Costume and fashion designer Renee Laroche-Rheaume dressed dozens of television and movie actors at her former gig in a large three-story vintage clothing shop not far from the iconic cross-streets of Hollywood and Vine in Los Angeles.
Upon returning to her native Franklin County, she and her husband then dressed themselves and a small cast and created a horror film short which they entered into a local movie contest.
That movie, Road Kill: The Curse Of The Devil Opossum, garnered first place in the first-ever Northwest Nightmares Film Festival contest. After that victory, Laroche-Rheaume decided she wanted to play a bigger role in the movie contest. She has served as a judge and an award-presenter and is now coordinator of the fest, now in its fourth year.
The contest is presented by Northwest Access Television in St. Albans and encourages local amateur filmmakers to create a five-to-15 minute horror movie short to be judged in multiple categories for various prizes.
Renee Laroche-Rheaume spoke to VPR recently about the contest's origins and what to expect at the Welden Theater in St. Albans when qualifying films are shown on the big screen during a Haunted Hollywood premiere on Oct. 24.
Camera, cinematography and editing workshops through Northwest Access TV in St. Albans are also included in the contest entry fee and registration is now open to local amateur filmmakers to enter their short horror movies before Oct. 2.