Fango's Weekend of Horrors 2008 (Texas and L.A.)

I just got this press release:

Not only does Fangoria’s convention in Los Angeles this weekend
(April 25-27) look to be bigger and better than ever, the whole
Weekend of Horrors theme seems to be spreading across the whole
metropolitan area.

Pandemonium and mayhem is sure to ensue as fans find themselves
struggling with what sights and sounds to see and hear. But don’t
worry, PollyStaffle.com is offering the following helpful list of
not-to-be-missed horror attractions.

1. OLD SCHOOL ZOMBIES
Topping the list is the “Night of the Living Dead” 40th
anniversary reunion, which takes place Sunday. Director George
Romero, whose most recent film was “Diary of the Dead,” will be
joined on a panel with co-writer John Russo, producer Russ Streiner,
and various cast members, including, Judith O’Dea (Barbra) and
Marilyn Eastman (Helen Cooper).

“I really want to meet and see the ‘Night of the Living Dead’
cast,” said model Vanessa Alexandra, who is one of 13 finalists in
the weekend’s Spooksmodel contest. “My mom and I have watched
that movie so many times since I was a little girl. She wanted to
come this year but can’t because she’s sick, so I want to take
all the pictures I can with them and meet them all so she can live
vicariously through me.”

For those like Vanessa that can’t get enough of the living dead
film that jump started Romero’s career and resurrected the zombie
subgenre, the film will screen in a new 35 mm print at the Egyptian
(6712 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles) on Friday. Select members of
the cast will be in attendance at the midnight picture show. Win free
passes for the event at PollyStaffle.com.

2. SEXY GUITAR SLINGING SINGERS
The southern-fried country rock band Smith and Pyle gets the thumbs
up as the second coolest draw of the weekend.. The musical act, which
performs songs like “I Wish You Were Dead” and “Spankin,” is
made up of the sizzling actress duo Shawnee Smith (Jigsaw’s
protégé Amanda of the “Saw” franchise) and Missi Pyle
(“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”). Smith & Pyle will
highlight the Saturday Night Celebrity Cocktail Party.

Film producer and music supervisor Sean Fernald says checking out the
tunes of Smith and Pyle is definitely high on his list of things to
do this weekend. “I’ve been a big fan of both of their work as
actresses, so you know they’ll put on a great show,” said Fernald.

3. SNUFFTASTIC MOVIE
The shocking world premiere of the sequel to Shane Ryan’s cult
classic “Amateur Porn Star Killer” checks in at number three.
“Amateur Porn Star Killer 2,” gets its theatrical debut at
Laemmle’s Sunset 5 (8000 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood) at midnight
Friday and plays again Saturday. Both nights will feature appearances
by the makers of the film. PollyStaffle.com is currently giving away
tickets to the screenings. The indie gem, made with a budget of $20,
follows the “boy next door” snuff auteur Brandon as he turns
young women into amateur porn stars before killing them.

“It flirts with porn, horror, reality and art-house,” said Ryan
of his film that has been called “Snufftastic.” “I think Fango
people should enjoy it because it’s probably the artsiest horror
film they will see. Love it or hate it, it’s something new.”

4. TWO MINDS OF FRIGHT
The appearance of the creative minds behind “30 Days of Night” at
the convention claws it way to number four. Film director David Slade
and horror comic book writer Steve Niles will be signing at the
Gentle Giant booth at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Niles was recently named by Fangoria as one the “13 rising talents
who promise to keep us terrified for the next 25 years.” “30 Days
of Night” was Slade’s second feature film. He was best known as a
music video director and worked with the likes of Muse and System of
a Down, prior to his excellent debut feature “Hard Candy,” which
starred Ellen Page.

5. QUEEN OF THE NIGHT
The crowning of the first ever Fangoria Spooksmodel smiles and waves
it way into the number five spot. The semifinals will take place at
the Shock-N-Roll Spooktacular on Saturday, which will also feature
the psychobilly band Nekromantix and a fashion show from the Coffin
Girls. The unveiling of the convention’s mistress of darkness will
take place Sunday.

“I know the popular conception is ‘sex sells’ and most would
expect a spokesperson for anyone to have huge tits and ass because
it’s attention getting,” said Vanessa, who gets
PollyStaffle.com’s vote. “Hell, I like it too, but I have
neither. What I do have is knowledge, passion and love of the horror
genre, starting from the time I first saw ‘Thriller’ at two to
now being almost 25 and immersed in the horror scene.”

6. BLACK WATERS RISING
The panel discussion of Gabriel Bologna’s “Black Waters of
Echo’s Pond” spills into the number six slot. Danielle Harris,
James Duval (“May,” “The Doom Generation”) and the Babysitter
Twins of “Grindhouse” - Electra and Elise Avellan – are among
the cast and crew that will talk about the film Saturday at the
convention. Ryan admits Danielle Harris makes this a convention
biggie for him.

“I’ve had a crush on Danielle since, I believe it was, ‘The
Last Boy Scout’” Ryan said. “Yeah, I know she was a little kid,
see, she is several years older than me. I came close to meeting her
multiple times. One of my classmates was her friend in eighth grade
and in high school I had a history class with the kid who played her
brother in ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.’ So, when I
saw her naked in Rob Zombie’s ‘Halloween’ it was like seeing
the hot girl next door you grew up with naked.”

7. ROOM-O-THRILLS-N-CHILLS!
The Frightful Film Rooms of Horror scare their way to number seven.
One of the films playing is Bruce Dickson directorial debut “Red
Velvet,” which stars Kelli Garner (“Bully”) and was produced by
Fernald and Jim McConville. Co-producer/co-writer Joe Moe says the
film “is meant to be a sort of deconstructed slasher film, which
aspires to play with conventions of the genre while hitting all the
necessary horror marks.” “Red Velvet” recently played the
California Independent Film Festival in the wine country of
Livermore, Calif. “It was very well received,” Fernald said.
“Which is extra cool since the audience was not made up of genre
fans.” It screens for Fango horror fans on Saturday at 2 p.m.

8. CLERKS WITH CHAINSAWS
A panel on Stevan Mena’s horror mockumentary “Brutal Massacre: A
Comedy” checks in at number eight. Mena will appear Saturday with
stars Brian O’Halloran, best known as Dante in “Clerks,” Gunnar
Hansen, Leatherface in 1974’s “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” Ken
Foree, of the original “Dawn of the Dead,” and Ellen Sandweiss,
Theresa Tilly and Betsy Baker, the ladies of “The Evil Dead.”

9. FEAR ITSELF!
Saturday’s “Fear Itself” panel blazes a trail to number nine.
The 13-episode suspense and horror anthology series from Lionsgate
will air on NBC and is set to feature a number of high caliber
directors like John Landis (“An American Werewolf in London”),
Darren Lynn Bousman (“Saw II”), Ronny Yu (“Freddy vs.
Jason”), Brad Anderson (“Session 9”), Mary Harron (“American
Psycho”), Stuart Gordon (“Re-Animator”) and Ernest Dickerson
(“Surviving the Game.”) The series will be previewed by Victor
Salva (filmmaker behind “Jeepers Creepers,”) Dan Knauf (writer of
“Carnivàle”) Drew McWeeny & Scott Swan (“Masters of Horror”
writers) and actor/writer Johnathon Schaech (star of “The
Foresaken” and “Doom Generation.”)

10. MIDNIGHT SWIM
Snagging the last spot on the top ten list is Zach Passero’s
“Wicked Lake,” which will have its world premiere this weekend.
Passero, producer Chris Sivertson and actors Marc Senter, Robin
Sydney, Eve Mauro, Carlee Baker and Eryn Joslyn will be part of a
panel discussion at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Some of the cast and crew
will also be on hand for a Q&A after the midnight showing at the
Egyptian that same night. Check PollyStaffle.com for a chance at free
tickets to the screening.

AND THEN SOME
Honorable mentions that just barely missed the top ten list include
the Fango Con appearances by Eric Red, Charles Band, Tony Todd, Sid
Haig, Clive Barker, Angus Scrimm, Joe Dante and Scream Queens Scout
Taylor-Compton (pictured), Tiffany Shepis and Brinke Stevens. If
you’re still at a loss of what to do and see; there are more than
one hundred celebrity guests. And as Vanessa points out, if you are a
fan of horror, you can’t really go wrong this weekend in L.A.

“A ton of people who have the same insane and crazy love for gore
and violence in one place?” Vanessa asks. “How much fun is that?
You don’t get that ‘Oh, there’s that weird chick’ look here.
You get ‘Hey, you liked that movie where that chick got her baby
cut out of her stomach too? Awesome, let’s be friends!’ It’s
just a place for like minded people to come together and just
celebrate this thing that is horror. You don’t get that all the
time.”

NightmareManiac