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KENT’S CLASSICS: LARRY COHEN

Kent dragged himself out of bed at 2am for just one man...Larry "The King" Cohen. Larry was born July 15, 1936, in New York, New York, and spent time in Kingston, a small town north of New York City. At a young age, his family moved to the Riverdale section of the Bronx, and he eventually majored in film at the historic City College of New York, from which he graduated in 1963. An independent maverick who got his start in studio-based television, he is best known for inventive low-budget horror films that combine scathing social commentary with the requisite scares and occasional laughs. He was also a major player in the Blaxploitation films of the 1970s. Later in his career, he became a sought-after screenplay writer. Although not very prolific in his screen writing, these works still combine provocative social commentary - but with more conventional storytelling. Sadly, Cohen died of cancer on March 23, 2019. (bio courtesy of IMDB)
CHECK IT OUT:
https://youtu.be/e_ROA_ZEGfA
https://youtu.be/JT9CpJIWnLc

KENT’S CLASSICS: MICK GARRIS

Kent took three years of back-and-forth to lock in a chat with the incredible, Mick Garris. Born in Santa Monica, California, on December 4, 1951, Mick Garris grew up with his mother in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Van Nuys from age 12, following his parents' divorce. Garris was making his own 8mm home movies around that time, and when he got older be became a freelance critic for a number of film and music celebrities. He wrote publications for various bands and movies for newspapers and magazines like "The San Diego Door", "The Los Angewles Herald-Examiner", "Cinefantastique" and "Starlog" through the 1970s.For eight years he was the lead singer in a band called The Horsefeathers Quintet, which disbanded in 1976. In 1977 Garris was hired as a receptionist in George Lucas' newly formed company Star Wars Corporation where, through industry contacts, he created and served as the on-screen host for a Los Angeles cable access interview program show called "Fastasy Film Festival," which aired on L.A.'s legendary Z-Channel. Guests included filmmakers like John Landis, Joe Dante, John Carpenter and Steven Spielberg and actors like William Shatner and Christopher Lee.In 1980 Garris worked as a press agent for the newly merged Pickwick-Maslansky-Koeninsberg agency. He also began making a name for himself with photographing and directing "making-of..." features for such films as Scanners (1981), The Howling (1981), Halloween II (1981), The Thing (1982) and Videodrome (1983). In 1982 Garris was hired by MCA/Universal to write the script for Coming Soon (1982), which was a collection of horror movie trailers featuring Jamie Lee Curtis as the hostess and directed by John Landis. While struggling to find more work, Garris was hired by Steven Spielberg to be one of the writers and story editors for Spielberg's sci-fi anthology series Amazing Stories (1985). Garris worked as as an editor again for Spielberg in the sci-fi fantasy *batteries not included (1987). He also wrote screenplays for more horror anthology TV shows, from Freddy's Nightmares (1988) to a stint on the HBO cable series Tales from the Crypt (1989), as well as co-writer on the screenplays for The Fly II (1989) and the 'Stephen Sommers' remake The Mummy (1999). Garris wrote and directed Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990) as a prequel to the Anthony Perkins "Psycho" films, featuring Perkins in his fourth (and last) appearance as Norman Bates. Co-starring with Perkins was Henry Thomas (from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) fame), whom Garris hired to play young Norman. That same year Garris was approached by MCA/Universal to create a syndicated TV series about werewolves which was to be based on the hit John Landis film An American Werewolf in London (1981). The resulting series, She-Wolf of London (1990), ran for two seasons.In 1992 Garris directed an original screenplay by Stephen King, Sleepwalkers (1992). The following year Garris received story and screenplay credit for the comic horror film Hocus Pocus (1993), and the year after that he took the reins at the request of Stephen King for the six-hour mini-series The Stand (1994) based on King's best-selling horror novel. The mini-series, which had a grueling 20-month shooting schedule, was one of the most-watched shows of 1994. Garris and King again teamed up for a three-part made-for-TV rewriting of King's novel, The Shining (1997). Later that year Garris oversaw the directing for Quicksilver Highway (1997), based on a pair of horror stories by King and Clive Barker. Garris directed Höst (1998) (later changed to "Virtual Obsession"), based on a novel by Peter James, with a screenplay written by P.G. Sturges, about a computer genius stalked by a female colleague bent on digitizing her consciousness. Taking a break from horror films, Garris directed The Judge (2001), an adaption of the mystery novel by Steve Martini. Garris and Stephen King reunited for Riding the Bullet (2004), directed by Garris and written by King, based on an internet short short about a hitchhiker being picked up by a soul-searching angel of death driving a 1959 Plymouth. They also collaborated on Desperation (2006), based on King's 1997 horror novel.In 2005 Garris was able to assemble a group of his fellow horror film directors in the anthology horror series Masters of Horror (2005), which he created and executive-produced. Garris' own contribution, "Chocolate", was based on his own short story, written 20 years earlier. (bio courtesy of IMDB)
CHECK IT OUT:
https://youtu.be/1w0Hqg6PSGI

ANIMATED & DANGEROUS!

Kent welcomes back SHOOT 'EM UP director Michael Davis after kicking up a storm when they first collided six years ago. They say Martin Scorsese has a mouth like a machine gun - well listen to the man with an Uzi between his teeth! Michael's passion and enthusiasm for his work, as well as his take on life and cinema, is an infection worth catching. He's animating his way into our hearts and minds with his own brand of humor and hysteria....
 
CHECK HIM OUT HERE:
https://youtu.be/sY_WQkwrZxo
TIKTOK
@mpdavis007
 
X TWITTER
@mpdavis007
 
INSTAGRAM
mpdavisagent007
 
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=629228169
 
LINKEDIN
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-davis-25a4048/
 
YOUTUBE
@michaeldavis1534
 
WEBSITE
www.michaeldavisfilm.com

Passion & Purpose

Kent has an inspiring encounter with two high-caliber movie-makers in Lance Smith and the man known as "Q", Quinton Macari III. Their combined efforts have brought forth unto the world a compelling and faith-illuminated tale of courage, defeat, regret and redemption. In dark times there is...always hope...no matter how bleak the path ahead may seem. A TIME FOR EVERY PURPOSE...
CHECK IT OUT:
https://youtu.be/QD50FkmVkiI
https://atimeforeverypurposefilm.com/

The Travelling Masterclass

Kent takes a chair next to the man with the Academy Award-winning eye behind the lens of documentaries like THE COVE, and dramatic features such as IN LIKE FLYNN. Greg Huglin has traveled the world capturing the incredible with his camera, but nowadays, he and his wife tour Queensland schools in rural Australia, bringing the joys and wonderment of the film-making process to those whom may never have ever considered it a life's pursuit.
CHECK IT OUT:
https://www.noosafilmacademy.com/

Paré Lives!

Kent sits in awe of that legendary actor whose credit list is the stuff of legend, the irrepressible Michael Paré. Having appeared on screens big and small, in one form or another, for 40 + years, Paré is a passionate performer you knows what he likes when he sees it...and in his time...he's seen quite a bit. The legend is here...so find a comfy chair...and we'll go cruising with that guy who looks a little like Eddie Wilson...
CHECK IT OUT: https://youtu.be/qo5oFwRoVb4

The Veteran

Kent, at long last, finds himself face to face with industry veteran, Juhani Nurmi. With over 25 years experience as a film journalist, radio presenter and screenwriter, Juhani has rubbed shoulders with the crème de la crème of the movie business. He's got Oscar winners and heavy hitters backing him up, and he's loaded with great tales from the set....so sit back....and enjoy....
CHECK IT OUT: https://youtu.be/u9EqML5R2tE

Beg, Borrow & Steal Cinema

Kent welcomes back his film-making/novelist mate, Andrew David Barker who, despite what life throws at him, he continues on, chasing down a dream that began for him when he was sixteen. Always filled to the brim with inspiration, Andy's never-say-die attitude is an example to aspiring directors everywhere...
CHECK IT OUT: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4443532/