COYOTE TEETH: Teaser Trailer. The New Movie by Award-Winning Filmmaker Robert Aaron Mitchell

 

Here is the the teaser trailer for Robert Arron Mitchell's new movie, Coyote Teeth. The movie is currebtly being submitted to film festivals.

COYOTE TEETH: Teaser Poster Reveal. The New Film From Award-Winning Filmmaker Robert Aaron Mitchell

Here is the teaser poster reveal for my new film which wrapped principal photography on June 29, 2026. Post-production work has been on-going throughout the production phase of this movie. I have begun to submit the movie to film festivals. Here is the official IMDb page: Link Here

 

DIRECTOR STATEMENT 

My name is Robert Aaron Mitchell, and for the past year, I have been crafting this cinematic experience. First and foremost, the movie should speak for itself, or I have failed as a filmmaker. That being said, perhaps a little context is not a bad thing. 

I live in Dilley, Texas, which is a small town in South Texas that is the location of one of the largest detention centers in the United States of America. Its primary purpose is to incarcerate families. As of this writing on June 13, 2026, over five hundred babies have been imprisoned here. This place is run by the for-profit corporation Core Civic. The Orwellian name of this place is the South Texas Family Residential Center. In actuality, it is a concentration camp to enrich shareholders. I live next door to this monstrosity. 

I think a lot about evil. I also think about a phrase that is uttered many times, “This is not us.” These four words negate a 250-year history of the United States of America. This is us. We live, operate, and benefit from the machine and systems of cruelty of this country. 

My motivation in crafting this cinematic experience was my attempt to stay sane so I can assist people who are being devastated by the United States of America, so I can continue to decolonize my mind as well as continue the work of dismantling the systems of cruelty I live in. I am a lifelong student of Midnight Movies, and with all earnestness, I have done my best to craft a film worthy to be called weird. The movie is ultimately about complicity. 

 
 

HEADLESS: Scott Schirmer, Leya Taylor & Arthur Cullipher Interview with Robert A. Mitchell

Bloomington, Indiana located an hour south of Indianapolis where the farm lands of Indiana begin to give way to the rolling hills of Southern Indiana. These hills eventually make their way further South and meet up with the Appalachian mountains. Bloomington is also where I currently call home. It was falling in love and getting married that lead me to this college town. What do these geographically and personal details have to do with an independent horror film?

As far as the rolling hills turning into mountains, there is a small collective of individuals here giving rise to personal horror films and helping to put Indiana on the map as a place where films can and are being made. The first film from this group of filmmakers is a movie called Found. The film was directed by Scott Schirmer who also wrote the screenplay adapted from Todd Rigney's novel. Found was made not on a shoestring but the frayed remnants of a shoestring. Proving that money is only a tool of film making and not end all and be all of cinematic storytelling the finished film is a strong first feature made by a dedicated core of individuals. One thing that stands out for me is cinematography of Leya Taylor. The film looks beautiful as it takes it viewers into the darkness of humanity.

Which leads me to love. Found is a film where one can see that the creators are clearly in love with cinema and their personal discovery of first finding films. One such instance can be seen as characters  in Found track down VHS tapes in a video store. This is where the genesis of the next film would be found. (pun actually unintentional) In Todd Rigney's story there is a film called Headless which is the kind of film that kids of the eighties would seek out like Faces of Death where it was the thrill of the hunt to find a copy and then through fingers covering eyes would uncomfortably watch the movie. Scenes of Headless were shot for Found. In these scenes one could see Arthur Cullipher's and his team's talent at creating special effects.

While on a cursory note one would like to say the two film are bookends, Headless having direct beginnings in the film Found and the creators behind both films. However the two are very different stories and cinematic experiences. Headless is it's own film and shows that this team while operating within the horror genre can make vastly different films. Arthur Cullipher steps into the director's chair and the film was written by Nathan Erdel. Headless is definitely not a horror film for the faint-hearted. Here is the interview I conducted with Scott, Leya and Arthur in my living room. (I should do more interviews here)

FROM PAPER TO REALIZATION. ADVICE ON MAKING A FILM

For the past several months I have been writing diligently. I have written a couple of short films and and slowly climbing the mountain of writing a couple of longer feature length films. I'm getting to the point of getting out in the world and trying to turn some of the short films into reality. Speaking of reality, the situation is such that I will be pretty much doing this all on my own, in a new town, in Southern Indiana. It's daunting to sit at a desk and try and piece together what to do first. Writing out the budget? Casting? Location scouting? Permits? Equipment rentals? I have the good fortune to work around some film festivals for several years and have met a lot of up and coming filmmakers as well as some established people in the film industry. I decided to contact some friends and ask them for some advice on making a film.

"DON'T FIGHT REALITY -- Unless you have the money too -- Adjust your shots to the locations, adjust your dialog to the actor's ability, adjust your approach to what is working in the moment, rather than trying to force something that just isn't happening short films might give you more leeway to explore though.  But on a low budget feature, making those adjustments can keep you on track. Hire a great composer and cinematographer Also, HAVE FUN"— TRAVIS STEVENS Producer A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE, CHEAP THRILLS, AMERICAN MUSCLE 

"I've had the opportunity to shoot some pictures in places like Akron, Ohio, which is similar to the Southern Indiana area and it was always a pleasant experience despite lack of proper rental houses or inexperienced crew because I always got great locations and total cooperation. People there haven't been ruined by film production yet, so really all you have to do is ask nicely and don't act like Joe Hollywood and I think that you'll find that folks can be very accommodating and helpful. Some things may be a bit more difficult than shooting with a bunch of experienced crew members in a city, but you can easily make up for it with great locations and freedom." TRENT HAAGA Writer DEADGIRL, Co-Writer CHEAP THRILLS

"I don’t know what your budget is but use it wisely. Every dollar is important and belongs on the screen to make it a bigger and better movie. When directing or producing a film you owe a professional obligation to your investors, your crew and mainly your Film to make sure not one penny is lost because of greed or incompetency.

Prep, prep and more prep. Prep is king! Be totally prepared so you are not prepping when in production and rolling cameras. That's how you waste money and eat up your filming time doing something that should have been done before you started shooting and everyone is on the clock. So know every shot you're going to need at the end of pre-production. Then the crew will know your shots also and they can stay ahead of you. It makes it an enjoyable shoot also for you and everyone.

Be a leader!!!  Go kick butt! Let's truly love the passion of film making and always prep like there is no tomorrow, Ha! Prep is the secret to a successful shoot. Always here for you!" AARON NORRIS Producer WALKER, TEXAS RANGER Director DELTA FORCE 2, BRADDOCK MISSING IN ACTION III

"Get lots of coverage - shoot until they won't let you - don't shoot the same shot twice unless it was fucked  - and most of all have fun!"DOUG AARNIOKOSKI Director of THE DAY, NURSE 3D

"No two directors are alike but all the best ones trust their vision. Try and communicate it as clearly as you can to cast to heads of dept and cast. Half the job is getting everyone on the same page. Then, once they're on the same page, let everyone have their say. Some suggestions will be better than what you had in mind. If that's the case put your ego aside and take the advice.

Your job is to make the best possible film and if a pearl of wisdom comes from the guy putting in the portable toilet then don't hesitate. You're a team. Conversely, if someone offers a suggestion that's off track then have the knowledge to respectfully tell them why. It's your job to answer the thousands of questions that will be coming your way from the color of a character's socks to the size of each shot to whether you're on a wide or long lens etc. You have to know/understand the film better than anyone else.

Think of it like a watch you intricately know the mechanics of. But you also have to be able to step back and allow yourself to be the audience. You're the one with the vision in your head so ultimately you're the only one who can definitely say whether the shot, scene etc is working or not. And be nice to crew. They're working their ass off for you! Good luck!" SEAN BYRNE director of THE LOVED ONES  

"That is great that you are making a movie. My advice is work with the resources that you have, be sincere and try to tell a good story. I wish the best of success for you." JAMES NGUYEN Director of BIRDEMIC

ALMOST HUMAN World Premiere Interviews

One of the best things of any film festival is the seeing the emergence of new talent. There was a great anticipation for Joe Begos' feature film debut ALMOST HUMAN. I had a lot of fun talking to the cast and crew the night of their world premiere at the Midnight Madness programme at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.