Writer-producer Marc Bernardin is returning to directing with Deepest, Darkest. He is leading a geekfest of a creators of color making a horror anthology around the theme of keeping secrets.
Ghostbusters icon Ernie Hudson, Phil LaMarr (Futurama), American Gods’ Yetide Badaki, Quantum Leap star Raymond Lee and co-star Caitlin Bassett, among others, will star in the genre showcase, which is launching a crowdfunding campaign Aug. 27.
The WGA Award winner and Eisner-nominated Bernardin created the project with actress Tiffany Smith, who appeared in his directorial debut Splinter. That film also launched on Kickstarter and went on to become a hit on the festival circuit, gathering up several awards.
Akela Cooper, who co-wrote the horror hit M3GAN and worked on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as well as Luke Cage, is executive producing Deepest Darkest.
“So many of my friends have shared the same experience that I have, being a person of color in love with the kinds of worlds and genres that don’t always make room for us,” said Bernardin in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “So we decided to be punk-rock and form a band. Kinda. The experience I had on my directorial debut on Splinter was transformative. And I wanted to create a platform that could also transform the homies.”
Those homies include LaToya Morgan, a writer on The Walking Dead and Turn: Washington’s Spies; Deric A Hughes and Benjamin Raab, who worked Quantum Leap and The Flash; DC’s Legends of Tomorrow executive editor and writer Ubah Mohamed; Star Wars: The Young Jedi Adventure co-creator and Black Lightning writer Lamont Magee; Insecure actress Sujata Day; and Kevin Avery, a writer on The Great North and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. They all will be stepping behind the camera, some for the first time. Day and Avery will also be taking on roles in front of the camera for their segments.
The stories will span a range of genres, from horror and suspense to dark comedy and edgy science fiction, each revolving around that most human of impulses: the keeping of secrets.
“The idea for Deepest, Darkest sprang from a lazy brunch one day, and it felt like a no-brainer,” stated Smith, who will take on the central, unifying role in the anthology. “Creating a genre project we’d want to see, with some of the most talented writers and creatives in the industry attached, who also happen to be great friends? That’s the dream!”
The hope is for the Kickstarter campaign to raise enough for principal production. In success, post-production will be covered as well.
“Kickstarter is always a gamble,” states Bernardin. “But I believe there’s an audience out there that might embrace a collection of cinematic short stories that aim to thrill and scare and provoke, while also celebrating voices who don’t often get to be at the center of narratives like this.”
Producing the project are Rachel Walker, Carrie Finn, and Kyle Smithers.
Check out the poster for the feature below.
Courtesy of Marc Bernardin
