November 7, 2009

~ HORRORHOUND #20 Interview ~

Sorry for the delay...lots of life going on here at the moment, but already gearing up for a VERY busy Spring 2010 convention season...more details as they develop, but the first to be announced is Fulci's ZOMBIE reunion at Cinema Wasteland next April. Even more guests to be confirmed early next year.

Speaking of ZOMBIE, my buddy Rich Caron wrote up a great retrospective on the film in the latest issue of HorrorHound magazine and there's a little interview with me as well about my Italian convention connections. Check it out...

June 9, 2009

~ Old school LAND OF THE LOST ~

While I have yet to, and most likely will not, see Universal's adaptation of my first favorite television show - the essence of which was obviously kicked to the curb due to greed over substance a la George Lucas - my thanks goes out to Associated Press film critic Christy Lemire who contaced me so she could interview and pay proper homage to our mutual childhood heroes of the original LAND OF THE LOST series. Check it out HERE.

Please note that I'm currently in the process of pulling together some cast reunion conventions...stay tuned!

May 3, 2009

~ The FINAL autographed x50 edition up on eBay ~

Your last chance to own a historic piece of EuroHorror cinema is now up on eBay here.

Sold out on the website, #41 is the last one in stock...make your bid now!

P.S. - all sorts of goodies to be added to the site (some directly from Luigi Cozzi's Profondo Rosso store itself!) later this month...

April 22, 2009

~ The INVASION has ended...for now... ~

Thanks to all who attended last weekend's Chiller Theatre. I'll post photos soon...

...and keep a splinter-filled eye out for upcoming announcements!

April 15 , 2009

~ Exclusive ZOMBIE goodies available at this weekend's CHILLER ~

With two short days until Italy invades Chiller Theatre, here's a preview of some of the merch created exclusively for the 30th Anniversary of Lucio Fulci's ZOMBIE:

Above is the 11x17 pro-printed poster created for the show. Limited to only 300, they were made with obtaining signatures in mind. Unsigned posters will be on sale for only $10.

Below is the Anniversary design created by Jill at LIX who will be set up in the Herritage Ballroom with the Italian faction. This design will be available on hoodies, t-shirts, longsleeves, etc.

                    (front)                                   (back)

See you this weekend!

-Mike

April 5 , 2009

~ CHILLER line-up finalized ~

The final guest - The Beyond's Cinzia Monreale above - was announced this past week on the Icons of Fright website to complete Chiller Theatre's ITALIAN INVASION, happening in just two short weeks, where you'll have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet many of the following EuroHorror stars:

From ZOMBIE…

• Ian McCulloch (Dr. Butcher M.D., Contamination)
• Richard Johnson (The Haunting, Beyond the Door, Island of the Fishmen)
• Al Cliver (The Beyond, Cannibals, Endgame, Demonia, Annie)
• Ottaviano Dell’Acqua (Rats: Night of Terror, Cut & Run, Zombi 3)

The Children from THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY…

• Giovanni Frezza (Demons, Manhattan Baby, A Blade In The Dark)
• Silvia Collatina (Murderock, Big Alligator River)

Also Featuring…

• Luigi Cozzi (Director of Contamination, Starcrash, Hercules, The Killer Must Kill Again)
• Cinzia Monreale (The Beyond, Buio Omega, The Stendhal Syndrome)
• Zora Kerova (Cannibal Ferox, Anthropophagus, The New York Ripper)
• Malisa Longo (A Cat in the Brain, Fraulein Kitty, Miranda, Way of the Dragon)
• Michael Sopkiw (2019: After the Fall of New York, Devil Fish, Blastfighter)

Assisting me and this amazing guest list for the weekend will be friends Mark Jason Murray from Film Fanaddict and Mike Martinez of Kult Movie Maximus (both flying in from California), Art Ettinger & Allana Sleeth from Ultra Violent Magazine, indie actor and GASPetc.com writer Rich Caron, Jill Van Voorst from LIX who will be setting up shop in the Herritage Ballroom with us and unveiling a brand new design that you'll want to sink your teeth into, amongst others...

It will be an AMAZING event and I look forward to seeing you there!

March 8 , 2009

~ CHILLER convention changes ~

For those that haven't noticed, 3 guests intended as part of next month's ITALIAN INVASION at Chiller Theatre in NJ have had to drop out.

ZOMBI 3 heroine Beatrice Ring had to cancel due to personal reasons, but doesn't want to disappoint her fans and will be sending some signed pix along for those who want to purchase them at the merch table in the Herritage Ballroom where all of my Italian guests will be located.

ZOMBIE make-up guru Giannetto De Rossi and his wife Mirella's next film project slated for Fall got funding earlier than expected, but do expect to meet the De Rossi's sometime in the future. Another often requested, first-time convention replacement for the above will be announced later this week!

March 1, 2009

~ CAT IN THE BRAIN by Grindhouse featuring Paura material ~

Like THE BEYOND DVD before it, Grindhouse Releasing has sprinkled its long-awaited March 31 release of CAT IN THE BRAIN with three interviews from Paura: Lucio Fulci Remembered ~ Vol. 1, namely Malisa Longo (who will be part of Chiller Theatre's Italian Invasion this April as mentioned below), Sacha Maria Darwin & Jeffrey Kennedy.

I was also taken aback when clicking on one of the DVD's to see video footage Howard S. Berger shot back at the 1996 Fango convention with maestro Fulci signing my GATES OF HELL poster. Amazing!

Do check out this entertaining later entry in Lucio's career, starring the director himself, in all it's gory glory later this month!

February 13 , 2009

~  The ITALIAN INVASION is coming!  ~

Icons of Italian Horror Cinema - including a 30th Anniversary reunion from Lucio Fulci’s ZOMBIE - announced for the Spring CHILLER THEATRE Expo!

“The Italian Invasion” will hit US shores April 17-19 for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet cast and crew from many of Italy’s most revered cult horror films.

“To whatever degree you view it, it will be an historic occasion,” states Paura Productions founder Mike Baronas who assembled the illustrious line-up. “It will be a surreal experience to stand in one place surrounded by all these folks I grew up adoring, and I’m certain I won’t be alone in that respect.”  

ZOMBIE leading man and guest Ian McCulloch gives what will be his perspective from the other side of the table, “I am looking forward to Parsippany and meeting fans, old and new, of films which have somehow stood the test of time. I wish I could say the same of myself!”

The current cast of characters – most of whom will be making their VERY FIRST convention appearance ever – includes:

From ZOMBIE…

• Ian McCulloch (Dr. Butcher M.D., Contamination)
• Richard Johnson (The Haunting, Beyond the Door, Screamers)
• Al Cliver (The Beyond, Cannibals, Endgame, Demonia, Devil Hunter)
• Ottaviano Dell’Acqua (Rats: Night of Terror, Cut & Run, Zombi 3)
• Giannetto De Rossi (SPFX maestro of High Tension, Dune, The Beyond)
• Mirella De Rossi (Hair Stylist of Dragonheart, Conan the Destroyer)

The Children from THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY…

• Giovanni Frezza (Demons, Manhattan Baby, A Blade In The Dark)
• Silvia Collatina (Murderock, Big Alligator River)

Also Featuring…

• Luigi Cozzi (Director of Contamination, Starcrash, The Killer Must Kill Again)
• Zora Kerova (Cannibal Ferox, Anthropophagus, The New York Ripper)
• Malisa Longo (A Cat in the Brain, Fraulein Kitty, Miranda, Way of the Dragon)
• Beatrice Ring (Zombi 3, Graveyard Disturbance, Interzone)
• Michael Sopkiw (2019: After the Fall of New York, Devil Fish, Blastfighter)

February 1 , 2009

~ Great PAURA DVD Review at ICONS OF FRIGHT ~

Phil Fasso of Icons of Fright just posted a review of my baby in time for it's retail release this Tuesday. He makes some great points on the overall scope of the project that I hadn't realized. It's a good read, so click on the link below to take a look...

A listing of all reviews/interviews can be found HERE...

January 20, 2009

~ PAURA DVD Highlighted in New Issue of FANGO ~

Thanks goes out to Mike Gingold who has suppoted my Lucio Fulci memorial DVD from the beginning, and has continued to do so by making it the "DVD of the Month" in the new issue of FANGORIA (#280).

Equal thanks to fellow Fulci aficionato Scooter McCrae for the very kind "4 out of 4" review!

While we all know it's been out for 11 months now, Mike saw a great opportunity to play off of the new retail distribution via Tempe Video.

Thanks again fellas...the next 5 rounds are on me...

January 12, 2009

~ HAPPY 2009 . . . Things to Come ~

While I'm a little late in wishing you all the best in this new year, please know that I've been busy working on a number of things that will come to light in 2009. First off, the Volume 1 DVD will street to retailers on February 3rd courtesy of Tempe. You can find it at Amazon, CD Universe, Overstock, Deep Discount, our friends at Diabolik DVD, and of course here.

In conjunction with the retail release, many new reviews can be found here.

Also in the works, you may want to keep a spliter-filled eye on the Chiller Theatre website over the next few weeks for some news on their April 17-19 convention that may knock your socks off...

November 17, 2008

~ R.I.P. Frances Nacman ~

While Kit passed along the news a few weeks back (and is planning on writing a tribute review for the newly re-launched Cinema Nocturna), I did want to properly relay the untimely loss of our friend Frances (Voices From Beyond) Nacman who lost a short battle with pancreatic cancer on October 22.

It's difficult to imagine Frances' intoxicatingly gleeful self not prancing through the piazzas near her home - where she seemed to know everyone - any longer. Kit and I enjoyed a couple of meals at her favorite local spots and lots of laughs in her studio flat during our Shriek Show days. She and I cooresponded on and off over the years, with the last bit of mail I received being a copy of the program to an offbeat gallery exhibit she had this past summer. She enjoyed keeping me in the know and asked about my children all the time.

While her role in the grand scheme of Italian cinema is small, you would think she was Sophia Loren in the amount of enery she exuded. I miss her...

November 15, 2008

~ PAURA DVD Trailer Completed ~

In the better-late-than-never department, I finally got around to asking DVD editor Ian to pull together a 4+ minute trailer for the PAURA disc in conjunction with its 2009 retail distribution. He did a kick-ass job!

If you didn't notice it on our homepage, check it out below:

November 4, 2008

~ PAURA DVD Gets New Legs Thanks to Tempe Retail Distribution ~

We just inked our first distro deal with longtime friend & Tempe Video head honcho J.R. Bookwalter. Having personally broken even financially with Volume 1, I figured now was the right time to give this timeless memorial to the maestro its second wind via Netflix, Amazon, etc.

Round 2 will be hitting store shelves February 3, 2009.

A copy of the distribution press release can be viewed here.

October 27, 2008

~ BEYOND Chiller ~

A blast was had at Chiller Theatre this past weekend where I had the honor to once again work with the ever-so-sweet Catriona MacColl in promoting Gridhouse's re-release of Lucio Fulci’s THE BEYOND.

Look for Catriona to make a few select convention appearances in 2009...

October 1 , 2008

~ Chiller Appearance Details Announced ~

For Immediate Release

Grindhouse Releasing & Paura Productions Join Forces to Promote Re-Release of THE BEYOND

Schedule first-ever East Coast appearance by Lucio Fulci leading lady Catriona MacColl at the Chiller Theatre Expo, October 24-26, in Parsippany, NJ

With the impending October 28th DVD re-release of Lucio Fulci’s 1981 masterwork THE BEYOND, Grindhouse Releasing and Paura Productions decided what better way to promote this landmark in EuroHorror cinema than invite the film’s heroine – the stunning Catriona MacColl – to meet the hordes of rabid Fulci fanatics at one of the largest cult conventions in America. The Chiller Theatre Expo in Parsippany, New Jersey (www.chillertheatre.com) will host the British rose October 24-26, the weekend prior to the DVD’s street date (a limited number of advance copies will be available at MacColl’s table). Kevin Clement, the show’s Producer, states, “I’m delighted that the lovely Catriona will be making her first East Coast convention appearance at Chiller this October! Our film savvy fans will surely enjoy this rare appearance and will eat her up like a Fulci zombie!”

Since director Fulci’s passing in 1996, MacColl has made a handful of festival appearances overseas, and Chiller will be but her second ever in the States. “Catriona likes to keep a low profile,” reveals MacColl’s manager and Paura Productions founder Mike Baronas (www.pauraprod.com). “She’s one of the sweetest people you’re likely to ever meet and I’m glad she has embraced the continuing popularity that these films she made with Lucio have to this day.”

Along with THE BEYOND, MacColl also starred in the Fulci’s visionary, gore-soaked classics CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD (1980) and THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY (1981). She also took part in the Paura Productions debut release PAURA: LUCIO FULCI REMEMBERED ~ VOLUME 1 along with nearly 90 other cast, crewmembers and peers for a 3½ hour memorial DVD compilation to the late director. It was this title that prompted Bob Murawski of Grindhouse (www.grindhousereleasing.com) to contact Baronas about assisting with the new BEYOND and license some of his footage. “Mike's tribute DVD is a treasure trove of priceless interviews,” affirms Murawski. “A newly assembled compilation of Mike's interviews with eleven of Fulci's closest collaborators on THE BEYOND has truly elevated our re-release of the DVD by providing a highly emotional insight into the late, great maestro.” Baronas returns the appreciation in stating, “I was honored to once again work with Bob and Grindhouse as they are one of the few DVD outfits remaining that still care about delivering quality with quantity and truly love the films they release.”

Known for its exhaustive devotion and historical preservation of genre classics such as CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST, I DRINK YOUR BLOOD, CANNIBAL FEROX and PIECES (also released on Oct. 28 and playing theatrically this month), Grindhouse have pulled out all the stops once again for THE BEYOND (which hasn’t been available since 2004) featuring a hi-def anamorphic widescreen transfer of the uncut movie with a breathtaking Dolby Digital 5.1 sound re-mix by Academy Award nominee Paul Ottosson, plus the following supplements:

• Audio commentary by stars Catriona MacColl and the late, great David Warbeck

• Introduction by MacColl

• On-set interview with Lucio Fulci

• 11 cast and crew memorial interviews

• Optional Italian language soundtrack and original mono audio

• Lost German pre-credit sequence in full color

• Necrophagia music video by Jim VanBebber

• Still and poster art gallery

• Original theatrical trailers

• Liner notes by legendary horror journalist Chas. Balun

For additional information:

Grindhouse Releasing
David Szulkin
Email: info@grindhousereleasing.com

Website: www.grindhousereleasing.com

Paura Productions
Mike Baronas
Email: mike@pauraprod.com

Website: www.pauraprod.com

Chiller Theatre Expo
Website: www.chillertheatre.com

June 10 , 2008

~ More Interviews ~

Mike was interviewed for the latest issue (#79) of Rue Morgue magazine...

Also, Jon Kitley did up a fine Q+A over at Kitley's Krypt and there's a new review up by Willy Greer of Fatally Yours

May 7, 2008

~ Audio Review ~

Audio review posted from Derek from Mail Order Zombie

April 23, 2008

~ More Reviews ~

Thanks guys...

• David Carter from Film Fanaddict

• Mark Hasan from KQEK.com

• Rabid Rich Caron from GASPetc.com

April 13, 2008

~ Kitley's Krypt Review ~

That madman Jon Kitley just chimed in on PAURA too. Click on the neat montage he made up for the disc below to check it out...

April 10, 2008

~ More Reviews In ~

More praise for PAURA: Lucio Fulci Remembered ~ Vol. 1...

• Luke Franklin from Horror-Movies.ca

• Louis Justin from The Coroner's Report

• Ed Demko from Bloodtype Online

• Steve Genier from Cinema Nocturna

Thanks for all the kind words guys!

~ Reunited...Again ~

We were given the warmest of welcomes at Ken & Pam Kish's Cinema Wasteland show this past weekend where Johnny reunited with his gorgeous GATES OF HELL co-star Catriona MacColl...

(From left: Catriona's hubby Marcello, Catriona, Ken, Johnny & me)

Thanks to all for coming out in support of these EuroHorror legends this past month...more icons to hit US shores this Summer and Fall, the first show being HorrorHound in Pittsburgh this June with THE ZOMBIE from Fulci's ZOMBIE, stuntman extraordinare Ottavaino Dell'Acqua who will be joined by his ZOMBI 3 co-star, the beautiful Beatrice Ring...

April 2, 2008

~ First Wave of Reviews & More Press ~

Some positive DVD press has been hitting the internet as of late and I must say I'm humbled by it all, but very pleased in knowing that I've played a part in keeping Lucio's memory alive and well...

• A lengthy audio interview with DeadPit.com can be found HERE

• A glowing review on Sex Gore Mutants HERE

• House of Horrors has chimed in on it too HERE

More to come...

Hope to see some of you this weekend at the Cinema Wasteland con featuring Fulci faves Catriona MacColl & Giovanni Lombardo Radice. Drop by and say hello!

~ HORROR HOUND Reunion ~

Giovanni & infamous director Ruggero Deodato gave Indy some Italian seasoning this past weekend with their HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK reunion...

March 19, 2008

~ FEAR FEST 2 Reunion ~

Giovanni Lombardo Radice caught up with CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE co-star John Saxon in Dallas after 28 years...

February 28, 2008

~ Convention Tour to Begin in 1 Week ~

Giovanni Lombardo Radice and I will be arriving in Dallas next week to begin our 5-week promotional tour for the PAURA DVD.

Q+A times have been announced as follows:

• FearFest 2 (Dallas, TX) = 2:00 on Sunday, March 9
• MonsterMania X (Cherry Hill, NJ) = 2:00 on Saturday, March 15
• HorrorHound (Indianapolis, IN) = TBA
• Cinema Wasteland (Cleveland, OH) = 6:00 on Friday, April 4

We look forward to meeting you...

February 24, 2008

~ DVD Delayed by 10 days ~

With my DVD author telling me "this is like the amount of programming that goes into 10 DVDs that I typically work on," it's no surprise that we're a bit behind schedule. Thankfully, only by 10 days and I will have them just in time for FEAR FEST 2 where I will be on a panel alongside Giovanni Lombardo Radice to discuss the release, Fulci, and more on the surprise announcement that will kick off the show.

DVDs that have been pre-ordered will ship on March 12.

February 17, 2008

~ New AND HUGE Interview ~

William Simmons of the long-running UK site Sex Gore Mutants has just posted an exhaustive interview about the DVD and my past adventures as Supplement Producer for Shriek Show...

January 29, 2008

~ CONVENTION APPEARANCES ~

To coincide with the release of the Fulci memorial DVD, creator Mike Baronas will be embarking on a convention tour with Giovanni Lombardo Radice (aka Johnny) at the following shows:

Where Johnny will appear with HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK director Ruggero Deodato

More 2008 convention appearances to be announced soon!

January 7, 2008

~ Autographed edition #1 of 50 now on eBay! ~

Since the auction for #36 went so well, I've decided to let go of my precious #1 of 50 autographed edition to assist in funding the DVD's production. Check it out HERE.

And many thanks to all of you who have pre-ordered thus far...your support in seeing this dream project through has been overwhelming.

January 6 , 2008

~  DVD PRE-ORDERS ON SALE NOW!  ~

December 30, 2007

~ FIRST LIMITED EDITION DVD (#36 of 50) NOW ON eBay! ~

To test the waters and give next Sunday's pre-order (which will go live at 9:00am EST) a bit more promotion, the first limited autographed edition - #36 of 50 - has just been listed on eBay.

Of course, any fan worth his/her salt knows the significance of #36 in the world of Fulci lore! Check out your first opportunity to see the autographed pages - and feel free to drop a bid if you wish - HERE.

December 18, 2007

~ RELEASE DATE & FINAL ARTWORK ANNOUNCED ~

Above is the final design for PAURA: Lucio Fulci Remembered ~ Volume 1 which will be released on February 26, 2008.

Special thanks to the amazing Catriona MacColl for the ringing endorsement that graces the DVD's front cover and reads:

"I am touched by the tenderness, emotion and appreciation that I witnessed in this thought-provoking compilation concerning the complex life and talents of the unforgettable Lucio Fulci."    -Catriona MacColl

Pre-orders - including the extremely limited collector's autographed edition with bonus promo soundtrack CD - will go on sale January 6, 2008 (12 years to the day that many of us met Mr. Fulci at the NYC Fangoria "Weekend of Horrors"). The DVD itself will retail for $20.00 via this site.

Have a great holiday season everyone!

-Mike Baronas

P.S.- Interested retailers should email me for orders of 10 or more copies.

December 18, 2007

~ DVD PRESS RELEASE ONLINE ~

An overview of the PAURA DVD for you press types can be found HERE.

December 12, 2007

~ FROM GERMANY WITH LOVE ~

A City of the Living Dead fanatic's wet dream come true? Perhaps, but it was all business for me at last weekend's "Weekend of Horrors" convention in Bottrop, Germany where I assisted Giovanni Lombardo Radice & Catriona MacColl as they signed for the throngs of European fans. I also managed to promote the Fulci memorial DVD a bit too.

Is this a preview of things to come for US fans? Stay tuned...

December 11, 2007

~ A PAIR OF INTERVIEWS NOW ONLINE ~

A couple interviews hyping the upcoming release of PAURA: Lucio Fulci Remembered ~ Volume 1 have recently sprung up.

The first was done with fellow Fulci aficionado Mark Jason Murray over at Film Fanaddict.

The second was done by Martin Nunez of Spanish blog site Beyond Flix.

Happy reading...

October 11, 2007

~ LUCIO FULCI MEMORIAL DVD FORTHCOMING ~

Mike has taken it upon himself to compile the 90 on-camera and audio interviews in his possession and release a limited-edition memorial DVD to the late Lucio Fulci. With chances currently slim that our massive tome will see the light of day in our lifetime, releasing this DVD first will at least bring some satisfaction that a segment of all the hard work, time and expense was worth it.

Entitled PAURA: Lucio Fulci Remembered, this first volume of possible future editions will treat Fulci fans to tales from those he worked closest with as well as his contemporaries with the hope of shedding some light upon the often misunderstood maestro.

Mike is currently in the throws of cleaning thousands of images in his collection that will be used as slideshow accompaniments to each individual, all of whom answer the same question: "What is your fondest memory of Lucio Fulci?"

The DVD will be released independently under the Paura Productions moniker and will have a street date of February 2008. EXTREMELY special pre-order autographed editions will be made available early next year. Check back for all the details on this and additional progress...

Also, Mike is currently representing Giovanni Lombardo Radice for conventions in conjunction with next year's DVD release. For more information on booking the EuroHorror icon, click HERE.

May 11, 2007

A number of new developments are in the works (including the SHOP above). Stay tuned for more details in the near future...

October 19, 2006

Greetings. I know it has been forever, but not much has progressed in terms of new Fulci book news or DVD projects, not that Kit and I have cared to work on either front in quite some time. Life often gets in the way of living.

That being said, WE WILL SEE OUR BOOK PROJECT THROUGH in one form or another. In the meanwhile, please check out the website that has been taking up every precious free moment Mike has had in the past 3.5 months:

May 20, 2006

SITE LAUNCHED!
Updates to come when we have additional stuff to share. Please feel free to peruse the site and let us know what you think...

© 2010 Paura Productions

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