© NCSU Student Media 2011
Alan Watkins demonstrates how to apply zombie makeup to volunteer Cory Smith, senior in english, on Tuesday October 18 2011. Watkins, who has been involved in the production of several films, explained that he enjoys horror because people watch it for not just the plot, but also the special effects. Photo by Tyler Andrews
According to computer science lecturer Alan Watkins, gel blood is the best stuff ever.
“It’s basically just gelatin that you can buy at the store, some glycerin, and some water, and a bit of food coloring,” Watkins said. “And that’s the big secret revealed of the perfect fake blood.”
You might find yourself talking about subjects like this, if you ever run into Watkins. He has taught classes in computer science, Java, HTML, discrete math and Perl, but not everyone knows that Watkins has a passion for making good old-fashioned horror B-movies.
Watkins has dedicated a significant amount of time to making independent horror movies while teaching for the past 15 years. His first short film, Halloween Nightmare, was the start of what would become a major hobby for a B-movie enthusiast. Today, nearly all of Watkin’s short films can be found on YouTube under his account “AlanInRaleigh.”
With a passion for horror, Watkins has not held back on his desire to create new stories for all to see. In fact, having his stories filmed for audiences to enjoy is Watkins’ greatest satisfaction with each film he makes.
“My favorite part of making movies is other people enjoying the finished product,” Watkins said. “If you make a film and nobody ever sees it, it’s almost like you wrote a book and nobody ever read it. It’s definitely an art form and you want to get it out there for other people to see. Film festivals are a great way to get your films out there.”
Throughout the years, Watkins’ films have been featured in numerous local film festivals, including ConCarolinas in Charlotte, Film Spark and the Ava Gardner Film Festival.
Horror is one of the most entertaining genres in film, with many fans loving the frightening experiences generated by scary movies. Watkins can certainly attest to this notion as he is a true horror fanatic himself. B-movies are Watkins’ primary forte—they allow him to create stories that do not have to be questioned. Audiences can watch his movies and enjoy them without dwelling on plot points.
“When you’re watching a horror movie, you don’t really have to think too much,” Watkins said. “You don’t have to analyze the plot, or why the dumb blonde fell down, you just accept that she did. In horror, it’s not just the plot that people are going for, it’s the effects, the action, things like that.”
As far as Watkins’ involvement in his films, he does anything and everything. As an independent filmmaker, Watkins is responsible for nearly everything having to do with the project. He produces, writes, directs, acts and even does the horror make-up in almost all of his films. Independent filmmakers generally take charge in all aspects of their films, and Watkins is no exception.
When casting for his movies, Watkins has actually used his own children in the past. For Watkins, it makes shooting much easier since cooperating with children on set is not always so easy. Many kids are frightened on horror sets and can be hard to handle, but luckily for Watkins, he can easily handle and discipline his children during filming.
Location and expense are another challenge. Most of the time, Watkins shoots on locations that do not require a permit, so as to minimize cost. Locations for Watkins’ films have been anywhere from ambulances to storage lockers. Costs for the films are generally low, with some of the expenses being made up in DVD sales. At film festivals, Watkins has actually manufactured DVDs of his films for interested viewers to buy at a low price.
There are certainly many people who have a passion for horror similar to how Watkins enjoys the art form. It may be a lot of work, but Watkins sincerely loves what he does and pursues his passion for both himself and others’ enjoyment.
“If there are people that want to make a short film, then that’s exactly what they should do, because the longer that you try to make something, the more problems you’re going to run into,” Watkins said. ”Try and start off with something that’s no more than five minutes. My advice for any aspiring horror filmmakers is to get out there and do it.”
Young filmmakers should take note of Watkins’ work since he has proved himself a reputable, talented horror master. Whether it’s gruesome horror, fake blood, or computer science, Watkins certainly knows what he’s talking about and loves what he does.