It is a reality! Grazia the movie Premieres January 21, 2010 at Epic Theatres of St. Augustine, Florida. This moving suspenseful true love story is a powerful on-screen account of human emotion and expression which has action and is laced with intrigue. It was mostly filmed in St. Augustine, Florida September-October 2009. Other locations included Jacksonville, Florida, Palm Coast, Florida, and Putnam County of the State of Florida.

Saint Augustine, FL — The Producer, Dr. Wendell V. Fountain, Executive Producers Dr. Grace Mandicott Fountain and Angeline Mandicott, as well as Co-Producers Tricia and Mike Petroff and, of course, the Director, Shannon Wafford, are proud to bring to the screen this marvelous love story. Grazia can be seen at either a 2:00 PM or 7:00 PM viewing at Epic Theatres of St. Augustine, Florida located at 112 Theatre Drive in St. Augustine. Most of the cast members are expected to be there at the showings. For sure, the male lead, Wendell V. Fountain and the female lead, Tecla Dal Degan-Kindschi, will be in attendance. Other terrific cast members such as Hilary Teisan, Eric B. Smith, Anthony Pfleger, Albert (Al) Aldrich, Angela Ninan, Mike Corcoran, Missy Hall, Mike Petroff, James (Jim) Harsey, Ronnie Fountain, James (Jim) Hughes, Tom and Carole Prior, Krista Tutor, Dr. George Woodward, Gretchen Woodward, Amy Brackett, Steve Candfield, Dr. Melchor Carbonell and many others are expected to be in attendance at either the afternoon or evening viewings on the 21st of January. Since most of the film was shot in St. Augustine proper, the Producer and Director expect the members of the community to be excited about showcasing the oldest city in the nation. Amazingly, this is the first love story to be set and filmed in this wonderful, quaint, and romantic city of the state of Florida.

The MPAA has not yet rated the film, but it certainly will not exceed a PG-13 rating.

For ticket information, please call: (904) 797-5757

For other information about the movie, please call the Producer Dr. Wendell V. Fountain direct @ 702-535-4985 or e-mail him at wendellfountain(at)yahoo(dot)com.

To date, Grazia has been submitted to the Florida Film Festival and the Tampa International Film Festival & Gasparilla.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=podK9NseRmU

Tonight I am talking with Master William Mayhem, The Pirate Magician of St. Augustine who has recently been selected “as a Nominee/Finalist” for the Devils Dozen, Pirate Lord Contest.

DK: Hello William, tell me about yourself?
Master William Mayhem: Ok short and sweet… I was born in St. Augustine, Florida. I traveled as a military brat as a child, when I grew up I joined the Air Force and had assignments in Japan, Korea, Washington DC, and Area 51. Once I left the Air Force, I stayed in Las Vegas, Nevada where I worked as a Magician/Entertainer for many years before coming back home to St. Augustine… where I hoped to use my talents to make a life for myself and give back to my hometown, which has been a part of my family for 150 + years.

DK: What inspired you to become a magician?
Master William Mayhem: I started out as a fan and read everything I could on Harry Houdini. (In my day the Magicians of the time were Blackstone Jr., and Doug Henning… these are magicians that I admired) Also my Mentor Dick Bishop, (a Vegas Lounge magician in the Rat Pack Days) taught me that it wasn’t the tricks that made the magician it, was the persona you put to it all… if you believed then your audience would believe.

DK: What is your position on the Black Raven Pirate ship?
Master William Mayhem: I am the ship’s Magician, and only one part of the crew of other very fine talented entertainers. I also like to think that my 35 years of entertainment experience added to that of the other crew members, gives us the talent to put on a well rounded show that gives a bit of fun and enjoyment to everyone…

www.blackravenadventures.com

DK: Tell us about you recent nomination for Pirates Magazine? And the upcoming contest?
Master William Mayhem: Pirate magazine this past summer put the call out to pirate groups around the country to nominate their captains, which would then be voted on for a final selection of the Devil’s Dozen, Pirate Lords of the United States. The St. Augustine Swashbucklers Nominated me, and now I have been chosen as one of the final 24 Nominees. For the final voting process I ask that everyone who reads this article to please do me the honor of voting for me at Piratesmagazine.com. I also hope to have plenty of local support here in St. Augustine. Being a home town boy, I truly would like to succeed in this contest, not just for me but for what ever possibilities are on the horizon for the entire community.

The nomination is an honor to me in that so many of my pirate comrades and compatriots would consider me worthy of such a position. But more important, I hope that it will be something I can live up to as a representative of the pirate community and make all the pirates, along with my family and home town proud to support me. I hope it can become a unifying act for many of the pirates in this area.

www.Piratesmagazine.com

DK: I notice that you are rather busy, but out of curiosity; what do you like to do in your spare time?
Master William Mayhem: I like to work on new ideas for magic, build and or rebuild magic tricks that fit into the pirate era. I have given of my talents to the St Francis house, the Florida School for the deaf and blind, several other schools in St Johns County, the 4H program of the county, the Cancer Society, and Give Kids the World charitable Organization. I also in 2007 and 2008 did a big scene set up of my home at Halloween time, in which I had over 400 visitors each year, and we collected cans of food for the homeless. There may be a few other smaller things I have forgotten… (laughs). Sometimes it all runs together in the hectic times of setting up and performing.

DK: Do you do private parties?
Master William Mayhem: I hire out for anything that I am asked to do, parties, weddings, corporate events, kid’s events… I am open to anything that my schedule permits and budgets permit… in this day and age budgets are not great for anyone, so I always try and find a common ground to be compensated for my work, without it killing the wallet of the parties interested in booking me for my service. This means that it’s not always about the money…

DK: Do you have a site for my readers to find out more about you?
Master William Mayhem: Yes, please go to:
www.myspace.com/madmagician
www.myspace.com/willliammayhem
josephlosteen.com/mayhem.html

I would like to thank William for taking the time to talk with me. I know he also does a segment called “Scalleywag of the Week”; on a weekly radio show, The Riggsby Report, on Mondays from 6-7pm on station AM 14.20. this is also streamed live on the internet at RibbsbyReport.com

Be sure to vote for Bill www.piratesmagazine.com Devil Dozen section.

I am speaking with the Florida Ghost Chaser’s about their upcoming event, FGC Paragon which will be held on September 26th at the COMMUNITY CENTER 60 ORANGE ST, ST. AUGUSTINE, FL 32084.

Hi all, tell me how Florida Ghost Chasers began and what it is about?

We started out as a group of friends with like interest in the Paranormal Field. We decided that we would like to have a great team of serious investigators to go out and pursue our interest even more. Some of us have been investigating for many years while others just started out in the last year. Together as a whole we have over 40 yrs experience through our group!

We are a group of investigators in the North Florida area who have come together to investigate claims of paranormal activity. Our goal is to discover and record credible evidence of potential paranormal occurrences through audio, video, and data specific means.

We are not recreational investigators. Our mission is to collect verifiable evidence of the paranormal and to set a standard that will bring credibility to the field of paranormal research by bridging the gap between the paranormal researcher and the main-stream scientific communities.

Our team is comprised of people from different backgrounds and all walks of life, but we all have one thing in common- the desire to prove whether or not phenomena exist that defy the boundaries of nature, science, and reason.

FGC holds its operations to a higher standard than can be found within the main-stream paranormal research community.
FGC has chosen to separate itself from the hordes of Dust Chasers who have successfully defined paranormal research as the pursuit of mythology, misinterpretation, and trickery. As serious researchers, this boundary gives us the freedom to leave behind the failing tools, tactics, and brands of evidence that those in the main-stream paranormal community are bound to by custom and requirements of inclusion while allowing us to establish standards and protocol that are bound by reason and accountability.

Although we do investigate claims of ghostly phenomena, we are not to be confused as ghost hunters. We do not investigate for the purposes of linking seemingly paranormal activity with sources that are, for lack of a better word, mythological or improvable. Our investigations are geared towards proving whether or not paranormal activity exists at all in its basic form as an occurrence that defies logical explanation. Our tactics are geared towards eliciting and documenting genuine phenomena in a manner that will gain the respect and attention of the main-stream scientific community. We recognize that, in the end, they will be the ones who make the big discoveries pertaining to sources of paranormal activity. Our job is to provide justification and validation for their efforts.
Who are the organizers for the event? We Florida Ghost Chasers as a team collaborated together to make this event possible.

Tell me about some of the guests that will be attending?

Shawn Sellers- is a sensitive and paranormal researcher that currently resides in Montgomery, AL. He also Along with certain members of his team, he also handles cases in which people have been affected by dark entities. With his deep faith in God and a unique knowledge of the spirit he is able to perform cleansings and handle cases usually only reserved for clergy. In addition to the things of a darker nature.

Dusty Smith- is founder of Daytona Beach Paranormal Research Group. She is also Author of several books and runs a ghost tour out of Daytona Beach as well. Dusty also has a group called International Association of Cemetery Preservation that goes in adopts and restores Cemeteries that are in need of love and care.

Jenny Stewart- is Founder of the group PRRS which stands for Paranormal Research and Resource Society. It is based in Mount Airy, Maryland. Jenny has been in the paranormal field for 15yrs. She has done lots of work with the Ghost Box and is writing a book on it.

F. A. N. G. S.-
F.A.N.G.S. was established the eve of March 15th, 2006. They are a Small but Dedicated Team, Their Members bringing many years of knowledge and experience to The Paranormal Field. Their Mission is to Explore Local Claims of Hunting’s & Paranormal Activity in the Central Florida Area, research unexplained phenomenon, and to assist those who need help dealing with paranormal activity. Most People Fear what they do not understand, the Unknown….In Most situations, paranormal is merely normal, but in a few rare occasions, it is altogether something else….That’s where they come in…

This is just a few. We also have:

Dead Time Paranormal Investigations out of Cocoa Bch, Fl
P.R.I.D.E. Paranormal out of Bradenton, Fl
Graham Williamson out of Umatilla, Fl
John Springer out of Orlando, Fl

Will there be ghost stories, paranormal speeches?

Jenny Stewart of Paranormal Research and Resource Society will be presenting “Hello. Is anyone out there?” a hands on presentation demonstrating how to efficiently collect and review audio. The presentation also includes a demonstration on the use of the “Shack Hack” which Jenny has fondly dubbed the Ghost Box! PRRS has been one of the leading teams who have devoted countless hours to the use of the Ghost Box in research. A recent investigation they conducted with the aid of the Ghost Box will be featured later this year on a new show appearing on Animal Planet. Jenny Stewart is the executive producer of the full length documentary that will be released later this year Secret Sacrifices, The Henryton Project. Both have collected and reviewed over two hundred audio hours from the Henryton Project and will include some of the EVP’s collected during the project five month lifespan along with a sneak preview of the documentary.

Shawn Sellers will be doing Presentations on a number of topics – 1. Cleansings – How to protect yourself and home from negative entities. 2. The Dark side of the Paranormal – Various stories about his and SPR’s experiences with the dark side of our field. 3. The Legend of the Crossroads – Where music, spirituality and the devil meet. 4. The 2012 Theory

Deadtime Paranormal Investigations will be doing a presentation on a project going called “Ghost Awareness”, where they promote the use of safety techniques while conducting paranormal investigations. Their group personally encountered a very dangerous situation while doing an EVP session where a man was thrown against the wall by a great amount of force and it was done while using what they call “Provoking techniques”. They have footage of the incident where the man was thrown and thought they would use it during their speech and they would also speak about other cases where other groups have encountered these type of incidences. They have been gathering a lot of information about these types of cases and safety precautions for groups like ours to use. While they do promote the dangers that can be involved, they still promote paranormal investigations as it is probably one of the most important sciences there is due to the nature of the subject and what it means. It can ultimately mean our destiny as human beings and what is in store for us in the hereafter.

This is just a few of the day’s presentations that will be given! We will also be holding classes as simultaneously as other presentations are giving.

What types of entertainment will be at the event?

We will have Drum Circles and Belly Dancing throughout the day along with Drumming Classes!

You can contact us at: floridaghostchasers@gmail.com or call us at: 904-669-7311 or 904-364-8833

–
Thanks from the team at
Florida Ghost Chasers
www.floridaghostchasers.com

_

The 2009 New York City Horror Film Festival will take place November 18th through the 22nd at the world famous Tribeca Cinemas. Keep your eyes peeled right here for all the gory details to come!

Now offering promotional & vendor tables!

This year we will be offering a limited amount of promotional and vendor space for the 2009 New York City Horror Film Festival. Tables will be on a first come, first serve basis, so book the affordable space now!

Offering full promo packages for indie films (table, trailers, links)

For more information contact us at NYCHorrorfest@aol.com

Killer Shorts Sudden Death Competition

Monstermania and The New York City Horror Film Festival team up for the Killer Shorts Sudden Death Film Competition. If you have a short film less than 15 minutes and submit to the NYCHFF no later than August 17th it will screen at Monstermania!!!MONSTER MANIA is the New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia’s premiere Horror film & Memorabilia convention. Found in 2006 by David Hagen in 2003, MONSTER MANIA attracts thousands of attendees to their semi-annual show, and guests not only feature Hollywood legends, but many of the biggest names working in the genre entertainment industry today. Upcoming guests include director John Landis, actors John Astin, Michael Madsen, Michael Biehn, and many more. For a complete list of guests and events visit the convention’s website at www.monstermania.net.

The NYC Horror Film Festival in conjunction with Monster Mania Con (www.monstermania.net), & sponsored by FEARSmag.com, is offering short filmmakers a unique opportunity to have their short film viewed by a live audience – THE KILLER SHORTS SUDDEN DEATH COMPETITION. The Monster Mania audience will select one winner that will be part of the 2009 NYC Horror Film Festival programming. The audience will have their say on Sunday, August 23, 2009.

Sponsored by: www.fearsmag.com

Check it all out at www.nychorrorfest.com 

Hello Gunnar, I’m glad that I had the opportunity to talk with you. Please tell me about yourself.

I was born in Reykjavik, Iceland. At the age of five my family moved us to a small-town on the coast of Maine. Then we moved to Austin, Texas, where I attended high school. After graduation I attended the University of Texas.

Where did inspiration come from when you decided you wanted to be an actor/writer?

I really didn’t plan to become an actor or get involved with films, but during the summer of 1973, I found out that some filmmakers in Austin, Texas, were planning to make a horror film titled “Leatherface” (which later became “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”), and they were looking for someone to act as the killer. I tried out and got the part.

Regarding the soon to be released horror film “Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre”, what is your role in the film and can you tell me a little about the film?

I play Captain Petur, who has a converted fishing trawler that takes people on low-budget whale watching trips. During the trip no one is seeing any whales. When we get into trouble, a rescue boat finally arrives and everyone is moved to another ship where things begin to go awry and the horror begins.

The film was shot off Reykjavik Harbor in Iceland during August and September of 2008. Though the weather was good generally, we did have a couple of nights of wild weather.

Is there a tentative release date and where will it premiere?

The film will premieres on September 3rd, 2009, in Reykjavik, Iceland. http://www.kisi.is/

Will RWWN be submitted to any film festivals?

Yes, that is a possibility in the near future. I am hoping it will play in several festivals in the US as well.

One more question: what do you like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy photography and sailing. I also write screenplays and books. One of my books is titled “Islands at the Edge of Time,” available at Amazon.com.

I would like to thank Gunnar for taking the time to speak with me and best wishes on RWWM and his other projects.

Gunnar has also just finished a role in a film called “Won Ton Baby” where he played Dr. Kurt Severson.
http://www.fangoria.com/home/indie-frights/3204-first-news-exclusive-trailer-for-won-ton-baby.html

For more information on Gunnar and his craft go to:
http://www.gunnarhansen.com/& http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0360815/.

Please be sure to check out the RWWM trailer.

Looking for a quaint local spot to share a fresh pizza, music and ale along with a friendly and experienced staff…….head on over to Kozmic Bluz on 48 Spanish Street in Historic St. Augustine, FL (just 1 block west of St. George Street)

Recently I stopped at Kosmic Bluz for a pizza and ale. I was impressed by the nice size slices and freshness of the made to order pizza along with a friendly atmosphere!

Here is what some of the locals are saying:
“The slices are big and the price is right.”
- Judyth – StAugNews.com

“I enjoy the relaxed friendly environment and great fresh pizza”
- Sarah-Pub Tour Guide

Kozmic Bluz is one of the featured stops on the Haunted Pub Tour.

When looking for something quick and tasty stop by Kozmic Bluz and don’t forget to have a micro brew while deciding which toppings you would like on your pizza.

Kozmic Bluz is also available for private parties and is a pet friendly environment.

For more information: www.kozmicbluzpizza.com

Avast Mateys!

If you are looking for something to do while in St. Augustine that’s fun for all both young and adult, be sure to check out  the Black Raven, a pirate ship that leaves out of the City Marina in St. Augustine several times a day and cruises along Mantazas Bay.

I went aboard this replica of a Spanish Galeon and was greeted by Pirates who were very entertaining during the cruise. They told stories of past pirate attacks along with magic, mystery, sing a longs and mayhem. Everyone had a fantastic time.

I recommend it to anyone who visits to St. Augustine, Florida.

The Black Raven is also available for birthday parties, weddings as well as charters.

Also if you don’t have plans for the 4^th of July, I highly recommend booking a cruise on the Black Raven for an evening of fireworks over the Mantazas Bay.

Please see the website for further information:

www.blackravenadventures.com

Phone: 904 826 0000
Toll free: 877 578 5050
E-mail: info@BlackRavenAdventures.com

Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth in Saint Augustine Florida is a wonderful place to spend the day to go back in time to experience the  history of Ponce de Leon, the Timucua Indians, and the beginning of Saint Augustine, Florida.

When you first arrive, you will have a small guided tour including a drink of water from the fountain of youth. After that you will enter one of three exhibits. The first stop is the Planetarium where you will get a view of how Ponce de Leon navigated using the stars as a guide, next is an area with dioramas of the Timucua Indians and Ponce de Leon. This is where your tour guide will tell you the history of the fountain and how Ponce discovered it, along with other interesting tid bits. The third stop is the Globe, another interesting display which points out areas of discovery.

After the tour, you will be able to roam around in this peaceful 15 acre property where you’ll see various exhibits, including the statue of Ponce de Leon, the actual Fountain of Youth, beautiful Peacocks and live cannon blasts.

Of course it is a great place for a picnic. Enjoy!

Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth
11 Magnolia Avenue
St. Augustine, Florida 32084
1-800-356-8222
Tel (904) 829-3168
Fax (904) 826-1913
www.fountainofyouthflorida.com

I am talking today with Rocket Boy Homer Hickam author of several books along with the inspiring film “October Sky”.

How did Rocket Boys begin and what was your inspiration to build rockets which later lead you to become a NASA engineer?

It’s amazing that my memoir Rocket Boys continues to be so popular. I guess it’s my classic, the book I’ll always be remembered for. I’ve gone on to write ten more which have all been received well. Rocket Boys was actually my second book. Torpedo Junction was my first, a national best-seller that came out in 1989 and is still in print. Rocket Boys came about as kind of a fluke. I was asked to write a short article for Smithsonian Air & Space magazine and chose to write about my boyhood days building rockets while growing up in West Virginia. It was received so well, publishers started begging me to expand it to book length which I did. Now, it’s been published in a dozen languages, is read in almost every school system in the United States, and, of course, they made that movie October Sky based on it.

As for why I built rockets as a teenager, I was inspired by the beginning of the space race in the late 1950′s. I also wanted to impress my rather distant father who doted on my older brother, a football star. Rocket Boys has lots of themes and it seems every reader gets something different from it.

Also share with me a little about what type of engineering you did for NASA?

Most of my career with NASA was as a crew training manager which meant I trained astronauts to operate science payloads while in orbit. As I like to say, I had an easy job since astronauts already know everything (or think they do). Periodically, I also helped design spacecraft and space payloads.

I see that you have written several books, I would really like to hear more about your latest book, Red Helmet and what made you come up with the idea for the story?

I’ve never allowed myself to get stuck in one book genre. I’ve written naval history (Torpedo Junction), memoirs (Rocket Boys, The Coalwood Way, Sky of Stone, and We Are Not Afraid), science fiction (Back to the Moon), historical fiction (The Keeper’s Son, The Ambassador’s Son, and The Far Reaches), and now romantic adventure with my latest book, Red Helmet. Publishers don’t really like for their writers to be so genre eclectic since they believe it confuses the readers. But I figure if I’m passionate about whatever I’m writing about, my readers will be, too. So far, that’s worked out. I don’t really know where my stories come from. I guess I just thought it was time to write about a rich, beautiful New York City woman who marries a handsome coal miner and ends up working in the mine herself. It’s romantic, adventurous, and a bit of a mystery story. Quite fun to write and I’m told fun to read, too.

Are there plans to make Red Helmet into a feature film?

Yes, it is in what is called “Development Hell” which means a script is being prepared. We’ll see what happens next. An author is usually the last to know what’s happening to his book in Hollywood.

Tell me what it was like to grow up in a coal mining town and do you ever go back for visits?

I loved growing up in Coalwood, West Virginia. For one thing, it would ultimately provide me a rich heritage and some very interesting people to write about. I go back once a year to support the annual October Sky Festival. I spend the day mostly signing books for the many visitors. Coalwood is only a shadow today of what it was when I grew up there. The mine is gone and most of the people, too. Still, the town is proud of its history and I will always support it as best I can.
Why was the original title “Rocket Boys” changed to an anagram titled “October Sky” and who came up with idea?

The short answer is Universal Studio marketing people thought the original title wouldn’t appeal to women. October Sky is an anagram of Rocket Boys. Try moving the letters around and see. I frankly did not like this change. I think October Sky is a bit insipid as a title but I got overruled.

Do you have plans to make appearances and schedule book signings?

I give speeches about six or seven times a year through my lecture agency, Greater Talent Network. I don’t have time for much more. I try to make “An Evening with Homer Hickam” as much fun as possible by telling stories of life growing up in the coalfields. The audiences respond enthusiastically with lots of laughter and good feeling. I also go out on book tour when necessary. I have two books coming out in 2010 so I’ll see everybody on the road!

One last question, I’ve heard that you enjoy dinosaur hunting, tell me a little about that?

My next novel is titled “The Dinosaur Hunter” and is set in the Montana ranch lands where I go every summer to hunt dinosaur bones. The people who live out there are fascinating and I’ve formed an attachment with them. The dinosaurs are also wily beasts but I’ve had good luck tracking them down. I’ve been credited with finding two Tyrannosaurs so far along with numerous other types of dinos.

I would like to thank Homer for the wonderful interview.

To find out more information about Homer and his writings: go to:
www.homerhickam.com

When the Huguenot’s were buried in the 1800’s due to a yellow fever outbreak, they were buried in a public cemetery outside the town’s walls called “Huguenot Cemetery” in Saint Augustine, Florida.

Well, the problem was when some of the burials took place, the person was really not dead from yellow fever, they were in a coma. So what they did was tie a string with a bell to the person’s finger when they were buried. Then if the person came out of the coma and was still alive…they would ring the little bell and they would be dug up…That is where the term “Saved by the Bell” came from.

The only other problem was there had to be someone there to hear the bell ring that is when they hired people for …the graveyard shift at night…..which is where the term “Graveyard Shift” came from.