When director Jason Satterfield’s scary feature film “The Legend Trip” screens at The Times Cinema on Saturday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m., keeping you on the edge of your seat, don’t be surprised if you recognize a few places in the movie.
Although most of the film, which Satterfield co-produced with Sara Bulle, who wrote the script, was filmed on a horse farm in Kewaskum and a dairy farm in Waukesha, there were a number of Milwaukee locations, too. Satterfield, says, however, that some of them didn’t make the final cut.
“Although two locations served as ‘The House,’ they came together rather well in the editing room,” says Satterfield.
“Other locations used include: Sherman Perk coffee shop -- nearly all was cut from the film --The Rave -- everything was cut from the film. Zahn’s Trading Post served as our 1930s general store and was located right across the street from our location in Kewaskum. For scenes taking place in the mental institution we used a very well known day spa under the conditions that their name be left off of the credits. Our police station was Lakeside Animal Hospital.”
Built around a series of flashbacks, “The Legend Trip” is a film about a woman’s obsession with the locally-famous and reportedly haunted Buth house. When she and her friends decide to explore the house and look into the legend behind it, they stumble into some terrifying stuff. Satterfield and Bulle made it for less than $10,000.
So, you might be surprised at how professional it looks and how damned scary it is. With so little money, Satterfield had to create terror without the benefit of special effects and high-end technology.
“The scariest films I can remember had very little in the way of ‘bells and whistles’,” he says, “so I was pretty comfortable knowing I didn’t have the budget for CGI and mammoth sets. Instead, we focused more on situations that made us squirm. The briefest of image, if done right, can stick with an audience far longer that large action set pieces or streamlined special effects. We tried to fill ‘The Legend Trip’ with as many situations and visuals that will make the audience uncomfortable -- rather than ‘thrilled.’ One film that comes to mind in this category is ‘Se7en.’ Although small by studio standards, it’s still remembered as one of the most terrifying films in recent years.”
So, what was the key?
“In order to get it right (we) had to dig deep and pull out the things that would be the most affecting. Being trapped by those you trust was a common theme -- as was humiliation and the loss of faith. Many of the stories have been pulled right from the headlines. Who hasn’t heard of a mother going mad and killing her children, or young women turning up dead after trusting the wrong men. You don’t need ghosts to frighten. Just look at the world around you. Rather, just look right here in your own state.”
The film also has some recognizable faces; the most recognizable of which belongs to Mark Metcalf, current Milwaukeean famous for his role in “Animal House” and as The Maestro on television’s “Seinfeld.”
Despite a small budget, Satterfield says, Metcalf agreed.
“I sent Mark a letter asking if he would consider being involved with the project and he arranged to meet me at his restaurant, Libby Montana I delivered a screenplay and we discussed his role for an hour or so. He was gracious enough to give me the thumbs up that afternoon.”
Also starring is Wisconsin native Ben Keepers, now based in Los Angeles.
“Ben called me from LA to let me know what a great thing it is to be making a film in Wisconsin,” says Satterfield. “I just glad I was able to work with him BEFORE he make the cover of people magazine.”
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
