This post is dedicated to my boyfriend,
Jonathan, whom I hope to see soon!
Our "We're Simply Meant To Be" Rings
"We can live like Jack and Sally if we want
Where you can always find me
And we'll have Halloween on Christmas"
- I Miss You by Blink 182
Sorry you'll have to play these on YouTube.
Don't know why they're restricted on here.
I also apologize for the sappiness of this post,
but tis the season!
First off, sorry for my absence.
I've been without Internet and will be again soon, sadly.
I'm finally moving to my new crypt on Friday though,
so I should be back online for good by Monday!
Anyway, on to the point of this post....
(These are MUCH bigger than pictured. I'll be reviewing them soon.)
Want to win these wearable works of art?
Simply leave a comment with your name and email address
Or
Share this photo on Sideshow By The Sea's Facebook here
Winner will be picked and announced on Saturday the 10th!
Speaking of art, check out this insanely awesome deck of cards:
With a doc who looks like Vincent P., it's the deck for me!
How about you? If so, get yourself one (or more) here.
There's some other sweet stuff available too. Hurry though, cause the Kickstarter campaign ends TONIGHT!
Actually it ended while I was typing this! lol. Sorry guys.
I also pledged to help make this sexy, sparkle-free vampire film:
Why? Those boys are from my hood and it sounds good.
Happening every remaining weekend in Sept.
Since the Harvest Moon occurs this month (the 29th to be exact),
it seemed like the perfect time for some lycanthrope love posts!
And to kick it off, I'm proud to present THE BEAST,
followed by a conversation with the film's creator:
The first thing I did was go out and cast Bill Oberst, Jr,
who's the current "it" guy in indie horror.
I'd seen his work on an old history channel show called "Sherman's March",
or something to that effect, and I knew he was the guy I was looking for.
I invited him in for an audition, and two lines into the reading, I knew the part was his.
I got lucky because he was just blowing up at that time,
and I think I picked him up at the right time.
If I'd had to delay production a year, I doubt I could get him now!
At any rate, he did a fabulous job in the film, and aside from being a great actor,
he was a total pro on set. He was fully prepared, focused and cooperative, at all times. Period. That can be tough on a small indie set like mine,
where we're shooting fast and things can get a little hectic.
I appreciated that a lot. For that matter, I appreciated everyone.
The rest of the cast, Peter and Alexander Le Bas were great to work with,
and also talented actors. John Snedden, my DP,
and the rest of the crew were like dog soldiers,
just working their way through the sheer madness of taking on a film like this,
with its production needs, and shooting it ALL in one night. Insane.
That took a lot out of me, and without everyone's support
I wouldn't have made it through in one piece. :)
This film received more press than we've gotten on any other film before,
and was certainly a deciding factor in us deciding it was time to take it to the next level,
which we'll be doing with our next film CAGED.
We love what we do, we're good at it,
we've cut our teeth on 14 films and now it's just time.
Time to move up or move out. :)
You definitely made the right choice casting Bill Oberst, Jr. as the father. Could you tell us a bit about CAGED?
It's about a mentally disturbed man who believes that a killer lives with him.
In the vein of X-FILES, TWILIGHT ZONE and perhaps a little TALES FROM THE CRYPT.
We're aiming for superb name talent and locking in outside investors.
We intend for it to be our statement film. Our "we have arrived" film, if you will.
I have to be discreet I'm afraid with who's attached,
until the lead role is officially cast at least,
but let us just say it's AMAZING what actor is reading the script right now.
Uber talented, well known and respected in the industry, and for many many years now.
Has done big roles in big films.
Love the sound of the film and can't wait to see who the lead actor will be!
Let's get back to THE BEAST though.
Were you inspired by another werewolf film(s)?
I'm a fan of many genres, but certainly have a soft spot for horror,
and I really wanted to take on a monster picture.
A classic monster picture to be exact.
Something as an ode to the classic Universal films of yesterday.
There are many classic monsters to choose from, of course,
but I settled on the one that I feel has kind of been the unwanted stepchild of the genre.
Werewolves have never really received as much mass attention and love from the
community as other creatures, such as vampires and zombies, the current "it" monsters.
Of course I was also leaning towards the werewolf from an early standpoint
because the idea of holding a beast at bay, deep inside you,
is something that I feel resonates with a lot of people, in various ways,
and I felt it appropriate to the story I was looking to tell,
so it all just kind of fell into place.
I agree, werewolves don't get enough love.
Lastly, just because I'm curious,
what would you do if you were in the father's shoes?
That's a tough one.
Who can really know until they actually face such a situation in real life, right?
I'd like to say I'd have the strength to do what's right,
and I won't explain what I mean by that until people have a chance to see the film,
but as a father in real life, I cannot comprehend facing such a difficult choice
and I hope (KNOCK ON WOOD) I'll never have to!
So do I!
Thanks for sharing with us, Peter.
Learn more about Dream Seekers Productions at their website here.
I was ordered (unjustly) to vacate my apartment (long story),
but found a way better one, which I move into on Oct. 13th!
So, until I have to go on another blogging break then,
I can get to the TONS of posts I have planned!
(John, you get first choice though, since you made the larger donation.)
Here's another beautiful bat art piece by my pal Cliffhanger Croumbles
(check out his films here!), along with a fitting poem by Anne Sexton:
Bat
His awful skin
stretched out by some tradesman
is like my skin, here between my fingers,
a kind of webbing, a kind of frog.
Surely when first born my face was this tiny
and before I was born surely I could fly.
Not well, mind you, only a veil of skin
from my arms to my waist.
I flew at night, too. Not to be seen
for if I were I'd be taken down.
In August perhaps as the trees rose to the stars
I have flown from leaf to leaf in the thick dark.
If you had caught me with your flashlight
you would have seen a pink corpse with wings,
out, out, from her mother's belly, all furry
and hoarse skimming over the houses, the armies.
That's why the dogs of your house sniff me.
They know I'm something to be caught
somewhere in the cemetery hanging upside down
like a misshapen udder.
Horror themed art. Mostly (but not exclusively) zombies.
Where can we admire and purchase your art?
My blog: thedayafterart.blogspot.com
Twitter: @chriszenga
Instagram: chriszenga
Facebook: the day after art
How did you get into the art field?
It was always a part of my life. I was drawing and doodling since I was a kid.
I never thought of it as a business, but as more and more people see your work you start to get commissions for all sorts of stuff. (album covers, murals, canvas paintings for personal collections) and all of a sudden you look around and your an artist!
What was your first creation?
Wow, my first EVER?? How about this, my first public illustration as The Day After
was Buster, the first painting in my Walking Tedd collection.
How long does it take to complete a creation?
It all depends on the size and level of detail.
I can do most custom zombie portraits in a couple of hours.
Ie. This B-Sol custom zombie portrait (B-Sol is creator of The Vault of Horror)
What was your favorite creation?
Giraffe. He's not the first or the most technical or even the best illustration.
However, he has always spoken to me and to the fans.
He's cute an creepy and just fun to look at.
I'm currently re-imagining him. Here is a sneak peek:
Who/What inspires you?
To many things to list them all. I will run down a few What's an a few Who's.
What:
Horror films: Everything from zombies to Godzilla to Thai ghost stories.
Comics: DC, Marvel, Aspen, old Tales from the Crypt.
Music: I love almost all music. It puts me in moods that help me to create.
And the art is always different depending on those moods.
Who:
I have been inspired in different ways by different people.
To name a few, Robert Kirkman, Michael Turner. George Romero, Tom Savini. Clive Barker,
George Lucas. Maynard Keenan, Buckethead. My wife Michele.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently re-visiting my "The Kitchen" series and creating new, darker illustrations.
The Kitchen is a poem my wife wrote and I am in the process of turning it into a children's book.
Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?
Draw for you first! Always draw what you love.
If you want to win some of Christopher's awesome artwork,
(including a custom zombie portrait!), stop by the Ball on Tuesday!
Check out my post about Jack-O'-Melon carving here
So, I'll be posting all things Halloweeny throughout July,
AND throwing a virtual Costume Party on the 31st!
(Stay tuned for details on that soon.)
I'm also planning a Batday (Birthday) Giveaway on the 12th,
in conjunction with a fundraiser for the Save Lucy The Bat Campaign.
(If you'd like to donate a bat item for that, please let me know!)
Anyway,
I was pleasantly surprised to find I surpassed 200 followers while I was away!
These songs are dedicated to all of you...
It appears the Zompocalypse may be underway,
so good thing The Zombie Tarot came out Tuesday!
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of the set,
which includes the following:
78 tarot cards and a 96 page instruction booklet
I love the retro artwork on the cards
and the instructions are excellent!
Even a novice like myself was able to conduct a reading,
(with eerily accurate results!)
The cards explain your past, give a glimpse of the future,
and most importantly, offer advice on which path to take now.
Which makes it a valuable tool to an indecisive person like me.
Now without further ado,
let's journey through a few of the 22 Major Arcana cards...
The Fool
† New Journey † First Steps † Hasty Choices
Starting out in a graveyard wasn't a wise idea,
but luckily you packed a gun in your basket!
Now shoot your way through the zombie horde here!
(Even if you lost the game, let's say you got through.)
After fleeing the graveyard, you spot a house!
The door's unlocked, so you let yourself in and find a TV...
The Hierophant
† Truth † Advice † Education
The Newscaster: Show these ghouls who's boss with hot sauce!
You're skeptical, but listen to the rest of his report.
(Which you can read here. Emphases on photo 3.)
Suddenly you see a zombie! So you reach for your gun...
But oh no, you're out of ammo!
Time to put the Newscaster's advice into action!
You run to the kitchen and grab a bottle of hot sauce.
No time to consume some, so you pour it on the floor.
The zombie lurches in, slips in the sauce, and falls.
While he's down,
you grab a butcher knife and slice his skull open!
Your victory dance is interrupted by the sound of footsteps.
You turn around to find your friend, who's here to fly you away!
(Hey! Miracles can happen!)
You grab knifes and hack your way to the helicopter,
get inside, and take to the sky...
The Sun
† Success † Enlightenment † Hope
Next stop Paradise Island or_____?
Back of instruction booklet
And lastly, a look at the Aces of the four Minor Arcana suits...
† Swords † Cups † Hazards † Wands
For more info and to purchase the set, click here!
