by Mike Schoonveld:
Justin Beahm may not be an instantly recognizable name outside of the horror genre. But to horror fans everywhere, he is a paragon of talent: actor, writer, producer, director. The man behind the documentary, You Can’t Kill The Bogeyman, which accompanied last years theatrical re-release of John Carpenter’s classic scare-fest, Halloween, gave audiences an inside look at the cultural phenomenon that is Michael Myers and why he continues to scare audiences to this day.
Justin, a native from Iowa, was very gracious to chat with me about, not only what he is up to, but to also celebrate 35 Years of HALLOWEEN.
Michael Schoonveld: Justin thank you so much for taking the time and joining me at DarkMedia as we celebrate “35 Years of HALLOWEEN”.
Justin Beahm: Thanks for tracking me down!
MS: The “35 Years of Terror” convention: Can you tell us what confirmed guests will be attending and will you be attending as well?
JB: We aren’t announcing guests just yet, but I will say that we are approaching it from an “all in” perspective. We really want this to be special and as comprehensive as possible, so there will be plenty of surprises in store for fans. And yes, I will be there, too.
MS: Has this convention been on the table for a while or did it just come about magically?
JB: It is an idea I started thinking about a year or so ago, but that came to fruition pretty quick within the last few months. These things are such massive undertakings, so there is a lot going on behind the scenes to get it all in motion.
MS: You’re also joining Halloween 5 starlet Tamara Glynn and a number of other great and talented filmmakers such as Steven C. Miller, Jeff Burr and Eric England, to name a few, this September at the Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival. Are you a big supporter of indie filmmakers?
JB: Independent filmmaking is where it is at, and where it has always been at. Innovation is born there, and the studios plunder from the concepts road tested in the trenches by blue collar filmmakers. This is especially so in horror, where budget and theatrical release are basically irrelevant to what audiences want.
MS: How did you and Tamara meet?
JB: We bumped into each other on Facebook and I started talking to her about the possibility of her creating a fan page, getting out to make some appearances and stuff. The rest is history!
MS: What are you most excited about attending the Hot Springs Film festival?
JB: Meeting and hanging out with filmmakers. I love film festivals, and this one, in particular, will be special of how focused it is on the craft as a whole. The workshops she (Tamara Glynn) is planning, the screenings, and the events all add up to a very unique experience. Can’t wait!
MS: Why do you think more and more fans of horror are turning to indie films?
JB: This isn’t anything new. The genre, more than any other, is so firmly rooted in independent efforts, that in my mind, the studio budget stuff is anomalous. The reasons are many, but I think at its heart, horror is forever indie because it is where young, energetic and untainted artists can throw the gloves off and try anything. They can really play in the sandbox and not worry about having to keep things realistic or romantic or anything like that. Not that those elements aren’t healthy components to some films, but I am just saying that in horror, anything goes, and I think allows a lot of freedom for filmmakers.
MS: Being a filmmaker yourself, what advice can you give to aspiring filmmakers?
JB: I would say the best advice is just create using whatever you have. Whether you are shooting on a camcorder, a cell phone or a Red Epic, and whether you are lighting with a lamp or an Arri kit, just shoot. Don’t get bogged down in the equipment you don’t have, and make use of what you do. Just create!
MS: Tell us about the book. How did the idea for Halloween: The Official Authorized Biography come about?
JB: A number of years ago I started working on an article on the Halloween 4-6 story arc for Fangoria magazine, and I realized there is a greater story to be told. So many voices that have gone unheard all these years. Most of the coverage on the Halloween films has focused on the original, and that leaves nine other movies to explore. I have been a huge fan since I was a kid, and want to what I can to help get all these stories on record and preserved for time.
MS: It sounds like a massive project and we can’t wait for it. When is the book expected to be released?
JB: We are currently aiming for fall 2014, but nothing is locked yet.
MS: Any actors from the series you have gotten to participate in the book?
JB: MANY! I will start revealing interview subjects once we step into the next phase of the production of the book.
MS: Any films you yourself that you’re working on?
JB: I just appeared in the Syfy film, Sharknado from director Anthony Ferrante. That should be coming out this summer. My part is miniscule, but it was a blast. I am going to be shooting a short film this summer in the Lake Arrowhead, California area called The Old Witch. I am helping (director) Rob Himebaugh on the follow up to his exceptional bigfoot short Eaglewalk. Working on a feature script with hopes of shooting that next year. I am sure other stuff will pop up, too.
MS: Are there any new developments regarding Halloween 3? Will it follow Rob Zombie’s last two films, will it be another reboot or is it off the table for now?
JB: Nothing to report on this front. The next Halloween is in development, and there is nothing to share as to storyline or direction. It won’t be in space. I can tell you that.
MS: And I think we can all be grateful for that! You are heavily involved in the series, what is it about Michael Myers and the series in general, that you love?
JB: I think it is a number of things that draw me to Halloween. The character of the Shape/Michael Myers is such a fantastic screen villain. Having grown up in Iowa I tend to connect with stores that are set in the Midwest, and this series pulls off Illinois (even though it was shot everywhere from California to Utah to Canada), perfectly. Instantly relatable. The character of Loomis is great, and easy to attach to. It just has a lot going for it.
Plus it is a diverse series. Each film offers new things, and the story has gone down some pretty diverse paths. I like that Myers has been preserved and not taken into parody. I like that he isn’t doing a bunch of super human stuff like bending people in half and punching off heads. Despite what some describe as a supernatural core, Halloween perhaps works best because it is grounded in reality.
MS: It is diverse and very grounded in reality. It could happen in any town. Aside from Hot Springs and the “35 Years of Terror” convention, are making any other appearances this summer?
JB: I am scaling back on convention appearances, actually. I will be at Rock and Shock in Worcester, MA in October and of course H35 in November. Nothing else scheduled on the convention side.
MS: Tell us about the Fringe Cinema Round Table tour.
JB: THANK YOU for asking! Fringe Cinema Roundtable is a series of screenings, both online and in person, where I play a feature film and several shorts, then have discussions with the audience afterwards. When possible, I bring the filmmaker(s) involved with that screening. Discussion ranges depending on the appetites of those in attendance, but is generally focused on filmmaking, the history behind the movies that have screened, but often veers into all sorts of interesting roads. The discussions are fantastic, and I love bringing people to the table together to celebrate and explore cinema.
Part of FCR is a monthly online “community screening” where several features are chose, everybody hops into a chatroom that I have reserved, we all hit PLAY at the same time, and we talk as we watch. Lots of fun, and bigger each time it happens.
I am currently booking screening events for the rest of the year and 2014. If people are interested in bringing FCR to their area, please me at info@justinbeahm.com. Everyone can keep up with FCR via Facebook at facebook.com/fringecinemaroundtable.
MS: That’s amazing and something everybody should check out, including myself. Just thank you so much for joining me here at darkmedia.com, celebrating 35 Years of HALLOWEEN!
JB: Thank you!
To stay up to date with Justin visit:
www.justinbeahm.com
www.facebook.com/fringecinemaroundtable
www.35YearsofTerror.com
www.HotSpringsHorrorFilmFestival.com
www.halloweenmovies.com
OR give him a follow on Twitter @justinbeahm.
DarkMedia contributor Mike Schoonveld covers mainly movies, and there’s nothing that gets his blood going like a good horror film, old and new. When he’s not writing or watching horror, you can find him catching re-runs of television shows like I Love Lucy, The Simpsons, and Reba, among many. Last year, Mike was able to flex his writing muscles by submitting a screenplay to the Shriekfest Film and Screenplay festival where he was a finalist for “Best Feature Screenplay.” While he didn’t win, that hasn’t stopped him from pushing forward to establish a screenwriting career in horror. You can follow Mike on Twitter at @horrorguy30, Stage32.com and you can check out his blog at horrorguy30.blogspot.com.
Mike is currently working on two scripts: Slicer: The Sauk County Massacre (formerly titled Hell Weekend) and The Haunting of Willow Falls Manor.
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