DIRECTOR RICHARD RAAPHORST WRAPS FIRST DAY OF PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY ON FRANKENSTEIN’S ARMY
Filming of long-awaited feature commences in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.
(PRAGUE March 5, 2012) – MPI/Dark Sky Films, LA-based XYZ Films, and Pellicola of Amsterdam announced today that the first day of principal photography on Richard Raaphorst’s long-awaited debut feature, FRANKENSTEIN’S ARMY, has been completed in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. The stunning, ancient location, situated near historic Prague, was also recently used in the 2006 box office hit Casino Royale.
FRANKENSTEIN’S ARMY takes place toward the end of World War II, as Russian soldiers push into eastern Germany and stumble across a secret Nazi lab, one that has unearthed and begun experimenting with the journal of one Dr. Viktor Frankenstein. The scientists have used the legendary Frankenstein’s work to assemble an army of super-soldiers stitched together from the body parts of their fallen comrades – a desperate Hitler’s last ghastly ploy to escape defeat.
Director Raaphorst co-wrote FRANKENSTEIN’S ARMY, with the film being produced by Nick Jongerius and Daniel Koefoed (Harry Doright and Dead End) of Pellicola, Todd Brown of XYZ Films, and Derek Curl of MPI/Dark Sky Films. The director of photography is Bart Beekman.
Raaphorst’s Worst Case Scenario stands as one of the great horror films that never was. The Nazi-zombie project whipped up a massive international following thanks to two early promo reels. But due to financing and production difficulties, the project was abandoned in 2009. Now, director Raaphorst will bring his visionary design skills to this new horror movie, to be distributed by MPI/Dark Sky Films in North America.
FRANKENSTEIN’S ARMY, currently filming in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, is a co-production of MPI/Dark Sky Films, Los Angeles-based XYZ Films, and Pellicola of Amsterdam.
About MPI Media Group
The MPI Media Group is a leading producer, distributor and licensor of films, home entertainment, historical footage and more. Founded in 1976, Chicago-based MPI Media Group remains one of the largest independent entertainment companies producing and distributing a compelling slate of the world’s most respected cinema, documentaries, performances and television programs. MPI’s wholly owned subsidiaries include MPI Home Entertainment, Dark Sky Films, and the WPA Film Library. www.mpimediagroup.com
About XYZ Films
XYZ Films is an LA-based film production and sales company founded by partners Nate Bolotin, Nick Spicer, and Aram Tertzakian. XYZ’s production slate includes action-thriller Motor City to be directed by Ric Roman Waugh; a heist film with Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan) and a crime thriller about automotive maverick John DeLorean with Alex Holmes (“House of Saddam”). Twitchfilm.net founder and Editor-in-chief Todd Brown joined the company in 2009 as a partner and serves as its Head of Acquisitions.
About Pellicola
Pellicola is an Amsterdam-based film and TV production company founded by partners Daniel Koefoed and Nick Jongerius. Pellicola’s production slate includes the horror film Dead End, the TV series “Sniff the Dogg”, and the award winning shorts Brothers Keeper, Harry Doright, and The Bug.
About Dark Sky Films
Dark Sky Films is dedicated to the discovery, preservation and production of new and classic horror, sci-fi and cult films from around the world. Based in Chicago, Dark Sky Films is a wholly owned subsidiary of The MPI Media Group – one of the largest independent entertainment companies producing and distributing a compelling slate of the world’s most respected cinema, documentaries, performances and television programs. Recent MPI/Dark Sky Films original productions include Ti West’s The Innkeepers, Jim Mickle’s Stake Land, and the upcoming Stitches and Frankenstein’s Army.
