About the film
Historical horror. Shot in 3D. With kids. With animals. And with SFX masks. From the very beginning the crew, consisting mostly of young filmmakers, knew this would be a difficult and challenging task.
It had already run one successful crowdfunding campaign in Czech. It managed to gather quite a few fans and we were asked to let foreigners contribute as well. Now you have the chance! Due to some unfortunate difficulties in production, we are forced to add two more days to our shooting schedule. We will be very grateful if you decide to help us with your contribution so the film can be finished!
![skrzkameru3brothers]()
Production
Screenplay was written by the director Lucie Gukkertová in April. Psychopompos would serve as a thesis film for the cinematographer Adam Hanus. It was his idea to shoot in 3D. Only after this decision had been made Lucie Gukkertová found the right story, which would let us use the whole potential of the technology.
The shooting itself started in August. It was the main part of the shoot and it went on for a week. We shot on carefully picked beautiful locations around Czech Republic including Točník Castle, Museum of Folk Art at Kouřim, Voděradské Bučiny woods and in Three Brothers Studios.
It was necessary to teach our actors Riwaa Nerona (Madam De Blois) and Jared Doreck (Sir De Blois) to ride a horse. The lessons and animals were provided by Václav Plánka and his company Horses for Film. Irish wolfhounds from Wallmia Bohemia breeding station portrait Sir De Bloi’s hound-dogs. Another important member of the animal actors is Martin Schlöger’s python Dario.
![noctocnikpsi]()
Crew
Director Lucie Gukkertová
studied directing and screenwriting at SVOŠF Písek but didn't finish her studies. She is a fan of H. P. Lovecraft's stories and the films is a real passion project for her. She doesn't do just the creative work but also handles a big part of production. Besides concentrating on the Psychopompos film for the last year, Lucie also creates all kinds of prmotional videos and works as a continuity supervisor and assistant director on both, professional and student films.
Director of Photography Adam Hanus
is the one who we all do it for, us he came up with the 3D idea. Psychopompos is his final film to finish his studies of cinematography at SVOŠF Písek. Although he doesn't do much of his own creative work, he was the part of all kinds of Czech and foreign big budget crews as an AC.
Set designer Oleg Petrov has many years on film sets of various sizes behind him, from small student films to big historical features. He brought in experience, provided his own props and arranged for some locations. Oleg worked for example on Piko (2010), Tacho (2010) or Czech Made Man (2011).
![3brothers]()
An experienced cinematographer Petr Kašpar is responsible for the supervision of the right usage of stereoscopy. He worked tirelessly on set and would also finish it in post-production. He is interested in shooting of nature and extreme sports, works as a director, cinematographer or a technician. He devises special film equipment, for example he built a special 3D rig for the Aldabra movie. His credentials also includes documentaries No.9 Manaslu 8163 (2009), Slzy Konga and Sandstone.
SFX make-up artist Jakub Gründler is the author of monstrous masks for transformation of Madam and Sir De Blois. Its creation took a month and Jared Doreck enjoyed its application for over six hours. Jakub cooperates with other young Czech filmmakers. He created masks for Pavel Soukup’s Domovoj or Robin Kašpařík’s Stephen King adaptation I Am the Doorway.
![ghoul]()
Everything you’ll hear in the film would be the product of cooperation of the brothers Zavadil. Vojtěch Zavadil, a senior student of FAMU film school, worked on set and would do the whole sound design. His younger brother Ondřej Zavadil is already composing an original score for the film. You can already hear his music in the the trailer.
Tomáš “Šuhaj” Grach is the film’s editor. He studied at film school in Písek and currently edits tv news at idnes.cz. Šuhaj co-operates with Jakub Charvát, our 1st AD, on his documentaries, for example the controversial short Rada nad Zlato.
Vojtěch Štetka graduated from cinematography at Písek but decided to professionally pursue the carer in color grading. He has graded many short films, commercials and music videos.
![kourim den]()
Cast
![hudec]() |
Martin Hudec is a fresh graduate of JAMU and you can see him play with Slovácké divadlo in Uherské Hradiště. The first time the director Lucie Gukkertová met with Martin was during her first work at a school film. Martin was also just starting his school. After reading the script, ha accepted the role of Maxmilian, the only witness of all of the mysterious occurrences. |
Joel Sidon portraits Maxmilian's younger brother Jan. Joel performs with Vosto5 ansamble, but the producer Leona Čekalová met him by accident on a train from Brno. She approached him because Joel was just coming home from showing of the plays and was still dressed in a historical costume. The casting choice was a bit risky - as it is Joel's first movie role - but the boy acted as a professional and his performance impressed us all. |
![Joel]() |
![Svetlana]() |
Michaela Dolinová, a well-known actress and TV host, decided to accept the part of Maxmilian's and Jan's mother after meeting the director in person. The demanding nature and riskiness of the project probably contributed to her decision. |
Jared Doreck comes from Texas. He came to Czech Republic to visit his ancestors. He liked Prague so much that he decided to develop his acting career here, mainly with the Prague Shakespeare Company. You probably know him as the Devil from a beer commercial. While writing the script, Lucie already knew that she couldn't imagine anyone else for the role of Sir De Blois. |
![Poster]() |
![Riwaa]() |
Riwaa Nerona, Czech corsetiére and designer, plays the role of madam De Blois. The director knew beforehand that Riwaa doesn't have any acting experience. Still, she entered the movie world with a fanatical zeal. She undergo side-saddle riding lessons and crash curse of French language. by her own words, Riwaa Nerona didn't really act, she just let trough one part of her personality. And during the night shoots she kept the whole crew awake with her eccentric manners. |
Jana Altmannová, besides being a seasoned actress, also teaches at DAMU and so she has enough experience with students. She invited her long time friend and colleague, Jana Kremanová.. |
![babky]() |
Perks
![Perks]()
We are offering all kinds of perks for your contribution and hope, you'll be able to find the one just for you. There is a number of digital ones, for example: Digital download when the movie is finished and after the premieres, we'll send you a digital download. It contains 3D and 2D version of the film in Czech with English subtitles.
Digiral soundtrack it contains not just the music from the film but also all kinds of bonuses.
Set of Stickers |
Set of 3 Badges |
Brooch |
![Riwaa]() |
![3 badges by Lenka Šimečková]() |
![Portrait of H. P. Lovecraft]() |
10 stickers withz photo, drawings or graphic of different sizes |
Set of 3 badges with drawing by Lenka Šimečková, the size is 37mm |
On a pin with the image of H. P. Lovecraft hand made by Riwaa Nerona |
Snake pendant |
Black T-shirt |
DVD |
![Snake Pendant]() |
![t-shirt graphic by Lucie Gukkertová]() |
![DVD]() |
Eiher on velvet ribbon or on a rope, hand made by Riwaa Nerona |
Choose any size, male or female cut |
Get the film on DVD with all the bonuses |
Photographic Poster |
Illustrated Poster |
Colorful T-shirt |
![by Luna Torr]() |
![by Lenka Šimečková]() |
![t-shirt by Lenka Šimečková]() |
Official poster for the film, photo Luna Torr, graphics Lucie Gukkertová, A3 phormat |
Official poster for the film, illustration Lenka Šimečková, A3 phormat |
T-shirt with the illustration by Lenka Šimečková, choose any size, male or female cut |
Choose one of the photogrpahs by Danny Worm
The whole crew thanks you for the contributions, however small! You will help us finish this film. For more informations, like us on facebook.
![goodbay]()