Dark Corner Films is making a name for itself
Over the last decade, the South has become a hotbed of activity within the film and television industry. Founded in 2006, Dark Corner Films has been steadily building up an Upstate business. Surrounded by movie posters, a vintage South Carolina map and a host of editing equipment, one of Dark Corner Films’ founders and producers, Bryan Tankersley, sat down to talk about the growth of the company and film in the Southeast.
How did Dark Corner Films start?
I was in the telecom business, and in 2006, my business partner, Cam Walters, and I agreed to help his son, Campbell Walters, with a documentary about a house in Union County. That documentary didn’t pan out, but we then very quickly started doing commercial work. We also have Tony Callander and Jeter Rhodes on the team.
Where did the name come from?
We named it well before “The Dark Corner” documentary and because my family was from Travelers Rest and I had heard the nickname. After making “The Dark Corner,” I think we’ve helped make the name more recognizable.
How has the company evolved?
“The Dark Corner” film did well, but business suffered in 2009. However, we were approached by a guy who wanted to do a documentary about Santee Cooper and striped bass, and that reignited us somewhat. [This film became “Landlocked.”] We were then on Antrim Drive and had to move. We were offered a space with Williamson Evans Productions. It was supposed to be temporary, but we’ve been here a year and a half. We’ve also been able to do projects with them.
What’s coming up?
We’ve been making “sizzle reels,” a three-minute, mini version of a reality show to pitch. We’re also working on a documentary with former CBS announcer Ben Wright on his life and career. There’s another documentary project in Georgia where the state department of transportation is trying to make amends for a highway that it put through Little Richard’s historic neighborhood in Macon. In the last six to eight months, we’ve been as busy as we’ve ever been. Right now we have about six projects at different stages.
Is there any move to expand?
We’re actually going to soon be a distributor for online products. Meaning that if you had a film and you wanted to be on Amazon Prime, Hulu, Roku, Netflix or OnDemand, we will be a distributor for television shows, films and documentaries. We can guarantee that these different platforms will review your project and if accepted, you would be set up with a potential monthly revenue stream. For someone who’s made something and it’s just sitting, how do you get it out there? This is a way for them to do that. We’re hoping that this is something that will also develop into revenue and consistency for us.
What is a valuable lesson you take away from your years in this business?
I’ve learned the point in filming where I can say “that’s enough,” so we can manage to process in editing and not lose money. I’ve also learned that documentary is an inexpensive way of telling a story – making a movie is like building a skyscraper. We’ve always tried to do the things we could do. In some ways, that’s why we still exist.
Is there some advice that you took to heart?
Once a client once told me I was quoting too low and she would never take the quote because of that. I’ve learned that if you give something away, there’s no value attached to it. We stopped doing all free work and started getting all kinds of business.
What is on the horizon for film in the region?
Atlanta has a lot of activity – Screen Gems is building a studio and Pinewood is building a studio there. The only Pinewood Studio in the United States is going to be in Atlanta. Now, productions can be made anywhere; many are shot in North Carolina and Georgia and it doesn’t hurt South Carolina. They don’t make movies in California anymore, they make them in Louisiana, Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina because it makes sense.
What’s your favorite part of the business?
Creating something from nothing is the fun part. There’s just a script and we create something valuable from that.
What’s your favorite thing to watch?
I love period shows like “Game of Thrones” or “Vikings” along with any conspiracy shows. Also any sort of historical epic [Tankersley studied history at Wofford] and British spy thrillers. I really enjoy Coen Brothers films; they are written to a T and I love the black humor. If we ever made anything that big, they would be the ones I would want to emulate.
