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Chris Puterbaugh Reflects On Cancelled Film With Cast Mates; How Bethany McCurry and Several Other Cast Members Played A Role In The Decision:

If you know anything about Chris, is that he wants to get films done once they're started. The actor and filmmaker, 25, plays a huge role in the Cineflight Studios productions. He started the production company back in 2017, as C Crew Media. Fast Forward. 8 years later, he has expectations set high on the productions he makes.

"I really take film seriously. It is a lot of work. While I started thinking about my next project back in 2024, I really wanted to hit home with what we were doing next. 2023 was our last production, Ascension. We had announced and composed several projects from 2023-24, nothing happened. I was very frustrated. I, at the time, back in October 2024, really wanted to re do a version of our titular 'The Horror Stone Series'. It was all the crave at the time, it was essentially our bread and butter and what everyone associated us with. We had 3 big blockbuster shorts, in a span of 2 years. Cast meet and greets, talk of the school. at the time, everything. So naturally, a new revival film came to mind.

We started production on 'The Forest' in April. It was pretty straight forward. We filmed and wrapped production by May. We started advertising and promoting the film by June and had a release set for August. Yeah, we switched around the release dates, but there was a deeper reason for that. I was tired, I work full time and go to school, and editing a quality production film was making us squeezed onto a narrow postproduction schedule. So, I decided, I'll just stick with the 29th of August. The cast was available, and I was confident we would have a good film. 

By the 3rd week of August, I and Bethany McCurry had a unrelated film, personal and short discussion about our friendship. I elaborated that we needed a break, and It was not in my best interest to continue working with her collaborate or personally until she made more adult mature life choices. Well, this caused a domino effect.

I was also at the same time in talks with Cinepolis to finalize the premiere dates for our film and secure the event costs. Then bam, the Barnhart's cancelled their in-person attendance for the premiere for a Worship night. I then was trying to consult my friend James on a brand advertisement, dead silent. So naturally, I was completely like, wtf. Then, McCurry, slammed me on social media, and several of the cast members, including B & C were involved and supported her behavior. So, I called the production off.

I have worked with these cast members since 2017 and was so involved in their lives. Then when everyone had to grow up, their care in the work they did with these films fell away. It was evident in the way this production fell apart. When I worked with the cast of films like, Road-Trip to Heaven and Ascension, everyone got it done and we were proud of it. This film was like, "yeah let's go shoot a video and then life resumes". No care in the world about promoting it, supporting the production, and worst of all... The disrespect I was met with. I'll NEVER do it again. I didn't want this to repeat, and I am ashamed. This is a dream, a vision. It was much deeper than the small inconveniences, It was a slap in the face from friends I thought were family, who turned into strangers. And a door slammed shut in my face to my career in filmmaking, from my peers."

ANY OPINIONS OR VIEWS FROM THIS BLOG ARE STRICTLY FROM THE AUTHORS PERSPECTIVE. WHEN PUBLISHED, THIS IS/WAS NOT MEANT TO DEFAME. RIDICULE OR HARASS ANY CREATORS, TALENT OR NAMES MENTIONED IN THIS POST.