An independent film director is eyeing up Riverhead’s runway as the location for his next horror short.
Terry Wickham, a filmmaker from Copiague, is one of five directors contributing a horror short to comprise a feature-length film called Devil’s Five.
Wickham went before town board members today to request the license fees for the unused runway at EPCAL, normally about $400 per day, be waived due to the low budget of his production. He is looking for a large, open, private space to shoot the short film where he can drive a vehicle on set.
“Horror films have a very fervent following,” he explained. “This could bring people to Riverhead who want to see where the movie was filmed.”
Wickham’s short will be filmed over two weekends in September. One of the lead actors, who is part of a German heavy metal band called Primal Fear, is flying in from Europe to be part of the film.
Only three town board members were present at the work session this morning – Jodi Giglio and George Gabrielsen were both absent – but they all seemed interested in the proposal.
“I think we should be doing everything we can to support the arts,” said Councilman John Dunleavy.
Councilman James Wooten even offered his office to be used for an interrogation scene.
Whether the town will waive the fee for use of the runway at EPCAL will be decided in a town board meeting next month, Supervisor Sean Walter said.
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