EASTHAMPTON — The Nashawannuck Pond boardwalk and the Quarters in Hadley will help set scenes in an independent horror film that begins shooting next week.
“Blood/Lust,” directed by Easthampton resident David Zagorski, tells the story of Juliette, a 13-year old girl rescued from an abusive home life by a man who moves down the hall — Ben, who turns out to be a vampire.
The film will be shot at locations in Easthampton, Hadley and Holyoke between Aug. 21 and Sept. 3.
Zagorski, who’s lived in Easthampton most of his life, said he’s wanted to film at Nashawannuck Pond since the boardwalk was completed last year.
“This area, western Mass, is a great area for shooting,” he said. “A lot of places are open to allowing filmmakers like myself use their business for a location.”
“Blood/Lust” is the third film directed by Zagorski, 41, who works as a municipal assessor as a day job. He spends his vacations devoting time to his passion: making movies.
“Most people go to the beach, and I’m working 12, 16 hours shooting movies,” he said. “But that’s what I love to do.”
Zagorski said he’s been writing for as long as he can remember, and his mother has his second-grade musings to prove it. After finishing high school, he graduated from short stories and attempted, unsuccessfully, to write a novel.
“I don’t read novels — I don’t write novels,” he said of the realization of his calling. “I watch movies and that’s what I want to do.”
He got his start directing and producing horror show “After Dark with Raven,” on then-Easthampton Cable Access before creating a web series.
He wrote the screenplay of 2005’s “The Wickeds,” starring Ron Jeremy and wrote and directed “Killing Brooke,” which was released in 2012.
That film was completed on a $35,000 budget and is available on Amazon.com and Bestbuy.com, Zagorski said.
Zagorski said his goal with each of his films is to increase the budget and get more exposure. He hopes to screen “Blood/Lust” at film festivals and maybe even a theatrical release. “Hopefully the next one will be bigger,” he said.
“Blood/Lust” features several local cast and crew members, including actors Stephanie Cochran, of Agawam, and Dante Savion, who is originally from Northampton.
Producer Rowan Morrigan, of Westhampton, is a major financial backer, Zagorski said.
Zagorski is also seeking financial support on IndieGogo.com.
Chris Lindahl can be reached at clindahl@gazettenet.com