Interview with Michael Johnson of Faux Pas Films

My first encounter with Michael Johnson and Faux Pas Films was being asked to do a cool little scene in their film, “Cyclical Effect” (and have one or two of the songs from my album featured in the film as well).  Well, I enjoy what these guys are doing so much that I wanted to interview them and see what they’re about, what makes them tick, etc.  So read on and see what these guys are up to!  And check out “Cyclical Effect” currently available for pre-order on DVD!

MU:  Well first, how did Faux Pas come into existence?

MJ: Faux Pas Films came into being in the literal sense circa 2007 when I had caught the filming bug by working on a couple small projects and had begun going to the local horror conventions. I saw there that even with no budget or experience, people were still making their dreams happen. It was inspiring. So already being a long time writer of poetry, lyrics, and short stories, I wrote a couple of screenplays and set out to make them a reality.

But honestly, the germ of creating began as a kid with my love for all things horror and macabre. Watching The Exorcist, The Shining,  Elvira, and old black & white sci-fi films really fueled my imagination. It just never occurred to me that I could make my own films, until 2007 when I set out to do just that.

MU:  For those not familiar with it yet, tell us a little about your newest effort, “Cyclical Effect.”

MJ:  “Cyclical Effect” is a drama/horror film that really is the meld of four different ideas together. It is by far my most personal film to date. It was a long road for this labor of love, having starting outlining it at the end of 2011. It’s the story of Ian that goes through a downward spiral as he loses control of everything solid in his life. He must reinvent himself and tries to find a perfect match on a dating website but all the while a killer preys on him and his friends. The drama aspect is about triumph or tragedy in the face of adversity, the story of what it take to get back on track after hitting rock bottom. The horror aspect is a costumed killer stalking the victims. Come on, who doesn’t love a costumed killer, right? The cast boasts a number of indie horror veterans, from Russ Croley, Shannon Sylvia, Michelle Tomlinson, Melantha Blackthorne, Bianca Barnett, Lilith Stabs, Andrea Collins, Dawn Lyn, Kayla Perkins, Donald Farmer, Shauna Tackett, and yep, even a nice little cameo by Tiffany Apan.

MU:  What are some challenges you guys faced in filmmaking (“Cyclical Effect” or others)?

MJ:  Always there are obstacles you have to overcome on set with each film. For Cyclical, the biggest challenge was trying to finish everything. I moved from Nashville, TN to Chicago, IL halfway during production so it pushed filming back a couple months until I could get back in town. Extreme weather has been a problem in making many of our films. Whether too cold (like in “Brimstone” and “Killer Shorts”) or too hot (“The Killer’s Meow”), we always find ourselves out in the middle of nowhere filming at these times.

MU:  Any odd, hilarious, or horror (pun not intended) stories on set?

MJ:  The hours are long, the conditions aren’t great, but at the end of the day we have a lot of laughs onset. I always include an outtake reel on the DVDs because it’s fun to revisit the goofs on set. Half the cast were scared to death to film in the woods in the dead of night for “Brimstone”. The story was how the woods were cursed and it created a creepy atmosphere. The biggest horror story we ever had occurred on that film when the small town local cops mistook our “gothed out” actors as criminals and had the “you better get out of town” mentality. Another horror story happened filming “The Killer’s Meow” at an abandoned house when it was so hot that my sweat went into the camera and halted production for two hours. Behind the scenes you can always find funny moments. One of which was when I was trying to film while running down stairs in “The Last Rendezvous” and fell on my ass. Laughter ensued thereafter.

MU:  I’ve asked a few people this question, but I’m interested in getting different viewpoints on this question.  The mainstream media tends to saturate us with the stories of “overnight successes” with all the reality tv ‘stars,’ American Idols, and the ‘cinderella stories’ of how “so and so became an overnight sensation in a matter of five minutes.” Would you say that such articles and stories tend to give (especially) young people trying to break into the industry a sort of false hope and distorted view as to how the industry really works?

MJ:  I’d say it’s a very distorted view to aim for such a goal. It could happen, for sure. We’ve seen many cases of virals exploding on the web but the chances of that happening are probably less than getting struck by lightning. Many of those stories are falsified anyway as it took hard work and long hours for many of the “overnight sensations” to actually find their break. I’m not saying a lot of “fame” doesn’t come from being at the right place at the right time, who you know, and what’s trending, because it does. If you are trying to be yourself and find your voice, generally it’s going to take some time to craft your art and get to where you need to be. I learn more with every film I make and I still have much to learn. It’s an evolution for me. I knew from the start it would be a gradual advance and I haven’t been disappointed yet. My advice is to just do what you love and don’t give up if you don’t see the grand rewards right away. Keep chasing those pesky dreams and they’ll eventually stop to rest and you can nab ‘em.

MU:  So when you guys aren’t making films, what do you like to do in your free time?

MJ:  I am also a freelance videographer and other than that I try to spend time helping other local filmmakers make their films. It’s always good to have a film community willing to help each other out. I am of course an avid fan of film (especially the horror genre), devouring as much as I can, both mainstream and indie. Other than that, reading and spending time with the family takes up the rest of my time.

MU:  And finally, what’s coming up for Faux Pas Films?

MJ:  We are currently in production of our newest film “Ovulation” which stars Lynn Lowry, Mandi Johnson, Chelsey Garner, and Willy Adkins. The story is about Azura, a woman who isn’t so young anymore and she is obsessed with becoming a mother. Driven passionately by her nagging mother and competitive sister, she is meticulously monitoring her ovulation cycle to try and conceive with her apathetic boyfriend. After month of trying, her obsession is rapidly growing worse. When she finally reaches her breaking point and finds out a hidden secret, she sees nothing but red. This is a dramatic tale of a woman’s need to procreate taken to horrific levels. Find out more about the film at facebook.com/ovulationmovie

Find more of Faux Pas Films at the following links:

facebook.com/cyclicaleffect

facebook.com/fauxpasfilms

DVD store: www.freewebstore.org/FauxPasFilms

IMDb: www.imdb.com/company/co0281111

And definitely check out “Cyclical Effect”!

Author, Christine Soltis on RECLUSIVE 2038

Author and writer, Christine Soltis is back with us to talk about her latest book release, Reclusive 2038.  Read on for a rather fascinating interview on how the futuristic dystopian novel came to be.  Be sure to also check out the links provided in the interview and pick up a physical copy or digital download of the novel. 

 

MU: So first, tell us a little about what Reclusive 2038 is about.

CS: Reclusive 2038 is a novel that is set in a kind of hopeless future world where the past mistakes of humanity have led to near destruction of the Earth. From the overuse of resources, to a growing population competing for potable water supplies, on to destruction of protective ozone from air pollution emissions, along with a heightened global temperature and sea level rise, all of these real life issues have led everyone into a reclusive society. People live in gated “safe communities” and are no longer allowed outside during certain times of the day; they learn to fear the sun and are not able to drive. They are called “zoo animals” because they stay inside those gated communities where they belief they are “safe.” On the other hand, the wealthy ones, known as the Elitists, roam free and are considered to be ungrateful and reckless. They took over the remainder of society and industry when the world changed but there are less of them in the actual worldly population. The other group that roams free is a rebel group known as the Renegades. As you can probably guess by the name, they are not very nice people; essentially they are thieves and scavengers.

 

MU: What was the inspiration behind the plot, characters, and setting of the story?

CS: Well, I have a great love for dystopian fiction such as Brave New World, 1984 and so forth (as there are dedications to these tales within the story). That was my first influence and I always knew I would write my own version of a future we never wanted. I also had my first phase of really reading more of science in 2008, particularly that which dealt with Earth sciences and environmentalism. As I read and learned more and more about our precious planet, I would also listen to the sounds of storms outside that were like no other. Wanting to know more about how the cycles of Earth worked, I went back to school for my Masters of Science in Environmental Studies. This greater form of education helped really cement some parts of the book. Also, when I drove out to California last summer, I really noticed the dried out brown palm trees, fires and saw endless dead, dry desert. This was inspiring, yet bothersome. Then you think about desertification in sub-Sharan Africa and how reckless we have been with disasters such as oil spills, which cover our wildlife in oil, along with the destruction of a great many species…it all comes together quite easily.

The characters themselves though are based on my observations of the evolution of humankind. If you take a look around these days, technology makes it very easy for us to become reclusive. When we are hanging out with our friends, we have our heads in our phones. When we are at home, we are socializing in a way that is easier for us than talking face to face- essentially, we communicate through the computer. Many days, we want to be left alone, and more and more people in society choose not to date or marry; percentages of women staying single are on the rise. Everything about that character type is a parallel to the future of “us.” When it comes to the Elitists, well, they are the celebrities that we love to mock but can’t get enough of. These fascinate us but we are taught to resent them. And then those damn Renegades, well they are everywhere threatening to take away what little we have. They are the scam artists and thieves that you encounter.

 

MU: Do you have a favorite or least favorite character? Is there a character in the story that you relate to?

CS: Truly, I love most of my characters, if not all. I might even become a little sentimental when something happens to one of them (even though I wrote it that way). While I look at evolutionary trends to create the character, each one I write is not based on anyone I know. Instead, it comes directly from the imagination; I don’t borrow the actual characters from real life. But I can definitely relate to the three main characters:

Linda is reclusive, dull and likes to be alone. She is so filled with fear that change is terribly painful for her. Most people have this side to them, just in differing percentages.

Madeline is young, wild and obnoxious and after a life of pain and only the comforts of wealth, she remains conflicted. She can be sweet, rude, headstrong or just plain agitating.

Her father, Edward, is stern and work-oriented…but the big guy clearly has a great number of walls in front of his secret heart of gold. He’s that guy who can make any career blossom but nothing else, especially not his family life.

If there was a least favorite character, it would be the CONTROLLER, whose name I intentionally put in all caps to make it a bit different and really drive home the point of what his job is with The Company. He is manipulation at its best. Several other characters such as Dr. Cauhn were intentionally named so, as if to say he is a con. Dr. Mentil is another one, because quite frankly, in our current society, a doctor who cyber-simulates trauma to children in order to show them why the world is this future way, would be considered downright mental.

 

MU:  Was there any specific creative process you went through in creating Reclusive 2038?

CS: Writing Reclusive 2038 was similar to when I have written other novels. Idea inception starts with an image or a conversation, maybe even a night of camping. Ideas hits artists like a tidal wave and sometimes even a tsunami though, so a filtering process must be enforced. The idea that repeats itself in my head the most tends to be the one that wins and is written first. Usually, I will jot down some notes and once I decide to start, I just go with it. My self-imposed standard is that a first draft should never take longer than three weeks to complete (with a full time job on the side). But these are just my self-imposed rules and every writer is different. I like to push my limits, as I once wrote a novella in three days as a challenge for myself (this one will be coming soon).

MU: Where do you do most of your creative imagining?

CS: Interestingly, I do it everywhere. I think I’m like a big kid sometimes who still holds onto her imagination and would love it if there truly was a world full of fairies and unicorns that we could physically escape to sometimes. While at work, I might make up a funny story about someone who looks like an assassin and tell others just to give them a laugh. I like to say that I imagine people’s lives are more exciting than they are in real life. When a writer creates a character, they give life to a new person, draw them up a home, a conflict and even love sometimes. My imagination stays with me at all times. If I see something I want, like a new scarf, I might joke that the damn thing came alive like a snake and wrapped itself around my head because It thought I was Medusa. At that point, I must have felt so bad for the poor, confused scarf that I took it home with me. Those stories are usually just for joking and they are so ludicrous that I don’t expect the listener to believe me. I’m far more serious with my literature, but believe any exercise of the imagination is one that is well worth it.

Everything about Earth is inspiring too; I love the ways the trees look outside on a barren, wintry day. The heat of the sun can inspire life or fear. Just keeping my imagination with me at all times is most exciting, no matter what. I certainly do this everywhere, whether it’s being silly or serious.

MU: What message (if any), would you hope people would take away from Reclusive 2038?

CS: We only have one Earth, so it is important to respect it. The interesting part is if you look at the stories of Easter Island, you will see a place that was devastated of resources. The people allegedly resorted to cannibalism to survive. They had no way off the island to find resources. We have just one Earth; where will we go if we destroy her?

People love vacation, they love the beaches and seeing new sights but then they throw cigarette butts on the ground when there is an ash tray two feet away, they pollute, they over-log. We already have ozone action days during the summer where warnings go out to elderly and those with breathing problems to stay out of the heat. I could go on and on about this, but, in short, I love and appreciate Earth and others should too. Don’t turn a blind eye to the most important thing that supports you. Without Earth, we’re nothing. *Side note: Unless they colonize space.*

 

MU: Where would people be able to find Reclusive 2038? Plug any appearance, links, etc here.

CS: Bookstore:

Eljays Used Books in Dormont, PA has several autographed copies of the book.

Events:

On Friday, March 15th and Saturday, March 16th, I will be at Horror Realm with Reclusive 2038.

Websites:

Reclusive 2038 on amazon.com

reclusive2038@gmail.com

http://darkwriters.tripod.com

Thank you again, Tiffany!

Nick Tallo and G. Joe Shelby of “Dawn of the Dead”

I recently had the chance to interview Nick Tallo and G.Joe Shelby of George Romero’s “Dawn of the Dead.” The interview took place at the Sears Zombie Thon in Allison Park, PA where we were all guests. It was amusing, to say the least, sitting next to these guys.

 

 

ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER:  Tiffany Apan is an award winning and acclaimed independent recording artist along with being a stage/film actress, producer, and writer.  You can find more about her at her Official Website , Web Blog, MySpace , Twitter , and Facebook .  She can also be found on IMDb and her music releases on CDBaby along with iTunes, Amazon, and other digital retailers.  She also writes for the publications Rogue Cinema and Horrornews.net .  She is also responsible for starting up the Music’s Underworld Webzine .

Ted Parker: Author, Musician, Actor

I first heard of Ted Parker when I was sent a copy of his anthology, “Freakshow” to review for the online publication, Horrornews.net .  I really loved the whole concept of the book and I, of course, also thought it was cool that he was also a musician in the band, BUGbRAIN and a fellow Stephen King fan.  Read on to find out more and pick up a copy of “Freakshow”!

 

 

MU:  First, tell us a little about yourself.  We know you are an actor, musician, and now author.  How did you come to be involved in the entertainment world?  Was it something you always wanted to work toward or was it something you began doing more recently?

TP: I always wanted to be an entertainer. I’ve watched so much TV and heard so much metal since forever ago that it all stuck with me. I did a school play and joined a metal band called, believe it or not, Throbbing Member. None of my ambitions went anywhere and I wound up joining the Army for three years. I got back into entertainment around 2001 when I did some indie horror flicks nobody’s heard of up in Tennessee. I came back to Georgia in 2002, did some more indie films including the title role for “Jesus H. Zombie” which can be seen on Youtube, and joined my current band bUGbRAIN.

MU:  How did your book “Freakshow” come into fruition?

TP: Back in 2001, I got a note from a writing school based in Connecticut asking me to try them out. I agreed to be a student and mailed my fees and writing assignments back up to them. A lot of the stories in “Freakshow” were the school’s assignments. They wanted me to write something like a how-to-make-something story, and what they got was a how-to-make-human-pizza story called “Pizza Boy.” More abominations followed over the years , but I’m pretty sure the instructors have since forgiven me. Thing was, I wasn’t too keen on how to actually publish them by submitting them to magazines, so I came up with the big idea of collecting my writing assignments – and some other stories – and publishing them myself.

Some time ago, I got into studying about the Grand Guignol, a theatre in France which specialized in grotesque plays from 1897 until 1962. I decided that was what I wanted “Freakshow” to be like, but I wanted more of a carnival look instead of a theatre look. Then I figured, what better than a tent show at a carnival reminiscent of the Grand Guignol? My short stories could be the plays – they were delightfully horrific enough. The reader would enter the theatre/tent show at the prologue, go through the eleven stories/theatre plays, and then leave at the end of the show during the epilogue. Personally, I thought that was a neat idea. I’m just hoping the public will catch on. The Grand Guignol is celebrated to this day by various filmmakers, rock bands, and such. “Freakshow” is my own contribution to its legend.

MU:  Who or what were some of your influences when writing the book?

TP: I have to say Stephen King. I’ve read so many of his books that his prose stuck with me and practically became my own prose. Aside from the writing school, he pretty much taught me how to write.

MU:  What would you say has been the most challenging for you so far as an independent artist?

TP: Success eludes me to this day. Still working on it.

MU:  Now I’ve asked a couple people this question, but I’m always interested in getting different perspectives on this.  The mainstream media tends to saturate us with the stories of “overnight successes” with all the reality tv ‘stars,’ American Idols, and the ‘cinderella stories’ of how “so and so became an overnight sensation in a matter of five minutes.” Would you say that such articles and stories tend to give (especially) young people trying to break into the industry a sort of false hope and distorted view as to how the industry really works?

TP: What hurts most about such things is that people think just because it worked for Sylvester Stallone way back when that it’ll work for them, too. That theory has its avatar and now it just has wanna-bes. Fucking pathetic! I’d just tell those hopeful young people to keep doing what they’re doing, try hard, and for God’s sake, think for themselves! Ignore most of the “scouts” who really just want money and try it your way first. Ever hear of the interweb and Youtube?

MU:  Now since the webzine is called Music’s Underworld, I have to ask you to tell us a little about your music and your band, bUGbRAIN.

TP:  Ah, but how can you not? BUGbRAIN is a modern rock band consisting of myself on bass guitar, my brother Bugsy on guitar, and singer Brian Abraham also on guitar. We have a new drummer now named Steve Sota who is awesome! The CD is called “Flashback Moon” and people can hear pieces of it on Reverbnation.com. I don’t really know how to describe the music, it’s that good.

MU:  So what’s next for you?  Plug away here!

TP:  Provided we don’t all perish this December 21^st, I plan on making another CD with bUGbRAIN and hopefully another book. I’m on the first draft for a zombie novel. Everybody loves zombies. Who knows what 2013 will do to us all if it’s allowed to exist? God help us all!

 

Check out my review on “Freakshow” at Horrornews.net and pick it up at Amazon!  You won’t be disappointed. 

 

ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER:  Tiffany Apan is an award winning and acclaimed independent recording artist along with being a stage/film actress, producer, and writer.  You can find more about her at her Official Website , Web Blog, MySpace , Twitter , and Facebook .  She can also be found on IMDb and her music releases on CDBaby along with iTunes, Amazon, and other digital retailers.  She also writes for the publications Rogue Cinema and Horrornews.net .  She is also responsible for starting up the Music’s Underworld Webzine .

Actress, Rochelle Davis

A little over a week ago at Horror Realm Convention in Pittsburgh, PA I ended up having my table next to the table of actress, Rochelle Davis best known for the role of ‘Sarah’ in the 1994  film “The Crow” starring Brandon Lee.  As a longtime fan of the film, it was a huge honor to be able to sit and talk to her at the convention and was thrilled when she agreed to do an interview for the webzine.  In addition to being a talented actress, she is also an inspiration to those who have gone or may be currently going through some hardships.  Read on and check out her website for more.

MU: I’d like to open up by saying that I’m a huge, longtime fan of “The Crow.”  I’ve been on your web site and you have been through a lot  since the making of “The Crow”, but we’ll start with the basics.  First, tell us a little about yourself and background.

RD: I am 32 a mother of one child who is 9, I love movies and music. I like to criticize movies and music and TV shows. I also write poetry and make Art, such as collages. I consider myself to be a pretty upbeat fun person. 

MU: What sort of audition process did you go through for “The Crow” and how did you find out about your landing the role?

RD: I went through 4 months of auditioning up against about 1500 girls. I got numerous call backs and then one day I was told by my agent that I was hired and would be going to North Carolina to film for 3-4 Months.

MU: I’m sure there were many amazing and memorable moments from the set; but are there any that really stand out for you?

RD:  There is one a fan reminded me of recently. Brandon hated dogs so I joked with him about buying him a dog for his wedding present and he said That’s fine I’ll just “Wok” it. It was hilarious 

 

MU:  One thing I love is how open and honest you are on your web site and bio as many actors and actresses would gloss over hardships in order to give the illusion of ‘perfection.’  What would you say has gotten you through the tough times and keeps you motivated today?

RD:  It’s many things. I am a naturally strong woman, they say women are like tea bags. You don’t know how strong they are until you put them in hot water. I firmly believe that. Sometimes it’s just the thought of my son that gets me through it and sometimes it’s just realizing that we are all humans and we are only dished out what we can handle from the universe.

MU:  What are your views on the state of the entertainment industry right now (eg. reality TV, auto tuned voices in today’s music, etc) and does it differ in any way from when you were working on “The Crow”?

RD:  Oh very much so. I think reality TV is a joke and makes most people look stupid or just exposes their weaknesses. I can’t stand that someone’s voice can sound great on CD and then you hear them live and they are terrible, or they lip sink to the CD which is totally cheating in my book. Making the crow was a lot of raw emotions involved. The director Alex was very comfortable and natural and asked us to be the same. It was truly an amazing experience. 

MU:  I also see that you are into doing photography, writing poetry, and making music.  What inspires you to make your art and are there plans for things like photography books, CDs, and the like?

RD: I am learning more about photography, piano, voice and I love to write, I have a screen play idea that I want to write and I am also thinking of writing a book about my life including The Crow and all my hardships I was going to call it “It can’t rain all the time” 

MU:  Finally, will we be seeing any more acting from you in the future?  What’s next for Rochelle Davis?

RD:  Not sure. I am working on getting representation now an then I will see where that takes me . For now I am just being me

Check out and learn more about Rochelle at the following sites:

Rochelle Davis Official Website

Official Twitter

Facebook Page

ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER:  Tiffany Apan is an award winning and acclaimed independent recording artist along with being a stage/film actress, producer, and writer.  You can find more about her at her Official Website , Web Blog, MySpace , Twitter , and Facebook .  She can also be found on IMDb and her music releases on CDBaby along with iTunes, Amazon, and other digital retailers.  She also writes for the publications Rogue Cinema and Horrornews.net .  She is also responsible for starting up the Music’s Underworld Webzine .

Horror Realm Convention Guests!

One thing I love about being a guest at some of the film and genre conventions is getting to sit with and meet some truly amazing people in the industry.  This passed Horror Realm, I got to meet and hang with some really awesome people.  Sadly, we didn’t get to video interview all of them (but that also means we’ll have new text interviews coming very soon).  We did, however, get some nice interviews with Camden Toy (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” and “The Bay”), Mink Stole (“Pink Flamingos,” “Female Trouble”), Jeff Monahan (“Day of the Dead,” “The Dark Half,” “Bruiser”), David Lee Madison (“Mr. Hush”), Brian O’Halloran (“Clerks,” “Mallrats,” “Dogma”), and Mark Tierno (“Day of the Dead,” “Mercury Men”).  Join the fun and click on the videos below! 

CAMDEN TOY

MINK STOLE

JEFF MONAHAN

MARK TIERNO

DAVID LEE MADISON

BRIAN O’HALLORAN

ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER:  Tiffany Apan is an award winning and acclaimed independent recording artist along with being a stage/film actress, producer, and writer.  You can find more about her at her Official Website , Web Blog, MySpace , Twitter , and Facebook .  She can also be found on IMDb and her music releases on CDBaby along with iTunes, Amazon, and other digital retailers.  She also writes for the publications Rogue Cinema and Horrornews.net .  She is also responsible for starting up the Music’s Underworld Webzine .

Actor, Robert Z’Dar (at the Indie Gathering International Film Festival)

Tiffany Apan interviews film actor, Robert Z’Dar at the Indie Gathering International Film Festival. Z’Dar talks about his career, his recovery from alcoholism and cancer (through help of alternative medicine) and about getting inducted into the Indie Hall of Fame.

Also check out the Entertainment’s Underworld Podcast!

ABOUT THE INTERVIEWER:  Tiffany Apan is an award winning and acclaimed independent recording artist along with being a stage/film actress, producer, and writer.  You can find more about her at her Official Website , Web Blog, MySpace , Twitter , and Facebook .  She can also be found on IMDb and her music releases on CDBaby along with iTunes, Amazon, and other digital retailers.  She also writes for the publications Rogue Cinema and Horrornews.net .  She is also responsible for starting up the Music’s Underworld Webzine .