Thrilled to announce I will be speaking at this year’s London Screenwriters’ Festival (October 26-28) It’s an honour to be part of such a cool line-up.
I am also putting together the first ever UK Samhain Horror event, to be held in London on the same weekend and which promises to be very special indeed.
More details on both events nearer the time!
Head on over to Starburst Magazine where I am interviewed by Paul Mount about the Panic Button movie and book, the evils of the internet, new projects and more!
With thanks to all at Movie Mogul Films and the inimitable Chris Jones, check out the Guerilla Filmmakers Masterclass Q&A, which details the creation of indie horror/thriller ‘Panic Button’ from script to screen…and beyond. Hit the link below for the full video.
And a reminder that the Official Movie Novelization is FREE for your Kindle for 5 days!
Amazon.com
http://amzn.to/xLIBEn
Amazon.co.uk
http://amzn.to/zKPm77
Paul Mount reviews PANIC BUTTON: the Official Movie Novelization for Starburst Magazine.
“this is an intelligent and propulsive book, pressing all the right buttons – panic or otherwise – as a standalone piece of fiction even if you’ve not seen the movie version” (click to read full review)
Read PANIC BUTTON on ebook & paperback:
Amazon.com
http://amzn.to/xLIBEn
Amazon.co.uk
http://amzn.to/zKPm77
Time to welcome fellow Samhain Horror author Jonathan Janz back to the blog. His debut The Sorrows marked the arrival of a striking new voice in horror fiction. Read on for the (ahem) Skin-ny on his new novel House of Skin and more! Let’s flay!
Jonathan Janz’s back ! (see what i did there? Never mind….)
1.Your 2nd Samhain novel House of Skin just released, congrats! What’s the Skinny on this book?
First of all, thanks so much for having me on today, Frazer! You know I’m a fan, and hopefully those readers who enjoyed the exploits of The Skin Mechanic in your excellent The Lamplighters will also enjoy my monstrous villain Annabel in House of Skin.
To answer your first question…I’m not saying I’m the equal of these writers, but those who love horror will know the names Peter Straub and Richard Laymon. House of Skin is the kind of story that would have occurred had Straub and Laymon collaborated. First of all, the pace of House of Skin is very brisk, and pacing was one of Laymon’s best attributes as a writer. There are also real-life villains who bring about some nastily violent sequences, which was another staple of Laymon’s books.
But the overall story and structure of House of Skin harkens back to the early books of Peter Straub. Ghost Story, Julia, and Shadowland influenced this book in many important ways, so if you enjoy the Gothic framework (where the past ultimately meets and influences the present), you’ll love this novel.
2. How does it differ from The Sorrows? Or are both books similar in style?
Stylistically, they have several similarities (Gothic structure, fast pace, etc.); there are, however, some important differences. The Sorrows contained six main points of view, as well as the flashback sequences. House of Skin only really uses three main points of view in addition to its flashbacks, which means you get into these characters’ heads to an even greater degree (though, of course, I felt like you got to know my characters in The Sorrows quite intimately as well).
Another difference between The Sorrows and House of Skin is the nature of the villain. In The Sorrows, I think the audience comes to feel some sympathy for the main villain, although they ultimately despise and fear him in the end. In House of Skin, I doubt that anyone will feel anything but horror at Annabel and the terrible events she brings about. Of course, there is a strong element of eroticism with Annabel, which might make readers desire her the way the characters do…but readers will hate her even more than they’ll desire her.
3. How did House of Skin evolve & become your 2nd Samhain book?
Well, it was the second book I submitted to Don D’Auria, the editor you and I (thankfully) share at Samhain, but it was also the first book I ever tried to write. I say “tried” because when I first attempted to capture the basic story (which had been with me since my early twenties), I didn’t have the chops to pull it off. I wrote and threw out seven drafts of the novel, which went by a few different names. After I wrote The Sorrows, I felt like I had grown enough as an author to take another stab (hah!) at this book. What resulted was House of Skin, and I’m extremely proud of the way it turned out.
4. Say you could wear another’s Skin for a day… Who – or what – and why?
Whoa…that’s a weird, wonderful question, Frazer. I think I’d wear Alexander Payne’s skin; he’s the screenwriter and the director of Sideways, The Descendants, and other great films. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how he tells a story. If I could wear his skin, I assume I could also share his brain, and in doing so I could take with me his abilities and amazing traits as a storyteller.
5. What’s up next for Jonathan Janz?
My third book will be published by Samhain Horror in early 2013. It’s called The Darkest Lullaby and has a bit of Paranormal Activity and Rosemary’s Baby in it, which I find to be very cool. After that I’ve got something very strange and wonderful planned, but since I’m still editing it right now, I don’t want to jinx myself by talking about it.
In addition to novel #3 (and hopefully novel #4) coming out in 2013, my first three novels are likely going to be published in audio form next year as well, which I’m really jazzed about.
I’m currently working on my fifth novel, which will likely turn out to be the first book in a trilogy. I’ve never done a sequel before, so if this one keeps going as well as it has thus far, following it up will also pose a new and exciting challenge.
Thanks muchly for dropping by and sharing your thoughts, here’s wishing you all the very best for your new releases and projects, can’t wait to read ’em!
Thank you so much for having me back on your blog, Frazer! I can’t wait to read Panic Button and anything else you cook up!
Keep up on all the latest Jonathan Janz-based goodness at his official site: www.jonathanjanz.com
A few thoughts on filmmaking today, inspired by recent events and trends.
In addition to my screenwriting, novel writing and short stories, I also directed a couple of short films; On Edge (1999), Red Lines (2002) both with the now defunct Robber Baron Productions, and some TV promos; True Horror With Anthony Head (Discovery Channel, 2004).
So, I haven’t directed anything in eight years, and am often asked the question, in interviews and Q&As, why not?
Naive (and much younger) me thought that making a couple of award-winning shorts would pave the way to feature directing. Not so. I have scratched a living these past 8 years as a screenwriter/script doctor, secretly hoping those credits would also stand me in good stead for a feature debut. No dice, as yet.
It’s certainly not for lack of trying. Over the past decade I’ve had a number of potentially brilliant feature length projects in the works, writing and polishing and rewriting dozens of screenplay drafts for each at the behest of producers and executives keen on shaping the project to the demands of the marketplace.
Truth is, financing a movie seems to be the most difficult thing on earth. I recently completed a round of talks about one of my screenplays to which I’m attached as director and I was told point blank, by the producer that not one of his investors would risk financing a movie with a first time director attached – too risky.
So how do first time directors get to cut their first feature if no-one is willing to risk taking a punt on them? Surely the film biz is one built entirely on risk? “Nobody knows anything,” William Goldman reminds us – and even a seasoned director can make a turkey. It’s a frustrating chicken and egg situation and the longer it goes on, the greater the (perceived) risk.
All the meetings I’ve taken, all the unsuccessful funding applications I’ve made (for shorts and features) have taught me one thing – one simple, inconvenient truth:
Movies cost money – and it is usually someone else’s money. Even if you go down the microbudget route, you have to pay insurance for your shoot, catering for your cast and crew, transportation costs, etc., etc.
Add to that the growing trend in the movie business; first-timers get it done for free. “Just pick up a camera and shoot” is an approach that has worked for some, sure. But it sets a precedent. First timers are expected to self-finance and prove themselves, screenplays are expected to be optioned for free. This is a difficult environment for anyone who has a family to support, bills to pay. It’s “a game for the young” as wise old Admiral James T. Kirk once said.
After reading Christopher Fowler’s revealing blog post on the subject of “the death of the script“, it seems the new wave of first-timers are eschewing a script entirely in favour of improvised microbudgeters, edited on-set on laptops. No risk to anyone else, and the filmmaker (no longer a first-timer anymore) then gets hired to do studio remakes…
See, after a decade in development hell I’m becoming cynical! Maybe it is time to give up after all.
But I might just take one more meeting first.
It’s Short Story Day, and Summer Solstice too… so, perversely, here’s a freebie Christmas-themed festive nightmare to give you goosebumps!
The photo on the left is of Tamara Ustinov. It’s a still from the classic British horror film ‘Blood on Satan’s Claw’. The scene from which the still is taken represents what truly scares me.
To find out why a ‘look’ can be so damned scary, check out my post at the Horrifically Horrifying Horror Blog. Just don’t blame me if you have nightmares…
What scares you? Confessions are welcome in the Comments box below…
As a kid, I read Ray Bradbury’s ‘The Garbage Collector’ and it changed my life, my whole perception of what words could do. Into adulthood (if you can call it that) I have continued reading, and watching, the great man’s stories and you know what? He still has the same effect, every word.
And he always will.
A bright light snuffed out but a brilliant star shines on.
This one’s for you, Sir Ray of Bradbury:
Newsflash just in from Cannes 2012 that sales agent Kaleidoscope has closed distribution deals on several of their titles including horror/thriller Panic Button. To paraphrase:
Panic Button went to Germany (MIG), Japan (Interfilm), Korea (Focus & Company) and CIS (Big Movie)… Spencer Pollard, CEO of Kaleidoscope commented: “…We have many more deals in play currently and should be able to announce further deals shortly.”
More details at ScreenDaily and Hollywood Reporter.
Congrats to all at Movie Mogul Films, the cast and crew on this excellent news.
Panic Button is out now on DVD/Blu-ray, along with my movie novelization (based on the screenplay which I also co-wrote, and which held the #1 amazon.co.uk horror/thriller spot for over 2 months).
FrazerLee.com 