Support group for the ‘cryptids’
Monsters nearly killed filmmaker Kyan Krumdieck.
That is, shooting and editing the newly released ‘‘dramedy’’ television pilot Calling Crypto was such a feat for its production crew that they all ‘‘nearly died’’, he said.
A short timeframe, technical difficulties and shooting obstacles were characteristics that could beset any production, but they were just some of what Krumdieck’s crew faced.
‘‘[The sound technician] managed to get food poisoning while home, came back to work and started projectile vomiting while at the booth, had an hour break and went back at it for like another 18 hours straight, because that was about two days before the screening.’’
Released in three parts this week, the series follows volunteers at a community support centre and depression hotline for the monster community.
Marginalised and outcast in a predominantly human world, ‘‘Cryptid Support’’ sets out to help the likes of closeted werewolves and vampires with girlfriend problems.
The pilot was shot as a project at the New Zealand Broadcasting School at Ara (formerly CPIT) last year.
He said the show was ‘‘the biggest thing I’ve ever done’’ out of about 16 or 17 projects since high school. Of those, documentary short The Grind was selected to be shown at Cannes in May.
The film, about gay social networking and dating app Grindr, also won best student film at the Show Me Shorts Film Festival in late 2015.
‘‘Comedy in [the LGBT] realm, a lot of the ideas I have are pushing in that direction because I don’t see a lot of that being made at the moment.’’
Calling Crypto somewhat mirrors the struggles real-world advocacy groups regularly face.
Shot in Christchurch and making use of quake-damaged buildings like Antonio Hall in Riccarton Rd, the under-resourced centre’s building was literally falling apart.
The old building added ‘‘a lot of flavour’’ to Calling Crypto.
‘‘Particularly because it’s about a community of people who are victims and on the outskirts of society, trying to keep it together.’’
Krumdieck, who is due to finish a six-month internship with TV3 show 7 Days this week, said a ‘‘grab bag’’ of ideas spawned from The Grind would pave the way for what he did next.
He said his plan was to keep making TV shows, but Calling Crypto probably would not make it further than its pilot.
‘‘It’s extremely difficult to make a TV show in New Zealand, so as far as it leading directly to something, I’m pessimistic.
‘‘I have a grab bag full of ideas which I’m mulling over trying to produce soon.’’
"It's about a community of people who are victims and on the outskirts of society, trying to keep it together." Filmmaker Kyan Krumdieck