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Is Clear Lake slated to become the new Tinseltown or the new Villisca Ax Murder House? Maybe both thanks to a Clear Lake resident who spent much of his life in show business.
When he was living in Los Angeles, Bob Sherman worked in many aspects of the filmmaking industry, including being the manager of a sound stage that was used to film part of Jurassic Park (1993). Most recently he made a documentary chronicling the homeless issue in California called ‘Down and Out in L.A.’ Since returning to Clear Lake and assisting with the Nightmare – Haunted Hike, Sherman has had the inspiration for his latest movie.
“It’s a teen horror movie called ‘Spook House Birthday Party,’” he said. “We are going to shoot it entirely in Clear Lake.”
He said the shoot is slated to begin in late October and will last three weeks. He calls the film his “first Bonafide step in the plan” he had to begin filmmaking in the area when he returned to Clear Lake years ago.
As he was helping with the Nightmare – Haunted Hike, Sherman said that it was always in the back of his mind that he was also working on a studio for a future film. He came up with the idea for the movie from that.
“It’s about a 17-year-old girl who has her birthday party at a local haunted attraction,” Sherman explained. “Some of her classmates have a dastardly plan afoot to invade her birthday party at the haunted hike and causing mayhem.”
Sherman declines to divulge much more, saying that the movie has a twist that has to be seen to be believed.
Many of the lead cast members will be actors from Des Moines, but Sherman said there are plenty of spots for extras as well as the need for volunteers to help with the production. Sherman said his goal is to keep the first movie simple and with Iowa actors. The budget for productionwill be about $60,000.
In addition to the Nightmare Trail, Sherman says he has two houses on the lake whose owners are letting the production use them to film. A wooded area behind Oak Hills Golf Course will also be used for filming.
“It’s been a challenge I have to admit,” Sherman said, of filmmaking in Iowa. “There is no infrastructure to speak of, especially in north central Iowa. I’d like to bring it up, make a few movies here.”
He said that he has found a few people locally who have film crew experience. He said that he can train people interested in volunteering for the production. People interested in volunteering can contact Sherman at [email protected].
Sherman said he also has some plans to make another movie next summer he said would have a higher budget and more experienced actors.
