ROBERT KURTZMAN TALKS PROJECTS
Director/FX artist Robert Kurtzman, who recently separated from KNB EFX (as discussed in FANGORIA #228, on sale now), got in touch to give us the scoop on his latest projects. Im currently attached to direct A FOREST DARK, a WWII werewolf picture, Kurtzman, who previously helmed THE DEMOLITIONIST and WISHMASTER, tells Fango. Were supposed to shoot in Luxembourg, but its all dependent on them closing on certain territories; Arclight Pictures, Carousel Pictures and Spice Factory are the companies financing it. Its about a group of soldiers trapped behind enemy lines by the Germans, and they discover that one of their number is a werewolf, but they dont know whoits kind of like THE THING. Were supposed to shoot that at the first of the year, and Im also up to do a couple of sequels that I dont want to name for the studios.
Kurtzman, who has relocated to Ohio, is busy developing homegrown projects there as well. I have a new production company called Precinct 13 Entertainment, and Im in the process of renovating a 14,000-square-foot studio and building a website [which will launch next February at www.p13entertainment.com]. It will handle film, television and commercial production and include a small CGI house, so Ill be taking on digital work as a startup and try to grab pieces of bigger projects as I go along. In a way, Im kind of starting the way KNB did 15 years ago, by beginning on smaller jobs and working my way up to bigger features. And Im putting together three back-to-back movies that I want to shoot at the studio next year. Its my low-budget zombie trilogy, which Im working on with [screenwriter] John Esposito and [artist] John Bisson. Im also doing a comic book with John Bisson thats going to be released next year. Its about guys battling monsters, but I dont want to mention the title before it comes out.
But wait, theres more! Right now Im doing a Halloween show, which you can find out more about at www.monsterrampage.com. [KNBs] Gino Crognale and I built a haunted house thats open now, and runs through Halloween. We put it together in two weeks, and it turned out really well. Were doing a radio promotion now, and Andrew Divoff, the Wishmaster himself, is coming out for a big promotion and party nights at a local radio station from October 29-November 2.
Kurtzman also wants to clear up any misconceptions regarding his departure from KNB. I loved my years there, and working with Howard [Berger] and Greg [Nicotero], he states, but nows the time I have to concetrate on what interests me most, which is my directing and producing career. Howard and Greg will continue to work on my projectstheyre doing the werewolf for A FOREST DARK, and anything I put together in the future, theyll work with me on. I still consider them my best friends.
Courtesy of Fangoria
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