Pages

30 October 2013

Special Viewing on 10/31 of the Short Film "The End"



4 Nottingham Film Companies Announce Exclusive

5 Hour Online Film Release – Halloween, 31st Oct 13

This Halloween (31st Oct 2013), 4 Nottingham film companies - Coldwater Canyon
Pictures, We Are Heroes Films, N-FX, Output Audio - are releasing their
collaborative Zombie/Thriller short film “THE END”. The 8 minute film will be
exclusively released via an unlisted (unsearchable) online link for 5 hours only. The
free link will be released on the film’s Facebook page, the companies’ websites and
the filmmakers’ personal social profiles.

The film will be viewable from 5pm – 10pm, shortly after 10pm the link will be deleted
and the film will then go into preparation ready for Festivals and Distribution.
The link will be posted on the Facebook fan page here:  https://www.facebook.com/ColdwaterandHeroesEnd?ref=profile

Synopsis:

A mother and daughter take shelter in an abandoned farmhouse, hiding from the
zombies chasing them. Once the daughter drifts off to sleep, we discover the mother
has been bitten and the other zombies are closing in…

The Winedancers Wraps Production

For the past five weeks, the South of France have been the host of a cast and crew shooting a new horror film entitled "The Winedancers".

Written and directed by Gary Meyer while produced under the helm of Godam Film, the film is about a number of groups of people coming together and meeting up, in what to begin with looks very coincidentally, at a winecheateu in the South of France. Needless to say, it won't take long until a lot of very peculiar incidents start taking place; odd Pagan rituals, chateau hosts very far from the ordinary, people slowly going off the deep and end one by one - and most importantly: bloody murder - VERY bloody murder, in fact! Plus, it offers real suspence that can almost be described as a classic game of whodunit with a lot of twists and turns!

The cast is very international, UK actors Lucinda Rhodes, Edmund Digby-Jones, Kyle Calderwood and Marina De Salis, Scandinavian actor Kim Sønderholm, Mexican actors Mariana Peñalva and J.C. Montes-Roldan, Polish actress Kasia Koleczek, French actors Miglen Mirtchev, Antoine Martin, Andrea Catozzi (an acrobat able to do the craziest thing with this body) and the towering Jonathan Christopher Duncan playing “Gimp”. Finally, ofcourse there is “Fashion One Correspondents” model Callie Roberts.

Director, writer and producer Gary Meyer about the film:
"It all started in my back garden, I was working with a friend of mine who was into films so that's all we talked about. I wanted to write something new, raw and keep it that way not allowing it to be changed by outside influences and pressures to make it the same as everything else out there.

A mixture of horror comedy and theatre, a roller coaster of emotions. For some reason I came up with a transvestite cowboy line dancer as the main character wearing stiletto heals and tapping to the beat of “Cotton-Eye Joe”. To this day I'm entirely sure where that idea came from.Then after some brain storming and getting some work on a vineyard “The Winedancers” was born. The inspiration: Robin Hardy's “The Wicker Man”, Tony Scott's “The Hunger” and life here in Provence with its deep routed French way of life resisting change as much as it can from the outside world. The wine, the vineyards and the Pagan-like festivals which are held in the small surrounding villages during the summer.

Oh yes I almost forgot, and the French love of dancing...... line dancing, it seems inherent. It is so beautiful here that one can only get inspired but just below the surface of this beauty lies greed, corruption and the unseeing innocent victims who are lured here by its magic, its a magnet for it. “The Winedancers” is this story hosted by the greek gods Pan and Bacchus and not to mention a glass or two of wine."

The film is currently being edited and the release is expected for 2014, but until then, read more about “The Winedancers” on the IMDb page:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3167458

Caesar & Otto's Deadly Xmas Coming to DVD

New York, NY - Wild Eye Releasing is excited to announce the November 19th DVD and VOD release of Caesar & Otto's Deadly Xmas. Co-written and directed by Dave Campfield (Caesar), Deadly Xmas arrives in time for the holidays with more all-star B-Movie legends than you can fit under a Christmas tree, featuring cult icons Linnea Quigley, Brinke Stevens, Felissa Rose, Joe Estevez, Deron Miller, Robert Z'dar and Debbie Rochon. Streaming links and review discs are now available.

These legends join Campfield, Paul Chomicki (Otto), Ken MacFarlane, Samantha Barrios, Summer Ferguson, Avi Garg, and Youtube sensations Lauren Francesca, and Shawn "Coolduder" Phillips in a hilarious homage toSilent Night Deadly Night and the slayer santa genre that Ain't It Cool News says "brings genuine humor to the horror genre".

Caesar and his half-brother Otto take on duties as Santa and his elf. However, the bodies begin to pile up when a fellow store Santa (CKY's Deron Miller) develops a vendetta against them, and he soon turns Caesar's list of Dinner guests into a list of Xmas-inspired victims!

A hit on the horror festival circuit, the DVD release of Deadly Xmas (SRP $14.95) will include three commentary tracks (Director, Cast/Crew, Actors), a behind the scenes featurette, alternate scenes, Shorts films: Piggyzilla, Otto's First Job, & The Perfect Candidate and trailers.

Preorder Caesar & Otto's Deadly Xmas

As Night Falls Gets DVD Release Date

Philadelphia PA - Breaking Glass Pictures and Vicious Circle Films are proud to announce the November 12th DVD release of As Night Falls, featuring the resurrection of Hell of Fame scream queen Debbie Rochon as a mother with an axe to grind. Written and directed by Joe Davison, As Night Falls is a blood-splattered, shock-filled slasher that proves home is where the heart is...and the lungs and the guts. The film stars Rochon, Deneen Melody ("The Playboy Club"), Lily Cardone, Grace Chapman, Raine Brown, Jeremy King, and Joe Davison.

Retail Copies are Now Available for Review Upon Request.

Please note, Breaking Glass is transitioning into streaming-only review copies. Please advise if you can review through streaming services or if you require a disc.

10-year old Amelia's parents have decided it's time for her to go to sleep permanently, leaving her broken body in a shallow grave. Fifty years later, Mommy and Daddy are back from Hell, intent on wreaking the same deadly discipline on anyone not in bed by sundown. Sisters Holly and Elizabeth are losing their minds, and their friends are losing their heads. Something evil has crashed the party, but no one knows what they are fighting. When the girls' brother, Charlie, arrives, he completes the family group and the kids start to find out what firm parenting really means.

The DVD release (SRP $24.99) will include behind the scenes footage ofAs Night Falls.

27 October 2013

Syfy Launches SyfyGames.com

NEW YORK – October 22, 2013 – Syfy Ventures today announced a major redesign of SyfyGames.com, which will establish the site as the curator of much of the web’s best free-to-play MMO (massively multiplayer online), RPG (role-playing game), strategy and action games.

Targeting the core gaming community, the current collection of browser-based PC games spans the science fiction, fantasy, paranormal and the superhero genres. Gamers can enter any number of game worlds from one log-in profile and explore various community features on the portal. SkillPod Media developed the site in collaboration with Syfy.

Additionally, SyfyGames.com will also offer exclusive content for fans playing the Battlestar Galactica Online game from Bigpoint. Within the newly discovered 46 Graeae sector, all Syfy players will have access to both an exclusive Syfy sector and a special mission. In the new sectors, players shoot waves of challenging enemy ships – smarter than every known AI ship in BSGO – to try and shatter their opponent’s supply lines. As rewards for top mission performances, Syfy players will receive brand-new rare weapons.

Said Jeff Li, Vice President, Syfy Ventures: “Syfy’s global audience consists of serious gamers who are hungry for premium gaming content. Few game portals do an excellent job of connecting highly qualified users to the best free-to-play online games. Our staff will select only the finest games and offer them on a platform that maximizes game discovery.”

Among the new games launching this month on SyfyGames.com are Forge of Empires, Mecha Galaxy, Kings & Legends, Skyshard Heroes, Yi Tien, Nemexia and Call of Roma. Many more games are slated for launch by the end of the year.

Launched in 2008, Syfy Ventures serves as the business development and new enterprise unit for Syfy, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. Syfy’s portfolio of businesses transcends the television screen, and focuses upon next-generation brand extensions, including both media and non-media properties. Syfy Ventures rapidly expanding portfolio includes four major business lines: Gaming, Film, Kids, and Consumer Products. Syfy Games is the umbrella brand for Syfy’s gaming projects: SyfyGames.com, Trion Worlds (Defiance) and Bigpoint (Battlestar Galactica Online).

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is owned by Comcast Corporation.(Syfy. Imagine greater.)

Celebrate Anthology Film Archive's Annual Halloween Show With The PKD Festival

Brooklyn, N.Y. October 22, 2013 - Get spellbound at Anthology Film Archives as part of the center's NewFilmmakers series' Annual Halloween Show. Daniel Abella, the director of The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival led the curation for the highly anticipated short film program to be held on Wednesday, October 30. The one-night-only lineup which features 10 gripping tales from filmmakers who have brought forth a classic cornerstone of cinema and unleashed some of the most heart-wrenching moments in modern horror film history.

SHORT FILM PROGRAM SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30 at 6:00 PM

THE MULDER CHRONICLES TRAILER
by DANIEL ABELLA
(2011, 3 Minutes)
A fan based trailer based on The X-Files series. The story follows a young Fox Mulder fresh out of Oxford University as he begins to uncover the disappearance of a young girl and the connection to his sister's abduction.

CREATURES OF THE NIGHT
by ZANE MILLER
(2013, 20 Minutes)
Azazel, the host of a late night horror anthology series struggles to keep his sanity when the director of the program pairs him with a new sidekick, a puppet named Scumball. Tensions run high as the director favors Frank, the dim witted puppeteer behind the Scumball character over Azazel all the while the two hosts present the episode's featured film "Mutant, Murder, Mysteries."

RETIRE FOR THE EVENING
by ED HELLMAN
(2013, 11 Minutes)
A ventriloquist's puppet attempts to continue the act after his partner dies.

DO DEMONS READ THEMSELVES TO SLEEP?
by R.D. Preston
(2011, 12 Minutes)
A boy's reading assignment is a book with a demon trapped inside of it.

DEMONEN
by HENRICK MÖLLER
(2012, 22 Minutes)
A Swedish Brothers Grimm horror fantasy.

STORAGE UNIT 57
by ALDO ROMERO
(2007, 22 Minutes)
Izzy, a worker at a storage facility frustrated by the separation with his wife and the monotony of his job, begins to see ghostly apparitions in a storage locker labeled storage unit #57.

LAVINIA'S REVENGE
by DAVID MILLER
(2013, 4 Minutes)
After suffering a malicious rape, Lavinia exacts a brutal and merciless revenge before finally jumping to her death.

NOT A HAIR OUT OF PLACE by ANDREW FAGAN
(2013, 6 Minutes)
Alex only wants to look good for his date but a stubborn blemish on his tooth threatens to derail his plans. Apply toothpaste, brush vigorously for thirty seconds. Spit. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Maybe the solution is worse than the problem.

LIGHT
by RAFAEL HERNÁN GAMBOA
(2010, 16 Minutes)
A prisoner of an unknown entity is interrogated about the very nature of his reality, culminating in an unexpected revelation.

HUNTING
by LAURA MAXFIELD
(2010, 23 Minutes)
Tina hoped that moving would end her chronic and terrifying stress dreams but when she becomes haunted by her living roommate her sanity unravels with violent consequences.

The Annual Halloween Show short film program will lead an entire night of horror films as part of Anthology Film Archive's NewFilmmakers series. The event on Wednesday, October 30, 2013 is located at Deren Theater @ Anthology at 32 Second Avenue New York, NY 10003 and begins at 6:00 pm. For more information including further scheduling and film listings please visit http://www.newfilmmakers.com and always be sure to stay informed of all ongoing announcements from The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival on the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ThePhilipKDickFilmFestival and Twitter page at https://twitter.com/PhilipKDickFest.

Past vs. Future Reality Competition Series to Premiere on Syfy January 21, 2014

NEW YORK – October 23, 2013 - Syfy today announced the greenlight of Opposite Worlds, an all-new reality competition series - with an interactive twist - from Eyeworks USA. Set to premiere January 21, 2014, Opposite Worlds will run for 12 episodes over six weeks (two episodes per week), with the second weekly episode featuring a live element (a first for a Syfy reality series).

In Opposite Worlds, 14 people from all walks of life face off in opposing teams that live in a house separated into two distinctly different worlds: one past and one future, each with its own unique advantages and disadvantages. Adding to the drama is a glass wall dividing the house into the two environments, allowing the teams to watch, envy and dread each other's every move.

Every week, as cast members compete in a series of fast-paced challenges, viewers will be asked to participate in real time on social media and affect the outcome of each player's fate.

Said Dave Howe, President, Syfy and Chiller: “Building on the success of Defiance, Opposite Worlds delivers on Syfy’s on-going strategy to create fully immersive 360 transmedia experiences in both the scripted and now unscripted worlds. It invites our audience, who thrive on seeking out what’s new and next, to participate in the ultimate multiplatform experience. And with Syfy’s first-ever weekly live series, they will have the opportunity to become a part of a groundbreaking social experiment, which engages them, as well as the players onscreen, to influence the show's story-telling action and outcomes."

Opposite Worlds will be executive produced by JD Roth, Todd A. Nelson, Brant Pinvidic and Adam Kaloustian for Eyeworks USA. The series is based on the hit Chilean format, Mundos Opuestos, originally broadcast on Canal 13.

About Eyeworks USA
Eyeworks USA is one of television's most prolific producers of reality and non-fiction programming, producing shows grounded in the ability of people to change and transform their lives. Current series include Extreme Weight Loss in season four for ABC; Bar Rescue in season four for Spike (the network’s #1 show across all male demos); My Cat from Hell, in season five for Animal Planet; LA Hair, in season three for WEtv; and new hit Oxygen series My Big Fat Revenge, among many other series. Roth and Nelson are also known for producing the first 11 cycles of the award-winning The Biggest Loser for NBC. Other Eyeworks series include Family S.O.S. with Jo Frost for TLC, TV Land's Forever Young, as well as the long-running, genre-creating franchise for VH-1, Beauty and the Geek.

About Syfy
Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is owned by Comcast Corporation. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)

21 October 2013

Run Like Hell and Hard Sun Team to Launch Crowdfunding Campaign


LOS 
ANGELES,
 CA
 (October 
21, 
2013)
 ‐ 
Independent 
production
 shingle,
 Two
 Guys
 and
 a
 Film,
 announced
 their
 second
 slate
 of
 feature
 films
 today.
 The
 films,
 totaling
 five,
 will
 all
 be
 horror/sci‐fi
 genre
 films
 and
 will
 kick
 off
 production
 in
 early
 2014.
 Each 
film
 will
 star
 recognizable
 name 
talent
 in 
the
 starring
 roles.


Out 
of 
the 
entire 
slate 
of 
films, 
four 
of 
the 
five 
will 
be 
in 
the
 horror 
genre. 
The 
stories
 will 
range 
in 
plot across 
the 
full 
genre 
itself.  

Zombie 
actioner, 
‘Extinction’ 
is 
about 
a
 group
 of
 military
 elite
 who
 travel
 deep
 behind
 enemy
 lines
 to
 investigate
 a
 viral
 outbreak.

 ‘Decapitator’
 will
 be
 a
 creature 
feature 
about 
a group 
of 
college 
students
 who 
become 
hunted 
by 
an 
ancient 
Peruvian 
blood‐god.




The
 found‐footage
 film,
 ‘Beach
 Day
 Massacre’
 follows
 a
 group
 of
 marine
 biology
 students
 as 
they
document
 a 
series
 of 
fatal
 shark
 attacks.

‘Villisca’
will
 be 
a 
true‐life
 paranormal 
haunter 
in 
the 
vain
 of 
‘The
Conjuring’,
 about 
a 
family 
whose 
new 
home
 is 
terrorized 
by
 the
 ghosts 
of
 the
 children
 who 
were murdered
 there.



Rounding
 out
 the
 slate
 is
 sci‐fi
 thriller,
 ‘68
 Minutes’
 about
 a
 former
 scientist
 who
 breaks
 out
 of
 a
 mental
 institute
 in
 order
 to
 stop
 a
 device
 that
 could
 potentially
 create
 a
 universal 
time 
crisis.


As
 far
 as
 why
 the
 company
 is
 focusing
 on
 a
 slate
 of
 films
 instead
 of
 a
 single
 production,
 co‐owner
James
 Thomas
 states, 
“We’ve 
proven 
on 
the 
last 
two 
films
 that
 a
 film
 slate
 model
 can
 work.
 
 Now
 it’s
 time
 to
 take
 it
 up
 a
 notch.
 
 We’ve
 always
 thought 
big 
and 
bold.

 This 
is
 just 
the 
natural 
progression 
for 
us 
as 
filmmakers.”


For
 these 
films, 
the 
company 
is 
turning 
to 
crowd funding 
in 
order 
to 
raise 
the 
initial
 development
 monies.
 
That
 money
 will
 go
 toward
 hiring
 a
 well‐established
 Line‐ Producer
 and
 Casting
 Director,
 forming
 multiple
 Limited
 Liability
 Companies
 for
 investment
 purposes,
 paying
 various
 legal
 fees,
 as
 well
 as
 traveling
 to
 meet
 with
 potential 
investors.




The 
main
 approach 
for 
the 
campaign 
will 
be 
focused 
on 
giving 
fans 
a 
chance 
to 
pre‐buy 
the 
films
 as
either
 a
 digital 
download
 or 
a 
BluRay/DVD,
 to 
be
 delivered 
once 
the
 films
 are
 completed
 and
 ready
 for
 distribution.
 
 Much
 like
 pre‐selling
 foreign
 territories,
 the
 company
 is
 looking
 to
 fans
 to
 believe
 in
 the
 films
 and
 make
 their
 purchases
 before
 production
 begins.
 
 This
 will
 enable
 the
 filmmakers
 to
 raise
 the
 up front 
monies 
to 
get 
things 
moving.



With 
a
 combined 
Twitter 
following
 of 
just 
under 
50K, 
the 
company
 is
 really 
looking
 to
 their
 social
 media
 fan
 base
 of
 film
 genre
 lovers
 and
 independent
 filmmakers
 to
 help
 get 
the
 ball 
rolling.
 "We're 
not
looking 
to 
raise 
the 
entire 
film 
budgets
 through
 crowd
 funding,
 as
 we
 just
 don't
 think
 that’d
 be
 fair
 to
 our
 amazing
 supporters."
 Thomas 
says.
"We
 are, 
however
 hoping 
to 
raise 
all 
the 
development 
funds
through
 our
 social
 network
 so
 that
 we
 can
 go
 out
 and
 get
 the
 films
 remaining
 budgets
 from
 accredited
investors."




As
 is
 typical
 with
 any
 crowd funding
 campaign,
 contributors
 will
 receive
 various
 limited
 edition
 rewards 
for
 being 
a 
part 
of 
things 
at 
the 
ground 
level.

 These 
rewards
 range 
in
 scale 
from 
one‐of‐a‐kind
 props 
from
 the 
previous 
films, 
to 
premiere 
tickets
 and 
private 
screenings 
in 
the 
contributor’s 
own
hometown.




The
 filmmakers
 will
 also
 be
 doing
 some
 pretty
 interesting
 perks
 such
 as
 an
 INSTAGRAM
 TAKEOVER,
 where
 they
 will
 take
 over
 a
 contributors
 account
 for
 an
 entire
 day
 and
 post
 videos
 and
 photos
 from
 all
 over
 Hollywood!
 
 They
 are
 even
 offering
 to
 take
 locals
 out
 for
 a
 night
 on
 the
 Sunset
 Strip
 or
 fly
 to
 a
 contributor’s
 home town 
and 
take 
them
 out 
to 
dinner 
to 
talk 
shop.


With
 the
 express
 participation
 of
 crowdfunding
 powerhouse
 IndieGoGo,
 you
 can
 take
 part
 in
 the
 campaign
 which
 launches
 today,
 as
 well
 as
 get
 full
 information
 on
 the
 five 
films 
themselves, 
by 
heading
directly 
to 
the 
Two
Guys 
and
 a 
Film 
website 
at
 www.twoguysandafilm.com
.

ABOUT 
TWO 
GUYS 
AND 
A 
FILM


Two
Guys
and
a
Film
 (@2guysandafilm) 
is 
an 
independent 
film
 company
 started 
by
 Canyon
 Prince
 and
 James
 Thomas,
 focused
 on
 getting
 independent
 films
 made
 and
 distributed.
 In
 2012,
 the
 company
 produced
 their
 first
 two
 features,
 'Hard
 Sun'
 and
 'Run
Like
Hell”.



CANYON 
PRINCE:

 Canyon 
(@canyonprince) 
is 
a 
filmmaker 
who 
works 
both 
within
 the
 worlds
 of
 traditional
 and
 new/trans
 media.
 Canyon
 is
 Executive
 Producer
 and
 Co‐Owner
 of
 production
 shingle
 Two
 Guys
 and
 a
 Film,
 established
 in
 2012.
 
 Last
 year
 the
 company
 produced
 their
 first
 two
 full‐length
 feature
 films
 entitled
 HARD
 SUN
 and
 GET 
AWAY.
 In 
addition 
to 
producing 
both 
features, 
Canyon
directed 
HARD
 SUN 
as 
well. 
His 
original 
episodic 
shows
 include 
“First
Edition“
 (2010
 Feel 
Good 
Film
 Festival
 &
 2010
 Anaheim
 International
 Film
 Festival
 Official
 Selections),
 and
 “The
 Romantic
 Foibles
 of
 Esteban“
 (2009
 Feel
 Good
 Film
 Festival
 Official
 Selection).
 In
 2011
 Canyon
 co‐created
 the
 hit
 interactive
 horror
 project
 “Killcam:
 Live”
 which
 garnered
 3
 Million
 live
 views
 during
 it’s
 seven
 week
 live
 72hr‐episodic
 rollout.
 He
 has
 directed
 several
 episodes
 of
 the
 Hulu/HDNET
 half‐hour
 comedy
 series
 “Goodnight
 Burbank“,
 as
 well
 as
 various
 pilot’s
 including
 “The
 Inn”,
 “Faculty
 Lounge”,
 “Hero’s
 Quest”,
 and
 the
 show
 opener
 for
 “The
 Men’s
 Room”.
 His
 spec
 commercial
 and
 music
 video
 work
 includes
 “The
 Walking
 Dead
 Board
 Game”
 and
 “Tenth
 Avenue
 North”.
 Canyon
 has
 acted
 as
 New
 Media
 Programmer
 for
 the
 Anaheim
 International
 Film
 Festival
 and
 Santa
 Catalina
 Film
 Festival,
 as
 well
 as
 creating
 the
 first
 ever
 New 
Media 
Expo 
&
 Market. 
He
 has 
moderated 
and
 spoken 
on
 numerous
 filmmaking
 panels
 including
 ITVFest,
 New
 York
 Film
 Academy,
 Web
 TV
 Workshop,
Geekscape 
Podcast, 
and 
Holly Shorts 
Film 
Festival.



JAMES 
THOMAS: 
James
Thomas 
(@jamesthomasla) 
is 
a 
director 
and 
producer 
who
 takes
 a
 gritty
 and
 realistic
 approach
 to
 directing.
 He
 made
 his
 feature
 film
 directorial
 debut
 with
 the
 Action/Horror
 film
 “Run
 Like
 Hell”.
 
 Prior
 to
 directing
 “Run
 Like 
Hell”,
 James 
served
 as
 producer
 on
 the
 indie 
drama
“Hard
 Sun”. 

In 
2012,
 he
 and
 fellow
 filmmaker
 Canyon
 Prince
 (director
 of
 “Hard
 Sun”),
 started
 the
 production 
company 
Two 
Guys 
and 
a 
Film,
 which 
produced 
both 
films. 

Additionally,
 James
 has
 directed
 the
 pilot
 for
 “The
 1570”
 (a
 sitcom),
 and
 served
 as
 the
 series
 director
 for
 seasons
 1
 &
 2
 of
 the
 music
 talk
 show
 “Next
 In
 Line”.
 
 James
 has
 also
 directed
 numerous
 music
 videos
 including
 “All
 I
 Want
 For
 Christmas
 Is
 You”,
 reaching
 over
 20K
 views,
 and
 Convulsa’s
 “Signs”.
 
 His
 commercial
 experience
 includes
 Driving
 Ethanol,
 Oasis
 Church,
 and
 a
 spec
 for
 BMW/MINI
 USA.
 
 In
 2011,
 James
 had
 the
 privilege
 of
 directing
 All‐Stars
 “The
 Jabawockeez”,
 “The
 Legion
 of
 Extraordinary
 Dancers
 (LXD)”,
 and
 “Team
 illuminate”
 at
 the
 unprecedented
 “Night
 of
 Dance”.
 
 After
 directing
 “The
 1570”,
 James
 was
 invited
 as
 a
 panel
 speaker
 on
 behalf
 of
 AFTRA 
to 
discuss 
new 
media 
at 
ITVFEST.


Stop on by all their media outlets to get more information:

WEBSITE
TWITTER
 


18 October 2013

Subject Two 2006 - REVIEW by Chris Young


Subject Two: A Post Modern Prometheus

There was a time when I could only squeeze in a necessary horror film fix during my one hour lunch break. I had a portable DVD player and would pick up something to eat and watch around 40 minutes of some film in my car, usually in a parking lot. It may sound dreary, but that became the highlight of my day. It was during this period that I picked up a copy of Subject Two, written and directed by Philip Chidel.

It starts out quite simply. A medical student by the name of Adam, played by Christian Oliver, is suffering excruciating migraines and flunking out of his medical ethics class. Desperate, he answers an online ad to assist a Dr. Franklin Vick (Dean Stapleton) with some experimental research in a remote cabin away from civilization. There's nothing ominous about about the Doctor’s isolated retreat. The snow covered hillsides and well kept chalet are pleasant and reminiscent of a travelogue. Upon arrival, Dr. Vick has a pleasant talk with Adam about the project, Adam agrees to participate…… and that is all I have to say about the plot for fear of ruining the many fine surprises to come before the end.

What I will say is that I soon came to realize this was an inventive and wholly original take on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. For instance, the doctor's name is “Franklin Vick” (instead of Victor Frankenstein), and the young doctor, "Adam," is the first "new man" etc. The movie brings up questions of medical ethics, as in when Adam’s professor is concerned about his lack of moral direction. It touches on what it means to be alive, like the moment when a character is reveling in the sensation of rubbing fingers across the surface of a metal pot. It has escalating violence, including multiple murders by various means, and even a scene of two characters pursuing each other through the snow. All of these owe something to the novel.

Events do become slightly repetitive, but it only works to further the plot. In fact, the redundancy simply highlights the key differences in the results of each experiment, keeping us waiting for the next variation in strategy and making the character arcs even more apparent. Clues are dropped like breadcrumbs throughout (pay particular attention to the discussion of the fate of Subject #1) and, as we get used to the routine, a sense of dread begins to build. Clever red herrings take advantage of our expectations until we are gifted with a beauty of an ending and one of the most satisfying denouements I have ever seen.

To maintain surprise I will not go into depth concerning the actual script or actors except to say the performances and casting are excellent, and there is real talent exhibited throughout. I was completely engaged by the understated horror of the situation. Truly, in this case, less is more.

As far as I can tell from my web search, director Philip Chidel has done little or nothing since. If this was his one dream project then he certainly did it well. In my view, it is an exceptional example of low budget filmmaking that doesn’t look low-budget or unprofessional. From what I saw on the dvd's extra features, it appears the cast and director doubled as crew, shooting entirely on location and lugging a ton of equipment and supplies up a snow covered mountain with snow mobiles that frequently became stuck or tipped over. I think the enthusiasm and ingenuity comes out in the finished product, and I've seen many films with budgets both large and small that didn't come close to the overall quality of this movie.I love Subject Two for what it is and what it isn’t. It’s a clever homage to Shelley’s classic and a unique story on its own - without being a cheap knockoff. I have to give it one of the highest forms of praise I know: I’m jealous that I didn't make it first.

Director Jason Bognacki Unleashes a Demon in First Trailer for Another


Director Jason Bognacki (The Red Door) has completed production on his latest, visually stunning horror feature, titled Another. This supernatural shocker stars Paulie Rojas (The Last Resort) as Jordyn, a woman possessed by an evil twin and her twin is growing stronger. Maria Olsen (Paranormal Activity 3), Nancy Wolfe and David Landry co-star. This title has recently completed production and a darkly beautiful trailer awaits below.


In the film’s first official trailer, viewers can see Jordyn’s Aunt Ruth (Wolfe) performing rituals, which could save her from possession. But, this evil is stronger than any magic. It grows deep within Jordyn, testing her. She must battle this dark force as it attempts to invade her fears, doubts and fantasies. Jordyn must face her darker self, before she is consumed by shadowy forces.


 Another was just completed October 18th, 2013. This title will begin its film festival run shortly as it searches for distribution and a future release date. For now, viewers can see one of the most intriguing trailers in indie horror as Bognacki gets ready to unleash a demonic force unto the world.


The Official Synopsis: “Compelled by the possibility that she could have a dark twin, Jordyn (Paulie Rojas) questions her own sanity, and reality itself. Jordyn’s curiousity pulls her into a dark underworld of demonic possession, desire and extreme indulgences churning a dead witch’s brew that tears her very soul apart (Full Frame).”

Director/writer: Jason Bognacki.

Cast: Paulie Rojas, Maria Olsen, Nancy Wolfe, David Landry, Lillian Pennypacker and Michael Rappaport.



The film’s fan page is located here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Another-A-Film-by-Jason-Bognacki/101104546640677

Jabb Pictures Announces Premiere of I Am No One


There were 506 murders committed in Chicago, IL last year.
Only 129 were solved.
Welcome to the horrifying world of Charles Lake.

Synopsis
This Documentary film takes viewers inside the chaotic world of Charles Lake. A normal enough man by day, Lake opens up to the camera at night to reveal his darker side. I AM NO ONE puts you up close and personal with a killer. Walk with Lake as he stalks his prey, stand over his victims as they lay dying, listen as Lake describes in detail how and why he is a monster. This film is an unflinching view into the mind of a serial killer.

Official Trailer


I AM NO ONE will World Premiere at Days of the Dead- Chicago November 17th at 1:00pm


For more information about JABB pictures visit http://www.jabbpictures.com/

Ragnbone Productions Releases Trailer for White Zombie

Ragnbone Productions has released the trailer for their newest film White Zombie, a re-imagined, remake of the Classic 1933 Bela Lugosi film.

Check out the trailer below and be sure to visit their website.

The Philip K. Dick European Science Fiction Film Festival Announces Finalists

Brooklyn, N.Y. October 16, 2013 - The Philip K. Dick European Science Fiction Film Festival has announced the final films to be screened at its first international event which will honor one of the most respected writers within the literary world. The three-day experience will mark the first of many worldwide gatherings in the beautiful and historic Lille, France from October 25-27, 2013 at the famous L'Hybride Cinema venue. The films which are adapted or inspired from the works of Philip K. Dick will entertain and enthrall the innumerable fans who have continued to honor his enduring legacy within the genre of science fiction.

The finalists to complete the festival's schedule are thrilling stories from filmmakers all over the world including Migdia Chinea's Anonymous (Street Meat) (2010, USA), Natalie Berning's Breathe (2012, France/USA), Jose Manuel Meneses' Defeated (2012, Spain), Mario de la Corte's Hambre (2012, Spain), Rafael Mathé's Hello World (2013, France), Tiyam Yabandeh Jahroumi's Impression-xps160 (2013, Iran), Yann Sinic's La Cité du Soleil (2013, France), Olivier Perrier's L'échappée (2013, France), Fabien Montagner's Le Passage (2011, France), Tobias Schmuecking's Nach Einem Traum (2013, Germany) and Kieran Dick's No Relation (2011, Canada).

The festival will launch with the previously announced and highly anticipated screening of Radio Free Albemuth (2010) on Friday, October 25. Written and directed by John Alan Simon the award-winning film adaptation of Dick's final novel stars Jonathan Scarfe ("Perception"), Shea Whigham ("Boardwalk Empire"), Katheryn Winnick ("Bones") and Grammy Award-winning singer Alanis Morissette. A Q&A session with Simon is also scheduled to follow. The evening will continue its science fiction theme with shorts including Michel Goossens' Exit (2013, Spain/Netherlands), Evander Reeves' L'Esplanade (2012, France/USA), Greg Tosolini's Singularity (2013, France) and Jonathan Rio's Meddlers (2011, France) which was adapted from Dick's short story. The following night on Saturday, October 26 takes on a horror supernatural theme with Thanatomorphose (2012, Canada). Written and directed by Éric Falardeau the film stars Émile Beaudry, Eryka Cantieri and Roch-Denis Gagnon. On Sunday, October 27 the event concludes with sci-fi shorts including Helmut Dosantos' Dissent (2011, France/Italy/Mexico/USA), Sacha Feiner's Un Monde Meilleur (2013, Belgium) and Keaton Smith's Years In Bardo (2012, USA).

The festival will screen all films with French subtitles and is currently accepting submissions into late September in science fiction and horror features and shorts. Admission at L'Hybride Cinema is currently by membership only and by purchasing tickets with five euros for one month or 30 euros for one year of the program. If not part of membership visitors can pay five euros on the first day of the festival to attend the three-day event and receive a pass for the next 30 days of subsequent venue events. Doors open at 7pm on Friday and Saturday and 6pm on Sunday.

As further details become available including further scheduling times the festival anticipates a successful event in its first global outing. The first New York City festival saw record crowds of over 1,000 participants for the exclusive screening of Radio Free Albemuth which was based on Dick's 1985 novel posthumously published three years after his death. The weekend-long festival also held numerous film screenings and panels with Simon, esteemed professors Ronald Mallet and Enrique Ricardo Miranda, distinguished writers Angela Posada-Swafford, Walter Mosley and Dennis Paoli and science fiction experts Richard Dolan and Peter Robbins. The team behind the annual festivities will also pioneer its second annual Brooklyn event in December 2013 for a record five-day gathering and a Spring 2014 cyberpunk festival in Tokyo.

The Philip K. Dick European Festival of Science Fiction, Science, The Fantastic, Horror and The Supernatural will delight its attendees with its entertaining and visually captivating themes which have made the event a favorable and continued success. The event will take place at L'Hybride Cinema at 18 Rue Gosselet 59000 in Lille, France from October 25-27, 2013. Contact the venue at http://www.lhybride.org. For film submissions, deadlines and contacts please visit www.philipkdickfilmfestival-europe.com and http://www.withoutabox.com/login/12654 and always be sure to stay informed of all ongoing announcements on the festival's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ThePhilipKDickFilmFestival and Twitter page at https://www.twitter.com/PhilipKDickFest.

About The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival:
The Philip K. Dick International Film Festival of Science, Science Fiction, Fantastic Film and the Supernatural and the first of its kind to grace the screens of New York City is organized by filmmakers who understand the difficulties and challenges of telling a unique story in a corporate environment. The year 2013 marks the second year of the festival which will expand it's genres of films, panels and venues throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan and its first international event in Lille, France. Guest speakers and writers that best represent the goals of the festival will attend the opening ceremonies. We look for original voices and visions in works submitted. Lastly, this is a festival by filmmakers for filmmakers.

About Philip K. Dick:
"Reality is whatever refuses to go away when I stop believing in it." - Philip K. Dick

Philip K. Dick (1928-1982) was one of the 20th century's most profound novelists and writers within the science fiction community. His exploration, analysis and beliefs led to the publishings of 44 novels and 121 short stories. Dick's enormous library of works led to several film developments including Blade Runner (1982), Total Recall (1990), Minority Report (2002), Paycheck (2003) and most recently Radio Free Albemuth (2010), The Adjustment Bureau (2011) and the successful remake of Total Recall (2012). The film industry is also awaiting the release of King of the Elves in 2014, which will surely be yet another prosperous depiction of Dick's literary contribution to science fiction. Dick's enormously effective views comprised of fictional universes, virtual realities and human mutation foresaw an exaggerated version of the current state of government and contemporary life. Though he is gone in the physical form his philosophies live on in the techniques applied to modern stories and films and generate large displays of appreciation and understanding.

Catch a First Look at Season 4 of Being Human


Being Human—Premieres January, 2014

SUMMARY: They're back! Your favorite vampire, ghost and werewolves return in January, 2014—Being Human, only on Syfy.

Syfy Releases Launch Trailer for Naked Vegas

Syfy has released the launch trailer for their new series Naked Vegas as well as a short clip of the premiere episode when the cast creates a Zombie Wedding. 


Naked Vegas—Premieres Tuesday, October 29 at 10/9c

SUMMARY: Welcome to the provocative and imaginative world of body painting art -- set amidst the fast-paced glitter of life on the Las Vegas Strip. Naked Vegas premieres Tuesday, October 29 at 10/9c.

Cassie Scerbo Returns to Syfy in New Original Movie Beast of the Bering Sea

NEW YORK – October 17, 2013 – Sharknado star Cassie Scerbo will return to Syfy to battle sea vampires in the new Original Movie Beast of the Bering Sea, premiering Saturday, November 9 at 9PM (ET/PT).

In Beast of the Bering Sea, Scerbo and Jonathan Lipnicki (Jerry Maguire) play a sister and brother team prospecting for gold, who accidentally disturb a colony of blood-sucking amphibious predators (sea vampires) in an underwater cave. Kevin Dobson (Knots Landing) co-stars in this production from The Asylum (Sharknado 2).

In the Original Movie Stonados, premiering Saturday, November 23 at 9PM (ET/PT), Paul Johanssen (One Tree Hill, Highlander: The Raven), William B. Davis (The X Files, Continuum) and Thea Gill (Queer as Folk) star in a disaster movie about a freak weather system which hurls deadly boulders.

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is owned by Comcast Corporation. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)

16 October 2013

The Graves 2009 - REVIEW

I've made the comment countless times that just because you have a camera doesn't mean you'll be a good filmmaker. I guess the same can be said for writers. Being a successful comic book creator doesn't mean the next logical jump is filmmaking. Sure, it works for some but so does body suspension but you won't see me hanging from hooks any time soon. 

Abby (Jillian Murray) and her sister Megan (Clare Grant) are two sisters off on one last hurrah before Megan moves off to New York to start her new life. What starts off as a fun filled road trip full of comics and punk music takes a quick turn when they find themselves lost on a lonely stretch of road in the middle of nowhere. When they stop for lunch at a small town diner, they meet a waitress named Darlene (Amanda Wyss) who conveniently points them toward the town's local exhibit, Skull City, an decrepit mining town abandoned back in the 40's. Megan being the dare devil, try anything once sister, convinces Abby to take the tour and off they go. Little do they know they'll have not only human but also supernatural forces to deal with.

There are films that I sit and watch where I spend 90% of it shaking my head and the other 10% wishing I could pluck out and eat my eyeballs so I wouldn't have to watch any longer. There are also films that spend the majority of their budget on "name" actors but don't give said actors the material they need to be the greatness that they are. There are films that should have never been more than a thought in the mind of whoever thought it up. The Graves is all of the above and more.
Watching an actor as phenomenal as Bill Moseley strap on a pig nose and deliver cliche lines while chasing two hot chicks around the Arizona desert was almost painful.  Oh and then we'll bring in Candy Man himself (Tony Todd) and give him this ridiculously cartoonish character and hope that he doesn't strap on his hook and gut us before we wrap. It's beyond blasphemous to me and hurts my little twisted heart.

I really can't fathom what director Brian Pulido was thinking when he put this film together. The whole film was so chaotic that most of the time you're trying to figure out what the hell is going on and not in an "it's hard to follow" kind of way but in a "what the fuck am I watching" kind of way. The ADR was atrocious and the only consistent thing throughout the entire film was how truly awful it was. What's worse is I can't believe that this was selected as one of the "8 Films to Die For" by After Dark Horrorfest. The idea that The Graves is packed in a box next to Kill Theory and The Final should be devastating to horror fans. Unless you're one of those guys/gals who likes to watch ample breasted women run through the desert I'd stay far away from this one. The only thing it does effectively is piss you off.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_xiq9rlw6nM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Syfy Extends Season 1 of Heroes of Cosplay - Searches for Additional Cast Members

NEW YORK – October 16, 2013 – Syfy continues to shine the spotlight on the exciting and creative world of competitive cosplay by ordering 6 additional episodes of its breakout reality series Heroes of Cosplay, it was announced today. Producers are also seeking talented and passionate cosplayers to be featured in the series who are based in and around the Los Angeles and Atlanta areas.

Heroes of Cosplay is a tantalizing docu-series that lifts the veil on the imaginative world of cosplay and the passionate fans - from legends to newbies - who put their imagination and skills to the test to make a name for themselves in this colorful and competitive world.

Male and female cosplayers who live in Atlanta and Los Angeles and are ready to take their cosplaying to the next level now have a shot at being a part of the show. Candidates must be able to make their own costumes and compete in competitions around the country. Those interested are invited to send pictures, links, contact info, and self-descriptions to cosplaycasting2013@gmail.com.

Heroes of Cosplay is produced by 51 Minds, an Endemol Company. Executive producers are Mark Cronin, Courtland Cox and Dave Caplan.

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is owned by Comcast Corporation.(Syfy. Imagine greater.)

Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Night of the Demons With Strange Kids Club Limited Edition Screenprint

Strange Kids Club is having a party. You'll have a hell of a time!

Pop culture blog/art shop Strange Kids Club is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Night of the Demons with an exclusive screenprint. It is available for purchase now at http://strangekidsclub.bigcartel.com/product/night-of-the-demons

The screenprint commemorates the 25th anniversary of Kevin Tenney's Night of the Demons, which was released on October 14, 1988. Limited to only 50 pieces, the poster measures 18x24 and features a hidden glow-in-the-dark layer. Each one is printed on 100lb French Poptone Grapesicle stock by Danny "ohdanielsan" Askar. They cost $40.

Strange Kids Club teamed up with artist Matthew Skiff for the design, which depicts the entire horrifying cast of the cult classic. "I could go on forever as to why I love Night of the Demons so much," explains Skiff, "But it boils down to it having the perfect balance of scary and goofy, and it's the perfect Halloween movie. I wanted to capture as many characters as I could that made the movie so perfect, as well as the notorious 'lipstick scene' that you just have to see to believe."

This isn't the only treat Strange Kids Club has in store this Halloween season. Earlier this month, the website released a Belial (from Basket Case) monster pillow, which sold out in 15 minutes, as well as Series 1 of their Circle Jerks stickers. October 24th will bring an 18x24 digital print for Stephen King and George A. Romero's Creepshow.

About Strange Kids Club:
Strange Kids Club is a pop culture infused blog and art shop full of retro geekdom - a daily dose of adolescent enthusiasm. From reviews on monster movies, classic wrestling, comics and unbelievably cool toys to exclusive interviews with emerging artists and the latest news in nerd subculture - we've got you covered.

Director Todd E. Freeman Premieres ABCs of Death 2 Entry: M is for Marriage


Director Todd E. Freeman premieres his entry into the ABCs of Death 2's search for their 26th director: "M is for Marriage".

Synopsis (via YouTube): Dr. Christian has been a therapist for 15 years and is the foremost expert in the controversial field of Bio-Medical Psychotherapy. His most recent case involves a husband and wife who are looking for either closure or a path back toward healing. Their stress has hit a critical stage and must be confronted in what Dr. Christian calls a Bio-Transference session. This 3 minute peek will show that session.


The film comes in at just over 4 minutes and stars Natalie Victoria, Jeffree Newman and Michael Draper. It was written, Directed, and Edited by Todd E. Freeman and produced by The Brothers Freeman, Christian Burgess, Lara Cuddy, Kevin Curry and Devon Lyon.

Be sure to head over to the ABCs of Death 2 entry page to put your vote in for "M is for Marriage". 


Wicked Bird Media Premieres ABC's of Death Entry: M is for Mundane

New England-based independent production company Wicked Bird Media is proud to present M is for Mundane, their submission for the ABCs of Death 2 'Search for the 26th Director' contest. Watch and vote for M is for Mundane at http://26th.abcsofdeathpart2.com/entry/m-is-for-mundane/

M is for Mundane stars John T. Woods (V/H/S/2, Mega Snake) as Winston, a regular guy with a boring life - sleep, eat, work, repeat - until it's revealed that there's something a bit different about his everyday habits.
A rare female-created entry in the competition, M is for Mundane is written and directed by Wicked Bird Media's Andrea Wolanin. "M is for Mundane is a great commentary about how we only see what we want to see in the people around us," says Wolanin, "And how we should take a step back to find out what’s really inside."


"We’re very excited to be submitting this film to the ABCs of Death 2 contest," adds Stacy Buchanan, who produced the short with her Wicked Bird Media co-founder Jessica Barnthouse. "M is for Mundane is not only a piece we’re proud of, it’s also a reflection of the work we’ll be producing in the future as female filmmakers within the horror genre."

The winning contest entry will be included in 2014's ABCs of Death 2, alongside such directors as Marcus Dunstan (The Collection), Vincenzo Natali (Splice), Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo (Inside), Alejandro Brugués (Juan of the Dead), Rodney Ascher (Room 237), Jen and Sylvia Soska (American Mary), Steven Kostanski (Manborg), Álex de la Iglesia (The Last Circus) and Larry Fessenden (The Last Winter).

For more information on Wicked Bird Media, visit wickedbirdmedia.com and follow the company on RSS, Twitter and Facebook.

First Clip From Horror Convention Documentary Fantasm Released

The first clip from the horror convention documentary Fantasm has been released and is now available for viewing.


Fantasm will have its world premiere at Rock and Shock in Worcester, MA this Saturday, October 19. It will also be screened at Philip H. Anselmo's Housecore Horror Film Festival in Austin, TX on October 25 and at Rhode Island Comic Con in Providence, RI on November 3.

Fantasm explores the bonds formed by the close-knit community of fans who attend horror conventions, with insight from such actors and filmmakers as Tom Atkins (Escape from New York), Heather Langenkamp (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Lloyd Kaufman (The Toxic Avenger), Joe Lynch (Wrong Turn 2), Richard Johnson (Zombie) and more.

In addition to being one of the six conventions at which Fantasm was filmed, Rock and Shock had a profound influence on the documentary. "Rock and Shock was the first convention I went to as a kid," says director Kyle Kuchta. "And those experiences were the inspiration behind Fantasm. To be able to premiere the film there is an absolute honor."

The Rock and Shock premiere is presented by cult film webcast Outside the Cinema. Kuchta will be in attendance to introduce the film, and he'll be at the Outside the Cinema booth all weekend. The 10th annual Rock and Shock horror convention features such distinguished guests as Robert Englund, Robert Patrick, Michael Rooker, Gunnar Hansen, Eric Roberts and more.

14 October 2013

Twisted Tails Film Festival to Donate Funds to Steve Niles

In case you haven't heard, over the weekend TTFF friend and guest Steve Niles’ home in Austin was ravaged by a flood waters. While he, his fiancé Monica and all of their beloved pets are okay, they’re home was not so lucky. There was significant damage to their home and as they do not have flood insurance, it is going to take a lot for them to rebuild. Steve has been a very outspoken proponent for women’s and animal rights and in the past he has worked tirelessly to help raise money for Hurricane Sandy relief. Now the time has come to help him.

Twisted Tails Film Festival will be donating 20% of all proceeds to Steve and Monica to help them during this time. 
Below is what happened in Steve’s own words:

Woke up at 6am to water rushing into the house. Already ankle deep by the time we saw it. We got as much as we could off the ground and tried to block but there wasn’t much we could do. The worst was trying to get to Gil. It was waist deep almost and strong enough to throw around logs. I reached him and he was submerged and freaking out. Don’t remember much more then lifting him and carrying him all the way back to the house. Looking back I can see how scary it was.

We are securing the house as much as we can and going through the damage. A scrapbook full of original art I’ve kept for 30 years is gone. A lot more.

Our friends Belinda and Steve are setting up a fund to help. I feel terrible about this but once things settle I’ll have to face up that we need help. I just wish I could catch my breath for 5 minutes and I can make my own money. Austin has had other ideas I guess.

We’ll keep you posted. We’re sort of trapped here for right now. Going to pack and move as much as we can before the next storm hits.

Thank you guys so much. Woke up at 6am to water rushing into the house. Already ankle deep by the time we saw it. We got as much as we could off the ground and tried to block but there wasn’t much we could do. The worst was trying to get to Gil. It was waist deep almost and strong enough to throw around logs. I reached him and he was submerged and freaking out. Don’t remember much more then lifting him and carrying him all the way back to the house. Looking back I can see how scary it was.

We are securing the house as much as we can and going through the damage. A scrapbook full of original art I’ve kept for 30 years is gone. A lot more.

Our friends Belinda and Steve are setting up a fund to help. I feel terrible about this but once things settle I’ll have to face up that we need help. I just wish I could catch my breath for 5 minutes and I can make my own money. Austin has had other ideas I guess.

We’ll keep you posted. We’re sort of trapped here for right now. Going to pack and move as much as we can before the next storm hits.

Thank you guys so much.

In addition to that, 80% of the proceeds from the festival will still be donated to Paws in the City, a no-kill animal shelter.

Twisted Tails Film Festival will be held December 6th – 8th at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas, Texas.

Please visit www.twistedtailsfilmfestival.com for ticket information and show times.

11 October 2013

An American Ghost Story 2012 - REVIEW

Ghost stories are all the rage these days, or so it seems. I'm not a big fan of the paranormal films because I think they're way over done. Trying to improve on this particular sub-genre seems a bit futile  since there's not really much you can do with one that hasn't already been done a dozen times before. However that doesn't mean that it can't be done. Paranormal Activity blew audiences away when it came out in 2007 but then of course they made one after the other after the other until lo and behold, there were four.... *facepalm*.... and the series thankfully seemed to just fizzle out.

Paul Anderson (Stephen Twardokus) is a struggling, unemployed writer who, along with his girlfriend Stella (Liesel Kopp), decides to move into a reportedly haunted house. The cause of the haunting is a multiple murder/suicide that occurred years earlier. Paul is hoping that being in the house will help jump start his creativity and even has Stella decorate most of the house to look the way it did during the time of the murders. When things finally start happening, Stella gets too freaked out to stay and ends up leaving Paul all alone to deal with what's to come. Eventually he's right in the middle of the kind of haunting he (literally) asked for. And he quickly realizes some things are better left alone. 

When you have a film that the majority of it was shot in one place and a relatively small cast (two main characters), it's important to have characters that are engaging and believable. It's also a must to have a cast that can basically carry the weight of the entire film. Twardokus and Kopp turn in great performances. They come off as likable and interesting. I was particularly happy with Paul's transition though out the film and the way Twardokus was able to pull that off. Wendy Haines also shows off her talents as an actress. Her portrayal of the "Crazy Ralph" character was pretty brilliant in my opinion and definitely deserves some recognition. 

Aside from some noteworthy acting, the film also had some pretty genuine scares. Director Derek Cole (who also directed The Mutilation Man) does a phenomenal job at ramping up the tension of the film at a pace that keeps you interested. Each scene your given more and more of the story and as it ramps up, you will most likely find yourself yelling at the TV from between your fingers (Not that I did that or anything). So many films these days rely so heavily on jump scares that it's hard to find one that frightens you purely out of the suspense and tension it creates and An American Ghost Story does that. It's one of the best and most effective ghost stories I've seen in a while. It will creep you out and have you double checking your bed before you get in it at night. You'll also never look at your bed sheets the same way again. No doubt, if you're a fan of the paranormal, this is a film you will enjoy. 

Final Selections Made for Twisted Tails Film Festival

Twisted Tails Film Festival is proud to announce the final selections for their December 6th – 8th event. The three day film festival will be held at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas, TX.

Organizer Tammy Dupal says “We’re extremely pleased with the turnout and submissions we received. We had entries from all around the world and I think people will be very happy with the films that were chosen.”

There will also be special appearances by Steve Niles, Camille Keaton, Wyzae, Alexis Iacono, William Butler, Matt Farnsworth, Diane Foster and many more.

Below is a schedule of films to be shown.

Friday:
Blood Brothers
Too Many Predators
Teddy
Hunter
Amused
Honorless
Red Kingdom Rising

Saturday:
Other
Through the Looking Glass
The Sweet Hand of the White Rose
Sledge
Experiment 37
Devotion
Little Reaper
The Orphan Killer (special screening)

Sunday:
Deviling
Popularity Killer
The Cabin
Dead Weight

VIP packages are available as well as daily and per film tickets. 100% of ticket sales will be donated to Paws in the City, a local no-kill animal shelter.

Visit http://www.twistedtailsfilmfestival.com for more information or to purchase tickets. 



Bloodshots and Screamfest Award Winners Team up and Strip Down for ABCs of Death 2

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – October 9th, 2013 - Borrowtime Films, a Vancouver-based independent production company is pleased to announce the online launch of their ABCs of Death 2, 26th Director Submission: “M” is for Messiah.

Borrowtime, the creative team behind Fidelium (Bloodshots 2012 Grand Prize Winner as selected by George A. Romero) joined forces with the filmmakers behind The Little Mermaid (Best Short Film, Screamfest Horror Film Festival, 2011) to create an apocalyptic submission for ABCs of Death 2 filled with cult sacrifice, mass suicide and full frontal nudity.

“We wanted to push the envelope with some naked bodies,” says director Nicholas Humphries. “I try not to ask actors to do anything I wouldn’t do myself so I stripped down and stepped in too. My robe kept wiping off the body paint so I wound up leaving it off and directed the thing that way.“

Humphries previously made headlines in the New York Times with his Syfy Channel digital series Riese: Kingdom Falling and again in 2011 when his short film The Little Mermaid won Best Short at the Screamfest Horror Film Festival Los Angeles. His first feature film, Death Do Us Part is being released in 2014.

If the film gets enough Likes on the ABCs of Death 2 website, it could be included in the final anthology and receive international distribution courtesy of Magnet Releasing. “It would put us on the map,” says Humphries.

M is for Messiah was shot overnight on location in Chilliwack, BC and stars Michelle Ferguson (Galacticast) and Jason Vaisvila (Supernatural, Fringe). It features makeup and blood effects from award-winning makeup artist and Syfy’s Face-Off S3 contestant Sarah Elizabeth.

“M” is for Messiah tells the story of a ritualistic sacrifice gone wrong.

Watch and vote here: http://26th.abcsofdeathpart2.com/entry/m-is-for-messiah/

About Borrowtime Productions
Borrowtime is a Vancouver based production company specializing in independent, low budget short films, web series and feature length films. In 2012, Do Something With Your Life, Borrowtime's first feature film premiered as part of the Olio Festival to very positive reviews. The Borrowtime produced web series, Bob & Andrew was nominated for a Leo Award in 2011 and won awards for acting and writing at the 2012 LA Web Fest.