There are fans of movies in general and then there are horror film fans. The horror film fan is not like any fan you are likely to meet anywhere else. These aren't the usual let me get an autograph and then go home type. No, the horror fan tracks down the actor or director of their choice and not only gets the autograph, they carry on a conversation with this celebrity to find out more about their favorite film. They sit through panel discussions to learn more about what went on behind the scenes. They buy anything from T-shirts to CD soundtracks to DVD copies of their favorite films and get them signed, not to make money on Ebay but to treasure and cherish forever. These are die hard fans. And they are the kind of fans you'll find at Cinema Wasteland in Cleveland.
My son and I went to our first Cinema Wasteland after meeting it's creator Ken at a comic convention in Chicago. He sold a number of items to my son and then discussed his own convention. It took all of 10 seconds after hearing about it for my son to ask if we could please go next time around. Yes, I caved and we went. I'm glad we did.
If I recall correctly that first convention featured almost the entire cast of the original TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE together in one room as well as a ton of other guests. including several other actors who played Leatherface in the sequels to the film, Ken Foree of DAWN OF THE DEAD FAME, Bill Moseley
and Sid Haig of HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES and more. It was at this convention that the seed was planted in my son's brain that he could be a horror host on television, something he did indeed follow through on. For the few that saw it in our town and the many who saw it in Van Wert, OH, he was Gravedigger Grimm, host of The Unearthed Midnight Theater, showing a number of old black and white public domain titles with bits scattered throughout. If you missed him, here's a picture:
In any event, this convention is unlike any other. They don't limit themselves to horror flicks, on occasion they'll spend an entire convention based around exploitation or drive in movies. Not long ago they featured a number of actors who had made their mark in the world during the heyday of the blaxploitation films of the lase seventies.
Not only are the topics covered at this convention different, so are the fans. As I said above, these are die hard fans. It's nothing to see a fan with an entire arm tattooed with characters from a favorite horror film, a leather jacket adorned with home made artwork for a movie like this or fans walking around dressed as anything from a 8 ft tall Nazi creation to a slobbering hunchback to a werewolf. And what are they doing? They're meeting the actors, getting autographs, buying classic horror films, bootleg films, home made films, movie posters, comics, magazines and more. Don't expect it to be cheap though as some posters are highly sought after. I know of one person (name withheld to protect the innocent or guilty depending on how you view it) who spent $100 on a poster for ILSA SHE WOLF OF THE SS. Yes, these ARE die hard fans.
If you've never gone I'd suggest giving it a try. There are tons of conventions around the country but if you ask the fans, this is the must see convention to attend. It happens twice a year, once in October and the spring convention in April.
Here is a look at the upcoming guest line up for the next show which takes place April 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The main theme this year is the films of Ruggreo Deodatto, the director of the infamous CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. Ruggero will be there as will be the stars of that film. Horror fan fave (and all around nice guy) Michael Berryman will be there as will be Bill Forsythe, Tom Atkins, at least two of the EVIL DEAD girls and Judith Ridley of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. There are a lot more guests coming but my suggestion is you visit the convention's home page and then make a trip for at least one day of the show. Who knows, you might be the next person buying that $100 poster. Visit the link below.
http://cinemawasteland.com/show.html
No comments:
Post a Comment