How FilmQuest Was Built: Jonathan Martin on Filmmaking & the Fest Circuit

We Shot 2 Short Films in One Weekend… Here’s What Happened

In this episode of Deep Dark Well, we’re joined by actors Brett Brooks, Erin Ownbey, and Allison Peel to talk about bringing our latest short films, PLAYBACK and MADAM, to life.Both films were shot over the course of a single, slightly unhinged three-day weekend, so naturally, we had to sit down and unpack what actually happened.It’s part behind-the-scenes breakdown, part group therapy, and part early preview of what’s coming as Playback and Madam get ready for release.Watch the trailer for PLAYBACK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00NXOdJHdBwWatch the trailer for MADAM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG38iKcfsZ8Follow Erin:https://www.instagram.com/erinownbey/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4950947/Follow Brett:https://www.instagram.com/brettbrooks/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3520785/Follow Allison:https://www.instagram.com/allisonoffscript/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm18275450Subscribe to HEEBIE-JEEBIES PICTURES: ‪@HeebieJeebiesPictures‬ ‬#heebiejeebiespictures #heebiejeebies #horror #shortfilm #shorthorrorfilmConnect with Heebie-Jeebies!IG: https://www.instagram.com/heebiejeebiespictures/FB: https://www.facebook.com/heebiejeebiespictures About HEEBIE-JEEBIES PICTURES: Based in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, Heebie-Jeebies Pictures is dedicated to crafting spine-chilling tales that explore the hidden depths of the soul. Heebie-Jeebies serves up terrifying horror, side-splitting comedy, thought-provoking science-fiction, and eerie dark fantasy films that will haunt your dreams.https://www.heebiejeebiespictures.com/ © 2026 Heebie-Jeebies Pictures, LLC

From Stage to Screen: Kyle Gazak on Acting, Bullying, & Leading DAGNABBIT!

In this episode of DEEP DARK WELL, we sit down with actor Kyle Gazak, a longtime collaborator who has been part of the Heebie-Jeebies chaos across multiple projects, including DISEMBODIES, CHECKPOINT, DAGNABBIT!, and one lost-to-time experiment we call THE GUARDIAN. We talk about how Kyle got his start in acting, from the stage to the screen, and the personal experiences that shaped him along the way, including dealing with bullying and finding confidence through performance. We also get into his journey within our own projects, going from co-starring roles to stepping into the lead in DAGNABBIT!. It’s an honest, funny, and at times personal conversation about growth, persistence, and what it takes to keep showing up as an actor. Follow Kyle:https://www.instagram.com/kylegazak/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6142531/Subscribe to HEEBIE-JEEBIES PICTURES: ‪@HeebieJeebiesPictures‬ ‬#heebiejeebiespictures #heebiejeebies #horror #shortfilm #shorthorrorfilmConnect with Heebie-Jeebies! IG: https://www.instagram.com/heebiejeebiespictures/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/heebiejeebiespictures About HEEBIE-JEEBIES PICTURES: Based in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, Heebie-Jeebies Pictures is dedicated to crafting spine-chilling tales that explore the hidden depths of the soul. Heebie-Jeebies serves up terrifying horror, side-splitting comedy, thought-provoking science-fiction, and eerie dark fantasy films that will haunt your dreams. https://www.heebiejeebiespictures.com/ © 2026 Heebie-Jeebies Pictures, LLC

Before You Make Your Film Listen To This... Advice From FilmQuest's Founder

In Part Two of our conversation with Jonathan Martin (founder of FilmQuest), we get into the part filmmakers usually don’t want to hear: Your festival strategy starts before you make your film. Listen to Jonathan break down how to actually prepare for the festival circuit, from choosing the right project and understanding your audience, to avoiding the common mistakes that can sink a film before it ever gets submitted. Jonathan shares practical, no-BS advice on how programmers think, what festivals are really looking for, and how filmmakers can give themselves a real shot instead of just hoping for the best. If you’re planning a film and thinking “we’ll figure out festivals later", this episode might save you a lot of time, money, and heartbreak.Come for the strategy. Stay because you’re realizing you might need to rethink everything. Follow FilmQuest: https://www.instagram.com/filmquest/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmQuestFest http://www.filmquestfest.com/ Submit to FilmQuest: https://filmfreeway.com/FilmQuest Subscribe to HEEBIE-JEEBIES PICTURES: ‪@HeebieJeebiesPictures‬ ‬#heebiejeebiespictures #heebiejeebies #horror #shortfilm #shorthorrorfilm Connect with Heebie-Jeebies! IG: https://www.instagram.com/heebiejeebiespictures/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/heebiejeebiespictures About HEEBIE-JEEBIES PICTURES: Based in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, Heebie-Jeebies Pictures is dedicated to crafting spine-chilling tales that explore the hidden depths of the soul. Heebie-Jeebies serves up terrifying horror, side-splitting comedy, thought-provoking science-fiction, and eerie dark fantasy films that will haunt your dreams. https://www.heebiejeebiespictures.com/ © 2026 Heebie-Jeebies Pictures, LLC

How FilmQuest Was Built: Jonathan Martin on Filmmaking & the Fest Circuit

In this episode of Deep Dark Well, we sit down with Jonathan Martin, founder and festival director of FilmQuest, and a filmmaker who cut his teeth on the festival circuit just like the rest of us.This is Part One of a longer conversation, and we start at the beginning: how Jonathan got into filmmaking, what it was like navigating festivals with his own work, and how those experiences eventually led to the creation of FilmQuest, now one of the most respected genre festivals out there.It’s part origin story, part festival insight, and part “how did this become one of the best genre fests in the world?”Follow FilmQuest:  / filmquest   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1VkTHgyQkdoZmdiRnh3RXMxS0VHcmdrWTFMZ3xBQ3Jtc0tueWFTSTJtWDBzVklmSWJIcTBzZE44LVJCTzNrc0hwUW9zWjlFYjd4UzFYT21lcUN2elV0YTdNcmk0R3pMTGFWZ1BxM09pcFhaRXctYWNfekw2elRaT3dwUGd0M3hNTExWWVM1WU9kUjZ5WkxxdlZiVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Ffilmquest%2F&v=qWusKVI0TTo]  / filmquestfest   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUNnZ0hMc2steFd5UWY0c05lTjhkV0piSzRFZ3xBQ3Jtc0treEpqejRLS0QtN2ttcU1mVV9EMDZOUVAtRWhSR1I4R3hka280UkkyOS01dzJpR2NWMGYzZ05Mak83SEc5OHh4ZHNTRHpRa2x5WlNyRy00MHZXeGlaaWhQbzhYMkM4ZlRaRFJmbzRTT1NJMnZFMENhTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FFilmQuestFest&v=qWusKVI0TTo]http://www.filmquestfest.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqay1yWWFrdkpzenVBYTc3aFZSbTA5VVhrNGJkZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttTVNiWC1DT0FXVGplTHIzYW9SelJlS3pIdTNmZnh6dUZCMDZlcTR5bG9nVU5TNnZqaVNpSk9XbEMtY2dzYkRPbm5pNEY4WmN2TzdMUGcxb1RWM2l5dTV5Rk9qWmJXQzNWMWVKUGUxNXFjZm5SV0dZSQ&q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.filmquestfest.com%2F&v=qWusKVI0TTo]Submit to FilmQuest:https://filmfreeway.com/FilmQuest [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazk0RTJqM09FcU1ndURPcTdHNjZkNlUyeC04d3xBQ3Jtc0ttYWdRS2pLcXhlc25SRVZSRE0tcExJdFV6ZE5zMGdHZ0J0b1RyUFV6SnNLaHNBQlB1aFVzZ25jV2dOOWphME45WDhpOXRzRENTMzZzQ2hyRWRsYzg3SlBDRHlVZVJVM3A4TVdMdUtydjYxUGZxUGpwNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Ffilmfreeway.com%2FFilmQuest&v=qWusKVI0TTo]Subscribe to HEEBIE-JEEBIES PICTURES: ‪@HeebieJeebiesPictures‬ ‬#heebiejeebiespictures [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/heebiejeebiespictures] #heebiejeebies [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/heebiejeebies] #horror [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/horror] #shortfilm [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/shortfilm] #shorthorrorfilm [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/shorthorrorfilm]Connect with Heebie-Jeebies!IG:   / heebiejeebiespictures   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVZ3QURleGI2NXJ3ck40MXN2Z09iaUFITkZJZ3xBQ3Jtc0trbnhTOWJWOW1qMUFORXZNRFRvdlZsaElybVNGWlJhb3ZnUFhkaWJmZVZEcG1PVHBOY3dVZHJ3M0ZJSEtGQ3lMejViOWY1TWJHMlN1ZHI5Wlh5QTJXSS1KUHpjRzJEZ1dtSGgtRFJueElrVUpnSkUwcw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fheebiejeebiespictures%2F&v=qWusKVI0TTo]FB:   / heebiejeebiespictures   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkFJcTN6UURuSXlMX01TZmgxWDlDZ05JcEVwd3xBQ3Jtc0tuRVZhNVpBSjFxM0o4RGNzZHdKVlp2VTJSWURUaGdQTmhpS2ctQ3Z6MHFqdExudFdIWDRuWXJmWWpDTEpTeGVEM3VSUm82RXhYTTM3VTF3TjBvNkgzSlR3YnhFbHNrWFNtU09KS0NLZWtnck1rMDVIaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fheebiejeebiespictures&v=qWusKVI0TTo] About HEEBIE-JEEBIES PICTURES: Based in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, Heebie-Jeebies Pictures is dedicated to crafting spine-chilling tales that explore the hidden depths of the soul. Heebie-Jeebies serves up terrifying horror, side-splitting comedy, thought-provoking science-fiction, and eerie dark fantasy films that will haunt your dreams.https://www.heebiejeebiespictures.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnpzT2NLMDVTd25heUktQzdXdHZGUEE3WmNBUXxBQ3Jtc0traHN3UVYtVjdadlRiMkNWQXZCbmxEZ0JjTWgydmNJQWVYSGVRNnRhbFc5Ri1tZTMySXdwYTkzcDRhZFZHcnY5NzVZRkdpcEhFOEkzMC10OHZZVHNmcVlVWFd6OU1qaXBQNzNudmFZM1p1N0V1SjF1OA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heebiejeebiespictures.com%2F&v=qWusKVI0TTo] © 2026 Heebie-Jeebies Pictures, LLC

Cinematography, One-Shot Filmmaking & Lessons from Failure with Tom Festo

In Episode 10 of Deep Dark Well, the guys sit down with cinematographer Tom Festo for a convo about collaboration, craft, and the long road of filmmaking.They discuss how they first connected on the film festival circuit (thanks FilmQuest!), what it’s like building creative partnerships over time, and the challenges we’ve faced working together (pfft, there weren't any!) From shooting TAPESTRY to the dream of tackling the demands of one-shot filmmaking, this episode dives into the balance between preparation and chaos on set.Tom also shares his journey into cinematography and how his approach to visual storytelling has evolved. Along the way, they'll get into the importance of teamwork, staying adaptable, and keeping a sense of perspective in an industry that rarely goes according to plan.Follow Tom Festo at these links: https://www.instagram.com/framesbytom/https://www.instagram.com/birdmountainmedia/https://www.tomfesto.com/Connect with Heebie-Jeebies!IG: https://www.instagram.com/heebiejeebiespictures/FB: https://www.facebook.com/heebiejeebiespictures About HEEBIE-JEEBIES PICTURES: Based in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, Heebie-Jeebies Pictures is dedicated to crafting spine-chilling tales that explore the hidden depths of the soul. Heebie-Jeebies serves up terrifying horror, side-splitting comedy, thought-provoking science-fiction, and eerie dark fantasy films that will haunt your dreams.https://www.heebiejeebiespictures.com/ © 2026 Heebie-Jeebies Pictures, LLC