It's a smart, profit-driven choice.

With four TV shows on Amazon Prime and a slew of festival awards, it’s time for 29 degrees Leo Productions to make its first feature.  Sci-fi has been a favorite of producers Zack Van Eyck and Michael Beardsley and  is among the top-grossing genres for lower-budget films.  Time-travel movies with budgets at both ends of the spectrum have become box office hits time and again.  We're passionate about sci-fi and success.

Real-life knowledge of the fringe sciences:

Zack’s two decades as a mainstream journalist covering the paranormal is what inspired this project's development.  He broke the “Skinwalker Ranch” story for the Deseret News and Associated Press worldwide in 1996 and was honored with the prestigious Donald E. Keyhoe investigative writing award.  “The Devil’s Ranch,” Zack and Ted Bonnitt's screenplay about the bizarre Eastern Utah events, is on 29 degrees Leo's future slate of projects.  And the energy vortex and menacing blue orbs in "The Shenandoah Experiment" come directly from that research.  With Michael’s encyclopedic knowledge of sci-fi and time-travel films, this imaginative duo has conjured a fantastic story grounded in reality. 

Zack's "Skinwalker Ranch" articles introduced us to evil blue orbs.

Twenty-nine degrees Leo Productions is following a proven path: great script, low budget, smart genre and name actors (not all attached as of 4/23/17; normal for a film this size).  Why not make a low-budget horror?  Yes, they can do well.  But they make Zack throw up.  Next question?

THE SHENANDOAH EXPERIMENT (sci-fi/suspense drama) – A disillusioned widower is plunged into a world of paranormal anomalies when he inherits an isolated cabin from his time-traveling uncle.

Michael Beardsley as Troy Davis in "The Shenandoah Experiment."

We're a production company with

offices in Los Angeles and Woodstock, Va., created in 2011 by step-siblings Zack Van Eyck and Angela Roberts Zenus, both of whom were born Aug. 22, the 29^th degree of Leo.  In astrology, Leo's 29th degree is known as the “Master of Creativity.”  Those born under it are said to possess extremely imaginative minds, expressive personalities and leadership qualities.

Zack discusses one of his scripts at a We Make Movies workshop.

CEO Zack Van Eyck is a film and television writer, director and producer whose feature films include the indie darling “Jupiter Landing” (2005) and the award-winning auto racing film “Daytona Dream” (2010).  Zack has written 41 feature screenplays and has four TV shows on Amazon Prime.  He's been a student and teacher of astrology since his teens and is a founding member of the tribute band Ramones Alive.

Michael Beardsley, of Santa Cruz., Calif., has been a 29 degrees Leo producer since 2013.  He co-produced and played a lead role in the company's most-viewed Amazon project, the sports comedy spoof "Coitus of the Week."  Michael developed the story for "The Shenandoah Experiment" with Zack and will play the lead role.

Michael Beardsley, Carolyn Meyer, Zack Van Eyck.

Producer Carolyn Meyer, of Owosso, Mich., was instrumental in the creation and production of the company's Amazon series "Sweet Caroline" and its prequel "Caroline the Job Hunter."  Carolyn won a Best Actress Award for her portrayal of the hopelessly idealistic Caroline and the show claimed Grand Jury, Best Pilot, Best Writer and Best Director awards on the festival circuit.  John Bigham, who plays Caroline's husband Cletus, stars with Michael Beardsley in "The Shenandoah Experiment." 

Zack Van Eyck, Rosemary Clower, Carolyn Meyer at Orlando Int'l FF.

Among the producers in this family-owned business is Zack's mother, Rosemary Clower, who manages the Virginia office.  Rosemary, a former Shenandoah County teacher, was locations manager for the company's TV projects and is scouting sets for "The Shenandoah Experiment."  Zack's two daughters and sister Meri Mobley also have roles in the company.

Zack's daughter Sammy makes a fake rat swim for "Sweet Caroline."

LarJayne Blackwell, who plays Caroline's best friend/worst enemy in "Sweet Caroline," also appears in "Coitus of the Week" and co-produced the project.  She'll play a pivotal acting role in "The Shenandoah Experiment" as the "mysteriously lost" Mildred and again will co-produce.

Michael Beardsley, LarJayne Blackwell, Zack Van Eyck, Sunset FF '16

A film is like a new business.  Our goal of

$80,000 represents 29 degrees Leo Productions' start-up fund to transition from successful New Media company to successful feature film company.  SAG-AFTRA Ultra Low Budget movies ($250,000 or less) that are smartly written and well-produced like "The Shenandoah Experiment" can profit hundreds of thousands, even millions.  But just a small profit allows us to fly on our own and make more films. 

Our writers, director and producers are working for free.  (But the director loves walking around barefoot so no worries there).  And most of our actors are working for the paltry union minimum, because they like us.  We've sacrificed as much as humanly and artistically plausible before asking you to sacrifice as well.  Together we can give this time-traveling child the brightest future(s?) possible with offspring of its own.

Collectively all of you are our friendly bank

on the corner, even though you didn't offer us free mini waters or have eight people ask us if we're having a good day so far.  Plus we're not paying you back.  We're like the Green Bay Packers: You'll own a piece of us but all you get to do is watch and cheer.  Although, you CAN literally own a piece of Zack by donating $19,997 to have a big freaking tattoo, your choice, painfully needled onto one of his butt cheeks (see "perks").  We're intelligent, experienced producers poised to unleash an entire franchise of consciousness-expanding sci-fi and you'll be with us from the start!

Zack's untattooed butt in Ramones Alive show, Park City UT Dec. '06.

This is our first crowdfunding campaign.

We've waited a long time for the right moment.  A successful film will return your initial investment to us and we'll roll it over as start-up money for our next feature.  And if our potential worldwide audience of 7 billion can't grasp a mind-expanding sci-fi film that looks like it cost $2 million?  No point in asking for your help again.  But you'd still receive emails from Zack every month or two when another of his 1,700-page novels (none, however, about life on the Danube) is available online.

Zack, 12, in Woodstock with his first novel (1975).

How our $240,000 budget will be spent:

$0 for writers, directors, producers. (They get paid only if film profits.)

$50,000 for talent, primarily two roles written to capitalize on the number of award-winning, recognizable actors in the 55-75 and 75-90 age ranges.  By targeting these acting pools and writing easy-to-shoot roles we're ensuring our success.  Among our top affordable choices are Tim Matheson (WEST WING, ANIMAL HOUSE), Ryan O'Neal (PAPER MOON, LOVE STORY) D.B. Sweeney (FIRE IN THE SKY, EIGHT MEN OUT), Mike Farrell (M.A.S.H.) and Wilford Brimley (COCOON, THE NATURAL).

Wilford Brimley's agent says his client is "perfect" for the role of country lawyer Frank Grabill.  Help bring Wilford to Woodstock!

$120,000 for below-the-line production costs with most spent in Virginia.  We'll work 12-hour days for 15 days, renting cameras and other equipment.  Both L.A. and Virginia crew members are accepting minimum rates.  This assumes we can find six volunteer production assistants. 

These guys are working for peanuts just because they like Zack. 

$50,000 for postproduction.  This number is higher than for other genres because we have special effects, like flying blue alien beasts.

 

$20,000 Misc., for everything that can and will go wrong.

$240,000: Total for cutting-edge sci-fi/suspense drama that will win festival awards and effectively exploit its market niche.

We'll make the film!  We'll cut a corner, maybe two, and won't own as much of the project ourselves and yet this enables us to receive $100,000 in matching funds.  That's enough to pay for the Virginia shoot.  Investors will be more likely to provide postproduction funds later when we can show them a rough cut or a few awesome, completed scenes.

We'll make the film! This, and anything less, will be used in June to cover some necessary preproduction costs as we work behind the scenes to raise the remaining funds.

We control our own destiny!  We won't have to borrow the rest, saving us $40,000 in investors' return.  Our ability to sustain our business over the long haul has increased by 200 percent!

While we do enjoy a good root vegetable, the "perks" for contributing to our campaign are so varied and unlike anything you've seen in crowdfunding before we can't imagine anyone comparing them to a turnip hybrid.  You'll see more pics of our perks below and here's a quick tease; hand-made Shenandoah Vortex Gemstone Necklaces!  For the cost of seeing a movie in L.A., just $147.00.  Limited supply.

  

We briefly interrupt this crowdfunding

campaign with an answer to this question:

That's one of our perks; donate your way onto our set!  Also, Shenandoah County auditions will be held for several speaking roles. 

“We have opportunities for Shenandoah County actors and anyone else to get on the big screen,” Zack said.  “There’s a scene where one of the characters travels back in time to Woodstock in 1897 so we’ll need a dozen extras, local residents in period costumes, not to mention a location.”

Zack's acting debut as Rev. Peter Muhlenberg in 4th-grade play.

Michael Beardsley and Geoffrey Gould in "Dude, Where's My Car?"  Below, Michael Beardsley with Eric Altman in "Worst Wingman Ever."

"The Shenandoah Experiment" stars Michael

Beardsley as the down-on-his-luck nephew of a time-traveler. 

Michael has more than 50 film and television credits in a career that began on TV’s “Party of Five” and included a recurring role on “Freaks and Geeks.”  He appeared in “Lizzie Borden’s Revenge,” the Ashton Kutcher film “Dude, Where’s My Car?” and more recently alongside Mickey Rooney (Rooney’s final acting role) in “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”

Michael Beardsley as "Humphries" in "Freaks and Geeks."

“I’m looking forward to filming in a location we’ve all heard so much about from Zack," Michael said after a recent preproduction meeting.  "He’s promised that all the poisonous snakes are friendly.”

Veteran film actor John Bigham stars

as Angus Forbes, a time-traveling government scientist who goes A.W.O.L. in opposition of a covert plot to change world history.

The prolific Bigham has appeared in more than two dozen films in the last decade alone.  His impressive litany of roles includes an appearance with Michael Richards, Charlize Theron and Jeff Daniels in “Trial and Error” and alongside Jim Belushi in “Angel’s Dance.”

John Bigham as Cletus Tyrone Bumgardner in "Sweet Caroline."

John plays a polyamorous squirrel-hunter-turned-private-detective in 29 degrees Leo’s Amazon Prime series “Sweet Caroline” and “Caroline the Job Hunter.”  John worked with “The Shenandoah Experiment” writer-director Zack Van Eyck on both projects.

"John had me hooked on his acting the first time I saw him perform in one of my scripts at a We Make Movies workshop, maybe seven years ago," Zack said.  "He contributes so much to the overall product, including his own creative genius.  I wrote these two lead characters specifically for John and Michael to play."

In “The Shenandoah Experiment,” Bigham’s character discovers he is about to die in the near future.  He then travels beyond that moment in time to convince his nephew to help save him.

"Sweet Caroline" co-star LarJayne Blackwell

is attached to play Mildred Bauserman, a woman trapped in an endless time loop spawned by an invisible energy vortex.

Zack directed LarJayne in "Sweet Caroline" and cast her again in his sports parody "Coitus of the Week."  LarJayne prepped for the role of Coach Sylvia Saliva by watching hours of women's basketball games on TV, analyzing the behavior and mannerisms of the coaches.

LarJayne Blackwell as Gloria Turner in "Blood Runs Cold," above, and as Coach Sylvia Saliva in "Coitus of the Week."

"She turned herself into a cross between Pat Summit and Tara VanDerveer with some Billy Martin thrown in for good measure," her director said.  "She's one of those versatile character actors who can play any role."

Prior to joining 29 degrees Leo, LarJayne held a variety of crew positions on three features made by CineMotion 21^st Entertainment Productions.  

Lauren Kelly brings charm and magnetism

to the lead supporting role of Iris Hepner, the Brew House waitress who coaxes our hero out of his shell.

Lauren is a versatile actress, writer, producer and pop culture maven whose “day job” is appearing on camera as an entertainment and sports host, interviewing celebrities and athletes on red carpets, in studios and on sets for Sony's Crackle, among others.

Lauren Kelly

"I've directed Lauren before, I'm enamored with her work and she was my first choice for Iris," Zack said.  "I kept seeing Lauren while I was writing Iris, even before I heard her Southern accent.

“I’m looking forward to taking that microphone out of her hand, although I guess it will be replaced with beer glasses for the most part, but I'm excited to direct her in a dramatic role."

Donald Watson is Rev. Gabriel Muhlenberg

Veteran Boston-area actor Donald Watson, who met Zack through the Hollywood filmmaking collective We Make Movies, will play Rev. Gabriel Muhlenberg, a local pastor. 

Watson appears alongside Bruce Dern, Ed Helms and Kate Mara in the upcoming and highly anticipated “Chappaquiddick.”

Donald Watson
The namesake of the character Watson will portray is Rev. Peter Muhlenberg, a Revolutionary War hero who famously recruited soldiers from the pulpit of his Woodstock Lutheran church.

"The Shenandoah Experiment" will be filmed

on location in the heart of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.  Framed by the Seven Bends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, the valley is an oasis of civilization nestled beneath the Blue Ridge Mountains.  It's here that California insurance agent Troy Davis will discover more about his deceased uncle than he ever imagined, along with secrets of the universe.

The Shenandoah Valley is just 80 miles west of Dulles Int'l Airport.

Historical plaque displayed in downtown Woodstock, the county seat.

Sky Bryce airfield in Basye where Troy arrives.

Troy sips a Seven Bender Pale Ale here.

Troy crosses the Shenandoah River bridge at Burnshire's dam.

The road takes him up and over a mountain of scenery.

Angus Forbes' cabin; our primary filming location is ready. 

Two of several cemetery locations we're considering.

Labyrinth set design and creation by Zack's stepdad Bill Moore.

Troy's scary twilight run through Hickory Hollow looks like this.

The cabin's interior sets; appealing visual variety.

You never know who you'll meet on this river-rock beach by the cabin. 

Zack Van Eyck will direct his

second feature after helming three of his company’s four Amazon Prime TV projects and winning Best Director for "Sweet Caroline" at the 2015 Hollywood & Vine Film Festival.  His directing debut was the award-winning Discovery Channel auto racing film “Daytona Dream” (2010).

John M. O’Connor and James Suter are the co-cinematographers for “The Shenandoah Experiment.”  John and James worked as co-DPs with Zack on the set of their Amazon Prime hit “Coitus of the Week” and later when Zack directed actor Jack Zullo’s "Heavenly Kingdom."

L to r, Gregory Jones, John M. O'Connor, Zack Van Eyck, Michael Beardsley and James Suter (in boat) on set of "Heavenly Kingdom."

“Three years ago we found sound mixer Greg Jones, he's now the production manager for our film, and John O’Connor on the Stage 32 Web site.  They brought James Suter and others in and we've been working together since,” Zack said.  “Right away their level of creative maturity and ability to see the future, the future film, in their heads was quite striking.”

John M. O'Connor's steadicam and drone skills will be invaluable.

This will be O’Connor’s 10th film as a cinematographer and Suter’s fourth.

“On the set of C.O.W. we were pretty busy; we shot 42 pages in two days," Zack said.  "But those guys came up with so many ingenious ideas about how to shoot various things and my answer most of the time was, ‘OK, but we only have five minutes.' 

"Creatively I felt I owed them and myself the opportunity to work together in a larger context."

A key member of our creative team is talented

Quebec-based screenwriter Eric Leca, who is serving as a writing consultant on the final script rewrites and polishes this spring.  Eric, one of the few people with acting experience Zack knew at the time, played "Mike the ex-convict" in Zack and Leland Hanson's daytime-soap satire "Emerald City," which aired on cable-access stations across the country. 

Zack Van Eyck with Eric Leca at Eric's Montreal home, June '16.  Below, Zack, left, and Eric, center, with "Emerald City" cast, May '86

Something for every time-traveler!

FREE STUFF to enhance your adventure!

Possess such rare items as memorabilia from 29 degrees Leo's Amazon Prime shows, an original copy of "Duck & Cover" Magazine (1986) and an autographed photo of Pete Maravich from Life Magazine (1969), worth thousands on the sports memorabilia market.  You can become an executive producer of "The Shenandoah Experiment" or go bowling with co-creator and lead actor Michael Beardsley.  Perhaps you'll own one of the many rock 'n' roll T-shirts and bobblehead dolls collecting dust here at the office.  You can own a piece of the movie set, like an actual piece of gravel from the cabin side yard where important scenes take place.  (Watch for your pet gravel on screen!)  Or you can own a real Shenandoah River Skipping Stone, smoothed by thousands of years of nature, hastily marked with the letters "TSE" in cheap red paint and shipped to you at a delivery cost some 7,000 times greater than the actual worth of the rock.  Great as a paperweight and back-up projectile in case the Shenandoah Wildman breaks into your isolated cabin in the middle of the night.    

Own this copy of original Roswell, N.M., saucer story.

One of our Most Valuable Perks is this authentic "Pistol" Pete Maravich autographed page from the 1969 Life Magazine article that was on the rack when LSU played at UGA.  Amazing that an attractive 27-year-old woman (Zack's mom) was allowed inside the LSU men's locker room while everyone was showering just so she could get this autograph for Zack.  It says "Best, Pistol Pete" and Zack likes to think that was more of a premonition about Zack's career than just Pete's standard written greeting for 6-year-old kids whose mothers sneak into men's locker rooms.

You can own this shirt our character Darrell Funkhouser is wearing!

But don't tell Caroline we's a givin' away her lady supporters!

Own this fact-based paranormal primer.

From our signature Lightly Used Band T-shirt Collection.

Ramones memorabilia.

Mars: A perfect gift for any Aries!

Not actual size.  (Helmet 42 ft. circumference; football covers city block.)

DVD copy of Zack's first produced feature credit, "Jupiter Landing."  Trailer:

Last surviving "Jupiter Landing" baseball cap.

Expensive C.O.W. set sheets, never opened!

Fake whiskey from "Good News Gone Bad."

31st Anniversary copies of Leland Hanson's Pelican Bob poster featuring, l to r, Randy Schoonover, Greg Behrendt, Doug/Alex, Zack Van Eyck.

A dozen classic bobbleheads among perks.  Who wants Little Ichiro?

We've got film festival swag just for you!

The time-traveling shirt!  Get it now!  There's only one!

Get fake flower from "Coitus of the Week."

Only a few of these Birdhouse shirts left!

Framed, untitled Joe Clower UFO painting.

You won't be more than 10 years out of style!

"Sweet Caroline" front door prop can be yours!

Caroline's rug; also her husband Darrell's towel.

Dead rat prop from the "Sweet Caroline" set.

From "The Tonight Show."

Go Caps!  Go retro!

Distort the future with this!

Steve Speckman photo signed by Joey Alive.

And more!  Travel through time with a perks selection some 50 years in the making.

Like we're gonna say 'no'?

Anyone interested in getting involved in “The Shenandoah Experiment” can do so as a volunteer.  We'll need dozens of background extras for our one-day shoot at the Woodstock Brew House and six volunteer production assistants to work 13 days, July 24-Aug. 9.  Film credit given.

Resources we'd love to have include frequent flier miles or discounted flights for up to 25 round-trip journeys between LAX and Dulles Int'l.  We need to house a few people; maybe you've got a spare room with bath?  We'll have to borrow a few vehicles, including a newer sports car and five police or sheriff's cruisers, black FBI sedans or similar.  

The Woodstock Brew House is on board as a filming location and as the official home of "The Shenandoah Experiment" during this summer's shoot.  Shaffer's Catering, Barbecue and Deli has agreed to provide some food.  Thank you in advance to any Shenandoah County food provider who may also be in a position to help.  We'd love to discuss how our film can provide credit, product placement, actor appearances or other benefits in exchange for your assistance. 

Since October 2015, three of 29

degrees Leo's Amazon Prime original series have been honored on the festival circuit with 19 official selections and 14 awards and nominations, including a pair of Best TV Pilot awards, a Best Actress (Carolyn Meyer) award, and Best Writer and Best Director awards for Zack. 

The best way to learn more about the company's TV work is to watch the shows online at Amazon Prime, Amazon Video and Vimeo on Demand.  Links to the "Sweet Caroline" and "Coitus of the Week" trailers are below:

The trailer for "Coitus of the Week."  Watch on Amazon Prime.

Zack Van Eyck, Michael Beardsley at "Pirates of Venice" read, 2/'17

It's a long way back to "Emerald City."

As a University of Oregon sociology major in 1985-86, Zack teamed up with cinematographer Leland Hanson to produce his first miniseries, "Emerald City," a five-hour, 10-installment parody of daytime soap operas, a huge undertaking given the limitations of cable-access production.  The series, made for $500, won Best Comedy Series for the Pacific Northwest Region and was shown on U.S. cable systems from Seattle to Miami.  Here's a long-lost sequence with Zack as reporter Vince Douglas and the now-famous Greg Behrendt (HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU, THE GREG BEHRENDT SHOW) as burned-out L.A. rocker Marshall Stack. 

And then there was the team that couldn't...

And didn't care: The Club Venus Worms.  Zack's sports mockumentary aired on cable-access stations across the country and Zack, seen below with Scott "The Sludgeman" McLean, was given a Community Activism Award for his civilized harassment of city officials.