Mental Scars

Sometime’s things that happen to you as a child can permanently mess you up and possibly leave you with mental scars. The story here is about an old junkyard called Taggart’s Automotive that is now owned by Lanucci Development, and they plan to make it into a parking lot. The previous owners Betty and Gus Taggart used to live in the old house on the property with their kids.

One day they get an eviction notice on their door and are distraught to think that they are going to lose everything. The Taggart’s one son David had some severe mental illness that made him so much different from his brother Joshua. Joshua constantly tormented his older brother in any way he could find. David was bigger than his brother and should of just beat his ass but maybe he didn’t quite have the mentality to hurt family. 

Dedra Lanucci is the cut throat head bitch at Lanucci Development and will bite your head off in a second! Kennedy Smith is the accountant for the company that accidentally finds out the junkyards torrid past thru a  gossiping neighbor walking her dog, and believe me the terror goes way back beyond the Taggart’s! You will watch this film and see David Taggart creeping thru the junkyard with his knife poised.

He will prey on anyone who steps foot in the junkyard and you can tell it’s him because of that signature way he nervously plays with his bloody hair. If you head over to the films website you can check out photos from the film as well as merchandise. They have a really cool David doll that will be out soon, wonder if they will hook me up with a discount? Check out the trailer below.

trailer-   http://www.mentalscars.com/trailer.html

 

3 outta 5 slashes

Tiffany Apan Interview by The Angry Princess

I know you like to read. What is a good book you could recommend? One you couldn’t put down because it was that good?

Well, first thank you very much for this interview:) I’m doing this interview right after doing my first live chat on karmacaffe.com which was alot of fun. Yes I do like to read and you are the first to ask me this question in an interview:D I would call myself somewhat of a bookworm and my library card gets alot of use. lol. But as far as books go, it is difficult to choose just one. My favorite genres of books include mysteries, horror/sci-fi/fantasy, poetry, and anything non-fiction. A few of my favorite reads have been Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera, J.R. Tolkein’s The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogy, Scott Westerfield’s The Midnighter’s trilogy Stephen King’s The Stand, poetry books, and Robin Maxwell’s The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn. Currently, I am reading Midnight Pass by Stuart M. Kaminsky. It has been an excellent read and I would recommend it:) Another book that I found to be a good read was Karine Steffens’ Confessions of a Video Vixen. The book is written by a former hip hop video star and it is the book that caused a stir due to the fact that Steffens didn’t keep her encounters anonymous. I don’t know if I agree with her naming names in the book, but her story is very informative on how the entertainment industry can use and abuse those who do not make their decisions wisely and rush into things without thinking things through. Sometimes with my schedule, it’s hard to sit down and read and zone out. But it is important in this industry and this crazy world that you take time for yourself and find a balance which is sometimes difficult especially when you are like me and a workaholic (and like the Energizer Bunny). But I make sure I give myself personal time to work out, do yoga, do fun silly things, spend time with loved ones and friends, and read a good book with a blanket and a cup of tea:)

You recently released your debut album Poet, can you tell us a little about that?

I wanted to find/create a sound or sounds that expressed what I was feeling at the point in my life in which many of the songs were written and that the music on the album incorporated musical styles that have influenced me, from pop to new age to classical to electronica/ambient to goth to metal to opera to world/celtic. Jason English and I worked together on this and he did an excellent job with helping me achieve the vision I had sound-wise on the album. I wrote the vast majority of the lyrics on the album, Jason and I worked together on the melodies and he came up with the beautiful music compositions. We co produced it with Mark Kapsha, Rowen Poole, and Michael Jantho. Jason and I also worked together on vocal arrangements and such. My style isn’t easily defined as it has been compared to many different artists from different genres from Sarah Brightman to Lana Lane to Nightwish to Sarah McLachlan to Enya to Dead Can Dance to Within Temptation to Blackmore’s Night to Loreena McKennit to Evanescence. I think it has roots in rock but is layered with classical symphony, semi operatic vocals, gothic and ambient sounds, new age influences, and a little pop. Jason and I are on the same page musically in many ways which makes working together a great experience. The songs on ‘Poet’ are mostly autobiographical, and every song is close to me in one shape or form. My favorite songs on the album are “Ghost (Persephone’s Netherrealm remix),” “Warrior (Soldier for Myself),” “Free,” “Ashes to Dust,” “Whispers” and “Scarborough Fair.” I called the album Poet because many of the songs were taken straight from my journals and poems I had written throughout the years; some of them stretching as far back as junior high. Being a songwrited and recording artist takes finding the confidence to show who you really are; history, emotional scars and all. Performing my first concerts for my 2007 Warm Up tour was actually nerve-racking at first. Singing your own material is different from singing an Andrew Lloyd Webber piece or a Gershwin or Puccini or Mozart piece. You are opening yourself up to the world and putting your personal life, struggles, and history out there for strangers to judge. The idea of being that exposed can be pretty scary and sometimes I still find it difficult to perform certain songs in front of audiences. In the end though, reading emails from people telling me that my music inspires them, means alot to them, and that they relate to the things I am singing about makes it all worth it; I know I’m doing something right with it when a fan tells me how she hopes to meet me one day so she can tell me how much my music means to her. Having been through some rough, emotional times is nothing to be ashamed of.

How does it feel to read and hear critics say that you have the voice of an angel?

Well, it beats having them say that my voice sounds like nails screeching across a chalkboard. lol. But seriously, I do take it as a wonderful compliment.

Who are your inspirations musically? Any favorite singers or bands?

Definitely Sarah Brightman! I’ve loved her since hearing the stage show cast recordng of Phantom of the Opera when I was in grade school. Her versatility in her look and sound have always been an inspiration to me when it comes to my own music. I have a pretty eclectic musical taste which reflects itself in each of my songs. From Nightwish to Led Zepplin to David Bowie to Beethoven to The Black Eyed Peas to Lana Lane to Celtic Woman to The Three Tenors to Andrea Bocelli to The Rat Pack (Sinatra, Martin, Davis Jr, etc) I find inspiration in many different genres of music. Writing wise, I am very much inspired by the writings of Rod Serling. Love me some Rod!

Is there any musical artist out there that you would love to work with?

I am actually collaborating with some really talented artists and bands right now: Celtic Rock band ‘Bonfire Night,’ Trance/House/Electro producer and professional dj Der Mystik, Hip Hop artist and Tomahawk Records ceo Javon Bates, and I will be dueting with my music collaborator and guitarist Jason English on his solo album for the hard rock song “Living is Dying.” I am also in pre production for my second album which will feature duets with Heidi Engel (lead singer of the internationally acclaimed progrock band, ‘Persephone’s Dream) and singer/songwriter/music instructor Penny Phillips. In addition to collaborating on a song, Javon Bates and I are in talks of collaborating on concerts that will feature ‘the best of both worlds’: Hip Hop and Symphonic Rock together on one stage! Of course Jason will be there with his insane guitar riffs. I am looking to do a classical pop duet with a classical/operatically trained male singer in the near future. Of course, I would love to work with figureheads in the Opera and classical world as well as the rock genre. It would also be amazing to sing with Sarah Brightman or Andrea Bocelli one day.

What is your favorite horror movie?

That’s a tough one! Watching horror movies is a favorite past time for me:) I LOVE the Halloween series, but nothing beats the first one. I even took a liking to the third Halloween as a good sci-fi horror movie. I also love Vincent Price’s ‘House on Haunted Hill’ and anything Rod Serling did. That man was a genious.

I can’t wait till august so I can hit up the next Monster Mania Convention. You will there promoting and signing your new album. Are there any guests that you look forward to meeting?

Of course I look forward to seeing the Troma gang. Robert Englund, definitley! Another person I always enjoy meeting and talking to at events is Tom Atkins. Tony Moran is really cool too.

Who do you think you were in a past life?

Hmmm..don’t really believe in past lives, but I’ll go with Nefertiti for the hell of it.

What other Horror Movies have you taken part of?

I have a cameo as an overly hyper and somewhat annoying news reporter in the very funny, gross,and insane film, “Heavy Mental” with Silver Bullet Pictures. It is due out this year. I am also featured and interviewed in a documentary about the ever popular Deadpit Radio that will also feature Jason English, Dee Snider, Lloyd Kaufman, Debbie Rochon, Tiffany Shepis, PJ Soles, Tony Moran, and many more. Another film I am to be involved with is “The Presque Isle” with Eerie Frequency Entertainment. Fans of “The Twilight Zone” and “The X-files” will like this one.

Are you going to stick with music? Or do you think you’ll act again?

Well, music has always been what I wanted be the primary part my career and it will be that way. But I am up for an occasional film project and I am aching to return to theatre where I started out)

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