Interview with Artist/Actor Vice Verse

 

The Acquired Taste is a short film written for screen and directed by Chuck Jett, creator of Empty Coffin Studio Films.  It was tastefully adapted by the short story of the same title by author and producer Alexander S. Brown.  Fans can anticipate a free viewing of the film in 2017.  It is currently being shown at conventions throughout the Southern states.  Its next appearance will be at Contraflow Convention in New Orleans, LA.

 

For the next interview from this dark comedy, I would like to welcome actor Vice Verse, so that he may elaborate on his part in The Acquired Taste and his life.

 

1. What made you want to be a part of The Acquired Taste?

My good friend Charles Jett who asked me to be a part of his short horror film “Pinky Swear”, asked me if I wanted to be in “The Acquired Taste”.  I said sure.

2. What was your experience like on set?

Had a great time on set.  Even if it was one day, I had a ball.

3. What other projects have you been a part of?

As far as acting, I was a thespian in High School.  I had a part in the movie “Save The Last Dance”, which was edited out, and I was in the short horror film by Charles Jett, “Pinky Swear”.

4. Are there any roles that you would turn down? Or are there any roles that would make you uncomfortable?

It depends.  Anything dealing with an Ouija board I may have to pass on. lol

5. What role is more fun? The victim, the hero, or the villain. Why?

I would say the villain or hero.  You can use all your acting capabilities doing either of those roles.

6. What got you into acting?

My 5th grade art teacher.  I was always in talent shows and she tapped into my talents of acting.

7. What are some of your favorite movies?

I love all 3 Godfather movies… Glory…Any movie with Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Denzel Washington, and Don Cheadle.  One of my favorite movies is “True Romance”.

8. Who are your favorite actors/actresses? How do you draw inspiration from them?

Well, I kind of answered that above.  But I just watch how they approach a certain character.  How they use all the nuisances they can.  I just watch and learn.

9. Who are your favorite directors?

Hmmmmm, Spielberg, Spike Lee, Harvey Fuqua just to name a few.

10. What future projects are you working on?

I’m an artist/songwriter and I’m working on a new EP/Album entitled “Smoke&Mirrors”…which is a concept album talking about the ups and downs artists go through in the music business.

11. Tell us about yourself.

I’m an artist by the name of Vice Verse…a songwriter/ghostwriter. Just an all-around talented individual that you will see more of in the future.

Connect with Vice Verse by clicking on the following social media names:

Instagram

Purchase a copy of Traumatized HERE!

Watch Chuck Jett’s first short film featuring Vice Verse, PINKY SWEAR HERE!

Interview with Director Chuck Jett

 

The Acquired Taste is a short film written for screen and directed by Chuck Jett, creator of Empty Coffin Studio Films.  It was tastefully adapted by the short story of the same title by author and producer Alexander S. Brown.  Fans can anticipate a free viewing of the film in 2017.  It is currently being shown at conventions throughout the Southern states.  Its next appearance will be at Contraflow Convention in New Orleans, LA.

 

For the third interview from this dark comedy, I would like to shine the spotlight on director Chuck Jett, so that he may elaborate on his part in The Acquired Taste and his life.

1. What made you want to be a part of The Acquired Taste?

Originally, I was seeking a project in which pre-production could be handled in a few short weeks and filming could be done within the span of a weekend. I had some scripts in the works, and pre-planning other projects was well underway, but I had around a two-month gap to fill and badly wanted to be ­filming.

I asked my friend, horror author Alexander S. Brown, if he had anything he thought might work for a 5-15 minute short. He recommended a few of his stories that he would like (or not mind) to see in ­film.

Ultimately we zoned in on “The Acquired Taste” for a variety of reasons due to creative and pragmatic vantage points. We made a quick screenplay, ripped a lot of flesh from it, scaled it down to 2 locations without losing much of the original pertinence and it became something “doable” within the time limitations.

2. What was your experience like on set?

In my limited experience in independent ­filmmaking, I have done some cinematography, limited amounts of directing, art direction, propmaster work, set designing, and very little editing.

For this ­film I was tasking myself with the lionshare of all of these duties and it was the ­first time I directed and did all of the ­filming simultaneously. I had lots of help from the wonderful and multi-talented actors on the set with doing makeup and general creative input.

Kerry (not in the ­film) did an amazing job as a grip, running slate (with notation) and general assistant (he is a workhorse and loaded with creativity). Everyone knew their parts and it was easy getting the performances I needed. Filmmaking is an arduous and extremely collaborative task!

3. What other projects have you been a part of?

“Pinky Swear” was my directing debut and is still being shown in ­film festivals and has won a few awards. It will be showing in a small festival in Brookhaven, Mississippi on September 10th (2016) as an ensemble of ­films leading up to the premier of “Porches and Private Eyes”, a feature which was shot in the area by Arizona production company “Running Wild Films”, directed by Travis Mills.

Before “Pinky Swear” I worked on several independent shorts and a few features, just helping out where I could. I actually acted in a few of them, supplied art direction in others and worked crew on a few. We have a friendly and active fi­lmmaking society growing in the area.

4. Are there any roles or manuscripts you would turn down? Why?

I won’t work on a project that I don’t believe in. I have to feel a bond with the material and feel that I can do it justice. I am in no hurry, nor do I have time or budget to tackle a feature length project at this time.

I’m not interested in “preachy” ­film projects which try to illustrate or teach a moral lesson, I simply want to entertain my viewers … or “disturb” them in some way that entertains them for a little while.

5. Why do you enjoy filming horror?

Horror is very challenging. Finding fresh material that entertains a horror fan (Very harsh critics) is NOT easy! I hope I somewhat succeed in this notion from time-to-time. I guess the simple answer is – I LOVE HORROR; therefore, I wish to CREATE HORROR. – I’m sure there are some psychological aspects of this I’m not realizing. Lol

6. What got you into directing?

Oddly, it just seemed like a natural transition for me. I’ve been a professional visual artist and art “DIRECTOR” since 1988ish. I’ve always loved movies (we ALL do) and have wanted to get involved in ­filmmaking for decades.

It took an actor friend of mine, Joshua “Maurice” Powell to tell me to get into fi­lmmaking. I don’t exactly remember the moment or conversation, but it was one of those “What are you waiting for?” moments. Sort of what alcoholics call a “moment of clarity” .

I come from an age where “fi­lmmaking” was not taught in college. Yes, you could get involved in “media” classes, but no real “fi­lmmaking” options were discussed much around central Mississippi in the late 1980s/ early 1990s. I was busy with my painting, drawing and design classes (I remember when the old Computer graphics typesetter was replaced by the early Apple MacIntosh) and shooting and developing my own 35mm SLR photos.

“Making Movies” was something only rich people could get training in back then, and you weren’t going to receive that training in central Mississippi. But yeah, long story short: you can get involved in ­filmmaking with very little money involved nowadays and my visual arts background has made it a fairly easy transition.

7. What are some of your favorite movies?

Since we’re on the subject of horror, I would have to say my earliest love for the genre came from staying up late at night and watching some of the Ray Harryhausen stop motion fi­lms, and “Dark Shadows” and the old Universal Bela Lugosi ­films like “White Zombie” and of course the classic Universal takes on Dracula, Frankenstein, The Werewolf and the Invisible Man.

In my teen years I discovered Hammer Film Productions with “Dracula”, The Satanic Rites of Dracula”, etc… I immediately knew that I wanted to be Peter Cushing (well, I wanted to be Van Helsing) and Christopher Lee was an AMAZING Dracula! There are so many great horror ­films!

New ground was broken with “Night of the Living Dead”, campy, cool horror was created by “Evil Dead”, “ZombieLand” added a rebirth of this mixed genre. I actually still love to watch “Nosferatu”. “The Hills Have Eyes” (2006) is probably my favorite visual effects horror film because of their predominantly “practical” effects with just a little overlay of digital enhancement. This answer is barely scratching the surface.

8. Who are your favorite directors and how do you draw inspiration from them?

Stanley Kubrick, Wes Craven, Alfred Hitchcock, David Lynch, for starters. I draw inspiration from them primarily from watching their work and dissecting it a little, but not overly “studying” their work.

I love all the interview footage of directors and cinematographers, even from directors I’m not really familiar with. The wealth of knowledge on the internet is priceless!

9. What future projects are you working on?

I have one finished psychological horror script of my own with production on hiatus for now. Another script I am writing is a WWII period piece of ­fiction. There is an adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell Tale Heart” I’m trying to develop now and I’m looking at the works of author Kimberly Richardson for a possible short film adaptation. There is no shortage of ideas!

10. Tell us about yourself.

Not much to say about me. I am a creative artist currently delving into ­filmmaking. I love the collaborative nature of making films. I have been honored to have a plethora of extremely talented friends who have helped me along my creative path. I’ve learned from seasoned professionals and I’ve been taught a few things by small children at play. Wisdom wears many disguises.

I work out of my studio in Jackson, Mississippi. I call my work space “Empty Coffin Studio”. I do most of my film shoots on weekends because I have a solid day job and am nowhere near ready to leave the stability of a regular paycheck.

I paint, draw, write, sculpt and do whatever is necessary to see a project to fruition. I am very passionate, but I NEVER take myself very seriously. I enjoy the creative pathway and the creative process. I wear glasses and eat my vegetables.

Connect with Chuck Jett by clicking on the following social media names:

Facebook

Facebook FanPage

Instagram

Purchase a copy of Traumatized HERE!

Watch Chuck Jett’s first short film, PINKY SWEAR HERE!

 

Artist Jason Hardy Speaks of Halloween and Suggests Some Great Horror Classics

Two years ago in Lake Charles, LA I met an artist known as Jason Hardy.  It was during our time at Bayou Con that we began sharing our fandom of Halloween.  With his many works of art that contribute to the genres of horror, fantasy, and sci-fi, he also features pieces that are Halloween themed.  On the side, he writes and I have been lucky enough to enjoy his book of Halloween poetry.  As we approach the witching hour the night before Halloween, I present to you Jason Hardy.

 

Mr. Hardy describes his life as, “I was born one Halloween night which is why my mom still screams a lot. While it would be awesome if the preceding was true I may burn in the hockey stick store if I don’t admit it’s not. I was born on JFK’s birthday. Or maybe it’s on the day he was shot which may account for my occasional paranoia. Flash forward to today and I still live about three blocks from where JFK, I mean the doctor, yanked me out. I’m a high school teacher living in my hometown of Kaplan in the heart of Cajun country in Louisiana. I am at present 54 years of age which is a lot of mileage but my dip stick still gets the job done. I drive a pickup truck which fits rather well in my Mayberry sort of town. I graduated from LSU a horrifying number of years ago. In my free time outside the classroom I am an artist and poet (though an inordinate amount of people don’t know it…that was a gratis rhyme to show I can do it). I always wanted to be a professional writer or artist but I ended up teaching kids instead which is fine. As long as they can draw a dandy stick figure and correctly spell my name below it I’m good. I have published one poem in my lifetime in Ellery Queen Mystery magazine many years ago. It paid $30 so it’s really no mystery why I did not immediately head for Vegas. As is obviously evident my writing and art is generally humorous. I don’t do landscapes unless they are on Venus or a convenient graveyard. I have done an occasional bird. Which sounds dirty but isn’t. Despite not being a Halloween baby (see above) it remains my favorite holiday. Pumpkins oddly enough don’t frighten me, although a pumpkin boy named Linus might. When I retire from going to school nearly my entire life in a few years I plan to write young adult fiction. Since I’ve been around them so much and survived. Maybe with an evil nun tossed in to commemorate my Catholic school days. I have a black cat named Raven after Mr. Poe who threatened me with an injunction if I did not mention him. He is deweinered but not declawed so I tend to listen. I live in a house built in 1945 but only dated Rosie the Rivetor briefly. In closing, it still pisses me off that we have to pay the Russians to get off the planet earth. I love to collect books and statues which makes me feel better about the Russians.”

What does Halloween mean to you?

Halloween means nostalgia to me. Takes my frequently addled adult mind back to a more innocent, fun time. Lots of good memories. Back to a time when the only terrorists were the kids brave enough to throw eggs at someone’s house or light the infamous poo-bag.

What is your most memorable Halloween?

Most memorable moment was ironically the last. The dreaded night when because of advanced age I was banned from trick or treating. Oh, the horror! So what’s a kid to do? Sneak out, that’s what. Pathetic costume: knit NFL team hat and football. Desperate strategy: Quick end runs to the closest houses for that final, forbidden candy fix. Approximate age: fifteen give or take a tootsie roll. It was bittersweet, clandestine fun. Although I couldn’t spell “clandestine” back then.

What was your best Halloween costume?

Given the time period, probably a hobo of some sort. Down and dirty. Back then we mostly wore the classic plastic store bought masks with the elastic string that would sting your ears.

What was your worst Halloween costume?

It wasn’t on me. A kid I knew and probably subtly bullied in the neighborhood dressed as a blue UPS mailbox one year. With the slit to see through. Actually very creative at the time. But we pushed him over mercilessly since his visibility was marginal. We thought about but did not actually pee through the slit. Nobody likes wet mail.

Some believe Halloween is negative.  Why do you believe this is so?

Obviously because it began as a Catholic holiday and soon became much darker. To me it’s just fun. No religious motif involved for this boy. Oh, and the legend of the razor blades didn’t help.

What do you do on Halloween to keep the ghosts and ghouls away on Halloween?

I leave my porch light on. Which in the old days would have made me the mean-ass old man of the neighborhood who would rather pay his light bill than spend a dime on candy. Of course with today’s wussy Halloween, even if I leave the porch light off only a few kids would bother to show up. And even then it’s still daylight!

What scares you?

I find myself occasionally scared by spiders, lack of toilet paper, Opera, Little Debbie going out of business or continuing to shrink and the disappearance of thongs from the world. Mostly spiders.

What are your favorite scary movies?

Monster Squad, Alien, Something Wicked, Trick R Treat, The Thing, The Innocents, Scared Stiff.

What are some of your favorite horror books?

Something Wicked by a wicked mile (again nostalgic for me), Nightmare Factory, Our Lady of Darkness, At the Mountains of Madness, The Shining.

Do you prefer fast paced or slow burners?

I prefer moderately paced books that threaten to burn my butt. Which thrills me.

Who are your inspirations?

I’ve been inspired over the years by HPL, REH, Fritz Leiber, various movies and memories.

Do you plan to contribute to the horror genre in the future?

I may have another horror story in me. If I not drained dry by a horny vampires first. Which in the long run may not be too bloody terrible. I plan to write more when I retire. At the moment I continue to write generally humorous horror poems for fun. I would love to be published in Weird Tales before I die so that when I run into HPL and his black cat someday I can say, “Me too, beee-acch!”

Where can we find your work?

My art can be found lurking on my Facebook page at the moment. Also all over the floor of my “art studio” where my black cat can lounge his lazy ass all over it as a feline critique. My humorous poetry books can be found in a rather lonely corner of Lulu online. When I sell one I feel closer to retirement, but only marginally so. Which is spooky.

Horror Artist Oliver Tilley Speaks of Halloween Faves and the Origin of the Holiday Itself

As Halloween draws nearer, it is time to shine light on a horror artist from Celtic bloodlines.  Oliver Tilley is a horror visionary with talents for bringing to life nightmares in realism through pencil, ink, and paint.  I had met Oliver years ago at a Horror Convention in Jackson, MS where he had numerous pieces on display.  It was here that he and I befriended one another, and I began collecting his art for inspiration.

What does Halloween mean to you?

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday! Even as a child I really got into the season, but as an adult, it seems to have deepened with the understanding of the holiday from the Celtic traditions. My family has deep roots in Scotland, so the holiday holds meaning to me. Halloween is the final harvest before winter, and the celebration of bounty before the dark season!

What is your most memorable Halloween?

One year, my sister and I gathered some friends together, and created a spook house in an old rental home belonging to my grandparents. We decorated it out, and invited the kids from the neighborhood to visit. It was a wild success, and we all had so much fun! We scared even the adults that can through!

How do you celebrate Halloween today?

Usually it consists of bonfires, friends hanging out, and watching horror films.

What was your best Halloween costume?

My mom made me up as a werewolf one year, complete with prosthetic nose and teeth!

What was your worst Halloween costume?

I never really had a bad costume!!

Some people believe Halloween is a negative Holiday to celebrate.  Why do you feel Halloween has such a controversy to it?

What everyone needs to understand, is that all Christian holidays where ripped off from pagan holidays! The early church saw the necessity to overlay Christian themes to established pagan holidays to appease all – so Christmas, and Easter are all rooted in paganism. Just like Halloween! The early church tried to promote All Saints day as the overlay to the festival of Samhain, but it never quite caught on, due to the fact that it was not centered on an event in Christ’s life. I love to remind folks that Christmas, and Easter where pagan celebrations prior to being Christ centered holidays!

What do you do to keep the ghosts and ghouls away on Halloween night?

Bonfires and Jack-o- lanterns!

What frightens you and why?

Nothing short of another Texas Chainsaw remake! I am not frightened by much, and I think that is why I am such a horror addict. I am still chasing that thrill from childhood, where I was afraid of everything!

What’s your favorite scary movie and why?

I don’t know that I have one single favorite, but classic horror films are my favorites. Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, Creature from the Black Lagoon, etc. In recent years, I have lost interest in most of the big budget films from Hollywood, but the indie horror scene is thriving! I love a good cheesefest!! Troma films make me happy!!!!

What’s your favorite horror book and why?

The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson, Frostbite, and Overwinter by David Wellington, and anything by Lovecraft, and of course Traumatized by Alexander Brown!!!!

Do you prefer slow burners or fast paced thrillers?

Both! As long as the story holds my attention, I can hang with them.

Do you plan to contribute to the horror genre in the future?

Yes! I have some new stuff in the works, and I am working on a horror rock band! I am also working on getting some short stories published.

Where can we find your work?

Nightwatch Studio on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nightwatch-Studio/418993524862355

Artist Phil Good Shares His Halloween Memories and Thoughts on Halloween’s Controversy

In 2013, while signing books in the Ozarks, I met a fantastic artist whose horror inspired equality signs captivated me. Finding his technique unique and fun, he and I struck up a conversation that regarded the horror and Halloween culture. Our conversations had been so favorable, they continue well into the night hours. And now, I hope that you can enjoy some of the same topics we discussed on that cold Ozarks night.

I would like to introduce everyone to my friend Phil Good. He is an artist who describes himself as, “having no origin, and is a regular fagabond, or hobosexual… a real nomad journeying as far and wide, physically, as well as creatively. His works are collected for limited viewing due to the masses’ inability to deal with such splendor… honestly, though, it’s just a thing of constantly creating and zero time to get a website going.”

A “like”-able Facebook page *is* underway.”

Currently, you can contact Phil Good by the following URL:

https://www.facebook.com/ponytoast?fref=ts

What does Halloween mean to you?

Halloween has always been a huge inspiration, a world all its own. I’ve always been into the spooky, yet I’ve never had a sense of community, so it really felt like MY own little world… and I was VERY okay with that. Since then, especially with social media, it’s been refreshing connecting with other like-minded sorts… making up for lost time, I’m sure.

What is your most memorable Halloween?

The most memorable would have to’ve been when I was 20. I had no time and had next-to-no money, donned a crappy batman cape and cowl, wore my pajamas, and went with my friend Darin, who’d dressed as a nun. It was ridiculous, not at ALL spooky, but definitely the most memorable. My most IDEAL Halloween has yet to be realized.

How do you celebrate Halloween today?

Depends on who’s around, though I make sure I spin the hits, the personal favorites (movie-wise). I try to hit a haunted house, but it’s generally kept pretty simple.

What was your best Halloween costume?

Shaye St. John, hands-down (or, mannequin-hands-down). I was in LA, walked the streets with friends to West Hollywood and I had complete strangers come up to me, recognizing the character. Because I can sound like I’ve sucked in a bunch of helium, they thought I *WAS* Shaye. Look her up – she’s a DELIGHT of the most bizarre sort!

What was your worst Halloween costume?

Definitely, without a doubt, “Batboy”.

Some people believe Halloween is a negative Holiday to celebrate. Why do you feel Halloween has such a controversy to it?

Because it’s not about The Ever-Grumpy, but Loving, Sky Daddy. To many, it’s about the other guy. I’ve since given up any subscription to all that crazy, as I have enough on my own. Remove the obvious, religious element, and you’re left with simple people believing that violence in the world comes from SOMEWHERE, and people are quick to believe it’s from media (comics, movies, games). That makes sense, because that crap is EVERYWHERE… however, it starts in the home, with the parenting, and what the kids are taught. I’m not a dad, but I’ve manned for YEARS, and anytime I have an opportunity to do so, I try to teach kids to NOT be afraid of things like the dark, or monsters. Fear is a tool too often used by terrible people, and Halloween is a time to, in a way, embrace or even BECOME what scares you. Once you have power over your fear, it cannot control you… sounds trite, but VERY true.

What do you do to keep the ghosts and ghouls away on Halloween night?

Please. I welcome them to all of my slobbery make-out parties. I offer them the elderly as party favors, though.

What frightens you and why?

The words “syrup” and “coco”. They’re just dreadful. I avoid pancakes and crappy chocolate powder mixes just so I don’t have anxiety attacks upon reading those loathsome words. I – – no. I’m done. Moving on.

What’s your favorite scary movie and why?

A Nightmare on Elm Street. I was 5 years old when I saw it (don’t ask me how I’d managed it), but I pretty much fell in love with Johnny Depp and Heather Langenkamp; both for different reasons. The story itself was just so unbelievably dark, and the way Krueger functioned and understood the fears of his victims… it was all scary. SO scary in concept, alone. BTDubz, Never Sleep Again is a BRILLIANT documentary about the ENTIRE series if you’ve never seen it.

What’s your favorite horror book and why?

“Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” and its two follow-ups. The stories were just GREAT, and the art only made it better… I appreciate reading, but enjoy art to drive a story further. In a lotta cases, that’s spoon-feeding the brain, but I just have a higher appreciation for visual art.

Do you prefer slow burners or fast paced thrillers?

Totally different beasts, and I appreciate both. However, slow-burns provide the time necessary to get to know a character as they make their way through, hopefully, a good mystery. The horror is the consequence of NOT figuring out the mystery. I am sooner taken by House of the Devil, Repulsion, or the Americanised The Ring because there’s a real sense of dread throughout those films, whereas movies like Friday the 13^th are ALL about body count… but those allow some pretty great creativity to happen, and I love that, also.

What inspires your more frightening work?

My nightmares… or, y’know… a stray thought.

Do you plan to contribute to the horror genre in the future?

Yes. Big yes.