Chico natives Kiel Kennedy and Nolan Ford are bringing their debut feature film "McCurdy Point" home for a one-night premiere at the Pageant Theatre — and the screening has already sold out.
The indie found-footage horror movie follows four friends on a celebratory trip to a remote cabin in the Maine woods, where they encounter a mysterious force. Audiences see the terrifying events unfold through the left behind footage.
“What we see as the audience is basically the footage that they left behind after disappearing,” Ford said. “Kind of similar to Blair Witch in that style.”
“I kind of always had this dream of, even before leaving for LA, like, it'd be really awesome to make a movie someday and show it at The Pageant.”- Nolan Ford, McCurdy Point film editor
Ford is a previous member of the North State Public Radio team, who stepped away from the mic to pursue filmmaking and the film editor of this project.
“I kind of always had this dream of, even before leaving for LA, like, it'd be really awesome to make a movie someday and show it at The Pageant,” Ford said.
He became involved through his continued connection with Kennedy, who stars, produces and is a writer on the film.
Kennedy served as a significant source of motivation for Ford, as did other post-college friends who had also relocated to LA to pursue artistic professions. They encouraged and assured him that he would thrive if he simply committed to the move.
“Kiel actually let me stay with him for the first couple of months of living here, and then we stayed in touch … we've collaborated on other creative projects,” Ford said.
Kiel began the film and later brought Ford on as the editor. The filmmaking team would put over a year and a half into the post-production of it alone.
Ford's editing style involves adhering to the script, then determining how to heighten suspense.
“Depending on what feels right, as far as the general rhythm of the movie, how long's it been since something scary happened, or how long it’s been since something funny happened, and trying to find a good rhythm and tempo with those moments,” Ford explained.
Earlier this year, the film won the Crimson Screen Jury Award at the Crimson Screen Horror Film Festival in South Carolina.
For Ford, the film's screening represents a pinnacle moment — an exciting culmination and a heartfelt celebration of the immense dedication and tireless effort he poured into every aspect of its creation.
It signifies the transition from countless hours of editing to finally sharing the vision he helped create with an audience at the Pageant Theatre.
“As a really cool, kind of full circle moment from, like, going to see movies there as a kid, and then being an adult and getting to sort of put a movie on,” Ford said.
The sold-out showing at The Pageant is Wednesday, Sept. 24. The film is currently on a festival circuit run. Check out the trailer below.