LOS ANGELES – Praetorian Motion Pictures LLC, based out of Los Angeles, is set to begin pre-production in Raymond, Calif., and Madera County on their feature-length supernatural horror film “AGARES,” by casting local extras at the Frontier Inn Tavern this Saturday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m.
Praetorian is most well known for their feature films “33 & Beyond: The Royal Art of Freemasonry,” and “Illuminated: The True Story of the Illuminati.”
Praetorian Pictures is owned and operated by Johnny Royal and Angel Thompson out of Los Angeles, Calif.
“AGARES is part of a horror anthology that utilizes the local folklore of various small towns such as Raymond to tell the stories of the darker side of the human condition such as paranoia, anxiety and depression, all of which are prevalent in the current stream of thought within all Americans,” says Director and CEO Johnny Royal.
“As both of us have come from small Midwest towns, we felt that it was important to use the genre of horror and the settings of real towns with rich history like Raymond to remind people of what is really important in the here and now – family, love, and life,” says Executive Producer and CFO Angel Thompson.
“AGARES,” will be followed up by a prequel titled “Green Man Tunnel,” which will be filmed on location in Pittsburgh, Pa.
“Indeed, much of the credit for the inspiration of ‘AGARES’ goes to Frontier Inn Tavern owner Bill, along with his fraternal organization the Clampers [E Clampus Vitus],” says Royal. “Without all of them telling us about the rich history of Raymond and the local folklore of Madera County, this story may have never been written.”
Raymond has less than 1,000 residents, and it looks like a small town for about 100 years ago. Few original buildings remain due to fires that swept through the area, but the Frontier Inn Tavern, built in 1890, is still operational for visitors to buy food and drinks and is where some of the film will be shot.
Raymond has lots of rich history. It was the main tourist route for Yosemite National Park from 1886 until 1907.
“We are very excited that a horror film will be set in Raymond,” said Therese Williams, Director of Public Relations and Sales for Visit Yosemite Madera County. “It is very fitting an old town like Raymond, with lots of rich history, will produce a horror film.”
Casting for extras is open to the public of all age groups this Saturday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m. at the Frontier Inn Tavern located at 32265 Front Street in Raymond.
For more information, please email Angel@PraetorianMotionPictures.com.
