FEWDIO - A bunch of horror guys that you should be keeping an eye on...

There's a distinct possibility that you haven't heard of Fewdio or "Nightmare House" yet, but starting August 6th, I think you're going to start hearing a lot more. Actually, if you're a regular reader, you may have heard us talk about them or their first short film, "The Easter Bunny is Eating my Candy", already. Either way, these guys are really on to something big, they're definitely a group to keep an eye on and, over here at Dead Harvey, we're already big fans.

What I really appreciate and love about the five guys that make up Fewdio is that they have all cut their chops in the industry successfully, having established themselves as screenwriters, directors, actors and producers. Then, one day, they woke up and decided to say "F it" and started Fewdio... and what Fewdio's doing, as far as I'm concerned, is trail-blazing. They're making a collection of horror shorts and are trying new ways of distribution by throwing stuff out there using the web, festivals and networking...

Brad and I had a chance to sit down with three of the five Fewdio members a few weeks ago, have a bunch of beers and shoot the shit... they're an extremely talented bunch of guys and they're really on to something with what they're doing. We'll be sure to keep you posted on all Fewdio activity, but until then... take a listen to what they had to say.

Clip 1 - Introducing Fewdio
Clip 2 - The website
Clip 3 - What we're trying to do
Clip 4 - The movies
Clip 5 - Gore
Clip 6 - Budgets
Clip 7 - How long was the shoot?
Clip 8 - Achieving the look
Clip 9 - Distribution
Clip 10 - Tips for indie filmmakers

Fewdio's site can be found here and to check out their first short film, "The Easter Bunny is Eating my Candy", click here. Their site now has a 'go live' date, by the way. Make sure you check it out August 6th!

EXCLUSIVE DEAD HARVEY INTERVIEW WITH BILL HOLMES AND ROBBIE RIST, PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR OF "STUMP THE BAND"

During my whirlwind tour of Southern California a few weeks back, Bill Holmes and Robbie Rist, two of the guys behind "Stump the Band", made time to sit down and have a few beers with Brad and I... it started out as 'a few', but it may have been more than 'a few' by the time we were done, at least that's what the guy at the 7-11 told us when we tried to buy more beer later in the afternoon. Anyhow, the picture to the right is a 'before' picture, you probably shouldn't see the 'after'...

Both Bill and Robbie are extremely talented guys, having worked in the industry for numerous years in various capacities, including, but not limited to: acting, directing, producing, writing and even composing. Further to that, they're also a couple of really laid back guys who will shoot this shit about the trials and tribulations of the indie horror genre.

Their film, "Stump the Band", was released on DVD June 3rd and has won various awards, including best horror feature at the Hollywood MiniDV Festival, best feature at Hauntcon and Producer's Choice at Movie Nations Film Festival, among others. It's a great film with a real tongue in cheek attitude and Dead Harvey highly recommends it. Take a listen to what they had to say, as they offer some great insight into the world of indie filmmaking.

Clip 1 - Bill's Background
Clip 2 - Robbie's Background
Clip 3 - Initial Reactions
Clip 4 - Foot Fetish Inspiration
Clip 5 - If Only We Had the Money
Clip 6 - Josie and the Pussy Cats meets The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Clip 7 - The Music
Clip 8 - The Music Pt 2
Clip 9 - Shooting in LA and Wisconsin
Clip 10 - Obstacles
Clip 11 - Working With Actors
Clip 12 - The Crew Lived in Tents
Clip 13 - Special FX Stories
Clip 14 - Scheduling and Tips
Clip 15 - What's Next
Clip 16 - Distribution
Clip 17 - Hey, It's a Movie...

For more information on "Stump the Band", you can go to the site here. To buy a copy, click on the link below...

EXCLUSIVE DEAD HARVEY INTERVIEW WITH CLINT HUTCHISON: DIRECTOR OF "THE CONJURER"

Dead Harvey's Brad Paulson continues his boozing ways on his quest to drink with every indie filmmaker in the L.A. area and record his conversations for your listening pleasure. This go around, Brad talks with Clint Hutchison, writer and director of "Conjurer"...

Brad - Clint Hutchison's kind demeanor is second only to his overwhelming enthusiasm for making movies. I'd been looking forward to meeting Clint, since I'm a big fan of his previous work, "Terror Tract", starring John Ritter and Bryan Cranston from "Malcolm in the Middle". If you haven't seen this flick, do yourself a favor and seek it out. It's an outstanding horror trilogy, currently released as a double disc with "Cherry Falls". His face lit up when he talked about a movie he recently produced, "Big Big Wolf", starring Richard Tyson. He thought fondly back to that time and commented on how he couldn't believe he was working with Buddy Revell from, "Three O'Clock High". Clint came armed with both films for yours truly. I decided not to mention I was already planning to pay for "Terror Tract".

His latest movie, "The Conjurer" is a ghost story about a couple who moves to a remote farmhouse while recovering from the loss of their stillborn baby. The production value is top notch, especially for the under a million dollar budget they were working with. But it's Hutchinson's solid directing and outstanding performances from his lead actors, Andrew Bowen (Big Bad Wolf), Maxine Bahns (The Brother's McMullen) and John Schneider (The Dukes of Hazzard) that do a stellar job of combining forces to elevate the genre.

The best part though, is that the film was done on spec., meaning Hutchinson and co. put themselves on the line to raise the money to make the film and have no guarantees at the end of the day. It's not like a studio had a side indie label backing the project. It was made completely independently. And for that, Dead Harvey gives a strong salute! Be sure to give the audio clips a listen. Hutchison has some fascinating things to say.

Clip 1 - Brad nerds up to Clint's resume
Clip 2 - Practical vs. CGI
Clip 3 - Background
Clip 4 - 1st big break
Clip 5 - Competing for shelf space
Clip 6 - A tricky business
Clip 7 - Influences on "Conjurer"
Clip 8 - Expanding the genre
Clip 9 - Establishing the good fabric
Clip 10 - Raising money
Clip 11 - The house
Clip 12 - The supernatural
Clip 13 - The supernatural pt. 2
Clip 14 - Connecting with the subconscious
Clip 15 - Getting the house shoot ready
Clip 16 - The cast
Clip 17 - Directing style
Clip 18 - Directing style pt. 2
Clip 19 - Obstacles
Clip 20 - A great shoot
Clip 21 - Getting distribution
Clip 22 - Tips for starting out
Clip 23 - Truly independent

Here's a link to "The Conjurer" on imdb, plus some links to buy Clint Hutchison's other films:

EXCLUSIVE DEAD HARVEY INTERVIEW WITH JONATHAN RITTER: DIRECTOR OF CULT MOVIE

Well, this is actually a bit of double whammey. Dead Harvey's Brad Paulson interviews 'Cult Movie' writer/director, Jonathan Ritter AND, if you're interested, Ritter will be hosting a free screening of 'Cult Movie' this Thursday, June 12, at the Studio Stage, 520 N. Western. Los Angeles, Ca 90027 and you, yes YOU, are invited. Further details are included in the flyer that's at the bottom of this post. No, the double whammey isn't that there's free beer, although there is free beer. The double whammey is that Dead Harvey's own Brad Paulson will be screening his film, "Resevoir Drunks", right before "Cult Movie", so come on down and join the party! Now, on to Brad...

Ritter's film, 'Cult Movie', is a mockumentary about a reporter and his cameraman that get granted an exclusive interview inside a cult. On the surface lurks the promise of salvation and a place for kids to party like they're frat boy rocks stars, but underneath it all lurks a far more menacing agenda.

I sat down to interview Jonathan Ritter over awesome greasy pizza at Little Tony's in North Hollywood. His can do attitude shined forth with each question. It was apparent that Ritter has encountered his fair share of challenges, but clearly has the end game in sight at all times. My thanks to Ritter for the interview and for lending his own original and darkly comic twist to the genre.

clip 1 - Casting
clip 2 - Getting Lloyd Kaufman
clip 3 - Pre-production
clip 4 - Locations
clip 5 - Locations pt. 2
clip 6 - The pros of being in a band
clip 7 - Directing approach
clip 8 - What changed from the script
clip 9 - Music and movies

For more information on Ritter, you can check out his two Myspace pages: www.myspace.com/ritter82 and www.myspace.com/ritterinla

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH TOM MADIGAN, DIRECTOR OF "DEAD DOORNAILS"

Well, it's another Dead Harvey exclusive. Brad goes out and continues his boozing ways... this time, hanging out with indie filmmaker Tom Madigan, the writer/director of "Dead Doornails". A side note here - I have to say, Brad's idea of recording these interviews and posting them as audio clips could be the best idea he's ever come up with... actually, I'm almost sure of it. This is the second one that we've done, there's more to come and they'll all be archived in our "Case Studies in Indie Horror" section along with the written case studies. Seriously, if you're thinking about making an indie film, are making an indie film or are involved in filmmaking in any regard, there's so much you can take away from these. Anyhow, check it out...

Tom Madigan is all about independent filmmaking. The top of his business card reads, "Great Movies, No Hollywood Bullshit". Likewise, the bottom proclaims, "Lowest Budget Feature Ever to Receive Distribution".

Madigan's most recent feature, "Dead Doornails" is about a hitman that goes searching for missing mob money. Thrown into the mix is a seedy underworld and an aging prostitute who embraces her occupation. It's a very entertaining flick with effective violence and riddled with dark comedy that had me laughing my ass off.

During my recent interview with Madigan, he did not hold back on his tales from the filmmaking trenches as he delved into the heart of what nobody sees when they watch a movie: the pains in the ass the filmmaker has to endure to get it done. Among my favorites were the stories of how Madigan almost went homeless while making, "Dead Doornails" and how a homeless man interrupted his guerilla-style, guns drawn shoot in a back alley by asking technical advice about filmmaking.

clip 1 - Background
clip 2 - Ohio vs. LA
clip 3 - Why a Thriller-Comedy
clip 4 - Inspired by...
clip 5 - How long were you in LA before you made a movie?
clip 6 - Equipment
clip 7 - Film school, yes or no?
clip 8 - The guerilla factor
clip 9 - Writing style
clip 10 - Influences
clip 11 - Just make it...
clip 12 - Rodriguez is right
clip 13 - Location horror story
clip 14 - Obstacles
clip 15 - Editing your own movie
clip 16 - Shooting on weekends
clip 17 - Cutting for F/X
clip 18 - Getting actors to stick to the script
clip 19 - How to approach nudity
clip 20 - Offending God
clip 21 - Distribution
clip 22 - Liscensing

My thanks to Madigan for the no-holds-barred interview. Be sure to check out the MadiganFilms webpage to find out more about his films and drop by his Myspace page, as well. I have a feeling this is only the beginning of the great things we'll be seeing from this filmmaker in the future.

EXCLUSIVE DEAD HARVEY INTERVIEW WITH KIRK BOWMAN: DIRECTOR OF "BLOODSUCKING BABES FROM BURBANK"

I have to push the new horror releases post to tomorrow... However, in its place, we have something pretty cool. I'll let Brad explain...

A few days ago, I interviewed Kirk Bowman, the director of "Bloodsucking Babes From Burbank". Not only was this a great interview but it was also the first in-person interview for Dead Harvey.

We met at the famous Blue Room bar in Burbank and if you've seen, "Momento", starring Guy Pierce you'll recognize it. The bar is also far less famous for being located behind my old apartment. Thankfully, the Blue Room was in stumbling distance, enabling me to live to do the interview.

Bowman showed up on time and presented me with my own, "Bloodsucking Babes From Burbank" tee-shirt. This was the second piece of merchandising I've received from Bowman; the first being a blood red pen with the title of the movie inked on the outside.

There was a lot of be learned from Bowman, having previously taught acting classes for fifteen years. He's a veteran of eleven features and several shorts. Along with the pen, tee-shirt and copy of, "Bloodsucking Babes From Burbank", Bowman also sent me a copy of his latest comedy, "Curse of the Pink Panties", a very entertaining throwback to the glory days of eighties sex comedies.

Bowman is a rare breed in that he's void of ego and arrogance. He's about one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet and is constantly out there, getting off his ass and making movies. To this, Dead Harvey gives a strong salute.

Following are the audio clips from the Dead Harvey interview:

clip 1 - Tell us about your company

clip 2 - Where did you come up with the title?

clip 3 - How did you get such an attractive actress?

clip 4 - Marketing for investors

clip 5 - How different was the movie from the script?

clip 6 - What draws you to horror movies?

clip 7 - Shooting on a micro-budget

clip 8 - Locations and sequels

clip 9 - Special effects

clip 10 - Shooting style

clip 11 - Pacing nudity

clip 12 - Murphy's law

clip 13 - What would you do differently?

clip 14 - Distribution

clip 15 - Actors

clip 16 - What's next?