TrailerClub: In the Mouth of Madness

In the Mouth of Madness (1994) [Original Post]

TrailerClub: Escape From LA

Escape From LA (1996) [Original Post]

TrailerClub: Black Moon Rising

Black Moon Rising (1986) [Original Post]

TrailerClub: Assault on Precinct 13

Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) [Original Post]

TrailerClub: Ghosts of Mars

Ghosts of Mars (2001) [Original Post]

TrailerClub: Halloween

Halloween (1978) [Original Post]

TrailerClub: The Fog

The Fog (1980) [Original Post]

TrailerClub: The Thing

The Thing (1982) [Original Post]

TrailerClub: Escape From New York

Escape From New York (1981) [Original Post]

TrailerClub: Prince of Darkness

Prince of Darkness (1987) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Utopian Facade

John Carpenter - Utopian Facade (2016) [Original Post]

Trailer365: Big Trouble in Little China

Day 104: Big Trouble in Little China (1986) [Original Post]

Trailer365: The Thing

Day 81: The Thing (1982) [Original Post]

Trailer365: They Live

Day 68: They Live (1988) [Original Post]

Songbook Xtended: Night

John Carpenter - Night (2015) [Original Post]

Trailer365: Escape From New York

Day 21: Escape From New York (1981) [Original Post]

Songbook: Escape From New York

John Carpenter - Escape From New York Main Title (1981) [Original Post (Day 78)]

Fear On Film - 1982 Round Table

Take One - Fear On Film: [Part One] [Part Two] [Part Three]

I stumbled upon this while surfing trailers on YouTube and figured, if nothing else, it was worth noting for future reference. If the source description is to be trusted, it is, in essence, a piece of promotional material arranged by one Mick Garris: Host of the presentation, and Marketing & Publicity boffin for Universal Pictures (sci-fi & horror), circa 1982.

In 2013, this would undoubtedly be the kind of half-hearted, tiresome corporate material that inspires cynicism into the world. Instead, this "Take One" featurette gathers talented Directors working for Universal at the time - John Landis, John Carpenter & David Cronenberg - to speak candidly about subjects relevant to their industry. Just talking about their movies would be enough to engage fans, but they're also forming a dialogue with critical issues like censorship -- something few promo materials would even consider, today.

Yes, there is clearly an agenda relevant to promoting several motion pictures. References to The Thing, Videodrome, and An Ameircan Werewolf in London are clear and present -- but they aren't gratuitous. As a promotion, this is an admirable investment in the artists that create the pictures. It is an effort to promote the material on the strengths and merits of what has been created. A design that is all too absent in today's corporate-driven, crowd sourced industry.

Of the three directors, Carpenter is the only one I could honestly say I have a strong connection with. Cronenberg holds a definite fascination, but my exposure to his work has been almost non-existent. Landis is no stranger, but I haven't held his efforts in the same high regard I have for Carpenter. Even so, it seems like a rare treat to have the three in trio, discussing the intertwining subjects that tie some of their best known works together.