Phil the Alien director/writer/star Rob Stefaniuk begins principal photography in Toronto on Nov. 24 on his sophomore feature Suck, a rock ‘n’ roll vampire comedy from Capri Films.

Stefaniuk stars opposite Jessica Paré (The Trotsky) as members of no-hope rock band The Winners, who will do anything for a taste of fame. They eventually develop a taste for blood.

Along for the ride in their Faustian bargain are some seriously big names, including Malcolm McDowell, who plays Eddie the Vampire Slayer, and rocker Alice Cooper as Eddie’s uber vampire nemesis. Also cast are Iggy Pop, Moby, Dimitri Coats of the hard-rock band Burning Brides and Canada’s own New Wave anti-diva Carole Pope. Comic Dave Foley plays The Winners’ agent.

Stefaniuk will direct from his script. The project is the first feature to emerge from Capri Films’ mentorship initiative Capri Vision. Robin Crumley, who heads Capri Vision, is producing the film with Jeff Rogers under the guidance of Victoria Hirst.

Executive producers are Gabriella Martinelli alongside Brad Peyton, Terry Markus, former ThinkFilm chief Jeff Sackman and Tim Brown of Insight Film Releasing, which is handling international sales. Equinoxe Films is distributing in Canada. Financiers include Telefilm Canada, the Ontario Media Development Corporation and Super Channel along with tax credits.

Martinelli tells Playback Daily that when Peyton brought her the project she needed little convincing. She describes the script as ‘Spinal Tap meets The Rocky Horror Picture Show.’ Clearly, the script’s satirical strength is evinced by the cast the production has attracted.

Peyton is currently directing Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore for Warner Bros. ‘Otherwise,’ adds Martinelli, ‘he would have been a producer on this one.’

Capri Vision launched two years ago: its first projects were the short films A Cure for Terminal Loneliness and Feel My Pain. Adam Reid’s documentary on Jungian psychologist Marion Woodman, Dancing in the Flames, is in development.

Says Martinelli of the initiative: ‘We have to help move along this new generation of filmmakers or we are not going to have a Canadian film industry.’