The Story Behind the Story:

My name is Blake Vaz. And like the picture below shows, I am a trafficker of dreams. Mine and yours. Dreams make us who we are and dictate our journey. I guess you could say that my main character in Blood Stains, Laz, is based on mine.

I am a musician, singer, director, producer and single father. Like many in this great city of ours, I left everything behind for a shot at my dream. In 2004, I had recently separated from my wife of 5 years; we had been together since we were both 15 years old. I had two beautiful small children, a house, a job, and a band.

I’ve played in bands since I was 14 years old, but when I got married I had to leave music behind. In 2001, when my wife got pregnant with our second child, I saw all of my music dreams fading away. I saw it as my last chance. I was 21 and I decided to put the band together again.

And that is how The Mulberry Purple was born. We toured, played hundreds of shows, and we wrote a bunch of songs. We were onto something with our music, but I knew we had to push more to get over that hump and break out.

One night, as I was sitting in front of my computer, looking for ways to get the band out there. Sending demos, contacting labels, cold calling agencies. My frustration reached a boiling point, and I started writing. Angry. Frustrated. I wanted to leave everything behind. Eventually I did. I told myself that I was willing to do anything to conquer my dreams.

The first couple of lines wrote themselves. A frustrated musician that wanted to leave everything behind for his dreams was my main character.

That night the first draft of Blood Stains was born. Exactly a year later, as if I had prophesized it, I was in my car with all of my belongings heading to Los Angeles.  As I made the drive cross-country on I-10, crying, scared, confused. I remembered that little short film I started writing a year before. At that moment I asked myself. How far am I willing to go for my dreams?

A mysterious stranger didn’t appear asking for a ride. My song Blood Stains didn’t appear magically on the radio. But right then I decided that I would do whatever it takes to make my dreams come true.

The first thing I did when I finally got to LA and found a couch to crash on, was open my old laptop and start working on that script. A few days later it was forgotten once again. But as with many people who journey to LA for fame, I hit a detour that put me on a slightly different path. 

But I never forgot about Blood Stains.

Fifteen years have passed, but this passion project has always been on my mind.  I believe this is the right time to make the film, which is a proof-of-concept for a feature, happen.  I have a great team, and more importantly, the story is more relevant than ever. Not just to me, but at a time where we crave and demand instant gratification and instant success; a story that shows you the pitfalls of leaving everything behind and potentially making a bad decision to reach your goals, it could serve as a cautionary tale to all those frustrated artists that feel their time is running out.

Welcome to this journey called Blood Stains

Style:

Since we are filming a horror/thriller in the vein of classic road/chase films like Duel, Race With The Devil, The Car and even Mad Max, stylistically we want to film something contemporary but that still pays homage. The gritty and warm lighting played as much of a character in each story as did the actors. We believe the end result will make a powerful piece by combining that gritty feel with Giallo style lighting of characters in striking colors, classic and contemporary horror camera techniques, and a suspenseful dialog, creating a unique mood for Blood Stains. 

The Production:

Blood Stains has an estimated four-day shooting schedule and is seeking to raise $20,000 for production, but with Seed&Spark we are greenlit when we reach 80%! 

Although the script is 16 pages, we plan to bring high production value to the project. In order to accomplish this, there will have to be intense pre-production as well as post-production.

Along with a notable cast, we have assembled an experienced crew that is diverse, with women and people of color in most key positions. Funds that we raise will support all of our departments, from casting to catering to exciting locations to camera package rental. Insurance is also of importance to us, because we want to keep everyone safe on set.

Most of our crew and cast are willing to work for lower rates, necessary due to our independent budget. Many of our crewmembers will be wearing number different hats.  In short, we have assembled an incredible, passionate crew that will work hard to create a horror film with a message.

We are big fans of the horror genre and we are especially passionate about many of the classic horror films of the 70's and 80's. Our mission is to bring that familiar style back in our work, while putting our own little contemporaty touch to it.

Blood Stains is a proof of concept for a feature length film and is a part of our own 'Terror Universe'. This short film, along with two others in different stages of pre and post production, will be part of a horror anthology that will carry a common theme and even feature a common character.

We also have a specific plan to make the rounds in the festival circuit, especially focusing on a few Latino festivals that concentrate on putting the spotlight on emerging filmmakers from diverse backgrounds.

Your contribution can make all of this a possiblity and will put you in the front seat as a key player in promoting diverse filmmakers such as our team.

So let’s hit the road, join us on our journey to Blood Stains.