Arts Planner: This Columbia filmmaker wants to make you jump

Homegrown scary movies

Someone who doesn’t scare easily, like Columbia filmmaker Tommy Faircloth, is ideally suited to make scary movies.

“I grew up in the ’80s and my favorite films the were ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ films,” Faircloth said. “It cracked me up the way people would jump during the films.”

He said he saw “Jaws” when he was around 4 years old. With no shark-induced flinching.

As an adult, unafraid and armed with a media arts degree from the University of South Carolina, Faircloth jumped into the film industry. He made his first movie, a slasher parody called “Crinoline Head,” in 1995 while he was still a student.

He’s since made four additional films, all shot at least partially in Columbia. “Dollface” (originally called “Dorchester’s Revenge”), a 2014 sequel to “Crinoline Head,” recently came out on DVD. In the movie, a group of college students decide to make a documentary on the infamous killer Crinoline Head but get more than they bargained for when they return to the scene of his horrific murders. [Insert sorority girl scream here.] In the opening shot of the trailer (with this story at thestate.com), you’ll notice McMaster College, where the class scenes were shot. Most of the slashing, however, goes down in a location outside Charleston.

Faircloth said he prefers making films in and around Columbia, rather than going the L.A., New York City, or even Atlanta route common for many filmmakers.

“Everyone is doing movies there,” he said. “You can shoot movies a lot cheaper here. You can have a life. I like shooting movies where I’m from.”

His latest project, “Family Possessions,” was shot mostly in Greenville, North Carolina, but includes several scenes shot at the old asylum on Bull Street.

“It’s the the biggest, longest project I’ve ever done,” he said of the feature film.

Faircloth recruited Mark Patton and Felissa Rose, two of his horror movie idols, to star in the film.

He also included plenty of what he calls “jump scares,” which are sure to get audiences’ heart rates up.

The film is done shooting but probably won’t be finished until October, Faircloth said.

Then it’ll be time for some laughs – on his part anyway.

“I can’t wait to sit in the back of the theater and watch people jump at my movie,” he said.

If, like Faircloth, you can’t get enough of the horror genre, check out the festival he co-founded, the Crimson Screen Film Fest, set this year for May 13-15 in North Charleston. www.CrimsonScreenFilmFest.com

OTHER ARTS EVENTS AROUND TOWN

State Street First Friday Art Crawl

The State Street First Friday Art Crawl is a new venture put together by shop owners on State Street that features a revolving lineup of art, music, food and drink. This week there’s a new exhibit on view at Frame of Mind and a jewelry showcase at Gallery West.

6-8 p.m. Friday on State Street in West Columbia. Free.

Famously Hot Scavenger Hunt

What better way to get to know Columbia better than with a citywide scavenger hunt? On Saturday, interested teams should meet at 10 a.m. at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center Visitor’s Center to receive their first clue. From there, they will go to each of the subsequent stops, earning more clues along the way. Teams must take a picture at each location and post it on social media, using the appropriate tags and hashtags to qualify for prizes, like a $100 gift certificate to Motor Supply Co. Bistro, suite tickets to a Fireflies game, gift certificates for one-hour massages at Fuse Massage Therapy, tickets to Riverbanks Zoo and more.

Teams of four can register for free at www.eventbrite.com/e/famously-hot-scavenger-hunt-tickets-9540398589.

East to West with some jazz in the middle

Guitar Muse Society presents “From the East to the West with some Jazz in the middle,” an evening of Mediterranean dining and music by nationally and internationally recognized artists. The concert will feature a large variety of multicultural music for guitar, flute, oud (Arabian lute) and violin. Performers are Amos Hoffman, Marina Alexandra, Teri Forsher-Milter, Rod Lewis and Devin Sherman.

6 p.m. Saturday at Al-Amir Mediterranean restaurant, 1734 Main St. $30 (includes dinner). No tickets will be available at the door on the night of the show. www.GuitarMuseSC.com.

“Crimes of the Heart”

On Stage Productions presents this Pulitzer Prize-Winning comedic play by Beth Henley. Set in the small town of Hazlehurst, Mississippi in 1974, “Crimes of the Heart” follows three sisters as they come together in the midst of a very bad day. The play received the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and three Tony Award nominations.

Through May 8 at On Stage Productions, 680 Cherokee Lane, West Columbia. $17; discounts available. www.onstagesc.com

This story was originally published April 29, 2016 at 8:41 AM with the headline "Arts Planner: This Columbia filmmaker wants to make you jump."