Alternative Cinema Podcast Episode 48

above: The Groovy Ghoulies of podcasting are back!

Alternative Cinema Podcast / Episode 48 / September 15, 2103

The AC Podcast returns! In this episode Michael Raso, John Fedele, Erin Russ and William Hellfire talk about all the latest underground B-Movie news including William return to directing with his new film “Upside Down Cross”!

http://www.AlternativeCinemaPodcast.com

 September AC Podcast News

A New Film by William Hellfire! "Upside Down Cross"

From the director of Duck! The Carbine High Massacre and The Devil’s Bloody Playthings comes a shocking new tale of demonic possession and secular evil.



above: erin Russ, David Yow, Rick Savage

Upsidedown Cross stars Erin Russ (Porkchop, ‘Devil Sister’) as Nadine, the drug-addled victim of religious mania, and David Yow, lead singer of acclaimed alt rock band Jesus Lizard, as her tormented would-be redeemer.  Additional cast includes Colleen Cohan (Mr. Hush, Green Monster), Tina Krause (Erotic Vampire in Paris, Bad Biology), Victor Bonacore (Chainsaw Kiss and Hunters), Charles Moran (Singer of Love Cinema Vol.6 and Dead Go West), Mark DeMicco (Cut), and adult film star legend, Rick Savage!
Special FX will be realized by Johnny Dickie (Slaughter Tales).  Video montage provided by Jimmy Screamerclauz (Where the Dead Go to Die).  Screenplay by William Hellfire and Mike Hunchback

Abandoned, abused by the police and in the throes of withdrawal, Nadine, a drug addicted young prostitute, returns to her childhood home and the mother she ran away from.  Nadine’s mother, Delilah; a fanatical Christian who believes demons have possessed her daughter, searches for a “cure” for Nadine’s erratic behavior.  When she finds a rogue preacher willing to exorcise her daughter for a fee, neither realizes they have invited the devil into their home.  While her mother turns a blind eye to the bizarre practices unfolding in her own home, Nadine, wracked with mental and physical pain, has no choice but to put up with the preacher’s increasingly violent charade.

You can help produce this feature! Visit William's IndieGoGo page and find out more - http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/upsidedown-cross

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Theatrical Premiere for Dry Bones and Six Fingers in

Buffalo, NY –

Dry Bones and The Legend of Six Fingers – a found-footage monster movie-  which were shot back to back in the Buffalo-Niagara region of Western New York, will have a Double Feature World Premiere on Thursday, September 26th at the Market Arcade Film and Arts Center in Buffalo, followed by theatrical screenings at the Screening Room Cinema Cafe in Amherst.  Dry Bones was directed and produced by Gregory Lamberson (Slime City, and The Legend of Six Fingers, also produced by Gregorgy Lamberson, was directed by Sam Qualiana (Snow Shark).

The Legend of Six Fingers plays at the Screening Room in Amherst on Friday, October 11th and Saturday, October 12th at 9:30 pm.  

http://www.screeningroom.net/

Distribution Announcement

Following its limited theatrical and festival run, we are happy to announce The Legend of Six Fingers will be released to home entertainment by Camp Motion Pictures.  

_________________________________________

Camp Motion Pictures Micro-Budget Film Initiative Updates –

Babysitter Massacre – Directed by Henrique Couto, BSM - a  gruesome indie slasher in the tradition of Slumber Party Massacre and House on Sorority Row - is one of the first series of Camp’s micro-budget initiatives to be completed, and will be available 10/15/2013. 

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Limited Edition Alternative Cinema Exclusives!

WNUF Halloween Special – the shocking footage unseen since televised in 1987!  VHS limited edition of 300 copies, only available through Alternative Cinema!  
 http://www.alternativecinema.com/index.php?pg=si&item_id=2871

Video Violence Diehard Videovore Edition! – limited to 250 units, This DIEHARD VIDEOVORE EDITION includes both VIDEO VIOLENCE and VIDEO VIOLENCE 2 issued on BLOOD RED videotapes, an 11” X 17” poster featuring all-new artwork, The “Video Studio” membership card and button, the “I’m a Lifer” shirt from the film and a DVD of Gary’s all new, never-before-seen re-cut mash-up of both films - all encased within an awesome '80s style, shiny black thermoplastic case!  It's the VIDEO VIOLENCE REDUX DELUXE! Enter the world of VIDEO VIOLENCE and experience pure analog era insanity!
www.alternativecinema.com/index.php?pg=si&item_id=2868 

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AC Events!

Zombie eXs in-store event at NYC’s Forbidden Planet this Friday, August 13, 2013 at 7pm.  Get your photo taken with a ZOMBIE EX, watch the movie and get a free Zombie eXs CD Soundtrack!  Forbidden Planet is located at 832 Broadway NY NY 10003.

Video Violence in-store event at NYC’s Forbidden Planet featuring director Gary Cohen!  Friday, August 20 at 7pm, play a Video Violence trivia game, pick up your copy of the limited edition VHS VVDVE exclusive and leave with a Polaroid of you and Gary! 

Check out events at the Forbidden Planet NYC website! http://www.fpnyc.com/

That's it for now! See you in two weeks!

Alternative Cinema Podcast 43 - November 15, 2012

Episode  43 - November 15, 2012 – Show Notes!

Listen on iTunes, the AC Site or below!

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The AC Podcast Gang made it through NJ’s Hurricane Sandy and is back to cit-chat about The Death of the Twinkie, Memories of King Kong / Godzilla on Thanksgiving and the gang's favorite “Turkey” of a movie! This and much more!!! Features Michael Raso, Erin Russ, William Hellfire, John Fedele and special guest Kevin Neblung!

The AC Podcast is Back!!! After being knocked on their ass by Hurricane Sandy in NJ, Michael Raso, Erin Russ, William Hellfire and John Fedele are back with the November AC Podcast.

above: The AC Gang at the October 2012 Chiller Theatre Toy, Model and Film Expo in New Jersey. Pictured: Erin Russ, Michael Raso, William Hellfire and The Little Punk People!!

Chiller Theatre ReCap!
The Russ and Williams give us their Chiller Theatre recap. For those of you who don’t know, The Chiller Theatre Horror Expo is the east coast’s premium genre convention. Erin met her idol Barbara Steele (the star of Mario Bava’s BLACK SUNDAY). Michael Ras made made a guest appearance with FilmPhotography Podcast co-host Mat Marrash. With film cameras loaded and ready, Mike and Mat shot up the show on old-fashioned film!

The End of Hostess Twinkies!

Michael Raso announces (from AP News) that the Hostess Company has been shut down. Hostess makes Twinkies, Sno-Balls, Cup Cakes, Wonder Bread and also Drakes’ Devil Dogs! (above: John Fedele crying over the Twinkie news)



Exhumed Films 24-Hour Horror-Thon

William recalls last years Exhumed 24-Hour Horror-Thon (that he missed this year)! They played such films as The Gate, Q The Winged Serpent, Driller Killer, Xtro, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, Susperia, Night of 1,000 Cats, Vampire’s Night Orgy, The Hidden, Thom Thumb, Son of the Blob. Bill also talks about the Hudson Horror Show - http://www.hudsonhorror.com/

Winners of the October AC Podcast Giveaway!

The gang announces the winners of the October contest. Select winners won Pumpkin Pop Rocks, VHS Tapes, Original Art by William and an Erin Russ Mix-CD!

The NEW Alternative Cinema Catalog is Out!!!!!

The new catalog features an entire VHS section! Erin mentions some of the rare Factory 2000 VHS titles available including the notorious Vampire Strangler (featuring William’s Willie!)

above: The notorious VAMPIRE STRANGLER trailer

The new catalog also features awesome T-Shirts!!!

Also, order any DVD or T-Shirt and get 10% off your order (when you mention the 10% savings in the special message area when ordering!)

WWOR-TV’s Thanksgiving Monster Movie Marathon!

The gang talks about the days (in the 1970s / 80s) when Channel 9 played a monster movie marathon every thanksgiving.

Favorite Turkey Movies

A “turkey” is a move that’s so bad that it’s good! The AC gang weighs in…

John’s favorite turkey is Joe Sarno’s Suburban Secrets

Kevin’s turkey pick is Godzilla vs The Smog Monster

Mike sites Francis Ford Coppala’s The Godfather III as his turkey

Erin’s pick - Home, Sweet Home starring “Body By Jake”! The Russ also mentions the VHS Preservation Society! - http://www.vhsps.com/

William sites Octaman as his wild turkey and says that The Russ looks like Octaman!! He also mentions a few others but says that his ultimate favorite turkey is Track of the Moon Beast (trailer below)!

Thanks for listening – See you next month!

Write to us!
Alternative Cinema Podcast
PO Box 152
Butler, NJ 07405
Podcast@AlternativeCinema.com

AC Podcast - Episode 41 / September 15, 2012

Alternative Cinma Podcast Internet Radio Show
Episode 41 / September 15, 2012

Tune In!
http://www.alternativecinemapodcast.com/

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above: THe AC Podcast Gang - Erin Russ, William Hellfire, John Fedele and special guest Kevin Neglung (who wrote and performed "That Dead Girl")

The Internet Radio Show for People Who Love Low-Budget, Cult and B-Movies! Joe Sarno Movies, VHS Tapes, Forced Entry T-Shirt and more

Hosted by Michael Raso, John Fedele, William Hellfire and Erin Russ (“The Russ”) with guests Desiree Saetia and “That Dead Girl” musician Kevin Neblung.

VHS Tapes


VHS has been making a comeback with such fan magazines as LunchMeat Magazine. Mike introduces an interview done this past summer at Artscape 2012 in Baltimore, MD. VHS/VIP - The tribute to VHS at Artscape 2012 - curated by Josh Schafer, editor of Lunchmeat Magazine. Lunchmeat is an independently printed magazine that celebrates the obscure and esoteric in cinema (including VHS tape)

Read more - The Analog Revolution! http://filmphotographyproject.com/content/features/2012/08/vhs-analog-revolution

Breaking News
Gene from the Third Eye Cinema Podcast visits the AC Podcast and offers some breaking news. Gene reports about the postings on the Internet about the death of actress Mary Mendum (a.k.a. Rebecca Brooke). Mary acted in many, many Joe Sarno films including Confessions of a Young American Housewife and Laura’s Toys. Details of Mary’s passing have not been confirmed by the Sarno family at this time.


Low-Budget filmmaker Todd Sheets suffered a heart attack this past summer. Todd is best know for such DIY movies as Zombie Bloodbath and Zombie Rampage. Todd is doing well and the whole AC gang wishes Todd a speedy recovery.

Shocking Tee!
William has been wearing his Forced Entry T-Shirt when visiting the mall and has been getting lots of attention!
The Forced Entry Tee along with Video Violence, Cannibal Campout and Misty Mundae T-Shirts are available at Alternative Cinema

The AC gang discusses Forced Entry Shaun Costello and his notorious 1970s Time Square hardcore features. Mike mentions the fact that he attended the Famous Monsters Convention in 1974 in NYC and that he suspects that Shawn Costello was shooting one of his films in the same venue – the Commodore Hotel.



“The Russ” News

GIALLO FEVER! September 20 – September 30

http://anthologyfilmarchives.org/film_screenings/series/39659

The term Giallo, literally “yellow” in Italian, originally referred to a series of crime novels with trademark yellow covers. Giallo, as a film genre of Italian thrillers that grew out of these pulp fictions starting in the mid 60s, became wildly popular in the 70s, then faded away in the early 80s. Giallo left a legacy of films often overlooked but widely influential on filmmakers such as Brian De Palma, Quentin Tarantino, and Darren Aronofsky. Apart from the signature blend of style and kitsch aesthetics, the genre features some of the most innovative scores ever created, by the likes of Ennio Morricone, Riz Ortolani, and Goblin. While these films have enjoyed a revival of interest due to DVD releases of several titles, they have yet to receive the 35mm treatment they absolutely deserve in a city like New York.

Fiona Apple is on tour!

Erin Russ is the #1 Fiona fan in the entire world!

Fiona Apple McAfee Maggart (born September 13, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Apple garnered international acclaim for her 1996 debut album, Tidal, which was a critical and commercial success. She received a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for the single "Criminal" from that album in 1998.

After Tidal, Apple released the critically acclaimed, though less commercially successful albums, When the Pawn... (1999), Extraordinary Machine (2005), and The Idler Wheel... (2012).

Get tickets - http://www.ticketmaster.com/Fiona-Apple-tickets/artist/780749

Horror Convention Season!

Chiller Theatre Toy, Model and Film ExpoThis October’s Chiller Show will be at a new venue – Sheridan Parsippany, NJ

Oct 26 – 28th

Alternative Cinema will be vending at The Chiller! Erin’s fav guests are Barbara Steele and The Little Punk People!

Check out the guest lineup at http://www.chillertheatre.com


Scare Fest Kentucky
“Stash” director will be heading up the Alternative Cinema table at Scare Fest!
http://scarefestcon.com/


Cinema Wasteland Show in Strongville, Ohio
Henrique Couto will head up the AC table - http://www.cinemawasteland.com/
 
Look for Henrique at Cinema Wasteland!

Hudson Horror VI Screening
The 12-Hour Horror and Exploitation film festival! Check out the groovy calendar at - http://www.hudsonhorror.com/


As Seen On TV Late-Nite Commercials
The Cami-Secret spot plays constantly when Erin and William watch TV. So, who’s that Cami Secret girl!!?? Introducing Allison Mosier – the Cam-Secret girl who’s a talented LA actress.


That’s not all! William and Erin are the proud owners of Lint Lizard!


Desiree Saetia Interview
Porkcop II and Zombie Babies are now on DVD!
Zombie Baby star Desiree Saetia drps by the AC Studio and chats all about working with Eamon Hardiman and Ruby LaRocca



New Releases
Take 10% off your order at AlternativeCinema.com – At checkout in the “messages” area, write “Take 10% Off.” Justin (at AC) will manually process your order and remove 10% from the total price! Offer good 9/15 – 9/30/2012 only!!!


Obsession with René Cardona Jr.

William obsesses over the films that include “Tintorera,” “Gorilla King” and “Treasure of the Amazon.” All feature his favorite actor Hugo Stiglitz



Michael and Gene discuss the films of Joe Sarno
One of the most prolific and distinctive auteurs to emerge from the proto-pornographic sexploitation film genre of the 1960s, Joe Sarno had written and directed approximately 75 theatrically released feature films in the sexploitation, softcore and hardcore genres as well as a number of shot-on-video features for the '80s hardcore video market.

Letters…We Got Letters
John Reads a letter from Mark Nelson / Saturday Fright TV Show

Write to the AC Podcast! Podcast@AlternativeCinema.com

See everyone in two weeks!!!

Alternative Cinema Podcast #31 - October 2011 Show Notes!

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Show notes by Douglas Waltz

Along with the regulars, Michael Raso, William Hellfire and John Fedele we have the special guest star, Erin Russ as the AC podcast explores all things Erin Russ.

Image above: Super Ghoulish guest Erin Russ photographed by Michael Raso

Halloween is upon us and the AC Podcast shows it’s true colors with sound bites from “Famous Monsters Speaks,” the likes of Bela Lugosi, Grandpa Munster with a taste of the tune ‘Bela Lugosi’s Dead by Nouvelle Vague to get the show off to the right start.



Pre-Show activity includes Michael loading up his Polaroid Spectra camera and John Fedele presents Michael with a Two Guys Tee-Shirt!



above: Erin Russ shot with a Polaroid Spectra camera. Below: Two Guys department store posted by John from Flickr.



Erin presents the new releases from AlternativeCinema.com :

Sept. 27th The Sex Merchants
Nov. 8th Lustful Illusions
Dec 6th Porkchop and Zombie Allegiance
Jan. 17th Platinum Pussycat/Sexploiters Double Feature
Jan. 24th Sexually Deranged and Stiffed




The new Alternative Cinema Catalog Update is now available. E-mail us ( AlternativeCinemaPodcast@gmail.com )for a PDF!

Cinema Wasteland is coming Sept. 30th – Oct. 2nd with Director Henrique Couto managing the Alternative Cinema booth. Some of the guests include Gunnar Hansen, Frank Henenlotter and Ginger Lynn Allen.

Alternative Cinema will also be at the New York Comic Con - New York Oct. 13th – 16th.

We'll be at Chiller Theater! This Chiller be will mark the last East Coast appearance of Elvira.



All things Erin Russ!

Erin tells the tale of how she met William on MySpace(!) that led her to moving to New Jersey.


above: Erin in makeup for an Alternative Cinema cover photo shoot.

Erin discusses her photo shoots for covers for Alternative Cinema. She also appeared the short film, Devil Sister which was her first film.



Erin stars in "Porkchop" and discusses working on the production. Porkchop is about a bunch of high school students who decide to camp at Camp Wood. Little do they realize that a madman with a pig mask is waiting for them. Porkchop stars Erin Russ and Ruby LaRocca .



The "Erin Russ" photo shoots for Girls and Corpses is discussed. Michael Raso shot the images and opted for using Kodachrome film instead of digital photography for the shoot.



Erin Russ personally made a "Mixed CD" called the "Devil Sister's Halloween Horror Show" and is giving it away. Tune in to the podcast to find out how to win!



Next Up is the Center Stage Review of The Basement, the 1989 Super 8 gore feature that has never been released...til now!. The Basement tells the tale of four characters who are confronted by a creature who shows each of them a vision of their own personal Hell. The box set includes four more shot on video films as well as the option to watch The Basement on a blood red VHS tape!



William brought John some VHS presents to bring home; The Meat Eater, Silent Madness and The Weirdo by Andy Milligan.

The Russ Shuffle by Film Photography Project

Lastly, the gang discusses the new song by The Smoove Sailors recorded especially for this podcast - The Erin Russ Shuffle!!!

That's it til next month!

Alternative Cinema Podcast #30 / September 2011 – Show Notes

Notes by Douglas Waltz

The Alternative Cinema Podcast!
Listen, Download, iTunes!

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The 30th episode of the AC Podcast starts off with a cut from Satan’s Pilgrims album Creature Features.






Your hosts Michael Raso, John Fedele and Bill Hellfire hit the ground running with a Polaroid Spectra camera full of expired film to document the show.



With all the new listeners and letters, Mike is really happy to be there. So happy that he mentions a new purchase - Brian Wilson Reimagining Gershwin CD. That leads into a tale of Mike and John, along with Mike Weiss getting to meet Brian Wilson at Carnegie Hall.


John Fedele meets Brian Wilson!




The guys run down places where Alternative Cinema will be making personal appearances.

Nighthawk Cinema will have a screening of Video Violence with director Gary Cohen on hand for a prescreening Q&A.



The New York Comic Con in October October 13th – 16th
http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/
Buffalo Screams Horror Festival October 26th -30th
Buffalo, NY

ChillerTheatre Expo October 28th – 30th
http://www.chillertheatre.com/

Mike also gives us a heads up that the October AC Podcast will be The Erin Russ Podcast!



Listener letters are followed up by Bill bringing a new twist to the hillbilly horror that the guys are so fond of.

The less traveled path of …sasquatch rape!



With films like Night of the Demon and Demon Warp, Bill gives full reviews of both films and mentions a new release, Letters From The Big Man that deals with sasquatch love.



Bill also brings in one of his VHS treasures. A big box copy of Godzilla vs. Megalon.





The hillbilly discussion continues as Bill mentions Slashed Dreams a.k.a. Sunburst from 1974 starring an extremely young Robert Englund.



And just when you think the reviews are over, Bill talks about the Intervision release of the classic 80’s shot on video horror classic, Sledge Hammer. With all the extras, Bill’s review makes this sound like a must buy for any fan of the genre.





Bill brings up two artists in the music scene that he recommends highly. The group Graveyard from Sweden and Silverfish



Silverfish “Crazy”




Les Baxter

John discusses music with recent purchases of Les Baxter film soundtracks. They discuss all the Corman films as well as other low budget horror films that Baxter contributed to.

With that they wrap up the show with a tune from the film, Horror Express.

http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

“Horror Express” coming to DVD this year from Severin Films!

Write to the Alternative Cinema Podcast
AlternativeCinemaPodcast@gmail.com

Don't forget...get yer DVDs at AlternativeCinema.com!

See ya next month!

"Book of Lore" filmmakers score at Killer Film Festival

Blog by Michael Raso



Imagine my surprise when I received a call (this past Monday morning) from indie filmmakers Chris LaMartina and Jimmy George for an invite to lunch. Turns out both gents were passing through on their way back from the Killer Film Festival in Massachusetts where they picked up three (count ‘em…THREE) awards for their new film “Presidents Day.” ("Best Picture", "Best Screenplay" and "Best Use of a Former President")




(above) A relaxing lunch at "The Butler" Family Restaurant

Chris and Jimmy are also the talented guys behind two new releases this year – the “Book of Lore/Grave Mistakes Double Feature” and (segment director for) “Faces of Schlock.”







This dynamic duo was also my guests on the May 2010 Alternative Cinema podcast. We heartily discussed the trials and tribulations of producing a no-budget movie. An episode of the AC Podcast that no low-budget filmmaker will want to miss! Listen below.

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Stream, Download or iTunes link
http://www.alternativecinemapodcast.com



Best of luck to Chris & Jimmy. Come back soon!

Visit the Killer Film Festival on-line
http://www.killerfilmfest.com/

Back to Alternative Cinema HOME

All text and photos © Alternative Cinema, L.L.C.

Chris LaMartina and his "Book of Lore"

Article by
Bruce G. Hallenbeck



There's this really fun book called "Weird N.J.," by Mark Sceurman and Mark Moran that's a sort of combination clearing house and travel guide for New Jersey's local legends, best kept secrets and offbeat folk tales. Yes, Virginia, there is a Jersey Devil, and there are lots of other bizarre beasts and urban myths in the Garden State.

Much in the same "vein," if you'll pardon the expression, is Chris LaMartina's feature film BOOK OF LORE, but this time it's all about weird happenings in Maryland.



LaMartina's movie has to do with a mysterious book that details local unsolved crimes, most of them of the distinctly icky variety, such as the kidnapping and murder of babies, people with their eyes gouged out, etc. This Encyclopedia of Eerie leads to a few new murders when lead character Rick Adams (A. J. Hyde) tries to uncover the mystery surrounding the murder of his girlfriend, who's been killed in the manner of one of the murders in the Book of Lore. Needless to say, he uncovers more than he bargained for…



Chris LaMartina is Baltimore-born and bred, a 25-year-old wunderkind who grew up on a diet of Hammer horror films, Universal monster classics and eighties slasher films. His 2007 movie BOOK OF LORE was released as part of the horror double feature collection, BOOK OF LORE / GRAVE MISTAKES on May 18th, courtesy of Camp Motion Pictures, and you can clearly see his influences in the film's lighting scheme (bright colors ala Hammer, Mario Bava and Dario Argento), his ensemble cast (pick any eighties slasher film) and his gore effects (Tom Savini meets Herschell Gordon Lewis). The latter, in fact, makes a special guest appearance of sorts; you can hear the voice of the Godfather of Gore on a bingo record in the film, calling out numbers. Weird indeed.



I spoke with LaMartina recently about his depraved childhood, and, perhaps, even more depraved adulthood. "When I was a kid, around fourteen or so," LaMartina recalled, "I discovered the family camcorder and caught the filmmaking bug. I started making short films and as I got older, the plots became more elaborate and they became more ambitious. I used to watch a lot of horror movies on video, and there were some pretty crummy horror movies out there. After awhile, I thought maybe I could make something better than that stuff.'






Scenes from Chris LaMartina’s BOOK OF LORE

While going to film school, LaMartina made an anthology film called DEAD TEENAGERS, which was released to DVD by Brain Damage Films. This brought him to the attention of another Baltimore filmmaker named Jimmy George. "I met Jimmy years and years ago," LaMartina continued, "when I was fourteen and he was eighteen or nineteen. We talked the same language because he was a film nerd, but the age difference made it difficult. They're going to parties and they don't want to hang out with fourteen-year-olds. So he went out to Hollywood to try to be a screenwriter and then he came back a couple of years later for a bunch of reasons... so a mutual friend of ours re-introduced us and we got together and started writing BOOK OF LORE."


Jimmy George and Chris LaMartina visiting Pop Cinema Studios to record the May 2010 AC Podcast

LaMartina knows his stuff as far as horror film history is concerned. "I like the Expressionism of the German silent films," he noted, "and I like the colors in the giallo films. There's something cool about it. People have a psychological response to horror films. My background is really diverse; I would catch the Hammer horror stuff like HORROR OF DRACULA, and then as a pre-teen I saw like every Universal horror movie: THE WOLF MAN, SON OF DRACULA, HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, all that stuff. And then I went through a slasher phase."

"We spent about a year just writing BOOK OF LORE,” LaMartina said. "We wrote a first draft screenplay, and that's something a lot of micro-budget filmmakers take for granted. They'll write a screenplay and maybe let a friend check it out. But we took it really seriously. We got script coverage. We paid a professional reader to give us an opinion, what about it was crap, what about it was decent.

"When we finally got the script where we wanted it, we cast and raised the money. We raised the money by selling a lot of my stuff. I was a projectionist and I had a lot of 16mm film prints. I had a 16mm print of Tod Browning's FREAKS that I sold. I sold most of my more valuable VHS tapes. And Jimmy sold his whole collection of DVDs. And that's how we funded the movie."



LaMartina is a big supporter of the DIY movement. "I like the idea of doing it yourself," he continued. "With the right equipment, anyone can make a movie that looks good. So we raised the money, we held auditions... We started shooting the film in August '06, and the first two or three days of shooting were the hottest days in a couple of years in Baltimore. We were dripping with sweat in unbearable conditions. And that same week, my brother was getting married - and I was the Best Man. I had to organize his bachelor party and go to the wedding during the first week of production. It was just like a nightmare!"

But LaMartina persevered, as did his "awesome crew." He did his own cinematography. "Jimmy did a lot of the sound," he continued. "And we had Darren Mosher, a special effects guy. It was a very bare bones crew, but we pulled it off.


Darren Mosher applying make-up on his next victim, Sean Quinn.

Two weeks into production, D. Patrick Bauer, who played Evan Nash, got mono. So our plan to finish shooting in August was just thrown out the window. We pretty much finished shooting with everyone else by the end of August, but we shot all of his stuff in September and October. Most of the principal photography was done by the end of October."


“Book of Lore” crew - pictured left to right: Darren Mosher, Dan Vidor, Chris LaMartina, Lindsay Hanson, Jimmy George, Aj Hyde, and Jordan Epstein

Filming of the "legends" illustrated in the Book of Lore took place later. When I mentioned the "Weird N.J." book to him, LaMartina laughed and said, "You know, it 's so funny you bring that up, because I love that stuff! I don't scare easily and it's been a long time since a film really scared me. So I thought about what really creeps me out, and for me it's those stories, those mythos that people tell around the campfire. And there's a small town near Baltimore that is so rich in these weird and creepy stories. You know, about hauntings and murders and things like that. Those are the creepiest things to me. And I'm pretty happy with the result, of how the stories played out."



the chances are if BOOK OF LORE scares Chris LaMartina, it will do a number on you too.

“Book of Lore” was released by Camp Motion Pictures as BOOK OF LORE / GRAVE MISTAKES Double Feature DVD

Available on Alternative Cinema and Amazon

Jimmy George and Chris LaMartina were guests on the May 2010 Alternative Cinema Podcast. Listen below or click this link for other options (including iTunes)

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Visit Weird New Jersey!
http://www.weirdnj.com/

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