FM Convention Update!

[FMoF]

As you no doubt already know, Famous Monsters of Filmland is back with � dare I say it? � a VENGEANCE. To start things off with a bang, FM will play host to over 80 guests in the inaugural Famous Monsters Convention taking place in Indianapolis, Indiana July 9-11. If you haven't been checking out the FM website or the official forum, then here's some of what you missed regarding event details.

SATURDAY NIGHT VIP FM RELAUNCH PARTY (9PM - 2AM)

On Saturday, June 10, the party continues into the night. FM will be hosting a super special, VIP-only party in honor of Famous Monsters' relaunch. Mingle with fellow horror fans, more celebrities than you can handle and the FM crew as we celebrate the long-awaited return to print of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine and usher in the next 52 years. Food (drinks not included) will be provided. There will be a live performance by bands such as Sinners Among Saints, Noman and more, a tribute to the late actor Corey Haim, a lifetime achievement award ceremony, a show by illusionist Ron Fitzgerald, and many more surprises. Doors open at 9 p.m. but only Gold Pass and Silver Pass owners will be allowed into the party.

THE DIGITAL FILM EXPO

Speaker: Philip Kim with Billy Drago and Jonathon Trent (Transformers 2, The O.C.)

On Saturday, June 10, FM will be hosting a Digital Film Expo. Join the stars of Downstream's Billy Drago and Jonathan Trent as well as writer, director and producer Philip Kim as they walk you through the process of filming, producing, marketing and distributing your movie.

Learn from an inside perspective about how the film industry is changing as the result of new technologies and software products, making it easier for independent filmmakers to pursue their craft and most importantly to find an audience after the math. Hear about some of the common challenges that those working in the film industry face and insight into making the process smoother from the beginning, beginning with proper development. Do you aspire to be a filmmaker? Have you already made a film? Is the return taking longer than you anticipated? Did you ever think car chases and gun play can be affordable? Take advantage of this opportunity to hear from those who have been on all sides of the industry � no matter what stage your movie is in. Admission with any FM Convention ticket purchase, available at CaptainCo.com.

This may not come as all that much of surprise, but we here at Famous Monsters of Filmland freakin' love movies. Thus, the Famous Monsters Convention will be absolutely packed with exclusive screenings and panels � not to mention the Midwest premiere of FM's first original movie Downstream (more information on that to come!)

Screenings and Panels!

George A. Romero's ...OF THE DEAD TRILOGY REUNION

Stop by and meet some of your favorite actors and crewmembers from the legendary...Of the Dead trilogy during FM Con's exclusive panels, including the screenwriter of the original Night of the Living Dead John A. Russo, makeup special effects artist and "Blades the Biker" Tom Savini, and Day of the Dead cinematographer Michael Gornik.

While Night remains Russo's most well-known film to date, he has also served as a screenwriter for the films Midnight, Santa Claws and Voodoo Dawn. Savini has many, many film credits under his belt, whether in front of the camera or behind it, he has proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with in the film industry. Savini has worked as a makeup effects artist, a stuntman, director and producer among other things in multiple hit films � including Martin, Grindhouse, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Creepshow and Dawn of the Dead. He has also authored several books about makeup special effects and runs the Special Make-up Effects Program at the Douglas Education Center. Besides Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead, Gornik has worked as a cinematographer on multiple other projects including Martin and Creepshow. He has also served as a director on Creepshow 2 and multiple episodes of the TV show Tales from the Darkside.

REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA

If you're a fan of cult horror films, then you've no doubt heard of Repo! The Genetic Opera. Blending music and gore, Repo! creates a dark vision of the future where a corporation provides organ transplants to customers; ultimately repossessing the parts if the customers default on their payments. Before becoming a feature film in 2008, Repo! has managed to cultivate a growing fanbase as it evolved from a 10 minute-long show to a full-blown movie. On Friday, July 9 at 12 a.m., FM Con will be showing a screening of the film after a question-and-answer session with Terrance Zdunich.

Besides appearing in Repo! as the Graverobber, Zdunich is also one of the co-writers of the original play as well as the composer for both the play and the film. Zdunich has also worked as a storyboard artist and illustrator for the television shows Max Steel and Bones. Currently, he is working on a new comic series called The Molting.

THE LOST BOYS

Vampires of the sparkly, angsty variety may be all the rage now, but back in the '80s, bloodsuckers of the badass, human blood-drinking, motorcycle-riding variety were popular. Joel Schumacher's cult horror-comedy The Lost Boys has been credited with bringing vampires into the mainstream and with making two of its actors � Corey Feldman and the late Corey Haim � pop culture icons. The Lost Boys tells the story of two brothers, Michael (played by Jason Patric) and Sam (played by Corey Haim) and their mother who go to live at their grandfather's house in Santa Clara, California. But strange things are happening in the beachside town and it's up to Sam to save his brother before it's too late.

Come by on July 9 for a screening of The Lost Boys following a panel hosted by Jamison Newlander (Alan Frog), G Tom Mac (writer/performer of the song "Cry Little Sister"), Chance Michael Corbitt (Laddie), Brooke McCarter (Paul) and Billy Wirth (Dwayne) during which they will answer questions from the audience and discuss their experiences on the set.

Since appearing in The Lost Boys as one of the Frog brothers, Newlander has reprised his role in The Lost Boys: The Tribe, though his scenes were ultimately deleted. He is expected to appear in The Lost Boys: The Thirst. G Tom Mac is a renowned singer, songwriter and music producer and has composed music for a variety of TV shows and movies including The Shield, Scrubs and Charmed. G Tom Mac will also be performing live during an exclusive concert at FM Con. Besides The Lost Boys, Chance Michael Corbitt has also appeared in the film The Rocketeer and the TV show Baywatch. Brooke McCarter has been acting sporadically since his role in The Lost Boys, and recently finished the film Emerging Past which will also be screened at FM Con. Billy Wirth has had numerous roles throughout his career, including guest-starring roles in Sex in the City, Charmed and CSI.

BREAKING NEWS!

Stop the presses! THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS MONSTER ARTIST Basil Gogos will be gracing the Famous Monsters Convention July 9-10 at Indianapolis, Indiana with his inimitable presence. Gogos, as you almost certainly know, is best known for his classic portraits of horror monsters (like the Creature of the Black Lagoon, Dracula and Dr. Frankenstein's monster) and actors (Vincent Price, Christopher Lee and Bela Lugosi, to name a few). His hyper-realistic, detailed, and wildly colorful style and morbid flair has led to him being called "a Bizarro world Norman Rockwell."

Before achieving fame as a gifted painter, Gogos was born in Egypt to a family of Greek heritage. Gogos immigrated to the U.S. with his family at the age of 16, where he pursued an education in art. Over the years, Gogos painted literally dozens of covers for Famous Monsters of Filmland, his first being a portrait of actor Vincent Price as he appeared in the movie House of Usher, and his favorite being a cover memorializing the late actor Boris Karloff after his death. This portrait is also one of the few original pieces he still owns.

Aside from Famous Monsters, Gogos has done CD cover art for such horror-inspired (dare we say FM-inspired?) musicians such as: Rob Zombie, Electric Frankenstein and The Misfits. Not surprisingly, he was commissioned by Universal Pictures to create an original piece for its reboot of the classic horror film, The Wolfman.

FM Con is proud to give monster kids of all ages the chance to meet a real-life legend in the flesh.

PRE-ORDER TICKETS, AVOID WAITING IN LINE

Tickets are still available for purchase at CaptainCo.com. Be sure to pre-order your passes so you can pick them up right at the door and avoid waiting in lines! Gold Pass and Silver Pass holders are allowed early access to the convention Friday and Saturday, admission to the Saturday Night VIP FM RELAUNCH PARTY, a Famous Monsters of Filmland #251 convention-only variant cover, and an exclusive FM Con T-shirt guaranteed to turn heads! Pre-order here and we hope to see you in Indiana for an entertaining three days of movies, celebrities, horror and mayhem (the good kind, we promise!) to celebrate the return of everyone's favorite monster magazine.

[FMoF]