Alachua’s Ivy Main Street Garden Inn Backdrop for Horror Film, Production in Progress

ALACHUA ‒ There is murder and mayhem going on in the Ivy House Mansion on Main Street in Alachua. Multiple victims are meeting untimely and brutal deaths while being stalked by an unknown murderer. But no one has actually been hurt, because it is all part of a horror film called “Call Time” being filmed in Alachua with the majority of the film being shot at the Ivy House.

"Call Time" tells a story about an inexperienced film crew and has-been director Ethan Shaw who attempts to film the greatest scary movie of all time. Little do they know; they are the main stars and victims. Some of the characters’ greed for Hollywood fame turns into a series of twisted betrayals. The guilty rises from the ashes as the innocent fall under grotesque bloodshed.

The production includes crew from a variety of places including New Jersey, California and Tampa but also includes local crew and talent as well. The original shooting location was to be in Pennsylvania, but fell through due to COVID-19. While the producers were looking for a suitably scary Victorian mansion, one of the actors, Tiffany Jordan, worked in Alachua at the Ivy House as a groundskeeper. She suggested the house, which was vacant at the time, as a location and the producers agreed it was perfect.

The movie is being produced by20/20 Vizion Entertainment and 1st Dibz Production in association with Love Logan Productions and is based on the script by Nicanson Guerrier, 1st Dibz CEO.

The film stars actor Marcus T. Paulk (“Moesha” and new scripted series “Pump”), reality star Royce Reed (VH1’s “Basketball Wives”), recording artist and reality personality Lynese Wiley, known as Babs Bunny (MTV’s “Making of the Band” and YouTube series “Queen of the Ring”), actor and YouTube sensation Tyrone Magnus, and actress Mercedes Gutierrez.

“Although we were originally going to film in the Philadelphia area, when we saw a picture that Tiffany sent of the Ivy house and the town of Alachua, it fit our vision of where this movie would take place,” said film director Derrick Hammond. “Alachua had the right atmosphere for the setting. I think the location change was our best move. We have already written in five new parts based on the small town feel of Alachua.”

Based in New Jersey, Hammond's directing credits include the movies “Her Little Secret,” “Breaking Point” and award winning “Always with You,” as well as the TV series “Chase Street.”

The Ivy House provides an historic private location and also offers cast and crew a chance to shoot on a closed set in adherence to COVID-19 regulations.

Hammond anticipates completing shooting around Aug. 23, but will likely return in September to shoot new parts and make-up shots. The expected release will be around September or early October 2021, coinciding with Halloween.

Due to current COVID-19 restrictions and lack of open theaters, the movie will be released on streaming channels and internet services like Hulu and HBO. The producer also sees this as a horror movie series, similar to “Halloween,” “Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Friday the 13^th” and “Scream.”

“We actually plan to start shooting the second one while this one is in post-production” said Hammond.

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