Blog Archives
Clapboard Jungle | Do you have what it takes to survive the modern independent film business?
If you have ever thought about becoming an independent film-maker, then you must check this out first. Justin McConnell, who writes, directs and features, has worked as a film festival coordinator, as well as being a cinematographer and editor on heaps of featurettes you’ve probably seen as bonus content, and also directed a number of documentaries and helmed two features. But he has still yet to make his mark in this riskiest of businesses, where it has become harder and harder for independents to make a living due to media giant monopolisation and a market oversaturated with product.
Featuring interviews with a vast range of industry luminaries, Clapboard Jungle (which is available on ARROW from Monday 19 April) follows Justin’s personal journey over a five year period, exploring not only the nitty-gritty of the film business (from pitch to product) but also the physical and emotional strain that comes with it. It’s a fascinating insight and something of a survival guide for anyone brave enough to attempt themselves.
Once you have watched the documentary, I strongly urge you to check out the extended interviews which feature a roll call of some of our favourite cult heroes who all discuss their career highs and lows, and their place in the independent film world today. Poignantly, among them are Dick Miller, George Romeo and Larry Cohen, who are no longer with us – so these are very special indeed.
Clapboard Jungle is available from ARROW from Monday 19 April
SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
• Audio commentary with Justin McConnell
• Crew commentary: Justin McConnell, co-producer Darryl Shaw, executive producer Avi Federgreen and editor/associate producer Kevin Burke)
• Guest commentary/panel discussion: Barbara Crampton, Richard Stanley, John McNaughton, Gigi Saul Guerrero and Adam Mason
• Deleted scenes with optional commentary by Justin McConnell
• Extended interviews: Anne-Marie Gélinas, Barbara Crampton, Brian Trenchard-Smith, Brian Yuzna, Charles Band, Corey Moosa, Dean Cundey, Dick Miller, Don Mancini, Frank Henenlotter, Gary Sherman, George Romero, George Mihalka, Guillermo Del Toro, John McNaughton, Jon Reiss, Larry Cohen, Larry Fessenden, Lloyd Kaufman, Mette-Marie Kongsved, Michael Biehn, Jennifer Blanc-Biehn, Mick Garris, Paul Schrader, Richard Stanley, Sam Firstenberg, Tom Holland, Tom Savini, Vincenzo Natali
• Documentaries: Working Class Rock Star (2008) and Skull World (2013)
• 13 short films with optional commentaries and intros
• Trailers, promos, photo gallery and Easter eggs
• Artwork by Ilan Sheady
• Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing by producer/director Brian Yuzna
Digging Up the Marrow (2014) | Adam Green’s monster mash-up is the most fun you’ll have running about in the dark
Horror fans will undoubtedly ‘get’ this mockumentary in which genre director Adam Green (Hatchet, Frozen) puts a hilariously self-indulgent spin on the found footage horror genre.
While attending a Fangoria horror fan convention, Green gets a package from William Dekker (Ray Wise, Big Ass Spider!), who claims that monsters exist in an underground metropolis alongside humanity. Fascinated by the idea, but not quite sure whether Dekker is sane or not, Green and his cameraman (Will Barratt) set out to capture Dekker’s elusive creatures on film…
The best thing about Digging Up the Marrow is that it’s made for horror fans by horror fans having a bit of a lark. The mainly improvised set-up works for the most part, although there’s lots of talk involved as Green tries to convince his buddies (all sporting tees with logos emblazoned with his other projects – from Hatchet to Holliston) that he’s onto something, and we only get to see four actual creatures, all drawn from the warped imaginings of artist Alex Pardee.
As for genuine frights, well they’re more fun than scary, but there’s one that’s a real blast (thanks to Robert Pendergraft’s sfx). Horror fans, meanwhile, will have great fun seeing genre favourite Kane Hodder (who likes his porn) and those masters of horror, Tom Holland and Mick Garris, getting in on the joke.
Digging Up the Marrow is out on DVD in the UK from Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment, and also available to stream on YouTube
Tom Holland’s Twisted Tales (2014) | This macabre anthology for the digital age is a hit and miss affair
Best known for the genre classics Child’s Play and Fright Night, director Tom Holland presents this macabre collection that updates some classic tales from the darkside tales for the digital age. Despite the cover, there are no possessed dolls or toys in any of the stories.
First up is Fred & his GPS, in which a mortgage broker (AJ Bowen) goes on guilt ‘trip’. Think Poe’s Tell Tale Heart but with an attractive Aussie GPS in place of a beating heart.
To Hell With You gives the old Faust legend a twist when a rejected New Jersey woman (Danielle Harris) tricks a demon (William Forsythe) into taking her to meet his boss after selling her soul to Old Nick. Smart, compact and with a nice sting in its tale.
In Boom, a bomb disposal expert (played by former child star Noah Hathaway) traps a pal he thinks is sleeping with his girlfiend into keeping his finger on 10-pounds of explosives. While the premise is interesting, this one is let down by the rubbish music and obvious plot-holes.
In Mongo The Magnificent, nasty piece of work Mr Dynamite gets his just desserts when he tries to steal Ray Wise’s magic mirror, which reflects the best and worst in people. This one reminded me of Sid and Marty Krofft’s Lidsville. It’s even got some crappy glove puppet worm monsters. The guy playing Mr Dynamite should get a Razzie for his terrible delivery.
In the Teen Wolf meets Blue Sunshine tale Bite, a new weed with the power to see into the future reveals a grisly fate for a group of bong puffing teens. While the special effects and the corporate video music are poor, I kind of liked this one.
Shockwave sees five professionals fighting over space in a panic room as LA is hit with an EMP explosion. This is the best of the lot and a real comment on modern society, particularly LA’s rich and powerful: the theme being no one is really your friend when it comes to saving your own skin.
Cache has the clever conceit of driving someone to madness and suicide by constantly being in their digital face, but the killer idea is overshadowed by lots of shouting and swearing.
The two-part Pizza Guy finds a devil-worshipping woman calling up a demon, but getting the pizza guy instead. This one overstays its welcome after the first part.
Vampire Night makes no sense at all and is by far the weakest entry in the collection. It’s Dirty Dancing to a very tired old beat.
Twisted Tales is out on DVD and download in the UK from Bulldog Film Distribution
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