Local News: Horror from Southbank

Southbank cinematographer Damien Lipp has recently completed his biggest project to date with the international release of horror film ‘Beckoning the Butcher.’

With a long running passion for acting and film, it was in January 2013 when an idea came to Damien Lipp and director Dale Trott to shoot a film together.

“Over the years I have loved doing acting and being on a film set, I got a lot of inspiration from past projects that I have worked on and thought I can do it myself,” he said.

“I pushed hard and worked long hours and finally got a product to sell internationally, which I am very proud to have done.”

Beckoning the Butcher follows the story of Chris Shaw, who takes his friends out to an isolated house to make a web video, when they summon an evil spirit and must fight for survival once it begins to hunt them down.

Despite one reviewer touting the film as the scariest since The Blair Witch Project, Damien said horror isn’t a theme that he’s ever had a strong interest in previously.

“It’s not something that I have always thought of doing, but when someone has a brilliant idea and I can give my half of creativity then it just evolves,” he said.

Shot in Damien’s northern Victorian hometown of Kerang, he said the landscape provided the ideal setting for a horror film, with the initiative being embraced by the whole community.

“There were many months of prep for the film to happen. The local people of Kerang played a big role in the film because they donated houses and cars and accommodation.”

While currently in the United States as part of an international journey to promote the film, he says Southbank is always a great place to return home to.

“Food, culture, people and the arts. I am on the second year of living in Southbank and I love everything about it,” he said.