Lights, camera, action!

A tranquil estate on Arcadia Road in the Town of Goshen has been transformed into a bustling movie set by a downstate film crew. Production for the horror-comedy film “Ugly Ducklings” kicked off on Monday, March 10, and will wrap at the beginning of April.

Brooklyn-based SideSwipe Media has teamed up with local crew members and actors from up and down the East Coast to bring the next creature feature to life. Many homes and locations were scouted for the project, but the team decided upon this Goshen home as the ideal backdrop and living quarters for the cast and crew during the month-long project.

“We were lucky to find the perfect property here in Goshen,” said producer Jordan Khammar. “Since the story is set in one location, the house acts as a character in itself, and this home’s rich interior really conveys the look and feel we want on camera.”

Inside the spacious Tudor-style mansion, each room has been taken over by cameras, lights, wardrobe and a special effects make-up department. The house is packed with action – cast members preparing for their scenes, the crew adjusting cameras and lights, the director and producers thumbing through the script, and a busy special effects department cooking up gooey concoctions.

The story of Gwen Stuart

“Ugly Ducklings” follows the story of Gwen Stuart, who reluctantly accepts an invitation to a party at her cosmetic magnate boss Kathleen’s remote estate.

Out of place among the arrogant and affluent, Gwen quickly senses something is off. When Kathleen reveals that all her guests will undergo a new cosmetic procedure, they are given a set of rules to ensure the treatment’s success.

But the elitist snobs break the rules, leading to grotesque transformations.

Tight film schedule

With just 20 days to film, the schedule has been tightly packed. While the days are long, the passion for indie filmmaking, comedy and horror keep spirits high on the set. “Ugly Ducklings” is the definition of a passion project. With a budget of about $200,000, the group needs to be creative to bring the vision to life.

“Everyone here is participating because they want to make art and collaborate,” said writer and director Grant Herson. “Many of us working on the project grew up watching B horror movies and have a real love for the genre and the DIY approach that comes with it.”

The real magic of the creature feature happens on set as the special effects artists transform the actors with make-up, prosthetics, fake blood, goo and feathers.

“I think the coolest thing about this project was watching the practical effects and make-up come to life,” said Herson. “Jackie Green (the special effects artist) and her team did an incredible job translating the script visually and making some really iconic character designs.”

With just a few days left on the schedule, the team members are nearing the end of their time in Goshen. The post-production process will take about a year to complete. The film will debut in local theaters in 2026.

You can follow the project along on Instagram @uglyducklingsfilm.