COONS! Website of the Bandits of the Night - Press

Bexley natives' independent film debuts at Drexel theater

By LYNDSEY TETER

January 25, 2006

© Suburban News Publications

A frozen raccoon hung from the end of a rope, thawing in the summer heat.

For 45 minutes, Lehr Beidelschies watched his friends swing the dead animal back and forth in front of the camera. It was 4 a.m., and Beidelschies had been waiting sleepily for film crews to set up the final scene of the night.

"I heard this voice telling me to lie down in front of the campfire so they could pour the fake blood over us," he said.

It was sometime during that moment, Beidelschies said he may have questioned the success of the project.

Nearly six months later, Coons! Night of the Bandits of the Night! will premiere at a midnight screening at the new Drexel Gateway Theater near the Ohio State University campus.

Filmed predominantly in Columbus and Athens, the 85-minute comedy-horror-satire was put together by a group of young, Columbus-born aspiring filmmakers.

This will be the first of many local independent films screened, said Jeff Frank, owner of the Drexel chain of theaters.

Producer Colin Scianamblo, a Bexley High School graduate and a film major at Santa Monica College in Los Angeles, said the story begins as a group of college students attend Raccoon Creek Campground iin hopes of having the best summer break of their lives.

The group encounters obnoxious frat guys, backwoods hippies, overzealous Bible students and an incompetent group of camp administrators. Things only get worse when they learn killer raccoons have targeted the camp, Scianamblo said.

This film is the vision of writer and director Travis Irvine, who also grew up in Bexley and is majoring in video production at Ohio University.

The concept from the film was born after a spring break trip to the beach where real-life raccoons craftily plotted to steal and eat all the food at his campsite, he said.

After a few months of researching man vs. nature horror flicks like Frogs and Grizzly, Irvine wrote the script, and producers Scianamblo, Mark Lammers and Marti Babcock began to gather materials on a shoestring budget.

The cost of the film was about $5,000 and included the use of a few dozen frozen dead raccoons as its stars, filmmakers said. A few of which are still in freezers of the filmmakers' parents.

"They'll be available for the sequel," Babcock said.

Frank said the film fits into what the Drexel theaters are all about.

Coons! was well-received at a friends-and-family-only screening in December, so Frank said he decided to support the filmmaking team further by offering it to the general public.

"It looks like a much higher-budgeted film," he said. "I think (the makers) have a great future ahead of them."

Drexel screens more independent films than any other theater in Columbus history, Frank said.

Coons! Night of the Bandits of the Night will premiere at midnight Jan. 27 and 28 at Drexel Gateway Theater,1550 N. High St.

Tickets will be sold at the theater's box office for $5.

Hollywood fart joke on a tiny budget

by ADAM JACKSON
February 10, 2006
© The Lantern

During the summer of 2005, Travis Irvine and his comedy posse, known as "The Wrong Man Comedy Group," successfully shot a one-hour-and-15-minute comedy/horror/musical on a shoe-string budget called "Coons! Night of the Bandits of the Night."

"Coons!" features a number of odd-ball, stereotypical college kids attempting to party, drink and have sex while visiting a local campground during their summer vacation. Unfortunately for these party-hungry college students, their campground is infested with ravenous, blood-thirsty raccoons.

Like many young filmmakers, Irvine's characters are borrowed from previously successful movies. Character traits from popular movies like "American Pie" and "Super Troopers" are common. There is even a direct quote from "Jurassic Park" in a scene.

Because the film was on a rigid $5,000 dollar budget, most of Irvine's crew was forced to play multiple characters. The Wrong Man Comedy Group proved to be up to the challenge of portraying a group of wild, back-country locals as diverse as a gun-and-liquor-store owner, a Bible-carrying preacher, a fanatical liberal hippie, an ultra-dense fraternity guys, an off-the-wall doctor and a power-crazy mayor. The actors were able to pull off such a feat by disguising their faces with unmistakably fake mustaches, gigantic sideburns and wacky wigs.

The film's special effects are, surprisingly, one the film's strongest assets. Set in the woods of a campground, the movie does not call for alien invasions or elaborate car-chase scenes.

"Coons!" has impressive, close-to-realistic gun fire, electronic taser flow and creepy, glowing animal eyes in dark, wooded backgrounds. Along with the special effects, the original music and sound effects featured in "Coons!" were extraordinary, considering the funding. Irvine and his crew recreated sounds similar to flesh being torn from bones, two campers playing in the woods, and voraciously evil raccoon chatter.

The movie was overzealous in its use of human feces as a source of comedy. A portion of the story line revolves around the raccoon's use of human feces found in the forest as a weapon, but then the film oversteps the audience's capacity for poop by adding countless farting and pooping scenes involving the college campers. Even the most sophomoric of frat guys could get tired of the movie's use of fart and pooping sounds as a supply of comedy.

Irvine also has a number of "podunk racism" jokes, which, in retrospect, were unnecessary and added a strange, awkward feeling to the movie. "Coons!" featured easy jokes pertaining to black, Middle Eastern and gay stereotypes that simply highlighted the fact the movie was made by twentysomethings.

It is a terrific accomplishment that Irvine was able to take his "Coons!" brainchild from an inside jokes with his friends and a love for the comedy/horror/musical genre to the big screen, at Columbus' own Drexel Theater in the Gateway complex.

Perhaps Irvine and his Wrong Man Comedy Group will find enough success with "Coons!" that someday the city of Columbus can brag that it supported Irvine and his gang back when they were making movies about killer raccoons and the sexually frustrated, overzealous college kids they love to eat.

Ohio University filmmakers premiere killer raccoon feature

Ohio University Outlook
May 17, 2006
© Ohio University

ATHENS, Ohio -- The feature length movie, "COONS! Night of the Bandits of the Night," an 82-minute movie about a campground attacked by killer raccoons, will premiere at Mitchell Auditorium in Seigfred Hall on Saturday, May 20. The screening will begin at 7:30 p.m. with the short film, "Call Kid Kevorkian," written and directed by Ohio University alum Lehr Beidelschies, '05.

Ohio University seniors Mark Lammers and Travis Irvine produced the project, along with Instructor Keith Newman of the School of Telecommunications and a handful of Video Production students. Students Brian Kamerer, Seth Pfannenschmidt and Travis Irvine produced the original score for the film, which also features actors from the Athens comedy groups Honor Patrol, Wrong Man and Comedy for the Masses.

"COONS!" features a medley of cinema firsts. Lammers and Irvine produced the movie on a budget of $5,000 and used real dead frozen raccoons as the story's stars. It is also the first feature length movie to ever be successfully completed by Ohio University communications undergraduate students. In addition, Lammers and Irvine have secured "COONS!" a national and international distribution deal, to be released in October 2006 by the cult, independent production house Troma Entertainment, Inc. Troma is known for distributing such films as "The Toxic Avenger" and "Cannibal! The Musical," the latter of which was the first feature length film by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

The story of "COONS!" begins as a group of college students attend Raccoon Creek Campground, a regional hot spot for underage college students to camp and drink after a hard year at school. But this summer they have opposition - to save the town's respectability, the rangers are enforcing stricter drinking policies. Security cameras, tasers and holding cells are in place to make sure the students think before they drink! But that is not the end of it. After also encountering frat guys, backwoods hippies and Bible students, chances for a successful vacation look slim. Things only get worse as killer raccoons target the camp with a thirst for vengeance and hilarity!

Having reached completion only within the past year, "COONS!" has already taken major steps to solidifying itself as a cult sensation. Weeks after premiering at Columbus' Drexel Gateway Theater, the movie was run as a midnight showing for four weekends in a row. "COONS!" has also played at video and film festivals in Akron, Florida and Utah.

Tickets to the screening will be sold on a first come, first served basis at Mitchell Auditorium Saturday night. The price is $3 per ticket.

World Premiere of the film, “COONS!” as last minute Official TromaDance Selection!

For Immediate Release from TromaDance Film Festival
January 19, 2006
© TromaDance Film Festival

The World Premiere of the film, “Coons! Night of the Bandits of the Night,” has been a last minute Official Selection of the 2006 TromaDance Film Festival, it was announced today (January 19, 2006) by Co-Directors Jonathan Lees and Kiel Walker.

Produced by Travis Irvine, is “the first known feature in cinema history to star an assortment of REAL, dead, frozen animals…” “Coons! Night of the Bandits of the Night” will be screened in the Secret Screenings section of the 2006 TromaDance in Park City, Utah.

For further details about Secret Screening Times, stay connected to The Official TromaDance Festival Site.

SUMMARY OF “COONS!”
The story begins as a group of college students attend Raccoon Creek Campground in hopes of having the best summer break of their lives. But after encountering obnoxious frat guys, backwoods hippies, overzealous bible students, and an incompetent group of camp administrators that could put any government official to shame, chances for a successful vacation look slim. Things only get worse as it is soon discovered that killer raccoons have targeted the camp with the intention to wreak havoc, destruction, and hilarity!

This comedy/horror/satire, 82-minute movie is the vision of writer/director Travis Irvine, who grew up in Bexley, Ohio and currently attends Ohio University majoring in video production. With the help of some of the most creative and innovative comedy minds Ohio has to offer, Irvine was able to create a unique and downright funny movie on a shoestring budget of only $5,000 dollars.

Shot predominately in Columbus and Athens in the summer of 2005, all the cast and crew for the film has connections to Ohio. Producer Colin Scianamblo grew up with Irvine in Bexley, and currently attends Santa Monica College in Los Angeles majoring in film. He has worked for some of the biggest names in the business including producer Scott Rudin who is best known for movies such as “The Truman Show”, and the “South Park Movie”. Producer Mark Lammers is a senior at Ohio University and has championed such projects as “The Converts” which was received with much praise by various film critics. The lone member of the crew that is not from Ohio is Producer/DP Kamal Patel who hails from London, England. Patel attends film school across the pond and directs his own movies, while not working on other professional industry projects. Rounding out the cast is the Wrong Man Comedy Group who lives right in Columbus. Their brand of humor combines biting satire, impeccable timing, gut wrenching one-liners, and is driven home by their acting chops, which really shine in the film.

OU students hope killer raccoons propel them to fame & fortune

By BRIDGET WHELAN
February 9th, 2006
© The Athens NEWS

Ohio University student filmmakers are making a name for themselves - along with several frozen, dead raccoons - at film festivals nationwide for their satiric horror film, "Coons Night of the Bandits of the Night."

The 82-minute film was shot and produced locally, and is now being screened around the country, including at the highly regarded TromaDance Film Festival in Salt Lake City. On Saturday, the Drexel Gateway Theater in Columbus will host a midnight showing for the third consecutive weekend.

When OU video production student Travis Irvine came to fellow student Mark Lammers with an idea for a film about a group of college students setting off for a summer camping trip and stumbling upon "obnoxious frat guys, backwoods hippies, overzealous Bible students," and, most importantly, killer raccoons, Lammers was immediately intrigued.

He had garnered some local attention from his short film, "The Converts," which he produced for a telecommunications class last year, and was ready to branch out into the feature film arena. A few months and $5,000 later, "Coons" was ready to hit the big screen.

In fact, the film got so much attention at TromaDance that Troma, the festival's sponsor company, offered the filmmakers a DVD distribution deal last month. They have not yet signed any contracts.

"Most of the hard work is ahead of us," said Lammers, who is also in his senior year of the video production program. He added that the students are trying to get the film shown at as many festivals as possible to drum up support that can later be used to market "Coons" to distribution companies.

Lammers said that Troma is "legendary for harvesting new talent," but the filmmakers will continue to shop around before making any firm decisions.

"Basically, ("Coons") is a film to get our foot in the door," he said.

Irvine and Lammers teamed up with Colin Scianamblo, a childhood friend of Irvine who studies film at Santa Monica College in Los Angeles, and Kamal Patel, a film student from London, England, in June to begin pre-production before shooting the film throughout August.

Irvine and Scianamblo grew up in Bexley, Ohio, so they decided to do most of the filming in the nearby Columbus area, as well as here in Athens, rounding up about 20 volunteers to help everything run smoothly.

Members of Athens' Wrong Man comedy group lent their acting talents to the film, which was edited and finalized during fall quarter and premiered in Columbus on Dec. 30.

Lammers described the filming process as "very guerrilla," laughing that he was a producer, first assistant director, lighting director and assistant for art direction.

However, he said the hard work paid off and he's gratified to see the film completed.

"We made it because a lot of people said we shouldn't or couldn't ... It was all about the passion of it," he said. He added that audiences seem to enjoy the humorous film, which is aimed at 16-24 year olds.

"People laugh. They are quoting some of the lines of funny characters. We've really hit our target audience," said Lammers.

The positive festival responses and the enthusiasm of the film's audience have boosted Lammers' career aspirations as well.

"I would rather be independent, in the underground film scene, rather than Hollywood," said Lammers, who hopes to write, direct and produce movies full-time after graduating. "But a lot of good things have come out of Hollywood, and I'd like to get some of that money."

Students land multiple showings of zombie raccoons

By TIM FERAN
January 26, 2006
© The Columbus Dispatch

Shake a digital camera on a college campus — and note the many students with the dream of becoming a film director.

Travis Irvine, a senior at Ohio University, is one who might just reach his goal.

The graduate of Bexley High School wrote and directed a lowbudget movie, Coons! Night of the Bandits of the Night, that will premiere this weekend at the Drexel Gateway in Columbus — and also at the 2006 TromaDance Film Festival in Salt Lake City.

Shot in August mainly in Columbus and Athens, Coons! is a musicalcomedy horror satire made for $5,000 and with the help of several dozen friends.

Irvine, an intern with Today in New York, spent two years making his 82-minute movie.

Inspiration struck during a Florida camping trip in 2004: Having just seen a zombie movie, he discovered three raccoons conspiring to get the camp food.

‘‘That’s when I said, ‘Killer raccoons attack kids camping out!’ " the 22-year-old said. ‘‘So I started telling the guys I would write the movie. Of course, no one believed me.

‘‘But I started researching man-vs.-nature movies. Then I started researching raccoons — how raccoons with rabies drown cats and attack kids; and, the most unusual thing, how . . . raccoons that have this bacteria in their stomachs, years later, . . . infest the brains of humans who eat them."

Most of the cast and crew members have Ohio connections: Colin Scianamblo, producer, grew up with Irvine in Bexley and goes to Santa Monica (Calif.) College.

"They’re both Bexley High School kids who interned for me about five or six years ago," said Tom Lyons, who works for the OhioHealth media center.

One of the few older people in the movie, he plays a town mayor — "a nervous character exuding weaselliness."

The lineup includes members of the Wrong Man group, an Ohio University comedy troupe.

"They’re pretty experienced kids," Lyons said. "There’s some inventive stuff, some funny stuff, in there; a singing-anddancing number — and the raccoons were actual raccoons kept frozen somehow."

Many students shoot movies, but few get them screened anywhere but in the classroom, said Wayne Miller, assistant vice president for academic services at Franklin University and vice chairman of the Film Council of Greater Columbus, which presents the annual Columbus International Film and Video Festival.

"But if student filmmakers can find somebody to screen their movie and get a little word-of-mouth, they can be built up," Miller said. "That’s what made The Blair Witch Project a success. After it screened at Sundance, it got such huge word-of-mouth, particularly through the Internet."

The Blair Witch Project, released in 1999 and made for an estimated $35,000, has grossed more than $140 million to date in U.S. theaters alone.

So the screenings of Coons! at the TromaDance B-movie festival and the Drexel Gateway mark important steps.

"It’s our way of supporting more local and Ohio filmmakers," said Jeff Frank, president of the Drexel Theatres Group.

"We thought it fit into the mold of midnight movies since it’s a comedy-horror musical" — like midnight favorite The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

"So we thought, ‘Let’s give it a shot.’ "

Based on the response, the Drexel Gateway might book Coons! for an extended run.

"We’re hoping to sell out the first two nights and create an underground buzz," said Scianamblo, 21. "And we’ll keep submitting it to festivals all over the country."

"These are pretty creative kids," Frank said. "The fact that they made this movie for this amount is hard to believe."

Bexley natives' independent film debuts at Drexel theater

By LYNDSEY TETER January 25, 2006 © Suburban News Publications

Hollywood fart joke on a tiny budget

by ADAM JACKSON February 10, 2006 © The Lantern