TV, but sometimes as in the case of Beacon Point, you have a little time to rehearse and figure out your character. In TV, you are cast for who you are. In Film, you can play around with characters more.
Was Beacon Point at all emotionally or physically exhausting?
Both. The elements were harsh up in the mountains. The character of Drake had a lot going on from the outset of the movie, and I tried to bring that baggage with me throughout the course of the film.
Where was the location?
2-3 Weeks up in the Appalachian Trail. The beautiful Smokey mountains. Still takes my breath away when I think about it. The producers rented me a brand new log cabin on a white-water river to stay in during the filming.
Are you an outdoors man yourself? Could you relate to that aspect of it?
Very much so. I hike and mountain bike 4-5 times a week. I’m also an avid downhill skier. I very much related to the outdoorsman characteristic of Drake, my character.
Will you be at the premiere of the film on June 10?
Absolutely! Wouldn’t miss it! Going to be a lot of fun as the whole cast will be there I think.
The prestigious Dances with Films film festival announced today that Beacon Point, the highly-anticipated science-fiction thriller from rising newcomer Eric Blue, has won a plum Friday night slot on the festival’s exciting showcase of upcoming independent gems. The Georgia-produced chiller, produced by Blue Lantern Films, will play at the Chinese Theatre on June 10.
Official Synopsis : A group of hikers on the Appalachian Trail become lost and stumble across an ancient secret that threatens their survival in this suspenseful, surprising journey into fear.
You’ll never want to go camping again after sitting through Beacon Point’s unnerving 85 minutes.
Rae Olivier, Jon Briddell, Eric Goins, Jason Burkey, and RJ Shearer star in an Eric Blue film, written by Blue and Traci Carroll.
Beacon Point at Dances With Films : Chinese Theatre, June 10, 11:45 PM. Tickets here : https://danceswithfilms.com/beacon-point/
