Found-Footage Horror Feature 'True Dread' Sets Los Angeles Shoot for September 2026

Horror fans and crew alike should take note: a found-footage feature called True Dread is moving through pre-production and casting with a firm September 2026 shoot date locked in for Los Angeles. For working professionals in the indie horror space, the timing is right to get on the radar of this production now, well before cameras roll on September 14. The film wraps just two weeks later on September 28, making this a tight, compressed shoot that will reward crew members who thrive under focused, fast-moving conditions.

The project comes from writer-director Jacare Viramuerte, who is both helming and scripting the film. The story follows a paranormal investigator who falls into a dangerous obsession after receiving a series of disturbing videos from a stranger claiming membership in a centuries-old secret society. Structurally, the film is described as a found-footage horror anthology, which is a format that layers traditional narrative filmmaking with fabricated archival and documentary-style footage. That dual structure tends to demand a nimble production approach: smaller footprints, versatile camera operators comfortable with handheld and vérité-style work, and a sound team that can deliver convincing lo-fi audio textures alongside clean production sound. It is exactly the kind of project where a creative, resourceful crew can make a genuine impact on the final film.

Producing alongside Viramuerte are Rufus Parker and Varun Vaihav, with Vanessa Perea serving as associate producer. Perea is also carrying the casting director credit on this production, a dual role that is common on leaner independent features where producers wear multiple hats. Casting is actively underway, which means agents and managers with clients suited to genre material should be moving quickly. Found-footage horror tends to favor naturalistic, less-theatrically-trained performers who can sell spontaneous fear convincingly, so the casting process may be looking beyond the traditional commercial pool.

The production company behind True Dread is P2 Films. While P2 Films operates on the independent side of the industry rather than as a major studio banner, their involvement signals a scrappy, entrepreneurially driven production culture of the kind that has launched many careers in the genre space. Indie horror remains one of the more resilient corners of the film business, with found-footage in particular carrying an impressive track record of low-budget productions breaking through to wide audiences. The format keeps overhead manageable, which often means a tight but dedicated core crew with real creative ownership over the material.

Filming will take place entirely in Los Angeles, California, across a focused fourteen-day window from September 14 through September 28, 2026. Los Angeles is, of course, one of the deepest crew markets in the world, and local hires across nearly every department should expect availability to be a real factor. The city's infrastructure for independent production is robust, with access to independent stages, practical locations ranging from residential neighborhoods to industrial spaces, and a large pool of experienced day players and supporting crew. No specific stage or facility has been publicly announced, but found-footage productions of this scale typically favor practical locations over studio builds, meaning the locations department will likely play a central role in shaping the look and logistics of the film. Los Angeles does not offer a state-level film production tax incentive as generous as Georgia or New Mexico, but the California Film Commission's Film & TV Tax Credit Program remains available for qualifying projects, and productions shooting entirely within the state can apply for consideration.

Given the compressed fourteen-day schedule and the found-footage format, True Dread is almost certainly a non-union or modified low-budget agreement production. The scale suggests a lean department structure, with crew members likely expected to cover multiple functions. That said, the Los Angeles base and the active pre-production status mean that key positions including a director of photography comfortable with the genre's aesthetic demands, a production designer capable of building dread out of practical, real-world locations, and a sound team with horror sensibility are almost certainly being discussed and locked right now. If you are a department head or mid-level crew member with genre credits and a flexible schedule in mid-to-late September, this is worth pursuing directly.

Full production details, contact information, and crew list updates for True Dread are available now on ProductionList.com. With filming still months away but casting already active, this is exactly the window where introductions get made and positions get filled. Bookmark the listing, check back regularly for crew contact additions, and get your materials in front of the right people before the roster closes.

Click here for production info or to contact producers