Writer-producer Marc Bernardin returns to the director’s chair with Deepest, Darkest, in which he leads a nerdy collective of creatives of color who make a horror anthology about keeping secrets.
The genre showcase, which will launch a crowdfunding campaign on Aug. 27, will feature appearances from “Ghostbusters” star Ernie Hudson, “Futurama” star Phil LaMarr, “American Gods” star Yetid Badaki, “Quantum Leap” star Raymond Lee and co-star Caitlin Bassett, among others.
WGA Award winner and Eisner Award nominee Bernardin produced the project in collaboration with actress Tiffany Smith, who appeared in his directorial debut, Splinter, which was also launched on Kickstarter and became a festival hit, winning multiple awards.
Akela Cooper, co-writer of the horror hit M3GAN and who has also worked on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Luke Cage, serves as executive producer on Deepest Darkest.
“Many of my friends share the same experiences as me as people of color who fall in love with worlds and genres that don’t necessarily make room for us,” Bernardin said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “So we decided to become punk rock and form a band. For a bit. My experience with my directorial debut on Splinter was transformative for me, and I wanted to create a platform that could help my peers be transformative as well.”
These include The Walking Dead and Turn: Washington Spies writer LaToya Morgan, Quantum Leap and The Flash’s Derrick A. Hughes and Benjamin Raab, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow editor-in-chief and writer Ubah Mohammed, Star Wars: A Young Jedi co-creator and Black Lightning writer Lamont McGee, Insecure actress Sujata Dey, and The Great North and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver writer Kevin Avery. All of them will be behind the camera, some for the first time. Day and Avery will also be playing in front of it for their segments.
The stories span a variety of genres, from horror and suspense to dark comedy and edgy sci-fi, and each revolves around that most human of impulses: keeping a secret.
“The idea for Deepest, Darkest was born over a casual brunch one day and it was a no-brainer,” says Smith, who will serve as the central and unifying force behind the anthology. “To create a project in a genre that we would want to see, featuring some of the most talented writers and creatives in the industry who also happen to be good friends. That’s the dream!”
We hope that the Kickstarter campaign will raise enough funds to cover core production costs, and if successful, post-production will also be covered.
“Kickstarter is always a gamble,” Bernardin said, “but we believe there are fans out there who celebrate a cinematic collection of short stories that aims to thrill and scare and provoke, and the voices of people who don’t often get to be at the center of these stories.”
Producers on the project are Rachel Walker, Carrie Finn and Kyle Smithers.
Check out the featured poster below:
“Deepest Darkest” poster courtesy of Marc Bernardin
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