*PLEASE NOTE: The following is the "un-edited" version written and submitted by Jason Paul Collum.

by Jason Paul Collum

Let’s begin with a back story. I make movies…B-movies. The kind you see on cable at 2 a.m. Writer. Director. Producer. Occasional actor…though that position is usually by accident. Playing a speechless hooded ghost tearing out the hearts of sexy babes in Hell Asylum or walking on screen – again sans dialogue – to paint a wall with my brains in The Legend Trip doesn’t exactly hone your skills. Working behind the scenes for fifteen hours a day on scads of four day wonders like The Brotherhood, Final Stab, The Frightening, Ancient Evil: Scream of the Mummy, the Bad Movie Police series et al. – that’s what we call b-movie boot camp.

I never went to film school. My talents were formed under the guidance of low-budget vets like David DeCoteau (The Brotherhood) and J.R. Bookwalter (The Dead Next Door). Apologies. We call them “Indies” now. Humph. Oh, and I was a lonely dork until college so I simply submerged my teen years in every cheesy horror film known to man.

I started out making no-budget camcorder flicks in the mid-90s like 5 Dark Souls (watchable) and Mark of the Devil 666 (a big steaming pile). After years of annoying Bookwalter, he finally agreed to put up the cash for my documentary Something To Scream About. It followed the struggles of the industry’s damsels in distress…and earned me a newfound respect from critics and investors thanks to a two year run on Showtime. I was suddenly able to make the film I’d been trying to complete since the late 90s…October Moon.

Talk about hell on earth. The story followed a closet case who falls psychotically hard for his sexy male employer. I landed a few well-known horror vets like Judith O’Dea (Night of the Living Dead) and Brinke Stevens (The Slumber Party Massacre). Then I hired two lesser known but equally talented scare stars Tina Ona Paukstelis (Aswang: The Unearthing) and Jeff Dylan Graham (Dead & Rotting). From there I filled in the blanks with newcomers on both sides of the camera.

At first all was great. Everything fell into place. Locations. Makeup FX and props. Then I housed five gay men, one “straight” fella, and four women for six days…and the drama began. Relationships and friendships dissolved. New romances and kinships emerged. Friends of the cast died…literally. George W. Bush stopped our film shoot for half a day! For real! Snipers on our roof as his motorcade came through Racine…RACINE! Of all the places and times on earth to have Bush shoved in your face. Surreal. I don’t like having Bush in my face.

Chaos continued after the shoot ended. Complete re-edits. Missing footage. Continued relationship hysteria. Missed deadlines. Refusal from theatrical screening venues because the boys-kissing-boys film wasn’t “family friendly.” Say what?! We are in 2006, correct?

At first it seemed the fate of October Moon would be a dim one. Then something happened. Audiences in the few public screenings we snagged loved it…Hooting and hollering. Screaming at the screen. Crying. It was unbelievable. Reviews started coming in. 90% positive! Three and Four stars! Magazine coverage! I was certain I had a hit.

Then DVD arrived and while sales weren’t horrid, they weren’t the phenomenon I’d anticipated. Then I started getting residuals…of course they went to my investor…but they were coming in! In its first five weeks of release the distributor, TempeDVD, had turned a profit. Not bad. Online reviews from fans were good. So I decided to forge ahead with a sequel. “Because the first film had started to head towards profit,” you ask. Nope. I was moving out of my apartment – the main set of the first film – and needed to film there before I couldn’t anymore. That brings us to March 2006, where the life of November Son, (a.k.a. October Moon 2) begins.

The Diary of a New Nightmare….

March 2006
I decide produce November Son against the advice of my dear friend J.R. Bookwalter. He says, “Wait for #1 to make a bigger profit.” I guffaw and simply need to get it done. Sit down to write. I can’t. Sudden writers block from many culprits. My father, whom the closeted “Elliot” character in October Moon was based on, passes away unexpectedly on March 1st. Life goes into disarray. I’m sad, but can’t mourn. How do I grieve for someone I barely know?

April/May 2006
Though I’m still struggling with the treatment, investors come to me offering to finance the film. They loved the original and want to support the arts…especially those by the gay folk. God bless ‘em. Still trying to figure out my father’s estate, or lack there of. Just lots of crack pipes and broken dreams. Not a good place for either of us. Also start getting slapped with daily doses of hate mail from viewers. In an odd turn, online reviews from 12 year olds go from glory to guts. A major back lash ensues. Still unsure why. Too much positive has to be retaliated, I guess.

Shaved my head in frustration and a need for change. Those closest to me know how drastic a move it is…and suspect, perhaps, I’ve cracked just a bit…

June 2006
Finally getting a script going, but simply not in love with it. Stressing because I need to shoot the film by mid-July. I’ve purchased a house with my partner, Mike Isaacson, but can’t move anything out of my apartment until the day after the shoot ends. Start contacting/hiring cast and crew, without a completed script. Then BAM! My dear Grandma Vinnie starts passing away on June 6th. Make that 6.6.06. “Not today.” I beg God, “…of all days…not this one particular day.” He gives me one more. Grandma Vinnie leaves us on June 7th. Thank You for listening.

I officially hire singer Sacha Sacket to be my lead. Scouted him in concert last Fall for my next film. I theorize “If they can hold themselves on stage, they can do the same in front of a camera.” I was right. To my shock and joy, he accepts my offer. He wants to read the script. It’s still not complete. Five weeks away from beginning of filming. The pressure is on.

Mid-June 2006
Hating life. Hating self for feeling a complete loss of creativity. Not feeling a whole lot of emotion in general. Then one day, while foolishly gazing at hate mails and reviews for October Moon (I tend to only focus on the bad ones) I suddenly realize how many positive reviews there really are. How many wonderful e mails and letters I’ve received from fans…some saying I’ve changed their lives. One in particular insists, “…you’ve changed the world, in a tiny way, and made it a better place for the queers.” I kick myself in the ass and discover I should be writing this sequel for those who loved October Moon, not trying to appease those who hated it. Which of the two are going to seek out a sequel? It’s my big “DUH?!?!” moment of the year. Writer’s block instantly gone! I chuck out the old script and complete an entirely new draft in five days. Cast and crew call it “Amazing!” I pat myself on the back.

July 2006
November Son begins production. Still in chaos in bringing the show together. Not feeling as organized as I was on the first film. Something’s different. Foolishly think I’ll film the 118 page script in five days…if David DeCoteau can do it in four days, why can’t I? Lloyd Pedersen hired ten days before shoot begins. Props and locations not ready. Cast still not complete.

Saturday, July 8, 2006
Cast begins to arrive. Almost everyone from the original has returned. Other sequel newbies include Robyn Griggs (One Life To Live), Lloyd Pedersen (Unsolved Mysteries) and scream queen Debbie Rochon (Tromeo & Juliet). First to land is Debbie. I can’t find her at O’Hare. Her plane is three hours late. We roam the airport for another two hours. We’re at different exits…about 300 feet apart. Don’t have each others cell numbers. Still, she’s good spirited. Later, as more arrive and begin to party, Sacha, Brinke, Judith and Lloyd arrive in Milwaukee. They’ve had a chance to bond on their flight from LAX, which is good. Everyone to bed at 2 a.m. Have a 9 a.m. call time.

Sunday – July 9, 2006
Begin our shoot at an actual funeral home. All goes well and on time, but the unplanned extensive travel time eats up two hours. Jerod Howard keeps threatening Sean Michael Lambrecht with “tickle monster” while in the casket. Everyone amused…except Sean.

Have to shoot at lake front. Shirtless roofers nearby nice to look at, but nail guns not friendly with microphone. Wish they’d hammer me instead. Wind also a bitch. Not good for heavy dialogue scenes. Draw a crowd of on lookers.

Move to Bellewether building for office and studio scenes. Early shoot good. Walter Rhone hired to pose full-frontal nude in a scene, but nudity is nixed by the company rep. May not be such a bad thing afterall. Walter still blazing hot in his white thong.

By dinner time at third location, Henry & Wanda’s martini bar -- crew getting tired already. Ultimately a 17 hour day. Co-owner Jeannie Dillon gets Judith drunk, and starts dishing out cocktails to everyone on the house. Good for raising spirits, bad for getting stuff done. Ashley J. Anderson (i.e. A.J.) extremely nervous and it shows, but might work on screen (it does). Enthusiastic extras. Debbie getting hurt with fake knife. It’s not collapsing right, but she waits until she can’t take the pain anymore to say so. Robyn excellent at screaming for first time, with real chops for comedy moments. Have group terror screams for ten takes…cops amazingly never called. Tornadoes comes through the area. I’m more worried about losing power than getting obliterated.

Monday July 10, 2006
Shooting at Club Icon (formerly Club 94 North). Kept A.J. on for an extra day. He’s no longer nervous. He glides through dialogue just fine. Drag Queens Josie Lynn and Chantal excellent at being bitchy to each other and ad lib physical comedy. Chantal decides to adopt a southern accent. Inspired, Sacha gives a sarcastic one back. Crowd goes crazy.

Back to Bellewether. End of night bad. Ultimately a 15 hour day. Frustration starting to rise. Exhaustion results in microphone not hooked up right. Dialogue not captured in final scene of the evening. Cheering everyone up, Judith slyly points out Robyn’s impressive bosom are actors themselves.

I accept we’re not going to finish this film in the next three day.

Tuesday July 11, 2006
Still no basement location for the climax. Decide to use my own at the new house that morning. The film’s villain violently molests A.J. – way more graphic than anticipated – and all the better for it. I’m worried A.J. will be freaked out by it. Turns out it was his favorite scene to shoot. Kinky….

Shooting all day at the Smalkoski estate for mansion scenes. Overstay our welcome by two hours. Some actors start bumping heads. Acting styles not meshing, but when camera rolls they’re 100% on top of their game. (They later figure it out and find new respect for each other.) Get to see Sacha wet and in undies. Also spend time around A.J. shirtless. I enjoy my job more now, but have an even bigger self-image complex than before. A.J. heads home to Green Bay. He will have to return for two additional scenes in September.

Decide to extend everyone’s plane tickets by one day each. Totals $400+ not originally budgeted.

Realize I’m not bonding with my cast and crew as I had on previous films. Take those still conscious at wrap out for cocktails at Ivanhoes. Everyone gets trashed, then carries it back to my apartment. Good, deep conversations take place until 5 a.m. Sun coming up. Everyone heads to bed…some not alone….I go home to Mike like a good boyfriend.

Wednesday July 12, 2006
Day starts off BAD. Arrive to find 25 cans of OFF Bug Spray at location, which is good as skeeters instantly begin eating cast & crew alive.

Microphone is lost. When found in a parking lot 30 minutes away, it’s been run over. I leave D.P. Satterfield to direct soundless scenes while a new mic is found. Eats up 3 hours. Line Producer Jen announces to group my ass was on fire from dinner the day before. I’m not amused.

Wind shifts and suddenly day starts going well. Sacha performs his song “Sweet Suicide” on piano. Those around are speechless. Some actually get teary-eyed.

Take a quick look to approve a fake coffin built for an extensive, if not overdone, graveyard sequence. Upon seeing the coffin it inspires me. Energy courses through my veins for the first time. THIS is what I am used to experiencing! Nix graveyard sequence and design entirely new submerged coffin scene in pond in 90 seconds. Thus far my favorite in the entire film. Submerge myself in pond. The one moment during the entire shoot when I can say we all united as a team 100%. Everyone handles lights and electric so we don’t get zapped. We neglect to inform Brinke of snapping turtles in pond. Oops. Keeps all toes intact, but her aggressive nature in the scene leaves her with cuts and bruises all over her body…and she doesn’t complain. I keep my toes curled while under water.

Another late night talk with cast and crew post-filming. Begin to understand those returning from October Moon were expecting to repeat the same experiences they did two years ago, but life is so different for all of us now. We’ve bought homes, started serious relationships, experienced more life in general. Plus, there are new people in the mix, and two key fellas not present. It simply can’t be the same. I personally feel more “grown up” since then…and undecided if I like it.

Thursday July 13, 2006
Corpses roam sidewalks in my new neighborhood smoking cigarettes and scaring small children - one crashes into a tree. Traffic slows down. Neighbors start staring out doors and windows. Probably should have warned them in advance. Oh well.

Rush Judith’s final scenes and ship her off to airport literally 3 minutes after yelling CUT! She is the lone lead actor who does not have to return in September.

I have a breakdown during additional filming of climax in the basement. It’s too complicated for me to block. Nothing I do is gelling. Actors becoming tense. Cinematographer Jason Satterfield saves my ass with a new plan. Shoots the “Jack Bauer” technique – a term from the show 24. All finally works well. Sacha finds the true intensity of his inner actor. Everyone on set at that moment cries. Afterwards, Sacha discovers bruises on his hip, torso and arms – results of him literally throwing himself into the scene. Everyone walks away with a sincere sense of accomplishment. I physically start to collapse as the night progresses, but not telling anyone. Need to finish as much as possible.

Friday July 14, 2006
Only a scheduled half day and our last until September 18th. Satterfield has to leave for airport by 1 p.m. Has a meeting with Lions Gate for his own film. We have four hours to get the rest of the apartment scenes done. There are five in all.

Day starts off good. Sacha unintentionally performs foot fetish video for the camera. Satterfield and I suggest using it as extra “footage” on DVD as a joke…or do we? Hmm… Everyone gets a chance to soak Sacha’s half-nekkid body with a spritz bottle….and enjoy it. Darcey Vanderhoef (Maggie) perhaps enjoys it most. She won’t give the spritzer bottle back… Time suddenly disappears and we have three scenes left to film in the apartment…the whole reason the movie was being shot at this time. We don’t get them done. Landlord agrees to let us back in – IF no one rents it before we pick up again in September.

Take Sacha out to private dinner where we have excellent conversation and explain techniques between A and B movies, on set frustrations and expectations. Flattered by his devotion to the project. Mike and Sean join us later. I get drunk. Sacha has to drive home.

Offer Sean his paycheck. He won’t accept my money. He did the whole show, including crew work as a gaffer, as a “thank you” for the opportunities he’s experienced. I’m speechless.

Saturday, July 15, 2006
Happy 33rd Birthday To Me. I have to begin moving my entire life over the next two days. Pictures still on walls. Cupboards still filled. Everything as it has been since 2003. In all, six friends and my mother help out and we get out just before midnight the next night.

Move faux coffin into new house at 11 p.m. It looks like we’ve just dug it out of the ground. Neighbors stand in their driveways and watch in horror. Do we tell them what’s going on as we move it into the back yard? Nah… Neighbors still not speaking to us

A.J. and his friend bashed in a parking lot in Green Bay. A.J. knocked unconscious, THEN the thugs start kicking his face in. A.J.’s friend beaten in face and chest as well. A third friend runs for help while a female friend finally throws herself over A.J.’s head to stop the kicking. A.J. has broken jaw wired shut for five weeks. I don’t learn about this until three weeks after the attack. Bashers still not caught. Realize the scenes left to film with A.J. involve him getting bashed in a parking lot. Not sure how to proceed, but A.J. insists he wants to film it. More irony: the pix of him post-bashing in the movie and post-bashing in real life are eerily similar.

End July 2006
Checking account suddenly starts to bounce checks. Positive it should still have several hundred in it - my fault for not checking receipts during production. Bigger meals and unauthorized purchases sucked the money up fast. Forgot to record two of the flight extensions. My once empty credit cards now up to the max to resolve the problem.

Three weeks later I remain physically exhausted. I’m sleeping up to nine hours every day and still fatigued. I lost over 15 lbs from the stress of October Moon. In an unexpected reverse, I gained weight on November Son! WTF?!?!? Finally accepting I can’t push myself the way I did a mere two years ago.

Satterfield edits a trailer for November Son in just four days to be premiered at Chicago’s Flashback Weekend Horror Convention. When I see it for the first time, I actually start to cry. It’s amazing. Offer Satterfield blow jobs for the next 12 months. He declines, as he prefers they come from women. Whatever. The same day Halloween: 25 Years of Terror comes out on DVD. I’d forgotten I’d been interviewed for it three years earlier, and I’m actually in it! Right after Rob Zombie! Bitchin! Summer’s finally looking up. Oh crap! Summer’s almost over! I’ve missed the whole thing!

Approached by way more October Moon fans at Flashback than I’d ever expected. Inspiration fills me as they ask for autographs and tell me their personal stories. I’m truly moved. All the hell of that shoot was worth it. They express excitement in seeing November Son. The trailer premiere draws a healthy crowd and applause.

August 2006
Taking Sacha and A.J.’s diet/exercise tips seriously. I’m finally noticing a physical difference in my body. More energy as well. Far from “stud” status, but at least I’m not looking like Shamu. I will be Nicole Richie some day – DAMNIT!

Preparing to bring almost everyone back September 18 – 22nd. Aside from the A.J. bashing sequence, everything is simple dialogue bits. All the fun gory and mayhem stuff is done. Still have to resolve scenes shot showing a character holding a gun. The recreation of the basement climax resulted in her never picking up the gun. Also have to declare her big shocking secret meant for that scene. Could prove to be a problem.

Watched sixteen hours of footage…THRILLED with most of it…however, discover a key opening scene has no sound. Very bad. Another important scene involving a massacre in a restaraunt seems too staged. May have to re-shoot parts of it. In watching each scene unfold, I’m recalling, and really soaking in, how much hell I put everyone through, and appreciating the fact they all stuck by me and kept their faith in my abilities. I feel the urge to give each of them a big sloppy kiss, but only a select few will get tongue. Also see that even if they all said, “F.U.! You suck! We’re not coming back!,” I still have a complete movie that works. Still would like to get the footage which gives them deeper character development. Plus, I don’t think they hate me…yet.

As we go to press, the apartment is still vacant. Walked through today to pick up mail and, a month later, understand how and why I was so attached to it. Signifies the last three years of my life, most of it single and the last of my so-called gay “youth.” All memories of rediscovering myself after a long-term relationship ended. The experiences of October Moon and Something To Scream About. All the boys who came through it (tee hee), the friends I’ve made and lost. The new life I’ve begun with Mike.

November Son has led me to understand movies used to BE my life, but now they’re simply a part of it. True sequels, theoretically, are about characters’ growth and change – for better or worse. Sequels are supposed to be more complex and exciting. Just like life. I’m interested to see if there’s a trilogy in my future.