Louisiana filmmaker fundraising for horror film with urban contemporary twist

“Wicked Weave” is a project that has been 20 years in the making for filmmaker, director and writer Lena Claybon of Grambling. She is a 20-year veteran of the entertainment industry who worked as a commercial writer-producer in the creative services department at KALB TV Channel 5 in Alexandria in the 1980s.

“I wrote it many years ago and had tried to get it going at that time and had gotten some interest in it,” said Claybon of the movie. “Little by little, the producers fell out, the investors fell out. Things were always coming up.”

So she put it on the shelf and eventually forgot about it until recently when a friend talked her into picking it up again.

The movie is a a throwback to the B-movie, killer/horror films of the past but with an urban contemporary twist, said Claybon.

“There’s this kind of black-market business going on in South Central L.A.,” said Claybon about the movie’s premise. “This hair cosmetologist that works at the funeral home is cutting off the heads of the deceased and selling the hair to local hair stores in the area and she’s able to undercut their costs.”

The main character of the movie is a reporter who goes to her salon to get a weave.

“She doesn’t know that she’s getting the hair that belonged to another young lady who had recently been killed by her ex-boyfriend,” said Claybon.

The spirit of the deceased woman comes back to possess the main character through her hair to get her to carry out revenge on the ex-boyfriend.

“I wanted to pay homage to the old, Hollywood killer/chiller movies but without the campiness,” Claybon is quoted in a press release.

Wicked Weave Productions, LLC launched an Indiegogo campaign raise funding for "Wicked Weave.” They are also talking to investors as well.

Depending on the contribution amount, a supporter will get a digital copy of the movie for $20. A platinum supporter who donates $100 will get digital copies of the movie poster and movie and a “thank you” credit in the end credits. For $500, donors will get a digital copy of the movie poster, an exclusive movie preview and co-producer credit in the film credits. Those who donate $1,000 will get an exclusive digital movie preview and a cameo role in the movie with dialog. Donors who give $5,000 will get a digital copy of the movie poster, an exclusive preview of the digital movie, executive producer credit and an invitation to the set to meet the crew and cast.

There are various donation amounts with other perks listed on the Indiegogo campaign.

“I decided this time if I was going to do it, I wasn’t going to wait on investors or producers or anybody else. I was going to do it myself and just put together a team to raise the money. So that’s why we’re now doing this crowdfunding-type thing," said Claybon. “We’re trying to get supporters to help us out by raising the money for the film."

Those interested can also reach Claybon by messaging her through Facebook or emailing her at lwclaybon@gmail.com.

Claybon sent a synopsis to her friend Alexandria hairstylist, makeup artist, actor and playwright Dan Forest who is attached to the project as a co-producer and is helping with fundraising.

“It’s clever. It’s new. And it just sounds really, really good,” Forest said of “Wicked Weave.”

He describes the movie as “wholesome” and “funny.”

“It’s a horror film but there are going to be comedic moments,” he said, adding that there is no graphic violence or gore.

Forest first met Claybon in 2012 when he auditioned for a part in a sitcom pilot called “The Devon Taylor Show” that she had written and wanted to cast him in the role he for which he auditioned. With "Wicked Weave," he hopes to physically help in some capacity whether it’s as an actor or in hair and makeup.

Claybon said they plan to film in parts of North Louisiana and in the Shreveport where Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson just bought a studio and plans to open in April.

“We’re hoping to get some of the studio space there to be able to shoot some of the scenes,” she said.

They also hope to hire all film crew members from Louisiana.

"There are some in the Shreveport area but we may be able to pull some people from other areas as well,” she said.

Because of the low budget they’ll have, they’ll probably end up casting a lot of unknowns in the roles.

“We’re still in the process of casting. We haven’t even started the process yet. We’re looking at some name talent but if we can’t get them, it may be a cast with up-and-coming actors,” she said.

Claybon graduated from Grambling State University where she majored in journalism.

“I decided early on that I didn’t like the hard news writing. I was more creative so I ended up being the advertising copywriter for the campus paper,” she said.

She attended an advertising design school for copy writing in Atlanta then came to Alexandria to work for KALB TV.

“Going from there, from being around cameras all day, is what gave me the bug to want to do long form TV and film,” she said.

She eventually made her way to Los Angeles where learned screen and sitcom writing and networked her way into working on projects in the industry. She has written and produced everything from short films to sitcoms to reality TV to court TV.

“But this will be my first film that I produce and direct,” she said.

Claybon also want to leave a positive message with people “over a certain age.” They shouldn’t let go of their dreams.

“I wanted to be an inspiration for people who are over a certain age who think that because they are a certain age, ‘I can’t pursue my dreams.’ That’s not true. I think people at any age, as long as you’re breathing, you can pursue your dreams,” she said.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Louisiana filmmaker fundraising for horror film with urban contemporary twist