Archive for September, 2010

Horror! Zombies! Boobies! Terrorthon 10 next week!

Posted: September 17, 2010 in Movies
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OK…. personally, I’m really psyched about seeing TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL!

My good fiends J. Cannibal, Black Cat Burlesque and Babes in Boinkland are collaborating on next week’s Terrorthon 10 at the Somerville Theatre here in Boston. In addition to all the Thanatos you can handle in the form of horror and monster movies, there will be a nice, healthy dollop of Eros in the form of seriously gorgeous naked babes performing Saturday night at the Spookedelica Spookshow!  Text from the press release is below, but a much cooler PDF (with the Terrorthon schedule) is linked here: TerrorThon PR Hope to a bunch of you guys there!

(Somerville, MA) Hollywood and America have a love affair with horror. Now Boston can join in as J. Cannibal and Garen Daly have fashioned a 9 day celebration of zombies, vampires and things that do more than go bump in the night.

Beginning September 24th and running through October 2nd they will present premiere films, conversations with directors as well as live events. All of this will be presented at the Somerville Theatre, a vintage entertainment center since 1914.

A few highlights are the US Premiere of GODFATHER OF GORE withdirector Frank Henenlotter; SPOOKADELICA, a loving recreation of classic theatrical exhibition; FEAST OF FLESH X, the tenth installment of cabaret, film & zombies; Premieres of TUCKER & DALE VS EVIL, REVENANT and THE HORDE plus cult hits like HUMAN CENTIPEDE & DEAD SNOW.

Additionally TERRORTHON ’10 will honor local film makers with three screenings of made in New England horror films. Please see schedule POSTED HERE.

J.Cannibal is a real undertaker and poet. He has been called “the king of horror burlesque” by the Weekly Dig. The Onion called his shows “Think Rocky Horror Picture Show with less androgyny and more anthropophagy.” He brings a love of zombies with a showman’s delight in entertaining to TerrorThon ’10. In 2009 the Boston Phoenix extolled, Feast of Flesh as the city’s “best naked zombies“.

Garen Daly is a movie business veteran with over 30 years of experience in exhibition. He also produces the Boston Science Fiction Film Festival, with its 36th installment coming in February 2011. He is also a film analyst for NH Public Radio, WGBH radio and NE Cable News. He has been called “the dean of the indies.”

When asked why a horror festival now, J. Cannibal responded: “Zombies, and horror films, are metaphors for modern society. In this millennial world where your neighbor could blow up a train or your date could give you a killer virus or the government lies to you, we need to find ways of expiating our fears. Film does that, even if it is for a prescribed time. TERRORTHON ’10 is a participatory foray into horror. We have films never seen before, special revivals, live events and audience participation. The horror community is strong and growing in Boston. TT10 is a part of it.”

TERRORTHON ’10 takes place at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Sq starting September 24. For tickets and information about each show, please go to www.TerrorThon.com.

My work as an editor and “The Smart Page-Turner”

Posted: September 7, 2010 in Grub Street Boston, Teaching, Writing
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Hey, just following up on my posts here and here about my upcoming class “Writing the Smart Page-Turner” at Boston’s Grub Street, which will be held Thursday nights from 7 to 10 PM at Grub’s downtown Boston location.  I’ve been getting e-mails from people asking me about what level of instruction I’ll be providing. So with that in mind I thought I’d provide some detail.

I’m not targeting the basics. “Writing the Smart Page-Turner” is an intermediate level class that presumes some previous workshop, academic or professional experience. Former students have included people with advanced degrees in writing as well as graduates from workshops such as Clarion. I adjust instruction and manuscript comments to suit the specific levels of the students as I get a sense of at what level they’re writing. If by my judgment they are at semi-pro and professional levels, that’s when the Instructor gloves come off and the editor gloves come on. Part of the course is dedicated to showing in detail how I’ve helped authors restructure stories for ChiZine, the genre publication for which I am Fiction Editor. I’ll pass along the following blurbs from people I’ve worked with at ChiZine:

“I’ll put it this way – Mike made me focus on a story in ways I’d never been asked to before.  Now, that story is appearing in 2010’s Year’s Best Dark Fantasy and Horror.  It wouldn’t be there without Mike’s help. ‘Nuff said.”–Kurt Dinan, author of “Nub Hut”

“Mike’s editing is considered and, just as importantly, it’s considerate. His suggestions help refine a piece and make its prose stronger, tighter, and cleaner without compromising the work’s spirit. Writers are lucky to work with editors like Mike: someone whose insights improve their stories without seeking to change them into something entirely different.”–LL Hannett, “Their Own Executioners”

DEADLINE to sign up is coming fast–September 9th. You can sign up online here or  contact Sonya Larson at Grub HQ. Call her at 617-695-0075 or by e-mail at sonya@grubstreet.org