Next to coming across an uncashed check, encountering a long lost friend, or unearthing the magical talisman that will help ward off the evil spirit that is haunting your sister’s duplex, there is no greater thrill than the discovery of a new writer. You crack open the book, start reading and, before you know it,…
April 21, 2008: Author Jeffrey Ford drops by to say hello and get your opinion on a work in progress…
It’s time to begin our discussion on April’s fantasy book of the month club selection: The Empire of Ice Cream. But rather than subject you all to my rambling thoughts (Trust me. There will be plenty of time for that in tomorrow’s post.), I‘m going to turn today’s entry over to author Jeffrey Ford who…
April 20, 2008: My squibbiest post ever!
Whenever I want to fire a zat blast, morph a replicator, or blow up a spaceship, I call on visual effects wizard Mark Savela and his gifted crew. If, on the other hand, I’m looking to gun down a wraith, backhand someone through a railing, or torch a hapless Jaffa, then I go to the…
April 19, 2008: Q&A with author F. Paul Wilson
As promised, author F. Paul Wilson has kindly taken the time to swing by this blog. Despite being at a con this weekend where web access is limited, he has managed to respond to your questions and comments on April’s horror book of the month club selection: The Keep. A little bit about the author…
April 18, 2008: In which the author reflects on a test subject’s opacity, opines on The Keep, and engages his readers in a discussion on sporting preferences, infant names, and his recent sleeping habits.
Oh, what a beautiful morning. The moon was shining, the birds were sleeping, and the streets were as clear as London after the zombie apocalypse. Bleary-eyed and bushy-brained, I rolled into work at a little before six, just in time for the fog test that, I was told, would take approximately three hours to complete.…
April 17, 2008: In which production developments are discussed, fan concerns are addressed, and the author bemoans his early call
STILL not Friday?! You’ve got to be kidding me! My VFX spotting session for Broken Ties was moved to the afternoon. It went swimmingly - with the exception of the sword-drawing insert I’m going to need re-shot. They’ll be shooting the Sheppard-McKay cafeteria scene on Tuesday and, if all goes well, I hope to lock…
April 16, 2008: Fog and Chocolate
8:00 a.m. stunts and SPFX meeting this morning with Bam Bam, Wray, and Scott during which we discussed candy glass, ratchets, and squibs. We’ve also finally set a time for our second fog test = 6:00 a.m. on Friday! The whole thing will take about three hours after which we should have a pretty…
April 15, 2008: Ah, finally, the weekend is upon us…uh…oh.
I felt like I’d been running a marathon, and the finish line was finally in sight. Much relieved, I drew strength from the fact that the end was near. I could spend the rest of the afternoon decompressing, choosing my next leisure read, and, of course, counting down the hours to the weekend. And…
April 14, 2008: F. Paul Wilson’s The Keep
In 1941, a group of German soldiers occupy an abandoned Romanian keep. But an attempt to unearth the fortress’s rumored “hidden treasure” instead loosens a dark force that dwells within its walls. When the men under his command begin to meet with mysterious and grisly ends, Captain Woermann sends a dispatch back to Germany requesting…
April 13, 2008: A dark day in schnitzeldom
“Where are we going?”asked Fondy, this despite the fact that she was the one driving and we were already halfway down 16th Avenue. “I don’t care,”I truthfully replied. “Wherever you want to go.” The fact is, while my wife was out of town for a month and a half, I enjoyed most of my dinners…
April 12, 2008: Don’t judge a book by its drop-dead gorgeous cover
Well, as expected, reaction to the Whispers casting news has ranged from excitement and anxious anticipation to “Hey, Joe. Couldn’t you cast anyone hideous?” Well, sure, we could have - but rather than basing our casting decision on looks, we chose to pick the best actress for each of the three roles. I envisioned Teldy…
April 11, 2008: Production Update!
Watched the director’s cut of Daedalus Variations this afternoon. Andy Mikita did a terrific job on this one. Wow! Talk about a visual effects extravaganza! For those of you who enjoy “team” episodes in particular, this is one to look forward to. Incorporated all of the notes on the Broken Ties producer’s cut and will…
April 10, 2008: My Horrorific Top Ten
Wow! You guys enjoy your horror! Yesterday’s entry generated over 150 comments. So, what scares you? Apparently, a lot. Interestingly enough, over lunch today we were talking about Halloween events and Carl mentioned how a farm near his home used to put on a special Halloween-themed event every year complete with creepy corn mazes and…
April 9, 2008: What Scares You?
So what scares you? I asked this question about a year ago after reading two Dan Simmons books: The Song of Kali, and The Terror. One is grounded in the real world and deals with a menace firmly rooted in the every day. The other is more fantastical, focusing on a villain supernatural in nature.…
April 8, 2008: No time for the pinks!
With prep on Whispers less than a week away, I decided to do a little research to put me in the proper frame of mind. And so, over the weekend, I picked up my research materials - I Am Legend, The Mist, 30 Days of Night, 28 Weeks Later, and The Devil’s Backbone -…