Top Secret Jazz

How does a ghost become a ghost? When do they discover their full paranormal potential? This is the topic we sought to declassify when conjuring up the story that would become “Top Secret Jazz.” Set to the track of the same name from Lovely Socialite’s album, “The Drift,” the music of “Jazz” helped inspire our tale’s pacing and genre. The film opens as a full-blown Western. A gunslinger rides into town, settles poker disputes, has showdowns with the locals — and that’s just the start of it. We tackled as many classic tropes as we could pack in. Though the action takes place in the Old West, the film was shot entirely in Southeastern Wisconsin. Kettle Moraine Ranch was kind enough to provide the backdrop for our Midwestern Western. From horseback riding on dusty trails, to weathered storefronts and a holy sanctuary; we chewed through the scenery and took full advantage of everything the ranch had to offer. Once the Western action reaches its climax, the story pivots to that of a grim horror tale. Our cowboy comes to terms with his dark fate and descends to a mystical lounge. This hidden lounge was the missing piece of the puzzle that allowed us to incorporate the jazz element into this jazzy-titled Western. Lovely Socialite performs live on stage as the surrounding bar spirits demonstrate what it is to be a ghost. Stop motion and hand drawn animation add supernatural flourish to this otherworldly realm. Because the jazz lounge lies in a space beyond time, we were able to sneak in a few familiar faces from our existing collection of Simwig films. After a truly eye-opening experience with these spooks, it’s not long before our desperado ventures out to prey on unsuspecting victims of his own. Now — if you’re dying to round up wild thrills and campy chills — saddle up and hit the trail with Simwig Studios’ unique production of Lovely Socialite’s “Top Secret Jazz.”