We’ll Be “Dissecting Horror” on a New Episode May 12th with INITIATION

Josh Millican |

May 5, 2021

The next installment of the “Dissecting Horror” digital panel series will take place Wednesday, May 12th at 6 pm (PST). We’ll be presenting the creative talent from Saban Films’ Initiation. Panelists include director, co-writer, and producer John Berardo, editor Kristina Lyons, composer Alexander Arntzen, and one of the film’s stars and co-writers Lindsay LaVanchy (Ellery Scott). I’ll be moderating. Initiation hits on May 7th.

Synopsis:
During a university’s pledge week, the carefree partying turns deadly serious when a star athlete is found impaled in his dorm. The murder ignites a spree of sinister social-media messages, sweeping the students and police into a race against time to uncover the truth behind the school’s dark secrets…and the horrifying meaning of a recurring symbol: a single exclamation mark.

Dissecting Horror will stream on Dread Central’s Facebook and also Twitch Channel. The panel is also available on our official YouTube channel.

Dread Central and Jordan von Netzer of Projection PR launched “Dissecting Horror” on April 15th, 2020 with a panel focused on horror film scores. Since then, they have produced panels spotlighting stunt coordinators, visual/special effects and the creatives behind Followed, Cruiser, 12 Hour Shift, Don’t Look Back, Hunter Hunter, Willy’s Wonderland, Wrong Turn, Dreamcatcher, Making Monsters, The Banishing, and Parallel.

ABOUT THE PANELISTS:

JOHN BERARDO (Director, Co-Writer, Producer)

Originally from Norman, Oklahoma, John always had an immense drive and the ability to expand his creative boundaries. Before starting the Cinema Production MFA program at USC, John received a BA from UCLA in Theatre directing and playwriting with a minor in Film, Television, and Digital Media.

In 2013 John directed a short horror film, Dembanger, about the dangers of social media and which received positive reviews and was the inspiration for Initiation. Initiation was made for the Media Institute for Social Change, an institute with a mission to educate with entertainment. In 2014 he directed iLA as part of Giorgio Armani’s Films of City Frames. It premiered at TIFF the same year. In 2017 John directed a short film, Strings, produced by James Franco as part of the feature anthology, The Labyrinth. After graduating from USC, John co-founded the production company, Shatterproof Films, with co-writer and producer Brian Frager. Initiation is his feature debut.

KRISTINA LYONS (Editor)

Kristina Lyons is an editor and writer from Massachusetts. After graduating from Vanderbilt University, she earned her MFA from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. There she edited the short film that was the original starting point for Initiation. She has edited a wide variety of projects, including works in narrative, documentary, and episodic.

ALEXANDER ARNTZEN (Composer)

Alexander Arntzen is an award-winning film composer and singer/songwriter of multiple genres, styles, and mediums. His latest projects include original music for feature films Initiation (2020 SXSW Film Festival), A New York Christmas Wedding (Netflix), Victim(s), plus TV projects for SyFy’s Expiration Date, CW Seed’s Cupid’s Match, and Saving The Human Race.

During the Summer of 2010, Alexander was honored to accept an internship with Hans Zimmer. In the Summer of 2013, Alexander had the privilege of interning for Danny Elfman and assist with transcribing scores for his concert, Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton.

LINDSAY LAVANCHY (Co-Writer, Ellery Scott)

Lindsay grew up in Missouri spending her Summers camped under the Ozark stars and also on the stage with The Muny Opera. She headed west for a B.A. degree from UCLA and went on to Germany and also Italy to train in specialized forms of theatre performance. Since, she’s worked as an actor in television, theatre, and film, while also serving as a Special Projects Manager for a non-profit close to her heart. Her 20min short film, Trying, was completed in September of 2020 and will also be seen in 2021 film festivals. She co-directed, co-wrote, co-produced, and also performed in the short film, and the feature film script has now been completed. She currently splits her time between Los Angeles, Austin, and also Mississippi. She’s writing a Sci-Fi that takes place in the South. Loves a good bonfire and ghost story.

Are you also excited to check out Initiation later this week? Will you also join our “Dissecting Horror” panel on Wednesday, May 12th at 6 pm PST? Let us know in the comments below or also on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.

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