By MICHAEL GINGOLD
The documentary about the regional monster movie that never managed to crawl to the screen has its first showing this month.
SNAPPER, which was written, directed and produced by John Campopiano (UNEARTHED AND UNTOLD: THE PATH TO “PET SEMATARY”), will have its world premiere as part of the virtual HorrorHound Weekend, which takes place March 19-21. It tells the story of the same-titled killer-snapping-turtle movie that Massachusetts filmmakers Mark Veau and Mike Savino attempted to mount in the late 1980s, going as far as creating practical creature mockups and shooting a trailer, but that never made it to completion. “It feels great that my latest project will be premiering this month,” Campopiano, pictured above with one of SNAPPER’s remaining miniature molds, tells RUE MORGUE. “My hope is that people will connect with the story, which, as it turned out, is not just about a man-eating snapping turtle but also about the creative partnerships and friendships that so many of us form over the years. I think stories like SNAPPER are worth telling because they showcase an oft-forgotten or lost side of filmmaking, which is the struggle to actually get a movie made, let alone sold and distributed. I’m happy to have cast a tiny light on a regional story from here in New England with this short. We are, after all, a region that’s no stranger to monsters lurking in our woods or in our waters!
“The last 14 months of working on SNAPPER have been a fairly intense ride,” he continues, “but in the end I’m so happy with how it turned out. The film wouldn’t be what it is without my friend/editor/colorist extraordinaire, David Bigelow. David helped me bring a sophistication to the short and provided his invaluable insight, which I’m convinced has made it a better film.”
You can read more about SNAPPER here and here.
