Flashback Next Weekend!

Starting next Friday, Aug. 5th to the 7th, you’ll want to run off to Flashback Weekend that is taking place in Rosemont, IL, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. As always, they have a HUGE guest list, but if you’re a fan of the Nightmare on Elm Street films, then you don’t want to miss this one, since they have 10 guests from the series, including Freddy himself, Robert Englund! But there are plenty of other guests as well, such as director Steven Miner, who not only directed the second and third entries in the Friday the 13th films, but also directed House, H20, and Lake Placid, just to name a few. Then we have Alex Winter from Bill & Ted and Lost Boys, Brad Loree, Tom Jones Jr., P.J. Soles and John Michael Graham (Lynda & Bob) from the Halloween series, and so many more.

Double Dose of Horror at the Midway Drive-In

I know everyone (or most everyone) reading this has seen the original Halloween (1978) and A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) before. Many times, before, I’m guessing. But have you seen it projected on a screen 90 feet across? Then now is your chance because next weekend, June 24th & 25th, they will be having a special double feature screening both of these classic horror films that were game changers for the genre.

Learn of the Legends

For fans of the horror movie genre, as well as science fiction, fantasy, action, crime, dramas, and every single other genre out there, makeup effects have been around since the beginning of the art form. Turning actors into someone different, whether it be into someone older, a different gender, or something that doesn’t exist in our reality, it was the job of the makeup artist to make that transformation happen. In the beginning, sometimes it was the actor themselves that did it, especially ones like Lon Chaney who constantly turned himself into different characters. Eventually, the craft was taken on by individuals that not only carried on the art form, but created techniques and the makeup products themselves, advancing the artform even more. They allowed writers and directors to show filmgoers something they’ve never seen before onscreen. And a century later, these talented people are still doing it. Now, thanks to authors Howard Berger and Marshall Julius, you’ll be able to learn even more about them!

Movie Review: Dead & Buried (1981)

Dead & Buried (1981)
Directed by Gary Sherman
Starring James Farentino, Melody Anderson, Jack Albertson, Lisa Blount, Robert Englund, Bill Quinn, Barry Corbin, Michael Pataki, Macon McCalman

I recently re-watched this film for the umpteenth time and realized that not I didn’t have a review up, but it is one that I think is highly underrated. A really good and original story, an incredible cast, and some simply amazing special effects work by Stan Winston, a few years before he would change the future with Terminator (1984).

Soundtrack Review: The Phantom of the Opera (1989)

The Phantom of the Opera (1989)
Released by Restless Records
20 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 36 min.
Music Composed and Conducted by Misha Segal

I was one of those fans eagerly awaiting for this film to hit the theaters. I knew Robert Englund was much more than just Freddy Kruger so I was excited to see a new version of one of my favorite horror characters. I was not expecting the music to have an much of an impact on me as it did. So much so that I was drying for the score to get a release on CD!

Upcoming Shows

Now that Cinevent is in the books, lets look ahead to our next two shows coming up real soon.

Next month we head to Mars, PA, once again for the Monster Bash. Damn, do I just love this show. They have a great guest lineup this year, including Ricou Browning, the last living classic Universal monster! Their other guests include: Beverly Washburn, Martine Beswicke, Veronica Carlson, Christopher Neame, Sharyn Moffett, Cortlandt Hull, Kris Yeaworth, Tom Savini, and John Russo. They also have a few notable authors there, another reason I love this show, such as Troy Howarth, Frank Dello Stritto, Tom Weaver, Gregory Mank, Deborah Painter, and Robert Michael Cotter.

Freddy Mania at Flashback Weekend

If you are a fan of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, then the Flashback Weekend convention happening in about a month, is one that you are not going to want to miss. Not only will Freddy himself, Robert Englund be there, but there will be a total of 18 guests there that has appeared in one or more of the series, from the very first, all the way to Freddy vs Jason. Here’s all the Nightmare guests that they have announced:

Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp, Amanda Wyss, Ronee Blakley, Joann Willette, Lisa Wilcox, Brooke Bundy, Tuesday Knight, Danny Hassell, Brooke Theiss, Toy Newkirk, Andras Jones, Kelly Jo Minter, Ricky Dean Logan, Ken Kirzinger, Katharine Isabelle, Jesse Hutch, and Paula Shaw!

Need Some Advice to Start Your Career in Filmmaking?

Do you like to hear from different people in the film industry? From directors to composers to producers to actors, they all have insight to this crazy world that we follow. If you’re one of those that are trying to break into the film industry, what better people to get advice from than those that are already in the trenches. Filmmaker/author Danny Draven has written a book called Talk You To Death: Filmmaking Advice from the Mavericks of the Horror Genre, which consists of interviews with over 40 different people in the industry, asking for their own perspective on how to succeed in that crazy business of filmmaking.

Within these pages, you’ll hear from directors like Roger Corman, Jeff Burr, James Cullen Bressak, Mick Garris, Tibor Takacs, Mike Mendez, James Wan, Stuart Gordon, David DeCoteau, composers Charlie Clouser, John Ottman, John Debney, actors William Butler, Kane Hodder, Michael Berryman, Robert Englund, Reggie Bannister, Debbie Rochon, and many more, all giving the reader their own insight to the industry.

Even if you don’t ever plan on getting into filmmaking, I’m sure these guys are going to have some entertaining stories. I know I’ll be adding it to our library.