It’s not everyday you read about an independent film project that’s endured more than your average fair share of hurdles along the way. To add, Fabien Garcia’s new sci-fi thriller short, The Hunt: Savage Within, nearly two years in the making with a strenuous two-part crowdfunding effort, also had to mitigate a pre-production period hampered by more sweeping fires across California, along with a deadly viral pandemic that forced much of North America and the rest of the world into lockdown.
Such are the conditions that would have anyone wonder how they could strive toward a creatively immersive goal as filmmaking, which requires an entire team of working hands. One thing is certain there: With the right team and an ample amount of supporters, it’s possible, and proudly culminates a theory that worked in Garcia’s favor to help present film fans with a new look into the hopeful future of film production for Z-Team Films, his shared label with wife and partner Christine Gorchon, and longtime partner Lohan Buson.
Alas, we’ve arrived to a new turning point in that process with the release of Garcia brand new sci-fi thriller short, aimed at setting a new precedent for a feature-length project for Garcia moving forward. Garcia co-stars, as well as wrote and directed the project which stars Fil-Am actress Madeleine Humphries as Sarah, a meek park ranger as she treks a murky, wooded forest in Bohol, Philippines, with an armed strike team as it investigates the mysterious presence of a murderous, shapeshifting extraterrestrial, played by Amje Elharden. Also starring are Brett Tutor, Lou Wegner, Xango Henry, Davis Chong, Carla Seneca, Jillian Armendariz, Joseph Almani and Josh Chavez.
A park ranger must face her fears as she becomes embroiled in a fight against an otherworldly threat.
This proof-of-concept short film is meant to capture the tone and vision for a hopeful full-feature project.
As a matter of full disclosure, I’m a credited associate producer on this proof-of-concept as of last year, as I was brought on board by Garcia to have a hand in overseeing correspondence and communications with Indiegogo backers via e-mail. It’s one of a few associate producer credits I’ve accrued as I’ve also naturally used Film Combat Syndicate to help promote projects like The Hunt: Savage Within, and having been a fan of Garcia’s work since the Duel and Brothers Forever heyday of “The Z-Team”, and onward with their 2014 feature debut, Die Fighting, it’s been an honor to help play a more engaged role, and I’ll gladly do it again if I’m asked.
Watch The Hunt: Savage Within in the player below, and make sure to follow @thehuntmovies on Instagram!
