News: Film Fest & script related

First off our script (Irenia Guajardo and Myself) is in consideration for ShriekFest Film Festival, we'll know next if we are accepted or not (that's how this process works, and it's granted a long one but can be a very rewarding one). Anyway next week is when hopefully i get to post we have positive news from the Film Fest.

    On the script writing front, i just completed my rough draft of "Hurtful Deeds" a short script that's a little sick bastard of a script.   That being said i can't wait to dig into it and edit it, but that'll be in a week or so as i give it time to "fester" (let the mistakes show themselves and bring new ideas to it).  In the meantime i have a short story i'm busy editing to hopefully have finished soon so all of you can read it.   I need to take a moment and thank Irenia Guajardo for helping through my dark days with this cancer i've been diagnosed with; without her pushing me back into the light of writing i don't know where i'd be right now- so thanks!      **stay tuned for news on my script, the short story and the Film Festival this week** 

My interview with Rue-Morgue Writer/contributor (John Bowen)

 Let's chat with the king of cheese cinema shall we :)    Mr. John Bowen.  

Chris:John, Please tell my readers where you are from?

John: I was born in Dallas but raised in Kingston, Ontario, a mid-sized town about halfway between Toronto and Montreal. I moved to Toronto in 1990 but for the past few years I've been dividing my time between there and Kingston.

Chris: Who inspired you to become a writer?

John: I can't think of any specific writer who set me on this course, even though there are plenty I like. If I were to credit anyone, it would probably be several psychologists and therapists who helped me through a learning disability I had as a kid. Without them, I probably wouldn't be doing this at all.

Chris: How did you get the job at the prestigious Rue Morgue Magazine?

John: The mag had been in existence for about a year and a half when I first picked up a copy and noticed it was based in Toronto. I basically just cold-called Rodrigo Gudino, who was running it with just a few other people back then. He asked me to send in a sample review, so I did one on Phantasm: OblIVion which was still relatively new at the time. He liked it and I went to meet with him and we hit it off immediately. Among other things, we discovered that my favourite AC/DC song - What's Next to the Moon - was also his, so maybe that's what clinched it. Anyway, that was spring of 1999 and I've been in every issue since.

Chris: You took over the column Chris Alexander used to do, how did it feel filling his shoes?

John: That all happened so suddenly that I really didn't have time to think about it in those terms until after it was underway. He was certainly very popular with readers, but the initial response to my column was generally positive, so I wouldn't say I was intimidated by the prospect. What really amazed me was the number of people who thought it was the result of a serious rivalry between us, because of all the swipes we used to take at each other in print. The truth is, we did that strictly for fun and the editors urged us not only to keep it up but actually get steadily more vicious, which is why it went from arguments over Jess Franco to speculations about penis size. Truth is, we were friends and also fans of each other's work. Still are, I guess, although I haven't seen him in ages.

Chris: You aim to review not only obscure films but sometimes out right terrible ones, is cheese cinema in your blood?

John: Horror cinema in general is in my blood, which is why I love indisputable classics like The Exorcist, slightly flawed gems like Phantasm, well-executed trash like Humanoids From the Deep and really entertainingly bad stuff like Invasion of the Blood Farmers. Of course, it's generally that last category that winds up in my column a lot of the time, because so many cheesy anti-classics are still largely undiscovered. But mainly I'm just interested in covering things I think are overlooked, no matter what the reason is.

Chris:What was the worst film your eyes ever barred witness to?

John: I guess that's down to what you mean by "worst." There's a slasher film called Axe 'Em that Last Chance Lance reviewed in his column a few years ago which manages to fall into the netherworld between entertainingly bad and downright unwatchable because it's so fucking incompetent. The Swarm is still probably the most entertainingly awful big-budget film I've ever seen - definitely one of a kind.

Chris:On your Facebook profile it states you're a musician care to elaborate A little?

John: I've been playing guitar in bands quite a bit longer than I've been writing, which is why I'm so stinkin' rich. For the last 19 years I've been with the Pariahs, Toronto's loudest, dumbest band. Three full-length albums and an EP. We mainly just play locally and occasionally elsewhere in southern Ontario, although we've also toured the UK a couple of times. Over the years we've gigged with the Ramones, the Deftones (a few years before anyone heard of them), Therapy?, the Headstones, the Guess Who and loads more.

Chris:What are your thoughts on the current 3D craze?

John: It has it's place but only when done properly. It's already on its way out, and I'll be glad when it's over.

Chris: Does John Bowen survive the zombie Apocalypse?

John: HAH! Only if I have the good fortune to pass out in a safe place. Otherwise I probably wouldn't even wake up until I was half eaten.

Chris: Do you have any plugs you'd like to make?

John: Independent video stores everywhere - God bless 'em.

My interview with the creative minds behind: Forbidden Pictures

Let's talk some Chainsaw Sally with the creative minds behind the hit horror tv series.  April Monique Burril and Jimmy O Burril. 

Chris: Jimmy & April, first can you please tell my readership where you're from?

J:  I am from Mississippi, but have lived most of my adult life right outside of Baltimore Maryland…

 home of John Waters,  The Wire…and Oprah!

A:  Born in Vermont (because the New Hampshire town my folks lived in didn't have a hospital - small place! and right on the Connecticut River), spent most of my life here in Maryland.

Chris: Who came up with the concept for the Chainsaw Sally Character?

J:  That was a joint effort on behalf of both April and I.  We were looking to make a horror hostess sort of character, and wound up with  a whole lot more.  I came up with the name… which is a homage to Texas Chainsaw's Sally Hardesty, and April created the look and style.

Chris:  It started all started out  way back in 2004 with a  a feature film with the saw title as the show "Chainsaw Sally", did you ever think you'd have a hit show on your hands?

J: Well it actually started in 1999 when we invented Sally to promote one of my live shows called Silver Scream.  We then made her a a web site, which popped up around 2000.  The film was not her birth.. but more her after birth.  :)

A: After birth, nice, honey.  Yes, once we got the character going and saw (with much surprise) that she was fast gaining an audience, we spent quite a few years unsure exactly what to do with her.  Then we left live stage for film with the advent of the movie version of Silver Scream and after enjoying that adventure, wanted to stay in film for awhile.  A Chainsaw Sally movie was just the next natural step.  We are surprised and very pleased at the continued happy responses we get.

Chris:  You've had quest appearances by some of the indie horror worlds most famous women, such as Debbie Rochon and Monique Dupree, does that give you a feeling of pride?

J:  Pride may not be the best word.  They are our friends… and what better way to spend your time than putting your shoulder behind an idea with the help and company of your friends.

A: It's of course an honor to share scream time with some of the stars of indie horror, but I agree with Jimmy - the true reward is just making new friends and having a great time sharing our art with them.

Chris: Last season was subtitled "season of the bitch" and saw Sally in a more darker area than the first season, do you plan on continuing with that in season three?

J:  For Sally to stay interesting, she will have to go darker… get closer to her own edge… find herself breaking her own rules…. and letting her mind slip off into darkness.  Each season, a little less raveled.

A:  and I'll just say,  I'm really looking forward to sliding even farther off my proverbial rocker!

Chris: Now for fans that don't know you played "Angel Eyes" the arch enemy to Sally last season how did it feel to play a serial killer hellbent on getting made famous by his deeds?

J:  I loved it.  I was an actor way before I thought I deserved to direct.  I was happy to get in front of the camera with the support of my team.  Shawn Jones took over while I was Angel Eyes, except for one scene, which was directed by Debbie Rochon.   I hope to do a lot more acting in other peoples projects.  I was just a character for Mike Pines Zombie Girl Diary.

Chris: It was just recently announced that Chris Alexander of Fangoria  Magazine fame is helping you out, how does that effect your budget?

J:  We are fortunate enough to have the editor of the biggest horror publication on the planet love what we do.  He and Fangoria have come on as media supporter for Silver Scream LIVE this November.  The power that gives us is press… great press on a very well trafficked web site.  There is nothing more valuable to any production than press.  Chris is amazing!

Chris: You've also directed The Good Sisters on top of directing all of the Chainsaw Sally episodes, what format gives you the most pleasure?

J:  I love both.  I would not want to pick one of the other… but if I MUST…. I like the episodic format better.

Chris:  Where do we see Forbidden Pictures in 5 years?

J:  In my perfect world I see us with a network deal for the Sally Show… maybe IFC, or AMC… or even better, Showtime or HBO… someone who can handle the material.  And, in our off season shooting a movie or 2.  That's my hearts desire.

Chris: Do You have any plugs you'd like to make?

J:Sure, find all of our DVDs and other Sally merch at www.chainsawsallyshow.com  Also hook up with us on FB and Twitter… we're allover the place.  Just type in JimmyO Burril, April Monique Burril or Chainsaw Sally and you will find us.