Today we’d like to introduce you to Glen Coburn.
Hi Glen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
As a sixty-three-year-old Dallas native, I’ve seen my city go through so many changes. Growing variety and diversity have created an inviting atmosphere with big-city appeal. I’ve lived in East Dallas, a mile from White Rock Lake, for thirty years. For me, the lake is a magnet. I couldn’t live anywhere else in Dallas. My Casa Linda neighborhood has been going through dramatic changes. Along Garland Rd, all the unappealing, outdated, poorly used spaces are being demolished to build new apartments, shops, and restaurants. It’s exciting to see my part of town moving in a positive direction.
Things change, and the same is true of my career, and some of those changes were unexpected. First, I studied journalism with the intention of working in print or broadcasting, although I had already been bitten by the filmmaking bug. I was a movie fanatic from the time I was a youngster. When I was in high school, I made some inventive Super 8 films. However, I thought making those little movies was just a fun hobby for a kid and not a part of the real world.
My junior year in college, I decided to sign up for Film and Video production as a second major. I quickly fell in with a group of cool, creative young people in the department. Armed with ideas and determination, I wrote and produced television series for the local cable channel. That experience reignited my interest in filmmaking. After graduation, one of my friends scraped together the money for production. I wrote and directed. Chad Smith, who is still a close friend of mine, was the cinematographer. In 1984, at age twenty-three, I made my first movie.
Over time, it became a cult film. Forty years later, I’m still mainly identified as the writer-director of “Bloodsuckers From Outer Space.” For a while, it was my albatross. Then, about twenty years ago, I decided to embrace it. The film premiered at Joe Bob Briggs Third Annual World Drive-In Movie Festival in 1984. That night a mutual friend of ours introduced my wife, Kay Bay and I under the marquee of the Inwood Theater, which was the festival venue. My horror, science-fiction, satire received a wide release by Warner Home Video and found a home in about a dozen foreign markets. It remains popular in France, Italy, and Japan. The movie is receiving a re-release on Blu-Ray this spring by Visual Vengeance, a distribution company that specializes in SOV (shot on video) movies and classic retro cult films. In October, Kay and I attended a screening of the film at the Nitehawk Cinema in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The movie looked and sounded better than ever.
A week later, we were at the Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival, where we picked up the “Directors Rising Star” award for our new movie, “Brain Tumor.” Going back to what I do best, it’s another horror, science-fiction comedy. We made the movie by the seat of our pants. Kay was not only the producer and production designer, she did every job it takes to make a movie except for the technical stuff. I was the writer/director, director of photography, sound recordist, and editor. The Brain Tumor monster was created by my old friend and fellow filmmaker, Bret McCormick. His 1986 cult hit “The Abomination” was also released by Visual Vengeance. “Brain Tumor” will be available from Whacked Movies on DVD and streaming April 9th.
In 1995, we completed our Dallas-made neo-noir tragicomedy, “Hollywood Deadbeat.” It was shot on black and white film and the lighting was inspired by Orson Welles’ Touch of Evil.” My wife, Kay Bay and I produced the film. I wrote and directed. She was the production designer. This moody film was shown at a number of festivals, including the Berlin International Film Festival. A new hi-def version of “Hollywood Deadbeat” will be released later this year.
In 1989, we moved to Los Angeles to work in the movie business. I was determined I would stake my claim as a successful, working filmmaker and that would be my career for life. Kay and I kept busy with art-department work on films from low-budget independents to big budget blockbusters.
During my years in the business, I got to know a lot of people who were as serious as me about making it as filmmakers. Some had been working for years and never gotten any traction. As a matter of fact, it seemed like almost everyone in Los Angeles was aspiring to get their break in the business. To make matters worse, the cost of living was outrageous. We decided to move back to Dallas.
Upon our return, I jump-started a career as a commercial photographer. I’ve been a photo junkie since I was ten years old when my grandfather gave me a Poloroid Swinger. Several cameras later, I was getting paid for my work. From age eighteen, I was practically living in the darkroom. I focused mainly on photojournalism. In addition to my movie-biz work in L.A. I assisted a couple of high-profile photographers.
I knew I would always have an affinity for movie-making but I realized a career in photography would be fulfilling and a good way to make a living. For ten years, I shot catalog and editorial work for such clients as Neiman Marcus and Pier 1 Imports. My plan was to continue as a product shooter, but then came another surprise. A hotel company saw my editorial work and sought me out to shoot their hotels. I didn’t have any experience at architectural photography, but I took the job. That shifted the focus of my work. Shooting hotels all over the country, from Seattle to San Francisco to New York, has been a great experience.
Over the last twenty years, along with my regular work, I’ve managed to fit in some other interesting and lucrative endeavors. I spent quite a bit of time writing automotive journalism. I’ve created content for Warner Brothers integrated marketing projects and I was the editor of the CWTV website.
My short story, The Burned Boys, was published in Volume 1 of Roadkill: Texas Horror by Texas Writers. In 2011, I wrote “Whacked: Skewed Views of Horror Movies That Simply Refuse to Die.” Two years later, I launched my home video label, Whacked Movies, which has released six films, including Bret McCormick’s “Repligator.” Whacked Movies is currently looking for low-budget films of all genres. Contact us at whackedhouse@gmail.com
Having grown up in a haunted house, I have a keen interest in the paranormal. My website, “Paranormal Update” features stories of my personal experiences as well as true encounters from others. I’m accepting submissions for all stories related to this subject matter. Contact me at info@paranormalupdate.com
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think anybody’s road is smooth. If they say it is, they’re either fibbing or delusional. The number one obstacle for me and all freelancers is having to contend with the feast or famine challenge. I really like taking the initiative and responsibility to make my own way in life, but at times, I’ve been a total wreck because of the uncertainty. There’s comfort in the guarantee of a regular paycheck. But there’s also the existential angst of letting someone else control every day of my life.
Also, for me, my career/work pursuits have always been colored by my personal experiences at the time. Whether it’s health challenges for loved ones or myself, family dynamics, the perils of raising a child, financial issues, lack of sleep, my house falling apart, and all the other stuff I’ve encountered along the way.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an architectural photographer specializing in hotels. I make movies. That includes writing, directing, shooting and editing. I’m a journalist and fiction writer. Also, I have a home video distribution label, Whacked Movies. I admire people who achieve their goals by focusing on one skill and working to perfect it. That can be a path leading to great success. But for me, having several irons in the fire keeps me busy and I get to use all my talents.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I’m very fortunate to have a lovely, caring, funny wife and a beautiful, brilliant daughter. They make me happy. Traveling, walking at the lake, writing fiction, meditation, watching scary movies. My dog, Dashiell cheers me up with his very presence, except when he’s wreaking havoc.
I really enjoy sitting in an audience at a screening of one of my movies with everybody laughing and having a good time. That’s really what it’s all about for me. It’s the only thing I’d like to leave behind. The idea that my creative expression will live on and entertain people long after I move on to the next experience brings me happiness.
Contact Info:
- Website: paranormalupdate.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glen.coburn/
