Wade

Oct. 26, 2008

For filmmaker Timothy “Haynze” Whitmore, the new Michigan Film Tax incentives are more a fantasy than a reality. Haynze is currently filming Wade, a comedic horror flick in Cheboygan.
“My film doesn’t qualify from a budget perspective,” said Haynze. “But I am not making a full-length feature, instead, I’m making a visual novella. Wade is a short film, not a trailer: it is an actual film. A trailer shows promotional clips of a full length feature. What I have done is told a whole story in 15 minutes. This is the typical approach for first-time filmmakers. My hope is that people will see the expanded possibilities of this character and that Wade will someday become a full-length feature.”
Haynze grew up in Cheboygan and was the drummer and producer of the popular Northern Michigan modern rock band, Jupiter Avenue. Despite his love for music, he has always wanted to make films.
“I am a very visual person. As a kid I would take a camcorder and make kung fu movies with friends. Deep down this is what I have always wanted to do,” said Haynze. “I love horror films and I watched so many of them as a kid, my mom was worried that I was going to become an axe murderer.”

MUSIC CAREER
His mother’s worries ended when, after high school, Haynze headed to Minneapolis to study record producing.
“I still am a record producer and love it, but I wanted to make movies, so I took a sabbatical a couple of years ago and headed to The Academy of Art University and majored in film directing,” said Haynze. “We had to make a lot of short films while in school, so I understand the process. I started talking to friends about this idea that I had for a film. They encouraged me to make it here in Cheboygan.”
One of those who encouraged him was Mike Juillet.
“So Haynze tells me the idea and I tell him it sounds great and the next thing you know he tells me, great, then you will be my producer,” said Juillet. “I had no idea what a film producer even did but Haynze just laughed and said ‘producers figure out how to make things happen and you have been doing that your whole life.’ It has been a great experience.”
Wade is a comedic/horror story about a war hero that has to adapt to small-town life after serving years in the armed forces. He takes a job as a bug exterminator and often feels the urge to go head-to-head combat with the bugs using army artillery. Disaster strikes when a chemical company illegally spills a bizarre toxic waste that turns people into the living dead. Wade has to go back to his roots as a soldier and save this small town from damnation.
“The film is very graphic and violent and is definitely rated ‘R’ and I am sure it will be met with some controversy in our conservative community,” said Juillet. “But what Haynze has done is breathed some economic enthusiasm into the area that has been struggling as of late. He went off and learned this craft and could have went to some big city, but he chose to return to his hometown and make something happen. There is a lot of excitement about this project. The great thing is, he is using both local and national talent to make the film.”

A MILE OF FILM
Haynze brought in some horror film veterans, including film stars Mike Hard (Mosquito) and John Stump (Children of the Living Dead). There are cameo appearances from MTV and Motocross star Sarah Whitmore and punk rock diva Queen Bee.
While the film is only 15 minutes long, Haynze said it will take several weeks to film and produce.
“When we wrap up filming in a few weeks we will have more than a mile of film–several hours of filming to get 15 minutes,” said Haynze. “We will go into post-production and then release the film, hopefully before the holidays.”
So, where will a 15-minute comedic horror flick end up?
“Well, Family Video has agreed to put it on their shelves for rent and for sale,” said Julliet. “We are currently in discussions with area theaters to have Wade shown before the feature. Plus, we are submitting it to several film festivals.”
For Haynze, he has learned a few things that he didn’t learn in school.
“Weather -- never make an outdoor movie in Northern Michigan in the fall,” laughs Haynze. “No, I should have known better. I grew up here. But Michigan is a great place and I look forward to using the new incentives to make a full-length feature here soon. ‘Though one thing we really need is a soundstage here in Northern Michigan. If we had that, we would attract a lot more films. I think there is a big opportunity there for someone.” He also learned something else. “Go for it. If you want to make a movie then just go for it,” said Haynze. “I would encourage anyone to give it a shot. This has been a very rewarding experience.”
As for the business of their film, both Haynze and Juillet remain optimistic of its potential.
“Someone reminded me that Cheech and Chong made their film Up In Smoke for $65,000 and it has grossed over $100 million worldwide,” said Julliet. “The great thing about this character, Wade, is he is capable of fighting anyone, whether it is terrorists or monsters on Wall Street. So, we see the potential for this character. In fact Cole, who has been drawing the storyboards, has made a comic book of the film and we will release that as well.”
Julliet and Haynze said they will have a premier party sometime in December. To learn more about the project and to keep track of the film, go to myspace/com/wademovie.