UNLV Alumni to Film Horror Concept This August

Filmmakers will utilize a student crew to produce a proof-of-concept project at the Clark County Museum.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Documentary

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UNLV alumni and students are collaborating on a horror film proof-of-concept titled It Came From the Swamp at the Clark County Museum. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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UNLV alumni Ryan LeBoeuf, Cody LeBoeuf, and Rachel Alterman will collaborate with current students in August to film a proof-of-concept titled It Came From the Swamp. The production is slated to take place at the Clark County Museum's Heritage Street exhibit.

Why it matters

The collaboration is designed to leverage the resources of the UNLV Filmmaker Vision Lab to attract potential investor interest for a full-length feature film project. This partnership aims to bridge the gap between academic training and professional industry production.

The production team includes recipients of the $25,000 Johnny Brenden Filmmakers Award. The filmmakers are using this shoot to secure funding for a future feature-length version of the project.

The players

Rachel Alterman

She serves as the director of development at Alcon Entertainment and is a film school graduate from UNLV.

Ryan LeBoeuf

He is a UNLV film school graduate and a recipient of the 2013 Johnny Brenden Filmmakers Award.

Cody LeBoeuf

He is a UNLV film school graduate who previously received the Johnny Brenden Filmmakers Award alongside his brother.

Adam Paul

He leads the UNLV Filmmaker Vision Lab which facilitates professional-academic partnerships.

The details

The project involves seasoned filmmakers working alongside current students within the UNLV Filmmaker Vision Lab, which pairs professional directors with academic crews. The team, who first met on the 2012 film Stealing Las Vegas, intends for this to be the start of a long-term professional collaboration.

Timeline

  1. 2012: The filmmakers met while working on the production of Stealing Las Vegas.

  2. 2013: The LeBoeuf brothers received the Johnny Brenden Filmmakers Award.

  3. August: The team will conduct the scheduled proof-of-concept film shoot.

Industry Dynamics

This production follows the established model of the UNLV Filmmaker Vision Lab to bridge student and industry efforts. Such programs are increasingly utilized by universities to foster professional connections and build project pipelines in competitive markets.

The production is a proof-of-concept shoot that is not currently accessible to the general public. Future distribution of the project will depend on the team successfully attracting investors to fund the full-length feature film.

The takeaway

Filmmakers often utilize proof-of-concept shorts to demonstrate the viability of a full-length feature to prospective financial backers. Aspiring professionals can replicate this strategy by partnering with university laboratories that offer specialized equipment and production support.

Further reading

Learn more about the local industry efforts in the Las Vegas Documentary section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Nevada Public Radio.

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