Notes from Horrorfind Weekend 2006
Aug. 13th, 2006 06:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thehefner-I printed up a mock first issue of THE ADVENTURES OF BUB AND JOHNNY GO to give to George Romero, including the entire first comic as we have it, plus a cover letter and the pin-ups by Batton Lash, Matt Delight, and LJ's own ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
little_dinosaur. I dropped it off with his manager, who remembered me, so we'll see if I get a response or anything.
-However, before I would give it to him, I wanted to show it to Howard Sherman, AKA Sherman Howard, AKA Bub himself. He remembered me from when Dave and I came to see him. His reaction to seeing the comic was actually the reaction I was afraid Romero would have. He was amused but confused, not certain if I was intending this to be a movie or something, doubtful as to whether there actually could be an audience for something today that combines an obscure horror icon and the Rat Pack, and add to the fact that he couldn't really wrap his brain around comic books in general. While he was very friendly and supportive, it soon became clear to me that he really didn't get it. Whereas Romero, funnily enough, got it instantly, which *still* amazes me!
He's a very friendly guy, but also someone who takes his work very, very seriously. We talked about his work in classical theatre, and it became clear to me that it would be his dream to do that all the time for a living. He referred to his table with all the photographs of him as Bub and said, "The only reason I do this shit is because when I played Bub, I gave it the same level of commitment, intensity, and focus that I would give if I were playing Macbeth." Which is absolutely true; it's why I adore Bub so much and why he resonates with fans to this day.
The reason he said that was to make a point about art, that as he understands it, it's imperative to be intensely focused on every little detail, because every detail is there for a reason. And my comic, from what he could tell, was all style and no substance so far, which is true enough since the story doesn't really start getting heavier till parts 2 and 3, but he said that if I don't have a clear idea of what makes this compelling at the outset, people won't get past page three. I tried to explain to him that most people found the very basic idea of a lovable zombie and a delusional lounge singer on a road trip together to be an idea that interests virtually everyone upon hearing it. It was a fascinating talk, and I'm sorry he didn't get as much into it was Romero, but he still wished me well.
- I met Tom Atkins (NIGHT OF THE CREEPS, THE FOG, HALLOWEEN, CREEPSHOW) who was surprisingly awesome and friendly in person. He was the only celebrity for whose autograph I actually paid (I understand it, but I still don't like it!) because I had brought my DVD of THE NINTH CONFIGURATION and the sheer novelty of having him sign it would be worth the money. I asked him if anyone had ever had his autograph this movie, and he said, "Oh man, not a damn one!" He then proceeded to tell stories of how screwed-up that set was, and his EXORCIST writer William Peter Blatty and Jason Miller (Father Karras from EXORCIST) were blitzed out of their minds on drugs the whole time. The dude's hilarious, hardcore, and awesome.
- Ken Foree (hero of DAWN OF THE DEAD, superior to Ving Rhames!) was unfortunately kind of a dick. But then we didn't see him for too very long.
- On the other hand, I was actually weirdly pleased to learn that Joe Pilato, who played the greatest horror movie dick of all time as Rhodes in DAY OF THE DEAD, actually *is* a sleazy prick in real life! That's kind of awesome!
- Tom Savini was a standoffish prick, and yet he was one of the only people there to sign everything for free. That little bit of complexity fascinates me, and even if the guy's not friendly, he's still the fucking man.
- His former assistant and current Hollywood FX master Greg Nicotero (KILL BILL, SIN CITY, LAND OF THE DEAD), on the other hand, was very friendly. He had brought along Benicio Del Toro's severed head with the gun sticking out of the forehead, as well as Lucy's Liu's scalped head. This guy does amazing work... but then, he learned under Savini.
- I think Tony Todd must have been hopped up one something, man. Cool guy and huge, but still, the Candyman was loopy.
- That hot zombie chick from LAND OF THE DEAD who was missing her cheek? Still hot in real life!
- Of all the T-Shirt sellers, this company had, by FAR, the very best designs. I don't really wear T-shirt much anymore, but I totally want several of these.
- While I usually never buy bootlegs, I simply had to plunk down ten bucks to buy a DVD of MONSTER SQUAD. It's legendary, it's beloved, but what really clinched it was discovering that it was written by Shane Black! Shane fucking Black! The greatest banter-buddy-movie writer out there! KISS KISS, BANG BANG! Damn. Cannot wait to see this now.
little_dinosaur. I dropped it off with his manager, who remembered me, so we'll see if I get a response or anything.-However, before I would give it to him, I wanted to show it to Howard Sherman, AKA Sherman Howard, AKA Bub himself. He remembered me from when Dave and I came to see him. His reaction to seeing the comic was actually the reaction I was afraid Romero would have. He was amused but confused, not certain if I was intending this to be a movie or something, doubtful as to whether there actually could be an audience for something today that combines an obscure horror icon and the Rat Pack, and add to the fact that he couldn't really wrap his brain around comic books in general. While he was very friendly and supportive, it soon became clear to me that he really didn't get it. Whereas Romero, funnily enough, got it instantly, which *still* amazes me!
He's a very friendly guy, but also someone who takes his work very, very seriously. We talked about his work in classical theatre, and it became clear to me that it would be his dream to do that all the time for a living. He referred to his table with all the photographs of him as Bub and said, "The only reason I do this shit is because when I played Bub, I gave it the same level of commitment, intensity, and focus that I would give if I were playing Macbeth." Which is absolutely true; it's why I adore Bub so much and why he resonates with fans to this day.
The reason he said that was to make a point about art, that as he understands it, it's imperative to be intensely focused on every little detail, because every detail is there for a reason. And my comic, from what he could tell, was all style and no substance so far, which is true enough since the story doesn't really start getting heavier till parts 2 and 3, but he said that if I don't have a clear idea of what makes this compelling at the outset, people won't get past page three. I tried to explain to him that most people found the very basic idea of a lovable zombie and a delusional lounge singer on a road trip together to be an idea that interests virtually everyone upon hearing it. It was a fascinating talk, and I'm sorry he didn't get as much into it was Romero, but he still wished me well.
- I met Tom Atkins (NIGHT OF THE CREEPS, THE FOG, HALLOWEEN, CREEPSHOW) who was surprisingly awesome and friendly in person. He was the only celebrity for whose autograph I actually paid (I understand it, but I still don't like it!) because I had brought my DVD of THE NINTH CONFIGURATION and the sheer novelty of having him sign it would be worth the money. I asked him if anyone had ever had his autograph this movie, and he said, "Oh man, not a damn one!" He then proceeded to tell stories of how screwed-up that set was, and his EXORCIST writer William Peter Blatty and Jason Miller (Father Karras from EXORCIST) were blitzed out of their minds on drugs the whole time. The dude's hilarious, hardcore, and awesome.
- Ken Foree (hero of DAWN OF THE DEAD, superior to Ving Rhames!) was unfortunately kind of a dick. But then we didn't see him for too very long.
- On the other hand, I was actually weirdly pleased to learn that Joe Pilato, who played the greatest horror movie dick of all time as Rhodes in DAY OF THE DEAD, actually *is* a sleazy prick in real life! That's kind of awesome!
- Tom Savini was a standoffish prick, and yet he was one of the only people there to sign everything for free. That little bit of complexity fascinates me, and even if the guy's not friendly, he's still the fucking man.
- His former assistant and current Hollywood FX master Greg Nicotero (KILL BILL, SIN CITY, LAND OF THE DEAD), on the other hand, was very friendly. He had brought along Benicio Del Toro's severed head with the gun sticking out of the forehead, as well as Lucy's Liu's scalped head. This guy does amazing work... but then, he learned under Savini.
- I think Tony Todd must have been hopped up one something, man. Cool guy and huge, but still, the Candyman was loopy.
- That hot zombie chick from LAND OF THE DEAD who was missing her cheek? Still hot in real life!
- Of all the T-Shirt sellers, this company had, by FAR, the very best designs. I don't really wear T-shirt much anymore, but I totally want several of these.
- While I usually never buy bootlegs, I simply had to plunk down ten bucks to buy a DVD of MONSTER SQUAD. It's legendary, it's beloved, but what really clinched it was discovering that it was written by Shane Black! Shane fucking Black! The greatest banter-buddy-movie writer out there! KISS KISS, BANG BANG! Damn. Cannot wait to see this now.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Something 'bout this thing that dares me...
Date: 2006-08-14 12:00 am (UTC)And yeah, I dug the hell out of MONSTER SQUAD *and* the Manhunter OST.
Tony Todd is from Hamden, the town I used to live in.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 12:57 am (UTC)Cool, George Romero saw my drawing along with the real comic and the real drawings by real artists! It's like I've become awesome by association!
She still missing her cheek in real life?
no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 01:39 am (UTC)No, she's quite well cheeked. I was kind of disappointed, I must say. ;)
no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 01:44 am (UTC)Seeing as someone just came out with a graphic novel about Hemingway, Zelda, and F. Scott pulling a bank heist, methinks this brands as a tad out of touch.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 01:48 am (UTC)I did mention to him a comic about a time-traveling Teddy Roosevelt and the ghost of Thomas Edison. And not to mention the popularity of BUBBA HO-TEP. So yeah, a tad out of touch seems sadly right here.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 05:05 am (UTC)This post made the Fangoria horror nerd girl inside me squee with excitement. I'm going to GRILL you the next time I see you on AIM.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 05:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 06:53 pm (UTC)Bub!
Date: 2006-08-16 03:26 pm (UTC)Hey Forbidden Zone showed up on Tivo and I got to watch it! Only seen the first half so far, waiting for Frans for the second half, but you were absolutely right about it and I totally love it. That alphabet song is dead stuck in my head.
Re: Bub!
Date: 2006-08-16 04:26 pm (UTC)