Archive for the ‘Interviews’ Category
Posted by pete in General, Interviews, Literature, News, Reviews on November 4th, 2008
“What is the Hollower? At times it can look like a man in a black coat and a black hat. But it’s definitely not a man. It’s not human at all. Its sole purpose is to stalk, to torment and to drive its victims to their deaths. It can sense each victim’s weaknesses, change its appearance and strike however it will hurt the most, physically…and mentally. Dave Kohlar is a man racked with guilt, doubt and worry. The perfect prey. He’s about to learn exactly what the Hollower is—and how it feeds.”
To tell you the truth, I had never heard of Mary SanGiovanni until I received her first novel The Hollower a few months back from Dorchester Publishing, home of Leisure Books. I am a member of their Horror book club and receive two new horror paperbacks every month. It is a great deal and has introduced me to a lot of new authors.
The cover and title of the book were intriguing. When I read the synopsis on the back, I thought…hmm this sounds interesting.
I finished the book in three fright-filled nights.
What jumped out first and really allowed me to live within this story were Mary’s characters. I can’t remember reading a first novel where the characters are so fully realized. The interaction between each other and the fictional world Mary created is engrossing and believable. You really feel for these people and what they are going through. To me that is where a great writer separates themselves from the rest.
Mary’s provocative prose and haunting imagery kept me turning the pages at a furious pace. Her voice is distinctly all her own, yet far beyond her short career as a novelist. She pulls no punches and hits you in the guts with heart wrenching fright, unrelenting images and nightmarish landscapes. Her descriptive language allows you to feel and see the places she writes about, to live in her fictional world and experience the same things her characters are feeling.
She created a creature of immense power that feeds on our insecurities and self-doubts. We all have them and now we know that something can use them to hunt us down.
Just when you think it’s over and it’s safe to be alone again Mary drags you back into her terrifying vision with Found You.
Right out of the gate, she grabs you by the throat with a first chapter that literally left me shaking. She wields words as a blacksmith wields a hammer, with authority and precision. Her storytelling is polished and sharp, evocative and horrifying.
Yet, she summons the power of restraint like a seasoned craftsman. She stays away from the over the top explicit gore and gruel that permeates much of today’s horror. She has enough faith in her talents and in her reader’s perceptions that she does not have to.
Mary SanGiovanni is a writer to watch and has cemented herself as force to be reckoned with in Horror Fiction, she is far too good at such an early stage in her career. The future looks bright for Mary and for those of us who love to lie awake at night wondering if that was really a voice we heard.
If you have not had a chance to read Mary’s books, do yourself a favor buy them, borrow them, or however you get them, read them. You will not be disappointed.
“Found you.” Those two simple words were like a death sentence to Sally. She recognized the voice, straight from her nightmares. The grotesque thing without a face, the creature that thrived on fear and guilt, had nearly killed her, like it had so many others. But it was dead…wasn’t it? Sally is about to find out that nightmares can become real, that your deepest secrets can prey on you, and that there’s nowhere to hide…for long.
In the small town of Lakehaven something has arrived that can’t see you, hear you or touch you, but it can find you just the same. And when it does, your fears will have a name.”
Book covers and text courtesy of Dorchester Publishing
www.marysangiovanni.com
Interview with Mary SanGiovanni
Posted by jonathon in Interviews, News on October 21st, 2008
After an hour and six minute phone conversation with Toby Wilkins (spent in my car at a CVS parking lot) I began to get a pretty clear look into the life of a talented director on the rise. It was a challenging conversation. By the end I felt as if I had run a marathon. But I don’t mean to make it sound drab. On the contrary, it was a most enjoyable and in-depth chat covering all the bases of the filmmaker’s career. Something I am excited to watch develop and suspect others are, as well.
I began taking interest in Wilkins’ career after watching his most excellent debut feature Splinter. What’s abnormal and refreshing about Wilkins’ film is that even though it’s an homage to inspirations like Dawn of the Dead and Evil Dead, and could be categorized along the lines of trendy horror, it obtains a level of mature craft; something not seen very often, especially with a new director–not that Wilkins is a new director. He’s helmed a slew of incredible shorts and an original series made for FEARnet.com called Devil’s Trade.
Wilkins jumped into the business as a graphic design and visual effects artist. It was this work that not only propelled him into directing but gave him some very crucial experience that has refined his vision (I’ll explain later). After saving enough money he decided it was time to put himself through film school. And by film school I mean he went out and shot short after short, gaining the real knowledge needed to step up to a career in directing. At it’s most basic level, Wilkins was learning how to problem solve, much like learning sudoku. He was creating worlds in a few short minutes with entirely no help and no money. This is what fueled his vision and seasoned him into an experienced storyteller. The Unbreakable Likeness of Lincoln (co-directed with Dan Harris and conceived, planned and shot in three days) and I Lost 20lbs In Two Months, Ask Me How (starring comedian and voice-over actor John Di Maggio) are two stunning examples of Wilkins’ early work.
Wilkins’ next leap was actually limiting his involvement in his films. Instead of acting as a one-man-show, Wilkins began hiring crews and editors to aid him on his projects and to curb him into focusing his energy entirely on directing. Finding the step-up infinitely more rewarding, Wilkins was clearly on track with the success of Staring at the Sun, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and garnered a 2005 ScreamFest award for “Best Horror Short Film”. (more…)
Posted by dominie in Films, Interviews on October 20th, 2008
The Fly: Andre Delambre (David Hedison) is a devoted husband, a loving father and a brilliant scientist. When his body is found in his laboratory with his arm and head crushed by a hydraulic press, his wife Helene admits to having killed him. Believing Helene incapable of such a crime, Andre’s brother slowly uncovers the truth - that an experiment with Andre’s new teleportation device went horribly wrong and Andre persuaded Helene to assist him in suicide.
Famous Monsters: I read in the foreword that you always know when October arrives because your phone starts ringing. You have done a lot of work, great work besides The Fly (review), do you think you are remembered more for your role as Andre Delambre or for the large body of work you have contributed to the acting profession?
David: Both actually. Andre Delambre, Lee Crane and Felix Leiter (in two James Bond films - Let and Let Die and License to Kill) are the roles I am best known for - all over the world. I also did a National Tour of Chapter Two (the Neil Simon play) in 1979-80. Those are roles I consider my best known work out of the over 100 roles I’ve assayed in my 60 year career.
Famous Monsters: Does it amaze you at all that The Fly remains so popular and ingrained in the hearts of horror fans given the big budget, special effect extravaganzas we are bombarded with today?
David: Not at all. It tells a story. A good story, tragic and heartfelt, about this fantastic discovery — teleportation — that can change the world, but we as human beings don’t have the discipline or the knowledge to use it wisely. It’s a classic tragedy. I loved playing the part of the doomed scientist.
Famous Monsters: I make sure I watch three movies and one TV show every Halloween…It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, The Fly, Dracula with Bela and John Carpenter’s Halloween. What are your favorite Halloween movies? (more…)
Posted by pete in Interviews, Literature, News, Reviews on October 20th, 2008
The Fly has been a Halloween staple of mine for many years. The infamous “Help Me, Help Me” has long been one of the classic lines of all time.
Now fifty-years after the film was made, Diane Kachmar and David Goudsward have published The Fly At Fifty; The Creation And Legacy Of A Classic Science Fiction Film, with a foreword by the star Al (David) Hedison.
Let me start by saying that this is a meticulously researched and thoroughly in-depth book. The level of detail is grand in scope, while being entertaining at the same time.
They start from The Fly’s beginning; the original short story by George Langelaan published by Playboy in 1957 and take you on a nostalgic journey through the entire process that brought the short story to the final film we love today. There are detailed synopses of the main characters involved with the film from the producer/director Kurt Neumann to make-up artist Ben Nye.
What really stood out for me is the acting credentials of the cast before and after the film. Everyone knows about Vincent Price’s career but the rest of the cast’s credentials are pretty impressive. From TV to movies to theater this cast was an extremely talented bunch.
They did not stop at The Fly though. They also covered 1959’s Return of the Fly, 1965’s Curse of the Fly, the 1986 remake The Fly and The Fly II from 1989.
There is an extensive interview with Mr. David Hedison, a chapter about “The Fly in Popular Culture” and for an added treat, the original short story by Langelaan is also included. This was the icing on the cake as I had never read the short story before.
In closing I would like to say that if you are a fan of The Fly or just movies in general this book is a must buy and is highly recommended. It gives you a wonderful insight into the making of a science fiction classic with detail, clarity and an obvious love of this film.
Now some questions for the authors and Mr. David Hedison. (more…)
Posted by dominie in Events, Films, Interviews on September 26th, 2008
Join Larry Fessenden and James Felix McKenney on Fangoria Radio tonight, September 26. Debbie Rochon will host an interview session with the Fessenden and McKenney on their upcoming horror slates: Satan Hates You, I Sell The Dead, Hypothermia, and possible future features in the collaboration of Glass Eye Pix with Dark Sky Films. The show starts here 10:00pm Eastern on Sirius Satelite Radio Channel 102.
More on the upcoming releases:
Satan Hates You from writer-director James Felix McKenney, is a graphic horror film that tells the stories of two individuals and their personal struggles with Lucifer himself. Starring Don Wood (TV’s Colonial House, In a Fix), Christine Spencer (Automatons), Angus Scrimm (Phantasm, TV’s Alias), Reggie Bannister (Phantasm, Bubba Ho-Tep), Michael Berryman (One Flew Over the Cukoo’s Nest, The Hills Have Eyes), Debbie Rochon (Romeo and Juliet, Terror Firmer), and Larry Fessenden, the film boasts a large ensemble cast, mixing well-known genre names with MonsterPants regulars. The feature wrapped principle photography (which as been going on intermittently since 2005) on July 2nd and producer Fessenden has eyes set for festival release in mid 2009.
Satan Hates You has two storylines going all the while with demons provoking the characters to remain on with Satan. One is a man who struggles with his desire to kill. The second centers on a young girl who falls to the wayward side of life, but ultimately redeems herself when she meets a televangelist she later finds out is actually an angel. (more…)
Posted by dominie in Comics, Interviews on September 25th, 2008
Following his review, Dominic was able to catch up with Miles Gunter, author and creator of the upcoming comic Yeti vs Vampire (with art by Kelsey Shannon), so by all means enjoy the following interview!
Famous Monsters: How did you develop your love for monsters?
Miles Gunter: Like most people I fell in love with them as a result of observing Halloween as a kid and going to haunted houses. That was back when you would go to a haunted house and the people working there would grab you (laughs). It was terrifying. But then I guess they passed laws forbidding that. So it was that and movies of course: starting with the Universal Monsters, Godzilla movies, Ultraman and that quickly dovetailed into things like the Salem’s Lot miniseries, The Howling, Alien, Funhouse, The Thing, the Werewolf TV show. All the great late 70s, early to mid 80s stuff.
FM: How did you come up with the interesting premise of Yeti vs. Vampire? A vampire fashion designer with werewolf, and various monster henchmen, hunting a yeti for fur is actually quite awesome if you ask me.
MG: Thanks! I had developed the vampire character years ago when I was going to art school in Savannah, Georgia. During the Civil War, Savannah surrendered to the North; it didn’t get burned like Atlanta. So you have all these beautiful old buildings full of history. And when the sun goes down there, the evil comes out. There is a huge amount of darkness in that place. At that time, a lady friend had turned me onto Bret Easton Ellis’ short story collection the Informers which has a really crazy vampire in it. I think that book and the creepy feeling of Savannah at night were the things that inspired me to make my own vampire.
Having a Yeti fight my vampire fashion designer just seemed like the kind of thing that I would want to read as a fan. As it progressed I added the werewolves and started creating my own monsters (which appear in issue 2). I always liked how in Disney’s Beauty in the Beast everything in his castle was his friend and I wanted to do something similar with the Vampire, where she is surrounded by monster minions. But she is the big enchilada. (more…)
Posted by dominic in Interviews, Reviews on September 25th, 2008
When I first came across the upcoming comic Yeti vs. Vampire by Miles Gunter, with art by Kelsey Shannon, I was intrigued by the title. A yeti, one of my all time favorite creatures of Cryptozoology was going to go head to head with a vampire! Are you kidding me, why didn’t I think of that?
The first issue of Yeti vs. Vampire had me salivating for more. I’m already disappointed that there will be only four issues in the series. This book has it all; wisecracking werewolves, maniacal monks guarding the entrance to a Shangri-la like Yeti sanctuary high in the Himalayas, a monster controlling vampire who knows how to mix things up, and an amazingly envisioned Yeti that I just know is going to kick some monster butt in the next few issues.
The action and gore is very stylized. I felt almost like this comic could have been a Saturday morning cartoon from my childhood; albeit a cartoon that would have aired on HBO or Showtime do to the violence and high body count. Kelsey Shannon’s artwork lends itself perfectly to the story. The rich colors and sharp eye for surrounding detail, coupled with the fast pace and quick dialog, envelope the reader and trap him in this pleasantly fantastical world where monsters do exist, and some even have a dry sense of humor to boot. It is all too obvious how much fun Miles and Kelsey had creating this story. Even as violent as Yeti vs. Vampire is you never feel weighted down with serious issues. This is all about a fans love for monsters; an action/adventure set in a paranormal world. It reminded me of some of my own favorite monster fests such as Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Destroy all Monsters and Monster Squad. The more I go back to the story and re-read it the more I enjoyed Yeti vs. Vampire.
I won’t give too much away of what the readers have in store when the book is released. I will say if you love monsters, especially monster battle royales, go out and pick up the first issue at your local comic store. You really have no excuse, because even with the tough economy the first issue is going to sell for only 99 cents!
Yeti vs. Vampire is overall just an amusing monster read that made me nostalgic for my childhood. A childhood full of frights, and made up stories not unlike this one-minus the fashion designing vampire, I would have never thought of that one. Now that its autumn and the days are getting shorter and the nights colder, it’s nice to know that the bumps in the night are back, and that nights under the sheets with a flashlight reading cool and creepy stories are upon us once again.
Posted by dominie in Events, Films, Games, Interviews, News, Reviews on August 26th, 2008
Clive Barker’s adaptation of The Midnight Meat Train was doomed for failure when its release only hit a limited 100 discount theaters. The limited release was allegedly due to Lionsgate’s president, Joe Drake, who gave his film, The Strangers, preferential treatment in the run for the big screen. MTV caught up with Clive Barker to discuss the fact of the matter.
In an interview with MTV, Barker unleashes his distress.
“There’s room for everything,” he says. “You don’t have to shit on somebody else’s work to advance your own material” referring to Lionsgate president Joe Drake. “Though I mourn the fact that Midnight Meat Train was never given its chance in theaters,” continues Barker, “The movie is surviving the nonsense… It’s a beautifully stylish, scary movie, and it isn’t going anywhere… People will find it, and whether they find it in midnight shows or they find it on DVD, they’ll find it, and in the end the Joe Drakes of the world will disappear.”
Stay tuned for details on the DVD release.
Posted by bob in Comics, Films, Interviews on July 11th, 2008
Hellboy creator Mike Mignola began his career as an illustrator for comic book fanzines and then made his professional debut as an inker for Marvel Comics. He worked on familiar titles such as Incredible Hulk and less familiar projects such as the adorable Rocket Raccoon. At DC Comics, he did a well-regarded Phantom Stranger miniseries in addition to Gotham by Gaslight which launched the Elseworlds line of books. His design sense sand strong graphic style let him segue from occult to super-heroes to sword & sorcery. When given a chance to create something on his own, in 1994 he began producing stories for Dark Horse Comics featuring Hellboy. While he at first plotted and drew the stories, with dialogue from John Byrne, Mignola grew in confidence and began writing the full story on his own.
He began his design work for Hollywood in 1992 with Bram Stoker’s Dracula and then designed the undersea world for Disney’s Atlantis. The Batman the Animated Series incarnation of Mr. Freeze was based on a designs specifically requested by Bruce Timm.
To his delight, Hellboy became a live-action film from director Guillermo del Toro and he’s been intimately involved on Hellboy II: The Golden Army as well. In this exclusive interview from his home in California, Mike talks about the new film, opening today.
FM: You share the story credit with Guillermo Del Toro, how’d you guys work out the story together?
Mike Mignola: It was pretty easy. We tried to work out an adaptation of one of my stories—Almost Colossus—but after a couple hours we hit a snag so we decided to just make up something completely new. Del Toro was writing Pan’s Labyrinth around that time and I was starting to plot the current story line in the comic that’s all about a war with elves and witches so it was natural for both of us to come up with something with a fairytale/folktale feel to it. (more…)
Posted by bob in Comics, Interviews on June 29th, 2008
Writer/Artist Matt Wagner has been a powerhouse in comics since he gained attention with Mage back in the 1980s. Since then, he is perhaps best known for his character Grendel, published at Dark Horse Comics. He is no stranger to DC Comics, having produced works featuring the big three — Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman — along with smaller projects. This week, his first Vertigo work arrived in the form of Madame Xanadu. Last Sunday we profiled who she was and today, we speak with Matt about his approach to the new ongoing title.
FM: Hey, Matt, it’s been a while since you delved into the supernatural. What do you find alluring about the subject?
Matt: Well, let’s face it…dealing with the supernatural is, for a writer, just unadulterated fun in all respects. It’s like the doors of the Imaginarium have been thrown wide open and all its many toys are ripe for the playing. I tend to utilize a certain structured sense of narrative so it’s really fun to be able to mix that up with an “anything-can-happen” sort of approach.
FM: Mage also dealt with magic, how will this be different?
Matt: Right off the bat, this is a far more feminine approach. The main character is female and privy to a very ancient form of mysticism so the magic tends to strike a decidedly intuitive and contemplative tone. You won’t find any bombastic magical battles here because that’s just not what the character’s all about. Again, she’s a seer so her magic is more geared towards uncovering secrets (and, by reflex, maintaining them as well) rather than inflicting any sort of damage or engaging in direct conflict. (more…)
