Month: September 2023

Posted on by

Kayla Perkins Answers 3 Irrelevant Questions

Kayla Perkins

I’ve known Kayla Perkins since my earliest days as a filmmaker. The actress and model started her career at the age of twelve when she appeared on The Simple Life with Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie on the E channel. Kayla, who would be crowned Junior Miss Kentucky in 2003, fell in love with TV and film thanks to her experience on The Simple Life, and she’s become a fan favorite on the independent film circuit. Her credits include The Dark Room, A Promise To Alexis, The Killbillies, The Girl, the TV show Nashville, and many more, including a short I produced, The Last Temptation of Fluffy. She is busier than ever today working on projects like The Art Of Killing; Monster On: The Art Of The Craft; The Baton Rouge Serial Killer: Derrick Todd Lee; 12 Till Dawn; Midas Cove; Murder, Murder, Kill, Kill; and The Anniversary.

Kayla dabbles in books as well. We collaborated on a novel, Kayla Perkins is Dead, and she’s writing a wonderful children’s book with her son Kayden. The book is called I’m Kayden and I Have JIA, and it was written by mother and son to help children like Kayden who are dealing with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

Whew, that’s a mouthful.

But, that’s not important right now.

This week, I asked Kayla to answer the 3 Irrelevant Questions. So here we go!

What is your favorite guilty pleasure movie? 

I love all kinds of movies. But one movie that I love and have watched literally over 32 times is called My Fault with Nicole Wallace and Gabriel Guevara. It is based on the book by Mercedes Ron. My Fault is such a great story, and the chemistry that these two actors have is amazing! They did an amazing job. I love romance movies.

If you could spend a day with full access to any animal, what animal would it be? 

There are so many animals that I would love to spend the day with, but if I had to choose, I would pick a tiger. Tigers are the largest cat species. I love cats. I have two named Cinammon and Tabby. They are just like kids. They are super fast. I love that they go after what they want. I think everyone of us should go after what we want in life.

If you could hop in a fast car or private jet and go anywhere in the world for a favorite food, where would you go, and what would you eat? 

This is such a hard question. I love all kinds of food and snacks, but I’m not a big sweets person. If I had to pick one item, though it would be Superman ice cream. Growing up, going on vacation and doing photoshoots for pageants, I would eat Superman ice cream. Everytime I see it on vacation, it brings back memories.

You can learn more about Kayla Perkins and find her social media links at www.kaylaperkins.com

Movies and books featuring Kayla Perkins

Posted on by

How to Get Rid of Pesky Telemarketers of the Future

Cindy Maples in The Telemarketer.

One of my favorite short stories is called The Telemarketer. Inspired by those hard-working men and women in call centers throughout the world, the story envisions what telemarketing will be like in the future. Instead of using a telephone, why not use a teleporter? Why not beam directly into someone’s house and show, rather than tell, what you’re selling?

Think of the potential for sales!

Think of the potential for trouble!

The wonderful, beautiful, and incredibly talented Cindy Maples fell in love with this story. She championed the production of a short film that made the rounds in a few independent film tests. Thus, one of my favorite short stories became one of my favorite short films.

Ladies and gentlemen, The Telemarketer, starring Cindy Maples.

Posted on by

Roy Gonzales Answers 3 Irrelevant Questions

Hellbenders by Roy Gonzales and S W Salzman

Roy Gonzales and I met through our mutual friend, actress Ally Labar. Roy is a writer who has been writing for over 40 years, counting high school. His first big break was working with the company Prodigy Six in New York. He wrote the script for their film THE CROOKED MIND that came in 9th place in the Manhattan Film Fest. Prodigy Six also published two graphic novels based on his script SHADOW OF DARKNESS. Roy is currently working with Polarbear Film on a package of scripts. He’s working on the sequel to the up coming horror film, HOUSE OF DOLLS, and he published the novel HELLBENDERS based on his original screenplay of the same name co-written by best selling author Shawn W. Salzman. He’s looking for a producer to turn HELLBENDERS into a film.

House of Dolls

But that’s not important right now.

Roy is the second person on the hot seat, answering the 3 irrelevant questions.

What is your favorite guilty pleasure movie, and what defense do you have for it? 

I have a few that I go back to and watch. Blade Runner (1981) Apocalypse Now (1979), and the one that always gets a moan that they can’t believe I like it is Heaven’s Gate. (1980) Heaven’s Gate is an epic western that reminds me of The Godfather with its story and violence. When it was released, the critics destroyed it, saying it cost to much and it was too long. But, I think it was cuz, the director didn’t allow any press on the set when he was filming and to get revenge on him. They gave the film horrible reviews. I mean, now Heaven’s Gate is seen as a classic.

Screenwriter Roy Gonzales.

If you had a full day of access to any animal, what would it be? 

My neighbors dog Kopi. Named after the wrestler. Kopi is the best dog I have ever known. She is so cute and chill. I love her like she was my own.

If you were hungry and could fly or drive anywhere right now for the perfect snack or meal, where would you go? 

I would take a fast car to Bell Gardens, and to the Pioneer Chicken there. It’s the best chicken in Los Angeles. That is where I would go.

Buy HELLBENDERS the novel now on Amazon. Give this man some money for that trek to Pioneer Chicken!

Posted on by

Goldilocks: Little Girl Lost or Mad Stalker?

An evil Goldi Locks stalks the three bears in The Big Bad Goodnight by John Cosper.

I’ve always loved fairy tales. I love playing around with fairy tales even more. I once wrote a play that surmised that the Prince Charming in all fairy tales was the same guy. The various princesses put two and two together and sought out a hit squad of little girls – including that little burglar Goldilocks and the homicidal Red Riding Hood – to get some revenge.

As much as I love fairy tales, I also love film noir. For me, it doesn’t get much better than the sinister vibes of Double Indemnity, Key Largo, or Cape Fear. Not the remake, mind you. Nolte and DeNiro were fine. But Robert Mitchum’s portrayal in the original is a villain without peer. Insidious. Relentless. And always smiling.

The Big Bad Goodnight, my homage to both fairy tales and film noir, began with just one, simple story about a down on his luck wolf trying to make one last score and get out of town. It grew to be more when the notion came to me to combine Robert Mitchum’s Max Cady into one sinister character.

What if Goldilocks went to the Bears’ house on purpose? What if there was a history between Goldilocks and one of the bears? And what if Goldilocks was just a little unhinged?

As much fun as it was to write the story, seeing my dark, monstrous Goldi brought to life by the wonderful Meredith Lee Ann Keller was even better. Meredith is one of the sweetest ladies you’ll ever meet, and a terrific actress. And boy, did she bring out the crazy in the teaser film created to promote The Big Bad Goodnight.

If you like a good fairy tale, and a good film noir, check out the video above. Then order your signed copy of The Big Bad Goodnight. Because not every tale ends happily ever after, know what I’m sayin’?

Posted on by

Jeff Waldridge Answers 3 Irrelevant Questions

Jeff Waldridge, co-author of The Haunting of a Bourbon Town and caretaker at The Anderson Hotel.

Jeff Waldridge has been a Paranormal Researcher for over twenty years. He is a well-respected historian in his hometown of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, where he gives ghost tours highlighting the Ripy Mansion, the Anderson County Courthouse, and one of the most haunted buildings in Kentucky, the Anderson Hotel.

He currently working on The Anderson Hotel Haunted House and promoting his first book The Haunting of a Bourbon Town. He’s also getting ready for Cryptidcon, a fantastic monster-themed convention coming up in November. He was also the co-creator for Scarefest in Lexington KY, and he’s documentary filmmaker whose credits include the gritty deathmatch wrestling film Hardway.

But that’s not important right now.

Jeff Waldridge is the first of my weekly guests I’ve invited to answer three irrelevant questions. Each week, I’ll be inviting another creative talent to answer these same questions, highlighting authors, filmmakers, actors, artists, and more.

So here we go.

What is your favorite guilty pleasure movie, and what defense do you have for it? 

Lost Boys! It’s the ultimate movie that screams “horror movie” of that era. So cheesy but huge stars.

If you had a full day of access to any animal at the zoo, what would it be? 

Gorillas, because they are very smart.

If you were hungry and could fly or drive anywhere right now for the perfect snack or meal, where would you go? 

Let’s see, a lot of options here. I could go to Texas for Whataburger, California for In N Out Burger, Philly for a cheesesteak, or Jersey for a hoagie.

Want to tour a haunted house with Jeff Waldridge? Visit Jeff’s website with all the details.

And don’t forget your signed copy of The Haunting of a Bourbon Town by Jeff Waldridge and John Cosper. Order direct by clicking on the book cover below.

The Haunting of a Bourbon Town by Jeff Waldridge and John Cosper

Posted on by

Why You Should Visit This Kentucky Haunted Hotel

While we were writing The Haunting of a Bourbon Town, Jeff Waldridge told me that he tried to warn a previous tenant about turning the Anderson Hotel into a haunted attraction. When you bring people into an environment that already has paranormal activity and scare them, it tends to make that activity worse. The ghosts feed off that fear, and the potential for real ghostly encounters escalates.

So what’s Jeff doing this Halloween season? He’s turning the Anderson Hotel into a haunted attraction, of course.

Not every ghost inside the Anderson Hotel, Lawrenceburg’s top haunted attraction, is on the payroll. Some checked in decades ago. They simply never checked out.

Come see what frights are in store this Halloween season at the historic, and very haunted, Anderson Hotel. Featured on Paranormal Lockdown and Talk is Jericho, the hotel is located right on Main Street in Lawrenceburg, and just a short drive from Four Roses and Wild Turkey.

For information on tours, visit the Anderson Hotel website.

Click here to order your signed copy of The Haunting of a Bourbon Town.