As we say goodbye to 2011, and reflect on the past year: the good, bad, ugly, meeting new people, making some great new friends, when I think about it, it's been quite an exciting year for me.
I wrote my first feature screenplay, Seekers, which made it all the way to the finals at Shriekfest. Even making it to the semi-finals was exciting for me. But to make it that far, was incredible. And it was first time writing a full length feature!!
I met some really great people who gave me great advice on writing including, Gregory Blair, Todd Farmer and Emilio Estevez. I'm forever grateful to everyone who has been supportive and encouraging me to keep pushing forward and never giving up. And I don't intend to.
I'm working on a few scripts, mainly devoting my time to a slasher script I am writing and will probably be submitted to Shriekfest 2012!
I'm looking forward to scaring the shit out of everyone next year! Muahahahaha! ;)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Hello Horror Freaks!
After a few days of resting my brain, I am finally getting back to working on my second feature screenplay, an original slasher tentatively titled Dead of Night, about a group of friends who are picked off one by one by a pick-axe wielding maniac named Roy Marley. It's kind of a throwback, much in the way of Adam Green's Hatchet films, to the 80's slasher genre that I had grown up watching, and still continue to watch to this day. But don't expect any mythology to the killer or some spiritual, other worldly bullshit. This guy is real and means business.
I will keep you posted on its progress and development throughout the coming weeks and months, leading up to the 2012 Shriekfest Film and Screenplay festival.
After a few days of resting my brain, I am finally getting back to working on my second feature screenplay, an original slasher tentatively titled Dead of Night, about a group of friends who are picked off one by one by a pick-axe wielding maniac named Roy Marley. It's kind of a throwback, much in the way of Adam Green's Hatchet films, to the 80's slasher genre that I had grown up watching, and still continue to watch to this day. But don't expect any mythology to the killer or some spiritual, other worldly bullshit. This guy is real and means business.
I will keep you posted on its progress and development throughout the coming weeks and months, leading up to the 2012 Shriekfest Film and Screenplay festival.
Friday, December 16, 2011
'Seekers' gets title change; 3 new scripts in the works
Sorry if I haven't been updating lately. Been writing like crazy working on three new scripts, one of which I'll submit to next years Shriekfest. I've also been fine tuning Seekers, which is now being called Resurrection of the Dead.
For Shriekfest, I am working on three screenplays, one called Shadows of Night, which follows a woman trying to protect her family from evil entities after they buy a new home. The second is called Slicer, about a young man who works in a deli and, after being tormented one time too many by his coworkers, decides to get rid of them the only way he knows how: by slicing them up and selling them to the unaware public. The third is called Dead of Night. about a group of kids on a weekend getaway looking to have a good time, only to be picked off one by one by a psychotic woodsman who kills people with a pick-axe. On the side, I am also working on Resurrection of the Dead 2, which will pick up immediately following the events of the first. I know what you're thinking: "The first one hasn't even been picked up yet." And that's true, but I have a fondness for Ashlie and how she will continue to struggle and fight to survive in a world crawling with the undead. And after rewriting her character a few times, I actually like her. I'm sure you will, too, once it's made.
So, there ya have it and it's probably why I have been feeling so burnt out, but I think it'll be well worth it in the end.
In the next few weeks I am also going to be developing my own website and looking to get financing for ROTD. Its going to be a challenge, but 2011 has been an incredible year for me. 2012 will be my year in horror.
For Shriekfest, I am working on three screenplays, one called Shadows of Night, which follows a woman trying to protect her family from evil entities after they buy a new home. The second is called Slicer, about a young man who works in a deli and, after being tormented one time too many by his coworkers, decides to get rid of them the only way he knows how: by slicing them up and selling them to the unaware public. The third is called Dead of Night. about a group of kids on a weekend getaway looking to have a good time, only to be picked off one by one by a psychotic woodsman who kills people with a pick-axe. On the side, I am also working on Resurrection of the Dead 2, which will pick up immediately following the events of the first. I know what you're thinking: "The first one hasn't even been picked up yet." And that's true, but I have a fondness for Ashlie and how she will continue to struggle and fight to survive in a world crawling with the undead. And after rewriting her character a few times, I actually like her. I'm sure you will, too, once it's made.
So, there ya have it and it's probably why I have been feeling so burnt out, but I think it'll be well worth it in the end.
In the next few weeks I am also going to be developing my own website and looking to get financing for ROTD. Its going to be a challenge, but 2011 has been an incredible year for me. 2012 will be my year in horror.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
'Dead of Night' is back on, website coming after the New Year
Hello All!!
After so much zombie writing mayhem, I have gone back to my very first screenplay I started writing over a year ago, Dead of Night.
After all we have Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, the grandfathers of the slasher genre that took over the 80's. In the 90's we had Ghostface from Scream and the Fisherman. But as we reached the new millenium, studios decided to, instead of making direct sequels, remake famous horror films. The first started with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre starring Jessica Biel. It wasn't bad, but it was nothing spectacular, either. After its success, a flood of remakes poured in with everything from Halloween, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Prom Night, The Fog, etc..
But something happened in 2007 when Adam Green came out with Hatchet and its crazed, backwoods swamp dweller, Victor Crowley.
Hatchet was a true slasher flick, a throwback to the genre the likes of which Freddy, Jason and Michael would be proud. Victor Crowley was more than a new name in the slasher films, it was like making a new friend and, even if you don't see him for a while, embrace him with open arms when you do. After I watched Hatchet, I was inspired to create my own type of serial killer.
But how would I go about creating a character that could be in the same league as all those famous serial killers in the movies I grew up watching and loving?
Well, it all started after a weekend trip to my friends' cottage in Michigan. The second night we were there, it was fun, sitting around the fire, drinking, talking. Basically having a good time. However, we all got quite the scare that night when we all we heard was a 'Whooo!' followed by a lot of rustling in the woods surrounding us. Not sure what, or who, it was, but it scared us enough to run back up to the house. Convincing ourselves it was probably just coyotes (or maybe a demonic cult) we went back down and enjoyed the rest of our night.
But, as we sat there, I found myself drifting in and out of perpetual fantasy. I decided right then and there I was going to create my own slasher flick. One that would be a throwback to the 80's horror genre, but stand up in our modern era. So I got to writing and, after careful thinking, the character of Roy Marley was born.
Revisiting Dead of Night, it hit me that Roy was just like meeting an old friend after a long time apart. One that I welcomed and embraced with open arms.
Roy is back and he's brought his pick axe.
In other horror related news, I've decided that I should get some kind of website going. Not sure how I will go about this, but I'll figure it out...eventually. I'm hoping to have it up and running some time in the New Year.
2011 was a year that was full of excitement for me from being a finalist in a screenplay festival, to making a lot new friends on Facebook and Twitter, all of who are in the horror genre in some way, shape and form. Writers who have given me a lot of great advice and encouragement, including Gregory Blair and Todd Farmer, actors that have also given me advice and support including the great Bill Oberst, Jr., John Dugan and Emilio Estevez, and directors such as Adam Green, John Carpenter and Wes Craven that have kept me inspired.
2012 will be my year in horror.
After so much zombie writing mayhem, I have gone back to my very first screenplay I started writing over a year ago, Dead of Night.
After all we have Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, the grandfathers of the slasher genre that took over the 80's. In the 90's we had Ghostface from Scream and the Fisherman. But as we reached the new millenium, studios decided to, instead of making direct sequels, remake famous horror films. The first started with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre starring Jessica Biel. It wasn't bad, but it was nothing spectacular, either. After its success, a flood of remakes poured in with everything from Halloween, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Prom Night, The Fog, etc..
But something happened in 2007 when Adam Green came out with Hatchet and its crazed, backwoods swamp dweller, Victor Crowley.
Hatchet was a true slasher flick, a throwback to the genre the likes of which Freddy, Jason and Michael would be proud. Victor Crowley was more than a new name in the slasher films, it was like making a new friend and, even if you don't see him for a while, embrace him with open arms when you do. After I watched Hatchet, I was inspired to create my own type of serial killer.
But how would I go about creating a character that could be in the same league as all those famous serial killers in the movies I grew up watching and loving?
Well, it all started after a weekend trip to my friends' cottage in Michigan. The second night we were there, it was fun, sitting around the fire, drinking, talking. Basically having a good time. However, we all got quite the scare that night when we all we heard was a 'Whooo!' followed by a lot of rustling in the woods surrounding us. Not sure what, or who, it was, but it scared us enough to run back up to the house. Convincing ourselves it was probably just coyotes (or maybe a demonic cult) we went back down and enjoyed the rest of our night.
But, as we sat there, I found myself drifting in and out of perpetual fantasy. I decided right then and there I was going to create my own slasher flick. One that would be a throwback to the 80's horror genre, but stand up in our modern era. So I got to writing and, after careful thinking, the character of Roy Marley was born.
Revisiting Dead of Night, it hit me that Roy was just like meeting an old friend after a long time apart. One that I welcomed and embraced with open arms.
Roy is back and he's brought his pick axe.
In other horror related news, I've decided that I should get some kind of website going. Not sure how I will go about this, but I'll figure it out...eventually. I'm hoping to have it up and running some time in the New Year.
2011 was a year that was full of excitement for me from being a finalist in a screenplay festival, to making a lot new friends on Facebook and Twitter, all of who are in the horror genre in some way, shape and form. Writers who have given me a lot of great advice and encouragement, including Gregory Blair and Todd Farmer, actors that have also given me advice and support including the great Bill Oberst, Jr., John Dugan and Emilio Estevez, and directors such as Adam Green, John Carpenter and Wes Craven that have kept me inspired.
2012 will be my year in horror.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
'Seekers' completed, female lead in the air
Seekers is completed, save for a few bits that need to be cleaned up. As for the cast, well, I think I have Bill Oberst, jr. as a shoe in for the male lead, Michael Larson, and I recently contacted Angelina Armani about playing Claire. As for the female lead, I told you before that I think Jennette McCurdy (tv's iCarly) would be a great choice, but after careful consideration, and being realistic, I decided if she can't or won't, then maybe Emily Browning (Sucker Punch, The Uninvited, Stranded) would play it.
I know what you're thinking, "Who is Emily Browning?" Well, I never actually heard of her name before either, but after I saw the cover for Sucker Punch, I wanted to know who she was. So, I did my research and she has an impressive resume under her belt. But lets see what happens. Things are starting to look up. It's a long process, but worth it.
I know what you're thinking, "Who is Emily Browning?" Well, I never actually heard of her name before either, but after I saw the cover for Sucker Punch, I wanted to know who she was. So, I did my research and she has an impressive resume under her belt. But lets see what happens. Things are starting to look up. It's a long process, but worth it.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
"You forgot the first rules of remakes: Don't fuck with the original!"
The horror series that reignited a dying genre is back in top form as SCREAM 4 sees the return of SCREAM vets Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courtney Cox, as well as a new generation of 'screamers' that includes Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Rory Culkin, Alison Brie and Nico Tortorella.
Dewey(Arquette) and Gale(Cox) must work together to stop a new Ghostface in SCRE4M, on DVD/Blu-Ray now.Set 10 years after the events of SCREAM 3, Sidney Prescott(Campbell) is now a successful author, having just published a self-help book and making Woodsboro her last stop on her book signing tour. Upon her return, Sidney reunites with Sheriff Dewey(David Arquette) and his wife, Gale(Courtney Cox). Along with reconnecting with old friends, Sidney also reconnects with her aunt Kate(Mary McDonnell) and her teenage cousin, Jill(Emma Roberts), who shows a striking resemblance to Sidney from the original movie.
To round out the rest of the cast is Jill's best friend, Kirby(Hayden Panettiere), ex-boyfriend Trevor(Nico Totorella), and horror geeks Charlie(Rory Culkin) and Robbie(Eric Knudsen), giving the film a modern twist with facebook, twitter, live web streaming and texting all woven into the plot nicely.
But not all is well in Woodsboro, as Ghostface is waiting for Sidney and is more than ready to finish her off once and for all. Its a new decade. There are new rules. And no one is safe.
, Emma Roberts is about to come face to face with a 'ghost' from the past.
Kevin Williamson's script is full of the same tongue-in-cheek humor, this time giving it a more modern twist with facebook, twitter, texting, and live web streaming woven into the plot, albeit quite nicely. The film revisits the discussion of the horror movie survival rules that gave the original SCREAM its edge.
Director Wes Craven knows the horror genre inside and out. The undisputed master of horror knows what he's doing and SCREAM 4, while not as revolutionary as the original, is still relevant today.
Friday, November 4, 2011
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