PopHorror Let's Get Scared
We’ve been following The Lucky Sevens Film Challenge since they first announced this unique filmmaking task in March 2021. Seven local filmmakers had a chance at shooting a feature film in seven days with only $7,000 and a crew of seven. That’s a tough one! But now, the challenge is complete, and it’s time to see what these industry players have created.
The best part? All 100% of the proceeds gathered from ticket sales will go to seven local charities.
From the press release:
The Lucky Sevens Film Challenge, which began in Las Vegas in spring of 2021, gave seven local filmmakers a shot at shooting a feature film in seven days for $7,000 shooting budget, and no more than seven crew members. Their films will be screened at Galaxy Theatres Blvd Mall in Las Vegas on February 26-27th with 100% of ticket sales going towards seven different charitable organizations.
Of the seven filmmakers chosen for this one-of-a-kind filmmaking experience, only three successfully completed and turned in their finished films. Writer and director Brenda Daly’s (Abigail Haunting 2020 – PopHorror review) female revenge thriller, Rogue Angel, will be her feature film directing debut. Writer, editor, and director Dale Neven’s time travel fantasy drama, House in Time, is his second feature film having distributed his first feature, Unwritten, through Random Media. Mike Conway directed, edited, composed, and worked on the story for his hairy horror film, Drone Down, one of many shorts and features under his belt.
The film challenge wasn’t easy for the filmmakers as they had to pull in many favors in order to obtain locations, meals, vehicles, and other essentials that would normally blow up a film’s budget tremendously.
“Bigfoot was my biggest obstacle,” says filmmaker Mike Conway, who had the biggest challenge of featuring the big beast throughout his feature among several others. With the help of his experience with visual effects, crafty camera angles, and his wardrobe/effects team, he was successful in pulling the whole thing off, but not without an incredible film team to make it happen. “This was the most helpful, humble group of people. It all really clicked.”
Although only three films were completed, four additional films were gathered from the producers/backers of the LSFC to make the weekend screening event one to remember. Ronnie Nanos will screen an encore of his erotic thriller, Ring of Desire, Roger Julian Cross will showcase the adult romantic comedy, A New Life, and Michael Beran will have several projects screening, including the animal documentary, Rodents of Unusual Size, and a collection of short films, and an episode of his Bare Hands Rescue show playing now on Discovery+.
Comment cards will be provided to audiences for the three features that completed the challenge in order to help the filmmakers gain helpful and constructive feedback on their work. Awards will also be presented to the filmmakers and cast following all seven film screenings.
The event wouldn’t be complete without seven wonderful local charitable organizations that the filmmakers & producers had selected to benefit from their screenings. Project 150, Those Left Behind Foundation, Hookers for Jesus, Heaven Can Wait Animal Society, Leah Willis Dance Arts, Burly Cares, and In Jesus Name Medical Ministry will be in attendance throughout the weekend event to share more information about their cause while also accepting in person donations.
Once the screenings are complete, the three filmmakers will be working with LSFC creators Ben Stobber and Jeremy Settles on setting up meetings for distributors in hopes of helping these films get their best chance at a release.
There is no confirmation of the Lucky Sevens Film Challenge starting again in 2022, but there is hope of bringing the challenge to other states across the country. Be sure to follow LSFC on Facebook and Instagram for updates as they become available.
Tickets are still available to purchase for the screenings online at Brown Paper Tickets under Lucky Sevens Film Challenge. Nearly 30% of the entire event is already sold out, but there will also be in person tickets available at $10 per person in the theater lobby of Galaxy Theatres.
