is the final day of the festival, and today I’m trying to visit all the booths
that I can. I went upstairs and was amazed by all of them. Although, one I was
COMPLETELY sicken with. It was a booth for “August Underground.” I had no idea
what it was about, until my friend beside me told me it was a booth promoting
simulated snuff films. (There’s sick, and then there’s just plain SICK!)
Fred Vogel (the director of August Underground) was actually arrested
coming into Canada for the convention; because the police were convinced his
movies were actual snuff films!! I don’t know, maybe it’s the estrogen talking
or the fact that I have morals, but I just don’t see how someone can enjoy
watching a film just about simulating torture, rape, and killing someone
onscreen. (Call me crazy!) After being completely disgusted, I walked over to
this beautiful canvas, and realized that Clive Barker had just painted it (see
pic top-left). I couldn’t believe he had made such a beautiful picture in
one day. (Talk about talent!)
After walking around for a bit, I went back on the main
floor and walked past the surprisingly short James Marsters, (“Spike” to you
Buffy fans) who was on the way to his panel. I had planned to go see him speak,
until I found out that his panel also was charging eighty bucks to see him.
(What is wrong with these people who are wasting their money?) Apparently since
my press pass means dick here, I wasn’t able to see him. The only thing I
managed to find out for you Spike fans was that he is “maybe” in talks to do a
possible spin-off about his character, Spike. Since I had no more time for
screenings, I decided to go to the final panels and a zombie workshop to finish
off my day. It’s been a fun and scary weekend, but I am so glad it’s over,
because I’m tired of downing Red Bull like it’s water. I need my bed! I hope you
enjoy the rest of the coverage!!
GUNNAR HANSEN
The Original Leatherface
Out of all the panels at this year’s convention, I found
this one to be the most informative and interesting. To be quite honest, I
didn’t expect too much from this panel. I thought this man would only talk about
his experiences on set of Tobe Hooper’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre. To my
surprise, he talked about many interesting things such as film theory, his
relationships, and a few upcoming projects that will most likely make any horror
fan drool with anticipation. Take it away, Leatherface!!
-Gunnar told us how he never aspired to become an actor.
His dream goal was to become a writer. He just went into acting because he
thought it would be an interesting to add to his resume.
-His first role was Leatherface, and he was so extremely
nervous and scared of weakening the film due to his inexperience, that he went
to a school for the mentally ill, and blind and imitated and studied their
movements to become Leatherface.
-Even though he thought filming Texas Chainsaw Massacre
was one of the greatest experiences of his life, he also thought it was one of
the most miserable and difficult experiences because he had to film in 100
degree weather for 7 days a week. He has also said how he had hated working with
Paul A.Partain who had played the doomed wheel chair bound, Franklin. He said
that the actor (who wasn’t handicapped in real life) wanted to stay in the role,
and he would never get out of his wheelchair. He would constantly ask people to
do favors for him, because he wanted to stay “in character.” (Needless to say,
Gunnar was happy the day he had to kill Franklin!)
-He had done one movie after TCM called Demon Lover.
The movie was so incompetent and horrendous that he decided to quit acting all
together, and pursue his writing career. He returned to acting in 1988 with
Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers. He regretted not getting back into acting
earlier, because he was offered a big role in Wes Craven’s The Hills have
Eyes years before, and rejected it because he wanted to write.
-He will be starring in at least three major horror films this year and next
year. He will be co-starring in The Forest, a movie being directed by Tom
Savini. He briefly told us his character is a Fraternity Advisor and he runs
into a lot of trouble when he is trying to find his frat in the woods. He will
also co-star with the new Leatherface, Andrew Bryniarski. He also talked about
a major scary movie he has filmed filled with the best of the best in horror.
The film is entitled The Demons 5, and is about five university students
researching about the life stories of a pack of vicious serial killers named
“The Demons 5.” Unfortunately for them, “the Demons 5” are still alive, and
university students have to fight to stay alive in the prison if they want to
make it out of there alive.
This films all star KILLER cast also includes Robert
Englund, Kane Hodder, and Ken Foree. Gunnar also talked about his movie, The
Last Horror Picture Show, which he had written and stars in. This one is
similar to Demons 5. This movie has college students filming a documentary about
a group of notorious serial killers who are believed to be dead, but they’re not
and are angry about the depiction of them in the documentary. The serial killers
end up kidnapping the students and decide to make a documentary that shows their
TRUE nature. (scary stuff!) The movie will also co-star Robert Englund and Kane
Hodder. WOW!!!
-Was offered a role in the TCM as the truck driver that
picks up Jessica Biel’s character near the end of the movie, but turned it down.
-When asked what he thought about Andrew Bryniarski’s
portrayal of Leatherface in the new TCM, he said he didn’t like it all, and how
he did not like the new film at all. He thought the only scene that was horrific
and powerful in the new film was the scene when Leatherface is wearing Eric
Balfour’s face.
-Has only watched
the original TCM 10-15 times
TOXIC ZOMBIE WORKSHOP
Brains!!!!!!!!!!!
Since I had a little time to kill before the next panel, I
thought I would check out this workshop with Mike Pereira from Bloody-Disgusting.com
and his friend, Jay. The workshop was hosted by Bloody Mary, a professional
makeup artist that has done work in Titanic and Pumpkinhead 2. (Wow…I never
thought I would use those two movies in the same sentence!) She showed us how
to transform a person into a rotting zombie with makeup, stage blood, and corn
flakes. (Yes..you read that correctly) Since I was too much of a cowardly girlie
girl to get my makeup done, my friend volunteered for me to make him up as a
zombie. (Brave soul, he was!) The end results were amazingly funny and it made
for some cool pics!
CLIVE BARKER
The Hellraising Guest of Honor
I was looking forward to this panel the most because I had
seen Clive interact with so many people at the convention and saw that he was
extremely good to his fans. (His panel actually had run late due to the fact he
was signing autographs, and wanted to make sure everyone in line got one.) When
he had arrived at his panel, I couldn’t believe this was the same man that was
responsible for Hellraiser, Candyman, and Nightbreed. For some reason, I
always imagined him to be this dark and serious man, and wasn’t all expecting a
funny mofo who used the F word more than Richard Pryor. Despite the fact of
mostly talking about his ‘Abarat’ novels, (and the fact he was asked a bunch of
incoherent questions by a girl claiming to be bipolar) the panel proved to be
very entertaining. Here’s what I got out of the panel:
-After writing the second Abarat novel, he realized it was
complete crap and threw it out, and he rewrote the entire book.
-He doesn’t understand why he’s considered a Brand
writer(like Stephen King, Anne Rice, Tom Clancy) because he said he writes
children’s novels and horror novels with a lot of c*ck-sucking in them. (so
RAW!!)
-When asked why he incorporates hooks in a lot of his
writing and movies, he had said hooks scared him as a child, because his father
would make him take the hooks out of the fish when he would take him out
fishing. He also said his fascination with hooks came from his own fascination
with the S&M scene.
-In his next (and last) book for the Hellraiser
series, he said will be killing off Pinhead. He told the audience it won’t be
the way you expect.
-The Abarat series will be made into films. He wants
to write at least one more book before that happens though. He also ensured fans
that Books 3 &4 will be much darker than the first two.
-He had also talked about how Tortured Souls will
also be made, but doesn’t know when because his writing comes first.
-He’s an obsessive compulsive. He needs to paint and write
everyday, (which explains the painting on the display) and how he only goes out
on Tuesday and Wednesdays to pick up comics and DVDS.
RANDOM
PICTURES
Satan’s playground!
A Cenobite in training!
One Happy Camper!
Even though Linda Blair cancelled her appearance
…she wasn’t forgotten.
I
would like to thank RUE MORGUE for inviting JoBlo.com/AITH
to another successful year at the Festival of Fear!
READ PART 1 OF THE REPORT
HERE