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JERKS Productions is a Philadelphia based horror film & art production company run by Brandon Tanczak & Jill Trager. Together, they create horror films and host various art shows in and around the Philadelphia area.
Our mission is to create and express our art as well as give other artists an outlet to share their work. We are working to build a community where artists and creators can come together in a very casual setting to network with others and share their works and expressions.
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Aphasia is what happens when you combine the gore of Evil Dead with the character traits of Twin Peaks and will be our first feature-length film.
The film follows Sarah after a failed hanging due to the stress of her work. During the suicide attempt, Sarah watches herself leave her body as becomes an empty vessel for ANYTHING to crawl in.
She re-enters her body but isn’t alone. With the help of an ex-priest and rouge exorcist, they fight to expel what has taken over Sarah's body and save her soul.
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Our main goal is to make a good horror film. As life-long horror fans and as artists we want to make sure we deliver on quality and we need your help!
Our financial goal is to raise $10,000, which will go towards the following:
- Permits & Insurance
- Gear & Vehicle Rentals
- Stunts
- Cast & Crew Costs
- Location Costs
- Production Costs
- Special Makeup & Gore FX
- Original Score Creation Costs
- Perk Costs
*Note: If we do not reach our goal, we will proceed with the film using the funds we raise, so backers WILL see a project, no matter what!
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We have some amazing perks lined up for you! Everything from signed posters, copies of the completed film, being IN the film, and even original artwork that was kindly donated by some of the artists that are in our creative family!
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Jessica Pearson- Sarah:
Jessica is from West Chester, PA and is excited to be back with Jerks Productions for Aphasia. Film credits include Mother, Pollyanna, Creatures in the Woods, Sheisters and Ominous. She has also appeared on stage in various productions including an original work These Small Things by Richard Gaw in DE and another original work Inferno: A New Work About Sin by Justin Giachetti in both PA and NY. When not acting Jessica is a sports fan, especially basketball and enjoys coaching. She looks forward to one day acting in an oscar-winning film!
Top 3 Horror Films: Halloween (Original), Insidious, A Quiet Place
Dolby Zaccarelli- Ryder
Hello, my name is Dolby Zaccarelli, and I am an actor from Philadelphia. I have worked with Jerks Productions in their short film Divine Inspiration and had a blast with them. I have done two other short films and played a background character in Troma's Shakespeare's Sh*tstorm. I am trained in Muay Thai and have auditioned for Power Rangers twice (hopefully third time's a charm). Aphasia is going to be a fun horror film, and we look forward to presenting you with the future! God bless!
Top 3 Horror Films: The Lost Boys (favorite movie ever), Evil Dead 2 (second favorite movie, oddly enough), Battle Royal
Jill Trager- Producer:
My name is Jill and I'm the Producer for JERKS Productions and Showcase Director for many of our art showcases. I have two Bachelors of Fine Art from Moore College of Art and Design and I co-run JERKS Productions with my soon to be husband, Brandon. I'm always tired and surrounded by a ton of to-do lists but I love what I do and the community we've built. Our art shows began as a way of funding our films and dragging our friends out to showcase their art. Over the last eight years, our shows have grown to become a unique monster that is home to over seven hundred emerging and seasoned artists. JERKS has grown from ridiculous Jackass inspired stunts to ridiculous and creative horror films, a zine, art community, and comic. I can't wait to bring Aphasia to life and couldn't imagine creating our first feature film with anyone else. We've got the best cast and crew along with us for the ride and I'm so thankful for everyone that has supported us every step of the way.
Top 3 Horror Films: Nightmare on Elm Stree 3, IT (1990), Trick r Treat
Brandon Tanczak- Writer/Director:
I'm Brandon, and as stated above I am the writer/director of Aphasia and other short films and stories. I co-run JERKS Productions with my best friend and future wife Jill. Together, we do our best to highlight local artists and creators in a safe and stress-free environment. Providing them with networking opportunities and a devoted creative family that supports each other in any and all artistic adventures.
I discovered writing and filmmaking at a young age by taking control of the family camera for parties, the spontaneous candid camera acts, and of course, making short films with my toys. Around this age I also discovered horror. My dad, being a big Hellraiser fan, exposed me to the 1987 classic at seven and I have been scared ever since. I thank him for that every day.
My true step into filmmaking started after first seeing the cKy video series and comedy Haggard. After seeing skateboarding, destruction, and friends going out having a good time together, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. And thus JERKS was born. Starting as a Jackass copycat full of stunts and pranks we moved on to shooting scripted shorts. After discovering the Evil Dead series in my early teens, that was my true calling to horror filmmaking. Seeing the same energy in Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, but more horror driven, was the calling I needed and inspired me to write and shoot horror. I haven't looked back.
Aphasia is the product of our madness. Fully equipped with an amazing cast and crew I call family, we hope to bring you a wild ride!
Top 3 Horror Films: Evil Dead 2, Creepshow, Hellraiser
Chris Hetzell- Director of Photography:
Hi, I'm Chris, the director of photography for Aphasia. I graduated from Clark University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Screen Studies. Since then I have worked on a number of freelance projects as a photographer and videographer, starting out with Sadior Productions as first assistant camera on the web series The Book of Nimrod, then later with Jill and Brandon of Jerks Productions as a photographer of their Fused Underground and Art in the Sky art shows. Recently I have served as director of photography on the short horror film Divine Inspiration and have written much of the first season of and am the director of photography for the currently in-production series Intertwine.
I've always been a big fan of the horror film genre (especially Japanese horror film) and I'm always excited about delving deeper into what horror's rabbit hole has to offer.
Top 3 Horror Films: Off the top of my head, I'd have to say my top three horror films are Gozu (2003), Suicide Circle (2001), and The Thing (1982).
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Paige McCleery- Production Design/All around crew member:
My name is Paige McCleery, I am a somewhat recent college art graduate with a bachelor's degree in Illustration. I’ve always had an appreciation and curiosity of films and what goes into the production of them along with childhood dreams of maybe becoming an actress or special effects artist. I was given the opportunity to explore this more with Jill and Brandon who took me on as an intern during the summer of my junior year going into my senior year while in college. It has been such a fun and enlightening experience getting to see and be apart of what happens behind the scenes, helping out with anything and everything on set, and I look forward to continuing working with them on their projects.
Top 3 Horror Films: Hush, Scream, and 13 Ghosts.
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Jim Cannatelli- Audio:
Jim Cannatelli born and raised in New Castle, DE with a dream of making films since he was 10 years old after watching Tim Burton's Batman. He has written and directed his own award-winning short films and self-published comic books and short novels. His films and comics can be seen on xknightproductions.com Named after his own original comic book superhero X Knight.
Top 3 Horror Films: Halloween, Se7en, and Jaws
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Jade Figueroa & Mike Verrecchia: NECRO FX- Special Effects Makeup:
Necro FX is based out of Philadelphia, PA. Providing custom prosthetics and props as well as practical FX for films, music videos, and more for the past 8 years.
Top 3 Horror Films: Evil dead 2, Demons 2, Night of the Demons
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Aphasia is what happens when you combine the gore of Evil Dead with the character traits of Twin Peaks and will be our first feature-length film.
