05Proof of Concept
The first production
phase.
The Proof of Concept short is the film's first production phase — three to four days on Detroit's east side, built around Lonnie's basement storyline. It exists to test the tone, the creature, and the neighborhood before the feature.
- Shoot dates
- Targeting late 2026
- Shoot days
- 3–4
- Location
- Detroit, MI (east side)
- Focus
- Lonnie storyline · basement sequence
- Format
- 35mm-emulated digital · 2.39:1
- Creature
- Practical prosthetics · iron welding mask
Production Diary
- 2026 · 03
The script is finished.
The feature draft locks. Focus shifts to producing the proof-of-concept short built around Lonnie's basement sequence.
- 2026 · 05
Location scout: east side.
Three houses under consideration. All within four blocks of each other. All with basements that will need practical rework for the creature.
- 2026 · 07
Movement coach attached.
Thomas will be developed through six weeks of workshops with a Butoh-trained movement coach. No CGI. No shortcuts.
- 2026 · 09
Casting bible released.
Fifteen roles open to submission. Detroit-area actors strongly encouraged. Bring truth. Leave the horror voice at home.
Crew
- Writer / Director
- DeMarco Jenkins
- Director of Photography / Producer
- DJ Vance Jr
- Producer · Actor · Co-Director
- Aharon Hayes
- Production Designer
- TBA
- Practical FX / Creature
- TBA
- Movement Coach
- TBA
- Casting Director
- TBA
- Composer
- TBA