Cinnaminson Native Raising Funds for Horror Flick

He’s got the cast. He’s got the crew. He’s got the location. And he’s got the screenplay.

All he needs to do next is make the movie.

Cinnaminson native and now New York-based writer/director Jeremy Wechter is working hard to get his supernatural horror movie Evil Alive made.

On Oct. 6, he’ll make the trip down the Turnpike to Red, White and Brew in Mt. Holly—owned by Cinnaminson native Stacey Blacker—for a special fundraiser/raffle.

Wechter also has a Kickstarter campaign and special online raffle—with movie items like a Ryan Gosling- and Michelle Williams-signed Blue Valentine poster—to help raise funds to make the movie.

A 1994 Cinnaminson High School graduate, Wechter graduated from the Tisch School of Arts at New York University. He remembers being artsy at a young age.

“I was always creative and liked drawing and painting,” Wechter said. “I always assumed I’d end up in that field. But the more I explored in college, the more I realized filmmaking was the thing for me.”

With quite a few screenplays, commercials and more under his belt already, he knew Evil Alive was the one he wanted to turn into a feature film.

“This was by far the fastest screenplay I’ve ever written,” he said. “It was just flowing out of me.”

People started to read the screenplay and were interested, Wechter said. Actors, producers and more signed onto Evil Alive.

But don’t let the name fool you—this isn’t a slasher flick. Wechter describes the film as a supernatural horror movie with a psychological element.

“It’s very human character-oriented,” Wechter said. “It’s a very relatable horror movie.”

Wechter teamed up with Blacker, who is a friend of his family, he said.

“She offered to do the fundraising event at her place. I was blown away by her generosity,” he said.

Blacker owns Red, White and Brew, a wine, beer and spirits shop in downtown Mt. Holly. The event will feature live guitar music, a wine bar, a Q&A about filmmaking, movie trivia contest and several raffle items. The event will be held from 3:30 to 7 p.m., Oct. 6.

“Regardless of if you’re a fan of horror,” Wechter said, “it’s going to be a fun event.

Wechter himself isn’t just a horror fan, he names Meryl Streep as his favorite actress—“No one compares,” he said.

Christopher Nolan and Stephen Spielberg are his favorite filmmakers.

As far as his own movie goes, Wechter calls it “unique” and compares the genre to TV show American Horror Story.

“There’s no movie like it,” he said.

To raise funds to make the movie, Wechter, who works in New York as a teacher and screenplay consultant, is also heading up a Kickstarter campaign. Those who donate can get their name in the movie credits, signed items and more.

For every $10 donated, people can receive online raffle tickets for items that range from signed movie collectibles to gift cards.

“Filmmakers don’t’ have to rely on studios anymore,” Wechter said. “There’s an example of people helping out.”