Dead Ink

I was very excited to be able to work on a segment for Steve Session's new tattoo-themed horror anthology, DEAD INK.


Floyd drew up his own sleeve of tattoos!


Rob colors the work I did on Floyd's other hand - a flaming eyeball with a tentacle coming out of the top!


Sabrina Larivee helped out moving lights, loading and unloading stuff, holding the boom and a zillion other things...and she plays a part, too!


Rob Merickel had a tough job...but somebody had to do it.


Floyd makes his best mean dude face...and I think it's pretty good.


Floyd Sumner, me, Sophia Maria and Rob Merickel

Blood Creek Woodsman Pick-Ups

Rob gets Adam all bloody for some pick-up shots. Thanks for the location, Floyd!


It's the happy couple!


Splattery foam latex guts!


Making bloody horror movies RAAAAAAWKS!!!!!!

Dug a hole...

Dug a hole in my back yard last night. My son came home and asked me what I was doing and I told him I was going to shoot a scene where a girl is laying half in the hole, her lower section covered in grass and dirt and fake blood & guts on her belly, so she looks like she was cut in half. He said he thought I was digging a grave. I said I kind of was. Then he said that it was actually kind of cool. Indeed.

Also started on another paper mache prop - covered a halloween plastic skull with a plastic bag and paper mache'd over it. Step by step...

Late last night the girl who is going to get killed in a scene on Sunday said her boss had put her on the work schedule for Sunday and she had to work until 5, so she couldn't be there at 2:45. I suggested we could still do it, just shuffle a few things around, so now she will be there at 5:30. Hope it all goes well.

On it goes...

Eat at The Markum Inn!

Well look what I found!



Not only do they have great burgers and desserts, but I shot a huge amount of BLOOD CREEK WOODSMAN at Ward's restaurant and house, too. Ward plays a bartender in the movie, a role he also played in my movie UNDERBELLY that I shot there a few years back. He also helped scout a bunch of other locations for the movie and even lined up a sweet police car for us!

Time is Flying By!

Finished the opening and ending credit sequences for EVIL RISING a few weeks back as well as a behind-the-scenes featurette. Handed it all off to John for him to finish the video edit. He said he has a list of about 200 sound fixes to make, but hoping he wraps it all up soon.

Making plans to shoot the remaining scenes for BLOOD CREEK WOODSMAN over the next few weeks, then can hand off to John who will being editing after he's done with EVIL RISING.

Designed a sweet DVD sleeve for the PG13 version of IT HAUNTS. Waiting to hear back from a duplicator with a quote.

Finished the 'Welcome Sister' segment of TWISTED FATES - music and sound effects all done. Have done a little work on capturing and editing the narrator/wraparound footage.


BLOODSUCKING REDNECK VAMPIRES had a screening Friday, May 7 at 8 p.m. to celebrate the grand opening of the new theater at the ƒ/stop Fitzgerald's Public House pub (and now theater!), 335 Grove St. NE Salem, Oregon 97301. The retitled movie (INBRED REDNECK VAMPIRES) is coming out June 29 - you can preorder it here: http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=MVD5000D

I have a new page on the website for it at http://www.skullfaceastronaut.com/drsquid/irv/

Looking very forward to going to Crypticon in Seattle this year!

More news soon....

Down, but not out...

This year has been particularly busy in the work, home and family departments, so progress on movie stuff has been painfully slow. I have some deadlines (some put upon me, some self-imposed) coming at me, so will have some progress on stuff soon.

Need to finish up the opening and ending credit sequences for EVIL RISING by Monday. Also hope to have a slightly trimmed batch of behind-the-scenes footage for EVIL RISING ready as well (at the very least, I have the raw footage pulled together).

Did a new ZIPPY WAFFLEBUNS short with my son and his cousin a few weeks back and recently shot another with another friend of his. Need to shoot a couple of parts then put that together.

In the midst of writing a short for a horror anthology I was invited to be a part of. Have the story outlined and one person cast - need to finish the script, cast, shoot and edit. Only needs to be 15 minutes long, so plan to knock it out in a weekend. On top of mine, I'll be cameraman for another short in the same anthology, shoot still to be scheduled. Both have to be delivered in the next couple of months.

Also recently did one small freelance video project and another to do in the new few weeks, plus a video project for work.

Have a handful of BLOOD CREEK WOODSMAN scenes left to shoot, some with actors, some just inserts, establishing shots and effects close-ups.

Still need to finish the inserts, music and credits for EATER. Need to get the PG-13 version of IT HAUNTS duplicated, then continue work on getting TWISTED FATES finished up. Still need to get that very last master copy of DEADLY PREMONITIONS so I can check it and look into getting copies duplicated. Heard that 'Crazed,' the latest segment for TRULY DREADFUL TALES is almost done shooting. Hoping to get that footage soon so I can edit it and add music. Still need to finish music for the 'BeetleManiac' segment. Then there is that werewolf short, but it's way far down on the list right now. Maybe this summer....

Oh yeah and there's that high school class reunion I'm helping plan and time is flying by!!!

Here we go!!!!!!!!!!!!

Inbred Redneck Vampires

Bloodsucking Redneck Vampires has been sold out from the distributor for a few years now, but they are rereleasing it in June with a new title and artwork. Same movie and extras as the original release. You can preorder it now at http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=MVD5000D

Thinking about planning a few screenings this summer since it will be available again...

Cooking, Party Planners, Feng Shui, Magic and a Docusoap. Really? REALLY?!?!?!

A new cooking show is coming about a catering and event company who is hired by a demanding client to produce an extraordinary celebration or event. The owner and his team of party planners and chefs must dream up a theme and cuisine and tap the depths of their imagination and culinary talents! New show on Bravo!? Food Network? Travel Channel? Of course, not, silly goose! It's a new show from SyFy Channel!

In another new show, a Feng Shui master interweaves contemporary, practical solutions with ancient mystical philosophies to arrange personal homes, restaurants, stores, and even sports arenas. Fabulous new series on my wife's favorite channel HGTV? TLC? Nope. SyFy Channel, of course!!

How about a show about a magician who teams with thinkers and illusioneers, starts with doodles in a notebook, and creates breathtaking, mind-bending events for his clients. Disney Channel? Another new not-a-cartoon for Cartoon Network? Oh why bother, you already know it's a new show on SyFy Channel.

Since SyFy describes it's next new show as a "docusoap," I'm not even going to bother with it. Docusoap? Really? It is about a inventor and scientist, so I guess that might actually be relevant to the "science" part of "sci-fi." OH WAIT! Sci-Fi changed their name to SyFy, so that doesn't even work now!!!!

A game show about special-effects make-up artists might be cool and I guess might connect to science-fiction films at least, depending on what types of effects they are doing. Another 'Paranormal' show, a Big Brother type of show with folks in a biodome and an 'Untitled Artifact Search Series' round out the list of new shows.

And don't forget, SyFy is your home for.....wrestling.

Footnote: Yes, I know Sci-Fi changed to SyFy last year and declared their new genre as anything that was "imagination-based entertainment" not "science fiction," so it admittedly no longer requires any of it's programming to necessarily be science-fiction, which makes this rant pretty much null and void as far as the SyFy folks would be concerned. But I don't care. I still think it sucks that I watch way more science fiction on THISTV, AMC and even FX and SPIKE for Christ's sake than on SyFy.

Zippy Wafflebuns: Cheese

Sickened

Director Phil Herman sent me this sneak peek at the cover for his latest flick, Sickened. I shot a sequence for this thriller. Check out Phil's site for the movie at http://gonehell.angelfire.com

BeetleManiac Pix

Isabelle Stephen sent me a few pics from the BEETLEMANIAC segment that she and Luc Bernier shot up in Canada for my TRULY DREADFUL TALES horror anthology. She just sent me the footage so looking forward to seeing it!

2009 End of the Year Wrap-Up

Another busy year is coming to a close in the ol' lab of Dr. Squid!

In the first few months of 2009, I was director of photography/sound man for writer/director John Bowker's EVIL RISING. I also helped with location work, photography, logo design & credits on top of playing a supporting role in this horror feature:

EVIL RISING was another bigger-than-expected project that took a lot of out me and was made more difficult because my wife and I were the only family caring for my father-in-law as he was dying from pancreatic cancer. That was the worst experience of my life. John postponed one big shoot, pushing it out a couple of months and for that I will be forever thankful. I've just finished a bunch of pick-up shots for John, who has a rough cut together and is looking at several months of sound work. Check stuff out at www.myspace.com/evilrisingmovie.

This year, I made more progress on my horror anthology TWISTED FATES.

I completed the video edit on the 'Welcome Sister' segment - just about done with sound effects and music.

I also finished video edit, music and sound work for the 'It Haunts'...

and the 'New Neighbor' segments! Next up, the narrator/wraparound sequence.

In the spring, I posted a ridiculously massive PLATOON OF THE DEAD production diary on my website at http://skullfaceastronaut.com/drsquid/potdblog/

The DVD was released from Tempe Video in May and included several fun extras I edited as well as a commentary track by me and John. You can pick it up on sale at www.tempevideo.com or rent it on Netflix!

We held a big premiere for it in Salem, Oregon and it was a total sell-out - the theater had to add a second showing on another screen!


Got a 90% done version of EATER together for a family and friends screening over Memorial Day Weekend. EATER is a sci-fi/horror short I've made with my son and his friends. Still need to finish that one up.

There are still just a couple of tweaks left on the DEADLY PREMONITIONS dvd.

We held a fantastic screening of it in Salem, Oregon in August and star Tom Stedham was out from Alabama for the show. A great time was had by all. Hoping my dvd guy can fix things up and I can get some copies made in 2010.


Luc Bernier and Isabelle Stephen shot the 'Beetlemaniac' segment for TRULY DREADFUL TALES up in Canada this year. I'm currently waiting on the the footage from them to edit.

Meanwhile, Matthew and Maria Aldridge are currently shooting the 'Crazed' segment in Ohio. The 'Death Nurse' and 'Treespirit' segments have been done for a bit. I am planning one more segment for this horror anthology.


In June, some buddies and I went to the Crypticon Seattle horror convention. We had a great time, saw some great screenings and met some new friends whom we eventually worked with later in the year. I posted a Crypticon Seattle 2009 trip blog on my website at http://skullfaceastronaut.com/drsquid/crypticon2009/


During the summer, John Bowker asked me to direct and shoot his latest project, a "body count' flick called BLOOD CREEK WOODSMAN. Tom Stedham flew out from Alabama to star and it's the second biggest project I've ever done next to BLOODSUCKING REDNECK VAMPIRES. Tons of shooting, huge cast, lots of effects, gallons of blood. We've been shooting off an on since the beginning of August and it's about 95% shot right now - still need to line up some pick-up and effects shoots.

John hopes to start editing by next spring, once he's done with EVIL RISING.


In the fall, I was asked to play a 'honky tonk extra' in a local vampire flick, THICKER THAN WATER. I also directed/shot/edited a sequence for New York-based filmmaker Phil Herman's latest movie, SICKENED. Heard that another movie I shot & directed a bunch of scenes for called SLEEPWALKER STRANGLER is just about ready for release.

Just a few days ago, an extensive interview with me was posted over at Smash or Trash Indie Filmmaking. Check it out at http://smashortrashindiefilmmaking.com/?page_id=556

In a year of deaths in the family, relatives in the hospital, downsizing at work, and all kinds of other crap, it is good to look back and know that I have such great friends around me who really have helped me through.

Here's to 2010 - a year in which I hope to finish up some of these long-in-production movies; attend another Crypticon Seattle convention; and eat, drink and be merry at some new screenings!

Happy New Year!

New Interview at Smash or Trash Indie Filmmaking Site

Check out a new and pretty extensive interview over at Smash or Trash Indie Filmmaking: http://smashortrashindiefilmmaking.com/?page_id=556

It was originally done in 2004 but never published, then Robert was kind enough to do a follow-up a few months ago to bring it up to date. Enjoy.

THEY WON'T STAY DEAD!

Had an awesome time last night checking out a zombie-themed surf band fronted by a guy I went to high school with - They Won't Stay Dead! (http://www.myspace.com/theywontstaydeadidoo). The poster said that if you dressed as a zombie you'd get in free, so Rob and I did! Craig was a zombie santa and they tore the place up!

Unfortunately my photo's kind of dark, but look at Rob's eye!!!!





I still have crunchy dried blood remnants in my beard, but I went and got donuts this morning anyway. No one asked a thing.

What a great way to start my Christmas vacation!

ABC, You Motherfuckers Ruined Christmas!

http://www.dorktower.com/2009/12/10/an-open-letter-to-abc-from-my-friend-leon/

Almost the End of the Year

Time seems to be whizzing by as 2009 comes to an end. I'm working on my end-of-the-year wrap-up.

Here is a freelance project I've been working on:



And so it goes....

Hero Hero - 20 Years Ago

My buddy Rob reminded me today that it was 20 years ago this week that we opened Hero Hero Comics Cards and Games. It seems like a lifetime ago..and it was - the lifetime of my son, who was born the week before the shop closed in 1997.

I found a few photos up in my office - they're not a complete picture, just a glimpse of what was many years of incredible experiences.


Chatting in the shop one late night with my buddy Mitch.


We had rubber stamps made with these cartoon faces I'd drawn of the 3 owners - we would stamp our faces next to items we liked in the monthly ordering catalog.


Frank and Rob - check out Rob's cool Madman shirt!


In-store appearance by Shane Glines. Shane was just starting out when he was at the shop. Soon after this, he moved to California to work for Spumco and went on to work on animated shows like Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond and Samurai Jack.


Frank, me, comic book artist (and featured actor in TRAILER PARK DOUBLE WIDE TRILOGY OF TERROR) Jack Pollock, Rob and our friend Dale at an in-store appearance by Jack celebrating the release of his Devil Chef one-shot from Dark Horse Comics. We are enjoying some celery, which according to a hilarious fake ad in the Devil Chef book is "nature's toothbrush for your colon!"


Rob watering the sidewalk on the day of Jack's in-store appearance

Taking Stock....

As the end of the year races towards me, I'm taking a look at where I am on many of my movie projects...

EVIL RISING - Writer/director John Bowker will be visiting next weekend to upload the final pick-up shots and credit files I have. Which means I need to get 'em done by then!

DEADLY PREMONITONS - Had an incredible screening back in August of a 99% done version. Just a few tweaks left to do.

TWISTED FATES - Have been working a bit on the 'It Haunts' and 'New Neighbor' segments, next up will be music & sound effects for the 'Welcome Sister' segment.

TRULY DREADFUL TALES - The 'Death Nurse' and 'TreeSpirit' segments have been done for a while now, the 'Beetlemaniac' segment has been shot and I am waiting for the footage. The 'Crazed' segment materials are in the hands of the director - hoping they can get something shot by the end of the year. Still haven't made that pool monster outfit, but am leaning back towards rewriting this is a mummy story (which I'd started to do last year).

BLOOD CREEK WOODSMAN - Man oh man this thing turned in to a monster. It's going to be a hell of a flick once it's done. Still have several pick-ups and inserts to take care of as well as a big flashback kill scene. Maybe this month?

Camryn Manheim

I ran a Camryn Manheim fansite for a few years, starting back at the end of 1997. At the time, there was very little about this actress on the 'net - she hadn't won her Emmy "...for all the fat girls," she hadn't published her "Wake Up I'm Fat" book, etc. I periodically gathered photos and news items and posted them on the site. In late 2002, Camryn opened a new, gigantic official website (http://www.camrynmanheim.com) which pretty much rendered my site obsolete. I chopped mine down to just these few pix and my tale of meeting her. More recently, I've been downsizing my site and decided to move that stuff here.

Meeting Camryn
Coolness of all coolness - I met Camryn Manheim! In person! In the flesh! She was in a nearby town for a book signing and through a variety of circumstances, I was invited to spend some time with her and her brother between dinner and her signing. So, my wife and I got to spend about a half an hour chatting with the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress in a dimly lit lounge in Portland, Oregon. It was surreal! I mean, we had watched her every week as Eleanor Frutt on The Practice and here she was..."real," right across the table. We chatted about my website for her, her brother's website for her, e-mail, movies, the gruelling book tour, etc. It was so cool and she was so nice. We went outside and snapped a bunch of photos before splitting up to go over to the bookstore.

When my wife and I got to the store (after driving around in circles for a while trying to find a good parking place), there was a loooong line and we overhead that this was the "overflow line." That is, the room was already full and they had roped it off. We figured we were screwed and wouldn't be able to hear the reading. Then, through a wonderful set of circumstances, we were waved through the rope and got to spend the entire reading and signing hanging out with Camryn's friends and family behind her table! Like I said, it was surreal.

It was fascinating to stand behind her during the signing and hear all of the things fans said to her. Many brought gifts and letters. Many were moved to tears in telling her how inspirational she was. A long lost high school classmate of Camryn's even showed up! We took some more pictures and then Camryn was off to the airport to catch a red-eye to Atlanta for a signing the next day. She was a very cool, funny and nice woman and quite an inspiration to all!

Blood Creek Woodsman - October Shoot Pix

Still shooting on BLOOD CREEK WOODSMAN. Shot on some private property in Dallas, Oregon for the movie's opening logging scene. The forecast was for afternoon showers, but it only sprinkled a few times! I also was very happy to have several old friends show up to act as cast and crew. Not only were they very helpful but they couldn't wait for their death scenes! True horror fans, all of them. As the day went on, we got more and more involved in squirting blood all over everyone and didn't really get any pictures, but here is what we did get.


Adam is mad...and Brent has no idea what's coming...


Bob as Jason the foreman


Craig waits with tubing up his pants while Rob prepares for rain...both water from the sky and blood from a pump!


Bob runs the blood-filled super soaker while Adam tries not to saw anything off and I try to get it all on tape!


Craig is impressed with Rob's chainsaw blade effect.


YEEEEARRRGGGGGH!


All smiles! Adam, me and Craig after a particular bloody death scene!


Rick in mid-splatter!