By Chris Murphy
It is a strange desire to want to be scared, but it is something that defies logic, but captivates the imagination. From the earliest film noir by Goerges Mieles’ Le Manoir du Diable (the House of the Devil) and the early 20th century versions of Frankenstein and Phantom of the Opera, people are drawn to these scary films.
People have such a wide range of what frightens, and it can be the sublime of Alfred Hitchcock or the gore of Wes Craven, but no two horror fans are alike. For a child, the evil Queen in Snow White is a showstopper, or for the ocean swimmer, the shark in Jaws. In the 70s and 80s, it was slasher with the unstoppable Micheal Myers in Halloween or Jason in Friday the 13th.
We have some awesome local talent and we showcased many of our local filmmakers in our March 2025 issue. Modesto is becoming a center of filmmaking that would make George Lucas proud. With modern tech, people can live, work, act and create here and reach the rest of the world. Let’s learn more.
Hakeem Pierstorff
Film makers have to start somewhere. One of Hakeem’s first jobs was at the State Theatre and found his passion making films. Hakeem is a 2-time winner of the 48 Hour Film festival for short films in the horror category. Now he is working on a new feature, and word has it, may be filmed partially at our house. Love this creativity. Let’s meet Hakeem.
MV: Did you get into filmmaking or the horror genre first
HP: When I was younger and starting to fall in love with film as an artistic medium, I found Star Wars (original trilogy and prequels) to be the most inspirational to me. My earliest filmmaking projects were stop-motion shorts that were primarily made with Lego Star Wars figures acting out lightsaber fights, and growing up it was my dream to make big science-fiction space epics just like Star Wars. But as I got older, my tastes in movies changed dramatically (not saying I don’t love Star Wars anymore). I love drama, I love thrillers, but horror was always the most attractive genre to me. Throughout High School I went through all the major slashers- your Freddy Krueger’s, Jason’s, Michael Myers’, Chucky’s etc. Then I started watching the more traditional classics, like The Shining, The Exorcist, and The Thing. Then the more obscure and stranger ones like Possession and In the Mouth of Madness. “Horror” is a broad label so you see more subversive, experimental, and weirder movies coming out of that genre than any other. And they are more fun and much cheaper to make, and there’s always a huge audience for horror.
MV: One of your films had a truck as the villain, how did you make that work cinematographically”
HP: Getting the killer truck in Suicide in Suburbia to look right on screen was a challenge but I had a vague idea of how to go about it beforehand. There were little shots to make it feel more alive, close-ups on the doors locking and windows rolling down seemingly on their own. For the big finale I used a simple reverse-footage trick for when it drives into my actor Ryan Rosenow. We started with him leaning over the truck as it’s pressed against him, pinning him to the wall. Then we drove the car backwards away from Ryan as he stood back up. When played in reverse (albeit not perfect) it looks like the car speeds right into him and crushes him against the wall. The shots of the car driving on its own were done simply with my dad driving it around while staying low enough that it looks like it’s driverless. Which wasn’t too hard because he’s very short, so he didn’t even have to get that low.
MV: Do you think the pressure to make a film fast has helped your film making skills?”
HP: The 48 Hour Competitions have absolutely helped, as soon as you’re let loose after getting your required line, prop, and genre you’re forced to do so much so fast. I actually think the time limit helps with the creative process because your brain is pumping out ideas way faster, and all the filmmaking limitations force you to be more creative with how you shoot and edit. And with it being a competition I’m always looking to make a movie that stands out with its story or ideas as much as possible.
MV: Who are some of your local mentors? What’s next for your film journey?”
HP: My earliest mentors would be the Runnels Brothers who are local filmmakers. I remember they let me hold a clapper and slate between takes during one scene they filmed in “The Last Alleycat”. It was a very inspirational experience. Andrew Wong, who hosts the 48 Hour Competitions is also a big one. I took two filmmaking classes he held at The State Theatre a long time ago, so he was my first film teacher. As for what’s next, I’ve shot a new short horror film titled “Don’t Walk Alone” which I’m very excited for, it’s currently being edited. But what I’m most excited for is a feature film I’m currently in pre-production for with my friend Nicholas Tehada titled The Bunch. We’re keeping the plot private for now, but it’s a mystery/thriller with some sci-fi elements set in Modesto. We spent nearly a year writing the script and have been chipping away at pre-production for a few months, but we know the wait will be worth it.
Paul Ragsdale and Angie De Alba
A&P Films – Modesto
Who says you can’t make a famous horror movie in Modesto? Not Paul Ragsdale and Angie De Alba. They met in the MJC film school and grew up watching the classic horror film like “Halloween”, “Friday the 13th” and others. Then they discovered vampires in “The Lost Boys and they found the direction they wanted. From Cinco De Mayo in 2013 to Slashlorette Party and Murdercise, they have developed a big following. Now they are releasing their biggest production to date, Only Fangs, premiering at the State Theatre October 18. We caught up with Paul and Angie for a few questions.
ModestoView: What made you decide to be film makers?
Angie: I stumbled into filmmaking by taking a filmmaking class at MJC. I was looking for fun classes to fill my schedule and filmmaking sounded interesting. I had never considered making a movie until I took these classes. Even then, I still did not have aspirations of becoming a director until I met Paul. I met Paul in my first film class and we quickly realized that we wanted to be a couple and a filmmaking team.
Paul: My brother and I would make our own horror movies as kids and I loved it! As a teen I decided to try to pursue film “for real” after watching Reservoir Dogs and El Mariachi. I signed up for film classes at MJC and that’s where I met and fell in love with Angie. About 10 years after leaving school, getting jobs and getting a house together, we decided to make films together too!
MV: How did the initial success of your early films feel? Did it inspire you to do more?
Angie: It was surprising! I never expected anyone to be interested in watching our movies because we were not established filmmakers and had no budget or resources in our early filmmaking days. The fact that our movies were seen was exciting enough but the fact that they were enjoyed by viewers definitely inspired us to keep going.
Paul: It felt very surreal. Once we entered the online world of independent horror, the doors just opened for us. Receiving attention from horror publications, distributors and horror fans from around the globe, really opened our eyes to a whole new world. We decided to to indulge in our B movie/horror movie heritage.
MV: How pleased were you with the success of your crowdfunding for Only Fangs?
Angie: I am still wrapping my head around it! It’s incredible and unexpected. We always challenge ourselves to push harder and try to do better than the last film we made but this was beyond what I was hoping for. Thank goodness for the success because this project ended up costing much more than anticipated. With every project we make, Paul & I still end up using some of our own personal funds on top of the funds raised in the campaign to complete our projects.
Paul: We were shocked! It’s been a progressive journey with crowdfunding but we did not expect to reach 60K with this project! And we are glad we did because every cent went into the film.By industry standards we are consider a “no budget” or maybe “micro budget” film but for us, this is a big budget epic film!
MV: As a person that still has all of my VHS tapes, are you offering that format for your vintage viewers?
Angie: Yes! It’s something that Paul takes on personally and I love that it is something we can offer to fellow physical media lovers.
Paul: This will be the 4th movie of ours that will have a VHS release! We make covers, labels and tapes ourselves! Its a real DIY operation with me dubbing our tapes one at a time with a single VCR.
MV: What inside tip or hint do you have for Only Fangs?
Angie: If you are from Modesto I think you will recognize several familiar locations serve as sets in the movie! You may even recognize a few local actors. We hope that these ties to the community will help endear the film to our fellow Modesto lovers and neighbors.
Paul: I would recommend catching up on some vampire classics such as From Dusk Till Dawn, Fright Night 1 and 2, and of course The Lost Boys! We have a few cinematic tributes hidden in the film!
MV: Do you plan to continue to make films in the Modesto area?
Angie: Yes. Modesto is our home and filmmaking headquarters. We are endlessly inspired by the contrast of our surroundings. Both the city streets and country roads serve as a perfect playground to make movies in. There is no shortage of talented individuals here as well so we love to collaborate with other local artists as much as possible.
Paul: Yes we do plan to keep making films in Modesto; I’m currently location scouting for the next project! We have shot scenes up north, down south, in the bay and even in Las Vegas, but Modesto will always be home for us.
MV: Although it seems obvious, are your films for 18 and over?
Angie: Not all of our films. We’ve made a couple of artsy movies that are safe. We’re mostly known for our slasher movies though and those have all the “bad” stuff in them..or “good” stuff depending on your view I guess!
Paul: Yes for sure, although I was watching R rated horror movies as a kid and I think I turned out okay (?) Times were different back then!
Learn more about A&P Productions at www.instagram.com/a_p_films/
www.youtube.com/@apfilms209<www.youtube.com/@apfilms209> Note Adult Content.
Interview Molly Souza
If you have checked our local theatre in Modesto, you have seen Molly Souza. Her performances in Boeing Boeing and the horror movie Grind were stellar. She has written and performed across the USA. She is a studied librarian and she is currently involved a theatre technician at the Prospect Theatre Project and will be starring in Callie in Stop Kiss. Fun fact, she is Jack Souza’s daughter, the OG Prospect creator. Molly has been busy acting and supporting new productions and in fact, won a best actress award for her favorite genre, horrors and thrillers. Let’s catch up with Molly.
Are you a horror movie fan?
I am totally horror obsessed. Everything from slow burn psychological joints, to ghost stories, to slashers. All of it. I’ve seen Rosemary’s Baby (1968) more than any other film and my horror film spreadsheet is revered amongst friends and family.
You have acted in a variety of Horror movies and plays, what do you find the most exciting?
Modesto is your home, and you have acted and performed across the USA, what keeps bringing you back?
I find Modesto to be one of the most complexly vibrant places I’ve ever been. You’d have a hard time going out here and not meeting artists, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and all around stellar human beings. Institutions like Prospect Theater Project, Gallo Center Repertory Company, Modesto Artists Movement, Filmmakers Association of Modesto, Opera Modesto, Central West Ballet (I could keep going here!!!) make this such a fertile ground for collaboration and creation. I love the people here and I love being a part of this history making stereotype smashing totally bad*ass community!
Congratulations on your recent award. Tell us about it.
I have been so fortunate to work on projects I’ve really connected to and having my work recognized in any way is just a cherry on top of an already very rewarding sundae. I just took home Best Actress at a film festival for my work on an independent horror thriller called The House Among the Trees. The film is a wild ride. Sort of like if Detroit Rock City took a really violent, hillbilly-laden, crime-centric turn in the middle. I loved this film and the role I had in it because it’s my dream mix of realistic horrors and witty romps. A little gore, a little laughter and I’m a happy girl. I can’t wait for it to be available to stream I’m sure you’ll all hear me shouting it from the rooftops.
They don’t call me a scream queen for nothing, Chris! I might look like Opie Taylor but I have the capacity to be quite terrifying. (This is the part where I’m cheekily winking but you can’t tell because this is a paper not a video) Honestly, I think that horror can transcend all the mediums because what makes it scary, at least for me, is the empathetic connection to characters. When actors bring earnest humanity to characters everything scary that happens becomes that much scarier. Even if we can’t see it happening, we can imagine it happening to us.
What’s next for Molly Souza?
Easily one of the coolest parts of my life is how often I get to do what I love. I get to make art with awesome, inspiring people. I’m working on designing a set for the next production at Prospect Theater Project, I’m gearing up to direct a play this Winter, I’m preparing for a starring stage role in Spring. I just starred in an insane sci-fi Grindhouse film called Grind, and we’re embarking on a festival circuit with that project. I have a post-apocalyptic musical called SpeakEasy booked and funding now. One of my favorite independent writers, Blair Hoyle, just reached out to me about another film and I’m trying to get him out to Modesto.
I’m doing a reading of a Nick Zagone original that is soon to hit the stage. I’m making my graphic art over at @mollywiththebrightredhair. Every day is packed with creative opportunities these days and I’m hungry for them all. Hey, you, reader! Let’s do something cool and creative. Let’s add to the list! For me, life is about making art with my community and I’m seizing all the opportunities that come my way.
