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PAST NEWS & EVENTS
What happened in the Light & Dark universe
October 25, 2002 --
I know it's not a major update but there are some cool new pictures including
the super long but really intense
Sins of the Father trailer. There
are exactly 39 new pictures on the site all throughout
The Tenement and
Sins of the Father section. For many of
you, this is the first time you'll get a glimpse of Sins as I have not released
and don't plan on releasing the script for it.
As some of you may have heard, I have been evicted from my apartment. I
found a new place but that means that more than likely I won't have a table at
Fangoria as planned - no money and no time. The Tenement is now planned for a
spring release and Sins of the Father for late summer/early fall. DVD versions
of either will definitely not be out until next fall.
I will be at the
Chiller Theatre Expo this weekend. Please stop
by to show your support. I think that it is important to keep the name of the
movie out there for public awareness and to support indie films.
I have received many emails from colleagues, friends and fans. Thank you
all for your support. You are the people who keep me going and I really
appreciate it.
Finally, congratulations to Mike Saladino (who plays a
junky in The Tenement). He took home an award for his short,
Facade, from this year's successful
Putnam County Film and Video Festival. I'm also proud to say that
thanks to me there was a horror category at the festival this year as well.
The Risen writer/director, Scott Klein took home the first place award
for the horror category. October 15, 2002 -- This
has been a crazy year for everyone. Though my troubles are nothing compared to
those directly affected by 9/11 I wanted to take a moment to address some things
that are bothering me. I wanted to voice my opinions to my colleagues and
friends.
Three years ago I put my finances on the line to pursue a dream after so
many years of losing sight of my goal. I started out at the age of 13 doing
public access shows, some of which I won awards for. Even then I was
controversial daring to do things that were not normally done.
At the age of 17 I was doing live talks shows tackling issues like teen
abortion, suicide and alcohol and substance abuse. They pushed public access to
the limit and as a result I was asked to leave. With the help of a few others
we formed ACT (Action for Community Television) which would eventually redefine
the public access guidelines for Adams Russell Cable (now Cablevision). Our
main concern was freedom of speech. I worked with WLNA/WHUD for a while as
well. Disenchanted with the politics in the business I left the cable and a
potential broadcast career.
I focused on my writing in college where I wrote numerous short stories and
poems which have been published in magazines.
Three years ago I was close to selling a screenplay to Alchemy
Entertainment (a subsidiary of Full Moon Entertainment) when they suffered
financial distress. Their enthusiasm toward my screenplay was enough for me to
write something that I could shoot and direct myself. Soon I set out upon the
laborious task of putting my first feature together called Fear of the Dark. We
were in the NY Times and won our first festival award at last years Putnam
County Film and Video Festival.
Where is this going you might ask? Let me tell you. It is one thing to
put your self in financial hell to pursue a dream. It is another to pursue your
vision so closely that it consumes you and destroys everything around you. This
is what has happened. The festival marked the beginning of what would be and is
a long turbulent road ahead.
There was an uproar at last years festival as to whether or not the movie
should be shown because of its "shocking and realistic nature." I heard through
the grapevine that there was fear of a backlash from the church because of some
of the festival's affiliations. I speak publicly about this now because I feel
I don't have much to lose and it has been a sour note that has played for far
too long with me.
This year I was attacked by those close to me regarding the subject matter
in one on my movies. Again, this stemmed from the church. Don't get me wrong.
I have nothing against religion. I'm not practicing but I do believe in God. I
don't feel that any institution should have the right to infringe upon the arts.
As a parent I realize the responsibility of overseeing what my child views
or listens too. But as a filmmaker I don't believe that my creative vision or
expression should be tailored to suit any one audience. If you don't like it,
don't watch it. We showed a few clips from the movie at this years festival
with a warning beforehand. It left many in stunned silence. I know that I have
done my job as a filmmaker in the horror/thriller genre if it can evoke this
kind of emotion.
The question that I pose to all of you is at what point do you draw the
line? Am I more of an artist because I have pursued my vision at all costs or
am I just a fool?
This past Friday I was told that (after being the model tenant for 12
years) that I have to give up my apartment December 1 because the landlord's son
got his girlfriend pregnant and they need a place to live. I was offered a "pig
sty" at twice the rent and if I took it I had to be out by November 15. I am
overwhelmed financially and can't afford to move right now. I am living
paycheck to paycheck. I ask you again. Does this make me a determined artist
or a fool?
I have the determination and I believe that I will rise above this. I have
sacrificed a lot to accomplish what I have in my career. But at the end of the
day what do I truly have to show for it?
Due to this sudden move I have had to cancel some of the movie's
promotional events which would have helped recoup some money. I even have to
put production of them on hold. The first will not be out any earlier than
April and the second probably not until next Fall.
I look back and ask whether or not all of this has been worth it. And I
truly don't know. I ask each of you to examine your own lives. Examine your
careers. What is truly important to you? Have you lost sight of your goals or
have they been in front of you all along and you just didn't realize it.
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For More Information Contact:
Light & Dark Productions
PO Box 21
Lake Peekskill, NY 10537
Telephone: (845) 526-6118
Internet:
LghtandDrk@aol.com
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