WELCOME TO THE REEKER CINEMATIC UNIVERSE. take a deep breath and dive in!
Writer/Director/Producer/Composer
Yeah. That's too many credits. Not for nothing. This was a low budget movie. Every dime spent ended up on screen. Producer Dave who worked for free couldn't afford a composer, so Director Dave who worked for free hired lapsed musician Dave to write his first movie score (for free). Writer Dave was worried that composer Dave couldn't do the job (even though he wasn’t paid enough to worry) so he kept Dave's musical contribution a secret until test screenings proved the movie worked. Only at Reeker’s festival premiere did this multi-hyphenate credit rear its ugly head.
Dave started his behind the camera (paid) career writing and directing 7 features, all different genres, for legendary producer Roger Corman. Notable milestones include the first film appearances of Jason Sudeikis and Will Farrell, as well as having 2 films on Entertainment Weekly's worst movie titles of the year. (Dave didn't name them and he agreed with the editors of the top ten list). Dave directed the direct to vid "Addams Family Reunion" starring Tim Curry and Daryl Hannah, wrote and directed "Just Can't Get Enough" based on the true Chippendale's murders story, and wrote Ryan Reynold’s first feature film, "BoltNeck" (also, not his title.)
Tired of working for other people (and not having enough creative control) Dave set out to raise money to exploit the seed of a silly idea - why don't characters in movies react to the smell of dead people/rotting flesh/zombies? Dave and his then girlfriend Tina raised the money with the goal to make a fun, scary, monster horror film that would stand out in a sea of generic paranormal, torture porn, and slasher flicks. At the end of the day, “Reeker” was a big W for Dave. He learned the ins and outs of film distribution, met lifelong friends, and after licensing the film around the world, eventually got paid.
Producer/Actor
Born in Johannesburg South Africa, it takes a lot to scare Tina Illman. She was not afraid to produce AND act as the lead in her first feature film “Reeker.” She was not afraid to move to the US after graduating from the renowned Drama Centre London (UK). And she was not afraid to sleep with a director (*Dave) long before he had a role for her.
After acting in various projects (she’s the voice of Moon Juju in the PS3 hit Tak and the power of JuJu) She co-founded The Institution to raise the financing and produce “Reeker.” Originally imagined as a calling card for her acting, the movie opened up opportunities to pivot into ownership roles behind the camera and off-set.
She helped negotiate contracts and deliver the movie elements to dozens of territories, all while looking the part of a lead actress as she personally launched theatrical releases of the movie in France, the UK, Spain, Korea, Mexico, and South Africa.
Tina segued from “Reeker” to producing 2 more movies under The Institution banner. Sadly, Tina was too much of a control freak to rely on the whims of casting gods, and “Reeker” was her first and final final girl feature.
As the co-owner of the Institution Post she helped oversee finishing and delivery of television and features for Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, Disney, Warner Brothers, Netflix, and Lionsgate. After managing and selling several non-entertainment related businesses, Tina continues to be afraid of nothing. And she still sleeps with Dave, even though she's no longer an actress.
Dave Payne
Tina Illman
Dave and Tina on the set of Rise of Reeker. That's their first kid, Jack, in Tina's belly.
FACTOIDS
• Shot on 35mm film
• 18 day production schedule
• Shot between Thanksgiving and Christmas – a slower time in Hollywood when there are more crew and actor availabilities.
• Main location was the 4 Aces film set outside of Palmdale, a desert suburb 60 miles outside of Los Angeles.
• Stars Tina Illman (more info below), Arielle Kebbel ("Rescue Surf," "9-1-1," "Aquamarine"), Devon Gummersall "(My So Called Life," "The Pitt"), Eric Mabius ("Ugly Betty, " "The L Word," "Signed Sealed Delivered"), Derik Richardson ("Hostel," Dumb and Dumberer") and Michael Ironside ("Starship Troopers," "Total Recall," "Top Gun").
• To create the Reeker the director wanted the more classic actor in special effects make-up, instead of using computer effects.
• Les Janky was hired to play half a trucker. Les is a great sport, and like the character he plays, also has no legs.
• Bix, the injured dog at the opening of “Reeker”, was paralyzed in real life.
• The producers purchased 3 matching Jeep Grand Wagoneers and 2 Apollo RVs. What they didn’t destroy while filming, they sold after production on Craig’s list.
• The temperatures reached below freezing at night when shooting. Look closely, in some scenes you can see the actor’s breath.
• The original Reeker actor quit. Conditions in a brittle, frozen, latex suit were too harsh. We didn’t blame him.
• The actor playing Trip broke his wrist days before production. Look closely, he’s a bit careful with one of his hands and was very hesitant riding a skateboard.
• Prep and all post was done out of a small house in Burbank, with VFX artists and editors camped in the living room and bedrooms for almost a year.
• “Reeker” was one of the first feature films to finish picture post entirely in Apple’s Final Cut 4. The work flow created for the movie launched a successful post production business finishing other smaller budget movies and television shows.
• For the premiere at the SXSW Film Festival the filmmakers blanketed Austin with promotional stinky Scratch-n-Whiff Reeker stickers. We are told some can still be found in the bathrooms at the Alamo Drafthouse.
• No Man’s Land : Rise of Reeker (Reeker 2) was shot a few miles away from the “Reeker” location at Club Ed. An excellent experience with honest owners (there's a reason Reeker 2 wasn't shot at 4 Aces!)
• The Rise of Reeker was also shot on 35 mm film.
• The Rise of Reeker shot for 18 days in the dead of summer, near Death Valley. Daytime temps reached 115 degrees. Considering all the fire gags, the producers introduced the actors and crew to a new level of masochism.
• The Rise of Reeker stars Michael Muhney ("Veronica Mars," "The Young & the Restless"), Mircea Monroe ("Episodes", "Hart of Dixie") Steven Martinez ("General Hospital", "Burn Notice") Valerie Cruz ("The Dresden File", "Nip Tuck") Gil Birmingham ("Twilight", "Yellowstone") and Robert Pine ("Chips," fun fact - father of Chris Pine),
• The Reeker movies were originally marketed as more serious movies than they are because “funny scary movies” are more niche with harder to find audiences.
• Reeker and Reeker 2 were licensed to distributors around the world and most of the those agreements have expired. You’re reading this because the original owners now have the opportunity to breathe new life in to these titles. Thanks for giving the Reeker movies a shot. We appreciate you!
Behind the Scenes...
No AI here. Just real actors and real humans behind the camera having a good time & working their asses off!
SEE ALL CREDITS
FACTOIDS
• Shot on 35mm film
• 18 day production schedule
• Shot between Thanksgiving and Christmas – a slower time in Hollywood when there are more crew and actor availabilities.
• Main location was the 4 Aces film set outside of Palmdale, a desert suburb 60 miles outside of Los Angeles.
• Stars Tina Illman (more info below), Arielle Kebbel ("Rescue Surf," "9-1-1," "Aquamarine"), Devon Gummersall "(My So Called Life," "The Pitt"), Eric Mabius ("Ugly Betty, " "The L Word," "Signed Sealed Delivered"), Derik Richardson ("Hostel," Dumb and Dumberer") and Michael Ironside ("Starship Troopers," "Total Recall," "Top Gun").
• To create the Reeker the director wanted the more classic actor in special effects make-up, instead of using computer effects.
• The small budget was 30x less than the original “Scream.” 15x less than the Rob Zombie “Halloween” remake. Almost 50x less than “Final Destination. “ With tons of gags and gore, huge production values, the producers used all the tricks and secrets learned at the Roger Corman school of film making.
• Les Janky was hired to play half a trucker. Les is a great sport, and like the character he plays, also has no legs.
• Bix, the injured dog at the opening of “Reeker”, was paralyzed in real life.
• The producers purchased 3 matching Jeep Grand Wagoneers and 2 Apollo RVs. What they didn’t destroy while filming, they sold after production on Craig’s list.
• The temperatures reached below freezing at night when shooting. Look closely, in some scenes you can see the actor’s breath.
• The original Reeker actor quit. Conditions in a brittle, frozen, latex suit were too harsh. We didn’t blame him.
• The actor playing Trip broke his wrist days before production. Look closely, he’s a bit careful with one of his hands and was very hesitant riding a skateboard.
• Prep and all post was done out of a small house in Burbank, with VFX artists and editors camped in the living room and bedrooms for almost a year.
• “Reeker” was one of the first feature films to finish picture post entirely in Apple’s Final Cut 4. The work flow created for the movie launched a successful post production business finishing other smaller budget movies and television shows.
• For the premiere at the SXSW Film Festival the filmmakers blanketed Austin with promotional stinky Scratch-n-Whiff Reeker stickers. We are told some can still be found in the bathrooms at the Alamo Drafthouse.
• No Man’s Land : Rise of Reeker (Reeker 2) was shot a few miles away from the “Reeker” location at Club Ed. An excellent experience with honest owners (there's a reason Reeker 2 wasn't shot at 4 Aces!)
• The Rise of Reeker was also shot on 35 mm film.
• The Rise of Reeker shot for 18 days in the dead of summer, near Death Valley. Daytime temps reached 115 degrees. Considering all the fire gags, the producers introduced the actors and crew to a new level of masochism.
• The Rise of Reeker stars Michael Muhney ("Veronica Mars," "The Young & the Restless"), Mircea Monroe ("Episodes", "Hart of Dixie") Steven Martinez ("General Hospital", "Burn Notice") Valerie Cruz ("The Dresden File", "Nip Tuck") Gil Birmingham ("Twilight", "Yellowstone") and Robert Pine ("Chips," fun fact - father of Chris Pine),
• The Reeker movies were originally marketed as more serious movies than they are because “funny scary movies” are more niche with harder to find audiences.
• Reeker and Reeker 2 were licensed to distributors around the world and most of the those agreements have expired. You’re reading this because the original owners now have the opportunity to breathe new life in to these titles. Thanks for giving the Reeker movies a shot. We appreciate you!