Selections for Megacon Indie Film Expo 2012 Announced

A number of cutting-edge award-winning independent films have been selected for presentation at this year’s Megacon on February 17-18th. Each year the Megacon Indie Film Expo showcases cutting-edge short independent films in the important genres of action, animation, anime, comedy, horror, super-hero, science fiction, suspense, and zombie. These fantastic films have been chosen by 3 Boys Productions, the founders of the Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival and creators of the horror adventure comic book series Students of the Unusual, for their Friday night program at Megacon on February 17th at 6:30-8:00 pm in Room 222 at the Orange County Convention Center. Donations will be accepted for the Hero Initiative.

Selected Films include:

Blinky™ directed by Ruari Robinson

Meet Blinky™. All this robot wants is a friend. The only problem is, he’s not very good at making friends.

http://www.ruairirobinson.com/

Stitched, written and directed by Garth Ennis. Produced and edited by Brian Pulido.

Somewhere in the Mountains of Afghanistan, three little figures stagger across the desolate landscape. Their Blackhawk burning in the rocks and the rest of the crew gone with it, the trio must survive both the terrible conditions and the hostile attentions of the locals. But there are worse foes than Taliban fighters in this ancient land, as an old and terrible force arises to serve a twenty-first century evil.

http://www.fearthestitched.com/

Paths of Hate directed by Damian Nenow

Metaphorical fight of two fighter pilots illustrates the universal truth about hate. “Paths of Hate” is a short animated tale about the demons that slumber deep in the human soul and have the power to push people into the abyss of blind hate, fury and rage.

http://www.pathsofhate.com/

The Breakdown directed by Robby Sparks

Stress relief never felt so good!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3137238/

The Bloody Jug Band – “Chained To The Bottom” Music Video directed by Steven Shea

Synopsis: Come with us on a trip to Hell and join the Devil’s Chain Gang, along with The Bloody Jug Band, in this visualization of their song “Chained To The Bottom”.

http://www.bloodyjugband.com/

Special Preview of The Space Coast directed by Lear Bunda

A NASA-themed Teen Comedy Concept starring Dana Snyder(Aqua Teen Hunger Force), Amber Freeman, Pat Martin, & Dustin Harbin

http://thespacecoastmovie.com/

Special Preview of Zellwood directed by Jason Sutton

Two young couples take one last relaxing trip to the country before moving to different cities. One final weekend getaway with good friends. Secrets revealed around the campfire bring out vengeful jealousies as the weekend takes a deadly turn and unexpected twist. Starring Playboy Playmate Sara Jean Underwood.

http://www.zellwoodthemovie.com/

Last Seen on Dolores Street directed by Devi Snively

In a hard-boiled town, a heartbroken woman says goodbye to an old pet and hello to a new nightmare. Sometimes, life’s a real bitch.

http://deviantpictures.com/

TS-101 directed by Anthony Dones

Set in the not too distant future where humanity is being primed for historic scientific change, courtesy of the dark and clandestine organization called LUMASOFT. Of their many Test Subjects, David Atchinson, emerges as an anomalous specimen. He soon discovers that the future of science and humanity itself lies deep within him. Written by John Ulloa and Julio Alvarez

http://www.creatureentertainment.com/

Death of Spider-Man directed by Andrew S. Bates

A bunch of my very talented friends thought it would be fun to bring to life the recent “Death of Spider-Man” storyline from Marvel’s Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man as a digital motion comic!

http://www.arrivalpointproductions.com

Zombie Years directed by Julio Alvarez and Juan Navarro

A short film that takes place in a post-apocalyptic Miami, Florida overrun by the living dead. When all that exists is death, it takes more than survival to understand life, and we see Delilah “Del” Esquinosa go about this in her own way, from finding a new companion… to keeping old ones. What is family, friends, or even life itself when faced with the dead who won’t DIE?

http://www.creatureentertainment.com/

As part of Megacon’s “Indie Film Expo” program, a panel discussion on filmmaking will be hosted by “Students of the Unusual” publisher Terry Cronin on Saturday March 26th. This will feature guest filmmakers and actors including Andrew Allan, Julio Alvarez, Lear Bunda, Anthony Dones, Andy Lalino, Katharine Leis, Pat Martin, Juan Navarro, Brian Pulido, Steven Shea, Robby Sparks, Todd Thompson, John Ulloa, and Bill Williams(Florida Independent Filmmakers). Special guests include Michael Bailey Smith and Brennan Elliott supporting their new feature film Blood Shot. The spectacular Blood Shot directed by Dietrich Johnston will have it’s Florida Premiere at Megacon on Saturday night at 7:30pm in Room 222.

Film Expo program chairman Terry Cronin states that “this is a unique opportunity to meet, network, and discuss independent filmmaking with the filmmakers themselves.”

For more info on MEGACON go to http://www.megaconvention.com

Michael Bailey Smith Appears on The American Perspective with Judyth Piazza…

In the late 1880’s there came a man who no one could seem to find. No matter how intense the search, local law enforcement as well as Scotland Yard kept coming up empty…never being able to arrest, Jack The Ripper.

As the killings took place one right after the other, prostitutes in the small area of Whitechapel were being found dead. In the back alleyways they had been carved up cleanly and precisely, as if a professional had performed surgery under the cover of night. The clues were not adding up, and the panic and fear that ran throughout Whitechapel was immense as everyone wondered where ‘The Ripper’ would strike next.

As the case went on and the murders kept adding up, the police became more and more stumped. Scotland Yard had no idea who the man was – focusing their investigation mainly on butchers in the area because they had the background of being able to “carve” flesh.

But as the year wore on the police explored every lead they had, until the river of evidence had simply run dry. Then, out of nowhere, Mary Jane Kelly took over every newspaper across the globe. This was a woman who would go down in history as being the very last victim of Jack the Ripper – his official swansong – leaving his most gruesome kill for his final curtain call. To this day Mary Jane Kelly’s form – lying on the bed inside the small apartment located at 13 Miller’s Court – remains the bloodiest and most heinous crime scene ever photographed. …Not to mention, the final ‘shot’ of the one serial killer who was NEVER caught.

In present day this gruesome location has been wiped clean, and the streets of Whitechapel are calm, luxurious and beautiful. Not one horrific clue or “eerie feeling” remains in the air, and the threat of anything evil has become more of a myth than a reality. There are many books, fiction and non-fiction, that tell the tale of the monster who got away. There are in-depth looks into the mind of a killer no one ever knew, leaving a mystical legend behind that will never actually be solved. A Cold Case of monumental proportions.

There comes a new one, however, that shows The Ripper in a whole new light – a monster who had a reason to make Mary Jane Kelly’s death the worst kill of them all. This real-life DaVinci Code offers a look at a brilliant treasure that may just remain buried at the address that has gone down in history as The Ripper’s last hurrah.

From an ancient book that was buried in the cornerstone of the New York Public Library by Andrew Carnegie when the mighty building began its construction in the early 1900’s, that offers clues to that horrific evening that Jack the Ripper is most remembered for, a novel now exists that brings readers on an exciting path where another killer – the self-proclaimed Devil, Aleister Crowley – honored his frightening mentor.

The story of Mary Jane Kelly was far different than The Ripper’s other victims. From 1888 to 1891, some say The Ripper was responsible for six slayings – others say eleven – but nobody will ever really know. All the women he preyed upon were poor, homeless and, in most cases, had no family or friends to speak of, but Mary Jane Kelly did not fit that mold.

With her auburn hair and sparkling blue eyes, Mary Jane was seen as extraordinarily beautiful, and came from the “upper-crust“ of British society. She was smart as a whip, and even though her situation involved getting “orphaned and shunned” by her well-to-do family, Mary Jane still looked at life as though there was a stellar future out there for her, once she got through the “low-point” she’d found herself stuck in.

Up until Mary Jane‘s discovery, Jack had always killed in back alleys at night. But the corner building located at 13 Miller’s Court was quite a busy place back in the day…and every evening. The one-room house had two fairly large windows that faced out onto the street, and the seedy bars, as well as the girls waiting to give their ‘all’ for money, flooded the street in front of the building at all hours.

After the body of Mary Jane was found, The Ripper simply disappeared – just like that. People say that Miss Kelly was The Ripper’s swan song, and that he saved the most gruesome for last. Jack’s kills were certainly horrible, but Mary Jane was a downright massacre. Law enforcement reported (and a very famous picture exists) that the interior of 13 Miller’s Court looked like gallons of blood had been used to paint the walls. The Ripper didn’t just kill her – he butchered her. Before Mary Jane the other victims had been dissected – their bodies were left ‘in a fairly clean and orderly state’ – like a surgeon had simply opened them up to study their organs. But with Mary, Jack didn’t want just her body and blood, he was quite literally digging for her soul.

A man by the name of Barnett came forward after the body had been found; a man who had been living on and off with Mary Jane at the time of her murder. It seems he’d gotten upset that she always let her friends live with them and not pay any rent, so Barnett had left about a week before Mary Jane was found murdered. The other women who had been living with Mary – a prostitute by the name of Mary Cox – said she’d seen Miss Kelly at her home around midnight, and that she was singing while standing at the open door. There were lights in the big window, even though a large sheet had been hung up for privacy.

Although Mary’s singing was heard by others, a scream was not. A man named Hutchinson said he saw her around two a.m., and told the constable that she’d asked him for a loan, but he was flat broke. He testified that when he was leaving, a very elegant man came walking down the street dressed all in black. He had on a top hat and gloves, like he’d just come from the opera, and was walking with a polished cane and a black leather bag.

Hutchinson also told the police that Mary Jane led this man into 13 Miller’s Court where they stood talking for a time with the door wide open. Miss Kelly was upset about losing her handkerchief, and he said that the mystery man pulled a bright red one from his pocket and gave it to her. As the door closed behind them, the elegant man apparently transformed into the monster the world was talking about.

During the investigation, a woman came forward who lived down the street from Mary Jane and said that around four a.m. she heard someone scream, Murder! But no one else heard a thing…not one.
After that, the hideous Ripper simply disappeared into the night. Some say his master called him back to Hell, as Mary Jane Kelly became the largest unsolved mystery in the history of the world.

As conclusions have been made over time, many stories have arisen about who ‘The Ripper’ actually was. Not only does the legend increase with every story, there are now ‘puzzles’ being put together that link Jack The Ripper with another dark and monstrous being.
There are some who say that in the early 1900’s the self-proclaimed Devil, Aleister Crowley, had found a way to hide a true treasure under the floor that The Ripper once walked upon. Although 13 Miller’s Court had been torn down and another building put up in its place, the location is still shrouded in mystery – knowing that this ‘ground’ was where the most notorious serial killer of all time had given his final performance.

In the literary world, an intelligent librarian has recently been introduced who has been able to form a cohesive path that leads from The haunted Winchester Mystery House in California, to Jack the Ripper’s final murder, to the location of the Last Supper, and the mystery surrounding St. Michael’s Tower in Glastonbury.

The adventures ‘popping’ up are truly extraordinary, and the real life facts will have readers running to Google to see the truth for themselves. Did ‘The Ripper’ leave something behind that would lead to solving the biggest question humanity still has? Or, did Aleister Crowley find a way to speak to his followers from beyond the grave?

To find out what exactly Tallent & Lowery discover at the location of Jack The Ripper’s final kill, read Tallent & Lowery: 13 – the first in a truly incredible adventure series!

www.preciousgemspublishing.com

www.befirstinc.com

Want to see anime fans dressed in pink wigs and outrageous cosplay outfits become even more animated and hysterically energetic than they already are? Just add a live-gunman-on-the-run to their anime/ horror convention. This was ZonaCon 2009.

Alright, maybe I should back up a bit. When we arrived at the convention center, a gunfight broke out – a Nerf gunfight. My photographer, Sally Evans, was a casualty as she was shot in the face in a drive-by Nerfing.

Inside the main room of the convention center at the Holiday Inn on International Drive in Orlando, only about 25-30 booths – artists and vendors alike – lined the walls. I have never seen a convention so tiny. As I strolled around the room, I took the opportunity to chat with a few of the illustrators present. I first came across Ted Techlin whose comic-board displays included inked drawings of recognizable characters like Wolverine, Master Chief from the HALO video games, Thanos, and Batman.

Alfonso

After the not-so-surprisingly awkward conversation with Alfonso, I came to a booth in which a certain cover of a comic caught my eye. It was a cover illustration I have seen in numerous comic book stores and plays to the popular theme of super humans living normal lives. The cover itself contains an image of a man standing on his front lawn in the morning holding a newspaper clothed in a blue bathrobe, pink bunny slippers and an ominous chrome helmet. “This guy’s actually not in the comic at all,” the cover’s illustrator, Greg Kirkpatrick, told me. Living in Infamy takes place in a sleepy town called Infamy where super villains go to gain protection from other super villains. Think of it

Greg Kirkpatrick

like a witness protection program for people with superpowers. Kirkpatrick penciled all four issues of the miniseries. He told me that the concept was first created as a pitch for a movie. The creators are still waiting on the word whether that will become a reality or not.

When Sally and I step outside for some fresh air, a barrage of costumed teenagers ran passed us, and I could hear excited shouts – something about there being a guy with a gun around. It wasn’t until I noticed the police helicopter and the numerous bike cops that I realized they weren’t talking about the drive-by Nerfers. Apparently, there was some dude running around I-Drive with a loaded gun. Of course this made all the cosplayers run – loudly, I might add – in fear of being shot by something besides Nerf darts. When we walk back into the convention center, just before the screening of Repo! The Genetic Opera, one of the head organizers of the convention is on stage telling all the scared kids that there is a shooter in the convention, adding more confusion to the situation. It took Terrance Zdunich, creator of Repo!, to tell the lady to back off and calm the crowd down.

Obviously, no one was shot at ZonaCon 2009 (except for Sally, that Nerf dart to the face really shook her up). And I got to snag an interview with Zdunich, but that’s next time.

Coming Soon: An interview with Terrance Zdunich – creator of Repo! The Genetic Opera.

All photos by Sally Evans.

Terrance Zdunich and a cosplayer

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.

Tell me about your latest project titled Party Girl?

The series is about being the first generation born in America, something Amanda Ramirez and I can relate to. The comedy follows Belen (Leni) Figueroa, played by Amanda, a party planner who receives unusual party requests from her clients. She deals with rumors of an office romance and also deals with a flaky co-worker, Jenna Bradley. Leni tries to balance work issues and the responsibilities expected of her from her family.

Tell me the role that you play?

I play Jenna Bradley. She’s first generation off the boat from Germany who really has everyone’s best interests at heart, but is a total ditz. She’s the comedy relief. This character is a huge departure from what I have played in the past and I loved every second of it.

Will it be a film or a television show?

It’s a Television Pilot – but only approximately 14 minutes or so.

Are there any other projects scheduled after this one?

I have two scripts I am working on currently and I am actually writing a book as well. Lights Point Cinema has another project I am producing and I’ve been in talks for two features this summer – but they are still in the development stages.

Do you have any advice for people just starting out in the acting field?

There are three things I can suggest based on my experience. First, never give up. If you don’t show up, you cannot succeed. Second, never allow negative people to get to you. They are going to try and knock you down with comments about looks, talent, experience and anything else they can think of. The idea is to use those comments to empower you: get more experience, take more classes. Do what you have to do in order to better yourself. Finally, don’t spread yourself out too thinly. Set boundaries for yourself and learn to prioritize. Sometimes that means carefully choosing between several projects that are moving forward simultaneously.

Will “Party Girl” be screening at any festivals when released?

We’ve been submitting Party Girl to various film festivals and have been honored with two awards: The Aloha Accolade Award for Excellence in Filmmaking from the Honolulu International Film Festival and the Golden Ace Award from the Las Vegas International Film Festival. So, the response has been wonderful. We’re hoping to release it sometime this year and either sell it or continue to make future episodes.

Kimberly was born and raised in Hicksville, Long Island. She attended Hofstra University and graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology. After college she attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice and obtained a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology.

During her final semester, she worked at Bellevue Prison Ward to complete her degree.

For more on Kimberly please go to:

http://www.KimberlyAmato.com
http://www.myspace.com/KimberlyAmato
http://www.UnderTheRavensWing.com

Party Girl – Trailer