Bryce Zabel joins Silver Screen Saucers

 By Robbie Graham Silver Screen Saucers

Silver Screen Saucers welcomes Bryce Zabel.

I am delighted to announce that, as of today, award-winning Hollywood writer/producer Bryce Zabel has joined Silver Screen Saucers in the role of Consulting Editor.

As many readers will no doubt be aware, Bryce is the co-creator of the NBC television series Dark Skies (1996-1997), which presents an alternate, covert history of the second half of the 20th Century as shaped by UFO/ET related events.

From 2001 to 2003, Bryce served as the Chairman of the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has collaborated with the likes of Steven Spielberg (on the UFO mini-series Taken), Stan Lee and David Kelly. In 2008, he received the Writers Guild of America Award for his Hallmark mini-series, Pandemic.

In 2010, Bryce teamed up with Richard Dolan to co-author the groundbreaking book A.D. After Disclosure, which explores the potential impact of UFO Disclosure on government, science, religion, media, culture, law, education, and politics. The book is being released in a new, revised edition by Career Press in May 2012.

In his role as Silver Screen Saucers Consulting Editor, Bryce will contribute occasional articles and commentary pieces to the site, sharing with the reader his valuable insider’s perspective on Hollywood’s UFO-themed entertainment products.

Silver Screen Saucers will be considerably enriched by Bryce's involvement, making the site all the more essential, both as a unique, easily accessible resource for the serious UFO researcher and as a one-stop-shop for the info-hungry UFO movie fan.

For more information about Bryce Zabel,  check out his web sites: BryceZabel.com, MovieSmackdown.com, and AfterDisclosure.com.

JANUARY CONTEST AT THE VAULT! WIN RAY HARRYHAUSEN DVDS!

While perusing this amazing book (a huge thanks to my friend Adam for hooking me up with it!) I realized I had a few Ray Harryhausen DVDs just sitting around and collecting dust, and decided that they needed a home. Therefore, through the month of January, you can enter to win any ONE of these THREE Harryhausen classics: 20,000,000 Miles to Earth, IT Came from Beneath the Sea, or Earth vs. The Flying Saucers!

Rules:
Send me an e-mail at vault_master@bmoviefilmvault.com with your preferred Harryhausen film of choice in the subject line. Include your name, mailing address, and in a few short sentences, tell me about your favorite monster or moment from a Ray Harryhausen film. Simple enough right?

You can put in an entry for each movie, but you will only walk away with one. Winners will be selected at random on January 31st. Prizes will be mailed out promptly on February 1st. For more info on this contest and to see me ramble on incoherently, check out the Youtube video below:



And don't forget to like the Vault on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, or subscribe to my Youtube channel! Get those entries in folks and good luck!

Dulce base movie ‘Umbra’ in production shake-up

By Robbie Graham Silver Screen Saucers

The upcoming sci-fi conspiracy thriller Umbra – a leaked draft script for which makes strong references to the deep-underground biogenetic research facility alleged to exist in Dulce, New Mexico – is currently undergoing a major production shake-up.

The director originally attached to the production – Roger (Species) Donaldson – was replaced by A-Team helmer Joe Carnahan last year. Carnahan was also in the process of rewriting the original (leaked) version of the script.

Now, according to Deadline.com, Carnahan has dropped out of the Umbra project altogether and has been replaced by veteran director Martin Campbell (The Mask of Zorro, Casino Royale, Green Lantern). The script, meanwhile, is undergoing yet another rewrite – this time at the Oscar-winning hands of Paul Haggis (Crash, Million Dollar Baby). Haggis caused a storm in 2009 when he quit the Church of Scientology after more than three decades of membership ("I was in a cult for thirty-four years. Everyone else could see it. I don’t know why I couldn’t").

Archuleta Mesa, New Mexico, location of alleged Dulce base.

Just how far Campbell and Haggis’ Umbra movie will veer from the original script (which features numerous references to the darker chapters of UFOlogical history, including the alleged human/alien fire fight at Dulce described by ‘whistleblower’ Phil Schneider) remains to be seen.

Umbra will begin shooting in the spring and will hit cinemas sometime in 2013.

For a (potentially plot-spoiling) summary of the UFOlogical content of the original leaked Umbra script, see here.

For the full script itself, see here.

Related:

What is 'UMBRA'?

Bradley Cooper to star in Dulce Base movie 'Umbra'?

Limited Edition Fright-Rags tee & hoodie coming this Friday the 13th + cool b-movie fan fiction!

If none of you are familiar with Fright-Rags or Canadian artist Jason Edmiston visit their sites and take in all the glory. Go ahead, I'll wait.... pretty damned cool stuff right? I count myself lucky that I actually own some of Jason's artwork; it was pricy but 100% worth it and is now sitting above my TV in my living room.

Night of the Creeps vs. The Monster Squad poster. Signed by Jason Edmiston, director Fred Dekker, and "Creeps" star Tom "THRILL ME!" Atkins! If you want your own, or any of Jason's other artwork, visit his Etsy store HERE!

Anyway, my point of all this is to announce that Fright-Rags and Jason Edmiston have teamed up to bring us all an awesome Limited Edition t-shirt/hoodie that will only be available next weekend starting at 12:01 AM EST on Friday the 13th and ending at midnight the following Sunday. This is a pre-order so it won't run out, all shirt sizes will be available for both men and women, and pricing is as follows: T-shirts are $25.95 / Hoodies are $49.95. Since this is a pre-order item, it could take up to four weeks for your item to arrive. Oh jeez... almost forgot to show you what it is that you can pre-order. You ready for this? I hope you are fellow nerds:

He'll get you on the land, the sea, or air!

I'm all ready to pre-order mine next Friday, you should be too! Maybe it if goes over well, we'll get a whole line of GI slashers! Sky's the limit as far as I'm concerned!

Also, before I close out this blog post, I wanted to share some b-movie fan fiction that was sent my way a few days ago by a writer named Tommie Johnson. It's a nifty little short story about the creation of a new team of heroes for a secret government group called the OIMC (Official Institute of Monster Control).

Its set in a universe where Japan is abandoned to due constant kaiju attacks, genetic body modification is all the rage with the kids, and Tromaville is a legit place and popular tourist attraction. Needless to say, I totally dug it. Give Tommie's A World of Schmucks and Monsters a quick read won't you? And see if you can pick out all the references to b-cinema he's packed into this monster-filled tale.

Well, I've got this entire day to myself, so before I chillax and do whatever it is that I want to do, I have some errands to run and some chores that need doing. Later tonight I will be posting a video on Youtube announcing a new contest at the Vault, and maybe I'll even get some writing done. (I've got a half-finished account of my trip to the Hudson Horror Show last month that needs completing... among other things.)

Have a good weekend everybody and check back soon for new content!

Silent Night, Deadly Night contest winner has been chosen; Chicago Fear Fest now calling for entries!

Well I've finally picked a winner for last month's Silent Night, Deadly Night giveaway! After perusing photos of the six entrants who wanted to get their hands on the entire SNDN franchise, I finally settled on the gentleman that is featured in the images below.

PUNISH!

NAUGHTY!

The fellow in the Santa garb, and WINNER of all five Silent Night, Deadly Night films is Chris Laycox from Cambridge, Massachusetts! Congrats on your victory Chris; you are now permitted to act smug! Your movies will be shipped tomorrow; expect them early next week!

With that contest concluded, you may be wondering, "Jordan, will you be doing one for the month of January?" Well yes indeed! I will be announcing details very soon and... what's that? You're curious to know what's at stake this time around? Well... I didn't want to ruin the surprise but... it involves... Ray Harryhausen.

Moving on then, I received an e-mail about an all new indie Horror film festival in Chicago, IL called CHICAGO FEAR FEST. They are currently looking for entries, so if you have a short or feature-length Horror film, this is the place to send it! Here is the press release I was graced with earlier today:

CHICAGO’s newest indie horror film fest announces a call for entries! CHICAGO FEAR FEST

APRIL 13-14, 2012

MUVICO THEATERS ROSEMONT 18 ROSEMONT, IL
www.chicagofearfest.com

CHICAGO, IL – January 1, 2011
Chicago may be known as the “Second City”, but Chicago-based Horror Enterprises Flashback Weekend (Horror Conventions & Drive-In Film Fests), Horror Society (web based horror news & Horror film fests), Sinister Visions (horror website & graphic design), and Zombie Army Productions (Haunted House design & film production), are working to establish Chicago as the 1st city of Horror!

The weekend of April 13-14, 2012, these four Titans of the Chicago Horror Community and Muvico Theaters are teaming up to present CHICAGO FEAR FEST, a major two day indie horror film festival. All of the festival selections will screen at Chicago’s premiere movie going experience; the Muvico Theaters Rosemont 18 located in Rosemont, IL.

CHICAGO FEAR FEST will showcase the very best in cutting edge independent horror films. The lineup will include short films, feature films, celebrity guests, panel discussions, and Q & A’s. Festival after-parties will be held in Bogart’s, a full service bar and grill located on the second floor of the Muvico Theaters Rosemont 18.

Films will be judged based in 3 different categories: Best Feature, Best Short and Audience Favorite. The winning director of each category will be invited to appear as a featured celebrity guest at the Flashback Weekend Chicago Horror Convention to be held August 10-12, 2012 in Rosemont, IL.

CHICAGO FEAR FEST will be a celebration of the art of indie horror film making by encouraging and supporting independent filmmakers from around the world. CHICAGO FEAR FEST and Muvico Theaters are committed to promoting excellence in independent filmmaking by fostering a community of filmmakers and encouraging an appreciation of independent film.

We are accepting film submissions from horror filmmakers now! This is your chance to get your film screened in Chicago in front of an audience of high profile media, film critics, film-making industry professionals, and horror fans!

For more information about the festival and for film submission, please visit our website at WWW.CHICAGOFEARFEST.COM and follow us on facebook and twitter!!

That's it for now but expect all sorts of updates and new content to appear across the vast B-Movie Film Vault Empire soon! And to fully keep up to date on what I'm doing, watching, eating, or thinking, be sure to like the Vault on Facebook and follow me on the Twitter!

Six Fright-Rags tees back from the dead, new Riff Brothers stuff, a plea from Underbelly, and more!

First off, HAPPY NEW YEAR b-movie fans! This is the very first blog post of 2012 (and truthfully, the first thing I've written in quite a while) so I'll kick it off with a ton of news regarding the Vault and some of its closest friends. First off, lets take a gander at what Fright-Rags has to offer at the moment:

Those glorious folks over at my favorite Horror t-shirt company have just brought six old designs back from the dead. You can pre-order any of them between now and January 8th, and get a nice 15% chunk off the final price! CLICK HERE to do some shopping! (Me? Well I ordered the "They Live" and "THRILL ME!" tees because my old ones are in pretty rough shape. Thank God they came back into print!)

Also, keep your eyes peeled next week, because I have a strong feeling that the Fright-Rags crew are going to be releasing something AWESOME on FRIDAY THE 13TH! Will it be a new Jason Voorhees poster? A shirt design? A huge collector's edition gift set? Guess we'll just have to wait until next Friday to know for sure!

Next up, my other web project, THE RIFF BROS., has done a crossover with a gent named Derek Huey. Derek is the mastermind behind the no-budget "The League of Science" web-series and invited us to poke fun at episode one of his show. So far it has been well-received (though I'm sure actor David Sitbon may want to throttle us) and it looks like we'll be doing the next three episodes. Until we get those completed, check out League of Science with Riff Bros. Commentary:



And speaking of web-series, UNDERBELLY is looking to storm the internet in 2012. They are regrouping, setting up a set "broadcast" schedule (every Thursday starting in February) and are looking for input from fans and viewers. Check out their latest vid, then send them some comments and help 'em get things sorted out for the new year:



Finally (for the moment) there's a helluva good deal going on over at HORROR MOVIE EMPIRE! They are currently having a sale on Synapse, Impulse, and Panick House DVD & Blu-ray titles: DVDs are $10, Blu-rays are $12, and DVD/Blu-ray combos are $15! This sale ends on January 8th so take advantage. Oh, and you get FREE SHIPPING TOO! CLICK HERE to start shopping! (Note: This site is a "one-man operation" and due to the large volume of sales, the owner is about a week behind on mailing out orders. So if you buy some stuff, prepare to wait a bit for it.)

Well that's all I've got for you at the moment. I'll be announcing the winner of last month's SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT GIVEAWAY tonight/tomorrow and I'll also be working on podcasts, videos, articles, and reviews. 2012 is going to be a landmark year for The Vault and its mini online empire, and the only way for that to happen is for me to get up off my lazy arse and get things done!

So Happy Belated New Year everyone! Here's hoping that 2012 is a good one for all of us!

Spielberg's 'E.T.' survives kidnap ordeal

Silver Screen Saucers

A life-sized replica of Steven Spielberg’s iconic movie alien E.T. has “come home” to its owner four months after being stolen from its Hampshire UK residence.

The unique, handcrafted E.T. replica belonging to pensioner Margaret Wells, 76, was spotted floating in the sea off the coast of Old Porstmouth, Hampshire, by a local walker, just five miles from where it was taken. Fearing it to be a human body, the walker immediately notified the police.


According to The Daily Mail: “police and coastguard attending the scene quickly realised it was not a human, but the alien model... A Coastguard spokeswoman said: ‘It rolled up on the beach and gave somebody a bit of a fright.’”

Mrs Wells said of her beloved E.T.: “There's only one in the whole of England and that is mine.” The model is the work of Mrs Wells' daughter, Louise, who spent three months creating it while completing a stage make-up course.

“The police rang and said somebody has found a body in the Solent and it belongs to you – it’s E.T.,” Mrs Wells said, “I always knew E.T. would come home... he has lost a finger and looks a bit roughed up. But he has a smile on his face.”

Yes, it’s a slow news day here at Silver Screen Saucers.