I just found out yesterday that a mom and pop video rental store in Livingston, Texas called Salvage Video is renting out a few of Joe Sherlock's movies which he donated. The cool thing is that one of the DVDs being rented out is Truly Dreadful Tales which features Crazed; the short film that I directed.
So, if you are in the area be sure to stop by Salvage Video and rent Truly Dreadful Tales or buy the movie and many more great schlocky flicks from F&C Productions. We have to keep supporting indie horror movies and mom and pop video stores who help get indie films in front of pairs of eyes.
CURSE OF THE PHANTOM SHADOW is a nifty film project which is a throwback homage to the serials and pulps of the 1940's. The film is over 75% completed but is need of completion funds and you can help out by donating a few bucks through the film's Kickstarter page and getting some cool rewards back in return.
By donating you help keep the pulp and serial genre alive and get some cool swag. It's win-win!
Synopsis snipped from the Kickstarter page:
There is only one man to call, Agent 236, an elite government agent. Agent 236 has been dispatched to launch a rescue.
Along the way, Agent 236 is befriended by a spunky, sarcastic, gas station attendant who just happens to have pinup girl good looks. She also just happens to be looking for a little action,and excitement. Luckily, Agent 236 is the man of her dreams. Agent 236 puts the station attendant and her tow truck into service in pursuit of the Phantom Shadow.
Today marks, what I believe, the third annual Polonia Day celebration. This is not to be confused with the Polish holiday.
You may be wondering, and rightfully so, as to what the hell is Polonia Day. The short answer is that Polonia Day is the celebration of a ultra-low budget filmmaking duo of brothers known as Mark and John Polonia aka The Polonia Brothers. It is also the celebration of the love of both being indie and the creation of low budget indie media.
This year sadly the celebration of Polonia Day is also a time of remembrance for the recent passing of a fellow Polonia Brothers alumnai, Matt Satterly who acted and helped out in a few of their films including; NIGHTCRAWLERS and DWELLER.
Not only should we spend time remembering Matt Satterly but also one part of the brother duo, John Polonia who had passed last year on February 25th, 2008.
For more on how and what Polonia Day is read the following below and have a great Polonia Day:
Who are the Polonia Brothers?
The Polonia Brothers are truly a duo of hardworking, entertaining, indie filmmaking brothers out there, Mark and John Polonia, who together have, written, produced, directed close to thirty movies while you and I are still trying to get the first one off the ground. They are even their own caterers, costumers, special effects men, and more. They do an amazing amount of work with so little reward. They just love to make movies no matter what. We're talking true hardcore schlockheads, kids.
They are also one of the early pioneers of the so called Shot-On-Video sub-genre of flicks out there today aka "Backyard Films".
What films have they made?
The have made SPLATTER FARM, FEEDERS, THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED, TERROR HOUSE, AMONG US, PETER ROTTENTAIL, RAZORTEETH, SPLATTER BEACH, MONSTER MOVIE, and coming next month HALLOWEEN NIGHT, and many-many more. Too damn many to list here, seriously.
Why are you doing this?
I have a deep appreciation for the Polonia Brothers and their films for many reasons. But I can try and boil it down to two points of reason.
The first reason is that I truly do dig their films., every single one. It's true that they are a bit rough around the edges, yet with every one of their films you can see how much love went into each one made. These two brothers are simply not filmmakers who are searching for wealth and fame, these are guys who are saying let's grab a camera, a script and a rubber monster mask and see what film we can make next.
The second reason is this; despite the expansive list of films that they have made, the Polonia Brothers constantly are mocked and insulted everyday by people all over this wild Internet whether it's on a movie review site, Amazon, or Netflix, these two get very little online respect.
But why?
All they ever wanted to do is to make movies. They may be, as mentioned, rough around the edges and inexpensively made. Yet, they are still making movies every day while, as I said before, are still sitting on our asses trying to get that first film made. Beyond that, most people wouldn't have the balls to make another film after the ridicule they get for every movie that they have ever made. However, they trudge on, and are just having fun.
Polonia Day is a day in which we fans say thanks to the Polonia Brothers their work and for helping other filmmakers have the courage to make their own movie. It's also a day to honor the independent spirit of filmmaking and other art forms.
So how do you celebrate Polonia Day?
The short answer is to have fun in doing something creative that you enjoy; make a movie, write a short story, write that screenplay, sculpt, whatever. Just do something creative.
It is also a time to watch their films and share that experience with at least one other person or better yet with your own family since in a lot of ways the Polonia Brothers are about family. There are numerous films in which a Polonia family member has either acted in or helped off screen on one of their flicks.
So take this day to celebrate the films and work of the Polonia Brothers and independent art, and at the same time do something creative for yourself just for the fun of it.
Also spread this post around if you can to get the word out and feel free to join the Cult of Polonia to celebrate and meet other like minded fans of the Polonia Brothers and indie flicks.
They also have their own Myspace page which can be found here.
Happy Polonia Day to all of my friends who are fans of the Polonia Bros. movies. Today marks the fourth year since I started this wacky but fun made up holiday. Let there be more to come.
Who are the Polonia Bros.?
For those who are new to the underground indie film scene or just curious as to who the Polonia Bros. are let me elaborate a bit more. The Polonia Brothers are a pair of twins who truly since childhood have done nothing but make films; starting with the super-8 format and eventually moving into the digital age with handheld camcorders.
Thus far they have had created over 30 films, many of which have ended up in storeshelves and rental places like Netflix and Blockbuster. One of their films helped them gain a bit of notoriety and underground fame which was called Feeders, a film about a duo of friends who get caught in a invasion of small one foot aliens who want to do nothing but eat humans and destroy Earth.
The Polonia Bros. are a hardworking duo who literally wear many hats behind-the-scenes and sometimes in front of the scenes; producing, writing, directing, special effects, prop design, stage design, acting. If something has to be done for the sake of the film
Their films have been called bad, terrible, and somethings that would make this post NSFW. However, their dedicated fans, including myself, tend to overlook the films failings and see something special that most films do not have, which is heart. There is a true love of filmmaking and storytelling that goes into ther films and it shows.
Sadly, as much as I keep referring the Polonia Bros. in a present tense, one of the two, John Polonia, has passed away not too long ago, leaving only the one brother and some great friends to help carry on the legacy. Also a friend and producer of the Polonia Bros. Matt Smith (Producer of HalloweeNight) has also passed away since last year. So Polonia Day is not only a celebration of the brothers and their films, it is also a way to honor both John Polonia and Matt Smith.
Why again?
The reason I started Polonia Day is to let the filmmakers know that there are fans out there who dig what they are doing and let them know that there are many fans out there. It is also used to raise a awareness for the Polonia Bros. films and other underground indie moviemakers such as Eric Stanze of Wicked Pixel Cinema and Joe Sherlock with F & C Productions.
What do you do on Polonia Day?
The idea is to celebrate the love of the films by watching a Polonia Bros film, buying or renting a Polonia Bros. film, or any underground indie movie. It is also a time to get out there and start making your own low-budget movie ignoring whatever is hindering you from doing so. If filmmaking is not your bag then you could draw, write, sculpt, basketweave, knit, taxidermy, whatever creative thing you love you should do it.
Whatever you decide to do to celebrate, have a Happy Polonia Day! Be sure to share this with friends and family and help this holiday grow.
Here's a brilliant article on what the film Black Dynamite can teach us about social media.
Take notes kids, you may think this stuff doesn't apply to you, but it does. If you want to get people to notice your work, social media is going to have to be in your to-do list.
It's a tragedy when so much time and money is spent on a movie or a web series and after its release there is nary a mention of it. No audience, no word of mouth, nothing.
What is the point of making a movie or web content if you forget that an audience must be built, lured, and even loved, to get your project noticed and taken to a higher level.
I don't know why but I truly and dearly love any film that is shot with that "Blair Witch" style POV. Maybe because to me it's like riding a dark ride at a state fair or walking through a haunted house attraction.
It just seems more spookier when you get that feeling that you are there with the filmmakers. Case in point, here is a spooky film that I feel anyone should put on their must see list:
Snipped from the press release:
Realizing the urban legend of their youth has actually come true, two filmmakers delve into the mystery behind five missing children and the real-life boogeyman linked to their disappearance in their hometown of Staten Island, New York.
Growing up on Staten Island, filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio had often heard the legend of ‘Cropsey.’ For the kids in their neighborhood, Cropsey was the escaped mental patient who lived in the old abandoned Willowbrook Mental Institution, who would come out late at night and snatch children off the streets. Sometimes Cropsey had a hook for a hand, other times he wielded a bloody axe, but it didn’t matter, Cropsey was always out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting to get them.
Later as teenagers, the filmmakers assumed Cropsey was just an urban legend: a cautionary tale used to keep them out of those abandoned buildings and stop them from doing all those things that teenagers like to do. That all changed in the summer of 1987 when a 13-year-old girl with Down syndrome, named Jennifer Schweiger, disappeared from their community.
That was the summer all the kids from Staten Island discovered that their urban legend was real.
Now as adults Joshua and Barbara have returned to Staten Island to create Cropsey, a feature documentary that delves into the mystery behind Jennifer and four additional missing children. The film also investigates Andre Rand, the real-life boogeyman linked to their disappearances.
Embarking on a mysterious journey into the underbelly of their forgotten borough, these filmmakers uncover a reality that is more terrifying than any urban legend.
The film is making the screening rouns and you can now catch a sneak preview on Long Island at the Sag Harbor Cinema at 9PM on June 14th. Details here.
Also be sure to catch these other screenings:
New York City: IFC Center, June 4-17 (at least)
Somerville, Massachusetts: Somerville Theatre, June 11-17 (at least)
Shreveport, Louisiana: Robinson Film Center, June 11-13
Charlotte, North Carolina: Carolina Cinemas Crownpoint Stadium 12, June 13 4:30pm
Sag Harbor, New York: Sag Harbor Cinema, June 16, 9pm SNEAK PREVIEW
Buffalo, New York: Market Arcade, June 18-24 (at least)
Denver, Colorado: Starz Film Center, June 25-July 1 (at least)
Bushnell, Illinois: Cornerstone Festival, June 28-July 3
Anchorage, Alaska: Bear Tooth Theatre, July 5
Austin, Texas: Alamo Drafthouse Ritz, July 5-7
Los Angeles, California: Downtown Independent, July 9-15 (at least)
New Haven, Connecticut: Criterion Cinema, July 23-29 (at least)
Seattle, Washington: Northwest Film Forum, July 23-24 (at least)
Ottawa, Ontario: Mayfair Theatre, July 23-24 (at least)
Albuquerque, New Mexico: The Guild, July 30-31
Chicago, Illinois: Music Box, August 2-5
Hartford, Connecticut: Real Art Ways, August 6-7, 13-14, 20-21
Tempe, Arizona: Madcap Theaters, August 27-28
Lake Placid, New York: Lake Placid Center for the Arts, September 10
Columbus, Ohio: Wexner Center, September 22 & 24
Detroit, Michigan: Detroit Film Center, September, dates TBD
Gloucester, Massachusetts: Cape Ann Community Cinema, October date TBD
Confirmed but date TBD:
Winchester, Virginia; Tucson, Arizona; Bloomfield, New Jersey; South Burlington, Vermont; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; many more…
For further details and critic reviews (including one from Roger Ebert) on the film and it's distributor go here.
This should be of interest to all of my pulp/filmmaking buddies:
With the recent success of PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, Paramount Pictures has announced they'd be backing a gaggle of low budget genre films that all should be going into production this year. Paramount announced today the launch of their new division, Insurge Pictures, which has one million dollars fueling its films. 10 movies are on tap in the first year at a budget of just $100,000 each. "We want to find and distribute crazy, unpredictable, and hopefully awesome movies - movies that make you want to line up to see at your local theater with all your friends," the soon-to-be-launched website proclaims. "Movies that a big studio would never release because they’re too risky, too silly, and they don’t star Sandra Bullock." (via Gorezone.net)
Here is a brillantly fantastic short film centered around a Alternate WWII timeline featuring some really good usage of real models and stop-motion without the aid of CGI.
Clipped from Youtube:
It's 1945, and the Allies are on the verge of winning World War II, when suddenly the Nazis unleash an arsenal of super weapons straight out of science fiction turning the tides in their favor. This presentation was done on a VERY small budget. All the tanks and vehicles (Willy's jeep, Stuart tank, Sherman tank, Nazi "Spider" tank) were done with 1:6 scale models, not CGI.
UPDATE: Well, it seems that the site is currently under a Beta test with no word when you or I can participate. But hopefully soon we'll find out sooner or later. Also all payments are sent to your Amazon payments account so at this time you must be a U.S. Citizen with a Amazon membership.
For those, like myself, searching for a way to fund your next project should check out Kickstarter; a site for those seeking funding. At this point it's free to sign up and you have 25 days or so to raise the funding with the amount that you seek. If that goal is not met no one donates money and you're back to square one.
Nothing is expected in return for the donations made, however some artists are giving away bonus items for certain donated dollar amounts. For example if someone donates fifty dollars or more on a someone's film project then the filmmaker would send that person a finished DVD of the film for free as a way to say thanks.
I haven't tried it yet, but may do so in the next few days to raise completion money for my short film/music vid project.
I've long forgotten where I discovered this story so you will have to forgive me for not giving credit where credit is due. And even though I am sure I've shared this tale before, I read something that made think of it and I want to share it with you again.
The story goes as this; During the filmming of a film, a producer wanted to know how much it cost to do a visual effect shot of the Red Sea parting. The fx person thinks it over for a moment and says well for a million I can part the whole sea. For fifty-thousand I can part just one side, and for fifty bucks I can have a guy look at something off screen and say, "holy shit the Red Sea is parting!"
The World Premiere of PLATOON OF THE DEAD will be held Friday, May 29, 2009 at 9:15 p.m. at the Northern Lights Theater Pub, 3893 Commercial St. SE, Salem, Oregon. Admission is only $3! Cast and crew will be in attendance.
Here's a brilliant article on what the film Black Dynamite can teach us about social media. 
I've long forgotten where I discovered this story so you will have to forgive me for not giving credit where credit is due. And even though I am sure I've shared this tale before, I read something that made think of it and I want to share it with you again.
If you're looking for something to do tonight: