They say that 90% of directing is casting. I wouldn't go quite that far, but it's prety damned important. It's nice to be able to cast people you know--and know you can rely on--in projects that matter to you. The driving impetus behind making SLIME CITY MASSACRE was to re-team with Robert Craig Sabin and Mary Bogle, who starred in the original film--and and to make a good movie. I also wrote key roles for Jennifer Bihl (pictured), who had a part in my GRUESOME music video, as well as Erika Smith and Debbie Rochon.

Things change constantly when a movie is in development. I couldn't conceive of making this film without Robert and Mary. Then again, I was sure that Erika was a lock for the lead role. Last summer, she attended Roy (STREET TRASH) Frumkes's horror film class at my old college, the School of Visual Arts, with me when I screened the film there. She had a great time watching the film, loved the screenplay, and had no problem doing the nudity the part required. Unfortunately, she had joined the Screen Actors Guild, and although I was willing to use the SAG Ultra Low Budget Agreement so I could use her--a strain on my limited resources--her manager didn't want her to do any more low budget horror films, or nudity. Since other characters in the film also require nudity, I was willing to cut the nudity for this one--just not for someone who had done plenty of nudity in the past, or someone to whom I was paying a day rate. This is a constant issue for low budget horror filmmakers, who need to deliver all of the "elements" required to secure overseas distribution.

In the end, it didn't matter. It became evident to me that a key partner was not going to come through with any money for the film despite his inititial commitment, which was a huge disappointment. Facing another self imposed budget cut, I realized I couldn't afford to fly a lead actress to Buffalo for the entire shoot, put her up in a hotel, and meet a day rate. So I decided to cast as many local actors as possible, without regard for nudity, which freed me to do what I wanted and cast Jennifer in the lead. Jennifer was partly the inspiration for this project in the first place: she resembles Mary Huner, and shares Mary's easy going, cooperative attitude, and I look forward to directing their scenes together. Special make-up effects artist Rod Durick has already crerated a mold of Jennifer's face and started scuplting her appliances.

But I still have several people coming in from out of town.

Debbie Rochon has been nothing but supportive of this project since I approached her about it. I wrote the role of "Alice" for her after seeing her in my friend Justin Wingenfeld's movie SKIN CRAWL. Debbie has done over 150 movies. Often, filmmakers give her a one-day role so they can take advantage of her name recognition, then give her little to do. I think Alice is the most memorable character in the script, the one fans will talk about when the end credits have rolled.

Kealan Patrick Burke. Yes, Kealan Patrick Burke the horror writer. I've "known" him for years, through message boards like Shocklines and The Horror Writers Association's forum, and he gave me a blurb for JOHNNY GRUESOME, but we've never met face to face. I had planned to cast him as the lead in DEADLY RITES, a larger project I was developing, and since that project fell through I thought it only proper to offer him the male lead in SCM, even though this is a MUCH smaller project and I expected him to say no. But he surprised me and said yes, and I think he's going to be great.

Lee Perkins is another actor who was attached to DEADLY RITES. Lee has been in the business for years, and I met him a few years ago at the Halloween Horror Picture Show in Florida, where he attended a screening of KATIE BIRD, CERTIFIABLE CRAZY PERSON; he played Katie's serial killer dad. This is an example of how networking at even small film festivals can pay off. Lee and I stayed in touch, we discussed several projects, and now we're finally working together.

Brooke Lewis has been building a body of work as an up and coming scream queen, and as an executive producer. At one point she wanted to executive produce this film, at a higher budget; then the economy went into a tail spin and her investors--like so many others--held tight to their cash. I told her that since I wasn't going to be able to make SCM for the budget I desired, I was going to make it the only way I knew how: independently and on a micro-budget. Because she loved the script, she remained attached as an actress and as an asociate producer. She's playing Nicole, the prostitute who joins Zachary Devon's Coven of Flesh, commits suicide and then--years later, in SLIME CITY--inhabits Mary Huner's black wig wearing body.

I wrote roles for Roy Frumkes and my "regulars": Tommy Sweeney (who is also an associate producer); Nelson Wakefield; Tom Merrick; and Eric Mache. Only Terry Spivey--who had his arm bitten off in SLIME CITY, his eyes gouged out in UNDYING LOVE, and his head pistol whipped in NAKED FEAR--showed no interest in participating. Terry, a very upbeat guy, now runs Karamou, the oldest African American theatre company in this country. I guess he's too respectable to slum in a horror film these days, which is understandable. But he could have at least returned my calls... (I should retitle this article "Karamou Horror!")

Kealan isn't the only horror writer I drafted into this production: Sephera Giron will play Robert Sabin's wife--a sexual witch--go figure! WHen I told my wife--sometimes my harshest critic--of my intention to cast Sephera in this role, she loved the idea.

A few years ago, while managing movie theatre here in Buffalo, I came downstairs from the projection booth and was startled to see a familair face: Dick Biel, who played the wheelchair-bound serial killer priest in SPLATTER UNIVERSITY, and "Detective Irish O'Bannon" in SLIME CITY. Even though he lives in Manhattan, Dick spends several months a year here in Buffalo. I contacted him recently to inform him that I'm writing an extended cameo for him, and he seemed almost as excited as I was. Irish O'Bannon lives!

Rob Tomaro, who scored the original film, has a role, too. Mars is composing the score this time, but Rob will play a homeless guy (well, 95% of the population in Slime City is homeless this time around) targeted by a couple of frat boys who beat him and videotape the assault. Rob gets to watch as two Slime Heads take care of the frat boys.

Another SLIME CITY vet cameoing in MASSACRE is Marc J. Makowski, my longtime producing partner. Marc and I view SCM as a chance to go out in a blaze of glory, or at least to "get it right." It's only fitting that he's back on board. His scheduling doesn't permit me to kill him. Maybe next time...

My casting director, Michael O'Hear, is playing Roman, the character whose spirit possessed goth Dennis Embry in the original film. And he's rounding up all of the Buffalo folks who will be taking roles. Of course, as we near the start of production, a number of people will end up dropping out due to scheduling difficulties. It's unavoidable.

The current cast for SLIME CITY MASSACRE:

Alexa - Jennifer Bihl

Cory - Kealan Patrick Burke

Alice - Debbie Rochon

Mason - Lee Perkins

Zachary Devon - Robert Craig Sabin

Swan - Mary Bogle

Nicole - Brooke Lewis

Ronald Crump - Roy Frumkes

Faulkner - Nelron Hubbard

Ruby - Sephera Giron

Mr. Fun - Rob Tomarro

McBain - Tommy Sweeney

Roman - Michael O'Hear

Honey - Angelina Leigh

Preston - Dan Loughery

Chad - Micah Rose

Machete - Eric Mache

Sheridan - Tom Merrick

Irish O'Bannon - Dick Biel

Bless - Alex McBryde

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NEXT: Pre-production!

For more on SLIME CITY MASSACRE, visit my website. If these occasional updates aren't enough for you, and you want to follow the progress of the film day-by-day, visit my daily production journal, SLIME CITY MASSACRE Chronicles.