HORROR
movies were made. This particular feature was on George Lucas’ Star Wars. “I remember being very small, seeing the documentary. It sparked a lot of curiosity,” Butler recalled.
In the age of technology and the subsequent explosion of access to information, Butler taught himself.
“At some point, while at UWI (University of the West Indies) I did a weekend course in film and script writing,” he told The Gleaner. But it wasn’t until 2010 that he purchased his first camera (a Canon Rebel T2i) to begin practising. He shot a number of small projects, including two called Music Biz, a series about the business side of the music industry. He left the project due to creative differences.
DARK LORD
Butler’s dedication to film never faltered, and his penchant for horror is a long time coming. In 2013, he penned his very first script, called Dark Lord. “It was registered with the US Library of Congress,” he revealed.
The vampiric period piece written before the supernatural film fad of the early aughts emerged, Butler revealed that a publishing company showed interest in the story, with a request that it be turned into a novel. “This was before selfpublishing was so popular. But I also had a part-scholarship – so I took the decision to do my master’s,” he revealed, saying that he passed up on that opportunity.
Despite his passion, Butler continues on a traditional academic path and has just completed his study in financial risk management and insurance at Humber College in Canada.
Nefarious came to life after Butler met Allan Tennent on the set of Music Biz. “He’s been in that industry for some time, doing video productions like music videos. That’s his line of business.” The men pursued a friendship, sharing scripts and ideas. Both had different interests, which with some effort, collided. “[Tennent] wanted a gangster movie. I wanted horror. So I went back, wrote Nefarious, and shared it with him. He loved it,” Butler shared. In addition to his creative input, camera assistance, and editing, Tennent also takes on an onscreen role.
Principal photography for the film began in mid-2015, accounting for approximately 90 per cent of the shoot. Butler left Canada in September of that year, and they finished the movie on his visits to the island, shooting it in Kingston, Trelawny, and St Ann.
Butler is on the hunt for distributors, and there are some very interested parties. He told The Gleaner that one distributor has already screened Nefarious and is willing to finance a second film. “We’re in talks but haven’t signed off. They do want to move forward, so I’m hoping for a European release next year.”
Before that, the first-time film-maker is aiming for a Jamaican premiere. “The film is currently registered with JAMPRO. Its release is partly dependent on the local film authority, who has to give the rating for the local showing. We’re putting things together, so hopefully, they can watch it before the end of the year.” Butler has his fingers crossed for a local premiere in April 2019. The move has so far been listed on IMDb database.