The Gist 14: 9/25/2025
A roundup of news from this week at Gestalt Media.
We all know it’s been a rough week, so here we go.
After the Rise
As we approach the anniversary of Helene’s impact on our community, I’m faced with a harsh reality. One I thought we had learned that day. When you’re in the middle of a crisis, priorities change. I think we all underestimated the mental stress that entering September was going to cause, especially surrounded by a new crisis that seems to worsen every day (fascism). After the Rise is on its final edits. It will see the light of day, and it will make its festival run in 2026. But in full transparency, living those moments on film while still seeing that damage outside our window and feeling that crisp chill in the air that was present this time last year…it needed to rest. We need the rest. So we’re taking a minute, getting our heads together, and then we’ll get those final touches on to do this one justice.
Overnight
When we said there was a lot of data. We meant there was a LOT of data. I’ve been working with Google Cloud to find a workflow that can handle these massive files. If you’ve ever worked with cloud companies, it’s….confusing at best, ridiculously predatory at worst. This is from someone who specifically trained in and was recruited for cloud-based training with AWS (which is why I chose Google). I think we can pull it off. What is the most fun in creating a new genre of film? Figuring out how to actually make it work. I really hope to be sharing samples in the coming weeks.
Self Scare
The BIG ONE right now. I am absolutely amazed at how many wonderful people have come out and contributed to making this docuseries something that is going to be truly special. At this point, we have something like 40 interviews and over 100 hours of footage to use. That’s incredible! Huge thanks to everyone who has been and will be involved. This is a dream come true, honestly.
I like to highlight our interviews every week, so here are some names from the last two weeks who have sat down, in each case for around two hours minimum, and nerded out about our favorite genre.
Mercedes M. Yardley (AKA Miss Murder):
Mercedes M. Yardley is a three-time Bram Stoker Award winner for "Little Dead Red," "Fracture," and "Love is a Crematorium." She lives and works in Las Vegas.
Lisa Lebel:
Lisa Lebel is co-editor of Cemetery Dance Publication’s trade paperback line, with a specialization in acquisitions and promotion. She is also the founder of Lebel Up Editing, and has contributed in proofreading and editing for a wide range of publishing companies, taking manuscripts through each step of the editing process.
Mike Lombardo:
Award-winning independent filmmaker, writer & FX artist who runs Reel Splatter Productions…multiple Best Picture and Best Actress wins, and over a dozen nominations. He is the star of the upcoming documentary, The Brilliant Terror, from Lonfall Films…
Tonight we’re talking with:
Rebecca Cuthbert:
Rebecca Cuthbert writes dark fiction and poetry. She loves ghost stories, folklore, witchy women, and gothic atmospheres. Her books include The Hauntings Back Home, Self-Made Monsters, and others. For more, visit linktr.ee/rebeccacuthbertwrites.
CW Briar
CW Briar is a horror and dark fantasy author hailing from the backwoods of Upstate NY. He is fascinated by scary monsters but also by what those monsters reveal about us as people.
Beyond
Cryptid
Cryptid has moved to Spring. This is going to give us the beautiful scenery necessary to bring this Appalachian modern bigfoot tale to life. The cast is locked in and we’re ready to go! The very first full FPV VR film from Gestalt Media is ready to roll. Let’s go winter, get it over with.
Cat Lady
Looking at mid-November for shooting on this one. This was one we’ve looked at for years. When I first started experimenting with film, Cat Lady was the script we used. It’s a fun story about the lengths we’ll go to for our four-legged friends. It’s twisted, funny, and very, very dark.
The Gist:
Take a mental health break when you need it. We work in horror, and that can be a lot when life is actively traumatizing.
Overnight is HUGE, but we’ve almost got it wrangled.
Spring shoot, early summer release for Cryptid.
Wanna see why single women are REALLY dangerous? Cat Lady.
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” - Audre Lorde