Rue Morgue Magazine special "Vampira" Issue Features Her Last Ever Interview
Despite what you may have seen in recent political debates, real journalism is alive and well. We'd like to draw your attention to one shining example, Rue Morgue Magazine's Issue #77, which is truly a must-have for any Vampira fan. It features the last-ever interview with Vampira, conducted just prior to her passing earlier this year; an interview with Vampira: The Movie director Kevin Sean Michaels; Bill Moseley's Travelogue of Terror (describing a trip to Maila Nurmi's final resting place); and many other articles and never-before-seen photos. Gathering information from a wide variety of sources, Rue Morgue has crafted a beautiful and informative tribute to their worthy subject.
You can read brief excerpts from several sections on our Press page, but this is only a miniscule portion to whet your appetite for the full issue. The issue can be found at Borders, Barnes & Noble, and morgues with gift shops, or can be ordered directly from The Official Rue Morgue Shoppe of Horrors.
(We apologize for the delay in adding this to our front page. Our webminion was in hiding because (she claims) she was being hounded by paparazzi. She may have meant actual mosquitoes though. Or vultures -- they do tend to follow her around. Looking hungry.)
Speaking of real journalism, the internet is also alive and well (unlike our webminion). Who Calls The Shots recently posted a lengthy interview with Kevin Sean Michaels. What great questions -- the interviewer clearly did his homework!
Can it be? Are we entering a new era of journalistic integrity? Are vultures circling around mainstream media outlets, while the independent press hatches anew like a zombie chicken (some content in link NSFW)? Will there ever be a YouTube video called "Leave Vampira: The Movie's webminion alone"? Only time will tell -- but as soon as the answer is clear, we'll be sure to post it a month later.
Vampira: The Movie wins Rondo Award for Best Independent Film
We are thrilled and honored to report that Vampira: The Movie has won this year's Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for Best Independent Production. This year's Awards had a record number of voters, and we thank every one of them! This year was also special because the Awards were dedicated to the late Maila "Vampira" Nurmi. Director Kevin Sean Michaels had this to say upon hearing of his win:
"It's great that the Rondo awards were dedicated to Maila Nurmi this year, and it's on her behalf I accept this award. It's an amazing honor. There would be no Vampira: The Movie without Maila's collaboration and insight. She loved her fans and wanted to communicate with them by means of the movie because she didn't travel in the last few years. When I go to conventions and screenings, the fans are the most important people to me in the world. Without the fans, you are nothing. After Maila's passing, we feel at VAMP Productions that it's our responsibility to keep Vampira's flame alive. The Rondo Award stands as tribute to the fact that Vampira will never die."
We'd also like to congratulate all the other winners, especially:
- Our friends Penny Dreadful (winner: Favorite Horror Host and Honorable Mention: Best Independent Film) and Svengoolie (Runner-up: Favorite Horror Host).
- The cast and crew of Rob Zombie's Halloween (winner: Best Film of 2007).
- Especially Sid Haig, whose projects had wins or honorable mentions in five (!) categories: Best Film of 2007 (winner: Rob Zombie's Halloween), Best Independent Film (winner: Vampira: The Movie), Best DVD Commentary (Runner-up: Spider Baby), Best Classic DVD (Honorable Mention: Spider Baby), and Best Restoration (Honorable Mention: Spider Baby).
- Rue Morgue, winner of Best Magazine (a title which will only be strengthened by their upcoming issue, featuring the last-ever interview with Maila Nurmi!) and Honorable Mentions for Best Article and Best Cover.
- Screem Magazine, Videoscope Magazine (both Honorable Mention: Best Cover), and Scary Monsters Magazine (winner: Best Cover, Honorable Mention: Best Magazine), all previously seen on our 2007 and 2008 press pages.
Be sure to see the official press release with information about all the categories on the official Rondo Awards website.
As we were talking about our win, our webminion was lurking in a dark corner, overheard us and got so excited that she started coding right away (which seems an unusual way to express excitement, but that's why she's a webminion). She created a table which shows all the winner and vote data, and can be sorted by name or number of votes. (She certainly does like tables, at least judging by how often we see her banging her head on them.) There are also links to official sites and/or where-to-buy for all the winners. So if you're wondering which nominee got the most votes overall, or how many times Spider Baby really won, or want more information about any of these award-winners, check out our Rondo Awards in a sortable table page.
Thanks again to all the voters, and everyone at the Rondo Awards!
