MIKE BARONAS
Mike Baronas has had a hankering for horror since his impressionable, pre-teen years of the 1970’s. Growing up in front of the television, Saturday afternoons found him enveloped in WLVI Channel 56’s Creature Double Feature, the Massachusetts staple for Hammer and giant monster (Gamera vs. Guiron being his favorite) classics.
The move to more graphic styles of filmmaking came about almost by accident when Baronas, an avid fisherman by the age of 12, was intrigued by a movie about his favorite bait called Squirm. To this day, his father’s voice still resonates, “Uh, Michael, you’re looking a little green,” after the film’s poor redneck slob gets a little too frisky while out in his boat and is pushed face-first into a gaggle of electrified nightcrawlers that proceed to burrow under his skin and up into his head. This shock left an indelible impact…and a curiosity that needed to be satiated.
In 1985 the home movie boom was in full swing and Baronas received his first VCR that year. His initial four rentals (primarily due to the cool cover imagery) included Sleepaway Camp, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Bay of Blood and a video that’s warning, “This film contains scenes which may be considered shocking. No one under 17 should be present,” certainly made it a must see – The Gates of Hell. This is the film that changed his life. The offsetting atmosphere and uncompromising violence that Italian director Lucio Fulci captured in this 1980 bloodbath was unlike anything Baronas had ever seen in a Hollywood offering.
Paura nella città dei morti viventi, or City of the Living Dead as it was later released as on DVD, has always been the film to top in Baronas’ eyes. He continued the tradition of Saturday afternoon horror marathons, with his father escorting him to the video store, renting three new movies (pending his dad’s approval) each and every week for years. From the amazingly realistic gore FX of Tom Savini to the claustrophobic and documentary aura of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, nothing held a candle to his beloved Gates.
Baronas began to wonder what bizarre mind brought this tale of a suicidal priest whose actions release a legion of the undead upon the world to fruition? It’s this question that haunts him to this day as he continues to research and interview those who worked with Fulci throughout the maestro's vast film career for his ongoing project PAURA: Lucio Fulci Remembered, the first DVD volume of which was released in March of 2008.
An interview with Baronas about his DVD excursions, etc. can be found here. More recent interviews can be found here and here and here.
SILVIA COLLATINA
The lovely and vivacious Silvia Collatina was born and raised in Rome, Italy where she spent part of her youth in front of the camera working with legendary director Sergio Martino in 1979's Big Alligator River and then with the infamous Lucio Fulci in his 1981 bloodbath
House By The Cemetery. Amazingly enough, her parents allowed her to work with Fulci once again in 1983's Murderock. Her acting career came to a premature end soon thereafter due to a misunderstanding between her agent and the producers of the movie Dark Eyes.
Now a mother of two, Collatina works as a secretary in a trademarks and patents firm in Rome. She is a lifelong horror fanatic who is (almost) fluent in 5 different languages. Her unique perspective and attention to detail as the Italian liaison for Paura Productions has been and will continue to be an invaluable addition in maintaining our mission statement: keeping the blood-smeared era of EuroHorror cinema alive!
KIT GAVIN
Born in the early seventies, Kit Gavin’s birthday falls the week between Jean Christophe Bretigniere’s and Catriona MacColl’s. He was brought up in Cyprus, Upper Volta, Mexico, the Philippines, and the UK. He considers himself a European as much as a citizen of the world.
Gavin’s interest in European cinema stems from a bizarre mixture of influences in his misspent teenage years watching Hitchcock films, European arthouse movies and the horror films dubbed by the UK press as “video nasties” (he paid a small fortune – even now – for an old copy of Cannibal Ferox).
In the mid-nineties when these movies began to regain popularity, he wrote and contributed to magazines such as European Trash Cinema (much missed), Delirium and Flesh and Blood.
Conversant in English, French, Danish and Italian to varying degrees, he put those languages to full use when moving to Paris in 2008. While his interest in the genre waned after his departure from Media Blasters' Shriek Show division, Gavin continues to seek out those who took part in the films he admired and is eager in taking part in Paura: Lucio Fulci Remembered ~ Volume 2.
An interview with Gavin about the 2005 DVD release of A Lizard in A Woman’s Skin can be found here.
The following listing outlines the DVD projects Mike & Kit had a hand in procuring supplemental materials for (in order of release date)...
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Demonia (1990) Director: Lucio Fulci Extras Provided: Mike provided text interview excerpts by star Brett Halsey from the delayed PAURA: Lucio Fulci Remembered book p roject.
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Jungle Holocaust (1977) Director: Ruggero Deodato Extras Provided: Audio commentary & on-camera introduction with director Ruggero Deodato; on-camera interviews with stars Massimo Foschi & Ivan Rassimov; text biographies; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery and card reproductions.
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Delirium: Photo of Gioia (1987) Director: Lamberto Bava Extras Provided: On-camera introduction & interview with director Lamberto Bava; on-camera interviews with stars David Brandon & George Eastman; text biographies; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Beyond the Darkness: Buio Omega (1979) Director: Joe D’Amato Extras Provided: On-camera interview with star Cinzia Monreale; audio commentary with assistant director Donatella Donati; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery, including easter egg of ad slicks from director Joe D’Amato’s adult films.
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Zombie Holocaust (Doctor Butcher MD) (1980) Director: Marino Girolami Extras Provided: On-camera interview with special FX artist Maurizio Trani; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror (1981) Director: Andrea Bianchi Extras Provided: Kit & Marc Morris (of the Mondo Erotico website, not Mike Baronas as improperly credited) obtained on-camera interviews with producer Gabriele Crisanti & star Mariangela Giordano; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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What Have You Done to Solange? (1972) Director: Massimo Dallamano Extras Provided: Lobby card & poster art for stills gallery & booklet.
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House of Clocks (1989) Director: Lucio Fulci Extras Provided: On-camera interviews with stars Paolo Paoloni & Carla Cassola.
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Zombi 3 (1988) Directors: Lucio Fulci & Bruno Mattei Extras Provided: Audio commentary* & on-camera introduction by stars Deran Sarafian & Beatrice Ring; on-camera interview with co-director Bruno Mattei, writer Claudio Fragasso, and stars Ottaviano Dell’Acqua, Massimo Vanni & Marina Loi; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery. *Commentary track included on second pressing of DVD and not readily available
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Sweet House of Horrors (1989) Director: Lucio Fulci Extras Provided: On-camera introduction by star Cinzia Monreale; on-camera interviews with stars Jean-Christophe Bretigniere, Lino Salemme, Pascal Persiano and writer Gigliola Battaglini.
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Eaten Alive: Mangiati Vivi (1980) Director: Umberto Lenzi Extras Provided: On-camera interviews with director Umberto Lenzi and stars Robert Kerman & Ivan Rassimov; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Zombie 4: After Death (1988) Director: Claudio Fragasso Extras Provided: On-camera interviews with director Claudio Fragasso and stars Chuck (Jeff Stryker) Peyton & Candice Daly; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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House on the Edge of the Park (1980) Director: Ruggero Deodato Extras Provided: On-camera interviews with director Ruggero Deodato and stars David Hess, Giovanni Lombardo Radice & Karoline Mardeck; easter egg featuring David’s son Jesse playing guitar; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Violence in a Women's Prison (1982) Director: Bruno Mattei Extras Provided: On-camera interview with director Bruno Mattei; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Blood of the Zombie (1961) Director: Barry Mahon Extras Provided: None, though Kit & Mike are both credited on the DVD jacket for some reason.
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The Other Hell (1980) Director: Bruno Mattei Extras Provided: On-camera interviews with director Bruno Mattei & star Carlo De Mejo; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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2019: After the Fall of New York (1983) Director: Sergio Martino Extras Provided: Audio commentary* & introduction by star Michael Sopkiw, moderated by David Zuzelo & Dolph Chiarino; on-camera interviews with director Sergio Martino and stars George Eastman & Hal Yamanouchi; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery. *Commentary track supposedly removed from second pressing of DVD due to Chiarino’s outlandish comments and not readily available.
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Elsa Fraulein SS (1977) Director: Patrice Rohm Extras Provided: Introduction and on-camera interview with star Malisa Longo; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Seven Blood Stained Orchids (1972) Director: Umberto Lenzi Extras Provided: On-camera interviews with director Umberto Lenzi and star Gabriella Giorgelli; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Black Demons (1991) Director: Umberto Lenzi Extras Provided: On-camera interviews with director Umberto Lenzi and writer Olga Pehar.
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Spasmo (1974) Director: Umberto Lenzi Extras Provided: On-camera interview with director Umberto Lenzi; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Werewolf Woman (1976) Director: Rino Di Silvestro Extras Provided: On-camera interview with director Rino Di Silvestro; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery; behind the scenes set photos; gallery of Di Silvestro’s artwork.
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My Dear Killer (1972) Director: Tonino Valerii Extras Provided: On-camera interviews with director Tonino Valerii & star George Hilton; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Patrick Still Lives (1980) Director: Mario Landi Extras Provided: On-camera interviews with producer Gabriele Crisanti & star Gianni Dei; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Flavia the Heretic (1974) Director: Gianfranco Mingozzi Extras Provided: On-camera interview with star Florinda Bolkan.
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Emanuelle & the Last Cannibals (1977) Director: Joe D’Amato Extras Provided: Lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Emanuelle in America (1976) Director: Joe D’Amato Extras Provided: Kit provided proofing of print to ensure its completeness and lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Hitcher in the Dark (1989) Director: Umberto Lenzi Extras Provided: On-camera interview with director Umberto Lenzi; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Demons 3: The Ogre (1988) Director: Lamberto Bava Extras Provided: On-camera interview with director Lamberto Bava; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Zombie 5: Killing Birds (1987) Directors: Claudio Lattanzi & Joe D’Amato Extras Provided: Lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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1990: Bronx Warriors (1982) Director: Enzo Castellari Extras Provided: Audio commentary & on-camera interview with director Enzo Castellari; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Faceless (1988) Director: Jess Franco Extras Provided: Audio commentary with director Jess Franco and star Lina Romay; on-camera interview with Franco; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Virgin of Nuremberg (1963) Director: Antonio Margheriti Extras Provided: Lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Nightmares Come at Night (1970) Director: Jess Franco Extras Provided: On-camera interview with director Jess Franco.
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Slaughter Hotel (1971) Director: Fernando Di Leo Extras Provided: On-camera interview with director Fernando Di Leo; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Erotic Nights of the Living Dead (1980) Director: Joe D’Amato Extras Provided: Introduction by writer/star George Eastman (unused); lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Zombi 2 (1979) Director: Lucio Fulci Extras Provided: On-camera interviews for "Building a Better Zombi" documentary with writers Dardano Sacchetti & Elisa Briganti, producer Fabrizio De Angelis, cinematographer Sergio Salvati, special FX artists Giannetto De Rossi, Maurizio Trani & Rosario Prestopino, composer Fabio Frizzi, cameraman Franco Bruni, hair stylist Mirella De Rossi Sforza, director Enzo Castellari, and stars Al Cliver & Ottaviano Dell’Acqua; "Raising the Dead" interview with production & costume designer Walter Patriarca (intended for documentary use but absent for some reason); "An Evening with Dakkar" features star Dakkar performing two songs on-camera (as he wanted to be part of the project but remembered nothing about the film); lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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The Killer Must Kill Again (1975) Director: Luigi Cozzi Extras Provided: Kit provided translation of the Italian version into English; assisted with Luigi Cozzi interview; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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99 Women (1969) Director: Jess Franco Extras Provided: Kit provided lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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A Lizard in a Woman's Skin (1971) Director: Lucio Fulci Extras Provided: Wrote & directed "Shedding the Skin" documentary which includes on-camera interviews with stars Florinda Bolkan, Jean Sorel, Mike Kennedy, Penny Brown (who also provided narration) and special FX artists Carlo Rambaldi & Franco Di Girolamo; location shooting; lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Venus in Furs (1969) Director: Jess Franco Extras Provided: Kit provided historical input and lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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French Sex Murders (1972) Director: Ferdinando Merighi Extras Provided: Kit provided historical input for documentary and lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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Cannibal Holocaust (1980) Director: Ruggero Deodato Extras Provided: On-camera interview with composer Riz Ortolani.
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Satan’s Blood (1977) Director: Carlos Puerto Extras Provided: Kit provided lobby card & poster art for stills gallery.
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PAURA: Lucio Fulci Remembered ~ Volume 1 (2008) Director: Mike Baronas
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Wargasm: Knee Deep in the Middle East (2008) Director: Rich Spillberg Extras Provided: Mike provided concert footage & photographs.
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The Beyond (1981) Director: Lucio Fulci Extras Provided: Mike facilitated introduction for Catriona MacColl; licensed 11 interview clips from PAURA DVD for "Voices From The Beyond" featurette.
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Cat In The Brain (1990) Director: Lucio Fulci Extras Provided: Mike licensed 3 interview clips from PAURA DVD for "Memories of Lucio Fulci" segment and appears in the Easter Egg where the maestro signs my GATES OF HELL poster from the 1996 Fango convention in NYC...amazing!
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The New York Ripper (1982) Director: Lucio Fulci Extras Provided: Mike facilitated and co-wrote interview with Zora Kerova for the "I'm an Actress!" featurette with Silvia providing on-site translation.
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NOTE:
Select supplements obtained over the years have been sold to / can be found on various foreign DVD releases as well.
Various photos from our trips to procure supplemental materials for the DVD titles above can be found HERE
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