Actress Tess Gustard only has one task today: scream aloud while opening a door, gazing at a bed with a steel frame.
One of the hundreds of actors in the UK's thriving independent horror scene is Gustard, a former tax advisor.
She is reshooting a scene with TIS Films when the BBC meets her at a studio in south Essex, which is quickly turning into Hollywood of horror.
Gustard received her big break working with TIS films and its director, Alex Churchyard. On the beach, I scream.
She claims, "This is kind of like my midlife crisis.". "I stopped doing taxes about six years ago, went back to school, and am now an actor full-time. " .
Her piercingly loud yet oddly rich scream is deemed perfect after only four takes. Her work is complete.
Before working with the guys, she claims she had no idea how good a screamer she was. "I'm going to my house right now and gargle some honey. ".
Churchyard's early films, which were shot in family bedrooms, were a far cry from the current production, which is being shot in a sizable professional studio with multiple sets on an industrial estate in Rochford.
"My debut full-length movie. On the beach, I scream. , was shot over the weekends using whatever money we had left over from our earnings, the 35-year-old claims.
Two films are being shot by the crew. – Mosaic. with a budget of approximately £7,000, and. Tales of Terror: Lust and Revenge, from the video store. which Churchyard hopes to maintain at "well under £10,000.".
According to market research, the horror subgenre is growing in popularity among younger audiences, especially in the US, where it is threatening to overtake the action film industry.
The independent horror scene relies on a variety of media, including DVDs, screenings at important events like FrightFest and Horror on Sea, and—increasingly—online streaming.
According to Churchyard, who works as a video editor during the week, "there's a big appetite for independent, low-budget horror.".
He claims that it is a field in which moviegoers with the required fervor and skill can assist in creating the movies they adore. He claims that his fans include Singh Lall, 48.
At a nearby secondary school, Mr. Lall teaches business studies during the day. He is the producer of during the night, or in this case, the weekend. Tales of Terror from the Video Store: Lust and Revenge.
For as long as I can remember, Lall has been a fan of the genre. "I used to stay up late watching Hammer movies with my mother, and that led to horror festivals. ".
He was given the opportunity to succeed by networking at those festivals. Video Store Tales of Terror. two years prior.
Five years ago, he would have responded, "Never in a million years," if someone had told him he would be producing horror movies.
But that's the beauty of it; anyone can pick up a camera and make something, and there are markets, events, and audiences. I am among them. ".
To assist, Tony Mardon and Lauren Jane Barnett made the trip from London to the Essex set.
Mardon, who is typically a director, dons a short sequin dress and a red wig to play the part after learning that one of the female cast members is unable to attend.
"Everyone helps each other; it's just the way things are. Even though I don't frequently wear a dress, doing things like this is fantastic. ".
As a film historian who relocated to the UK from North Carolina 13 years ago, Barnett adds, "And it is a lot of fun.".
"I grew up watching B movies, and thanks to Tony, whom I met through my job, I ended up in his movie. "Witches of the Sands,". I'm here to assist, and everyone knows each other.
"Acting is a byproduct of the journey. ".
Alex Gent, a makeup artist and former newspaper journalist, is very busy.
He explains, "I've been told we want someone turned into a robot, I've got someone I've got to kill off quite graphically, and I know I've got some wounds and injuries to inflict during the day.
A "face pull-off," in which the actor's face seems to be ripped away from their head, is among the most horrifying of the wounds on his job sheet.
When you have the right resources and confidence, you can complete tasks with relative ease, he claims.
Andrea Rose wore the robot costume that Gent designed.
The soft-spoken actress has primarily been portrayed as a zombie or a sinister female aggressor so far in her career in horror.
However, she claims, "I just love it. People say they just can't picture me as a scare actor.
She plays the robot role today, followed by the victim role.
Because I'm usually the villain, it's really nice to be the victim. ".
Rising stars in the independent horror scene Chris Mills and Annabella Rich have traveled from Portsmouth and Chichester to perform.
Mr. Mills, 33, will portray a space cop and Joshua, a rebellious son who will join the rest of his family for a holiday meal.
We genuinely enjoy horror, Mr. Mills asserts. "It is absolutely what we live and breathe. ".
The independent horror scene in the UK is just so welcoming and enjoyable, according to Ms. Rich, 27.
"A lot of the big actresses got their start in horror.
"A lot of people don't like it, but it's great and has one of the strongest fan bases out there.
"The movies are among the only ones you can make on such a small budget and will earn a lot of money. ".
Laurence Cawley took the pictures.
