Filmmaker Robert Glickert came up with the concept for Road to Moloch while developing a feature length film script that dealt with the criminal underworld and a similar supernatural villain; a shape-shifting demonic creature. The self-financed short film was created as an exercise in directing and producing a high-intensity short film with a low budget, while maintaining maximum production value.

Robert had been attracted to the concept of blending the world of soldiers and the supernatural before, and centering the idea on a group of recon marines in Iraq seemed like the ideal approach for his concept. When he found out that a legitimate cave location existed 10 minutes away from his home (the original “Bat Cave”), it seemed too good to be true. Robert quickly drafted a treatment of the overall story and presented it to writers Matt and Ross Duffer, who Robert had been working on a feature film script with. Over the next few months, the Duffers and Robert collaborated on the screenplay and the film started pre-production at the end of 2008.

Robert recruited many of the same crew members and friends who worked on his short film, The Descendent, along with many new people he met through working on Transformers, Iron Man, and Fast and Furious. He brought on Claudia DiDomenico to help produce, as well as co-producers Eric Edmonds and Ashley Friedlander. Also key in rounding out this professionally run production were Assistant Director Chris Sadler and Associate Producer Anson Ho. Because the film was self-financed, the production team did all they could to pull favors and make the most out of the low budget. Clairmont Camera gave an amazing deal on two 35mm cameras, Kodak donated film stock, Chapman Leonard gave a good deal on dollies, and Chapman University and Siho Media supplied equipment and additional resources.

In addition to these vendors, many industry professionals donated their invaluable services as well. Tamara Hunter, of the Sarah Finn Company, lended a hand in helping oversee casting. Mike Gunther, the stunt coordinator from Fast and Furious, came on board with his crew to coordinate the film’s stunts, which was essential to the film’s action packed second half. The picture car coordinator from Fast and Furious, Dennis McCarthy, helped with coordinating and transporting the military humvee used in the film. The goodwill given by these industry professionals was a true honor for the filmmakers.

The production shot at the beginning of 2009 for six shooting days. Two days were in the vast landscape of Cuddeback Dry Lake Bed and four days in the historic Bronson Cave at Griffith Park, where Production Designer Dorothy Street and Cinematographer Jeff Dolen turned the relatively small tunnel into an endless network of menacing caves. The talented cast and crew’s dedication and hard work were essential in fully realizing the unique story and its challenging visuals.

In post, Editor Dylan Highsmith and Sound Designer Andrew Swanson created an effective tempo and mood for the film, while Composer Gregory Tripi produced a thrilling score using a variety of instruments and sounds from around the world. The filmmakers also found support in post from Peter Brown at Sound Delux and the owners and crew at 424 Inc., who gave Andrew great tools and people to work with.

Robert Glickert and the filmmakers had an enjoyable and rewarding experience turning this seemingly ambitious idea into an effective and fun short film. They are now excited to share it with the world and look forward to creating more energetic and original films in the near future.