Tag Archives: Jason Harris

Nov 15 2011

Breaking Out of the Vacuum

Breaking Out of the Vacuum

by Kasey Shoemaker

Kasey Shoemaker (photo courtesy of her website)

As writers, we primarily function independently, quietly, and quite frankly, in our own worlds while working. Even when typing away on our laptops in a crowded Starbucks, we see no one and hear no one. We like it better that way. Occasionally, we share our pages with trusted friends or significant others, and if we’re really lucky, a writer’s group. However, the bulk of our work is done in our head, which makes for a great product but a poor connection with our audience. Audiences are anything but static. Their tastes, desires, and habits change as quickly as literary trends. The readers we had in mind three years ago for book one of a series may have completely different expectations for our genre by the time we begin plotting out book four. Following trends made by the publishing companies won’t give us the insight we need. Many readers are disgusted by what the publishing companies continue to stubbornly feed the public. We, as writers, need to actually connect with our potential readers to understand them better. After all, without readers, our books are merely attractive decoration for the bookshelf. We write for them.

So, how do we get away from our keyboards and actually meet the people for whom we write our stories? In a world where bookstores are closing and Kindles are gaining in popularity, most sales transactions are done electronically, and writers are even further removed from readers than before. So, when the New England Horror Writers participates in events that put writers in front of potential readers, it makes for a great opportunity to bridge that ever-widening gap.

Photo by Jason Harris

As a new member, I really didn’t know what to expect. And, honestly, after participating in two public events thus far, I still don’t know what future ones would hold. Because my novel is a genre crosser, ranging from urban fantasy to paranormal fiction, I was thrilled to be at the Southcoast Toy and Comic Book show in Massachusetts. As someone who used to frequent these types of events many years ago, I felt I, along with everyone else at the table, was smack in the middle of my target audience. Without dwelling too long on unmet expectations, I will say that we were honestly surprised by the general lack of interest from those present. Sales were made, but people for the most part, seemed nonplussed by our presence. However, getting out there as a writer isn’t always about making books sales. Sometimes, it’s about making contacts. A man whose group does book reviews and features science fiction and fantasy books on his weekly podcasts approached our table. As each of us smiled and optimistically took his business card, I’m sure we silently thought that this one contact was worth the two-hour drive. I know I did, and thus far following up with that one contact has been rather positive.

Two weeks prior to that event, the New England Horror Writers participated in the Wadsworth Open Air Market in Connecticut. Expectations were far surpassed at this event. Many sales were made, and most of us spent the entire afternoon talking to people about books, writing, and the horror genre. Even people who said that horror was not for them seemed pleased to see us and were eager for conversation. We felt enthusiastic and pleasantly surprised by our experience afterwards.

The Middletown Open Air Market (photo by Rob Watts)

Therefore, while both of the events provided drastically different results, the writers who participated gained something from the experience whether it was multiple books sales or a meaningful contact. However, the most important aspect of these events is that it forces us writers to pull ourselves away from the blue-white glow of our computers and talk to our potential audience. We simply don’t get that chance often enough. And, we’re better writers for it. My only expectation from these events is that anything could happen. We could meet someone who says, “I do book reviews and feature writers on my weekly podcasts. Here’s my card.” Or we could have a fifteen minute conversation with someone who asks, “So, why the horror genre?” We may sell all the books we brought. We may give out postcards and business cards to prospective readers, or we may get a hand cramp from autographing copies of our books. However, I do know that we’ll be outside the writer bubble, the vacuum that can sometimes consume us. And, that opportunity in and of itself is worth it.

Oct 23 2011

The Day at the Middletown Open Air Market

The Day at the Middletown Open Air Market by Jason Harris

The ninth annual Middletown Open Air Market was a big success for sponsor, the Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill Estate and for the vendors. It was a little chilly since the Sun decided to stay hidden bechind the clouds for most of the day, but that didn’t stop the crowds from coming out to the event.

The Ninth Annual Middletown Open Air Market

Thank you Stacey Longo, Kristi Petersen Schoonover, Kasey Shoemaker, Robert Watts, Kurt Newton and Nathan Wrann for making todays NEHW event a success.

From left to right: Newton, Watts, and Schoonover in Middletown

Longo did a great job as usual setting up the NEHW tent.

The NEHW tent at the Middletown Open Air Market

A different view of the NEHW tent

Here are a picture of Longo, Shoemaker, and Schoonover under the NEHW tent.

From left to right: Longo, Schoonover, and Shoemaker

Here is a picture from a visitor to the NEHW tent that came back to show us a picture from her sister who works at a mortuary. The picture was so cool I had to ask her to email it to me. She did and I want to share it with you.

The fan's picture

Here are a few more pictures from the market.

People lined up in front of Author Rob Watts

Oct 20 2011

New Film Appropriate for the Times

Actor and Director Talk about Their New Film by Jason Harris

Actor Zachary Quinto (2009’s Star Trek, Heroes) started his production company, Before the Door, in 2008 and its first film, Margin Call, is being released Friday.

The film is a thriller entangling the key players at an investment firm during one perilous 24-hour period in the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis. Entry-level analyst, Quinto’s Peter Sullivan unlocks information that could prove to be the downfall of the firm; a roller-coaster ride ensues as decisions both financial and moral catapult the lives of all involved to the brink of disaster.

Quinto said the script was “fantastic.” He also liked how the film “handled the subject matter.”

“I liked how it drew me in,” Quinto said. “I thought it was really compelling material.”

Margin Callis written and directed by J.C. Chandor, his first feature film. He doesn’t know if the timing of the film’s release during the Occupy Wall Street movement will help the film’s marketing efforts.

Zachary Quinto and J.C. Chandor on the set of Margin Call

“It’s certainly rewarding,” Chandor said. “It takes many years to make a film. To be able to introduce a film into that environment is very rewarding.”

Chandor said he has visited the New York City Occupy Wall Street site.

“It’s very inspiring that people are actually out in the street having their opinions heard,” Chandor said.

Chandor said he will have to wait and see if the movement helps the film at the box office.

“We wanted to give the viewer an entertaining look into this field,” Chandor said. “Hopefully it will give the viewer a greater understanding of who we’re protesting against.”

Chandor doesn’t think it will be a challenge marketing a film about an unsympathetic company taking advantage of people.

“You don’t have to like everyone in the movie,” Chandor said. This is about coming into a world where you really aren’t supposed to like everyone in it. Every character is human. In the same way a horror movie can be entertaining and fun, you are with these people in their every day professional lives. You see it from a different point of view.”

Chandor mentioned two reasons for people to see the film.

“I would say a reason to see Margin Call is hopefully it entertains you for an hour and a half,” Chandor said. “We tried
to make a compelling drama. The second thing is we tried to do is give the viewer insight into a world they are not normally privy; a world not normally available to them.”

Along with Quinto, the film stars Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Simon Baker, Demi Moore, and Stanley Tucci.

“The cast was an unbelievably great surprise,” Chandor said. “These actors really believed in the project. It made it that much more rewarding.”

Chandor said the 17 day shoot helped the film land actors with very busy schedules. The shooting schedule was “very short in the world of filmmaking,” he said.

The performances turned in by Spacey and Irons were everything Chandor could dream of as a writer and director, he said.

“It was actually a bit of a risk at the time to cast Kevin in a role that is essentially for much of the film supposed to be quite empathetic with the audience,” Chandor said. “In the past, it might have been more typical to cast him as the CEO.”

Chandor said Spacey inhabited the character and made it his own.

Quinto in a scene in Margin Call

Quinto prepared for his role by shadowing some Wall Street workers at Citibank.

“The Citibank workers were really supportive and really available,” Quinto said. “They were able to help myself and the other actors.”

Chandor had several incidents in late 2006 through 2008 that inspired him to write Margin Call, which he started writing
three years ago, he said.

The movie will be available in theaters and on video on demand. Check out the film’s website, http://margincallmovie.com/
for the theaters showing the film.

Oct 16 2011

Horror Icons and Fans at Rock and Shock

Horror Icons and Fans at Rock and Shock

by Jason Harris

Rock and Shock is getting better and better. I was happy to be there on Saturday and Sunday. The NEHW organization fits in well at this convention. It was fitting that Robert Englund, the original and best portrayer of Freddy Krueger, was at this year’s convention. He was always my favorite horror movie actor.

Robert Englund holding his autobiography, Hollywood Monster

It was great seeing the people of different ages walking the convention. There were young and old people walking between the booths in the dealer’s room. There were people wearing different movie t-shirts, but some even went further and dressed up in costumes.

Logan Miller, of Lunenburg, MA., strikes a pose as Freddy on Sunday

These costumed attendees gravitated to the NEHW booth to hang out with the authors.

Author Kristi Petersen Schoonover meeting two Rock and Shock attendees

A horror fan brought two different conventions together within his costume when he created a zombie Stormtrooper.

Author Greg X. Graves with the zombie Stormtrooper.

When groups of horror fans weren’t meeting horror icons, they were walking through the dealer’s room looking for a copy of Evil Dead: The Musical or that cool looking movie related t-shirt like Children of the Corn or the original Piranha.

Uncle Fright and posse at Rock and Shock

One dealer, Joe, has taken his love of movies and started a glass business, Glass by Joe. He has been working with stained glass for three years. He creates glass works of films like Ghostbusters and Jaws. He has also put the image of Freddy Krueger on stained glass.Freddy's image on stained glass

Joe has even been commissioned by Kane Hodder, who has portrayed Jason Voorhees in a number of Friday the 13th movies, to create two pieces. Joe’s website is www.glassbyJoeo.com. Along with movie images, he also does landscapes, movie posters, and portraits to name a few.