After Dark Films CEO Courtney Solomon continues the momentum of After Dark Originals “A New Brand of Fear” with his announcement of the bone-chilling fifth film, Fertile Ground.

Writer/director Adam Gierasch (Autopsy, Night of the Demons) co-wrote this film together with Jace Anderson. The film stars Leisha Hailey (The L Word) and Gale Harold (Queer as Folk, Desperate Housewives).

Emily and Nate Weaver leave the city for the rural comfort of Nate’s ancestral home in the country. Once there, Emily is plagued by horrifying visions and haunted by the ghosts inhabiting their isolated new home. When Nate’s behavior undergoes a strange and fearful metamorphosis, Emily fears she might be the latest target in a murderous tradition.

Producer Solomon states, “Leisha Hailey is completely convincing as a woman in peril. As the plot thickens, twists and surprises unfold that keep the viewer engaged and in constant suspense.”

Fertile Ground was shot in Iowa, the home state of Executive Producer Stephanie Caleb. The release date for Fertile Ground and all eight Originals is scheduled for January 2011. The series was developed in partnership with Lionsgate.

After Dark Films made an unprecedented commitment to the production of eight original horror films this year under the After Dark Originals “A New Brand of Fear” label, continuing the company’s mantra of supporting up and coming feature directors. The creation of the Originals slate is just another example of the company’s commitment to the independent film industry.

Unlike After Dark’s acquisitions slate Horrorfest® – 8 Films to Die For®, After Dark Originals are wholly financed and produced by After Dark Films. The ADO slate runs the gamut of the genre from paranormal phenomena, black magic, and vengeful ghosts to psychological trauma, murderous psychopaths, vampires, and the undead. After Dark polled its fans and is delivering the kinds of movies they asked for!

You can view the trailer for Passenger Side here! I am also in the process of cleaning up the media site, so bear with me on that note!

Rarely do you get the chance to meet and discuss movie production with a filmmaker who has gone through the whole process herself, from writing the script to directing, producing and distributing the final product. This weekend just such a person, Fay Ann Lee, will be screening her movie “Falling for Grace,” and participating in an audience Q&A.

Lee wrote, directed and starred in the film about Grace Tang, an ambitious Wall Street banker from New York’s Chinatown, who wants nothing more than to be part of the city’s social elite. When she finally gets invited to an exclusive junior committee meet-and-greet, Grace is mistaken for an heiress from Hong Kong. Grace runs with her new identity, but things get complicated when she falls for JFK Jr.-esque Andrew Barrington, Jr. (Gale Harold).

Lee wrote “Falling for Grace” as a reaction to the lack of good roles for Asian American actors. Hollywood producers showed interest, but they wouldn’t buy it unless she rewrote the script with a main character of Caucasian or Hispanic ethnicity. Refusing to gut her initial intent, Lee decided to raise the production budget herself.

She filled out her cast with prominent Asian actors, including Ken Leung (“Lost”) and Margaret Cho. The movie was initially released in 2006 as “East Broadway,” when it debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival. Despite the film’s warm reception at Tribeca, Lee still could not find a distributor. She has promoted the movie herself, with screenings in Washington, D.C., San Francisco and a handful of other cities.

Lee brings her film to San Diego this week, and will take audience questions following every show this weekend.