"Virus" the Horror-inspired music video of Cape Town based female-fronted Industrial-Metal band TERMINATRYX is in fact a three-pronged project breaking South African boundaries and expectations.
Originally in October 2009 a werewolf transformation promo clip was produced by (Terminatryx founders) Paul Blom & Sonja Ruppersberg for their South African HORRORFEST Film Festival (est. 2005). It was directed by Paul (also a Fangoria contributing writer), stars Sonja and features make-up FX by Clinton Smith.
A woman finds an unmarked envelope on her doorstep containing an old Betamax tape. She digs an old player from her cupboard and views it.
A full moon appears on screen - and things get hairy(!)
See the uncensored TERMINATRYX "Virus" music video here:
Watch the original HorrorFest trailer at:
Catch a teaser of the expanded movie & music video here:
The outcome of this HorrorFest promo clip was very well received, and even American Werewolf In London director John Landis was impressed when it was passed on to him.
With a very tight shoot of a single night for the original promo clip, some of the prosthetics by world class make-up FX artist Clinton Smith (from Cosmesis) could not be utilized. (Smith has done exceptional work for movies like The Last House On The Left remake, Laconia, and Death Race 2).
So, mid-2010 they loaded up and head down the Cape Town east coast to Betty's Bay, to expand upon this exciting clip. This was transformed into the impacting "Virus" music video for Paul & Sonja's band TERMINATRYX, as well as an even more involved short film, "Marked" (featuring soon at: YouTube.com/FlamedropProductions)
The high production value and exhilarating theme flows brilliantly with the energy of the music.
The bulk of this expanded shoot was done over a single weekend with very little sleep in the middle of the Cape Town winter (with a few pick-up shots in July and October).
A grueling shoot had Sonja running around the woods in the cold night, and naked in a freezing mountain pool (for the extended short film version).
The movie was shot on the Canon 5D MKII camera by Marnus Tredoux - camera supplied by Visual Impact / Magus, chosen for its superior quality and user friendly handling.
"Once in every generation a plague shall fall upon you! 'Virus' by Terminatryx delivers a bone crushing, gut munching, spine tingling, supersonic blow to the cerebral cortex. Metal, mayhem and no holds barred lycanthropy. What more could you ask for?"
- Richard Stanley writer/director of Hardware & Dust Devil
This multi-purpose project is unlike any South African music video, short film, or promo clip, and was produced by Paul & Sonja's Flamedrop Productions, in co-operation with Cosmesis Advanced Prosthetic Studio, Visual Impact / Magus, Magic Hour Productions, Furry Wood Productions and Silver Bullet Lighting.
Both TERMINATRYX "Virus" and "Marked" made their debut at the 2010 South African HORRORFEST Film Festival over Halloween season, and got the Audience Choice Award, plus Best Special Make-Up FX.
Since its launch the "Virus" music video was selected to feature on EerieTube.com, is the first S.A. music video to showcase on the European Metal TV site LoudTV.net, was playlisted on S.A. music TV channel MK, official selection at Salt Lake City International Horror Film Festival, won Best Music Clip at Barossa Film Festival (where "Marked" was also officially selected and screened).
Paul & Sonja are currently gearing up for another short film and music video, as well as writing a feature film screenplay, and new material for the next Terminatryx album.
Another audio-visual project they spearhead is THE MAKABRA ENSEMBLE, creating new soundtracks for silent classics and performing it live to the screen.
The next boundary-stretching TERMINATRYX release came in December 2011 with "Remyx v1.0", a full remixed version of their self-titled album incl. remixers like Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Sheep On Drugs (both UK), Industriezone (Austria), Modern-e-Quartet (Greece), The Awakening (RSA / USA), and local remixers like Battery 9, Mr. Sakitumi, Nul & more, plus bonus tracks like a Makabra Ensemble cue.
All TERMINATRYX releases are available at OneWorld.co.za
Official band site: TERMINATRYX.com
Music Credits:
"Virus" performed by TERMINATRYX
Music & Lyrics by Paul Blom - copyright 2008 Flamedrop Productions / ENT Entertainment
Movie Credits for "Marked" the short film / S.A. HORRORFEST promo clip / TERMINATRYX "Virus" music video:
Produced by: Paul André Blom, Sonja Ruppersberg, Clinton Smith, Louw Verwoerd
Starring: Sonja Ruppersberg, Paul Blom, Ronnie Belcher, Patrick Davidson
Directed by: Paul André Blom
Special Make-Up- & Prosthetic FX: Clinton Smith & the Cosmesis team (incl. Ashley, Liesl, Lauren, Gerald, Adrian, Michael, Jenny - full credits at end of the clip)
Director Of Photography & Camera: Marnus Tredoux
1st AD & Location: Louw Verwoerd
Editing / AfterFX / Grading: Leon Visser
Special smoke FX & blood splatter FX: Kevin Bitters
Music by: Terminatryx
News by: Pablo Priest
