A visit to the set of “Dark and Stormy Night”

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I enjoy the work of Larry Blamire, director of THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA.  I saw a trailer for the film when it first ran many years ago at the Egyptian Theatre.  I loved it and started immediately making phone calls and wanting to know how I could help him get the word out.  I love the campy, retro style of his work and the deadpan humor that accompanies it.  After SKELETON, Larry invited me to be an extra in his follow up film TRAIL OF THE SCREAMING FOREHEAD.  I got to wear a super cute 1950s outfit which I begged the costume designer to let me keep.  She said no, but that didn’t stop me from asking her 10 more times.  I also had a wear a big fake forehead glued to my forehead for about 12 hours.  It started to itch and sting, but I was glad to help out and be a part of the proceedings. I’m at the left here with actor Andrew Parks who plays “Dr. Philip Latham” aka The Leader of the Foreheads. Below I’m at the left with actress Jennifer Blaire in the green sweater, co-star Keith Aiken, Michael Schlesinger on the right along with and one other actor.  This time I was invited to visit the set of his newest creation DARK AND STORMY NIGHT.  Co-producer Michael Schlesinger (he is in the above picture to the right...in the green apron and black pillbox hat w/veil) described it to me as, “Like James Whale’s film THE OLD DARK HOUSE...if it had been directed by Howard Hawks instead.” Larry likes to work with a small stock company of excellent actors including Jennifer Blaire, Dan Conroy, Fay Masterson, H.M. Wynant, Betty Garrett and Alison Martin.  Larry’s set has a very family like atmosphere where everyone knows each other and it feels like being transported to the B-movie world in the 1950s.  While the budgets are low and the schedule is tight, the atmosphere is fun and relaxed.  Everyone in the cast and crew genuinely seem to be happy and passionate about what they are doing.  I wish ALL movie sets were that way.  One thing that struck me was how fantastic the sets and costumes were!  Production designer Anthony Tremblay has done a fantastic job of creating a quirky, gothic, haunted house and tons of great vintage details, props and set pieces.  I was really impressed with what he was able to do with a lean budget. The living room of the haunted old house, complete with an antique piano.  Photos really don’t do any of this justice. L-R: Larry Blamire directing actors Daniel Roebuck, Dan Conroy, Kevin Quinn (back to camera) and Jennifer Blaire. Costume designer Kristin M. Burke and co-designer Kristina West have also whipped some beautiful dresses, suits and vintage costumes.  The actors were pretty busy during my visit so I didn’t get pictures of the costumes, but maybe I’ll get some stills from the official set still photographer later on. If you haven’t yet seen Larry Blamire’s work, check it out!  THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA is on DVD and a sequel is already in the can.  He also has a great webisode series called “Tales from the Pub” that you can watch on YouTube. Take a look! SKELETON TRAILER: TALES FROM THE PUB: http://www.filmradar.com/karies_blog/item/a_visit_to_the_set_of_dark_and_stormy_night/