glamberson

Must have stopped taking his medication.

2010 BIFF HONORARY CHAIR CALLS BELOIT INTERNATINOAL FILM FESTIVAL “THE BEST FESTIVAL I HAVE ATTENDED”

Beloit, Wis. -- Gregory Lamberson, internationally celebrated creator of horror films, will add a special twist and a welcome scream to the 2010 Beloit International Film Festival when he returns to Beloit as the honorary chair of the fifth annual BIFF, Feb. 18-21, 2010. Creator of the horror cult classic Slime City, which marked its 20th anniversary at BIFF in 2008, Lamberson will be on hand for the world debut of the recently completed sequel, Slime City Massacre.

In a letter accepting the invitation to help promote the 2010 Festival, Lamberson noted that “I’d like to thank BIFF’s organizers for inviting me to share in this experience, and all of the volunteers who work so hard to make this event a success. It’s my pleasure to welcome filmmakers and attendees to the Fifth Annual Beloit International Film Festival, and a true honor to have been selected as this year’s honorary Chair.

“Film festivals offer a unique opportunity for people of all stripes to celebrate the universal medium of film, and to see many works of varying lengths, genres and tones from around the world in a friendly, communal environment. This may be your only chance to see many of these films and to engage the artists who created them.”

The internationally known filmmaker attended BIFF in 2008 where he conceived of the sequel and engaged other filmmakers in the project. He was struck by the “outpouring of support from the Beloit community and the appreciation it fostered among the visiting filmmakers. It was, quite honestly, the best festival I have attended.”

The original Slime City premiered in 1988 and has played as a midnight movie in New York City for decades. It has been released on VHS and DVD four times in the U.S. and licensed around the world. Whereas Slime City was strictly a low budget, “grindhouse” styled tale about demonic possession in an apartment building, Lamberson had loftier ambitions for its sequel.

“Slime City Massacre is a celebration of 1970s science fiction films, gooey 1980s horror films, and 1990s action films, held together by a sense of the world that could only exist in this decade. My goal was to make a fun film with a serious subtext and a lot of surprises.”

Lamberson will be on hand at the launch party and at all the major events to welcome film lovers. Joining him will be members of the cast and production team. Some of those anticipated to be on hand are newcomer Jennifer Bihl as well as cult actors Debbie Rochon (who has starred in over 170 feature films)amd Lee Perkins. The film also reunites Robert Sabin, who returns to BIFF, and Mary Bogle, stars of the original film, and features appearances by Roy Frumkes, who wrote and produced the cult classic Street Trash and Troma Entertainment founder Lloyd Kaufman

Beloit’s Robert Tomaro, who composed the score for the original Slime City and appears in the sequel will be on hand to discuss his experiences.

“Greg Lamberson has a huge international following,” commented BIFF Executive Director Rod Beaudoin. “As honorary chair, he follows in some major international footsteps of previous honorary chairs including filmmaker and jewelry designer Robert Lee Morris and producer and director Steve McEveety. We know Greg will attract audiences and add excitement to the Festival.”

Prior to Slime City Massacre, Lamberson wrote and directed three cult horror films: Slime City, Undying Love, and Naked Fear; all three of them were re-released on DVD in 2009 as Greg Lamberson’s Slime City Grindhouse Collection. Lamberson is also the author of two award-winning novels, Johnny Gruesome and Personal Demons, and one instructional filmmaking book: CHEAP SCARES! Low Budget Horror Filmmakers Share Their Secrets. His website is www.slimeguy.com.

I see that UNDER THE DOME has been optioned as a mini-series by Dreamworks. King and Spielberg... no bloat there. I have zero interest in reading this thing (which is sure to net King another Stoker Award), other than it is remarkably similar to a novel I wanted to write, and I'm actually relieved that I don't have to write it now.

Last night capped an amazing three-part SURVIVOR. There's never been a rivalry on that show like the one built up between Russell - he who found 3 immunity idols, 2 of them without clues - and Laura. The right man won.

Pump stopped working in my basement, which is now flooded. What little money we have will now go to a plumber, and then we can deal with the water damage and mildew. I HATE rain in November.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2009/11/19/2009-11-19_vampire_flick_.html

Nothing in the "film" could surprise me, just as none of the near-pathological hate-bombs that are sure to come from Interwebz "experts on everything" will surprise me. Why get so worked up about something aimed at teenage girls? Are you a teenage girl? I think there is an undercurrent of resentment on the part of writers towards the young woman who created these books because 1) she is more successful than they will ever be, no matter how long and how hard they write, and no matter how much they blog and post and twitter, and no matter how highly they think of themselves; and 2) because she achieved her success with so little effort or apparent talent. But she tapped into an audience, while so many other struggling writers only tap into other struggling writers (or tap them). I was vaguely entertained by all the bitterness and jealousy in the blogosphere when the first film came out, but I'm just bored with what I already see on the horizon.

The right man gets the last line:

Don't you love it when you wake up at 6:15 AM on a Monday to good news? It makes the rest of the day/week all go downhill un comparison! Humor-horror-suspense author Jeff Strand (the amazing PRESSURE), who wrestlers alligators and hunts swamp monsters in his free time, has written an entire column about my novel PERSONAL DEMONS and its sequel, DESPERATE SOULS (which won't even be published until next year):

http://jeffstrand.wordpress.com/

I want you "to go to there," but here's a sample of what Jeff had to say (because I was holding a knife to his throat):

"Anyway, here’s the deal: When Greg’s third novel, The Frenzy Way, is published in June 2010, it will be his best novel. Then when Desperate Souls comes out, THAT will be his best novel." Then he gets all funny and stuff, and then he delves into PERSONAL DEMONS at length.

Thanks for making my day and ruining the rest of my week, Jeff!

Even sanitized for TV, GOODFELLAS is a great movie.

Even unedited for cable, MANHUNTER is a flawed good film.

Edited or unedited, Pierce Brosnan is a wimpy James Bond.

A Canadian friend sent me pics of PERSONAL DEMONS on display at World's Biggest Book Store.

FRENZY WAY edits are done and I'm on to DESPERATE SOULS.

Back in February 2008, Robert Sabin, Mary Huner and I joined compsoer Rob Tomarro at the Beloit International Film Festival in Wisconsin for the first ouf our SLIME CITY 20th anniversary screenings. It was an amazing experience: screenigns were held inr estaurants, bars, meeting halls and at Beloit College, and the entire town supported the event. Just talking to the attendees, fellow filmmakers and volunteers was unlike any experience I've ever had at any horror film festival (BIFF is an international/indie event). And it was while sitting in a hot tub that I first told Robert and Mary about this craz idea I had for a film called SLIME CITY MASSACRE...

I wrote the script as soon as I got home, and when I determined to make the movie over the summer it was always my hope that I woulf premiere the film at BIFF. While we'll be holding the cast and crew screening here in Buffalo in early January, I can now eport that SCM will have its World Premiere at the Fifth Annual Beloit International Film Festival, which will be held February 18th - 21st.

http://www.beloitfilmfest.com/

Not only were the BIFF organizers receptive to premiering SCM, but, in a twist that came completely out of left field, they also asked me to serve as their honorary Chair! It's a real honor and I can't wait for the event.

Today is Friday the 13th. According to ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, Roger Corman is receiving an Honorary Oscar on Sat Nov. 14th. I don't know why this isn't part of the regular Oscar telecast, BUT CONGRATULATIONS, ROGER CORMAN! I'm so happy that it's hard for me to refrain from cursing like a drunken sailor, or like a sober Mafia Wars soldier. Somewhere in that mythological heaven, Vincent Price is smiling.

I don't normally post what I'm reading - partly because so many of the things I read are unpublished when I read them and partly because I never finish so many books - but I'm trying to get through a small mountain for the Stokers.

Right now I'm on STEPHEN KING: THE NON-FICTION, by Rocky Wood and Justin Brooks, published by Cemetery Dance, and I haven't been this impressed with a book since Stephen Romano's SHOCK FESTIVAL. It's so much more than I expected, with political and pop cultural essays dating back to King's college years. 600 pages! I know a lot of people are clamoring for UNDER THE DOME, but I'm getting my King fix right here.

I'm much enjoying a certain movie, assembled into 3 parts instead of 8, with music synched in.

Greg

... the websites for Red Scream Films and Medicine Show Cinema have both been shut down.

I heard tonight that one of the most nefarious characters in Buffalo - at least as far as horror filmmaking and publishing go - has been convicted of embezzling $250,000 from his day job.

And to think I thought he was untrustworthy!

Must. Have. Proof.

I hear he has 30 days to repay the money or make his bed in the slammer. How ironic that Marc Dryer, that attorney I went up against years ago, is carrying out his 20 year sentence.

Be nice to me.

The Social Networking Blogspot show went well yesterday. I joined three other Medallion authors: a motivational speaker, a romance writer and a thriller writer. One of them shared my philosophy, which is that writing has to take precedence over social neworking, but the other two seemed to think networking is just as important (I believe they're both full time writers, so they have more free time).

Interesting to hear how just much time they spend doing this, but more interesting to hear the advantages to having a "fan page" on Facebook - I admit other people's annoy me - and that they think Twitter has an entirely different audience. I HATE readin Twitter posts, but with FZ shutting down, I may try it as THE FRENZY WAY's publication draws clsoer.

First you'll see this--



--and then something like this:

I hate to say it, but you were obviously D.O.A. If Joss Whedon wants another hit show, he needs to team up with a syndicator, or the godawful SyFy network. Personally, I'd like to see him and Eliza Dushku do FAITH, but I don't think we'll ever see that.

Tonight at 8 pm Eastern, I'll be one of 3 Medallion Press authors discussing How Social Networking Can Benefit Authors:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/medallionpress

Listeners are welcome to call in with questions.

"Greg, you are one sick fuck!"

--Dread Central

http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/34499/four-character-sheets-slime-city-massacre

Character sheets designed by Nicholas John Morgan Anderson

SCM logo designed by Eric Mache

Long ago - it feels like 100 years ago but it was probably just 6 months - I mentioned that the cat who was supposed to do the SFX for SCM refused to work with the other effects people, demanded control of the shooting schedule, and blew up at me at our first production meeting (which he showed up to without having read the script). Then he tried to beat up one of the other FX guys in the men's room of a movie theatre. So I cut him loose and let the local production people know he wouldn't be involved, since many of them witnessed his bad bathroom behavior. Apparently, sending this notification amounted to "spreading rumors."

Before shooting started, I reached out to him and told him he could still be involved in another capacity, either as an actor or a set builder or a prop manufacturer, because I felt this could be a great project for him. Really, I didn't need him and didn't really want to deal with him, or force other people to deal with him, but I felt sorry for him; the guy is his own worse enemy when he loses his temper. But the offer only led to a lengthy e-mail exchange in which he lectured me, called me names, and generally acted like a bully who'd had his feelings hurt. Whatever, I tried.

I know this guy to be someone who holds a grudge, and who likes to create conspiracy theories and portray himself as the eternal victim, so I wasn't too surprised to hear he was trashing me on the set of another location (the only one of about 10 made this year that would have anything to do with him). But now, three months after the shoot, I hear he's still at it. Jesus, Pooh Bear, grow up! I know it must have killed him to see that all of the young guys he believes are stealing work from him did a good job on the shoot, and that their pictures made the newspaper and are all over YouTube and everything, BUT IT'S JUST A MOVIE, for crying out loud.

*sigh*

V is on tonight.