Last month, I announced I was coming out of (my very brief) retirement to attempt to make one more movie. What is it? A short Shadow fan film.
For those who don't know, The Shadow is a costumed vigilante, shrouded in darkness, who haunts the underworld like a ghost. Created in 1930, The Shadow has had hundreds of pulp magazines, a radio show, comic books, serials, and films. He was even the inspiration for Batman.
Why this character? The Shadow imagery, especially the covers of the 2010s Dynamite comic book series, has been a big influence on my films, particularly my short film Ain't Ready for the Graveyard Yet. But this time, instead of borrowing or referencing something I love, and worrying I'm just making an imitation, I'd be making a straight-up adaptation.
There's also the added benefit of a built-in audience. It might not be as big of an audience as Batman, Spider-Man, Star Trek, Star Wars, and the other frequently made fan film properties out there, but there's also much less competition. I've found only a handful of Shadow fan films made over the years. One of them even features Cobra Kai's Martin Kove.
However, none of them are set in the 30s-40s. I think the character belongs in that time, post-depression and the looming threat of WWII. The Shadow works best as a period piece. But I can understand why a filmmaker would choose to set it in the present. Period pieces come with many challenges, including wardrobes, sets, props, vehicles, and hair. Those are the kind of challenges I find exciting!
My film is set in the late 1930s, at a pivot point of US history. There was a lot of disillusionment over democracy, and some people in our country–including the wealthy–were flirting with fascism. Critics were calling FDR's New Deal communism. Sound familiar to you? It sure does to me.
I've finished drafts of a 25-minute and a 45-minute version of the story. The final length will depend on the budget. Films, of course, cost money, and I won't make this movie unless I can raise the money to pay everyone involved and make it right.
Next step will be setting up the pre-launch Kickstarter campaign page, and I'm putting together a sizzle reel of my films to show the Shadow fandom my bona fides. And of course, I will share that sizzle reel with you first!
I hope you'll continue reading about my endeavors!
Sincerely,
Jacob de la Rosa
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