As I mentioned in a post back on March 23, my second “epic of the imagination” ROBOT NINJA got a screening in Kiel, Germany on April 14, and here’s the proof. I’m told a good time was had by all, and that the attendance was better than similar screenings for I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE (so take that, Camille Keaton!).

More photos after the break. Check it!
Read the rest of this entry »

According to a bit posted today on Electronista.com, Blockbuster may be wailing its final death throes at long last. Apparently, Big Blue has told the Securities and Exchange Commission that it “doesn’t believe it can continue business” and that it doesn’t believe it can remain a “going concern”.

I doubt anyone will be surprised by this… personally, I’ve had it out for Blockbuster for nearly two decades after watching their uncompetitive practices, particularly with their bullying abuse of independent studios. So, crash & burn, guys… Hell has a special place set aside for you.

P.S.: I should clarify that my hostility is aimed at Blockbuster Corporate and not at the former Movielink staff (disclaimer: Tempe deals with them), or the occasional cool franchise store who’s given indie flicks a chance to shine on their shelves.

I don’t often publicly vent about customers who help put food on my table, but this afternoon I got the above e-mail, and I’m pretty steamed about it. Here’s why.
Read the rest of this entry »

Quick update for German fans: ROBOT NINJA will be playing at Die Pumpe, a venue in Kiel, Germany on April 14th. The screening is the work of Koki Underground’s Christian Vittrup and filmmaker/fan Tobias Piwek, whose short film METAL MAN will open the evening.

For those unfamiliar with ROBOT NINJA, this was my second crack at directing back in 1989, out of print on VHS for years and still no U.S. DVD release (yet). I have a rare German-dubbed DVD in my collection which Die Pumpe will be using to screen the flick. Tobi is promising photos and maybe some video of the event, so stay tuned for the bloody aftermath of what is sure to be a cyborg-asmic night of fun.

In the meantime, check out the Die Pumpe website (German language) for more details. U.S. readers can see METAL MAN for free right now on YouTube!

My copy of the new GROOM LAKE DVD from Koch showed up this afternoon, so I gave it a quick spin. On the plus side, the transfer is (finally) 16:9 anamorphic the way we shot it, where the previous disc that Full Moon/Shadow Entertainment briefly released was only 4:3 letterboxed.

But that’s about the only positive thing I can say.
Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve been locked away most of the last 3 weeks finishing post-production on PLATOON OF THE DEAD, which is being released on June 16 by my Tempe DVD shingle. It’s the first new release for 2009, but there may not be too many more in the near future. Here’s why.
Read the rest of this entry »

Not sure how this slipped by me, but a flick I produced 8 years ago is resurfacing on DVD this Tuesday… yes, William Shatner lives again in GROOM LAKE!!

Dear God, make it stop…

I guess Wednesday is the new Monday, because yesterday kind of sucked! In addition to Apple CEO Steve Jobs taking a medical leave of absence until late June, we’ve got the deaths of Ricardo Montalban and Patrick McGoohan to be depressed about.
Read the rest of this entry »

Just heard the jolly good news that HOWARD THE DUCK is making its U.S. DVD debut on March 10 (click the link above to preorder from Amazon.com). The much-maligned George Lucas production has been a no-show on DVD for 11 long years!
Read the rest of this entry »

Sumbitch. As I was sitting here blogging this afternoon, I happened to open my iPhone Facebook app and saw that Famous Monsters of Filmland founder Forrest J. Ackerman passed on yesterday. I’m bummed. Needless to say, I grew up reading that magazine and it inspired me to not only make movies, but even publish my own magazine years later. Dude, you will be missed.