The Houston Country Playhouse's production of Frankenstein helmed by Phil Nichols is gearing up for its October 12th start, and we just got word that a new lead actor is stepping into the pivotal role of Victor Frankenstein.
Nichols told us, "We’re in the home stretch on Frankenstein. Unfortunately, Sam Martinez left the production for personal reasons, but a fresh young actor named Louis Crespo, Jr., is taking over the part of Victor Frankenstein." Phil sent over a gallery's worth of stills featuring Crespo, which you can see below.
Synopsis:
FX master and director Phil Nichols’ (Groundead, Renfield: The Un-Dead, Boggy Creek 2010, Psychic Experiment, Reel FX make-up kits) take on this production of Frankenstein by Victor Gialanella from the novel by Mary Shelley is "high Hammer horror style". Nichols says, “We’re pulling out all the stops to homage the Peter Cushing Frankenstein films, drawing inspiration from Evil of...
Nichols told us, "We’re in the home stretch on Frankenstein. Unfortunately, Sam Martinez left the production for personal reasons, but a fresh young actor named Louis Crespo, Jr., is taking over the part of Victor Frankenstein." Phil sent over a gallery's worth of stills featuring Crespo, which you can see below.
Synopsis:
FX master and director Phil Nichols’ (Groundead, Renfield: The Un-Dead, Boggy Creek 2010, Psychic Experiment, Reel FX make-up kits) take on this production of Frankenstein by Victor Gialanella from the novel by Mary Shelley is "high Hammer horror style". Nichols says, “We’re pulling out all the stops to homage the Peter Cushing Frankenstein films, drawing inspiration from Evil of...
- 9/6/2012
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
A new stage production of Frankenstein is heading to Houston's Country Playhouse this October 12-27, and director Phil Nichols sent over a big batch of goodies to help whet the appetites of any Texans who might be interested in attending.
Phil tells us that rehearsals have begun, and along with testing the make-up, he recently shot the pre-production promo video you'll see below.
From the Press Release:
FX master and director Phil Nichols’ (Groundead, Renfield: The Un-Dead, Boggy Creek 2010, Psychic Experiment, Reel FX make-up kits) take on this production of Frankenstein by Victor Gialanella from the novel by Mary Shelley is "high Hammer horror style". Nichols says, “We’re pulling out all the stops to homage the Peter Cushing Frankenstein films, drawing inspiration from Evil of Frankenstein and Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell especially.”
Sam Martinez (Willard Caine in Renfield: The Un-Dead) is playing Baron Victor Frankenstein. Melissa L. Nichols...
Phil tells us that rehearsals have begun, and along with testing the make-up, he recently shot the pre-production promo video you'll see below.
From the Press Release:
FX master and director Phil Nichols’ (Groundead, Renfield: The Un-Dead, Boggy Creek 2010, Psychic Experiment, Reel FX make-up kits) take on this production of Frankenstein by Victor Gialanella from the novel by Mary Shelley is "high Hammer horror style". Nichols says, “We’re pulling out all the stops to homage the Peter Cushing Frankenstein films, drawing inspiration from Evil of Frankenstein and Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell especially.”
Sam Martinez (Willard Caine in Renfield: The Un-Dead) is playing Baron Victor Frankenstein. Melissa L. Nichols...
- 7/25/2012
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
We previously told you about Phil Nichols' upcoming stage production of Frankenstein at the Country Playhouse in Houston, Texas, and now we've gotten word that he also has a Frankenstein film project in the pipeline with the working title The Sick and Twisted Tale of Frankenstein.
Phil was kind enough to send over some preliminary artwork for The Sick and Twisted Tale of Frankenstein: The Undying Monster along with pictures of the finished sculpture of the facial prosthetic for both the stage and film projects. When we inquired whether showing off the sculpt might be a bit of a spoiler, Phil replied, "The look of the Creature really isn’t the surprise in the feature—the Bride will be!"
The Sick and Twisted Tale of Frankenstein is the first movie Nichols and his sister, Melissa, are doing through Facades FX Films. They are currently in the script and early pre-production phase.
Phil was kind enough to send over some preliminary artwork for The Sick and Twisted Tale of Frankenstein: The Undying Monster along with pictures of the finished sculpture of the facial prosthetic for both the stage and film projects. When we inquired whether showing off the sculpt might be a bit of a spoiler, Phil replied, "The look of the Creature really isn’t the surprise in the feature—the Bride will be!"
The Sick and Twisted Tale of Frankenstein is the first movie Nichols and his sister, Melissa, are doing through Facades FX Films. They are currently in the script and early pre-production phase.
- 4/24/2012
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
Actor/writer/director/producer/special effects maven Phil Nichols is one of the busiest guys we know, but in honor of our Indie Horror Month celebration, he took some time to drop us a line with an update on what he's been up to.
First off, casting is complete on Phil's upcoming stage production of Frankenstein at the Country Playhouse in Houston, Texas (more info on the play can be found by clicking here). The cast includes a few Renfield: The Un-Dead alums along with several newcomers.
Cast Members:
Victor Frankenstein: Sam Martinez
The Creature: Michael Raabe
DeLacey (the blind hermit): John W. Stevens
Hana Metz, Body Snatcher: Melissa Nichols
Petunia Schmidt, Body Snatcher: Mary Westbrook
Body Snatcher Boy: Taylor Biltoft
Elizabeth: Maredith Zaritski
Justine: Amesti Reioux
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley: Angela Denny
Alphonse: Vance Johnson
Henry Clerval: Steve Dowell
Herr Mueller: Bob Galley
Frau Mueller:...
First off, casting is complete on Phil's upcoming stage production of Frankenstein at the Country Playhouse in Houston, Texas (more info on the play can be found by clicking here). The cast includes a few Renfield: The Un-Dead alums along with several newcomers.
Cast Members:
Victor Frankenstein: Sam Martinez
The Creature: Michael Raabe
DeLacey (the blind hermit): John W. Stevens
Hana Metz, Body Snatcher: Melissa Nichols
Petunia Schmidt, Body Snatcher: Mary Westbrook
Body Snatcher Boy: Taylor Biltoft
Elizabeth: Maredith Zaritski
Justine: Amesti Reioux
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley: Angela Denny
Alphonse: Vance Johnson
Henry Clerval: Steve Dowell
Herr Mueller: Bob Galley
Frau Mueller:...
- 3/29/2012
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
It's been almost a year since we first got the early word on Poison Apple Films' Project Pangea: Dinosaurs Unleashed, but we heard from director Phil Nichols today with an update, and things seem to be moving along quite nicely.
From the Press Release:
From the team that brought you Renfield: The Undead and S.I.C.K. Serial Insane Clown Killer comes a sci-fi horror movie with the flavor of the Carnosaur movies, Lake Placid, and Ssssssss. Poison Apple Films presents Project Pangea: Dinosaurs Unleashed!
It was written by Melissa Nichols and will be directed by Phil Nichols, both of whom are also producing along with Bob Willems. Dinosaur and special make-up effects will be handled by Nichols and his Facades FX Make-up Lab. The film's music will be composed by Jeffrey Walton.
"There’s trouble in Paradise…" Paradise, Texas, that is. A small town sheriff and his deputy try to...
From the Press Release:
From the team that brought you Renfield: The Undead and S.I.C.K. Serial Insane Clown Killer comes a sci-fi horror movie with the flavor of the Carnosaur movies, Lake Placid, and Ssssssss. Poison Apple Films presents Project Pangea: Dinosaurs Unleashed!
It was written by Melissa Nichols and will be directed by Phil Nichols, both of whom are also producing along with Bob Willems. Dinosaur and special make-up effects will be handled by Nichols and his Facades FX Make-up Lab. The film's music will be composed by Jeffrey Walton.
"There’s trouble in Paradise…" Paradise, Texas, that is. A small town sheriff and his deputy try to...
- 2/2/2011
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
Hot on the heels of their successful premiere at the Bram Stoker Film Festival last month (click here for details and photos from that event), the folks behind Renfield: The Un-Dead are taking Afm by storm and in character.
Co-producer/production designer Melissa Nichols (who also appears in the film as Natasha the Vampire Oracle) dropped us a line with an update from Afm: "We're here now and have a screening of Renfield on Friday night. We had a screening on Wednesday, and it went really well. Everyone who saw it said it was fun and they loved it. We've had a lot of interest for domestic distribution, and we've got appointments for several foreign markets scheduled as well. We've got appointments booked for every day of the show.
On Thursday Lloyd Kaufman invited Phil [Nichols (who also produced and wrote the screenplay)] to make an appearance at the "Troma-dance" press conference and even gave him the mike to address the crowd.
Co-producer/production designer Melissa Nichols (who also appears in the film as Natasha the Vampire Oracle) dropped us a line with an update from Afm: "We're here now and have a screening of Renfield on Friday night. We had a screening on Wednesday, and it went really well. Everyone who saw it said it was fun and they loved it. We've had a lot of interest for domestic distribution, and we've got appointments for several foreign markets scheduled as well. We've got appointments booked for every day of the show.
On Thursday Lloyd Kaufman invited Phil [Nichols (who also produced and wrote the screenplay)] to make an appearance at the "Troma-dance" press conference and even gave him the mike to address the crowd.
- 11/5/2010
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
Jesse Kozel, one of the producers and stars of the upcoming indie film Hellstorm, dropped us a line with casting updates and some other preliminary information on the flick, which begins filming in Galveston, Texas, this November.
Kozel tells us, "We have recently signed Kane Hodder (pictured) as our lead and have an amazing cast of actors in our film. Also brother-sister duo Phil Nichols and Melissa Nichols' Facades FX is our effects team on this horror film." Hodder and Kozel's co-stars will be Debbie Rochon, Devanny Pinn, Natacha Izel, Sage Hall, Tara Cardinal, Jesse Kozel, Scarlet Salem, Shelby Stehlin, Travis Kerschen, Regan Deal, and Kevin "Special K" England from radio station 104.1 Krbe in Houston.
The project's writer/director/co-producer is Keith Smith. The third co-producer is Annette VerHoeven, and Hunter Ontiveros is Hellstorm's musical supervisor/director with 2 Dollar Sound the first artist to be chosen for the soundtrack.
Synopsis:
A group of architectural students,...
Kozel tells us, "We have recently signed Kane Hodder (pictured) as our lead and have an amazing cast of actors in our film. Also brother-sister duo Phil Nichols and Melissa Nichols' Facades FX is our effects team on this horror film." Hodder and Kozel's co-stars will be Debbie Rochon, Devanny Pinn, Natacha Izel, Sage Hall, Tara Cardinal, Jesse Kozel, Scarlet Salem, Shelby Stehlin, Travis Kerschen, Regan Deal, and Kevin "Special K" England from radio station 104.1 Krbe in Houston.
The project's writer/director/co-producer is Keith Smith. The third co-producer is Annette VerHoeven, and Hunter Ontiveros is Hellstorm's musical supervisor/director with 2 Dollar Sound the first artist to be chosen for the soundtrack.
Synopsis:
A group of architectural students,...
- 6/23/2010
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
Boggy Creek's writer/producer/director Brian T. Jaynes has released some photos of the Facades FX creature shop in action on the upcoming film - a whole gallery's worth in fact!
Facades FX designed, fabricated, and created all the creature suits, prosthetics, special make-up effects, and gore rigs for the new Boggy Creek. The Facades FX crew on-set were Phil Nichols and Melissa Nichols, and Phil provided us with the following overview:
For the Swamp Creature FX:
We created three suits. These suits were built on standard under-garment supports with sculpted and molded chest, back, and shoulder enhancements attached and painted in the creature's flesh color paint scheme. Then a special hand-blended synthetic hair mix was painstakingly pasted on the suits in a realistic growth pattern. A lot of hard work went into making these suits. Once the hair was attached, the suits were distressed with local mud and...
Facades FX designed, fabricated, and created all the creature suits, prosthetics, special make-up effects, and gore rigs for the new Boggy Creek. The Facades FX crew on-set were Phil Nichols and Melissa Nichols, and Phil provided us with the following overview:
For the Swamp Creature FX:
We created three suits. These suits were built on standard under-garment supports with sculpted and molded chest, back, and shoulder enhancements attached and painted in the creature's flesh color paint scheme. Then a special hand-blended synthetic hair mix was painstakingly pasted on the suits in a realistic growth pattern. A lot of hard work went into making these suits. Once the hair was attached, the suits were distressed with local mud and...
- 5/10/2010
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
Renfield: The Undead is a vampire styled horror film that has just announced that the film will complete in two weeks and that actress Julin has also participated. Although a small role, Julin (The Final) appears with Denise Williamson (Spirit Camp), Cory Hart (Boggy Creek), Roxy Vandiver (Killer School Girls from Outer Space), and Phil Nichols (Walking Distance) in the picture. This Poison Apple Film will be released later this year (October 1) with more info' on this bloody goodness found below.
A synopsis for Renfield: The Undead here:
"R. N. Renfield, once the slave of Dracula, is now an insane vampire stalking a modern day metropolis (Bayou City)" (Renfeild).
Release Date: October 1, 2010.
Director: Bob Willems.
Writer: Bob Willems.
Cast: Mel House, Joe Grisaffi, Paul Damon, Shelley Boozer, Tyler Tackett, Keli Wolfe, Roxy Cook, Bobby Simpson II, John Stevens, Melissa Nichols, Ryan Johnson, and Lillian De Michele.
No trailer available yet.
A synopsis for Renfield: The Undead here:
"R. N. Renfield, once the slave of Dracula, is now an insane vampire stalking a modern day metropolis (Bayou City)" (Renfeild).
Release Date: October 1, 2010.
Director: Bob Willems.
Writer: Bob Willems.
Cast: Mel House, Joe Grisaffi, Paul Damon, Shelley Boozer, Tyler Tackett, Keli Wolfe, Roxy Cook, Bobby Simpson II, John Stevens, Melissa Nichols, Ryan Johnson, and Lillian De Michele.
No trailer available yet.
- 4/19/2010
- by Michael Ross Allen
- 28 Days Later Analysis
If there's anybody out in the indie world that sends us updates on their projects more often than the multi-talented Phil Nichols, I don't know who it is. Today he sent over a new batch of stills from Vampire Diaries Renfield, but best of all, they include the first shot of one of the creatures Nichols' Facades FX is doing for the film.
Phil, who, along with portraying Renfield, also wrote the screenplay, tells us, "Week 6 has wrapped. We did a lot of flying FX and aerial fight work on green screen for the climax. These pictures are from the Harkers' lair and all the naughty goings on that will happen in there..."
Besides Nichols, the stars include Julin, John Stevens (as Dracula), Cory Hart, Shelley Boozer, Mel House, Paul Damon, Joe Grisaffi, Tyler Tackett, and Keli Wolfe. The director is Bob Willems.
The new pictures begin on Page 4 of our Renfield gallery.
Phil, who, along with portraying Renfield, also wrote the screenplay, tells us, "Week 6 has wrapped. We did a lot of flying FX and aerial fight work on green screen for the climax. These pictures are from the Harkers' lair and all the naughty goings on that will happen in there..."
Besides Nichols, the stars include Julin, John Stevens (as Dracula), Cory Hart, Shelley Boozer, Mel House, Paul Damon, Joe Grisaffi, Tyler Tackett, and Keli Wolfe. The director is Bob Willems.
The new pictures begin on Page 4 of our Renfield gallery.
- 3/30/2010
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
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