Patient 23's Letchworth Village Experience

Today in the "Patient 23" blog, we will tell you about the cast and crews time spent at the Letchworth Village Asylum.  For previous blogs regarding "Patient 23" you can click on these links: 

What is Patient 23? 

Lt. Triggs Character & Actor Bio.

Since this Saturday, August 31st, the cast and crew will be officially filming "Patient 23", we felt this was the appropriate time to share our experiences of the first day of test shooting, as well as test photos with the cast in their initial concept design outfits, when the cast and crew traveled to Letchworth Village.

For those that don't know what Letchworth Village is, in brief via Wikipedia:

"Letchworth Village was a residential institution located in Rockland County, New York in the hamlet of Thiells built for the physically and mentally disabled of all ages from the newborn to the elderly. Opened in 1911, Letchworth Village at its peak consisted of over 130 buildings spread out over many acres of land.

On February 27, 1950, the first trial case of the polio vaccine in the United States was administered to an 8-year-old patient.^[1] After the patient suffered no side effects, the vaccine was administered to 19 more of the institution's children.^[2][3]

In 1972, a New York affiliate of ABC News featured Letchworth Village and its appalling conditions in an episode called Willowbrook: The Last Great Disgrace which helped lead to reform of similar healthcare institutions throughout the United States. But prior media attention and national focus was not enough to save Letchworth Village, and by the mid-1980s, the institution was no longer being adequately funded nor properly managed and residents, including children, continued to be found unclothed, unbathed, and neglected. In addition to rampant abuse among the institution's residents, staff also suffered abuse at the hands of fellow co-workers which included incidents of rape.

In 1996 the institution was permanently closed down, and many of its abandoned structures have since fallen into serious disrepair."

Letchworth Village, primarily the asylum portion of the facility, is believed to be haunted, and with its history we wouldn't doubt it either.  A fact so believed to be true that the Letchworth Village asylum was featured on the Travel Channel's TV show Ghost Adventures during the time of Hurricane Irene (Season 5 Episode 6).

We wanted to explore several locations before solidly locking one for our official day of filming, and Letchworth Village had the look we wanted for the film.
On the day of shooting, while director Anthony Gutierrez and new actor/boom mic handler Christopher Torres were at Letchworth Village filming general exterior scenes from within the asylum ,heavy breathing was picked up on the mic.  Both of them questioned if it were eachother, both denied it of course.
While shooting concept photos with HSL Photography, actor Sid O' Connell got weird vibes from within the asylum and immediately went outside the second that his photos were finished being taken.

While nothing supernatural occured the day of shooting the test footage other than weird vibes and mysterious breathing caught on camera, it wasn't until AFTER the cast and crew left the asylum that odd occurances began.  All the actors involved in the project that were inside the asylum, as well as the director, had a long and strange streak of bad luck that began a day after they left the asylum stemming from work problems to home issues and more.
At first, the cast simply didn't think anything of it, until new actress Veronica Vargas, who portrays Dr. Lisa Riney in "Patient 23", mentioned to them that their string of bad luck could've came from the Letchworth Village asylum.
One actor of the film (who will remain nameless) was the one who intially suggested filming the test footage at Letchworth Village's asylum because he has been inside the facility numerous times, and consistently wanted to go back there for filming though the director and the remainder of the cast stated numerous times they would not film there again.  This struck Veronica Vargas as odd, and bought up the possibly that someone, or something, may have attached themselves to this actor at some point.  Though an outlandish claim, this actor did in fact seek metaphysical aid, only to be told (before mentioning it) that something was in fact attached to him.

Do we believe it to be haunted?  Absolutely, and we would not recommend anyone going to any legimate or rumored haunted facility, even if the proper precautions were taken.  There are just some things in this world, and other worlds, that we are just not meant to be near.
Regardless of what anyone believes, this was definitely an interesting thing that happened to us and we felt we should share with you all, our horde.

In the meantime, for more "Patient 23" don't forget to Like our Facebook Page, and follow us on Twitter at @Patient23 and Instagram at @Patient_23 with constant updates.

Lt. Triggs: Character and Actor Bio

Today in the Patient 23 blog, we are getting to know "Patient 23" actor Damian Vargas and his character in the film, Lt. Triggs.
For more information on what "Patient 23" is, click on the following link for our first Blog Entry: What is Patient 23?

1^st Lt. Triggs

Enlisted in the US Marine corp. at age 17, he spent 10 years enlisted until being accepted into OCS (Officer Candidate School). After receiving his commission he worked his way to 1^st Lt. shortly before the world fell. A decorated combat veteran of 3 wars and numerous peace keeping operations, his military accomplishments have taken a toll on his person life, losing his mother to Cancer while on his first tour overseas. Triggs has had financial issues due to gambling debts and support for his 2 children from his previous marriage. His second wife was involved in a hit and run accident that put her in a coma and eventual she passed, the driver was never caught. As the outbreak began, Triggs tried to make his way to his children but was too late, finding both his son and daughter already infected. The only thing keeping him from a putting a gun in his mouth is the pure hatred for the Vampire race which he believes was the start of this whole thing.

The first lieutenant returned to active duty when what was remaining of the government ordered an emergency call to arms. Now forced to work with the vampires he hates, as well as hunt down the illusive threat of Patient 23, Triggs has developed a hardened soul, emotionless and withdrawn he carries out his duties without question or any regard to himself. His one purpose is to complete the mission, now matter the cost.

 

*About Lt. Triggs actor Damian Vargas*

 

Damian Vargas is a former karate instructor, and recently retired independent professional wrestler whom ended his career the evening of winning the highly acclaimed ECWA Super 8 tournament.

He is also co-host of Nerd Herders Radio, a weekly podcast that airs live every Friday night at 9pm est. on Blog Talk Radio station: Dream Elite Radio.

Damian has also acted in 'Motor Lodge', the widely popular (and unfortunately removed) 'Deadpool The Webseries' on youtube from Blinky Productions, as well as 'Death Game' and taking part in a live action graphic novel titled 'Dangerman' both from Blinky Productions.

Other than his moments in the spotlight, Damian is also a devoted husband and father, an avid gamer, comic book reader, fanboy and talented artist.

Behind the scenes of "Patient 23" Damian is very active in the fight choreography, using his art skills for story boarding and assisting in writing the script.

He can be found on his official Facebook Page: Damian Dragon Entertainment, on twitter at @STBDamianDragon and his youtube channel.

You can follow him, as well as everything else regarding "Patient 23" such as behind the scenes photos, on set test footage photos, concept art and more via the Patient 23 Facebook page, @Patient23 on Twitter and @Patient_23 on Instagram

Patient 23: A Brief Introduction

"The government meant to create a weapon that could protect us from the unknown. Instead, they created death to us all."

 

"Patient 23" is a refreshing take on the horror movie genre and the vampire/zombie subgenre.  Bringing you old-school special effects and gore, and taking the vampire/zombie genre back to a time when they were both feared and revered.

"Patient 23" is an independent horror film originally written by Anthony Gutierrez.  An endeavor that he put aside upon his former associates believing the script not to be worth it.  Years later, Anthony blew the dust of the script and mentioned it to some of the cast of what was intended to be his first project, 'Night of The Warriors', a fan film based on the movie 'The Warriors'.
While 'Night of the Warriors' garnered interest from fans of the original movie, and was in the very early stages of pre-production, something about "Patient 23" peeked the interest in all those involved with 'Night of the Warriors'.
 
While 'Night of the Warriors' is on production-hiatus, "Patient 23" production is now in full swing for a short film at first, in the hopes of becoming a full length feature movie.  Ron Fulmer has jumped in with assisting Anthony in writing and fleshing out the script, and joining Anthony in the directors chair is Jose Rodriguez of Golden King Productions.
Thusfar, there is a solid cast for the short film, with the potential of other roles opening up if "Patient 23" goes full length.

Damian Vargas as Lt. Triggs

Hector De La Rosa as Patient 23

Sid O'Connell as Duppa

Kika Magalhaes as Princess Kika

Ron Fulmer as Petty Officer Raines

Zachary Avino as EMT Schmidt

Featuring Veronica "Foxy Foxxy" Vargas as Dr. Lisa Riney

and Christopher "Spike" Torres as Pvt. Jacobs

With Gayle Bykowicz in the special effects department and Heather Ashley Berg in make-up

This blog will feature the cast and their character bios, journal like entries of the pre and post production of "Patient 23", and more.

For pre-production, on-set photos and concept art, and much more of "Patient 23" you can find us on Instagram at @Patient_23, Twitter at @Patient23, and Facebook at Official Patient 23 Movie Page.  All the links are at the top of this blog page, we have our Facebook page badge to the right hand side, as well as the live "Patient 23" twitter feed.

@Patient23

Below this blog, are means of sharing this blog without having to copy and paste the URL via twitter, Facebook and Google Plus, as well as a translate bar in which this blog can be translated into any language so that all fans of "Patient 23" can read this blog.

Also, we here at "Patient 23" understand the weariness that comes with donating to a Kickstarter project, those nagging thoughts in the back of ones head that wonder where is the money going.  There is a "Patient 23" wish-list via Amazon for those that wish to donate props and other necessities to the movie, you purchase an item on the wish-list for the film and you will see your item in the film without a wonder what the money donated will go to.

Thank you all for the support otherwise via Facebook, twitter, and Instagram and to those that have heard about us at Wizard World Chicago and Monster Mania in Cherry Hill, NJ.
Welcome to the horde and enjoy the ride that we are all on with "Patient 23".