The Wake

Charles Band is well known to fans of B-movies and horror films; he is the mastermind of the Full Moon Features and Wizard Entertainment studios. He will be in town on October 12 at Dinkytown’s Varsity Theater with Charles Band’s Full Moon Horror Road Show. Band’s career in film spans thirty years and shows no signs of slowing down. I recently had the pleasure of talking with him.

The Wake: Can you tell us a bit about your Full Moon Horror Road Show?

Band: There are some surprises, and I’d like to keep them that way. Basically, I’ve made movies for so many years, and had so many experiences. Of course, the ones I think people would be most interested in are experiences with actors and actresses who became stars … There’ll be a lot of behind-the-scenes stories and anecdotes, coupled with clips that I’ll be showing … I think because it’s mostly horror films that I’ve done, it’s generally a pretty joyous experience. I mean, we’re not talking about a heavy art film; it’s not Project Greenlight.

The Wake: Project Greenlight did recently produce a horror film (Feast, 2006).

Band: That’s true, but it’s a big horror film they spent millions of dollars on. They’re trying to release it theatrically. So they’re in that studio mode, which is fine.

The Wake: For our readers who are unaware of Full Moon Pictures, can you explain its place in the horror pantheon?

Band: It is the only label that has been making primarily horror films … for many, many years … well over two decades.

The Wake: Can you tell us a little about the next Full Moon production to hit the video stores, Gingerdead Man?

Band: It’s about as wacky a concept as they come, and I will admit that. It’s about this evil, pissed-off cookie. What was really interesting was trying to find something — even though it’s a wild concept, not real — but somewhere in that dimension we created, believable. Gary Busey really brought that flavor to it. He is the spirit, in the movie, that inhabits the cookie … It comes to life, and of course is very verbose and has the voice of a very angry Gary Busey. It’s pretty wild.

The Wake: With the massive number of films you’ve worked on, I’m curious which you take the most pride in, and which you’d like to be disassociated with.

Band: (Laughs) Well, there are plenty I’d love to cut out, but to mention those would offend someone. There are so many that I really enjoy. I think people really don’t understand, and certainly most fans don’t really understand is how apples-and-oranges it is to make a little movie in six or ten days for a budget that wouldn’t cover the coffee budget of a major film … I’m proud of Dr. Mordrid, which was kind of a weird little movie … Even Gingerdead Man and Doll Graveyard I think are pretty unique and fun. There’s not one movie that jumps out as the one. When the lowest budget for a big-budget movie is $40 million how do you compare it to Vampire Journals, which is a neat little movie we filmed in Romania?

For more details about Full Moon Features and Charles Band’s Full Moon Horror Road Show, go to . Tickets to the show at the Varsity Theater can be found at .