Local writer, filmmaker, and producer PJ Starks said he always wanted to be a visual storyteller, but it wasn’t until eight years after graduating from Owensboro High School that he began working seriously toward his goal.
Three years later, in 2011, he created “Unscripted” at the Daviess County Public Library — a film event that was supported by the library.
The popularity of “Unscripted” led to Starks conceptualizing his 2015 “breakout” film “Volumes of Blood.”
“VOB opened the floodgates,” he said.
In 2016, he co-produced the sequel “VOB: Horror Stories.”
Starks and his producing partner Eric Huskisson have created their own company called Blood Moon Pictures.
“In the past five years, I’ve been very fortunate to make a name for myself in the indie horror scene by producing over 14 different genre films and documentaries,” he said.
Their latest film, the Christmas-themed “13 Slays Till X-Mas” was filmed mostly during the pandemic — and Starks said this was the hardest, yet most rewarding film to date.
“13 Slays Till X-Mas” depicts five strangers who have all received an email invitation to a bar on Christmas Eve. While their meeting seems to begin as a chance encounter, they begin sharing scary stories.
“As each take turns spinning yarns of yuletide terror, it becomes evident they may be harboring a dark and deadly secret,” Starks said.
Along with creatures, demonic possessions and holiday-themed characters, Starks said that artists who worked on it have ties to popular franchises in the genre.
“Jeffrey Reddick, the creator of the ‘Final Destination’ franchise said that the film is ‘A fresh, fun twisted romp…’ and I don’t think it gets much better than that,” Starks said.
Filming and production were primarily in Owensboro and Louisville. Starks said it is important to keep it local and receive local support in order to produce these projects.
“It hasn’t been easy and even now after all our successes, it can still be an uphill battle to get certain people on board to take us seriously,” he said. “Nevertheless, despite all of Owensboro’s faults and issues, it’s because of the people that I have managed to make films since day one.”
Blood Moon Pictures also uses local people for special effects artists, the camera crew, photography, and casts.
While Starks and Huskisson have not decided on their next project, they have things in the works, including a script that Starks wrote “years ago” and a newer one titled “New Fears Eve.”
Said Starks: “Rest assured we’ve got several irons in the fire.”
