A film I co-produced and was director of photography on is now available to stream on Amazon Prime! MANOS RETURNS is the sequel to the 1966 cult movie "Manos: The Hands of Fate," a favorite on Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Tom Neyman returns as "The Master," as does Diane Mahree Rystad as Margaret and Jackey Neyman Jones as Debbie.
In MANOS RETURNS, "Four friends get lost on a road trip and stumble on a hidden cult lead by the sinister Master and his servant Torgo. As they try to escape, they get caught up in the power struggle between Debbie, given to Manos as a child 50 years ago, her mother Maggie, and the other souls twisted by their time serving the dark god."
Hey there everyone,
Well, with events being cancelled left and right, I'm still here plugging away trying to get stuff done.
3 weeks ago was the first time, actually, that a shoot had to be postponed due to someone's fears about COVID-19. Wow. Travel plans for someone involved in a top-secret feature project (that came together so quickly I had not even mentioned it here yet) changed, then 2 people dropped out. I could tell that more would likely drop out as well, so I called the feature off for now. That weekend, the governor declared gatherings I would have done to film thing thing illegal, so I guess just as well. Hopefully it is something I can do later in the year.
So what's been going on?
THINGS 6 - So close! I shot some good stuff with director/actress Tonjia Atomic a couple of weeks back, as well as the main part of the wrap-around. Got the opening sequence finished and also a cool initial sequence that I think people will get a kick out of. I had shot it few weeks back but had skipped one shot, figuring I could pick it up later. Well, then all the new rules started up - so, a few days later, I tromped way into the woods by myself, set up the camera, put on the costume and got the one shot I needed. That allowed me to finish editing the sequence in addition to locking in the music and doing some special effects. Have done a lot of sound effects and color work. Pretty much everything I can do until I can get together with a few actors to do a day or day and a half of shooting to wrap it up.
My band ZIPSQUID (http://www.joesherlockart.com/zipsquid) had recorded 11 songs and bits of music for THINGS 6, and I'm also working in a few of our previously recorded songs. It's working out really well. Here is a short song (it was actually a recording we did as a sound check, which is why it was just part of the song) that I sweetened up and is used in the movie: https://soundcloud.com/user-762948902/calling-for-you-1
THINGS 7 - I shot part of this back in November of last year just because a few people's schedules aligned. I'll kick this into high gear once THINGS 6 is completed, and I can get together with people again.
CHANNEL 99 - Just a couple of months ago, I got the idea to gather together some of the shorts I have done in recent years into a new collection. Initially I thought of some old VHS tapes being the framing device. But then I was talking to a few actresses about their availability for some other stuff and realized I could shoot a short we'd been all set to make 2 years ago and due to last-minute scheduling conflicts had to be cancelled. So we managed to get that segment shot in one long day, and it turned out so well, I decided to add it to this collection of recent shorts.
Well, then the vibe sort of changed and I got the idea to use a fake pay-cable channel as the framing device and CHANNEL 99 was born! Having Showtime when I was in middle and high school exposed me to all sort of flicks and it's been fun to create some similar bumpers and fake commercials for Channel 99, inspired by the late-80s ones on Showtime.
Things sort of continued to morph and I've ended up shooting two more new segments to go into the movie! I'm just editing along on this while stuck at home and it's nearly done. However, there are a couple of critical scenes I need to get with an actress in Portland and she's staying at home for the time being so, I'm just kind of stuck getting the last bits I need for it. As soon as I can get it wrapped up, I'll be sure to let y'all know!!
Had fun helping my friend Floydman Sumner put together a commercial for his new self-published trading cards THE ROCKING DEAD! Check it out here: http://www.therockingdead.com/index.html
I posted about actress/director/dancer/artist Amira Lyn the other day on Facebook, and that she had been working on a film from a screenplay I wrote called BAD ILLUSIONS, based on a story by Luc Bernier. Amira gave me an update: "Still have 2 small scenes to film and once this virus goes away I can finally get it done and edited." Excellent!
This blog is movie stuff for the most part, so I'll just stick to those highlights:
Amazingly, at the beginning of January I decided to make a new movie to show at Crypticon Seattle - which was the first weekend in May!
A mere four months later, DARK ZONE THIRTEEN was done and premiered at the con. A horror anthology of stories I wrote, with 4 segments directed my me and 2 by Joseph Voegele/Jon Stone and Filip Hanzek, it was a big hit!
Extended making-of featurette about "The Doll" segment from DARK ZONE THIRTEEN (spoilers!): https://vimeo.com/359907377
I also did a cool illustrated Axemas 2 poster for director John Ward.
Also in January, I sold out of the limited edition Skullface Astronaut Box Sets!
Meanwhile, I'm sold out of DEADLY PREMONITIONS DVDs and am just about out of UNDERBELLY discs as well. Still wondering if I should get more ordered or just leave it as available on VOD only. Hmmm...
This year I was thrilled to contribute a bunch of voiceovers as well as the title character's mask for John Oak Dalton's second microcinema release, SCARECROW COUNTY.
In February, I set up the joesherlockart.com domain for my freelance illustration and design biz.
In April, my horror short feature DIMENSION OF BLOOD (shot in 1995-96!) screened at Portland, Oregon's historic Hollywood Theater as a part of their Repressed Cinema series.
DARK ZONE THIRTEEN held its theatrical premiere at Portland, Oregon's historic Clinton Street Theater on Saturday, June 29, 2020!
Also in June, I did a 90-minute google hangout interview with David Strege and it was great fun going over so many of my flicks: https://youtu.be/m6TJoazc0SM
Also in June, I made a deal for a big box clamshell release of DARK ZONE THIRTEEN from Poser Rot Productions in California, and shortly after it was released, it sold out! Working on another limited edition release with them for 2020...
In July, I started shooting my latest project, THINGS 6for Sterling Entertainment!
In August, I got THE EVILMAKER and ABOMINATION: EVILMAKER II added to the Skullface Astronaut VOD channel. Plans are afoot for DVD re-release in 2020 with a new, 20th anniversary sleeve artwork. Stay tuned!
Also in August I was a guest at Destiny City Comics' FreakyCon 5 along with indie director Tonjia Atomic and actress Jackey Neyman Jones. It was a great day! Tonjia even did a quick interview with me for her youtube series:
In August cool video shop The Gorehound's Playground in Fort Collins, Colorado showed BLOOD CREEK WOODSMAN, DARK ZONE THIRTEEN, ODD NOGGINS and THINGS 5: STRANGE MONSTERS for a cool Skullface Astronaut weekend in their theater room!
October saw the premiere of the "Homegrown Horrors" event - a Skullface Astronaut horror title each Tuesday night for 4 weeks in a row at Corvallis, Oregon's indie Darkside Cinema.
We had cast and crew Q and A, prize drawings and even gave out free posters at the last show:
Continuing the celebration of horror in October, BEYOND THE WALL OF FEAR screened at Portland, Oregon's historic Clinton Street Theater. Fun Q and A and great to see it on the big screen again.
I went to HP Lovecraft Film Fest first weekend in October and it was fantastic! Lots of fun with my buddies Mike and Rob, and special guests Roger Corman and Richard Stanley were fun and inspiring. Just plain great weekend.
Also in October, I saw Joe Bob Briggs' "How Rednecks Saved Hollywood" presentation in Portland and it was really, really great!
I am still working on THINGS 6, but a few schedules aligned in November, so I shot one segment for THINGS 7 - with lots of slime!
In December, I did Salem, Oregon's Crossroads Comic Con and had a great time.
I had some cool gigs with my garage rock band ZIPSQUID and looking forward to more in 2020.
In 2019, I got to see KISS, Iron Maiden and Steel Panther - all great shows!
So, 2020 - all I can say is I am going to try and make this a fun, successful year - making movies, making music and being thankful for great friends.
Thanks to Mike McInally for a great chat and Mark Ylen for a great photo for this article in the Corvallis Gazette-Times. If you are local to the Corvallis area, and a horror fan, come on down to the Darkside Cinema for the next 4 Tuesdays and enjoy some Homegrown Horrors!
If you are interested in any of these pages, please drop me a line at skullfaceastronaut@gmail.com, and I'll set them aside for you (just use the letter code next to the page in the table below). First come, first served! Obviously there are only one of each! Each is a brush & ink & marker illustration on 11x17 bristol paper. $20 each plus shipping - after you let me know what you want, I'll get in touch and we can work out the shipping details.
As of this writing, Poser Rot productions only has 4 left of the ltd ed. DARK ZONE THIRTEEN signed & numbered big clamshell VHS release Comes with a cool DZ13 card and free Poser Rot goodie bag! Only 25 were ever made. Details at http://poserrot.storenvy.com/
Those who’ve been around here for a while will know that back in 1999 and 2002 I shot two movies for my buddy writer/director John Bowker: THE EVILMAKER and ABOMINATION: EVILMAKER 2. I’m very happy to announce that those two flicks are now available on the Skullface Astronaut VOD page:
While I was at Freaky-Con V up at Destiny City Comics in Tacoma, Washington, my filmmaking pal Tonjia Atomic did a quick interview with me about horror movies and what I’m up to these days. You can check it out!
Two blood-and-babes-filled double feature screenings were held at The Gorehound’s Playground video shop in Colorado:
BLOOD CREEK WOODSMAN and DARK ZONE THIRTEEN played on Friday, August 30 and ODD NOGGINS and THINGS 5: STRANGE MONSTERS played on Saturday, August 31. Big thanks to The Gorehound's Playground in Fort Collins, Co - check them out here: https://www.thegorehoundsplayground.com/
I set up these screenings for my flicks, ‘cause that’s what you do when you are DIY and it’s Halloween season!!!
Thrilled to add two movies I shot for my buddy writer/director John Bowker back in 1999 and 2002 to my Skullface Astronaut VOD page: THE EVILMAKER and ABOMINATION: EVILMAKER 2!
Just look at this beautiful DARK ZONE THIRTEEN limited edition VHS big clamshell release!!!!
I've partnered with Poser Rot for this release, limited to just 25, each signed and numbered by yours truly, plus you get a Dark Zone Thirteen card exclusive to this release, and other goodies!
This goes on sale this Friday, July 19, 2019, at 10 a.m. EST at http://poserrot.storenvy.com so get ready and get yours!
DARK ZONE THIRTEEN reveals the tales from the infamous unpublished thirteenth issue of a lost pulp magazine. Some speculate it couldn't be released because it was cursed. Perhaps it was too dark? Regardless, we've found it, and we're sharing the scary stories that for years have been unseen.
Jackey Neyman Jones (Mystery Science Theater 3000 fave MANOS THE HANDS OF FATE, MANOS RETURNS, THINGS 5: STRANGE MONSTERS, BEYOND THE WALL OF FEAR) returns to the Skullface Astronaut universe for DARK ZONE THIRTEEN.
OK, that's the set-up. What do we get? Evil doll. Serial Killer. Ghost. Magical book. Beings from beyond. Blood. More blood. Blood, babes and beasts. You know the drill. Pretty much the fun b-horror ingredients you've come to expect from me!
PNW indie horror shot in Oregon & Washington (and Croatia!) DARK ZONE THIRTEEN reveals tales from the infamous unpublished thirteenth issue of a fictional lost pulp magazine.
Jackey Neyman Jones, known for Mystery Science Theater 3000 fave MANOS THE HANDS OF FATE, the sequel MANOS RETURNS and Sherlock’s own BEYOND THE WALL OF FEAR, is featured along with a cast of regulars and, “a whole lotta blood,” according to Sherlock. He adds, “What do we get? Evil doll. Serial Killer. Ghost. Magical book. Beings from beyond. Blood. More blood. You know the drill.”
Sherlock wrote and produced the film and directed all but two segments, coordinating those with Joseph Voegele and Filip Hanžek. Sherlock served as editor and scored the film with frequent collaborator, and fellow indie horror filmmaker, Steve Sessions.
