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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
Articles: New column from Tim Ritter, Carnage Corner
Interviews: Richard Anasky and Gary Whitson
Distribution: Next Tuesday, Hacker's Source
Reviews: Series 7, The House that Screamed 2: Hellgate, Holiday Hookers, Meat Market 2, Savage Harvest, Duck! The Carbine High Massacre, The Window, The Risen, 42K, Odd Noggins, Drive In.
B-Independent.com Underground Film of the Year Announced!
Chapter Excerpt
The last news update for the year will be on 12/23. Please make sure you e-mail with any news or production reports by 12/22. The next website update won't be until Jan 3, 2002. Take care and Happy Holidays!
December 23, 2001
Man, what a slow news month. Hopefully things will pick up after the New Year.All of us here at the site wish everyone a Happy Holiday season. Eat, drink, be merry, and more importantly, be safe.
***** The last news update of the years goes to Rounds Entertainment.
Max Cerchi, founder of Rounds, says that he's currently looking for co-production partners for his new film entering pre-production. Max is hoping to start production on WHERE EVIL DWELLS in early 2002.
Max has also created a division of the company for DVD replication. "We are offering DVD replication from DLT or any other master tapes at the incredible amount of $ 1.35 a copy ! (minimum 1000 copies)"
Contact Max through is website if you're interested in any of the above opportunities.
December 16. 2001
You see the click-through ad towards the top of page where you can order undergroud filmmaker Tim Ritter's new book THE HAMMER WILL FALL directly from the publisher? Well, it's now available at Amazon.com for only $13.96, a 30% savings.To order the book, click here!.
***** Rounds Entertainment recently dropped me a line that you can now pre-order ORANGES: THE MOVIE on DVD for $19.99. That is the Pro-Order price only is expected to last about a month.
Also from Rounds, and just in time for the holidays, you can order SATAN CLAUS for $9.99.
***** DEPT.13 will soon be increasing the prices on all their tapes to a uniform $14.95, with the exception of the Uncut BOOBIE TRAP which will stay at $24.95.
Production is almost finished on the next opus from DEPT.13, NIGHT OF TWISTED REALITIES. You can view production stills and read the produciton diary on the DEPT.13 website. We warned, there's nudity in those stills...you perverts!.
Chuck Williams, co-producer with J. R. Bookwalter on a recent set of Full Moon titles including HORRORVISION and STITCHES, has a new non-Full Moon production set for release on December 26, UP AGAINST AMANDA. The film stars Justine Priestley and was directed by Michael Rissi.
*****
December 9, 2001
Wicked Pixel and Eric Stanze have been making underground films for years. After the success of their first compilation, THE SEVERED HEADS NETWORK, they group decided to solicite for outside material to be included on the follow-up, THE SEVERED HEADS NETWORK 2. After being open for months, a cut off has bee announced, JAN 15, 2002.Entries can be for works on any format, video, super 8, 16mm, etc., but they must be experimental in nature. "Shorts should contain themes of sex, death, fear, chaos, flesh, violence, the occult, or crazy cross-breeding experiments gone horribly wrong."
Send enteries to:
Wicked Pixel Cinema
P.O. Box 160219
St. Louis, MO 63116Include your name, phone number, email address, and all of each short's formats (acquisition, transfer, edit master).
There is no entry fee.
Submit as many entries as you like.
Do not submit anything longer that 45 minutes.Eric Stanze is now the proud co-owner of a new post-production, graphic design, and DVD authoring company called Thrill Ride Media, LLC. The DVD authoring division features the state-of-the-art stuff for programming and encoding your DVD program. The DVD system is the same high-end professional system used to author big budget Hollywood flicks to DVD (it's the same system Disney and other major studios use!)
Thrill Ride Media, LLC is now open for business, offering:
- High-end editing (Avid).
- High-end DVD authoring (Spruce Maestro).
- Graphic design for video and print.
- Digital video production.
- Film production (35mm and 16mm)
- Original music composition and recording.
Matt Meyer has written and/or produced the music score for most of Eric Stanze's movies. Matt is also in Ded Bugs, a punk band that often pops up in Stanze movie soundtracks. Now Matt Meyer is also a movie director! He recently completed a feature length documentary titled STL 2000. This documentary features the coolest punk bands currently assaulting eardrums in the St. Louis, Missouri area. If you want to see what St. Louis has to offer in the way of underground punk rock, check out Matt's flick.
The movie captures a one-year snapshot of St. Louis music, and features performances by The Trip Daddys, Not Waving But Drowning, Sexicolor, Wreckless Angels, Red Squares, The Honkeys, and The Cripplers. The doc even features old Ultraman footage! The film also includes segments on radio stations, clubs, zines, local personalities, and various things that define the St. Louis music subculture.
STL 2000: A year in St. Louis underground rock.
Only $10 - postage paid. To order, send check, money-order, or well-concealed cash to:
Ded Bugs (STL 2000 ordering department)
318 Stewart
DeSoto, MO 63020Eric Stanze is also the driving force behind Sub Rosa Studios' Extreme sub-lable. Recent releases include:
INSANIAC
starring ROBIN GARRELS and CHRIS GREGA
executive producers RON BONK and ERIC STANZE
editor ERIC STANZE
camera and lighting JEFF ATWATER
written by ROBIN GARRELS
produced and directed by JOHN SPECHTTHE CHRISTMAS SEASON MASSACRE
starring DJ VIVONA, JASON CHRIST, MICHAEL HILL, CHRIS BELT, and ERIC STANZE
executive producers RON BONK and ERIC STANZE
editor ERIC STANZE
camera and lighting TODD TEVLIN
written by JEREMY WALLACE and ERIC STANZE
produced by JEREMY WALLACE and MARK W. KETTLER
directed by JEREMY WALLACE***** The following news update comes from Mark Pirro's official website.
The re-remastering of Color-Blinded is moving along. I'm currently on reel 10 (2 and 1/2 more reels to go) and it's never looked better. I'm pretty sure it'll be ready for the Christmas rush.
We've just produced two new trailers for Polish Vampire and Queerwolf, which will be going on the DVDs. They both run about four minutes each.
Thanks to those of you who have been calling cable networks like Comedy Central, HBO, Showtime and the like about requesting our films to be aired. We believe the upcoming DVD releases will also create renewed interest. If you haven't had a chance, contact any of your local networks and tell them you want to see “Polish Vampire, Queerwolf, Nudist Colony of the Dead, or Color-Blinded on their networks. Comedy Central’s number is (212) 767-8642.
Congratulations to Forrest J Ackerman on celebrating his 85th birthday. I attended his birthday party at the Friar's Club in Beverly Hills and I must say he's just as lively as he ever was. Among those in attendance were John Landis (Blues Brothers), Anne Robinson (War of the Worlds) as well as Bela Lugosi, Jr. and the grandson of Lon Chaney, Jr. ( would that make him Lon Chaney Jr, Jr, Jr?). Anyway, a grand time was had by all. By the way, Forry...thanks again for narrating my Polish Vampire documentary. You gave it the touch of class it needed.
***** There's so much news from Rapid Heart Pictures that I should have just posted the weblink...
VIDEO BUSINESS Magazine has reported that THE BROTHERHOOD 2: YOUNG WARLOCKS was the number #1 renting direct to video release in the nation the week of September 30. The title was also the L.A. WEEKLY Video Pick Of The Week for the same week.
Rapid Heart Pictures is heavily covered in the current issues of Fangoria, Femme Fatales, The Advocate, Scarlet Street, Videoscope, Monster News and Buried.com. Check out our link page for additional sites!
Director David DeCoteau is pleased to announce the continued success and expansion of his company, Rapid Heart Pictures. 2001 has proven one accomplishment after another, including the releases of his new features FINAL STAB and THE BROTHERHOOD 2: YOUNG WARLOCKS, several well received appearances at film conventions, newly minted editions of the director’s biggest cult classics now available online and the premiere of his new supernatural horror film THE FRIGHTENING.
In video stores now are the critically acclaimed Cannes Film Festival hit, FINAL STAB and THE BROTHERHOOD 2: YOUNG WARLOCKS, the much anticipated sequel to last years enormously successful THE BROTHERHOOD. FINAL STAB stars Jamie Gannon (SHRIEKER), Bradley Stryker (THE BROTHERHOOD), Erinn Carter (VICTORIA’S SECRET), Chris Boyd (t.v.’s CHARMED), Melissa Renee Martin (Problem Child) and Forrest Cochran (THE BROTHERHOOD 1 & 2). The story follows a group of college friends who gather for a murder mystery game, unaware a real killer has taken advantage of the game. Now they have to figure out who’s faking their deaths and who has truly fallen victim to the slasher’s sharp butcher knife. FINAL STAB is now available at Blockbuster Video.
Classes begin at the witching hour for the young men of THE BROTHERHOOD 2: YOUNG WARLOCKS. When a mysterious new student arrives at Chandler Academy, he seduces the students into breaking the Ten Commandments, enabling him to steal their souls and gain the most vengeful powers of Hell. Only one student knows the truth and must risk his own life to save the members of the warlock’s new brotherhood. THE BROTHERHOOD 2: YOUNG WARLOCKS is in video stores nationwide including Blockbuster Video and on line at amazon.com, Tlavideo.com and wolfevideo.com Look for coverage of both features in current issues of Fangoria and Femme Fatales magazines.
The recently launched online store at www.rapidheart.com has exploded beyond our projected numbers with sales going through the roof! The #1 title is the sexy supernatural thriller VOODOO ACADEMY (2000). Previously only available in an exclusive DVD edition, the controversial uncut version is now available for the first time on VHS as well. Additionally, a reedited, “new and improved” version of DeCoteau’s 1999 hit TALISMAN has just been made available for sell through on VHS.
Rapid Heart Pictures’ previous hit THE BROTHERHOOD is available now on DVD and VHS at sell through prices at amazon.com, tlavideo.com and wolfevideo.com, with special DVD LETTER BOXED editions of BROTHERHOOD 1 & 2 to follow in December. Each will include commentary from the director and Bradley Stryker, plus photo galleries and other behind the scenes extras.
This past year found Rapid Heart Pictures represented at a score of conventions including Cannes, AFM, IMTA, Fangoria and MIFED. On August 11, 2001 the casts of THE BROTHERHOOD 1 & 2 and FINAL STAB and company publicist Jason Paul Collum met on stage at Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors in Pasadena, CA. Enthusiastic fans asked a variety of questions pertaining to the features, as well as director David DeCoteau’s 15 year career.
Meanwhile, DeCoteau was busy directing Rapid Heart’s fifth feature, THE FRIGHTENING. The supernatural horror film stars Elizabeth Bruderman (THE BROTHERHOOD), Robert Donavan (CURSE OF THE PUPPET MASTER), Tanya Dempsey (SHRIEKER), and reunites DeCoteau with Scream Queen Brinke Stevens (NIGHTMARE SISTERS). The story, in which a new student discovers his classmates are falling prey to a pack of blood thirsty phantasms, promises to be sexy, scary and unique. The film premiered at MIFED in Milan, Italy in late October.
Rapid Heart Pictures has signed a non exclusive eight picture deal with Regent Realm (The genre division of Regent Entertainment - producers of the Academy Award winning Gods and Monsters).
Look out for a career retrospective on Rapid Heart Pictures' favorite screenwriter Matthew Jason Walsh in Femme Fatales Magazine hitting newsstands this Fall!
The girls of FINAL STAB, THE BROTHERHOOD, and THE BROTHERHOOD 2: YOUNG WARLOCKS are featured in an awesome pictorial in the August and September issues of Femme Fatales Magazine! Photos by Denise Duff with an article written by Jason Paul Collum!
December 7, 2001
Like John Bowker's THE EVILMAKER, Jon Keeyes AMERICAN NIGHTMARE keeps having its official release date pushed back. Now look for the serial killer yarn to kit the streets on January 29, 2001. The film stars Debbie Rochon as a Texan slasher with a big chip on her shoulder. To learn more, head to the offical website.
***** Lou Vockel's Hot Movies 2000 release, HOOKERS IN A HAUNTED HOUSE, will see a DVD release in early 2002 thanks to Fred O. Ray's Retromedia lable, the same one releasing J.R. Bookwalter's WITCHOUSE 3. Hot Movies 2000
Retro Media
***** This came in from Chris Watson regarding the upcoming anthology MINDS OF TERROR. Nothing seems set in stone just yet, but the possible talen just makes me jealous!
I watched "Sleepaway Camp" for the first time in my life the other night. I had read an interview with the star (Felissa Rose) and decided to give it a try. It was a cult classic, so how could it miss? Well, it was a regular little slasher flick with a totally messed up ending. Anyway, I did some searching and came up with the stars email address. Soon, she had responded with a phone number. I called and talked to her and seems pretty solid that she'll do it. So, you'll likely see her name added to the poster and site under cast just because we're totally stoked about it happening. Also, I got an email from Eric Edwards and it appears to be pretty solid that he'd direct the short from Michael Anthony Lee while he's in the area for stand up. Assuming the folks where we plan on doing the stand up gig don't back out, we should have him on board to direct the segment. Joe Estevez and I talked on the phone about "Minds..." and I think he will be appearing in the "The Day the Vampire Ate My Brain" segment. The short also has Cecilia Berqgvist from Troma's "Parts of the Family" tapped to appear. This means the psychiatrist will be played by someone else who's extra special (or something). Of course, the cop/psychiatrist segments should be filmed last.
***** This one was sent to me out of the blue. If some of you check it out, let me know how it is.
ALL CHEERLEADERS DIE
written and directed by Lucky McKee and Chris SivertsonScreening presented by:
THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL
Sunday, December 9th
6 pm
Vogue Theatre
Hollywood, CA
$10This is the second festival ACD has been in. As most of you know, Lucky McKee’s latest, MAY, has also been selected for The Sundance Film Festival, and will be screening in Utah, in January. He’s trying to get a lot done in preparation for that, but I’m sure that won’t keep him from this ACD screening. Chris should be there, as well as various cast and crew, including yours truly. So come on over, and say hi. Sorry, there doesn’t appear to be comp tickets, or else we’d hook you up. I don't know what the box office situation is, so you should get your tix in advance.
All Cheerleaders Die
New York Film and Video Festival
***** DARKWAVE FILMS GOES INTO PRODUCTION
(HOLLYWOOD) - Danny Draven (Horrorvision, Hell Asylum) starts shooting a new urban vampire film called "CRYPTZ" by the end of the year. It's "Vamp" meets "From Dusk Till Dawn". Draven will produce and direct this film for release sometime next year under his company, Darkwave Films.
WANT TO WORK ON MOVIES?
We're currently seeking unpaid production crew for our upcoming production, "CRYPTZ." You must be over 18.
Please send you Submissions to: (ed. and tell him you saw the plug on B-Independent.com, not that it will help you get the job or anthing...)
DARKWAVE PRODUCTIONS
Attn: UNP Crew
3727 West Magnolia Blvd. €
Burbank, CA 91510-7711 USA
***** Sean Dwyer of Pow! Media, formally Atomaton Entertainment recently sent out the following press release:
Stop Or I'll Shoot Vol. 3 wrapped preliminary shooting last week with the soon-to-be-famous "Snow Job" scene, as well as the much rumoured "Foreplay/Swordplay" scene. (The latter being our last minute attempt to jump on the Lord Of The Rings fantasy genre bandwagon.)
At this point, Jay has put himself to work, hunched in front of the computer into the wee hours of the night as he edits this sweet baby together. One thing has become clear: this film will have the most unused footage out of any Pow!/Atomaton/IndySent production to date. This is mainly because we need to cut the film down to a 30 minute running time so that we can enter it in various indie film competitions. What this means is that there will be plenty of goodies leftover for the special edition DVD release. (That's not really a joke, we're actually looking into the possibilities...) At some point there will end up being two versions of the film, one being the 30-minute version, and the other being an extended "director's cut" of the movie, that includes some of the deleted scenes, and a longer credit sequence. We will probably throw some of the deleted scenes up on the website as well. Hey, why not?
The first rough cut of the film has actually been completed as of today. At the moment, we're not quite sure how permanent this first cut of the movie will be. We are going to be as critical as possible with it, in order to bring you the tightest, most "stimulating" film possible. So far it's shaping up to be a vivid and powerful portrayal of a wounded Canadian psyche, but hey, what else would you expect from the makers of Albinoman?
Either way, once the ideal version of the film has been produced, we will move on to the process of officially releasing it. I'm not really sure what that means to be honest with you. There is no word yet on where and when the premiere will be held, but we will definitely be setting up some public showings for the movie. We are really into exhibitionism. We are also not sure how exactly the film will be released. Videocassette, DVD, VCD and the internet are all possibilities. We have also considered releasing it on vinyl, but we all know that vinyl is dead, so that's a lost cause.
As you anxiously await the release of this film, we will continue to fill the website with many interesting tidbits for you to digest. First of all, if you haven't seen the trailer yet, well what the heck are you waiting for? Download it and dig it man! If you are having problems viewing it, please let me know. Really, I want to know. I'm here to help. Help me help you. I will be posting it in Realvideo format as well, for anyone who can't get seem to get the Quicktime thing going
December 5, 2001
Usually, I don't post anything anime related, but this just had to go up! If anyone wants to get together for a screening, just e-mail me.Greetings! I wanted to let you know that Visions Cinema Bistro Lounge in Washington, DC is opening Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust a Japanese Animation film, on Friday, December 7, 2001, for a limited engagement.
Films times will be out next Wednesday. You can checkout our website at www.VisionsDC.com or call 202/667-0090. Please feel free to email me with any questions.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Connie S. Poole
Director of Operations
Visions Cinema|Bistro|Lounge**********
About the Film:Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2001), Japan
Opening: December 14, 2001
Run Time: 105 minutes
A Mata Yamamoto Production
A Yoshiaki Kawajiri Film
www.VampireHunterDbloodlust.com
Distributed by: Urban Vision EntertainmentCombining romance, gothic horror, science fiction, and bloody action into a dazzling Animé production, VAMPIRE HUNTER D (2000) takes the vampire mythos to a new level. This movie is not a remake or a continuation of the 1985 movie of the same title. That movie was loosely based on the first of Kikuchi Hideyuki's VAMPIRE HUNTER D books, set 10,000 years in the future.
VAMPIRE HUNTER D (2000) takes its cue from the third book in the series, though there are significant deviations in plot. Here, the charismatic vampire, Meier, arrives in town in the middle of the night and spirits away a beautiful woman. D, the child of a human and a vampire, is hired to retrieve her. Racing against time and against another group of bounty hunters who were also contracted to perform the rescue, D fights a bizarre cast of Meier's henchmen, each of whom has his own unique and horrific way of killing.
Both of the VAMPIRE HUNTER D films benefit from the participation of fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano, whose character designs for both films drip with the eroticism and decadence of a Gustav Klimt painting. Director Yoshiaki Kawajiri adds his talent at dreaming up gruesome enemies, which was also evidenced in his previous work, NINJA SCROLL.
ABOUT VISIONS:
Visions Cinema|Bistro|Lounge, the onlyindependently owned theater in Washington, DC, is devoted to bringingindependent, foreign and art films to the metro area. Located in the oldEmbassy Theatre space on Florida Avenue, Visions is at the crossroads of DupontCircle, Adams Morgan and Kalorama.
Visions Cinema|Bistro|Lounge redefines the film going experience by offeringgreat films, tasty international foods and a full bar in a warm, exoticatmosphere. Our Bistro menu specializes in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern andIndian tapas-style foods, along with a wide assortment of beverages, includessmoothies, coffees, teas and juices. The Lounge features a full bar. And ofcourse, there is popcorn and movie-munchies! For more information aboutVisions, see our website at www.VisionsDC.com.
Visions is located at 1927 Florida Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20009.
Closest Metro: Red Line to Dupont Circle
***** Yesterday I mentioned that EVILMAKER 2 had finally wrapped. Here's a set report from Joe Sherlock:
"Shooting on Abomination: Evilmaker 2 wrapped this last weekend. Production stretched from the late summer over a number of long weekends spent mostly at the creepy old house featured in the first Evilmaker movie, with yours truly doing lights & camerawork.
"This last weekend began with 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. shoot out at the old house. Our lead actress was delayed by bad weather and certain deer that decided to get in her way, but once she arrived, we kicked into high gear. Felicia Pandolfi had to go through three separate make-up treatments, courtesy of make-up artist Rob Merickel. There were stabbings, and choking and fighting along with some really creepy stuff. Yee-ha!
"The next evening was spent at the local public library. We shot some top secret scenes in a rented meeting room as well as a lot of chasing and fighting in the parking garage. I got some fabulous faux dolly shots by being pushed along (rather quickly I might add) in a desk chair. You just can't beat those concrete parking garage floors for smooth dolly shots!
"Saturday also featured my cameo in the movie. My big line? "Oh my God!" Not gonna tell ya what I was looking at. Ha ha ha!!
"Sunday was spent in several locations: a private home, an office building and a hotel room. We were a bit worried about what the other folks in the hotel might think of the frantic screaming, but hell, they were the last shots and we figured we could go to dinner before the cops showed up. After the last shot, we snapped some hilarious pictures which I hope never make it onto the web. Want to see five hairy guys in bed together?
"Producer/Writer/Director/Co-star John Bowker is hard at work editing already, having the opening sequence already finished and experimenting with several other sequences."
Pipedreams Entertainment
Dr. Squid
***** Yes, I feel a bit slighted that I had to pull this off another site, but frequent message board particpant Brian Paulin wants the world to know that you can now pick up his twisted vampire-crime noir thriller at the following locations for $9.99: FYE, Record Town, Coconuts and Saturday Matinee.
Alternative Cinema
Morbid Vision Films
December 4, 2001
John Bowker recently reported that shooting on THE EVILMAKER 2 has finally ended. Look for an early 2000 release.
There is still no word on the delay of the Blockbuster Video Exclusive DVD.
***** From the Tempe Video Newsletter:
"WITCHOUSE 3" DVD SHIPS THIS WEEK!
After a few delays, this week we are finally shipping online orders for J..R. Bookwalter's WITCHOUSE 3: DEMON FIRE, the latest from Tempe and Full Moon Pictures. (The VHS version was released nationwide on October 16th.)
The official street date of WITCHOUSE 3 is January 22, 2002 courtesy of our friends at Retromedia Entertainment who are making the disc available nationwide at Best Buy, Musicland and other major retailers! The DVD has also been purchased by the Movie Gallery rental chain where it will debut just in time for Christmas.
Order your copy today at the Tempe Video online store for just $19.99 plus shipping. (The VHS version is also available online.) The first 100 copies are autographed by director J.R. Bookwalter and star Debbie Rochon! (DVD only)
TEMPE PASSES THE PRODUCTION TORCH
On the heels of the recently-wrapped DEAD & ROTTING (see below) comes word that J.R. Bookwalter has decided not to produce further movies for Full Moon Pictures under his Tempe Entertainment banner -- a deal that began in the summer of 2000 with HORRORVISION. The deal produced 9 features in less than 2 years, including the current WITCHOUSE 3: DEMON FIRE which Bookwalter directed.
Bookwalter made the announcement that he is effectively "passing the torch" on to his HORRORVISION protegé, Danny Draven (who recently directed HELL ASYLUM as part of the Tempe/Full Moon deal). Draven's Darkwave Films will assume all production and post-production responsibilities for a new slate of Full Moon releases in 2002, beginning with the urban chiller CRYPTZ which will shoot in Los Angeles before year's end.
"It's a completely amicable split with Full Moon," Bookwalter chuckles. "So I'll squash any nasty rumors right now. I just sat down with Charlie Band and told him I wanted to get back to my own projects...my heart has never been in producing. Danny has learned so much since I met him in early 2000 and knew he was the perfect choice to continue what I had set up there."
Fans can follow the latest news on Draven and Darkwave Films at http://www.dannydraven.com (and also get a sneak peek at HELL ASYLUM with a Quicktime trailer now online)! And stay tuned to this Bat-Channel for news of forthcoming Tempe productions...
WHAT HAPPENED TO "VENGEANCE OF THE DEAD" REDUX
Also after many delays, there is finally word that the VENGEANCE OF THE DEAD special edition DVD will ship this week! Orders placed prior to December 7th will include a special gift...so get to the website and orders yours today for $19.99 plus shipping!
PRODUCTION NEWS (a.k.a. WHEN DO THESE PEOPLE SLEEP?)
Last time we told you about an "untitled" new flick from HORRORVISION director Danny Draven...well, now it has a title and it's HELL ASYLUM. Shot in and around Los Angeles, the flick stars Debra Mayer, Tanya Dempsey, Stacey Scowley, Olimpia Fernandez and Sunny Lombardo as a group of models who face their fears for a new TV show called "Chill Challenge". Look for cameos by Joe Estevez, Brinke Stevens and others! A Tempe limited special edition DVD will bow in February with some cool new extras.
Production on DEAD & ROTTING recently wrapped in our old stomping grounds of Akron, Ohio. First-time director David Barton (who contributed FX to THE DEAD NEXT DOOR, OZONE and more mainstream efforts like NEMESIS and THE USUAL SUSPECTS) has crafted a slick little thriller in the tradition of PUMPKINHEAD. The film stars Stephen O'Mahoney, Tom Hoover (POLYMORPH), Debbie Rochon (WITCHOUSE 3), Jeff Dylan Graham and Barbara Katz-Norrod (THE SANDMAN). Look for a trailer online soon, and a Tempe limited special edition DVD will bow in March (a month before the Full Moon VHS hits stores).
Tempe Video
Dark Wave Films
Full Moon Pictures
Retromedia
December 2, 2001
Amusement Films and director Pat Bishow are finally back with a new production. It's a horror-musical titled GHOULS, GIRLS, AND A GO-GO!.The following synopsis was taken directly from the Amusement Films website:
"It's the story of two all-girl-rock bands (one Pop/one Punk) that spend the night in a haunted house! Can they make it through the night without driving each other crazy???
"There's a Mad Doctor, a gorilla on the loose and run away mummies! Does this all make sense? YOU DECIDE!"
***** Not even having finished post-production on their most recent film, PLANETFALL, Carschool Films is in preproduction on their effort titled ON THE DOTTED LINE.
Written By Timothy Curtis and Michael J. Heagle, ON THE DOTTED LINE is set "in the middle of a bitter Midwestern winter. A man crashes his car. Stumbling into a small town, he gradually becomes aware that not only is he dead, but so is everyone in the town. And there's a dark figure there in the guise of a pornographer who may or may not be the devil, who is signing people's souls away."
***** Wayne Allan Harold is hard at work on the next film for his company Lurid Pictures. His follow up to the brilliant TOWNIES is titled ABERRATION BOULEVARD. The film stars Lurid staples Toby Radloff and Lori Scarlett. No story details have been made available yet, but Wayne did state that he's approaching editing a little differently this time. "In the past, I always waited until after shooting has wrapped before starting in on the lengthy editing process. This time around, I'm cutting scenes as we go along." Look for a release in 2002. You can view finished excerpts and out-takes on the Lurid website.
December 1, 2001
It's been almost 2 years since I last heard from LUNATIC: THE MOVIE director Rob Avery. Recently he dropped me a line regarding his new website and his new film, a sequel to LUNATIC titled SCREAM FOR CHRISTMAS.This time Rob the eco-friendly slasher takes on Muffy, the Kung-Fu Cheerleader for the title of Biggest Badass on the Block.
***** Rachel from ScreamFest checked in to let us know that she's excepting submissions for next year's festival. For more info visit the website.
***** SAVE THE DATE!
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8TH, 2001
WHAT: Pink Bubble Bath: The Sexy Film Festival comes again with this year¹s 19 most provocative short films dealing with human sexuality including 6 WORLD PREMIERES. Hosted by Dita Von Teese, world famous pin up model and burlesque dancer, this year's event will please fans of saucy cinema and educated erotica alike.
This year's jury is: Chris Gore (Film Threat magazine), Josie Maran (Sports Illustrated swimsuit model), Dr. Susan Block (Institute for the Erotic Arts & Sciences), Marty Klein (Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality), and Gerry Gershman (Co-Producer, Buffalo 66). Please visit our website for more information on the films, filmmakers and judges.
WHEN: Saturday, December 8th, 2001 WHERE: The Fenton Building
Public Reception 8:00PM 835 South Spring Street
(with comp drinks & Food) Los Angeles, CA 90014
Screening 10:00PM
After Party-12:00 AMBe one of the first 150 through the doors and receive an "I Spent the Night" goodie bag!
Tickets may be purchased the night of the event at the venue ($15) or by visiting www.pinkbubblebath.com . Pink Bubble Bath: The Sexy Film Festival is brought to you in part by iFilm: The Internet Movie Guide, Film Threat, Gwen Media, Fuct Clothing, Cashiers Du Cinemart, The Dr. Susan Block Institute for the Erotic Arts & Sciences, AGENT155.Com, Penthouse.Com, Kozak Vodka, Redrum rum, Stone Brew beer and Angelique Café.
For further information, please contact:
Travis T Stevens (213) 891-9129Pink Bubble Bath Film Festival
***** The following blurbs come from Dr. Squid's Lab Report
Writer/Director/Actor Ron Ford reports that his movie, "HOLLYWOOD MORTUARY" has finally found a home at Spectrum Media/Dead Alive Video. It will be coming out early next year on VHS and DVD. The DVD will include both the feature version and the original short, as well as a segment of a television show, "American Nightmares," which spotlights "Hollywood Mortuary." Included are interviews with director Ron Ford and star Randal Malone.
Meanwhile, Spectrum also plans to reissue Ron Ford's "DEAD TIME TALES (a.k.a. THINGS 3: OLD THINGS)" in a sell-through DVD version. You can check out RON FORD'S MOVIE STUDIO OF DEATH.
***** As always, this month's list of obituaries comes from the most recent Astounding B-Monster newsletter.
Anthony Shaffer
Tony Award-winning playwright and screenwriter Anthony Shaffer died at his London home following a heart attack. He was 75. Shaffer is perhaps best known for "Sleuth," the long-running play for which he received the Tony. It ran on Broadway for 2,300 performances. Joseph L. Mankiewicz directed a 1972 film version that starred Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. Shaffer also wrote the screenplays for Alfred Hitchcock's "Frenzy," and three Agatha Christie adaptations starring Peter Ustinov as detective Hercules Poirot, "Death on the Nile," "Evil Under the Sun" and "Appointment With Death." Shaffer also wrote the cult-movie "The Wicker Man," a brooding suspense film about a paganist cult living on a remote Scottish isle. The film has a devoted following, and "Cinefantastique" magazine once called it "the 'Citizen Kane' of horror films." Shaffer began his career writing paperback mysteries with his twin brother, Peter, who went on to author such plays as "Equus" and "Amadeus."
Gray Morrow
Illustrator Gray Morrow died at his home, aged 67. Though he had been in poor health in recent years, his death was unexpected. Just a week before his passing, he appeared at the Baltimore Comicon, autographing comics and magazines he'd illustrated and sketching for fans. Morrow is perhaps best known for comic stories that appeared in Warren Publishing's "Creepy" and "Eerie" magazines. He was also a prolific painter, illustrating many Warren covers and dozens of paperback book covers. One high point was "The Illustrated Roger Zelazny," which appeared in the late 1970s. Morrow also rendered dozens of movie posters, most notably for some of producer Sam Sherman's Independent International Productions such as "Dracula Vs. Frankenstein," and Mel Welles' "Lady Frankenstein." More recently, Morrow had been drawing the "Tarzan" newspaper strip as well as the Internet-syndicated daily comic strip, "The Body." A collection of his work, "Gray Morrow, Visionary," was published by Insight Studios Group last summer.
William Read Woodfield
Writer, photographer William Read Woodfield died in Los Angeles following a heart attack. He was 73. Woodfield first made a name for himself as a photographer covering the Hollywood personality beat, most notably photographing Jayne Mansfield for an issue of Playboy magazine that sold more than 1 million copies. He tried his hand at television writing, and later, along with writing partner Allan Balter, utilized his love of con games and chicanery to turn television's "Mission: Impossible" into a smash hit, even producing the multiple Emmy-winning series for a season. More recently, Woodfield has scripted installments of "Columbo" and the feature-length "Perry Mason" episodes. Cult-film fans know Woodfield as the writer behind the lurid, 1960 gimmick shocker, "The Hypnotic Eye."
Raymond C. Sparenberg aka Selwin
One of television's earliest horror movie hosts, Raymond C. Sparenberg, died of renal failure at 72. Sparenberg appeared on WISH-TV, the Indianapolis CBS affiliate from 1958-63. Sparenberg appeared on the weekly "Fright Night" as "Selwin, son of Catwoman and Wolfman," introducing classic horror films to baby boomers. "Fright Night" played with various formats over the years, focusing on jungle films at one point and space films at another. When the show ended, Sparenberg began a sales job at WXIA in Atlanta. He later operated a cheese shop, worked as a cab driver and in the records department of a hospital.
Byron Sanders
Actor Byron Sanders, best known to cult-movie fans as the star of "Flesh Eaters," is dead at 76. Sanders acted in many long-running daytime dramas including "Love of Life," "The Doctors" and "One Life to Live." He also served as the model for Salvador Dali's painting "Crucifixion" which is on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. "Flesh Eaters" was a low-budget, 1964 cult favorite filmed on Long Island. It featured veteran character actor Martin Kosleck as a former Nazi scientist developing a strain of cannibal bacteria.
Diana van der Vlis
Actress Diana van der Vlis died in Missoula, Mont., following a brief illness. She was 66. She appeared with Walter Pidgeon in the Broadway hit "The Happiest Millionaire," and in such feature films as "The Girl in Black Stockings," "The Incident" and "The Swimmer." Her television work included roles in the soap opera "Ryan's Hope," and such dramas as "The Fugitive," "Naked City," "Route 66," and others. Fans of horror and suspense may remember her appearances in "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." and director Roger Corman's 1963 B-movie gem "X: The Man With the X-Ray Eyes."
