Steve Wang lecture at The Cinema Makeup School

Predator, Monster Squad, X3,Hellboy,and more.

Steve Wang's credentials pretty much speak for themselves and they sure do speak volumes

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0911036/

Along with Dick Smith ,Rick Baker,Mike Elizalde David Marti,and the late Stan Winston, Steve Wang has been one of the innovative pioneers that have kept creature effects alive and well.

I had the rare opportunity and pleasure to attend a lecture given by Steve that was held at The Cinema Makeup school in Los Angeles http://www.cinemamakeup.com/

The 3 hour plus lecture gave the lucky attendees the step by step look at how a full body makeup appliance is made.For me personally after seeing all the labor that goes into creating such a creature effect ,I truly appreciate all the masterful artistry that goes into fabricating it. On display throughout the lecture, Steve brought along some of his creations.The full body makeup and animatronic head of the tooth fairy from Darkness Falls http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282209/

and a Sammael skull from Hellboy.The workmanship that went into all the models on display were breathtaking.

Steve is currently working on Marvel Entertainment's "Thor "and is a producer and director of the CW kids show Kamen Riders http://www.kamenrider.com/

Screamfest 2009 Spotlight:Before The Fall (3 Dias)

From Writer/Director Javier Gutierrez comes the The Screamfest premiere of his film "Before the Fall (3 dias) http://www.beforethefallthefilm.com/index.html

A giant meteorite is about to collide with Earth. The planet is gripped by despair and chaos. The inhabitants of Laguna listen to the news in terror. Ale, a frustrated young man who lives with his mother, decides to spend his last days shut away, getting drunk and listening to his favourite music. But his plans change when he is forced to help his mother to protect his brother's four children when Lucio, an ambiguous, disturbing stranger appears.

Cast: Victor Clavijo, Eduard Fernandez, Mariana Cordero, Juan Galvan
Directed By: Javier Gutierrez
Written By: Juan Velarde, F. Javier Gutierrez
Produced By: Antonio Perez

Before the Fall (3 Dias) screens at Screamfest 2009 on Sat. Oct.24th at 7:00 P.M.

here is the full schedule and link

http://www.screamfestla.com/films.php

Screamfest 2009

'tis the season!....the haunting season!

This week is the start of the 2009 Screamfest.

http://www.screamfestla.com/index.php

Where for two weeks 10/16-25 ,films from around the globe are featured

celebrating the genre of horror and science fiction and all things in between!

here is the schedule of the films and shorts that will be featured

http://www.screamfestla.com/films.php

So gather your friends and someone to hold on to,

for Screamfest LA is here!!!

The Reaper Awards 2009 Pics

Dave Parker and Tad Hilgenbrinck

Sophie Monk

Thomas Dekker

Blake Reigle

Joe Lynch

Adam Green

Steve Barton

Sid Haig

The Reaper Awards 2009

On a dark and stormy night at the haunted Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the inaugural 2009 Reaper Awards http://www.reaperawards.com/about.html were held.

Celebrating the best in cult classics ,modern films and direct to video releases all encompassing the horror genre. Sponsored by Home Media Magazine and Dread Central .com ,the evening began with a celebrity filled red carpet and cocktail reception.

Such horror luminaries as Sid Haig (the Devil's Rejects), Sophie Monk (The Hills Run Red), Steve Barton, Director's Adam Green(Hatchet), Joe Lynch (Wrong Turn 2), Blake Reigle (Beneath the Surface), and Dave Parker (The Hills Run Red) were in attendance.After dinner, the "Grimmys" were awarded to films in categories such as Best Zombie, Best Vampire/Werewolf, etc.

here are the winners

Best of Show
Hellraiser Box Set, Anchor Bay Entertainment

Best DTV Release
Alien Raiders, Warner Home Video

Best Packaging
Hellraiser Box Set, Anchor Bay Entertainment

Best Boxed Set or TV Series
Dexter: The Complete Third Season, Paramount Home Entertainment/CBS/Showtime

Best Re-release
Friday the 13th: Deluxe Editions (Parts 1-6), Paramount Home Entertainment
Best Blu-ray Disc
Ghostbusters, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Best Indie/Foreign
[REC], Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Best Theatrical
The Last House on the Left (2009), Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Best Zombie
Quarantine, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Best Slasher
The Last House on the Left (1972), 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment/MGM

Best Slasher
Laid to Rest, Anchor Bay Entertainment

Best Ghost Story
The Haunting in Connecticut, Lionsgate

Best Vampire/Werewolf
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Best Re-mastering
Hellraiser, Anchor Bay Entertainment

Lifetime Achievement
Michael Felsher, Red Shirt Pictures

This was truly a great event.It presented the opportunity for these types of films to be recognized for the true art form that they are.

Special Thanks to Kyra Kudick and Erin Foley of Questex Media and Thomas K. Arnold of Home Media Magazine and Steve Barton of Dread Central .com http://dreadcentral.com/

Hope to see you Ghouls and Gals next year!!!

Screamfest 2009 Spotlight :Bajo La Sal

Director/Writer Mario Munoz's film ,Bajo La Sal (Under The Salt) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1110207/

gets The Red Carpet treatment at next weeks Screamfest 2009 http://www.screamfestla.com/index.php

Munoz's film centers around a series of murders that lead Commander Trujillo (Humberto Zurita, Propiedad Ajena) to Santa Rosa de la Sal, a small salt mining town, where he meets Victor Zepeda (Ricardo Polanco)- a lonely teenager who works in his father's funeral home and spends his free time making crude animated horror films. Victor's strange behavior and hobby make him a suspect in the brutal crimes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7-HHasohnU&feature=fvw

Trick 'R Treat

This is totally gonna date me ,but oh well here goes!

I long for the days when I would seat in front of my TV for hours and watch The Twilight Zone ,The Outer Limits,Rod Serling's Night Gallery,Tales From The Crypt,and films like Creepshow or Twilight Zone :The Movie.

A good anthology series or movie hasn't been seen in a while ...Until now.

Now out on DVD/Blu-Ray,digital download,On Demand,Cave drawing(actually not really,though I'd love to see it) Is Michael Dougherty's Trick 'R Treat.

http://trickrtreat-movie.warnerbros.com/

Reminiscent of the anthology series mentioned above ,Trick 'R Treat brings back the old school feel of scary storytelling.Told in a non linear fashion,the film follows four intertwining tales that tie up all their loose ends by the flicks finale. Think of a Halloween film in the vein of Quentin Tarantino.

I liked this film.It's creepy,scary and most importantly,fun.

There are some twists and unexpected turns that are the meat and potatoes of any good anthology series and film.What I like to call the "a-Ha " moments (no, the 80's new wave band doesn't make a cameo...I told you I'd be dating myself)! The moments in a movie when you go "a-Ha..I didn't see that coming! "To Serve Man" is a cookbook? WTF!" Now, if I just spoiled that episode of The Twilight Zone for you..that's what you get.Shame on you for not seeing that one.

Destined to be a Halloween Classic ,Trick 'R Treat is indeed a treat.