Save the Evans City Cemetary Chapel (the Chapel in Night of the Living Dead)

Hello everybody,

I wanted to draw your attention to (if it hasn't been already) to a cause that is very close to not only people in the horror community, but those in the independent film and the general film industry.  An important historical landmark in film history is under the threat of being torn down and lost to the world for good.  While this may not seem like a big deal to some?  It is very important for the culture of the film industry and it's history as being part of such a monumental film.  So fans of the film, Night of the Living Dead, have formed a grassroots campaign to restore and preserve the chapel.  The powers that be have granted permission to do so as long as the $50,000 dollar goal is met.  When I spoke to the organizers of the campaign at Horror Realm, they stated to me that they were about halfway to the goal.  And just a few hours ago, it was announced that they had reached about 30k! 

Come on, people!  They are so close!  Let's help give them that extra push forward.  How many of you have given your time and money to campaigns and causes where you had no idea how much of your money or if any of it at all went to the cause.  With this, you can be sure that each and every cent you donate goes toward the restoration and preservation of the Evans City Cemetery Chapel because those who organized this are just that passionate and dedicated to their cause. 

Please visit the campaign's website for more information and how to donate: Save the Evans City Cemetery Chapel

Remember no contribution is too small and even the smallest amount is another step toward reaching the goal.  The store has alot of cool merchandise and the money from merch sales go toward saving the chapel.

Here is also an excerpt straight from the website:

"The restoration and fundraising project is being organzied by Gary R. Streiner, key member of the production staff on the original Night of the Living Dead and currently a resident of Evans City, PA.   In 1967, Streiner was working at The Latent Image together with George Romero and his brother, Russell Streiner, in Pittsburgh when production began on the landmark film in which he was one of the original ten investors and owners.   In 2008 and 2009, Streiner organized Living Dead festivals in Evans City which attracted the largest reunion of cast and crew to date, as well as fans from as far away as France."

So please visit the Save the Evans City Chapel Website and help secure a place in film history.

Also, find the on Facebook and YouTube .

Thank you!
Tiffany


Tiffany Apan is an award winning and acclaimed independent recording artist along with being a stage/film actress, producer, and writer.  You can find more about her at her Official Website , Web Blog, MySpace , Twitter , and Facebook .  She can also be found on IMDb and her music releases on CDBaby along with iTunes, Amazon, and other digital retailers.  She also writes for the publications Rogue Cinema and Horrornews.net .  She is also responsible for starting up the Music's Underworld Webzine .

CD Review: Lawrence C. Connelly's "Veins"

I had the pleasure of meeting critically-acclaimed author and Bram Stoker Award Nominee (nominated alongside Stephen King, I'd both men are in good company), Lawrence C Connolly at the Horror Realm Spring Massacre and even did a brief video interview with him which you can check out in the Horror Realm Interview entry in Music's Underworld's In Conversation With section.  I was fortunate to obtain a copy of his CD, "Veins" for review and to hear the more musical side to Connolly.

I will begin by saying that the "Veins" CD was written as a compliment to his novel "Veins".  The six tracks are all soundscapes inspired by the novel along with two Bonus tracks.

I will first give a brief summary of "Veins" without giving too much away (you all need to buy the book...it's worth it).  "Veins" tells the story of four crooks fleeing from what could be 'the perfect crime' into the Pennsylvania highlands.  As they flee in their black Mustang, they are being pursued by a tattooed madman whose goal is to see that they are dead.  The driver of the car, a boy named Axle, knows the land well and can lead the group to an ideal hideout.  The hideout Axle has in mind is the crater of an abandoned mine.  But as ideal as the hiding place is, it is also a place of fear for Axle as he can recall terrible things that occurred there.  Things he would like to forget.  Then enters Kwertis, a nightflyer and specter from Axle's ancestral past.  Axle, his partners in crime, and their pursuer soon come to discover that their arrival at the mine is far from being an accident...

The first track, "Axle Rising," opens with remnants of Pink Floyd, The Cure, hints of 60s psychedelic, and a large dosing of Love Spirals Downward.  Like the "Veins" novel, the CD takes the listener away to another world, another dimension, another terrain.  Each of the six songs ("Axle Rising," "Something in the Darkness," "Opening the Veins,""68 Fastback," "Downhill Run," and "Spirit Wind") make a smooth transition from one to other, almost as though it were just one, ongoing song.  The music itself can take the listener on a journey of being headed toward a certain impending doom while being unable or unwilling to stop.  Almost as though that impending doom is a peaceful one of sorts.  The soundtrack can also be perfect for a long, scenic drive.

Connolly and his band demonstrate superb musicianship and the entire CD is very well-done, to say the least.  The lineup consists of Connolly on rhythm, lead, and Ebow guitars and Duane Davis on bass, drums, and synth percussions.  Lauren C. Connelly makes a guest appearance adding some (beautiful) vocals to "Axle Rising", with Lee McGinn appearing on drums, and Al Snyder on keyboards for the same track.  All compositions were written by Lawrence C. Connelly with executive producer, W.H. Horner.

The CD also includes two Bonus tracks, "Aberrations" and "Echos", both of which are spoken word over music and/or sound foley art.  And "Echos" definitely scores a couple brownie points with me for making it's debut appearance to the public in Rod Serling's Twilight Zone Magazine in February of 1983.

Needless to say, I not only highly recommend the "Veins" soundtrack, but the book as well!

Check out more of Lawrence C. Connolly at
Lawrence C. Connolly Official Website
Veins the Novel

Buy his books and music:
Lawrence C. Connolly Books
Lawrence C. Connolly Music


Tiffany Apan is an award winning and acclaimed independent recording artist along with being a stage/film actress, producer, and writer.  You can find more about her at her Official Website , Web Blog, MySpace , Twitter , and Facebook .  She can also be found on IMDb and her music releases on CDBaby along with iTunes, Amazon, and other digital retailers.  She also writes for the publications Rogue Cinema and Horrornews.net .  She is also responsible for starting up the Music's Underworld Webzine .
 
 

EP Review: Ghost Estate's "No Earthly Thing"

GHOST ESTATE is
Virginia Luella- vocals, violin
Josh Loughrey- guitars, synths, dulcimer


I met Ghost Estate's Josh Loughrey and Virginia Luella for the first time at the 20th Anniversary concert for the Celtic Harvest Festival in White Oak, PA.  I was performing as my own act as well as sitting in with Bonfire Night Acoustic.  As for Ghost Estate, it was their debut performance as a musical act.  I very much enjoyed them as a live act and it turned out that Josh did the musical score for a film I'm in (yep, the entertainment world really is a small world).  Because I really enjoyed their live act, I was definitely looking forward to their first EP, "No Earthly Thing" and I'll say right now that it was worth the wait.

1. "The Wind that Shakes the Barley"- The EP begins on a strong note with an adaptation of this traditional song.  Fans of the traditional folk, Celtic, and World Music genres are most likely familiar with the adaptations by Loreena McKennit and Dead Can Dance.  In the adaptation by Ghost Estate, we are introduced to Luella's clear soprano vocals and Loughrey's complex music composition.  There are several different musical dynamics woven into this adaptation and it serves as an accurate introduction to what the listener is about to embark on.

2. "The Girl Who Walks the River"- The second song on the EP is a Ghost Estate original (although it could easily be mistaken for a traditional if one didn't know any better).  In this haunting track, Luella harmonizes with herself over Loughrey's Celtic influenced musical composition infused with some electric guitars, violins, electronic sounds, and an almost Trip-Hop (actually bordering on Hip Hop) type of beat combined with some Middle Eastern percussion underneath it.  I would say it's probably the most unique and ear-catching track on the EP.

3. "Roslyn Castle"- This third track is another adaptation of a traditional and an instrumental where Luella demonstrates her ability on lead violin.  When listening to this track, I was easily able to envision a crisp autumn light with a full moon and a band of gypsies playing outside of a run-down castle as the spirits of those who once inhabited the castle come out and dance in the ruins that were once their Earthly home.  The composition on this one is more simple than it is on the other songs, but it makes for a beautiful platform for Luella's violins.

4.  "My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose"- I always love it when someone can take a rather simple, brightly composed Scottish folk/love song and turn it into something a little more dark and serene.  As a vocalist who includes traditional folk songs in my own repertoire, I never really had any desire to do this one as it's never been one of my favorites.  But I very much enjoy this particular adaptation of the song.  As on "Roslyn Castle," Loughrey's compositions are more on the simple side but appropriately compliment Luella's vocals and the song's lyrics.

5. "Greensleeves"- Ghost Estate closes their EP with the very well-known song originally penned by King Henry VIII.  Many singers throughout the ages have done their own adaptation of this song (yours truly included) and you think that once you've heard (and enjoyed) one adaptation, you've heard and enjoyed them all.  But Ghost Estate pleasantly surprises us with this one.  Instead of sticking with a more traditional sound, this version is what I would call Rock over World percussion.  Of course there are also some electronic sounds thrown into the mix with Luella's soprano vocals over top of them.  Like the beginning song, "The Wind that Shakes the Barley," this song also weaves in a few different musical dynamics and elements that makes for some real ear candy.  I think this is probably my favorite adaptation of this song out of any artist's version I've heard (and that includes my version).

It's difficult to sum up the sound of Ghost Estate with one word and to me, that's a good thing.  We live in an age where autotuned voice and live lip synching is pretty much celebrated and it is always refreshing to see artists and bands taking chances with their sound and churning up something new and different.  Loughrey's compositions are experimental yet can still be accessible to a pretty broad audience.  Luella's passionate vocals evoke strong emotion into every word she utters and her violin playing is no different.  

I would easily compare Ghost Estate with not only Loreena McKennit and Dead Can Dance, but fans of musical acts along the lines of Qntal, Black Tape for a Blue Girl, Portishead, Faith and the Muse, Mors Syphilitica, and Switchblade Symphony.  "No Earthly Thing" is a breath-taking introduction to Ghost Estate and of course I'm interested to see what they will produce in the future.

Check more of Ghost Estate and yes, purchase their EP!

Ghost Estate Official Website
Ghost Estate on Reverbnation
Ghost Estate on Facebook
Ghost Estate on CDBaby (buy it!)


Tiffany Apan is an award winning and acclaimed independent recording artist along with being a stage/film actress, producer, and writer.  You can find more about her at her Official Website , Web Blog, MySpace , Twitter , and Facebook .  She can also be found on IMDb and her music releases on CDBaby along with iTunes, Amazon, and other digital retailers.  She also writes for the publications Rogue Cinema and Horrornews.net .  She is also responsible for starting up the Music's Underworld Webzine .
 

So, Do You Have What it Takes...? Part 2

So I'm sure after part 1 of "So, Do You Have What It Takes" you probably are thinking that I harbor some type of resentment for agencies, agents, managers, etc.  Actually that couldn't be further from the truth.  In fact, if I were to come across an agent/manager who would work with me and not try to change me into something I wasn't, hey let's talk business.  BUT the danger to these entities is the idea that many people tend to place all stock in obtaining their dreams in finding an agent/agency or manager.  I suppose such a practice is fine if you are a major Hollywood star, but for the majority of us?  Such a practice can result in career suicide before you even get started.  Most agencies I came in contact with said they would take me on if I would pretty much transform into a commercially viable clone.  Frankly, the work I may or may not have gotten through them just ended up not being worth it to me and I found would actually end up getting in the way of my real goals.

Many actors, musicians, writers, and the like tend to follow the age old belief that if they could just "sign that deal that'll make them a star", everything will be smooth sailing from then on.  They'll get that big break that will sky-rocket them to fame and will be invited to every Hollywood event to schmooze with James Cameron.  Little do they realize that (as also confirmed by so far everyone I've interviewed for this webzine) that the smooth sailing overnight success myth that is shamelessly sold to us all by the mainstream media is 9.9999 times out of 10...well, just that.  A myth.  Several industry professionals can attest to this in the interview section of the Music's Underworld Webzine, In Conversation With... and that the only way you can make something of yourself in this industry is through LOTS of hard work, networking, creative business plans, time, effort, PATIENCE (that's a big one), honing the ability to assess who is worth your time and who isn't, how to actually READ a contract before 'signing the dotted line,' and many other things.  This industry can be an amazing blessing but it can also be the worst thing to happen to a person if not approached with careful planning and business smarts.  And too many young prospects like to just dive in head first without testing the waters and usually end up falling smack on their heads.  If you are looking for an agency or manager or label, really do your homework and don't be so hasty as to accept the first thing that comes along.  If something doesn't seem right, than it probably isn't.  In my experience I've found my gut instincts to be 9 times out of 10 accurate.  Make sure that any company you are signing with is compatible with whatever goal you have in this industry and to do that?  You have to have a clear picture of what your goals are AND what needs to be done in order to achieve that goal.

Goals can be tricky.  Many people say their goal in this industry is "to be famous," "to be the next big thing," etc.  But those are DREAMS and not goals (yes, there is a difference).  Besides "I wanna be famous" is far too broad.  Normally when asked "well how do plan to get famous" the answer is tragically more often than not "well, I want to get discovered".  Ok, but how do you plan to get discovered?  Try to get signed somewhere? Ok fine.  But what if you get the door slammed in your face the first few tries?  Well, it's admirable to keep going and if you keep going long enough, you may just find that agency that will sign you.  YAY!  But then what?  Well, many agencies that have been around for a while represent hundreds and hundreds of would-be actors, models, singers, etc.  And you are the new kid on the block.  Chances are that agency already has their 'money makers' that they send on the majority of assignments.  So now you are waiting for your phone to ring just for an audition offer.  And you can count on the fact that you are not the only one they are calling to audition.  They are calling at least several other actors including those who have been with the agency for a while and have probably already worked with the company the agency is auditioning for.  Sure there is that chance that you may get 'picked' from the crowd, but that doesn't happen very often.  In this industry, it's not what you know it's who you know and companies are very likely to pick someone they've worked with and has a proven track record as opposed to "the new kid."

Yes, I know that sounds extremely depressing.  So what can you do in the meantime?  Well, from meeting and talking to several professionals and workers in the industry, the best thing to do before you do ANYTHING is to know the industry and learn how to do things yourself as you cannot rely on the so-called traditional method of 'getting discovered, getting signed, and boom you're a star.'  If you know someone with experience in entertainment and talk to them.  Listen to what they have to say even if it isn't necessarily the Hollywood fairytale you want to hear (which it very likely won't be).  Take what they say and think of how you can apply it to yourself.  And honing your craft goes beyond acting, singing, and dance classes.  It's also important to be educated in business, in copyright law, in trademarking (especially if you want your own production company or indie label), in understanding contracts, among other things.  Creative business strategies on a budget are also a good thing for entertainers who are far from being millionaires.

My point is that it really does take alot more than being a 'pretty face' to do something in the industry.  The more you educate yourself and the more you know, the more proactive you are able to be.  And the more you are able to be proactive?  The less you are having to rely on others to help you 'make it.'  One of my favorite pieces of advice for life given to me is that "people who are most effective in life are the ones who are proactive.  They happen TO things instead of sitting around waiting for things to happen to them."  If you find a legit agency who will sign you, then great!  But be careful of centering you career around that and make sure the contract isn't exclusive so you are also free to gain experience elsewhere while the agency finds you work.  Exclusive contracts are fine if you are Brad Pitt, but to the young prospect just starting out with only college plays on their resume?  Well, that can be a bad thing.

Of course I will get into more specifics on different options and avenues in a future blog post that will be appropriately titled "But I'm An Actor!!!"  AND stay tuned for "Hypocrasy in the Media."

Tiffany Apan is an award winning and acclaimed independent recording artist along with being a stage/film actress, producer, and writer.  You can find more about her at her Official Website , Web Blog, MySpace , Twitter , and Facebook .  She can also be found on IMDb and her music releases on CDBaby along with iTunes, Amazon, and other digital retailers.  She also writes for the publications Rogue Cinema and Horrornews.net .  She is also responsible for starting up the Music's Underworld Webzine .
 

SOPA/PIPA...Are New Laws REALLY the Answer to Piracy?

Throughout the ordeal with SOPA/PIPA, I along with many others have expressed my views on the issue.  Obviously, I was and still am against such an act.  I recently had a musician friend point out a link to an article written by Duff McKagan, founding bassist of Guns n Roses where he also raises an interesting yet very valid question to those against SOPA/PIPA.  Here is the article:

Duff McKagan's Response to SOPA/PIPA 

 Here was my Facebook response and I'm sharing it here (with a few grammatical corrections ;P):

It's nice to see an opposing view that isn't all "ra ra gov't" and actually step up to defend the plight of the artist.  As I  (and other musicians, filmmakers, etc) have stated several times in this ordeal, I am against piracy and feel that steps should be taken to protect the artist and their works.  I will say that McKagan definitely wasn't wrong in the sense that I'm sure that there were people protesting b/c all their "free stuff" would be threatened; however, there were also many artists protesting too.  But why?

Many in the indie world (including myself) were stating that same thing based on what was found on the bill:  this bill wasn't made to protect US the indie artists.  When there was the outcry against Napster, the majors were protected but us indies?  Well, years later we are still on our own when it comes to piracy.  Was SOPA any different?  What are the pros vs. the cons?  I'm all for something that would end piracy, but it needs to be thought out, well-planned, AND it needs to be something that would help us ALL and not just the majors.  Plus, I think the gov't shutting down a site due to someone posting a link to copyrighted material is way too extreme and handing the gov't more control over our daily lives (really, how much control do these people need??).

The sharing of links is one way that I've had other people come to discover and buy my music AND it's also how I've discovered and bought the music of other bands I would not have otherwise heard of.  Posting a link is not piracy. It's sharing.  How else can others come to know your music or film or other work unless it shared with them by others?  I think the flaws with SOPA/PIPA was that it was very extreme in what the gov't could shut down a site if they chose thus leaving an indie artist without those followers they had on the site.  It is kind of a double-edged sword b/c in this digital age, it is highly possible for people to steal your works.  However, in this digital age, if you don't put your works out for people to see and hear and you lose forums due to the gov't shutting something down, how are people supposed to even know you exist?  It's a sort of 'blessing and curse.'  As I stated in a few posts, many things have also changed since the 70s and 80s.  ClearChannel controls more of the airwaves now more than ever.  They along with other mega-corps control what we see and hear in mainstream entertainment.  Gone are the days when the indie artist could walk down to their local radio station and have the dj spin their song.  Radio no longer plays variety but are on a fixed playlist without any breathing room whatsoever playing the same ten songs every hour.  Record labels no longer care enough to take the time to develop acts but instead take the 'instant microwave' approach churning out a new 'flavor of the moment' every couple years.  Mega corporations have left the little guy in the dust and in many ways, the internet has been a saving grace in allowing those smaller businesses a platform to promote themselves on.  But of course, the issue with piracy still lingers.

In many ways (and I've discussed this with a few musician and filmmaker friends), the major labels and film studios HAVE brought many of their woas on themselves by being (to put it bluntly) greedy fucktards.  Instead of embracing the many changes that had been long coming to the industry and maybe coming up with something that could have helped prevent all this in the first place, they instead closed their ears and eyes and went "LALALALA!!!"  They then proceeded with what I like to call the 'instant microwave' formula to marketing their artists.  While such a thing may offer some short term gratification, Britney Spears and Katy Perry can only shake their asses and lip-sync onstage to cheap sounding, over produced pop tracks for so long before even the horniest pubescent male starts to look elsewhere.

I do agree with McKagan on "where were the outcries when people were stealing artist's work" as that is obviously an issue AND something to really think about.  Yes, why aren't you people supporting your artists?  But speaking as not only an artist but also as a consumer, I think it is obvious that we have come to live in an age of self-entitlement.  Based on what I've seen on forums and various sites, alot of this 'I deserve free entertainment' attitude stems from people having become very jaded by mainstream entertainment in the last decade or so.  And when you become jaded, you no longer care.  Alot of mainstream 'entertainment' has lost it's edge, it's 'meat and potatoes.'  Gone are the days when you could turn on MTV and marvel at Steve Stevens, Eddie Van Halen, or George Lynch and their superb guitar playing.  Gone are the days when talent came before image.  Gone are the days when you would look forward to the latest Clive Barker movie coming to theaters and it being his ORIGINAL WORK instead of just a remake.  Hell, gone are the days when MTV played MUSIC VIDEOS as their main source of programming.  Now, it's just become...I don't know what.  And maybe if you're a lucky insomniac, you'll catch the same 10 music videos between the times of 2am-4am every early morning.  

While more people everyday are turning to the indie world to find solace, there are still many who believe 'well, if it's not in the mainstream, it must not be any good...so I guess I'll just put up with listening to *insert current mainstream flavor of the month*' or 'yeah, I know it's a remake but what else is there to see' and it never crosses their minds to check out an indie artist.  So many things factor here.  First, how do we get the generally jaded public genuinely excited again about music and entertainment?  When you are excited about something, you WANT to support it.  That said, it's not just about passing a law (or it may not be about passing a law at all).  In fact, sometimes putting more restrictions into play can do more harm than good.  It's about getting back to a formula that makes people get excited about supporting their favorite artists again.  But the question is, how to get there...

Just my two cents:)

***Since I posted this on facebook, there have been a couple good points from both sides.  Stay tuned for a Part 2 of this blogpost!  :)


Tiffany Apan is an award winning and acclaimed independent recording artist along with being a stage/film actress, producer, and writer.  You can find more about her at her Official Website , Web Blog, MySpace , Twitter , and Facebook .  She can also be found on IMDb and her music releases on CDBaby along with iTunes, Amazon, and other digital retailers.  She also writes for the publications Rogue Cinema and Horrornews.net .  She is also responsible for starting up the Music's Underworld Webzine .
 

In the Wake of SOPA...

In the wake of SOPA, support independent artists and screw the big business corporations who brought all their woas on themselves and are now expecting all of US to pay for it! 

Tiffany Apan is an award winning and acclaimed independent recording artist along with being a stage/film actress, producer, and writer.  You can find more about her at her Official Website , Web Blog, MySpace , Twitter , and Facebook .  She can also be found on IMDb and her music releases on CDBaby along with iTunes, Amazon, and other digital retailers.  She also writes for the publications Rogue Cinema and Horrornews.net .  She is also responsible for starting up the Music's Underworld Webzine .

SAY NO TO SOPA!

I'm joining many today in taking a stand against the violation of our freedoms on the internet. If not being able to freely express yourself on the internet bothers you, sign the petition (or A petition as there are many online going to Washington).

http://americancensorship.org/

 

Tiffany Apan is an award winning and acclaimed independent recording artist along with being a stage/film actress, producer, and writer.  You can find more about her at her Official Website , Web Blog, MySpace , Twitter , and Facebook .  She can also be found on IMDb and her music releases on CDBaby along with iTunes, Amazon, and other digital retailers.  She also writes for the publications Rogue Cinema and Horrornews.net .  She is also responsible for starting up the Music's Underworld Webzine .