Danger, Dames & Dangerous Games
After his vampire boss snacks on a few employees a hapless accountant learns that monsters are real, hungry and of course, looking for him. As he struggles to avoid his own untimely end, the fate of the world rests in his hands.
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Alex SalazarDirector
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Alex SalazarWriter
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Chelsea DeScennaProducer
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Elizabeth SmithProducer
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Alex SalazarProducer
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Justin Marshall EliasKey Cast
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Susan GordonKey Cast
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Shanna VincentKey Cast
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Robin Lee CanodeKey Cast
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Chris HeskeyKey Cast
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Project Type:Feature
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Genres:Film Noir, Comedy, Fantasy, Action
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Runtime:1 hour 34 minutes
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Completion Date:February 1, 2016
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Production Budget:7,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digitial
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
Distribution Information
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Amazon PrimeCountry: United StatesRights: InternetCountry: United KingdomRights: Internet
A filmmaker from Kirkland, Washington, Alex Salazar attended Loyola Marymount University's School of Film and Television and graduated with the Presidential Citation and a BA in Film & Television.
He has directed several commercials, music videos, short films and works in the Assistant Director department in New Orleans, Louisiana. He's worked on over twenty films including Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, 22 Jump Street and Pitch Perfect 2 and several television shows like American Horror Story: Coven, American Horror Story: Freakshow and Zoo.
Dames & Dangerous Games is his first Feature Film.
Q&A with Director and Writer ALEX SALAZAR
What was your inspiration for the film?
A professor of film once told me “Never, under any circumstances should you use voice over in your film. It’s lazy, boring and the sign of an untalented storyteller”.
Inspired by this I decided to shoot a short film told almost entirely through voice overs.
This film would provide the inspiration for Danger, Dames & Dangerous Games. I cast my frequent collaborator Justin Marshall Elias as the lead - Marvin is Justin, just not as bright and running on a lot more caffeine – and the script came to life as typical monster ideas were flipped on their head and I gleefully placed Marvin into more dangerous situations.
What was the process of getting the film made?
I moved to Louisiana to work on studio films and that experience has taught me so much more about filmmaking. It inspired me to take a break from shorts and sit down to write a feature.
Lacking financial connections and wanting to actually get the film made I forged ahead and used my own savings to meet the $7,000 budget. I wrote the script around what I had available to cut costs and since we couldn’t afford to become a SAG film I reached out to extras that I had worked with to fill the roles. For the crew I asked industry friends to help with promises of feeding them delicious meals as compensation.
How long was the shoot?
We shot for 11 days in New Orleans, Louisiana.
What is your favorite scene?
The battle at the end of the film. So much was accomplished in such a short amount of time. The stunt fighters generously offered to come in for six hours and that same day we also had to choreograph three different fight sequences. While we set up to shoot one sequence I was at the next one rehearsing. One sequence was shot in one long take and moved through a big battle featuring each actor in their own fight. The final product looks like we had tons of time to shoot it and no one got hurt, which is what I consider a huge success!
What format did you shoot the film on?
We shot on a Canon 5D and used a Canon 7D to get B-Roll footage. A moment of silence for my Director of Photography Bron Moyi who shot and pulled focus by himself from a shoulder mount the entire film. Class act.
As the writer of the film, what do you think the essence of the film and its characters are about?
No matter who you are, you can make an incredible impact on the world and those around you. Small actions set in motion large ones. Anyone can shape the world.