Fogfest,  a locally curated night of local short films that brings together some of Newfoundland and Labrador’s finest auteurs of horror for an evening straight from your nightmares, hits Cineplex St. John’s on October 28th.

Fast rising horror-troupe Grind Mind will finally release their long-awaited Mummering Legends, alongside local mainstay of all things spooky Mike Hickey’s That Halloween. 

Not content to end with that one-two punch of fright, Fogfest also features contributions in the form of New Woman by Ark Film and La Véillée by Kerrin Rafuse.

“Our first few years of doing s**t was just grinding ourselves to the bone, putting it on the internet and hoping people give it a thumbs up. And luckily they did, and they kept doing that, and I made the joke a million times. It  was that instant gratification that kept us going to the next one,” shared Grind Mind’s Shane Mills in a sit-down with The Herald.

“And then you have something like Mummering Legends, which took like two f’n years to make and that instant gratification, boy did that ever just die. It was not instant. So it was a big switch up for us to be like we’ve got to hold on this, make it and work on it for two years. But in the Grind Mind fashion, we try and keep everything transparent and we’ve kept everybody sort of up to date with where we were.”

Adds Hickey, a mainstay of the local film and television scene and avid horror fan and member of its international community of artists: “People here always recognize Newfoundland as kind of really hit outside our weight class in terms of comedy and presence on like the CDC and all that kind of stuff. Horror comedy are so similar. And it’s just kind of funny that it’s taken this long for it to really get that spotlight that it seems to be getting the last couple of years. And I completely credit that to Shane and the guys.”

The early screening of Fogfest is sold out, with a late night second showcase seeing tickets going on sale tomorrow at 10am! For more on Grind Mind visit shopgrindmind.com and their various social medias, and visit thathalloween.ca for more on Hickey’s That Halloween!

Corey Lynch admits that Megahit Video was created almost by accident. As all good yarns should, Lynch begins his with these endearing words; “Well, that’s a funny story….”

The VHS-store-within-a-basement concept happened as Lynch and his wife were renovating a wet-bar in their home. 

“I had begun building this movie-themed bar and as I was showing people, all of a sudden everybody started eating up all this nostalgia. Many people want Montreal Canadiens or Bruins, things like that. I don’t like sports, but I do love movies. So I knew I wanted to have something that looked like an old video store. So we went from there,” he began. 

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Gum ball machine (free ‘rental’ with a black one, of course) popcorn popper and cardboard cutouts of mega stars – it’s all there – and Lynch, in his Megahit manager/employee shirt is there to greet enthusiastic “customers.” So, is it real?

“The fact is, while it began not real, it very much is real now. And we’re going to make every effort to turn it into something that people can enjoy online and hopefully come in person at times, although it is in my house,” he added with a chuckle.

A Personal Collection

Real store or not, what’s authentic are many of the movies, most taken from his own collection. 

“Almost everything in the store is absolutely real. I’ve made a few things to round it out, such as we have new releases there so obviously those are not real. But other than that, everything in the store is absolutely vintage and absolutely real. It comes from my own personal collection, curated over decades,” he shared proudly.

Looking to get some attention to his passion project, Lynch created his own version of a Herald cover, featuring himself, naturally! He laughed, sharing how his own father, after seeing it online, headed over to congratulate him.

“I did that absolutely with my meager Photoshop skills, but I really want to get the word out because of course, you need people participating for this to be fun. I can think of no more iconic symbol of making it in Newfoundland than getting on the cover of The Herald. So I thought if I made a fake one and put it out there – I mean, I thought it was very, very obviously fake, but my dad didn’t know. He showed up at the house and he looked at me and said, ‘Oh, you’re famous now! Got to get a copy of that Herald!’”

Telling his father the truth, Lynch added, was “heartbreaking.”

“The Newfoundland Herald is iconic. We’ve been reading it for years and I just thought it was a cute way to, again, make this as real as it can be, because ultimately I realize this is not a real VHS store, but it’s as real as anything anybody else has these days and we want to treat it as such. So we just wanted to get the word out and generate interest. And that Herald cover certainly worked because I got lots of attention.” 

We ask if he’s surprised by the attention. Yes and no, he answered honestly.

“There’s a real sense of people trying to connect to their past and connect to almost better times. And everyone’s looking for that. It’s been a rough couple of years, so the more everybody started talking about how much the video store meant to them and the experience and the memories, it just started to grow. Of course, it goes beyond that. And I realized I was actually on to something and perhaps this could really, really create good feelings online and have people share this Friday night event and shake off some of the negative practices and replace them with a little nostalgia.” 

Lynch’s wife is from Korea, and he shared that’s she’s been trying to understand the entire buzz he’s created. Just prior to our chat, she asked Lynch what it was about his posting of the mock Herald cover that generated so much interest in Megahit.

‘Supports Local’

“I answered, ‘I don’t know how to tell you other than I always thought of it as the TV guide, but now it’s kind of like a social magazine about Newfoundland. It’s about the people who live here. It supports local.’ And she understood, and that’s the way I feel about The Herald. It’s been here for 75 years and I can’t think of anything that’s been as regularly produced as long that does so much for the community and I find that inspiring. Part of me thinks that’s what I want to be with Megahit – something where we can talk and share and have fun right in our homes. I have guests lined up to come out and talk about their past and their favourite movies and I want to be as much a part of the community as The Newfoundland Herald.” 

We ask Lynch what his favourite movie is. “Oh, gosh. I will tell you the difference between best and favourite. I always like to say that my favourite movie of all time is Big Trouble in Little China. It’s a movie that I saw when I was younger and has been with me and I will watch it any time it is on.

“In terms of the best movie, that would be a hard one. I might say the best movie I’ve ever seen is John Carpenter’s original Halloween. I could talk about Halloween for an hour. I’m sure I watched it every day for a year when I was younger.” 

Well, that’s terrifying, we tease. He laughed. “I’m having so much fun. After the last couple of years, building that sense of community now with Megahit, I can’t believe how excited it’s made me. Of course, I have a full time job so I’m as busy as anyone else, but this has created a lot of excitement and made me really want to help it grow and ultimately help create that community behind it that will then help Megahit run itself.”

Lynch said the buzz he’s created is “contagious.” 

“That’s the thing that I’m most excited about now. At the beginning I thought, ‘well, it’s just me’ but now I notice people are starting to tag their friends or looking at Batman vs. Superman and then adding their comment to something else that someone has posted about a movie they love or don’t love. And that’s really what I want to build. I just want to be in the spirit of community and fun going forward. So the excitement is real. And when anybody asks, this is very, very real.” 

 What’s next for Megahit? 

“What we want to do is have fun. Of course, this is our house and my wife reminds me we are not going to run an actual store from the house, but I think there’s every opportunity to invite local people over once in a while to have a look, because I will tell you, we were shooting a fake commercial yesterday – like a vintage video store commercial, essentially. The excitement around that from everybody in the room was palpable.”

Back in the day, everyone of a certain age recalls heading to their neighbourhood video store to grab their VHS movie for the night or the weekend. “People get a little upset that they actually didn’t have VHS players, although I do have extra if anyone needs one.”

‘The Place to Be’

This whole experience has been extra special for Lynch for a few reasons, not least of all because he used to work at Blockbuster Video back in the day.

“This is an authentic experience because I worked at Blockbuster Video. When you worked at Blockbuster Video on Friday nights, it was the place to be. There was a buzz. There was an excitement. If you wanted a certain movie and it wasn’t there, we’d check the return box for you. Sometimes we found it and even taking home a bad movie, you still watched it because that’s the movie you had. But ultimately the experience of going to the shop and picking up your snacks and then going home together with your friends, your family. That’s what I’m going for.”

Creating Megahit for others to enjoy has brought back all those warm and fuzzy feelings. “I hadn’t expected it to feel like that. It’s been a little emotional because it really does feel like the video store used to feel. And that got me really excited.”

For more, follow Corey Lynch on social media. (facebook.com/megahitvideo)

Following a successful 2020 installment that saw the celebrated, three-decade-plus festival go virtual, the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival (SJIWFF) – Canada’s longest-running women’s film festival since its inception in 1989 – is back for its 32nd year, with their most diverse and fan friendly lineup ever.

Streaming online from October 13-17, and with a record-setting 950 film submissions, the SJIWFF has built a can’t miss program of feature films and shorts made by women from Newfoundland and Labrador, and both nationally and internationally. 

“We had to be quite reactionary, as everyone had to be. Things are changing so quickly,” shared Executive Director Jenn Brown on the festival’s efforts in 2020 and again in 2021 to stay mailable during the pandemic.

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“One thing I can say about the SJIWFF is that we know ourselves. We’ve been around for over three decades and we know our community. And we always look to our local community and our audience, our filmmakers. What do they need and how can we serve that? And with that in mind, we took a really different approach than other international film festivals across the country last year. We decided, well, what’s the point of having a festival if people can’t attend? So we tried to remove as many barriers to access as possible. We cut our ticket fees almost half and increased access. We almost doubled the amount of films that we were screening. We doubled the amount of foreign panels that we were looking at. We tried to figure out how to put as much money in local artists pockets as possible. 

‘Celebrate Our Province’

“Even though we were home, how to celebrate our city, how to celebrate our province, from local businesses to just the landscape, how can we really just promote and celebrate and show off how amazing our arts community is here in our province,” Brown adds. 

“We’ve always been trying to think of ways of how do we share our work beyond St. John’s? Newfoundland and Labrador is so huge, we were so excited for the first time to be able to share our lineup beyond the Avalon. That was massive for us.”

Featuring  54 films to stream on demand for film enthusiasts across Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Ontario (some provincial restrictions apply), with feature films curated from some of the globe’s most acclaimed festivals, 11 local short films and the jam-packed industry forum, the slate for the 32nd instalment of the SJIWFF boasts a dynamic and diverse host of films to appeal to the die hard cinephile, or those just looking for a break from the ordinary.

 “Just sharing local talent in such a big way is truly an honour. It’s a privilege of ours. We’re so proud to do it, and the audience loved it. People are just blown away with the caliber of talent of storytellers and artists from Newfoundland and Labrador. And we were able to share that in a really big way. We ended up being really successful last year,” Brown explained. “Hey, no surprise that last year people really liked staying at home watching movies, so we leaned into that. We encouraged like, ‘stay home, stay safe, stay on your couch, keep watching movies, but watch our movies.’ So we want to curate a really special lineup that would entertain you, challenge you and also offer that sense of community. Offer that distraction. Offer that way to kind of escape and see something new, which was really successful.”

For Brown, who has occupied spaces in numerous avenues of the film industry locally, the SJIWFF represents a peak time in both her career, and in that of a body of hungry, driven local filmmakers. 

The growing profile and international reputation of the festival only serves to underscore that very same talent and work ethic that those in the know of our local film landscape have been in on for so long.”

‘Rich History’

“I was working as a crew member in the film industry when I decided to leave a big production in order to work with a feminist, not-for-profit film festival, which was a bit of a risk for me at that time, and one that was the greatest decision I ever made,” Brown shared proudly. 

“You know, I find it very easy to brag about this festival because it has over 30 years of the fingerprints of thousands of people all over it. It’s so community focused. The community in this province and its people have shaped it to be what it is today. It’s not a solo organization, you know? So it’s such an honour to look at the rich history where it came from. 

“We’re one of the longest running women’s film festivals in the world. And the fact that this isn’t a big city like Toronto or Paris or London, you can say that it’s St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. That says so much about our province and our people and the women here who created it. To be able to have a small part in supporting that culture and that history is an honour.”

‘A Great Medium’

Brown closes by toasting Newfoundland’s interdisciplinary arts, which has allowed the medium of film to flourish for decades. Capturing and sharing magic for a lifetime of viewers is the juice that keeps the SJIWFF thriving for 30 years and counting. “I think everyone can remember the first time they went and saw a movie on the big screen or their favourite movie and what it does to them,” she shared. 

“Being a part of an organization where we see that happen to thousands and thousands of people every year because of the work that we’re sharing, especially local work, is profound. It’s a magical thing that really shows how important art is, how much it connects us, and being able to see people connect and talk about the work after, to be inspired or work on their own or have really important conversations to attack the bigger subjects? It’s the whole reason why we’re here. And I think being around, this is our 32nd year, the power of that can’t be understated.”

For the full slate of films, ticket info., including festival and accessibility passes and much more visit womensfilmfestival.com

Feature by: Cameron Kilfoy

Behind the scenes of your favourite films are innovative minds who work to create an experience for you. Whether it be turning someone into an unrecognizable being, a monster, an older version of themselves, or just plain making them look good, it’s make-up artistry that brings these characters to life. 

One St. John’s native has had a front-row seat in the behind-the-scenes beauty industry. Although it took some time, Krista Hann carved her path and has been running down the dream since. 

“I always wanted to become a part of the entertainment industry,” said Hann. “I never thought it would be for make-up, but I had been doing make-up on people my whole life.” 

From a young age, Hann loved doing people’s make-up. She started on her father Shawn and eventually moved to do  make-up for friend’s graduations and dance recitals.

Full Face of Glam

“Being 11 or 12 you don’t think ‘oh this is what I am going to do’,” says Hann. “There was something about having that full face of glam on. As a girl it was just my way of expressing myself.”

Her journey into adulthood began like any other dreamer – in university. Hann attended Marine Institute after graduating high school and studied three years of Naval Architecture.  

During school Hann decided to get a part-time job to help make ends meet, applying at Sephora in the Avalon Mall. From her first shift she knew make-up is where her heart lies. 

“It was always a passion, I gravitated to the lifestyle behind make-up and not just the products. Doing make-up was truly what I wanted,” said Hann, adding that her time working at Sephora gave her that extra push to chase her dream. 

After some time with the company, they sent Hann to Halifax to become a certified make-up artist for their store. 

“After I became certified and went back to Sephora, I got to do my first full-face makeover on a customer,” said Hann. “Seeing how good that person felt after the transformation, seeing that I could bring someone that kind of comfort with themselves, it was that moment that changed everything for me.” 

Hann had finally realized her potential and took full advantage of her opportunities. She continued her work at Sephora, working with the Beauty Bar and also working under the wing of NTV’s Big Brother star Sam Picco, who helped her get involved in weddings. It was a starting point. Her heart desired bigger. 

“I knew I wanted to do films,” said Hann. “At the time the industry here wasn’t what it was. There wasn’t much of an industry. There weren’t any major productions happening.” 

Packing Up a Life

Going over her options, Hann’s co-worker shared that if film was what she desired then Vancouver was where she needed to be. “I left Marine Institute at the beginning of the 2018 winter semester in January and that September I was on the first plane to Vancouver,” said Hann. “I packed up my whole life.”  

Upon arriving in Vancouver at age 21, Hann was accepted into John Casablancas Institute to study make-up artistry. She graduated at the top of her class with honours. “I formed really strong connections with my mentors and teachers. They looked out for me. They helped me pave my way,” said Hann. “I was building my portfolio and resume before I even graduated and that helped me get my foot in certain doors.” 

After graduating Hann was fortunate enough to get herself a job as a make-up artist for indie feature film Ishq My Religion. The film was shot for 16 days in Canada, with the rest filmed in New Delhi, India. Hann’s time in India only helped her perfect her craft. “I didn’t have any family or anyone close around me,” said Hann. “So, I told myself I have to succeed in this, I have to go for the stars on this. I decided that I was going to make this moment count.” 

Hann shared that, because of her positive attitude on set, that word got around about her. “Once I left India, I started doing work for all kinds of Hallmark films,” said Hann. “I shined in India. People liked my work. They encouraged it and when I returned to Vancouver I got a phone call.” 

The call Hann received was to be a part of the make-up team for Merry Liddle Christmas with Kelly Rowland.  Not only was she a part of the team, she was assistant to the head make-up artist.  Onset is where she met Kweli Cardon and Chris G, two well-known make-up artists to the stars.

“Kweli was Chris Brown’s assistant for nine years and she worked with the Spice Girls,” said Hann. “Chris G has his hairline. He did Beyonce’s Ivy Park catalogue and her Lemonade album. Two amazing people who got me where I am today.”

‘I Have to Succeed’

Cardon and G they helped Hann land head of the make-up department for the Wendy Williams Movie. From there she went to work on the film Mahalia Jackson starring Olivia Washington. The film received critical acclaim and received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Television Movie. making Hann an Emmy nominated make-up artist. 

“When I found out, it was a proud moment in my career,” said Hann. “Although we didn’t win, coming home with that nomination made me proud.”

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Hann continues to work in TV and film but has high hopes to one day be a personal artist for a celebrity. 

“Being someone’s personal is a goal of mine,” said Hann. “It would be nice to travel the world and get into a routine of having just one person to look after but right now I am where I need to be.”

Hann knows her heart lies in the TV/Film industry and she doesn’t want to stray too far away. It might have taken some time but Hann has finally found where she belongs in the world. “As many goals as I have, this is my current goal. I am currently living my dream.”

To subscribe to The Newfoundland Herald and support the production of local content, click here

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Viva Las Vegas!! Rising from the desert sands, a signature tune for Elvis, (penned by Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman), swings and roars back to life as the soundtrack to the wild opening title sequence of Army Of The Dead – Hollywood auteur Zack Snyder’s newest creation, a zombie heist+ spectacle set in Vegas.

Allison Crowe, recently elegiacally closing Zack Snyder’s Justice League, joins movie music maven Richard Cheese for a duet to raise the undead along with the living. (The fabulous Cheese – actor/musician Mark Jonathan Davis of Lounge Against the Machine –  earlier serenades audiences in “Dawn of the Dead”, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” 2016, and more).

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Milan Records, (an imprint of Sony), releases the original motion picture soundtrack on May 21 – and the album opens with Allison & Richard’s singular dual rendering of #VivaLasVegas! Along with vocal/piano+ celluloid heroes, the OST includes the film’s electronic music score from super-composer Tom Holkenborg aka Junkie XL (also fresh off the #SnyderCut).

The movie Army Of The Dead opens this Friday, May 14 – showing in 600 cinemas across America, before it globally opens on Netflix – May 21st.

NB #ArmyOfTheDead” is very much a “hard R” movie experience – as befits the zombie/horror genre. Anything from The Stone Quarry team of creators will provide intellectual and spiritual content as well as visceral thrills. The zombie genre, of course, offers a particular kind of catharsis and, so, it’s for an appropriately age-restricted audience. Director Zack Snyder notes: “Viewer discretion is definitely advised.”

(Press release courtesy of Allison Crowe Music/Netflix)