Panther to premiere horror film at AMC Aventura

Photo by Julian Jensen, via flickr

Raul Herrera/Assistant News Director

Jarrod Knowles, a senior information technology major, is hitting the red carpet.

A film that Knowles directed titled “What Lies Beyond…The Beginning” premieres at AMC Aventura 24 on April 10 at 7 p.m.

While Jarrod Knowles’s background has largely been in computers, he developed an interest in the cinematic arts when he was younger.

“Once, I saw a film, and wasn’t impressed. I wanted to prove that I could make something better,” he said.  “I found myself writing a script that night.”

The script eventually resulted in his first film, “Game Over”. Internet Movie Data Base describes the film’s storyline as a “game of poker [becoming] a game of survival.”

“This was my first foray into filmmaking”, Knowles said. “It attracted investors throughout the community.”

Some of his investors include individuals from the Bahamas, and friends from FIU. Ultimately, Knowles raised $10,000 for “What Lies Beyond.”

Knowles, born in Nassau, Bahamas, moved to Miami to pursue his degree at FIU in 2008.

He described his upcoming film as creating a typical “kids in the woods” style horror movie, as its plot involves “a group of eight college students with a witty chaperone” venturing into the forest, where “all hell breaks loose.”

One thing that differentiates “What Lies Beyond” from other films in the genre, according to Knowles, is its diverse cast.

“It isn’t just a bunch of white kids or black kids,” he said, pointing out the presence of multiple ethnic groups, including Iranians and Brazilians.

Student Media asked Knowles what his inspiration was behind producing horror films, and he cited an economic approach.

“I’m more of a businessman than an artist,” Knowles said, mentioning that he “found horror to be easier to produce with less money.”

According to Knowles, the reason behind the cheap cost of making a horror movie is due to lack of a need for expensive stars, and more of a demand for thrills.

“When was the last time you saw Will Smith in a horror movie?” he said. “People [just] want to see the horror.”

On the Facebook page for the film’s opening night, Knowles told attendees that the “hashtag of the night” is “#MiamiOscars.” He said he wanted the hashtag to inspire the Miami film community with an event that would be just as appealing as the Oscars.

The aim of the hashtag, according to Knowles, was to “come up with a way to get people excited.”

“There’s going to be lots of press, even mainstream press, at the red carpet event,“ he said, later mentioning that its premiere at AMC, and the formal dress of the event, would also be important factors.

Knowles also hopes that his story will “show people that dreams are real.”

“You need to find time to make your dream come true,” said Knowles. “It can’t be a hobby.”

[pullquote]“You need to find time to make your dream come true,” said Knowles. “It can’t be a hobby.”[/pullquote]

Knowles plans on continuing in the film business once budgetary funds are available. He described his next film as being “Punisher meets Colombiana”, and will be called “Tried.”

“A girl gets fired from her job, comes home to find her husband cheating on her, then finds out that her family has been killed,” said Knowles, saying that these events would cause the protagonist to set out on a journey of revenge.

raul.herrera@fiusm.com

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