Keller's Film "Mad Dog" Premieres

Red Carpet events don't just happen in Hollywood.

"Mad Dog" premiered in the Phoenix Theater Thursday night to a full house of about 70 people. The film's director/producer/editor is sophomore film major Clint Keller.

 "I give it four out of five rabies bites," Keith Baker, sophomore film and philosophy double major, said.

An audience of approximately 70 people watched "Mad Dog's" first showing and blooper reel.

However, some were not aware when the lights dimmed and the footage rolled that the film fell into the genre of horror.

"I got scared," junior communications major Kim Denson said. "Ben lied because he said it wasn't scary, but I was leaning into my friend and covering my eyes and ears."

"Mad Dog" is set in 1930s Cocke County, TN where rabid dogs were a very real and horrifying reality. Keller said he set his screenplay loosely on events that transpired during the era. "Mad Dog" is a fictitious account of a community's response when a rabid dog bites a 17-year-old boy.

It took approximately eight hours of raw footage to create the 24-minute film. Cast and crew consisted of about 30 local and unpaid volunteers.

The film's main star, the rabid dog, was provided by East Tennessee K9, a canine training center.

The premier was culmination of approximately 11 months of work for Keller.

"It was all I did for the past 11 months," Keller said.

When filming began in late June, Keller had already put in numerous hours in pre-production duties. The filming itself lasted only a week.

"Best shoot I've ever done," Keller said. "Wonderfully smooth."

After a short three-week break, Keller started the tedious editing process.

"There really wasn't a whole lot of problems. I think it ended up looking even better up on the big screen," said Ben Gibson, senior film major and the film's director of photography.

Nashville-based bluegrass band, Blue Moon Rising, wrote and performed the original score. The band even made it to the red carpet event of their first film venture.

Band member Christopher P. West said he wrote the music based on a rough outline of the plot Keller sent him. The strumming bluegrass sound added another element of Appalachia.

"The music really brought it together well," Keller said.

Keller hopes the film will do well in area film festivals. The film's trailer has already received recognition at the Maryville Film Festival. It took home "Best in Genre: Horror" and "Best in Genre: History."

Copies of "Mad Dog" will be available soon for purchase on Amazon or by contacting Keller.