The weekend of October 24th-26th, I attended another Chiller Theatre convention in Parsippany, NJ.  As always, I had a great time at the event.  I met many great celebrity guests, and spent a lot of time with my "convention family".  

As always, both during the convention and afterwards, the topic of autograph/photo op prices came up.  This is a common topic these days amongst convention attendees, mainly because the prices seem to be following their upward trend, for the most part.  Some of the guests were charging what I felt to be outrageous prices.  Some of the
guests were charging $50 or $60 just for an autograph, and then charging extra for a photo op with your camera at their table.  Other guests were not even allowing photo ops at their table, instead opting for the "professional photo op" option that seems to be taking over, as I predicted it would last year.

When I first started going to Chiller about 12 years ago, I would go for one day, with about $200, and I would go home with at least 10 autographed items, and free photo ops with every guest.  Those days are loooooong gone.

The most egregious, shocking example of this, in my mind, was the two guests from "Sons of Anarchy".  Between Friday and Saturday they increased their autograph prices, and started charging an extra $5 for the physical 8x10 photos that they had at their tables.  My speculation is that they felt that since the crowds would be bigger
on Saturday, they could get away with charging more.  Well, those of us who were there all weekend definitely noticed it and as far as The Horror Nerd is concerned, this is a slap in the face to the fans.  Anyone who waited until Saturday instead of buying on Friday, for whatever reason, found that they now had to pay a higher price.  I am calling bullshit on this.  I have no way to prove if it was the actors themselves or the managers that did this, but I don't care.  In the end, there's no way the actors didn't know what was going on, and they should be ashamed of themselves.

Having said that, the lines for these two clowns was long and steady all weekend, which is part of the problem.  The fans, myself included, continue to pay the even climbing prices that these celebrities are charging.  When are we going to wise up?  I myself get far fewer autographs than I used to years ago, because I simply cannot
afford it.  I also have no problem telling a guest or manager directly, to their face, that I feel that they are charging too much.  I am never nasty about it, but I as the consumer, have a right to make my feelings known.  Maybe if more people did that, things would change.  I completely understand that some fans do not go to nearly as many conventions as I do, and they might not want to pass up their only chance to meet this person but still, at some point, we fans need to understand that we are at least part of the problem.

Another aspect that might be contributing to the rising prices are the convention newcomers.  Yes, there are many like me who go to a lot of conventions or, at the very least, go to one or two of the same coventions year after year.  But, there are many people who hear that a particular guests is going to be in their area, and
they show up just for that person.  I good example of this is Hulk Hogan.  Many people showed up at Chiller just to meet him, and they think that paying $100 for an autograph is the norm, so he can get away with it.  A million girls show up to meet Norman Reedus, so he can charge $60 for his signature, and get away with it.  Someone like me, who met Norman before "The Walking Dead" made women drop their panties, never paid more than $20 for an autograph from him and took a million free pictures with him.  The people waiting in line for 6 hours to meet him think nothing of paying $60 for an autograph.

On the flip side of the coin, we, the fans, are the consumers, and it's up to us to decide where to spend our money, and if spending a certain amount of money for a few moments with your favorite celebrities is worth it to you, then so be it.  I paid $100 for an autograph and photo of with Priscilla Presley earlier this year and,
for me, it was worth every penny, but it's PRISCILLA FREAKIN' PRESLEY!, not some 'B' movie actor who hasn't done anything in 20 years.

Lastly, there are many, many guests who charge reasonable prices for their autographed 8x10 and will take a bunch
of pictures with you for free, and will spend a few minutes chatting with you because they genuinely enjoy interacting with their fans.  I don't want to put anyone off the convention experience, as I for one still enjoy every minute of it.  Rising prices exist in all facets of life.  I just wish that some of these celebrity guests would be a little less greedy, and make us feel that it's more about spending time meeting the fans.

Until next time, stay horrible!

The Horror Nerd

The indie film community, and the larger crowdfunding community were in an uproar the week of 7/7/2014 over a peculiar Kickstarter campaign that was set up by one Zach Brown of Columbus, OH.  His project?  To make potato salad for the first time.  His goal?  A modest $10.

Well, as of Tuesday morning, 7/8/14, Zach had raised an astonishing $37,232 from over 3,400 backers all over the world.  My brain just broke in half writing that!  What are some of the perks he is offering?  They range from a simply "thank you" on his website for pledging $1 to a potato themed hat for a $25 pledge to a recipe book for the top pledge of $50.  Amazingly, as of 7/8, there were already 64 people who had made the top pledge.

Somewhat predictably, social media, and the Internet in general, have blown up over this.  Many people are simply amused over the sheer ridiculousness of it.  Most people are shocked that he has raised so much money over something so silly, and there are a few who are praising his ingenuity.  After all, he managed to raise over $37,000 TO MAKE POTATO SALAD!

The reaction among the indie community however (and I am going to lump films, comics, gaming, books, music, etc. together here), has been less than enthusiastic.  The biggest complaint?  That stupid crowdfunding campaigns like this take money away from "legitimate" campaigns, like indie films and comics and other creative projects that have actual merit.

I can certainly understand why some people are upset.  The Horror Nerd has many friends in the indie film community, and I have witnessed their struggles to get funding for their projects.  Now along comes this guy out of nowhere who raises tens of thousands of dollars to make......potato salad.   The hue and cry is, "Why are people giving money to this jackass when they should be giving it to worthwhile projects?!?!?!  Aaaaarrrrggghhhhh!!!!

Here's how I see it though.  The people who are contributing to what will now be known as TIPTC (The Infamous Potato Salad Campaign) where, in all likelyhood, NOT going to contribute to YOUR indie film (or whatever project you are working on).  I speculate that they donated for several reasons, none of which have anything to do with your project.  They did it to be ironic, or to be part of something silly (or popular) or maybe they did it in some misguided attempt to be "hip".  Either way, the dollars that are giving to TIPTC were probably not going to go to your film project. 

My belief (and what I have seen in practice), is that people who are active in the indie community, regardless of the medium, are going to crowdfunding sites and looking for projects they might be interested in.  Or, they are notified on Facebook or some other social media site about a project, or they find out my some other means.  Either way, people who contributed to TIPTC probably did so because they heard about the campaign and thought it would be fun.  They were not sitting on cash, wondering what to do with it, and trolling through the crowdfunding sites.  Those of us who support the indie film community, are going to do so regardless of some stupid "potato salad campaign".

If people are having problems with crowdfunding for their project, I think it has more to do with "crowdfunding fatigue" than anything else.  On any given day, I myself see at least half a dozen requests for backers for a project.  It might be a post that comes up in my Facebook news feed, or it might be a message sent from Kickstarter or Indiegogo, or maybe someone reaches out directly.  I only have so much money to spend supporting these projects, so I have to pick and choose.  If I end up not contributing money to one campaign, it's because I already contributed to another one, not because I am helping some dude make potato salad.

Also, people get a little gun shy because too many projects fall through and they lose their money and never see anything come out of it.  Also, some projects are relentless.  True story: on one indie film alone, there were separate campaigns for pre-production costs, production costs, post-production costs and then promo/marketing costs!  Are you kidding me??

My advice?  Craft a good campaign with a compelling video pitch, and market it to people who are genuinely interested in these types of projects.  John Q. Public giving $10 to some kid making potato salad was NOT going to contribute to your film anyway.

SUPPORT INDIE HORROR!!

-The Horror Nerd

Does anyone have fun at the movies any more?

Recently, I have seen and/or participated in several "debates" on social media sites over some of the big summer movies that have come out.  It started me thinking that it seems like no one goes to the movies for the sheer joy and entertainment of it.  So many people are in such a hurry for the film to be over so they can whip out their cell phones and write a post about how much they hated it.

Yes, there are always some positive comments and reviews, but it seems that the "hate" posts far outweigh the positive ones, especially with a film that is wildly popular and makes a ton of money, or is considered an "event" film.  People can't wait to be the first to say how terrible it was. 

I know what you're thinking.  Hey, Horror Nerd!  Funny you should say this because YOU write film reviews!  Yes I do, but I don't go to the movies with the thought that I am going to review the film.  I go to the movies because I LOVE GOING TO THE MOVIES!!  I enjoy the theater experience.  The big screen, the loud volume, the popcorn and soda, the cheers from the audience in "big spots."  I have a great time, especially at an "event" film.  Yes, I will usually write up a review, but it's mostly a description of my experience when watching the film.  I try to think about it with a critical eye and give my honest opinion, but in the end, I didn't go to the movies just so I could review the film.

A great example is the 2014 version of "Godzilla".  Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I am a Godzilla fan, and I was twitching over this movie for a year before it came out.  I couldn't wait.  I saw it opening night in IMAX 3D and I had an amazing time.  The theater erupted in cheers and applause at several key moments, and there was solid applause at the end of the film.  People were chatting and murmuring in the lobby and there was a line of about 150 people waiting to get in to the next showing, WHICH WAS at 1:00AM!  I thought to myself, "These people get it!

Well, then I made the mistake of going on to Facebook and reading other people's opinions of the film.  Some of them had very valid criticisms, and if I think back, some of their points were very well taken.  But.....BUT....the sheer amount of hate and venom being spewed at the film was astonishing.  It was almost as if there was an entire legion of people just waiting to whip out their phones or hop on their PCs so they could shit all over it.

Some of the comments drove me to distraction.  "Godzilla is too fat.", "Godzilla doesn't show up until halfway through the film", "Godzilla is not in his own movie enough!"  Oh my god!  Shut up!  This is what you're complaining about?  Can't you just enjoy a movie about giant monsters?  One of my favorite complaints was, "The army wouldn't have acted that way!"  Really?  So the army has a plan in place for dealing with 400 foot monsters?  SHUT UP!!

If I hear someone say, "Well, I am entitled to my opinion," one more time I am going to go completely apeshit.  Yes, yes, yes......you are entitled to your precious opinion.  My question is, why are so many of these "opinions" so hate-filled?  Sometimes I wonder if we watched the same movie.  The IMDB ratings system is kind of a joke.  How can one person give a movie a '10' and another person give it a '1'?  It becomes very clear who has an agenda.

I personally think that the Internet, and social media, has given everyone a voice.  Some of these people have been sitting behind their keyboards for such a long time, with no one to listen to them.  Well, now they can have their voices seen and heard by millions, and the fact is that a negative, hate-filled post will probably get more replies that a positive one.   Some people think that being negative about everything, especially popular things, makes them edgy and cool.  Well, news flash, it doesn't.  It just makes you seem bitter and hateful and, after a while, no one takes you seriously.

We all have out opinions about things.  I certainly don't love every film I see, and I have had my share of disappointments.  I choose to go into every film with an open mind, and just try to enjoy the shit out of it.  I don't sit there looking for things to nitpick about.  What's the point of spending $15 just to find something to complain about.  I am paying to be entertained, and I try to just let the film entertain me.  If it doesn't so be it, but I am not going to let my overwhelming urge to let everyone know what I thought about it ruin my experience.

My advice?  Just have fun!  Grab your popcorn, take your seat, wait for the lights to dim and the flickering images to project and just enjoy the shit out of it.  Don't go into it from the get go with the idea of running onto the Net to criticize the film (unless of course you are a professional critic, but that's a whole other blog post).

There's nothing wrong with going on social media to let people know what you thought.  If you honestly didn't like it, so be it, but (and here's another piece of unsolicited advice), stop concentrating on the negative.  We have enough of that already.

Now, LET'S GO TO THE MOVIES!!!


The Horror Nerd

I have long maintained that the Internet in general, and social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, have devolved into an ocean of hate and negativity (and photos of lunches, but that's another story....)

It seems that everyone hates everything, all the time, and quite frankly, it gets depressing.  Now, I already know what some people are saying.  "You should talk!  You're always ranting and raving about sometimes!!"  This is true.  There are plenty of things in life that tick me off, and I talk about it as opposed to keeping it all bottled up.  This helps keep me somewhat sane.  BUT!  I still love so many things in life.  FIlms, music, art, poetry, family, friends, food, nature, travel, etc.

Anyway, the main subject of this post is movies, and how many people hate them, sometimes years before a movie even comes out.  Just scroll through your Facebook news feed and you'll see what I mean.  People complaining about every movie they see, and every movies that is upcoming.  OH, and casting announcements!  Those are fun, aren't they?!  They announce that a particular actor or actress is going to play a comic book (or other) character, and everyone loses their shit!  When it was announced that Ben Affleck would play Batman in the second "Man of Steel" film, I think the Internet actually broke from the outpouring of hate and outrage.  Holy horse shit!  The film doesn't come out for years and people are killing it.

Another case in point, the upcoming Godzilla.  From the day it was announced, people were complaining because it was an American film.  OK, the 1998 disaster didn't help, but come on!  Then, when we got the first glimpse of the king himself, some fans' collective heads exploded.  A million people started bitching about Godzilla's look. "His head is too small", "He's too fat", "The spines on his back are not right."  It went on and on and it is still going on.  THEN, when we first heard Godzilla's roar, I could hear the sound of the collective groans rolling in, to the point that I have seen many posts of people declaring they are not going to see it JUST BECAUSE OF THE ROAR!  Huh?

People are still saying that Godzilla's look is "too Americanized."  What the hell does that even mean?  Look, I loved Godzilla as a kid, and I still do.  I watch the movies any chance I get, but let's face it.  It was a man in a rubber suit stomping around a miniature set.  If I take off my fanboy goggles for just a second, I could make the case that the suit was, at times, ridiculous.  With the effects available to filmmakers today, almost anything is going to be an upgrade.  Just embrace it.  If you love the originals so much, as I do, how could anything possibly diminish that love?

The examples go on and on, especially with every big "genre" film, like "Avengers", "X-Men", "Spider Man", etc.  People are never happy with any of them, usually from the minute the first casting announcement is made.   One of my personal favorites is when people say "So and so is shitting on my childhood!"  Case in point, the upcoming "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" film, and Michael Bay's involvement.  Meanwhile, he is one of four producers, and he didn't write or direct it.  

All of this feeds into something a very good friend of mine calls "Internet Self-Entitlement", and I love this term.  These self-proclaimed "Super Fans" feel that THEY are entitled to determine who should play a certain character, how a character should look, how a story should be written, how a creature or monster should look, etc.  Fans seem to forget that they do not own these properties, and the filmmakers are free to interpret them as they please.  If we end up not liking the finished product, that's different, but if George Lucas wants to re-edit Star Wars with Chewbacca break dancing for 30 minutes in the middle of it, that's up to him. 

I just don't understand how some people can just hate everything the see.  They bitch and complain about how every film sucks, especially wildly popular films (and TV shows).  I honestly believe that if a movie comes out, and has critical and popular approval, some people think that if they shit on it, it makes them seem edgy and cool.  Guess what?  It doesn't.  It makes you seem surly and negative.

I believe that a lot of people carefully construct an image in their mind of what a character should be, or what a story should be, or what a whole film should be, and if ANYTHING deviates from their carefully constructed image, they hate it.  Look, if I wanted to, I could find something to nitpick about every film I've ever seen.  Why in the world would I do that?  Why would I look to attack and break down something that I love?  As a budding film reviewer, I am able to look at films with a critical eye, but not to the extent that I feel the need to tear everything apart all the time, and I certainly am not going to say that they next Star Wars film is going to be "liquid shit" (yes I read that) two years before it comes out!

I could go on and on about this, but I won't.  My advice to all of the people who say that they are not going to see (insert film name here) because they don't like a casting decision, or for any other reason is, please DO NOT go see it!  If you feel it's going to destroy your cherished childhood memories, then STAY HOME!  But, I know you won't.  You won't be able to resist going to the theater so you can hop on the Internet as soon as the credits roll and tell the world how much you hated it, and how much it sucked, and how you were right and all of us who enjoyed it are just stupid.

Life is far too short to just hate everything.  Of course there are films I don't like.  Let's not be ridiculous, but I still LOVE the theater experience, and I am absolutely giddy over the upcoming Godzilla film.  Stop constructing these "perfect" films in your mind and stop setting expectations that are impossible to achieve.   Try and embrace the magic of film, grab your popcorn and soda, sit back as the lights dim, and just enjoy!!

The Horror Nerd

The weekend of January 17th-19th 2014, The Horror Nerd had the pleasure of attending the fifth Macabre Faire Film Festival, in Rockville Center, NY (on Long Island). 

What is Macabre Faire, you ask?  Well, it's an film festival like none other I have ever attended.  It's more of an experience, really. Imagine an event where there are more than 30 independent films being screen, both shorts and features, drawn mainly from horror, sci-fi, fantasy and steampunk genres.  Imagine also being able to meet many of the filmmakers, cast and crew of these films, and having the chance to really get to know them, and what makes them tick.  Finally, imagine all of this happening in a setting where you are made to feel like you are actually part of something big, and that you belong there, and that you are among friends, even if you may never have met most of them.  Well, that, and much, much more, is Macabre Faire.

Event organizers LC Macabre and Adam Ginsberg, of TwitchTwitch Productions, have been putting this amazing event together since 2012, and their passion and effort really shines through.  This time around, The Horror Nerd had the honor of being one of the judges responsible for evaluating all of the films and voting on several categories.  This was one of the toughest things this Nerd has ever done.

Please allow me to walk you through the weekend.  Bear with me, as it's a little much to be able to document in blog.

Friday night began with an amazing red carpet gala.  Many of the filmmakers, actors, actresses and other crew members were in attendance.  As you can see, there were professional (and personal) photos taken throughout the night.  We were all made to feel like true celebrities and for someone like The Horror Nerd, it really was a big deal.  Press and media were in attendance conducting interviews, and it truly was an amazing experience.

One of the special guests for the weekend was makeup and special effects artist Tom Sullivan, who is famous for the work he did on the "Evil Dead" films.  Tom is not only incredibly talented, but also a great guy, and it was a pleasure talking with him and spending time with him over three days.

Following the meet/greet and interviews, was the actual party, where we ate, drank and danced the night away.  There was also a very special moment where two long-time Macabre Faire family members renewed their wedding vows.  Yes, is was decidedly NOT your traditional wedding, but that's what makes these events so special!

We were also treated to a fantastic musical performance by recording artist Melissa Otero and then, one of the highlights of the weekend, a performance by composer, sound engineer and sound effects specialist Alan Howard.  This man has composed music for so many iconic films, such as "They Live" and "Escape From New York". Let me tell you, The Horror Nerd had a TOTAL FANBOY MOMENT during this performance!!!

There were also many other tremendous moments during the Friday Night gala.  Actress and author Eileen Dietz ("The Exorcist") was made an honorary Macabre Faire Ambassador, and my friends from Mass Grave Pictures were presented with an honorable mention award for their short film "M is for Mastectomy", which was screened during the party.

The night wound down with more dancing, laughing, fellowship and of course PICTURES.  (Come on, everyone knows I'm a picture whore!!).  It truly was a very special night that The Horror Nerd will never forget.

Saturday afternoon began the "main" part of the festival, if you will. Throughout the day, there were several screening rooms that were showing films throughout the day.  After each screening, any of the cast and/or crew that were in attendance would hold a brief Q&A with the audience.  I was able to attend a few of these, and they are a lot of fun.

Also throughout the day, there were several seminars and panels held.  

Bob Socci is an actor and memorabilia collector who has been meeting and greeting Hollywood royalty for over 50 years.  He shared with us many great stories about meeting celebrities such as Elvis Presley, Sofia Loren and many other, and he also showed us some of the amazing photos and memorabilia he has collected over the years.

Event host Adam Ginsberg moderated a panel with filmmaker Michael Stevens ("Brutal") and special guest, composer and sound engineer Alan Howarth ("Escape From New York", "They Live") where they discussed the key ingredients for successful horror film making.  

Additional sessions included "For Clearer Screenplay Writing" with Canadian Filmmaker (and Horror Nerd friend) Alfredo Salvatore Arcilesi, "Surviving in the Festival World" with event hostess LC Macabre and Kelly Michael Stewart and the always fun and interesting "How to Die Like a Pro", an interactive workshop with indie starlet Heather Drew.  There were other panels throughout the day, each offering something different and interesting.

The night concluded with a musical performance by The Slippery Chickens and a comedy roast of frequent festival Wyzae (Zombie Zae).  He was a great sport, even though we completely destroyed him.  After that, more dancing, joking, camaraderie and.....you guessed it!  PICTURES!! 

Sunday continued with more panels and film screenings.  Most of the films were screened at least twice throughout the weekend, to give the attendees a chance to see as many of the films as possible, given the sheer number of films that we considered.

Talented Director Jeremiah Kipp ("Crestfallen", "Baggage") spoke about working with actors to bring their roles to life in this informative seminar.

Writer, director, horror host and personality Rob Dimension gave an excellent seminar about crowd funding.  He spoke about the dos and don'ts about getting your film funded using the popular crowd funding websites and services.

Additional panels occurred throughout the day, and the evening culminated in the awards ceremony.

As I mentioned before, The Horror Nerd was one of the judges responsible for considering all of the films submitted, in various categories such as Best Sound, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, etc.  This is one of the hardest things I have ever done, as there was something to like about each film.  Narrowing it down was very difficult.  As tough as it was, it was a honor to be a part of it, and I am humbled that LC Macabre and Adam Ginsberg would think enough of me to ask me to be a judge.

Many of the winners were in attendance, and the joy the expressed at winning was a lot of fun to watch.  The evening concluded with (of course) more photos, partying and friendship.

Well, I know this has been a lengthy blog entry, but there is too much to actually write about.  There's far too much to say about this amazing event.  If you ever have a chance to go to the Macabre Faire Film Festival, please do so.  It is an experience you will not soon forget.

For more information, visit the TwitchTwitch Productions website bu clicking on the image below.  There you will find information on the Macabre Faire Film Festival and the other projects that they are working on.

OK, so apparently in a recent article, legendary filmmaker George A. Romero "dissed" "The Walking Dead", saying, “Basically it’s just a soap opera with a zombie occasionally. I always used the zombie as a character for satire or a political criticism, and I find that missing in what’s happening now.” For the full article, you can click HERE.

Now, Mister Romero is certainly entitled to his opinion, as are we all.  In fact, in large part, I don't necessarily disagree with him!  My point, is, so what if it is a "soap opera"? 

People have been bitching about "The Walking Dead" since it premiered.  "There's too much drama," "There's too much dialogue," "There's not enough action."  The litany of complaints goes on, and on, and on.  SHUT UP!!!!  It seems that the people who complain the most are also the ones that can't seem to stop watching the show!  If you dislike it so much, then why do you bother tuning it?  Wait, I know, it's so you can have something to complain about!  After all, isn't the Internet just a forum for people to sit behind their computers and complain about things?  (Yes, yes, I know what you're saying right now.  "But Horror Nerd, you complain about things all the time!!)  Yes I do!  But usually it's about things that I cannot control, like the asshole who cut me off on the highway today or people who can't make a right hand turn without coming to a complete stop, but I digress......

I can only speak for myself, of course, but what frustrates me the most is that many people don't seem to understand that "The Walking Dead" is NOT a "zombie show".  It's a human drama, that happens to talk place under horrific circumstances, where a terrible, zombie munching death can occur at any moment, and where the people who are still alive are usually a lot more frightening that the zombies.

What I take away from the show is that, once people decide that they are going to try and fight for survival, all of the familiar human "stuff" is going to come out.  People are going to fight, argue, have sex, fall in love, have children, etc...... Why would anyone think that these things wouldn't occur?

Also, what's wrong with character development?  Have our attention spans really gotten so short that if it's not all action all the time, we can't deal with it?  This isn't a two-hour movie boys and girls.  It's a show based on a comic book series with more than 100 volumes, with dozens of major characters and many plot lines.  If you can't handle that, then you're watching the wrong show, and you should just go shoot some zombies in a video game.

I'm sorry if this comes across as harsh, but I am really getting tired of all the bitching about the show.  There's such a lack of good television these days.  We live in an ocean of shitty "reality" shows, and then, when a good drama comes along, that doesn't hold back on the violence and gore when it's necessary to the story, all people can think to do is complain about it.

I can assure you that if it WERE all zombie action all the time, people would complain that there is not enough character development and that the plots are too thin.

As far as I am concerned, "The Walking Dead" is a gift that I will enjoy for as long as it's on.  Does it have it's flaws?  Of course it does.  I defy anyone to point me to a TV show or movie that doesn't. 

Oh, and one more comment about George Romero.  Yes, he is a legend and we owe him a lot.  However, I, for one, do not worship at his altar the way some people do.  After all, this is the person who gave us "Survival of the Dead".  He is absolutely entitled to his opinion, but in this case, I think he is missing the point.

Recently, filmmaker Spike Lee caused quite a stir when he suggested that he might use Kickstarter, a popular "crowd funding" site, to raise a little over $1 million to fund his next project.

In a video he published in conjunction with the campaign, Lee stated that the kind of movies he has made in the past have a harder time raising money in today's Hollywood climate. The only way to bring a filmmaker's vision to the screen, he said, is, "If you bring money to the table."  (Source: bizjournals.com).


I am not going to go any further into what Spike Lee said.  His videos and interviews are easily found on the Interwebs.  Rather, I would like to address the shitstorm that his announcement caused, along with the controversies surrounding the crowd funding campaigns launched by several other celebrities, such as Zach Braff, and Adam Carolla.

Somewhat predictably, these announcements caused quite the outpouring of emotion from the independent film community, along with fans of indie cinema.

Simply scanning Facebook, I found a dozen posts expressing outrage over the fact that these celebrities are using crowd funding.  "These people are rich!  Why do they need to intrude on 'our' turf?  Why don't they just use their own money to fund these projects?" were common themes.


Well, in true Horror Nerd fashion, I, of course, have an opinion about this!

I can certainly understand how independent filmmakers must feel about this.  After all, sites such as Indiegogo and Kickstarter were, ostensibly created to help the small, indie filmmaker raise funds to bring their dreams and vision to reality.  They are a way to reach out to a wider pool of funds.  Now, we have these celebrities coming in and hijacking something that was supposed to be for "us".

However, let's make no mistake.  There is a significant segment of the independent film community, along with its fans, that are AGAINST crowd funding to begin with.  Many people view it as nothing more than begging fans and friends for money.  Some people even take their disdain a step further, and look at it as a way for any schmuck with a video camera to get a few bucks from people, and shoot their pet project in their backyard, with no true artistry or passion.  A common refrain is that if these projects are so great, then why can't the filmmaker get funding?  Why even reach out to the public to begin with?  All valid points.  Having said that, I myself have many friends who held successful crowd funding campaigns.  So, it can go either way.  Crowd funding can be either a blessing or a curse, and it seems to be a very personal topic among the indie film community.

When it comes to celebrities using crowd funding, how do I feel about it?  Well, I guess I have to say, "What's the big deal?"

First of all, when you get right down to it, it's up to the individual how they want to spend their money?  If I am a "Veronica Mars" fan (which I am NOT by the way), and I want to see a movie get made, and a few bucks from my pocket will help, then why not?  A project is a project, and if I want to throw a few bucks in to help it get made, then that's what I am going to do, regardless of whose project it is.

Second, let's be realistic for just a second, shall we?  The people who are funding this large, celebrity backed projects are NOT the people who are going to help fund the next indie horror flick, or documentary.  These people are not even on the same radar scope.  Do you think some girl who is a Zach Braff fan is even remotely aware of the next indie zombie film coming down the pike?  Now I know what some of you might say, "But Horror Nerd!  These celebrities are distracting everyone from these smaller projects!"  To which I respond, "Bullshit!"  I still maintain that the people who are paying attention to these celebrities are NOT scanning Kickstarter to look for projects to fund.

Lastly, I simply don't think that it really matters one way or another.  I think that opinion is split on crowd funding regardless of the project.  I myself am very wary of backing projects, as I have been burned in the past.  I'm not talking about a project falling through, which does happen.  I'm talking about simply being ripped off, and the filmmaker/project leader disappearing with my money.  Basically, it's an investment in a project which may or may not work, and I need to decide if it's worth the risk.

Hello boys and girls, it's your friendly neighborhood Horror Nerd again!  Listen, everyone knows that I rant and rave about various things from time to time, but what can I say?  A lot of things piss me off and drive me crazy!  Well, here's one of them.

Something I hear a lot of today from film fans is, "There's nothing new at the cinema!"  It's true that we live in an age of endless remakes, sequels, prequels and the dreaded "reimagining".  I am going to make a bolt statement though and say that WE, the movie going public, are complicit in this.  Sometimes I think we get EXACTLY what we deserve!  We claim that we want something new and something different, yet what I hear from people usually flies right in the face of this.  In addition, on any given weekend, the latest sequel or prequel or remake will usually be the number on film.  Yes, yes, I know that this is generally because of the 16 year olds in the audience who don't know any better, but the fact remains that the majority of the movie-going audience is NOT made of up this demographic!  It's the 29-50 year olds who usually have the money to spend to go to the movies more regularly.

Anyway, enough of the setup.  Here is an example of what I am talking about.

"Man of Steel" recently came out, and one of the biggest complaints I heard about the film was, "It didn't have the light-hearted tone of the Christopher Reeve" Superman films.  Well, SO FREAKING WHAT?!?!?!  Clearly, the filmmakers wanted to go in a different direction and, love it or hate it, I applaud them for that.  Why in the world would you want to try and duplicate the Christopher Reeve films in any way?  Why can't they stand on their own, and why would "Man of Steel" affect your love of those films in any way?

If you want to criticize "Man of Steel" because of the plot, or the effects, or the acting, or what have you, then so be it, but if you're going to sit and compare it to something that came before, I think it's not fair and you're wasting your time.  Listen, I love Superman and Superman II as much as anyone, but I also liked "Man of Steel" and guess what??  My head DID NOT EXPLODE because of this perceived dichotomy.  (Now there's a word you don't get to use every day.)  I just cannot believe that this is what people complained about.

I'm glad that "Man of Steel" took a darker tone.  Again, as much as I love Superman and Superman II, I always hated the fact that they portrayed Clark Kent as a bumbling goofball most of the time.  Yes, a little humor is good, but there are plenty of "dark" story arcs in the comics.

"Superman Returns" came out and people complained that it was boring and that it was too much of a duplication of previous films.  I happen to agree with them, but then some of those same people complained because "Man of Steel" was NOT like the previous films.  I simply don't get it.  I am beginning to think that there is a segment of film "fans" (and I use that term loosely) who are simply not happy with anything, and they thing constantly bitching makes them seem cool and edgy.  Well, it doesn't.  It just makes you seem bitter.

One last note on this topic.  I am actually going to reverse something that I said in my review of "Iron Man 3", when I said that I didn't like what they did with The Mandarin.  Well, while I still don't particularly care for it, I can appreciate the fact that the filmmakers tried to do something different, and go off in an unexpected direction.  I actually applaud them for that.  Comic books fans had a collective seizure over this.  They were all pissed because The Mandarin in the film was not THE MANDARIN from the comics.  Well, my thing is this.  Why do we need the comics you've been reading for decades translated verbatim to the screen?  Clearly, the filmmakers wanted Iron Man 3 to be grounded a little more in reality, and guess what folks, THAT'S OK!.

Again, if you did not like the film, that's fine, but to bash it because they didn't take the comics and simply translate them to the screen to me is just silly.  Again, why in the world should this diminish your love of the comics? 

Over the last several years, as I have become more involved in the independent filmmaking scene, and developed this Horror Nerd persona, I've noticed that there seems to be (in some circles anyway), some sort of a battle between "mainstream Hollywood" films and independent films, especially in the horror genre.  I got to wondering, "Why is this?" and "Does it have to be that way?"  There are so many aspects to this that I almost don't know where to start.  I will probably end up rambling and bouncing around, so I hope I you can stick with it!

For many years, all we had was the "big" Hollywood films.  We digested what they fed us, and it was usually a mixed bag of good and bad, with some truly great films thrown in.  There were always independent films, and festivals such as Sundance came about to showcase these films and give them a shot at wider distribution.  However, most of these "independent" films, while not necessarily tied to the Hollywood studio systems, were usually made with decent budgets, and decent cast and crew.

Then, along came digital cameras, and relatively inexpensive editing software, and suddenly everything changed.  Anyone who had an idea for a film could buy a camera, and start shooting.  Now, I realize that I am waaaayyyyy over simplifying what goes into making even a low budget film, but you get my point.  Filmmaking was no longer limited to Hollywood studios with deep pockets and indie filmmakers who had access to some money, and equipment.

For this article, I want to stick to what I am seeing today in 2013, as I talk to, and in some cases, work with indie filmmakers here in my home state of NJ, and in the surrounding areas.  I have become friends with literally hundreds of horror film fans, and their opinions on indie films vs. Hollywood films are as varied as you might imagine.  But, this is my blog and my website, so we'll stick to my opinion, OK?  (I'm lying, I will be drawing on some of the conversations I've had....)

Anyway.....as a huge film buff in general, over the years I have seen thousands of films, both mainstream and independent and you know what?  When you boil it all down, in the end you have exactly what you would expect.  Many good films, MANY bad films, and some that are truly exceptional and some that are truly horrendous.  Notice, I didn't make any distinction between Hollywood and Indie, because in my mind, THERE IS NONE!  A film is a film.  Just give the Horror Nerd a good film, and he will enjoy it, whether it was made by Universal for $200 million or by some indie filmmaker for $2,000.  It doesn't matter to me.  I look for good writing, creativity, and entertainment.

I get a kick out of people who run around screaming "Hollywood sucks!!!"  Really, why?  Have you seen "Silver Linings Playbook", "Argo" or "Lincoln"?  Did these movies all really suck just because they came out of Hollywood?  On the film side, have you seen some of the indie films that are being made?  Let's face it, not everyone who grabs a camera SHOULD grab a camera.  We need to be honest with ourselves people.  To quote a good friend of mine, "If you shoot a film in your backyard with your friends for $500, it's going to look like a film you shot with your friends in your backyard for $500."

Now, having said that, I think we have reached an interesting point in American cinema.  The big Hollywood studios are afraid to try anything new, especially in the horror genre, so they churn out endless remakes, prequels, sequels and "reimaginings" (whatever the f**k that is) and, as a result, many of these films DO suck.  That doesn't mean that all do.  On the other side of the coin, Hollywood does put out many good films ever year, even the big budget blockbusters.  Sometimes, I just want to be entertained, and I am willing to check my brain at the door and just watch some explosions.  Indie filmmakers have an opportunity to tap into a huge audience, especially horror fans, that are craving something new, instead of the latest Texas Chainsaw sequel.  They also have access to a huge promotional network, especially in the era of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. 

Like I have said before, just give me a good films.  I have seen many good indie films, but I have seen many, MANY bad ones.  I understand that these are low budget films, but you could at least pay some attention to the script, instead of just writing down and filming anything that pops into your head.  Go take a special effects class, so there can at least be some semblance of effort when it comes to the effects, instead of splashing some red liquid around and calling it blood.  I'm sorry if I'm being harsh, and I make NO claims of having the first clue how to make a film, but I do know a good film from a bad one, and indie filmmakers need to understand that they're probably not giving Fellini a run for his money. 

Lastly, I want to say this.  We, as horror fans (and film fans in general), bear most of the responsibility when it comes to the films that are available to us.  If we run to the theater to see Saw 14 or Texas Chainsaw: Leatherface Does Dallas, then this is what Hollywood is going to continue to feed us.  I GUARANTEE that the next lame ass remake will be the number one film in the theater that weekend. 

The next time there is an indie film festival or screening in your area, GO TO IT.  Show your support!  I hate going to a screening and seeing ten people in the audience.  Go to a horror convention, and drop $10 on an indie film.  Maybe it will be good, and maybe it won't, but at least you're giving an indie filmmaker a chance to continue making films and hopefully he/she will hone their craft and grow.  Oh, and STOP DOWNLOADING FILMS!  I'm not going to get into a debate about piracy and "fair use" or some other stupid bullshit but the truth is, if you download an indie film, you are stealing, plain and simple.  Someone spent money out of their pocket to make a film, and you TOOK that film for free.  Don't give me some self-justifying line like "Well I download and then I buy."  BULLSHIT!  Maybe 1 out of every 20 people does this.  Most just want something for free.  Buy the film.  Drop $10 and take a chance, just like when you go to the movies.

So, where was I going with all of this?  Oh yeah.  I'll say it again, just give me a decent film.  I will support indie film anytime, anywhere in any way I can, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to go to the theater to see "Iron Man 3" or the next "Star Trek" film.  What it does mean is that I probably will NOT go see the latest remake that Hollywood churns out because they're scared and lazy.

Finally, we fans are ultimately the ones who decide where we spend our money.  If you really are sick of Hollywood, then PROVE IT!

The Horror Nerd has spoken.....

INDIE HORROR IS ALIVE AND WELL IN NEW JERSEY!

Ok folks, so instead of the usual "topic of the hour", I want to talk about a great independent film premiere I went to last night (April 20th).

"Sheriff Tom vs. the Zombies" is a feature film by NJ filmmaker Ryan Scott Weber, and starring NJ actor Joe Parascand in the lead role, as the evil Sheriff Tom. The film also stars many other NJ natives and residents, and is very much a New Jersey film project.  As a NJ native myself, I am very proud of this.  It always makes me happy to see homegrown filmmakers making good horror films!

Anyway, to recap the film itself, for those of you familiar with Ryan's previous feature "Mary Horror", the plot will be easy to follow.  For those who are not familiar with "Mary Horror", well, that's too bad.  You'll just have to check it out.

Anyway, a year after the events of "Mary Horror", the evil Sheriff Tom (Joe Parascand) is on the loose, and is bent on exacting revenge on anyone and everyone.  Oh, and he's not quite human anymore.

Meanwhile, a group of citizens (including a hilarious acting turn by Ryan Scott Weber), decides to have some fun by invoking Mary Horror's spirit using copies of her spells, retrieved from the local library.  Well, needless to say, this is not entirely a good idea!  Not only is Mary's spirit released, but the citizens of Bernardsville, NJ are turned into bloodthirsty zombies.  Well, of course now Sheriff Tom has to battle zombies AND hunt down our intrepid group AND murder and mutilate a bunch of people holding a seance, trying to summon Mary Horror.

Along the way we have a lot of zombie on human munching, head shots, stabbing, neck breakings, and any other type of mayhem you can think of.

I won't give away any more of the film, but let's just say that the films builds towards a climax that leads the door open for another chapter in the Mary Horror saga, which I am very much looking forward to!

As far as the film itself is concerned, I like it a lot!  I will post a full review elsewhere on this site, as I would much rather talk about the premiere.  But, in short, the film had basically everything I want in an indie horror film.  Guts, comedy, hot women, gore.....what more could you want?  Sure, it has its flaws, but what Ryan Scott Weber pulled off on a budget of only $5,000 is fantastic.  The zombie and gore effects are really good, and there's more of a story underneath it all than you might expect.  Anyway, check out the review in the "Nerd Reviews" section of this website.

The premiere event itself was held at The Washington Theatre in Washington, NJ.  It was a great venue for an event like this, as it was small and intimate.  Many of the cast and crew were in attendance, which is something that makes these type of events great.  It gives fans like myself a chance to "get a little closer" to the film, and to interact with the filmmakers and actors.

Our Mistress of Ceremonies for the night was horror hostess Roxsy Tyler, who did an excellent job as always.  For those of you unfamiliar with her, you should make it a point to check out "Roxsy Tyler's Carnival of Horrors", you won't be disappointed.  Click HERE to go there now!  Roxsy kicked off the evening by introducing the film and writer director Ryan Scott Weber.  Ryan said a few words about the film, the theater got dark, and away we go!

After the film, Ryan hosted an awesome Q&A with the cast and crew that were in attendance.  There must have been 30 people on stage.  Most of them are NJ natives or residents, and The Horror Nerd is proud to know most of them personally.  Ryan made it a point to introduce each and everyone one of them, which I thought was a very nice, selfless touch.  Too many indie directors make everything all about themselves, and it was nice to see and hear Ryan acknowledge everyone who helped bring his vision to the screen.

Several cast members said a few words, and told some great stories about the production.  This was followed by a Q&A session with the audience.  This led to a lot of moments that were both interesting and funny.  THIS is why I am involved in this industry!  THIS is why I go to events like this.  I truly feel like I am a part of something, especially because of the fact that these are local NJ people.

After the Q&A, cast, crew and fans gathered in the lobby to chat, take pictures, sign autographs, mingle, discuss the film, etc.  It was a great night, with a great turnout and The Horror Nerd is truly happy that Ryan had such a successful event.  It makes my black heart happy to know that indie horror is alive and well here in New Jersey!

I would encourage everyone to check out Ryan's company, Weber Pictures, to get more information about these films and to get your hands on them.  Mary Horror is available now, and Sheriff Tom vs the Zombies will be available soon.  Links will be provided below.  If you were not able to make this event, the film is the feature screening at the Chiller Theatre convention on Saturday, April 27th at 8:00PM.  Be sure to check it out!

Again, congratulations to Ryan Scott Weber, Joe Parascand, and all of the cast and crew involved.  I had a great time at this premiere, and this is what indie horror is all about!