Zombies take over local scrap yard

‘Beverly Lane’ script filmed in 4 days

By Emily Lawson

The Herald Bulletin

ANDERSON, Ind. — One of Anderson’s scrap yards created some extra commotion for the better part of the day on Sunday, thanks to Pendleton’s Joshua Hull and about 70 others.

Hull, 27, and the rest of the gang were on site wrapping up filming for Hull’s independent short film, “Beverly Lane.”

Approaching the scrap metal site, the synopsis was pretty self-explanatory; the parking lot of a small building was jam-packed and an eerie feeling engulfed the entire set, supported by the appearance of a mime, some clowns, an excess amount of zombies, and the occasional office worker.

“The film follows a metal company that’s throwing a Coney Island-themed party for their longtime boss that’s retiring. When everything is said and done, some of the group ends up turning into zombies and the company’s employees are trying to save themselves,” Hull said. “I initially wrote about six or seven scripts.”

About a month after perfecting his scripts, Hull and co-producer Matt Rich began searching for a talented group.

Rich, 27, admits that, at first, it wasn’t such an easy task.

“We had a casting call for the first time in November,” Rich said. “It was actually kind of a bust.”

“It kind of turned itself around for us though,” Hull added. “After that first meeting we kind of had the nucleus of our crew and we were able to build off of that.”

In addition to Rich, who plays a mime, the cast boasts some familiar names, such as Jim O’Rear (“Day of the Dead,” the upcoming “Post Mortem,” “America 2021”) as a magician, Mark A. Nash (“Live Evil”) and local musician Noah East.

The cast is made up of some pretty random characters, ranging in age from 22 to 60 years of age.

“There is no set budget,” Rich said.

“All of our expenses are out of pocket,” Hull said. “But altogether I don’t believe it’s any more than $1,200.”

Out of pocket or not, Hull set out to complete all filming in a rather short period — four days.

The first round of filming for “Beverly Lane” began on March 13, and continued the next day, as well as this past Saturday, finally coming to an end Sunday.

“We began last weekend and shot about 70 pages,” Hull said. “Seventy pages in four days, that’s kind of unheard of.”

Although filming has gone rather quickly for the group, the process doesn’t end there.

“We still have to edit everything,” Hull said. “We don’t know for sure when it’s going to be released yet, but it will definitely come out on DVD and, hopefully, we can get it accepted into some festivals.”

The aspiring film writer says his ultimate goal would be to get the film shown at the Sundance Festival next year, but some smaller festivals, such as South by Southwest, are also of interest to Hull as well as the rest of the crew. A preview trailer for “Beverly Lane” will premiere just before the 9:30 a.m. movie, “Leach,” at Hamilton Town Center IMAX on May 1.

On-set photographer Dick Carr says working on the production has been a great experience and that viewers can expect a real comedy.

“It’s very funny,” Carr, 28, said. “People can expect a real comedy.”

Carr has been in the field of photography for 11 years and an on-set photographer for several.

According to Hull, the short zombie film is always something he’s wanted to pursue.

“Ever since I was young, I’ve wanted to write a zombie film,” he said.

Hull, a former kitchen manager for the Anderson Texas Roadhouse, recently stepped down in order to have a stronger focus on the production of “Beverly Lane.”

“I’ve written several different scripts before this,” Hull said. “But this is the first one that’s been filmed and produced. Hopefully, the first of many.”

‘Beverly Lane’

A preview trailer for “Beverly Lane” will premiere just before the 9:30 a.m. movie, “Leach,” at Hamilton Town Center IMAX on May 1.

For more information on the Arsonist Pictures/3 O’Clock Productions film, visit www.facebook.com/pages/BEVERLY-LANE/170523760833?v=info

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