Showdown in Secret City still Raking in Da' Gloss

 Baraboo Indie Horror Film Festival

We were lucky enough to be invited to Headline the 1st Annual Baraboo Indie Horror Film Fest back in September. We got to stay in a Ringling brother's Haunted Mansion and were treated like kings and queens during the fest. Showdown in Secret City was shown after the well shot features "I Dream of a Psychopomp" and "Fang." The Big N Funky gang (Funk, Big Luke, Jeremy, Julie, and Lukas) was up to their normal hijinks during the raucous Q&A. Clink the link above to check out the session that featured some great crowd questions and wild stories from the making of the movie. Thanks to Brenden and wife over at the Baraboo Toy Solider Shoppe for the event.  

Positive Youtuber Reviews

Travis Bruce over at HORROR REALM and Matt over at Matt's Movie Mania gave SHOWDOWN IN SECRET CITY 4/5 ratings, and coming from horror dudes... that's pretty funktatsic. Give these videos a LOOKSIE and subscribe to their channels!

Wrestling With Ghosts (LITE) vs. Ghost Lights

Wrestling With Ghosts has unfortunately taken a backseat because of the production of our movies, but part of us teamed up to check out the phenomenon of the Brown Mountain Ghost Lights in Western North Carolina. Kandi, Funkmaster V, Julie and Justin braved the terrain and some deadly evening space vipers to see some totally mystifying natural occurrences in the remote darkness. Truly, it was uncanny. 

PodOutATNight Interviews Funkmaster V

Join "Graveyard" alongside his off-screen producer Salem as they interview the horror side of fandoms.Wednesday’s (9pm CST) guest is here to retain his title, Vinnie Vineyard. We are here to promote Showdown in the Secret City, Swipe Wrong and Lu’s Last Stop. So come along with us fellow horror hounds and make sure that you too do not get lost in the void.

Righteous Article About us at MORE HORROR

Seth Metoyer takes a deep look into the Smoky Mountain Chronicles and the overall story the movies are trying to tell. A great piece!!! (That's what they used to call your mother).

Click the link to read the article!

Top 20 Atari Games of All Time

If you are a nerd, an old nerd at that, you may appreciate Vinnie's Top 100 Atari Games of All time list. Above, the final 20 are counted down. 

Gigworkers Premiere Announced!

We have been involved in the making of 3 feature films this year and we proud as hell about that. One was Big N Funky’s Showdown in Secret City, and many of us acted in the other 2. One of those is Danny Whitson's "GIGWORKERS". Danny Whitson has the funniest magic/ comedy act I’ve ever seen, and he has written a movie that has a great premise: What if a group of DoorDash drivers accidentally get involved in organized crime? Danny delivers the funny, and this movie will not disappoint. December 11, the film will premiere at the historic Grove Theatre in Oak Ridge IT WILL BE FREE. Be there! 

Showdown in Secret City Winning More Awards!

Here's the tin cup rundown for Showdown since our last update in August!

2026 London Movie Awards-
***Best Feature Film
***Best Original Score
***Best Original Song- "John Henry (Rats in the Cornfield)


2026 International Gold Awards
***Best Indie feature Film
***Best Actor- Travis Graves
***Best Actress- Kandi Thompson

***Best Directors- Vinnie Vineyard, Big Luke Walker


2026 Indie Horror Filmfest

***Nominee- Best Feature Film

New 2-Part Route 66 BTS Documentary 

on ASY TV!

Remember a couple years back when ASY TV released a movie called Vinnie's Vantastic Rock & Roll Adventure? So many of you thought it was just dandy! I agree! We had a blast filming this movie back and forth across the country and we're very proud of the end result... WELL!

As a love letter to everyone in the movie and everyone who enjoyed the movie, ASY TV has just released TODAY! The MAKING OF Vinnie's Vantastci Rock & Roll Adventure!

A TWO PART Full length Documentary featuring Vinnie Vineyard Brandon Bishop and so many others talking about the craziness behind the cameras. SO MUCH never before aired footage and out takes, stories and more!

Watch it now FOR FREE on ASY TV! Then Subscribe to watch the movie... it'll hit different!

CLICK HERE: https://www.asytv.com/programs/vinniesadventure...

Award Season is Har!

 Showdown In Secret City be Flexing It's Non-AI Muscle

Award season hasn't even really started, and Showdown in Secret City is already cleaning up in early fests. It has won over 30 awards, including Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, and our actors have taken home acting trophies; namely, Travis Graves, Kandi Thompson, Tommy Mack and Brittany Brooks.

In the next few months, the film will be shown at the Indie Horror Film Fest in Woodstock Illinois and the West Virginia Film Festival in Charleston West Virginia. Even their music video for the film, "John Henry (Rats in the Cornfield)" was a finalist at the 2026 Porto International Music Video Festival for best music video in the world.

People love Big N Funky in Baraboo, WI. And we love Wisconsin. So! We are heading up there for a meet and greet, Q&A, and mini film festival in September 26th. First film starts at 1PM CST, and Showdown in Secret City closes the show! Thank you to Baraboo Toy Soldier Shoppe! We love your butts. #baraboo #showdowninsecretcity #horror

This week in Big N Funky media

Catch up with what's goin' down in Big N Funky Town:

***Matt's Movie Mania***

Matt gives SHOWDOWN IN SECRET CITY

a 4/5 star rating, and an A+ for editing, and A for dialogue, and an A for sound!~

***THESMOKIES.COM***

This article claims that WRESTLING WITH GHOSTS is the 6th best TV show filmed in the Great Smoky Mountains!

https://www.thesmokies.com/tv-shows-filmed-in-smoky.../

***SWIPE WRONG***

This atmospheric, romcom horror feature by Brandon Bishop is streaming on www.ASYTV.com. This film features tons of Big N Funky talent and has garnered positive reviews so far. It features Luke as Zeus in crocs.

***THE SCIFORROR FILM PODCAST***

We talk to a British guy about the film and I get to rep my New York Knicks jersey.

***RELAY INTERVIEW***

This may be the best interview I have ever been apart of, and it definitely is the best interview about the film SHOWDOWN IN SECRET CITY so far. Read this shizzzz if you are cool.

https://pickrelay.com/app/t/788d-dk3z...

***THE OAK RIDGER***

calls us pretty or.... something like that

https://www.aol.com/.../award-winning-east-tennessee-film...

#bignfunky #comedy #horrorcomedy #paranormal #ghosts #indiefilm

Showdown in Secret City Premiere!

 Come See the Movie With the Cast and Crew!

July 25th 8:30PM EST

Historic Grove Theater- Oak Ridge, TN
$10 suggested donation at the door. If you don't have it, don't sweat it!!!

Many long-time Oak Ridge residents have fond memories of watching movies at the Historic Grove Theater.  While the movie screen in theater 3 still sees the occasional indie film or documentary, the Grove “theater” of today tends to be known for art genres other than cinema.  

But did you know—in 2025, the Historic Grove Theater was used by no less than four different crews for indie film productions!?!  That’s right!  Clearly, the indie film scene is alive and well in East Tennessee—and this July, Oak Ridge will get the opportunity to attend the premiere of one of those films in very place where (a few parts of it) all began! 

“Showdown in Secret City” is a 1 hour 35 minute film that is part of the Smoky Mountain Chronicles series—a collection of “seven Southern fables” produced by the East Tennessee film company, Big N Funky Productions.   Directed by Travis Graves, Vinnie Vineyard, and Luke Walker, the PG-13 movie blends comedy and horror to tell the story of four filmmakers forced to meet the absurd demands of a movie executive.  The clash between “artificial intelligence vs. low intelligence” emerges as the characters struggle to create the next blockbuster with the help of Oak Ridge’s AI supercomputer.  In the course of the film, eagle-eyed viewers may recognize footage shot at the National Laboratory, the Historic Grove Theater, and other locales around Oak Ridge.

While the film will be available for purchase and streaming on platforms like Plex starting June 30, 2026, a special premiere showing of “Showdown in Secret City” is scheduled at the Historic Grove Theater on Saturday, July 25th at 8:30pm (doors open at 8pm).   A $10 suggested donation is requested for the funding of a future movie.  

article by Alyssa at the Historic Grove Theater

 123 Randolph Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830

SHOWDOWN IN SECRET CITY RELEASE DAY!!!

Release Day!

Wow! It's release day for Showdown in Secret City and we are OVERWHELMED with great responses from the few that have seen it. A little bit of inside info: the movie has been picked up WAY early by an upstart streaming service called RELAY (or www.pickrelay.com). That service has placed our movie on the front page too. Funktastic! This is always an honor when a streamer has 20,000+ moives. 

We have been getting praise from friends, associates, fans and strangers alike. WE AREN'T USED TO THE LOVE!?!?! TOO MUCH! TOO SOON! Even movie reviewers are saying some nice friggin things: 

"Showdown in Secret City is a brilliant piece of comedy gold that is an absolute must-see. This exceptional independent film deserves a perfect rating of 10 out of 10."- Chad Andrew- Independent Horror Planetarium

"I highly recommend watching this fun and timely film... this wild ride is well worth it!" -Madam Cadaver's Horror Reviews

Showdown in Secret City addresses A.I. and wishes you a happy Orphan Day in the form of a film that could very well be This is Spinal Tap for the film industry... From the opening credits to the twist ending, viewers will be glued to the screen- Ryan Dailey- Horror Nation

I think it is safe to say that this is probably our best film, and we made a few that we are pretty proud of. So it's up to you! Will you support the human race? Do you reject AI and all of it's pomps? Watch the movie on RELAY, buy our DVD/ Blurays from the store/ come to our premiere in Oak Ridge on July 25th.  Do you believe in the Funk? Well, it's time to put your money where your fonk is. 

SHOWDOWN IN SECRET CITY AVAILABLE TO THE HUMAN MASSES

 Get SHOWDOWN IN SECRET CITY Today!

Its a copy of the award winning comedy horror movie, SHOWDOWN IN SECRET CITY, signed by your favorite cast member with a fancy freakin' pen with GOLD INK!

Available cast signatures: Travis Graves, Kandi Thompson, Vinnie Vineyard, Luke Walker, Brittany Brooks, Amber Schultz, Tommy Mack

Four filmmakers are forced to comply with a movie executive's demands to create a blockbuster with the help of artificial intelligence or else.

This DVD/ Bluray comes with the music video: Funkmaster V (and pals) "John Henry (Rats in the Cornfield)"

This is the fourth movie in the Smoky Mountain Chronicles.
A series based on the legends and lore of the Great Smoky Mountains

The movie runtime is an hour and 37 minutes.

Click Here to Order Today! (Allow 2 weeks for delivery)

El Gordo Gringo and Fritz the Lesser Action Figures Ready to Go!

Order you very own El Gordo Gringo and Fritz the Lesser from Big n Funky 4th installment into the Smoky Mountain Chronicles!! SHOWDOWN IN SECRET CITY!!

Each hand made/painted figurine set comes complete as shown with fact card and displayable box and are numbered on the bottom in the order created!

(One out of every 10 packs feature a special Fritz figure with post fight spray painted graffiti!) 

Order yours today and be sure to pick up SHOWDOWN IN SECRET CITY available on DVD/ BLURAY Now!!!

-All PhoenixComicsToys mini figurines are 1/72nd scale-

Click Here to Order Your Figures Today. Allow a Week for Delivery.