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Horror movie spotlight shines on Eighty Four pair

3 min read
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For most people, movies and television are an entertaining way to pass the time.

But Eighty Four resident Mike Watt knew at an early age that movies were his passion, and now Watt has channeled that into a fulfilling career.

Watt and his wife and business partner, Amy Lynn Best, are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their independent movie studio Happy Cloud Media, which features independent horror films written, produced and directed by Watt, such as “Razor Days,” “The Resurrection Game,” “Demon Divas and the Lanes of Damnation” and “A Feast of Flesh.”

He’s also authored the book “Fervid Filmmaking: 66 Cult Pictures of Vision, Verve and No Self-Restraint,” and he’s penned articles for movie magazines, such as Fangoria, Film Threat and Cinefantastique.

Horror movie buffs can meet Watt and Best at the 2017 Horror Realm Modern Horror Convention March 3-5 at the Double Tree Hotel in Green Tree, where the couple, formerly of Waynesburg, will be featured guests signing autographs and talking all things horror-related with other movie mavens. Other featured guests at the convention include Reggie Bannister from the “Phantasm” movie series, Suzanne Snyder from “Weird Science” and John Russo from “Night of the Living Dead.”

“I’ve always loved horror movies, and I knew I wanted to pursue film as early as I can remember,” Watt said. “Even to this day, I pretty much watch anything. I love westerns and even black-and-white movies.”

Watt credits his parents and their large VHS collection for nurturing his love of movies. And in true independent movie style, Watt’s parents have even made on-screen appearances as flesh-eating zombies.

“My parents were the ones who suggested I pursue film as a career,” recalled Watt, who also teaches at Pittsburgh Filmmakers. “There were no restrictions placed on anyone in my family.”

Watt said it typically takes six days to shoot a film, but post-production aspects, such as music and editing, can take up to a year to finish.

Watt said he enjoys horror classics such as “Poltergeist,” “An American Werewolf in London” and “The Bride of Frankenstein,” but he usually avoids mainstream movies in favor of independent titles, such as “The Witch” and “The Strange Color of Your Body’s Tears.”

“Mainstream movies don’t interest me,” Watt said. “I don’t like sitting in a theater with 300 other people and their cell phones.”

Watt is quick to admit that he does enjoy meeting people at the Horror Realm convention, and this year will be Watt’s fifth year as a guest.

“There aren’t any walls between you and the people you want to meet,” Watt said. “It’s a great family-friendly event. There are people dressed in costumes and even monsters made from crochet.”

For more information, visit www.horrorrealmcon.com.

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