Last additions - The Nightmares at Studio 35 (1999-2003)
Flier for 2002 Marathon383 views*So yes, this was the year that we took the plunge and briefly entered the Bruce Campbell business. After the strong showing from Joe Bob Briggs the year before, we had our first sold out Marathon (tickets were gone a month before the event) with the EVIL DEAD star, who was touring the country to promote his autobiography IF CHINS COULD KILL: CONFESSIONS OF A B-MOVIE ACTOR. It wasn't always easy.
We contacted Bruce's booking agent six months before the event, and everything seemed to be going swimingly. Then, a few weeks before the Marathon, several local press outlets began asking us why they couldn't get in touch with the booking agent to arrange an interview. Then we couldn't in touch with the booking agent. Turns out that she and Bruce had experienced a falling out, and he was temporarily handling his own bookings. We learned this from one of the local papers, who had contacted St. Martin's Press (who published IF CHINS COULD KILL and were handling the book end of the tour.) Finally, less than a week before the event, I spoke with Bruce on the phone, and we set everything up.
*In our search for premieres, we came upon DOG SOLDIERS, a well-received hit on the festival circuit. I contacted the production company to request a screening, and they immediately replied that we could do so and that producer David Allen would also attend. I sheepishly told them that we couldn't afford to pay for another guest (the Bruce Campbell business being a bit...expensive), but she reassured me that David and his co-producer Brian O'Toole would pay their own way.
Cut to the Marathon. David and Brian arrived early, intent on staying for much of the event. When Bruce arrived, David tried to give him a DOG SOLDIERS flashlight as a souvenir, but the esteemed Mr. Campbell basically blew him off. Nice. I was slightly mortified that our B-movie icon was pulling rank on an independent filmmaker, especially one who was a genuinely nice guy. After the incident, I profusely apologized to David. He was a great sport about the whole thing, and it thrilled me to no ends to see DOG SOLDIERS resonate with the audience. Hours after Mr. Campbell had departed for his hotel room, David and Brian regaled the crowd with a 45-minute Q+A and prize session, and they ended up staying until near the end of the Marathon. In their own way, they stole the show from Bruce.
*The Costume Contest was won (once again) by Geoff and Jeremy Glass, who dressed as ROAD WARRIOR's Lord Humongous and his toady. (Neff)Sep 06, 2009
Front and back cover of 2002 program202 viewsSep 06, 2009
Original paste-up for 2002 Marathon t-shirt173 viewsSep 06, 2009
Back of flier for 2002 Marathon205 viewsSep 06, 2009
Fax letter to David Allen and Kismet Entertainment's Steven Zager219 viewsHere's a rare pseudo-collectible: the Marathon schedule we faxed to Allen and Zager the week before the event. (Neff)Sep 06, 2009
Other Paper post-Marathon article for 2002 event459 viewsFor my money, this was the best article written about the Studio 35 Marathons. It perfectly captured the ebb and flow of sitting in a theater for 24 hours, and was entertaining to boot. Author Rob Harvilla now writes for The Village Voice. (Neff)Sep 06, 2009
Columbus Dispatch Weekender profile of Bruce Campbell213 viewsSep 06, 2009
Interior of 2001 program220 viewsDue to delays during the Marathon, we were forced to cut SQUIRM, with the understanding that it would play at the next year's event. (Neff)Sep 06, 2009
Interior of 2001 program196 viewsSep 06, 2009
Interior of 2001 program221 views*Boy, what a (ahem) diverse cast for THE CONVENT. It had been playing the circuit for a few months and had been getting fairly good notices. The end result was a bit spotty, to say the least, but it was good fun nonetheless.
*SESSION 9 was well-received by the audience, and it remains one of my favorite Marathon premieres. Brad Anderson would strike again with the 2002 Sci-Fi Marathon screening of his HAPPY ACCIDENTS. (Neff)Sep 06, 2009
Interior of 2001 program335 viewsAh, DON'T LOOK NOW. So here's the story: when we originally booked this Nicolas Roeg classic, my intent was to play it in a mid-afternoon slot. However, we subsequently booked CREATURE in 3-D and NOSFERATU with live music, so that slot was taken. Then, we scored the two premieres, so they went in the prime time slots after Joe Bob introduced CARRIE. As a result, DON'T LOOK NOW was pushed back to the early morning hours...which became the middle of the night after the natural delays of any good Marathon. Needless to say, the time slot killed the crowd. It's too bad, as I've spoken with several people that saw it wide awake later and quite enjoyed it. Maybe it will reappear at a more reasonable hour one of these days. (Neff)Sep 06, 2009
