About Sheltered Independent Horror Film “Sheltered” In Post- Production Bold Approach and Standout Performances of Cast and Crew Create Anticipation for Untraditional Horror Film Los Angeles, California – October 4, 2005 – Under the direction of first-time feature director, Josh Stoddard, Sheltered is laden with the usual suspense and gore of the horror genre, but it veers from the path of a traditional horror flick by focusing on the twisted romance at the story’s core. What begins as a road-trip for six friends turns into a fatal journey when a meticulous but disturbed young man invites them to seek shelter during a storm in his home. The Story Behind Sheltered Producer and Lead Actress of Sheltered, Stacia Crawford , was originally introduced to the script through long-time friend, fellow Producer and Writer Marc Whitehead. Originally written by Whitehead, the Sheltered script was augmented when Writer and Producer Matthew Murray and Writer and Director Stoddard came onboard. The writing team drew inspiration from films such as American Psycho to ensure a modern approach to this classic genre. Considerable time was spent on character and plot development, particularly the psychological aspects of the film’s main character, Joey, and corresponding love story between he and Jen. The team also felt it essential to include the storm as a character in the film; therefore the personality of the storm plays a critical role in Sheltered. How Challenges Became Opportunities Being a low budget, independent film, one of the obstacles the production team had to overcome was an accelerated shooting schedule. “It was a gift that the production clipped along at such a break-neck pace because it forced me to be so completely engaged from moment to moment,” expresses Stoddard. “We decided early on that we would take our limitations on this project and turn them into assets. This decision freed me up so that I could reach for things as a director and writer that, given different circumstances, I may not have had the guts to try.” Murray agrees, “Josh and I wrote the script during a very compressed, very intense period that posed certain challenges, but also created great opportunities. We had to attack the script with a level of ferociousness and clarity that's not typically demanded. We had no time to second-guess ourselves, which meant relying on our instincts and believing in everything we were doing. This intensity translated into a script that was both lean and tight. My expectation and hope is that the intensity we mustered during the writing process will transcend to the screen." About the Crew Many of Sheltered’s key crew (including Director of Photography Marco Fargnoli) came directly off the final episode of HBO’s Six Feet Under, and the production value of the film is bolstered by their expertise. Due to the budgetary constraints, the special effects of the hurricane had to be simulated on set as opposed to relying on using CGI during post. The rain, lightening and wind-blown branches were expertly orchestrated by Fargnoli and Gaffer Skip McCraw’s production team. The filmmakers brought in rain towers and a wind machine for a half-day of shooting for the exterior shots. The production design by Paul Dedoes created the eerie atmosphere in which the story takes place. About the Cast Sheltered stars Stacia Crawford (Jen), an artist whose recent films garnered considerable recognition among the independent film community, as well as Tricia Small (Denise), whose acting and music skills earned her a lead in the Los Angeles premiere of Jason Robert Brown’s two-person musical, The Last Five Years. Small’s most recent efforts are directed to organizing a benefit for the survivors of hurricane Katrina. In addition to acting and producing, Sheltered is also being musically scored by Small. Lead actor Gerald Downey (Joey) has recently been in several sitcoms, including Joey, Frasier, and Will and Grace. Sheltered also features accomplished actors Nick Stabile (Cody), seen on Passions in addition to several mainstream feature films, along with Manny Hudec (Billy), who came to Sheltered from the set of Martin Scorcese’s The Departed. Additional members of the Sheltered cast include: Allison Dunbar (Susan) who has been seen on The Soproano’s; Jonathan Frappier (Todd); Scott Damian (Wyatt); Heather LoSchiavo (Christie); Paul Sampson (Joshua); Bo Keister (Bar Patron); along with child actors Kyle Kissler (Young Billy) and Sterling Beauman (Young Joey). The natural ease and chemistry between Crawford and Downey, and many of the other actors in the film, can be directly attributed to the decision by the filmmakers to cast actors that they have worked with in the past. “When you’re working long hours on a limited budget, you want to be as prepared as possible. And the best part of producing a film is choosing talented people with whom you also want to work,” states Crawford. Crawford and Small have known each other since childhood, though this is their first collaboration together. Crawford elaborates, “Knowing that you’re going through the highs and lows with your best friend at your side is comforting and exhilarating.” As for working with Downey, Crawford says, “There’s an intimate trust that’s needed when you’re portraying characters with depth who experience ultimate love and loss together. With Gerry, we had years of friendship that solidified that trust.” Small concludes, “The quality of everyone involved on Sheltered, from the writers to the cast to the crew, created an incredible working environment – every actor’s dream – and resulted in a unique, quality film. I am thrilled to be part of such a collaborative, distinctive project.” How the Film Was Shot Sheltered was shot on Hi-Def (or HD), the same format as Robert Rodriguez’s Once upon a time in Mexico and Spy Kids 2. Shooting on HD instead of film allowed the filmmakers the leeway to produce high-quality on an independent film budget. The film was edited by Rick Sebeck with Apple's Final Cut Pro 5 HD utilizing the DVCPRO HD workflow with the Panasonic AJ-1200A deck. By utilizing this codec, the clips were stored on a Lacie Big Disk Extreme, edited in their native 720p resolution, and output to an HD monitor with the use of an AJA Kona 2 card. Currently in post-production, check out: www.shelteredthemovie.org for more information. Publicist: Nancy Whitehurst: 310.633.3623 or nancy_whitehurst@hotmail.com