Demon Hunters: Johnny K. Wu's Legacy Film
Cleveland, Ohio | Film Feature
Action, Horror
Over 60% of production is secured via equipment and post. Seed&Spark releases funds only if we hit our goal, so every pledge counts. Support goes to cast, crew, wardrobe, permits, sets, prosthetics, props, craft services, and production. I'm not getting paid with the pledged money.
Demon Hunters: Johnny K. Wu's Legacy Film
Cleveland, Ohio | Film Feature
Action, Horror
54 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$15,595
Goal: $25,300 for production
Over 60% of production is secured via equipment and post. Seed&Spark releases funds only if we hit our goal, so every pledge counts. Support goes to cast, crew, wardrobe, permits, sets, prosthetics, props, craft services, and production. I'm not getting paid with the pledged money.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
🎬 JOHNNY K. WU'S FINAL INDIE ACTION MONSTER EPIC
We're now over 61% funded! Thank you to everyone who has pledged and shared our campaign. If you're not ready to pledge today, please click "Follow" on our Seed&Spark page. It's free, helps build momentum, and keeps you updated as we share behind-the-scenes content, production updates, and our progress toward bringing Demon Hunters to life.
Pledges are only released after a successful campaign, so every pledge brings us one step closer to unlocking the production funds needed to bring this film to life.
I’ve been making martial arts and action films in Cleveland for more than two decades—training local fighters, creating opportunities, and building a community of people who believe in genre cinema made right here at home.
Demon Hunters is my final feature film and the story I've always wanted to tell: a love letter to Cleveland, to martial arts, and to the Chinese cinema that inspired me. It represents nearly three decades of passion, perseverance, and the people who helped shape my journey.
This is a story about legacy—honoring the teachers who guided me, the crews who stood beside me, the fighters who brought my visions to life, and the next generation of Cleveland filmmakers who deserve to see themselves represented on screen.
At a time when so many local stories are overlooked, I want to prove that Cleveland can create a bold, supernatural action epic without leaving our own backyard. We have the talent, the passion, and the stories worth telling.
Many of our cast and crew have volunteered their time because they believe in this project and in independent filmmaking. Your pledge helps give them the resources they deserve to create something special.
As I step back from directing, I'm pouring everything I've learned into this final feature. I want our community to be part of this journey and help bring this vision to life.
If you've ever believed in Cleveland as a place where real stories, real fighters, and real filmmaking can happen, this film is for you.
Every dollar pledged goes directly into the production of Demon Hunters—helping support our cast and crew while funding wardrobe, permits, locations, craft services, prosthetics, props, stunt equipment, wire work, and visual effects. I will not take a director's fee or receive any personal payment from this crowdfunding campaign. This is about finishing one final film and creating something our entire community can be proud of.
For fans of Blade, Demon Hunters is a supernatural martial arts action film featuring an elite team battling demons through intense hand-to-hand combat and practical creature effects.
Synopsis: When an ancient evil rises in Cleveland, a hardened team of demon hunters must battle through supernatural violence, betrayal, and relentless chaos to stop it before the city is consumed. Blending martial arts, practical effects, and action-horror spectacle, Demon Hunters is a high-energy genre film with a deeply personal final chapter.
This film is no longer just an idea. The script is locked, our locations are secured, and our fight team is already preparing the action. We're inviting our community to help us finish this final feature with the scale, safety, and production value it deserves.
For me, Demon Hunters is deeply personal. It represents nearly three decades of building action sequences from the ground up, designing wire work, choreographing fights, solving production challenges, and creating ambitious genre films with real people, real locations, and relentless determination. As my final feature, this project is both the culmination of my career and a chance to leave behind one last film that reflects everything I've learned and everything I love about independent filmmaking.
This project is deeply rooted in Cleveland. I've spent years building relationships here, developing local talent, and proving that ambitious genre filmmaking can happen in this city through discipline, creativity, and collaboration. Our team reflects that same commitment—experienced collaborators, dedicated local artists, and production partners working together to create a film our community can be proud of.
We've already secured a significant portion of the production through our owned equipment, post-production facilities, sponsorships, and technical resources. That means your pledge goes directly toward what audiences will see on screen: supporting our cast and crew, creature makeup, wardrobe, props, weapons, locations, set design, craft services, and the two dedicated set medics who will help keep everyone safe throughout production.
This isn't a campaign built on "what if." Production is already underway. We're inviting you to become part of the final step—helping us bring Demon Hunters to life with the quality, safety, and ambition it deserves. By backing this film, you're supporting Cleveland artists, independent filmmaking, and one final feature from a filmmaker who has spent nearly three decades proving that big ideas can be brought to life through passion, perseverance, and community.
🛡️ THE POWERHOUSE ADVANTAGE: OVER 74% PRE-SECURED
Most indie projects spend most of their budget just getting cameras, gear, and post-production tools in place. We’ve already covered a major portion of that foundation through owned assets and local production support.
Our secured infrastructure includes:
- Professional production and post-production spaces.
- In-house editing, color, VFX, sound, and DCP finishing.
- Owned rain machines and water delivery rigs for storm sequences.
- High-risk stunt insurance and safety mats.
- That means the campaign funds are focused on the elements that appear on screen and support the people making them: performance, makeup effects, wardrobe, set pieces, locations, catering, and on-set safety.
💰 WHERE YOUR SUPPORT GOES
Your support helps bring the movie to life in the ways audiences will actually feel and see:
- Cast and crew support, including local performers and stunt talent. (not me, I will not get any of these)
- Practical monster makeup, prosthetics, and creature effects.
- Catering and on-set safety, including two dedicated medics.
- Wardrobe, weapons, and hero props for the action sequences.
- Set design, breakaway elements, and location access.
Join the hunter squad. Support our final curtain call, and let's make Ohio independent action history together!
⚡ EXPERIENCED EXECUTION WITH ZERO PRODUCTION RISK
Every independent film carries risks, but Demon Hunters is built on a strong production foundation. Our core infrastructure is already in place through owned assets and regional production support, including post-production suites, safety mats, rain machinery, and secured gear and studio resources.
Because this is a tightly coordinated 3-week shoot with martial arts choreography and aerial wire work, safety is a top priority. Our fight team is preparing the action in advance, and we will have two dedicated medical personnel on set throughout production.
We also have a fully controlled post pipeline, including editing, color, VFX, sound, and DCP mastering, which gives us a clear path from production to final delivery. Our composer Aryavata Kumar will lead a team of others to help score the film.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast, Crew & SFX Artist Wages
Costs $5,000
Directly compensates our skilled Ohio cast, stunt performers, technical crew, and 2 SFX makeup artists fairly
Demons SFX Makeup & Prosthetic Materials
Costs $3,500
Purchases premium silicone creature masks, custom contact lenses, and practical blood to build scary monsters
Cast & Crew Daily Location Catering
Costs $5,500
Based on our last film, this provides hot, substantial catering to fuel high-energy martial artists over a grueling 3-week rain shoot.
Custom Action Weapons & Physical Set Pieces
Costs $1,800
Order or Create hero props, modified firearms, and breakable environment zones for fight scenes.
Wardrobe & Demon Costume Assets
Costs $2,500
Sourcing multi-layered combat outfits and custom costume pieces so our cast looks visually authentic and cinematic on camera.
Physical Atmospheric Set Design Builds
Costs $4,000
Raw materials, structural framing, and breakable environment zones required by our stunt choreographers to build safe combat sets
Secured Physical Filming Location Fees
Costs $3,000
Lock down specialized, atmospheric physical spaces needed across our 3-week physical production cycle for climactic action environments
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
⚔️ THE HUNTING SQUAD: MEET OUR CLEVELAND CREW & CAST
A film is only as strong as the army behind it. For my final feature-length milestone, we have gathered a powerhouse coalition of the absolute finest independent filmmakers, stunt specialists, and actors the Midwest has to offer [local].
Our elite technical crew and production leadership includes:
* 🎬 **The Production Core:** Scollard Reinhardt, Deneen Griffin, Mary Corbett, Raymond Elkin, Seamus Leahy, Ron George, Siu Yan Scott, Wayne Wong, and Pauline Nowakowski leading logistics and administrative execution.
* 🎥 **Cinematography:** Headed up by our brilliant Director of Photography, Shawn Adams.
* 🛡️ **Stunts & Logistics:** Keith Collins, John Dannug, and world-class movement specialist Yuri Marmerstein mapping out our high-intensity wire framework.
Our fierce on-screen cast bringing the combat to life features:
* 🎭 **Leads & Supporting Cast:** James Gappy Barney, Kyle Znamenak, Vernard Adams, James Bellanca, Chad Critelli, Angel R. Reed, Rosy Hong, and Albert Hehr IV.
🌟 THE EXTENDED COALITION (MORE NAMES JOINING DAILY!)
This project is an absolute movement powered by an extensive network of additional background actors, makeup assistants, stunt performers, and local technicians who make up the backbone of our 3-week physical production set [local].
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
🎬 JOHNNY K. WU'S FINAL INDIE ACTION MONSTER EPIC
We're now over 61% funded! Thank you to everyone who has pledged and shared our campaign. If you're not ready to pledge today, please click "Follow" on our Seed&Spark page. It's free, helps build momentum, and keeps you updated as we share behind-the-scenes content, production updates, and our progress toward bringing Demon Hunters to life.
Pledges are only released after a successful campaign, so every pledge brings us one step closer to unlocking the production funds needed to bring this film to life.
I’ve been making martial arts and action films in Cleveland for more than two decades—training local fighters, creating opportunities, and building a community of people who believe in genre cinema made right here at home.
Demon Hunters is my final feature film and the story I've always wanted to tell: a love letter to Cleveland, to martial arts, and to the Chinese cinema that inspired me. It represents nearly three decades of passion, perseverance, and the people who helped shape my journey.
This is a story about legacy—honoring the teachers who guided me, the crews who stood beside me, the fighters who brought my visions to life, and the next generation of Cleveland filmmakers who deserve to see themselves represented on screen.
At a time when so many local stories are overlooked, I want to prove that Cleveland can create a bold, supernatural action epic without leaving our own backyard. We have the talent, the passion, and the stories worth telling.
Many of our cast and crew have volunteered their time because they believe in this project and in independent filmmaking. Your pledge helps give them the resources they deserve to create something special.
As I step back from directing, I'm pouring everything I've learned into this final feature. I want our community to be part of this journey and help bring this vision to life.
If you've ever believed in Cleveland as a place where real stories, real fighters, and real filmmaking can happen, this film is for you.
Every dollar pledged goes directly into the production of Demon Hunters—helping support our cast and crew while funding wardrobe, permits, locations, craft services, prosthetics, props, stunt equipment, wire work, and visual effects. I will not take a director's fee or receive any personal payment from this crowdfunding campaign. This is about finishing one final film and creating something our entire community can be proud of.
For fans of Blade, Demon Hunters is a supernatural martial arts action film featuring an elite team battling demons through intense hand-to-hand combat and practical creature effects.
Synopsis: When an ancient evil rises in Cleveland, a hardened team of demon hunters must battle through supernatural violence, betrayal, and relentless chaos to stop it before the city is consumed. Blending martial arts, practical effects, and action-horror spectacle, Demon Hunters is a high-energy genre film with a deeply personal final chapter.
This film is no longer just an idea. The script is locked, our locations are secured, and our fight team is already preparing the action. We're inviting our community to help us finish this final feature with the scale, safety, and production value it deserves.
For me, Demon Hunters is deeply personal. It represents nearly three decades of building action sequences from the ground up, designing wire work, choreographing fights, solving production challenges, and creating ambitious genre films with real people, real locations, and relentless determination. As my final feature, this project is both the culmination of my career and a chance to leave behind one last film that reflects everything I've learned and everything I love about independent filmmaking.
This project is deeply rooted in Cleveland. I've spent years building relationships here, developing local talent, and proving that ambitious genre filmmaking can happen in this city through discipline, creativity, and collaboration. Our team reflects that same commitment—experienced collaborators, dedicated local artists, and production partners working together to create a film our community can be proud of.
We've already secured a significant portion of the production through our owned equipment, post-production facilities, sponsorships, and technical resources. That means your pledge goes directly toward what audiences will see on screen: supporting our cast and crew, creature makeup, wardrobe, props, weapons, locations, set design, craft services, and the two dedicated set medics who will help keep everyone safe throughout production.
This isn't a campaign built on "what if." Production is already underway. We're inviting you to become part of the final step—helping us bring Demon Hunters to life with the quality, safety, and ambition it deserves. By backing this film, you're supporting Cleveland artists, independent filmmaking, and one final feature from a filmmaker who has spent nearly three decades proving that big ideas can be brought to life through passion, perseverance, and community.
🛡️ THE POWERHOUSE ADVANTAGE: OVER 74% PRE-SECURED
Most indie projects spend most of their budget just getting cameras, gear, and post-production tools in place. We’ve already covered a major portion of that foundation through owned assets and local production support.
Our secured infrastructure includes:
- Professional production and post-production spaces.
- In-house editing, color, VFX, sound, and DCP finishing.
- Owned rain machines and water delivery rigs for storm sequences.
- High-risk stunt insurance and safety mats.
- That means the campaign funds are focused on the elements that appear on screen and support the people making them: performance, makeup effects, wardrobe, set pieces, locations, catering, and on-set safety.
💰 WHERE YOUR SUPPORT GOES
Your support helps bring the movie to life in the ways audiences will actually feel and see:
- Cast and crew support, including local performers and stunt talent. (not me, I will not get any of these)
- Practical monster makeup, prosthetics, and creature effects.
- Catering and on-set safety, including two dedicated medics.
- Wardrobe, weapons, and hero props for the action sequences.
- Set design, breakaway elements, and location access.
Join the hunter squad. Support our final curtain call, and let's make Ohio independent action history together!
⚡ EXPERIENCED EXECUTION WITH ZERO PRODUCTION RISK
Every independent film carries risks, but Demon Hunters is built on a strong production foundation. Our core infrastructure is already in place through owned assets and regional production support, including post-production suites, safety mats, rain machinery, and secured gear and studio resources.
Because this is a tightly coordinated 3-week shoot with martial arts choreography and aerial wire work, safety is a top priority. Our fight team is preparing the action in advance, and we will have two dedicated medical personnel on set throughout production.
We also have a fully controlled post pipeline, including editing, color, VFX, sound, and DCP mastering, which gives us a clear path from production to final delivery. Our composer Aryavata Kumar will lead a team of others to help score the film.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast, Crew & SFX Artist Wages
Costs $5,000
Directly compensates our skilled Ohio cast, stunt performers, technical crew, and 2 SFX makeup artists fairly
Demons SFX Makeup & Prosthetic Materials
Costs $3,500
Purchases premium silicone creature masks, custom contact lenses, and practical blood to build scary monsters
Cast & Crew Daily Location Catering
Costs $5,500
Based on our last film, this provides hot, substantial catering to fuel high-energy martial artists over a grueling 3-week rain shoot.
Custom Action Weapons & Physical Set Pieces
Costs $1,800
Order or Create hero props, modified firearms, and breakable environment zones for fight scenes.
Wardrobe & Demon Costume Assets
Costs $2,500
Sourcing multi-layered combat outfits and custom costume pieces so our cast looks visually authentic and cinematic on camera.
Physical Atmospheric Set Design Builds
Costs $4,000
Raw materials, structural framing, and breakable environment zones required by our stunt choreographers to build safe combat sets
Secured Physical Filming Location Fees
Costs $3,000
Lock down specialized, atmospheric physical spaces needed across our 3-week physical production cycle for climactic action environments
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
⚔️ THE HUNTING SQUAD: MEET OUR CLEVELAND CREW & CAST
A film is only as strong as the army behind it. For my final feature-length milestone, we have gathered a powerhouse coalition of the absolute finest independent filmmakers, stunt specialists, and actors the Midwest has to offer [local].
Our elite technical crew and production leadership includes:
* 🎬 **The Production Core:** Scollard Reinhardt, Deneen Griffin, Mary Corbett, Raymond Elkin, Seamus Leahy, Ron George, Siu Yan Scott, Wayne Wong, and Pauline Nowakowski leading logistics and administrative execution.
* 🎥 **Cinematography:** Headed up by our brilliant Director of Photography, Shawn Adams.
* 🛡️ **Stunts & Logistics:** Keith Collins, John Dannug, and world-class movement specialist Yuri Marmerstein mapping out our high-intensity wire framework.
Our fierce on-screen cast bringing the combat to life features:
* 🎭 **Leads & Supporting Cast:** James Gappy Barney, Kyle Znamenak, Vernard Adams, James Bellanca, Chad Critelli, Angel R. Reed, Rosy Hong, and Albert Hehr IV.
🌟 THE EXTENDED COALITION (MORE NAMES JOINING DAILY!)
This project is an absolute movement powered by an extensive network of additional background actors, makeup assistants, stunt performers, and local technicians who make up the backbone of our 3-week physical production set [local].