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--Click here to see the news archive!-- If you have a news item you would like to see posted please e-mail it directly to me at almaric@usa.net/.
Well guys, it's taken me a while, but I've finally got the message boards up and running. Do me a favor, check them out and let me know what you think.
New at B-Independent.com Interviews: TRANCERS 6 and DEMONICUS director Jay Woelfel
Distribution:Cold Cuts
Production: Four-Walling A Movie Theater
Articles: The Shinning: From Page to Screen
Reviews: The Return of Critic James L. Edwards
Link: Under Reconstruction
Damn, I suck. Not a single news update during the month of March....and yet the site is still doing the best it's ever been. My apologies to everyone who sent in time-sensative news that's too late to post. Thanks for swinging by guys!
Thanks for understanding,
Allen
B-Independent.com Owner
April 21, 2003
Casting is complete for cult filmmaker Wayne Alan Harold's ABERRATION BOULEVARD. The self-proclaimed "Magnum Opus of CineTrash" stars TOBY RADLOFF ("Townies," "American Splendor," "Killer Nerd"), ROBYN GRIGGS ("Another World," "Dead Planet"), JAY GELDHOF ("better known as the "Damn you, Chico!" guy from "Townies") and LILITH STABS ("Stingers," "Cremains"). Also appearing are LORI SCARLETT ("Ozone," "Killer Nerd") and comics legend P. CRAIG RUSSELL ("Sandman," "The Ring of the Nibelung").Wayne is mum on plot details, but we do know that it involves sideshow freaks, that Toby's character has a diaper fetish . . . and that Robyn Griggs will be playing the Bearded Lady!
The film is currently in production and will be coming your way in February, 2004--from Tempe DVD, 'natch!
Here's the official "first look trailer," hosted by Toby Radloff:
***** Coming in 2003 don't miss the first ever comic book from Young and the Restless and Subspecies the Bloodstone actress Denice Duff. Past the darkness and the light, in the space in between there is life. Life that is Maiden Hell, life that is heir to the Heavens... Don't forget to order your copy of Maiden Hell early before they sell out Harmon Comics is also looking for a movie deal. For more info please contact Steve Harmon @ stevil@fuse.net The new Harmon Comics site will be up SOON! Check out the old site: http://www.harmoncomics.com
April 19, 2003
HOLY TERROR is done. The new killer nun movie from director Max Cerchi (Hellinger, Carnage Road) is now ready for sale !Edited by Lou Vockell (Planet of the erotic ape) and starring Charlie Lubienicki (Lead singer of the boy band 4Now), Beverly Lynn (Playboy model/Bever's Creek), Nick Armas (Carnage Road), Linzy LaBrum (Fox Tv's Murder in Small Town X), Micheal Brazier (Welcome to the Dollhouse) and Yvette Lopez (Playboy model). Special effects by Joe LaPenna (Gargoyle Girls).
You can find this movie for sale on the Rounds Entertainment web site (www.roundsent.com).
April 18, 2003
Sub Rosa Studios, a leading home video distributor of contemporary independent and international features, announces the DVD premiere of the "Blind Target," the chilling political thriller from celebrated filmmaker Jess Franco, creator of such underground classics as "The Awful Doctor Orloff," "Justine" and "Vampyros Lesbos." Starring Rachel Sheppard, Lina Romay and Linnea Quigley, "Blind Target" will be available beginning on May 13 for a suggested retail price of $19.99; the trade pre-booking date for this title is April 22."Blind Target" follows the nightmare of Maria Beltran, a writer who emigrated to the United States from Latin America at a young age and is now returning after publishing a novel on the poverty and corruption of her poor native land. What was planned as a simple press junket evolves into a whirl of murder and kidnapping as she is caught up in the ongoing factions waging a dirty war of political insurrection. Maria finds herself weighing the odds between self-preservation and civil war, and as the violence escalates she is unable to trust either her CIA friends or her insurgent enemies who claim to have her native land's best interest in mind.
Fans of Jess Franco's films will be in for a pleasant surprise as he delves into territory normally associated with politically-passionate filmmakers like Costa-Gavras. This special edition DVD includes deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, a Spanish language clip with Linnea Quigley, a stills gallery, and more. "Blind Target" runs 90 minutes and is rated 17 by the IDRB.
Sub Rosa Studios, a leading home video distributor of contemporary independent and international features, announces the DVD premiere of Charles E. Cullen's "Super Badass." This DVD will be available beginning May 6 for a suggested retail price of $19.99; the trade pre-booking date was April 15.
"Super Badass" is the name of a self-destructive bounty hunter who battles crime in the big city against a band of demented and surrealistic villains. With endless action, brutal violence, heart-pounding suspense and a special guest appearance by The Puppet Man, "Super Badass" is a super-duper cocktail of guns, gore and gasps. With Charles E. Cullen, the B-Movie genre a new blood-red hue.
This DVD features the director's commentary and introduction, preview trailers, music tracks, and more. The film runs 74 minutes and is rated 17 by the IDRB.
April 17, 2003
Here is the latest news on my horror movie "Unearthly Harvest". I have one more 5 day editing session on the Avid in the Chicago studio with my editor. The original music has been created and received from my Hollywood composer on cd ready to be edited into the movie. I am waiting on one last computer animation (CGI) effect to be finished by the effects man in England. We have been working on these special effects together for a year and a half now.Then everything will go back to Studio Film & Tape where I am putting it all together in Chicago for the final digital master directly from my negative. From that release tapes will be made in surround sound. I am still looking into a theatrical release for this film around Halloween time. It will also be hitting the various film festivals in the U.S.
I also am going to begin work on a directors cut special edition dvd which I will begin selling retail and on Ebay,com. it will contain outtakes, director and cast commentary, behind the scenes-from concept to reality, a look at the origin of the film from its super 8mm incarnation shot in 1985.
The dvd will have lots of extra surprises, some easter egges hidden with additional unused footage you will have to find and retail for $19.95 each in dolby surround sound. This film took 5 years to complete and deserves the best. How many independent films do you know of who are lucky enough to have computer CGI animations and a Hollywood music composer to write and perform an original music score at cost? It's going to be a very exciting dvd. My web page at http://www.jesvideo.com is going to be updated with new music, visuals and a 2 minute movie trailer added which can be screened.
Sincerely,
John Swanson
Creator of "Unearthly Harvest"
Princeton, Il.
***** April 16, 2003
B-movie director Billy D’Amato, who has built a career of horror movies, meets a real “monster in the woods” and is forced to re-evaluate, and then fight for, his life. AMONG US features Bob Dennis (THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED) as Billy; Heather Mackenzie Austin as Jennifer Dempsey, a woman from Billy’s past; Jon McBride (CANNIBAL CAMPOUT) as Wayne Beaubier, a cryptozoologist with an agenda of his own; and John Polonia (FEEDERS) as Ray Steele, Billy’s loyal cinematographer. The film is produced by Jon McBride and John Polonia and directed by Mark Polonia (THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED 2), with a script by John Oak Dalton and FX by Brett Piper (DRAINIAC, PSYCLOPS).2nd Unit shooting started in late February, in L.A., with shooters Gregg Bishop and George Feucht and actress Angel Jager (ROUGH TRADE). Principal shooting will take place in late May in Pennsylvania.
***** MTI Home Video, the leading independent home entertainment studio, and their Studio Partner, Bedford Entertainment, will release the action film, Wilder on VHS and DVD May 13, 2003. WILDER stars Pam Grier (Jackie Brown, Mars Attacks!) and Rutger Hauer (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and zeros in on a series of unsolved women’s murders lead to a pharmaceutical company’s conspiracy.
WILDER is priced at $24.95 SRP for the DVD and $89.95 for the VHS (rental), and will be available in English and English with Spanish subtitles. The DVD will feature interactive menus, scene selections, optional Spanish subtitles, cast biographies, and movie trailers.
Synopsis:
Della Wilder (Grier), a sexy, sharp-tongued maverick cop, considers it a job perk to torment all abusive men who have the misfortune of crossing her path. She and partner Harlan Lee (Romano Orzari) are assigned a case that at first glance seems clear-cut: the murder of a woman who had destroyed the career of Sam Charney (Hauer), her doctor and lover. But, as they delve deeper, they stumble upon a demonic conspiracy by the monolithic Bennett Pharmaceutical Company. In way over her head, and unable to convince the D.A. to pursue the case, Della turns to the charming Dr. Charney for assistance. But as they get closer to the truth, and each other, the focus changes from the company’s ruthless tactics to their very own survival.
In addition to Pam Grier and Rutger Hauer, the feature also stars Romano Orzari (Desert Son, Burnt Eden), and was written by Terry Abrahamson (Dead Awake), directed by Rodney Gibbons (Artificial Lies, Silent NIght), and produced by Netaya Anbar (Coyote Run, Warriors) and Shimon Dotan (The List, Hidden Agenda).
April 13, 2003
B-Movie Theater, the popular web site (http://www.b-movie.com) celebrating the art and industry of the B-Movie genre, is inviting film lovers to submit nominations for the sixth annual inductions in the B-Movie Hall of Fame.To better accommodate voters and to avoid nominations of films and individuals who are either already in the Hall of Fame or who are not technically eligible, the B-Movie Hall of Fame features two comprehensive ballots with 100 B-Movies and 100 B-Movie icons to choose from. The ballots can be accessed directly at http://www.b-movie.com/hof/vote.html and voters are asked to select up to 10 choices per category. Voting is now open through August 15, and the winning inductions will be announced in early September.
The nominees for Hall of Fame inclusion circle the entire B-Movie orbit, offering a line-up of A-list icons who began their careers in the B-Movies (including Mel Gibson, Stanley Kubrick, Jonathan Demme, Peter Fonda and even the Argentine first lady Eva Peron), famous players whose careers were kept alive in B-Movies after A-list stardom evaporated (including Joan Collins, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Buster Keaton, John Carradine and Jack Palance), celebrated performers whose stardom was strictly within the borders of the genre (including Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Sonny Chiba and Tom Neal), contemporary B-Movie stars (including Mark Dacascos, Debbie Rochon and The Olsen Twins) and even industry supporters including the critic Joe "Phantom of the Movies" Kane. B-Movie choices cover all genres from the past seven decades, spanning the years from 1933's "White Zombie" to 1999's "Razor Blade Smile."
"B-Movies have long been ignored by the critics and award-givers, but audiences love them and have kept the B-Movies alive all of these years," says Ron Bonk, founder of B-Movie Theater and curator of the B-Movie Hall of Fame. "That's why we open the voting to the film lovers around the world who can't get enough of the B-Movies. Every year, we receive more and more votes on a wide number of classic films and iconic stars and filmmakers. The B-Movie Hall of Fame is the moviegoer's way of saying thanks to the great films and great people who created them!"
During the first five years of voting, the B-Movie Hall of Fame has inducted the following icons of the genre: Dario Argento, Forest J. Ackerman, Samuel Z. Arkoff & James H. Nicholson, Mario Bava, Joe Bob Briggs, The Bowery Boys, Hillary Brooke, Bruce Campbell, Jeanne Carmen, William Castle, Jackie Chan, Lon Chaney Jr., Roger Corman, Wes Craven, David Cronenberg, Jamie Lee Curtis, Peter Cushing, Divine, Tamara Dobson, Godzilla, Pam Grier, Ray Harryhausen, George "Gabby" Hayes, Inoshiro Honda, Joseph Kane, Boris Karloff, Lloyd Kaufman & Michael Herz, Bruce Lee, Herschell Gordon Lewis, Arthur Lubin, Bela Lugosi, Jayne Mansfield, Russ Meyer, Jack Nicholson, Bettie Page, Parker Posey, Elvis Presley, Vincent Price, Ronald Reagan & Nancy Davis (Reagan), George Romero, Tom Savini, Emil Sitka, Barbara Steele, the Three Stooges, Lee Van Cleef, Mamie Van Doren, Jan-Michael Vincent, John Waters, John Wayne and Edward D. Wood Jr.
The classic B-Movies previously voted for honor are "Assault on Precinct 13" (1976), "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" (1978), "The Blair Witch Project" (1999), "Blood Feast" (1963), "Blood of Jesus" (1941), "Carnival of Souls" (1962), "Cat People" (1942), "Clerks" (1994), "Dawn of the Dead" (1978), "The Day of the Triffids" (1965), "Death Race 2000" (1975), "Detour" (1945), "El Mariachi" (1994), "Enter the Dragon" (1973), "Eraserhead" (1977), "The Evil Dead" (1982), "Faces of Death" (1978), "Faster, Pussycat...Kill! Kill!" (1965), "A Fistful of Dollars" (1965), "Flash Gordon" (1936), "The Flying Deuces" (1939), "Friday the 13th" (1980), "Glen or Glenda?" (1953), "Godzilla" (1954), "Gorgo" (1961), "Halloween" (1978), "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" (1980), "Hercules" (1957), "High School Confidential!" (1958), "The Hills Have Eyes" (1977), "I Spit on Your Grave" (1978), "Kentucky Fried Movie" (1977), "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" (1988), "The Killing" (1956), "The Leopard Man" (1943), "The Little Shop of Horrors" (1960), "Mad Max" (1979), "Martin" (1977), "Mondo Cane" (1963), "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" (1975), "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1978), "Night of the Living Dead" (1968), "Pink Flamingos" (1972), "Plan 9 from Outer Space" (1959), "Reefer Madness" (1936), "Repo Man" (1984), "Shaft" (1971), "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1973), "The Toxic Avenger" (1985) and "X, the Man with X-Ray Eyes" (1963).
***** The rumors are true! Stinky Pictures is gearing up to shoot another feature and we need actors.
If you live in the Atlanta area and would like to be considered for a part, please send a headshot and resume to:
Stinky Pictures
P.O. Box 941605
Atlanta, GA 31141Stinky Pictures is pleased to announce the signing of an excusive distribution agreement between our company and Sub Rosa Studios, L.L.C., based in Liverpool, NY.
Sub Rosa has a proven track record of placing "bizarre" and "unusual" independent films on the shelves of some of the country's largest retail and rental chains, including NetFlix, Best Buy, Sam Goody, Tower and Borders Books.
The street date for "Cheerleader Autopsy" on VHS & DVD is scheduled for October/November 2003!
***** From Dr. Squid's Newsletter:
Finally - after over 3 years of work, my erotic thriller UNDERBELLY is finished, duplicated and ready for viewing by your bulging eyeballs. VHS and DVD formats are both available -that's right F&C Productions' first DVD release! Both versions feature the movie itself, a behind-the-scenes/bloopers segment, an interview with the director and a peek at the promo photo shoot with Tamra Redmond. The DVD also includes a commentary track featuring me, production assistant and actor John (writer/director of The Evilmaker, Abomination) Bowker, co-editor and actor Michael Hegg and very special secret guest. The movie stars Tamra (The Seekers) Redmond, Shannon (Abomination), glamour model Heather Storm, Susan Gold, Tom (Dimension of Blood) Shaffer and Robert J. (Alien Conspiracy) Olin. Jenny (Hookers in a Haunted House) Wallace is even featured in the opening sequence! Naked even! UNDERBELLY is unrated, but contains nudity, sexual situations, violence, drug use, adult language and all that good stuff. Check out the free pics at http://www.drsquid.net/underbelly, you sly dog!
You can order your own copy of UNDERBELLY by sending check or money order for $19.95 (+$3 s&h) to Joe Sherlock, PO Box 856, Corvallis, Oregon 97339. Be sure to note whether you want VHS or DVD - the price is the same. Price good only in USA - e-mail me for international pricing.
Meanwhile both Trailer Park Double Wide Trilogy of Terror and Zombie Love Slave are zipping through post-production.
What is Twisted Fates? Why it's a snazzy new horror anthology currently in pre-production. See the end of this report for story details on the three segments, Welcome Sister, Video Drone and The New Tenant. Fine folks involved with this project (besides me and my usual gang) include Eric Spudic, Ron Ford, Athena Demos and Scott Phillips.
As a way of raising funds to produce the movie, we are selling producer credits, as we did for UNDERBELLY. That's right - for just $100, you can see your name (or the name of your choice) listed in the opening and ending credits of TWISTED FATES. Not only that, but you get a free copy of the finished tape, a special certificate honoring your role as producer, and online sneak peeks at screen caps during the movie's production, which is planned to stretch out over 2003. For all the details, go to: http://www.drsquid.net/anthology
The lovely and talented Brinke Stevens has been busy as usual. She recently sold another script (co-written with Ted Newsom) called "The Sensual Spirit." THE SENSUAL SPIRIT. The movie has already been shot and the DVD of this sexy ghost story should be available later this year. Brinke currently has a vampire script called "Blood Of My Blood" (co-written with Sean O'Bannon) at the Sci-Fi Channel, where it's being considered for an original TV movie. She'll be appearing at the Fangoria Con in LA Memmorial Day weekend to sign copies of a new DVD "Nightwalkers," a horror anthology which she plays hostess for.
In February Brinke was scheduled to star alongside Julie Strain in "Die Delta Die!" The two were set to play former sorority sisters who square off in a to-the-death cat-fight at the end.
What could be better than that?!?! Well, let's just say it might be a tie with seeing MICHELLE BAUER back on screen, playing a Countess who bathes in blood in Fred Olen Ray's werewolf movie "The Unliving!"
DETAILS ABOUT "TWISTED FATES"
This horror anthology features three tales:
"Welcome Sister" starts off with two sorority sisters jogging through a city park in the early morning. Suddenly two hooded figures jump out from behind a tree. Both girls are chloroformed, one left lying in the brush, the other hauled of into the woods. She wakes to find herself tied up and surrounded by hooded figures, all chanting in a strange language. Just when you think you know what is happening, the story takes a shocking turn!!
"Video Drone" starts out with a young man renting a mysterious unmarked video from his local videostore. As he watches a horror hostess onscreen, she begins to talk directly to him. The horror begins as the same events begin to play over and over again, mutating each time until finally the man discovers the tape's secret...and uses it to save himself!
"The New Tenant" starts out with a mild mannered trailer court resident settling himself in by the pool. A stunning bikini-clad woman sets up next to him and introduces herself as a new resident in the park. She invites him over for dinner and heads home for a quick shower. Someone is watching her, but she knows it and has plans to teach him a lesson. As the evening wears on, events unfold into a twist ending that is both shocking and bloody!
***** MICRO-FILM editor Jason Pankoke is finally making the jump from the printed page to the silver screen with behind-the-camera contributions to three films in a ghostly vein.
Currently in production is Pankoke's first short film entitled NEITHER COULD MAYA, starring Alexis Hadley and Angel West as friends acknowledging the gap continually widening between them without meeting eye-to-eye on the matter. The film will be edited in an unique "symmetrical" style that keeps them from appearing together on screen yet addresses their differences through repeating events and actions.
"This is intended to be a trial run for me to see what I can do, to kick the monkey off my back that's restrained me from diving in all these years," says Pankoke, who shot the film in downtown Champaign, Illinois where he lives. "MAYA is an artistic collage that talks about the way we remember certain people in our minds versus our perceptions of them in the present. When friends change over time and they don't seem to be on the same page anymore, their memories of 'what once was' can haunt them mercilessly."
A photograph of MAYA's cast and crew working in downtown Champaign was recently included in the book CU in 7 plus. Edited by Brian K. Johnson and published by Illini Media Company, CU in 7 plus uses photojournalism to document 10 days in the life of Champaign-Urbana at the end of October 2002. The lovely and talented Kelly Kiekow snapped the shot, which appears on page 109.
On a more formidable scale, Pankoke is also on board as an assistant producer for MOVIEHOUSE, the anticipated follow-up from Dallas filmmakers Brad Osborne and Eric Vale to their acclaimed no-budget con film HALL OF MIRRORS. Osborne and Vale will be scouting locations in the Midwest this spring and summer for their tale of a run-down, single-screen movie house on its last legs along with its long-time owner. Without giving much away, a haunting within the decrepit movie palace figures into their final days.
"MOVIEHOUSE is a low-key thriller that uses mood and nuance to give the story its flavor," describes Pankoke, "and also mildly heartbreaking in the way that is shows how certain aspects of American life simply don't last forever - including the classic movie-going experience eradicated by sterile multiplexes - unless you intend to put up a hell of a fight. The tragedy here is that, not unlike Mark Twain's witticism about entering and leaving this world with Halley's Comet, the aged theater owner is resolved to be born and pass away with his beloved theater. Question is, what skeletons in the closet need to be evicted before the inevitable? That's what a failing film student decides to find out before it's too late."
Vale recently confirmed with Pankoke that he and Dallas-Ft. Worth voiceover artist Chris Sabat will be attending the IMC/MICRO-FILM movie show on Wednesday, April 23 as well as Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival starting on Thursday, April 24. Vale and Sabat will also be exploring the option of filming part or all of MOVIEHOUSE in the Champaign-Urbana area. Please contact Pankoke at (217) 352-1312 or japan@pdnt.com if you are interested in speaking with Vale and Sabat about the production or financing needs of MOVIEHOUSE.
Prior to MOVIEHOUSE, Pankoke also took a supervisory role in another spirit-laden production, TRIAD. "This short film is more in line with the modern slam-bang horror thrillers," describes Pankoke of a project marshaled by a team of students attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. "It's based on purported hauntings in several U of I academic buildings. The fictional reworking concerns a trio of students unearthing the legends but simultaneously falling into a vicious cycle that might spell their doom."
"The neat thing about TRIAD is that it is an ambitious undertaking at a university that doesn't have a film school," continues Pankoke. "Through the efforts of director Chris Folkens and his cast and crew, hailing from the music and theater departments along with the student club Illini Film & Video, TRIAD has come together precisely because of their growing passion for making movies. Nobody is telling them to do this, they're not getting class credit for it, and they're obviously not receiving or rolling in the dough. When you're young and venturing out on your own, it's all about desire and following through."
TRIAD will be screened for the public on Saturday, May 3, at the Illini Film & Video spring student festival. The official TRIAD web site is at www.triadthemovie.com.
The next issue of MICRO-FILM, an irregularly published maga/zine about the world of independent cinema, will debut during summer 2003. Scheduled articles will profile the filmmakers behind THE INDEPENDENT, I AM TRYING TO BREAK YOUR HEART, KWIK STOP, OUR LADY OF SORROW, and HEAVY METAL PARKING LOT. Cover price will be $4.00.
Also, don't forget the IMC/MICRO-FILM show on Wednesday, April 23! Two features, two shorts, all independent cinema! At 7 p.m., catch HORNS AND HALOS w/KILLING MICHAEL BAY. At 9 p.m., marvel at EXISTO w/GIMME THE MERMAID. Fun flicks for intelligent folks! The Independent Media Center, 218 W. Main St., downtown Urbana, Illinois. Video projection. Sliding scale at the door. For mature audiences.
April 11, 2003
MINDSCAPE PICTURES had a terrific month in March. Not only did we release our second feature-length short film compilation, but we also completed post-production on two new shorts: Again and the long-awaited More Than Money's Worth. These are the eleventh and twelfth additions to the MINDSCAPE PICTURES short film library.Again, a remake of writer/director Jason Santo's 2000 movie that bore the same name, tells the story of Jack, (Frank Parker) a newlywed comedian who can't shake an eerie feeling of déjà vu when he meets his wife's old college pals. As his night bores on, Jack discovers he can actually see tiny glimpses into the future, and he doesn't at all like what he sees. The movie co-stars Kathy Nestor (In A Sky With No Angels) as well as Amy Martin and Christian Cibotti.
More Than Money's Worth was the longest-in-production movie in the MINDSCAPE PICTURES catalogue. A bright, silly and funny tale about a heartbroken college golf team captain who unwittingly receives the gift of a sassy co-ed from his preppy teammates in order to restore his golf game, More Than Money's Worth stars veteran b-movie screen queen Tina Krause (Witchouse 3, Titanic 2000) along with Frank Parker (Again, Haunted), Neil O'Callaghan and Zach Lawrence.
Both movies are scheduled for release sometime early this Summer on Bent: Volume Three
Despite a surprise snowstorm that blew through the Greater Boston area the night of our screening, the Bent: Volume Two premiere on March 13, 2003 at Belmont Studio Cinema in Belmont, MA was a success! A crowd of approximately 80 people gathered to watch the short films The Dinner, Time Heals All Wounds, and In a Sky With No Angels, their reactions to the movies extremely positive!
There is a possibility that Bent: Volume Two could soon have an additional screening at the Belmont Studio Cinema in May. Details are still being worked-out, but it's our hope that those who missed out due to the weather in March will be able to attend.
In keeping with the overall busy pace of March 2003, MINDSCAPE PICTURES began production and wrapped principle photography on two new short pictures: The Parting and Sex & the Model Agent.
A moving drama starring veteran actor and acting teacher Alan Langer, The Parting is the first in what MINDSCAPE PICTURES hopes will be several continuing partnerships with the Marblehead, MA-based production group STONEHENGE PRODUCTIONS. The story revolves around the difficult decision made by a grandfather (Langer) who has acted as a custodial parent for his granddaughter (Jen Lazea) after the death of her parents. Having recently fallen victim to an exacerbation that left him paralyzed and wheelchair-bound, the grandfather elects to give custody of his granddaughter to his surviving daughter (Regina Millis) and her husband (Tony Bermani) despite the young girl's protests. A very touching picture written and executive produced by Langer, The Parting was produced by Rick Bettencourt and was directed by MINDSCAPE PICTURES co-founder Jason Santo.
Switching gears completely, for the first time since Haunted, the majority of the MINDSCAPE PICTURES core creative team got together late in the month to produce the slapstick/goofball comedy Sex & the Model Agent starring Sheri Carter as a beautiful, savvy woman who just wants a night off from her demanding day job as a secret agent. Co-starring Jason Santo, Roman Berman and newcomer (but regular MINDSCAPE PICTURES contributor) Stacey Monty, Sex & the Model Agent is written and directed by Santo, and shot by Berman, Frank Parker and Claire Folger.
Sex & The Model Agent is on a fast-track post-production schedule that will see it completed before the end of April in time for sale at the Chiller Theatre Convention in New Jersey.
***** From Armageddon Productions:
2002 saw the national release of the third chapter in filmmaker David DeCoteau's lucrative BROTHERHOOD franchise, THE BROTHERHOOD III: YOUNG DEMONS,written by myself, which hit video and DVD as a Blockbuster Video-exclusive release on September 3rd. It also saw the production of my screenplay for SPEED DEMON, a supernatural riff on THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS, shot in and around Los Angeles by DeCoteau late last summer, and some revision work on BROTHERHOOD IV: BOYZ II DEATH, concerning a boy band full of zombies, originally written by Fangoria magazine managing editor Michael Gingold and directed by DeCoteau. SPEED DEMON is expected to be released on video and DVD in Summer of 2003. This marks the end of a four-year association with DeCoteau and Rapid Heart Pictures, now relocated to Canada and working with a bevy of international screenwriters on foreign-based projects.
Also on the writing front is the larger-budgeted DEEP FREEZE, produced by Oscar-winning production company Regent Entertainment (GODS AND MONSTERS), co-written by Bob Boris (screenwriter of the classic Robert Blake vehicle ELECTRA GLIDE IN BLUE) and directed by none other than FX-wiz-turned-auteur, John Carl Buechler, of FRIDAY THE 13th PART VII: THE NEW BLOOD fame (and marking my first official entry into the WGA!). The combination of monsters, mayhem and Buechler's MMI makeup and creature effects work (for my money, they created the scariest-looking Jason makeup of the FRIDAY THE 13th series!) even has me psyched-up to see it ... and if you can't wait, check out the RealPlayer trailer on Regent's site! The film has already been released overseas in the U.K. on video and DVD, and is expected to hit the States soon!
Finally, I recently worked with Las Vegas-based filmmaker Michael Ricks (ALIEN VOWS) on developing a yet-to-be-titled genre project, partially adapted from my one and only published short story "Into The Black" (as seen in the premiere issue of SCREAM QUEENS ILLUSTRATED waaaaaaay back in 1992) and Ricks' own original ideas. Ricks plans to shoot the project, which concerns an experimental device capable of contacting the dead, on state-of-the-art HD video (hey, if it's good enough for George Lucas ...). The project has been such a positive experience for all involved that we're already talking about doing it again ... possibly even teaming up to bring you the oft-discussed KINGDOM OF THE VAMPIRE remake! Stay tuned for more details!
Some more news on the BLOODLETTING DVD! A PAL region-free DVD (playable here in the States only on PAL-compatible DVD players and DVD-equipped home computers) has already been released in the U.K. by Cryptkeeper, featuring a half-hour making-of, featuring interviews with actors Ariauna Albright, James L. Edwards and others, remastered image and the original stereo soundtrack.
The NTSC Region 1-only Remastered Special Edition DVD will be released here in the States on July 8th, pushed back from its original release date of September 24th of 2002. The no-frills Wizard Home Video version that was to be released this month, retitled I'VE KILLED BEFORE, has been cancelled. Here's what you can expect to get for your hard-earned cash:
- Digitally restored picture from original elements (1.33:1 aspect ratio)
- Dolby Digital 5.1 surround remix and 24-bit digitally remastered original score, featuring new material composed just for the Special Edition DVD!
- Commentary track with myself, as well as stars James L. Edwards and Ariauna Albright
- "Building A Better BLOODLETTING" featurette (35 mins.)
- Deleted scenes and outtakes (2 mins.)
- The remastered score provided as16-bit, 44.1 kHz high quality .mp3's (DVD-ROM content)
- "I'VE KILLED BEFORE" - the rare orginal short that the feature was based on! With optional commentary track by producer/cinematographer Ron Bonk (30 mins.)
- Production stills and review gallery
- The shooting draft of the screenplay as a .pdf file (DVD-ROM content)
- Tempe DVD trailers and coming attractions
- Insert with introduction by executive producer J.R. Bookwalter
Sadly, the album has been sidetracked for the time being, due to a relocation to sunny Kentucky. The last commitment I had musically: re-recording, remastering and, in the case of a few cues, recomposing a new partial score for the BLOODLETTING Special Edition DVD, was recently completed and delivered in a high-end, 24-bit/48 kHz format to the folks at Fat Cat Post in L.A. for their BLOODLETTING 5.1 Dolby Digital surround remix! The entire remastered score will be available as .mp3's on the upcoming BLOODLETTING DVD (as bonus DVD-ROM content), and the original score is still available on CD from the official BLOODLETTING web site (linked above).
Hot on the heels of this remastering, Tempe Entertainment has approached me to remaster two more of my movie scores for future DVD releases: THE SANDMAN and POLYMORPH. Unlike my work on the remastered BLOODLETTING score, the re-recording and remastering of these two scores will entail reproducing the exact studio setup used for the recording of the original scores, recording the cues from their original MIDI files created for the films back in 1995 and 1996, then enhancing the new recordings with state of the art digital signal processing and mastering to maintain the original scores' sound while optomizing them for a 5.1 Dolby surround mix and the scrutiny of your very expensive home theater setup. Sounds like fun! Both remastered scores will be completed early this spring.
I've also been tapped to provide the score for Bookwalter's upcoming "Bad Movie Police" series on DVD. These DVDs threaten to mine the catalog of Bookwalter's (and, unfortunately, mine's) sordid past body of work, re-releasing such lost "classics" as ROBOT NINJA and CHICKBOXER, presented in "Mystery Science Theater 3000" fashion with smarmy commentary and intros by members of "The Bad Movie Police" (okay, okay, it's gonna be a couple of scantily-clad ladies in cop-fetish outfits, but, see, they told me it's the Bad Movie Police, so I have to go with the official word on this one ...). The DVDs will be available for sale or rental sometime in the Fall!
Meanwhile, be sure to look for two of the album's surviving rough tracks (one of which is the end credits' theme!), featuring the work of the original album vocalist, on the WITCHOUSE 3: DEMON FIRE soundtrack. They gave audiences a sneak preview of "The Dream Is Over, Part 2" and "Dream Damage". For those of you with sturdy Internet connections, you can download both of the songs, as heard in the film, from the WITCHOUSE 3 DVD Multimedia Extras Page as high-quality 16-bit .mp3 files you can play on a PC or (even cooler) a Mac!
***** Palm Pictures announced that it has acquired the North American and UK rights to Matthew Barney’s CREMASTER CYCLE, which includes all five films of this landmark project. The Company plans a spring theatrical release of CREMASTER 3, the last film in the cycle, followed by a tour of all five films in the CREMASTER CYCLE. CREMASTER 3 will be the first project distributed by Palm Pictures’ new Arthouse Films label and will be screened as a part of the Frontier Program at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
The deal was negotiated by David Koh, Head of Acquisitions & Production for Palm Pictures along with Arthouse Films’ General Manager Jose Martinez, Jr., and Palm Pictures’ acquisitions executive Richard Brown. The Creative Artists Agency (CAA) represented artist and director Matthew Barney, and producer Barbara Gladstone of the Barbara Gladstone Gallery in the deal.
Matthew Barney has been applauded as “ultimately the most important American artist of his generation” by The New York Times Magazine and his CREMASTER CYCLE has taken on legendary status. CREMASTER 3 was hailed by Stephen Holden of The New York Times as “A major work that exudes the fizz of a Busby Berkeley musical and the visceral excitement of sports extravaganza.” Eight years in the making, Barney’s CREMASTER CYCLE includes such diverse personalities as Norman Mailer, Ursula Andress, Richard Serra and Aimee Mullins, as well as Barney himself.
Chris Blackwell, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Palm Pictures, stated: “ THE CREMASTER CYCLE will mark the inaugural release of our fine arts label, Arthouse Films, and I couldn’t imagine a better project to launch it with than Matthew Barney’s. We want to be known in the US and the UK as the label of choice for visual artists who are pushing the boundaries and forging new ground and this film certainly conveys that message.”
David Koh, Head of Acquisitions & Production for Palm Pictures, commented: “We are extremely honored to release Matthew Barney’s CREMASTER CYCLE and we look forward to our collaboration with the artist and Barbara Gladstone on the release. We are first and foremost fans of this important work. We plan a theatrical release of CREMASTER 3 (the last film in the cycle), followed by a touring cycle of all five CREMASTER films. We are also working on a special DVD with Matthew which will include material not available theatrically and special behind the scenes footage.”
Matthew Barney, Writer, Director, Producer of CREMASTER 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , said: “I’m pleased that Palm Pictures has joined us in completing the final stage of THE CREMASTER CYCLE by theatrically distributing the films to a broader audience. Palm Pictures is known for delivering innovative and thoughtful visual projects to mainstream audiences and they are the perfect partner for us in this endeavor.”
Barbara Gladstone, Producer of THE CREMASTER CYCLE , stated: “We’re very excited that THE CREMASTER CYCLE is able to make the cross-over from its original art context to the general film audience. Those who have already seen this body of work have been taken with it and we are confident that the response from the wider movie-going audience will be just as powerful.”
Matthew Barney’s body of work and THE CREMASTER CYCLE will also be the subject of a much-anticipated retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum (New York City) opening in late February 2003. The exhibition will include the entire five-part narrative film project accompanied by related sculptures, photographs, and drawings. The Guggenheim exhibition brings together elements from the series for the first time, revealing the fundamental relationship between sculpture and the moving image in Barney’s work.
April 8, 2003
The 4th Floor has already begain production on their biggest flick ever. DEMON SLAUGHTER The main production will start in April and will be finished in late May. Its full of demons, zombies, and shoot outs... Oh, and don't forget the blood, guts, and nudity. Directore/Producer Ryan Cavalline is very excited about this project. Its been one of those scripts that have been sitting around here at the 4th Floor for sometime now and we are happy to get going with this project.
***** Writer-director Brian O'Malley has begun preproduction on his next feature film, FRANCIS HAMPER, the story of a love-sick hypochondriac who falls in love with a nurse he nearly cripples in a car accident. Casting begins in March and production is set for mid-July or August, with a possible co-production of Jeff Orgill's Boppin' At The Glue Factory taking place at the same time. Boppin' - co-written by O'Malley - is about a junkie who runs the night shift at a convalescent home.
***** Awefilms is set to release their next effort, THE GROWTH EXPERIMENT. Sandy Meisner plays a scientist dedicated to healing who stumbles upon a formula that changes her meek physique into a hugely muscled and super strong one. Christine Envall, Australia's most muscular woman, fills out the role of the hulking scientist. But this conversion comes with an evil streak and Christine uses her new body to seek vengeance and revel in her new power.
All films from Awefilms revolve around women with muscular physics.
***** After more than a year of working on this project, the short film starring Jason Smither is now complete. Coming in at approximately a half hour, HAIRTRIGGER is Bunk Films first attempt at putting action and gun play into a film. A premiere date for this film will be set soon, as well as preoders for VHS copies. Special thanks to Carl James for completing the audio tweaking on the production and doing the foley work.
*****
April 3, 2003
From Mark Pirro:I’ve managed to cut Rectuma to a palatable .105 minutes, without end titles and pickups. When all is added in, I think we’re looking at a running time of 110 minutes – a bit longer than I would like, but there is nothing else I can cut out without serious pains. So, I think we will settle for the longer running time (at least it’s not over two hours). We’ve started voiceovers, and that will most likely take us through the summer months. I’ll also be spending all that time refining the special effects, and replacing the slashes and temp FX shots with the final shots.
Some of you have been asking what our NEXT film will be after this one. To be honest, I haven’t given it much thought, since I am up to my ass in Rectuma. However, we have plenty of material to choose from. We could do “Root of all Evil,” – which is a straight horror film that I wrote years ago (something different, eh?) or “Jesus, The Revenge,” – which still lacks a finished screenplay. I’ve been tempted to consider remakes of some of my earlier, crappily shot films like Queerwolf or Nudist Colony of the Dead. Polish Vampire would be pretty slick with CGI skeletons. With the technology available today, we could remake those films with great production value. Some people have asked me to partner up with them and produce or co-produce their projects. Normally I reject those offers, since there’s little point in producing with someone else who will end up owning half the project and put me in a situation similar to a marriage. However, it might be nice to share the burden with somebody else again. You may recall that for a few of my earlier films, I had had co-producers and in some cases, I didn’t produce at all. In fact, I prefer not to produce and simply direct, but usually when I hand the responsibility of producing to someone else, I end up looking over his shoulder anyway, so why bother? We’ll see what the future holds. For right now, I will just focus on squeezing out Rectuma by its projected release date – this Christmas. Earlier? Maybe.
We may have some test screenings later this year. If any of you are interested in attending, let us know. We’ll put you on a list. We plan to test screen with people who aren’t part of the Pirromount stable, since we want fresh and unbiased opinions. I’m not a big fan of test screenings, and I’ll probably cut the film the way I want to regardless of the outcome, but sometimes these test screenings prove I’m right. And if they prove otherwise, I just bury the evidence.
April 2, 2003
Alvin Ecarma's LETHAL FORCE will be screening this Friday as part of the 9pm program of the Chester River Film Festival in Chestertown, Maryland. For more info check out their website at http://foa.washcoll.edu/filmfestDivergent Thinking Productions
***** ABERRATION BOULEVARD is the latest dark comedy from cult filmmaker Wayne Alan Harold (TOWNIES, GIRLFRIENDS, KILLER NERD). The offbeat film will be released worldwide by Tempe DVD in December, 2003.
The film stars the “Genuine Killer Nerd” himself, Toby Radloff (fresh from his appearance in HBO’s AMERICAN SPLENDOR) and Robyn Griggs (NBC’s ANOTHER WORLD, DEAD PLANET).
Radloff plays a carnival sideshow attraction with a diaper fetish, Griggs is the sideshow’s “Bearded Lady” and unofficial “Den Mother.”
Wayne promises that Robyn will only be bearded in the beginning of the film. “So relax, fellas—we wouldn’t want to keep that nice face covered up for too long!” he says, laughing. “Actually, she shaves the beard off in the very first scene. I don’t want to give too much of the story away—suffice to say that it’s creepy, sad and funny.”
For a sneak peek at the film’s first lobby card, check out Wayne's website at www.lurid.com.
***** Steve ("Cremains") Sessions' new chiller "CADAVER BAY," starring Jeff Dylan Graham ("Deadly Stingers"), will be available in the U.K. shortly. Also starring Graham, Lilith Stabs, Cynder Moon, and Lucien Eisenach, the dark underground horror flick "MALEFIC" is slated for summer release; news, when available, will be on www.b-horror.com
***** Blake Fitzpatrick of Monunmental Pictures has started work on a new "revenge" picture titled IMPRUDENCE.
Blake says, "We are now re-starting the production, IMPRUDENCE, due to casting problems and many other difficulties. The film, produced by Ari Bavel, has a planned fall audition and spring begining production with a summer theatrical and video/DVD release.
"(The movie is) about two young ladies who are on there way to a huge party. On there way there, they are in a terrible car accident and smash into a tree and are flung from the car onto the ground. they wake up in the trunk to two perverted college students, who beat and rape the girls. The perverts make there way to the party, but little do they know the two girls they just beat are sinister witchs who conjure up a whole horde of the living dead and are going to make them realize they made a fatal imprudence messing with them."
***** Elevated Films of Midland Texas will begin production on THE MINDS EYE in May. Auditions have been held and locations are secured for this low budget thriller. It will be shot using two of the new Panasonic AG DVX100 cameras. We are very excited because this is our first feature. Everyone is pumped and ready to rock! We invite everyone to check out our web site at http://filmfreq.expage.com .
***** Joint Films, the makers of H.R. PUKENSHETTE and BUM RUNNER, will be releasing a compilation DVD of their shorts later this year. More news as it's available.
***** BOOT HILL BLIND DEAD is a Horror-Western short on DV. Completed filming in January 19 of 2003,released March 14 2003.Played in North Carolina,twice at Stellarcon and Retrofantasma.BHBD stars Ron "The Fear"Ford,Athena"The Practice"Demos and William"Crawling Brain"Combs.Chris"Deadly Scavengers"Mackey directed, from a script by Dan Johnson.Product placement by Jones Soda and Ghoultown.Now available on EBAY."She came to the Wild West Side Show,Not knowing she was the MAIN ATTRACTION!" please visit our UPDATED websites:
http://www.dale.myers.net/boothillblinddead
***** MTI Home Video, the leading independent home entertainment studio, and their new Studio Partner, Redrum Entertainment, will release the action/horror film, MANIACTS on VHS and DVD May 27, 2003. A cutting edge killer love story, MANIACTS stars Jeff Fahey (Wolf Lake, The Newcomers) and Kellie Waymire (Six Feet Under, Sunset Strip). The feature will be the first release by Redrum Entertainment, a joint venture between MTI Home Video and Delta Entertainment’s President, Joe Kelly Jackson.
The video release follows an impressive limited theatrical run this past January and February, by Palisades Entertainment and Distribution. MANIACTS is priced at $24.95 SRP for the DVD and $89.95 for the VHS (rental).
Synopsis:
Filmed on location at a State Penitentiary in Santa Fe, NM, MANIACTS opened at the Santa Fe Film Festival, and screened at AFM, and Cannes 2002. The film is about two serial killers who fall in love while at an insane asylum. They escape to go on a “Bonnie and Clyde” ride of love and pulp fiction, and try to live a normal life. Unfortunately, "normal" turns out to be a state of mind... an elusive state of mind.
In addition to Jeff Fahey and Kellie Waymire, the feature also stars Leslie Easterbrook (Police Academy, The Hunted), Mel Winkler (Doc Hollywood, A Life Less Ordinary), John Furlong (Wyatt Earp, Vampires), and Vincent Guastaferro (State and Main, Sweet and Lowdown). MANIACTS was written and directed by C.W. Cressler (Behind the Red Door, Cadillac Dreams), and produced by Meat And Potatoes Prods.
April 1, 2003
We are currently reviewing independent films & videos to purchase on a buyout basis. These are for completed projects that currently have not finalized distribution deals either domestically and/or internationally. Don't sign your license away on 5 year deals that result in little more than quarterly statements and a check for $3 dollars. We may be able to offer you upfront money within a few days after we review it. You can always accept or decline, it's that easy! For further information go to www.scorpiostudios.com/submit.htm
***** Former ANOTHER WORLD star turned indi-queen, and fellow Schlagger addict, Robyn Griggs will be hosting a new horror con out of Akron in September called Twisted Nightmare Weekend. Look for her next role as Shain in DEAD PLANET from Head 2 Head Productions.
Robyn Griggs
Twisted Nightmare Weekend
Dead Planet
***** Twisted Insomniac Productions is hard at work on a new comedy titled GOIN' TO VEGAS. The TiP website describes the film as "a pyramid, blackjack, and Showgirls... What more could you ask for? A comedy about two guys are their plans for Vegas. Staring Carl Gannon, Jesse Sorrell, and Ann Marie Pinto."
Twisted Insomniac
Goin' to Vegas
***** Mean Time Productions, the groups behind the forthcoming video release THE WIND, have announced their next project, THE PHILISTINE. Unlike THE WIND, THE PHILISTINE has it's roots in the world of comics.
The Philistine
The Wind
Mean Time Productions
***** The "GIRLS NIGHT OUT" segment of the new Creepy will be featured at this years ARLENE GROCERY VIDEO Festival in April. Dates and times coming soon........We're really excited about "GIRLS NIGHT OUT", it's packed with great stuff, wacky twists and turns and great new music from SUN, Mister Monster and Flipside the Band.
Hey everyone, Shoen's show "This Our Children" rocks this weekend 3/14/03! There are details below FYI: Shoen plays the shifty and then later mislead nurse "Caryn" in the "Blood Moon rising" segment of CREEPY TALES II "Girls Night Out"
Look for JULE CAREY on the cover of the issue of BLOOD MOON RISING magazine soon. Details to follow...Jule plays the twisted Mrs.. Valentine in The "GIRLS NIGHT OUT" segment of the new Creepy.
***** THE ZOMBIE ROOM due in May
Charlotte, NC - THE ZOMBIE ROOM, the latest independent film from writer/director Mark Baranowski, has just begun shooting in New London, NC. Baranowski's first project since last summer's RUNAWAY TERROR, it will be shot in digital format (both RUNAWAY and his first film, DESPAIR, were shot on VHS-C). Starring much of the cast from RUNAWAY, including Baranowski's wife, model-actress Ryli Morgan, and Baranowski himself, the film centers on five friends who head out to the country for the weekend and pick up a peculiar hitchhiker along the way. As night falls, their passenger's true identity is revealed, as he attacks the group, one by one. The film is scheduled for a May 2003 release. For more information (artwork, stills, etc.), visit Mark's official website...
***** In the wake of a tragedy, how should one react? MINDSCAPE PICTURES' tenth completed production, Aftermath, poses this question when a group of teenage friends are faced with the loss of one of their own in a high school shooting. Written, edited and co-directed by newcomer Pat Hines with the assistance of co-director and director of photography Jason Santo, the movie stars MINDSCAPE PICTURES regulars Zach Lawrence (More Than Money's Worth, Shady Business) and Niki Sella (Shady Business) with new faces Justin Grace, Sarah Ashton, Michael Stephens, Gail Simeone and Erik Hallegren.
The movie was shot around the Greater-Boston area the week of Christmas, 2002 and quickly passed through post-production in January, 2003. Composer David Clausson (Haunted) wrote the somber and innovative score for the movie during February.
Aftermath is the first movie from MINDSCAPE PICTURES to use the revolutionary new AGDVX100 digital video camera from Panasonic which records video at a film-like 24 frames-per-second. To see the trailer for this movie, check out stills or read details regarding its production, visit its home on the MOVIES page at www.mindscapepictures.com.
The movie is one of the four short pictures to be included on Bent: Volume Three due out during late-Spring 2003.
ANNOUNCING A CHANCE CONNECTION, HIDING AWAY AND THE INNOCENTS: THREEE NEW PRODUCTIONS!
During the chilly (and snowy) month of February 2003, MINDSCAPE PICTURES didn't slow momentum any, beginning production on the romantic short movie A Chance Connection starring Tina Krause (Witchouse 3, Titanic 2000) and going into pre-production on two other new pictures: Hiding Away written and directed by Frank Parker and The Innocents from writer/director Pat Hines.
A Chance Connection tells the story of a recently heartbroken woman (Krause) who mistakenly dials her ex's phone number and instead gets connected to a nice single guy (writer/director Jason Santo) who fears "taking a leap" into another relationship. Set almost entirely during this chance phonecall, A Chance Connection poses questions about love, relationships and just how much of a role fate has to play before one can believe in such things. Halfway through production, the movie most likely will wrap principle photography in March with an expected release on VHS slated for late-April 2003.
Hiding Away, a picture originally to be shot in 2000, also weighs matters of love and longing through the eyes of another young woman dealing with a breakup. When Julie (Victoria Sullivan) is left in the dust by her boyfriend of two years, she seeks quiet solace in her college's darkened theater. She discovers she is not alone as a theater tech named Marcus (Ryan Gaul) reveals he's been watching her. As the pair begin a relationship, a friend of Julie's uncovers some very unsettling information about the elusive Marcus that leads to a very unexpected chain of events. The picture will begin shooting possibly in late-March, early-April with a possible release on VHS sometime during Summer, 2003.
Finally, The Innocents is a pseudo-noir tale about a college-age journalism student investigating the validity of a young woman's claim that she was raped by a member of the college football team. Written, directed and starring Pat Hines (Aftermath), The Innocents takes a sardonic-yet-realistic look at the morals and values of today's college students. It will be lensing on location at Emerson College in Boston, MA. throughout the month of March for possible release in mid-Summer.
To learn more about all of these new productions stop by their sections on the MOVIES page at www.mindscapepictures.com.
***** TEMPE DVD RETURNS WITH NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION DEAL
We've been laying low with our Tempe-branded DVD releases since last summer, but that's all about to change. Thanks to a new national distribution deal, we'll be releasing two brand-new DVD titles per month beginning in July!
First up on May 13th is the re-release of TOWNIES. This title was first released back in July, 2002 to rave reviews and is being offered to our new national accounts at the same retail price of $19.99.
Following on June 10th is double blast of our best-reviewed titles -- WITCHOUSE 3: DEMON FIRE and SKINNED ALIVE, now available at a new lower retail price of $14.99 each. All the great extras remain, only the price has changed!
The excitement really begins on July 8th when we roll out our first two new titles:
BLOODLETTING Special Edition (Tempe DVD, $19.99)
MULVA: ZOMBIE ASS KICKER!/FILTHY McNASTY Double Feature (Splatter Rampage, $14.99)Full details will follow soon on these titles and more information about our three labels (Tempe DVD, Bad Movie Police, Splatter Rampage). For now, our complete 2003 release schedule is posted online! Get a sneak peek at what's ahead by pointing your browser to:
http://www.tempevideo.com/dvd/index.html
Please note we will no longer be offering new VHS versions of our releases -- the fans have spoken and VHS is dead! Current editions of TOWNIES and SKINNED ALIVE are being discontinued, available while supplies last. Other titles will be made available until their DVD editions are released.
We're also planning to resurrect our monthly B-Independent.com release party chats, beginning in May to promote TOWNIES. Stay tuned for more details!
***** Heroes & Villains short online
Pow! Media is pleased to present a downloadable version of a new short film written and directed by Jay Cheel entitled Heroes & Villains. It is about a school for superheroes and supervillains that trains students such as The Seamstress, Binge and Purge, Zaire, and The Bladder. The film runs just over a minute in length, but remember, it's not the size of the ship it's the motion of the ocean. H & V was part of a school project that Jay completed last semester with the help of a team of Niagara College broadcasting students, and it's the first project he's done on 16mm film. Check it out now at www.powfilms.com.
Albinoman: The TV Pilot
The biggest news here at Pow! Media right now is the announcement of an Albinoman TV pilot in production. Not only has it been years since we produced a true new Albinoman project, but we've also talked about the possibilities of a TV series format for a while, and now the perfect opportunity has presented itself as a television project at Niagara College. Jay wrote the script and will be directing the episode, while I (Sean) will be playing Albinoman. The real Albinoman (the person on which the character is based) has been hired on as an advisor for the project.
Albinoman: The TV Show will bring Albinoman into a cheesy sitcom atmosphere complete with canned laughter, recurring characters, and actual sets. The pilot episode finds Albinoman and his roommate Bloomers taking part in a telethon for a local TV station as a favour to their landlord. When Albinoman spots a minor celebrity possessing one of the three telltale signs of a supervillain he must spring into action and save the telethon from certain disaster. Depending on how this pilot turns out, we are considering pitching it to The Comedy Network because let's face it, they just might be desperate enough to air our crap.
Albinoman Speaks Out Against War In Iraq
Whoever said that superheroes were mere puppets to politicians obviously hasn't met the White-Haired Avenger. (Actually I don't think anyone ever said that anyway.) Crimefighters have a mind of their own, and as role models and peacekeepers in the world, they have a responsibility to let their opinions and morals be known to the masses. This is why Albinoman has decided to speak out against the War on Iraq. He has issued an official statement which can be read or viewed in Realvideo at www.albinoman.com.
Other Movie News
There are a few other film projects we have been involved in recently. Most notably there is a film written and directed by James LaFleur, which features Jay Cheel stepping out from behind the camera to make his own acting debut. The movie is called "That's Entertainment", and is about a guy who accidentally gets involved in the making of a German porn film. Stay tuned for information on how you might be able to see this short film when editing has been completed. Also, Jay is writing a bizarre little script about a man who loses the use of his limbs in an accident and who later gets paid to have his legs cut off in a horror movie. Sound sick and twisted? What else would you expect from Pow! Media???
Stop Or I'll Shoot Special Edition DVD
Alright well we've decided it's time to stop screwing around with all this VCD crap. The compatibility problems have been giving us too many headaches, and cutting into our gourmet cooking classes. Plus you just can't fit very much on one disc, and the quality is lacklustre. Frankly I don't know what the hell we were thinking!!! So we've decided to catch up with the times and invest in one of these new fangled DVD burners, which opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Our first plan is to re-release Stop Or I'll Shoot on DVD with a whole bunch of new stuff. We will record a new audio commentary track, and may even shoot some additional scenes to "flesh out" the story so to speak. Needless to say, all future projects (such as the Albinoman TV Pilot) will also be released on DVD, and as part of our business services, Pow! Media will be offering DVD authoring to the general public at an affordable, if not bargain basement, price.
***** MTI Home Video, a leading independent home entertainment film studio, and Artist View Entertainment, will release the over-night cult-sensation, limited theatrical hit and film festival favorite, Jane White is Sick & Twisted, on VHS and DVD May 6 (prebook: April 17, 2003).
The DVD will be packed with a whole host of extras, including a 30 minute behind-the-scenes featurette, director commentary, commentary by Kim Little and Chris Hardwick, one-on-one cast interviews, deleted scenes, 7 minute featurette, party game information, website information, cast biographies and photo gallery, and three theatrical trailers. The DVD is priced at $24.95 SRP and the VHS is priced for rental at $89.95 SRP. The VHS will be available in both English and English with Spanish Subtitles.
The celebrity-driven comedy’s supporting cast includes: Alley Mills (The Wonder Years), Danica McKellar (The Wonder Years), Colin Mochrie (Whose Line is it Anyway?), David L. Lander (Laverne & Shirley), Debra Wilson (MadTV), Maureen McCormick (The Brady Bunch), Chris Hardwick (Singled Out, Shipmates), Ted Shackleford (Knot’s Landing), Michelle Phillips (Knot’s Landing), Dustin Diamond (Saved by the Bell), Richard Kline (Three’s Company), Andrew Lauer (Caroline in the City), Eric Lutes (Caroline in the City), and the unmistakable voice of Gary Owens.
The film was written, directed and produced by David Michael Latt (Rock and Roll Fantasy, Killers, and Stuart Gordon's King of the Ants), with Leigh Slawner (Art House) also producing. The story was created by Kim Little and David Michael Latt. The “Jane White” theme song was written by singer/songwriter Wendie Colter. Latt pokes fun at practically every hit TV series from “All in the Family” to “South Park,” with custom scene transitions, canned laughter, commercials and even an animated open.
Synopsis:
Ahhh.. the young Jane White (Little). Raised by television, and home schooled by her agoraphobic mother (Mills), Jane has a unique perception of the world. Feeling the absence of her father (Lander), Jane escapes into prime time episodes of his TV chat-fest, “The Gerry Show,” ... the most outrageous TV talk show in media history. She transforms herself into the show’s outrageous topics in a desperate hope that she will be booked on the show, and one day be reunited with her long lost dad. Along the way, Jane makes friends with and encounters a whole sideshow filled with freaks, weirdos, transvestite hookers, aliens, and even finds a serial killer boyfriend.
The Cult Following:
Fans of Jane White is Sick & Twisted started several clubs, and have even come up with several games based on the pic, including one for the names “Dick” and “Jane,” as well as popular TV era references… the official website (www.janewhitemovie.com ) even hosts a trivia game with real prizes… viewers just write down all TV references said, viewed, and/or insinuated and mail it in to the producers – Gary Tilkian of North Hills, CA holds the current record, with 127 references (a poster was awarded!). The film also has an official fan club, and even holds screening nights at colleges all around the U.S.
Film Festivals and Awards:
Jane White is Sick & Twisted can be seen at the following upcoming film festivals: Beverly Hills Film Festival (May 2003), Surf City International Film Festival (August 2003), Toronto Underground Film Festival (November 2003). The film has played at more than 20 film festivals and has won numerous awards, including: BEST PICTURE OF 2002 (B-Movie Film Festival), BEST COMEDY (Hollywood Underground Film Festival), BEST LOW BUDGET PICTURE (WorldFest), BEST PICTURE (Trash City Magazine), BEST PICTURE (UC Davis Independent Film Festival), SPECIAL JURY PRIZE (Melbourne Underground Film Festival), AUDIENCE AWARD (Wilmington Independent Film Festival), BEST ACTOR (WIL WHEATON) (Melbourne Underground Film Festival), BEST CAMEO [COLIN MOCHRIE] (B-Movie Film Festival) , BEST DIRECTOR (Trash City Magazine), BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (Trash City Magazine), DIRECTORS CHOICE AWARD (Bare Bones Film Festival), and BEST DIRECTOR (B-Movie Film Festival).
MTI Home Video, a leading independent home entertainment film studio, will release the romantic comedy, PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, on VHS and DVD May 20th (prebook: May 1, 2003).
The DVD will be shown in letterbox format, with a behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes, theatrical trailers, cast biographies, interactive menus, scene selection, and optional Spanish subtitles. The DVD is priced at $24.95 SRP and the VHS is priced for rental at $89.95 SRP. The VHS will be available in both English and English with Spanish Subtitles.
The heart-felt romantic comedy stars Frank Whaley (Chelsea Walls, Pulp Fiction, Swimming with Sharks), Annabeth Gish (The X-Files, Double Jeopardy, Nixon), Amy Jo Johnson (Felicity, Interstate 60, Sweetwater), Cress Williams (Providence, Nash Bridges, ER), Jean Stapleton (You’ve Got Mail, Michael, All in the Family) and Alex Hyde-White (Gods and Generals, Catch Me If You Can, Pretty Woman). The film was directed by John Putch (BachelorMan, Intrepid, TV’s Grounded for Life) and written/produced by John Robert Zaring (Nervous Ticks, Men of Respect), with Alex Hyde-White also producing.
Synopsis:
Ad exec Alan Oliver (Whaley) is on the fast track in life and in love, but what he doesn't know is that his life is about to be turned upside down. He returns to Los Angeles from a successful business trip only to find his girlfriend is moving out, and his boss Lorraine (Stapleton) has booted him off his main account. As always, Alan turns to his best friend, Marissa (Gish). Between the heartbreak and a "rebound relationship" with Tracy (Johnson), he never realizes Marisa’s marriage is falling apart. Alan's whole-hearted pursuit of happiness finally leads him to discover that the love he has been looking for has been right in front of him… his entire life. The official Pursuit of Happiness website is located at: www.pofhthemovie.com
***** New York/Los Angeles --Raven Films, Inc. and its experimental/art/avant garde division, Ravenous Pictures, announce that the award-winning feature film, Abaddon, currently on the international festival circuit, will hold its official NYC premiere on Friday, April 4, 2003 at 8pm at the Village East Cinemas as a part of the New York screenings of the NY International Independent Film and Video Festival.
Originally produced theatrically as a rave opera in New York City in 1997 at NYC's infamous club MOTHER and a hit among both film and music audiences alike worldwide, Abaddon, written and directed by Raven co-chairman Pamela Theodotou and produced by Theodotou with fellow Raven Co-Chairman K.J. Wetherholt, was winner of an Honourable Mention for the Indie Achievement Award at this year's Planet Indie Film Festival in Toronto, with screenings having taken place also at the Rhode Island Horror Film Festival (Providence 2002), the Voodoo Film Festival (Orlando, FL 2002), the Ohio Independent Film Festival, the Los Angeles Screenings of the NY International Independent Film and Video Festival, and Medi@Terra Fesitval in Athens, Greece.
Following Abaddon's NYC premiere screening will be the World Premiere of the highly-anticipated documentary feature, American Rumble Redux, the Director's Cut of the critically acclaimed and award-winning documentary American Rumble which screened at the London Screenings in 2001.
Depicting a genre of music which has been on the underground for over twenty years as one of the original progeny of the Punk movement, this historic concert film/documentary, filmed, edited and mastered digitally, has received international attention among both film and music industry audiences and includes events, interviews, and live performances of the top bands in this little-known genre of underground music. Includes an epilogue filmed in London November 2001 with an interview by one of the most infamous frontmen of the genre, Mark "Sparky" Phillips, and a performance of the new line-up of Demented Are Go.
Bands: Batmobile (Netherlands), Nekromantix (Denmark), The Scum Rats (Germany), Demented Are Go (UK), Tim Polecat and The Jet Black Machine (US/UK), The Caravans (UK), Los Gatos Locos (US/Japan), Calavera (US), Cult of the Psychic Fetus (US), The Hangmen (UK), The Photon Torpedoes (US), Hayride to Hell (US), Psycho Charger (US), The Kings of Nuthin' (US), The Spectres (US), Speed Crazy (US), TR6 (US), The Pits (US), and The Brimstones (US). DJ's: Jens-O-Matic (Germany) and Robin Cofer (US). Hosts: Reverend Doom of Cult of the Psychic Fetus, Hillbilly Werewolf and international dominatrix Mistress Persephone.
A film premiere afterparty will be held at CBGB's 313 Lounge (313 Bowery) immediately following, featuring internationally known RMG label artist Cult of the Psychic Fetus.
Raven Films, Inc./Ravenous Pictures Co-Chairman and award-winning filmmakers Kris Wetherholt and Pam Theodotou will be attending both events along with international press, music fans and film and music industry audiences, and will be available to speak about each project.
For further information, please see the following:
Abaddon: http://www.ravenworldwide.com/Abaddonfilmsite.htm American Rumble Redux: http://www.ravenworldwide.com/americanRW.htm Cult of the Psychic Fetus: http://www.ravenworldwide.com/cultofthepsychicfetus.htm
***** (Allen-usually film fests have to pay or offer deeply discounted rates for me to advertise their dates, but I'll about supporting my local scene!).
The Chesapeake Arts Center proudly announces the first annual Maryland Fantastique Film Fest, to be held in Baltimore, Maryland, Thursday, October 30, 2003 through Saturday, November 1, 2003.
Entries are now being accepted in the following categories:
Film (60 minutes or over)
Film Shorts (20 minutes or under)
Documentary (60 minutes or over)
Documentary Short Subject (20 minutes or under)
Young Filmmakers Film (10 minutes or under)All films must be in the horror, fantasy or science fiction genres. Awards will be presented in the following categories:
Best Film
Best Short Film
Best Documentary
Best Documentary Short Subject
Young Filmmakers (ages 5-10)
Young Filmmakers (ages 11-13)
Young Filmmakers (ages 14-17)
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Director
Best Screenplay
Best Special Effects
Best Film PosterThe Award will the the prestigious Laemmle Award designed by famed sculptor Henry Alvarez and previously awarded to those people who have contributed to the importance of the horror, fantasy and science fiction film. Past honorees include Christopher Lee, Janet Leigh, Paul Naschy, Ray Harryhausen and posthumous awards presented to the families of Carl Laemmle, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney, Bernard Hermann and Alfred Hitchcock. The Laemmle Awards will be presented Saturday evening.
All entries will receive a certificate of entry. Entrance fees are $35 a film until July 31, 2003; from August 1, 2003 through September 30, 2003 $50 each. The top 30 young filmmakers entries will be shown. Each entrant will be listed in the festival program book. The films will juried for award eligibility prior to the festival and those deemed eligible for awards will be judged during the festival. Celebrity judges will be announced. In addition to the films, the festival will feature workshops in film history and filmmaking, an outdoor children?s Halloween party and movie Friday night, and a dealers room with film related merchandise for sale. Film entries must be on DVD or VHS tape. Include self-address stamped envelopes if you wish to have the film returned after the festival. Please include name, address, phone and e-mail with entries. Checks should be made out to the Chesapeake Arts Center and sent to Maryland Fantastique Film Fest, c/o Chesapeake Arts Center, 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, MD, 23225.
The Chesapeake Arts Center is just minutes from downtown Baltimore. Visitors to the festival can also revel in the spooky Baltimore haunts such as Edgar Allan Poe?s gravesite and the catacombs at the Westminister Church and local Baltimore sites used by our favorite Baltimore boys: the infamous John Waters and Barry Levinson.
Visit the following websites for further information, events and participating hotels: www.chesapeakearts.org or www.midmar.com.
The Chesapeake Arts Center is a non-profit multi-purpose facility dedicated to the literary, visual and performing arts. Located in southern Baltimore city, it houses the 900-seat Main Stage, the 110-seat Studio Theatre, gallery space, resident artists? studios and instructional classrooms, including a dance studio, ceramics studio and a piano lab. Opening its doors January 2001, the Chesapeake Arts Center?s mission is to provide culturally diverse and rewarding experiences in the arts.
Center Executive Director Wayne Shipley has been a lifelong film fan and taught film courses at Andover High School. Joining Mr. Shipley in organizing the festival are his film course co-instructor Gary J. Svehla, Baltimore-based film historian, and president of Midnight Marquee Press, Inc. and Susan Svehla, organizer of the FANEX film conventions held in Baltimore for the past 16 years. For more information call Susan Svehla at 410-665-1198.
***** MICRO-FILM MAGAZINE AND THE URBANA-CHAMPAIGN INDEPENDENT MEDIA CENTER SCHEDULE UNDERGROUND MOVIE SHOW FOR APRIL 23, 2003!
(Champaign-Urbana, Illinois): The Video Group of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center (IMC) is collaborating with editor Jason Pankoke of local independent film magazine MICRO-FILM to present an evening of contemporary underground films. The event will take place on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 from 7 to 11 p.m. in the back room of the IMC, 218 W. Main St, downtown Urbana, Illinois.
This "Night of Counter (Culture) Programming" will present two feature-length films and two short subjects that depict artists, writers, publishers, and media activists using their talents to hold their ground against seemingly insurmountable odds. Feature selections include the critically acclaimed documentary "Horns and Halos," about the embattled author and publisher of the George W. Bush tell-all "Fortunate Son," and the gonzo musical comedy "Existo," about a shock-haired revolutionary who leads his followers against political naysayers using song, dance, art, and spoken word.
Preceding "Horns and Halos" at 7 p.m. will be the hard-hitting spoof "Killing Michael Bay," depicting the travails of two hardy independent filmmakers that kidnap Bay, the director of Hollywood big-budget epics including "Pearl Harbor" and "Armageddon." Matched with "Existo" at 9 p.m. will be "Gimme the Mermaid," an animated collage that comments on fickle entertainment industry mind-sets using familiar cartoon imagery.
"Now is the time to introduce Champaign-Urbana to a platform where people can experience creative movies that truly have an edge and provide food for thought," says Pankoke, whose MICRO-FILM celebrated its fourth anniversary of publication last week. "With the heightened awareness of the arts in C-U at the end of April, it is a prime opportunity to present an alternative movie showcase such as this.
"Without any theater or performance venue providing significant exposure to independent cinema in Champaign-Urbana, our choices for movie-going are rather limited," continues Pankoke. "There is an entire stratosphere of American and world cinema that is even more overlooked than those films at Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival or the so-called 'Art Houses' at the multiplexes. We are happy to give these smaller, eclectic, aggressive films a chance, and we invite our communities to give them a chance as well."
A related film event will take place starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, also in the back room of the IMC, consisting of short videos documenting radical culture and politics, with a subsequent discussion of production techniques facilitated by the IMC Video Group.
Films to be shown include "Crashing the VIP Room," a documentary by Video Group member Dave Powers on the Amsterdam media activist group Vrije Keyser Televisie, and "Guerilla Video Primer," a compilation produced by California's Cascadia Media Collective.
There will be a sliding-scale donation at the door for both shows, part of which will be donated to the IMC. More information will be available soon at www.mediageek.org and www.artisticunderground.com/mf_unbound/.
***** OBITUARIES
Dwight D. Frye
Dwight D. Frye, a theatre/record producer and the son of Golden Age horror actor Dwight Frye, died Thursday, died March 27, 2003 in New York City. He was 72.
Frye was born in Spokane, Washington, in December of 1930, shortly after his father completed his role as the lunatic Renfield in Dracula. He grew up in Hollywood, and in fact appeared as a child actor in The Man Who Found Himself (RKO 1937), in which his father also acted. His father, who gave macabre performances in such horror films as "Frankenstein," "The Vampire Bat" and "Bride of Frankenstein," died in Hollywood in 1943, achieving his real fame only posthumously.
Dwight D.Frye graduated from the University of Maine with a Bachelor's degree and Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering. However, after a stint in Europe with the U.S.Army, he became an actor, working in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. In 1965, he played a small role in the legendary Broadway musical "Man of La Mancha;" he also became an assistant to the play's director Albert Marre, and eventually traveled around the world supervising international productions of "Man of La Mancha." In addition to over two decades assisting Marre, Frye worked for two years as the business manager for the Repertory Theatre of Lincoln Center and for nine years as a production associate for Broadway producer Frederick Brisson. He also co-produced several original cast recordings, including "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?" and "The Secret Garden."
On the subject of his father, Frye collaborated with Greg Mank and Jim Coughlin on the book "Dwight Frye's Last Laugh," published by Midnight Marquee Press in 1997. He also appeared as a guest at various conventions and on camera in several documentaries celebrating the classic horror films.
Johny Carpenter
B-movie cowboy Johny Carpenter died of cancer in a Burbank nursing home. He was 88. Carpenter acted in, wrote and produced such low-budget Westerns as "I Killed Wild Bill Hickok," "Lawless Rider" and "Son of the Renegade." Carpenter was remembered by producer Alex Gordon as, "One of those people who could charm the fruit off the trees." Carpenter was one of the first film people Gordon looked up upon settling in the U.S. "I read in the L.A. Times that a man named Johny Carpenter, who had made a few low-budget westerns, had made his last one, 'Son of the Renegade,' for $17,500," Gordon told the B Monster. Gordon and Carpenter met and embarked on a project that eventually led to associations with such B-movie luminaries as Ed Wood and Sam Arkoff.
Carpenter may be best remembered for the western ranch he operated in Los Angeles. For years, Carpenter's Heaven On Earth Ranch, built with the help of volunteers, welcomed the handicapped, particularly children. He taught them to ride horses, and led guided tours through the old west-style saloon, jail and general store. Thousands of children visited the ranch over the years, riding the range and dining on barbequed hamburgers. Carpenter empathized with the handicapped as he once spent 119 days in a body cast following a hit-and-run accident that robbed him of a promising career as a major league ball player. After moving to Los Angeles, Carpenter went to work in the movies, performing stunts in such films as "National Velvet," "The Navajo Trail" and "The El Paso Kid." But the Heaven On Earth Ranch was the real joy of his life. As he once told Reader's Digest, "As you sow, so shall ye reap. Well, I've reaped two-hundred-fold." The ranch changed locations several times, but Carpenter sustained it with his personal savings, part-time work shoeing horses and contributions. "Everything I own is on my back," Carpenter said. "Yet because of the ranch, I can get up every morning and walk down the street like a king. If I get to heaven, it'll be on the coattails of those kids."
Fred Freiberger
Veteran television and screenwriter Fred Freiberger died at his Bel-Air, Calif., home, of natural causes. He was 88. A prolific television writer with many series to his credit, Freiberger served as producer of the original "Star Trek" series during its third and final 1968-69 season. Beginning as a screenwriter in the late 1940s, Freiberger's first major credit was his 1953 screenplay for "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms," based on a Ray Bradbury short story. (It was also the first solo effort of emerging special effects and stop-motion animation ace Ray Harryhausen.) Thereafter, Freiberger turned out scripts for films of all genres including "Garden of Evil," "The Black Pirates," "Egypt by Three" and "War Paint."
In 1957, Freiberger scripted director Bert I. Gordon?s dubious classic "Beginning of the End." The film showcased Gordon?s crude special effects as Peter Graves and Peggie Castle battled giant grasshoppers. Freiberger found his true niche in television writing for such well-known series as "Bonanza," "Rawhide," "The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca," "The Wild, Wild West," "Ben Casey," "The Fugitive," "S.W.A.T.," "Starsky and Hutch," "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "Space 1999." Actor/director Leonard Nimoy told Startrek.com, "I knew Fred for many, many years, even before 'Star Trek' ... he was a gentleman and a gentle man."
Anthony Eisley
Actor Anthony Eisley died in Woodland Hills, Calif. He was 78. Eisley may be best known for his portrayal of Tracy Steele in the detective series "Hawaiian Eye." Cult-movie fans will remember him from numerous low-budget genre-films. He starred in Roger Corman's 1959 "The Wasp Woman" and later appeared in a number of science-fiction and horror films throughout the 1960s including "The Navy vs. the Night Monsters," "Journey to the Center of Time," "The Witchmaker," "The Mummy and the Curse of the Jackals," "The Mighty Gorga," "Dracula vs. Frankenstein," "Monster" and "Evil Spirits," among others.
The stage, screen and TV star (real name: Fred Eisley) was born in Philadelphia. His father was general sales manager and "trouble-shooter" for a large company, and his work kept the family on the move throughout Eisley's youth. At an early age, Eisley knew that he wanted to be an actor, but because he lacked show business contacts, he felt nothing would come of his aspiration. He later took drama courses at the University of Miami, "not because I thought I could really be an actor, but because I was taking the easy way out to get a degree." Finally following up on his longtime ambition, Eisley landed a job with a stock company in Pennsylvania, where he worked opposite James Dunn in a stage production of "A Slight Case of Murder." Later roles in long-running plays like "Mister Roberts," "Picnic" and "The Desperate Hours" followed, along with some early movie ("Operation Pacific," "Fearless Fagan") and television ("Racket Squad") work. He later went on to TV and exploitation movie stardom. In 1964, Eisley starred in director Sam Fuller's "The Naked Kiss," a harsh depiction of small-town prejudice and deviant sexuality centering on an upstanding citizen with a dark secret.
In addition to "Hawaiian Eye," Eisley appeared in such television programs as "The Outer Limits," "The Wild Wild West," "The Invaders," "The Magician," "Project UFO" and many others. Eisley wrote several of the "Hawaiian Eye" episodes, and once rebutted criticism of the show by saying, "I, too, would like to see more food for thought on television. I have children whose viewpoints will be largely affected in certain areas by their many hours gazing at the one-eyed monster. But our world is solemn enough as it is. I'd hate to limit them -- or myself -- to a leisure-time diet devoid of laughter, adventure and romance."
