awesome narratives. visceral horror. raw documentary storytelling. unforgettable cinematic experiences.
Just a taste
A FEAR MICHIGAN horror film. In the heart of Northern Michigan’s cherry country, a mysterious fungal outbreak turns locals into ravenous zombies, forcing a two cherry pickers to fight for the woman they love most—and uncover the dark secret behind the infestation. Just a Taste is a proof of concept for the feature film Scary Cherry, aiming to take production Summer of ’26.
Set during the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Scary Cherry follows a group Mexican migrant workers who must they fight for their lives, as they cross a zombie outbreak in order to save the woman they love most.
WAX on: the candlestick story
[work In progress]
From his roots in Houston’s legendary “Chopped and Screwed” scene to shaping the sound of a new generation of Hip Hop, DJ Candlestick’s journey unveils the relentless passion and artistry behind his rise as a cultural icon. Top artists like Drake and Don Toliver put their faith in Candlestick alone to chop all of their albums. See why his sound inspires Barry Jenkins (Moonlight). But don’t take my word for it. Hear it from the man himself…
“Director’s Testimonial”
I met Candlestick on Instagram during the pandemic, and then by a chance encounter at Coachella in 2022. I have listened to his chopped music since I was in high school, so naturally I was ecstatic to get to tell his story as a documentary. I wanted to know the meaning of the idea DJ Candlestick – it seemed to me that it was more than just a name. I had no idea that the idea of a candlestick became a guiding light for him through out his entire life. During our first shoot in Houston, I got to see up close how special he is, not only as a DJ, but as a human. He is the perfect person to tell the story of the Screwed scene and I couldn’t think of a better representative from Houston. We will return to Houston to finish gathering archival footage and film the Spring ’25 Hometown Heroes concert that Candlestick is MC’ing. -SR
Doghouse
Fear Michigan x Short’s Brewing
Deep in Northern Michigan, a brewing experiment goes off the rails when Joe Short, founder of Short’s Brewing Company, steps into the role of a mad Brewmaster trying to cure his employee’s Dogman infection with a mysterious non-alcoholic ale. The short film Doghouse reimagines one of Michigan’s oldest legends through the lens of craft beer, comedy, and chaos — a cinematic collaboration that turns local folklore into branded storytelling. The cure itself? Billy Strings’ “Thirst Mutilator,” a lemon-lime beverage brewed in partnership with Short’s, positioned in the film as the mythical antidote to the Dogman’s curse.
What began as a joke between filmmakers and brewers has evolved into a full-blown cinematic universe under the Fear Michigan banner. The next chapter, Hair of the Dog, continues the legend — diving deeper into recovery, friendship, and the strange science behind Michigan’s most infamous monster. With Short’s Brewing, local musicians, and a growing network of collaborators onboard, the Dogman saga is just getting started.
Way Steady 