ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Discover the Terror host Maximilian Schmidt (and Herbert, your ghoulish co-host) welcomes indie horror power duo Michael J. Epstein and Sofia Casiola of Launchover Productions — filmmakers known for bold, DIY genre work and offbeat horror storytelling.
In this episode, Michael and Sofia share how they went from Boston's music scene to building a cult indie filmography through micro-budget features, music videos, and festival runs. We dive into the making of Blood of the Tribbids, the challenge of modernizing exploitation horror, why horror is inherently political, and what it takes to survive independent film distribution without losing your rights.
They also break down the origin story of the mockumentary/slasher double feature The Once and Future Smash and End Zone 2, built from real horror convention culture — plus their new found-footage projects including Final Transmissions and an experimental feature shot using the eerie lo-fi Fisher-Price PXL 2000 camera.
If you're into indie horror, DIY filmmaking, found footage, horror comedy, festival strategy, and the real behind-the-scenes of getting films made and released, this episode is for you.
