Macabre...ish Cults, Classics & Horrors

Steve Merlo is here for a second time with the completion his first full feature a fan film and prequel to Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Sawyer Massacre. It takes place 8 years before the original. It was filmed in the Bastrop/Bartlett area of Texas.

How long it took for concept to completion? How long it took to film? And the subtleties, set backs and the effort it all took.

Steve’s next project and when he’d like to begin marketing and filming. It will likely be based on one of his short films called Unseen, it can be found on his youtube channel, https://youtu.be/T1GyTzZXEQk

Find The Sawyer Massacre also on youtube. https://youtu.be/a-GssBcG5fk

Find Steve here:

Find Steven Merlo on IG @chainsaw_sawyer https://instagram.com/chainsaw_sawyer?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Steven Merlo https://m.imdb.com/name/nm6032504/bio?ref_=m_mn_ov_bio

And find us:

Christopher Thompson on IG @theauthor__

Kimberly at http://www.macabreish.com and IG and Tiktok @macabre_ish. https://linktr.ee/macabre_ish

Part 3!

Jason gives us excellent incite and advice on our own projects. Carlos, the fledgeling filmmaker and his million dollar movie get’s solid info. His respect for filmmakers and the process of editing and reminiscing about Cracked’s youtube channel and all the effort it took.

We talk NDA’s, in light if Chris’ secret project and how you know it’s the real deal and great news.

The importance of doing what we live for its own sake and having that be enough. Plus he talks supporting small independent artists especially during this tough time. With a final reminder that it’s the indie artists who need our support not the giant corporations.

Jason’s book, If This Book Exists You’re In The Wrong Universe, is out Tuesday, October, 18th 2022!

Find all things related to him at https://johndiesattheend.com

If you were a Cracked fan, he writes the same kind of articles here, sign up! https://jasonpargin.substack.com

And find us:

Carlos Ibarra on Twitter & IG @jekyl6669 and

https://www.fillintheblanksproductions.ca/

Christopher Thompson on IG @theauthor__

Kimberly at http://www.macabreish.com and Twitter, IG and Tiktok @macabre_ish. https://linktr.ee/macabre_ish

Thanks for listening, support indie artists!!

Part 2

Jason Pargin’s thought’s about social media, the algorithm and it’s impact and how bizarre it all feels to him. He talks about the thinking behind some of his most famous Cracked articles. His ability to conceptualize what might not be obvious to the rest of us and asking tough but honest questions in list form.

He answers the question if there will be another movie.

Jason talks his writing process and how outlining the book takes as much time as the writing process. He talks his being amazed by Stephen King process, Breaking Bad, Sherlock Holmes and the breadth of George. R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones and how anxiety inducing it being incomplete, is.

His thoughts on sex in stories, his approach and why. Quentin Tarantino comes up lol. There will be more books, find out how many more and why he’s not really a serial writer? There will be no book before he publishes a bad one.

We talk about filmmaking and what a pain it can be. His experience with set work for Cracked’s youtube channel and how much effort it took.

Books mentioned: This Is How You Lose The Time War, Game of Thrones

Find all things related to him at https://johndiesattheend.com

If you were a Cracked fan, he writes the same kind of articles here, sign up! https://jasonpargin.substack.com

And find us:

Carlos Ibarra on Twitter & IG @jekyl6669 and

https://www.fillintheblanksproductions.ca/

Christopher Thompson on IG @theauthor__

Kimberly at http://www.macabreish.com and Twitter, IG and Tiktok @macabre_ish. https://linktr.ee/macabre_ish

Jason Pargin aka David Wong began blogging his stories in the 90s and then made his stories, now enough to creat a book, via cafepress for fans who wanted physical copies. After years of working temp office jobs and writing on the side, he got an email from Don Coscarelli who had recently found a copy of his book. After ignoring the email thinking it was a scam, he sold the rights and John Dies At The End was created.

Three weeks later he got an offer to write for Cracked. With a journalism degree, no connections, no pitching, no book deal, just 13 years of writing online. Then a publishing company contacted him to print the hard cover of John Dies At the End.

By the time the film was complete, he was done with his second book, The Book is Full of Spiders which made the New York Times Best Seller List, while working at Cracked. He worked at Cracked for 13 years but wrote part time online, all told, for 22 years.

Jason explain what Cracked was for those who don’t know, how it was resurrected and transformed with him and two other people to a staff of over 40, to how it ended for him. And what ultimately happened to Cracked?

Why he wrote under the pseudonym, David Wong, for so many years? And how he came up with the name? How social media has changed writing for the worst? But why it’s a necessary evil to even be considered for a deal.

Why he is thankful for success later, rather than in his 20s? Part 2 is coming up next!!

Find all things related to him at https://johndiesattheend.com Plus his newest book releasing soon, at the time of this podcast 10/2022, If This Book Exists, You're in the Wrong Universe.

If you were a Cracked fan, he writes the same kind of articles here, sign up! https://jasonpargin.substack.com

And find us:

Carlos Ibarra on Twitter & IG @jekyl6669 and

https://www.fillintheblanksproductions.ca/

Christopher Thompson on IG @theauthor__

Kimberly at http://www.macabreish.com and Twitter, IG and Tiktok @macabre_ish. https://linktr.ee/macabre_ish

Part 2 🚨Adult Language 🚨

Peter Atkins, screenwriter for Hellraiser 2, 3 and 4, The Wishmaster franchise plus acting credits in Hellraiser and Nightbreed and many more. Plus published author, his work includes Morningstar, Big Thunder and Moontown.

Tired of the same questions interview after interview, so we had an hours long friendly chat. We start strong with Canadian food and geography. And end up talking about Video Nasties, the X rating and Video store/ direct to video era.

Generational differences and their approaches to horror and cinema in general and consuming them. How the theaters were when Peter was a child and how movies worked. The 4K backlash online started by Chris. Remastering of movies, the complaints and the decay of films.

How he came to write the screenplay with Clive Barker and what the process was. And the only other work he’s done concerning the Hellraiser mythos. How the name Inferno came to be.

Where he thought Wishmaster was heading. Making movies the hard way with Clive Barker. Words about the horror author Ramsay Campbell. Plus His views on opinions about bad movies.

I could listen to Peter talk about anything so here’s his youtube channel, follow him!!

Rolling Darkness Revue https://youtube.com/channel/UCLZZMp6Y5GrOH9yqm-kvyWg

And below are his other links.

Peter Atkins -

@PeterAtkins | Linktree

And find us:

Carlos Ibarra on Twitter & IG @jekyl6669 and

https://www.fillintheblanksproductions.ca/

Christopher Thompson on IG @theauthor__

Kimberly at http://www.macabreish.com and Twitter, IG and Tiktok @macabre_ish. https://linktr.ee/macabre_ish

🚨Swearing🚨. Peter Atkins, screenwriter for Hellraiser 2, 3 and 4, The Wishmaster franchise plus acting credits in Hellraiser and Nightbreed and many more. Plus published author, his work includes Morningstar, Big Thunder and Moontown.

Tired of the same questions interview after interview, so we had an hours long friendly chat. We start strong with Canadian food and geography. And end up talking about Video Nasties, the X rating and Video store/ direct to video era.

Generational differences and their approaches to horror and cinema in general and consuming them. How the theaters were when Peter was a child and how movies worked. The 4K backlash online started by Chris. Remastering of movies, the complaints and the decay of films.

How he came to write the screenplay with Clive Barker and what the process was. And the only other work he’s done concerning the Hellraiser mythos. How the name Inferno came to be.

Where he thought Wishmaster was heading. Making movies the hard way with Clive Barker. Words about the horror author Ramsay Campbell. Plus His views on opinions about bad movies.

I could listen to Peter talk about anything so here’s his youtube channel, follow him!!

Rolling Darkness Revue https://youtube.com/channel/UCLZZMp6Y5GrOH9yqm-kvyWg

And below are his other links.

Peter Atkins -

@PeterAtkins | Linktree

And find us:

Carlos Ibarra on Twitter & IG @jekyl6669 and

https://www.fillintheblanksproductions.ca/

Christopher Thompson on IG @theauthor__

Kimberly at http://www.macabreish.com and Twitter, IG and Tiktok @macabre_ish. https://linktr.ee/macabre_ish

Part 2 with Martin Bats Bradford

We talk about what kind of movies we’d suggest to a person who’s not really into horror. We mention some works of John Carpenter, The Thing, The Fog, Halloween movies, Christine. All iterations of The Fly.

We talk about knowing a horror film is really good if you can remove the horror and the story is still entertaining. Like in the case of the Flemish language movie, Cub. Also why Tales From the Hood was a good movie and why Tales from the Crypt and Are You Afraid of the Dark were good anthologies.

How genre crossing can really elevate both genres in one movie or anthology. We talk about movies based on comic books like Constantine, V for Vendetta, 30 Days of Night, Blade etc.

During all of this conversation, Bats asks what is a comedy that would make a good horror.

It came up that someone is developing, Harriet Tubman, Demon Slayer. And how cool it would be for a crossover with Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Slayer or frankly any other historical character in horror.

Well also talk about ethereal theft.

Bats is working on some scripts and we are impatiently waiting lol.

This is a continuation of a great conversation, if you haven’t listened to part 1, check it out, it’s the one just before this one.

Martin Bats Bradford has a lot of credits under his belt…Venom, Tales From the Hood 2, Night Teeth, NCIS: New Orleans, Panic, Queen Sugar, Green Book, Star Trek Continues, Containment, American Horror Story and so much more. He’s currently working on Killing It.

Youtube - GumboMonster504 - YouTube

Tiktok @misterbats_

Instagram @misterbats

Podcast - Fly With Bats https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-flywithbats-network/id1125801818

And find us:

Carlos Ibarra on IG @jekyl6669 and

https://www.fillintheblanksproductions.ca/

Christopher Thompson on IG @theauthor__

Kimberly at http://www.macabreish.com and IG and Tiktok @macabre_ish. https://linktr.ee/macabre_ish

You’ve seen him everywhere even though you might not know his name…

Meet Mr. Martin Bats Bradford, he’s known his entire life that he would be in the entertainment business and it started with church. He is classically trained in communications and theatre in Dillard. And his education and hard work is a testament to his popularity and extensive work history. Mr. Bradford explains what college does and doesn’t teach you about the entertainment industry.

He’s been in American Horror Story, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, Containment, NCIS: New Orleans, Tales from the Hood 2, Venom, Night Teeth, Killing It and so many more. He also did quite a lot 48 Hour Film Project that you can see on his youtube channel.

We talk about representation in film, black people, poc and disabled people in horror and the Wakanda effect. The different ways different cultures tell stories and how important it is for those stories to be told.

We chat about his favorite performances and favorite people to work with. Samuel L. Jackson, Mikel Jenkins, Cathy Bates, Craig Robinson, Rell Battle etc.

What kind of character he would never play. Which actors and directors he’d love to work with. Who gets him star struck.

Martin talks about the economics and politics of filmmaking and how it impacts actors and their pay.

Stay tuned and follow so you don’t miss part 2

Find Martin Bats Bradford:

https://m.imdb.com/name/nm5243717/

Tiktok @misterbats_

IG @misterbats

Youtube: GumboMonster504 - YouTube

And find us:

Carlos Ibarra on IG @jekyl6669 and

https://www.fillintheblanksproductions.ca/

Christopher Thompson on IG @theauthor__

Kimberly at http://www.macabreish.com and IG and Tiktok @macabre_ish. https://linktr.ee/macabre_ish

Dennis is a horror fan and writer who has been writing since he was a kid and has published in publications such as Deadlights and Shotgun Horror Magazine.

He has written Brother’s Last Call, The Terrorverse and Fang Bangers: Nocturnal Emissions (all available in audio book format) and is working on new shorts and installments and possibly screenplays.

The trials and tribulations of not just writing but publishing and submitting works to publications and marketing as an independent horror author. Older works verses newer work reception and the mine field that are customer reviews.

It’s not all book talk though, we talk a little Jordan Peele, a little Walking Dead and Demoni etc.

Find Dennis on IG and tiktok @terrorversetv.

Support horror authors and find him on Audible!

https://www.audible.com/author/Dennis-Freeman/B074MGG47M?ref=a_pd_Fang-B_c1_author_1&pf_rd_p=df6bf89c-ab0c-4323-993a-2a046c7399f9&pf_rd_r=H8JYKXST0XTWFJZD5XXJ

Christopher Thompson on IG @theauthor__

Kimberly at http://www.macabreish.com and IG and Tiktok @macabre_ish. https://linktr.ee/macabre_ish

And if you’re looking for solid, regular book reviews (not just horror but she reads plenty of horror) on IG look for @skuzaconniereads

With Musician and Filmmaker, Steve Merlo who decided to create a fan film prequel to the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Being a fan of just the original, he wanted to see more story in that vein and with the feel of that time period.

After years of working on the screenplay and finally working on the film, it will be complete this summer, August 2022.

He explains to us the rules of making a fan film. Find out the struggle and pitfalls of making a movie today that is set in the 1960s and why he felt cursed during filming.

This prequel is set 8 years before the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre, so if you are a fan then you might like this one. It will debut on the big screen in Austin, Tx and tickets are available here https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-sawyer-massacre-horror-tx-chainsaw-fan-film--2#/

This is the final campaign for this film, so get tickets, merch, physical media and more from the link above.

Support the arts and indie filmmakers!

Find Steven Merlo on IG @chainsaw_sawyer https://instagram.com/chainsaw_sawyer?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Steven Merlo https://m.imdb.com/name/nm6032504/bio?ref_=m_mn_ov_bio

And find us:

Carlos Ibarra on IG @jekyl6669 and

https://www.fillintheblanksproductions.ca/

Christopher Thompson on IG @theauthor__

Kimberly at http://www.macabreish.com and IG and Tiktok @macabre_ish. https://linktr.ee/macabre_ish