Bastards of Horror

Pittsburgh, PA – June 30, 2008 – What’s the best way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the George Romero classic zombie film Dawn of the Dead? By holding a zombie-themed festival at the site where it was filmed.

The It’s Alive Zombie Fest™, taking place on October 25 & 26 at the Monroeville Mall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will be a zombie fan’s delight. “Pittsburgh has long been considered the zombie capital of the world”, says Mark Menold, organizer of Zombie Fest™, and creator, producer and host of The It’s Alive Show, Pittsburgh’s late night horror host program. “People come from around the globe to make a pilgrimage to the Monroeville Mall because of Dawn of the Dead being filmed here. It’s like a zombie Mecca.”

Zombie Fest™ will feature vendors from across the county offering collectible and hard-to-find horror and zombie-themed wares for sale; zombie films; discussion panels featuring award-winning horror writers; bands; celebrity guests; games and other fun activities for zombie fans of all ages. The events at the Mall will be open to the public and free of charge; some after-hour events are in development that will carry a nominal admission fee of which all proceeds will go to the Fest’s designated charity, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

“We decided that since 2008 is such a monumental year for zombie fans that we’d change our format from a traditional horror convention to a show that is accessible for everyone”, says Menold. “It will be a little different from what our vendors and fans are used to, but it’s an opportunity to reach a wider audience of zombie fans.”

On the eve of Zombie Festâ„¢, Friday, October 24, a Zombie Masquerade Ball will be held at the Churchill Valley Country Club. The Ball will feature live entertainment as well as a DJ and will be an age 21 and over event. Prizes will be awarded for best overall costume as well as best zombie costume. There will be a separate admission fee for the Ball (to be determined).

The highlight of the weekend will be World Zombie Day™ on Sunday, October 26 featuring zombie walks with accompanying food drives aimed at raising awareness of the problem of global hunger. At press time, approximately 40 cities have signed on to participate, including New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Seattle, London and Hong Kong as well as cities in Canada, Australia and Costa Rica. The hub of WZD will be the Monroeville Mall walk on Sunday morning, led by Menold as Professor Emcee Square, his character on The It’s Alive Show. The prior two walks organized by Menold at the Mall earned Guinness World Records™; the 2007 walk received a Rondo S. Hatton Classic Horror Award for Best Fan Event of the year.

Menold promises a memorable time for fans who participate in the weekend’s activities. “This event is going to rock 33.3% harder than last year. I want people who come to Zombie Fest™ to be able to mingle with the guests and dance at the Zombie Ball, to play zombie games, have a chance to appear in a TV show about zombies, rock out to live bands, and to participate in another world record attempt at the Monroeville Mall. This is the location where George Romero shot Dawn of the Dead! At Zombie Fest™, you can actually be a zombie for a day. Three days, really.”

For more information and updates, please visit www.theitsaliveshow.com.

Like I said, more zombie tools.

OlliN Sword Design has created a new line of products to take care of your current zombie problems or at least prepare for a grim future of hacking through undead hordes. The basic survival kit contains a backpack, binoculars, first-aid kit,sleeping bag,signaling mirror, canteen w/ belt, multi-too,water purification tablets,compass,pontcho,flashlight w/ 2 AA batteries, bandanna, strike matches(6 boxes) and polorized sunglasses. You can check it out here.

The 4th Annual ”Shaun Luu Horror Fest,” proudly announces the “Run for Your Life, ZOMBIE 5k” fun run/skate, & 1-Mile “ZOMBIE Walk” WHO:All runners, walkers, skateboarders and Zombie shamblers WHAT:A Fun Run/Skate/Walk   WHERE:The 5k fun run and skate starts at St. Matthews School, 214 Kinne Street, East Syracuse New York 13057; winds through East Syracuse, and ends back at St. Matthews School. The 1-Mile walk starts at St. Matthews School and ends at the East Syracuse Town Hall, 204 North Center Street. WHY:To raise money for the American Cancer Society and the Golisano Children’s Hospital WHEN:Saturday, June 14, 2008Registration times:5K Runners check in 8:00am5K Skaters check in 8:00am1-Mile Walkers check in 8:30am   Start Times:5K Run start at 9:00am5K Skate start at 9:151-Mile Zombie Walk start at 9:30am      5k Fun Run w/ collectible shirt $15.00  5k Fun Skate w/ collectible shirt   $15.00  Zombie 1-mile w/collectible shirt $10.00   Non-Cash Awards for top 3 Runners, top 3 Skaters, Best Zombie walk, and Best Looking Zombie!!  Please email me at the below email address to receive a PDF of the registration and information form. Return, (before June 3) completed registration with payment to:   Jeff MeyerAttn: 5k Fun Run/Skate1231 Tulip Street, Liverpool, NY 13090Email: jmeyer007@hotmail.com Phone: 315-436-4723 Paypal me @ jmeyer007@hotmail.com    Cancer has touched countless families in the Central New York area. One family affected by Cancer is the Luu Family, whose son Shaun succumbed to the illness in 2005. Shaun was an unusual, but much loved young man. He enjoyed the sport of skateboarding, was extremely active in the local hardcore music scene, and a Horror Film lover. The Shaun Luu Horror Fest was originally created to raise Shaun’s spirits during his Cancer struggle. The Fest has continued in his honor as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. The organizers strive to make the Fest bigger and better each year; not just for the Luu Family, but all families touched by this relentless disease.  Along with the “Run for Your Life ZOMBIE 5k” Fun Run/ Skate, which will allow both runners and skateboarders to participate, there will be a 1-Mile “Zombie Walk”. “Zombie walks” allow for people to dress up as zombies, and do their best zombie walk/shamble throughout the designated course. Prizes will be given for the best costume and/or makeup and for the best Zombie shamble.     

Space is EXTREMELY limited: only the first 200 runners, 55 skaters and 50 zombies can participate. Placement will be on a first come, first served basis.

Zombie Con 2008 at the Clarion Hotel in Greensboro, NC on Saturday, March 29th. The convention hours are from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Clarion is located at 415 Swing Road right off Guilford College Road in Greensboro. If you have any trouble finding it – please call the hotel for directions @ 336-299-7650.

The convention will feature Horror Collectibles, Toys, Shirts, and Comic Books.

We are also having several contests and events. One hundred dollars cash will be awarded to best costume. A movie role will be given to the best Scream Queen and SpokesZombie. Also, we are providing FREE Zombie Makeovers – come as you are and leave a member of the undead! A Zombie film World Premiere will be featured.

The Guests of Zombie Con:

Robert Harris – Actor who was in Eli Roth’s “Cabin Fever.”

Kristy Tallman – Horror Novelist – “Crows on the Cross” and “The All-Soul’s Faire.”

Vera Van Munster – Scream Queen – “The Haunted Garage.”

Mad One Films – Producers of “The Devil’s Tramping Ground.”

Thomas Boatwright – Artist & Creator of the award nominated comic book “Cemetery Blues.”

Phoenix Mangus – Writer/Director of “Southern Undead -Attack of the Redneck Zombies.”

Mark Carter – Surreal Artist, sculptor, illustrator.

John Hitchcock – Writer/Artist, Eisner Award Nominee.

Jester Press – Creators of the comic book “Night.”

L Jamal Walton – Artist/Creator – “Warmageddon.”

Dan Johnson – Writer – “Herc and Thor Pocket Manga Volume One.”

Sacred Art Screen Printing.

World Zombie Day & ZF08