Arts & Entertainment

Be Afraid ... Ghosts Reportedly Add Authenticity to Urbandale Grad’s Hollywood Horror Flick: Watch

Chris Majors' acting credits include 'Hancock' and 'CSI: NY.' Now he's making his directorial debut in a film that has some ghostly characters he didn't cast.

A 2002 graduate of Urbandale High School is making his directorial debut in a feature-length film that offers some spooky cinematography challenges.

Chris Majors and his wife, Meredith, have 20 years combined experience in entertainment, but are planning their first feature-length film, a horror sci-fi flick called “Lake Eerie.”

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During pre-production work at a circa 1918 lake house, Majors and his career had some close encounters with meddlesome ghosts that apparently made sport of draining fully charged batteries, Meredith Majors said.

They hired three teams of paranormal investigators who reportedly backed up local legend that the house was haunted, and additional paranormal activity encountered during the film will be included in the final product to add authenticity, Meredith Majors said.

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“Trying to shoot a feature film will be very interesting indeed,” she said in an email interview with Patch.

Lake Eerie,” the first feature length film from their indie production company, Savage Beast Films, tells the story of a young widow who moves into an old house on Lake Erie to recover from the sudden loss of her husband. Soon thereafter, she discovers a dark secret and realizes she is not alone in the house.

In addition to the filming at the La Salle, MI, lake house the producers think is haunted, location shots are planned on farmland on the outskirts of Des Moines. Some paid extras may be needed, but that depends on the level of funding.

They’re currently seeking investors for the movie.

“The money will just be going straight back into the economy,” she said “My husband and I do not expect to make a dime until we sell the final product next year.”

The cast include some familiar names, including Marilyn Ghigliotti (Clerks, Dead and Gone, Clerk 3), Al Snow (WWE Smackdown, Alice D), Corri English (Holliston, Unrest), Jessica Sonneborn (Psycho A Go-Go, Alice D), Susan Denaker (Girlfriend 19), Meredith Majors (Mr & Mrs. Smith), and Chris Majors (Hancock, CSI: NY).

Chris and Meredith Majors have 20 years of combined entertainment industry experience, in everything from stunt work, acting, production, casting and work in the wardrobe and transportation departments, according to a press release.

How to Help

Fundraising efforts underway  on Indiegogo. The couple say that if 15,000 people each contribute only $5, they will make goal. All money will be used in Iowa and Michigan, supporting each state's economy.

Interested executive producers and investors or other inquiries should be directed to the movie web site, www.lakeeeriemovie.com.



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