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PRESS RELEASE:
Dementia: An Experiment in Terror
/ an independent feature
In the summer of 2004, two men were kidnapped and
held hostage for nearly three weeks. The result was
a torturous experience filled with blood soaked
trauma and tragedy. After inspecting the crime
scene, police investigators uncovered an underground
chamber ... a basement dungeon. The two assailants
had 28 cameras on the premises recording the events
as they unfolded. DEMENTIA is the story told by
those cameras. Horror strikes indiscriminately.
The film was
shot in Long Beach,
Huntington Beach, Orange, Santa Ana and Visalia
over the course of three weeks.
The Making of an Independent Movie
The long journey of making an independent feature
film comes to a close on Saturday, February 26, as
Dementia: An Experiment in Terror has its
first public screening, premiering in Long Beach.
Dementia
began its gestation two years ago. Writer/director
B. Luciano Barsuglia set out to write a script that
was based on the terrors of the real world ' and
Dementia was born. Barsuglia, who lives in
Huntington Beach, wrote the screenplay with partner
Kevin Brent (Seal Beach). Dementia tells the
story of two men who are kidnapped for
reeducation. The film is graphic and brutish in
its effort to capture the terror of being held
captive by two real-world sociopaths.
'When you consider the horrible things people like
Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy did, you realize what a
frightening world this is,' notes Barsuglia. 'While
it's a horrific story, Dementia pales in
comparison to the actions of a Jeffrey Dahmer.'
The screenplay was finally completed in the fall of
2003 and the preproduction process began. Barsuglia
then assembled the crew, equipment, locations and
finances. Casting took place in June of 2004 and
production launched in July. Principal photography
wrapped in August and Dementia went into the
cutting room.
Dementia,
a digital feature length movie, running at 80
minutes, cost under $20,000 to make. The cast and
crew worked for free, donating their talents to a
project they truly believed could be a catalyst to
something bigger.
Since its completion, many have dedicated an
abundance of time to spreading the word about this
freakish thriller. Cast interviews can be seen on
cable access shows throughout Southern California,
t-shirts have been made, posters have been hung, and
the website promoted (www.dementiathemovie.com).
While Barsuglia understands that the success of this
type of low-budget feature is a long-shot, he hopes
that it will also propel his next project, Home
Grown, an Orange County based comedy.
'I wanted to make a movie that could get home video
distribution, but also be ready to screen locally
around Orange County and Los Angeles, and in
festivals,' reveals Barsuglia, 'but most importantly
I wanted to make a movie that an audience would
enjoy.'
Local Filmmakers
Ready for Premiere
Independent filmmaker B. Luciano Barsuglia and the
production company BLB Media have announced the
completion of Dementia: An Experiment in Terror.
The psychological thriller/horror movie was shot on
a $12,000 budget in Huntington Beach, Long Beach,
Fullerton, Orange, Santa Ana and Visalia over a
period of three weeks. After five months of
post-production, cast and crew ready themselves for
its premiere.
The intensely brutal movie will have its only
pre-festival, premiere screening at Long Beach's
Blue Caf'on February 26. The event will feature
the emcee styles and stand-up comedy of comedian
Stuart Paap, as well as Orange County band Con Job
to entertain moviegoers.
After its premiere, Dementia will go on the
festival circuit in its hopeful quest for theatrical
and video distribution.
The cast and crew is a combination of would-be
filmmakers along with professional and amateur
actors dedicated to a project they believe can help
them take that step to the next level of
moviemaking.
CREW
Director/Writer/Producer: B. Luciano Barsuglia,
Huntington Beach
Writer: Kevin Brent, Seal Beach
Soundtrack Composer: Vince Lara, Santa Ana
Original Music: Con Job, Seal
Beach
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