Antidote Films Making An Old Fashioned/Fan Friendly Monster Movie In VIRGIN FALLS

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Fangoria

How many times have we heard fans complaining that no on in Hollywood gives a crap about what they think?

Well, amazingly there is one studio out there that does give a crap about what you think, and they created a Facebook page so that you can tell them.

Antidote Films is about to embark on a good old fashioned monster movie called, "Virgin Falls", a film that will be made like monster movies used to be made, without CGI, with real people, in real situations.

“We plan to go old-school all the way on this movie,” explains "Virgin Falls" writer/director Carl Paolino. “Ultimately, it’s all about the performances. A film is still a film, and it is sad that horror gets such a bad rap. More intelligent dialogue, dimensional characters and situations are a much needed facelift for the genre. What we need to do is get horror films out of the ‘specialty festivals’ and into the mainstream fests. A veteran casting director is on board VIRGIN FALLS; it’s too early to say who will star, but I can tell you this: You will recognize the talent, and they will not all be from genre films. What I can say is that Kat Castaneda (The Sickness, Attack of the 30 Foot Chola, Knock Knock) will co-star.”

If you think that the film maker is just paying lip service in his vow to keep the effects in "Virgin Falls" on the retro side, think again. Paolino is no fan of computer effects, and he's not shy about lambasting the medium, “I’m sick of it. Like all new creative media, filmmakers rely too much on digital flash and glitter, and it shows. They haven’t bothered to hone their craft, and storytelling goes right out the window.” (For 'Virgin Falls') “The creatures will be real, the fight scenes will be real.”

In the film, five women will have to match their wits against the brutal rage of an ancient monster in a remote wilderness local.

As I mentioned before, the makers of "Virgin Falls" are going to take the fans input seriously, “We are determined to stay in touch with our audience, so we’ve created a fan page on Facebook,” adds producer Producer Susan Dee. “We plan for this to be a daily outlet for horror buffs to share the experience of making this film along with us. We also plan to hold contests, with the winners invited to the set to watch a scene being shot and meet some of the actors, or be our guest at the New York City or Los Angeles premiere of "Virgin Falls". After all, it’s all about the fans.”

Check that out here - Virgin Falls Facebook Page

"It's all about the fans" - Words that we have all heard before, only thing is, I really believe that the folks over at Antidote Films mean it. I posted a remark on the page and within minutes they responded back. Now, that's service! I don't know if there will be somebody monitoring that page 24/7, but so far, so good.

I'm actually kinda getting giddy about film makers turning away from CGI. Not, that the medium doesn't have valid uses, I just agree with Carl Paolino, film makers today a relying on it too much.

"Virgin Falls" looks very promising, can't wait to hear more on this one.

WILLATUK: THE LEGEND OF SEATTLE'S SEA SERPENT Earns A STIFFY At Seattle Indie Fest

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Sources: Willatuk.com / The Seattle Times

When people think of Seattle three things come to mind, the Space Needle, Starbucks Coffee and Grundge Rock.

Me, I think of that Bikini Coffee Shop that was on Food Network a while back....but that's because .......um.......I love coffee.

Anyway, the city that made really good caffeinated beverages and garage bands house hold names is a bout to have another claim to fame, the "Willatuk Sea Serpent."

Never heard of it? Not too surprising, for decades the monster has been living in the shadow of Seattle's other, more famous, monstrosities, Sasquatch, the Seahawks, Mariners, and the ghost of Kurt Cobain.

For centuries, the Native Americans around Puget Sound have encountered what can only be described as a living dinosaur. As the legend goes, the first tribes to encounter the creature lived in fear of it, even tried to hunt it down, but as the decades past, the mysterious monster became regarded as 'sacred'. There are even stories of the monster coming to the aide of the Indians to drive away packs of wild wolves.

Had ya going there for a second didn't I?

Okay, there is no "Willatuk Sea Serpent". The monster is actually the brain-child of Seattle film maker Oliver Tuthill Jr, who decided to create his own legend, combining his fascination with the "Loch Ness Monster", Native American culture and history.

Though the Pacific Northwest has many legends of sea monsters, Tuthill wanted to do something different and mapped out a three-hundred year history as a back story for his film.

For three years the film maker, and producer Dan Schwert, threw their heart, soul, and bank accounts into "Willatuk". Though their monster movie was a small-scale production, the two Seattle natives were able to land two big-name players for the production, Washington Congressman Jim McDermott and Academy Award-nominated actor Graham Greene ("Dances With Wolves") as the film's narrator.

Plot:

Now, for the first time, an in-depth look at the mysterious creature living within Puget Sound and Lake Washington. Willatuk: The Legend of Seattle's Sea Serpent explores the myth and saga of this massive aquatic animal and the impact it has had on people's lives.

Learn how Native Americans first sighted the creature in 1736 swimming off present-day Puget Sound and how white trappers first encountered Willatuk in 1818 on the shores of Lake Washington.

Learn the secrets of huge underwater caverns, which Willatuk uses deep within the waters of Lake Washington.

Hear how Willatuk is being hunted as prize game in the Northwest waters it calls home.

No other sea serpent in the world has also been spotted in fresh lake water. This is why the Wonkatilla tribe view Willatuk as a metaphor for a more tranquil time when humans lived in harmony with the natural world. This film explores that philosophy and shows how Native Americans view pollution, over-population, and those who hunt this noble creature for thrills and fame as threats that will ultimately lead to the end of Willatuk.

History:

The sea serpent Willatuk was first sighted in 1736 near present-day Seattle. Since then, hundreds of people have glimpsed this creature, some recording what they saw in simple drawings and hurried snapshots.
What is Willatuk?

Willatuk is a huge aquatic animal, similar to a plesiosaur, who is at home in both the fresh water of Lake Washington and the salt water of Puget Sound.

For the film, Tuthill and Schwert took a page out of the late Charles Pierce's book for "The Legend of Boggy Creek", and shot the whole thing as a straight-forward documentary with recreations (though fictitious) of encounters with the monster.

This past weekend, "Willatuk: The Legend of Seattle's Sea Serpent", won the STIFFY for 'best movie monster' at the Seattle's True Independent Film Festival (STIFF).

If I had started this article out with, "Blue Wood Films (Tuthill and Schwert's production company) wins a STIFFY", you wouldn't take this thing seriously.........would you?

I thought not.

View the photographic evidence of the "Willatuk Sea Serpent":

The Original KING KONG Comes To Blu-ray September 28th!

Source: Warner Bros (Press Release)

Warner Brothers presents...
KING KONG (1933) — Fully Restored Blu-ray Book Special Edition (with 32-page booklet of rare photography and trivia)
— Available September 28

On September 28, 2010, the original 1933 RKO classic KING KONG makes its long awaited debut on Blu-ray Disc. Suggested retail price is $34.99.

Presented by Warner Home Video, the newly remastered King Kong features extensive bonus content, including a collectible Blu-ray Book written by renowned film historian Rudy Behlmer; a feature length documentary on Kong creator Merian C. Cooper, directed by acclaimed filmmakers Kevin Brownlow and Christopher Bird; commentary by Ray Harryhausen and Ken Ralston with Merian C. Cooper and Fay Wray; and a seven-part documentary that delves deeply into just about every aspect of the making of the film (see detail list of extras below).

With 32 pages of rare photography and trivia, the captivating Blu-ray Book, written by Rudy Behlmer, centers around the vision of director, Merian C. Cooper and his larger than life persona that brought the story of King Kong to the screen. A prolific film researcher and historian, Behlmer personally interviewed Cooper and has written numerous books and contributed to a wide variety of documentaries, videos, DVDs and LaserDiscs about Hollywood's Golden Age.

In this very special Blu-ray release, the newly remastered film is presented in its 1933 entirety and includes scenes that were originally considered too shocking for the 1938-1956 re-releases. With equal parts adventure, horror and old-fashioned romance, King Kong is a milestone of movie-making that has endured for more than seven decades.

Named as one of the "100 Best Films of All Time" by Time Magazine, King Kong premiered in New York City in 1933. The film was an instant success, breaking box-office records to become one of the top moneymakers of the 1930s.

King Kong's state-of-the-art visual effects, entertaining story and touching conclusion captivated audiences and started a worldwide love affair with the giant ape. The film has also been included in seven of the American Film Institute's Top 100 lists, including the "100 Years...100 Movies" list.

A film ahead of its time, King Kong defied the technological limitations of the 1930s. Special effects pioneer Willis O'Brien's revolutionary stop-motion animation was not only technically brilliant but also highly imaginative and continues to impress even in today's era of computer-generated wizardry.

Directed and produced by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, with a rousing score by Max Steiner (who also scored Gone with the Wind), King Kong stars Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot and Fay Wray, whose memorable performance as damsel in distress Ann Darrow cemented her place in pop culture and earned her the nickname "The Queen of Scream."

"It wasn't the airplanes. It was beauty killed the beast." —Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong)

In addition to its Blu-ray debut, King Kong will be available On Demand from cable and satellite providers, and for permanent download and digital rental through iTunes, Amazon Video On Demand, PlayStation Store and Xbox LIVE Zune Video Marketplace.

Blu-ray Book BONUS FEATURES:
• Commentary by Ray Harryhausen and Ken Ralston, with Merian C. Cooper and Fay Wray
• Merian C. Cooper Movies Trailer Gallery
• I'm King Kong! The Exploits of Merian C. Cooper (2005 documentary)
• Creation Test Footage with Commentary by Ray Harryhausen
• RKO Production 601: The Making of Kong, Eighth Wonder of the World --
a. The Origins of King Kong
b. Willis O'Brien and "Creation"
c. Cameras Roll on Kong, The Eighth Wonder
d. A Milestone in Visual Effects
e. Passion, Sound and Fury
f. The Mystery of the Lost Spider Pit Sequence
g. King Kong's Legacy


EXCERPT: At first blush "King Kong" may seem outmoded, with its exaggerated histrionics, its stilted dialogue, and its wooden acting, but then there's Kong, and how can you not still love him? When he falls from the Empire State Building, he takes us all with him. Yet we know, thanks to the magic of movies, that he'll be back, again and again, better than ever, whenever we want to see him once more. He wasn't called "King" for nothing.

—> Visit Warner's Official KONG site »
(currently contains details on the DVD editions)

"The joy is seeing the 1933 original, complete with Max Steiner's classic score and once-censored scenes."
—Peter Travers (Rolling Stone)

"It's still the quintessential pulp saga, capable of popping eyeballs 70-odd years later without the help of computers."
—Michael Atkinson (Movieline's Hollywood Life)

"The black-and-white granddaddy of beast-on-the-loose movies... The movie looks improved over earlier video and TV copies, and still packs a wallop."
—Steve Daly (Entertainment Weekly)

"What makes KONG unique is its mix of hokum, horror, and peculiar poetry."
—Glenn Kenny (Premiere)

Film Synopsis:
A Monster of creation's dawn breaks loose in our world today!
The legendary classic about a giant ape that is brought to New York City, and wreaks havoc!

A masterpiece and one of the top moneymakers of the 1930s. Fortune-hunters travel to Skull Island in search of the fabled giant ape "King Kong." Enticing him with the lovely Fay Wray they capture him and bring him back to New York where he escapes and ransacks the city searching for her.

Film director Carl Denham and actress Ann Darrow arrive on a prehistoric island in the hope of capturing a giant ape, worshipped as a god by the local inhabitants. The mighty Kong shows his sensitive side by falling for Ann, and, after his transportation to New York, rampages across the city in search of his new love.

Robert Armstrong stars as movie producer Carl Denham who travels to a mysterious, uncharted island in search of material for his next film. Also aboard are unemployed actress Ann Darrow (Fay Wray) and adventurer Jack Driscoll (Bruce Cabot).

Once the crew reaches Skull Island they discover it is home to prehistoric beasts including Kong, a giant ape who becomes obsessed with the crew´s blonde starlet.

King Kong teems with memorable moments, from the audience´s first glance at the giant ape to his last stand atop the Empire State Building.

Theatrical release: March 2, 1933 (New York).
KING KONG was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1991. The story originated with writer Edgar Wallace, who died before the film's 1933 release.

Despite Kong's apparent death at the end of the 1933 classic, the tale of a giant ape set loose on the modern world has been retold many times since. The quickie sequel, SON OF KONG, was released in 1933 and shared director Ernest B. Schoedsack, special effects man Willis O'Brian and star Robert Armstrong with the first film. Armstrong joined Helen Mack and Victor Wong on a trip back to Skull Island, where they discover Kong's young son.

In 1949, Schoedsack, O'Brian, and Armstrong went back to the well once more and retrieved MIGHTY JOE YOUNG, about another giant monkey. O'Brian shared effects duties with Ray Harryhausen this time out and Armstrong was joined in the cast by Terry Moore, Ben Johnson, Frank McHugh, and "Mr. Joseph Young."

Japanese director Inoshira Honda produced a pair of mid-1960s KONG movies, KING KONG ESCAPES and KING KONG VS. GODZILLA. Dino de Laurentiis produced an extravagant and largely unsuccessful remake of KING KONG in 1976. It was directed by John Guillermin with effects by Rick Baker. Jeff Bridges, Charles Grodin, John Randolph, and Rene Auberjonois starred in the film, which also featured the film debut of model Jessica Lange.

De Laurentiis and Guillermin also produced a 1986 sequel that was aptly titled KING KONG LIVES, which starred Brian Kerwin, Linda Hamilton, John Ashton, and Peter Michael Goetz. In this film, a pair of scientists find the resurrected gorilla a giant mate and battle those who would destroy the beast.

Before KING KONG, Willis O'Brian worked on the 1925 film THE LOST WORLD. Based on the Arthur Conan Doyle tale, this silent classic tells the story of a group of scientists who stumble on a prehistoric world of dinosaurs and other presumably extinct creatures while on a museum outing. It was directed by Harry Hoyt and starred Bessie Love, Wallace Beery, and Lewis Stone.

Stop-motion animation was used to create the 50-foot Kong out of six 18-inch models. These models were constructed out of rubber and rabbit fur over a metal skeleton. For close-ups, the filmmakers created a full-scale hand and 20-foot model of Kong's head and shoulders and covered them in bear hides.

See Also: The Top Ten Hottest Monsters Of 2009 / "Kong: King Of Skull Island" - New Artwork For The Graphic Novel / Kong: King Of Skull Island - The Mighty Ape Sequel / 3D Animation Bonanza - King Kong And Killer Beans / Steve Bissette Creates Special Artwork For New Hampshire Screening Of King Kong vs Godzilla / King Kong And Godzilla Invade The London Subway / King Kong vs Godzilla (1962)(Toho) / Nerdoh Is Producing Movie Inspired T-Shirts In The UK / King Kong, Godzilla And The Creature From The Black Lagoon At The Rose Parade / King Kong vs Godzilla: Trailer / Universal Fire: King Kong & Godzilla Up In Smoke? / Kingukongu no gyakushu / King Kong Escapes (1967)