Posts

Clayface: An Ambitious Introduction to Horror for DC​

-
Image
By: Myriam Akbar The supervillain origin story in cinema typically blends genres rather than sticking to the typical comic-book film formula. For example, the tragic psychological thriller, Joker. Or the sci-fi action flick, Venom . When the teaser dropped for Clayface, the newest DCU project, audiences were shocked to find out that it would be a body horror film. What started as speculation based on the visceral skin-stretching scenes in the trailer was later confirmed by the filmmakers–DC is expanding into the horror genre. Clayface is directed by James Watkins, based on a story by Mike Flanagan, who was inspired by “Feat of Clay,” an episode of Batman: The Animated Series . However, despite being credited as a writer, the script that was used was primarily crafted by Hossein Amini. Busy with other projects, Flanagan stepped away from directing, and Amini worked on the script revisions. Flanagan has a reputation as being one of the most consistent and respected voices in horror, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Interview with Filmmaker & Journalist, Cassius Michael Kim

-
Image
By: Myriam Akbar      Meet Cassius Michael Kim–he is a filmmaker and journalist based in Los Angeles! He was born in Seoul, Korea, moved to Northern California as a child, and spent 20 years living in New York City. He founded The Smoking Section, a creative studio and production company that creates award-winning documentaries, original short films, and series. Their work includes Man On The Run (Netflix), Stockton On My Mind (HBO), The Wonder List with Bill Weir (CNN), and original narrative films: Kali , Not Here , and La Guerra Verde . You can find them on YouTube, where their channel consists of project trailers, field notes, exclusive clips, and two-minute reviews. When he created the name The Smoking Section, he knew he wanted something that evoked exclusivity, edge, irreverence, and the spirit of the French New Wave. “It sounds like a place for people who don’t want to be in the main room. Those who might be having the more interesting conversation or experienc...
Post a Comment
Read more

Creator Highlight: Filmmaker, Zack White

-
Image
By: Myriam Akbar Meet Zachary White—a filmmaker and content creator who goes by Zack (ZackTalksMovies on Instagram). He was born and raised in Maine, where he currently lives. He started working on short films in 2014 and has been making social media content for about 8 years now. He and his brother, Brandon, have a YouTube series called GreenWitch. They both write, direct, and edit the show. However, Brandon does the music. They shoot it in their home state of Maine and have won several awards.  \ GreenWitch is a multi-genre anthology series about a fictional town. It leans into sci-fi, but incorporates horror, thriller, drama, and dark comedy. It’s currently on its 6th season, with each episode running about 4-7 minutes. White says the best part of creating the show is working alongside his brother and editing the footage. However, the challenges of filmmaking are pushing through days with little motivation and finding time to make it all happen. He adds that it’s also difficult ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Creator Highlight: Drue Hill

-
Image
By: MyriamAkbar  Meet Andrew Hill—a hilarious, bold content creator who goes by the name of Drue. He was born in Virginia, but currently lives in Massachusetts. He’s a veteran and father of four. Hill is known for his authenticity, humor, and vulnerability. He posts about childhood nostalgia, life as a millennial, pop culture, society, and film. He also shares honest and relatable story-time videos. Initially, he was only on social media because he was working in the music industry and used it for promotion. For him, it was all about the business. Not for entertainment or reaching out to old classmates.  During the pandemic, Hill was seeking new hobbies and began to consider a career change. His daughter recommended that he make a TikTok account; she showed him the app, and that’s when he started making content. “Slowly, I started building a community and eventually realized that I could use my voice to make a difference. Making content that brings people joy became a focus of...
Post a Comment
Read more

3 Film Content Creators You Should Be Following

-
Image
By: Myriam Akbar 1.) Caleb Brown, who goes by Cay, is a 25-year-old content creator from Long Island. He’s been making film-related content on social media for a little over a year, going by the name CayWatchesMovies. He remembers having loved cinema since childhood, when he became fascinated by computer animation and special effects. As he grew older, he became passionate about various aspects of filmmaking. While there was a point in his life when he was interested in it as a career, he says he is now more interested in film analysis and journalism. Brown’s  preferred genre is horror, but he also enjoys thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy, and comedy. He lists The Shining , Uncut Gems , Scream , and Sinners as some of his favorite films. As for television shows, he highlights Atlanta , The Office , and Community As for many, Brown says the best part about making content is the community built along the way. He describes it as being welcoming, supportive, and truly a blessing. On the flip...
Post a Comment
Read more

Creator Highlight: Avery Jay

-
Image
By: Myriam Akbar Avery Jay (also known as Avery’s Crypt) is a writer, journalist, and event producer from Kentucky. She’s currently based in Brooklyn and has been making content since 2022, even working as a social media manager in her day-to-day life. “I always had an excitement for content creation in various forms. I used to staple pieces of paper together for illustrated stories to add to my first-grade library,” she shares.  Jay’s love for film and television started with an interest in acting; however, she believes losing her passion for theatre was a blessing in disguise. Instead of trying to be a film star, she went on to study the medium, and that fueled her admiration for it. “I love the grotesque, macabre, and boundary-pushing. That often falls under horror,” she says. Jay also enjoys films that blur genre boundaries, as well as heartfelt and cathartic narratives. She highlights Bones and All , Sinners , and I Saw The TV Glow as films that might spark debates on what co...
Post a Comment
Read more

Faces of Death: More Than Just a Film About a Film

-
Image
By: Myriam Akbar Faces of Death is a 1978 mockumentary horror film known for its graphic depictions of death. It’s written and directed by John Alan Schwartz, who also worked on some of the sequels. The film combines real footage with fabricated scenes, resulting in it being banned in several countries. It received negative reviews from critics but was a box-office hit. Despite the gruesome nature of the content, the film gained a cult following. It was falsely marketed as being banned in 46 countries, adding to its controversial reputation.  In April, a sort of reimagining of the Faces of Death was released, directed by Daniel Goldhaber. Prior to its announcement, I had never heard of the original. I avoid films that are rumored to be excessively graphic or disturbing, so it only took one google search for me to decide I have zero interest in watching it. However, I was willing to give this new film a chance because the premise is impressively clever. The plot follows Margot, a c...
Post a Comment
Read more