Colorado Mesa University will host a special screening event for the locally produced horror film "American Vampires" at the Asteria Theatre on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 6:30 pm. The event, part of CMUertos Week, will feature not only the film but also two documentaries focusing on the significant involvement of CMU Tech Digital Filmmaking students, alumni, and faculty in its production, underscoring local opportunities in the film industry.
The evening's program includes three distinct screenings. It will begin with "Beyond the Classroom: The Students Behind American Vampires," a 10-minute short documentary that highlights the CMU Tech students, alumni, and faculty who contributed to the film. Following this, the audience will see "American Vampires" itself. The event will conclude with "Making of American Vampires," a one-hour feature documentary chronicling the behind-the-scenes process of making the film. "American Vampires" previously premiered to a sold-out crowd of 1,096 attendees at the Avalon Theatre on August 14, 2026, marking it as the first independent film to sell out the historic venue.
Local filmmaker and Lecturer of Film Hank Braxtan wrote and directed "American Vampires," also producing the film alongside Technical Instructor of Digital Filmmaking Josh Meuwly. A key motivation for Braxtan and Meuwly in producing the film was to offer CMU Tech students practical experience working on a feature-length production. Braxtan noted, "The film school kids have a lot of talent, and they just need experience."
Students and alumni from CMU Tech took on various essential roles during the production, gaining hands-on experience in areas such as cinematography, camera operation, lighting, and sound. They collaborated with industry professionals, applying their classroom knowledge to the demands of a feature film set. CMU Tech student Eric Sigler, who worked as a first assistant camera operator on the film, stated that much of the learning comes from being directly involved in the process.
This experience provided students with opportunities to earn professional film credits before graduating, build industry connections, and receive mentorship from experienced crew members. The creation of "American Vampires" is part of a broader initiative to connect CMU Tech students and alumni with professional film productions across western Colorado. According to Meuwly, three recent feature films shot in the region generated approximately $90,000 in direct compensation for 40 unique participating students, alumni, and local crew members, accounting for 83 crew positions and over 8,400 hours of work.
The short documentary "Beyond the Classroom: The Students Behind American Vampires" delves into the experiences of these students, alumni, and faculty. It specifically features the journey of Wylee Mitchell, a CMU graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and a Technical Certificate in Digital Filmmaking, who joined the film's crew during her first semester of film school.
"American Vampires" is described as blending horror, action, and suspense, set against the rugged landscapes of Western Colorado. Its plot follows two amateur bounty hunters chasing a fugitive who uncover something far more sinister beneath a quiet Colorado town, quickly turning a simple job into a fight for survival. The film is rated R for strong language, horror violence, and gore, and viewer discretion is advised.
The "Making of American Vampires" documentary offers an inside look at the independent horror feature's production. It covers the chaos and challenges of filmmaking, practical effects, unexpected setbacks, and humorous moments on set. Through candid interviews and never-before-seen footage, this documentary reveals what it takes to bring a feature film to life and highlights the collaboration between industry professionals and emerging filmmakers from CMU Tech’s Digital Filmmaking program. This documentary is not-rated (NR) and contains strong language, horror violence, and behind-the-scenes practical effects gore, with viewer discretion advised.
