His enthusiasm was contagious to classmates and inspiring to instructors, who asked him to take the helm for two summer workshops. Andrew graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh with a degree in industrial design technology, with an emphasis in special effects for film and theater.
Andrew lent his expertise to a number of independent projects, including the original feature-length film The Avenging Disco Vampires, an adaptation of H. P. Lovecraft’s story Pickman’s Model, and theatrical productions of The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. In the fall of 1999, he conceived and co-produced Darkenwood -- a full-scale, haunted theater attraction that spanned 10 acres and drew nearly 3,000 patrons from local communities.
Currently, Andrew is the webmaster and resident special effects consultant for a high-technology company. He quenches his thirst for directing with freelance projects that include creative and corporate video projects, graphic design, prop architecture, and sculpting and molding original art pieces.
Jason Courtemanche – Producer/Actor
 Jason is a creativity junkie who immerses himself in many different arts: music, painting, drawing, design, video, animation, acting, producing, and martial arts. While earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Massachusetts, Jason helped to pioneer an emerging local digital video movement. He produced a music video featuring his own rock band that utilized innovative digital film treatment and unique locations.
After graduation, Jason freelanced in the graphic design industry. He gained ground in the Boston area as a designer and art director in the corporate communications and event management fields, learning how to produce, budget, manage people, and tap his creative resources under tremendous pressure and deadlines. With this experience, he started his own design company, Digital Arts Studio, and laid the foundation to pursue his dream of filmmaking. During this time, Jason produced two audio CDs for local bands World’s Eye and Misery, acted in Pickman’s Model, and performed in a weekly improvisational role-playing group, along with other creative endeavors. Most notably, he co-produced Darkenwood.
In 2000, technology advancements and lower equipment costs enabled Jason to assemble and co-found Mindbeside Studios, with the intention to produce his concept for a movie called The Killing Hand.
H. Jarrod Courtemanche – Screenwriter
Jarrod has always had a knack for creative storytelling. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where he began taking courses in literature.
With his veteran status, Jarrod was able to enroll in a Liberal Arts program at the University of Massachusetts. With a desire to widen his field of experience, Jarrod took on a dual concentration in history and literature while studying film and music. His diligence in writing and aptitude for absorbing information led to his induction in the Gamma Delta chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda a National Honor Society in Continuing Education.
Jarrod has published articles and stories in White Knight, an underground gaming magazine, and has run a weekly improvisational role-playing group for over 20 years. He has penned an impressive collection of short stories and essays that he plans to self-publish.
Jarrod co-founded Mindbeside Studios and took on the challenge of writing the script for The Killing Hand. He also got deeply involved in other aspects of filming in the company’s first production.
Michael Belanger - Score
Michael lives and breathes music. Starting with guitar at an early age, he delved into the local music scene. He made himself useful by learning whatever instrument or technical job was required: vocals, bass, booking agent, manager, web master and lighting technician, to name a few. To pursue his dream of composing music, Michael designed and built his own digital recording studio, where he focuses his spare time on his musical mastery.
Michael has self-published music on the Internet under the pseudonym zDrive, and has garnered rave reviews see http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?AID=58555&T=8636
In 2002, Mindbeside Studios asked Michael to compose the score to The Killing Hand, which has received public acclaim. Through his dedication and proven talent in this and other areas, Michael was asked to join Mindbeside Studios.
Michael is an active member of the Society of Composers and Lyricists and studies classical piano at the Indian Hill Music Center in Littleton MA, and develops software for independent filmmakers.
Steven Horlink, Engineering/Master Grip
Steve is a one-man technical support team. His creative aptitude stems from instinctive resourcefulness and knowledge of various engineering perspectives. During production, he was constantly relied upon for a broad range of technical support -- from light fixtures, to camera mechanization, to action (he appears in the film as two very diverse characters).
His father was in the hardware business, and his friends were in the engineering field - a fortunate combination of influence that led him to graduate from U-Mass Lowell with a degree in business and a strong foothold in engineering science.
Steve's past projects include engineering design of parade floats, support of the haunted theater attraction Darkenwood (see above), and the full replication of a medieval suit of armor that's on rotational display in numerous Massachusetts libraries.
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From an early age, Andrew was a visionary. He carefully designed and constructed elaborate haunted attractions using household materials and natural props in his backyard woods. Family and friends donned handcrafted costumes and makeup, and eagerly assumed ghoulish roles he carefully scripted to frighten local residents of all ages. During his college days, Andrew created, executed, managed, and staffed two large-scale haunted attractions. He also got involved in high-profile community projects that ranged from sculpting to special effects makeup.
