The
horror movie evolves from that scary scene. “People pump gas
at stations all over the country and no one thinks of what
kind person is running this gas station,” said Koza. “Who is
that person behind the counter?”
Horror
movie
filmed
in South
Lyon
Local
businessman
produces
first
film
using
mostly
Michigan
talent
and crew
February
2010 —
Longtime
Bloomfield
Hills
resident
and
Michigan-based
businessman
Norman
Koza has
produced
his
first
film,
using
mostly
Michigan
talent
and
crew.
The
premier
of Exit
33,
filmed
entirely
at the
Sokol
camp in
South
Lyon, is
March 11
at
Emagine
Theater,
44425
West 12
Mile
Road, in
Novi.
There
will be
two
showings
at 7
p.m. and
9 p.m.
Horror
film
star
Kane
Hodder
plays
lead
character
Ike.
Hodder
with
several
horror
movies
to his
credit
is now
filming
a
HATCHET
sequel.
He has
had a
long
career
delivering
some
memorable
kill
scenes.
He
played
Jason
Voorhees
from
1988’s
Friday
the 13th
Part
VII: The
New
Blood to
Jason X
( 2001)
and
serial
killer
Dennis
Rader in
B.T.K.
Koza got
the idea
for this
horror
movie
while
traveling
in
northern
Michigan.
He was
driving
down a
long,
narrow
and dark
road in
Traverse
City and
needed
gas. He
pulled
off an
exit and
immediately
was
overcome
with an
eerie
feeling.
“I had
this
feeling
that if
my car
broke
down, I
would be
in
trouble,”
said
Koza. “I
went
home
later
that day
and
started
to write
a movie
about a
man
whose
car
breaks
down in
a remote
area. It
is a
scary
scene
and I
knew
this had
to be a
horror
film.”
The
horror
movie
evolves
from
that
scary
scene.
“People
pump gas
at
stations
all over
the
country
and no
one
thinks
of what
kind
person
is
running
this gas
station,”
said
Koza.
“Who is
that
person
behind
the
counter?”
Using
his
Hollywood
contacts
from his
previous
work as
a music
promoter,
Koza
flew to
California
to pitch
his
idea. As
the plot
continued,
Koza
teamed
up with
screenwriter
Mark
Myers.
Koza
hired
Tommy
and Todd
Brunswick,
founders
of
Atomic
Devil
Entertainment,
based in
Michigan,
to
direct
the film
budgeted
at $1
million.
“I
wanted
to use
local
talent
and
crew,”
said
Koza. “I
could
have
filmed
this in
L.A, and
hired
all that
talent
there
but I
wanted
Michigan
to
benefit
from
this
film. I,
unfortunately,
could
not wait
for the
tax
credit
the
state
offers.
The
approval
process
takes
six
months.
I had to
move
fast on
the film
because
everyone,
including
Hodder,
was
available
at the
time we
filmed
last
year. I
wanted
to stay
in
Michigan
even
though I
could
not take
advantage
of the
film
credits.”
Exit 33
was the
Brunswicks
11
feature
film.
“This
film is
incredibly
entertaining
and dark
journey
into the
fractured
mind of
a serial
killer,”
said
Todd
Brunswick,
producer.
“Kane
Hodder,
delivers
an
outstanding
performance,
taking
us deep
into his
characters
horrific
landscape.
Exit 33
was an
exciting
and
rewarding
challenge
from
both the
creative
and
production
standpoints.
I am
confident
that the
results
will
speak
for
themselves.
The
entire
crew of
seasoned
pros,
once
again,
made it
happen
without
a hitch.
Most of
us have
been
together
for the
last 9
films.”
According
Koza,
there is
a strong
horror
movie
following
in
Michigan
and a
significant
horror
film
industry.
“Norm is
an
amazing
creative
talent,”
said
Larry
Simmons,
CEO of
At Risk
Entertainment,
producer/director
of
several
horror
films.
“His
energy
is going
to make
him a
major
player
in the
film
industry.”
Exit 33
is set
up to be
a sequel
and Exit
33 part
2 is
being
written.
Koza has
also
written
a comedy
and an
action
film. He
plans to
continue
to film
in
Michigan.
He is
now
talking
to Matt
Luber,
executive
producer
from
“Evan
Almighty”
and
“Bride
Wars”
about
teaming
up on
projects
to be
filmed
in
Michigan.
Again,
Exit 33
premiers
next
month.
“I know
audiences
will
enjoy
the
ride,”
said
Brunswick.
