This year’s Cinema Wasteland just outside of Cleveland was the first one I’ve ever been to. I was really impressed with both the guests and the crowd — everyone was great.
A special thanks to Jason from SRS Cinema for really hooking me up this weekend! It was great to meet and hang out with him.
Kyra Schon was the first guest I talked to, and she was really nice. She was selling really cool, high-contrast Karen Cooper posters, and I couldn’t resist picking one up.
Howard Sherman played my favorite zombie: Bub from Day of the Dead (1985). Great guy!
Ian McCulloch was the lead actor in Zombie (1979), and is completely astonished by the popularity of the movie. One thing that surprised me about Mr. McCulloch is that he told me he’s never seen any of Romero’s zombie movies — he said he just doesn’t have the desire to. He also told me that he met Romero recently, and Romero refuses to watch Zombie (or any of its sequels) because he thinks they’re all ripoffs of his work.
Al Cliver played Brian in Zombie. I learned some fascinating things from Mr. Cliver — namely that Brian’s voice in Zombie is not his. All his lines were overdubbed, and he doesn’t know who did them. Also, I asked him what it was like to work with Lucio Fulci. He responded, “He was a son of a bitch.” He explained that despite Fulci’s reported temperament, they became good friends and made many films together.
You know who Ottaviano Dell’Acqua is, whether you realize it or not. He’s the iconic Conquistador zombie that appears on the majority of Zombie materials (including my shirt). He was a really fun guy, and very energetic.
I also talked with Richard Johnson, who was really cool. For some reason I didn’t think to snap a picture with him. I love his first line in Zombie: “The boat can leave now. Tell the crew.”
Beatrice Ring played the lead role in Zombi 3 (1988), and is every bit as beautiful as she was when she made the movie. Zombie 3 is notorious for the nightmarish production it went through — Lucio Fulci directed most of it, but later on, Bruno Mattei stepped in to finish it at the insistence of the studio. I asked Beatrice about how crazy the process was, and she said that it wasn’t as big a deal as everyone makes it out to be. She worked with Fulci the whole time, and wasn’t even aware of Mattei’s part in it. “It happens all the time, in lots of movies,” she explained when she talked about reshoots and studios bringing in a different director to finish a film.
When I was at Horror Realm last fall, I somehow missed speaking with Jim Krut, the helicopter zombie from Dawn of the Dead (1978). So I made sure that I got to meet him this time around, and I’m glad I did. He’s very tall, and fun to talk to.
Gary Ugarek is the creator of Deadlands: The Rising and Deadlands 2: Trapped, and was there to support Jim Krut, who also starred in Deadlands 2. I ended up talking to Gary for a long time, and he’s a really down-to-earth guy.
This is the second time I’ve met Tom Savini. I’m a huge fan of his work, and he’s truly a master of what he does. Despite that, I haven’t been very impressed with him personally. Both times I’ve talked to him, he seems annoyed that I’m there — it’s like he doesn’t want to be there at all. Disappointing.
It was a blast hanging out with Tom Berdinski and the cast/crew from The Italian Zombie Movie. Tom is a good friend, and I was excited to meet him and others whose passion went into these unforgettable films. They truly know how to have a good time. And if you haven’t seen parts 1 and 2 of The Italian Zombie Movie, you’re definitely missing out on something special — so go buy it!
Speaking of good friends, here’s one that you’ll all know — Misfitboy. He’s every bit as cool as he comes across in his reviews, and I was honored to hang out and have a few drinks with him and Mrs. Misfitboy.
This double 8-string electric guitar made specially for Saw V is a thing of beauty. It belongs to Sonny Lombardozzi, whose shredding skills are inhuman. He’s a really cool guy, and now that I’ve checked out his music, I’m a huge fan! Find out more about Sonny at his web site.
I almost had my jugular ripped out.
What happens at Cinema Wasteland stays at Cinema Wasteland.
Love the pics dude! Looks like it was an awesome experience!
Thanks for the front-line reportage. Looked like a blast.
speaking of cool corey is as cool as the other side of the pillow. he’s not full of himself or anything like that at all. corey, it was a pleasure to hang out with the “man behind the midnight” i hope we can do it again!
misfitboy
This is some good bloggage. Nice to see these folks looking good and mixing with fans. I’ve heard the same thing about Savini from other people, but I wonder if some slack can be cut for him since he’s done about 10 million convention appearances.
That’s too bad about Tom Savini, but I’ve heard that from everyone that’s ever met him. Maybe he’s just waiting for someone to bring up a lesser seen Tom Savini role. Try complimenting him on Knightriders or The Ripper. Maybe not on the Ripper. I would also suggest calling him Sex Machine as many times in one minute as you can, and keep on slapping him on the shoulder while you do it. Also, stare at his crotch and say you’re waiting for the gun to pop out. THAT’S…how you make friends with TOm Savini.
Awesome photos, Corey. Cool to see you and Misfitboy in the same frame…
I think I may have caught Savini in a good mood the last time I met him, he was very talkative with me but yeah I agree it’s like hes annoyed to be at shows. but kyra is always an angel!
Awesome photos, Corey! I’m envious that you guys have such awesome conventions in your area. 🙂
Robert Englund is the anti-Savini. I think that dude holds fan appreciation week every year…he likes being Freddy that much.
Corey! It was so great to finally meet you in person! I truly miss your show, you gave us “Italian Zombie Movie” folks our first national exposure and the best interview we’ve ever done, and we’ve been on a wild ride ever since! You are a genuinely nice guy, someone I am proud to call friend, and if you lived in Michigan we’d have made 10 zombie movies by now dammit! Thanks again for including us in your Cinema Wasteland coverage. Your support has been unwavering and is much appreciated! Let’s get together again real soon!
Misfitboy-
You should check out the band the Misfits. I bet you’d like them.
Thanks everyone! It was great to meet Misfitboy, Jason from SRS, and Tom Berdinski & co. The size of Cinema Wasteland was about the same as Horror Realm — a hotel ballroom — which makes the setting much cooler than a big corporate convention like Horror Hound. It’s like family.
jeff-right now my ipod is filled with abba’s discography, but if they sound like abba, IM ON BOARD!!
corey-i thought you would like the place, & everytime i went i have always managed to meet some interesting people. but for the most part everyone is laid back. glad you had a good time! & it was a pleasure to have a beer with “the dean of the dead”
MB-Do have the Less than Zero soundtrack with the Glenn Danzig & the Power and Fury Orchestra single? I think that’s about as close to ABBA as the Misfits can get. Cool song, though.
yes i do, it is a great tune, he cant seem to shake the elvis roots at times but its all good man!
He’s like Elvis with more punchy anger.
I’m jealous! great photos and stories to go with them, i’ve always wanted to meet Tom Savini but it sounds like he’s not that nice afterall.
[…] Midnight Corey blog report on the event describes a conversation with a typically fortrigh McCulloch: Ian […]