Long before they heard the loud cheers for “A Quiet Place,” and the screams for “Haunt,” Scott Beck and Bryan Woods built up a sizeable catalog of films, some of which were local, featuring Quad-Cities’ actors, and some of which were put into production featuring some well-known names. “Impulse” was one of the latter, featuring the actor Christopher Kennedy Masterson from the TV show “Malcolm in the Middle.” Want to learn more about the film? Below is the story I originally wrote in November 2009 for my blog, What The *&&^%^*($ Is Sean Leary Thinking: DES MOINES, November... Read More

Scott Beck and Bryan Woods aren’t slowing down. The duo, who grew up making indie films since their teen years in Bettendorf, Iowa, and currently reside in Los Angeles, shot to prominence with “A Quiet Place” last year, after over a decade of under-the-radar ups-and-downs in Hollywood. Currently, Beck and Woods are in Canada in pre-production on a new project they’re “not allowed to talk about yet,” that they’re writing and directing. “It should be a fun one,” Wood said. “I wish we could other than we’re still following our heart down the horror genre that path and we think... Read More

This weekend, “Haunt,” the major studio directorial debut of former Quad-Citians Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, and starring local actor Justin Marxen, debuts on screens and digital platforms worldwide! And today, you can enjoy a look behind the scenes of the film, courtesy of these photos by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods! On their Instagram, Beck and Woods wrote, “Two years ago, we were filming @hauntmovie with this amazing crew. Enjoy a brief peek behind the scenes of making the movie!” We hope you have fun with the pictures, and we hope you enjoy checking out “Haunt”... Read More

Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, the authors of the Oscar-nominated “A Quiet Place,” will be back this week, opening their first major motion picture they’ve written AND directed, “Haunt.” The film, about an extreme haunted house that isn’t quite what it seems, opens Friday, Sept. 13, and stars local actor Justin Marxen. It’s produced by Eli Roth.  Read More

In July 2003, I saw the future of cinema in the work of two teens from Bettendorf. That was when I was asked by Max Collins to be a judge of the Iowa Film Awards. At the time, I was writing for three area newspapers, I was an entertainment correspondent for seven area radio stations and I was on two local TV stations – including KWQC’s “Paula Sands Live,” for which I was one of two film critics with my good friend Linda Cook. That’s why Max asked me to start judging the awards a year or two before, and I saw a number of pretty good local films, but it wasn’t until that summer of 2003... Read More

Since they were boys growing up in Bettendorf, devouring Stephen King novels and vintage chillers, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods have loved thrillers and horror films. With “A Quiet Place,” the two created a screenplay for a classic of their own. And this week, they take it to a new level. “Haunt” is the latest major studio film from the duo, and the first they’ve written AND directed. It also stars a Quad-Cities actor with whom they’re quite familiar – Justin Marxen, with whom they’ve worked for close to two decades going back to their time in the Quads. Most of Marxen’s role and... Read More

Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, the writers behind the Oscar-nominated “A Quiet Place” will return to their hometown of the Quad-Cities to host a screening of their new film, “Haunt,” their first directorial and screenwriting debut for a major studio. You can join the Bettendorf natives, on Saturday, Sept. 14, to see “Haunt” on the Putnam Museum’s GIANT Screen. (Rated R) For just $9 tickets ($8 seniors, college students and military), you’ll experience this brand-new movie written and directed by the Beck/Woods duo. Members save $1 on tickets. Space is... Read More

It’s alive! It’s terrifying! It’s MIDWEST MONSTER FEST! The product of the Dr. Frankensteinian mind of creator and producer Jeff O’Neil, the festival features everything from a tribute to “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” featuring a number of its stars to a costume contest, podcasting, merchandise booths, horror-themed events and more. It’ll creep into the Spotlight Theater in Moline Sept. 14-15, with show hours of Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “If you like horror movies as much as I do, this is everything you would want in a festival,” O’Neil said. “There... Read More

We’re falling into fall, but we’re also falling into a lot of great things that are going to make it an awesome autumn in the Quad-Cities! Here’s some of the good news going on around the community! Haunt Opening Friday The 13th! “Haunt,” the directorial debut of Scott Beck and Brian Woods, the former Quad-Citians who go by the name Bluebox Films, will debut in theaters worldwide Friday, Sept. 13. Beck and Woods, who wrote the Oscar-nominated “A Quiet Place,” also wrote “Haunt,” which was produced by Eli Roth, popular for the “Hostel” films and his work with Quentin Tarantino. While... Read More

“Haunt,” the first major motion picture directorial debut from Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, the former Quad-Cities filmmakers who wrote the hit “A Quiet Place,” had its World Premiere at the fifth annual Popcorn Frights Festival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Aug. 18! The movie is about a group of teens who come across an “extreme haunted house” and enter it for thrills, but find themselves wrapped up in a darkness beyond their wildest imagination. Beck and Woods, who spent their formative years making films around the Quad-Cities, also wrote the screenplay, and... Read More