Guests

It’s certainly not Gremlins! It’s nothing like Critters! It’s not even Ghoulies! 

It’s in a class all it own! It’s HOBGOBLINS!… 

And who else but Cinema Wasteland would Celebrate this Cult Sci-Fi / Horror B Movie Classic with it’s First Ever Reunion?! -

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Rick Sloane

Director, Producer, and Writer Rick Sloane isn’t shy about admitting he makes cheap ‘n cheesy low-budget indie movies. He’s weathered his share of criticism from the hoidy-toidy reviewers that will never get the appeal of a fun, low-budget B film, from the world of fans that enjoy them. He grew up in Los Angeles and started making fake movie trailers as a teenager. He had ambitions to become an animator, but was inspired to become a filmmaker after seeing Allan Arkush and Joe Dante’s HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD (1976) when he was eighteen. He attended film school at Los Angeles City College and helmed the slasher spoof, BLOOD THEATRE (1984), his first feature, when he was twenty-one. The sci-fi outing, THE VISITANTS (1986) was next, and he achieved his greatest notoriety with the “Gremlins” rip-off, HOBGOBLINS (1988), which was mocked on the cult TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000, which sent it into cult movie status. Rick went on to make the amusing VICE ACADEMY series, which starred Ginger Lynn and Linnea Quigley, and spawned six sequels between 1989 and 1998. The Vice Academy films were a popular staple of the “USA: Up All Night” show (hosted by Rhonda Shear and Gilbert Gottfried between 1989 and 1998). In 2009 Sloane wrote and directed HOBGOBLINS: THE MAKING OF A DISASTERPIECE (2009), the 20th Anniversary reunion documentary on the film, and followed it up with HOBGOBLINS 2 (2009). It’s been a few years since Rick Sloane directed his last flick, but with streaming all the rage, let’s hope we don’t have to wait much longer before he returns with another campy B movie classic.

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Tom Bartlett

Tom was “Kevin”, the security guard tasked with tracking down the escaped alien Hobgoblins in HOBGOBLINS (1988). He went on to co-produce and appear in HOBGOBLINS: THE MAKING OF A DISASTERPIECE (2009), the 20th Anniversary reunion documentary on the film.


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Kari French

Kari played beehive hair-doo’ed “Pixie” in the lengthy Club Scum scenes in HOBGOBLINS (1988). You can also find her in the comedies PARTY ANIMAL (1984), THE WIZARD OF SPEED AND TIME (1988), director Rick Sloane’s VICE ACADEMY 3 (1991) with fellow CW guest Ginger Lynn, and Alex Cox’s REPO CHICK (2009); dramas like BAD LOVE (1992), KING OF THE CORNER (2000), and TWEEKED (2001) with Tom Sizemore; action and crime flicks like ANGELS OF THE CITY (1989), DANGER ZONE 3: STEEL HORSE WAR (1990), and WILDING (1990); along with thrillers like SHADOW HOURS (2000), ULLI LOMMEL’S ZODIAC KILLER (2005), and CALLER ID: ENTITY (2010) to name a few.

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Kenneth J. Hall
 
Special Effects and Creature Designer, Writer, and Actor, Ken Hall grew up a film fan thanks to his mother’s love of film. He was exposed to all genres, but horror and sci-fi film effects and creatures hooked him at an early age. He began creating creature suits in his bedroom using whatever he could lay his hands on, and a convention meeting of up-and-coming effects artist Rick Baker fueled him to follow his dreams… which he did. He followed them all the way to California in 1982 to become a writer and director, where his first screen writing assignment was THE TOMB (1986), produced by Fred Olen Ray. He went on to write scripts for several of Charles Band’s film companies, and had his breakthrough with PUPPET MASTER (1989). During his 13 years working as a writer / director Ken also became an established makeup effects artist and creature fabricator - one of a small handful of experts in the field of foam fabrication. His best know creatures are the title Dino-creature from Roger Corman’s CARNOSAUR (1993) and the giant octopus prop from Tim Burton’s ED WOOD (1994). His early jobs include being a “ghoulie operator” on the popular GHOULIES (1984), creating the monster suit for Fred Olen Ray’s BIOHAZARD (1985), working on the “creature crews” for CRITTERS (1986) and GHOULIES 2 (1987), and as the creature fabricator on HOBGOBLINS (1988). Ken was the fabricator on DOLLMAN VS. DEMONIC TOYS (1993), and a lab technician, designer, and special effects man on PUPPER MASTER 4 (1993), LURKING FEAR (1994), PUPPET MASTER 5 (1994), JACK FROST (1997), and KRAA! THE SEA MONSTER (1998) to name a few. More recently, Ken was the creature designer on WILLY’S WONDERLAND (2021) with Nicholas Cage; the mask designer on PRETTY BOY (2021), and did special effects on THE AMITYVILLE MOON (2021). As a writer, Ken wrote or penned the screenplays for EVIL SPAWN (1987), NIGHTMARE SISTERS (1989), LINNEA QUIGLEY’S HORROR WORKOUT (1990), NIGHT VISIT (2007), and PUPPET MASTER: THE LITTLEST REICH (2018) to name a few. As an actor, you’ll find Ken playing the “Wolfman” in THE DUNGEONMASTER (1984); the voice of the succubus in NIGHTMARE SISTERS (1988); and appearing in more traditional character roles in ROBOT NINJA (1989), FEAR OF A BLACK HAT (1993), GIMME SKELTER (2007), GINGERDEAD MAN 2 (2008), and THE DAY OF THE LIVING DEAD (2014) to name a few.


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Duane Whitaker

Lubbock Texas native Duane Whitaker started his career with roles on several popular TV series in the mid 1980’s before moving on to feature film roles with HOBGOBLINS (1988), DEADLY DREAMS (1988) and a small role as “Kim” in LEATHERFACE: TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 3 (1990) but that’s far from everything the actor, producer, and writer has done over his 30+ year career. He’s worked with TCM 3 director Jeff Burr on other occasions, taking the lead in Burr’s comedy EDDIE PRESLEY (1992) which he also wrote; appeared in PUPPET MASTER 5: THE FINAL CHAPTER (1994), and had a small role in NIGHT OF THE SCARECROW (1995). In 1994, Whitaker landed the role of “Maynard,” the sadistic pawn shop owner in Quentin Tarantino’s PULP FICTION that we’re sure is one role everyone knows him for. He co-wrote and appeared in FROM DUSK TILL DAWN 2: TEXAS BLOOD MONEY (1999), had the amusing role of “Dr. Bankhead” in Rob Zombie’s DEVIL’S REJECTS (2005) and 3 FROM HELL (2019), and was killed by “Michael Myers” in Zombie’s HALLOWEEN 2 (2009). You’ll find Duane all over the horror genre in films like TALES FROM THE HOOD (1995), THE HAUNTED SEA (1997), FEAST (2005), URBAN DECAY (2007), TRAILER PARK OF TERROR (2008), and CHILDREN OF THE CORN: GENESIS (2011) to name but a few. Not one to confine himself to just horror films, you’ll find Whitaker in everything from dramas to comedies and always seems to have a couple of new films in some sort of production when whenever we have him back to the CW Show. He worked steadily in television during the early part of his career and continues to appear in popular television series and made for TV movies to this day. Beyond his work in TV and film, Duane is a seasoned playwright with work produced in both Los Angeles and New York.

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OTHER EQUALLY IMPORTANT GUESTS WILL INCLUDE:

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Ginger Lynn (Allen)

In 1982, Ginger Lynn Allen headed to California to visit her ill grandfather and decided to stay. Late that same year, she answered an ad for a figure model which led to a layout in Penthouse magazine. Work in the adult film industry soon followed where Ginger Lynn made 69 films and worked with a who’s who of industry vets and fresh faces. Her time in the adult film profession only lasted a couple of years thanks to the grueling schedule, but her films were released throughout the 1980s, keeping her fans happy throughout the decade and beyond. Following her years in adult films, she appeared in several more mainstream films, like HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD 2 (1989), the horror anthology SATAN’S STORYBOOK (1989), BURIED ALIVE (1990) with Robert Vaughn, Donald Pleasence, and John Carradine, and director Rick Sloan’s VICE ACADEMY film series, where she starred opposite “B Queen” Linnea Quigley in the first two films of the series, and appeared in five of the six film series. Along with several smaller rolls in films like Ken Russell’s WHORE (1991), AMERICAN PIE: BAND CAMP (2005), Rob Zombie’s DEVIL’S REJECTS (2005) and 31 (2016), STREETS OF VENGEANCE (2016), and NEW YORK NINJA (2021) to name a few. Along with plenty of film and television work, Ginger has managed to stay active in adult films as well. In 1999, as one of the few adult stars to not trash the business after she first “retired”, she struck a comeback deal with VCA Pictures and returned to star in four new adult films, TORN (1999), WHITE LIGHTNING (2000), NEW WAVE HOOKERS 6 (2000) and TAKEN (2005). In 2006, Ginger started co-hosting Playboy’s “Night Calls Radio” program on Sirius satellite radio and has gone on to appear in several other (mostly) M.I.L.F. and Cougar oriented adult videos, where she’s naturally lost none of her onscreen charm and sexuality.

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Paul Clemens

Los Angeles born Paul Clemens started working as a teenager in made for TV movies, IF I LOVE YOU, AM I TRAPPED (1974) and A DEATH IN CANAAN (1978). He went on to appear in the WWII drama, THE PASSAGE (1979) with Anthony Quinn, James Mason and Malcolm McDowell, and the drama, PROMISES IN THE DARK (1979) before returning to some television work. In 1982, Paul starred in director Phillppe Mora’s gory cult horror film, THE BEAST WITHIN, with Ronny Cox and Bibi Besch as his concerned parents. Along with several short films, Paul has done a range of other television and made for TV movies like Quincy M.E., Jessie, Murder She Wrote, Ray Bradbury Theater, and The District to name a few. You’ll find Paul in director Phillppe Mora’s COMMUNION (1989), the thriller CONTINUITY (2012), and Mora's musical Cold War flick, THE SOUND OF SPYING (2014). As an aside, Paul’s mom was Ohio born Hollywood starlet, Eleanor Parker. I only mention this because he was impressed I knew several of his mother’s movies when we were casually emailing back and forth one day. You may remember her fondly as well. If so, let him know.

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Gino Crognale

Make-Up Artist, Puppeteer, Special Effects guy, and occasionally an actor… In his damn close to forty year career, Gino Crognale worked on a ton of stuff every Wastelander will most certainly know. He started out in the mid-1980s doing make-up and special effects on films like TROLL (1986), THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2 (1986), FROM BEYOND (1986), A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS (1987), VICIOUS LIPS (1986), THE HIDDEN (1987) and 976-EVIL (1988). He worked with director Frank Henenlotter on BASKET CASE 2 (1990) and FRANKENHOOKER (1990); and was on the KNB effects crew for DR. GIGGLES (1992), PUMPKINHEAD 2: BLOOD WINGS (1993), John Carpenter’s IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS (1994), DARKMAN 2: THE RETURN OF DURANT (1995), WISHMASTER (1997), PHANTASM 4: OBLIVION (1998), TREMORS 4: THE LEGEND BEGINS (2004) and PREDATORS (2010), to name a few. He worked with George Romero on THE DARK HALF (1993) and LAND OF THE DEAD (2005), Rob Zombie on HALLOWEEN 2 (2009), Quentin Tarantino on DJANGO UNCHAINED (2012) and THE HATEFUL EIGHT (2015) and Robert Rodriguez’ FROM DUSK ‘TILL DAWN (1996), SPY KIDS (2001), SIN CITY (2005), PLANET TERROR (2007), and SIN CITY: A DAMN TO KILL FOR (2014). You’ll also find Gino doing his thing in films like SCREAM 2 (1997), THE GREEN MILE (1999), UNBREAKABLE (2000), THE MIST (2007), THE FINAL DESTINATION (2009), and Jack Ketchum’s THE WOMAN (2011) to name a handful. Gino has also worked on some terrific “terror TV” shows like the cult TV show Werewolf, Freddy’s Nightmares, Creepshow, The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, and The Walking Dead: Dead City.

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Frank M. Farel

Frank began his career at the age of 19 with the US title sequence for the cult zombie import, DOCTOR BUTCHER M. D. (aka Zombie Holocaust). He appeared in George Romero’s DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978) as the zombie sprayed with seltzer water in the biker-attacking-zombies scene, appeared in director W.J. Pasolini’s cult horror film, IGOR AND THE LUNATICS (1985). Frank went on to produce the original unfinished film, TWISTED SOULS, which then went on to be completed as the cult horror flick, SPOOKIES (1986), was an associate producer and the dismembered bum in STREET TRASH (1987), and produced the zombie flick, HELL OF THE SCREAMING DEAD (2023). He packaged and facilitated production of the European horror-thriller, THE JOHNSONS (1992), as well as the Tom Berenger action THE SUBSTITUTE (1996). Frank’s Hollywood collaborations include original screenplays optioned by writer/director George Gallo (Midnight Run, Bad Boys) and character actor Richard Herd (Seinfeld’s Mr. Wilhelm). You can also find Frank in the documentaries THE LEGEND OF KING KONG (2017) as well as STALE POPCORN AND STICKY FLOORS  (2023), and shares a scene with Malcolm McDowell in James Balsamo’s upcoming ROBOT DRACULA. Seizing the moment, Frank has authored the screenplay, laid the groundwork for and is preparing to direct and produce a thoroughly unorthodox sequel: SPOOKIES II: SPOOKIE-R, which we wish him the best of luck on.

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Lloyd Kaufman

During his years at Yale, Lloyd got introduced to B-Movies and the work of Roger Corman. This began his interest in movie making and the rest as they say, is history. Writer, producer, director, actor... and pretty much any job required of him to finish a production; that’s Lloyd Kaufman. He is also the founder and president of Troma Entertainment, the independent film company that has given us demented horror-comedies like BLOOD SUCKING FREAKS (1976), THE TOXIC AVENGER (1985), CLASS OF NUKE ‘EM HIGH (1986) and so many more. To date, Troma and Lloyd Kaufman have distributed well over 1000 movies, many of them simply known as “Troma Movies” to the legion of fans who have come to expect a certain amount of gross-out appeal from anything the company distributes. Always busy appearing in other people’s movies while continuing to produce and direct himself, Lloyd managed to produce and direct over a dozen films and short films over the past ten years, including RETURN TO NUKE ‘M HIGH VOLUME 1 (2013) and RETURN TO NUKE ‘EM HIGH’S BUFFALO DREAMS (2014), GRINDSPLOITATION (2016), RETURN TO RETURN TO NUKE ‘EM HIGH (2017) and SHAKESPEARE’S SHITSTORM (2020), a crude parody of ‘The Tempest’. Lloyd loves his Cleveland fans and we’re still wondering why he enjoys Cleveland so much?... Maybe it’s the food? We do have some great food in and around town. And we do have a cool music scene. Maybe that’s it?… Maybe he just enjoys a nice cold Pabst Blue Ribbon tallboy for a remarkably cheap price?… No matter what the reason, Lloyd decided that he couldn’t stay away and will be back with us this October.

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Camille Keaton

As a young girl, Camille found herself in a handful of European horror films and thrillers that include playing the victim in WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO SOLANGE? (1972), SEVEN BLOOD-STAINED ORCHIDS (1972), Riccardo Freda’s TRAGIC CEREMONY (1972), and DECAMERON 2 (1972). Her cinematic claim to fame came with the role of “Jennifer Hill”, the rape and assault victim who gets her revenge in director Meir Zarchi’s DAY OF THE WOMAN (1977) - much better known to every fan as I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE, an early “big box” rental in the mom and pop video store days that became a cult classic no exploitation movie fan should miss. You can also find Camille in RAW FORCE (1982) and cult women-in-prison film, THE CONCRETE JUNGLE (1982) to name a couple of her 80s films. Recently, Camille returned to acting when she appeared in Toe Tag Pictures SELLA TURCICA (2010) and has been working fairly steady since then, appearing the horror films CHOP (2010), Rob Zombie’s THE LORDS OF SALEM (2012), CABARET  DIABOLIQUE (2015), DEATH HOUSE (2017), TERROR IN THE WOODS (2017), BLOOD RIVER (2018), CAMP TWILIGHT (2020), THE PEOPLE IN THE TREES (2022), as well as I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE: DEJA VU (2019) which she may want to put out of her mind. You can also find Camille in the sci-fi spoof PLAN 9 (2015), the comedy HOLY HOLLYWOOD (2021), as well the thrillers THE BUTTERFLY ROOM (2010), and CRY FOR THE BAD MAN (2019) to name a handful of the more recent films she’s been in. It’s been ages since Camille has been with us, and CW has always been one of her favorite shows, so it was our pleasure to invite her back for one more Cinema Wasteland weekend this October.

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Mike Lackey

Mike starred as “Fred”, the homeless older brother and wino who witnesses the gooey and destructive secret of “Tenafly Viper” first hand in the cult classic STREET TRASH (1987), where he also served as part of the make up and effects crew. He also did make up effects for the horror-comedy I WAS A TEENAGE ZOMBIE (1987) before turning his attentions outside movie making. After STREET TRASH, Mike joined the Marvel Comics staff where he wrote and edited comic books for classic superhero’s like SPIDER-MAN, THE FANTASTIC FOUR, and SILVER SURFER, as well as comedy titles like the BEEVIS AND BUTTHEAD comic series. Mike was also the Creative Director for Central Park Media, producing Japanese anime and manga for rabid American audiences in the 1990s. At his last appearance at Cinema Wasteland back in April 2016, Mike Lackey had a CW exclusive sneak preview comic book of his and producer Roy Frumkes adaptation of STREET TRASH available for CW fans to pick up.  After several years of working on his little passion project, the giant-sized graphic novel adaption of STREET TRASH is finished and will be available at the October Show. Knowing Mike, you’ll even get a free sketch in every copy you pick up if you’d like one.

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John Russo

Writer, director, producer and occasional actor John Russo will always be best remembered as the guy who wrote the screenplay for George Romero’s NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968) and unleashed actual flesh eating zombies on the cinematic world at large. He was also one of the original investors/producers and played both a Washington DC reporter and a “lead” zombie (as well as other behind-the-scene duties) on NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. As a writer, Russo has seen his books or screenplays for RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (1985), THE MAJORETTES (1986), and VOODOO DAWN (1990) all turned into films. As both writer and director, Russo brought the world the 70’s sex comedy THE BOOBY HATCH (1976) which was also the first screen role for Dawn of the Dead’s David Emge; the cool misguided Satanists horror flick MIDNIGHT (1982), the vampire film HEARTSTOPPER (1993) with Moon Zappa, and the killer Christmas tale SANTA CLAWS (1996), among several others. These days, John Russo is still very much active in the independent film making scene and continues to make movies like SALOONATICS (2002), the horror-comedy MY UNCLE JOHN IS A ZOMBIE (2018), and THE RED TIDE MASSACRE (2022). Recently, director Jamie Lockhart made MY LIFE WITH THE LIVING DEAD (2024), a documentary based on the career of John Russo. John Russo has also shared his 50+ years of film experience in three different books on movie making, and his last novel, Epidemic Of The Living Dead, received some great reviews. A remake of his popular MIDNIGHT was completed in 2020, and John always has a couple of other projects in the works. 

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AND MAKING HIS RETURN TO THE C.W. SHOW -

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Tom Sullivan

Tom was the makeup effects man, prop builder, stop motion animator... ah, hell, he did so much behind-the-scenes work that we feel Tom is at least partially responsible for the entire look and feel of Sam Raimi’s cult horror favorite, EVIL DEAD. Before EVIL DEAD, Tom was the special effects guy on Sam Raimi’s WITHIN THE WOODS (1978), the short film that Sam Raimi made to secure financing for EVIL DEAD. He also worked plenty an uncredited job on EVIL DEAD 2 and did some sculpting work on THE FLY 2 for Chris Wallas. A talented artist, Tom has also done illustrations for collectible card games, film production companies, book illustrations, and designed the ultra-cool “Book of the Dead” DVDs for the Anchor Bay limited edition EVIL DEAD and EVIL DEAD 2 releases. He also penned the TOM SULLIVAN’S BOOKS OF THE DEAD comic series and found himself taking a few acting roles in films like the horror-comedy BUDDY BEBOP VS THE LIVING DEAD (2009), SPLATTER MOVIE:THE DIRECTOR’S CUT (2008), DOG (2009), A SHEER AGENDA (2009) and a few short films. Tom was actually the first guest we invited to be a part of the very first Cinema Wasteland Show back in September 2000, and was a part of the Cinema Wasteland Show and Family for 20 years where he became a real fan favorite guest. Tom had his own “Sullivan Museum Room” at the CW Show for all of the years he was with us - where he puts original EVIL DEAD props, storyboards and artwork on display for all attending fans to see up close and personal - and he will once again be filling his old room with some great stuff for fans to look at and purchase. Once COVID hit in 2020 and shut the world down for a spell, Tom was actually contemplating retiring from doing the convention rounds and didn’t join us when we returned in October 2021.  We’re certainly happy he decided against calling it a day when it comes to joining his Wasteland Family and will be returning this October with his long time “Museum Curator” and Evil Dead historian, Pat Reese, who’s been with Tom since day one of his time with Cinema Wasteland.

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AND IT WOULDN’T BE A C.W. SHOW WITHOUT OUR EQUALLY IMPORTANT CINEMA WASTELAND REGULARS.

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A. Ghastlee Ghoul

The host of the Dayton and Springfield Ohio area’s long running, late night, horror-comedy schlockathon known as “The Ghastlee Movie Show” has been spewing video-vaudevillian cheese and sleaze to the untold millions... ah, hundreds... OK, dozens of fans held captive by his wit and wisdom for over 30 years now. Occasionally joining Ghastlee for a Cinema Wasteland weekend is long time cohort in crime, Jeff McClellan: American, as well as Louu the XXXmas Devil, and Suspira; both members of the garage-punk band, SPLATTERTUDE. A. Ghastlee Ghoul has been with us since our very first show. We sort of adopted him as our official Wasteland horror host and he’s been the Wasteland AV guy for over 20 years now. The last few years you can find him and Suspira in the Vendor’s Room behind their tables all weekend long.



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Amy Lynn Best

Amy Lynn Best, a Pittsburgh PA native, has studied acting and dancing since she was three years old. She co-produced and costarred in the independent feature horror film, THE RESURRECTION GAME (2002), and like many independent film producers, she learned the film business from the ground up. On the short haunted house film, TENANT, Amy studied cinematography from that film's director of photography, Bill Fuller. Out of necessity, she learned the basics of grip work, camera operation, and the fine art of line producing. Since meeting her film making husband, Mike Watt, she has acted or worked on nearly a dozen films, including the critically-acclaimed feature, AMERICAN NIGHTMARE (2000), DR. HORROR’S EROTIC HOUSE OF IDIOTS (2003), along with ABATTOIR (2007), SPLATTER MOVIE (2008), DEMON DIVAS AND THE LANES OF DAMNATION (2009), “The Gorge” segment of George Romero’s DEADTIME STORIES 2 (2011), LITTLE BIG BOY (2012), TALES OF POE (2014) and RAZOR DAYS (2015) to name a few.



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J.R. Bookwalter

Akron, Ohio native J.R. Bookwalter spent almost four years completing what would become his first feature film: THE DEAD NEXT DOOR (1988). Upon its completion in LA, J.R. ran into producer David DeCoteau, who was just starting his own small production company, and spent the next four years writing, directing, producing, mixing sound or scoring for nine feature films and four special interest videos for DeCoteau. In 1991, Bookwalter used what he had learned and started Tempe Entertainment, further teaching himself the ins and outs of low budget film production and distribution. You name it and J.R. Bookwalter has more than likely tried it in order to get his films made. In addition to producing, directing and editing, you’ll find him occasionally acting, doing make up and effects work and/or pretty much any crew job required of him. In addition to THE DEAD NEXT DOOR, some of the films all fans should recognize that J.R. wrote, produced or directed include: KINGDOM OF THE VAMPIRE (1991), OZONE (1993), THE NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD 25th ANNIVERSARY DOCUMENTARY (1993), MIDNIGHT 2 (1993), THE SANDMAN (1996), BLOODLETTING (1997), WITCHHOUSE 2 and 3 (2000/2001), DEAD AND ROTTING (2002), HELL ASYLUM (2002) and so many others.  After a long break from directing, J.R. dove back into the fray with the horror film, SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY (2023), a terrific homage to the horror and sci-fi films of the 1970s.

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Dirk Manning

Dirk is the writer/creator of the horror comic series Tales of Mr. Rhee (Devil’s Due) and Nightmare World (Image Comics/Shadowline) as well as several other comic book series and graphic novels. Aside from writing horror comics, Dirk is also the author of Write or Wrong: A Writer’s Guide to Creating Comics (Caliber) and has written several short films for the popular YouTube horror series BlackBoxTV, including “The Hunger,” “The Night Shift” and “Zombie.” Dirk’s been a semi-regular guest at the CW Show for the past several years, and usually makes the Fall show. If you’ve been yearning to read some great modern horror comics or are interested in the craft of writing for comics or film, be sure to stop and chat with him. He’s always willing to offer a little advise for the asking. When he’s not set-up at Cinema Wasteland or assorted comic shows and conventions, Dirk lives on the Internet and can easily be found online at DirkManning.com.

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The Mummy and the Monkey

In the grand tradition of Cleveland Horror Hosts comes The Mummy and the Monkey’s Hairy Scary Hangout, hosted by Janet Decay and Grimm Gori. Their weekly Live Streaming Friday Night Facebook Show delivers bits, skits, and a scary flick! And the live platform allows them to mix it up in real time with the viewing audience, which sets them apart from most other horror host shows. Are you D.T.F.?(Down To Friday) Then grab a Drink, a Snack, and we'll see you at the Hangout this Friday! You’ll also find Janet Decay and Grimm Gori in the CW Show Guest and Vendor Room (or otherwise prowling the Show) all weekend long. Be sure to stop over, say hello, and check out what they have to offer as you pass through the Vendor and Guest room. You’ll also be able to catch a family friendly Mummy and Monkey Show on Saturday morning at the show in Movie Room 2 and pick up the DVD of that show (or any others they may have available) at their table later in the day.



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Son of Ghoul

With 30+ years and thousands of shows broadcast on TV, Son of Ghoul is Akron and Cleveland’s longest continuous running horror host; as well as a long time regular here at the Cinema Wasteland show. Live in the Cleveland or Akron area? Then by all means, see if you can’t catch Son of Ghoul’s movie show on television. A life long Three Stooges fan that can actually boast that he owns all 190 Columbia produced Three Stooges shorts on 16mm film, Son of Ghoul presents a trio of Stooge Shorts every Saturday at Noon in Movie Room 1 and has recently started to put together the Saturday morning “politically incorrect” cartoon block for us. After all, Cinema Wasteland, cartoons, and the Three Stooges go together better than drunks and strippers. Well, almost better...



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Mike Watt

Writer, director, publisher, and journalist Mike Watt wrote and directed THE RESURRECTION GAME (2001) and Bloody Earth Film's A FEAST OF FLESH (2007) (aka "Abattoir") through Happy Cloud Pictures, which he co-founded with the lovely and talented Amy Lynn Best and the less lovely but also talented Bill Homan. He also wrote the screenplays for SEVERE INJURIES (2003), WERE-GRRL (2002), SPLATTER MOVIE: THE DIRECTOR'S CUT (2008), DEAD MEN WALKING (2005) for The Asylum, THE SCREENING (2007) for G. Cameron Romero, as well as DEMON DIVAS AND THE LANES OF DAMNATION (2009) and RAZOR DAYS (2015). Mike has worked as an editor, producer, actor, and most any other job needed to complete a film or short. He was the editor of Sirens of Cinema Magazine and is always tirelessly perusing most anything to pay his rent… ah, further the independent film spirit and commerodity all of us in this business equally share. He currently publishes Exploitation Nation, a magazine devoted to the indy and classic film scene.

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Come and meet representatives from the following Wasteland supporters:

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* ALL GUESTS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR ALL 3 DAYS OF THE SHOW UNLESS NOTED *

Guest appearances are based on schedules permitting. Guests do charge a nominal fee for autographs. Show events are naturally subject to change.

ALL OF OUR GUESTS WILL BE SET UP IN AMONGST THE VENDERS IN OUR 10,000 SQUARE FOOT DEALERS ROOM FOR EASY ACCESSIBILITY ALL THREE DAYS OF THE SHOW.