Filmed at London's Movieum in October 2009, distinguished author Clive Barker discusses Book Of Blood and Dread plus the current state of current Horror film production.
He asks where the 'fresh new voices' are in the Horror genre. Indie Authors, that's where. The Big 5 publishers have becomes so narrow-minded about taking a chance with new, unpublished authors that they are completely missing TONS of incredible writers out there. Unless you can get an agent, which is nearly as impossible to get as a mainstream publisher, to look at your work, your chances are extremely slim. Yes, "...the mainstream press is as ignorant as it ever was about what the Horror genre ... can do and be ..." He's got that 100% spot on.
Indie authors suck.. the reason they’re “indie” is because they suck.. I guartmeee that I can read any indie writer you like or your crappy writing, and show you where you stole it from..
This man is quite simply the God of Horror. Not once have I disagreed with a single word he's ever commented on about the genre. With the state its in at the minute we're in desperate need of a visionary like Mr. Barker. I just wish we had some news on the development of the "Tortured Souls: Animae Damnatae" movie, or if its still going ahead. If it does, it will quite frankly be the most f'd up thing (in a good way) since the original release of Hellraiser. Likewise I'm REALLY looking forward to "The Scarlet Gospels" book - "Pinhead" vs Harry D'Amour? My God that's gonna be incredible!
thinlizard77 I've always loved the character of Harry D'Amour, this gentlemen created a more cohesive cross universe before Stephen King really tried to exploit it. I do think that if they could do this with his films, they could have their own horror version of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
+ Nicholas - Indeed. I always loved that about Barker. Its a shame The Scarlet Gospels was a bit of a letdown because on paper, Pinhead vs. D'Amour just sounds like a match made in heaven...or hell I should say. + MrTitmesiter = I have to disagree with that. Purely on the fact that Clive hits you with very different forms of the genre, from the fantastical (The Books of the Art/Weaveworld), to the truly horrific (Hellbound Heart/Hellraiser/Tortured Souls), and in some cases (Cabal/Nightbreed) makes you feel something for the monsters. He even scales things down to average, everyday life in books like Sacrament. And even after that he'll find to push the boundaries even further by writing warped folklore and fairytales like Imagica and The Thief of Always, both of which have a small undercurrent of Horror. I think that's why I see him as a Horror God, because he consistently pushing our minds with what the genre can offer.
"Mister B. Gone" has been my first Barker adventure. I knew who he was but wasn't particularly interested. Then I saw this book in a local used book store and opened it up ... and ANY book that tells me to put it down and not read it any further ... that BEGS me to ... well, I'm an only child so of COURSE I wasn't going to behave! So now I am hooked. Snagged my first edition signed copy of "The Essential Clive Barker" (it finally arrived yesterday) for my signed book collection, and I just can't put him down in any of his books thus far. I've read five of his books, counting the volume containing all the "Books of Blood" as one book and I'm buying them up like hotcakes. Also have bought and watched "Hellraiser" (the new director's cut) Blu-Ray, which I had never seen before. Then got HR 2 ... and Hulu starts (Oct. 7 I think) its version of "Books of Blood!" So now I have to get a Hulu subscription! Anyway ... nice to meet another Clive fan!
Humanity doesn't seem willing to look into it's own dark heart and accept what it finds. It isn't surprising that the mainstream rejects material that might have the chance of challenging it's viewers, but it is shameful. It hamstrings the artist's ability to reflect honestly on their work and be innovative.
