About "From Fan to Pro...and Back Again"
How can simply watching too many movies as a fan lead to writing about them professionally…
or starting a magazine… or a DVD label? And is there really such a big difference between the
terms “fan” and “pro” as some would have us believe?
For probably longer than they care to admit, Rob Hauschild and Peter Gutiérrez have been
channeling their fannish tendencies into things like journalism, writing comics, media
production, and teaching. In this slideshow-based talk, they’ll discuss their personal genre
touchstones—not as classics deemed such by “experts” but as pop culture items that have
inspired them and, in many cases, probably you as well. From the guilty pleasures of 42nd
Street's grindhouses in the ‘70s and ‘80s to the even guiltier pleasures of NYC’s similarly extinct
art/revival house scene, the speakers will chart a past that remains too vital to them for its
exploration to be called nostalgic.
Rob Hauschild is a New Jersey-based writer, editor and cult film purveyor whose genre credits
include Fangoria, Total Movie and RAMP, alongside many other mags and fanzines. His three-
part series, "Heavy Horrors" compiles a history of heavy metal music and themes in horror
movies and currently appears in Metal Maniacs magazine. Rob also founded and published the
cult genre magazine VeX (1995-2000), and is presently co-owner and producer for DVD label
Wild Eye, focusing on offbeat horror and cult movies. Rob can be seen in the documentary
Creature Feature: 50 Years of the Gillman, where he serves as expert on domestic and
international movies that are knock-offs of the original Creature from the Black Lagoon; he is also
featured/ interviewed in the upcoming Outlaw Horror Geeks: The Book and can currently be heard
most Sunday nights at midnight on New Jersey freeform radio WFMU (91.1) as a guest of
absurdist stunt radio host Professor Dum Dum. Visit Rob's website at www.wildeyereleasing.
com.
Peter Gutiérrez has been a professional writer for close to twenty years. He is probably best
known for his work in comics in the 1990's when he wrote the best-selling indie title SHI: THE
WAY OF THE WARRIOR, eventually spending several years under contract developing a film
version that was never produced. The other comics characters he was fortunate enough to write
include Grifter, Daredevil, and Witchblade. As an editor, he developed the historically-minded
SHI: SENRYAKU mini-series, which featured art by Jeff Smith, Joe Quesada, Marc Silvestri, and
Jim Lee among others. In 1997, he was nominated for a Will Eisner Comic Industry Award for
creating and writing SHI: KAIDAN, a collection of original Japanese ghost stories on which he
collaborated with Michael Kaluta, David Mack, and Stan Sakai.
These days Peter is still involved in the world of comics and graphic novels, focusing on their
value to both literature and literacy. Recent speaking engagements include the ’08 and ’09 New
York Comic Cons, SPLAT! (the graphic novel symposium), the New York City School Library Fall
Conference, and Fordham University’s “Graphica in Education” conference in late January. On
May 8 he will speak at a day-long celebration of comics and graphic novels at the combined
Massachusetts Library Association and Massachusetts School Library Annual Conference. Much
of his work in this area is done as an advisor to Diamond Book Distributors, to whose magazine
BOOKSHELF he is a frequent contributor. He is also the graphic novel columnist for FOREWORD
Magazine, and has written on the topic for GRAPHIC NOVEL REPORTER, SCHOOL LIBRARY
JOURNAL, and COMIPRESS.
For Peter's full bio, click here www.sfsnnj.com/GutierrezBio.htm or visit him on MySpace at
www.myspace.com/peter_gutierrez.
How can simply watching too many movies as a fan lead to writing about them professionally…
or starting a magazine… or a DVD label? And is there really such a big difference between the
terms “fan” and “pro” as some would have us believe?
For probably longer than they care to admit, Rob Hauschild and Peter Gutiérrez have been
channeling their fannish tendencies into things like journalism, writing comics, media
production, and teaching. In this slideshow-based talk, they’ll discuss their personal genre
touchstones—not as classics deemed such by “experts” but as pop culture items that have
inspired them and, in many cases, probably you as well. From the guilty pleasures of 42nd
Street's grindhouses in the ‘70s and ‘80s to the even guiltier pleasures of NYC’s similarly extinct
art/revival house scene, the speakers will chart a past that remains too vital to them for its
exploration to be called nostalgic.
Rob Hauschild is a New Jersey-based writer, editor and cult film purveyor whose genre credits
include Fangoria, Total Movie and RAMP, alongside many other mags and fanzines. His three-
part series, "Heavy Horrors" compiles a history of heavy metal music and themes in horror
movies and currently appears in Metal Maniacs magazine. Rob also founded and published the
cult genre magazine VeX (1995-2000), and is presently co-owner and producer for DVD label
Wild Eye, focusing on offbeat horror and cult movies. Rob can be seen in the documentary
Creature Feature: 50 Years of the Gillman, where he serves as expert on domestic and
international movies that are knock-offs of the original Creature from the Black Lagoon; he is also
featured/ interviewed in the upcoming Outlaw Horror Geeks: The Book and can currently be heard
most Sunday nights at midnight on New Jersey freeform radio WFMU (91.1) as a guest of
absurdist stunt radio host Professor Dum Dum. Visit Rob's website at www.wildeyereleasing.
com.
Peter Gutiérrez has been a professional writer for close to twenty years. He is probably best
known for his work in comics in the 1990's when he wrote the best-selling indie title SHI: THE
WAY OF THE WARRIOR, eventually spending several years under contract developing a film
version that was never produced. The other comics characters he was fortunate enough to write
include Grifter, Daredevil, and Witchblade. As an editor, he developed the historically-minded
SHI: SENRYAKU mini-series, which featured art by Jeff Smith, Joe Quesada, Marc Silvestri, and
Jim Lee among others. In 1997, he was nominated for a Will Eisner Comic Industry Award for
creating and writing SHI: KAIDAN, a collection of original Japanese ghost stories on which he
collaborated with Michael Kaluta, David Mack, and Stan Sakai.
These days Peter is still involved in the world of comics and graphic novels, focusing on their
value to both literature and literacy. Recent speaking engagements include the ’08 and ’09 New
York Comic Cons, SPLAT! (the graphic novel symposium), the New York City School Library Fall
Conference, and Fordham University’s “Graphica in Education” conference in late January. On
May 8 he will speak at a day-long celebration of comics and graphic novels at the combined
Massachusetts Library Association and Massachusetts School Library Annual Conference. Much
of his work in this area is done as an advisor to Diamond Book Distributors, to whose magazine
BOOKSHELF he is a frequent contributor. He is also the graphic novel columnist for FOREWORD
Magazine, and has written on the topic for GRAPHIC NOVEL REPORTER, SCHOOL LIBRARY
JOURNAL, and COMIPRESS.
For Peter's full bio, click here www.sfsnnj.com/GutierrezBio.htm or visit him on MySpace at
www.myspace.com/peter_gutierrez.
"From Fan to Pro... and Back Again" -- February 14, 2009
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Saturday, February 14, 2009, 8p
The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
55 Wyckoff Avenue
Ramsey, NJ 07446
201.327.0148
The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
55 Wyckoff Avenue
Ramsey, NJ 07446
201.327.0148
Face the Fiction welcomed speakers Peter Gutierrez and Rob Hauschild last night (2/14/09) for
a fantastic event. Peter and Rob's enthusiasm for their topic was infectious! If Starsky and
Hutch, only the coolest 'buddies' to hit TV ever, were film critics, they'd be Peter and Rob. This
was one fun night that had the audience involved. The night was a fun-filled, fear-filled walk down
memory lane that had us commiserating, laughing and remembering fondly.
Peter and Rob had a great visual presentation prepared for us. It was fun to see people light up
when they recognized a film. It was even more fun when Peter and Rob would throw in 'trivia'
questions - winners got cool swag. Competition was fierce, and some got way more swag than
others. Next time, Barry may not raise his hand.
The presentation, From Fan to Pro and Back Again, delved into the beginnings of Peter and
Rob's love of film - from classic B & W horror to 70's grindhouse and beyond. They took turns
discussing the ins and outs of their childhood, often with very funny results. Both Peter and Rob
talked about being taken to movies, many age inappropriate, by their dads. Peter talked about
being terrified by certain films and not even being able to watch the ending. It was hysterical to
hear him recall how his father had to leave the theater with him crying all the way up the aisle.
His, "remember the kid who was crying and had to leave the theater crying the whole way? Yeah,
that was me with Theater of Blood." Rob had a similar story with the trailer for Suspiria. That
awful little girl brushing her hair and then turning around to be a horrific skull. He told us he slept
in his parent's bed for about a week, and couldn't watch shampoo commercials for some time
either. Rob had many audience members nodding in remembered fear. Gene had very clear
memories of that very same trailer.
The presentation was thorough, well-though out and covered an array of films and genres. It was
amusing to hear Rob explain his mix of horror and Disney films being responsible for his later
tastes in film. Odd mix that many of the audience shared growing up around same time. Rob
also talked about going to the drive-in and spending all day watching movies.
Peter had fond memories of the Park Hill Theater in Yonkers, which I shared with him, as did
Gene. Shout out to Yonkers and the twisted youth it produced ;)
Peter and Rob provided an excellent presentation and did a great job of taking turns and trading
off as each recalled how a certain film influenced them, scared them and eventually shaped the
fan into the pro. It was a fascinating journey to travel with them and a lot of fun to see how the two
turned a love of film into a professional venture. So many times you wonder, "how'd they get from
point A to point B?" Peter and Rob not only told us how, but also had us walking the path with
them. We walked from theaters to movies and back again.
Peter and Rob talked for well over two hours and it wasn't enough. Here's a look at films
discussed: Theater of Blood (look, there goes Peter being escorted out of the movie by his
embarrassed dad), Vampyr, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Escape from the Planet of the Apes,
Shakedown, Suspiria (no shampoo commercials, ever!), Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, The Sadist,
The Tingler, Enter the Dragon, Evil Dead 2, Hardboiled, Bluebeard's Ghost, The Bodyguard
(Sonny Chiba), Seven Samurai, Exterminating Angel, Spirits of the Dead, 5 Fingers of Death,
Metropolis, The Omega Man, Kwaidan, Maniac (1934), Hour of the Wolf, I, Claudius (TV) (this was
a favorite of both Thom Purdy and Ana), The Prisoner (TV), The Third Man, Jaws 2, Jules and Jim,
Midnight (1982), Galaxy of Terror, Dawn of the Dead, Night of the Living Dead, Raiders of the Lost
Ark, Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things, Nighthawks, Polyester, The Texas Chainsaw
Massacre, Sullivan's Travels.
As the films above were shown on the screen, Peter and Rob would toss out trivia questions.
We had lots of winners. Barry, the swag-stealer, took the lead. Dean took a couple of trips to the
prize table. Chris, Gene, Brian K, Ana, Steve Rubin, Steve Spinosa, Kate, Todd and several
others took home prizes.
Peter and Rob had a natural rapport with each other and the group. It made for a fun time. It was
getting late and the guys wrapped things up (much to our regret). Excellent guests, excellent
presentation and an overall great time. A big thanks to Peter and Rob for such a wonderful time.
a fantastic event. Peter and Rob's enthusiasm for their topic was infectious! If Starsky and
Hutch, only the coolest 'buddies' to hit TV ever, were film critics, they'd be Peter and Rob. This
was one fun night that had the audience involved. The night was a fun-filled, fear-filled walk down
memory lane that had us commiserating, laughing and remembering fondly.
Peter and Rob had a great visual presentation prepared for us. It was fun to see people light up
when they recognized a film. It was even more fun when Peter and Rob would throw in 'trivia'
questions - winners got cool swag. Competition was fierce, and some got way more swag than
others. Next time, Barry may not raise his hand.
The presentation, From Fan to Pro and Back Again, delved into the beginnings of Peter and
Rob's love of film - from classic B & W horror to 70's grindhouse and beyond. They took turns
discussing the ins and outs of their childhood, often with very funny results. Both Peter and Rob
talked about being taken to movies, many age inappropriate, by their dads. Peter talked about
being terrified by certain films and not even being able to watch the ending. It was hysterical to
hear him recall how his father had to leave the theater with him crying all the way up the aisle.
His, "remember the kid who was crying and had to leave the theater crying the whole way? Yeah,
that was me with Theater of Blood." Rob had a similar story with the trailer for Suspiria. That
awful little girl brushing her hair and then turning around to be a horrific skull. He told us he slept
in his parent's bed for about a week, and couldn't watch shampoo commercials for some time
either. Rob had many audience members nodding in remembered fear. Gene had very clear
memories of that very same trailer.
The presentation was thorough, well-though out and covered an array of films and genres. It was
amusing to hear Rob explain his mix of horror and Disney films being responsible for his later
tastes in film. Odd mix that many of the audience shared growing up around same time. Rob
also talked about going to the drive-in and spending all day watching movies.
Peter had fond memories of the Park Hill Theater in Yonkers, which I shared with him, as did
Gene. Shout out to Yonkers and the twisted youth it produced ;)
Peter and Rob provided an excellent presentation and did a great job of taking turns and trading
off as each recalled how a certain film influenced them, scared them and eventually shaped the
fan into the pro. It was a fascinating journey to travel with them and a lot of fun to see how the two
turned a love of film into a professional venture. So many times you wonder, "how'd they get from
point A to point B?" Peter and Rob not only told us how, but also had us walking the path with
them. We walked from theaters to movies and back again.
Peter and Rob talked for well over two hours and it wasn't enough. Here's a look at films
discussed: Theater of Blood (look, there goes Peter being escorted out of the movie by his
embarrassed dad), Vampyr, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Escape from the Planet of the Apes,
Shakedown, Suspiria (no shampoo commercials, ever!), Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, The Sadist,
The Tingler, Enter the Dragon, Evil Dead 2, Hardboiled, Bluebeard's Ghost, The Bodyguard
(Sonny Chiba), Seven Samurai, Exterminating Angel, Spirits of the Dead, 5 Fingers of Death,
Metropolis, The Omega Man, Kwaidan, Maniac (1934), Hour of the Wolf, I, Claudius (TV) (this was
a favorite of both Thom Purdy and Ana), The Prisoner (TV), The Third Man, Jaws 2, Jules and Jim,
Midnight (1982), Galaxy of Terror, Dawn of the Dead, Night of the Living Dead, Raiders of the Lost
Ark, Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things, Nighthawks, Polyester, The Texas Chainsaw
Massacre, Sullivan's Travels.
As the films above were shown on the screen, Peter and Rob would toss out trivia questions.
We had lots of winners. Barry, the swag-stealer, took the lead. Dean took a couple of trips to the
prize table. Chris, Gene, Brian K, Ana, Steve Rubin, Steve Spinosa, Kate, Todd and several
others took home prizes.
Peter and Rob had a natural rapport with each other and the group. It made for a fun time. It was
getting late and the guys wrapped things up (much to our regret). Excellent guests, excellent
presentation and an overall great time. A big thanks to Peter and Rob for such a wonderful time.
