Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Didrik Davis

Horror actor Didrik Davis is a rising star in the indie horror circuit. Starting as a young pro wrestler, his menacing presence led to on-screen success in Squire Bill, Lee Martin's Midnight Hour, and opposite blaxploitation icon Fred "The Hammer" Williamson in Ryan Thompson's cult hit, Zombie Apocalypse Redemption. He's also known well for his work in student films such as the 2011 MotorCity Horrorcon favorite Man of The House and his portrayal of a brutal Serbian thug in Detroit/Windsor International Film Festival winner The Paper Man. Didrik took the time to sit down with us to discuss his work and what's coming up next for this budding star.

Zombie Hand Giveaway and Interview w/ Artist Daphne White

Daphne White grew up watching Chiller Theatre with Bill Cardille (Chilly Billy) and fell in love with the Horror genre. She spent 11 years as a Radioman/communications in the United States Navy. While overseas, she organized and produced a Haunted House to raise money for the Girl and Boy guides of Australia. She has acted in several Haunted Houses and dresses up like a zombie whenever she can. Daphne supports her local businesses and artists and is an active contributor and displays her dolls in local art studios. She grew up in Pittsburgh Pa. and now calls Wichita Ks. home. Her hand made dolls are cute and creepy and we sat down to talk about how she got into making them.

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Interview with Author Cinsearae S.

Cinsearae S. is the creator of the dark paranormal/horror series, ABRAXAS. A digital artist, jewelry designer, and still-photographer, she is also Editor/Publisher of Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine - a top ten finalist in the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll for 2008 and 2009 and winner for “Best Magazine Art. She also received the Author's Site of Excellence Award in December 2007 from P & E, and is a Cover Artist for Damnation Books. An avid fan of 'old school' horror movies (Freddy, Jason, Michael, Pinhead…) Halloween is her favorite time of the year. She has always been drawn to the flipside of life - the supernatural, odd, bizarre, Gothic and 'darkly beautiful' always being an inspiration to her. She sat down with me to talk about all of her ongoing projects.

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - October Toys

October Toys is a toy company with a touch of a dark side. Not only do they make high quality toys, they give artists from around the country the chance to design some of them into beautiful, disturbing, and amazing works of art. Their "Gwins" and "Z.O.M.B.I.E." lines of toys are some of the coolest collectible toys I've seen in a good while and their reasonably priced for those of use that may be fund-ally challenged, I had the chance to sit down with the creators of October Toys, Ayleen and George Gaspar to talk about how they got started and what's coming up for them.

Interview w/ Scott Kenemore on his new book, "The Art of Zombie Warfare"

If you've been an avid reader of my blog, you know how much I adore the works of Scott Kenemore. His last two books, "The Zen of Zombie" and "Z.E.O" are two of my favorite zombie books that are out there. He combines humor and knowledge along with a new look on the zombie sub-genre. Instead of looking at how to kill zombies, his books take on the perspective of how acting, living, and working like a zombie can improve our day to day lives. We recently sat down and chatted about his latest release, "The Art of Zombie Warfare" which I will be reviewing here very soon.

Information on the JournalStone Writing Contest!

JournalStone, a site dedicated to promoting artists, writers, photographers, and much more, is hosting a horror writing competition! Short stories between 5,000 and 8,000 words pertaining to any kind of horror story with monsters (vamps, zombies, ect.) could win a place in their upcoming anthology (you can bet I'm entering!) I sat down with the creator of JournalStone to learn more about the contest and the site!

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Dead On Earth (Interview)

I recently started working on a story for a great project called Dead On Earth. It's a mass collection of authors and artists who are coming together to create an epic series of stories and I wanted to share more information about it. I sat down with the creators of the project, Ryan Philip Harrison Clarke and Cal Miller, to give you a more in depth look into this grand scale project in the making.

Q: What exactly is Dead On Earth?

A: Clarke- Dead on Earth is an Alien and Zombie apocalypse story written by the viewpoints of 15 characters created by 15 different writers.

A: Cal- It’s the Ultimate Anthology! Instead of 15 stories in a book, it’s 15 books in a story. Really cool concept I think.

Q: How did it get started?

A: Clarke- It all started when I began harassing Cal Miller after he chose all of the Undead Nation Anthology winners. I had this idea of some sort of zombie apocalypse written through the viewpoints of multiple characters (the original number 6) Cal was partial to the idea so I developed it some more. At the same time I had the idea for the alien zombie apocalypse idea floating around for a separate book I wanted to work on and had already created the character Joseph Milton. So I ended up putting two and two together and pitched the whole crazy alien and zombie idea to Cal. Cal became an instant fan and then I created the storyboard for the book. The next part, a lot easier than I thought, was getting all of the writers together… We got our magic 15 in about a week.

A: Cal- Ha, I wouldn’t call it harassing. I read the first email and saw aliens and zombies in the same project and thought it was an AWESOME idea. And yeah, I might have hated Clarke a little for thinking of it instead of me but I’m over it… Really, I am… LOL. Seriously when I saw the map of the U. S. Clarke did of all the characters and where they were located I was hooked. 15 different takes on the “human element” as it relates to the same apocalyptic event like this is gonna be interesting and exciting.

Q: Who's all involved?

A: Clarke- Right now we have me (Head Creator), Cal Miller (My inspirational guidance), William Lester (Expert Editor), our writing team of 15 members, and a few artists for our graphic novel.

Here is the entire Dead on Earth team

Ryan Clarke (Creator/Writer/Awesome)
Cal Miller (Creator/Writer/Inspirational Guidance ;)
William Lester (Creator/Editor/Spiritual Visionary)

Rhonny Reaper (Writer)
Angelica Hill (Writer)
David Ahlgren (Writer)
Eric Polk (Writer)
Kevin White (Writer)
Lyle Perez-Tinics (Writer)
Stuart Connover (Writer/Web Design)
Kristi Bailey (Writer)
Joseph Cedeno (Writer)
David Naughton-Shires (Writer/Comic Publisher/Artist)
Roger Wood (Writer)
Etienne Deforest (Writer)
Russ Penning (Writer/Future Screen Writer)
Cara Livermore (Artist)

A: Cal- We have a real diverse group of folks involved and that is gonna be one of the biggest strengths of this project.

Q: Where do you see it going?

A: Clarke- Ha! We are going big! Our first release will be our graphic novel of the series, then our books, shortly after there will be a screenplay in the works. We already have the likes of Mr. David Moody prepared to cut us some reviews on our Graphic Novel, among other secrets.

A: Cal- Dead on Earth: Aftermath… Every great idea needs a sequel! Yeah I went there, LOL…

Q: Where can we learn more about it?

A: Clarke- Well we have our Facebook and our Forums site. I guess the best way would be to email us at deadonearth2012@yahoo.com... We don’t reveal much on our sites that anyone with a working mind could really comprehend all at once. The writers are the ones who really understand what it all means. As things progress I suppose we could make it a little more user friendly.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dead-on-Earth/132989203400233

http://www.deadonearth.com/index.php?sid=f28717543621327b2898d50dd0b7b322

A: Cal- We are keeping it a bit mysterious, revealing a little at a time. That keeps it interesting and fresh in the long run.
Thanks for the interview Rhonny! Love you and your sites!

A: Clarke- Clarke loves you and your sites more!!

Cal and Ryan are amazing guys and I am honored to be a part of this amazing project. Check it out and stay tuned, it's going to be awesome!

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Our Days Are Numbered (Screener Review)

A short film surrounding "found footage" taking place during a zombie outbreak.

This short was an entertaining film to watch, though not without it's flaws. It has a nice fast actioned pace and an opening scene that grabs your attention before the actual film even starts. Actually, the opening sequence in which what appears to be a US solider is in front of the camera is probably my favorite part. The special effects are very well done and the camera work is pretty good; not too shaky but not overly still. The downfall of the film for me though was the acting. I felt the characters should have been more frightened than they appeared (especially the woman). It almost felt as if they were trying to remember their lines (The main male character in particular). It wasn't the worst I've seen, but If it would have been just a bit stronger, I would have really loved this film. But even with it's flaws, it's definitely worth taking a look and I would recommend you give it a try!

The Director and star, Coven Delacruz , was nice enough to answer a few questions.

Q: What inspired you to make "Our Days are Numbered"?

A: I was inspired to make our days are numbered for several reasons. These reasons tie together. One is George romero and his film night of the living dead. George is the godfather of zombie films. Second reason why is as a zombie fan, I wanted to try and add a twist to change up zombie films.

Q: Could you tell us a bit about the filming process?

A: Well the film process is a really long process, but worth it in the end. You start with pre-production: you have to start with a script, then figure out your budget, storyboards, cast for roles, get your crew. Second part is filming. Third is post production which is editing your film. Color treatment, visual efx ect.

Q: What else are you working on?

A: I'm working on alot right now. I'm working on the days before which is the prequel feature to our days are numbered. Seal 13 which is a supernatural film about angels and demons.in production a serial killer film, trick or eat anthology (the dare, the perfect drug, it sucks.the pledge, several others I can't announce yet). Also several music videos and conventions.

Q: Where can we learn more about this film and your other projects?

A: You can checkout my work at www.condemnedproduction.com, http://www.myspace.com/condemnedproduction, and http://hauntspace.com/condemnedproductions

Horror for a Cause: The Undead That Saved Christmas

Are you an aspiring horror writer looking for some exposure? Do you want to support an amazing cause? Well, Lyle Perez of awesome horror blog Undead in the Head has just the opportunity for you! He is working on putting together an anthology of short horror stories and comics surrounding Christmas and Zombies! Lyle was nice enough to sit down with me and answer a few questions about this amazing project.

Q: How did you come up with the idea for the book?

A: It just came to one morning while I was at work. I wanted to do something meaningful for the first book that will have my name on the cover. I love Christmas, not so much the gift getting but the feel the holiday gives. When Christmas music was playing all month long in my office, I was the only one who loved it. I am also a huge fan of zombies. I thought about doing a Christmas themed anthology a while back but never had the drive for it. It was when I remembered the foster kids I donated to last year. That is when I got the idea to do a Christmas themed anthology and all the proceeds will go to buy the foster children gifts this holiday season. I was trying to think of a name when the Grinch came to mind. I said to myself “The Grinch That Stole Christmas” then I said “The Undead That Stole Christmas” when finally I thought in my head ‘No it’s for foster kids’ then The Undead That Saved Christmas popped in my head. After that I just went with that titled. I mean it fits the charity and theme of the anthology perfectly, no?

Q: Why did you choose the charity you chose?

A: Last year I was sitting at work when I got a mass e-mail from a co-worker. The email said that Hugs Foster Family Agency was in need of help for the holiday season. Attached was a huge list of children names and their top three Christmas gift wishes. I scrolled up and down the list reading the children’s wishes and it touched my heart. It never accrued to me that there were so many kids in need, kids that didn’t have parents who would give them a great Christmas. I donated to the Hugs and I thought about the kids faces when they open their gifts on Christmas. Later I overheard my co-worker say that even though a lot of us helped, some kids didn’t get anything. That broke my heart and I kept thinking that maybe if I would have donated more, then everyone could have gotten something. This year though, with the help of everyone contributing, we can use our skills to help give these kids a wonderful Christmas.

Q: What are you looking for in submissions?

A: Well, I am looking for short stories ranging 3,000 – 10,000 words. The stories must have a mix of Christmas and zombie themes. I tell everyone who asks to think; sleigh bells, red and green M&M’s, Santa, Paul McCartney’s song “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time” and then add zombies. I have recently been having a lot of interest from comic artists. They asked is I would consider comics, I said, why not? Comics should range 15-35 pages in length and please keep the illustrations in black and white. Color prints will cost more and I don’t want to take away any proceeds from the foster children. If I can keep the cost at a minimal that would be best. I have to work fast in order to get this anthology out on or before October 1, 2010 so submissions will close on August 20, 2010. Royalties are paid monthly so in order to get as much money as possible I’d like to get the anthology out as soon as possible. I would also like to thank S. G. Browne the author of Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament for offering his time and writing an introduction for the anthology.

Q: Why Zombies?

A: Zombies have been a big part of my life since the late 1990’s. It all started with Resident Evil 2 and since then I have been hooked. I love the idea of a zombie; a monster that’s sole purpose is to find you and eat you. To make matters worse, it can be your mom, your dad, your uncle, Sally Jo from down the street, basically anyone. The thought about something being so familiar but yet so foreign terrifies me. Someone once told me to write what you know. I know zombies so that is why I spend a lot of my time writing about them.

Q: Where can we learn more?

A: You can learn more information about this project by going to http://www.undeadinthehead.com/p/call-for-submissions.html If you are a Facebook user please Like the anthology page. It can be found at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Undead-That-Saved-Christmas/109038099145573?ref=mf. I do daily updates on the progress of the anthology on the Facebook page. Very soon I will be starting an indiegogo.com fund raising account for anyone who would like to donate. There will also be a chance for you to get your name on a thank you page in the anthology. More information can be found on the FB page. If you would like to contact me directly my e-mail is UndeadChristmas@yahoo.com. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me and thanks to everyone for their support.

***This project is amazing and really touches my heart. I know from personal experience what it's like to need help around Christmas time. Charities like the Salvation Army and the Red Cross has had to help my family in the past with food, shelter, and Christmas presents. So please support this cause. I know that I will be writing a story for this cause and if you want to write a story, write your heart out. If not, please buy the book and sticker when they come out (visit the links above for more info). The kids at the Hugs Foster Family Agency deserve a Merry Christmas this year.***

"The Zombie Boutique" Interview and The Prettiest CONTEST you ever did see!

Recently I had the pleasure to talk to Bettie Zombiee, the creator and artist behind the fabulous "The Zombie Boutique". Her one of a kind pieces of wearable art art absolutely gorgeous and well made. It's a place where you can find a variety of Vintage, Kitchy, Rockabilly, Psychobilly,Punk & Horror Inspired Handmade Jewelry & Accessories , and Fashion Accessories. With necklaces, rings, glasses, and so much more, there is definitely something for everyone's taste in her store (and if not, she does custom orders!)

Q: How and when did you get started making art?

A: I've been making Jewelry since i was about 12 years old, but as a business since 2000.

Q: What and/or who are your biggest inspirations?

A: My Inspirations, are usually anything Horror, Rockabilly & Psychobilly Styles, Vintage 20's-60's, Kitchy decor,Punk Rock, Shiny things, Sparkles & Gems, & out of the ordinary!

Q: What are your favorite pieces?

A: wow... thats really hard to pick, because i really like alot of the stuff that i make, otherwise i wouldn't make it .. but i would say My Huge Day of the dead Brooches, that are completely handmade and painted, they take me a few days to finish and a lot of work, but i have had many happy customers with that piece!

Q: Where can we learn more about you and where can people buy your amazing art?

A: You can search on Facebook, for The Zombie Boutique,where you can gander at and purchase my whole range of creations, from earrings,rings,necklace's,charm bracelets,hair accessories,wallets,belt buckles & more! also Facebook is the best way to see the weekly new creations being posted all the time! or you can check us out on our New *still under construction* website/store at www.thezombieboutique.bigcartel.com/

And now for the CONTEST!!! Bettie Zombiee has been kind enough to supply one of her Cameo rings for one luck DBH winner!!!
These rings are beautiful, large, and 100% HAND MADE! They come in many colors and would be a great gift for the special girl in your life (or for yourself, ain't no shame in that game!)

So what do you have to do you ask? EASY! Just go to the Zombie Boutique's Facebook (CLICK HERE) or site (CLICK HERE) then come back to this post and leave a comment, letting me know your favorite Item!!! Leave your name and email in the comment as well. THAT'S IT!!!!! The winner will be picked randomly out of all the entries on June 30th, so GOOD LUCK!!!

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Tooth and Nail

As a new plague related to the rabies virus infects millions, America recalls its military forces from around the world to safeguard hospitals and other vital buildings. Many of the victims become rabid and violent but are easily controlled—that is, until so many are infected that they begin to run amok, spreading slaughter and disease. Lieutenant Todd Bowman got his unit through the horrors of combat in Iraq. Now he must lead his men across New York through a storm of violence to secure a research facility that may hold a cure. To succeed in this mission to help save what’s left, the men of Second Platoon will face a terrifying battle of survival against the very people they have sworn to protect—people turned into a fearless, endless horde armed solely with tooth and nail.

This book takes a heartfelt, military look at the zombie apocalypse. The detail the author goes into to describe the war-like conditions is incredible and makes you feel like you were in the middle of the action. Even the details, like radio calls and weaponry names, were spot on. The story is fast paced and exciting with action at every turn, yet it takes great care to humanize the soldiers and really gets you emotionally attached to each of their characters. Every up and down in the character's struggle to survive, you feel as if you were a part of it. Most of the soldiers in this book are just young men trying to comprehend the chaos and terror that is happening all around them, like many war time stories you've heard about from your grandparents and veterans. They are fighting to protect the country from the undead, but have doubts if there is still a country to protect and why they are fighting this war. He combines elements of this fictional war with the tragedy of the war in Iraq for an even more realistic feel. The zombie action is intense and described in great detail. There is gore, blood, and everything else you come to expect in a zombie novel, with just a little extra emotion thrown into the mix. It's a great novel and I highly recomend the read!

Craig DiLouie took a few moments to sit down and talk about the book.

Q: What made you want to write about zombies?

A: I like any story that realistically and dramatically conveys how people would cope with the end of the world. Zombies just happen to be my favorite brand of apocalypse. They combine the horrors of plague with the more tangible threat of mobs trying to kill, infect and/or eat you. It’s easy to add themes of dystopia, science fiction and war/action/escape. The “zombies” can be fast or slow, undead or living, supernatural or virus caused-I love it all, as long as the world is ending and the story is well told. The “zombies” in Tooth and Nail, for example, are fast (they can run), living and infected with a virus that makes them basically rabid.

Q: With all the other indie novels out today pertaining to zombies, what do you think makes yours so different?

A: Zombie novels are very popular but if you go to the horror section in your local bookstore it’s filled with vampire books. As a result, many people are turning to smaller publishers and buying stories online. This is a great situation for authors like me, as the genre is much more democratic than other genres saturated by major publishers, with more opportunities to get read and build up a fan base. But there are so many zombie novels now that some people are already wondering if the genre has played itself out. That question is so strange I don’t even understand it. Many authors are playing along and so we have increasingly outlandish variations on the basic zombie story. Some people like that and that’s great. Me, I’d rather read the same story over and over-zombies are here in some form, world is ending, people respond realistically to it and survive (or don’t)-as long as it’s done well. For example, I just read Wayne Simmons’ Flu and I really liked it, but it was your basic zombie story. Joe McKinney’s Dead City is another example. David Moody’s Autumn series is another of the basic story being delivered in a fresh and exciting way.

So while Tooth and Nail similarly tells the basic zombie story, as with these other great authors and their works, there are several things that distinguish it from the pack. Many zombie books and movies tell the story of a band of survivors making their way in a post-apocalyptic world. Reading them, I always wondered what happened during the apocalypse, not after it. I loved the first 15-20 minutes of Romero’s Dawn of the Dead because it so perfectly captured the confusion, the breakdown, the despair, the brutality of a zombie apocalypse. (Or the first five minutes of the remake.) To me, that would be so much more of a richer, more complex story to tell, so I decided to tell it in Tooth and Nail. Next, I always wondered how this small band of survivors escaped the apocalypse emotionally unharmed. I mean, these people have just seen everybody they know and love die or become a zombie, they have killed more people than a serial killer to survive, their lives are in constant danger, and their future prospects are dim, and here they are joking and bickering over trivial things. Most people I know in that situation would be shivering on the floor in a fetal ball. 28 Days Later and the first 15 minutes of 28 Weeks Later portrayed realistic human reactions to the horror of the apocalypse very well, as did Moody’s Hater and Autumn series. So I wanted to tell a story of the zombie apocalypse that would be as realistic as possible and be as respectful as possible to the characters, the story itself, and the reader. Finally, Tooth and Nail is distinguished because it tells the point of the view from soldiers fighting to save their dying nation. One reviewer interestingly called the Army the main character of the story, with its rules, traditions, tools, language, etc. With this book, I didn’t want the reader seeing the author taking easy shortcuts and shaking his or her head because something highly improbable or convenient happens. I wanted the reader to feel like they were actually in the story and believing every word. Hopefully, I’ve accomplished that.

Q: The book has a very strong war-like feel to it and you combine bits and pieces of the current war in Iraq into the story, what inspired you to go this route with the story?

A: I decided to write about a zombie apocalypse scenario from an exclusive military point of view because I thought the idea was an original take on the genre, raised fascinating plot questions and promised a lot of action. As I said, many zombie novels I’ve read focus on a small band of survivors. Here they are, shooting their way through a world overrun by zombies. I always wondered how they could survive while the world’s best-trained and equipped military couldn’t. I wanted to tell a story where the reader felt like they were actually there with the soldiers during the apocalypse and sharing their worries, hopes, fears, triumphs. Instead of nameless, faceless, cannon fodder, we see real people coping with numerous issues. For example, many soldiers come home from war with post-traumatic stress reactions from killing a single person: How would soldiers cope with slaughtering hundreds, even thousands, of their fellow citizens? Would they want to stay in the Army or continue following orders, or would they try to get home to their families? What would commanders do if cut off from the chain of command? How would they handle the stress? Would they continue to be willing to die for a country that may no longer exist? With their experience and weapons, how could they be defeated by a foe armed only with tooth and nail? There were so many terrific ideas to explore, and Tooth and Nail delves into every one I could think of. Hopefully, the reader will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Q: What's next for you and where can we learn more about all your projects?

A: I’ve written a psychological thriller, speculative fiction, science fiction and now apocalyptic fiction, not to mention several non-fiction books on engineering subjects. I like the post-apocalyptic genre so much I’m going to stay, at least for a few more books. Currently, I’m about halfway through another zombie apocalypse novel that might best be described as The Road meets 28 Days Later. It’s much more character-driven and psychologically terrifying. I’m working on an Amazon.com author page and a new website. For now, to learn more about Tooth and Nail and my other works, your readers can visit www.infectedwar.com

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Voyeur Dead

Witness the end of the world though the eyes of a voyeur in this photographic journal of a predator finding himself face to camera with the walking dead. Now predator is prey. The voyeur must look to his victims for salvation.

Voyeur Dead is a fun and very unique take of the zombie apocalypse. The whole story takes place through the hidden camera lens of a voyeur AKA a pervy peeping tom. The writing is not to bad and the story is very entertaining and easy to read. The main thing in this book are the images, which really tell the story more than anything. Most of the images are well done and of good quality but a few of them are kind of dark due to being in black and white. Luckily, it's only a few and the story picks up for the darkness very well in those parts. The length the story goes to describe the actions of the peeping tom makes the whole thing believable and kinda gives you the creeps knowing that there are people out there who really could be videotaping you! Then, of course, we have the zombies! The make-up in the photos is well done (I especially like the cover image) and the faces of the models in the pics are fun and creepy. Even after the story ends, there are bonus images of the voyeurs "prey" as he would call it for you to enjoy. The only problem I had with the book were that the images where in black and white, I think the book would have benefited more from being in color. Other than that, I think this it a fun, creepy, and a just plain good read for any horror fan, so check it out at www.voyeurdead.com!

Author Alan Gandy was kind enough to answer some questions about the book.

Q: What inspired you to write a book?

A: There are a couple of things that made me want to write this book. I have always liked the concept of POV horror but not how it had been executed, thus far. I just couldn’t buy the idea that people would just keep recording when a monster was after them. When it comes down to it no one facing the walking dead, witch or the new Godzilla would keep recording to show future generations about our mistakes, or whatever reasons the writer came up with for why we should be scared or not scared enough to drop the camera and run. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I didn’t like the movies. I just needed to fix the POV thing for my own sanity.
A lot of movies and books re-write the origin or give a new vision of a monster. I did not want to do that. As I saw it when I started this book, everybody knows of some origin of zombies. It could be toxic waste, an angry virus, or a comet, in the end it doesn’t matter. What matters is that there are zombies trying to eat you. So realizing that, I wanted to make a truly original story in the already defined zombie universe, which I believe was accomplished.

Q: What went into the photo shoot for the book?

A: It was many photo shoots, and it took a lot of work from everyone, even the actors and models. I was on a very tight budget with three young boys at home and a very crappy shift as a bartender. If everyone didn’t believe in the story and go above and beyond, the book would never have happened. I remember one shoot all I had for catering was boxes of raisins for the cast and crew. Most of the work went into the special effects for the book. But I was very lucky to have an awesome big brother, H.M. Gandy, who is a professional effects artist on my team.

Q: The story is told from a very unique perspective, what made you wanna write it this way?

A: That’s an easy one. I like being disturbed. Stories that can still give me an unsettling feeling stay with me even after they’re over. Also, I usually find villains the most interesting characters in stories, especially when there is a truly evil villain who you can relate to on some level and almost agree with on certain outlooks. It makes them more real and that much more disturbing. And in a zombie apocalypse it won’t just be the good guy out there trying to survive, just as we share the world with the wicked now and their story can be just as interesting or even more so.

Q: Where can we learn more? What are you up to next?

A: You can check out some behind the scenes, sneak peeks and upcoming events for Voyeur Dead at:
www.facebook.com/pages/Voyeur-Dead/282160758261 and
www.voyeurdead.com. Right now I’m finishing a short story for an upcoming project with Cal Miller, author of the kick ass book, “Het Madden: A Zombie Perspective.” You can find out more about the project at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Undead-Nation/114210325284048. I’m also working on the next “Voyeur Dead” book.

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Mando Franco

Mando Franco is a multi-talented man. Not only is he a stand up comic and writer, but he's starting to make his mark on the indie horror scene. He's the creator of Evil Panda Films, the director of the new horror web series 8.13, and he even has a great short film on Facebook called Lunar. Mando was kind enough to take the time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions about these projects.

Q: Could you explain how you got into making short films and a little bit about Evil Panda Films?

A: I'd always been a movie lover, but wasn't too fond of the horror genre for years, because I was
one of those kids that grew up scared of everything. I was an actor before I was anything else, at 16, I was in a creative writing class and had to make a short film. I started getting back into the Horror Genre at that time. I fell in love with the movie making process and felt I may have found my calling. I kept making films and thought I needed a production company and Evil Panda Films was born. You never hear about Panda attacks or them being anything but playful. But I think they are just underestimated.

Q: You have an amazing short on Facebook called "Lunar", could you tell the readers about the production and what went into making it?

A: LUNAR was basically made for fun, but the making of it was soley to have a blast while still making a picture that someone could enjoy. After a stint gone bad with a project, all the fun got sucked out of movie making for me. So I wanted to do something on my own that wouldn't give me any outside interference and have no producer breathing down my neck and no pain in the ass DP telling me what I couldn't shoot. So I wrote the script, grabbed some friends and shot at a buddy's house. I was behind the camera the whole time, got 2 actors, one big house, and a cheesy lookin' mask and monster gloves... Threw it all together and made a cat and mouse, B Monster movie. And it was fun. It was made for fun and shot quickly. It felt like I was in High School making movies again and that's what it was all about for me. Making a flick with my friends and loving what I'm doing. I don't do this for the money, I do it because I love doing it. When money and suits get involved, you have less control and a lot of headaches. I'd rather work with people I loved with pennies than a fat budget and be miserable. It was a tiny lil production just made to show people online. And I wanted to make an entertaining lil popcorn flick, and so far I've gotten the best reviews on that flick than I've gotten on any of my other shorts.

Q: You directed the teaser for the web series 8.13, which looks exciting and fun. What can expect from the series?

A: 8.13 will scare the shit out of you. That's what you can expect... Um, it's pretty much a series
set in Los Angeles, on a particular date, I'll let you guess what it is... And pretty much it is the
dawn of a zombie uprising. When I first signed on, there wasn't really a story, so I helped develop the
story with the shows Producers, Traycee King and Beau Ryan as well as the series writer, Melissa Kay, and we came up with the characters and outline. And I made it clear, as much as I love zombie flicks... If we make this a 'horror' show, it's going to come off as campy, lets go a different direction and make it about survival. This is a survival drama, with zombies. It's very grounded and very much a... what would you do? If this really happened. So the fact that it's a grounded series with a small ensemble of characters makes it more intimate and scary as hell. So, keep an eye out, the show Launches Friday, August 13th.

Q: What are your future plans for Evil Panda Films?

A: Tons! I have a lot in store. I'm pretty much am focusing on the series right now. But in between I'm always writing. I've got a feature that supposed to hit DVD later this year at some point, and I have some screenplays I'm shopping around. But as of right now, it's 813 that is taking up all my time.
I'm thinking of maybe doing a super low low budget supernatural feature at the very end of the year, I think I'm in the place I need to be to do another feature, which will be my 5th, but I don't want to plan
too far ahead with another project. There is a good shot the series may get picked up, so that will take my career a different direction, one I wouldn't mind going. I love the show and would love to do another season, but we'll have to wait and see.

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Scared Stiff TV

Douglas A. Plomitallo is a filmmaker from Connecticut. He graduated from Quinnipiac University in 2003 with a degree in Communications. He is a life-long horror fan and is happy to finally give back to the genre that has given him so many great hours of entertainment. He's the creator of the fantastic web series Scared Stiff and took the time to site down and answer a few questions for the DBH readers.

Q: How did you get started with Scared Stiff?

A: Well throughout my education and during my career in video production, my goal has always been to make movies. I did anything I could to learn the different aspects of the industry. I was constantly writing scripts, taking classes and learning different techniques in filmmaking. I started working part time in New York as an extra in film and television just so I could get on the set and learn what it was really like in the industry. I was on shows like "Law and Order" and "Hope and Faith" and just trying to soak in as much as I could. I really was a student of the craft.

I taught myself how to edit and do special effects with the hope of one day working closely with a director on a film and seeing where that would lead. I worked hard at it but realized that what I was doing just wasn't paying the bills. So I took my editing and compositing knowledge and began working in the corporate field. A few years went by and I was getting further away from the industry that was my passion. At that point, I was 28 and was working at a job that I wasn't particularly happy with. I was doing corporate videos for a company that I really felt disrespected at and I was pretty miserable coming to work everyday. I started to feel trapped in the corporate field and began to think my filmmaking career would never happen. One day it just came to me that if I didn't make a move on my career, then nothing would ever come of it, and the dream would end. So I came up with the idea to take my knowledge of film, video and web design and put it to good use.

So I wrote a few scripts, bought some equipment, grabbed a friend and started shooting a few episodes with whoever was willing to help me out. I figured that if the product was good, and people believed in it, they would want to join the team to help bring the show to the next level. So we just came making them with the goal of raising the bar with each episode.

Q: How long does it take to make an episode and what goes into the making of it?

A: It all starts with an idea. Sometimes I brainstorm for an ideas, sometimes something cool will just pop into my head. I usually develop the story in my head before writing it down. Once I have it all together, I put it all on paper. If I like the idea and think that it is worth moving ahead with, I will start developing the characters. I find that if the characters are fully developed, the dialogue will right itself. I give myself a couple weeks of re-reading it and fine-tuning it.

Once the script is set, we pick the actors who would best fit the role. The actual shooting time depends on the episode. The amount of locations, complexity of the script and the length of the episode really play a factor. For instance "Tiny's Halloween" needed four separate locations so it was filmed in four really cold nights in October. While "A Whisper in the Wind" was shot in two days with an extra day for voiceovers. The still photos for "The Camera" were all shot in a day, but there were several days of prepping the pictures for the edit. So it really depends on the script.

After everything is shot, we have several weeks of editing, color correction, sound editing, getting the soundtrack together and then the episode is ready!

Q: What made you get into the Horror genre? Any particular films, actors, or directors?

A: I have been a fan of the horror genre since I was very young. I remember being competely fascinated with "Tales From the Darkside" when I was about four or five years old. It was completely different from anything I had ever watched before. In sixth grade, my teacher gave us an assignment to write a fictional story based on anything we wanted. Since it was October, naturally I wrote a scary story. It only had to be a page or two, but I kept writing and writing and pretty much wrote a novel. That's really where I got the "horror itch." Early in high school, my friend had a video camera and we used it to make short movies, most of them horror.

Although, there was a defining moment where I decided I wanted to make horror movies for a living. I always watched scary movies when I was younger and I knew that there must be other people who were into them as much as I was. Very few of my friends were into horror, so I didn't have many people to talk to about the genre. Well one day, I was taking a train home from visiting my older sister at her college in Rhode Island and I picked up a Fangoria magazine for the ride. I was completely shocked! I didn't realize that there was such an incredible fan-base that were devoted completely to the genre. That Fangoria magazine really opened my eyes and from that moment, I decided that I was going to become a horror filmmaker.

As far as movies that inspired me, I have always been a huge fan of the "Halloween" and "Friday the 13th" movies. Like most other horror fans, I have lost count on how many times I have seen those movies. The original "Halloween" probably had the most effect on me. The use of music, lighting, atmosphere, and really awesome characters really had an impact on me. As a matter of fact,"Tiny's Halloween" has a lot of homage to the original "Halloween." Some obvious, some a little more subtle.

Q: Where can we watch the episodes and learn more about Scared Stiff?

A: Scared Stiff can be seen on the official website: www.ScaredStiff.tv or they can be seen in High Definition on our YouTube channel YouTube.com/ScaredStiffTV.

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Feast of the Vampires (Screener Review and Interview)

When Scotty tries to track down his missing friend in a farming town plagued with a vampire curse, he enlists the help of beautiful Autumn and the wacky vampire professor Orson Corman, but things get out of hand when they sneak into the plantation of Duke Wolfgang Moonlight and become trapped as darkness falls. Will they be able to outwit the Duke and his assistant Gus, or will they too become creatures of the night?

Funny, quirky, and fun are just a few words to describe this low budget indie horror comedy. The story line is pretty simple, but well written. The acting isn't too bad (although at times, it did feel a bit week) and I adore the way it was shot. It has an old 70's reel feel to it, small defects in the film included. It opens with a scene reminiscent of the old 70's shows that came on late at night with a host, which was pretty amusing to watch. It even has an intermission with funny fake facts about the film's stars. I think my favorite part of the film, though, was the Professor, who had one the funniest lines in the whole movie. I don't want to give it away, but when he first encounters the Vampire, you'll know what I mean. Overall, this film is a ton of fun to watch, entertaining as hell, and it isn't Twilight, so check it out!

Writer and Director Jay Burleson sat down to answer a few questions about the film, so enjoy!

Q: What made you want to make a Vampire film?

A: I wanted to do something with a classic feel to it and I felt like our Southern setting would be perfect for a vampire film because you could use a plantation instead of a castle.

Q: What was shooting this film like?

A: It was fun, but with a lot of ups and downs. Principal photography got cut short and we didn't get to finish shooting the film for about seven months. A lot of the first 15 pages of script never got shot. Other than that I had a blast working with the crew and actors. I've worked with most of them all before and would definitely work with them again.

Q: What films or actors inspired this film?

A: Films such as Monster Squad and Fright Night were a big inspiration but Roman Polanski's "Fearless Vampire Killers" was the film that really got me interested in doing something like this. So, Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate.

Q: What are you working on now and where can we learn more about this film and other projects?

A: Right now I'm shooting an experimental drama called Anathema Arienette and I also have a religious horror film, Bible Belt, in post production. You can find out more about Feast of the Vampires at www.feastofthevampires.net or get info on our other projects at www.myspace.com/burlesonfilm. I also have a twitter: www.twitter.com/jayburleson

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Kings of the Dead (Book Review and Interview)

One man's journal documenting his efforts at surviving a zombie apocalypse while attempting to keep his family, friends and sanity intact.

Have you ever heard anyone say they don't want the H1N1 shot cause of some government conspiracy (like my dad)? Well don't let them read this, or they might just shit their pants! The H1N1 not only kills you, but turns you into a flesh eating zombie! In Tony Faville's debut novel, he documents the trials of one man in the post-apocalyptic world. It's structured like a journal, and reads like a journal. It's not flawless (a few grammatical and spelling errors, and felt rushed in a few spots), but it's intriguing, easy to read, and most importantly, enjoyable and fun! Plus he wrote it in 22 days as part of a contest...that's right folks, 22 days! I think zombie and horror fans will get a kick out of this book, so I encourage you to pick up a copy, It is available at Amazon but you can also buy a signed copy directly from Tony (how cool is that!).

Tony was even nice enough to answer a few questions for all you little reaplings!

Q: What inspired you to write this book?

A: Well, I have always been interested in writing, I just never took that leap. When my wife told me on November 3rd about NaNoWriMo, or the National Novel Writing Month, I decided to go for it. 22 days worth of writing later, I was finished and a "winner" of the 2009 NaNoWriMo.

Q: Let's talk about the writing process. The book is structured like a journal, but when you wrote this, did you write large parts at a time, or more as a journal (day by day)?

A: Since I only had the month of November to write it, I wrote as much as I could write every day. Although, I do have to admit, when Left 4 Dead 2 came out on November 17th, I kind of lost 4 days of writing to the game. There were some nights I would knock out 1,000 words and some I would knock out 2,000. When I got down to the final weekend I had 14,500 words left and wasn't quite sure if I could finish it. My wife basically locked me in my office and told me, yes you can!

Q: Why a Zombie book?

A: I am a firm believer that you should write what you know. There are a lot of people jumping on the zombie bandwagon because they are so hot right now, they can make a quick buck. I have been a fan of the zombie genre for close to 30 years, I know the genre and I love it. If I were to write a book about knitting, well, not that I would, but you get my drift. Zombies are my thing, so it was only natural to write about them.

Q: What are you working on now and where can we learn more?

A: I am working on a prequel/sequel to the first book. It will be surrounding an individual mentioned in the epilogue of the first book named Ezra Blake. Written in the narrative style, leaving the journal format behind, and focusing on him, his history, and his actions during the zombie apocalypse.
I have a facebook fan page for Kings of the Dead and I also have my Amazon.com author page that will be receiving occasional updates.

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Patrick Campbell

He describes himself as "a semi-hermit who watches too many horror movies and likes pop music", but Patrick Campbell is a horror blogging fiend. He runs the blog Stabbing Stabbing Stabbing, which is full of funny, clever posts that are sure to entertain. Not only is he an awesome blogger, but a good friend and he sat down with me to do an interview for the Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight!

Q: How did you get into horror?

A: I had a combination when I was a younger of being absolutely terrified of some books (Phone Call From a Ghost, Daniel Cohen, The Scary Stories series by Alvin Schwartz. Both had freaky pictures) and then really enjoying others (anything by R.L. Stine or Christopher Pike). Eventually I started reading Stephen King and Michael Crichton. At some point my brother bought a used copy of Poltergeist, which absolutely scared us to death. In high school I watched horror movies with friends on and off. After high school I become religious and watched horror movies but sometimes felt bad about watching one of them or was criticized by people working for the church. In 2007 I guess I just decided forget that and it's been a ride further and further into horror movies since then, :)

Q: Why did you start horror Blogging?

A: It was like a weird puzzle coming together, got friended by the guy behind The Vault of Horror, which to me was like being friended by a rock star, then friended another blogger and then friending and being friended continued on and on with different horror folks and all of a sudden I knew all these nice horror people. Then all of a sudden one day I decided, what the heck, I'll make my own. So I did. With great assistance from my brother, he's the tech guy.

Q: What are your future plans for Stabbing Stabbing Stabbing?

A: The goal of my blog is to have a place where I can write whatever I want and hopefully get other people interested in my writings. If they're offended, annoyed, amused, or really dig my work, that's all cool.

Q: What are your favorite and least favorite horror films?

A: My favorite horror film is the entire Friday the 13th series including the remake. Collectively they jut form an amazing crazy roller-coaster ride I love.
My least favorite horror film is Howling: New Moon Rising, the seventh movie in that series. I love the first and some of the sequels are better than others but Howling New Moon Rising is horrible humor, horrible acting, not nearly enough werewolf action...that movie is the ultimate limit of suck that a horror movie can be. Never, ever, watch that movie. Eegads.

Q: Where can we learn more about you and your blog?

A: At http://patrick.wonderal.com/blog/, hope anybody who visits it gets a smile or some reaction from it that doesn't involve decapitating me. I like my head where it is.

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Duncan's Diary: Birth of a Serial Killer (Book Review and Interview)

Duncan is in the throes of a mid-life crisis and searching for his own identity. His problems seem no different than other men facing the same issues, but as he struggles through a divorce and the challenges of co-parenting his children, Duncan soon realizes that he feels complete inside only when he begins to secretly explore a world of torture and death-a world that only he controls. Suddenly, Duncan's life is no longer normal at all. As Duncan deals with his newfound guilty pleasure of destruction and wickedness, his diary entries reflect a roller coaster psychological journey. Duncan grapples with the ramifications of what he is becoming, but at the same time, graphically describes the deaths of several of his victims. Clearly a man caught between his morals and an evil calling, Duncan leads a seemingly typical life during the day, but in the dark of night becomes a monster. Only one man suspects what Duncan is capable of-his best friend, Sudhir, a detective in the Palo Alto Police Department. Despite Duncan's cries for help penned on the pages of his diary, he becomes a master at hiding his transformation from "the guy next door" to a masterful serial killer.

This is one of my favorite books I ever reviewed here on DBH. It is so graphic and detailed in describing the scenes of murder, rape, and the cleaning of the bodies that I have to remind you this is a work of fiction. The emotions in this book are like a roller coaster, from the euphoria describe by Duncan as he lets his aggressions out, to the pain and fear of the victims he lets it out on. The relationship with his ex wife reminded me of my parent's divorce, and the murders reminded me of the recent murders committed by Anthony Sowell here in Cleveland, so I became very emotionally attached to this book. The way it was written, it just felt so real and really creeped me the hell out! The ending shocked me a little, but then you think back to the little hints left here and there about the fate of Duncan, and you just sit there thinking "I shoulda saw that". This is a great book and I highly recommend it!

The author, Christopher C. Payne, graciously sat down to answer a few questions for all of you reaplings out there!

Q: What inspired you to write this book?

A: I was on match.com, spending all this time writing e-mails. One day I thought, if I am going to write to strangers, why not write a book. I sat down at my computer, attempted a few different roads and the book evolved. No whiteboard, no path, just letting the character and story develop as it did. I had never written anything before in my life. Nobody believes that story, but it is too funny and oh so true.

Q: How did you get into the mindset to write such a graphic, descriptive novel?

A: OMG, this is not really me. I had no idea it would even turn into a horror story. The character literally hijacked the theme, plot and it took off. If you asked me 18 months ago if I could even write anything like this I would have said no. I have no idea where it came from but the character's disintegration came about as a natural path.

Q: Do you follow the stories of other serial killers such as Manson or Bundy?

A: No, I honestly don't. I have heard of them and read a story here and there but I don't spend much time following them. I was more interested in showing a character's evolution and this specific character just happened to evolve into a serial killer. I can't even tell you where he will go in the next book because I honestly don't know.

Q: What other projects are you working on and where can we learn more?

A: I am currently working on a book that delves into the relationship between a father and a teenage daughter who is lost within herself. She is struggling with drugs and alcohol in the midst of her parents divorce. It is a gut wrenching tragic story that I guarantee will have most people bawling as they get to the end. I hope to finish it in the next few weeks and work on getting it published. After this project is complete I will immediately begin the sequel to Duncan's Diary. I chose to wait on the second book simply because the first one was so draining to write. I had not idea the realistic depiction of a sadistic character would be so hard to portray.
You can always follow my rantings on JournalStone.com which is my website or jump on my facebook account, duncan carl-moron. The book can be purchased on Amazon.com, just click HERE

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - After Life (Book Review and Interview)

Since the seventh grade, Alex, a retail slave, has secretly been in love with his best friend, Morgan, a web cartoonist. Amidst these distanced and inhibited lives, Alex and Morgan are suddenly faced with the literal end of the world. Corpses around the globe begin to hunger for the flesh of the living, and society crumbles quickly under the shock of the attacks. With the animated dead filling the streets, Morgan has no choice but to hide in Alex's apartment. While death is waiting outside the apartment every hour of the day, the two friends force themselves to rethink every social rule and emotional response in order to keep their sanity. Both of them will ultimately decide whether they should struggle to hold onto the life that they lost, or adapt to the change. In a world where only the numb can survive, Alex and Morgan must face their true feelings for the first time. Love, blood, and the undead.

I really liked this book. For the most part it was well written, say a few minor points where the story got a little chaotic, but it is a zombie novel after all. My favorite part of the book is the build of up the relationship between Alex and Morgan. It's starts off slow, but then after you get into the book a bit, you start to feel for the two and get emotional every time they start to get close or grow further apart. I got so into it, I yelled at my computer screen while reading a scene towards the middle where he rejects a sexual advance for her (idiot!). But of course, there are plenty of zombies and blood to go around for all you horror loving fiends out there. The scenes describing the zombies are graphic, gory, and just plain fun to read! So if you love zombies and a good love story, I encourage you to check out After Life! (Just don't get too emotionally attached and start yelling at the book, you'll just look crazy...)


The author, Jaron Knuth, took the time to answer a few questions, so enjoy!

Q: What inspired you to write a zombie novel?

A: The easy answer is George Romero, but I really feel like zombies continue to encompass and symbolize the new fears of each generation. Whether the analogy is racism, the mindlessness of consumerism, the spread of mutated viruses and biological attacks, or the dangers of communism/terrorism and the spreading fear that even your neighbor could be one of these evil people, zombies are a great symbol for our culture.
My own love of zombies probably stems from the post-apocalyptic/survivalist environment in which many of these stories find themselves. There is that romanticized idea that you don't need to be a special forces soldier or a martial arts master to survive in a zombie apocalypse. Just be smart and you could survive. That's an attractive idea.
Plus, describing the gore of eating flesh is just plain fun as a writer.

Q: Could you tell us a bit about the process of writing the book?

A: It took about two months from writing the first page to the publication of the first edition, but I mentally worked out the story for months (years?) before I touched finger to keyboard. Once I started, I was writing full time, at least seven hours a day, usually at the same time of day. I need that kind of structure in order to be productive. For me, waiting for inspiration is a great form of procrastination.
Since the release of the book, I have continued the editing process. Being a self-publisher, I think one of the benefits I have is the ability to release updated text based on reader feedback. These versions included corrections on grammar, punctuation, and even a few sentence rewrites for clarity. Perfection is impossible, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop pursuing it.

Q: The book has a lot of emotional and love themes in it, could you tell what inspired the relationship in the book?

A: While the details of the love story stem from some very personal experiences, I think the basic story is very relatable. Most people have experienced some form of unrequited love, hid the love they feel from someone out of fear, or had a seemingly endless relationship come to a screeching halt.
While the plot of the book is definitely about zombies -- and is full of horror, action, blood, and gore -- the theme of the story comes from that feeling people get when a girlfriend or boyfriend breaks up with them, they get a divorce, or even when a loved one dies. At the time it feels like the end of the world. Your life was a certain way and you just can't imagine it changing. The memories of these people from your past may continue to shamble down the streets, moaning, but eventually you adapt. Slowly you move on and accept your new reality.

Q: Where can we learn more about you, the book, and your upcoming projects?

A: You can find a Facebook fan page for my books by searching for Jaron Lee Knuth, and I am also on Twitter @jaronleeknuth. My books are available on Amazon.com ( bit.ly/jaronleeknuth ) in both print and Kindle versions, with the kindle version priced at only 99 cents. Other ebook formats can be found on Smashwords.com. ( bit.ly/jaronleeknuthebook )

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Dawning (Screener Review and Interview)

Dawning is the story of a brother and sister who decide to visit there father and stepmother at there house in the woods. Strange things start to happen. They begin to here things, the family dog is found with a huge wound, and a crazed man enters the house, saying "It" killed his girlfriend.
This movie is a one of the best indie films I've seen. It reminds me a lot of The Strangers in the way that it creeps you out, but leaves you asking "What just happened?" It doesn't rely on gore, but on the build up of suspense and the story itself, which leaves it very vulnerable to to the viewer. But the film overcomes this because the story is genuinely good and the build up of suspense keeps you hooked till the end. It's very well shot and the acting is really good. As I said before, one of the best indie films I've seen, so please check out Dawning.

I had the honor of sitting down with director and writer Gregg Holtgrewe to talk about the film.

Q: How did you come up with the concept for Dawning?

A: Dawning originated out of my love for horror and drama. I kept wondering why horror didn't affect me the same way as when something bad happens to someone in a drama...and vice versa, I wondered why drama couldn't be more horrifying...and in the end, to me, nothing is more horrifying than not being able to communicate and trust the people who are closest to you. So I set out to try and make a film which combined the elements I like best in both genres. This was a difficult process as it's a lot easier to just throw in some teenage kids, maybe a girl in a tank-top to cater to some sort of sexual interest and fill it with new and exciting kill scenes...but this wasn't the kind of horror films which affected me as a child...look at The Exorcist, Amytiville, Jaws, Alien, The Shining, Evil Dead, Halloween, The Thing, Texas Chainsaw, Silence of the Lambs and even Signs, etc, etc...they rely so much more on real characters and atmosphere and tension. These films are the best of the bunch and I wanted to try and follow in their footsteps. Lastly, I spent a lot of time looking at the way films were trending (which has been more and more porno-like) and I wanted to reverse the trend, which maybe is a bit too big for my little film but that was the purpose.

Q: A lot of independent films I've seen rely on gore, yours doesn't. Was it difficult to rely more on the atmosphere and build-up?

A: Very true, that's a great point. Like I pointed out above, relying on atmosphere and the build is very, very tricky because you want to sustain the audience but at the same time you don't want to lose them. Because of this dilemma I thought the best way to approach the film would be to try and create tension in almost every single scene so the audience can just feel the tension oozing out of, not only what the characters are saying and doing, but also what isn't being said or done as well. Ultimately, what's scary about gore? Sure, I don't want to be cut up by a killer or eaten by a creature but like Kubrick explores in Paths of Glory, it's not death we're afraid of, but how we die...and in "Dawning" I wanted to take the idea of death and use it as a metaphor...as a society we're so obsessed with answers (as if there can be any with death) and what happened? Why did they die? You know, the reality is, that's all just a lot of talk and show in order to appease people's natural inclination to fear death...when in reality our death is the only truth we may ultimately know. In "Dawning" I purposefully kept things from having answers so by the end of the film, the only potential truth may be in the last line of the film. Sorry, I ramble and get off topic sometimes. I hope these are answering your questions.

Q: Could you tell us what it was like to make this film on such a short budget?

A: Sure. It's been one of the most grueling and exciting films I've ever done. We started shooting in 2006 and I scrapped all the footage, went back to shoot in 2007 with a new crew and shot extra footage in 2008 and 2009. If you go back to 2004 when I first made 'Dawning' for $800 on weekends, it's been six of the craziest years of my life. A lot of favors, a lot of hard work on everyone's end and mainly, a lot of dedication, not only from myself, but the cast (which has been beyond great) and the producers as well. Over the film it was important I found ways to quicken the shoot while also making quick (and hopefully smart) decisions about what should or shouldn't be omitted. When a storm comes and knocks power out for almost a day, your shooting schedule gets crazy and you just have to move with the winds and make sure, no matter what compromises have been made, that you continue to see the film through to the end...only compromising on what won't hurt the overall content.

Q: Where can people find out more about the film ad upcoming projects?

A: People can find out more info by going to a few different sites. The film's main site is www.dawningthemovie.com - my personal site is www.wholecrue.wordpress.com and we also have a Facebook, Myspace and Twitter page...just look for Dawning the Movie. We also have a few screenings coming up in April (one festival, one theatrical booking) and we'll hopefully keep getting the film out there with the help of blogs like yours and Planet of Terror, etc...Thanks for the questions and good luck with your site!