Horror Unity, A Dream?

I always find it amusing when I’m talking to acquaintances and the subject of horror unity comes up. Most of the time what I get is “There never has been horror unity and never will be because the community is full of egotistical assholes who only care about themselves and their own agendas.” It is then that I correct them on this. The truth is that there was a time when the horror community had horror unity, or at least the closest thing to it.  We had it back in 1994 when I was writing my Camp Crystal Lake novels. This was a time when the nearest thing to social networking was chat room and email. Distributed films were strictly done on film and the average cost of an independent film was around $100,000. During those days filmmakers had respect for each other because making independent films was a work of love created by artist who gave their all. There wasn’t the sabotaging of productions and the bullshit dick measuring contests that we have these days. Also, we didn’t have the ego case “stars” that go from film festival to film festivals getting drunk, mugging, and acting like their shit don’t stink. We had serious, honorable, and humble filmmakers like Lloyd Kaufman, Charles Band, Wes Craven, George Romero, John Carpenter, and Tobe Hooper to name just a few. In those days you weren’t a legend or an icon, you were a filmmaker. It was hard enough to get your stuff out that you didn’t have time to get a big head. These filmmakers didn’t run around proclaiming that they are “Fucking fabulous” and that you need to worship them. These filmmakers were devoted to making films, not promoting themselves and starting ***********Army sites to stroke their egos. Also, during this time there wasn’t the bullshit politics and double standards we see now. In those days there weren’t any Horror Drux picketing theatres and telling people that anyone who watches a remake is not a true horror fan. Nor did we have Women in Horror Month screaming and whining that women get no respect in horror and how you must place their members on pedestals simply based on their sex. Also, publications like Fangoria were sources of news instead of being popularity contests. I remember when Fangoria put out a full story on a man named Frank Henelotter on a next to nothing budgeted film her was doing titled Basket Case. The sad thing is if Frank Henelotter sent a press release on Basket Case today Chris Alexander would say, “Who the fuck is this asshole?” and toss it with the trash. He would rather promote Jen and Sylvia Soska or Brandon Slagle, because they drink with him at conventions. Anyone else, fuck them.

So, in fact it is advances in technology and the internet that has, instead of improving and allowing for better films and better opportunities for our community, turned the horror community into a spoiled bunch of ego cases with the mental maturity of grade schoolers.

Horror unity in some measure is still doable, but it will take a change in the attitude of the horror community. People will need to put away their egos and start to honestly care for horror rather than their own agendas. Honestly, I’m starting to see this happen with filmmakers like Johnny Johnson and my co-host Derek Young. These are filmmakers who are not in filmmaking to make the big deals or to be worshiped, they are in it for their passion to create stories and characters that say something and do honor to the grand tradition of making horror films. The truth is it is time for the horror community to grow up and become a family again, not the bunch of dysfunctional gangs it has degenerated into. It is time for horror unity and the horror social can scream and cry foul as much as they want, but their time is coming to an end.

And here is some music to go with it....

Screenwriting: What is Wrong with these Kids Today?

Honestly, it is royally painful for me to see what crap in independent horror ends up getting distribution and what doesn’t. Mostly what I see is the filmmakers seem to act like the script is an afterthought. So many times I’ve ended up wasting my time watching stories full of stereotype characters, cookie cutter plots, and just plain boring and uninspired storylines. Even the supposedly SUPERIOR horror socials tend to push their own egos over substance, emotion strength, and backstory.

Since 1983 when I worked on Star Trek II and III with Harve Bennett and also wrote the Camp Crystal Lake novels I’ve have had a slew of budding writers and screenwriters come to me for advice and to learn the craft, and I do say CRAFT, of writing both books and screenplays. This craft is nothing to take lightly and is something that takes work to develop. It is through ignorance and a lack of understanding that bad books and films with weak plots and characters are put out on the market and cause the fans to waste money and time on lack luster stories, with lack luster characters, that tank.

Below is a list that every aspiring screenwriter needs to burn into their brains.

This list comes from experience of what doesn’t work. If certain people would get this stuff into their shallow ego case brains, I’d have nothing to say against them other than they are jokes when it comes to being human beings….LOL.

But check this out:

This list comes from Joe Berkowitz, a professional script reader. I know this myself and beat it into the minds of any budding script writer who comes to me for help.

1.The story begins too late in the script

2.The scenes are void of meaningful conflict

3.The script has a by-the-numbers execution

4.The story is too thin

5.The villains are cartoonish, evil-for-the-sake-of-evil

6.The character logic is muddy

7.The female part is underwritten

8.The narrative falls into a repetitive pattern

9.The conflict is inconsequential, flash-in-the-pan

10.The protagonist is a standard issue hero

11.The script favors style over substance

12.The ending is completely anti-climactic

13.The characters are all stereotypes

14.The script suffers from arbitrary complexity

15.The script goes off the rails in the third act

16.The script’s questions are left unanswered

17.The story is a string of unrelated vignettes

18.The plot unravels through convenience/contrivance

19.The script is tonally confused

20The protagonist is not as strong as need be

21.The premise is a transparent excuse for action

22.The character backstories are irrelevant/useless

23.Supernatural element is too undefined

24.The plot is dragged down by disruptive lulls

25.The ending is a case of deus ex machina

26.The characters are indistinguishable from each other

27.The story is one big shrug

28.The dialogue is cheesy, pulpy, action movie cliches

29.The script is a potboiler

30.The drama/conflict is told but not shown

31.The great setting isn’t utilized

32.The emotional element is exaggerated

33.The dialogue is stilted and unnecessarily verbose

34.The emotional element is neglected

35.The script is a writer ego trip

36.The script makes a reference, but not a joke

37.The message overshadows the story

You see, if Jen and Sylvia Soska understood this American Mary would not have tanked at the end or been a convoluted mess. But that is my over three decades of experience and as a writer and screenwriter talking….

YELP For The Horror Community?

You know what, people, I’m thinking about starting a site like YELP for the horror community. It would be a site where independent filmmakers, artists, authors, or anyone who gets treated to the double standard that has been taking precedence with websites and horror magazines and conventions can come and report this bullshit and make it public information so the community can see the shit that is going on. I think it is time to take a switch to the buddy network and start giving artists in horror a more level playing field so they can promote themselves and their work. Shit I just got a good dose of this just recently. I emailed my press release for Psychotic State The Novel to a site that claims they will take any submissions and promote you. Well, I sent my press release the same day that honorary Wolf Pack members Midnight Syndicate sent theirs for their interactive concert they are trying to fund. Twenty-four hours later Midnight Syndicate had their funding campaign funded and after two weeks my press release is no where to be found. But I had a feeling I should have known better because this site heavily promotes The Soskas and even devoted special section on their site for American Mary. That right, this should tell you something, that even a site that claims to promote all horror submittions can play the double standard. So what you think horror community? Do we need a YELP list site to remind these assholes that we are a community and everyone deserves a break?

Danielle Harris spits on independent filmmakers/ Alex Edwards shits on a friend.

I would like to applaud Danielle Harris for spitting on the independent filmmakers of the horror community. In her interview with The Skeleton Crew Miss Harris pretty much said that she was tired of working with low grade independent directors and would now only act for Jen and Sylvia Soska and WWE films. She said she was happy to be part of their “Family” and saw a bright future working with them on high grade productions. Nice way to treat the people who helped you become a horror icon. After saying what you did you are a good fit with those ego case hypocritical bitches, The Soskas. I once respected you as a performer, but after hearing this I don’t. That is completely and utterly fucked up.

Also, to Alex Edwards of The Skeleton Crew, who had told me he would never think of tossing an interview of mine and who said to me that he and his crew really hate Jen and Sylvia Soska. I want to say a hearty FUCK YOU!. You stabbed me in the back you asshole. You tossed my interview and are now supporting the Soskas. Guess what that is called, Alex, besides being an asshole you are a hypocrite and a liar. I’ve cut ties with you because I don’t need false friends and bullshit artists in my life. Have fun with your new allies you fucking traiter…. 

Call them Jen and Sylvia Scrooge

I have to laugh my ass off about this. Sylvia Soska just made complete and utter asses out of her and her sister. A friend of mine who is following Jen and Sylvia Soska just passed on the fact that Sylvia Soska just compared herself to Frank Cross (the Scrooge character played by Bill Murray) from Scrooged. How appropriate. She is comparing herself to a heartless, greedy, self absorbed, asshole. The way she and Jen are acting in regard to the situation with me, I have to heartily agree. It is called a Freudian slip and it is very telling, people. And so true. What wrong Sylvia you looking in the mirror and not liking what you see....

Oh, I can see the email Jen sends Sylvia after one of their butt kissers tells her about my post...."What the fuck, Sylvia? What the fuck are you doing? We are supposed to present ourselves as loving and about everyone and you say you feel like Scrooge? Are you fucking nuts, sis? We are supposed to be fucking fabulous, not self absorbed, greedy bitches. Even though we are...LOL" Yeah, I can see that confab of The Twisted Twins....LOL. The truth hurts, ladies.
So, ladies, your subconscious is getting the better of you. It even thinks you’re self absorbed, greedy, assholes. Wow that is fucked up.
Where is Carol Kane when you need her?

Update: The Soska Sisters Situation

So, as you've probably guessed the "False Friends" I talked about in the earlier blog are indeed Jen and Sylvia Soska. On August the 14th I blocked the Soska Sisters because the situation that started a year before had come to a head. I blocked them because they would have blocked me rather than being understand and willing to talk things out. Anyway, my sister, Jeanette Thompson, sent Jen and Sylvia a note saying how much it saddens her that they have decided to walk over someone who helped them and was a friend when they were starting out. She asked them to show some class and email me an apology so we could be friends again. So guess what the fabulous Soskas, that love everyone, did...They immediately blocked my sister. So much for what their "friend" Levi said on my thread about the radio show, "Just talk to them. I know they will be willing to talk. That's the way they are.". This is really telling about what the Soskas have become. I hope WWE Films is monitoring Facebook and reads this. I know several wrestlers. My dear friend Aleister Price was a wrestler. Wrestlers believe in honor and integrity. The Soskas are showing none of this. All I'm asking for is an apology for the personal hurt they caused me. That is all and they are too self center and self absorbed to do even that.

Also, I want to mention one more thing about my situation with the Soska sisters, and yes the understanding fantastic “We love you all.” Soska sisters still haven’t contacted me and apologized. Some people have said that I was wrong for blocking them and I don’t deserve an apology because I’m being childish and petty and unprofessional ect. One thing people keep forgetting is that in February Jen and Sylvia informed me that their policy is that any email they get that has any negativity in it will make them block the author of the emails. So, if I just sent them an email telling them how hurt I was and asked them to apologize and make it up to me, they would have blocked me without a reply or understanding or even trying to understand. All they care about is people stroking their egos and telling them how popular, beautiful, and talented they are. To be their friend now you have to kiss their asses or you are gone. This wasn’t always how it was, but it started after they got the big deal and started working on American Mary. Suddenly, they informed people they weren’t accepting IMs and they permanently put a do not disturb sign on their Skype account. Also, when you email them you get a message saying that they will put you on a list and you will get an appointment for your email to be answered. Excuse me. I talk to big time studio directors all the time and none of them, and they are universally more popular and famous than Jen and Sylvia Soska, have ever blocked people IMing them or tell people they need an appointment to get an answer to an email. Give me a fucking break. I IM with real stars, I won’t drop names, and they don’t act like that kind of an ego case snub. It is really telling about how much of a bloated ego Jen and Sylvia has gotten, when they pull shit like that. It’s like them saying “We are so important, powerful, and so high up now that we don’t have time to talk to you and you want to talk to us you have to make an appointment. So, don’t bullshit me with this “Oh, if you had only talked to Jen and Sylvia they would have understood and made up with you.” Sorry, the “We love you” Soskas don’t want to understand. They think they are too popular, important, and high up to have to understand. It is your fault they are that way (I’m talking to the ass kissers).
If See NO Evil 2 is a hit expect Jen and Sylvia to get worse. They will become the worst snobs in horror. You are creating tyrants. But, the truth is the chance of them making a hit with this film is next to nothing. I see Jen and Sylvia falling hard and WWE Films is building them up to that fall. They have given a $30,000,000 project to two girls who have done one horror film with so so reviews. Just to break even this film is going to need to make $100,000,000. The first film was in theatres a week and tanked. It nearly killed director Gregory Dark’s career, and he was a real artist. So, I see nothing good coming from this at all. I’m not being petty and I’m not being jealous. I’m being realistic. The fact that Jen and Sylvia along with Women in Horror demanded that the Soskas be put in Masters of Horror speaks volumes.

False Friends and Hypocrites

Some people have said that I don’t care about anyone or anyone’s feelings. This is far from true. I do care. I care so much that I can’t stand by and let something I love be dragged down into the gutter. Also, I care for people’s feelings as long as they care about mine. Why should I care about the feelings of some douch bag who fucking stomps on mine. I don’t think so. The thing is, people, I expect to be treated with respect and consideration, just like all of you. If people show me disrespect and a lack of consideration I make them and everyone aware of the fact that I don’t appreciate that and that they are assholes for doing it. Why is it so hard for people to keep their word or not act like hypocrites? I’ve mentioned the fact that certain “friends” shit on me last year on my birthday. I’ve gotten a lot of flack from people who say, “How dare you talk about ****** and ****** . They love everyone and you have no right to say such things against them.” Excuse me? Let me see? The fact that they specifically said they were busy and wouldn’t be able to do “any “ podcasts during the month of August last year answers you question in spades. These “friends” shit on me. I asked them to come on my podcast for my birthday show, my fucking birthday. In August they amazingly found the time in their busy schedule to do three podcasts during the week of my birthday. And, to be even more low life and fucked up they did one of those podcasts, which of course wasn’t mine, on my birthday. Then just to rub salt in my fucking wounds these “friends” posted on Facebook that they were doing all these podcasts on the week of August the 13th because I quote “These are our friends and we love our friends and would do anything for them…” Is that right? I was your friend. It would have meant the world to have you come on my birthday show and wish me a happy birthday. But I guess it is as some of my friends in horror have said. I was useful in that I gave you a break and helped you early on. Now you’ve both gotten such big heads that me, Chris Highland, and my podcast are crap to you. You got your big and powerful and pretty horror social buddies and to you I and my feelings don’t matter. This is obvious because you have done nothing to make up for the incredible hurt you caused me last year. That’s right horror fans, the big stars couldn’t even give me the courtesy of an apology. No they were too busy stroking their own egos and partying to even care. That speaks volumes. Think about this the next time they spit out how they love all their fans and friends. It is all public relations bullshit. If it wasn’t they would have cared enough to make up for what they did or at least say “I’m sorry.” Next Tuesday it will be the one year anniversary of them shitting on me, meaning my birthday. Guess what I expect? Nothing. You know who I’m talking about, so I’m unwilling to promote them by using their names.