Necessity is, as they say, the mother of invention. Of course, talent and determination are truly helpful in unexpected situations, also. Thankfully, both of these qualities seem to be prerequisites for the members of the newly formed Scotchworthy productions. Take this February's Fangoria Convention in Chicago for example. On her way to promote Scotchworthy's debut picture 'It's My Party and I'll Die if I Want To' , lead actress Adrienne Fischer left the airport minus one very important prop - her character Sara's bodacious Elvira-like wig. While this certainly made some drag dreaming airline employee very happy, it left our industrious horror makers in a bind. Enter SW co-president Christopher Patrick, actor and costumer extraordinaire. Patrick gathered together two remainder wigs from his garage and in a rip-sewing frenzy almost spontaneously created a replacement wig that was a direct clone of the original. Subsequently, the sight of the personable Fischer wandering the horror strewn hallways of the Wyndham Chicago O' Hare in her depth defying 'do was one of the highlights of the weekend.

Cool story, but it was nothing new for the creators of one of the most adventurous low budget horror films in recent existence. Filmed in 45 days over two years, 'Its My Party and I'll Die if I Want To' definitely had its share of ups and downs throughout its adventurous creation. Writer/director Tony Wash (and founder of Scotchworthy) recalls that they originally filmed for 32 days with the ultimate realization that what they had captured didn't work. Wash rewrote and filmed an additional 6 days and, once again, came away with a cut that he wasn't happy with. The final 7 days of filming produced the "best stuff" according to Wash and this driven awareness is obvious in every frame captured in this cartoon accentuated fright fest.

Of course, as is often the case in low budget features, it was balls-to-the-wall cold on the set of the film's main location - the house where all the horribly bloody party action occurs. It probably didn't help that the house was being utilized in January and February in Western Pennsylvania - or that the fuses in the house were 70 years old and were only strong enough to be used to set up a shot or heat the actors. Patrick recalls that quite often the crew was wrapping the scantily clothed actresses in blankets immediately after a take was completed.

Though - it does help if you actually have an actress to cover up! The film's creature, beautifully put together by Todd Malnar and Steve Winsett, was initially designed to be played by a female. Of course, once it came time for the shoot, she was unavailable. Eventually, an actor, Angel Marquez, was found who could just about fit into the costume. In the circumstances providing golden opportunities category, it turns out that the tight quarters Marquez had to override, only adds to the creature's exaggerated gruesomeness.

Another favorite crew war story involves the night that only 9 people showed up to film the movie's climactic, titled party. Wash ultimately shot the scenario that way, but unsurprisingly realized it wasn't effective. So, a week later, after advertising a kegger - the scene was re-shot - with 35 in attendance. Success!

Success was also assured when Wash finally landed the acting services of horror legend Tom Savini. In fact, while Wash and Patrick (and many of the crew involved with Its My Party) attended Savini's Special FX School in Monesson, PA, it was not a shoe-in that Savini would appear in the film. Due to Savini\rquote s busy schedule, a large number of emails were exchanged before Savini found his way onto the set. Once he was there, though, Savini proved to be a professional influence that ultimately inspired the young filmmakers.

Inspiration was also found in the production's use of sets outside of the primary house. A brief scene where Fischer's Sara greets her mother and heads upstairs to her bedroom involved 3 different locales. Patrick's house was also used frequently. Patrick, who majestically plays the legendarily evil Mr. Burkitt in the film, thoroughly cleaned up one night after one of the film's legendary blood baths was shot. A week or so later, as the weather shifted, Patrick realized red drops were beginning to fall everywhere. He investigated and eventually discovered that some blood had flown onto his ceiling fan and as the temperatures increased it was starting to melt.

Importantly, the one thing that did not fall apart despite any production difficulties was the crew's tight camaraderie. Fischer, an accomplished stage actress and magnetic presence onscreen, still actively promotes the project. Stephen Wymer, the associate producer and production coordinator, and Doug Rice, an effects man and actor, were also at Fangoria Fest, in and out of costume, promoting the film. Wymer, an affable and talented guy, claims that the production was "run like a tight ship" hence its ultimate success.

Rice, who contributed a great deal to the film's second shoot, originally auditioned for the male lead, Travis, and ultimately stuck around to help out. Rice, who along with Patrick, is founder of the influential Winterland FX (their My Space page contains an awesome death by barbwire effect), also, contributed to the project in a more roundabout way - his wife appears in a lesbian zombie sex scene in one of the DVD's alternative "chose your own" adventures.

Though the film successfully won a Full Moon production deal, Wash was determined to put the film out independently, first, to realize his dream of releasing the film with the above mentioned "Choose Your Own Adventure" options. This enables the viewer to send Sara off on different paths and perhaps even alter her fate.

While some beginner film companies may have scoffed at such an additional effort, Wash wants Scotchworthy, whose name was inspired by a friendly bet that determined whether a film was good enough to be considered worthy of a Scotch, to be held far above the norm. He prides himself on the fact that Scotchworthy relies on physical effects not CGI. Wash and Patrick are, also, going beyond the norm with their promotion efforts. To begin with, the two are putting together a troupe of Scotchworthy Girls to help bring notice to the company. The girls were in full swing at the Fangoria Fest, parading down the halls in a variety of ghoulish disguises. Wisely, Wash and Patrick have chosen young women like Elena Picavoli. Picavoli, who has a background in dance and children's theater, and the rest of the girls have "great personalities and a really good heart" according to Wash. This same compliment could be applied to everyone involved with Scotchworthy, it seems.

In fact, 'Its My Party and I'll Die if I Want To' has already proven itself to be the little film that could! It is the winner of multiple film festivals, has received prize reviews and has found itself within the pages of Fangoria magazine. Not bad for a start, but of course the Scotchworthy engine has just begun revving up. A visit to www.scotchworthy.com shows the company has several other thrilling projects in the works - proving that if blood spill is good for the soul then Scotchworthy just may be dangling the grue strewn keys to the kingdom.