Hollywood hits Hampton Roads

Posted to: Entertainment Link Spotlight

'Adrenaline': Local director's short film gives audiences a rush of excitement
Craig Kimberley | HamptonRoads.TV

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During a day of shooting in April of last year, stunt double Alton Crowder prepares to play a monster with help from Jason Chapman, who adds latex to his face. (Courtesy Scott Hansen Productions)

HOW THEY SPENT $2,500

“We’re really talented at being cheap,” Scott Hansen said. Here’s where some of the money went.

$250 CAR FLIP

Hansen bought a junk car from a friend for $50. The rest of the money went to flipping the car without a driver. “It costs 10 to 20 grand to flip a car in a good way in the real movie world,” Hansen said. “To have a person in the car is $3,000 for the day just for insurance.” The crew used a concrete ramp and pipes to rig the car flip.

$600-$700 FOOD

“Everyone worked for free, so we just went to Wal-Mart and got some Sam’s Choice stuff.”

$120 AIRPLANE

When Hansen wanted to shoot aerials, his buddy at Chesapeake Regional Airport hooked him up with a small plane. In the movie, the shots appear to be taken from a helicopter. “We just tell people it’s a helicopter because it sounds cooler, but helicopters are 800 bucks an hour. We filmed it in slow motion from the plane.”

FREEBIES

The cast Hansen recruited friends and local actors. “Two of them are from Blackwater,” he said. “It was crazy. They were like, ‘Let’s blow something up. Let’s kick some door in.’ And they brought all their SWAT equipment. They had the battering ram and all that.”

Fire trucks and ambulances Hansen used Virginia Beach fire trucks and ambulances. “They came out for free. They were just trying to support the cause.”

SEE THE FILM TONIGHT

By DeAnne Bradley

© March 27, 2008

Source: LINK

Scott Hansen doesn’t need Hollywood. He’s got Hampton Roads. “Out here, you can be a big fish in a small pond. It’s almost impossible to get noticed out there,” he said.

The Beach filmmaker started Scott Hansen Productions about three years ago. “Adrenaline,” his latest production, was shot in April and May of last year and will debut this week. Hansen, 26, directed, edited and produced the 27-minute film. “It’s this ‘Twilight Zone’ type thing. Think ‘Resident Evil,’” he said. In the film, a stolen virus gets out and turns its victims into a “super monster creature.”

757 movie making

“Dealing with the city on the permits was the toughest part – especially dealing with Virginia Beach. Norfolk was really cool.” Hansen said he spent about $100 per shoot in Virginia Beach and waited several weeks for the permits. Shooting in Norfolk was cheaper and faster.

Familiar places

Hunt Club Farm, Virginia Beach. Look closely at the car flip. All of that action went down on a street behind Hunt Club Farm.

Farm Fresh, Victory Boulevard, Portsmouth. Hansen used the grocery store for a standoff scene, but things got a little crazy. “One of the stocker guys arrived late, and he didn’t hear the intercom,” Hansen said. “You got this guy walking down with his gun drawn down and people saying ‘Get down. Get down’ and the guy freaks out and drops all of his cans of corn,” he said. “I just started to laugh. I couldn’t help myself.”

Quick film lesson

“We did behind-the-scenes on everything with tutorials. There’s a whole DVD dedicated to younger kids because I get tons of high school kids and people off MySpace just wanting to be a part of this.” The DVD includes Hansen’s video blogs about getting permits and lessons on how to use green screens for special effects.

Meet director Scott Hansen

The 2000 Kempsville High grad wasn’t always into film. Football used to be his thing. “Until I blew out my knee, I never thought about art school. I was like the dumb jock.” Hansen graduated from the Savannah College of Art Design in 2005. He worked with Virginia Beach’s Illusive Media before starting Scott Hansen Productions in 2005. He loves horror films, but he says music videos are his “main source of income.”

“I shot over 25 videos last year alone and ‘Adrenaline.’” His resume includes music video work with rap artist Twista and Virginia band Dying Breed.

What’s next

Hansen made this film to prove himself to the big shots. “It’s kind of a pitch for a feature,” he said. His next film, “Chasing Vengeance,” will be an action comedy. He plans to shoot the entire film in the 757. “I’m trying to stay true to here,” he said.

Reach DeAnne M. Bradley at 222-3897 or deanne.bradley@link757.com.