The Godfather of Gore

I've been working with Herschell Gordon Lewis for almost two years now on a few different film projects. If any of you don't know who Herschell is here is a short bio:

The incredibly popular, violent horror films of recent decades, such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Friday The 13th, and A Nightmare on Elm Street, owe much of their existence to the undisputed Godfather of Gore - Herschell Gordon Lewis. In 1963 Lewis, with his monumental splatter movie Blood Feast, single-handedly changed the face of horror cinema forever.

As well as virtually inventing the gore generation, Lewis also produced a number of "exploitation" movies, as well as sampling the full gamut of exploitation subjects ranging from wife-swapping and ESP to rock 'n' roll and LSD. A Taste of Blood details all these, plus gore classics such as 2,000 Maniacs, The Gore Gore Girls, Color Me Blood Red and Wizard of Gore, placing them in context amid the roots and development of the exploitation film.

"Herschell Gordon Lewis is the man who put red meat into the American cinematic diet. Ultimately Herschell made Quentin Tarantino possible." - Joe Briggs

Two Shorts

I wanted to tell everyone that I am making two short films. One is called "Hacked" and was written by Jeff O'brien (Alien Incursion, Insecticidal & Bone Dry with Lance Henriksen) and the other is called "The Stockholm Syndrome" written by me. Jeff's script, "Hacked", should be fun. It's a comedy horror. If you merged "Weird Science" and "Texas Chanisaw Massacre" you would have the basic feel for this one. My script is pretty dark and nasty but should be at the very least a good conversation piece. I will be shooting these on HI Def with the cinema lense package. They should look great. I am in casting mode now which is always very difficult when you don't have a lot of money.

For the Heck of It!

I am your Mad Pulp Bastard!

From the Producer's Desk

I've been going through the script this weekend, and making a few tweaks here and there. Kind of like taking a fine grade of sandpaper to the finish to give a smooth feel before that last coat of poly. Rewriting is fun and it's a pain. Sometimes you really have to pick nits and other times you have to bring in the chainsaw to show the writer what they need to accomplish. Jeff's been good about when I've had to do either, which is not an easy task because when you're rewritten the first thing that crops into your head is, "what did I do wrong?"

It's not that simple - ever.

After it's done, I'll do the final (ha!) budget and go from there. (This is my 3rd final budget)

In the meantime as we finalize all of the details and shop the project, we are also developing another project with Herschell...

I will not have a day off for the rest of my natural life.

-- Bill

"The Pope of Trash" Praises "The Godfather of Gore"

"I first saw Blood Feast at the Timonium Drive-In when I was a kid, and when they handed me the vomit bag I knew I had a mentor forever." -John Waters

Gore-met Script Update

So Jeff O'Brien has turned in his latest draft of the script and I can feel we're getting close. A few tweaks here and there and some minor productions issues addressed, and I think we'll be there.

That is until the first table reading and all the dialogue gets thrown out.

But, that's okay because that's the nature of screenplays - they are fluid documents - subject to change and evolution. They are revised to fit the plan (and in case you didn't get it, the plan is to make as kick-ass a movie as we possibly can).

I'm finding being an editor for the script is exercising a few mental muscles (and a few social skills) that I didn't know I posessed, telling a great story (what inspired all of us in the first place) on our budget. This has got some intense stuff in it - sick, gory, and damn funny - all at the same time. There's a reason this is filmed in Vomit-O-Vision (TM) - it will be a wild ride!

Does anyone know where I can rent a "Cleavage - Cam?"

-- Bill

Something Weird

Something Weird Video is the label that all of Herschell's classic films are on. They also have an incredible collection of other Exploitation flicks and bizarre treats like "Scare Films". If you get a chance, check their website out, you won't be disappointed.

I've been pouring over hours of footage from these films to help get a handle on the look for "The Gore Gore Gore-Met". I really view our movie not only as a horror film and a black comedy but as a real true modern day "Exploitation" film. Webster's defines the word Exploit as: Make full use of and derive benefit from. Let's see, I'm going to make full use of "Gore" and then derive the benefit of shocking viewers and they in turn will tell their friends that they must see "Gore-Met". There is still something unsettling about seeing a individual being dismembered via chain-saw. And let me just say the "The Gore Gore Gore-Met" will be one of the goriest endeavors ever undertaken by exploiters such as ourselves. You wouldn't expect anything less from "The Godfather of Gore" and we wouldn't want to disappoint his legions of fans.

Forty Years in the Making

First I would like to say happy 77th to Herschell today for it is the "Godfather's" Birthday!!!

I have to admit the thought of bringing to life a movie idea that Herschell had some forty years ago is exciting, especially since I've been a fan since I was a young kid. Bill, Jeff & I all feel very fortunate to be entrusted with such an undertaking and I plan to shoot this movie in much the same style and look as some of Herschell's classics but with my own flavor of course. I think what separates "The Gore Gore Gore-Met" from many of the horror films being made today is that it's a period piece. It will take place in the mid-sixties, which was the heart of the "Exploitation Cinema" era. Our film will be rich with the colors(Blood Red), the sounds(Bad Lounge Music), the fashion styles(Bullet Bras) and the cars(Big Fins). It should take us all back to the "drive-in" in our minds and make us feel like we're seeing an H. G. Lewis movie for the first time again.

Let me just say that not only is Herschell a most humble man, he is also extremely warm and kind. Not what you would expect from someone named the "Godfather of Gore" but he really is an American Treasure. It's as though he is as timeless as the films he's made. Here's to many more movies from Herschell and birthday celebrations.

-Jonathan

Deep Gorey Thoughts

Okay, so if you're reading this you probably have seen the fantastic coverage we've received in Fangoria, Bloody-Disgusting.com and Horror-Channel.com.

We are ecstatic about the prospect of getting to make this movie and let people see it onscreen. I've been putting my grey matter in the blender with Jonathan, Jeff and Herschell and mixing up a particularly potent brew. its got comedy, thrills, sexiness, drama and boy does it have GORE!

Meaty, Beaty Big and Bouncy, Baby!

Not only are we putting the final polishes on the script, but we're working on the DVD as well - making sure that this is the kind of disc that Herschell and his fans deserve. Stuff that really picks the brain of this horror icon and goes behind the scenes to inspire a whole new generation of gore fans to make their own movies.

It's 8:30pm. I'm going to get out of the office and relax.

--- Bill

Fangoria Talks Gore Gore Gore-met

FANGORIA REPORTS

David Friedman, Jonathan Walter & H. G. Lewis

The Films of Herschell Gordon Lewis