By David Harry

Staff Writer

It may not be on a map, but the road to “Damnationland” apparently leads from Willard Beach through Cape Elizabeth to the Scarborough Marsh.

That’s the road taken to produce the short horror film “20/20,” one of seven such movies to be shown today through the weekend at theaters from Portland to Houlton as part of the first annual Damnationland film festival.

Created by Portland-based filmmaker Allen Baldwin, the festival features a wide range of scary flicks, all of which are premiering.

The 15-minute movie about a post-apocalyptic world where computers have unleashed a virus to kill humans was written and produced by South Portland-based Gitgo Productions collaborators Kate Kaminski, Betsy Carson and Reggie Burrows Hodges.

The trio introduced Web audiences to a corner of South Portland with the series “Willard Beach,” which concluded last spring.

Kaminski, who directs “20/20,” said Baldwin approached the three as “Willard Beach” was winding down. The shows are still available for view at the willardbeach.tv and YouTube.

“We were ready for another challenge, we wanted to some big ideas in a short format,” she said.

“Willard Beach” is an unscripted series of improvised three-minute vignettes with an ensemble cast – or about 180 degrees from the scripted struggle for survival that is the premise of “20/20.” The movie features “Willard Beach” cast member Brent Askari in a leading role.

“In horror, the stakes are clear – it’s life and death,” said Askari, also a veteran performer in Mad Horse Theater troupe.

Askari’s experience in Mad Horse led to the casting of Veronica Druchniak to play his daughter in “20/20.” The pair acted together in the drama “The Pillow Man” at Mad Horse.

Druchniak, 14, is a freshman at Bonny Eagle High School and also dances with the Maine State Ballet. She said “20/20” is her first movie performance and she immediately noticed a distinct difference from performing or dancing on stage.

“You get more than one chance to do it right,” she said about filming the movie.

The idea of computers turning against humans is not new – it has been more than 40 years since Hal the Computer was the villain of “2001 – A Space Odyssey,” but Kaminski said it was a chance to turn some horror movie clichés on their heads.

“We combine action and adventure with character. We are story-driven. These are the films we like to make,” she said.

Kaminski warned viewers Damnationland film festival offerings are unrated and not suited for audiences younger than 17, but said “20/20” is about the least bloody and violent of the films.

While not giving away details, Kaminski and Carson said viewers should not look for a happy ending.

Viewers will see familiar landmarks in the movie as the Q Street Diner in South Portland, a quarry off Sawyer Road in Cape Elizabeth and the Scarborough Public Works Department sheds are all visible.

Shooting “20/20” took a step up from “Willard Beach,” using high definition cameras to make the movie fill the big screen. Scripted dialogue requires a tighter filming process, Kaminski said, instead of moving with the flow of improvised conversations.

Askari has never watched the “Willard Beach” episodes because he does not like to see himself on film. On stage, the actions and lines come and are gone. On film he can always see things that make him second-guess himself, he said.

Druchniak said this will be the first time she has seen herself on film; she did not get to see the takes from three days of filming last summer. 

Acting in the movie allowed her to expand her character in ways she can’t on stage because there is more space to work with, but Druchniak said an audience has its rewards.

“The camera never responds, you don’t know how you are doing,” she said. 

The basics of acting are the same whether in light comedy or horror, but finding and expanding the objective for the actor can be easier working with a familiar cast, Askari said.

“Any chance to work with people you trust creates an environment where you are freer to be creative yourself,” he said.

As it turns out, making a movie about the end of the world can be fun, Kaminski, Askari and Druchniak said.

“I really had a great time and met a lot of great people,” Druchniak said.

When the festival has wrapped up, Kaminski said Gitgo Productions will continue efforts to  screen “20/20” at festivals and then sell it as a DVD. She said web-based viewings are not being considered at the moment.

With “20/20,” Damnationland viewers will also see “Consumption,” by Nick Poulin and Krister Rollins; “A Bell in the Yard” by Mint Films and Jeff Griecci; “Shambles,” by Torrey Alan Johnson’s Laughing Man Films; “Last Call,” by Christian and Sarah Matzke of Page Street Studios; “Undone,” by Jeremy Alexander and David Camlin of Camlin and Sons and “Humoresque,” by Baldwin and Jayson Lobozzo of Strongpaw Productions.

Damnationland films can be seen 7 p.m. tonight at Portland Art Museum on Congress Square at the corner of High and Congress streets. For more festival information, visit damnationland.com.

Staff Writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219