A psychological horror feature with a deeply literary premise is gearing up for a compact November shoot in Los Angeles, and crew and talent looking to get in early on a genre project with an intimate, character-driven core should be paying attention now. 'Clean the Bones' is currently in casting and pre-production, with principal photography scheduled to run November 6 through November 20, 2026, an aggressive fifteen-day shoot that signals a tight, focused production requiring a lean and experienced crew ready to move fast.
The project comes from writer-director Jacob Strunk, who is also handling casting duties on the film. Strunk is wearing multiple hats here, which is common on independent features of this scale and often signals a creator with a very specific vision for the material who wants close control over every layer of the production. The story centers on a writing professor who retreats to a remote home following a breakdown, only to find himself drawn into something deeply unsettling in the surrounding forest. Eldritch signs, disembodied voices, and dark forces beyond the treeline close in around him as his worried wife tries to hold the household together. When his wildly successful brother arrives with a new partner in tow, the already fragile domestic balance tips toward something far more dangerous. It is the kind of premise that sits comfortably in the tradition of atmospheric, psychologically loaded horror, drawing on the same vein of dread-in-the-woods storytelling that has proven consistently compelling for genre audiences in recent years. Producer Benjamin Dunn is attached alongside Strunk, rounding out the core creative leadership on the project.
At this stage, specific studio or distribution attachments have not been publicly announced, which is typical for an independent feature still in the casting phase. Productions of this profile frequently secure distribution deals during or after principal photography, particularly if festival strategy is part of the release plan. The tight fifteen-day shooting window and the Los Angeles-based production point to a carefully managed independent budget, and the genre focus on supernatural horror and psychological thriller means the project is well-positioned for the kind of platform and festival circuit interest that has buoyed comparable features in recent cycles. Horror as a category continues to punch well above its budget class, and a tightly crafted entry with strong performances and a distinctive visual identity can travel a long way.
Filming will take place in Los Angeles, California, across November 6 through November 20. While the description places the story in a remote, forested setting, shooting in and around Los Angeles is a practical choice that gives the production access to one of the deepest crew pools in the world, along with established stage facilities, rental houses, and the full infrastructure of a major production hub. Los Angeles does not currently offer the same level of production tax incentives as states like Georgia, New Mexico, or New York, but for a short-schedule independent feature where creative relationships and crew availability are the primary logistics drivers, the local infrastructure frequently outweighs the incentive calculus. Locations scouts and managers familiar with finding forested, remote-feeling settings within driving distance of Los Angeles will find plenty to work with in the surrounding hills, canyons, and mountain communities, many of which have served as convincing stand-ins for isolated wilderness in countless productions.
Given the genre and the compressed schedule, this production will benefit enormously from crew who specialize in creating atmosphere on a budget. A strong production designer and art department will be essential to selling the film's sense of creeping dread, and a cinematographer with a genuine feel for naturalistic but unsettling visual language will be central to the project's success. Sound design and location sound recording will carry significant weight given how heavily the premise leans on disembodied voices and environmental dread, making those departments particularly important hires. Because the shoot is only fifteen days, this is not a production where anyone will have the luxury of figuring things out as they go. Every department needs to be prepped and aligned before cameras roll in November. That means the hiring window for key crew is now, many months out, and professionals interested in this project should not wait.
For the full production listing, including production contacts, office location, crew list, and scheduling updates as they are confirmed, head to ProductionList.com and search 'Clean the Bones.' With principal photography still the better part of a year away, this is exactly the kind of early-stage entry where getting your name in front of the right people now pays off. Bookmark the listing and check back regularly as the production moves deeper into pre-production and the crew roster fills out.
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