Friend Encounters: Sigourney Weaver and Bobby Easley

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

I met Bpbby Easley at Days of the Dead several years ago. I learned a bit about him in my interview at On the Beat With Bobby Easley.

Bobby is an actor, director, producer and more. Multi-talented and versatile, I think Bobby's most complete and best work is The Devil Dogs of Kilo Company. Utilizing the familiar green "army men" plastic toys and the voices of such stars as Kane Hodder and Bill Moseley, this movie is original, unique and highly entertaining.

Not one to rest on his successes, Bobby is constantly in motion, working on new projects. I always look forward to seeing what he is doing.

It always interests me to see which celebrities other celebrities like meeting. Bobby described meeting Sigourney Weaver as "one of the greatest days of my life." That is indeed a strong statement and shows how much he wanted to see the legendary actress.

Judging by Bobby's appearances at conventions, it is obvious he is already gaining a large fan base. I think some day in the future, someone will describe meeting him in the same manner as when he met Weaver.

I can't say meeting Bobby is one of the greatest days of my life, but I always enjoy seeing him and doing an update interview. I don't know how  it started, but somehow I always end the interviews by "punching" Bobby. Last time, I accidentally knocked over his beer. Sorry, Bobby, I owe you one.

Sigourney Weaver and Bobby Easley in Houston, TX-June 2016.

On the Beat With Bobby Easley, Michelle Morris and Dustin Kay at Days of the Dead 2019

I spent last weekend at Days of the Dead horror convention in Indianapolis. I have met many creative folks over the years at DotD and am honored to call some of them my friends. Bobby Easley, Michelle Morris and Dustin Kay are three of those creative friends and they are creating something cool right now.
I first met all three several years ago and have seen their careers blossom over the years. We have done several interviews and I have seen several private screenings of their various projects. I am always highly entertained and impressed with their work.
It's always tricky watching the work of friends How would I give an honest opinion if I disliked the product? Fortunately, I have really, honestly liked everything I have seen from this group.
At Days of the Dead, I had the pleasure of catching up with the trio and interviewing them. They gave me the scoop on their latest project. Versiera is an H.P. Lovecraft adaptation of “The Dreams in the Witch House,” originally written and published in the 1930's. Michelle (also professionally known as Portia Chellelynn) plays Alice Gilman, the main character (changed from Walter Gilman in the original).
Just listening to Bobby, Michelle and Dustin discuss this project, you can feel the passion and excitement they have for it. They are hustlers in the best sense of that word and you cannot help but get caught up in the fervor. Based on the past and what I hear about this project, that anticipation will be rewarded once we see the finished film.
While the details were held to a minimum at this point, they assured me I will get more details as the project progresses. Bobby mentioned November as a possible time and that coincides with Days of the Dead in Chicago. I am holding them to an update interview there and will continue to bring info and updates as I get them.
Along with the talk of Versiera, the trio also briefly discussed other projects they have in the works. As I said, they are busy and we all benefit from the entertainment they provide.

Until then, enjoy this interview with Bobby, Michelle and Dustin. Keep an eye out for Versiera!

Friendly Encounters: Haruo Nakajima and Bobby Easley

This is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

Last week we featured film-maker Bobby Easley at On the Beat with Bobby Easley and Brian Neal.  Bobby and Brian were promoting their movie projects, The Devil Dogs of Kilo Company and Belly Timber.
I have written about Bobby and these movies several times.  I met Bobby at a Days event and I started following his work because it fascinated me.  I don't promote him because he is a friend or because I promote Days of the Dead and other such events.  I support Bobby because his movies are fantastic.  I promote Bobby because I think my readers would like what Bobby creates.
At the recent Days of the Dead, during our interview, I asked Bobby about who he wanted to meet at the event.  He mentioned Haruo Nakajima, who had a table across from Bobby.
Nakajima, best known for portraying Godzilla from the 1950's through the early 1970's, was definitely a favorite of a lot of people at the Days event.  It was cool to hear Bobby talk about his fandom and then to see him meet Nakajima.
These are the kind of cool things you see at a Days event.  Even the celebrities like meeting the other celebrities.  That puts everyone in a good mood.
I always encourage everyone to check out Days at DaysOfTheDead.net.  I also encourage everyone to check out my interview with Bobby and to check out his projects!

Haruo Nakajima and Bobby Easley in Indianapolis, IN-July 2017.

On The Beat With Bobby Easley and Brian Neal at Days of the Dead Indy 2017

We were "On the Beat" for our seventh straight year at Days of the Dead Indianapolis.  Two years ago, at a Days event, I had the pleasure of interviewing Bobby Easley, a writer, director, actor and more.  That interview can be found at On The Beat With Bobby Easley.

This year, I got another interview with Bobby and we were joined by Cinematographer Brian Neal,  The two men have worked tirelessly to make The Devil Dogs of Kilo Company and Belly Timber.

I had the pleasure of watching a screening of Devil Dogs at a previous Days and I was blown away.  The plot involves a company of Marines on a secret mission behind enemy lines.  They have to fight their way through the situation.

That sounds like a typical action movie, but Devil Dogs is anything but typical.  Featuring the voices of stars such as Kane Hodder, Bill Moseley, Phil Anselmo, John Dugan and more, the movie is shot using those little toy green soldiers and their equipment.

The necessary effort alone is amazing, but the execution is even better.  Only a super creative mind like Bobby has could come up with this concept and make it happen.

On top of it all, Bobby is a really good guy.  He's a hard-working, high energy person who promotes his labor of love with the same type of passion he put into making the movies.

Aside from Devil Dogs, the pair talked about Belly Timber.  I'll let them handle the summary j the interview below.

In the end of the interview, I state that I am covering and following their progress as a reporter, but also as a fan.  I choose what I cover and I think the movie is great, as are Bobby and Brian.  I like to share my findings with my readers, so they can enjoy good works, too.  Devil Dogs is a winner and I am looking forward to seeing Belly Timber, too.  With Bobby and Brian behind it, it's got to be good.

You can check out more info on these men and their work at TheDevilDogsofKiloCompany.com and on the Devil Dogs of Kilo Company Facebook page.

Thank you to Days of the Dead for allowing me access to meet creative folks.  Thanks to Bobby and Brian for their time and consideration.

The Devil Dogs of Kilo Company

I first met writer/director/producer Bobby Easley at Days of the Dead Culture Shock earlier this year in Indianapolis.  He was promoting Belly Timber, All Sinners Night and The Devil Dogs of Kilo Company.  He talked about all three in my interview, which can be found at On the Beat with Bobby Easley.

At the most recent Days of the Dead in Chicago, I had the pleasure of viewing a screening of The Devil Dogs of Kilo Company.  I was blown away, but first I present a little info.

The official description for the movie is "A company of Marines deep behind enemy lines on a top secret mission are out manned and out gunned as they fight their way to hell and back leaving a path of death and destruction in their wake."  It stars Kane Hodder, Bill Moseley and John Dugan, all who joined Easley for the special screening.

The movie was made using those little green army men and other props, with the actors providing the voices of the characters.  When I first learned that, I had no idea what to expect, but I quickly was captivated upon seeing the movie.

Besides the movie progressing and delivering a great story, like any movie should, I was blown away thinking of the effort and originality it took to use the army men.  Additionally, the figures were used in a way that seemed natural  In a way, you almost forget that you are watching army men.

It is such an original idea, especially for such a topic as a war.  The movie never looked hokey or disjointed.  It is hard to convey how such a movie could be executed perfectly.  You can get a better idea by checking out the trailer at Devil Dogs of Kilo Company Teaser Trailer.

I walked out of the screening with two levels of being impressed and entertained.  The movie as a stand alone was incredible.  The utilization of the army men was incredible.  Combining both made for one of  the most unique movies I have ever seen.

Bobby is a great guy, too.  His passion is evident as you talk to him, but he never lets it overwhelm you.  At Culture Shock, after the interview, he wanted to have a little fun with the picture.  The result is below.

Not many people in his place would suggest such a fun thing.  Many people take their stuff so seriously that they leave no room for other fun.  Once again, Bobby was different and left me with an entertaining memory.

My Bobby Easley Experience started in March and continued through November at the Days of the Dead events.  I am hoping it continues at future conventions this year.  Bobby is easily one of the coolest, most original, talented creators out there.  I appreciate him letting me in on the ground level of these projects and I hope to continue to cover him and his projects as they develop.

For more info, please check out HorrorWastelandFlix.com.  Hopefully, I will also have more updates here in the future.

Bobby Easley and me in Indianapolis, IN-March 2015.

On the Beat with Bobby Easley at Culture Shock 2015

Our coverage of Days of the Dead-Culture Shock 2015 continues with actor-producer-director Bobby Easley.  He has a lot of titles, but I think he is best described as "dynamic."
As we encountered him at his booth at Days of the Dead Culture Shock, Easley quickly engaged us.  In a room filled with people promoting their projects (or themselves), it isn't easy to stand out, but Easley did just that.
He was there promoting three films, namely Belly Timber, All Sinners Night and Devil Dogs of Kilo Company.  Promoting three films seems appropriate for Easley.  The man seems larger than life.
Along those lines, Easley told me he wanted to be the "Roger Corman of Indiana."  Corman is a director-producer-actor, mostly of B movies (many awesome ones though), including Rock 'N' Roll High School featuring the Ramones.  I believe Easley will succeed in this goal and I will be watching his progress.
In our interview below, Easley discusses the three films, his start in the business and more.  He also gives us a scoop.  Now that is a great interviewee.  Scoops go a long way!
Check out the interview and you will become as captivated as we were.  Then, you can learn more about Easley and his projects at HorrorWastelandFlix.com.