Fans of Creature from the Black Lagoon may (or may not) know that the creature's iconic design was done by Milicent Patrick, who, like many women in the film industry, had her accomplishments erased from film history... until now. Mallory O'Meara and her book Lady from the Black Lagoon will be in attendance at this year's Chattanooga Film Festival along with many others. Also: a new The Prodigy shirt from Cavitycolors, Slaxx production and casting details, and a Children of the Corn-themed episode of the Pumpkin Spice Podcast.
Chattanooga Film Festival 2019 Events List Revealed: "With just over two months until the Chattanooga Film Festival’s sixth installment, organizers have got some cat filled bags and are hankering to let a few of those cats out.
First up, the triumphant return of EVERYTHING IS TERRIBLE. Every time they come to Chattanooga their show has sold out and folks have had to be turned away. Get ready to laugh, cry and stare directly into the abyss only to realize “OH SNAP, it’s staring back and it feels kinda nice.”
The film CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON has long been near and dear to CFF executive director and lead programmer Chris Dortch II, but it turns out that there’s more to the story behind the film’s iconic monster and the talented woman who designed it. Not only will CFF present a special screening of CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, but is proud to announce a presentation by author Mallory O’Meara, whose new book “Lady from the Black Lagoon” sheds light on the legacy of a forgotten and overlooked cinema hero.
As a teenager, Mallory O’Meara was thrilled to discover that one of her favorite movies, CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, featured a monster designed by a woman, Milicent Patrick. But for someone who should have been hailed as a pioneer in the genre, there was little information available. That’s because, as O’Meara soon discovered, Patrick’s contribution had been claimed by a jealous male colleague, her career had been cut short and she soon after had disappeared from film history. No one even knew if she was still alive.
As a young woman working in the horror film industry, O’Meara set out to right the wrong, and in the process discovered the full, fascinating story of an ambitious, artistic woman ahead of her time. Patrick’s contribution to special effects proved to be just the latest chapter in a remarkable, unconventional life, from her youth growing up in the shadow of Hearst Castle, to her career as one of Disney’s first female animators. And at last, O’Meara discovered what really happened to Patrick after The Creature’s success.
At last year’s festival they came, they saw and consumed enough whiskey that they are now a part of CFF’s extended family. Now bonded by blood, vomit, and love for spooky cinema, CFF is proud to announce the SHOCKWAVES PODCAST is back. Hosts Rob Galluzzo, Elric Kane, Ryan Turek, and Rebekah McKendry will return to record a live episode of their beloved podcast, and also bring their popular DEAD RIGHT FILM TRIVIA CONTEST to CFF 2019!
If you haven’t noticed after five years of drunken script readings and whiskey-fueled hot wing eating contests, CFF loves fun almost as much it loves movies. This year, organizers are taking things to a whole new realm (literally y’all) with a special live DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS game, made even more special with dungeon master C. Robert Cargill (SINISTER / DOCTOR STRANGE) leading the way. The icing on this fantasy-filled cake? A special screening of the new Dungeons and Dragons documentary EYE OF THE BEHOLDER: THE ART OF DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS. Dungeon master Cargill will also be on hand with co-host Brian Salisbury to present a live episode of their popular JUNKFOOD CINEMA PODCAST, a shame-free celebration of cult cinema.
In addition to working on CFF 2019, festival organizers have revamped their funding page, announcing individual donor tiers with rewards ranging from naming a festival award, a private film screening at the CFF offices, a batch of fresh baked cookies, and even access to their annual filmmaker field trip. As a nonprofit, CFF aims yearly to make a cultural contribution to the Chattanooga community, bring key film industry folks to the city in hopes of increasing film production in the state of Tennessee and create internship and mentorship opportunities in film production. Details on tiers and rewards can be found here.
Badges for CFF 2019 are on sale now via chattfilmfest.org, with prices ranging from $40 - $200. Volunteer applications are open through February 28 and press who are looking to cover CFF this year can apply for a credential through the website as well.
About the Chattanooga Film Festival:
The Chattanooga Film Festival loves everything about cinema: the films, filmmakers and audiences; the critics, collectors and curators; and most especially the popcorn. The first ever Chattanooga Film Festival was held in 2014, and has been quickly making a name for itself among film-lovers, filmmakers and the film industry and was named one of the 30 Bloody Best Genre Fests in the World for 2019 by Moviemaker Magazine.
We share films and events that are unique, challenging, critically significant and a helluva lot of fun. Our ultimate goal is to remember, discover and cultivate cinema worthy of everyone’s love and respect. As always, CFF is proudly continuing its mission to “Respect Cinema,” in hopes of increasing film exhibition, education, and production in the state of Tennessee.
For more information, visit chattfilmfest.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram."
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Cavitycolors' The Prodigy Shirt Release Details: "We’re incredibly excited to partner with Orion Pictures to commemorate the theatrical release of THE PRODIGY with a brand new t-shirt & baseball raglan, available THIS FRIDAY at 5 PM EST, with spooky new art by Hillary White!"
For more information on Cavitycolors, visit their website at: http://www.cavitycolors.com
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Slaxx Casting and Production Details: "Principal photography on SLAXX, a slasher movie co-written and directed by Elza Kephart, will begin this coming February 12 in Montreal, and will wrap on March 10.
Romane Denis has been cast in the lead role, playing Libby. Nominated for an Iris Award as Breakthrough Artist in 2018, Romane is known for her performances in Slut in a Good Way, Les Salopes or The Naturally Wanton Pleasure of Skin, and Les pays d'en haut. Sehar Bhojani (The Handmaid's Tale, Sex, and Ethnicity) plays Shruti, Brett Donahue (Bad Blood, Radius) and Stephen Bogaert (It, X-Men: Apocalypse) will portray Harold Landsgrove, the owner of the clothing store.
When a mild-mannered idealistic cashier of a trendy clothing store witnesses the grisly deaths of her co-workers at the hands (legs?) of a possessed pair of designer jeans, she must get to the bottom (ass?) of what’s driving SLAXX and try to stop the slaughter.
“I am so excited to shoot SLAXX in 2019! This is an idea co-writer Patricia Gomez Zlatar and I came up within 2001- (yes that's right 2001). 18 years later and here we are, fully funded and with a great cast and crew. SLAXX taught me a very important lesson: NEVER GIVE UP!” exclaimed Elza Kephart.
SLAXX was selected for the 2016 Fantasia Frontières Co-Production Market as part of Directed by a Woman pitch session - this is where Anne-Marie met Elza and Patricia. The film is backed by SODEC, Telefilm Canada, tax credits and private financing from Executive Producer Shaked Berenson through his financing and producing outfit Entertainment Squad.
Elza Kephart, Director, and Co-writer is a graduate of Emerson College and Canadian Film Center's Director's Lab. Elza directed her first feature film, Graveyard Alive - A Zombie Nurse in Love, in 2003. The film screened in over 20 festivals around the world, including Fantasia and Fantasporto, and winning the Kodak Cinematography Award at the Slamdance Film Festival. Her second feature, Go in the Wilderness, premiered at Montreal’s Festival du Nouveau Cinéma.
Patricia Gomez Zlatar, Co-Writer, and Producer is Elza's long-time accomplice. She produced her first two feature films Graveyard Alive - Zombie Nurse in Love and Go in the Wilderness. She now produces under her company Head on the Door Productions.
Anne-Marie Gélinas, Producer of Turbo Kid (winner of the 2015 Saturn Award for Best Foreign Film), Radius and Mars and Avril. She is the founder of EMAfilms, a production company celebrating its tenth anniversary this year with the release of two independent films, Lepage au Soleil and Third Wedding.
Shaked Berenson, Executive Producer. SLAXX will be Shaked’s third collaboration with Anne-Marie after Turbo Kid and Radius, both were sold to Netflix after a limited theatrical release. Other cult hit horror-comedies produced by Shaked Berenson include Tales of Halloween and Big Ass Spider!
Social Media:
Twitter and Instagram @SLAXXMovie
Hashtags #SLAXXMovie #EMAfilms
Facebook facebook.com/SLAXXMovie/
YouTube youtube.com/EMAfilmsQuebec"
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Pumpkin Spice Podcast: "Our hosts toil in the fields while these filmmakers bust out a straight to video classic staring Chris Brynner (yep, that Chris Brynner.) It's Children of the Corn — Like you've never seen it! (Too bad there weren't more Chicago dogs in this film!)
Got a question, comment, or suggestion for a future episode? Leave us a voicemail at: 973-327-7282."
Tamika hails from North Beach, Maryland, a tiny town inches from the Chesapeake Bay.She knew she wanted to be an actor after reciting a soliloquy by Sojourner Truth in front of her entire fifth grade class. Since then, she's appeared in over 20 film and television projects. In addition to acting, Tamika is the Indie Spotlight manager for Daily Dead, where she brings readers news on independent horror projects every weekend.
The first horror film Tamika watched was Child's Play. Being eight years old at the time, she remembers being so scared when Chucky came to life that she projectile vomited. It's tough for her to choose only one movie as her favorite horror film, so she picked two: Nosferatu and The Stepford Wives (1975).
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