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Where it all beganIn the middle of trying to wrap up post-production on Fear of the Dark I got this crazy idea to shoot a video short to enter into the Putnam County Film and Video Festival. We finished it in record time and made the entry deadline. All material on this page is courtesy of the authors and is protected by copyright.
Putnam County Film & Video Festival (October 7, 2001) Writer/Director Glen Baisley accepts an award for The Family Tree from festival coordinator Maryann Arrien.
Reprinted here is an article that appeared in both the Beacon Free Press and the Southern Dutchess News. Fishkill film focus is troubled ‘Family Tree’ By John Darcy (August 2001)
But it was all in the name of creativity as filmmaker Glen Baisley of Putnam Valley, actor Anthony Eikner of Fishkill and various cast members rehearsed and shot scenes at Eikner’s home at 36 Sunrise Hill Road. The 15-minute short will have its first viewing at the Putnam County Film and Video Festival in October, Baisley said. The filmmaker’s previous effort, a psychological thriller called “Fear of the Dark,” is also set to make its debut at the Putnam festival. “The Family Tree” revolves around local resident Eikner in the lead role as a distraught man contemplating suicide in a basement apartment. The dramatic role – Eikner’s first – is not really a stretch; he is well-schooled in the in the art of moviemaking, having earned degrees from the Institute of Studio Makeup in Hollywood. He has also written five film features and three shorts. “Also, the dark appeal of “The Family Tree” is in keeping with his affinity for films that go bump in the night. “Since I was little, all I can remember is loving horror movies,” he said. “I remember staying up late to watch ‘Dark Shadows’ and ‘Twilight Zone’ and any kind of monster film. I was always playing with those Halloween makeup kits, doing scars and cuts and monster faces. I took classes at Dutchess Community College so I could show what I do, which is to throw blood around on film.” He adopted the moniker “Dr. Death” and his email address is DocDeath00@yahoo.com. Eikner, 33, has worked as makeup artist and special effects artist on a number of theatrical and video productions. He’s also served as camera operator and lighting technician, director’s assistant, sound man and props maker. He is a 1986 graduate of John Jay High School. Director/producer Baisley said “The Family Tree” is both timeless and reflective of today’s society. “The message I hope people will interpret is that we a society must take responsibility for our actions and the way we raise our children. We shouldn’t be so quick to blame the media. The root of all evil starts at the family tree,” he said. Filming largely at Eikner’s Fishkill home, the piece also features local actors Vicky Cooper of Wappingers Falls and Herb Smithline of Hyde Park. Rounding out the cast are Richard Redmond, Carol DiMarsico, Mike Lane, Danielle Russo, Erica Gregory, Christopher and Nicholas Spinozzi, Doug Archer and twins Mariah and Yakira Nichols. Baisley said further information and the film and other projects is available at his production company’s web site at www.LightandDark.net. He said he is also interested to establishing a Hudson Valley film group that would allow filmmakers, actors and others from Dutchess and Putnam “to network together and to exchange ideas.”
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