Hi Reader,

I've been silent for the past week or two because I've had so much on my plate. Between radio interviews, podcasts, tons of meetings, and prep work for our upcoming theatrical premiere for Contamination, it's been crazy!

But I wouldn't have it any other way. I mean, how often do you see your dreams coming true right before your eyes? And last night was a perfect example!
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Yesterday, Contamination screened at the YIKES! Film Festival in Edmonton - a three-day celebration of sci-fi, horror, and fantasy from around the world. We were lucky to be part of it, and even luckier to be in the room.

I was there with my co-director David Heacock, our producer Preston Ewasiuk, and three of our lead actors - Tom Sunderland, S-Raj Kumar, and Tyler Sabourin. We shared the film with a full room of strangers, genre lovers, and fellow filmmakers.

And let me tell you - screening in your hometown is a different kind of nerve-wracking.

But by the end, we heard laughter and gasps and best of all, hearty applause. We had a small Q&A session that went really well, and people stuck around to talk with us afterwards. And many told us how surprised they were by the scale of the production, the cinematography, the action, and the performances - saying it felt like a big movie.

That’s one of the things I love about film festivals - the audience is a complete wildcard. Some are there for a specific short or filmmaker. Others are soaking in every movie they can. Many are filmmakers themselves, and their feedback often comes from a technical place - commenting on shot composition, lenses, pacing, or editing rhythms.

And then there are the movie lovers - the ones who tell you what made them jump, what made them laugh, and who they couldn’t stop watching on screen.

That mix? It’s a gift. It gives you a full picture of how your film plays - what lands, what lingers, and what surprises people most.

As we head into our theatrical premiere next weekend at Landmark Cinemas, this felt like the perfect prelude. Because if a room full of people who’d never heard of Contamination left entertained… then we can only hope that audiences coming to see it on purpose are in for a ride they won’t forget!

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We’re just getting started. Stay tuned for updates on screenings, cities, and everything we’re building with this wild little film of ours.

Thanks for being part of our journey!

Neil

P.S. Check out my feature film, Spin the Wheel - out now on Tubi!

Click here to watch for FREE: https://tubitv.com/movies/100030151/spin-the-wheel​

Learn more about storytelling, screenwriting, and filmmaking:​ www.neilchasefilm.com.

Looking for in-depth help with your script, story or film? Check out my one-on-one coaching services here.

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