Cinema Wasteland Movie & Memorabilia Expo 2007

Cinema Wasteland

Oct. 5th, 6th & 7th, 2007

SPECIAL GUESTS WILL INCLUDE:

Turn down the lights and lock your doors. It’s time to meet the Men Behind the Mask with our “Michael Myers” Reunion!

CHRIS DURAND - Stuntman and actor Chris Durand played “Michael Myers” in HALLOWEEN H2O (1998). He also pops up uncredited as “The Shape” in HALLOWEEN: RESURRECTION (2002). In addition to his HALLOWEEN roles, you can find Chris in plenty of “Wasteland” type rolls like CLASS OF 1999 2: THE SUBSTITUTE (1994) and Bill Lustig’s UNCLE SAM (1997) where he did stunts and had an acting role in both films. As a stuntman, you can find Chris doing his thing in MANIAC COP 2 (1990), MANIAC COP 3 (1993), THE MASK (1994), THE CROW (1994), SCREAM 2 (1997), and all kinds of general Hollywood movies and TV shows.

BRAD LOREE (CANCELED)- Stuntman and actor Brad Loree played “Michael Myers” in front of the camera, and was the stunt coordinator behind-the-scenes, on the eighth film in the long running horror franchise, HALLOWEEN: RESURRECTION (2002). As an actor, Brad has a ton of TV credits to his name (HIGHLANDER, SLIDERS, X FILES, MILLENNIUM, DARK ANGEL, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, SMALLVILLE, etc), along with a few films Wasteland fans may know, including the sci-fi action flick TIMECOP (1994) and X2: X MEN 2 (2003) where he also did stunts. And as a stuntman, his credits are equally impressive and include UNDERWORLD (1996) with Dennis Leary, the John Woo TV flick ONCE A THIEF (1996), FIRESTORM (1998) with fellow guest William Forsythe, FINAL DESTINATION 2 (2003), HOUSE OF THE DEAD (2003), and X-MEN: THE LAST STAND (2006) to name but a few.

TOM MORGA - Tom did stunts in HALLOWEEN 4: THE RETURN OF MICHAEL MYERS (1988). You’ll also find him wearing the hockey mask in FRIDAY THE 13th 5: A NEW BEGINNING (1985) where he doubled for “Roy”, avoiding the saw while doing stunts in THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2 (1986), staying out of Chucky’s way in CHILD’S PLAY 3 (1991), doing the “Deadite” thing in ARMY OF DARKNESS (1992), and avoiding evil aliens in INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996). Other films of interest for the Wasteland crowd that Tom worked on include: THE STUNT MAN (1980), THE BIG BRAWL (1980) with Jackie Chan, POLICE ACADEMY 2 (1985), COMMANDO (1985), JAWS: THE REVENGE (1987), WAYNE’S WORLD (1992), JURASSIC PARK 2 (1997), SPIDER MAN (2002), and the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN films to name just a few.

TONY MORAN - Tony was “Michael Myers”, namely the unmasked Michael at the age of 23, in John Carpenters original HALLOWEEN (1978) and popped up as Michael at the age of 21 in HALLOWEEN 2 (1981). You can also find Tony in a couple classic CHiPs and Waltons TV episodes.

DON SHANKS - Don played “Michael Myers” in HALLOWEEN 5: THE REVENGE OF MICHAEL MYERS (1989). You’ll also find the actor and stuntman in a few “Wasteland” movies of note, like SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT (1984) where he did stunts and donned the Santa suit in a few scenes. He returned as the stunt coordinator in SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT PART 2 (1987), and did stunts and acted in a couple of THE CROW sequels along with I’LL ALWAYS KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER (2006) to name a few. TV fans can catch Don in numerous TV shows including THE INCREDIBLE HULK, UNFORGIVABLE, TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL, PARADISE and so many more.

TOMMY LEE WALLACE - Director, writer, actor and miscellaneous crew member... Tommy Lee Wallace has done it all. He was a production designer on HALLOWEEN (1978) and pretty much created the “Michael Myers” mask that all fans know and love. He also found himself inside the suit for the occasional scene as one of the uncredited people known as “The Shape” in the first film. Obviously a friend to John Carpenter, Tom worked on DARK STAR (1974) as associate art director, did all kinds of work on ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (1976) and was a “ghost”, the production designer, and editor of THE FOG (1980) before he moved on to become the writer, director, and Silver Shamrock commercial announcer on HALLOWEEN 3: SEASON OF THE WITCH (1982). As a writer, he wrote AMITYVILLE 2: THE POSSESSION (1982) and wrote and directed FRIGHT NIGHT PART 2 (1988), STEPHEN KING’S IT (1990) and VAMPIRES: LOS MUERTOS (2002), the sequel to John Carpenters Vampires to name a quick trio. He’s also directed episodes of the cult classic MAX HEADROOM TV series, BAYWATCH, and a host of TV shows and films.

GEORGE WILBUR - George was credited as “Michael Myers” in both HALLOWEEN 4: THE RETURN OF MICHAEL MYERS (1988) and HALLOWEEN 6: THE CURSE OF MICHAEL MYERS (1995), and he also did stunt work on both films. When it comes to classic Drive-In films, George is my hero, and both acted and/or did stunt work on some true “Wasteland” favorites, including PLANET OF THE APES (1968), CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (1972), BLACULA (1972), HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER (1973), GRIZZLY (1976), DRUM (1976), PARTS: THE CLONUS HORROR (1979), THE OSTERMAN WEEKEND (1983), GHOST BUSTERS (1984), FIRESTARTER (1984), RE-ANIMATOR (1985), RAW DEAL (1986), THE MONSTER SQUAD (1987), A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET: THE DREAM CHILD (1989), TOTAL RECALL (1990), CASINO (1995), MARS ATTACKS (1996), SPIDER-MAN (2002) and so many more.

JIM WINBURN - Jim was one of the guys who donned the “Michael Myers” mask and fell off of stuff when he did the stunts in the original HALLOWEEN (1979), but his 35+ year career as a stuntman, actor and director has found him in several films Cinema Wasteland fans will know. He did stunts in big budget seventies disaster films like THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (1972), EARTHQUAKE (1974), THE TOWERING INFERNO (1974) and the large scale war movie, MIDWAY (1976). He’s no stranger to horror, exploitation, and action films either, and did stunts or found himself the s0tunt coordinator in films like THE SENTINEL (1977), Don Edmonds bounty hunter flick BARE KNUCKLES (1977), as a stunt driver in John Carpenter’s THE FOG (1980), the early Bill Paxton horror outing MORTUARY (1983), Clint Eastwood’s PALE RIDER (1985) and the Richard Ramirez story THE NIGHT STALKER (1987) to name but a few. Jim has also done a lot of TV work over the years, acted in the occasional movie or television show and even directed a few films of his own, including EVIL ALTER (1989) with William Smith and Robert Z’Dar and THE DEATH MERCHANT (1991).

Over the past couple of years, we’ve had most of the cast of Rob Zombie’s DEVIL’S REJECTS as a guest at the show. This time around, we’re more than happy to present a couple cast members no DEVIL’S REJECTS fans will want to miss.

LESLIE EASTERBROOK - Who doesn’t know Leslie Easterbrook from her appearances as “Lt. Debbie Callahan” in the POLICE ACADEMY film series? After all, she played the character in five of the six films in the popular comedy series. Leslie has done a lot of TV work during her career and you can find her appearing in all kinds of made for TV movies and popular shows like FANTASY ISLAND, LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY, DUKES OF HAZZARD, BAYWATCH, and MURDER SHE WROTE any given time you turn on the TV. She also does voice work, including fun stuff like the BATMAN and SUPERMAN animated series for people like me who click on Cartoon Network late at night. Besides doing a spectacular job with the role of “Mother Firefly” in DEVIL’S REJECTS (2005), you can find Leslie in a few other more “Wasteland” type roles like the serial killer love story MANIACTS (2001), DISMEMBERED (2003) and the recently completed HOUSE (2007) acting once again alongside Devil’s Rejects alumni Bill Moseley and Lew Temple.

WILLIAM FORSYTHE - Action, Drama, Horror, Comedy, Crime Films and tons of TV work... Just where do you begin with an actor’s actor like William Forsythe? Well, he played the role of “Sheriff John Quincy Wydell” in Rob Zombie’s DEVIL’S REJECTS (2005), and I know a ton of attending Wasteland fans are going to be all over that role alone. If you look at some of the other horror films he’s appeared in, you’ll
find LARVA (2005), HAMMERHEAD: SHARK FRENZY (2005), the “Masters of Horror” episode WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE SCREAM (2007), SOUTHERN GOTHIC (2007) and Rob Zombie’s upcoming HALLOWEEN (2007) prequel after only a quick glance at his resume. (Grab those HALLOWEEN 2007 posters now kids and start your autographed poster with Bill’s name at the October show!) I don’t even know if I can do the guy justice without writing an entire page on him, so I’m not even going to try. I’m just going to dive in with a short list of stuff I really enjoyed Bill Forsythe in over the years. You’ll find William Forsythe as “Philip ‘Cockeye’ Stein” in Sergio Leone’s ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA (1984), as “Evelle Snoats” in RAISING ARIZONA (1987), in the crime drama DEAD BANG (1989), making the Steven Seagal film OUT FOR JUSTICE (1991) actually worth watching, and nailing the character of “Al Capone” in 15 episodes of THE UNTOUCHABLES TV series from 1993 to 1994. I also enjoyed his role as “Ice” in STONE COLD (1991), and as “Franchise” in THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU’RE DEAD (1995) to name just a couple more of the films Forsythe appeared in. I can actually go on forever it seems, but do I really need to? Didn’t think so.

Check out the rest of our Top Notch Guests for our Annual Fall Show!

CHARLES BAND - After several years as an independent filmmaker, producing and directing “” classics like LASERBLAST (1978), TOURIST TRAP (1978), PARASITE (1982) and METALSTORM: THE DESTRUCTION OF JARED-SYN (1983) Charles Band started Empire Pictures in the mid-eighties and continued to write, produce and direct some enjoyable horror and sci-fi films like GHOULIES (1985), TRANCERS (1985), RAWHEAD REX (1986), TROLL (1986), BREEDERS (1986), FROM BEYOND (1986) and DOLLS (1987). When the Italy based Empire Pictures started having troubles due to fallen Italian currency, Band started Full Moon Pictures and continued to produce films like the popular PUPPET MASTER film series, CELLAR DWELLER (1988), Scott Speigel’s INTRUDER (1989), the SUBSPECIES films, and so many more. All in all, Charles Band has written, produced and/or directed over 250 films, and has given many an aspiring actor and director their first break in film. (Band has produced and directed so many “Wasteland” type films that there is no way we could list them all here. Feel free to punch him up on the internet movie database if you want more of a complete list.) Charles Band is used to promoting his own films and business so I can’t imagine that he won’t want a little stage time to meet with fans and do some sort of presentation come show time.

LEN BARNHART - Len Barnhart is a life long musician turned writer. After sharing the rock ‘n roll #stage with the likes of Kixx, 38 Special, Ratt, April Wine, and Wasp, Len semi-retired from the music business and now spends his spare time writing. Len’s book, “Reign of the Dead”, the story of a bizarre plague that sweeps over the planet and causes the dead to rise up against the remaining human race, is now in its 2nd edition, (which boasts a new cover design by “Kill Bill” makeup artist Gino Crognale, and features the ol’ “Machete Zombie” himself, Leonard Lies, as the cover subject), and was followed by “Apocalypse End Reign of the Dead” and the prequel, “Reign of the Dead: Outbreak”. The Reign of the Dead six issue comic book series has also been released so check a comic book store in your area for availability. Seems Len has been pretty busy lately if you ask us.

AMY LYNN BEST - Amy Lynn Best, a Pittsburgh PA native, has studied acting and dancing since she was three years old. She co-produced and co-starred in the independent feature horror film, THE RESURRECTION GAME (2002), and like many independent film producers, she learned the film business from the ground up. On the short haunted house film, TENANT, Amy studied cinematographer from that film’s director of photography, Bill Fuller. Out of necessity, she learned the basics of grip work, camera operation, and the fine art of line producing. Since meeting her film making husband, Mike Watt, she has acted or worked on nearly a dozen films, including the critically-acclaimed feature, AMERICAN NIGHTMARE (2000) directed by Jon Keeyes and starring Debbie Rochon. Amy recently appeared in Paul Scrobo’s DR. HORROR’S EROTIC HOUSE OF IDIOTS (2003), a funny parody of the B movie industry starring Debbie Rochon, and we premiered the latest film from Happy Cloud Pictures, ABATTOIR (2007) at our April ‘07 show.

RON BONK - Ron began making movies in 1992. Although his main interest was in directing and producing, the necessity of making sure his movies sold with honest accounting also fell on his own shoulders, so he ventured into distribution. With the success he had marketing his own productions, other filmmakers offered Ron their work to distribute as well. It wasn’t long before the demands of a running a successful B-movie distribution company took over any time he had left for directing so in recent years, Ron has become more of a producer; establishing two production divisions of his company in St. Louis and Lexington and making movies to meet marketplace demands. His company, SRS Cinema, now represents over 200 movies and Ron has directed or produced over 24 feature motion pictures over the years. Among his many ventures, Ron established the B-Movie Hall of Fame in 1998 and the B-Movie Film Fest in 1999. Both have gone on to great acclaim and he hopes to establish a museum in Syracuse for the Hall of Fame one day. Recently Ron started production on CLAY, his first feature length directorial effort since 1999. Ron is a modest guy and long time fan of the films he makes, produces and distributes. He and SRS Cinema have been a part of the Cinema Wasteland Movie and Memorabilia Expo for years now so we felt it was high time we actually listed him on the site.

SEAN CLARK - Soon after he helped present the 25th Anniversary Halloween convention in Pasadena, CA in 2003, Sean began working on the documentary, HALLOWEEN: 25 YEARS OF TERROR, which found its way to DVD in 2006. In 2004 he created a bimonthly on-line feature article called “Horror’s Hallowed Grounds” that took a look at the filming locations of popular horror and cult films. The article was an immediate success and a television version of Horror’s Hallowed Grounds is now a reality with episode one looking back at, what else, HALLOWEEN, where Sean and actress P.J. Soles retrace the steps of the infamous “Michael Myers” in the fictitious town of Haddonfield, Illinois. You can also catch Sean in upcoming documentaries on Jaws (The Shark is Still Working), The Psycho Legacy, and An American Werewolf in London (Beware the Moon). Sean is also a screenwriter and has his first film, THE BLACK WATERS OF ECHO’S POND is currently in preproduction from Seven Arts Films.

WAYNE ALAN HAROLD is a northeastern Ohio filmmaker. In the late 80’s, he produced the “Toby Radloff, Genuine Nerd” segments for MTV News. In the early 90’s, he co-created the cult flicks KILLER NERD (1991) and BRIDE OF KILLER NERD (1992) starring Toby Radloff, along with the lesbian serial-killer-comedy GIRLFRIENDS (1993). Harold laid low for most of the latter half of the 90’s but resurfaced in 2001 with his first solo film, TOWNIES (1997), also starring “Killer Nerd” Toby Radloff. This “Magnum Opus of CineTrash” cemented Harold’s rep as a uniquely-talented exploitation filmmaker and returned Toby Radloff to cult stardom. Recently, Wayne completed a documentary on Toby Radloff called GENUINE NERD (2006) and I’m sure his next project, a dark comedy called ABERRATION BOULEVARD, will soon be completed as well. He and Toby also podcast regularly via THE WAYNE AND TOBY SHOW and have a habit of taping segments at the Cinema Wasteland show. Why not stop over and see if you can find yourself as part of the pod cast show as you’re prowling the Dealer and Guest Room.

GARY KENT - Gary Kent began a career in theater after a stint in the military where he wrote promotion and publicity for The Blue Angels elite flying team. In 1959, Gary moved to Hollywood where he carved out a forty plus year career in motion pictures as an actor, writer, director, producer, stuntman, and make-up effects man (to name but a few of the things he’s done to get a film completed I’m sure.) Gary worked with and acted in several Ray Dennis Steckler films, including THE THRILL KILLERS (1964), SINTHIA, THE DEVIL’S DOLL (1968), and BODY FEVER (1969). He worked with Sam Sherman and cult director Al Adamson on several productions, including SATAN’S SADISTS (1969), HELL’S BLOODY DEVILS (1970), DRACULA VS. FRANKENSTEIN (1971), ANGEL’S WILD WOMEN (1972), and the Al Adamson exploitation-western, LASH OF LUST (1974). Gary also worked with The Wasteland’s old pal Ted V. Mikels on THE BLACK KLANSMAN (1966), director Monty Hellmon in RIDE THE WHIRLWIND (1965), and Peter Bogdanovich on TARGETS (1968) where he also did effects work as well as act. Other notable “drive-in” films you’ll find Gary in include PSYCH-OUT (1968) with Dean Stockwell, Susan Strasberg, Jack Nicholson, and Bruce Dern, ONE MILLION AC/DC (1969) written by Ed Wood, Jr., THE MIGHTY GORGA (1969), and he appeared as “Frank” in the exploitation classic SCHOOL GIRLS IN CHAINS (1973). Gary was second unit production manager on Brian DePalma’s Academy Award nominated PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE (1974), did stunt work on HELL’S ANGELS ON WHEELS (1967) and THE ANGRY BREED (1968), and more recently, he was the stunt coordinator on Don Coscarelli’s BUBBA HO-TEP (2002). Gary was also associate producer on Paul Harrison’s cult horror favorite, HOUSE OF SEVEN CORPSES (1974) with John Ireland, Faith Domergue, and John Carradine.

JOE KNETTER - Joe Knetter hails from Rochester Minnesota. He writes sick and twisted horror stories and began his career writing for Splatbooks where he was part of four short story collections entitled “Self Mutilation” (Volumes 1-3) and “Bodily Fluids”. In late 2004 Joe left Splatbooks and released the short story collection, “Twisted Loneliness”, which features an introduction by long time character actor, Sid Haig, who also plans on recording the audiobook. Joe’s ready to roll with his debut novel, the much talked about “Zombie Bukkake”, and is just waiting for a publisher. Joe Knetter has been part of Cinema Wasteland for the past several years now and proudly declares it one of his favorite conventions to be a part of. On Saturday afternoon, you’ll be able to join Joe in Guest and Screening Room 2 for a reading of some of his work, a few stories, or some sort of inane drunken silltiness of sorts. Don’t wanna miss that now do you?... Didn’t think so.

LEONARD LIES - Our old pal Len Lies wasn’t just the infamous “Machete Zombie” in George Romero’s horror classic, DAWN OF THE DEAD. No sirree, Len has also worked behind the camera on many a film project including DAWN OF THE DEAD, and also writes, produces, and directs his own projects; which consist of everything from industrial films, kids movies and shorts to feature films. Len Lies, along with writer Len Barnhart, are still looking to get Barnhart’s horror novel, “Reign of the Dead” into production as a film project and we wish them all the best. I’m sure Len is up to something these days, so be sure to wander over and see just what it is during your Wasteland weekend.

TED V. MIKELS - Magician, musician, ventriloquist, editor, cinematographer, stuntman... you name it, and Ted Mikels probably has some sort of experience at it. Most of you reading this, however, will know Ted as the cult film producer, director, and distributor that brought the world such Drive In classics as ASTRO-ZOMBIES (1968), THE CORPSE GRINDERS (1972), THE DOLL SQUAD (1973), BLOOD ORGY OF THE SHE DEVILS (1972) and THE WORM EATERS (1977) to name but a few. In addition to his own films, Ted Mikels Geneni Distribution Company released classic’s like THE UNDERTAKER AND HIS PALS (1966) and CHILDREN SHOULDNT PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS (1972) to Drive In’s across the country throughout the 60’s and 70’s. Our ol’ friend Ted was a guest at the very first Cinema Wasteland MovieL and Memorabilia Expo where his teaser for the almost completed, CORPSE GRINDERS 2 (2000), was a big hit with the fans. After the completion of CORPSE GRINDERS 2, Ted jumped right in on a second installment of his 1968 classic, ASTRO-ZOMBIES, entitled MARK OF THE ASTRO-ZOMBIES (2002), and hasn’t quit since. Ted is currently trying to finish up DEMON BLOODLUST (2007), which will feature some interesting CGI effects, and tells us to expect a completed print for screening by show time. Find out more about Ted V. Mikels and his long career at tedvmikels.com.

TOBY RADLOFF is a self proclaimed “Genuine Nerd” and Cleveland area cult icon. He has regularly appeared in Harvey Pekar’s “American Splendor” comic-book, had regular segments on MTV in the late 80’s, starred in the cult movies KILLER NERD, BRIDE OF KILLER NERD, TOWNIES, and appeared as himself in the Sundance award-winning film adaptation of Pekar’s comic AMERICAN SPLENDOR (2004). Toby may be a self-proclaimed “Genuine Nerd”, but he’s proud of it and his nerdiness is half of the guys charm. Toby is the subject of the documentary, GENUINE NERD (2006), and he and TOWNIES/KILLER NERD creator Wayne Alan Harold are currently wrapping up another dark comedy called ABERRATION BOULEVARD. The long-time collaborators also podcast regularly via THE WAYNE AND TOBY SHOW.

KYRA SCHON - Kyra was “Karen Cooper”, the little girl-turned-zombie in George Romero’s NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD that did her mom in with a convenient garden trowel. Her image from the classic scare film is one no fan can escape as its been used on posters, video boxes, and promotional items we have all seen numerous times over the years. All grown up now, she is an accomplished artist in her own right that offers custom sterling silver jewelry, original collectibles that feature her classic NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD image, and a series of original “Spiffy Cards” - greeting cards that feature her beloved pooch and inspiration, Spiffy. Kyra’s an old friend to us here at Cinema Wasteland, so it’s always a pleasure to have her partying a Wasteland Weekend away with the rest of us fans.

SHANTI - Accompanying Ted V. Mikels in October will be actress, Shanti, who in addition to working behind the scenes on several of Ted’s recent productions has appeared in MISSION: KILLFAST (1991), DIMENSIONS IN FEAR (1998), CORPSE GRINDERS 2 (2000), MARK OF THE ASTRO-ZOMBIES (2002), CAULDRON: BAPTISM OF BLOOD (2004) and hosted DIRECTING MOVIES: FROM ACTION TO WRAP.

TOM SULLIVAN - Tom was the makeup effects man, prop builder, stop motion animator... ah, hell, he did so much behind-the-scenes work that I feel Tom is at least partially responsible for the entire look and feel of Sam Raimi’s cult horror favorite, EVIL DEAD. He also worked plenty an uncredited job on EVIL DEAD 2 and did some work on THE FLY 2 for Chris Wallas. A talented artist, Tom has also done illustrations for collectible card games, film production companies, book illustrations, and designed the ultra-cool “Book of the Dead” DVDs for the Anchor Bay limited edition EVIL DEAD and EVIL DEAD 2 releases. Currently, Tom is working on TOM SULLIVAN’S BOOKS OF THE DEAD comic series from Dead Dog Comics. Tom is a regular here at Cinema Wasteland and has become a real fan favorite guest. He has his own “Sullivan Museum Room” at the show where he puts original EVIL DEAD props, storyboards and artwork on display for all attending fans to see up close and personal. It’s always our pleasure to have Tom as part of our Cinema Wasteland Family and let him get a little credit where credit is due - with the fans. Be sure to stop in and see what Tom has in store for all you fans this time around. Could be new art, new film projects, another comic book series...