BUCK CRAZY

A Horror Short Film

About Buck Crazy

A Deaf hiker investigating illegal hunting in remote Pennsylvania woods encounters a disturbed hunter and descends into a nightmare of violence, survival, and silent terror.

Buck Crazy is a 12-minute horror short film created by Buck Crazy LLC. We are dedicated to creating authentic, visceral horror cinema that respects its characters and challenges audiences.

This is an independent production with professional ambitions, targeting major film festivals including Fantastic Fest, SXSW, Tribeca, and Sundance.

Our Mission

We believe horror can be a powerful medium for meaningful storytelling. Buck Crazy combines authentic representation with practical filmmaking to create something genuinely unsettling and compelling. This isn't gimmick casting—authentic Deaf representation matters and creates authenticity that resonates.

🎬 What Makes Buck Crazy Different:
We're not making horror FOR the Deaf community. We're making horror WITH them, centering Deaf experience as integral to the story's power, not its exception.

The Project

Genre
Horror / Thriller
Runtime
12 minutes
Status
Pre-Production

Tone & Style

Dark, atmospheric, visceral. Minimal dialogue. The horror of silence becomes central to the narrative. We're crafting a sensory experience that uses sound design, practical effects, and cinematography to create dread.

Why This Story

Horror often explores vulnerability. Buck Crazy takes this to a philosophical level—what happens when a character's relationship to sound and communication is fundamentally different? The resulting terror is both universal and distinctly unique to Deaf experience.

Production Timeline

Pre-Production
October 2025 - March 2026
Casting, crew hiring, location scouting, SFX development
Principal Photography
April 26-27, 2026
South Mountain Preserve, Pennsylvania
Post-Production
May - September 2026
Editing, color correction, sound design, VFX, music composition
Festival Submission
September 2026 - Ongoing
Target: Fantastic Fest (world premiere)

Casting

We are actively seeking talented performers for Buck Crazy. This is a paid production with professional rates.

Lead Role: The Girl

Deaf Actress, Late Teens / Early 20s

Character: Resourceful, observant, intelligent. An experienced hiker who investigates suspicious activity in the forest. Her deafness is never treated as a limitation—it's part of her identity and shapes how she experiences and survives the horror.
Requirements: Acting experience preferred. Comfortable with physical demands, SFX makeup, and stunt work. ASL fluency preferred but not required (we provide interpretation).
Compensation: $800 - $1,000 plus meals, travel reimbursement, and festival invitations
Shoot Dates: April 26-27, 2026

Supporting Roles

The Hunter - Late 30s to Early 40s

Character: The antagonist. Unhinged, dangerous, driven by obsession. This is a meaty role for an experienced actor ready to go dark.
Physical Requirements: Ability to handle stunt work, wear prosthetics, work with weapons props (fake shotgun, axe, knife)
Experience: Theater or film background helpful
Compensation: $250 - $400 plus meals and travel

Young Boy - 10-11 Years Old

Character: Authentic child actor, capable of expressing terror. Brief but impactful scenes—holds bow, reacts to shooting accident.
Experience: Theater, student film, or strong acting ability
Compensation: $150 - $250 for partial day shoot
Important: Parent/Guardian required on set at all times (required by law for child actors)

Older Boy - 14-15 Years Old

Character: Protective older brother type, capable of stunts. Holding bow, reacting to incident.
Experience: Theater or film background
Compensation: $150 - $250 for partial day shoot

How to Apply

Email: info@buckcrazyfilm.com

Subject Line: [ROLE NAME] - [Your Name]

Include:

  • Headshot (professional preferred, smartphone acceptable)
  • Resume or bio
  • Reel link (if available) or describe relevant experience
  • Brief note about yourself and why you're interested
  • Availability confirmation for April 26-27, 2026
  • For child roles: Parent/guardian contact info

Submission Deadline: November 15, 2025

View Full Casting Call on Backstage →
📋 Diversity & Inclusion: Buck Crazy is committed to an inclusive, welcoming set. We actively encourage submissions from underrepresented communities and explicitly welcome BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled performers.

Join Our Crew

We are building a professional, collaborative team committed to creating festival-quality horror. If you have expertise in any of these areas and are interested in working on an ambitious indie production, we want to hear from you.

Now Hiring

Director of Photography (DP)

Lead cinematographer. Your creative vision and technical expertise will define the visual language of the film. Experience with digital cinema, color grading understanding, and horror aesthetic required.

$600 - $800 (total for 2-day shoot)

Key Skills: Camera operation, lighting design, composition, collaborative problem-solving

Sound Recordist

Capture clean audio in challenging outdoor environments. This is a forest location—you'll be working with nature. Boom operation, wireless mic management, and real-time monitoring required.

$400 - $500 (total for 2-day shoot)

Key Skills: Boom operation, wireless mic systems, location sound mixing

SFX / Makeup Artist

Design and execute practical effects including prosthetics, gore, and makeup. This is a hands-on role with significant prep time before the shoot.

$1,000 - $1,500 (total, including prep time)

Key Skills: Prosthetics, makeup application, practical effects, material science knowledge, allergy testing

Stunt Coordinator

Plan, choreograph, and supervise all physical action and safety. Experience with stunt rigging, actor safety, and low-budget problem-solving required.

$400 - $600 (total for 2-day shoot)

Key Skills: Stunt planning, safety protocols, actor direction, problem-solving

1st Assistant Camera (Focus Puller)

Manage focus during camera moves, maintain lens cleanliness, handle camera maintenance. Precision and experience required.

$300 - $350 (total for 2-day shoot)

Key Skills: Focus pulling, lens knowledge, camera maintenance

Gaffer (Lighting Director)

Design and execute lighting strategy. Work with DP to achieve visual aesthetic. Lead lighting crew. Experience with both natural and artificial lighting required.

$400 - $500 (total for 2-day shoot)

Key Skills: Lighting design, equipment knowledge, crew management

Key Grip

Manage all camera support and rigging. Work closely with DP and Gaffer. Responsible for equipment safety and setup.

$300 - $350 (total for 2-day shoot)

Key Skills: Rigging, equipment operation, problem-solving

Production Assistant (Multiple Positions)

General support on set. Coordinate logistics, manage extras, assist departments. Great entry-level opportunity if you're passionate about filmmaking.

$150 - $175 per day (2 days total)

Key Skills: Organization, communication, physical stamina, enthusiasm

Post-Production Positions (Coming Soon)

We'll be hiring editors, colorists, sound designers, and composers for post-production (May-September 2026). Stay tuned for announcements.

How to Apply for Crew

Email: info@buckcrazyfilm.com

Subject: [POSITION] - [Your Name]

Include:

  • Resume/CV with relevant experience
  • Links to your reel, portfolio, or IMDb
  • References (at least 2)
  • Brief cover letter explaining why you're interested
  • Availability confirmation for April 26-27, 2026 (and prep dates if applicable)
💡 Entry-Level Filmmakers: Don't have professional credits yet? We value passion, reliability, and willingness to learn. PA positions are great starting points. Include a brief note about your filmmaking goals.

Production Details

Shoot Dates
April 26-27, 2026
Location
South Mountain Preserve
Fayetteville, PA
Runtime
12 minutes

Location: South Mountain Preserve

South Mountain Preserve offers dense forest, dramatic terrain, and authentic wilderness—perfect for the horror tone we're creating. The location provides natural isolation and compelling visuals.

Production Values

Festival Strategy

Primary Target: Fantastic Fest (Austin, TX)
World premiere status. Prestigious horror festival with strong industry attention and distribution connections.
Secondary Targets:
  • SXSW Film Festival (Austin)
  • Tribeca Film Festival (New York)
  • Sundance Film Festival (Utah)
  • Telluride Horror Show
  • Beyond Fest

Post-Fantastic Fest, we'll pursue a strategic festival run targeting boutique horror festivals, regional festivals, and potential theatrical distribution through specialty distributors.

Production Updates

Follow our progress as we move through pre-production toward our April 2026 shoot date.

October 15, 2025

Website Launch & Casting Open

Buck Crazy officially opens casting for all roles. Submissions now open through November 15, 2025. We're also actively recruiting crew. If you're interested in working on this project, reach out!

October 2025

Pre-Production Underway

Director Can Turhan is finalizing the shot list, beginning SFX R&D, and coordinating location logistics with South Mountain Preserve. Casting calls posted to Backstage and industry networks.

November 2025 (Expected)

First Casting Round Complete

We'll review submissions and begin scheduling auditions with promising candidates for December-January.

January 2026 (Expected)

Cast & Crew Locked

Principal roles cast. Crew positions filled. Detailed rehearsal schedule announced.

February - March 2026 (Expected)

Intensive Prep Phase

SFX finalizations, rehearsals with cast, tech scouts, equipment procurement, and final logistics coordination.

April 26-27, 2026

Principal Photography

🎬 We shoot!

The Team

Can Turhan

Director / Producer

Filmmaker and founder of Buck Crazy LLC. Passionate about horror cinema that respects its characters and challenges audiences. Can brings a collaborative, detail-oriented approach to filmmaking with a commitment to authentic representation and professional standards.

Current Status: We are actively building our crew. Positions listed in the Crew section are open and accepting applications.

🎬 Our Filmmaking Philosophy:
Buck Crazy is built on collaboration. We believe the best creative work happens when diverse perspectives contribute to a shared vision. Every crew member matters, from the DP to the PAs. We prioritize a respectful, inclusive, professional set.

Press Kit

Media professionals, festival programmers, and industry partners can find key information about Buck Crazy here.

Quick Facts

One-Line Summary

A Deaf hiker investigating illegal hunting in Pennsylvania woods encounters a disturbed hunter and descends into nightmare survival horror.

Logline

When a resourceful Deaf hiker discovers evidence of illegal hunting on protected land, she sets out to document it. Instead, she encounters a disturbed hunter who forces her into a nightmare of violence, survival, and silent terror.

Film Details

  • Format: Digital cinema (4K capable)
  • Runtime: 12 minutes
  • Genre: Horror / Thriller
  • Country of Origin: USA
  • Language: Minimal dialogue; visual storytelling and ASL
  • Location: South Mountain Preserve, Pennsylvania
  • Production Company: Buck Crazy LLC
  • Director/Producer: Can Turhan

Director Bio

Can Turhan is an independent filmmaker based in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Driven by a commitment to authentic representation and visceral storytelling, Can founded Buck Crazy LLC to create horror cinema that challenges both audiences and industry standards around representation and accessibility.

Distribution & Contact

For festival submissions, press inquiries, licensing, or distribution interest:

Email: info@buckcrazyfilm.com

Based: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania

High-Resolution Assets

Press images, official synopsis, director headshot, and production stills will be available here upon completion of principal photography.

Get In Touch

Whether you're interested in casting, crew work, press inquiries, or just want to reach out with thoughts about the project, we'd love to hear from you.

Primary Contact

Email: info@buckcrazyfilm.com

Based: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania

For Casting Submissions
Email with your headshot, resume, and reel link. Subject: [ROLE NAME] - [Your Name]
Deadline: November 15, 2025
For Crew Inquiries
Email with your experience, reel, references, and availability.
Subject: [POSITION] - [Your Name]
For Press & Industry Inquiries
Festival programmers, journalists, and distribution partners: info@buckcrazyfilm.com

Response Times

We aim to respond to all inquiries within 7-10 business days. High volume may cause delays. If you don't hear back, feel free to send a follow-up.

📧 Submission Tips: Include complete information, double-check your subject line format, verify your email is correct (typos happen!), and avoid attachments larger than 20MB. PDF links work better than embedded files.