Headhunted - twice!

I haven't written anything for anybody else for years and years, but then, lo and behold, within a couple of days no less than two different publishers in two different countries asked me if I would like to write for them! I said yes to both. 

One is the Danish comic book fanzine Nørd Nyt. It's a zine that has been going for a very long time. I wrote a piece on them in my first issue of STAY SICK! That was 22 years ago, so yeah they've been at it for a while! 

I recently wrote a review of a comic book that I had planned for the upcoming issue of STAY SICK! (yes, there's finally a new issue on its way but its not due for another three months or so). So I figured I might as well shoot it off in their direction instead. They've already asked for more, so I assume they liked it. Actually, they said they loved it. And they were surprised I had actually bothered to poof read it (yes, that was a joke). I guess not a whole lot of their writers do that. 

The other publisher is a film label in the US called Unearthed Films. I commented on somebody else's (terrible) review of a film that Unearthed Films have recently released. They asked if I was a reviewer. I explained (obviously in excruciating detail) my zine background, after which they sent me a screener of the film. Noice! 

Incidentally, the film in question is from the same country and from the same genre as the films I wrote about in my very first published reviews almost 30 years ago! Those reviews were published in an issue of Bloody Darlings zine in 1993. I won't reveal the titles until the reviews are being published. More about everything at a later stage. 

Another World Entertainment to release exclusive BRUNO MATTEI booklet by fave cult writer!

More than a decade ago I wrote a handful of booklets for the Danish video label Another World Entertainment. They still release films on dvd, but sadly they stopped inclosing booklets a long time ago. Here's a wee "news article" that I posted on my En lejemorder ser tilbage blog 12 years ago. If this were a film I would call it a mockumentary.

   

From Reuters (Saturday):

STOP PRESS: STOP PRESS: STOP PRESS:

News in this morning confirm speculations that DVD & blu-ray publisher Another World Entertainment (Denmark) have signed a deal with renowned underground cult personality Jack J of "En Lejemorder Ser Tilbage" blog and "Stay Sick!" fanzine fame for an extraordinary release entitled "Hell of the Living Dead Booklet". A release critics quickly have labeled "Most likely the most important release of 2010".

Another World Entertainment (AWE) will shortly be releasing the Jack J penned mammoth coffee table booklet on Italian master film director Bruno Mattei; a director who is widely recognised by film aficionados and academics alike for his cinematic classics such as SS GIRLS, THE OTHER HELL, ZOMBI 3, HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD and not least his ground breaking masterpiece CRUEL JAWS.

It seems surreal that no major reference book has been published previously but according to AWE part owner and founder, mr Jan Schmidt, the answer is most likely that only few film critics would have dared to put themselves on the line; As mr. Schmidt puts it: "One wrong word about Bruno Mattei and you would have an angry mob on your hands. Thousands of furious Mattei fans ready to tar and feather you."

To the question why he and AWE would risk their necks with this release:

Mr Schmidt: "Well, we knew very well mr Jensen [aka Jack J, Reuters] could pull this off in a grand way. In fact we are convinced he's the ONLY writer who could do this."

A limited edition of the booklet will contain one of maestro Mattei's films; HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD. We asked mr Schmidt why they have chosen to include a DVD with mr J's awesome booklet.

Mr Schmidt: "Well, it's not that we didn't think people would pay $20 for a four page booklet. We are confident most fans would, it's written by Jack J for Christ's sakes! But we just thought it was something the fans would appreciate".

Will you be working with mr J again?

Mr Schmidt: "Haha, you don't throw away a golden goose, now do you! We certainly hope mr J would wish to work with us again. Why would we want to work with anybody else! We've previously tried other writers and they all fall flat in comparison".

Some alleged rumours hint that mr J likes to take his time with his material?

Mr Schmidt: "That may be, but it's certainly not something we view as a problem. We fully understand that different rules apply when you're dealing with an acclaimed underground writer like mr J. We just hope he'll work with us again."

HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD is in stores this coming week.

Reuters (London office)