“The Historian” film plans Bloody Valentine fundraiser, cast announcement

Hearts, flowers and candy all bring Valentine’s Day to mind, but what about zombies?

The “My Bloody Valentine” event will have plenty wandering around. The event, to be held at the Keg & Barrel at 9 p.m. tonight, will also be a fundraiser for Historia Films, the production company behind the upcoming film “The Historian,” a satire of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” The event will feature zombies, live music, tarot card readings, Greek gods and more.


Miles Doleac, a Latin and history professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, is a producer with Historia Films. “The Historian” will be shot in Hattiesburg, including USM’s campus.


The “My Bloody Valentine” event is intended to raise awareness of the project and funds for the production budget.


“A percentage of every dollar spent at this event will go directly into the production budget of our film. That means a percentage of every beverage bought,” Doleac said.


The event will feature live performances from Brian von Schulz and the Adam Doleac Band.  Doleac said he was excited to partner with local musicians for the event and hopes to do so for the film itself.


“We want the soundtrack to be comprised primarily of original music born right here in Hattiesburg,” Doleac said.


There will be a kissing booth, complete with two male and female zombies ready to pucker up for donations, according to event organizer Dawne Kennedy. A trio of Greek gods will be on hand to entertain the crowd, including Aphrodite, Cupid and Dionysus. Palm and tarot card readings and a picture booth will be available. Raffle tickets will be available, and the “The Historian” t-shirts will be on sale as well.


“We're also selling chances to win dinner with the cast of the movie, a limited supply of VIP premier tickets, win an invitation to the wrap party, a day on the set and even a chance to win a walk-on extra role in the film,” Kennedy said.


Doleac announced that yet another big-name Hollywood actor has joined the project: William Sadler. Sadler is well-known for roles in such films as “Shawshank Redemption,” “The Green Mile,” and “Die Hard 2.” Sadler will play the lead role of a very complicated yet brilliant classics professor.


The project already has big-name actors Colin Cunningham of TV series “Falling Skies” and Academy Award nominee and Emmy winner Shohreh Aghdashloo attached to the project. Nate Meyer, who wrote, directed and produced the movie “See Girl Run” will be an executive producer, as well as Ryan Jackson, who has worked on films such as “Green Lantern” and “The Dynamiter” as first assistant director.


“On a small, indie movie like ours, it’s very, very difficult to get top-notch, name actors,” Doleac said. “They have to believe in your script and see its potential in spite of budgetary constraints. The cast we’re building, the responses we've had within the industry, tell us that we have a quality, worthy, special project on our hands.”


Auditions will be held in Hattiesburg the first week of April. Specific information about the auditions will be announced at a later date.


Historia Films is also planning another fundraising event in April. It will be a wrestling event at Brewsky’s, in partnership with Wes Adams and Powerslam Productions.


Doleac hopes USM students will attend the “My Bloody Valentine” event.


“We really want the student population to come out in force for this because, in a way, this is going to be their movie too,” Doleac said. “We're shooting right here on campus.”