Dacono man produces horror movie

    Where can you find Chewbacca on the big screen these days?
    The answer is in Dacono resident Derrick Red Earth’s feature film “Killer Ink,” which just wrapped up shooting around the Brighton area this past weekend.

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Derrick Red Earth, a Dacono resident and producer of “Killer Ink” stands in front of Hummer for a scene he is featured in. Red Earth plays a high roller in a club.

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Some of the cast and crew of locally-produced film Killer Ink.

    Peter Mayhew, the body underneath the “Star Wars” character’s fur coat, plays “Uncle Clyde” in the locally made movie. Brighton’s Sebastian Romero, who had never acted before, plays the part of his father as a demented high school student.
    Red Earth was the film’s executive producer and played a cameo role during a party scene in the movie.
    Denver production company Under Fire Studios is releasing the grind house slasher film written and directed by filmmaker Lewis Leslie.
    The film follows Gage, a tattoo artist played by Chris Romero, who is best known for his parts in movies like the Halloween saga “H2” by Rob Zombie and “Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead.”
    Gage’s night job is as a serial killer who only finds happiness in murder. His cloak-and-dagger lifestyle revolves around a secret he’s tried hard to keep hidden.
    “He has a very rough childhood and an awful tragedy that made him like this,” said Red Earth.
    When someone he cares for turns up missing, Gage sets out to find her, only to realize he might have to come out of hiding.
    Romero, Leslie and Bret Baker produced the movie.    
    Chris Romero was able to call up different contacts in the movie business to help out with the “Killer Ink.” Mayhew was one of those calls.
    “It has been nothing but fun so far for me,” said Red Earth. “Most everyone in the film knows Chris Romero, Lewis Leslie or Bret Baker.”
    Red Earth has lived in the tri town area for the past 26 years. He graduated from Frederick High School in 1991.
Since that time, he’s traveled around working in promotions in the entertainment industry.
    “I think Denver/Colorado is the best place to be,” said Red Earth.
    Red Earth’s recent dabbling in the independent movie business was a result of his interest in film and music.
    “I’ve always wanted to be involved in these two areas in some way. When Chris gave me the chance, I took it,” said Red Earth.
    Red Earth did band promotions and got to know Chris Romero a few years ago at a show where Romero was performing. Romero has been in the music business for around 20 years and was a part of bands like Sic, Drug Under and Romeo Delight.
    When “Killer Ink” ran over budget a few months ago, they needed help finishing it and Chris Romero asked Red Earth to get involved.
    “Being a horror movie fan, I really liked what I had seen of the film,” he said. “I decided this is my chance to do something I’ve always wanted to do, so I became majority investor in the film.”
    This is the first film he has done any work on.
“I am very proud of it,” said Red Earth. “Hopefully this will be the start of my film history.”
    Most of the film was shot in Brighton and surrounding areas. Red Earth’s scene was shot at Tugs in Thornton.
    “My scene was a party scene,” he said. “There are so many breaks in between shots. After you shoot a scene over and over, it’s pretty hard to be scared.”
    According to Red Earth, the blood used in while filming is composed of syrup and red food coloring.
    The production team began filming “Killer Ink” last summer. They wrapped last Friday.
    “Killer Ink” will premiere June 24 at the Albuquerque Comic Expo, where it will be the main attraction of the day. Mayhew will introduce the film. The plan is to have the movie out by the first weekend in July, said Red Earth.
    The horror flick will also be released in local theaters including a red carpet premier at Brighton AMC, a showing at The Orchards AMC and The Mayan in Denver.
    DVDs of “Killer Ink” will be released the same time as it comes out in theaters.
    The film team is also looking at entering the film in different festivals and sci-fi, horror and comic conventions. They’ve already penciled in the Mile High Horror Film Festival.
    “My goal is to get the movie out to as many people as possible,” said Red Earth.
    Red Earth said Leslie and Chris Romero have more films they want to make, so turning a profit is a key ambition.
    “If we can make ‘Killer Ink’ successful, then we can continue making films,” said Red Earth.
    Their main goal is for a bigger studio to purchase the film.
    Red Earth started his own production company, Red Earth Productions, which will cover movies, music, concerts and other entertainment.
    “My plans are to keep being involved in the entertainment world and have a lot of fun doing it,” said Red Earth.
    Visit www.killerinkmovie.com, or find them on their Facebook fan page.