26 November 2013

The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival Releases Schedule

Brooklyn, N.Y. November 21, 2013 - The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival has added two films as part of the official selections and has announced the full schedule of events for its highly anticipated second annual event to honor one of the most revered writers within the literary world. The multi-day experience will launch in Williamsburg, Brooklyn from December 6-8, 2013 at the prestigious IndieScreen theater and will screen numerous innovative features and shorts which are adapted or inspired by the unprecedented works of Philip K. Dick. Each of the films capture the distinctive boldness of the the genre and bring forth some of the most riveting moments of science fiction cinema.

Among the two surprise films are Larry Fessenden's exciting thriller Beneath (2013) which will screen on Friday, December 6. Written by Tony Daniel and Brian D. Smith the film stars Daniel Zovatto, Bonnie Dennison and Chris Conroy and follows six high schoolers struggling to survive against a vicious man-eating fish on the open seas. The following night Jessica Curtright and Santiago C. Tapia's terrifying short Territorial (2013) will screen on Saturday, December 7. Produced by Napoleon Dynamite's Efren Ramirez who stars alongside Brighid Fleming and John Gulager the film follows a person's quiet yet horrifying weekend at home.

The finalists set to be screened as part of the festival's full schedule include:

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6
The First Day: Directed by Nicholas Zafonte (7:00-7:13 PM)
Ascendants: Directed by Don Schechter (7:14-7:22 PM)
The Compositor: Directed by John Mattiuzzi (7:23-7:53 PM)
The Crystal Crypt: Directed by Shahab Zargari (7:54-8:03 PM)
Promised Land: Directed by Joe Turner Lin (8:04-8:32 PM)
The Pod: Directed by Eric Pennycoff (8:23-8:44 PM)
CyBelle Horizon: Directed by Rachael Reichert (8:44-8:52 PM)
Deadstar: Directed by Brandon Wright (8:52-9:01 PM)
Odessa: Directed by Cidney Hue (9:01-9:16 PM)
Luv U: Directed by Ben Garchar (9:16-9:21 PM)
Vessel: Directed by Adam Ciancio (9:30-11:00 PM)
Beneath: Directed by Larry Fessenden (9:30-11:00 PM)

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7
Territorial: Directed by Jessica Curtright and Santiago C. Tapia (7:00-7:11 PM)
Sulfuric: Directed by Jeffrey A. Brown (7:11-7:20 PM)
The Session: Directed by Rick Craft (7:20-7:52 PM)
Environmental Pressures and Species Adaptation: Directed by Jihyun Park (7:25-7:36 PM)
Hide and Seek: Directed by Kayoko Asakura (7:36-7:52)
Khoon Ltd.: Directed by Rahul Desai (7:52-8:10 PM)
Honeymoon Suite: Directed by Zao Wang (8:20-8:35 PM)
Adjust Your Tracking: The Untold Story of The VHS Collector: Directed by Dan M. Kinem and Levi Peretic (8:35-10:15 PM)
Thanatomorphose: Directed by Éric Falardeau (10:15-11:45 PM)

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8
Emit: Directed by J.S. Mayank (6:00-6:09 PM)
Exit: Directed by Michel Goossens (6:10-6:20 PM)
Karon: Directed by Erez Avni and Itai Edry (6:20-6:40 PM)
Biographer: Directed by Viktor Gorbachev (6:40-7:30 PM)
Agophobia: Directed by Benjamin Ross Hayden (7:10-7:34 PM)
All of Me: Directed by Susan Koenen (7:34-7:44 PM)
9 Minutes: Directed by P.J. Wolff (7:44-7:53 PM)
Inside the Mind of the Alchemist: Directed by Kirk Zamieroski (7:53-7:58 PM)
Escape: Directed by David Conte (7:58-8:26 PM)
The Astronomer: Directed by Philip R. Garrett (8:36-8:41 PM)
Son of Man: Directed by Janek Ambros (8:41-8:55 PM)
Lv-225: Directed by Ettore Biondo (8:55-9:00 PM)
The Final Equation: Daniel Abella (9:00-10:15 PM)
Closing Ceremonies (10:15-10:30 PM)

As further details become available including scheduling times, film summaries and ticket sales the festival anticipates another successful event, further solidifying the city's strong and endless appreciation for Philip K. Dick. 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 festival's recent event in Lille, France screened numerous films and enjoyed much success in its first global outings. The team behind the annual festivities continue to hold seasonal gatherings across the city and will also pioneer a Spring 2014 cyberpunk festival in Tokyo.

The Philip K. Dick Festival of Science Fiction, The Supernatural, Metaphysics and Drama 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 Williamsburg's IndieScreen theater at 289 Kent Avenue at S. 2 Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211 from Friday, December 6 through Sunday, December 7, 2013. For more information please visit http:// www.thephilipkdickfilmfestival.com, the festival's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ThePhilipKDickFilmFestival and Twitter page at https:// 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. Following a successful 2012 inaugural year, 2013 marks the second annual Brooklyn festival which will expand it's genres of films and panels and its recent 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.

Syfy Kicks off 2014 With Seven New and Returning Original Series

NEW YORK – November 22, 2013 – Syfy will kick off 2014 with seven new and returning original series in January including Helix from Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica) – a two episode premiere with limited commercial interruptions airing on Friday, January 10 at 10/9c – and Opposite Worlds, the competition reality event – the channel’s first weekly live series broadcast – debuting on Tuesday, January 21 at 10/9c.

The new supernatural drama Bitten will join Being Human and Lost Girl on Mondays beginning January 13 (Lost Girl at 8/7c, Being Human at 9/8c and Bitten at 10/9c).

Rounding out the new year’s blockbuster line-up are the Season 6 premiere of hit competition reality series Face Off (Tuesday, January 14 at 9/8c) plus gripping new episodes of Ghost Hunters (Wednesday, January 22 at 9/8c).

As always, Syfy will ring in 2014 with its annual New Year’s Twilight Zone marathon beginning December 31 and concluding on New Year’s Day.

SYFY’S JANUARY 2014 PREMIERE SCHEDULE (All Times ET/PT)

SERIES PREMIERES

HELIX (TWO EPISODE PREMIERE) FRIDAY, JANUARY 10 AT 10PM
Helix is an intense thriller about a team of scientists from the Centers for Disease Control who travel to the high-tech research facility, Arctic BioSystems, to investigate a possible disease outbreak, only to find themselves pulled into a terrifying life-and-death struggle that may hold the key to mankind’s salvation or total annihilation. However, the lethal threat is just the tip of the iceberg, and as the virus evolves, the chilling truth begins to unravel.

Billy Campbell (Killing Lincoln, The Killing) stars as Dr. Alan Farragut, leader of the Centers for Disease Control outbreak field team called upon to investigate and control a potential outbreak. Hiroyuki Sanada (The Wolverine, 47 Ronin) also stars as Dr. Hiroshi Hatake, director of Arctic BioSystems and its mysterious viral research program.

Helix also stars Kyra Zagorsky (Supernatural) as Dr. Julia Walker; Mark Ghanimé (Emily Owens, M.D.) as Major Sergio Balleseros; Jordan Hayes (House at the End of the Street) as Dr. Sarah Jordan; Meegwun Fairbrother as Daniel Aerov; Catherine Lemieux (White House Down) as Dr. Doreen Boyle, and Neil Napier (Riddick) as Dr. Peter Farragut.

Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica, Outlander), Steven Maeda (Lost, The X-Files) who is also showrunner, and Lynda Obst (Contact, Sleepless in Seattle) are Executive Producers. The 13-episode series is produced by Tall Ship Productions, Kaji Productions and Lynda Obst Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television. Prolific director and producer Jeffrey Reiner (Friday Night Lights) directed the premiere episode, which was written by creator and co-executive producer, Cameron Porsandeh.

OPPOSITE WORLDS TUESDAY, JANUARY 21 AT 10PM
An all-new reality series pitting contestants in a past vs. future competition - featuring a live social experiment - 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.

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 and distributed by Banijay International.

BITTEN MONDAY, JANUARY 13 AT 10PM
Based on the New York Times best-selling Women of the Otherworld novels by Kelley Armstrong, the 13-episode Bitten is an emotionally charged supernatural thriller starring Laura Vandervoort (Smallville, Ted) as Elena Michaels, the lone female werewolf in existence.

Desperate to escape both a world she never wanted to be part of and the man who turned her into a werewolf, Elena (Vandervoort) has abandoned her Pack and taken refuge in a new city. There, she works as a photographer and hides her werewolf existence from her new boyfriend. When bodies start turning up in her Pack’s backyard, Elena finds herself back at Stonehaven, the werewolves’ ancestral domain. Torn between two worlds and two loves, she quickly realizes that – when push comes to shove – she’ll stop at nothing to defend her Pack.

Bitten also stars Greg Bryk (A History of Violence) as werewolf Pack “Alpha” Jeremy Danvers, Greyston Holt (Alcatraz) as Elena’s werewolf ex-boyfriend Clayton Danvers, and Paul Greene (The Client List) as Elena’s current beau, Philip McAdams.

Bitten is produced by No Equal Entertainment, Hoodwink Entertainment, and eOne in association with Space and Bell Media, with the participation of Rogers Cable Network Fund and Cogeco Program Development Fund and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit. Executive producers include J.B. Sugar for No Equal Entertainment, Patrick Banister and John Barbisan for Hoodwink Entertainment and Tecca Crosby, John Morayniss, and Margaret O’Brien for eOne. Daegan Fryklind and Grant Rosenberg are Executive Producers and co-showrunners.

SERIES RETURNS

LOST GIRL (SEASON 4 PREMIERE) MONDAY, JANUARY 13 AT 8PM
This season on Lost Girl, fate casts a wide shadow over the Fae world. With Bo’s (Anna Silk) return, the lines between Dark and Light Fae are blurred, causing her embark on a journey of discovery. Bo and company will ultimately realize that, regardless of the challenges and enemies they face, they’re stronger when they confront them together. George Takei (Star Trek) and Ali Liebert (Bomb Girls) are among the new season’s guest stars.

Lost Girl also stars Ksenia Solo as Kenzi, Bo's human sidekick and street-smart confidante; Kris Holden-Ried as Dyson, the shape shifting homicide detective and noble warrior of the Light Fae; Zoie Palmer as Lauren, the brilliant human doctor who competes with Dyson for Bo’s affection; Rick Howland as Trick, Bo’s grandfather and the ancient and mysterious Blood King, and K.C. Collins as Hale, Dyson’s partner and a Light Fae siren born of noble blood. Paul Amos returns as the ever devious Dark Fae Mesmer, Vex, and Emmanuelle Vaugier reprises her role as the evil Dark Fae leader, The Morrigan.

Lost Girl was developed by Prodigy Pictures, in association with Shaw Media and Showcase. Executive Producers are Jay Firestone and Emily Andras. Vanessa Piazza and Wendy Grean are producers. Lost Girl is produced with the participation of the Canadian Media Fund created by the Government of Canada and the Canadian cable industry, and with the assistance of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit Program.

BEING HUMAN (SEASON 4 PREMIERE) MONDAY, JANUARY 13 AT 9PM
Season 4 of Being Human picks up four months from last season’s shocking finale and, for Aidan, Sally, Josh and Nora, the past is about to come back to haunt them!

Aidan (Sam Witwer) and Nora (Kristen Hager) struggle to save Josh (Sam Huntington), who is trapped in his wolf form. At the same time, an unbelievable visitor collides with Aidan, forcing him to make impossible choices between the people he loves the most. Meanwhile, Sally (Meaghan Rath), having been dragged down into her death spot by Witch Donna (guest star Amy Aquino), finds herself trapped and at the mercy of her foe, but Sally’s newly imbued magical powers could change everything.

Executive Producers are Michael Prupas, Anna Fricke (Men in Trees, Everwood), who is also writer and showrunner, Stefan Pleszczynski, and Rob Pursey & Toby Whithouse. Irene Litinsky is series producer.

FACE OFF (SEASON 6 PREMIERE) TUESDAY, JANUARY 14 AT 9PM
The critically-acclaimed hit reality competition series Face Off returns for a sixth season by introducing 14 new makeup artists in what will be Face Off’s boldest season yet. In the new season, the contestants will face extreme challenges that will inspire them to create the most magnificent characters and creatures in Face Off history.

Face Off is a competition/elimination series exploring the world of special-effects make-up artists and the unlimited imagination that allows them to create amazing works of living art. As a member of the multi-generational family dynasty whose name is synonymous with the make-up effects field, actress McKenzie Westmore brings expertise to her role as host of the series. Some of SFX world’s most celebrated figures judge the competition – multiple Academy-Award winner Ve Neill (The Hunger Games, Pirates of the Caribbean), industry veteran Glenn Hetrick (CSI: New York, Heroes, Legion), and creature designer Neville Page (Avatar, Prometheus). World-renowned Hollywood makeup artist Michael Westmore (Star Trek) serves as the contestant mentor.

Face Off is a production of Mission Control Media with Dwight D. Smith, Michael Agbabian and Derek Atherton serving as Executive Producers.

GHOST HUNTERS (ALL-NEW EPISODES) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22 AT 9PM
Ghost Hunters, Syfy’s longest-running unscripted series, returns with brand new investigations this winter. For its first episode back, TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society), led by Jason Hawes, heads to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania as the town commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Civil War’s Battle of Gettysburg. There, the team collects impressive paranormal evidence at a variety of locations.

Other famed sites getting the Ghost Hunters treatment this season include Buffalo and Erie County’s Naval & Military Park, Historic Jordan Springs in Winchester, Virginia and Belle Grove Plantation in King George, Virginia. Ghost Hunters is produced for Syfy by Craig Piligian's Pilgrim Studios (The Ultimate Fighter, Fast N' Loud, Wicked Tuna). Piligian and Mike Nichols are Executive Producers, along with Tom Thayer and Alan David.

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.)

The House of Forbidden Secrets Begins Premiere Tour Across America

The House of Forbidden Secrets had it’s national premiere in Las Vegas, NV at the PollyGrind Film Festival on October 11th, 2013, where it won 6 awards, and has also been chosen for the South African Horror Festival this Spring, the Italian Fantafest in 2014, the British Raindance Film Fest for 2014 as well as the X-Fest with many more festivals to follow . It was shot last Winter and Spring in Kansas City. The film stars many local actors and actresses to Kansas City, but also includes genre icons such as Lew Temple (Walking Dead, Unstoppable, Halloween 2, Devil’s Rejects), George Hardy (Troll 2), Dyanne Thorne and Howard Maurer (ILSA films), Allan Kayser (Night of the Creeps, Bubba from Mama’s Family), Ari Lehman (Jason from Friday the 13th) and Lloyd Kaufman from Troma Films (creator / actor from Toxic Avenger, Class of Nuke Em High, Poultrygeist). Among the Midwest locations used were two of the nation’s largest haunted houses, The Beast and Macabre Cinema.

The director of the movie is underground Horror legend Todd Sheets. Todd had done over 15 films in Kansas City between 1989 and 2005. His syndicated radio show NIGHTWATCH became full time and Todd had stopped making films for years, but after nearly dying from a Heart Attack and spending over 4 weeks in a hospital, Todd gave a vow that if he survived, he would find a way to get back to film work, his true passion. While in the hospital Todd had quadruple bypass surgery and then a second Laparoscopic surgery was needed due to complications. Having never drank alcohol, smoked or done drugs, it was a true mystery to the doctors as to what exactly had happened and it turned out to be mostly a genetic issue. Within a year of the heart attack Todd had not only finished the script, but finished the shooting and had began the editing process on his first film in years. He decided if he was going to come back, he wanted to show all he had learned in the years in between and make a film that is stylish, creative and larger than life. Something he could really be proud of. Todd just won the “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the PollyGrind Film Festival in Las Vegas, NV. for his work on this film, for his contribution to low budget Horror cinema and for not only surviving, but coming back stronger than ever.

The film is in many ways an homage to the Horror films of the 70s and 80s, particularly the Italian Horror imports that would play Drive In Theaters and Grindhouses in America. The lighting, camera compositions and feel of the film are classic Horror yet still modern, Refreshing yet familiar, bringing that style of the masters such as Fulci, Carpenter and Argento to a new audience. Even the special effects and make-up is old school, 99% of the effects in the film are done practically, with no digital manipulation. There are a few visual effects that needed computer help, but very few, and only for things like Time Travel portals and such.

Having much loved icons like Dyanne Thorne, Lew Temple and George Hardy also give the film a familiar feel, with Dyanne winning an award as well at Pollygrind for her role of Madame Greta. It is an amazing performance, with subtle nods to her past while opening a new dimension for the actress to explore. A softer side even emerges as the film plays, showing that ILSA does indeed have a heart of gold behind those boots and whips! Lew Temple also won an award for his portrayal of Father Elias Solomon. Bringing multiple layers to a character that Horror fans will love and hate at the same time. It is truly a standout performance for Lew, known for his supporting roles in Hollywood blockbusters such as Lone Ranger while doing smaller indie films such as Waitress, Devil’s Rejects and Walking Dead. George Hardy is a cult favorite from Troll 2, and here brings Southern class and depth to his character, proving that he has learned much and continues to grow as an actor.

Music for House of Forbidden Secrets was created by a true icon of international Horror, Italian Maestro Fabio Frizzi who had created music for many of the late Lucio Fulci’s great films as well as dozens of others. He is currently touring Europe with a sold out symphonic show, “Frizzi 2 Fulci.” Additional music was created by Toshiyuki Hiraoka, an outstanding composer from Japan who has also worked in the film industry there, crafting great music for film and television. The soundtrack for House of Forbidden Secrets has been licensed for release all over Europe by BEAT Records in Rome and will also ship to all Asian countries and as an import in America.

House of Forbidden Secrets truly is a far reaching film. The cast and crew are extremely proud of the film and how many people are loving and supporting it. Using an international crew and filling the film with so many icons has truly helped expose this Kansas City made film to a large worldwide audience. Interviews are available with director Todd Sheets, our local cast and crew, as well as phone interviews with many of the Horror icons who starred in the film. Please contact us for more information or to arrange any interviews, graphics, trailers or other publicity materials.

Dead of the Nite Available on DVD and VOD January 7

Tony Todd to creep out viewers in Dead of the Nite on DVD and VOD starting January 7, 2014

About the Film:
Dead of the Nite is an intelligent twist on the paranormal genre including horror icons Tony Todd (Candyman, Hatchet, The Rock), Simon Bamford (Hellraiser, Nightbreed) and Suzie Lorraine (Roxanna, Torment, Destined to be Ingested).

Midnight Releasing will be releasing the film in North America on DVD and Video On Demand this January to all major and minor digital platforms, rental chains and more.

Synopsis: 
When a group of internet sensation ghost hunters are found brutally slaughtered in the infamous Jericho Manor, Police Detectives Jenkins (GARY MAVERS) and Anderson (JOSEPH MILLSON) must piece together what happened on the fatal night by viewing the paranormal investigators video footage. With the only witness being the secretive caretaker (TONY TODD) claiming it was the ghost of killer Jeffery Heath, will the detectives discover more than they had bargained for? From ghostly happenings to breath-taking action thanks to stunt co-ordinator CLAUDIO PACIFICO (MI:III, Pirates of the Caribbean 4, Gang of New York), DEAD OF THE NITE will have audiences on the edge of their seat and guessing until the very end as to who, or what is slaughtering the team, and usher in the new dawn of ‘psychological slashers’.

For more information visit: http://midnightreleasing.com/dead-of-the-nite/

24 November 2013

Interview with Sadie Katz From "House Of Bad"





TC: Hello Sadie I trust you are doing well.

SK: Yes! Thank you J.R. and thank you for the interview! xo



TC: What can you tell us about your experiences from working on House of the Bad?

SK: Shooting a film is a leap of faith for everyone involved. When horror fans respond the way they have to House of Bad, it feels amazing because you know it was what was the leap to take! House of Bad has really introduced me to all the fans of the horror world. They are incredibly sweet, supportive and I find the on-line blogs, webzines and radio shows to be filled with a lot of people who really love the genre! It’s so funny that fans of blood, guts and boobs tend to be the most supportive artists I’ve come across!


TC: Do you think this is a film that all horror fans are going to love?

SK: Girls- CHECK! Scary Ghosts- Check! Blood- CHECK! Brain Explosion- CHECK!!!! Naked Chicks- Ummmm…CHECK! Running thru the forest- CHECK! Haunted House- CHECK! Smart dialogue- CHECK!
Ha, I sure hope you do…and if you do I really hope you write a couple of nice reviews on Amazon, Itunes, IMDB, etc…help spread the word! If they don’t? Ummm….next question.


TC: How did you come about being cast in this project?

SK: I had submitted off a casting site for another project of Jim Towns’ films- the film ended up not going and they called me in for this one. For actors it’s so exciting that we have so many different routes to submit for films! Instead of sitting and waiting for the phone to ring we get a chance to self-submit. Another perk to the internet.

TC: Are you a fan of the horror genre yourself?

SK: Yes! I am a scaredy cat and truthfully love a great horror film. My son is 12 years old and he’s getting into horror. The other day he had some friends over and said, “rent me the scariest movie on Redbox.” I rented him “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” but, I ended up chickening out of watching it and watched “The Purge” instead. It had it’s scare moments. The last horror movie I saw at the theatre was “You’re Next” I think it was done pretty damn well.

TC: When can we look forward to this being released and seeing you on the big screen?

SK: You can catch me now co-starring in the raunchy, sex comedy “Nipples & Palm trees” on Amazon, Hulu, Itunes, Netflix. Look for ”Chavez: Cage of Glory” (Danny Trejo, Steven Bauer) to be released digitally, along with “Meaning of Violence” (Gregory Rhodes).

Please follow me on my fan page for updates (or just to say hi!)

Facebook.com/sadiekatz

Twitter.com/sadie_katz

Sadiekatz.me


TC: Are there any other projects you are currently working on a the moment ?

SK: Yes! I’m very excited to be working on another film “13 Girls” with Jim Towns directing…it’s CSI meets Catholic school girls. ‘nuff said. And the indie drama “Beautiful Ink” also starring Jamie Bernadette. Very exciting stuff. I hope you and your readers follow the ride. xo

21 November 2013

Mane Entertainment Gears Up for Penance Lane

Penance Lane is the new horrifying feature coming from Mane Entertainment. The film, written by Munier Sharrieff (Battle Chasers, Battle of the Planets) is the second motion picture from Mane Entertainment, the production house founded by Tyler Mane and Renae Geerlings.

Their first film, Compound Fracture has just secured domestic distribution so look for more information on that coming very soon!! The film which starred Tyler Mane, Muse Watson, Derek Mears and Renae Geerlings just wrapped up screening tour where it has received stellar reviews (check out mine here).

Now they are back at it with Penance Lane. Check out the synopsis:
The population of Chesterton just grew by one. Crimson Matthews, so fresh from the joint you can still see the cuff marks, just dropped his hitch-hiking boots onto Main Street. His car bomb temper has left a trail of shattered windows and broken jaws but Crimson is ready for a fresh start… perhaps wishful thinking considering his weakness for women in trouble.

Chesterton, however, could be a challenge. A ghost of a town since the mine shut down, Chesterton takes care of its own, and Crimson, with his glare and web of tattoos, is definitely an outsider. Then, Father John, guardian of the town's hopes, who owns a dilapidated property on Penance Lane, extends a kindly hand and offers Crimson the job as handyman. Crimson eyes the once-beautiful estate and realizes this is a second chance for the both of them.

But when Crimson uncovers something hidden and long-buried within the walls of Penance Lane he unleashes a world of dark secrets and violent intent. With the threat of being dragged into its hellish depths, will Crimson finally learn when to walk away? Or will he drag the town of Chesterton into this nightmare prison greater than anything he's ever known or even imagined?

The film will star Tyler Mane, Leslie Easterbrook, Renae Geerlings and most recently added, Muse Watson. They have some great perks for donating so be sure to check out their Indiegogo campaign. Donate if you can or share if you can't. Everything helps when you're making a film! You can also keep up with the progress of the film there.

A Sin That Cannot Be Forgiven Now Available on YouTube

Los Angeles, Ca. November 20, 2013 – The short, experimental horror film, A Sin That Cannot Be Forgiven, is now live on YouTube at http://youtu.be/fUvjw9upXEo.

A Sin That Cannot Be Forgiven was an Official Selection of the 2012 AOF International Film Festival and the 2013 A Nightmare to Remember International Horror Film Festival. Written, directed, produced, and edited by Maureen “Mo” Whelan, music by Alon Kaplan. Starring Andy Gates who’s recent appearances include Grimm, Got Home Alive, Hostage Do or Die, The Young and the Restless, Gemini Rising and Overly Attached Andy. Both are currently producing and starring in the Probell Films feature film The Divine Order.

Mo Whelan combined her childhood religious Catholic upbringing, along with her love for horror films into a dark, poetic tale about a man who breaks all the Ten Commandments in one day. Shot in a day, this short experimental film uniquely teaches the Ten Commandments within six minutes.

A Sin That Cannot Be Forgiven will also be available on DVD by Last Doorway Productions as part of a short horror film compilation on A Nightmare to Remember Volume One.

For more details regarding the film please visit the IMDB page at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2261181/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_4, for more details Maureen “Mo” Whelan, please visit her blog at www.modragonfly.com or her YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/MissMoDragonfly.

20 November 2013

Face Off's Sixth Season Premieres January 14 at 9pm ET on Syfy

NEW YORK – November 19, 2013 – Syfy’s smash hit and acclaimed unscripted series, Face Off, is back for a bold and extreme sixth season Tuesday, January 14 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Fifteen up-and-coming special effects make-up artists are introduced, all eager for the opportunity to achieve success in the competitive special effects makeup field. And in a Face Off first, the contestants travel to the other side of the globe for a special episode shot in Tokyo, Japan, where they are tasked with creating a stylized anime character based on their own alter ego.

Returning to the lab for the new season is actress and host McKenzie Westmore, along with judges Ve Neill (The Hunger Games, The Amazing Spider-Man, Pirates of the Caribbean), Glenn Hetrick (CSI: New York, The Hunger Games, Heroes) and Neville Page (Avatar, Prometheus). World-renowned makeup artist – and McKenzie’s dad – Michael Westmore resumes his role as the official contestant mentor.

The guest judges on tap for season six include Oscar winning makeup artist Tami Lane (Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings), Stephen Sommers (The Mummy, The Mummy Returns), Scott Stewart (Sin City, Legion), Oren Peli (Paranormal Activity), Oscar winning makeup artist Howard Berger (Inglorious Bastards, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe), famed creature actor Doug Jones (Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth), former Face Off series judge Patrick Tatopolous (Total Recall, 300: Rise of an Empire, Batman vs. Superman), author Roald Dahl’s daughter Lucy Dahl, Oscar and BAFTA winning makeup artist Valli O’Reilly (Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, Alice in Wonderland), Len Wiseman (Underworld, Sleepy Hollow), Two-time Oscar nominated makeup artist Kazuhiro Tsuji (Planet of the Apes, Men in Black, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), anime artist and sci-fi illustrator Hidetaka Tenjin and world famous music producer and DJ, Rusko.

Season six presents the most extreme challenge creative for the series yet, compelling the contestants to push the possibilities in nearly every aspect of their makeups to inspire the most magnificent characters and creatures in Face Off history. The season’s first Spotlight challenge is a Beauty & the Beast makeup in which the contestants must create an original Beast who would live in a chosen castle with its Belle. Additional challenges include the creation of an intricate Medieval dragon warrior that breathes not only fire, but also elements like ice and poison; an outlandish rock ‘n roll guitarist character; an original wizard inspired by an array of unique wands on display; a whimsical creation inspired by Roald Dahl characters that have been written about, but never-before-seen on screen; and a futuristic robot that has replaced humans in the workforce, complete with functional advantages in a particular field. Continuing the Face Off tradition, the season culminates with another visually spectacular and elaborate finale event – an amazing electronic, nightclub-inspired light show featuring the world famous DJ Rusko.

The Face Off contestants will be whittled down week by week, until only three remain for a finale showdown. The winning artist will receive $100,000, a 2014 Fiat and a VIP trip from Kryolan Professional Make-Up to one of their 85 international locations. Kryolan Professional Make-Up continues as the official make-up sponsor of Face Off.

To find out more about the cast of season six, see bios, photo galleries and video, visit www.syfy.com/faceoff. Photography and bios are also available at www.nbcumv.com.

Below are the season six Face Off contestants, all eager to follow in the footsteps of the many talented artists from past seasons who have achieved makeup success in film and television on such projects as The Hunger Games, Oz: The Great and Powerful and The Vampire Diaries.

Name: Bethany Serpico
Age: 22
Hometown: Delaware County, PA
Residence: Astoria, New York
Twitter: @bethanyserpico1

Name: Catherine “Cat” Paschen
Age: 25
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Residence: North Hollywood, CA
Twitter: @catpaschen

Name: Chloe Sens
Age: 21
Hometown: Austin, TX
Residence: Hollywood, CA

Name: Corinne Foster
Age: 26
Hometown: Dublin, CA
Residence: Whittier, CA
Twitter: mrsmakeupfx

Name: Daniel Phillips
Age: 44
Hometown & Residence: St. Clair Shores, MI
Twitter: @DPmakeupstudio

Name: Daran Holt
Age: 40
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Residence: Los Angeles, CA

Name: George Schminky
Age: 38
Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Residence: Walnut Creek, CA
Twitter: @schminkyfx

Name: Graham Schofield
Age: 29
Hometown: Boston, MA
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Twitter: @GCSFX
Name: Margaret Caragan
Age: 32
Hometown: Vallejo, CA
Residence: Oakland, CA
Twitter: @margaretannem8s

Name: Matthew Silva
Age: 23
Hometown & Residence: Atlanta, GA
Twitter: @Mattsilva

Name: Nicolas “Niko” Gonzalez
Age: 25
Hometown: San German, Puerto Rico
Residence: North Hollywood, CA
Twitter: @nikogonzalezFX

Name: Rashaad Santiago
Age: 24
Hometown & Residence: Bronx, NY
Twitter: @r1a2s3

Name: Tanner White
Age: 26
Hometown & Residence: San Diego, CA
Twitter: @Tan_or_White

Name: Tess Laeh
Age: 24
Hometown & Residence: Littleton, CO
Twitter: @TessLaeh

Name: Tyler Green
Age: 25
Hometown & Residence: Litchfield, CT
Twitter: @WonderbandMan

Face Off is an authentic depiction of the high creative standards necessary for a special effects make-up artist to succeed in their craft. The series debuted in January 2011 as a new reality competition program to critical and ratings success. Season five of Face Off averaged 2.29 million total viewers.

Face Off is a production of Mission Control Media with Dwight D. Smith, Michael Agbabian and Derek Atherton serving as executive producers.

18 November 2013

First Look at Zombie Apocalypse Film 'Escaping the Dead'

The good old classic quote "There's something rotten in the state of Denmark" rings true these days, although it is probably not quite in the way it was meant when written by William Shakespeare in "Hamlet"!

In directors Martin Sonntag and Bastian Brinch Pedersen's near-doomsday prediction "Escaping the Dead", Copenhagen reaks of rotten flesh after having come under attack of the living dead and the last remaining survivors fight for their lives.

The film stars Bastian Brinch Pedersen (who is also the co-director and producer of the film) as David, Rama Øzel as Ahmir, along with Daniel Hutera, Ali Öezkan, Iben Ma Bønnelycke, Nicolai Huan Nguyen, Camilla Ludvigsen and Kim Sønderholm ("Blood Fare", "The Winedancers", "Sinister Visions") playing Lars - a policeman that David comes across during his run out of the city.

Director Martin Sonntag about the film:
"The film is inspired by a series of articles about the deathdrug "Krokodil" that was published about the same period of time when Ronald Poppo had his face eaten by a naked man hooked on bathsalt in Miami. We saw it as the perfect zombie plot: a deathdrug that turns people into zombies.

The film has its starting point in a typical day for the lead character, David. David is the local marihuana pusher, but he is the kind of dealer that smokes more than he sells. In the meantime the country has been hit by a new deathdrug and when David and his partner in crime Ahmir is offered some exceptionally cheap cocaine they see it as an opportunity to earn big money at the big techno concert the following Friday, but the cocaine turns out to have a terrible side effect that creates a giant zombie outbreak that spreads across the entire Copenhagen. In the film we follow David and his bloody fight out of the city."

Hammer Film's Frankenstein Created Woman Coming to Blu-ray January 28th

Beverly Hills, CA-- (November 18, 2013) To kick-off the upcoming New Year, Millennium Entertainment is pleased to reveal their plans for a high-definition release of the cult classic 1967 Hammer Film, Frankenstein Created Woman on January 28th. Directed by Terence Fisher and starring horror icon Peter Cushing, Susan Denberg and Thorley Walters, Millennium's Collector's Edition of Frankenstein Created Woman marks the first time that US fans will be able to enjoy the film on Blu-ray here in the States.

Special features for the Collector's Edition Blu-Ray of Frankenstein Created Woman include a brand new documentary entitled "Hammer Glamour," an audio commentary featuring Derek Fowlds, Robert Morris and Jonathan Rigby, two World of Hammer episodes celebrating both the iconic character Frankenstein and the immortal Cushing who portrayed Dr. Frankenstein several times throughout his esteemed career, an animated stills gallery and exclusive collectible cards celebrating this timeless classic, perfect for any Hammer fan's collection.

In Frankenstein Created Woman, a tormented girl (Susan Denberg) drowns herself after her lover is framed for her father’s murder and guillotined. Baron Frankenstein (Peter Cushing), experimenting with the transfer of souls, places her lover’s soul into her body, bringing Christina back to life. With no memories of her past life, she becomes driven by a ghostly revenge and carries out a violent retribution on those responsible for both deaths.

Special Features:
Commentary Featuring Derek Fowlds ("Johann"), Robert Morris ("Hans") and Jonathan Rigby (Hammer Historian)
Frankenstein Created Woman Trailer
World of Hammer Episode "The Curse of Frankenstein"
World of Hammer Episode "Hammer Stars: Peter Cushing"
Brand New Documentary: "Hammer Glamour"
Animated Stills Gallery
Includes Exclusive Collectable Cards!

ABOUT MILLENNIUM ENTERTAINMENT:
Formed in 2010 and led by CEO Bill Lee, Millennium Entertainment is a leading independent supplier that acquires and distributes feature films. The company most recently released the horror-comedy Hell Baby from “Reno 911” creators Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant featuring a stellar lineup of comedy stars including Rob Corddry, Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer, Keegan Michael Key and Riki Lindhome; director Ariel Vromen’s The Iceman, starring Michael Shannon, Winona Ryder and Chris Evans; and What Maisie Knew from directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel, starring Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgard, Steve Coogan and introducing Onata Aprile as Maisie. Up next the company will release the hallucinatory action-thriller Charlie Countryman starring Shia LaBeouf and Evan Rachel Wood and directed by award-winning commercial director Fredrik Bond in his directorial debut and John Turturro’s Fading Gigolo which he wrote, stars and directs. The romantic comedy also stars Woody Allen, Vanessa Paradis, Sharon Stone and Sofia Vergara. Other releases include Academy Award-nominated director Lee Daniel’s The Paperboy starring Nicole Kidman (who garnered both a Golden Globe and Screen Actor’s Guild Award nominations for her role as a sultry, death-row groupie), Zac Efron, Matthew McConaughey, John Cusack and Macy Grey and Richard Linklater’s critically acclaimed Bernie, starring Jack Black (for which he earned Golden Globe and Independent Spirit Award nominations), Shirley MacLaine and Matthew McConaughey.

ABOUT HAMMER:
Originally founded in 1934, legendary British film studio Hammer has delivered a hugely successful run of films over the years including Dracula, Frankenstein Created Woman, One Million Years B.C. and The Vampire Lovers. Since 2008, the company has been part of Exclusive Media, which is reinvigorating this beloved global brand through investment across both traditional and new media.

Not in production since the 1980s, Hammer marked their return to features in 2010 with the release of the critically acclaimed Let Me In, an adaptation of the highly praised Swedish film Låt den rätte komma in. The film was written and directed by Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) and stars Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass) and Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road).

In 2011, Hammer released Antti Jokinen’s The Resident starring two-time Academy Award® winner Hilary Swank (Boys Don't Cry, Million Dollar Baby), Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hammer legend Sir Christopher Lee, as well as the critically lauded Wake Wood directed by David Keating and starring Aidan Gillen, Eva Birthistle and Timothy Spall.

February 2012 saw the theatrical release of Hammer’s first ever feature ghost story The Woman In Black, directed by James Watkins, adapted by Jane Goldman from the book by Susan Hill, and starring Daniel Radcliffe. The film has taken over $130m worldwide making it one of the biggest indie horror films ever. The next instalment, The Woman in Black: Angel of Death, began filming in November, 2013 for a 13th February, 2015 release.

Hammer's next film release will be The Quiet Ones starring Jared Harris and Sam Claflin.

In addition to its upcoming films, Hammer recently diversified into live theatre, launching Hammer Theatre of Horror. Hammer’s first theatre project was 'The Turn of the Screw' production, based on the classic ghost tale by Henry James, which ran at London's Almeida Theatre until March 2013 starring Anna Madeley and Gemma Jones.

Hammer also launched a book publishing imprint, Arrow Books, in Spring 2011 with Random House. Recent titles include Jeanette Winterson’s ‘The Daylight Gate’, Sophie Hannah’s ‘The Orphan Choir’ and Julie Myerson’s ‘The Quickening’.

In late 2012, Hammer also signed a deal with Paragon Entertainment to develop, build and operate a series of UK based 'Hammer House of Horror' visitor attractions.

For further information about Hammer and its parent company Exclusive Media, please visit www.hammerfilms.com and www.exclusivemedia.com.

ABOUT EXCLUSIVE MEDIA:
Exclusive Media is a vertically integrated global filmed entertainment company, founded in May 2008 with the backing of the strategic investment group Dasym Investment Strategies B.V. (formerly Cyrte Investments). Exclusive Media develops, finances, produces, markets and distributes prestige and talent driven commercial and documentary feature films on a global basis.

Exclusive Media is run by a five member Executive Board with Nigel Sinclair as Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Guy East as Co-Chairman, Simon Oakes as Vice Chairman and President of Hammer, Marc Schipper as Chief Operating Officer, and Ron Hohauser as Chief Financial Officer. Supporting the Executive Board in both the operational management and strategic expansion of the business is a strong team of highly skilled professionals who have a broad range of complementary experience.

Exclusive Media’s development and production activities operate through three specialist labels: UK based Hammer for genre titles, Spitfire Pictures for documentary features and the flagship label Exclusive Media for all other feature film production. Exclusive Media also enjoys a co-development and co-production deal with Cross Creek Pictures.

Exclusive Media’s international sales & distribution division maintains a strong marketing presence and represents the group’s in-house productions plus its growing library of almost 900 titles including the recently acquired library from Icon Entertainment International. The company also actively acquires third party feature films to further strengthen its international distribution slate.

The company launched a US distribution company, Exclusive Releasing and holds a minority stake in Millennium Entertainment.

Casting Announcements for Robert Hall's Fear Clinic

LOS ANGELES, CA – Dry County Entertainment, founded by director Robert Hall (MTV’S Teen Wolf, Laid to Rest, Lightning Bug) and Fear Chamber LLC, are proud to announce the first round of casting details for their upcoming production of the feature film FEAR CLINIC.

FEAR CLINIC began as a 2009 horror series for FearNet that consisted of five episodes starring up-and-coming talent like Lucas Till (X-Men: First Class) and Kate Nauta (Transporter 2) as well as horror icons Danielle Harris (Halloween 4), Lisa Wilcox (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4) and Kane Hodder (Jason Voorhees). The series and upcoming film stars Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise) as Dr. Andover, a fear doctor who treats patients afflicted with crippling phobias by inducing hallucinations inside his exposure therapy invention; The Fear Chamber. The series, which focused on a different phobia every episode, received critical acclaim including two 2010 Streamy Awards (Best Sound Design and Best Visual FX for Hall’s company Almost Human) and reached over five million hits on FearNet.com. It has since been added to On Demand and mainstream channels Youtube and Hulu, making it the most-watched horror web series in history.

The project has been in active development for a feature film, written by Robert Hall and Aaron Drane.

Robert Englund is back to reprise his role of Dr. Andover and and has found some fresh new patients to treat.

Fiona Dourif won fans with her role on HBO’s True Blood as Casey, a witch with a dark secret, but it was her recent turn as Nica in Curse of Chucky that cemented her as a bright new star in the horror genre. In FEAR CLINIC, Dourif portrays Sara Falls, a young woman whose phobias begins reemerging and must seek out the specialized help of Dr. Andover.

Starring as Blake Patton is Thomas Dekker, who skyrocketed to fame with his roles in cult series such as Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, The Secret Circle and Heroes as well as films such as Kaboom and Laid To Rest. Blake is a disabled man who is brought into the clinic after surviving a terrible tragedy.

Also announced is Cleopatra Coleman (Step Up: Revolution, Silversun) in the role of the boy-crazy and feisty Megan McAllister, Sara’s best friend who takes arachnophobia to a whole new level.

These actors join talents Angelina Armani (Chromeskull) and Kevin Gage (Heat, Call of Duty: Ghosts) in rounding out the cast.

“This is a whole different playing field,” says director Robert Hall. “My new film has a much darker and surreal tone than the episodes, and I think fans will really appreciate the direction we’re going in.” Regarding the cast, he adds “I’m terribly excited to get to collaborate with Fiona Dourif who blows me away with her talent, and of course Thomas Dekker gets the best out of me when we’re on set and vice versa.”

The film may be a more mature realization of the concept from the series, but at the heart of the story it focuses on the cerebral nature of fear itself and the manifestations it can take for different people.

The film opens with a tragedy that launches five people into the public eye and enlists Dr. Andover to lend his expertise to help them overcome trauma-induced phobias. A year later, terrifying ‘aftershocks’ rattle the survivors, leading to them finding their way back to the fear clinic seeking answers. As they line up for another turn in the chamber, Dr. Andover believes that something more sinister may be at work.

FEAR CLINIC begins filming next month for a Halloween 2014 release.

15 November 2013

The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival Returns To Brooklyn

Brooklyn, N.Y. November 15, 2013 - The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival has announced the official selections for its highly anticipated second annual event to honor one of the most revered writers within the literary world. The record-setting four-day experience will launch in Williamsburg, Brooklyn from December 5-8, 2013 at the prestigious IndieScreen theater and will screen numerous innovative features and shorts which are adapted or inspired by the unprecedented works of Philip K. Dick. Each of the films capture the distinctive boldness of the the genre and bring forth some of the most riveting moments of science fiction cinema.

The finalists set to be screened as part of the festival's schedule include:

FEATURES:
The Final Equation: Daniel Abella (2009, USA)
Thanatomorphose: Directed by Éric Falardeau (2012, Canada)
Vessel: Directed by Adam Ciancio (2013, Australia) •

SHORTS:
9 Minutes: Directed by P.J. Wolff (2012, USA)
Agophobia: Directed by Benjamin Ross Hayden (2013, Canada)
All of Me: Directed by Susan Koenen (2012, Netherlands)
Ascendants: Directed by Don Schechter (2013, USA)
The Astronomer: Directed by Philip R. Garrett (2012, USA)
Biographer: Directed by Viktor Gorbachev (2013, Russia)
The Compositor: Directed by John Mattiuzzi (2013, USA)
The Crystal Crypt: Directed by Shahab Zargari (2013, USA)
CyBelle Horizon: Directed by Rachael Reichert (2013, USA)
Deadstar: Directed by Brandon Wright (2013, USA)
Emit: Directed by J.S. Mayank (2012, USA)
Environmental Pressures and Species Adaptation: Directed by Jihyun Park (2013, South Korea)
Escape: Directed by David Conte (2013, USA)
Exit: Directed by Michel Goossens (2013, Spain/Netherlands)
The First Day: Directed by Nicholas Zafonte (2012, USA)
Hide and Seek: Directed by Kayoko Asakura (2013, Japan)
Honeymoon Suite: Directed by Zao Wang (2013, China)
Inside the Mind of the Alchemist: Directed by Kirk Zamieroski (2013, USA)
Karon: Directed by Erez Avni and Itai Edry (2012, Israel)
Khoon Ltd.: Directed by Rahul Desai (2013, India)
Luv U: Directed by Ben Garchar (2013, USA)
Lv-225: Directed by Ettore Biondo (2013, Italy)
Odessa: Directed by Cidney Hue (2012, USA)
The Pod: Directed by Eric Pennycoff (2013, USA)
Promised Land: Directed by Joe Turner Lin (2013, USA)
The Session: Directed by Rick Craft (2013, USA)
Son of Man: Directed by Janek Ambros (2011, USA)
Sulfuric: Directed by Jeffrey A. Brown (2013, USA)

As further details become available including scheduling times and ticket sales the festival anticipates another successful event, further solidifying the city's strong and endless appreciation for Philip K. Dick. 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 festival's recent event in Lille, France screened numerous films and enjoyed much success in its first global outings. The team behind the annual festivities continue to hold seasonal gatherings across the city and will also pioneer a Spring 2014 cyberpunk festival in Tokyo.

The Philip K. Dick Festival of Science Fiction, The Supernatural, Metaphysics and Drama 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 Williamsburg's IndieScreen theater at 289 Kent Avenue at S. 2 Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211. For more information please visit http://www.thephilipkdickfilmfestival.com, the festival's Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/ThePhilipKDickFilmFestival and Twitter page at https://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. Following a successful 2012 inaugural year, 2013 marks the second annual Brooklyn festival which will expand it's genres of films and panels and its recent 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.

Evil Dead the Musical Calls on Fans to Vote


Las Vegas, NV, November 14, 2013: EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL, the show that has been taking over the Las Vegas Strip one bloody t-shirt at a time, has been nominated in 5 categories for the BroadwayWorld 2013 Awards.

"We are grateful to be nominated in the first place, but in to wake up and find out we've been nominated in so many categories is thrilling," said producer and director Sirc Michaels. "We are excited to see how well we do this year. This is a chance for us to be put up against some of the biggest guns on the Strip. They're in the flashier casinos, with the over-the-top budgets, but we have something that we find far more valuable - a legion of the best fans on the planet."

The trick will be mobilizing those fans. The winners of the Broadway World Awards are decided by public vote, and the cast and crew of EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL encourage everyone to take the time to make their voices heard.

The link to vote is: http://www.broadwayworld.com/las-vegas/vote2013region.cfm

The show has been nominated in the following categories:
BEST BOOK MUSICAL
BEST RESIDENT SHOW
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTOR - Ben Stobber as Ash
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTRESS - Lorie Palkow as Cheryl, Courtney Leone as Shelly/Annie, Lynnae Meyers as Linda
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR - Greg Korin as Jake, Scott Sherman as Scott, Kolton Rostron as Deadite, Shawnn Morris-Slaughter as Deadite

Voting closes on December 31, 2013. Live statistics are provided during the voting process, so voters can see how their favorites are faring against the competition.

About Evil Dead: The Musical
Evil Dead: The Musical is a unique production that combines multimedia, live performance, audience participation and 4D elements to take audience members into its world. From undead ushers to blood spraying out into the audience, this musical comedy is bringing a new type of entertainment to the Vegas Strip, and the people behind it are determined to make a lasting impression. Performances can be seen at the V Theater inside Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino every Friday at 10 p.m. and Saturday at 11:30 p.m.

Arthouse Horror Flick COYOTE Releases Clip; Wins Awards

Here's a clip from an arthouse horror film that has been banned at some film festivals and has won awards at others in its first public screenings: controversial director Trevor Juenger's Coyote. The film stars Bill Oberst Jr. as an insomniac writer whose sleep-deprived hallucinations distort reality as paranoia drives him to extreme violence. The surreal shocker, which mixes arthouse and horror, is shopping for distribution and it's first public screenings have elicited strong reaction. 

Director Trevor Juenger tweeted last week from a festival, "Someone in the audience keeps yelling What Is This? and What Does It Mean? We're going to give him an aneurysm by film's end." Juenger says a college screening of Coyote was shut down in mid-film by an administrator citing "extreme violence" while another public screening in the director's hometown of St. Louis had to be cancelled when the theater owner refused to run the film due to "extreme content."

Coyote's IMDb page shows 27 reviews, all positive. The film's wins include Best Feature at the 2013 Unreal Film Festival in Memphis and three Feature Film Awards at Pollygrind Underground Film Festival 2013 in Las Vegas, including a Best Actor Award for Oberst.

Fans of the surreal and the extreme can decide for themselves once Coyote gets distribution. In the meantime, here's a clip that director Juenger says "may be my favorite sequence in the film," the moments before Oberst's character snaps completely.

Coyote from Trevor Juenger on Vimeo.

13 November 2013

As Night Falls Now Available on DVD

Philadelphia PA - Breaking Glass Pictures and Vicious Circle Films are proud to announce today's 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.

Synopsis: 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) includes behind the scenes footage of As Night Falls.

Demon 2013 - REVIEW by Chris Young

During my teen years I spent many summers taking part in youth group activities at my church. It was free, kept me busy, and on the whole was a beneficial experience. So when I was around 22 years of age and came back from a disappointing couple of years at a college I only went to because I didn't know where else to go, I decided to use my video camera shooting and editing abilities to help entertain the next generation of teens. I had known most of these young people when they were younger and attempted to become a bit of a fun older mentor through our goofy movies. It was a good couple of years and I learned quite a lot about guerrilla filmmaking. This was information that would help me the rest of my life, and like waiting tables or running a cash register, it taught me how hard it is to make good work look easy.

When I began reviewing movies I had hoped I could stick with what were, in my humble opinion, just the good ones. Filmmaking is difficult and in some cases rather thankless work, and few things are as onerous as hauling ass on a production only to get lambasted in some armchair auteur’s weekly column. So hard to build and so easy to tear down.

But it was not to be. Recently I became aware of the fact that Tammy at Twisted Central was getting a little overwhelmed with her Twisted Tails Film Festival duties and could use a hand chipping away at some of her screeners. I offered my help, she accepted, I picked one at random and promptly found myself watching one of the worst films I’ve ever had the misfortune of losing 90 minutes of my remaining life to. So much for my high standards.

My lucky jackpot selection turned out to be “Demon”, a sloppy unfinished straight-to-DVD video that isn’t bad enough to call shlock and not good enough to play on the SYFY Channel. Most of the plot centers around a disgraced FBI agent, played quite competently by Jasmine Waltz, who is sent to investigate the unexplainable slaughter of two border agents. Along the way she is insulted and disrespected by the misogynistic local Sheriff and his halfwit deputies, followed around by a top secret government scientist who can’t wait to divulge what she’s been working on to anyone who will listen, and a Tribal Ranger for whom she builds a relationship with, presumable because he’s the only other character in the story who isn’t either stupid, abusive or out to undermine her authority.

The scientist eventually discloses that she and her aide have created the perfect killing machine, which they have released into the wild to observe its effectiveness before deploying it to the Middle East for desert warfare. As the bodies continue to pile up our heroine tries to catch the creature while navigating through a government conspiracy and dealing with PTSD she still has over losing her brother when they were kids.

THERE, I just saved two hours of your life that you can spend watching Subject Two or Session 9.

I knew I was in trouble when I thought for sure I’d been watching this movie for over an hour only to find out I’d barely hit the thirty minute mark. By then I had been subjected to various kinds of bad audio, like drop outs, poor recording and a blaring ambient noise track that frequently covered up the on location dialogue. In one scene where people are driving, the nature soundtrack is overwhelming, while there is a complete absence of motor sounds or even tire interaction with the ground. In another, where two children on the street run up to talk to the protagonist, you can tell the sound editor is using on location voice recording, except it somehow has a strange echo to it very similar to what you would hear inside a large room. I’m still trying to figure out how they accomplished that.

The editing swings between unintelligible and nonexistent, with shots staying on one character or another for far too long, even while others are talking, and seemingly random decisions about when to include reverse or insert shots. For example during a scene with a coroner we are given an unnecessary close up of rubber gloves being tossed into a trash can but get nothing when the scientists flash their identification. Long stretches of wilderness scenes have a strange purple cast with the gain turned up high as if they are both trying to attempt a poor-man’s bleach pass and imply some kind of “predator-vision” even though the shots are not from the POV of the creature.

Look, people. I have easily another two dozen notes of things that are just plain unacceptable in any kind of self-respecting film. I think the moment that finally gave me some inkling as to what I was watching was the scene where several characters are sitting around a campfire, each giving their line, one at a time as the camera turns on a tripod from one to the next without an edit. You see, when I made one of my little action videos with the teen group, we did the exact same thing. Why? Because we had no money, no crew to speak of, no script and very little time. That’s all cute for a group of teenagers, even endearing in the right circumstance.

But for a feature film, even a direct-to-DVD movie, not so much.

Jasmine Waltz deserves better than this. She has some serious acting chops. If she has an agent, fire him. If not, she needs to be more picky.

Ryan Lightbourn Unveils the First Trailer for Creature Feature Sleepwalkers

Director and cinematographer Ryan Lightbourn (“Roid Rage”) is ready to reveal his first horror feature, Sleepwalkers. This micro-budget creature feature is now in post-production. The film stars a shining cast of newcomers, such as starlets: Ansley Gordon and Amanda Phillips, horror movie veteran J. LaRose (Insidious 2), and porn star Dale DaBone.Together, this cast and their characters are drawn to the murky woods of Wekiva Springs, Florida, for an exciting Spring Break. In the darkness, they find more thrills than they expected, when creatures emerge from the local swamps.

The first trailer for Lightbourn’s Sleepwalkers is available here! The clip shows Kyle (Evans), Kate (Gordon), Amy (Phillips), Owen (Owen) and Evan (Tommy Goodman) enjoying Florida’s great outdoors. But, Florida has its secrets. A terrifying presence inhabits these grounds and their bite is infectious and deadly. These five friends will have to band together with the locals, including a convict (Doo-Doo Brown), to find these monsters weaknesses and survive the night. Fans of horror can watch as mayhem is unleashed in the backwoods and bayous of the Sunshine State.
Sleepwalkers is near completion and film fans will not have to wait long to see Lightbourn’s latest film. This creature feature will be released in 2014, through several film festival screenings. Fans of darker fare are invited to step inside Lightbourn’s body horror themed feature here, with the film’s first thrilling trailer.

Official synopsis: “Set in the deepest corners of Florida's woods, five college students attempt to enjoy a festive spring break getaway when they encounter a deadly, nocturnal presence. As horrific events unfold, the group joins forces with a local convenience store owner and a prison escapee. With night time approaching, they must set aside their differences and use their wits to survive.”
Release Date: 2014.
Director/writer: Ryan Lightbourn.
Producers: Aviva Christie, Tim Story, Jesse Fox, Ryan Lightbourn
Cast: Ansley Gordon, Amanda Phillips, Tommy Goodman, Ben Owen, Ben Evans.

Amnesiac Now Available on DVD

About the Film
A blend of supernatural horror and psychological drama, Amnesiac counts the cost of loss, guilt and reckless desperation as we delve into the life of one deeply disturbed young woman and the afterlife of one equally disturbed dead man.

Amnesiac is a psychological horror at its purest, chronicling the creation of a malevolent haunting born from the depths of a tortured mind at the heart of the film’s narrative. In true literary fashion, this narrative gradually subverts the viewer’s assumptions, eventually revealing the horrific truth hidden beneath layers of calculated deceit.

More Info on DVD Availability and VOD carriers at Midnight Releasing’s Website

Synopsis
In the wake of losing her baby, lonely Kate Faulkner has become dangerously obsessed with the occult, much to the horror of her only sister, Bec. One night, Bec and her boyfriend, Thom, visit Kate in order to try and make her see the danger of her obsession. Through the use of a Ouija board, they make contact with a mysterious spirit who offers to help Kate in her mission to find her dead son. But events soon take a menacing turn when the séance participants discover the true motives of the mystery stranger at their door and the dark, eerie place of child sacrifice known as Wyke Wreake.

10 November 2013

Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday The 13th (2013) - REVIEW


Finally what every Friday The 13th fan has been waiting for ever since the release of Never Sleep Again, the documentary on Nightmare on Elm Street, a complete documentary on the Friday The 13th film series.  Back in 2005 a book was released by the same name to serve as a complete behind the scenes history of Friday The 13th.  This served as a fantastic piece of reading for any Friday fan but would not be enough.  There needed to be something on the big screen for fans to get their Friday fix.

Here was have the most complete and in depth look at every film in the Friday franchise that fans have been itching for.  Spread over 2 discs and 2 discs of bonus material totaling well over 6 hours of viewing, enough to give an horror nerd a big ole geekgasm.  From the same creators of Never Sleep Again they have broken down each movie one by one and interviewing countless Friday alumni including some interviews that were not featured on the original book.  As a Friday fan I can say we have all been waiting for this a long time and finally we have something to sink our teeth into.  I guess I should also mention that it is hosted by Corey Feldman and that's all I am going to say about that.

I was very impressed with how thorough this documentary was in detailing every little thing about the franchise that has dominated the horror industry since 1980.  The set comes with 2 blu ray discs and 2 dvd discs as well as 2 more discs loaded with bonus material and I have to be honest I have yet to check out all the bonus material as of yet.  The first disc covers Friday 1-7 plus a small segment on Friday The 13th The Series.  I was a little disappointed with the little amount of time they spent talking about The Series because it is one of my favorite TV Shows but I guess there wasn't much they could say.  Although an interview with Robey would have been a nice add on to it.

The second disc starts with part 8 and goes till the end of the franchise to date.  I have to admit that from part 8 on are not my favorite of the series so needless to say the first disc is were it is at.  Once New Line took over the series I really could give a shit about those movies.  Jason Goes to Hell was terrible as well as Jason X.  The only one that really kept my interest on the second disc was Freddy vs Jason which we all know was fucking awesome.  Just to add something to F VS J, what the fuck happened to Monica Keena.  She looks like a totally different person and I don't mean that in a good way.  There is plastic surgery then there is I have too much money and going to totally make my face look like an alien.

All in all I really enjoyed watching this and have to say my favorite segment was the breakdown of Friday The 13th Part 3.  While it is not my favorite movie of the series it's my 3rd favorite as a matter of fact but knowing so little about the behind the scenes to this one and the interviews with the always gorgeous Dana Kimmel, as well as Paul Kratka, Larry Zerner, and the late Richard Brooker made this what I thought was the most informative segments of the doc.  Don't get me wrong each segment is awesome and the segment on the first film shows how it came to even be.  I would rate this 9 out of 10 stars, can't quite give it a perfect 10 because it was hosted by Corey Feldman.  I really think they could have found a better host than that.  Stay twisted everyone!

07 November 2013

Gone Dark Now Available on VOD

GONE DARK has begun its Video On Demand run this month and can be found on cable and internet providers such as Cox, AT&T, Verizon, Charter, SuddenLink, Amazon Instant Video, Vudu, Google Play, Xbox and more! The official DVD will release January 7th, 2014!

About the Film
GONE DARK is a bloody and brutal romp that challenges the envelope by pushing it in every way it possibly can. Guns, drugs, babes, GONE DARK has it all. Featuring memorable performances by cult film superstar Bill Oberst, Jr. (Children of Sorrow, Blackout, Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies, Take This Lollipop, The Secret Life of Bees). The film has been described by Rance Howard (Ron Howard’s father and one of the film’s main stars) as "The project, or the material, the script, reminded me of Pulp Fiction, and I thought, well, gee, you know this maybe can out pulp Pulp Fiction." GONE DARK is Natural Born Killers meets Kill Bill and is sure to leave audiences talking. Another cult sensation is born.

Synopsis
Five years ago Jack's partners helped him fake his death. When his little sister Kim becomes an agent she finds evidence that shows his partners killing him and blames them for his death. She goes off the grid to hunt them down and starts climbing the drug food chain to find Jack's former friend and closest partner, Slick, who took the blame for pulling the trigger on Jack. When the company finds out what's going on they send in several cleaners to clean up the mess they already tried to cover up. Everything gets bloody when Jack finds himself in the middle of an every man for himself hunt to the death where only the last man standing will walk away.