Ever wake up in a sweat thinking you’d been called back to finish school? Earlier this month, local filmmaker Byron Thomas rose bright and early to catch first and second period at Eureka Springs High School. He was invited by the high school’s film and EAST teacher, Adam Louderback, to meet with film students and screen his award-winning short film, A Dish Best Served Cold.
The film was created by Thomas and his long-time friend, filmmaker Tyler Allee – both ESHS alumni. Thomas and Allee work in photography and videography, shooting weddings around Northwest Arkansas to support their families. Both settled into homes in the heart of town, raising daughters just down the street from each other.
Early in the year, the two friends decided to leap into a project together with a “let’s just do it” attitude. They’d been enjoying old horror films and wanted to experiment with the styles that inspired them; Rear Window, Rebecca, Vertigo, and House on Haunted Hill, were some of their favorites. In March, they began writing a screenplay, with actors in mind from various local theater companies, hoping they would take interest.
When the screenplay was completed, actors Lyn Davis (Melonlight Theater) and Sean-Paul (Intrigue Theater) committed to play the starring roles. It was go-time. They began scouting locations, preparing for action. The Castle Rogue’s Manor became the perfect setting. With their stars cast, they began doing table reads. Things were going very well.
Just two weeks before production began, they got a call from leading man, Sean-Paul. Regretfully, he was no longer able to take the part. Circumstances were unavoidable, but the filmmakers now had a brand-new twist in their plot. All creative adventures have their twists, however, and often can be viewed at blessings in disguise. They held onto that notion as they pivoted – letting it fuel them as they hustled to keep their project on track.
They rewrote the script, creating a whole new character to fit the energy of someone they hoped would accept the role – Melonlight Theater’s Ray Ulibarri. They knew better than to cram one great actor into another one’s boots. Upon reading the script, Ulibarri was all in. And soon, in the heat of the summer, production began.
They shot in three locations, including in a room and the morgue at the Crescent Hotel. Some sets were without air conditioning; waiting for dark to fall provided many late nights. After two weeks of sweat-dabbing, keeping the water flowing, and experimenting with new techniques – it was a wrap.
By fall, the friends were able to enter their film into small horror festivals around the country – one in Salem, Massachusetts, and of course, Eureka Spring’s own Nightmare in the Ozarks. The project was a success. They made the leap and achieved their goal, revealing what they are capable of, what they can learn in a short time, how the community that helped foster their creativity will greet them with enthusiasm, and – how they can do the same.
Thomas’ visit to ESHS sparked new ideas and connection. He was impressed with the equipment students had access to, imagining how great that would have been back in his own high school days.
Allee is looking forward to finishing his master’s degree in film next spring, for which the two may collaborate on a narrative or documentary piece. Someday, the goal is to make a full-feature film. For the moment, Thomas and Allee are taking a pause to take stock and allow future ideas to simmer. Find their short film, A Dish Best Served Cold on YouTube.