Attention Happy Campers

Bloody Summer Camp 2: Red Horizon is a horror film from Slasher 15 Productions, directed by Dave Kerr. Set ten years after the original, it follows a new owner reopening the camp with a fresh group of counselors—and a few familiar faces from the first film.

The original Bloody Summer Camp is streaming free on Tubi. If you like ’80s slashers, I highly recommend it. For an indie production, it’s incredibly well made, a lot of fun and, dare I say… VIOLENT.

Dave recently announced that he signed a distribution deal for Bloody Summer Camp 2. The movie is being distributed by Desktop Entertainment, but the movie should be available within the next few months, and I couldn’t be more excited.

A few years have passed since we shot the film, and I finally feel ready to talk about my experience—spoiler-free, of course.

Before I begin, I want to recommend something to every actor reading this: journal each day you spend on set. It may seem daunting after working long hours, but you’ll be grateful you did it. I use an app called Day One, which lets me attach photos and videos to my entries. Those journals have become priceless to me.

To tell this story, we have to go faaaaar back—to a Facebook post far, far away…

Around December 15, 2023, I came across a casting notice in a local DMV filmmaking group. It was for a feature shooting in Virginia, and get this:

IT WAS PAID!

WHAT?!

A local independent film—not shooting in New York, Hollywood or Atlanta—but right in my neck of the woods, and it was paying its actors?

I looked through the available roles and found Derek. According to the casting notice, Derek was in his twenties or early thirties, Sam’s ex, a troublemaker and someone who wasn’t worried about anybody but himself.

I loved it.

He sounded like someone I could really sink my teeth into. I submitted my headshot, résumé and reel, and shortly afterward, I received sides for a self-taped audition.

The first thing that stood out was how well the script was written. It made my job easy. It was one of those scripts that was simply fun to read—the words jumped off the page. Derek immediately gave me Bulk and Skull vibes from Power Rangers.

I began feeling out the character, reciting the lines in different ways and experimenting with a range of emotions. I initially tried anger and intimidation, but it felt forced.

Then it hit me: this guy is a bully. Why not play him like one of cinema’s greatest bullies?

Steele from George A. Romero’s Day of the Dead.

Gary Klar played Steele with such incredible energy. I brought some of that energy to my audition and sent it off.

Normally, once I submit an audition, I try to forget about it. You can drive yourself crazy thinking, Did I get it? Did I not get it?

This time, though, I secretly hoped I had gotten it. I love Friday the 13th, and I had always wanted to play a camp counselor in a slasher movie. Honestly, my window was starting to close. I was getting older, and playing someone in his late teens or early twenties was already becoming a stretch.

A week or two later, I received a response—but they asked me to audition for a different role, the character who eventually became Jimmy. That part ultimately went to Liam Haberman, who did a phenomenal job.

Then, a few months later, I was officially cast as Derek. I was one of the first casting announcements, which was an amazing feeling. Around the same time, I was also cast in a movie called Snarly Yow—but that’s a story for another day.

When I received the complete script, I was delighted by how much fun it was. To be honest, most of the work I needed to do was already there on the page. I spoke with Dave about the character and his expectations, and we quickly realized we were on the same wavelength. We also held read-throughs over Zoom, which helped bring everything together.

There was only one major problem:

We needed to fund the movie.

The production launched an Indiegogo campaign, and I suggested an idea we had previously used to raise money for Phil Herman’s Unearthed: a hot-sauce challenge.

People donated ten or twenty dollars, and Mike McGlynn and I took shots of hot sauce. It was brutal—especially after Mike bought me nearly six shots—but it was also a lot of fun.

I participated from the comfort of my car while taking a friend to his daughter’s graduation. I don’t remember exactly how many shots I took, but it was enough to make me throw up afterward.

Luckily, I had just eaten.

Gross.

But we raised a little money for the movie, and that was what mattered.

Then my grandmother died.

That sucked.

She had been excited to finally see me in something. Between Unearthed, Snarly Yow and Bloody Summer Camp 2, she was tickled to death. Unfortunately, she passed away before any of them were released.

It has now been more than two years, and I still don’t completely know how I feel about it. In many ways, she was like a mother to me. All I could do was give these projects the best work I had and hope I made her proud.

Before filming began, I also had the opportunity to do some uncredited effects work for the movie, which was a blast. I have to take a moment to recognize Amber Fulcher, who handled the effects for this film and the other movies in the Slasher 15 filmosphere.

She rocks.

She also creates some killer effects. You’ll understand exactly what I mean when you see the movie. It's amazingly brutal.

Then someone joined the cast whom I completely fanboyed over:

John Bloom—better known as Joe Bob Briggs.

John built his career reviewing genre movies through his hilarious redneck persona, Joe Bob Briggs. He hosted television programs, wrote numerous books and occasionally appeared in some wonderfully odd movies. Anybody remember Hogzilla?

I first got to know him through MonsterVision on TNT. I tuned in every Friday or Saturday night, depending on where the network moved it. I learned a great deal about movies—and even filmmaking—from watching that show.

When I found out he had been cast as the man running Camp Trustfall, I begged Dave to give me some kind of scene with him.

And he did.

It was brief, but I got to share the screen with someone who had been important to me since childhood. I also had the chance to speak with him. I’m sure he hears it constantly, but I told him how much he meant to me and my career.

I even ate lunch with the dude. He was approachable, caring, cool and completely down-to-earth. Did I mention he was tall?

That experience meant the world to me.

I’ll never forget my first day on set. I got off work and drove five hours to the camp. When I arrived, I met Dave, Mike, Amber and the rest of the Slasher 15 crew. They couldn’t have been nicer.

We shot my first scene, and Dave and I geeked out over horror movies—particularly a little film called Slaughter High. It was a relaxed first day, but an important one. There weren’t many other cast members around, so I had time to settle in and get comfortable.

It was early September, and the night was cool. I slept alone in the bunkhouse, which was kind of spooky—but I loved it. I remember looking at all the names carved into the bunks.

Needless to say, that bunk gained another name that night... not included in the photo... I'm not gonna incriminate myself.

I was only on set for about seven days throughout September, but some of the best days of my life happened there. The crew operated like a well-oiled machine. Everyone worked extremely well together. On many sets, there’s a drama starter or someone constantly motherfucking everybody else. Not this set.

This production was supportive and collaborative. It was an absolute joy to be there. I could speak openly about the work I was doing without feeling uncomfortable, and everyone welcomed new ideas. That was refreshing.

As an improv guy, I was allowed to run free—as long as what I said fit the period and maintained the movie’s ’90s aesthetic. I even got to use my famous “douche dick” line.

One of my favorite days was filming Derek’s monologue. I got to be the guy who tells the story of Camp Red Horizon, formerly known as Camp Trustfall. It was tough. The monologue covered multiple pages of dialogue, but once again, I loved it. It was my John Furey moment from Friday the 13th Part 2. We all sat around the fire, and between takes, we joked and laughed. You could genuinely feel the camaraderie among the cast.

Every actor in this movie was phenomenal, but there were a few people I had the pleasure of working with whom I know are destined for bigger things. Liam was a new up coming actor that nailed his role, even if he did say I looked like a Keebler Elf. Zach Thaler had this Robin Williams energy. He could pull jokes out of thin air that made me envious in the best possible way. I had to stonewall him during one of our scenes, and it was incredibly difficult not to laugh. He would rib me about it, but trust me—I was cracking up on the inside. DeRome Chretien was deeply passionate about the craft, incredibly supportive and just an all-around good dude. I loved our scene together. He kept telling me that a particular long-faced expression I made reminded him of one of his friends. Haritha Pisupati was an amazing talent and a joy to work along side her. She had a great sense of humor regarding our on screen relationship and I am sure there are some bloopers some where. I was really impressed with her and cant wait to see what she does in the future as with anyone else in this movie! I also had the opportunity to work with Felissa Rose, Nathan Baesel and Dave Sheridan. These were people I had watched for years and could only dream of working alongside. Every one of them was kind, approachable, talented and professional.

This production also marked the beginning of my tradition of taking doughnut selfies with the cast and crew.

The film eventually premiered at an Alamo Drafthouse—the first one I had ever visited—and the audience’s response was outstanding. It was fun getting dressed up and revisiting the crew, the actors and even the character close to two years later.

The movie was top notch.

I would love to win a Fangoria Chainsaw Award…

Hint, hint. Wink, wink.

This film set also start my love for on set donut selfies. It started as a joke the last day of shooting but grew into something bigger and funnier, don't know what I mean? Cast me in something, you'll find out. But for now enjoy these donut selfies.

One thing I thought was kinda cool was being able to autograph the posters and blurays and other pieces of memorabilia. These were for the backers that backed the kickstarter (who watches the watchmen?) And even though I've gotten the request before it was still humbling as well as hard to believe anyone would want my signature on anything. Ya know, I really am lucky to be doing this, and as much as I would love to do more of it in different capacities... I am happy with what I've done. Who knows... this might be some ones favorite movie, I may be their favorite character and there is something touching about that. I adore that thought.

I genuinely believe Bloody Summer Camp 2: Red Horizon has the potential to become a new favorite among slasher fans. I can’t wait for everyone to see it, and I’ll share more information as soon as it becomes available to stream or purchase on physical media.

Until then, watch the original Bloody Summer Camp free on Tubi, support independent horror and keep being creative.

Love you all!

Wilby D. AKA Derek.