ALIEN. Thirty-five years ago today. I remember being there like it was yesterday.

http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3295762/alien-scared-shit-audiences-35-years-ago-today/

So, wow. Thirty-five years ago today, ALIEN came out. This makes me feel terribly old. I would have been at the end of first grade in 1979.  Despite the young age, I was fortunate enough to see this masterpiece the day it came out....with my parents of course.

Things were different back then. Before major movies like this came out, the comic version came out months before the movie. Novelizations came out. Picture books, magazines, etc, etc. I had the *graphic novel* version of the movie...published by Heavy Metal of all magazines....and the Making Of Alien book (I still have these today). I was prepared for all the gruesome things that were about to unfold before my eyes....the egg chamber was creepy, the facehugger jumping out startled me. However, despite my knowing *exactly* when the chestburster scene was about to happen, nothing prepared me for what was happening from that point on. I was *amazed*.The last half hour had me terrified and thrilled and overjoyed....the same feelings I get to this day. It was like being in the ultimate haunted house. From that point on in my life, I was amazed with everything Giger made up (well...mostly....what they published in the sci-fi magazines....I only later discovered just how sexually warped the man was a few years later in middle school). 

ALIEN became a turning point in my life kind of....something I always remember. Gone was the *innocence*  of STAR WARS and Spielberg. This was the *real shit*. I was inspired...not scared...it dared me to dream stories and not have nightmares.

Finally in December of that year, the giant ALIEN figure was released....in time for Christmas. Of course it was sitting under our Holiday Tree.....and...I still have it.

ALIEN. That was some experience back in May of 1979. Something that never will be replicated, recreated,...no matter how or where I see it today. Needless to say, I'm going to watch it tonight...

The *final* edit of Dead Therapy

Here it is. The final edit of my short film DEAD THERAPY with all color correction applied and some extra sound effects in the deep background. This is the version that is supposed to look old and faded...like a lost film that's been discovered from the 70's or 80's.

There is A LOT wrong with this movie. There is also, in my opinion, A LOT that is good. . I only ask anyone who watches this, to keep in mind that I have not made a movie in 13 YEARS.  I made or tried to make a feature that long ago....since that time all my efforts have gone into writing and writing only. So while there is a lot that I as the director and editor could have done better, everyone else did a great job. It is what it is....there's not much more I can do to *fix* it.  I'm *happy* with it and so here it is....

New Short FIlm Coming Soon

Even though I'm still kind of in post production (again) with Dead Therapy, I am attempting to get another short film of the ground. So here's the promo for it. It's a story of a woman who comes back home to aid her brother and the family restaurant and help her mother, who has developed a nasty habit.

I hope to start production sometime late summer.

RED FLUSH is here.....kind of ....sort of....I think.

New screenplay....three years in the making. Finally done to a point that I like it....I think.
It's a tribute to 80's underground horror (note the 80's retro fonts), Japanese urban legends (note the bathroom IS Japanese) and Body Horror. It's disgusting, gross, disturbing, and yet almost so over the top it's funny.
Bigger news.....I'm going to try do film the damn thing myself....someday. We are moving shortly (can't say where to yet publicly) but if I have to fund that damn thing myself, I will.
Look for a crowd funding campaign shortly. I'll post the links to it here.
Excited about my new future and the chance to hopefully do this in the next few years.

Dead Therapy

Here's a *version* of the final edit for my short film DEAD THERAPY.

If ANYONE is watching, let me know what you think. Good or bad.

Mind you this is a highly compressed version...there are better versions available.
Here is a link to an HD version or just play below if you wish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ildxGqxVTDM

March / April Update

So...I guess I don't really post here too much anymore. Now is as good of any time to do so, huh?

So.....my screenplay for Dead Therapy won an award.

Went out to California for the RIP Horror Film Festival last week.  Had a great time taking in some short  and feature films. Met some cool people and got to briefly meet Sid Haig.

Had the pleasure of being interviewed by Dawna Lee Heising for MoreHorror.com

Here is the interview as posted on Youtube!!

...and the awards ceremony. Nice little statue!!

Speaking of DEAD THERAPY, the short film is shot and edited. Waiting in line for color correction and music to be done. Hope to enter it into a few film festivals maybe.

I slapped together a trailer for it. It's almost never done for a short film, but I just wanted to have fun and do it. It played at the RIP Horror Festival and will also be playing at the New Art Film Festival, here in Champaign IL.

Here is the trailer.

IMDb link!:

Dead Therapy on IMDb

As soon as the short is done, I'll be posting info here.

I've collected a few awards and made some finals in my short two years of entering competitions...so not too bad. Yes...I am bragging here.

Until next time....

Long Overdue Update

It's been a long time since I've updated this.
Not too much going on.

So I'm going to point some hi-lights of the past few months.

1. My script 'Development Hell' failed to make the finals in any competitions. It got as far as quarter-finals in one L.A. area festival, but fell flat on it's face a few days later. I've been told it was too nihilistic, and the fact that a lesbian couple was front in center, didn't help. Ah well. So be it. Everyone can have their happy fake blockbuster scripts...not for me. I've moved on over it....it's not the best thing I've ever written but I'm glad I took the chance with something so moody.

2. I have two screenplays in finals at the RIP Horror Film Festival. My award winning (I use the term lightly) script 'With Child' is in the running for best feature script. My short 'Dead Therapy' is in the short list for Best Short Screenplay. Winners were supposed to be announced a few weeks ago, but the festival has been delayed until January 2014. Fingers still crossed...expectations low as always though.

3. Which brings me to 'With Child'. A few weeks ago, I got the golden opportunity to pitch the script to a studio in Canada. It went well, was a good experience and I'm thrilled that it happened. Sadly, as the game goes, I got a rejection letter a few days later. But again, it was a great experience, and I would not have traded it for anything. Remember the silly artwork that was done for Shriekfest last year...well...some may remember...I've added some of the new laurels it's gotten to it.

4. Work is progressing on my short film based on my script 'Dead Therapy'. Auditions were held a few weeks ago, and had a good turn out, Sadly, I had only a small number of roles to cast. So many good actors showed up. Anyway....scheduled to start production on January 11.  Here's a teaser ad for it. I know it's not much.

I'm not sure how this will turn out. I hope people are excited about it, but starting a production in the middle of the Holiday's is probably not the best idea, and there a several other productions going on at the same time. This is just a really short small film, so my hope is that people are excited about it.  Not sure what I'll do with it when it's done....
It's had some interest and offers from other people, but for some reason I'm crazy in thinking I can pull this off.... lol.

5. Looking forward to 2014....sending off  'With Child' to several more competitions this year. Seems like that one is getting the most attention. Also going to be sending off my new script "Reflecting the Void' to several competitions as well. Already did the HPL Festival.
Speaking of 'Reflecting the Void'...I'm happy with it. I've only had two people read it, one was a mixed review, the other slightly more positive. It's my long in development idea of an HPL story on a R/V....notice the first the word RV is actually in the tittle....'R(flecting) the V(oid)"....yes...it was planned that way. Both reviews said it was my easiest read though...that could be in my favor as it is more commercial and starght forward....until the end that is....

OK..that's it for now, IF anyone is reading....doubtful. This is my place to brag...Facebook slams you for doing so, so I figure this way if people are reading, they must be interested 'cause they clicked to get here!