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Happy New Year!
Since the inception of this newsletter (known originally as The Phantom Lake Almanac), the January newsletter has summarized all the significant events that helped drive the Mihmiverse forward during the previous calendar year. In honor of this long-standing tradition, we take a look back at 2014...
The beginning January of 2014 was generally quiet, with the only significant event being that the Monster of Phantom Lake collectible action figure was released in extremely limited quantities. Near the end of the month, the official date of the world premiere of "The Late Night Double Feature" (and its corresponding premiere party, "The Night Before the Thing") was announced and advance tickets went on sale!
Early in February, a strange still from "The Wall People" half of "The Late Night Double Feature" was released. At the time, it was unknown exactly what was being shown but, with the film having been out now for months, (SPOILERS!) it's obvious the image was taken from the point in the film where Catherine Hansen's evil witch character was about to hit the floor after being sucker punched by Dr. Gabriel (James Norgard). The official launch party of the Uncle John's Burger Dog at the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis, MN was announced. Lastly, the final edit of "The Late Night Double Feature" was completed and, after a far-too-long absence, "Destination: Outer Space" was finally available again on DVD!
March turned into a huge month for the 'verse with the release of both the official poster and trailer for "The Late Night Double Feature" and the completion of authoring of the film's DVD. Also, "The Giant Spider" received a nomination for a Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award in the Best Independent Film category and was accepted to the Famous Monsters of Filmland film festival!
April Fool's Day saw another ridiculous joke from Christopher R. Mihm with the writer/director claiming he was giving up on the Mihmiverse to pursue Olympic gold in the sport of curling. Those lucky few who nabbed tickets to the first-ever "Night Before The Thing" premiere pre-party spent the night before the premiere of "The Late Night Double Feature" enjoying Uncle John's Burger Dogs, a live Mihmiverse Bonfire Podcast taping (and awarding of the 2013 Versie awards), a live preview of "The Monster of Phantom Lake" the stage musical (including an appearance by Mike Cook as Gustav the Canoe Cop!) and a performance by Elvis impersonator extraordinaire Anthony Shore! The next day, of course, "The Late Night Double Feature" was released to a theater full of excited and attentive fans who seemed to enjoy the heck out of the latest Mihmiverse film!
May kicked off with a whirlwind of Mihmiverse promotional activities that took writer/director Christopher R. Mihm's "Merry Band of Magnificent Weirdos" (as he has been known to call the "inner circle" of behind-the-scenes folks) to places near and far. Reviews of Mihmiverse films new and old started to pour in. "The Giant Spider" did not win the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for which it was nominated BUT it DID win the much cooler Forrest J. Ackerman Film Award at the Famous Monsters of Filmland film festival. Lastly (and possibly most importantly), the next Mihmiverse film, "Danny Johnson Saves The World" was formally announced during the May episode of the Mihmiverse Bonfire Podcast.
Contributor credits for "Danny Johnson Saves The World" went on sale in June. The ending theme song of "The Late Night Double Feature" was made available for purchase on iTunes.
Several weeks of Mihmiverse promotion reached a pinnacle in July, with a very cool, very unique screening of "The Giant Spider" at the 2014 BlobFest in Phoenixville, PA! Immediately following BlobFest, principal photography for "Danny Johnson Saves The World" began and shortly thereafter, the first still was released.
Production of "Danny Johnson Saves The World" continued in earnest throughout August. Writer/director Christopher R. Mihm appeared as a guest at the seventh annual OsFest in Omaha, NE and a new piece of fan fiction was submitted to SaintEuphoria.com by Scott Heitkam. The excellent story melded the people-absorbing creature from "The Late Night Double Feature" with "Cave Women on Mars." To read the story, click HERE.
Limited edition "The Late Night Double Feature" lobby cards were released in September (and a few sets are still available). The "The Wall People" half of "The Late Night Double Feature" was accepted to the Highway 61 Film Festival.
The busy "October screening season" began and Mihmiverse movies popped up all over world! "The Giant Spider" was accepted into the Sideshow Freak Flick Film Festival in Grand Rapids, MI. The month ended with the now traditional "24-hours-only" sneak peek at some of the finished footage of the next Mihmiverse film, this year, of course, being "Danny Johnson Saves The World."
The first ever episode of the Mihmiverse Monthly Audiocast was released on the first of November. Also in November, "Attack of the Moon Zombies" and "The Giant Spider" lobby card sets sold out completely, Elliott Mihm (who plays the title character in "Danny Johnson Saves The World") filmed his last scene in the new film and the Mihmiverse art gallery opened at SaintEuphoria.com.
Finally, December dawned and the 'verse quieted down. Most importantly, despite some health-related setbacks, principal photography on "Danny Johnson Saves The World" was completed—and all was right with the world!
As a brand new year dawns, we set our sights on an amazing year full of Mihmiverse-inspired fun."Danny Johnson Saves The World" is on track for a May 2015 release. Screenings, events and appearances are already being added to the calendar and lots of fun things are being plotted and planned for you, friends and fans! With so many fantastic things coming up, we wish you the happiest of new years and hope to see you all at some point—and meet some new folks along the way!
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The latest episode of the Mihmiverse Monthly Audiocast has arrived!
In the first episode of the podcast of 2015, host writer/director Christopher R. Mihm updates us on the continuing production of "Danny Johnson Saves The World," talks about the lessons he's learned regarding the proper pacing of a film and mentions a possible date for the next world premiere and associated festivities!
Also included: another classic movie recommendation from Derek M. Koch of Monster Kid Radio, another "bad" joke from Dr. Bob Tesla of Midnight Monster Movies with Dr. Bob and a dramatic reading of "The Mummy's Ring - A Canoe Cops and Paddle Girls Adventure" written by Stephen D. Sullivan!
To download an .mp3 of the audiocast, click HERE, visit archive.org where the file is stored or download it for free from iTunes!
Otherwise, if you'd like to listen to the episode right from this browser window, click the play button on the player below!
The Mihmiverse Monthly Audiocast is hosted by writer/director Christopher R. Mihm and is focused specifically on what's going on RIGHT NOW in the Mihmiverse. In addition, Mr. Mihm will discuss the monster movie-making process, touch briefly on the future of the 'verse, pontificate on random subjects, and be joined by guests from within and without the Mihmiverse. PLUS, each episode will include something unique you can't find anywhere else!
As mentioned in the year-in-review above, principal photography of "Danny Johnson Saves The World" is officially complete and the editing process is well underway!
In honor of this, writer/director Christopher R. Mihm has provided the following special effects still from the film—and let us say this: we LOVE the classic flying saucer aesthetic! Speaking of which, we realized when this was sent to us that a "classic 1950s flying saucer" has never truly been seen in any Mihmiverse film...if you don't include the cameo of the "Plan 9 From Outer Space" mothership in "Destination: Outer Space!"
As the rascally space pirate Yureena Null might say, "Very cool, yes?"
For at least the next month or so, contributor credits for "Danny Johnson Saves The World" will STILL BE AVAILABLE!
For each $25.00 donation, all contributors will be entitled to having a single name* of their choosing listed in the contributors section of the closing credits of the film, a customized, frameable document certifying their participation in the program and a choice of one (1) copy of the finished film on DVD OR one (1) collector's ticket to the film's world premiere!
ALSO, for the first time ever, additional DVDs of the film and/or premiere tickets may be pre-ordered as "add-ons" ($10 each) with the purchase of at least one credit.
Contributor credits can even be given as gifts!
If you'd like to contribute to "Danny Johnson Saves The World," visit the contributor page at SaintEuphoria.com by clicking HERE!
*A single credit is defined as the name of one (1) person or corporate entity. Any credit requiring the word "and," an ampersand (&), and/or a comma (except when part of a legal company name) will constitute multiple credits and MUST BE paid for separately.
NOTE: The contributor program is an "equal exchange" program, which means specifically that those participating have NO SAY in the decisions or actions taken by anyone involved in the actual production of the film and are NOT entitled to ANY possible future profits earned by the film, derivative works, and/or merchandise created for or featuring elements from the film. Becoming an contributor does not entitle the participant to ANY ownership WHATSOEVER of the finished film or associated elements.
From DVDs and Blu-rays to exclusive posters, lobby cards and collectibles, the shop at SaintEuphoria.com, the online home of the films of Christopher R. Mihm, has a little bit of something for every current and soon-to-be-obsessed Mihmiverse fan—and autographs are ALWAYS FREE!
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for other columns, OR if you're interested in writing one, please contact us at info@sainteuphoria.com and let us know what you think!
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The latest episode of the Mihmiverse Bonfire Podcast is now available for download!
It's the holiday season and you know what that means...it's Cryptmas!
In this special holiday 2014 edition of the Mihmiverse Bonfire Podcast, hosts Rhuby 'n' Hater welcome a Leonard-Cohen-impersonating writer/director Christopher R. Mihm into their "winter basement of doom" to help them interview and celebrate the official horror host of the Mihmiverse, Cryptosis, Curator of the Macabre, Center Square of Pop Culture and the Billy Mays of Horror Hosts!
Click here to download the episode
The Mihmiverse Bonfire Podcast will be released on or around the 15th of every month. Moderated by hosts Rhuby 'n' Hater, this free-to-download monthly audiocast offers exclusive news, interviews with the folks who make the Mihmiverse possible, shameless self-promotion, and original recurring content!
If you'd like to ask a question of the hosts, writer/director Christopher R. Mihm, or any of the show's upcoming guest(s), click HERE to submit your queries! If we like them, we may even include them in a future podcast! OR, you can "like" the Mihmiverse Bonfire Podcast page on Facebook and "participate" by posting to the podcast's wall during recording!
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Picture this...
It's a cold winter's evening and you and your special someone find yourselves by a roaring fire after a scrumptious meal. Here's a non-alcoholic drink to warm your tummies, thrill your taste buds and kick things off just right!
Spiced Coffee with Cream
- 1/4 cup evaporated milk
- 2-1/4 teaspoons confectioners' sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot strong brewed coffee
- Ground nutmeg
- 2 cinnamon sticks
Pour milk into a small bowl; place mixer beaters in the bowl. Cover and freeze for 30 minutes or until ice crystals begin to form.
Add the sugar, cinnamon and vanilla; beat until thick and fluffy. Divide between two mugs; add coffee. Garnish with nutmeg and cinnamon sticks. Serve immediately.
Yield: 2 servings
This is a delicious treat on those brisk winter evenings or a delight on a chilly Sunday morning. I give this yummy drink 5 out of 5 "vintage holiday lights." ENJOY!
You can find this recipe (and many more like it) and its corresponding nutrition information on the Taste of Home website!
— Stephanie Mihm
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Films That Go "Bump in the Night."
Name these classically cheesy horror films with "Night" in the title.
1. (1942) Bela Lugosi stars in a story about a rich recluse who invites the doctors who left him crippled to his mansion, where one by one, they meet horrible deaths.
2. (1958) An astronaut is killed on reentry to Earth, but his body is seeded with rapidly gestating aliens. Roger Corman and his brother Gene were responsible for this film.
3. (1959) Ed Wood wrote and directed this film about a phony spiritualist who raises the dead. Tor Johnson played Lobo.
4. (1964) This William Castle production featured mainstream stars Robert Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck in a story about a woman haunted by nightmares, which seem to be instigated by her dead husband.
5. (1966) Operation Deep Freeze, a scientific expedition to Antarctica discovers unusual tree specimens. When shipped to a South Seas naval base for further study, the trees become acid spewing monsters who live and kill by night. Mamie van Doren and Billy Gray ("Bud" on "Father Knows Best") starred.
Scroll to the bottom of the Mihmiverse Monthly for the answers.
— Mike Cook
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| January 5th, Deanne McDonald (Elizabeth) will be playing Maria in "Twelfth Night" with The Unrehearsed Shakespeare Company in Chicago. |
| On January 10th, Catherine Hansen (Martha/The Witch) will be performing in "24:00:00 XTREME THEATRE SMACKDOWN 2015." The event is being described as, "Six new plays created in just 24 hours with some of the Twin Cities' most bad-ass female theatre artists! Theatrical thrills, spills, triumphs and tragedies—you witness the results—one night only!" The event will be held at the Anne Simley Theatre in St. Paul, MN. |
| Andy Wilkins (Doherty) hosts trivia the second Saturday of every month at 6:00PM at the Summit Tap Room in St. Paul, MN. In addition, she's heavily involved with (and may be performing—it has a rotating cast) "Double-Blind Improv" Fearless Comedy on the third Thursday of February at 7:30PM in Minneapolis. |
| "The Tiki War" starring Rachel Grubb (Amy/Hagra) is now playing in the Online Film Festival. Also, check out Rachel's trading cards at terrorcards.com or find her on Twitter @rachelgrubb! |
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"The Monster of Phantom Lake," "It Came From Another World!," "Cave Women on Mars," "Terror from Beneath the Earth," "Destination: Outer Space," "Attack of the Moon Zombies," "House of Ghosts," "The Giant Spider" and "The Late Night Double Feature" DVDs are now available at SaintEuphoria.com, the online home of the films of Christopher R. Mihm.
In addition, exclusive movie posters, patches, collectibles and other merchandise are now in stock. Everything is available in extremely limited quantities, so get yours today before they run out!
The Trivia Corner answers:
1. "Night Monster," 2. "Night of the Blood Beast," 3. "Night of the Ghouls," 4. "The Night Walker," 5. "The Navy vs. the Night Monsters"
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