Updates

3 / 10 / 10 - Exclusive behind-the-scenes photos from Midnight Syndicate's Dark Legacy music video from The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates posted to Facebook! - Check out exclusive never-before-seen photos of Midnight Syndicate from their recent music video shoot on Facebook. While you are there be sure to become friends as there will be a lot more announcements in the next several weeks including where you'll be able to check out the video!

The video was shot over two days (March 6-7, 2010) on a combination of Digital and Super 8mm film at the old Phantasy Theatre in Lakewood, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. Built in 1917, the Homestead Theatre (as it was originally called) played films through the 1980's when it switched over to hosting live concerts like Psychadelic Furs, Peter Murphy and Nine Inch Nails. The building has a long history of hauntings reaching back into it's early years which made it the perfect location for the shoot. Midnight Syndicate also has a history with the Phantasy as it has hosted all of Midnight Syndicate's local CD release parties in the adjacent Phantasy and Chamber Night Clubs.

On hand with director David Greathouse were the incredibly talented artists at Precinct 13 Entertainment assisted by Screamline Studios and a talented group of haunted house actors from the region. Also making appearances in the video were fellow Cleveland music legends "Schmotz" and Jeff Hatrix of Mushroomhead. Members of the Mushroomhead stage crew were also on hand to orchestrate the grand finale of the video.

2 / 23 / 10 - Midnight Syndicate to debut music video featuring a track from The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates at TransWorld's 15th Halloween & Attractions Show on March 25-28.


Midnight Syndicate is teaming up with Precinct 13 Entertainment, Robert Kurtzman's Creature Corps, and director David Greathouse to produce a music video for Dark Legacy from their The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates CD. It is the band's first music video in their 13-year career. Syndicate's Edward Douglas, director Greathouse, and Robert Kurtzman will be on hand to premiere the video during The Dubliner Opening Night Celebration co-sponsored by Ken Donat and Westland Insurance at the TransWorld 15th Halloween & Attractions Show in St. Louis March 25th. It will also be on display all weekend at the Midnight Syndicate Soundtracks Booth #631.

In addition to heading up Special FX Makeup on The Dead Matter, David's directorial credits include Mushroomhead's 12 Hundred music video which won Video of the Year 2007 on MTV2's Headbanger's Ball and their 2010 Your Soul is Mine video which appears on the Saw VI DVD. He also recently completed a documentary entitled Legion of Terror which is based on a notorious Northeastern Ohio haunted house acting troupe.

1 / 13 / 10 - Enter the Midnight Syndicate Video Contest, be featured on upcoming The Dead Matter DVD - Interested in making your own silent film or video cut to Midnight Syndicate music? Midnight Syndicate is conducting a contest to give filmmakers a chance to be featured on the upcoming The Dead Matter DVD and win other fabulous prizes.

Entries will be judged on creativity and effectiveness. Our judging panel includes Dee Snider (Twisted Sister, Van Helsing’s Curse, Strangeland), Tom Savini (Friday the 13th, Dawn of the Dead), Robert Kurtzman (producer Dusk Till Dawn, Wishmaster), Gary Jones (Xena, Boogeyman 3), as well as Edward Douglas and Gavin Goszka of Midnight Syndicate, with a few more industry names to be added shortly.

The grand prize includes having your video featured on The Dead Matter DVD, hundreds of dollars in gift certificates from Screamline Studios (horror props, makeup FX, latex), Robert Kurtzman’s Creature Corps (horror props, costuming), and Conquest Graphics (posters, flyers, postcards), autographed merchandise from Van Helsing’s Curse, autographed props from The Dead Matter movie, and a complete collection of Midnight Syndicate CDs (including out-of-print titles). MORE GREAT FILMMAKING PRIZES TO BE ADDED!

For complete contest rules CLICK HERE!

SPONSORS








1 / 13 / 10 - The Dead Matter to be released July 30th. New website, trailers, behind-the-scenes featurettes in production. -


The Dead Matter movie will be released on July 30, 2010. Production on an interactive website that allows fans to delve deeper into the world and characters they will encounter in the movie is set for release in late March. A set of 3 trailers is also in production along with behind-the-scenes featurettes and a mini-documentary produced by Smudgeline Productions. All of these items and more special additions to be announced will be included on the July DVD release.

Don’t miss a thing! Be sure follow The Dead Matter here, on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.



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11 / 16 / 09 - Girls and Corpses editor Robert Rhine interviews Andrew Divoff for Scars Magazine. CB Spencer, and Meredith Beardmore on hand for signing at Dark Delicacies. -


On Sunday, November 15th, Andrew Divoff, CB Spencer, and Meredith Beardmore of The Dead Matter were on hand at the Girls & Corpses Winter Issue Signing at Dark Delicacies in Burbank, CA. While there, Andrew gave an interview with G&C editor Robert Rhine for Scars Magazine that you can check out here on YouTube.

10 / 30 / 09 - Andrew Divoff and Bill Moseley grace the covers of the latest Girls and Corpses Magazine. -


Sporting his look as the vampire Vellich from The Dead Matter, Andrew Divoff is featured in the winter issue of Girls and Corpses Magazine, a quality newsstand publication best described as Maxim meets Dawn of The Dead meets National Lampoons in this comedy/horror blend -- with celebrity and band interviews, comic art, hysterical photos, reviews, spoofs, and a crypt full of comedy.

10 / 7 / 09 - The Dead Matter sneak peek in Cleveland. -


On Saturday, October 3rd the cast and crew of The Dead Matter met at Tower City Cinemas in downtown Cleveland to catch a sneak peek of the movie. For a great behind-the-scenes look at the event visit Jim O'Rear's SCARS blog here and be sure to visit The Dead Matter on Facebook for more photos. Additional coverage can be found at Scene Magazine and Chagrin Valley Times. We hope to have news on a wide release date for the movie soon!!

10 / 5 / 09 - New interview on Count Gore De Vol's Creature Feature -


Count Gore De Vol interviews Edward Douglas on the upcoming sneak peek of The Dead Matter and the latest news on the project. Click here to watch the video interview.

10 / 1 / 09 - Edward Douglas and Christopher Robichaud on WNCX 98.5FM this Friday, October 2nd at 7:30am. Win tickets to The Dead Matter sneak peek this Saturday -



Catch Edward Douglas and Christopher Robichaud from The Dead Matter this Friday October 2nd at 7:30am on the WNCX Morning Show. To listen, tune in to 98.5 FM in Northeast Ohio or simply go to www.wncx.com to listen to the archived interview. In addition to discussing the history and filming of The Dead Matter, they will be giving away at least two passes to attend a private screening/sneak peek of the The Dead Matter with the entire cast and crew this Saturday, October 3rd in Cleveland!

A bit of Midnight Syndicate trivia: WNCX was the first radio station to ever play Midnight Syndicate when Music Director Bill Louis and DJ Michael Stanley spun Something Wicked, Haunted Nursery, and Dark Tower in October of 1998. Additionally - the new morning show co-host Jeff Blanchard created and operated Cabaret Dada Theatre where Midnight Syndicate hosted their first (and only) live concerts back in March of 1998.

8 / 24 / 09 - Cover story in Shallow Graves Magazine - This new cover story in Shallow Graves Magazine features an in-depth interview with Edward Douglas on the movie and Midnight Syndicate. Click here to visit Shallow Graves Magazine and order a copy. Shallow Graves Magazine is a tri-annual publication that covers the latest news, celebrities and personalities involved in the supernatural and unnatural.

8 / 19 / 09 - Hot Topic Flyaway Contest winner announced - Congratulations to Patrick from Bremerton, WA. He and a guest will be attending a private advance screening for the cast and crew of The Dead Matter on October 3rd at Tower City Theatres in Cleveland, Ohio.

8 / 14 / 09 - The Dead Matter cover story in Scars Magazine -



Scars Magazine delivers a great in-depth cover story in this month's issue of Scars Magazine featuring exclusive pics from the upcoming movie! Click here to visit Scars Magazine online and order an electronic or hard-copy version.

6 / 25 / 09 - New The Dead Matter interviews posted -


and

Check out new interviews with Edward Douglas on TheoFantastique and Geek In The City. For all of the latest features and interviews regarding The Dead Matter movie check out The Dead Matter press page.

6 / 10 / 09 - Fun with "Zombie Steve" on Facebook - Congratulations to THE DEAD MATTER lead zombie, STEVE MARTINI (Screamline Studios) for being the poster child for Facebook's "# Of Days You Will Survive In The Zombie Invasion." Click here to take the test!

6 / 1 / 09 - Signing and Haunter's Edition of The Dead Matter Trailer debuting at Midwest Haunters Convention this weekend. -Edward Douglas of Midnight Syndicate and Robert Kurtzman of Precinct 13 Entertainment (producer From Dusk Till Dawn, co-founder KNB FX, co-producer The Dead Matter) will both be appearing at the Midwest Haunters Convention, signing autographs at Booth #807 from 11:00am until 1:00pm on Saturday and debuting an exclusive Haunter's Edition of The Dead Matter movie trailer. Spotlighting some of the haunters involved in the project, the trailer will be shown at both the Midsummer Monster Bash (8:30pm) and the IAHA Masquerade Party (10:30pm), as well as on the bus tours.


Kurtzman will be at Midwest Haunters Convention unveiling his Creature Corps line of haunted attraction props, masks, and special makeup items.

5 / 13 / 09 - The Dead Matter completed! - The Dead Matter is officially complete. Post-production wrapped the last week in April with director/composer Edward Douglas and sound editor Patrick Giraudi finalizing the mix. Colorist Jim Garrow dialed in the finishing touches.

"I am absolutely thrilled with how the movie came out," says Edward Douglas. "I think it's exactly what fans would expect from a Midnight Syndicate movie. Classic horror themes...very atmospheric, very creepy... and loaded with twists and turns that really pull you into the dark world we try to create on all our discs. It's definitely a fun ride for fans who enjoy a good story and an old-school edge to their horror films."

Although no official date has been set, Midnight Syndicate announced that they will be releasing an official soundtrack to The Dead Matter in coordination with the movie's release. In August of 2008, Midnight Syndicate released the critically-acclaimed The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates CD which was a collection of music inspired by the movie. In addition to being named one of the top horror CDs on FEARnet's 2008 countdown, the disc recently won runner-up for Best CD in the horror fan-voted Rondo Awards. More information and reviews can be found on www.MidnightSyndicate.com.

3 / 2 / 09 - Director Edward Douglas and Gavin Goszka of Midnight Syndicate appear on Fangoria Radio Friday, March 6th at MIDNIGHT -
Co-host Debbie Rochon from Fangoria Radio will be talking with Ed and Gavin about The Dead Matter and music in horror. The show airs this Friday, March 6th from 10pm to 1am EST and can be heard on SIRIUS CHANNEL 102 / XM CHANNEL 155. To sign up for a free three-day Sirius XM pass, CLICK HERE! You can also sign-up for Fangoria’s free podcasts on iTunes. All clips are listed in the iTunes Store under the "Podcasts" tab. Simply search for "FANGORIA".

2 / 20 / 09 - New photos added - Some new photos from post-production have been added to the PHOTOS section.

1 / 20 / 09 - Final stages of post-production underway - The final stages of post-production are underway with scoring, sound, and visual effects in full swing.  More updates coming soon!

1 / 10 / 09 - The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates CD on FEARnet's list of Best in Music 2008 - You can read the article and check out their interview with Edward Douglas here.

11 / 7 / 08 - New interviews on Fangoria and FEARnet posted - Check out new interviews with Edward Douglas on FANGORIA and FEARnet. Midnight Syndicate is also featured in the most recent issue of Screem Magazine (#17).

10 / 23 / 08 – Rotting Flesh Radio -

 

Click on the logo above to hear a song-by-song breakdown of the new release. Many more reviews have been added to the website as well.   Visit The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates press page to hear what others are saying about our newest release.

10 / 14 / 08 - New reviews for The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates CD posted - See what people are saying about the new CD here.

9 / 13 / 08 - The Dead Matter trailer is released at T3nTh1rtyOne.com - The trailer to The Dead Matter is now available at www.T3nth1rtyone.com, a Halloween website hosted by Hot Topic stores. 

9 / 13 / 08 - Win a trip to the premiere of The Dead Matter - Visit www.T3nTh1rtyOne.com to see the new trailer and enter the The Dead Matter Flyaway Contest brought to you by Midnight Syndicate Films and Hot Topic.  You and a guest can win a flight to the premiere of the movie complete with hotel accommodations, limo service, and a meet and greet with Midnight Syndicate and the cast.  Other prizes include a complete set of all ten Midnight Syndicate CDs and limited-edition autographed movie props hand-crafted by Robert Kurtzman's Creature Crew FX-artist Sean Rodgers.  Restrictions apply.  Must be 18 or older to enter.  More details available on the www.T3nTh1rtyOne.com website as well as www.HotTopic.com.

9 / 3 / 08 - Interview with Edward Douglas at Festival of Fear - Desmond from Dread Media interviews Edward Douglas at Rue Morgue's Festival of Fear.  The interview can be heard at Dread Media.  The show is Episode No. 52 and the interview begins at 27:50 minutes in.

8 / 27 / 08 - The Dead Matter movie trailer coming September 13th - The trailer will be hosted on www.t3nth1rtyone.com, a Halloween website sponsored by Hot Topic stores.   Midnight Syndicate Films and Hot Topic will also be teaming up on a The Dead Matter movie flyaway contest.  More details coming soon!

8 / 26 / 08 - The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates CD now available -

Midnight Syndicate's The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates CD arrives just in time for the Halloween season.  Inspired by the themes of vampirism, living dead, and occult relics explored in the upcoming The Dead Matter movie, the new CD was created in the style of Midnight Syndicate's other releases, taking listeners on a musical journey of their own creation.

"The themes from The Dead Matter movie were a perfect match," says Midnight Syndicate's Gavin Goszka. "They allowed us to expand on familiar territory as well as explore new musical ground and add to our instrumental palette."

"Although this is not the soundtrack to the movie, several tracks from this disc will be appearing in The Dead Matter," says Edward Douglas.

The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates is available nationwide at Halloween stores and at other retailers that specialize in Halloween merchandise (party stores and costume shops). Visit www.MidnightSyndicate.com to utilize our store locator and find a Midnight Syndicate retailer near you and to hear samples from the CD.

8 / 8 / 08 - Interview with the Cast at Comic-Con on Rotting Flesh Radio. - Jerry Vayne from Rotting Flesh Radio interviews Sean Serino, Christopher Robichaud, Tom Nagel, and CB Spencer from the floor at Comic-Con.  The interview can be heard at http://www.rfrpodcast.com.  The show is Episode No. 140 (August 8, 2008) and the interview begins at 1 hour 51 minutes in.

7 / 30 / 08 - Preview tracks from the upcoming The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates CD Available - Two tracks (Alchemist's Chamber and The Revenants) from the upcoming The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates CD are now available to preview on Midnight Syndicate's MySpace page  Two additional tracks (Tear of Osiris and The Hunt) can be heard on a trailer for the CD that has just been added to Midnight Syndicate's official website at:  http://www.midnightsyndicate.com/dead_matter_cd_trailer.html.  

Pictures from Comic-Con as well as more production photos will be coming next week.  If you missed the first The Dead Matter movie trailer at Comic-Con, you can catch it on the road with Director Edward Douglas at GenCon, Horrorfind, Rue Morgue's Festival of Fear, and DragonCon.  The trailer will make it's way to the Internet in early September along with some other exciting surprises -- so stay tuned!

7 / 7 / 08 - The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates coming August.  Comic-Con cast appearances announced. -

 

Beyond the cemetery gates the dead do not rest easily.  An ancient Egyptian relic, vampires, and the living dead lurk amongst its shadowy crypts.  Haunting symphonies and dark soundscape call you into the world of the undead...

This August, Midnight Syndicate will unleash its first all-original, independent release since The 13th Hour.  The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates takes listeners on a journey into the dark world that inspired The Dead Matter motion picture.  The CD also includes several tracks from the movie.  Look for updates and preview tracks in the next few weeks!

Director EDWARD DOUGLAS and four of the main leads from The Dead Matter will be in the MIDNIGHT SYNDICATE SOUNDTRACKS booths (#4914 and #4916) at this year's San Diego Comic-Con.  SEAN SERINO (Gretchen), TOM NAGEL (Mike), CB SPENCER (Jill), and CHRISTOPHER ROBICHAUD  (Frank) have been confirmed and will be on-hand at the booth showing the movie's FIRST TRAILER and talking about the film.

6 / 9 / 08 - New interview with The Dead Matter director, Edward Douglas - In this new, in-depth interview posted on Revenant Magazine, director Edward Douglas talks filming The Dead Matter, what fans can expect from the film, and plans for the rest of  2008.



5 / 28 / 08 - First trailer coming in July.   Director and cast to appear at Comic-Con.  The Dead Matter : Cemetery Gates soundtrack CD coming in August.   Picture locked. -   Plans are being made to debut the first trailer to The Dead Matter at the San Diego Comic-Con July 23-27 at the MIDNIGHT SYNDICATE SOUNDTRACKS booths (#4914 and #4916).   Also appearing at the booth (soon to be confirmed) are director Edward Douglas and cast members Sean Serino, Christopher Robichaud, Tom Nagel, CB Spencer, and Brian Van Camp.
 
The Dead Matter achieved picture lock this past week.   "The test screenings went extremely well," said Edward Douglas, "there's a tremendous amount of excitement building around here as we head into this next stage."
 
In addition to the Visual FX work being done at Precinct 13, work on Midnight Syndicate's The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates CD and the score is also underway.   The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates CD is a disc of music inspired by the film as well as some music from the actual film that will be released in August of this year.  "Just in time for Halloween," said Midnight Syndicate's Gavin Goszka.   "we're really happy with how the disc is coming together.   It will definitely give people a taste of what is to come."  
 
Stay tuned for more updates!

12 / 6 / 07 - Midnight Syndicate The Dead Matter : Cemetery Gates soundtrack due out August 2008. - Although the official  release date for the movie has not been announced, The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates soundtrack will be released in late-August 2008.   A movie soundtrack created in the style of Midnight Syndicate's other releases, the CD will contain music inspired by the film mixed with music from the actual film. 

"The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates soundtrack CD is designed to stand on its own and to draw you into the supernatural world of the living dead that we create in The Dead Matter," says Douglas. "The CD will also allow people who watch the movie to journey deeper into the world as we push further into its themes and characters." With post-production moving right along, fans can expect the first The Dead Matter trailer early next year. All we can say is that the final product will be worth the wait!

9 / 10 / 07 - Production wraps on The Dead Matter. Post-production underway - Production on The Dead Matter wrapped at 5am on September 2nd. "I couldn't be happier," said director Edward Douglas. "We got everything I was hoping for and so much more. The entire cast and crew really delivered on all levels. This movie is going to resonate with a lot of horror fans - we really have something special here."

"The Dead Matter is definitely a character-driven horror film, so a lot rides on our actors. They all really came through for us. Between the performances by the veterans and our newer faces, audiences are going to be in for a real treat," said Douglas.

Douglas credits the successful production phase to Producer Gary Jones, the FX team at Precinct 13, Director of Photography Alex Esper, UPM Philip Garrett, and an "incredibly talented and experienced" crew of film veterans mixed with an enthusiastic group of hard-working production assistants. "It's an ambitious script. We were only able to complete it on time because of the tremendous talent, teamwork, and perseverance our crew exhibited."

With a projected release date in 2008, post-production has already begun. That includes work on the next Midnight Syndicate release, The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates..

The PHOTOS section on has pictures of the cast and crew in action with MORE coming soon! Be sure to stop by this site for trailers, news, soundtrack updates, interviews, and much, much more!

8 / 29 / 07 - More production photos posted - More production photos from Weeks 2 and 3 have been posted in the PHOTOS section.

8 / 15 / 07 - Behind the Scenes Trailer posted - For a look behind the scenes of The Dead Matter check out a trailer for The Making of 'The Dead Matter' feature (produced by Frank Purtiman and Smudgeline Productions) on YouTube.

8 / 10 / 07 -  Production on The Dead Matter has started - Edward Douglas and the crew at Precinct 13 Entertainment started production on The Dead Matter earlier this week.  Production photos are available on the Photos page.

8 / 4 / 07 - More Pre-Production Photos Available - More pictures are also available in the Photos page.

 

7 / 30 / 07 - The Daily Grind of The Dead Matter Blog - Midnight Syndicate voiceover artist Christopher Robichaud (Midnight Syndicate, Gates of Delirium, Dungeons & Dragons), who will be reprising the role of Frank in the upcoming The Dead Matter, has just launched his blog on the making of the film from an actor's perspective. 

The blog will offer a complete, behind-the-scenes look at what transpires on the set of The Dead Matter, incorporating pictures and video to provide a real sense of what it's like to make a horror movie from the ground up.  Christopher has promised to be as candid as possible, and if the first entry is any indication, persons who read the blog will be privy not only to the inside scoop concerning the making of The Dead Matter, but also to events a bit more sinister and macabre.

The blog can be found at
http://DailyGrindofTheDeadMatter.blogspot.com/.

7 / 28 / 07 - The Official The Dead Matter MySpace page - The brand new The Dead Matter MySpace page (www.MySpace.com/TheDeadMatterFilm) features cast photos and links, the latest news and releases, and photos.

7 / 28 / 07 - First Pre-Production Pictures released - The production crew at Precinct 13 Entertainment is gearing up for The Dead Matter.  Stop by the PHOTO section for a look into pre-production.

7 / 15 / 07 - Edward Douglas interview on Rue Morgue Radio - Check out July 13th's podcast from Rue Morgue Radio to listen to an interview with Edward Douglas featuring a discussion on The Dead Matter.

7 / 13 / 07 - Two horror host legends added to The Dead Matter lineup - Legendary horror host, Dick Dyszel better known to fans as Count Gore DeVol has been signed to the cast of The Dead Matter. Also announced was the addition of Cleveland's Big Chuck Schodowski As one of the most recognizable television personalities in Cleveland history, Big Chuck has been entertaining audiences for over forty years. "I grew up watching his show," says director, Edward Douglas, "a lot of the movies he played were a part of my early education in horror. I'm really excited to have him and the Count on board."

7 / 1 / 07 - More Cast Announced for The Dead Matter - Midnight Syndicate Films (Cleveland, OH) has announced a new round of cast signings for the upcoming supernatural horror film, The Dead Matter.

Sean Serino will be returning to the Precinct 13 studios where she shot The Rage last year. This time around, she will be taking on the lead role of Gretchen. Gretchen's boyfriend, Mike, will be portrayed by Tom Nagel (North Mission Road, Beast of Bray Road). For more information on Tom, you can visit his official website. Cleveland-born and raised, Tom joins the growing list of Ohio natives on The Dead Matter cast and crew.

CB Spencer (
Passions, Ally McBeal) will be playing Gretchen's friend and confidant, Jill. More on CB can be found at www.cbspencer.com. Fans of Midnight Syndicate will hear a familiar voice as Christopher Robichaud (The Dead Matter (1996), Midnight Syndicate) reprises his role as Frank from the original The Dead Matter movie. Christopher has been a regular voiceover artist on Midnight Syndicate albums beginning with the self-titled debut and including Gates of Delirium and the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying soundtrack.

Brian Van Camp (
New World Disorder) will be playing Mark Pym, an apprentice to vampire hunter, Ian McCallister (played by Jason Carter as previously announced).

Unit Production Manager/Assistant Director, Phil Garrett, Director of Photography, Alex Esber, and Precinct 13 Makeup and FX Artists, David Greathouse (Mushroomhead) and Alan Tuskes (
Cabin Fever, Hulk) are among the key crew that have been signed to the project. More information on cast and crew can be found at the The Dead Matter IMDB listing.
 

6 / 16 / 07 - Andrew Divoff, Tom Savini, and Jason Carter join the cast. Principal photography to begin this August -  Midnight Syndicate Films has announced its first cast signings for the upcoming supernatural horror thriller, The Dead Matter, directed by Edward Douglas (Midnight Syndicate) and produced in coordination with Robert Kurtzman (KNB FX, Dusk Till Dawn) and his company Precinct 13 Entertainment.

Andrew Divoff (Wishmaster, Air Force One), who was seen most recently as the eye-patch- wearing villain, Mikhail Bakunin, on ABC's Lost and will be seen in the upcoming film, The Rage, will be joining the set of The Dead Matter as the character, Vellich, after completing work on a new, untitled, Steven Spielberg movie that is scheduled for release in May of 2008.

Vellich's arch-nemesis, Ian McCallister, will be played by Jason Carter whose career spans everything from his renowned portrayal of Marcus Cole on Babylon 5 to characters on shows like Beverly Hills 90210, Angel, Charmed, Third Rock from the Sun, and in films like Demon Under Glass.

Horror-FX legend Tom Savini (Dusk Till Dawn, Dawn of the Dead), a fixture in the genre for over thirty years and seen most recently as Deputy Tolo in Grindhouse, will be portraying the devious vampire overlord, Sebed.

After wrapping production on his upcoming film, Ghouls, in April, producer Gary Jones (Xena, Army of Darkness) and director/producer, Edward Douglas (Midnight Syndicate), began pre-production for The Dead Matter. Principal photography will begin this August in Mansfield, Ohio.

The FX team at Precinct 13 has already begun work on what promises to be a visual treat for audiences. Photos and teasers will be available in the next month.

5 / 17 / 07 - Casting underway - Pre-production officially began mid-April after the completion of The Rage. Casting has been underway for several weeks now so fans can expect big announcements early next month!

3 / 25 / 07 - The Dead Matter update - While Midnight Syndicate is in the studio finishing the score to The Rage, the crew at Precinct 13 Entertainment has begun preparing for pre-production on The Dead Matter, which is scheduled to officially begin in mid-April.

3 / 19 / 07 - The Dead Matter t-shirts are now available - The first run of the new The Dead Matter t-shirts that debuted at Haunt X and TransWorld are now available through the Midnight Syndicate Store. The new t-shirt is the first of several designs planned for the movie and was designed by Mark Rakocy, Midnight Syndicate graphic designer and co-producer of the original The Dead Matter movie.

 

2 / 6 / 07 - Midnight Syndicate to make The Dead Matter movie, Edward Douglas to direct. Multiple CDs planned for release with film - Midnight Syndicate will be teaming up with Hollywood FX legend Robert Kurtzman (Dusk till Dawn producer, co-founder of the KNB EFX Group) and his production company, Precinct 13 Entertainment to produce the horror-suspense film, The Dead Matter. Development has been underway for several months and pre-production will officially begin March 1st. Principal photography is scheduled to begin in Northeastern Ohio this August with a projected release date sometime in 2008. Edward Douglas will be directing the film and producing it through the newly-formed Midnight Syndicate Films division of Entity Productions, Inc. The company is currently in talks with Andrew Divoff (Wishmaster, Air Force One, Lost) to star.

"This is a really exciting time for us. One of our main goals over the past ten years has been to get into a position to remake The Dead Matter with an actual budget" said Edward Douglas who produced and directed an earlier version of the film for $2000 in 1996 before forming Midnight Syndicate. "Horror movies are at the core of what Gavin and I do in Midnight Syndicate. It's what we love and that's why we believe in remaking this particular film. Co-writer Tony Demci and I have had a lot of time to take what we felt was already a good story and develop it into something very special that we know is really going to deliver for both our fans and other fans of the horror genre." The Dead Matter tells the story of a vampire relic with occult powers that falls into the hands of a grief-stricken young woman who will do anything to contact her dead brother.

The Next Midnight Syndicate CD - Entity Productions plans to release multiple discs of new Midnight Syndicate material in coordination with the film. "As far as the next Midnight Syndicate CD goes, fans are really going to like what we have planned for the soundtrack," said Gavin Goszka, who will serve as Music Supervisor for the film. "The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates soundtrack CD will be in the style of our other Midnight Syndicate releases. Our plan is to integrate music from the movie with new material and atmospherics which will allow listeners to further explore the dark and supernatural world created in the The Dead Matter film."

Midnight Syndicate is a registered trademark of Entity Productions, Inc.

Maintained by Entity Productions. Copyright 2010 Midnight Syndicate Films, LLC.