This has to be the best strike video yet. Some of the best actors on TV, from Law & Order and Homicide, try and figure out what happened to a dead woman in a library–but they don’t have a script. It’s hilarious! Big thumbs up to the famous faces that are standing by the writers.

WGA horror writers chime in with a genre-themed video about the strike. It’s cute, and you get to see who wrote some of your favorite horror flicks.

Here’s another great video about the WGA strike. This one was created by writers of the Daily Show. It’s hilarious! And there’s a special guest near the end.

I have no stake in the outcome of the WGA strike, other than as a viewer of course. But this video does make a strong case for the writers.

From director Joe Ripple:

Timewarp Films is proud to present its latest two-disc Horror DVD release, entitled “Dead Hunt.”

Synopsis;

Ten movie reviewers are invited to a party by the host of a website devoted to horror films. The party is in full swing when the power - and the lights - abruptly go out. A mysterious, black-hooded figure has cut the main wiring.

The party’s over.

After the host goes to check the circuit breakers, the guests are shocked when they find one of their fellow reviewers dispatched in a grisly fashion. Panic sets in after another reviewer is found killed in a bizarre manner. Cryptic notes left with the bodies hold the only clue to the reason for the psychopath’s rampage.

The terrified group try to evacuate the building, only to find that they can’t - all the doors have been electrified. Realizing they are trapped in a dark, foreboding warehouse with a madman, the survivors look for another way out. Their search leads them to the creepy older section of the building, where danger and death lurk in every shadow.

Can they find another way out? Can the y hide from the demented killer? Or are they all destined to become targets of the DEAD HUNT?

This two-disc special edition DVD set contains the movie, a “Behind the Scenes” featurette, deleted scenes, two alternate endings, Bloopers, a stills gallery, and the audio commentary with co-directors Joe Ripple and Don Dohler. Sadly, this was Don Dohler’s last film, as he passed away from lung and brain cancer in December, 2006. (I miss you, my friend!)

DJ Benz, a reviewer for www.Horrortalk.com writes -

“…a fun ride and one I genuinely enjoyed. I have no hesitation in recommending Dead Hunt.”

This film Premiered to a standing-room only crowd during Horrorfind Weekend, 2005.

You can purchase your copy today, by going to: http://www.createspace.com/Store/ShowEStore.jsp?id=228629

Don Dohler’s legacy is going strong. Here’s the latest news, including showings of Blood Massacre and John Kinhart’s documentary, Blood, Boobs & Beast, about the cult filmmaker’s trials and tribulations in low-budget filmmaking.

From John Kinhart’s Newsletter:

There’s a lot of really great news this month and more to come soon!

++7 New Film Festivals!++
- Coney Island Film Festival (screens Sunday, September 30th at 5PM) http://www.coneyislandfilmfestival.com
- Atlanta Horror Film Festival (screens Friday, October 5th) http://www.atlantahorrorfest.com
- Secret City Film Festival (screens Friday, October 5th 11:30AM) http://www.secretcityfilmfestival.com
- Freakshow Horror Film Festival (screens Friday, October 20th 6PM) http://www.freakshowfilmfest.com
- B-Movie Film Festival (screens Saturday, October 27 11:30AM) http://www.bmoviefest.com
- Thriller! Chiller! Film Festival (schedule not yet released) http://www.thrillerchiller.com
- Asheville Film Festival (schedule not yet released) http://www.ashevillefilmfest.com

++2007 Fantastic Fest++
The wonderful staff at the Fantastic Fest and The Alamo Drafthouse are flying Director John Kinhart down to Austin, Texas to be in attendance. He’ll be flying down there tomorrow and staying with BB&B composer Christian Brown. BB&B will screen on Sunday, September 23rd (6:30PM) & Monday, September 24th (1:30PM) Tickets can be acquired at http://www.fantasticfest.com. Stay tuned to http://www.bbbmovie.com for UPDATES, PHOTOS AND VIDEO OF AUSTIN as it happens!!

++Don Dohler Halloween Gore Fest!!!++
This October 26th at the Creative Alliance in Baltimore get ready for a special double feature: Blood, Boobs & Beast and Don Dohler’s Blood Massacre. In the style of Grindhouse we’re showing Baltimore-made trailers between the two features AND we’re even having a BLOOD MASSACRE DRINKING GAME!!! Tickets can be acquired by following the link on this page: http://www.creativealliance.org/events/eventItem1207.html

A lot, actually.

First, and foremost, I became a daddy. ZOMG I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE IT! She’s so tiny and sweet and cute and…okay, I could go on for hours. Suffice it to say my wife and I couldn’t be happier.

And did I mention she’s cute?

Anyway, when I’m not feeding her or changing her or just holding her for the hell of it, I’ve managed to find some time to work on several tasks, some for Timewarp, some just for me.

I submitted a full-length script to Final Draft’s Big Break Competition. The deadline was June 15th and I just squeaked in at the last minute. Many thanks to those who proofread and offered feedback; I missed a few embarrassing typos.

I’ve heard mixed things about screenwriting contests in general, but I wanted to give it a shot so I could see how my writing compares to other potential screenwriters–at least in the eyes of the Big Break judges. If I place, I’ll be ecstatic, not to mention the nice prizes they offer. And if some A-list prod. co. is interested in the script, awesome! Final Draft, in case you’re wondering, is one of the premiere screenwriting packages on the market. It’s used by many industry professionals, and is my software of choice. “Just add words,” is so true.

I’ve also been working on the Dead Hunt DVD set due to be released this summer (We’re hoping to have copies for sale at Horrorfind in August). This is the most ambitious DVD project I’ve worked on. The 2-disk set will have 2 audio tracks for the feature (including commentary), a stills gallery, alternate endings, bloopers, making of, and even an Easter egg. I have a few more tweaks, then it’s off to the presses. For those interested, I’m again using DVD Lab Studio for the authoring.

Finally, I’ve started research for a new feature I’m writing for Timewarp (while I am a wannabe Hollywood screenwriter, I do write for our low-budget film company.) I’m looking into the world of Military Special Forces, so to say the film will be action-oriented is an understatement. But don’t worry, it will have plenty of suspense and horror as well.

And for those eagerly awaiting news about Crawler, fret not, for my team and I will be picking up the pace once the Dead Hunt DVD is completed.

I have to admit, when I first heard the MPAA would give an ‘R’ rating to a movie they felt glorified smoking, I was annoyed. What’s next? NC-17 for French kissing?

But Craig Mazin over at The Artful Writer has a really compelling argument for why it’s a good idea. Take a look.

And don’t forget to check out the comments. There are a lot of them, covering the full spectrum of viewpoints.

TIMEWARP FILMS, LLC

PRESS ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Come scream for a good cause!

Don Dohler, King of Baltimore Indie Horror: A Double Feature Benefit Screening

Cult hero filmmaker Don Dohler (1946-2006), master of low budget sci-fi and horror films and co-founder of Baltimore?s Timewarp Films, produced 11 movies and influenced generations of DIY (Do It Yourself!)
filmmakers.

Celebrate Dohler’s life and work with a double feature of his first and last films.

In Alien Factor (1978), an alien spacecraft makes a crash landing in Baltimore, releasing its bloodthirsty cargo of beasts?the lizard-like Leemoid, slimy Inferbyce, and wild and wooly Zagatile!

And in Dead Hunt (2006), ten movie reviewers at a horror film convention find themselves victims of gruesome traps and danger lurking in every shadow!

Beer, wine, liquor, sodas, juices, sparkling water and, of course, popcorn, will be available at the theater concession area.

Proceeds from the screening benefit the Joyce Dohler Foundation, a charity providing continued care for Don?s sister Joyce, who is developmentally disabled and for whom Don was guardian.

Date: June 23, 2007

Time: 7 PM

Cost: $15 general admission, $12 for Creative Alliance members

Location: Creative Alliance at The Patterson, 3134 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore Maryland 21224

Parking info: ample street parking, especially bordering Patterson park, only a block from the theater

Creative Alliance contact: 410-276-1651 or www.creativealliance.org

Tickets may be purchased in advance from the Creative Alliance in person or by phone or by mail. Cash, checks and credit cards accepted.
Tickets may be purchased online in advance through MissionTix.com.

Of course, tickets may be purchased the night of the event at the box office, if it is not sold out.

More detailed Ticket purchase information can be found at:
http://www.creativealliance.org/tickets.html#advance

More details on the Don Dohler double feature benefit screening can be
found at: http://creativealliance.org/events/eventItem1041.html

Adobe recently announced the release of their upcoming Creative Suite 3 (CS3). I always keep an eye on Photoshop, After Effects, and Premiere Pro to see if the update will make my life easier. And it looks like Premiere Pro CS3 definitely will.

In addition to some nice perks like direct-to-disk recording, DVD / Blue Ray output, support for mobile devices, and the long-awaited time remapping, Premiere Pro CS3 will also include Encore, Adobe’s DVD authoring software.

To date I’ve been using DVD Lab, a capable, low-cost alternative that got me through my first professional project. But the makers of DVD Lab are the first to admit that if you’re doing professional authoring work, you should get a professional authoring program. So, now that I fit into that category, I’ve been looking a little harder at Encore.

Even before the announcement, choosing Encore over other professional authoring software was a no-brainer. It has a good reputation, and integrates extremely well with Premiere and After Effects, which I use. And now that it comes with Premiere Pro CS3, it’s just an upgrade away.

Thanks, Adobe.

Click here for more information on Adobe Premiere Pro CS3.