2009's Slate of Horror Films - What To Look Forward To and What To Look Forward To Not Looking Forward To.

I haven't actually done any looking back at 2008 yet, but I am willing to look forward to 2009 at this point... I thought it might be interesting to look at what's slated to hit the theaters, horror-wise, this year. Obviously, there's a few big, notable releases, such as the remake of "Friday the 13th" and Sam Raimi's "Drag Me to Hell". The poster for "Friday the 13th" could be the high point on that flick... my hopes are a lot higher for Raimi's return to his low-budget horror roots with "Drag Me to Hell". Now, keep in mind, this is just what's slated at this time and it can change at any time. Also, there's bound to be plenty added and some taken away.

January has a couple of notable films coming out, the first being "Slaughter", which is the first film to be developed from the Slamdance Screenplay competition... "Slaughter" is about a young actress who discovers that her and her co-stars have been cast in a Japanese snuff film. On a similar note, "Perkins' 14", which also comes out in January, was the result of the online film colloboration, Massify.com. The latter is going to be part of the After Dark Films Horrorfest lineup, which also includes "Autopsy", "The Broken", "Dying Breed", "Butterfly Effect: Revelation" and "From Within". As for Hollywood released films, you'll get "The Unborn" with Gary Oldman... a PG-13 horror from Platinum Dunes (sweet!). The remake of "My Bloody Valentine" (even better!) also comes out and so does "The Uninvited", which is a British film, based on a Korean film, which is also going to be remade in the U.S. in 2010 (I'm speechless).

February, of course, holds the date for the new "Friday the 13th", which is scheduled to come out on, of course, Friday, February 13th. "Jason was my son... and today is his birthday."

March holds the date for "Knowing", directed by Alex Proyas ("Dark City", "The Crow") and starring Nic Cage. This has been in talks for a while and is finally coming out... it's about a professor that unearths a time capsule depicting the dates of the assassinations of historical figures, the hotel fire death of his wife and the imminent world apocalypse... he then attempts to stop these incidents from occuring.

A bit of a break for anything scheduled until May, when Sam Raimi's "Drag Me to Hell" finally comes out, which is about an L.A. loan officer who has a powerful curse unleased on her by a mysterious woman... after she denies her an extension on her home loan. How fitting for these times...

Then, July has "Orphan" and a remake of "Piranha" from "High Tension", "Hills Have Eyes" director Alexandre Aja.

August has "Final Destination 4"... 'nough said.

September brings you "The Crazies", directed by Michael Eisner's kid, Breck Eisner, and it's the remake of the 1972 Romero film that... well, never really caught on. The original is actually pretty good, though. If you haven't checked it out, you should.

October brings you "Sorority Row", a remake of "The Stepfather", "Saw VI" and "Zombieland", which stars Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg and is about the most frightened guy on Earth, who leads a motley crew of survivors in a world overrun by zombies.

Finally, November will bring you "The Box" and the much anticipated "The Wolfman", starring Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins.

So, to me, it looks like a lot of the same old PG-13 horror stuff that Hollywood's been pumping out for a while now, plus a few established sequels and franchise movies, then one or two to look forward to. The best stuff could definitely be going straight to DVD and, in that case, you'll just have to keep reading Dead Harvey every Monday, so we can tell you about the new movies of the week!

Interview with Award Winning Screenwriter, Jeff Palmer

Most of the guys I hang out with in the indie-horror scene, and by that I mean the guys I went to film school with, who I would still be having beers with regardless if we were all selling encyclopedia's, see directing or actually shooting a film as the end goal. Now, I love being on set and I love directing, however there's something about the screenwriting process that I truly, truly love. In fact, if I could cut it as a screenwriter, I'd be a pretty happy camper. You see, there's something about starting with just you, a pen, a blank piece of paper and some sort of cocktail, then ending with a 120 page, polished screenplay. You're truly crafting something out of nothing. Also, it's free, it doesn't require depending on anyone else and you can do it drunk. Not to mention that none of my finished films ever won shit, but I won a Kodak grant for my short film "The Town that Dreaded Some Clown" because of the script, but I digress...

I know I'm not alone, either. There's lots of quirky drunks out there who would rather be huddled over their PC with a cocktail in hand than stressing out on some set. Jeff Palmer's one of those guys. Well, maybe not... but he likes screenwriting. Anyhow, he recently won the top prize for screenwriting at the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival for his script, "The Sleeping Deep" and isn't stopping there. Palmer's obviously a really talented guy and not only does his award winning script sound awesome, I really hope to see it on the big screen soon. We had a chance to discuss it all with him and if you're an aspiring screenwriter, you'll want to check this interview out.

First off, tell us a bit about yourself. What got you into horror?

Well, thanks for the interview. It's funny. Horror is the last genre I ever considered trying out. As a huge fan of the early Sam Raimi classics "Evil Dead" and Peter Jackson's splatter-fest "Dead Alive", I don't know if I would ever find myself making that sort of film. That said, my script "The Sleeping Deep" does contain a lot of gory bits and many horror conventions, so I suppose it all depends on what type of story you want to tell. I'm also a fan of Dario Argento films, spooky tales like "The House on Haunted Hill" as well as contemporary masters such as John Carpenter and Clive Barker. If the story is captivating and it makes your skin crawl, I'm all for it, so giving horror a whirl was only a matter of time I suppose. My first feature "On the Fringe" (available on DVD) was a dramatic character ensemble which was a perfect low-budget script for the time I was shooting it in 1999, but I couldn't bear repeating myself. It was time to branch out and the story behind "The Sleeping Deep" pulled me in and didn't let go.

What got you into screenwriting and is that your goal or are you using screenwriting as a means to an end?

It's all about telling stories, whether it be in music, art, film, writing... it's communicating ideas to a greater audience. Getting that message, that idea out of your head and into the world. I'm finding that the written word is, and has been, one of the best ways of doing that. Plus, it's free. You can go anywhere on the page with a cast of thousands and it doesn't cost a dime. Think it up in your head and blast it out onto paper. That was one of the rules I had when approaching "The Sleeping Deep" - write with no limits in both imagination and budget. This helped immensely and freed myself from stopping short and thinking, Oh, I couldn't afford to do that. As filmmakers and artists our job is to create paradigms for folks to participate in. If we don't break the rules and scribble outside the lines and off the page, who will?

I've directed features before and if I got the chance to direct "The Sleeping Deep" that would be wonderful, but it's not a deal breaker for me. What's important is getting the movie made and on screen and out there for an audience to enjoy. If a capable director with a vision digs the script and there's a budget behind the project I'd be thrilled to see it all come together as the screenwriter. Again, it's about spreading the story around in some form to a wider audience.

You recently won top prize at this years H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival for Screenwriting for your script, “The Sleeping Deep”. Tell us a bit about your screenplay.

This is always a difficult question to answer. Anyone who's read the script quickly realizes that it's not a typical horror film. There are elements of fantasy, suspense, mystery, historical fiction as well as bloody, squirmy things. Basically, two strangers, Charlotte Foster and Kevin Tiggs, are connected by the same nightmare. When Kevin goes into a catatonic state, his psych nurse Janice Harrington decides to figure out what caused him to snap. This leads her to find Charlotte at the grave of Kevin's dead fiancee in a rural cemetery somewhere in Maine. The two women, plus an assortment of other tagalongs, must join forces to destroy the creatures of an ancient underworld before its gruesome demons gain passage to the waking world of humans.

If I had to water it down using the Hollywood script algorithm it's kind of like "Rosemary's Baby" meets "Alien" and "Underworld" wrapped inside a Lovecraftian "Nightmare on Elm Street". Lots of demons, sex, sex with demons, bloody wombs squirming with writhing tendrils, gunfights, swordplay... that sort of stuff. Fun!

Is H.P. Lovecraft a big influence for you? If so, talk about Lovecraft as an influence.

I didn't grow up reading Lovecraft, but I've had his "Lurking Fear" collection of short stories for a long while and have always enjoyed the dark, haunting settings that he conjures in his writing. His style is very flowery and descriptive, which isn't for everyone, but there are gems hidden amongst the passages that are truly macabre and disturbing. His story "The Dream-quest of Unknown Kaddath" definitely inspired me to write "The Sleeping Deep" but it's not based on any of his stories.

Did you write the script with intent to submit it to this specific festival?

I used the Lovecraft Film Festival submission deadline as an impetus to get a first draft done, but had intentions on submitting to other festivals. Still, the content of the script was perfect for that festival so it made sense to buckle down and get it done. I put ass to chair for several weeks and followed through. I'm glad I did. Deadlines are essential.

Talk about winning the award.

A good film friend Matt Johnson had an extra ticket to see Henry Rollins in Berkeley and he invited me to join him. It was also an excuse to meet up and talk about the script since he had read the first draft and wanted to give me some feedback on it. We talked about it and I asked a lot of questions, what worked, what didn't. He had some great input and it all had my head spinning with ideas for the next draft. When I got home that night I checked email and found this telegram (visit thesleepingdeep.com to see) from the H.P. Lovecraft Festival. I had to read it nearly five times before it sank in. At first I thought it was a joke, but I emailed to make sure and the telegraph was legit. I was thrilled. The only part that sucked was that it was like 1:30 in the morning and no one was up to celebrate and my wife was traveling so it was a long restless night. I think I was most surprised that my first draft script at 154 pages made it all the way to the top. The festival didn't have a page limit, so that was one reason I was able to submit to them.

My wife and I had plans to attend the festival in Portland, Oregon even before winning the award, so it made the trip that much sweeter. The three day event was a lot of fun. I saw a lot of cool flicks and met some great people. I'd love nothing more than to return with the filmed version of "The Sleeping Deep" in tow down the road.

Has winning the award opened any doors for you? Basically, is there any difference between “pre-award winning Jeff” and “post-award winning Jeff”?

It's nice to have another feather in my cap, but not too much has changed. I'm pretty excitable so I was really stoked at first (who wouldn't be?) and then after a few weeks it turns into "Ok. What now?" I got a flurry of emails from folks in the biz wanting to give it a read which, at the least, could turn into decent connections. I think the award, if anything, helped to validate my efforts and it made me realize that all the time and research I invested in the process was worth it.

What’s happened with “The Sleeping Deep” now that it’s an award winning screenplay?

Since winning the award I've had to whittle the 154 pages down to a reasonable 119, which wasn't easy. But it was necessary if I wanted to submit to other festivals and contests. I incorporated a lot of feedback from folks who read the first draft and tried my best to keep all the parts that made it shine. It's so important to listen to what your readers have to say about the story: when they felt confused, when they were sucked in, what they thought was different or cliche, which characters they cared about or didn't. As much as we'd like to just write what we want, the goal is to entertain an audience, right? And if we don't heed some of the caution signs we're liable to go astray with the finished product. Why not make the changes when it's just on paper instead of in the middle of a million dollar production?

It's also opened my eyes to this idea of franchise filmmaking. Not to downplay content or story, but any producer will want to know what the return is going to be on their investment. With that in mind, I want to have the sequel script ready to go or close to it when the first part hits the screens. The ending opens up a whole can of worms (literally) and leaves me with a great jumping off point for Part 2. The first film is intimate and personal, the second film will cast a wider net bringing more characters into view. I suppose there could even be a third part although I haven't even thought about that yet. Of course this is only if I can find the right producer or production company to get behind it, but I don't think it's impossible. It's a very marketable screenplay and would be perfect for the Asian, horror, and comic book/graphic novel audience.

I'm excited about this part of the process because the die has yet to be cast. I learned my lesson with trying to find distribution for my feature "On the Fringe". When you're shopping around a film, it's a done deal. There's not much you can change about it so it's a take-it-or-leave-it situation. With a script, it's more flexible, more malleable. If a producer or production company has some ideas and they are within the realm of the story, changes can be made to make it a better film. Then there's the whole process of casting and production. When you're in the script stage, the sky's the limit. Nothing is set in stone so there's a lot of room to maneuver. If a producer sees potential with one story line versus another, this can be discussed in pre-pro, but when you're shopping a movie around, especially one with no name talent on a shoestring budget (which is where I was at with my first feature) you don't have that option. This isn't the case with a screenplay. The right development team could ratchet up a project by taking what's on the page and fleshing it out into pre-visualizations, concept art or storyboards.

Would you suggest that other up-and-coming screenwriters submit their scripts to festivals and contests like this?

Festivals and contests cost money and it seems the prices to submit are creeping up there. If you do choose to submit, make sure it's the right kind of contest and do some homework beforehand. There are tons of contests that boast all sorts of prizes and great honors and accolades, but in the end it's just an online banner award or something like that. There are some great contests that I'd love to win, but not every script fits into every submission criteria. You could have an amazing screenplay that people love, but if it's 5 pages too long don't bother sending it. So some of the rules are kinda lame. Still, it doesn't hurt to poke around Withoutabox.com and find a few that are appropriate for your story. You never know. I sure didn't. Sometimes you just gotta put it out there and see what happens. I submitted "The Sleeping Deep" to a few more contests just to see if it holds up. If it comes back with another award then I must have done something right. If not, well, that's okay. Nothing ventured nothing gained. As a friend once said, this business is all about being the turtle. Slow and steady.

Here’s a two part question on screenwriting.

What do you think makes a good script/story?

Far be it from me to decide what makes a good or bad screenplay. I'm certainly no expert. So much comes down to personal choice and a lot of what I've mentioned in my answers are only my opinions. But I believe that a good script/story should have an amazing beginning and an amazing ending. As a reader you need to be sucked into the world within the first 5-6 pages. There needs to be something that hooks you and won't let go. The same goes for the ending, whether it be a bang or a twist or both. That's the flavor you're leaving on the reader's mind. That last page or few pages have to really put the icing on the cake. Of course, the mid-section needs to be solid and meaty, but the opening and ending are the two slices holding the sandwich together. If you have those I think you're in a good place. Also, keep the characters interesting, the dialog true, and as I've mentioned before, don't dismiss feedback. This doesn't mean you need to incorporate what everyone says, but if 9 out of 10 readers find the ending confusing, maybe it's time to go back to the drawing board and do some tweaking.

What do you think makes a good horror script/story?

Show more restraint when it comes to the gore. Less is more and that can be said for good horror. Of course, I love over-the-top blood and guts, but it's hard to believe that an intelligent audience wants to watch 90 minutes of people getting torn to shreds without some story that brings it all together. Or maybe they do? That's not for me to decide. With "The Sleeping Deep" I wanted to infuse a supernatural thriller with moments of horror and the macabre with a nod to Lovecraft. Whether that is of interest to the average horror fan is up for debate.

Talk about the state of horror right now… Where do you think it’s at and where do you see it going?

First off I need to say that I'm definitely not a fan of torture porn. When people were raving about "Saw" I was yawning. I just didn't see the appeal. Then we started to see more and more of it in the theaters and on DVD. I just didn't find it to be inventive. Gory? Yes. Interesting? No, at least not to me. And I do feel that it's important for horror to be interesting, whether it's the characters or the story. There's got to be more than trapping people, tying them up and killing them. However, I have seen a few decent new horror movies in the past several years. "The Strangers" that recently came out on DVD was actually very suspenseful and the opening sequence had you really involved with the character's lives. This made you care about their struggle. Same goes for "The Descent". That was another great collection of characters thrown into a really shitty situation. Their struggle became very personal. "The Ruins" wasn't bad either. That had some moments where I was squirming in my seat.

I guess I'd like to see more Wes Craven and Clive Barker style films and less torture porn and cookie-cutter slasher flicks. But a well-made zombie film can be fun. "30 Days of Night" was pretty cool. In fact, for sheer graphic in-your-face violence and bloodletting, "Doomsday" was chock full of horror moments that were couched inside a sci-fi film and setting. Talk about gruesome, a mass of people roasted a man alive, ripped the burnt flesh off his bones and ate him. That's horrific, but there was a lot more to the story than just that. Straight up horror certainly has its place and fan base, but a great story sprinkled with some gory bits can go a long way, too.

Where can people find out more about “The Sleeping Deep” and follow what’s going on?

My main website is FlickerPictures.com and information about the script can be found at TheSleepingDeep.com. People are welcome to contact me with any questions or inquiries.

What’s next for you?

The big goal right now is to get "The Sleeping Deep" into the hands of a producer or production company who will get behind the story and shepherd it through the process of funding, casting, production, etc. Some folks have mentioned Lionsgate or Dimension Films, but that's a high hill to climb. Maybe I can tuck the script in a Trojan horse and send it through the gates? I've seen that Riptide, a division of Shoreline Entertainment, is producing a remake of H.P. Lovecraft's "From Beyond" so they might be a company worth approaching. But it's all about being realistic, staying the course and being open to possibilities. I'm in the early stages of outlining the sequel "Return of Mazimus" as well as novelizing the first part. While I enjoy scriptwriting, the art of writing short stories or longer works is still important to me. Great novels, books and short stories are always being adapted into films, so it's important to get the message out in some form for people to digest. I've been talking with a good friend and cinematographer John Tulin out of San Jose about shooting a few scenes for promotional purposes, but before that can happen I'd need to get my act in gear and scout some locations. Producing isn't one of my strong suits. Anyhow, these things take time. There's no need to rush into a bad deal or the wrong production dynamic. I am willing to keep working on the script in order to find the right combination. Timing is everything.

New Horror out on DVD this week... the evil clowns continue.

Now, this is what I call a good week in horror... there's only 4 real horror films out and they're all indie films that look unreal. I suppose a lot of people would avoid releasing this week, as there's some other big movie coming out this week called "Dark Knight". However, if you're not into that whole big-budget scene, these should suit you just fine. So, as usual, if you'd like to help us out and were planning on buying the films, click on the titles and buy them off Amazon, through us. Also, head on over to our Youtube page, where you can see all the trailers. You'll want to this week, for sure.

"100 Tears" is what happens when a special effects guy gets to go ape-shit on his own movie. Marcus Koch, who's done piles of special effects, not only did the effects on this, but also directed this new installment into the evil clown subgenre. This is definitely a film for the gore-hounds, as it looks like a relentless onslaught of guts. The story revolves around a couple of tabloid reporters who start to look into the notorious 'teardrop killer'. Check out the trailer, that's all I'm saying...

Obviously, this isn't a week for the timid. I'm not sure what rating "Porn Shoot Massacre" would get from the MPAA, but it was written and directed by Corbin Timbrook and it's anything but PG... or PG-13... or even R. If the trailer is any indication, the film is filled with boobs, gore, heavy metal and midgets. And, really, that's all any movie needs as far as I'm concerned. Further to that, the girls that it does have are hot, which includes Shelly Martinez from TNA wrestling and Kasey Poteet, who's appeared on Howard Stern and briefly, topless, in "Hell Ride". I don't think I have to get into plot points or specifics here... you know what you're getting into when you go here.

Friend of Dead Harvey and the guy behind "The Horror Vault" 1, 2 and 3, Kim Sonderholm is out with his latest film "Craig". We were supposed to get a screener, but I guess a lot can happen when you're sending your film from Denmark. "Craig" is actually Kim's feature length directorial debut, even though he's an industry veteran. "Craig" is about, well... a guy named Craig, who is left on his own when his parents die in a fire. Then, when he loses his medication, his world is turned into terror and fear.

There's a lot of different paths that people take to get their films made, but I can say that Ryan Harper's path is definitely unique. Starting out as a molecular and cell biologist, he continued to do creative writing as a hobby. He wrote his feature script, "Circulation" and sent it off to the studios. Surprise, surprise, it didn't get picked up. So, he said "F it" and went off to make it. Now, what kind of film would you expect a molecular and cell biologist to make? Well, "Circulation" is about a purgatory where dead people keep their human form and the world looks the same, however people develop animal instints and the human and animal worlds intertwine as one... yup. Sound F'ed. Gonna have to check it out.

I have to mention that James Gunn's breakthrough classic, "Slither" just came out on Blu-ray. If you haven't seen it, it's a must see...

No Film Fest Updates... Just News From the Indie Horror Front

There's not much to update on the festival front, I let you know about all the deadlines and festivals in December last week. You can see that post here. Otherwise, I think it's too early to talk about January, which is, of course, a big month for indie film. Also, let's just get through all this Christmas shit, right? So, anyhow, I'm just going to unload my inbox on you...

I got some random email from the guys at the Madison Horror Film Festival. Seriously, I don't think it was meant for me at all, but I got it anyhow. It looks like they're launching a once a month webcast on January 23rd, 2009 called "Bordello of Horror", hosted by Freakshow the zombie pimp and his beautiful and always tempthing Harlots of Horror. The show will include classic, independent and hard to find films, musical guests, trivia, horror news and more, here's a link to an information page on the webcast. I'll try to get in touch with them and see what it's all about...

A Dead Harvey favorite, "Blitzkrieg: Escape From Stalag 69", is finally being released after an impressive number of screenings. What will be available is the "Special SS Edition" of the DVD, it'll be released December 15th and pre-orders are now being taken. The new box art can be seen above there, pretty cool. This special feature will feature the full, uncut directors version of the film, deleted scenes, director's commentary, production stills, bloopers, a short film, trailer, and the original "Schindler's Lust" short that inspired the making of the film. If you're interested, feel free to pre-order a copy through Amazon here.

Now, a couple of interesting tidbits...

So, they're remaking one of my personal favorite films of all time, "They Live". Here's the article on THR.com. It looks like Universal and studio-based Strike Entertainment or going to do it and no writer is attached yet... (if any of you guys read this, do note that I'm available) Now, I'm WAY against remaking "Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Friday the 13th", but I'm not sure how I feel about this one. It could be ripe for a make-over, I don't know. The whole 'obey' thing, the half an hour fist fight between Roddy Piper and Keith David in the alley, quotes like "I came here to chew bubble gum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubble gum" and "I take the glasses off, she looks like a regular person, doesn't she? Put 'em back on... formaldehyde-face!" Makes me want to watch it right now... Classic movie. As long as it doesn't star a bunch of kids from the WB, I should be cool with it.

I can't say that "Halloween III" or "Fright Night Part 2" were among my favorite films of all time, but the writer-director of both of them is back with a low-budget indie feature called "Helliversity". His name is Tommy Lee Wallace and he co-scripted the film with Steve Langford, a longtime writer-producer on ABC's "Family Matters". What's interesting to me is that this is being financed through a new joint venture between FarCor Studios and Indusa Global and their mandate is to produce low-budget indie features. I keep telling ya, this is where it's at! This whole world is going to fall apart and when it does, indie horror will still be there... like a cockroach or... beer cans.

So, happy Friday! Go get aled and we'll talk to you next week...

Dead Harvey TV Intro

As some of you may or may not know, we here at www.deadharvey.com have been working on a spec. pilot for a Dead Harvey TV show. The basic premise is it's about a bunch of drunken micro-cinema filmmakers who host a talk show from their shitty apartment. They interview underground indie. horror filmmakers and it's shot in a reality show style ala "Curb Your Enthusiasm". Antics ensue around a sitcom format. There is cursing (which will be bleeped), boobs (which will be titled), and a big guy in a monkey man outfit branding a machete (who you don't want to f with).

Through the next series of blogs, I'll do my best to document the making of the first episode. Hopefully, if the show continues, there will be many more to follow.

The first episode starts with a courier who can't believe he's delivering a package to a bunch of assholes who host a TV show in their apartment. The apartment is a shrine to micro-cinema and drinking with strong, surrounding Hawaiian themes. The apartment is filled with a bitter cameraman who looks like John Goodman in "The Big Lebowski", a stoned sound man, a drunken secretary and a man in an adult baby outfit. No one can figure out how to work the equipment right.

The host pisses off the adult baby and waits for his headline guest to appear: legendary micro-cinema filmmaker Chris Watson (Zombiegeddon, Slaughter Party). He's so slow he doesn't realize that neither his co-host or main guest haven't arrived. The rest of the episode includes the kidnapping of Chris Watson, his statements about the state of independent filmmaking and the struggle to keep a show which no one's even getting paid for on the air on a porn channel at 3am somewhere between, "Star Tramps" and "Robosluts".

The way we've designed it, each episode there will be ongoing storylines with the main characters centered around a new underground horror filmmaker as a guest star.

The next blog will document pre-production. Then, we'll move onto day one. I've got to go now because my computer broke and my friend is about to kick me out of his house. I'm cutting into their internet porn time.

See you on the next one.

Interview with Resurrection Mary herself, Pamela Jean

As a reader, I'm sure it seems like the last month or so on Dead Harvey has been business as usual. However, if you lifted the curtain, you'd see us running around like a bunch of drunken idiots, just trying to get the bare minimum done every day. (we're usually drunk idiots, but we rarely, if ever, run) I'm up in Vancouver and between my day job and this, I'm doing twice the work these days for around the same pay. Further, Brad's down in L.A. and his computer's busted and he's out shooting something that the whole Dead Harvey team's been working on. (More on that to come soon) Anyhow, I've got tons of emails to get to, a pile of screeners to watch and I haven't updated parts of the site in a while and... yeah. That's about it.

ANYHOW, I recently checked out "Resurrection Mary", a film from Sean Michael Beyer, and I went to their Myspace page to talk with them about it. To my suprise, I ended up talking with none other that Resurrection Mary herself, Pamela Jean.

Pamela Jean, sometimes billed as Pamela Noble, is an actress, a model and, quite frankly, looks fantastic as a dead girl. That's not to mention the fact that she held her own in a film filled with seasoned actors, including a personal favorite, Richard Riehle, who was involved in "The Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell", "The Hebrew Hammer" and even "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo". You know him, I know you do. The film itself is based on a real life ghost story, Chicago's most famous, actually. The film is not a blood-fest, nor does it have any nudity. However, it's a great ghost story that an entire family could watch... maybe. I don't know, I'm jaded. Anyhow, we had the chance to discuss the film with Pamela Jean and the producer, Dale Noble, filled in for a few technical questions...

So, tell us about yourself. Where did you start out and what brought you into indie horror?

I'm 20 years old, I've been acting and singing since I was 5. Most acting kids get homeschooled, but i always said i wanted to go to regular school and experience everything. So, because of the little amount of school i could miss without being automtically failed, the biggest roles i could get were supporting roles, commercials, and music videos. I graduated in 2006 and 2 months later i landed the role in this film as the lead.

“Resurrection Mary” is based on a real ghost story from the Chicago area. Where did the idea to turn it into a film come from?

One of the writers, Ryan Lamaster, was from Chicago. We wrote out the story idea presented it to Sean Micheal Beyer, the director, and other writer and together they wrote it and it turned into what it is.

What was the approximate budget for the film and how did you secure it?

The Distributor will not let the budget out yet. They are still doing sales. Secured thru a Investment Group.

What was it shot on and how long was the shoot?

It was shot on the Sony900R HD and it was a 3 week shoot.

The film was very sharp and well put together, what were the most important aspects of the filmmaking process that achieved that look and feel?

Make up and hair for me did a lot in making me look like I was not from present times. We also had a really great cimematographer, Seamus, and a lot of the interesting looks from the film came from him.

I really liked the comic book style transitions, where did the idea come from?

lol i have no idea. it wasnt in the script and when i saw the final cut of the movie for the first time it was there. I got all excited and said, "Im a cartoon!"

Wild Wild West TV show did the cartoon thing way back and it has been used by a few other TV shows since.

There were a few scenes that could easily have had a lot more gore and with a whole scene that takes place at a high school party, there could’ve been a lot more nudity, as well. Talk about the decision to not include a lot of gore or nudity in the film.

Well, from the beginning every one didnt want the film to be R but not PG either. There was never any nudity, not even close, but we watched what we did (cursing) and took several different takes on those scenes, so they had their options and in the end it still turned out as a pg-13 which is what we all wanted.

The film had a fairly seasoned cast, although none of them would be considered household names. A side note, I personally loved the fact that you got Richard Riehle in the film, who’s a veteran of the indie horror scene. Talk about working with a professional cast versus an amateur cast.

Well, the only people I actually got to work with was Kevin Schmidt and Kyle Davis. But I got to talk to everyone on my down time. I loved Richard Riehle, Charlie Schlatter, and Sally Kirkland, they were always so sweet to me and telling me they believed in me. And the amatuer actors were awesome too. They arent amatuers they've been in plenty of films so they taught me a lot.

Talk about working with Sean Michael Beyer

It was great. The fondest memory i have was during a lot of the night shoots it was in the low 30 degrees. Me and Kevin were freezing and everyone knew, so during part of the shoot one night Sean took off his sweatshirt, jacket, and beanie and stuck out the cold with us.

Did “Resurrection Mary” hit the festivals? If so, how did it do and is the festival circuit something you would recommend to other filmmakers?

We already had Disturbution, so it did not go to the Festivals.

Talk about securing distribution. What was the process like for you and is there any advice you would pass on to other filmmakers looking for distribution?

It's all albout a good story and, in most cases, about who the Director or Actors are.

Talk about the indie horror scene right now? What do you think of where it’s at and where do you see it going?

Distributors are saying that there are too many being made right now. If something does good, everyone goes for a Horror or Cowboy film etc.

Where can people find out more about “Resurrection Mary” or, better yet, buy a copy?

The easiest way so you dont have to search through stores is go on resurrectionmarythemovie.com and on the main page it will have a list of stores that you can buy it at, you just click a store and order it, and it will be sent to your house, theres no easier way. (Ted's note: You could also click HERE and buy it off Amazon, through us!)

What’s next? Are there any more projects in the works?

I've been doing a lot of modeling lately because I've been promoting the film, so much I havent had time for more acting jobs, but i'm in talks for an action film right now and I have a movie called the diet life coming out in 2009

"Horror Meets Comedy" on the XBox 360 and the future for indie filmmakers?

This was actually going to be a Linkapalooza post with links to a few articles and other stuff, but I ended up going on way too long about the first article. So, you get a whole post about video gaming consoles and why you, as an indie filmmaker, should know more about them, if you don't already.

"Xbox Channel Goes Live With 'Horror Meets Comedy'" on wired.com: As you probably know, the Xbox, PS3 and Wii are all fighting for space in your living room by not only being a gaming platform, but by providing you with exclusive content, connecting to your PC and playing media files. The above article is about a pretty cool series that XBox is doing called "Horror Meets Comedy", where a bunch of horror directors are making short comedies and XBox allows its owners to download them for free on the system, their laptops or PDA's. I'm not going to get on my soapbox here and rant about the future of entertainment, but you better start thinking about shit like this because, unless you missed what I just said, Microsoft is producing and distributing content from horror filmmakers. The simple fact is that film and television (print and radio, as well, for that matter) are not going to be the same in 10 years. I'm not saying it's dying, I'm saying that it's going to be drastically different... and if you want to get paid to make content, your check may be from Microsoft, Nintendo or Sony, not Paramount, Warner Bros or, well... Sony.

Much like most of you, I'm assuming, I WAS a big gamer. I loved the arcades, my first computer, I loved my Nintendo, my Sega. I loved it all. However, right around the time I went to film school, it faded away. Unplugged the console and plugged in a DVD player, movies are more important. HOWEVER, like I said, gaming consoles are back and they ARE the future. So, here's my question. I'm going to buy myself a system this Christmas, but I'm still not sure which one...

Here's my thoughts... The Nintendo Wii's games are a little out there, but they are really fun. It does connect to the internet, but outside of a couple news and forecast channels, it's more for communicating and talking with other Wii systems. There's been talk about a newer model having DVD-Video playback capabilities, but that's not happening any time soon. The Microsoft XBox is, apparently, the best choice for gamers. I have a friend who works at EA and he scoffed at getting any system but the 360. Outside of the games, it's compatible with the Zune and can share media files with it. It supports music and videos in a bunch of different formats, but it does not play DVD's. It will connect to the internet and can stream files from your PC, which is pretty cool. It also has it's own community, it's own channels and you can get content, such as the afore mentioned "Horror Meets Comedy" series. Recently, I heard that Microsoft is going to open the platform up to allow 'home brew' games and other content to be downloaded for free, as well. Then, lastly, there's Sony's PS3. I've heard that it's the best technical system out there, but it's never lived up to its potential. As far as games, it has very few unique titles. However, much like the 360, it's also compatible with just about everything, it supports all music and video files and it connects to the internet and can stream from your PC. However, here's a couple things that it does that the other systems don't, it has it's own Linux system, so you can browse the internet and it's also the best Blu-Ray player on the market.

For me, I think the fact that the PS3 is a Blu-Ray player (and can play ANY DVD, burned or otherwise) and has an internet browser to go with it, is going to push me in that direction. However, never underestimate Microsoft. So, what do you think? What's the way to go?

Now, some of you might be thinking that this is a site for horror filmmaking and what the fuck does this have to do with anything? Well, really, I think it has a lot to do with filmmaking. Video games are turning into a bigger entertainment industry that film and the studios are all scrambling to jump on board. They're working it from both angles... they're creating games and online content out of their films, plus their taking games and online content and turning it into films. If you know nothing about gaming and the consoles, do yourself a favor and learn about them. They are the platforms of the future and you better be able to adapt.

Before I finish, check out this article called "Miramax Web Games Build Buzz for 'Adventureland'", where Miramax has an online game built and creating buzz for a film that comes out in March of 2009.

The future is racing towards us, be ready!

Interview with Miguel Gallego, filmmaker and the brains behind Aaaaah! Indie Horror Hits

I think short form film gets a bit of a bad rep... I mean, no one leaves film school and says, "I'm going to concentrate on making short films". The industry drew a line in the sand that says a feature is 75 minutes or longer and THAT is the standard. And that's what people gun for... it's too bad, too. I love short films and I do think that with the advent of the Youtube generation, they're going to grow in popularity. However, that's for another post. Short films have a lot of positives... they're great, economical ways to improve your filmmaking skills, they're great calling card films to get other projects, they don't take as long to make and they don't take as long to watch. Having said all that, they do have a few disadvantages, as well. The main one being, after you've made your short horror film, shown it every festival that'll take it... shown all your friends, family and all that. Well, now what? Usually, at that point, you're out of options. However, thanks to Miguel Gallego, you now have one more...

Gallego is the brain behind "Aaaaah! Indie Horror Hits", a feature length collection of award winning indie-horror shorts. Gallego is a filmmaker himself, having made the multi-award winning short horror film, "The Crypt Club", which is featured on this first installment of the compilation. He also consults on screenplays, provides script breakdowns & schedules for film budgeting, and has created two workshop presentations for filmmakers. So, he kinda knows what he's doing. Well, he definitely knew what he was doing when he put together the compilation. It is exactly what its tagline says - "All Killer, No Filler". There's 7 short horror films, varying in length from 3 minutes to 32 minutes and, having seen them all, I can tell you, without a word of a lie, they're all fantastic.

We had a chance to discuss "Aaaaah!! Indie Horror Hits" with Gallego and we'll get to that in a moment... but first, how about our first contest? We're going to be giving away an "Aaaaah!! Indie Horror Hits" DVD prize package! Just send me an email at ted@deadharvey.com and answer this skill testing question: What was the name of Gallego's first super 8 film? Hint: read for about one minute, starts with "W", ends with "Y". Word's around 7 letters long. We'll promote the contest in a few places, then we'll pick a winner at the end of the month...

First off, tell us a bit about yourself. What are your influences and what got you into indie horror?

I’ve loved film since I was a kid, particularly the classic Universal Studios monsters. My doctor dad used to joke that I had ‘monster-itis’. Horror and fantasy films fascinated me and I wanted to learn everything that I could about them.

Among my earliest film influences is Elwy Yost, the father of screenwriter Graham Yost (Speed). Elwy had a nightly show called Magic Shadows and a weekly show called Saturday Night At The Movies on TVO here in Ontario. Elwy would screen and discuss classic Hollywood films. He also did original interviews with the stars, directors, producers, composers, etc. I learned to love films because Elwy was so enthusiastic about them. This was way before DVDs and bonus interview featurettes. Growing up, these shows were my informal film school.

I got into indie horror films because they’re fun to make. You get to do cool stuff and play with cool toys. Just about any day on a horror film set is a surreal experience. Horror and fantasy films let you flex your storytelling and filmmaking muscles. And nothing provides audience catharsis like a good scare.

Film School: Yes or No?

Yes. First, I went to the University of Toronto where I switched from pre-med to the film program after my first year and earned my B.A. At that time the program was all about film theory and criticism, so I did some extra curricular work and made my first Super 8 film, a horror comedy called “Washday”. Thanks to that film, they accepted me into the producer’s program at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. That was an amazing year, learning first hand from working industry professionals. Really worth it!

Tell us about AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits. Where’d you get the idea and what made you go out and actually put it all together?

AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits is a feature length DVD collection of great short horror films from independent filmmakers. Some are completely unknown - for now - and others are industry pros stretching their wings on their own projects. For example, we have a film from the editor of the Saw franchise, Kevin Greutert. This is the film he showed to the Saw producers, and they agreed to let him direct Saw VI. These films caused a buzz on the festival circuit - then vanished. We’re resurrecting them so horror fans and filmmakers alike can benefit. Volume 1 is now available to buy on-line at http://www.aaaaah-films.com. And we’re working on the next volume as we speak.

I got the idea for AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits while travelling the festival circuit with The Crypt Club. Talking with indie horror filmmakers a question that always comes up is, “What can you do with your short horror film once it’s done its festival run?” Distributors aren’t interested in individual short horror films. So, why not create a compilation DVD? After speaking with several enthusiastic filmmakers I realized the idea didn’t have to stop at one disc. By creating multiple volumes we could continue showcasing films and filmmakers, making the project more attractive financially.

I came up with the name ‘AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits’ so that it would appear at the top of catalogue lists and at the front of store shelves. It took a couple of years to put it all together and develop a simple business model that would attract filmmakers. Then it took about a year and a half to source and license enough good films to create volume 1. If I had known at the start how much work it was going to be I’m not sure I would have done it. But now it’s underway, and, with volume 1 a market reality, it’ll be easier to move forward and keep bringing fans some top-notch indie horror films.

What do filmmakers get out of having their film be a part of the DVD?

Well, financially, there’s the opportunity to make some money because we split profits 50/50 with our filmmakers. And there are no up-front fees to submit films. There’s also extended exposure and a wider audience for their films – this is especially useful for calling card films.

Most important for us is that the filmmakers get to keep 100% of the rights to their own films. We use a non-exclusive license agreement so filmmakers can sell their film elsewhere as they see fit. That keeps us motivated to promote and sell AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits. We want to become the indie short horror filmmaker’s first choice for distribution.

When you look for films to be a part of the AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits DVD series, what are you looking for?

Well, not to be too boring, but first I ask if the filmmaker has all the film’s rights clear for licensing. That’s part of the submission release form questionnaire that must accompany every submitted film. You’d be surprised how many filmmakers have no written agreements to secure the rights to their films.

Whether it’s a short horror, a thriller, or a dark fantasy film I want it to be engaging. I like a good story, well told. I look at both the creative and the technical aspects of each film. Originality and good production value certainly scores bonus points with me. I don’t mind gore as long as it serves the story and isn’t the only reason the film was made.

I also look at each film’s bang for the buck. The longer the film, the more dramatic weight it has to carry. I take the ‘all killer, no filler’ idea to heart so viewers won’t have to sit through a half hour film with only one good moment. I also prefer brief titles and credits (to save on disc space), and that the titles and credits match the film that’s sandwiched in between them. There’s nothing as disappointing as a great opening title to a poorly executed film – except maybe end credits that go on as long as the film itself.

Once the individual films are selected it’s time to make the best compilation. I’ll combine films with different topics and durations to create a balanced variety. In the future we plan to put together themed discs, like an all zombie or all vampire disc for the die-hard fans.

I don’t rush the screening and selection process. I’ll watch every film twice, sometimes more. And I get opinions from trusted colleagues. Once in a while a film that I wasn’t sure about will linger in my mind. That’s when I know it’s worth another look and that viewers will appreciate it on repeat viewing. Finding and providing good quality films is the key to this collection.

I’m assuming that budget isn’t a huge factor for you, as there’s a couple of films on there that were obviously done on low budgets – I’m thinking about Ghost Busted and The Ninth Entry, specifically. Talk about indie filmmakers working with next to no budget.

Yes, a film’s budget is not a huge factor in my selections for AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits. If the film is engaging then I’m hooked – regardless of its budget. I think that as audience members we’ve become far too preoccupied with a film’s finances. Disclosing financial information is just another way to generate publicity.

In many ways it’s a blessing for filmmakers to work with a low budget. It challenges your conviction to make the film, it forces you to find creative solutions, and it helps you to build friendships based on mutual support. Having a low budget also helps strip away everything that isn’t critical to telling the story so you get a really tight, creative film with no dramatic flab.

I’ve seen many miserable films that had plenty of resources available and no creative or technical ingenuity. It’s nice to know a film’s budget so you can gauge how effectively the filmmaker used it. However, no one frames a copy of the budget to remind them of the film. Not even the accountants.

I think filmmakers should replace the terms ‘no-budget’ and ‘low-budget’ with the term ‘high ingenuity’. It takes the focus off of what they lack and creates an abundance mentality around their creativity and resources. I think that’s what Anthony Falcon (The Ninth Entry) and Vance Null (Ghost Busted) did. They maximized what they had at hand to make highly watchable films. And I know that other films on the collection rose above their limitations and triumphed over financial and logistical adversity. That’s a mark of great filmmaking.

Now, you’re also a filmmaker and included your film, The Crypt Club, on the DVD. Tell us about the film. What festivals did it screen at and what kind of run did you get out of it?

The Crypt Club is a dark cautionary tale about three teenage girls who drive a vintage hearse to a deserted country cemetery for a midnight initiation that will challenge each girl’s conscience – with horrific results. It stars Alison Pill (Milk, Dan In Real Life, Pieces of April), Jessica Greco (Across the River to Motor City, The House, Mutant X), Kerry Segal (Goosebumps), and Michèle Duquet (Kaw, Earth: Final Conflict).

The film won 18 awards while screening at over 45 international film festivals in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. The festival run started in early 2004 and ended on Halloween 2007. The most recent screening was at the 2008 World Horror Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Crypt Club aired on the CBC national filmmaker showcase Canadian Perspectives and on Ciudad Abierta in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Crypt Club has also been used in a couple of classrooms, including a lecture that I gave at Notre Dame University. That was really cool.

There’s a complete list of screenings and awards on-line at http://www.thecryptclub.com. Looking back on this list I’m amazed at all the cool people and places I’ve seen thanks to The Crypt Club.

What was your budget for The Crypt Club and how did you go about securing it?

The Crypt Club was completely self-financed by my wife and me. But we couldn’t have made it without a lot of donations and discounts. PS Production Services in Toronto helped us out with camera and grip/electric packages through their Kick Start program. Through ACTRA’s Toronto Indie Productions program we secured a huge discount on our actors’ rates. We also got a great deal from our post house for transfers and on-line digital editing because we were willing to come in at odd times to fill in their shift schedule. The hearse was a donation from a filmmaker who was sympathetic to our production. And most of the crew were volunteers.

The question I’m most often asked is “What was the budget for The Crypt Club?” My usual response is, “Did you enjoy the film?” Because if you did, then it was worth every penny we spent on it. And if you didn’t, then it doesn’t matter. We made The Crypt Club as a calling card and were able to get back some of its costs through a television sale, labour tax credits, and now DVD sales.

I ran the numbers to know what our film would have cost us if we’d had to pay cash for everything. Our cash outlay was under 20% of the film’s total worth – with no deferrals.

One of the big lessons I learned on The Crypt Club was that if you insist on getting everything for free you risk ending up with nothing. Bartering works fine for some things. But, if you can offer partial payment to a supplier during a slow period they’ll see you as an entry-level customer not as another mooching indie filmmaker. For example, we needed two 80-foot cranes for our night exterior shoot. We needed them both on the first night of filming and then only one crane for the remaining five days. Because of the time of year we were able to strike a deal where we got seven nights of crane rentals for the price of two, including pick up and drop off in the country. We gave a little to get a whole lot.

Can we expect any more films from you in the future?

Oh, yes. There are a couple of feature film treatments I’ve been working on that desperately need my attention. Launching and promoting AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits has been a full time job. Once it has some momentum I’ll get back to writing my next big thing. Of course, I’m always open to an offer to direct.

Talk about the indie horror scene… where is it at now and where do you see it all going?

In the past, indie horror filmmakers had distribution available through the drive-in, grind-house, home video, and cable TV outlets. But now, what used to be the exclusive dark domain of the fringe is being eroded and assimilated into the mainstream because it’s become lucrative. Horror, like porn, is becoming gentrified as society evolves (or de-evolves, depending on your point of view). Hit TV shows now feature murderers (The Sopranos) and a serial killer (Dexter) as lead characters. The public’s appetite for horror (although it’s not called that) keeps growing.

As a culture we still need the cautionary tale that’s at the heart of the horror genre, but its dramatization will keep changing. The cinematic monsters of the 1930s that terrified a generation are now merely quaint icons to many. “More Count Chocula cereal, Billy?” I’m sure there’s someone working on a Freddy Krueger children’s vitamin. So horror films will keep evolving to reflect society’s fears.

The recent trend has been for gore/torture porn from the independents, and re-makes of old films as Hollywood cashes in on the indie film model. I’m hoping that when the public tires of carnage and uninspired re-hashes that the horror film will return to solid storytelling.

I think the Internet is a logical place for the indie filmmaker to seek distribution – as long as it remains an open market. Already you can see the big corporations carving up and claiming the Internet, trying to figure out how to control it for use as a delivery medium. As ever, the indie horror filmmaker will have to be innovative in order to create and be noticed.

What advice would you pass on to an indie horror filmmaker who’s just setting out to make a film?

Oh boy. How much time do we have?

I’ve worked on many student and short indie films. As a result, I developed a workshop presentation called “Indie Production Planning: Getting Your Day”. I teach filmmakers about production planning with an emphasis on getting your day, because if you can plan, prepare, and complete each shoot day you’ll get your film. If you can’t, then all your visionary genius will never see the light of a screening room.

So, on a practical level, I’d say: learn, plan, and prepare. Learn about filmmaking and learn about the business because you’ll need both sets of knowledge to succeed. If you have commercial hopes for your film get the paperwork done in advance or as you go. Trying to get signatures on deal memos after the fact is a nightmare that can hold our film hostage.

Plan your film down to the last detail. Only then will you be ready for a better idea. Prepare for every contingency. When you need Plan B (or C or D) is not the time to think it up.

On a philosophical level I’d say: be passionate about your films. It’s contagious, so it helps get things done. Take your films seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously. Be a friend to everyone who might help you. Be inspired by others, but find your own voice so you don’t become a copycat filmmaker. Work safely. Have fun, have a life, and remember that it’s only a movie.

Where can people find out more about AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits and, better yet, buy a copy?

Oh yes, please buy a copy for yourself and for your friends and loved ones. Why not harass complete strangers with anonymous gifts of indie horror films? Indie filmmakers will be eternally grateful.

We’ve got a web site chock full of information about AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits at www.aaaaah-films.com. You can also get our company information and buy the DVD through www.thecryptclub.com.

The DVD has a link to a secret web page with exclusive content about the films and filmmakers. We also provide a secret web page where accredited media can download press kits, images, trailers and more. We’ll be updating both secret pages from time to time to keep them fresh.

If a filmmaker has a short that they’d like to submit for a future volume, what should they do?

The first thing filmmakers should do is support their peers and buy several copies of AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits, Volume 1. But seriously… I’m kidding. Not really, but it’s worth a shot.

All the submission information is available on our web site: www.aaaaah-films.com/pages/submit.html. You download the submission form, fill it in, and send it to us with a copy of your film.

Basic things to keep in mind are that filmmakers must hold all the rights to their film and have the paperwork to back that up. The submission form has a checklist of some of the paperwork required. And you can download our Rights and Clearances Guidelines for free. It’s very helpful for first time filmmakers too. We’ll be posting other helpful documents for filmmakers.

So, I hear there’s an AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits, Volume 2 coming out… what can we expect out of the next volume?

Yes, we’re already gathering and screening films for volume 2. So far, people who’ve seen volume 1 tell us they like the variety of films we’re showcasing. There’s something for everyone. So expect more of that.

A couple of the filmmakers from volume 1 have sent us other worthwhile films. We’re glad for that. And we’re getting some pretty interesting films from outside of Canada and the USA. So look for some non-North American short horror films to creep into the mix as well.

In the future, as we build up our library, we’ll look at releasing themed volumes, like an all zombie or all vampire collection. Can’t wait.

New Horror Out on DVD this Week: Creepy Clowns Explained

This lead up to Christmas tends to actually be a pretty good time for indie-horror, as big companies are concentrating on releasing Christmas themed films and family friendly shit. So, some of the indie-horror guys release good stuff for the horror hungry group of guys who will take whatever they can get. And this week, there's actually some great indie horror titles. So, if you want to help us out a bit and were planning on buying one or some of these films anyhow, just click on the title and get it through Amazon, through us. Also, head on over to our Youtube page where you can see all the trailers.

Before I get to all the indie-horror, I just want to mention "The X-Files: I Want to Believe", as I've always had a soft spot for "The X-Files", mainly because I actually worked on the show for a few episodes and it was the biggest thing in my hometown of Vancouver for quite a while. However, I gotta say, I wasn't too impressed with the first "The X-Files" movie and I haven't seen "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" yet, which comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray this week. That doesn't mean I won't check it out, I probably will... This one was directed by the shows originator, Chris Carter, and was co-written by Carter and Frank Spotnitz. Carter said that if this one was deemed successful, he would do a third movie that went back to the TV shows mythology and focus on the alien invasion foretold within the series. Sounds good, shoulda done that this time around... 'cause now we'll probably never see that third one.

"Grave Mistake" was written and directed by Shawn Darling, who's the owner and CEO of Gryphon's Egg Productions. Shot entirely on mini DV, it's a zombie flick that was picked up and distributed by Maxim Media International. I have no idea what their budget was, but looking through the production stills, the make-up and effects look awesome. In fact, on their site, they boast that it has over 300 visual effects shots and over 350 prosthetic makeups. They also boast that it's an "80's style zombie horror film with a whole lot of production value." Well, I'm sold...

"Secrets of the Clown", written and directed by Ryan Badalamenti, won the Best Feature Horror Film at the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival in 2007. It's about a guy, a girl, a clown doll, their friends who die a lot... and the hidden secrets of the clown. What got me thinking is that some reviewer on IMDB.com called it "an interesting addition to the clown horror subgenre" and I never thought of clown horror as a subgenre. He mentions "It" and "Killer Klowns from Outer Space", but what else is there? "Poltergeist" had that creepy clown toy. Does Spaulding from "House of 1,000 Corpses" count? Isn't there a movie called "Clownhouse"? A quick search brings up "Killjoy", "Dead Clowns", "Fear of Clowns", "The Blair Clown Project", "100 Tears", "The Clown Murders" and "Gacy". Come to think of it, do you think that John Wayne Gacy's alter-ego, "Pogo the Clown" was where it all came from? Clowns have always been creepy, I guess and Pogo certainly didn't help clown enthusiasts. I guess clown horror is a subgenre, probably an underserved subgenre, too.

Written and directed by Todd Livingston, "So, You've Downloaded a Demon" is a shot on DV entry into the 'horror-comedy' genre. It's about four college students who stumble across an occult website and accidentally release a demon that is imprisoned there, then... and I quote, "Hilarity ensues". It's the directorial debut from Livingston, although he's been around the genre for a while, having written a few other scripts, acted in a few films, produced a few things, etc.

"The Dead Don't Scream", from Richard Perrin, is about a group of college kids on a road trip to hell who come across a small Texas town whose entire economy based on stealing cars and slaughtering people. The production quality looks fantastic for a low-budget indie horror and they've got a cast that consists mostly of hot, young girls that never seem to get out of their bathing suits, even when they're tied up, chopped up or shot up. This looks like one that you'll need to check out.

"Shadow People", directed by Keith Parker and co-written by Parker and, who I'm going to assume is his wife or sister, Laura Parker, is another shot on DV film, this one about a billionaire seeking to fulfill an ancient dark prophecy for immortality, who pits 6 individuals against shadowy demons, for their souls, in a murderous game of cat and mouse.

"Cruel Restaurant" is a Japanese softcore, erotic horror, which is called "Zankoku hanten" in it's native tongue. From Koji Kawano, it's about, you guessed it, a dumpling house that has a super-secret recipe for dumplings that people are willing to kill for... but what's going on in the kitchen may shock you into going vegetarian. "It's the happening bistro where the who's who may become the what's what on the daily special".

Black Friday... and Some Festival Updates

Today is Black Friday, so my guess is that most of you are waiting in line to buy shit at major retail stores right now. For your history lesson of the day, Black Friday actually has two meanings. One is a day of absolute stock market catastrophe, specifically September 24, 1869 (which preceeded "Black Tuesday", which stole the name). The other is today, the day after Thanksgiving, named so because it's a stressful and chaotic experience for retailers. Regardless, I was thinking that "Black Friday" is a cool title for a horror film, so I went over to IMDB.com and checked out how many films share the title... it turns out that are 6 films called "Black Friday". The first is from 1916 and it's a historical drama, the second is the horror film from 1940 with Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi and is about gangsters and brain transplants, the third is a drama short from 2001, the fourth is an action adventure from 2003 about a high-powered attorney who returns home from work to find his family held hostage, the fifth is an award winning film from Anurag Kashyap about the Bombay bomb blasts and, finally, the last one, which should be coming out soon, is from Ethan Terra and it's an indie horror starring Tony Todd, Kane Hodder, Andrew Divoff and Tiffany Shepis!!! Now, why did someone not tell me about this? And why isn't it coming out this week? Need to know more...

Anyhow, December is around the corner and there's only one more festival that may be playing something horror related... it's the Beverly Hills Hi-Def Festival and they're basically just showing off the HD capabilities of the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills. However, there's lots of shorts and features and it's only $10 to get in to see a whole program. You can go through a list of all the titles there and it looks like there'll be a few horrors... lots of indie shit, anyow.

Now, there's a lot of festivals that have deadlines in December, as it's the end of the year. So, if you want to get a snippet of what's coming up soon, you have a film that's just about finished or you're ready to submit, here's a list of festivals that have deadlines in December. I'm not going to say anything about them because there's too many of them. I'll just put up all the links. So, until December...

2009 Eerie Horror Film Festival

A Night of Horror International Film Festival

Anubis Digital Quick Bites Horror Film Contest

Bare Bones International Film Festival

Boston Underground Film Festival

Dam Short Film Festival

FilmGo Film Fest

Fresno Filmworks Film Festival

Heart of England International Film Festival

Sacramento Horror Film Festival

Sci Fi London: The London International Festival of Science Fiction and Fantastic Film

Show off Your Shorts Film Festival

Swansea Bay Film Festival

The Nickel Independent Film Festival