Monthly Archives: August 2017
DARK DISCUSSIONS pays tribute to George Romero
Dark Discussions pays tribute to George Romero in the wake of his passing. We discuss his life, his work, and the controversies that sometimes surrounded him, and some of our thoughts might surprise you! You can listen in on Stitcher, iTunes, and here: http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Pages/podcast_297.html
THIS WRITING LIFE EPISODE 10: DAMNATIONLAND is up!
This episode of This Writing Life road trips to Portland, Maine!
For me, being a writer means always studying other media—film, music, art, whatever. One of my favorite things to do is attend DAMNATIONLAND—a horror film festival which showcases short films by independent Maine filmmakers. I probably did more partying than studying…but come take the ride with me! Watch This Writing Life Episode 10: Damnationland here: https://youtu.be/1ro3aNkm89M
If you wanna do it for real? You can check out the dates for 2017 on the Damnationland FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/Damnationland/?ref=br_rs
DARK DISCUSSIONS gets a case of THE BERLIN SYNDROME

The DD masthead for Episode 292, THE BERLIN SYNDROME. Collage by Phillip Perron.
Dark Discussions gets a case of The Berlin Syndrome—a disturbing look at a passionate affair that turns into narcissistic abuse. The film, which stars Teresa Palmer, takes us along for the ride as an Australian photographer travels to Germany and gets more than she bargained for, and is available now on VOD.
Check out the film and then listen to our episode on Stitcher, iTunes, and here: http://www.darkdiscussions.com/Pages/podcast_292.html
TOT TERRORS: THE BERMUDA DEPTHS (1978) – and wow, is there a SEQUEL in the works?
I often get asked about what influences my work as a writer. Inspired by the amazing website Kindertrauma–which is right up my alley–I’m compiling all of my childhood (and some adult) terrors.

The full-page ad that appeared in TV Guide. Those old ads were very effective in enticing people to watch things. I don’t think ads today have the same kind of power.
In 1978, the ABC Friday Night Movie aired The Bermuda Depths. It was billed, in the original TV Guide full page ad, as a frightening mystery surrounding the Bermuda Triangle—a hot topic back in the In Search Of-cryptid-paranormal-UFO-obsessed decade that was the 1970s. I didn’t know this then, but it was written by Alan Rankin, produced by Jules Bass (yes, the Rankin/Bass behind Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer) and directed by Tsugunobu (Tom) Kotani of 1977’s The Last Dinosaur fame—which meant creatures and creepy imagery, and it would certainly deliver.

THE BERMUDA DEPTHS is a Rankin/Bass production that aired in 1978.
In the 1970s, Read the rest of this entry