… Or is it all part of the plan? You may have scrolled upon a trailer on Instagram for “SCREAM: The Musical” shot in Sag Harbor. Perhaps you wondered, “Is this real or is it a parody?” And you wouldn’t be wrong, the goal of the project is to truly blur the line between what is real and what is staged.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrlNGYBqR8Q&t=28s
“SCREAM: The Musical” is a comedy driven feature length mockumentary film that follows eccentric producer, Sam Pezzullo, as he attempts to produce a musical version of his favorite movie, “Scream,” at Bay Street Theater. The trailer begins with Pezzullo questioning if Gale Weathers gets killed or if she’s the killer in “Scream 5.” It’s what keeps him up at night.
The trailer showcases a series of hilarious and outrageous challenges along the way. From Pezzullo catching Covid, to hiding the lack of ticket sales, to possible plagiarism, the trailer documents the director’s mad journey to make this musical. James Lane Post even makes an appearance as he reads something, presumably about the musical, and then throws the paper across the room in a fit. The trailer shows protestors claiming the production is “thoroughly beneath this theater,” as well as all of Pezzullo’s heated moments with his actors.
The film is a unique hybrid documentary/mockumentary, fully improvised, and features all local East End actors and establishments. The team has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Seed & Spark to turn the project into a full-length film, and they have already reached over 50 percent of the fundraising goal.
“I’ll never forget the first movie that made me want to make movies. It was ‘Scream’ in 1996. Wes Craven. It was genius,” said Pezzullo in a video for Seed & Spark. “It changed my life, and it changed the trajectory of my career at a very early age.”
The project started as a spec video by Made Out East — a creative agency and production company run by Pezzullo and Anon Omis — that the team did for Paramount to promote the new “Scream” movie. And from there the idea snowballed.
The trailer went live in January and received an incredible response, prompting the team to go all in on the idea of making it a feature length parody film. Pezzullo will direct, produce, and star alongside many other talented local actors.
“It’s ‘Waiting for Guffman’ meets ‘Scream’ meets ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’” he said. “Is that not the best elevator pitch you’ve ever heard in your life?”
The film will be shot in cinema verité style, often using a single camera to capture the scenes, which include multiple actors. The plan is to give it an “authentic fly-on-the-wall feel.”
“Growing up I wanted to be an actor and we also wanted to use this project as a way to showcase my abilities,” said Pezzullo. “One of the pie-in-the-sky dreams is that the directors of the new ‘Scream’ will see this and offer me a role in the next ‘Scream’ film!”
The film is a “full circle project.” Pezzullo has directed many viral marketing campaigns for well-known horror films.
“This project is the culmination of everything I’ve ever wanted to do or be. It’s ‘Scream’ inspiring me to make a movie,” he said.
Pezzullo also oversees the programming of Tribeca X, which is a special section of the Tribeca Film Festival that recognizes branded storytelling. He has plans to submit the film once completed if they can secure organic product placement permission from brands. Pezzullo was also a producer at a viral marketing agency called Thinkmodo, where he has created branded promotions that have earned more than 3 billion views.
“We feel that we are more than half way there and would love to take this project all the way to completion and major film festivals,” said Pezzullo.
The fundraising campaign will support the performers, allow the team to rent studio space to film interviews, stage costly scenes, hire an editor to assist with post production, license music and sound effects, pay for marketing and public relations, submit to film festivals, and more. The goal is to raise $30,000.
For more info, visit madeouteast.com.
