Tabloid Witch Awards

8 Horror Film Entries So Far...

2012-01-29T00:52:00.000-08:00

As of January 29, 2012, the 2012 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 8 horror film entries: 7 shorts and 1 feature. Entries have come from Canada, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2012 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2012.

It's long before the deadline, so entries are still only trickling in. They normally start picking up around April, then pour in during July, and flood in during the final month (August).

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

Constellation TV to Screen Mike Flanagan's Absentia

2012-01-27T01:06:00.000-08:00

Mike Flanagan's Absentia won several Tabloid Witch Awards in 2011 -- including Best Horror Feature Film.

Now Constellation TV will screen Absentia -- on February 2, 2012, 10 p.m. EST -- a little over a month before Phase 4 Film's DVD release of Absentia.

After Constellation's screening, Flanagan will participate in an online Q&A. "The conversation will take place in Constellation's virtual movie theater platform, with the hosts live via webcam."

Constellation is a "virtual theatrical exhibitor" that sells tickets to online film screenings, many of which are presented by "VIP hosts" (e.g., the film's director, actors, etc.).

Erasmo Romero III -- Continued Success for a Great Artist

2012-01-26T02:45:00.000-08:00

A late post, but still worth noting.

Last Christmas (nearly a month ago!), Erasmo Romero III sent out his latest graphic work, entitled "The Santa," to wish Merry Christmas to all his friends.

This beautiful work of "horror art" both demonstrates Romero's creative talents -- and why his Skin Deep won a Tabloid Witch Award for Best Short Comedic Horror Film in 2007.

Amazingly, Romero was a mere film student when he shot Skin Deep -- an undergraduate film student!

Despite the tough economy, and the exodus of film production from Los Angeles, Romero's portfolio, upon graduating film school, was so impressive that he soon found employment in L.A. at Legend 3D.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is proud to have provided the premiere screening for Skin Deep.

In case you haven't seen it, here it is again:

And here is Erasmo Romero III in 2007, which his Tabloid Witch Award for the above film.

Skin Deep also won Tabloid Witches for Best Actor (James Rollyson) and Best Music Soundtrack (Joseph Y. Kamiya).

Matthew Daniels's Latest Christmas Music Video

2011-12-24T06:59:00.000-08:00

Matthew Daniels, who won a Best Horror Music Video Tabloid Witch in 2011 for Happy Happy Halloween, sends us this Christmas video, once again starring his two daughters, Jazzy and Nikki.

Unlike his Halloween video, this one's not a professional effort. It's just made and sent in the spirit of good Christmas fun!

7 Horror Film Entries So Far ...

2011-12-22T00:56:00.000-08:00

As of December 22, 2011, the 2012 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 7 horror film entries: 6 shorts and 1 feature. Entries have come from Canada, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2012 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2012.

Entries always trickle in this early. They usually start picking up around April, then pour in during July, and flood in during the final month (August).

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

Big Biting Pig Films to Screen on TV's Macabre Theatre

2011-11-21T08:29:00.000-08:00

The Tabloid Witch has long been a fan of Kentucky's Big Biting Pig Productions. Their Hell Is Full won a Best Feature Screenplay Tabloid Witch in 2010, and The Creepy Doll won an Honorable Mention in 2011.

Now Steve Hudgins informs us that Big Biting Pig "came to an agreement with a nationally syndicated show called Macabre Theatre, which is kind of along the lines of the Elvira show. So our movies will be getting seen by a wider audience in the near future. We also just wrapped shooting on our latest movie called Spirit Stalkers".

Jose C. Gomez's New Horror Feature Film: Plastic

2011-11-20T11:49:00.000-08:00

Filmmaker Jose C. Gomez won an Honorable Mention Tabloid Witch Award in 2009 for his zombie feature film, Bled White.

Gomez now returns with another horror feature film, Plastic. This time the focus is on a serial killer rather than on zombies, but Plastic has Bled White's same dark sensibility.

Plastic also features many of the players from Bled White, including Colleen Boag, who won a Best Supporting Actress Tabloid Witch Award in 2009 for her work in Bled White.

Alex Bram to Direct Three New Horror Films

2011-11-07T23:05:00.000-08:00

Filmmaker Alex Bram won a Best Dramatic Horror Short Film Tabloid Witch Award in 2009 for Body of Work.

Since then, Bram has continued to find new successes. He now announces that he has three upcoming horror film projects, all of which he co-wrote and plans to direct. One of them he co-wrote with Jeffrey Reddick, who was co-writer of the original Final Destination.

Bram is also founder and director of the Carnival of Darkness horror short film festival.

He is one of many horror film festival directors who work, or aspire to work, in the entertainment industry.

Details on Bram's current horror film projects may be found at Panic Attack Films.

6 Horror Film Entries So Far...

2011-10-18T00:53:00.000-07:00

As of October 18, 2011, the 2012 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 6 horror film entries: 5 shorts and 1 feature. Entries have come from Brazil, Denmark, Finland, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2012 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2012.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

Sound Recording and Editing Tips for Horror Filmmakers

2011-10-15T23:40:00.000-07:00

Since 2005, the Tabloid Witch Awards has honored film sound with a Best Sound Award. This is because sound is an often under appreciated element in filmmaking, and so the Tabloid Witch wishes to highlight those films that put sound to good aesthetic use.

Now there's a book that will teach horror filmmakers just about everything practical and "how to" about how to create, record, mix, and edit great soundtracks. Read our review of David Lewis Yewdall's Practical Art of Motion Picture Sound.

Hey, do don't have to buy the book -- but if you've had trouble in the past with your horror films' soundtracks, you should read the review before deciding if this book's for you.

5 Horror Film Entries So Far...

2011-10-11T01:33:00.000-07:00

As of October 11, 2011, the 2012 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 5 short film entries. These entries have come from the United States, Finland, Denmark and Brazil.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. Details at: TabloidWitch.com.

Matthew Daniels on the Making of Happy Happy Halloween

2011-10-07T03:00:00.000-07:00

Matthew Daniels won a 2011 Best Horror Music Video Tabloid Award for Happy Happy Halloween. He now offers us a "behind the scenes" look at how he did it.

"The funny thing is," says Daniels, "how little time and money I spent on this. I already had the instrumental song. We had all the props. All I bought for this was the lolly pops and costumes.

"We [Daniels, his wife, and two daughters] just hopped in the van and went looking for locations. Within two hours, including driving time, we had all the footage.

"I found a hill behind the local mall that hadn't been mowed. And, I was shooting uphill, you couldn't see the neighborhood behind them. Conditions were serendipitous, as there was a dark storm cloud behind them and the sun was setting in front of them. That was the opening and closing shot.

"We jumped back in the van looking for another location, before we lost our light, and ended up at a nearby park. That lone tree seemed perfect. We actually went shopping and out to eat -- with the girls still in costume. While shopping, a girl asked Nikki if they were dancers for some band.

"We got home and spent another 15 minutes in the now darkened front hall with some flashlights to light from below. I played the instrumental, so they could get the rhythm and Nikki could get the right notes, but they weren't hearing them when we recorded that bit. It all just worked out and was easily mixed with the instrumental.

"I'd never tried to properly edit a video, before, and whipped it together overnight. (I do go by Midnight Habit for a reason.) Knowing a bit more about editing, I went back and redid it this year, changing some framing, lighting, and timing issues. Plus, I wanted to add two clips of Jazzy that weren't in the original."

Mike Flanagan's Absentia Wins at Shriekfest 2011

2011-10-06T01:46:00.000-07:00

In 2006 Mike Flanagan won a Best Horror Short Film Tabloid Witch Award (among other festivals' awards) for Oculus.

This year, it's Flanagan's horror feature film, Absentia, that's sweeping the festival awards.

On September 20th, Absentia, won several Tabloid Witch Awards, including Best Horror Feature Film. And on October 2nd, Absentia won for Best Horror Feature Film at Shriekfest.

Check out Mike Flanagan (center), with Absentia actress Courtney Bell and producer Joe Wicker, sharing in his victory. That's a Shriekfest Tombstone trophy in Flanagan's hand.

Congrats to an Energizer Bunny of a filmmaker, whose works keep on winning, and winning, and winning...

Damon Packard Directs Revisting The Vistor

2011-09-30T08:05:00.000-07:00

Underground filmmaker Damon Packard won a Best Avant-Garde Horror Short Film Tabloid Witch Award in 2008, for his Chemtrails: An Investigative Report.

Fans of Packard's other works also know that he often "borrows" the theme song from the 1979 Italian horror film, The Visitor. Packard's a big fan of that mondo-bizarro film.

His musical tastes seem to have caught someone's attention, because Packard has since directed (and edited) a short documentary on "the making of" The Visitor, entitled "Revisiting the Visitor. It's available on the newly restored DVD edition, which, despite what it says on Amazon, is a WIDESCREEN version! Plus it includes additional footage never before seen in the United States.

You can also view Packard's "Revisiting the Visitor" on YouTube (above).

Yes, the documentary opens with that awesomely bombastic score that Visitor fans have come to know and love.

As musical scores go, it's an unconventional choice for a film about demons and Armageddon, but then, The Visitor is an unconventional film.

And Packard is one unconventional filmmaker.

Congrats to Damon Packard on his continuing success!

8th Annual Tabloid Witch Award Winners Announced!

2011-09-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

The 8th annual Tabloid Witch Awards, sponsored by the Hollywood Investigator, have now been announced!

The Tabloid Witch Awards are a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival.

Read about this year's winning horror films in the Hollywood Investigator.

3 Films So Far -- For 2012

2011-09-10T08:55:00.000-07:00

Every year, several submissions arrive past deadline. These films are held over for the following year's awards consideration. Thus, although the 2011 winners have not yet been announced, we already have entries for 2012!

As of September 10, 2011, the 2012 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 3 short film entries. These entries have come from Denmark and Brazil.

The 2011 winners will first be announced at the Hollywood Investigator.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. Details: TabloidWitch.com.

Final Tally: 103 Horror Film Entries

2011-09-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

As of September 3, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 103 horror film entries: 89 shorts and 14 features. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Australia, France, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, England, Scotland, Germany, Bahrain, Portugal, Brazil, and the United States.

The deadline is past as of now. This year's Tabloid Witch Awards is closed to new entires. Any film entries arriving from this point on will be considered for the 2012 Tabloid Witch Awards.

The 2011 winners will first be announced at the Hollywood Investigator.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. Details: TabloidWitch.com.

Slightly Extended Deadline -- Friday, September 2nd.

2011-08-27T08:14:00.000-07:00

We've said that your horror film entry must be in our P.O. box by August 31st.

We're now extending that deadline until the morning of September 3rd. This is because we haven't time to check the Tabloid Witch P.O. box again until early next Saturday morning -- September 3, 2011.

Santa Monica's main post office opens at 6 a.m., and we'll have checked our P.O. box by 6:30 a.m. -- before Saturday's mail arrived. This means that, realistically, your film entry must be in the P.O. box by the close of Friday, September 2nd, to be assured of awards consideration.

Details on where to send your film entry: TabloidWitch.com.

98 Films So Far ...

2011-08-27T08:08:00.000-07:00

As of August 27, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 98 horror film entries: 84 shorts and 14 features. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Australia, France, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, England, Scotland, Germany, Bahrain, Portugal, and the United States.

As every year, shorts outnumber features, making it the more competitive category. Also as in past years, submissions are flooding in during the final weeks. Many filmmakers wait till then to enter.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011 -- however, we're extending the deadline until September 2. Only two extra days, but still...

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

90 Films So Far ...

2011-08-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

As of August 20, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 90 horror film entries: 76 shorts and 14 features. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Australia, France, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, England, Scotland, Germany, Bahrain, Portugal, and the United States.

As every year, shorts outnumber features, making it the more competitive category. Also as in past years, submissions are flooding in during the final weeks. Many filmmakers wait till then to enter.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

We've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

Hanelle Culpepper's Deadly Sibling Rivalry to Debut on Lifetime

2011-08-15T07:50:00.000-07:00

Hanelle Culpepper's first feature film, Within, won a Best Horror Feature Film Tabloid Witch Award in 2009. A suspenseful, low-gore ghost film, Within aired on the Lifetime Network the following year.

Lifetime must have been pleased with the ratings, because today (August 15th) it will air Culpepper's second film,

Conrats to Culpepper on her continuing success!

80 Films So Far ...

2011-08-13T09:19:00.000-07:00

As of August 13, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 80 horror film entries: 67 shorts and 13 features. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Australia, France, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, England, Scotland, Germany, Bahrain, and the United States.

As every year, shorts far outnumber features, making it the more competitive category.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

Note that we've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

69 Films So Far ...

2011-08-06T12:09:00.000-07:00

As of August 6, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 69 horror film entries: 56 shorts and 13 features. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Australia, France, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, England, Germany, Bahrain, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

Note that we've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

65 Films So Far ...

2011-07-29T08:50:00.000-07:00

As of July 29, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 65 horror film entries: 52 shorts and 13 features. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Australia, France, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, England, Germany, Bahrain, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

Note that we've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

60 Entries So Far ...

2011-07-24T00:31:00.000-07:00

As of July 24, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 60 horror film entries: 47 shorts and 13 features. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Australia, France, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, England, Germany, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

Note that we've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

Robert Sexton Directs Music Video for Death Angel

2011-07-17T11:28:00.000-07:00

Since winning a Best Horror Short Film Tabloid Witch Award in 2005 for his supernatural thriller, Legion: The Word Made Flesh, Robert Sexton has continued with his professional success, directing commercials and music videos.

(The film also won for Best Supporting Actress [Sabrina Bertaccini] and Best Visuals [Bobby Eras, Marshall Plante].)

Sexton's latest music video is for the metal band, Death Angel, for their song "Truce".

Check it out:

Want details on Sexton's video? Fangoria magazine recently interviewed him about it.

Information about Sexton's other pursuits can be found at his website.

56 Entries So Far ...

2011-07-17T10:51:00.001-07:00

As of July 17, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 56 horror film entries: 46 shorts and 10 features. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Australia, France, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, England, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

Note that we've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

Actress Blythe Metz Appears on L.A. Yoga

2011-07-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

Since winning a Best Actress Tabloid Witch Award in 2006, Blythe Metz has broadened her professional skills into alternative health sciences!

Metz appears on the cover of the June 2011 issue of L.A. Yoga, for which she also wrote an article, "Hemp in the Kitchen."

The former Tabloid Witch Award winner, according to L.A. Yoga, is not only an actress, but a writer, producer, and environmental advocate. She has a Masters in Metaphysical Sciences, and is working toward her PH.D in that field.

The Hollywood Investigator has previously reported on Metz's public appearances.

More information about her can be found at BlytheMetz.com.

48 Entries So Far ...

2011-06-27T06:52:00.001-07:00

As of June 27, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 48 horror film entries: 39 shorts and 9 features. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Australia, France, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, England, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

Note that we've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

45 Entries So Far ...

2011-06-12T01:04:00.001-07:00

As of June 12, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 45 horror film entries: 37 shorts and 8 features. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Australia, France, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, England, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

Note that we've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

2011 Tabloid Witch Award Winners to Screen at Loscon 38

2011-06-07T21:40:00.000-07:00

It looks like the Tabloid Witch Awards are returning to Loscon, the Los Angeles Science Fiction convention, which has long been held every Thanksgiving weekend at the LAX Marriott Hotel.

The 2011 Tabloid Witch winning films will likely screen on Friday and Saturday night, November 25 and 26, 2011. Filmmakers will also participate in panels and Q&A sessions with Loscon attendees.

Loscon previously hosted Tabloid Witch screenings in 2005, 2007, and 2009.

The Creepy Doll to Premiere June 25th

2011-06-06T22:50:00.000-07:00

Big Biting Pig Production's The Creepy Doll will have its "World Premiere" on Saturday, June 25, 2011, at the Byrnes Auditorium, 755 N. Laffoon Street, Madisonville, Kentucky.

Big Biting Pig is co-owned by producers Steve Hudgins and P.J. Woodside, who take turns directing. Hudgins won a Best Feature Film Screenplay Tabloid Witch Award in 2011 for Hell Is Full. The Creepy Doll was written and directed by Woodside.

Premiere details at Big Biting Pig's website.

Read the Hollywood Investigator's 2010 interview with filmmaker Steve Hudgins.

44 Entries So Far ...

2011-06-04T10:20:00.001-07:00

As of June 4, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 44 horror film entries: 36 shorts and 8 features. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Australia, France, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, England, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

Note that we've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

38 Entries So Far ...

2011-05-18T14:14:00.000-07:00

As of May 18, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 38 horror film entries: 30 shorts and 8 features. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Australia, France, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

Note that we've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

36 Entries So Far ...

2011-05-17T07:08:00.000-07:00

As of May 17, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 36 horror film entries: 30 shorts and 6 features. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Australia, France, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

Note that we've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

Tabloid Witch Winner Christopher Alan Broadstone Discusses Future Projects

2011-05-09T21:29:00.000-07:00

Filmmaker Christopher Alan Broadstone, whose film, Human No More won 3 Tabloid Witch Awards in 2005, discusses his upcoming projects:

32 Horror Film Entries So Far ...

2011-04-23T00:48:00.000-07:00

As of April 23, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 32 horror film entries: 28 shorts and 4 features. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Australia, France, Bulgaria, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

Note that we've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

30 Horror Film Entries So Far ...

2011-04-07T22:34:00.000-07:00

As of April 8, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 30 horror film entries: 26 shorts and 4 features. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Australia, France, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

Note that we've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

Award Winner Shawna Baca Seeks Financing for Ascended Master

2011-02-25T03:08:00.000-08:00

2007 Tabloid Witch Award winner Shawna Baca is seeking to raise $20,0000 via Kickstarter.com for her next film, Ascended Master.

This is your chance to invest in a proven filmmaker!

Kickstarter.com is an effective film-fundraising tool. Last year, 2006 Tabloid Witch Award winner Mike Flanagan raised $23,150 via Kickstarter.com -- %154 of his budget!

Rondo Award Honors Two Tabloid Witch Folk

2011-02-18T07:55:00.000-08:00

In 2009, filmmaker Raymond Castile won two Tabloid Witch Awards (Best Comedic Horror Short Film and Best Actor) for The Blind Date of Coffin Joe.

Now, his 2010 film, The Devil at Lost Creek has been nominated for a Rondo Award, in category 9 (Best Short Film).

Additionally, Tabloid Witch Award founder Thomas M. Sipos's book, Horror Film Aesthetics, has been nominated for a Rondo Award, in Category 10 (Book of the Year).

Anyone can vote online, in any of the award categories, by going to the Rondo Award site.

26 Horror Film Entries So Far ...

2011-02-17T08:30:00.001-08:00

As of February 17, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 26 horror film entries: 24 shorts and 2 features. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Australia, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

Note that we've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

25 Horror Film Entries So Far ...

2011-02-10T09:11:00.000-08:00

As of February 10, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 25 horror film entries: 23 shorts and 2 features. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, Ireland, Norway, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

Note that we've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

21 Horror Film Entries So Far ...

2011-02-01T08:04:00.000-08:00

As of February 1, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 21 horror film entries: 20 shorts and 1 feature. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

Note that we've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

11 Horror Film Entries So Far ...

2011-01-22T09:24:00.000-08:00

As of January 22, 2011, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 11 horror film entries: 10 shorts and 1 feature. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

Note that we've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

Six Horror Film Entries So Far...

2010-12-17T02:06:00.000-08:00

As of December 17, 2010, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 6 horror film entries, all short films. Entries have come from Hungary, Canada, and the United States.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

Note that we've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

4 Entries So Far...

2010-12-02T21:22:00.000-08:00

Although the 2010 Tabloid Witch Awards were only recently concluded, entries are already coming in for the 2011 awards season.

As of December 2, 2010, the 2011 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 4 entries, all short films. Entries have come from Hungary and Canada.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2011 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by August 31, 2011.

Note that we've set the 2011 entry deadline a month earlier that in previous years; the end of August instead of the end of September.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

Tabloid Witch Awards Founder Interviewed About "Horror Film Aesthetics"

2010-11-08T00:19:00.000-08:00

Tabloid Witch Awards founder and director, Thomas M. Sipos, has been interviewed by Theofantastique regarding his book, Horror Film Aesthetics.

Theofantastique is a blog which covers issues related to the intersection of horror and the sacred.

Read the interview for a free peek into Sipos's views on the subject.

Or buy the book at Amazon.com!

2010 Tabloid Witch Award Winners Accounced

2010-10-05T00:40:00.000-07:00

On October 4, 2010, the Hollywood Investigator announced the winners of the 2010 Tabloid Witch Awards.

103 Entries So Far!

2010-09-24T21:55:00.000-07:00

As of September 24, the 2010 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 103 entries -- 9 features and 94 shorts. Entries have come from the United States, Ireland, England, Australia, Germany, Spain, France, Austria, The Netherlands, Canada, India, Argentina, and South Korea.

Short film entries are facing stiff competitive (though still welcome), but this is a good year to enter a horror feature. Little competition in that category so far.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2010 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by September 30, 2010.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

100 Entries So Far!

2010-09-18T08:14:00.000-07:00

As of September 18, the 2010 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 100 entries -- 9 features and 91 shorts. Entries have come from the United States, Ireland, England, Australia, Germany, Spain, France, Austria, The Netherlands, Canada, India, and Argentina.

Short film entries are facing stiff competitive (though still welcome), but this is a good year to enter a horror feature. Little competition in that category so far.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2010 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by September 30, 2010.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

98 Entries So Far...

2010-09-15T08:14:00.000-07:00

As of September 14, the 2010 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 98 entries -- 8 features and 90 shorts. Entries have come from the United States, Ireland, England, Australia, Germany, Spain, France, Austria, The Netherlands, Canada, India, and Argentina.

Short film entries are facing stiff competitive (though still welcome), but this is a good year to enter a horror feature. Little competition in that category so far.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2010 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by September 30, 2010.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

Andrew Wiest Returns with The Wylds

2010-09-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

Andrew Wiest, director of 2007's Tabloid Witch Award winning film Dead Noon, is out with a new film, The Wylds. This one isn't horror -- it's being sold in Christian bookstores!

2010 Tabloid Witch Award Winners to Screen at Miles Playhouse

2010-08-27T14:58:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Tabloid Witch Award winning horror films will screen on Saturday evening, October 30, at Santa Monica's Miles Memorial Playhouse.

On the previous night, Friday, October 29, 2010, the Miles Memorial Playhouse will host a "Best of" screening, drawing from previous Tabloid Witch Awards winners.

94 Entries So Far ... More Features Wanted

2010-08-26T03:56:00.000-07:00

As of August 26, the 2010 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 94 entries -- 7 features and 87 shorts. Entries have come from the United States, Ireland, England, Germany, Spain, France, Austria, The Netherlands, Canada, India, and Argentina.

Short film entries are facing stiff competitive (though still welcome), but this is a good year to enter a horror feature. Little competition in that category so far.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2010 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by September 30, 2010.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

Post Office Loses Tabloid Witch Submission

2010-08-23T22:36:00.000-07:00

Last week, the post office put a notice in the Tabloid Witch's Santa Monica P.O. Box, saying that a registered parcel had arrived. It required a signature to pick up.

But when I presented the notice to a postal clerk on Friday, August 20, she couldn't find the parcel. She told me the post office would keep searching, and phone me if and when they found it.

It's now Monday night, August 23, and I've not yet received a phone call.

If you recently sent a DVD to the Tabloid Witch Awards by registered mail, the post office may have lost it. I don't know if they'll find it, but you may want to resend it, just in case.

The postal slip says the Sender's Name is: FGN.

================== UPDATE =======================

On Wednesday, August 25, though I'd received no phone call, I went to the post office. Good news. They found the film submission!

87 Entries So Far ... More Features Wanted

2010-08-12T07:53:00.001-07:00

As of August 12, the 2010 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 87 entries -- 6 features and 81 shorts. Entries have come from the United States, Ireland, England, Germany, Spain, France, Austria, The Netherlands, Canada, and India.

Short film entries are facing stiff competitive (though still welcome), but this is a good year to enter a horror feature. Little competition in that category so far.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2010 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by September 30, 2010.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

84 Entries So Far ... We Need More Features

2010-08-03T07:38:00.000-07:00

As of August 3, the 2010 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 84 entries -- 6 features and 78 shorts. Entries have come from the United States, Ireland, England, Germany, Spain, France, Austria, The Netherlands, Canada, and India.

Short film entries are facing stiff competitive (though still welcome), but this is a good year to enter a horror feature. Little competition in that category so far.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2010 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by September 30, 2010.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

Tabloid Witch Award Winner Within Premieres on Lifetime

2010-07-26T22:07:00.000-07:00

If you love ghostly horror stories about haunted children -- like The Sixth Sense! -- you'll want to see Within, premiering on the Lifetime network on Saturday, July 31st, 9 p.m. EST. It will also air on Sunday, Aug 15th, 7 p.m. EST, and Friday, Aug 20th, 9 p.m. EST.

Within won the 2009 Tabloid Witch Awards for Best Horror Feature Film, Best Child Actor (Mia Ford) and Best Supporting Actor (Brent Sexton). Within also won for Outstanding Feature Film at the Big Bear Horror Film Festival.

In Within, nine-year-old Rachel Weiss sees the evil spirits that reside within others and compel their "hosts" to do very bad things. When her new friend Michelle's schoolyard pranks turn from petty theft to life-threatening attacks on other children, Rachel's visions may be the key to stopping the violence -- and solving the mystery of a young boy's decade-old disappearance.

Within's soundtrack will be available on iTunes starting July 27th. Jeffrey Toyne composed the ambient score. Director Hanelle Culpepper and her husband wrote the lyrics for the Halloween song. Singer-songwriter Miriam contributed two tracks.

"Within is a slow turning screw of Horror, with each new scene slowly and surely stepping up the skin crawl factor. You might just find yourself a little bit paranoid around your child's new friend after this one." -- E.C. McMullen Jr, Feoamante.com

"...Within is never dull. Its well-paced story holds our interest, and even manages to surprise despite its familiar conceit. The fate of 'bad seed' Michelle is also unexpected; a surprisingly dark ending that may discomfort Hollywood studio executives who are always trying to up the 'feel good' factor in films." -- Thomas M. Sipos, Hollywood Investigator

"...I get back to the fest for Within, the winner of 'Outstanding Feature Film,' and rightfully so. Written by Rebecca Sonnenshine (The Haunting of Molly Hartley, American Zombie)and directed by Hanelle M. Culpepper,Within features two of the best child performances I've seen in ages by Sammi Hanratty (Young Chuck on Pushing Daisies" and Mia Ford. --Sean Abley, Fangoria.com

81 Entries So Far ... We Need More Features

2010-07-13T00:56:00.000-07:00

As of July 13, the 2010 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 81 entries -- 6 features and 75 shorts. Entries have come from the United States, Ireland, England, Germany, Spain, France, Austria, The Netherlands, Canada, and India.

Short film entries are facing stiff competitive (though still welcome), but this is a good year to enter a horror feature. Little competition in that category so far.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2010 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by September 30, 2010.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

The Hollywood Investigator Is Now an Urban Fantasy Satire

2010-06-30T05:04:00.000-07:00

You've read the tabloid -- now read the novel!

Hollywood says it loves equal opportunity and multicultural diversity. Development executive Diana Däagen thinks the studio's hiring is based more on ageism, sexism, and nepotism.

And so, surrounded by followers of Wicca, astrology, Native American shamans, telephone psychics, UFO prophets, a channeled warlord from Atlantis, and the alchemy of Hermes Trismegistus, Diana's coven of New Age witches hatch a plot to infiltrate and diversify the entertainment industry until Hollywood "looks like America" -- no matter how many eggs must be broken along the way.

Only the intrepid supermarket tabloid reporters of the Hollywood Investigator and Weekly Universe family of family publications can stop Diana's path toward world media domination.

Hollywood Witches is an urban fantasy/satire, available on both paper and on Amazon Kindle.

How To Make an Award-Winning Horror Film

2010-06-11T00:18:00.000-07:00

Tabloid Witch Awards founder and director, Thomas M. Sipos has come out with a book, Horror Film Aesthetics -- filled with tips on making a creative horror film.

Horror Film Aesthetics is published by McFarland, which specializes in the university and library market. The below is excerpted from the book's Preface:

"This is a book about horror film aesthetics. That sounds abstract and theoretical, but quite the contrary, this book is intended to be pragmatic. A practical and useful guide for aspiring horror filmmakers. This book analyzes how various cinematic tools -- acting, makeup, costuming, set décor, framing, photography, lighting, editing, and sound -- have been used by past films to effectively (or in some cases, ineffectively) create horror on screen.

"This book is an 'aesthetic how to' guide for horror filmmakers. Not to help them copy past films, but rather, to spark their imaginations. To expand their understanding of the horror genre -- its nature and appeal to viewers -- and their appreciation for the full creative potential of their film and video equipment. Aspiring filmmakers often read technical manuals to learn what the buttons on their cameras do, but they don't bother to learn how to use those buttons creatively. I know this as a horror film fan, critic, and journalist, and also from screening films for the Tabloid Witch Awards horror film contest and festival, which I founded in 2004 and continue to manage.

"This is not a book about how to use film and video gear. This is a book about how to use film and video gear effectively. In a way that conveys your horror story and themes in a clear, entertaining, and frightening manner.

"Student and independent filmmakers should find this book useful, but it is also intended for the hardcore fan. I hope this book will enable fans to 'see things' in horror films they may have previously missed, and thus gain a deeper appreciation for the genre. An appreciation that leads to greater viewing pleasures."

Horror Film Aesthetics should help any filmmaker create an award-winning horror film.

76 Entries So Far...We Need More Horror Features

2010-06-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

As of June 10, the 2010 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 76 entries -- 5 features and 71 shorts. Entries have come from the United States, Ireland, England, Germany, Spain, France, Austria, and The Netherlands.

Short film entries are facing stiff competitive (though still welcome), but this is a good year to enter a horror feature. Little competition in that category so far.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2010 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by September 30, 2010.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

Viscera Film Festival to Screen Women's Horror! Buy Tickets! Donate!

2010-06-08T03:22:00.000-07:00

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a sponsor of the Viscera Film Festival, and is thus happy to post their appeal from the Viscera ladies:

"Want to support women in horror? How about women horror filmmakers? Then donate today and become an official Sponsor of the Viscera 2010 Premiere!

What you do: Donate any amount from $1.00-$99.00.

What the Festival does for you: List your name/Company's name on the Viscera Festival Website. Project your name/Company’s name on the big screen. Hand out any of your promotional material.

What it means: Your donation of even $1 will help to pay the expenses of the theater, bloody carpet, backdrop, video/photography services, catering, and the organization of the Festival. We believe that women are truly coming together in one of the most difficult industries to break into today. Any donation will help to serve that purpose!

How to do it: Push the Paypal donation button and pay by Credit Card or Paypal account!

About the 2010 Viscera Festival:

The first annual all female-directed and/or produced horror film festival "Viscera" comes to Los Angeles on July 17th, 2010!

The Chainsaw Mafia, Pretty-Scary.net, and the Downtown Independent are excited to announced the Viscera 2010 Film Festival Premiere, which will be a bloody carpet theater event on July 17th, 2010 in Los Angeles, California!

Twenty-eight short female-directed/produced horror films, from 30 seconds to 30 minutes, and from all over the world, will appear on the big screen for one night only! These films represent 3 years of films painstakingly curated by Shannon Lark of The Chainsaw Mafia and released on the Viscera DVD collections.

Brea Grant (Heroes, Halloween II), Cerina Vincent (Cabin Fever, How to Love Like a Hot Chick) and Amber Benson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Drones) are the Festival's special inspirational guest presenters and will host the award ceremonies. Special Guests in attendance include Juliet Landau (Angel, Ed Wood), Guinevere Turner (American Psycho, Go Fish), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp), Mary Lambert (Pet Semetary), Jessica Harper (Suspiria), Micheline Pitt (PinUp Girl Clothing), and Allison Anders (Gas, Food, Lodging) as well as many of the filmmakers.

The Downtown Independent Theater features 222 stadium style seats within the theatre, along with a rooftop bar with a projection screen for those who don't want to miss the show.

Co-Directors Shannon Lark and Heidi Martinuzzi encourage both men, women, filmmakers, and all artists to attend the event in support of the ambition and drive of filmmakers who have stepped outside the traditional roles of women in horror films and taken on directing, writing, and producing their own independent projects. Several filmmakers will be present to walk the bloody carpet and accept their statues, followed by an after-party on the Downtown Independent rooftop until 2am.

Tickets are only $15.00 and available now online, with the carpet walk starting at 4 p.m. Show support for the event by joining Viscera's Facebook page, making a donation, and purchasing the newly released 2008-2009 Viscera DVD.

The Chainsaw Mafia was created by Chainsaw Mafia CEO Shannon Lark to promote independent filmmakers through internet-based networking, live performance, and annual film festivals with monetary awards. The Chainsaw Mafia was created and facilitated by women, who actively encourage progressive roles for women and men in all areas within the horror genre. Increasing and expanding boundaries of the genre with interactive theater, film, photography, and dance, The Chainsaw Mafia assists the men and women who create the horror genre to produce their art and promote themselves.

Pretty-Scary.net is an online entertainment magazine created in 2004 by Los Angeles-based film journalist Heidi Martinuzzi. Pretty/Scary celebrates creative, innovative, intelligent, and awesome images of women in horror, sci-fi & fantasy films, literature, and art."

Also read the Hollywood Investigator's interview with Shannon Lark!

Mike Flanagan Raises 154% of Absentia's Budget

2010-06-08T02:51:00.001-07:00

Seeking to raise $15,000 for his next film, Absentia, 2006 Tabloid Witch Award winner Mike Flanagan has raised $23,150 via Kickstarter.com.

Flanagan has now raised %154 of his next film's budget. Sweet!

72 Entries for the 2010 Tabloid Witch Awards, So Far

2010-05-08T08:30:00.001-07:00

As of May 8, the 2010 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 72 entries -- 5 features and 67 shorts. Entries have come from the United States, Ireland, England, Germany, Spain, France, and Austria.

Short film entries are becoming competitive (though welcome), but this is a good time to enter a horror feature. Little competition in that category so far.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2010 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by September 30, 2010.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

58 Entries for the 2010 Tabloid Witch Awards, So Far

2010-05-04T02:33:00.000-07:00

As of May 4, the 2010 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 58 entries -- 4 features and 54 shorts. Entries have come from the United States, Ireland, England, and Spain.

Short film entries are becoming competitive (though welcome), but this is a good time to enter a horror feature. Little competition in that category so far.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2010 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by September 30, 2010.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

Crypt Club's Alison Pill to Appear on Broadway

2010-03-04T17:37:00.000-08:00

Actress Alison Pill, who starred in the Tabloid Witch Award's 2007 Best Dramatic Horror Short Film, The Crypt Club, now appears on Broadway in The Miracle Worker.

Peter Podgursky's Murder Baby

2010-03-01T21:07:00.000-08:00

Peter Podgursy, who won 2008's Best Comedic Horror Short Film Tabloid Witch Award for Cheerbleeders, invites horror fans to view his latest comedic horror short film, Murder Baby:

45 Entires for the 2010 Tabloid Witch Awards, So Far

2010-02-11T08:03:00.000-08:00

As of February 11, the 2010 Tabloid Witch Awards has received 45 entries -- 2 features and 43 shorts. Entries have come from the United States, Ireland, and Spain.

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. To enter the 2010 awards, your DVD must be in our in-box by September 30, 2010.

Details: TabloidWitch.com.

34 Entries for the 2010 Tabloid Witch Awards, So Far

2010-01-18T01:18:00.000-08:00

The 2010 Tabloid Witch Awards has so far received 33 short film entries, and 1 feature film entry. That's 34 entries total.

So far, entries have come from the United State, Ireland, and Spain.

Never before has the Tabloid Witch gotten this many entries as early as January. It looks like the short film categories will be especially competitive in 2010.

The deadline for entries is September 30, 2010. An entry must be in the P.O. Box by that date to qualify for the 2010 awards.

To enter this No Entry Fee horror film contest, read these entry rules.

Short Film Central Recognizes Tabloid Witch Award

2009-12-11T00:38:00.000-08:00

Tabloid Witch Award winning filmmakers have a new reason to be pleased. This month, Short Film Central has added the Tabloid Witch Awards to its international database of recognized short film awards.

This brings further prestige and promotion to Tabloid Witch Award winning short films.

Tabloid Witch Award winning feature films should also benefit from the award's enhanced profile, despite their not being listed at Short Film Central. As the site's name implies, only short films are included in the database.

The Tabloid Witch Awards are an annual No Entry Fee horror film contest and festival. Any horror film, feature or short, may compete, irrespective of the filmmaker's ability to pay.

Details on how to enter at TabloidWitch.com

Thanks to Our Gracious Hosts

2009-12-02T01:22:00.001-08:00

I thank Loscon 36 for hosting the 2009 Tabloid Witch Awards screenings, and all the filmmakers and fans who attended.

Unlike most film festivals, the Tabloid Witch charges no entry fee to filmmakers, and no admission price to audiences. Thus, the budget is low, and the Tabloid Witch relies on gracious hosts who do not charge the Tabloid Witch for the use of their screening facilities.

Over the past six award years, the Tabloid Witch has held nine screenings. Three each at Loscon (2005, 2007, 2009), the World Horror Con (2005, 2008, 2009), and the Santa Monica Public Library (2006, 2007, 2008). Two were "Best of" screenings. And in 2007, a Premiere screening of winners at the SMPL was followed an Encore screening at Loscon 34.

Due to California's budget crisis and staff cutbacks at the SMPL, the library was unable to host a screening this year. The Tabloid Witch hopes to return there in future years.

Each year I consider charging entry fees, so as to rent a commercial theater. But I think part of the prestige of winning a Tabloid Witch Award, or even being an Official Selection, is that you don't pay to play. Any filmmaker can enter and compete, and be judged solely on their film's merit, however impoverished they may be.

2009 Winners Chosen

2009-10-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

The 2009 Tabloid Witch Award winners have been chosen, and will be announced later this week at the HollywoodInvestigator.com.

2009 Film Entries So Far...

2009-04-23T03:03:00.000-07:00

It's April, midway till our 2009 Tabloid Witch Award horror film winners are announced, in early October.

Here's the tally of entries so far:

5 feature films.

9 short films.

Film entries have been received from the United States, Canada, Ireland, Australia, and Spain.

April is when entries start to pick up. They really get going in August, and being flooding in September.

All entries must be received in our P.O. Box by September 30, and it seems that most filmmakers wait till the last minute.

For details on how to enter our NO ENTRY FEE horror film contest, see: TabloidWitch.com.

Miguel Gallego and Shawna Baca's continued success

2009-03-16T20:17:00.000-07:00

Miguel Gallego and Shawna Baca will have their 2007 Tabloid Witch Award winning films screened at a Latin Horror film festival in New York City, on April 4, 2009.

Two Tabloid Witch winners in the same festival -- can we pick quality, or what?

The Ancient Law trailer

2008-06-28T11:25:00.001-07:00

Erasmo Romero III, whose Skin Deep won a Tabloid Witch Award in 2007 for Best Comedic Horror Short Film, now has a new film in the works, The Ancient Law.

Check out the trailer:

18 Horror Feature Film Entries So Far -- 39 Shorts

2008-05-29T01:38:00.000-07:00

With 4 months left to go until the September 30th deadline, we now have 18 feature film entries, and 39 short entries.

16 Feature Film Entries So Far

2008-05-12T07:46:00.001-07:00

The 2008 Tabloid Witch Awards are well under way.

As of this morning, we've received 16 horror feature film entries. Entries come from the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, and Denmark.

We've also received 35 horror shorts, including live action, animation, music videos--and film trailers! (Both for real and nonexistent films.)

Shorts come from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and The Netherlands.

2008 looks to be our most competitive year so far. But don't let that discourage you. This is a good thing for you! The more competitive our contest, the more meaningful the award when you brag about it to producers, financiers, and distributors!

And since there's No Entry Fee, you have little to lose by trying your luck and entering.

Deadline is September 30, 2008. Your film must be in our PO Box by the end of that day.

Once again: details to enter.

Revenant Interviews CJ Johnson

2008-04-02T03:43:00.000-07:00

CJ Johnson, who won a 2007 Tabloid Witch Honorable Mention for The Signal, is now interviewed by Revenant Magazine.

"Best of" screening at 2008 World Horror con

2008-04-02T03:26:00.000-07:00

Read this Hollywood Investigator article on the 2008 World Horror Convention's screening of The Very Best of the Tabloid Witch Awards (2004 - 2007)!

2008 World Horror Con Encore Screening

2008-03-25T16:44:00.000-07:00

The 2008 World Horror Con in Salt Lake City will host a special screening on Saturday night, March 29th, 6 pm to 2 am: The Very Best of the Tabloid Witch Awards (2004-2008).

Because we're squeezing four years into one night's screening, the emphasis will be on shorts. Only two features will screen: Dead Noon (much of whose cast & crew live in Salt Lake City, and will thus attend!) and Mole (Best Horror Feature Film for 2005).

Also at the 2008 WHC, I'll host a panel on horror film festivals, on March 27th, Thursday night (7 - 7:50 pm). Some of the Dead Noon people will be there for that as well.

This marks the Tabloid Witch coming full circle, since its first screening (for the 2004 winners) were held at the 2005 World Horror Con in New York City.

Christopher Alan Broadstone Update

2008-02-21T07:26:00.000-08:00

2005 Tabloid Witch Award winner Christopher Alan Broadstone (Best Sound and Honorable Mention for Human No More) has been interviewed by Soiled Sinema. His latest DVD release has also been reviewed by Film Threat.

The 3rd Floor

2008-02-03T21:52:00.001-08:00

Not every entertaining or interesting horror film entered in the Tabloid Witch Awards can win. This is partially because every winning film expects to be screened at our festival, but the available screening time is limited.

However, the Tabloid Witch's original intent was to publicize the work of new horror filmmakers; the screening was supposed to be secondary. And many films that don't win nevertheless do have some merit.

One of 2007's entries that I personally enjoyed, despite its flaws, is The 3rd Floor. This is Kentucky-based "Big Biting Pig Productions"'s first feature film. It's about a couple who move into a building in which the 3rd floor is sealed off. Strange noises emanate from that floor. The husband has nightmares about that floor. Naturally, he investigates, and discovers the 3rd floor's dark history. Whereupon a series of ghostly possessions turn this story into a slasher film.

Why didn't The 3rd Floor win a Tabloid Witch?

Well, like many low-budget, first-time efforts, the film's production values fall short of professionalism. The lighting was flat, and portions of some shots were over- or under-exposed. Occasionally, there was that hollow sound, caused when actors' voices bounce off hard surfaces (where were the sound blankets?). And some of the editing was rough, shots poorly pieced together.

Likewise, much of the acting could have been better. Lines were often delivered in a stilted manner, recited rather then felt.

The film also suffers from unmotivated framing. For instance, in one scene, the couple and the brother sit as they converse. Normally, the camera would be at roughly eye level with the characters. Instead, the camera frames them from a high angle, so we're looking down on them. Why? It was annoying.

This is not something an audience might consciously notice, yet it would feel sloppy to them; whereas judicious framing might have achieved a psychological effect in the audience that would have supported the scene's emotional content, or the film's overall theme.

(For more info, read the section on framing in Film Art: An Introduction. It's my favorite book on film aesthetics. But if it's too pricey, try The Cinema as Art, another worthwhile read.)

Still, The 3rd Floor is not without merit. While some of its actors appear self-conscious (as though they're reading lines), others appear more natural. Especially noteworthy is Steve Hudgins in the role of Buck (the brother). Hudgins plays his role with the polished ease of a trained professional.

And a quick visit to The 3rd Floor website confirms that Steve Hudgins is indeed a trained actor -- as well as writer and co-director of this film. Hudgins should have tried harder to cast his film with thesps nearer his own acting skill level.

I also liked Bradley and Jill (Leif Erickson Rigney and Audra Hall), an eccentric "artsy fartsy" couple who live down the hall. (The sort of people who would know what I mean by "unmotivated framing.") They provide the comic relief in this film. Their lines are artificial and artificially played (I can't accept them are real people), yet they do provide entertainment value. (Oh hell, they're a delight to watch!)

And The 3rd Floor does entertain despite its flaws. Bradley and Jill are parody figures, yet the film overall aims higher, striving for ghostly atmosphere and genuine scares. That's a lot tougher to achieve than cheap laughs drawn from parody (the favorite genre of inept filmmakers; if you can't do it right, do it for laughs).

Credit The 3rd Floor for its ambition. The lighting and sound might have been better, yet this film does not appear to be yet another low-budget, amateur film, shoddily and impatiently tossed together by people with an inflated sense of their own skills. I sense a sincere effort and love of craft behind The 3rd Floor, and for that it earns my respect.

I enjoyed this film, yet how typical am I? Today, even "quiet" supernatural horror films feature expensive special effects (e.g., Gothika, The Grudge, The Ring), whereas The 3rd Floor's "special" effects consist of smoke, and elevator doors opening into darkness (an effect that seems created by black blankets or cardboard taped over something; at least that's how it looked to me).

Selecting films for a screening is a balance between the judges' tastes (what they think an audience should like), and audience taste (what audiences do like). If the Tabloid Witch had a trophy for Best Amateur Effort, The 3rd Floor might have won. But would most people in a modern horror audience sit through this film? Or is it for specialized tastes only? For the hardcore horror fan/completist, for those determined to watch everything in the genre (and for some reason, enjoy almost all of it)?

Well, The 3rd Floor is not a masterpiece, but I enjoyed it. If you don't require slick special effects or production values, and if you're interested in the work of indie horror filmmakers working outside of New York and Los Angeles, even if their production values are a little rough, you may want to ride an elevator up to The 3rd Floor.

Tabloid Witch website coming soon...

2008-01-03T04:41:00.000-08:00

The Tabloid Witch Awards is a No Entry Fee horror film contest now in its fifth year. It will soon have its own website: www.TabloidWitch.com. Until then, visit it at the Hollywood Investigator or at its MySpace page.