Halloween
This page is dedicated to the Halloween franchise
Halloween... The Alternative Version
A few month's back The Weinstein Company were seriously wondering what to do next with Michael Myers and the Halloween franchise. They, sadly, entered talks with Michael Bay's production company Platinum Dunes, who are behind the recent remakes such as Friday the 13th, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Gladly thought these talks broke down, Bay probably wanted Michael to transform and then blow up. Storyboard artist Federico D’Alessandro, who has worked on a number of Marvel films, has recently revealed he planned to pitched his idea to Platinum Dunes but unfortunately he missed the opportunity to get "to the office".
D'Alessandro wanted the directors chair and has taken to his website to say
"As a lifelong HALLOWEEN fan it would be a dream to direct a reboot of the franchise that's so near and dear to my heart. I created this animatic to show the tone and storytelling that I would bring to the project if I were lucky enough to have that chance. If you like it, please repost...if this gets enough hits, who knows, maybe I'll get that opportunity!
For more of my work, including my short film which won Best Horror Short at Comic Con, please go to www.thefilmartist.com
Also huge thanks to the Maya wizard Craig Guessford for creating the end title design."
Find below the storyboarded animated opening to what would have been D'Alessandro's Halloween film. We are sad to say though that this film is not happening! Which is a shame, as it looks incredibly moody and creepy something we feel Zombie missed the target on with his films.
D'Alessandro wanted the directors chair and has taken to his website to say
"As a lifelong HALLOWEEN fan it would be a dream to direct a reboot of the franchise that's so near and dear to my heart. I created this animatic to show the tone and storytelling that I would bring to the project if I were lucky enough to have that chance. If you like it, please repost...if this gets enough hits, who knows, maybe I'll get that opportunity!
For more of my work, including my short film which won Best Horror Short at Comic Con, please go to www.thefilmartist.com
Also huge thanks to the Maya wizard Craig Guessford for creating the end title design."
Find below the storyboarded animated opening to what would have been D'Alessandro's Halloween film. We are sad to say though that this film is not happening! Which is a shame, as it looks incredibly moody and creepy something we feel Zombie missed the target on with his films.
James Voller
Halloween: The Complete Authorized History - Exclusive Interview
Here at Haddonfield Horror we are huge fans of the Halloween franchise (Hence the name). It all started with John Carpenters classic Halloween in 1978 and looks set to continue with Halloween 3D due out for release next year. The original Halloween has influenced generations of film-makes and brought the sub genre of the slasher film into the public eye. Up until The Blair Witch Project was released, Halloween was the highest grossing independent film ever made. Launching the career's of John Carpenter, Debra Hill, Jaime Lee Curtis and many more.
In recent years books focusing on horror films have become more popular with Kim Newman's Nightmare Movies, Peter M. Bracke's Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th and J.A Kerswell's Teenage Wasteland been three particular highlights. Now to link to two together.
We are extremely happy that next year will be the 35th anniversary of the original Halloween and to celebrate this Justin Beahm (pictured) is currently working on a special book. Although not many details have been released regarding the book (he does discuss it a little in the interview below), we are sure it will be as detailed and brilliant as other's in the genre, but seen as this is Halloween we are confident it will be a cut above the rest.
Halloween: The Complete Authorized History will be "An unprecedented exploration of the iconic series, with dozens of interviews, hundreds of photo's, props and artifacts. The Definitive story of a horror legend" The book is due for release October 2013.
We are very excited about this book, after 10 films (Number 11 coming next year) grossing over 300 million worldwide, its about time a book was released and who better to write the book then Justin Beahm who knows pretty much everything about the franchise. We (HH) were luky enough to have the opportunity to ask Justin (JB) some questions about Halloween, the book and what the future holds for him. Take a look below for the full interview:
HH -When did your love for Halloween begin?
JB - My love for HALLOWEEN began on Halloween night when I was in the 5th grade. I had been trick-or-treating with my pal, Matt Bortz, all night, after which we rushed back to his place to sort through our loot. We flipped on the television, and HALLOWEEN II was on. I was frozen in terror through to the end, and had nightmares for days afterward. Not sure if it was morbid curiosity, the desire to understand things that frightened me, or what, but I then set about trying to learn all I could about the film, starting with my friend's collection of Fangoria magazines. That led to tracking down the original HALLOWEEN, and then I got a hold of the soundtrack cassette from the original, and was off to the races. Despite the fact that he haunted me, I couldn't get enough Michael Myers, and I suppose that hasn't changed.
HH - How did the book first come about?
JB - The book was something I had been considering for quite a while, and when Trancas head Malek Akkad and I started working together on other projects, I threw the book idea at him. He had been approached numerous times over the years about something like this, but never felt the elements were in place to do it justice. I put together a more formal proposal, he was enthusiastic about it, and the green light was flipped on. With the recent success of tremendous efforts like Peter Bracke's CRYSTAL LAKE MEMORIES, coupled with HALLOWEEN's 35th Anniversary in 2013, the climate and timing couldn't be more ideal.
HH - Who has contributed towards the book?
JB - I am handling all the interviewing, writing, and design myself. I have enlisted the skills of a number of artists to contribute some original art, and, of course, there are materials of all sorts from people who were involved with the various film productions. Coupled with stuff from Miramax, Universal, our own archives at Trancas, and the private collections of fans across the globe, this is as thorough a presentation as I can put together.
HH - Do you consider Halloween to be the first 'slasher' film?
JB - Before HALLOWEEN, there was Hitchcock's PSYCHO in 1960, Mario Bava's TWITCH OF THE DEATH NERVE in 1971, Bob Clark's BLACK CHRISTMAS in 1974, all of which can be considered slasher films, but I would say HALLOWEEN is most certainly the one that kick started the slasher subgenre.
HH - Which of the Halloween films is your favourite and why?
JB - The original HALLOWEEN is still my favorite. It really succeeds at evoking the feel of fall in the Midwest, has great characters and performances all around, makes The Shape an ambiguous monster, and manages to remain frightening no matter how many times a person has seen it. An absolute cinematic master stroke.
HH - What is the format of the book regarding each film?
JB - I don't want to reveal too much, but in addition to the interviews on production, each film's mask, music, various versions, effect on the series, and legacy are explored, to name a few examples. It is definitely an in-depth examination, and all ten films are getting equal attention.
HH - Are you looking forward to the upcoming Halloween 3D?
JB - I am thrilled that the series continues to gain momentum and new fans the world over on a daily basis. Just amazing. It is a real testament to the solid foundation created back in 1978. Everyone is hard at work putting the pieces together for another HALLOWEEN film, so be on the lookout for news in the near future.
HH - Who is your favourite character in the Halloween franchise?
JB - Other than Michael, I would say Loomis is my favorite. Pleasence brought so much to each entry, remaining consistently great in an ever-changing Haddonfield landscape. Loomis is one half of the core, and I have always felt like he and Michael were parts of each other, which is how they coexisted through so many pictures, doing this dance. Each one relied on the other in ways, and I think their dynamic is fascinating. As far as other characters go...how could you not love Jamie Lee as Laurie in the original? I wish we would have had more time with Carmen Filpi as Reverend Sayer in H4, and I thought Paul Rudd's Tommy did a lot for H6. Of course Danielle, Ellie, and Wendy did an incredible job carrying H4 and H5. I am intrigued by how Brad Dourif's sheriff Brackett evolved in Rob Zombie's HII, and would love to see where that character would go next. The series is populated with many great, memorable, characters, which is one of the elements that sets it apart from the pack.
HH - Do you know of any special events happening next year for the 35th anniversary?
JB - We are in the midst of planning a number of things to celebrate the 35th Anniversary in 2013. I will definitely let you know when we start releasing details, but since I have been asked a number of times, I will say another convention is part of our discussion.
HH - Whats your favourite film thats not Halloween?
JB - This is a tough one to answer simply, because I love so many. How about I tell you the last three films that have graced my DVD player? ZOMBI 3, THE LOST EMPIRE, and THERE'S NOTHING OUT THERE.
HH - Any more books on film franchises, or films, on the horizon?
JB - Yes, I am signing a multi book deal that will kick in after my work on HALLOWEEN: THE COMPLETE AUTHORIZED HISTORY is complete. I have my eye on several films/film series that would make for fantastic retrospective books. Stay tuned!
James Voller
See Links below:
http://www.justinbeahm.com/
http://halloweenmovies.com/
http://www.officialhalloweenbook.com/
In recent years books focusing on horror films have become more popular with Kim Newman's Nightmare Movies, Peter M. Bracke's Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th and J.A Kerswell's Teenage Wasteland been three particular highlights. Now to link to two together.
We are extremely happy that next year will be the 35th anniversary of the original Halloween and to celebrate this Justin Beahm (pictured) is currently working on a special book. Although not many details have been released regarding the book (he does discuss it a little in the interview below), we are sure it will be as detailed and brilliant as other's in the genre, but seen as this is Halloween we are confident it will be a cut above the rest.
Halloween: The Complete Authorized History will be "An unprecedented exploration of the iconic series, with dozens of interviews, hundreds of photo's, props and artifacts. The Definitive story of a horror legend" The book is due for release October 2013.
We are very excited about this book, after 10 films (Number 11 coming next year) grossing over 300 million worldwide, its about time a book was released and who better to write the book then Justin Beahm who knows pretty much everything about the franchise. We (HH) were luky enough to have the opportunity to ask Justin (JB) some questions about Halloween, the book and what the future holds for him. Take a look below for the full interview:
HH -When did your love for Halloween begin?
JB - My love for HALLOWEEN began on Halloween night when I was in the 5th grade. I had been trick-or-treating with my pal, Matt Bortz, all night, after which we rushed back to his place to sort through our loot. We flipped on the television, and HALLOWEEN II was on. I was frozen in terror through to the end, and had nightmares for days afterward. Not sure if it was morbid curiosity, the desire to understand things that frightened me, or what, but I then set about trying to learn all I could about the film, starting with my friend's collection of Fangoria magazines. That led to tracking down the original HALLOWEEN, and then I got a hold of the soundtrack cassette from the original, and was off to the races. Despite the fact that he haunted me, I couldn't get enough Michael Myers, and I suppose that hasn't changed.
HH - How did the book first come about?
JB - The book was something I had been considering for quite a while, and when Trancas head Malek Akkad and I started working together on other projects, I threw the book idea at him. He had been approached numerous times over the years about something like this, but never felt the elements were in place to do it justice. I put together a more formal proposal, he was enthusiastic about it, and the green light was flipped on. With the recent success of tremendous efforts like Peter Bracke's CRYSTAL LAKE MEMORIES, coupled with HALLOWEEN's 35th Anniversary in 2013, the climate and timing couldn't be more ideal.
HH - Who has contributed towards the book?
JB - I am handling all the interviewing, writing, and design myself. I have enlisted the skills of a number of artists to contribute some original art, and, of course, there are materials of all sorts from people who were involved with the various film productions. Coupled with stuff from Miramax, Universal, our own archives at Trancas, and the private collections of fans across the globe, this is as thorough a presentation as I can put together.
HH - Do you consider Halloween to be the first 'slasher' film?
JB - Before HALLOWEEN, there was Hitchcock's PSYCHO in 1960, Mario Bava's TWITCH OF THE DEATH NERVE in 1971, Bob Clark's BLACK CHRISTMAS in 1974, all of which can be considered slasher films, but I would say HALLOWEEN is most certainly the one that kick started the slasher subgenre.
HH - Which of the Halloween films is your favourite and why?
JB - The original HALLOWEEN is still my favorite. It really succeeds at evoking the feel of fall in the Midwest, has great characters and performances all around, makes The Shape an ambiguous monster, and manages to remain frightening no matter how many times a person has seen it. An absolute cinematic master stroke.
HH - What is the format of the book regarding each film?
JB - I don't want to reveal too much, but in addition to the interviews on production, each film's mask, music, various versions, effect on the series, and legacy are explored, to name a few examples. It is definitely an in-depth examination, and all ten films are getting equal attention.
HH - Are you looking forward to the upcoming Halloween 3D?
JB - I am thrilled that the series continues to gain momentum and new fans the world over on a daily basis. Just amazing. It is a real testament to the solid foundation created back in 1978. Everyone is hard at work putting the pieces together for another HALLOWEEN film, so be on the lookout for news in the near future.
HH - Who is your favourite character in the Halloween franchise?
JB - Other than Michael, I would say Loomis is my favorite. Pleasence brought so much to each entry, remaining consistently great in an ever-changing Haddonfield landscape. Loomis is one half of the core, and I have always felt like he and Michael were parts of each other, which is how they coexisted through so many pictures, doing this dance. Each one relied on the other in ways, and I think their dynamic is fascinating. As far as other characters go...how could you not love Jamie Lee as Laurie in the original? I wish we would have had more time with Carmen Filpi as Reverend Sayer in H4, and I thought Paul Rudd's Tommy did a lot for H6. Of course Danielle, Ellie, and Wendy did an incredible job carrying H4 and H5. I am intrigued by how Brad Dourif's sheriff Brackett evolved in Rob Zombie's HII, and would love to see where that character would go next. The series is populated with many great, memorable, characters, which is one of the elements that sets it apart from the pack.
HH - Do you know of any special events happening next year for the 35th anniversary?
JB - We are in the midst of planning a number of things to celebrate the 35th Anniversary in 2013. I will definitely let you know when we start releasing details, but since I have been asked a number of times, I will say another convention is part of our discussion.
HH - Whats your favourite film thats not Halloween?
JB - This is a tough one to answer simply, because I love so many. How about I tell you the last three films that have graced my DVD player? ZOMBI 3, THE LOST EMPIRE, and THERE'S NOTHING OUT THERE.
HH - Any more books on film franchises, or films, on the horizon?
JB - Yes, I am signing a multi book deal that will kick in after my work on HALLOWEEN: THE COMPLETE AUTHORIZED HISTORY is complete. I have my eye on several films/film series that would make for fantastic retrospective books. Stay tuned!
James Voller
See Links below:
http://www.justinbeahm.com/
http://halloweenmovies.com/
http://www.officialhalloweenbook.com/