Pictured, from left, are Julian Dickman (Tickbite) and Tim O’Hearn (Gearz) at the Buffalo premier of Killer Rack that took place in November. (Provided Photo)
On Jan. 23, The Bradford County Regional Arts Council (BRCAC) will be airing Independent films from local film artists Christopher Pike of Ulster, Pa. and Tim O’Hearn of Waverly, N.Y.
In two separate airings at the Sayre Theatre, Pike’s documentary, entitled ‘Exploring Seneca’, will be showing at 6 p.m. and is 35 minutes in length and ‘Killer Rack’, produced by O’Hearn, will air at 7:30 p.m. and is 90-minutes in length.
Pike’s documentary, produced through Asylum Harbor Productions, surrounds the legend behind sightings of a serpent on Seneca Lake.
“In the film they go out and take a better look,” said Lori Naugel, director of marketing and communications at BCRAC. She added, “The first sighting was around 1900, and there have been other sightings since.”
Following the Pike documentary, ‘Killer Rack’, a Crow-Nan Production, will be showing at the Sayre Theater.
‘Killer Rack’, one of five Crow-Nan Production’s, is described by O’Hearn as a “comedy first, then horror second.”
“If the makers of ‘Airplane’ did horror,” said O’Hearn, “it would be ‘Killer Rack’.”
Tim O’Hearn, right, is pictured on the production set for “Rhythm.” O’Hearn won Best Western New York actor for his role in that film. (Provided Photo)
Naugel, from BCRAC, described ‘Killer Rack’ as having “a Little Shop of Horrors type vibe.” “It’s horror, comedy and musical,” Naugel added.
O’Hearn has a large supporting role in ‘Killer Rack’ as Gearz, a throwback eighties rocker. The film also stars cult icon Debbie Rockon and Lloyd Kaufman, Brooke Lewis, Jessica Zwolak and Paul McGinnis.
According to BCRAC, the film is a comedy about a woman suffering from low self-esteem who gets breast enhancement surgery, unaware that her surgeon worships H.P. Lovecraft’s elder gods, and the surgery is part of a diabolical plot to rule the world.
A question and answer session will follow the film with cult author / director Greg Lamberson, writer / actor Paul McGinnis and actor / producer Tim O’Hearn.
O’Hearn talked about the music behind the film during an earlier interview. He noted that ‘Funbags’, the theme song written for the movie by Armand Petri, producer for the Goo Goo Dolls, recently earned film industry accolades at the Fright Night for being the best song in a film.
O’Hearn also talked about his ventures in the film industry, and the balance he has to find every day as he steps outside of the bounds of his day job.
When O’Hearn isn’t working on aircraft, a job he has held at Lockheed Martin in Owego for 31 years, he is thrilling film-goers by night. With several short films, full productions, acting stints and accolades under his belt with Crow-Nan Productions, O’Hearn is blending the elements of horror, comedy, and drama into works that are gaining attention.
On top of producing, O’Hearn has had roles in the Legend of Six Fingers, Dry Bones, Investigation Discovery’s Deadly Affairs, 100 Tears, and on Animal Plant’s Fatal Attractions (Secret Snakes).
On Jan. 23, O’Hearn stated that a short film (7-minutes) that was filmed locally would be shown. The film, ‘Failure’, written and directed locally by Mick Thomas, won Best Micro-Short at the Buffalo Dream Festival held in November of this past year.
As for ‘Killer Rack’, the film has picked up in popularity around the world. O’Hearn noted ‘Killer Rack’ has played at Film Festivals all over the world to include Ireland and Puerto Rico, and Tampa and Maryland – stateside. The film will also be airing in the United Kingdom, he added.
With Crow-Nan Productions being formed five years ago with Timothy Walton of Syracuse, N.Y., O’Hearn noted that although he grew up with and has a preference for suspense or horror, their productions run the gamut.
“Failure is a dark comedy,” said O’Hearn, “and ‘Killer Rack’,” as noted earlier, “is a comedy first and then horror.”
O’Hearn also gets involved with all aspects of the productions to include acting, stage, lighting, and everything that goes into producing films. “My goal is to do every aspect,” said O’Hearn of filmmaking.
It is noted that this film, according to O’Hearn, is a horror mixed with comedy, so some of the language and content might not be suitable for all.
But Naugel, from BCRAC, stated that they like to offer film artists a venue, and it also offers viewers a choice and variety of films.
On Jan. 23, the 6 p.m. film, ‘Exploring Seneca’, will air at the theater for $6, or $4 for those who bring a non-perishable food item. The 7:30 p.m. airing of ‘Killer Rack’ is $5.
Naugel added that guests can choose to attend just one, or they can attend both.
The Bradford County Regional Arts Council stated that they are proud to present the work of two local artists at the Sayre Theatre.
The arts council offers the Digital Film Festival each August, with local artists submitting their work some time around June and July.
For more information, visit BCRAC online at www.bcrac.org or www.facebook.com/BCRAC.
