Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
One-minute chillers scoop horror prizes
A DUNDEE filmmaker’s success proves you don’t need big Hollywood blockbuster budgets to scoop horror awards.
George McDermott, of St Mary’s, has found the winning formula after shooting two spine-tingling films during lockdown.
The 31-year-old submitted both entries into the “One Minute Ghost Story Horror Short” competition run by Hex Media Film UK.
Thousands of entries from across the globe were whittled down to just 42 films before the public were allowed to vote for their winners.
George’s eerie story of the “Mannie In The Loft” sent chills down the spine of many, winning him the “public vote” and “best monster” categories.
Speaking today George said the name was inspired by a story during the 80s of a man climbing along a loft space on Blackness Road during an attempted break-in.
He said: “I remember hearing that story as kid and the description at the time was ‘there’s a mannie up there’ and I always found it creepy.”
The short film was shot in St Mary’s and Lochee and starts with a dream sequence. He said: “Part of that scene was actually family camcorder footage from a new year party in 1986.”
Chairman of Hex Media Films UK, Lawrie Brewster said the movie “captured the public’s attention.”
George added: “I had submitted two films, the second was the ‘Red Rope Forest’ which had been filmed in and around Dundee. Both the entrants were in the final 42 films and there had been some really good ones but I knew I was in with a chance.
“The public voted and I was delighted that I’d won.”
George, who is currently studying film and media at Stirling University, has big plans for future projects.
He said: “I’m working on a featurelength horror project which I’m currently looking to self-fund.”
To watch the movies follow the links at thetele.co.uk.