TCFF Spotlight: Attack of the Tattie-Bogle
Over the course of 11 days, October 18-28, film fans and filmmakers from across the country will descend upon the ShowPlace ICON Theatre at the Shops at West End in St. Louis Park for the 2017 Twin Cities Film Fest.
More than 120 films – including features, shorts, animation and documentaries – will screen over the course of the festival. In addition, a large number of directors, producers, and actors will walk the red carpet, present their films, attend the mixers and chat with fans about their work.
Over the course of TCFF 2017, we’ll be chatting with some of those filmmakers and stars to find out more about what they’re bringing to the TCFF screens.
Film: Attack of the Tattie-Bogle
Showtime: 8:15 p.m., Friday, Oct. 27
Information/tickets: http://twincitiesfilmfest.org/films/attack-of-the-tattie-bogle/
Given its October time frame, over the last few years the Twin Cities Film Fest has become a haven for horror films – particularly independent horror films – to make their world, or at least Midwest, premieres. 2017 is no different, with the Minnesota and Wisconsin-shot “Attack of the Tattie-Bogle” making its debut this weekend. Before that, though, director/writer/producer/actor Pete Marcy took some time to chat about the film.
Q: Tell us about “Attack of the Tattie-Bogle.”
“Attack of the Tattie-Bogle” has a simple premise you’ve heard before: A group of friends gather at a cabin in remote Wisconsin. They are attacked. Horror ensues. It is an ultra-low-budget movie that was shot on MiniDV in Minnesota and Wisconsin 10 years ago and only completed earlier this year.
Q: Where has the film screened and what has the audience reaction been like so far?
The Twin Cities Film Fest screening will be its world premiere.
Q: What was the inspiration for the film?
My friends and I wanted to shoot something quick and dirty to keep momentum going after our first feature Firefly had a festival run from 2005-2007. We had been kicking around an idea about a deranged killer that was based on a story our parents told us when we were kids. That story was ultimately abandoned but elements of it, including the mask design, were used in Tattie-Bogle.
Q: Horror can be a very tricky genre in terms of making it feel new and original (not to mention it being a crowded market place). What kind of things did you do to make sure your film stands out from the pack?
Despite the tired premise, the movie is unique. I told the story honestly and didn’t try to emulate other slasher movies. The characters are not horror movie archetypes. They are not hip. They are not even likable in many cases. There’s no nudity. The movie doesn’t rely on jump scares. It’s violent but not overly slick about it. The way everything plays out, from the characters’ decisions to the survival outcomes, is unconventional.
Q: What was it that drew you to Twin Cities Film Fest?
I finished the movie in June and was immediately able to submit it to this year’s festival, so the timing was right. The large cast is mostly based in the Twin Cities, and having the world premiere at ShowPlace ICON, one of the best theaters in town, was appealing. But mostly it was the quality of the films screened in previous years and the fest’s dedication to American independent cinema that drew me to the Twin Cities Film Fest.
Q: If someone is only going to see one or two films at the Twin Cities Film Fest, why should “Attack of the Tattie-Bogle” be one of them?
Because you should watch a horror movie on the Friday night before Halloween. “Attack of the Tattie-Bogle” is built for a film festival like this. It is Minnesota-made, totally independent, self-financed for $3,000. It might inspire you to create something right now, using the resources you have. It is low budget, but not cheap. A lot of work went into it. At 60 minutes, it moves along at a fast clip. You can have dinner beforehand and even squeeze in that second movie later that evening.