By Lisa M. Onorato

Entertainment writer

To a Hollywood producer, filming a movie in six weeks may seem impossible. But to veteran micro-budget filmmakers Ray and Migdalia Etheridge, it's more than possible; it's reality.

On Feb. 9, the husband-and-wife duo began filming their fifth movie, "The Vacant House." It is the second feature film the couple has shot in Palm Bay.

The first film they shot in Brevard County was "Dying for Dollars," which starred an all-local cast. The film was chosen as an audience favorite and beat out more than 40 other feature films and shorts and received the "Florida's Choice Award" at the Treasure Coast International Film Festival Feb.1-3.

"Dying for Dollars" was done on a $5,000 budget, giving credence to the Etheridge's micro-budget film philosophy.

"It's not what you have but how you use it," said Ray Etheridge, writer and director. "('Dying for Dollars') beat out a short film that had a budget of $160,000.

The couple estimates that the budget for "The Vacant House" will be around $3,000.

In "The Vacant House," it's Halloween and a young married couple has just moved into a new home. A few friends drop by to visit on the way to a party, bringing along a medium with them. The friends take part in a séance, and soon discover that the medium is for real, as he begins to tell secrets about each person in the room.

Eventually, the friends find out there is a murderer in the house, as well as a ghost. Soon, the cast is caught up in trying to figure out what is real, what is fake and who, exactly, is the murderer.

The film will be shot almost entirely inside the Etheridge's house, with the exception of one scene, which takes place in a mock crawl space that Mr. Etheridge has built.

Utilizing their own house has enabled the couple to cut their usually tiny budgets back even more.

"The biggest problem with independent films is finding suitable locations (to film)," Mr. Etheridge said.

"The Vacant House" stars 18 actors and actresses from Brevard County and Central Florida.

"More people have actual film experience (in this film); as many as half."

"We have several outstanding performers," said Mrs. Etheridge, producer.

Mr. Etheridge said he's excited to delve into his current script, which he said took several months to complete.

"'Dying for Dollars' ended up being a black comedy," he said. "'The Vacant House' is a supernatural mystery.

"Each film we have done has gotten progressively more sophisticated," Mr. Etheridge said.

For information on Etheridges and "The Vacant House," visit http://vacanthouse.angelfire.com.

Contact Lisa M. Onorato at (321) 751-5957 or thehype@hometownnewsol.com.