246. Little Spark Films Hosts LSF Fest V in Mansfield, TX

On Sunday, March 1, I attended LSF Fest V at the Farr Best Theatre in Mansfield, TX. LSF stands for Litte Spark Films, a production studio based out of Arlington, co-founded by husband-wife duo Joe Manco & Catalina Querida in 2013.From music videos to 48-hour-shorts submissions, fake trailers for Texas Frightmare Weekend (including one starring Troma King Lloyd Kaufman) and much more, Little Spark Films has built a reputation in the DFW metroplex as a community-centered studio making irreverent, scrappy horror flicks with mischeivous grins and buckets of blood.Last month, LSF announced, after receiving a million-dollar investment from now-CFO Chris Rushing, their plans for expansion into a full-fledged genre studio, including a film slate, new executive team members and collaborations with outside productions as co-producers.LSF Fest V was their victory lap, a party celebrating the studio's past, showcasing recent works of friends and previous collaborators, alongside a few glimpses into what the future holds.Walking around the century-old theater, I got the sense like I was the new boyfriend at a family reunion. The LSF cabal, specifically, the crew from last year's short DEATH WORLD, showed up to support: actress and key makeup artist Tori Yeager, key makeup artist Regan Schenck, lead actor and cowriter Cory Ahre, sound recordist Cameron Hazelwood.If I'm the new boyfriend, this analogy suggests my date is Jacob Harper, fellow entertainment journalist contributing to 1428 Elm and his own podcast Talkin' Terror . We met outside the theater, started chatting and inevitably I learn he was a set decorator on DEATH WORLD. All roads lead back to Little Spark Films.LSF's social media presence includes a daily filmmaking tip, everything from respecting one's fellow man to ensuring your legal documentation is on-point. Their YouTube channel also features a guide on building one's own production bible. Judging from these posts and the wealth of repeat collaborators in LSF's circle, I get the impression these folks live in an abundance mindset, sharing whatever knowledge and resources (minus Lloyd Kaufman books, because y'know, you lend people books, you never get that shit back) they can.Schenck's short, SHADOWS AT THE ALTAR, played at LSF Fest V, along with Travis Patten's HAHTINU, which was co-produced by Hazelwood's company Pensive Pictures. LSF's future slate includes directorial efforts from Hazelwood and Ahre. Chief creative officer Preston Fassel has two scripts in production. It seems like the studio invests in the growth of their friends, building a community, not just a film library. If LSF Fest V was anything to go by, I think they've made good on that effort.---A BEN EVANS FILM dir. James Henry Hall & Bret K. Hall - a man makes a film starring his recently deceased parents. The feature aims to start production this spring; you can watch the short here.---Music provided Content ID free by @goodkidbandFollow The Movies on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Throw a couple dollars in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tip jar!⁠