Original Zombie Walk Fiendraiser Announced

The planet's original Zombie Walk - the Toronto Zombie Walk - keeps getting bigger and bigger.

This year they're expecting over 2,500 undead to shamble through Toronto in October.

But with popularity comes red tape. The city is insisting on parade permits, road closures, and increased police accompaniment.

Gotta walk, gotta trek for brains - gotta abide by the rules or become a slammer ghoul. What's an undead soul to do?

Throw a Fiendraising Party! Raise some cash to pay for raising the dead.

The Toronto Zombie Walk Fiendraiser will be at The Smiling Buddha Bar (961 College St. West) on Saturday July 18, 2009. Doors open at 9 p.m.

Bands include:

The Screamagers {http://www.myspace.com/screamagers}
The Raclones {http://www.myspace.com/raclones}
Skullians {http://www.myspace.com/skullians}

Come in Zombie gear for discounted tickets, as well as a chance to win our Zombie costume contest. Raffle prizes include gift certificates from Yonge Street Tattoos, leather chokers and passes to the opening night of the Toronto After Dark Film Festival.

You don't want to miss the flesh-eating event of the summer. Come and partake in the Toronto Zombie Walk's second annual Fiendraiser and help us continue to raise the dead every October.

Tickets:
$7 for Zombies!
$10 for Non Zombies (victims)

Prize packs donated by the following sponsors:

It’s My Party
Creeped Out Canada
Darkside
Anchor Bay Entertainment
The Krafty Kreep
Yonge Street Tattoos
Toronto After Dark Film Festival
Malabar
Spiked cow
2-Mile Jewellry
Burning Effigy Books
Tightrope Books
Creepy Christine
Invader Press
Cry Wolf Clothing
Quirk Books
and, of course, Crypt Club Productions Inc's "AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits"

Come, donate, and partake in some good, green fun for a ghoul cause. And bring your friends. These zombies are hungry.

LINKS:
TZW Fiendraiser
Toronto Zombie Walk
AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits

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Filmmakers: Take A Dip In the Texas Blood Bath

The Texas Blood Bath Film Festival is on the prowl for feature & short horror films for their inaugural festival running Friday November 13 through Sunday November 15 in Bellmead, TX. Let 'er rip!

The Texas Blood Bath Film Festival's mandate is to provide indie filmmakers who produce original, creative, and technically superb films an audience whose attention is focused on the screen - not on long lines to get celebrity autographs.

The Texas Blood Bath will honor the filmmakers and the fans - first and foremost.

Crypt Club Productions Inc. is proud to partner with The Texas Blood Bath Film Festival to celebrate & promote independent horror filmmaking.

Through AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits - our feature length DVD collection of great & award winning independent short horror films - we’re pleased to offer international distribution to the winner(s) of the BEST SHORT FILM AWARD.

For more information about film submissions, sponsorship & vendor opportunities, contact: Andrew Rose through the festival web site.

LINKS:
The Texas Blood Bath Film Festival
AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits

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HORRORphiles #3 Summer Scream Tonight only in NYC!

BEWARE! HORRORphiles #2 sold out, so plan to arrive early.

LATIN HORROR, in association with NEWFILMMAKERS, cordially invite you to the NewLatino Filmmakers Screening Series at Anthology Film Archives - "The HORRORphiles #3 - Summer Scream," featuring the work of emerging Latino/a directors working within the genre of horror.

NewLatino Filmmakers is the best and only independent Latino “cinematheque” showcase in New York City -- now in its 7th year! Docs, shorts & features. "Come early, stay late, pay one price."

WHEN: Thursday, July 2, 2009 ~ 6:00-9:30PM
WHERE: Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Avenue at Second Street, Lower East Side, NYC
PRICE: $6 at box office (general seating)

6-7:00PM - Reception with complimentary RUM & COKE cocktail shots in theater lobby.

7:00PM - Director's SINema Spotlight: narrative shorts program featuring WITHOUT SIN (William Caballero), and three short films by Rue Morgue's Rodrigo Gudino: THE EYES OF EDWARD JAMES, THE DEMONOLOGY OF DESIRE, THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF MISTER HOLLOW; plus first look trailers: THE MINISTERS (Franc. Reyes) and MONSTROUS NATURE (Jason Cuadrado).

8:00PM - Narrative Feature Film: DARK MIRROR (Pablo Proenza)

Following the screenings, Series Director & Curator Edwin Pagán will hold a Q&A with filmmakers in attendance.

ABOUT LATIN HORROR
LATIN HORROR (LH) is the first English-language publication dedicated to the genre of Latin horror and will feature the leading Latin/Hispanic/international "dark creative expressionists" working in film, theater, music, photography, illustration, graphic novels, "dark art" novelas, comic books, literature, and games—from the seasoned masters—to the up-and-coming Latin horrorphile whose work is grounded in horror, the macabre, and gothic arts.

LATIN HORROR will also give you a front row seat into this exciting universe through exclusive, intimate profiles, insightful in-depth articles into the latest trends and developments taking hold in the industry, as well as behind-the-scene peeks at the horrific cutting-edge projects coming your way.

LATIN HORROR - The Official Home of Latin Horrorphiles Everywhere

LINKS:
Latin Horror

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New Distributor Means Lower Price - For June

The indie horror web grows wider... and we're as happy as a spider at a fly convention.

IndieFlix.com is offering "AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits, Volume 1" for direct DVD purchase or 30-day streaming. If you've been holding off, now is your chance to strike.

It's now more affordable to have a scary summer - but only if you pounce before July 1, my fiend.

Until June 30, the "AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits, Volume 1" DVD is a mere $9.95 (that's right, less than a sawbuck!) from either IndieFlix.com or our own secure site via www.aaaaah-films.com.

IndieFlix's 30-day stream is a paltry $4.95 - a great way to try before you buy.

What are you waiting for? Act now. On July 1 these prices (like the undead) will rise.

“4 of 5 stars” - GOREZONE MAGAZINE

“...every film offers something fresh and unique to the horror genre... and had me thirsting for more.” - HORROR SOCIETY

“... some of the best short films I have seen in a while. This is real film making at it's best!” - HORROR NEWS

“...consider adding this to your horror film collection. You won’t be disappointed.” - THEOFANTASTIQUE

"All Killer - No Filler!" Discover a feature length collection of great & award winning short horror films by independent filmmakers - including the Director of SAW 6.

These films caused a buzz on the festival circuit - then vanished.

If you saw them the first time you know what we mean. If you missed them then, enjoy them now.

From a dark, cautionary tale (THE CRYPT CLUB with Alison Pill) to gallows humor on the job (GHOST BUSTED); from the grotesque otherworld inspired by H.P. Lovecraft (THE VEIL) to present-day outbreak fears (THE NINTH ENTRY); from the stylishly bizarre (MY SKIN!) and the chillingly macabre (OCULUS) to the dire family survival drama (OLD FRIENDS from the Director of SAW 6).

Dim the lights & dig in for your own private horror film festival.

Act now and get warmed up for the release of "AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits, Volume 2". But I'm getting ahead of myself. That news is worth its own headline.

In the mean time, enjoy volume 1, and stay tuned...

LINKS:
IndieFlix
AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits

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New Indie Horror Service: DOA Management

Whether you're an actor, director, or producer, there's a new company on the horror-izon that will provide entertainment management for indie horror talent.

Andrew and Dione Rose are proud to launch a new business concept for the independent horror industry – DOA Management.

DOA Management will provide “Hollywood Style” management services, to include talent management, casting services, publicity services, production consultation, and other customized services for the independent horror actor, director, and producer.

As the producer of HorrorMovieFans.com Indie Horror Radio on
blogtalkradio.com, Andrew is in tune with the independent horror
industry. Andrew and Dione are fans of independent horror cinema and have a large network of actors, directors, writers, producers, sf/x artists, and media contacts.

Check the link to learn more about this exciting new company and what it can do for your indie horror film career.

Tell 'em Mighoul sent you...

LINKS:
DOA Management

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Panel & Screening Schedule at World Horror Convention

I'm stoked about guesting at the World Horror Convention 2009 in Winnipeg, MB. Looking forward to meeting some great local filmmakers & horror fans. The WHC runs from April 30 to May 3. I'll be there May 1-3.

In addition to wall to wall screenings of cool horror shorts & features - including past winners of the Tabloid Witch Awards - there will be a daily Filmmaker's Bloc.

The Filmmaker's Bloc will feature 3 horror films (1 feature plus 2 shorts) followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers. Topics will include horror, filmmaking, distribution, and the festival circuit.

Expect a different discussion each time, as well as a vigorous Q&A session during each bloc. Winnipeg is, after all, a top filmmaking town in Canada. So bring it on!

See you there in the dark...

PANEL: Thomas M. Sipos, Los Angeles-based director of the Tabloid
Witch Awards horror film contest & festival, and actor in "The Ancient Law"; Kelly L. Young, Seattle-based writer of "H.P. Lovecraft's Strange Aeons"; and Miguel Gallego, Toronto-based writer/director of "The Crypt Club".

"H.P. LOVECRAFT'S STRANGE AEONS" A Miskatonic University professor combats an evil sorcerer trying to bring back the demonic "Old Ones"to Earth. Based on H.P. Lovecraft's "The Thing on the Doorstep." Directed by Eric Morgret. Written by K.L. Young. Cast: J.D. Lloyd, Erick J. Robertson, Angela M. Grillo, Jerry Lloyd, Peter Anthony Holden. (USA, 78 minutes)

"THE ANCIENT LAW" A magical, evil king kidnaps a young man's bride and child. Thus begins the man's quest. Dark fantasy. Directed/written by Erasmo Romero III. Cast: Jesus Guevara, Anthony Scavone, Jennifer Apon, Thomas M. Sipos, James Rollyson. (USA, 23 minutes)

"THE CRYPT CLUB" Three Goth girls desecrate a cemetery on a snowy night. An old-fashioned spook tale. Directed/written by: Miguel Gallego. Cast: Alison Pill ("Milk", "Pieces of April"), Jessica Greco ("Earth: Final Conflict", "Goosebumps"), Michele Duquet ("Earth: Final Conflict", "Kaw"), Kerry Segal. (Canada, 23 minutes)

The Filmmaker's Blocs are currently scheduled:
Fri. May 1 from 8 pm to 11 pm
Sat. May 2 from 4 pm to 7 pm
Sun. May 3 from 10 am to 1 pm

WHC LOCATION:
Marlborough Hotel
331 Smith Street (downtown)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

LINKS:
World Horror Convention 2009
Tabloid Witch Awards
The Crypt Club

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Video Piracy - Good or Bad for Indies?

I'm an anti-piracy kinda guy. I believe that creators have the right to benefit from their work and that copyright infringement is theft.

But for indie filmmakers is piracy bad for your career?

Basic copyright laws were agreed on by many nations to protect a creator's ability to earn a living from his creations so that he can keep on creating. Without that protection creators can't earn a living, stop creating and civilization goes down the dumper. So copyright (literally the right to make a copy of a work or derivatives of the work) is a good thing, in my humble opinion.

The other night I heard an interesting alternate point of view about copyright and video piracy. A filmmaker said he'd be happy to have his work pirated in China because they can't afford to pay for the films anyway - so there's no perceived revenue loss - and it means that his work gets seen by a huge audience.

Ultimately, in this filmmakers' view, he sees a Chinese immigrant coming to North America and, flush with cash, recognizes the filmmaker's name on a film and decides to buy it because he's already familiar with the filmmaker's work.

I had to marvel at this perspective. My first thought was that this is like condoning gang rape because it may lead to love & marriage.

My self-righteous self bristled at the idea that a creator would allow - or even encourage - his work to be pirated for the sake of improving his career.

I know that some artists plan for free and viral distribution of their work to build a profile or lead to potentially greater returns. But that is a planned rather than involuntary release.

What's your take on this?

Can piracy be a form of viral marketing strategy?

And what are the ramifications to the public's perception of copyright and the creators' rights to earn a living from their creations?

Is this a slippery slope for creators?

LINKS:
United States Copyright Office
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
Wikipedia entry on 'Copyright'
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Guess Who's Guesting at the World Horror Convention 2009?

Sure, the World Horror Convention was founded as a mostly literary event. Once a year the scribes who create horrifying works of literature gather together to celebrate with each other and with the fans. But, over the past couple of years, the cinematic contingent of the horror universe has slowly been creeping into the party.

Since last year in Salt Lake City, Thomas Sipos, of the Hollywood Investigator and the Tabloid Witch Awards, hosts the convention's screening room where he presents the best horror films from the Tabloid Witch awards, along with a few surprises. He's lined up more than a dozen hours of scary feature and short film programming for the 4 day event.

This year, since the WHC takes place in Winnipeg there's a special Canuck bias to Thomas' screaming screen's offerings. And justifiably so. Canadian's have been shocking the world since Fay Wray went on that blind date with that tall, hairy, royal guy.

Among the films featured will be my own film, "The Crypt Club", fresh from a fantastic sold out screening at NYC's Latin Horrorphiles 2 night.

Yep. Thomas invited me to attend the Convention as his guest, and I'm thrilled to say that I'll be attending the WHC from Friday May 1 to Sunday May 3. Between screenings we'll hold panel discussions and Q&As on horror films, our own films, and filmmaking. Should be some creepy good fun and (dare I say it?) informative.

I'll be traveling light, but I will have as much Crypt Club and "AAAAAH!! Indie Horror Hits" swag with me as my pack mule can haul. The tough part is getting the mule a coach seat on an Air Canada flight.

So there you have it. Come for the chills, stay for the thrills. Looking forward to meeting & greeting horror fans and filmmakers alike.

The World Horror Convention is an annual gathering of professionals in the horror industry; publishers, authors, artists, musicians, filmmakers, dealers and, of course, horror fans. WHC serves as both an industry insider's networking event and a chance for fans of the genre to get together, meet some of the creative talents in the field, and generally spend a weekend celebrating All Things Scary.

LINKS:
World Horror Convention 2009 site
World Horror Convention main site
Tabloid Witch Awards site

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New Film Festival Launches

There's a new film festival launching in Toronto, with a call for entries to indie filmmakers from around the world.

The mandate of the Toronto/GTA Night of the Living Film Festival is to showcase edgy new indie moviemakers in a chain of small independent screening spaces in our beautiful city of Toronto (and area), so their work can be seen in an arena other than the web.

You know, as much as I love watching movies in the privacy of my dark, quiet crypt, there's something about the communal experience of watching a film with a crowd in a darkened cinema that can't be replicated by a giant home theatre set up. If only the kid behind the concession stand would quit snickering at my dead bunny slippers.

For information on submission details, festival dates, venues, etc. you can send an e-mail to Chad.

I'm curious to see what will grow from this seed. Beast of luck. And keep watering it guys!

LINKS:
Night of the Living Film Festival - Toronto
Night of the Living Film Festival - Yahoo Group

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Rare screening of The Crypt Club

Thanks to the good folks at Latin Horror - especially to Edwin Pagan - "The Crypt Club" is now part of the Latin Horror Horrorphiles #2 screening in New York City.

"The Crypt Club" is an official selection of more than 45 international film festivals, winning 18 awards, including awards for Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography (Walter Pacifico), and Best Original Music (Nicholas Longstaff).

The film was retired from public screenings after airing in Canada on the national filmmaker showcase program "Canadian Reflections".

So don't miss this rare chance to experience "The Crypt Club" as it is meant to be seen - in a darkened theatre on a big screen.

LATIN HORROR, in association with NEWFILMMAKERS, presents the NewLatino Filmmakers Screening Series at Anthology Film Archives - "The HORRORphiles #2 - Scaring up a Revolución," featuring the work of emerging Latino/a directors working within the genre of horror.

NewLatino Filmmakers is the best and only independent Latino “cinematheque” showcase in New York City -- now in its 7th year! Docs, shorts & features. "Come early, stay late, pay one price."

So what's playing at the screening? Glad you asked.

In addition to "The Crypt Club" (starring Alison Pill from "Milk", "Dan In Real Life", and "Pieces Of April") there are several other short films including: "434" by Leonard Zelig & Javier Perez-Karam, "My Wife Is A Zombie" by Monica Winter Vigil, "3:52" starring America Ferrera ("Ugly Betty") by Shawna Baca, and "Blood Drips" by Pepper Negron.

Headlining the bill is the Spanish/Argentina co-production "El Niño De Barro" (The Mud Boy) by Jorge Algora. We screened this film to a packed house at last year's Toronto Hispano-American Film Festival.

And - as if that weren't enough creepy Hispanic goodness for ya - they also have a Trailer Spotlight to showcase teasers & trailers of upcoming works by talented Latin Horrorphiles. Que bueno!

Latin Horror Horrorphiles #2
The Crypt Club Official Web Site