The Night Shift is the production diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent supernatural-adventure-comedy of the same name currently in "post" in Mobile, AL. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film.
Selling the new flick schtick
We have got to sell this thing. I keep thinking, "Wouldn't it be nice if we had someone whose sole job was to find distribution for this blasted movie?" Then I realize, "Oh, wait. That's me."
Well, it's not my sole job. I do have my day job as a voiceover artist, and my weekend job as a church singer, but when I'm not at either of those places, my mission - whether I choose to accept it or not - is to sell this movie. Anybody care to tell me how?
Now, mind you, the film's still being edited. The score is still being written, the special effects haven't been added, the sound is still rough ... in other words, it's not done, yet. I have a sizzle reel, and hope to have a rough cut soon. Until then, I'm doing prep work. I know I've mentioned a couple times I've been putting together press kits. I thought I might fill you in on what's going into those kits, in case any of you are thinking of getting into DIY indie filmmaking.
It's still more than a month away until The Walking Dead premieres on AMC Oct. 31, but there's at least this tasty sizzle reel to hold us over. And if this isn't enough, the event of New York Comic Con will be the Walking Dead panel Oct. 10 at 2:15 when creator Robert Kirkman and director Frank Darabont, and the show's cast, will screen entire scenes from the pilot and will stick around for a Q&A with fans.
If you don't have a clue about the show based on the sizzle real, here's the official synopsis from AMC: "The Walking Dead tells the story of the weeks and months that follow after a zombie apocalypse. County Sheriff Rick Grimes (Lincoln) travels with his family and a small group of survivors, constantly in search of a safe and secure home. But the constant pressure of fighting off death on a daily basis takes a heavy toll, sending many to the lowest depths of human cruelty. As Rick struggles to keep his family alive, he will discover that the overwhelming fear of the survivors can be far more dangerous than the mindless walkers roaming the earth."
Salacious headline aside, the folks over at Sesame Street (in an attempt to still seem hip and make amends for axing the Katy Perry bit?) goof a little on True Blood with a bit about rhyming called "True Mud."
In the embedded clip below, a felt Sookie meets a felt Bill in Merlotte's (not made of felt) where he orders not blood, not spud, not even bud - but mud. After all, Bill is a mud-sucking Grouch! In the background, there are a couple muppet cameos of other TB characters, but Billy and Sook get the most time here.
Of course, this is a blatant gift to the parents of Sesame Street kiddies - unless the next important tip on Children's Television Workshop is how to hack parental controls to find the best softcore TV-MA programming (fingers crossed!)
One final question, where was Count Von Count for this bit? There were zero - ZERO! - Counts in this sketch, ha-ha-ha...
After much debate has ensued between you and your friends over the best Zombie Apocalypse plans, or defenses verse both shamblers and sprinters, you may now rest assured that the undead is a college course of academic study.
The Washington Post reports the new University of Baltimore course "Media Genres: Zombies" is a visceral exploration of viscera-eating undead fiends. Taught by Arnold Blumberg, author of Zombiemania, the course joins similar ones at Columbia College, Rice University and Georgia Tech. Blumberg's book discusses 85 definitive zombie movies, but the course only covers 16 that run the gamut from Early African zombies, Cold War zombies and "Millennial" viral zombies.
Blumberg tells the Post that, "Right now we're in a massive surge of zombie entertainment" which includes urban zombie satires (Shaun of the Dead, Zombieland), comics and dramatic adaptations (The Walking Dead) and metropolitan zombie walks.
The professor postulates that, "On the most basic level, zombies are probably one of the most potent horror icons, one of the closest to us in terms of identification factor, in terms of reflecting ourselves ... the zombie is, simply, us."
This is probably the most disappointing season finale of any show that I’ve seen since Seinfeld (and that was a series finale). It is the most anti-climatic episode of the season and now we have to wait for almost a whole year for something to happen?
Thanks Alan Ball.
Two weeks ago they left us hanging with Eric shackled to Russell in the Fangtasia parking lot. Is it just me or does Fangtasia look a lot more dingy in the daylight? Our boy Godric shows up in a vision to Eric and urges him to make peace with Russell.
Buell's announcement is a non-revelation for many in the paranormal entertainment industry who already knew about his orientation. The show debuted in 2007, and is one of the top-rated paranormal investigative shows on television, trailing Ghost Hunters. Four seasons have aired and a new one begins later this year.
In the past, show producers have admitted to outlining the show and creating character story arcs, and have stated they were hoping for a romantic relationship to emerge between Buell and a female cast member. Moreover, the show does draw a younger, predominantly female audience.
So the big questions: Will Buell's admission affect the show's ratings positively or negatively? Will you be more or less likely to tune in? Will he become more or less relatable as a lead character on the docu-drama? Is this just a stunt to help drive book sales and pick up media attention (which is clearly working)?
History: According to the Web site, the Ohio State Reformatory first opened in Sept. 1896 after the cornerstone was laid on Nov. 4, 1886. Designed by Cleveland architect Levi T. Scofield, it is a massive, gorgeous "chateauesque" structure with a combination of three architectural styles: Victorian Gothic, Richardsonian Romanesque and Queen Anne.
Scofield selected this design to encourage inmates to pursue a "rebirth" of their spiritual lives. "The architecture itself inspired them to turn away from their sinful lifestyle, and toward repentance," says the Mansfield site.
The structure houses the world's largest free-standing steel cell block (6 tiers; 12 ranges, 600 cells). While it was originally opened to house young offenders (150 to begin with, and didn't include murderers or rapists) and was meant to teach them a trade so they could re-enter the world, it eventually evolved into a maximum security prison. "After housing over 155,000 men in its lifetime, the doors to the prison closed December 31, 1990."
With 250,000 square feet, the reformatory is the largest "castle-like" structure in Ohio, and one of the top five largest in the United States.
Music Videos: The most recent video was with M.A.D., a New England Rap group urging kids to keep out of prison, but also Lil Wayne's "Go DJ" video, and Godsmack's "Awake"
Periodicals:Details magazine featured a fashion layout of Marilyn Manson, and Kickline magazine used us for a backdrop.
Stars: Some of the celebrities having visited the Reformatory include: Gary Oldman, Glenn Close, Jurgen Prochnow, Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins, Sylvester Stallone, Kurt Russel, James Caan, Elliot Gould and Dianne Keaton.
Para-history: Active hotspots include, but are not limited to, the warden's office, the infirmary, the two chapels and solitary confinement.
The reformatory has been featured on Scariest Stories on Earth, Scariest Places on Earth, Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters Academy, and - of course - in a memorable episode of Ghost Adventures in 2009. AND clips of that episode are embedded below for your viewing pleasure...
, the course joins similar ones at Columbia College, Rice University and Georgia Tech. Blumberg's book discusses 85 definitive zombie movies, but the course only covers 16 that run the gamut from Early African zombies, Cold War zombies and "Millennial" viral zombies.
, 
) and metropolitan zombie walks.
(and that was a series finale). It is the most anti-climatic episode of the season and now we have to wait for almost a whole year for something to happen? 
, to be released Sept. 21.
, 
, and 
. And 90 percent of 
video, and 
's "Awake"
, and Kickline magazine used us for a backdrop.
