MP .iErWF,
I{EI{I{ORLD PICTURES
in associationwith
BALCORFILI.I INVESTORS presents
DONALDP. BORCHERSPRODUCTION
"!4tq"
Starri ng
CHRISMAKEPEACE
SANDYBARON
ROBERTRUSLER
DEDEEPFEIFFER
GEDDEWATANABE as Duncan
and
GRACEJONES
Music By JONATHANELIAS
Story By DONALDP. BORCHERS& RICHARD l-lENK
ProducedBy DONALDP. BORCHERS
Directed By RICHARDWENK
@ NewwoRLDPrcruRES r44o SOUTHSEPULVEDA BOULEVARD LOS ANCELES, CALIFORNIA 9OO25 TELEPHONE:(Zl3) 444-8lOO TLL|-X664937 NWLSA "VAMP''/CAST& CREDITS 2.
"vAllP"
CAST
Keith ".CHRISMAKEPEACE Vic. . . SANDYBAR0N A.J...... ROBERTRUSLER Amaretto DEDEEPFEIFFER Duncan ..GEDDEWATANABE Katrina... .GRACEJONES Snow. . BILLYDRAG0 Vlad. ..BRADLOGAN Cimmaron LISALYON Fraternity Leader .JIM B0YLE Students ..LARRYSPINAK ERICt,lILCH STUARTROGTRS SockSalesman ..GARYSWAILES Coffee ShopProprietor^. ...RAYBALLARD Maven ..PAUNiTANICH0LS DragonGirl. TRUDELWILLIAMS HardHat .MARL0NMcGANN Shorty. ..THOMASBELLIN Pool Player. ..BRYANMcGUIRE Seko. ..LEILAHEE OLSEN Jett. ....HILARYCARLIP Dominique.. .. FRANCINESWIFT Candi TRICIABROWN Bartendresses. .NOAMISHOHAN JANEENDAVIS Waitresses.... . YT0SSIEPATTERS0N TANYAPAPANICOLAS Little Girl ...ROBINKAUFMAN DeskClerk.. ...HY PIKE DeadMan In Car . . . P0PS GangLeader...... 808 SCH0TT Dragons ADAMBARTH BILL MORPHEW Bum.. ...SIMMYBOt,l Police ...R0GERHAMPT0N ANDYRIVAS GarbageTruck Driver. . "JULIUSLEFL0RE BusDriver.. GREGLEHIS Security Guard .DARR0BINSON Choreographer. RUSSELLCLARK Stunt Coordinator .."DARR0BINSON
(more) "VAMP"/CAST& CREDITS (cont'd) 3.
Stunt Peop'!e.... .BILL M0CK DEBBYLYNN ROSS L.L. BRITTANY SPIRORAZATOS GEORGEFISHER LELANDsUN SANDILEAVENWORTH JEANNIEEPPER KIMBERLYEPPER LANELEAVITT
VoiceCasting... .BARBARAHARRIS
Voices ...MITCHCARTER CATHYCAVADINI DIBORAHFALLENDER GREGFINLEY DAVIDMcCHAREN JANRABSON MARILYNSCHREFFLER DENNISTUFANO
CREDITS
Directed By.. . RICHARDWENK ProducedBy...... D0NALDP. B0RCHERS Screenp'layBy . RICHARDWENK Story 8y... ..D0NALDP. B0RCHERS RICHARDl^JENK Music 8y... .J0NATHANTLIAS Special Make-UpEffects ..GREGCANNOM Associate Producer.. . SUSANGELB Supervising SoundEdjtor.. GREGGBARBANELL, M.P.S.E. CostumeDesigner. .BETTYPECHA MADDEN Production Designer. ..ALANR0DERICK-JONES D'irector of Photography" ELLI0T DAVIS Editor. .MARCGROSSMAN Casting By. ....LINDA FRANCIS,C.S.A. Production Manager...... MARI0 DAViS Fi rst Assistant Director"s . . .MATIAKARRELL BETSYPOLLOCK SecondAssi stant Directors . . . BENITAALLEN l^JHITNEYHUNTER GRANTGILMORE Production Coordinator...-... .LISA H0LLINGSHEAD Script Supervisor...... BRENDAWACHEL Production Accountant. .RAYZIMMERMAN Associate Editor.. .J0t W00.JR. Dia'logue Di rector . . . GORDONHUNT
(more) "VAMP"/CAST& CREDITS (cont'd) 4.
ProductionConsultant ..808 MANNING LocationManagers...... ALICIAALEXANDER JAMESGIERMAN LocationScouts .EDWARDT. PARMELEE LISABLOK DesignConsultant. Art Directors ..CAROLCLTMENTS PHILIPAJA Set Decorator. ..KATHERINEJ. CARMICHAEL Set Dresser... .AINSLEEC0LT DEW0LF Leadman ...CRAIGS. SULLI SwingGang. ..DAVIDRICHARDS0N HENRYHARRIS LARRYD. EDWARDS JOELLIPMAN StandbyCarpenter ..RAYR. ST0DDARD PropertyMaster ....EUGENEMcCARTHY Make-UpSupervisor.. .PAMELAS. HESTM0RE Assistant PropertyMaster ..MICHAELS. NELS0N DragonLogo Design...... BLAISEBORCHERS ScenicArtist... .RANCEBARELA StoryboardArtist...... PETERVON SHOLLY Costumer . B0NNIESINCLAIR WArdrobeAssistant .LYDIASHIFFERAW Make-UpArtists ...R0BINBEAUCHESNE TERESAAUSTIN Hair Stylists. ....FRANKIECAMPBELL KAYCOLE Assistant Hair Styli st. . . . ERINB. LY0NS Special Effects Make-UpAssistants.... BRENTBAKER GIL MOSKO EARLELLIS ContactLens Consultant MORTONR. GREENSP00N, 0.D. ContactLens Technicians TINAKLINE JOESELLAR MARLENESTOLLER Gaffer. .DANGILLHAM Best BoyElectrician.'. J0ELUNANGST Electricians THADDEUSWADLEIGH JIM THORPE COLINE. FRiTZ NELLDICKERSON TONYNAKONECHNYJ MONTEBLACK Camera0perators ....WILLiAMERIC ENGLER SEANMcLIN First Assistant Camera J0RGENWEDSELT0FT SecondAssistant Camera ..MARIEPEDERSEN KeyGrip.... .SHUNILBORPUJARI Best BoyGrips ....RICHARDFRANCH0T MALCOLMDORAN I I
(more) "VAMP"/CAST& CREDITS (cont'd) 6
Grips ..T0M CRAWF0RD DAVIDFOOTMAN BO8MYERS CHRiSTIANde-LYS SILVER DUKECORTEZ ELl^,INB. GREER SoundMixers ..MARKULANO JAN BRODIN Boom0perators ..PATRUSHKHAMIBRZWA TERRYLS. SPEIGHTS KENt^lINBER Specia1 Effects . IMGE ENGINEERING,INC. PITERCHESNEY JARNHEIL TOMCHESNEY CHRISCHESNEY JOSEPHVISKOCIL Post Production Accountant.... BARBARAGUTMAN Assocjate Casting Director ....JEFF GREENBERG Production Secretary...... PATRICIA V. FUENZALIDA DesignatedProduction Assistants . ".H0LLYELIZABETH CRAWF0RD ELENASERMNO Production Assistants . . . PAULBYERS NANNETTEDIACOVO KELLYP. GLEASON JEFFKLOSS ROCKYLANE TOMLOWE CHERYLSTARBUCK Craft Services.. ...R0NALDHAIRSTON AMYMENDELSON Grace Jones' Assistant DEANAALBERS Grace Jones' Make-Up . . . .J0ANNGAIR Grace Jones' Hair By. ...ALAN SC0TT Grace Jones' Bodypainting & Chair By. KEITHHARING Grace Jones' Jewelery & Accessories By. ....DAVID SPADA Grace Jones' Wardrobe.. . . AZZEDINEALAIA ISSEYMIYAKE Assistant Costumer...... P.Y. J0NES Contri buti ng Arti sts . . RICHARDBERNSTE IN ANTONIOLOPEZ ANDYWARHOI- Transportation Coordinator GRIFFRUGGLES Driver Caotain.... .CHAZZ HoneywagonDriver.. ..DONALDHANNAH Drivers .DANNYNATEN DARRELLJ. GARDINER CHRISRAINS JACKCARPENTER Caterers ..TASTEBUDS PRIMETHYME
(more) "VAMP,,/CAST& CRTDITS (cont'd) 6
WatenTruck ....L,cRRYigi.[ Security. . . . L0CA'IION SICURITY,INC. HARRYSTAIitsACK 0fficers in Chargeof Product'ion. DUANTSpttRS BR.ADF. I NMAN Extras Casting... ..THE ATMOSPHIRLAGENCY i;NNNYPARADA Extras Coordinator PAVANAK,illi[ Medic ....D0N C0NABLI Animal Handler...... H0LLY[^1000ANIMAL RENTALS, INC. B{)ONENARR St'il I Photographer...... MARSHABLACKBURN Publj ci ty Coordinator . . . . RAFEBLASi Publicist. ..JEFF FREEDMAN Additional Editing... ..ALAN|-I0LZMAN Assistant Editors ....RICHARDMELHTM VALERIEDAVIDSON G. BEDFORD "]AMES SoundEffects 8y... .MAGCITY S0UNDLAES, iNC. SoundEdi tors . . GREGGBARBANILI- G. t^I. BR0l.il, I'IARGARETCARLTON GREGJACOBS GARYPENNINGTOh MARTYA. STEIN SoundLibrarians.. ..VICTORIAVANDERKL0OT HANNAHKOZAK Music Editors JEFF FRTEMAN JAMESSIMCIK Executive Music Producer.... .SCOTTELIAS Associate Music Producers.. ...FRAN BLOCK SUSANKENT JOHNRUSSO Synthesists. ....JONATHANELIAS MICHAELMONTES PAULSEYMOUR TOMREGIS DOUGLASHALL STEVESAUBER JERRYBENNETT Studio Assistants . . BRUCEDARBY SHERMANFOOTE ANITASOBELSON Live 0rchestration By JONATHANELIAS DOUGLASHALL Synthesizer Realizat'ion By. ....JONATHANELIAS PAULSEYMOUR Music Recorded4t...... ELIASiVISI0N SOUNDSTUDIOS, NYC Re-recording Mixers. ...GARYBOURGE0IS, C.A.s. NEIL BRODY,C.A.S. CHRISCARPENTER Re-recording.. T0DD-A0/GLENGLENN STUDIOS Titles and Opticals By ...}4ASTERFILM EFFECTS,INC. Special Visual Effects .APOGEE,INC. (more) "VAI4P"/CAST& CREDITS (cont'd ) 7.
An'imat'ionSupervi sor. . . CLINTC0LVER Optica1 Supervisor. . . . . ROGERDORNEY NegativeCutter ....K & |.lFILM CUTTING SERVICE Cclor Timer .BRUCEPEARS0N Sets By. ..DANIELBURK DESIGNS, INC. P.C. STTS MICHAELBINGHAM DESIGN ConstructionCoordinator. B0BDANYLA Complet'ionGuarantee ..THt COMPLITI0NB0ND C0MPANY, INC. BOBMINTZ HALSCHAFFEL insurance ...ALBERTG. RUBENAND C0MPANY, INC. ROBERTJELLEN BRIANKINGMAN PayrolI Services.. IDCSERVICES HOI^JARDSITGEL
FiI rnedAt REN-l"lARSTUDI0S, Hollywood, Cal ifornia
Lighting EquipmentSupplied By SEQUOIAEQUIPMENT COMPANY
CameraEquipment Suppf ied By OTTONEMENZ INTERNATIONAL
RawStock EASTMANKODAK COUPANY METROCOLOR(BJ
Amaretto Films, Inc. wishes to extend its very special thanks to those indivjduals and companieslisted below for their help, cooperation and promotional consideration:
BARRYBLAUSTEIN PETERGROSSMAN CLAYBORRIS DAVIDLANDAU BOBCAVIANO LiNDALICHTER DAVIDCOLDEN LENSHAPiRO RICHARDDAVIS STEVEl.lERNDORF ANNEL. ERICKSON CHASEl'llLLIAMS
ALLIEDPRODUCT PLACEMENT AMERICANFILM PROMOTION ASSOCIATEDFILM PROMOTION AT&TCOMMUNiCATIONS BACARDIIMPORTERS, INC. DAViDR. BJERKISPECIALTY PHOTOGRAPHY BROOKSSHOES
(more) " VAMP" /CAST & CREDITS(cont'd ) 8.
CHATEAUDE CHEMAN WINE & CO. CHRYSLER GAETANOSPECIALTY LIQUOR HERMANHADLER PUBLIC RELATIONS LAVASIMPLEX INTERNATIONALE LEEJEANS NORMMARSHALL & ASSOCIATES PANASONIC PERRIERMINERAL WATER PIONEERCHICKEN PRO.MEDIA REEBOKSHOES WAMSUTTACORPORATION YOUNGBLOOD& BLAD ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES
"BADCASE OF LOVIT{'YOU" l.lritten by MoonMart'in Courtesyof RockslamMusic
"vol-ARE" English lyric by Mitchell Parish Musicby DomenicoModugno Original lyric by DomenicoModugno and F. Migliacci Courtesyof CBSRobbins Catalog, Inc. on behalf of jtself and Edizioni Curcj Performedby BobbyRydel I Courtesyof ABKCORecords, Inc.
"I'I,I Iil THEIIOOD FOR LOVE' Wordsby DorothyFie'lds Musicby JimmyMcHugh Courtesyof FamousMusic Corporation
"JEALOUSHEART" l,lritten by AndrewKastner, Mark Campbe'll & HowardBenson Performedby Jack Mack& TheHeart Attack
"VAl,lPu l.lritten by Jonathan Elias & Grace Jones Performedby Grace Jones Producedby Jonathan Elias & Donald P. Borchers Recordedat Elias/Vision SoundStudios, NYC
"EXCITEIIE" l,lritten by Larry Klug Performedby Fantasy Workshop
"ITIEANINGOF LOVE" Written by DevonJames Performedby DevonLaCrosse
(more) ,'VAMP"/CAST& CREDITS (cont'd) 9.
D0ilESTIC & #2 (THED0NI{A REED 't SHo}f THETfE) Written by l.lilliam Looseand JohnSeely Courtesyof Capitol ProductionMusjc
"A S0l{GFOR KIIil" Written by JohnetteNapolitano & Jjm Mankey Performedby Dream6
"IIOIII RIDEALOI{E' l.lritten by Steve Wynn Performedby TheDream Syndicate Courtesyof Big TimeRecords (America, Inc")
"ONETHII{G ON I.IY I.IIT{D" Written by Tiggy Evans Producedby Ziggy Evans
"THATOLD BLACK MAGICN t.lordsby JohnnyMercer Musicby HaroldArlen Performedby Louis Prima Courtesyof FamousMusic Corporation and Capitol Records,Inc"
RUi{NINGTII{E: 93 IIINUTES
I,IPAAMTIT{G: R MP rj",u,*g#ms.Sf
nl14;;po
sYl{0Psrs (Not For Publication)
Keith (CHRISMAKEPEACE) and A.J. (R0BERTRUSLER) are two hip, fun-loving
college freshmenwho would rather do almost anything than live'in the'ir assigned
dorm room, even pledge to join an fnane fraternity so they can moveinto their
frat house. l'lhenthe whole jnitjatjon process g'ust oecornestoo boring for
them, A.J. comesup with an idea that wjll guarantee thejr acceptance; they'1i find a stripper for an upcomingfrat party.
The two frjencs have nerve. They have charisma. They have wit. What they don't have is a car to drive to a cjistant location knownfor its seedy bars.
They therefore enlist the aid of Duncan(GEDDE WATANABE), a wealthy not-too-cool guy who usually has to buy his friends. He'll drive Keith and A.J. anyrvherethey want to go' he says, ff only they becomebuddies - at least for a week. Hes.itant'!y, it is agreed, dlid they al1 go off in search of an appropr"iatebar for an appropriate young 1ady.
After reading through an adult newspaper,they decide on The After Dark Club, with its ad proclaiming "Hottest Acts Anywhere." Ihe Club doesn't open until ,,after dark" and so to pass the tirne in the deserted neighborhood,the three enter a coffee shop. As daylight turns into dusk, the proprietor is about to close his restaurant but is soon iniimidated into serv'ing Snow,an eerie, evil-'looking Albino and his two stunning black henchwomen.A confrontation develops betweenthe gang and
prcruREs @ NewwoRLD l44o sourH SEPULVEDABoULEVARD LoS ANGELES,CALIFORNIA 90025 TELEPHoNE:(zl3) 444-8loo TELEX664937NWLSA " VAMP''/SYNOPSI5 2
Keith and A.J., with Duncanhiding in the men's room, but it is quickly resolved triumphantly by the enterprising friends.
It's "after dark." The After Dark Club is open, it's ominious and it's welcoming. A.J. enters first, followed shortly by Keith and Duncan. The latter two are seated by Club owner Vjc (SANDYBAR0N), who's just dying to open a place in
Vegas, and then thejr drink orders are taken by a bubbly but mysterious waitress,
Amaretto (DEDEEPFEIFFER), who claims to knowKeith, but he doesn't have the vaguest idea why.
Meanwhile,A.J. is searching the Club for the perfect stripper. Just then,
Katrina (GRACEJ0NES) takes the stage performing an erotic, lithesome, adventurous dance and it's her, A.J. realizes, that he must take back to the frat party. After her performance, he's taken backstageby one of Katrina's assistants. In her dressing room, the two meet, ultimately in the bibl ical sense. l,lith animalistic ferocity, Katrina quickly drives her teeth into A.J.'s neck in the heat of passion.
Yet another stripper is performing on the bare stage, but Keith isn't watching - he's worried about A.J. He finds Katrina's assistant, the one who took A.J. backstage, but she claims she has no recollection of him. She then rushes backstage to tell Katrina that A.J. was not alone, while Keith seeks heip from
Amaretto.
The two go backstagetogether while Duncan,now drunk, continues to enjoy the show. Not finding A.J., they then go off to a nearby seedy hotel where Keith suddenly has to fend for his life. Back at the Club, though, Katrina's assistant is also paying the price for bringing her boss someonewho could be missed. Duncan continues to fall jn lust with everyonehe sees with a shapely curve.
(more) ''VAMP'' /SYNOPS I S 3.
Keith and Amarettohead toward the Club onceagain after not finding A.J. at the hotel. Keith is frantic. Theyunfortunately run into Snowand his expandedentourage, who are intent on killing Kejth. A madchase ensues, with Keith windingup in an abandonedsewer system. As he walks aroundunderground, he notjces rats and skeletal remajns. Kejth ultimately emergesfrom the seweronly to be found by Snowand his gangquickly again. Racingdown an alley and jumping into a garbagedumpster to escapehis pursuers,he is horrified to discover the bodyof his friend, A.J. Jumpingout of the dumpsterbefore a garbagetruck empties it, Keith runs to a phoneto call the police.
Keith returns to the Club to await the authorities. In the restroom,he is stunnedwhen he runs into A.J., whoclaims he wasnot dead- only burglarized. When the police arrive, Keith is dumbfoundedtrying to explain the "death" of his friend. Thecoos leave.
Attackedby one of the waitresses,who has suddenlybecome a vampire,Keith eventually kills her and then confrontsA.J., whojust witnessedthe ordeal. A.J. explains his predicamentto his amazedfriend, and then asks him for a mercykillfng with a woodenstake. Keith refuses. A.J. stabs himself in the heart, but not before he passeson sometips in howto kill a vampire. It's last call for the remainingcustomers at TheAfter DarkClub. Keith is confrontedby Vic, whobelieves it's just a matter of time untjl Keith is bitten too. Vic explains the rationale behindthe Club, then buys Keith, Duncanand Amarettoone final drink. Keith, thinking quickly, managesto set the place on fire, killing manyof the vampiresand V'ic. Thethree escapeinto the street and into Duncan'scar.
(more) ,.VAMP ''/SYNOPS I S A
Assumingthey're now safe, Keith and Amaretto are shockedto learn Duncan has becomea vampire. The car crashes, a fjre begins, Keith and Amaretto climb out of the wreckageand watch Duncanburn.
The two break into a pawnshop to gather guns, ammunjtionand a bow and arrows.
Then, back on the street, they are suddenly surroundedvampires and Snowand hjs gang - again. A clash betweenthe two groups arjse as Keith and Amaretto makea hasty escape into the sewer system.
H'iding in a chamber,they find coffins and skeletons everywhere. Suddenlythe door opens, the two hide and the vampires begin to enter the room for their day's rest. Trying to sneak out, Amaretto regrettably screamsand the vampires do a turnaround and beg'in to rise from their coffins. Finding someliquid in nearby barrels, Keith lights the fluid and the room is engulfed in flames. Keith and
Amaretto manageto escape, J€t again.
In a tunnel, the two comeacross Katrina, hjdden in the shadows. She grabs
Amaretto, ready to bite into her neck. Taking his bowstring and an arrow, Keith nervously aims at the two ladies. Katrina fs hit and with the help of incoming sunlight, she graphically dies. Suddenlyone final vampire emerges,hate in his eyes. Just as he's about to kill Amaretto, A.J. appearswith a woodenstake and kills the assailant.
It's sunrise. Keith and Amaretto climb into the street ready to start a new day. A.J. is left underground,wondering what nightt'ime activities he thinks he could like. He won't be needinq that fraternity now. MftarWg$
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DOI{ALDP. BORCHERS BIOGRAPHY
ProducerDonald P. Borchers originaily had an idea for a movie with nothing
moreto Eo on than a ti tle that was a olay on words and a notion that all the
events- whateverthey would be - take place 'in one night. ,,I He also knewwhat kinC of picture he wanted 'it to be. wante
to be funny," he says, "but ali.la;,swithjn the confirres of a situaijon hased in reality."
Borchers got what he r^ranted. "Vamp," a horror comedyof sex and the super-
natural" tells the story of a mission gone awry, and of a mystery beyondanyone,s
wildest drearns- and nightmares. The After Dark Club, where most of the action
takes place' has a secret it seeniswhere the womenwho wsrk there have been
keeping for hundredsof years. They,re beautiful, exotic, seduciive...vampire,c. 'for "Vanip"is Borchers' fifth f ilm NewWorlC Picrures, 'flo11owingthe success ,,Ange1 of "crimes of Pass'ion," "Tuff Turf , " "chi I dren of the corn', and .,,
Currently the pres'ident of planet productjons Corp., a companyhe founded
in 1984, he previously served as a Senior Vice Presidento Production and Creative
Affairs, for Newlllorld Pictures. He cameto NewtJorld frorn SandyHoward Productions, where he served as an associate producer.
Borchers was also an execuiive in charge of pruduciion for Leisure Investmenr
Corp. and was a Project Coordinator in Creative Affajrs at Avcc [mbassyp.ictures.
prcruREs W, newwoRLD I44O SOUTH SEPULVEDABOULEVARD LOS ANCELES,CALIFORNIA 9OO25 TELEPHONE:(2I3) 444.81OO TELEX 664937NWLSA "VAMP''/DONALDP. BORCHERS ?.
A memberof the Academyof MotjonPictures Arts and Sciences,Producer's
Bnanch,Borchers gr:aduated from the University of Notre Damewith a BAin
Finance,and a minor in TheatreArts. He has beenan instructor in the Peter
Stark Programat USCfor the last two years.
NewWorid Pictures in associationwith Balcor Film Investorspresents
A DonaldP. BorchersProduction, "Vamp," starring Chris Makepeace,Sandy Baron, RobertRusler, DedeePfeiffer, GeddeWatanabe as Duncanand GraceJones.
Written and directed by RichardWenk from a story by DonaldP. Borchersand Wenk,it is producedby Borchers. Themusic is by JonathanEljas.
### uvAllP"
RICHARD}IEI{K
BIOGRAPHY
"l figured that if vampireswere alive t.oday," Richar"dWenk says, "they j would have sotten jobs where peopie caineto !-l-qg. ft :tr p cl ub seemedto f it o"h* the bil'i . At the very ieasl-, it would keep ihem aff -';treets."
Wenkwrote the screenpiay for "Vamp;"he also makesni: feature fjlm direciorial debut with the picture. Setting the storv in The After Dark Club, d co:y I j til: pl ace wher-ethe er:rployees i:ave a nasty habii of turni ng i nto var:rcires, enibleri his "contic nightniare" to be .r'tloi*din real ity"
"The type of pecpie uhc vi:i t sur:hcl ubs where :trippers perf ornt ars men.y tjines tnc nr:rfeci victjils," he says. "The onl;.'kind of peCple t.hat even.q0 tft thele rlaces are sd'iesmenand girys r,;irokind of flro:ilyin bv themselves. Nobocy 'ihese sajls, Gee honey, I 'trrgoi rig dcrwnio the str"ip c1ub.' guys are not easi llt traced. The.y're the perfect vjctim:. "
Though"Vamp"'ls his fjrst feature, ii is not his first time dea)ing with vampires. He previcusl-y directed a 30-rnjnuteshort subject entitled "Dt'acttla
Bi i,es tne Bjg Apple" th;rt wds seerion fJB0. It was wh:le distribuiinE this filrn in Los Angeie-qin 1979that i^Jenkmet producenDonald P. Borchers; several Years
I ater, Bcrchers of fered Henk the oppo,'tunj "uy tc '+ir'it.e, and then d'it"ect, "Vamp."
NEWWORLD PICTURES TLLEX664937 NWLSA I44O SOUTHSEPULVEDA BOULEVARD LOS ANCI.LES,CALIFORNIA 9OOZ5 TELEPHONI (zt3) 444-AIOO ,,VAMP"/RICHARD I,JENK 2.
"I wrote the movieas a meansto breakinto directing," he says, though
he quickly'learnedit's not as easyas it sounds. "lt is really difficult to
scare today's audiencesbecause they've seenit all before. But, we weren't go.ingfor shock. Mybel'ief is that less js more."
Born in NewJersey, |./enkwas raised on the east coast and attendedNew york
University's film schoo),where he madenumerous short films. After his education,
he directed someShowtime shorts andwrote one of the IndianaJones paperback novels. He's also contributedto the comedianGallagher's specials, "Stuck in the Sixties,' and "That's Stup'id."
In addition, Wenkhas considerableBroadway theatrical experience. Hewas
director/choreographerJoe Layton'sassistant on "Annie" (repeatingthe sametype of choresfor JohnHuston on the film version) and he's beeninvolved with the original productionsof "Barnum"and "41ndStreet.', Newlrlorld Pictures jn associationwith Balcor Film Investorspresents
A DonaldP. BorchensProduction,,,Vamp,', starring Chris Makepeace,Sandy Baron, RobertRusler, DedeePfeiffer, GeddeWatanabe as Duncanand GraceJones.
Written and directed by RichardWenk from a story by DonaldP. Borchersand wenk,it is producedby Borchers. Themusic is by JonathanElias.
### . -.--L ,,.' 'r i.: t.
'YA}IP'
CHRISIIAKEPEACE
BIOGMPHY
0f the three co'llege friends who stumble into the After Dark CJub, it's
only Keith, the most stable, reliable and responsible of them, who realizes
what sort of peril they are in. It's up to him to get himself and his buddies
as quickly and as far away from the Club as possible.
Yet, says Chris Makepeace,the actor who plays Keith, his character may
be resourceful but he's certainly not forceful. "Keith is the type of guy who
has to learn how to fend for himself," he explains. "l-lehas a lot of fighting
back to do."
Makepeacehas traveled this underdogroute before. His first feature film,
shot in the summerof 1978 when he was 14, was the comedy"Meatballs," in which
he played an unhappy, anguishedcamper. Director Tony 8il1 saw the film arrd then cast him as the undersized but courageousteenager in "My Bodyguard."
Born and raised in Canada,the youngest of three boys, Makepeacehas been acting since he was 10 years o'ld. Oneday while watching Canad'ianBroadcasting
Corporation (CfC1 televfs'ion with his brothers, they decided they too could act.
The three acquired an agent and each began to appear in commercjals.
"l'line were more successfu'l," Makepeacecan rememberwith a 1augh. The most popular one was for Kraft candies which ran for three years. Fromthere he went on to small acting roles in Canadianepisodic television, occasjonally continuing
fu NzwwoRLD PrcruRES l44O SOUTHSEPULVEDA BOULEVARD LOS ANCELES, CALIFORNIA 9OOzs TELEPHONE:(213) 444-8lOo TLLEX664937 NWLSA ,'VAMP"/CHRISMAKEPEACE 2.
to do commercials.In one half-hour children's special, he playeda Russian stowaway.
"ltleatballs"and "MyBodyguard" came next, followed by the television movies
"0asis," "TheUndergraduate" and "Madein Hawai'i." Makepeacewas also featured in the film "TheFalcon and the Snowman,"in whichhe playedSean Penn's younger brother.
"Vamp,"though, differs considerablyfrom his other screenroles, principally becauseof all the stunt work he actually performed. "It's beenquite a physical challenge!" he says, "but it got to the point whereI lookedforward to doing my stunts everyday. i had a lot of fun." Newl,lorld Pictures in associationwith Balcor Film Investorspresents A DonaldP. BorchersProduction, "Vamp," starring Chris Makepeace,Sandy Baron,
RobertRusler, DedeePfeiffer, GeddeWatanabe as Duncanand GraceJones. Written and directed by R'ichardWenk frorn a story by DonaldP. Borchersand
Wenk,it is producedby Borchers. Themusic is by JonathanElias.
### !;: !i?1,,.:r
"vAllP"
SAITDYBAROI{ BIOGRAPHY
Vic is the owner and a small part of the talent at The After Dark Club, a cozy little place with a secret that the womenwho work ihere har:ebeerr keeping for hundredsof years. It's also seem'inglybeen abcui that long since Vjc has dreamedof having a similar club in Las Vegas.
"[^JhatVic doesn't v'ealize," says actor Sandy8aron, i,Jhoportrays that charerir:r iri "Vamp," "is that The After Dark Club is the pinnacle 0f his career. In spite of this, he still dreamsof his b'ig br"eak.in Las Vegas. As a comedian,that's the place he wants to be."
Baron, himself, is a veteran comedianwith his forie being irnprovisational comedy,in additfon to be'ing an actor, director, writer and lyricist. He cegan his career with the SecondCity improvisational troupe ancJuseC his improv skills to great effect in 1962 in "The Premise," for which he r.rcnan Ob'ieAward. Moving to Broadway,he's been featured in "Tchin Tchitr," in the original production of ttGeneratjcn" "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Arturo Uj," and jn the t-'itle role of "Lenny," which he also took on tour.
As a film actor, Baron has been seen in "Broadwa-yDanny Rose" (he also narrated the picture), "Birdy," "Straight T'ime," "The 0ut-0f-T0wners," "Targets, " "Swggt
November"and "If It's Tuesday,This Must Be Be'lg'ium."
0n telev'isi0n, his ftrst, venture was an unsolrl pilot t ten by a i'rung "it'; WoodyAlIen that centered on the talents of newcome!"sSanon, Lou"isel-asser and
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Alan Alda. He's co-starred in three series: "HeyLandlord," "That l,lasThe
WeekThat Was"and "TheDella ReeseShow." In 1975,he spent a year hosting
"A.M. NewYork" and then four years later, repeatedhis hosting activities in a Los Angeles-basedmorning show. He's also appearedin a great deal of episodic
series .
Baron'is best knownas a lyricist for Lou Rawl'sGrammy Award winning
"Natura'lMan," which he co-wrotewith composerBobby ("Sunny") Hebb. Additionally, he co-authoredthe bookfor a newmusical comedy called "Eskimo,"which is currently being preparedfor a NewYork run.
His one-manshow, "Sandy Baron and A Celebrationof LennyBruce," has been seenin nightclubsand on college campusesthroughout the country. Healso has several "total concept"comedy albums to his credit: "GodSave the Queens," "TheRace Race" and "I NeverLet SchoolInterfere With MyEducation." NewWorld Pictures in associationwith Balcor Film Investorspresents
A DonaldP. BorchersProduction, "Vamp," starrjng Chris Makepeace,Sandy Baron, RobertRusler, DedeePfeiffer, GeddeWatanabe as Duncanand GraceJones. ldritten and djrected by RichardWenk from a story by DonaldP. Borchersand Wenk,it is producedby Borchers. Themusic is by JonathanElias.
### M rti *:
"vAllP"
ROBERTRUSLER
BIOGRAPHY
According to Robert Rusler, who portrays A.J. in "Vamp,"hjS was a role to my that "I could real'ly sink my teeth into. There are so manydimensions the course character. All these absurd, bizarre things happento him during and reacting of this one night and so I had a lot of fun playing him and dealing to all the craziness around him."
For as'long as he can remember,Rusler wanted to be an actor' His father him to worked in the transportation departmentat Universal Studios, enabling made," he roam the sound stages freely. "I was able to watch howmovjes were ,,I says. was always surroundedwith the excitement of the business." was Born in Fort Wayne,Indiana, hjs famjly movedto Los Angeles whenhe st.ill rather young. Insp'ired from just watching a1l the activity on the Universal momand dad lot, Rusler decided early on that he wanted to be an actor, "but my long as wantedme to fin'ish high schoo'l first. You know, to be a kid for as oossible. So I did." Almostas soonas he graduated,he met a theatrical managerwho decided he wantedto guide Rusler's career a1ong. hlith his help, the actor landed a recurring role on the television series "The Factsof Li fe. " longed- It was always feature films' though, that most attracted Rusler. Hjs
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for dreamfinally cametrue whenhe wascast oppositeAnthony Michael Hall in
"WeirdSc'ience." Uponcompletion of that picture, he seguedright into "Nightmare on ElmStreet II: Freddy'sRevenge," fol1owed by "ChoiceKill" and this summer's
"Thrashin'."
"I feel 'it's importantfor meto be learning as muchas possible," he says, "and enjoy myself with everythingI do. I also care a lot aboutmy friends and family andwith their support, I manageto keepmy feet on the ground. I real'ly oweeverything to myfamily, especially mygrandfather who convjnced me to keep trying with myact'ing before he passedaway. |^lhenI hit the big time, it'll be due to their belief andencouragement." Newl.Jorld Pictures in associationwith Balcor Film Investorspresents
A DonaldP. BorchersProduction, "Vamp," starring Chris Makepeace,Sandy Baron, RobertRusler, DedeePfeiffer, GeddeWatanabe as Duncanand GraceJones. Written and directed by Richardl,lenk from a story by Dona'ldP" Borchersand
Wenk,it is producedby Borchers. Themusic is by JonathanElias.
### ;#;ifl:..*.'ii
"VAl.fP"
DEDEEPFEIFFER BI OGRAPHY
Bubbly, vivacious Amaretto has a secret or two jn "Varnp,"but she's not
te11ing. She's the dizzy blonde waitress at the After Dark Club who keeps
insjstjng she knowsKeith, the character played by Chnis l4akepeace,but he has no reccllection of her; he can barely figure out if she's ti:e oniy "i;nbitten" emp'loyeeon the Club' s premises .
"Out of alI the roles I've done," says DedeePieifier, the actress yrhc portrays Amaretto, "she is the closest to me. 0f ccurse, there ar"edifferen;es, but there's manymore s'inrjlarities: she's funny, sire takes things day-by-day, she's sensitive and when she's into something, she's really intc it."
"Vamp"is Pfeiffer's first starring role in a feature film. "I learned a lot on tt-rjs," she says. "I learned more about the prodi.ictjcnend af filmmaking"
'*Jhatreal ly madethi s f i 1m specia1 was that evel"yonecared so muchabout what ihey were doing. The crer.Jwas so passionately invr'lved that ir mademe become more involved in the whole process. It was a marvelcus ecjucationfor me" I loved it becauseif no one really cared about what they were doing, it would have been torturous. It was such a great experienie."
Pfe'iffer, the younEer sister of actress Michelle Pfeiff,er, has appearedir: the television novies "The Midnight Hour," "ToughLove" and has done episodic work in such showsas "l-iotel" and "Simonand Simon." "lnt0 the i\'rghto" "Dangerously
Close" and "Choice Kill" are her feature credits,
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"l love acting becauseit's not stagnant," she says. "There's always somethingchallenging about each role." Since her ear)y teens, Pfeiffer has held an eclectic assortment of jobs, including being a dancer in the Disneyland parade, a truck driver and working in a hair cutting salon and in sales. "I get bored easily," she says. "That's the reason I've had so manyjobs. I need to be mentally stimulated and that's why acting is so perfect for me. There's never a dull moment. It's always exciting becausethere's always a nefvcharacter or scene to explore. I'm also becomjngmore aware of myself. It's a great challenge, being an actress, and I've never had a boring day since I've become one."
Born and raised in Huntington Beachin southern California, Pfeiffer doubled her class schedule during her iunior year of high school to graduate ear1y. She wanted to "experience the real world." She's cunrently back in school studying
Lati n.
"I'm kind of like a humansponge. Stuff that really interests and excites me I pick up like that," she says with a snap of her finger. "But I demand feedback. Really, that's why acting's so great. You can experience so muchon so manydifferent levels.
"Yet there is one drawbackto being actress," she says. "I find the toughest part about acting is how to spendyour free time. WhenI'm not on a project,
I miss waking up at 5:00 a.m. and working for 18 hours."
New|^Jorld Pictures in association with Balcor Film Investors presents
A Donald P. Borchers Production, "Vamp,"starring Chris Makepeace,Sandy Baron,
Robert Rusler, DecleePfeiffer, Geddehlatanabe as Duncanand Grace Jones. l^lrjtten and djrected by Richard Wenkfrom a story by Donald P. Borchers and
|.lenk,it is producedby Borchers. The music is by JonathanElias.
### GEDDE}IATAI{ABE
BIOGRAPHY
GeddeWatanabe sure knowshow to make 'em 1augh. In "sixteen Candles," he played the rather confused foreign exchangestudent Long Duck Dong. In
"Volunteers," he was the enlightening Thailand native and in "GungHo," he took ihe Americanauto industry by storm. Now, in "Vamp,"he adds yet another characterizatfott to his repertoire that is qufckly establfshing him as a favorite amongboth audiencesand critfcs.
in the film, Watanabeportrays Duncan,an over zealous, overly wealthy, utterly unpredictable, incredibly dorkish college student who practically has to buy his friends" Whenhe ancjhis newly acquired budd'ies(but only for the agreed upon week) becomeinvolved with a supernatural situat'ion at the After Dark Club, it's Duncan's shenanigansthat brings the comic relief to the mystery, eroticism and susoenseof the fiIm.
"Duncanis someonewho wants to beloflg," the actor explains, "but he's 'like sort of your pet dog. He's just there. l-lowever,out of his innocence, he eventua)i y becomesa vamp'ire."
In order to transform his character to one of the'undead,'Watanabe had to have extensive make-upappf ied. "At one point, I looked Iike an old man," he says.
"I likeci being a vampire. I wasn't even scared. But that's becauseI paid careful attentjon to the process. i was most interested in seeing how each piece of make-up
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went on. Technically, this madethe film very fun to be in."
Bornand raised in 0gden,Utah, he alwaysknew he wantedto be an actor.
Whenhe applied for admissioninto SanFrancisco's American Conservatory Theatre,
he was initially turned down. Undaunted,Watanabe decided to go anyway. Arriv'ing on A.C.T.'s doorstep,he pleadedsuch an impressivecase to the admissionofficers that they simply had to let him enroll.
He trained at the Conservatoryfor a year, supportinghimself by singing and playing his guitar on SanFrancisco street corners. Thingstook an upward slant whenhe wascast in the original companyfor Broadway's"Pacific Overtures." After two years with the showin NewYork, he toured with the productionnationally. He can also be heardin a solo performanceon the show'soriginal cast album. After the showclosed, Watanabewas cast in a featured role in the BBC production"Martin Hartwell," whichwas filmed in Scotland. Returningto the United States, he next appearedin several plays at the NewYork Shakespeare Festival. He decidedon a moveto Los Angelessoon thereafter to further pursue his career in Hollywood.
Hemade his film debut in "SixteenCandles," followed by "Volunteers"and "GungHo." He is nowstarring in the te'levision series basedon the latter film. Watanabeis also involvedwith the Associationof Asian/PacificAmerican Artists, whosemembership work togetherwith writers, producersand directors to help presentaccurate and positive imagesof Asjan/PacificAmericans in roles on television and in film.
(more) '' VAMP" /GEDDE I,IATANABE {
NewWorld Pictures'in associationwith Balcor Fjlm Investorspresents
A DonaldP. BorchersProduction, "Vamp," starring Chris Makepeace,Sandy Baron,
RobertRusler, DedeePfeiffer, Geddel,latanabe as Duncanand GraceJones. lrlritten and directed by Richardl,lenk from a story by DonaldP. Borchersand
Wenk,it is producedby Borchers. Themusic is by JonathanElias.
### M
"yAllP"
GRACEJOI{ES
BIOGRAPHY
vampires cannot see themselves in mirrors becausethey have no reflection. Grace Jones, in portraying the role of Katrina, the leader of a group of exotic vampires in "vamp," took this axiom to heart: she was sure on one occasion jn particular that she could not see her own, hfgh_cheekboned, neflection.
Nonetheless, she had a great deal of fun pray.ing Katrina. ,,I find p'laying weakwomen so boring,,,she ,,He,ve says. always been powerful in the past' but manytimes we haven,t realized it.,, To prepare for her role, she read Anne Rice's classic novel "Intervjew !^ljth a Vampire,,,and then followed through wjth her character's conception by creating her own make-upand clothes. "l knowmy face," she says. "It was a challenge to design my own make-up. I focused on African ancrOrientar imagery. Katrina is arso a victim, so I madethe make-uphave synrpathy in the eyes and addedan [gyptian influence. she aiso has a good sense of hurnorancJ she's a narcissist, so she,s always changing the color of her lrair.,,
Dcing the unexpecterJhas become somewhatof a credo to Jones, rvhohas madestrong impressions in the mus.ic, dance, fashion and film worlds. }.lith her well-toned body and panther-like gait, .image Jones, is an extension of her stage act and fi'lm roles - raw' sensual, bursting with energy. Everything comp'leteiy d'ifferent f rom her ear.ly fami.ly 1ife.
4":) NLW WORLD VsW/ PICTURES l'44o souTH SEPULVEDABoULEVARD LoS ANGELES'CALIFORNIA 9oo25 TELEPHONE;(z'3) 444-Btoo TELEX664g37NWLsA "VA!{P"/GRACEJoNES 2.
She and her twin brother, Christian (a NewYork model), were the third born of seven children of Jamaicanparents, in Spanishtown,Jamaica.
Her paterna'l great great-grandfather had comefrom Nigeria; her maternal great-grandmotherwas half Scots. Her father is a Pentecostal minister. When she was 12, she and the other children movedto Syracuse, NewYork, to join their parents who had relocated there earlier.
As a young woman,she entered SyracuseUniversity with the goal of becominga Spanishmajor. Halfway through her academiccareer, Jones discovered theatre. A dramaprofessor at the school soon took her under his gufdance, predicting a theatrical future for her. Whenhe left Syracuse to direct a stage play in Philadelphia, Jones left school and followed.
She movedto NewYork shortly thereafter and signed with the Wilhelmina modeling agency. Becauseof her then-offbeat looks, she found it hard to get work and tired of constant rejectjon, she fled to Paris. Within three months there, she was appearing on the covers of Vogue, Elle and the Germanmagazine
Der Stern. About that time, a friend told her a record companywas looking for new talent. She cut a demotape and realizing the possibilities, the record companyoffered to give her voice lessons. She grabbedthe opportunity and then a year later, released her first of seven albums, "Portfolio."
"Night Clubbing," her fourth, producedthe NumberOne R & B and Dancerecord of 1981, "Pu11 Up To The Bumper."
Live performancewas another challenge for Jones. First conquering
Europe, the U.S. soon went wild over her concept of "Disco Theatre" in
1919. She brought her showcaseto a still-talked-about climax at the club
(more) 'VAilP"/GRACEJ0I{ES 3.
Roselandin NewYork where she performedin a series of extraordinarycostumes while interacting with live tigers and leopards. Her follow-up tour, "A One ManShow," in 1981-82,was even more successful.
Motionpictures camenext. Shemade her debutopposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in the role of Zula, the Amazonianwarrior in "conanthe Destroyer." she followed that with the JamesBond picture "A Viewto A Kill." "Vamp"js her third feature.
NewWorld Pictures in associationwith Balcor Film Investorspresents
A DonaldP. BorchersProduction, "Vamp," starring Chrfs Makepeace,Sandy Baron, RobertRusler, DedeePfeiffer, Geddel,latanabe as Duncanand GraceJones.
Written and directed by RichardWenk from a story by DonaldP. Borchersand Wenk,it is producedby Borchers. Themusic is by JonathanElias.
### ru
"ltAlilPo
PRODUCTIOI{I{OTES
TheAfter DarkClub.
It's an erotic beaconin the lower depthsof a large c'ity.
A playgroundof pleasurewhere fresh blood fs alwayswelcome and the entertainmentwill carry you away. Threecollege studentson a nocturnalmission, Chrjs Makepeace,Robert Rusler and GeddeWatanabe, have come to the Club to hire a stripoer - and bring her back to a fraternity bash. Thetrek takes themthrough a strangeneighborhood...where the shutters go up as the sun goesdown...every street is a blind alley.,.and even the psychosnever walk alone.
But oncethe trio is safe'ly inside, they're treated to sorneamazing performances.
There's Hard-HattedHannah, builder of fantasies, dominatingDominique who does things with chains that almosthave to be seento be believed, and GraceJones as the incredible Katrina, whosecostume is a coat of paint.
"Vamp,"a horror comedyof sex and the supernatural,tells the story of a m'ission goneawry, and of a mysterybeyond anyone's wildest dreams- and nightmares. The
After Dark Club, jt seems,has a secret that the womenwho work there havebeen keeping for hundredsof years.
NewlrJorld Pictures'in assoc'iationwith Balcor Film Investorspresents A Donald
P. BorchersProduction, "Vamp," starring Chrjs Makepeace,Sandy Baron, Robert Rusler,
@ NewwoRLD PrcruRES l44O SOUTHSEPULVEDA BOULEVARD LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNTA 90025 TELEPHONE:(2r3)444-8lOO rELEX 664937NWLSA "VAMP"/PR0DUCTI0NNoTES z.
DedeePfeiffer, GeddeWatanabe as Duncanand GraceJones. [.lritten and directed by RichardWenk from a story by DonaldP. Borchersand Wenk,it is producedby
Borchers. Themusic is by JonathanElias.
Thethree college kids, Keith, A.J. and Duncan,played by Makepeace,Rusler and
Watanabe,respectively, havenever experienced anything like the After DarkClub, nor havethey ever met anyonelike Katrina, the leader of a bandof luscious female vampiresportrayed by Jones. Theyalmost immediately decide Katrina wouldbe the perfect one to entertain at the frat party, andA.J. goesbackstage to makea deal. He doesn't comeback. In fact, everyoneclaims that he wasnever there.
"I figured that'if vampireswere aljve today," says Wenk,who is makjnghis feature directorial debutwith the film, "they wouldhave gotten jobs wherepeople cameto them. A strip club seemedto fit the bill. At the very least, it would keepthem off the streets." Beforethe night is over, A.J. will return, with a smile full of stalactite teeth and an unquenchablethirst for life. Duncan,too, is havinga terrific time as he's smitten by every femalebody curve he sees. It's only Keith, the most stable and reliable of them,who realizes what sort of peril they are fn. It's up to him to get himself and his friends as quickly and as far awayfrom the Club as possible.
Aiding him (or is it hinderinghim?) is Amaretto(Pfeiffer), a dizzy blonde waitress whokeeps insisting she knowshim and could very possibly be the on'ly "unbitten" employeeon the premises,and Club owner/comedianVic (Baron),who's beenwajting three hundredyears to play Vegas. Keith is confused;he doesn't
(more) " VAMP"/PRODUCTIONNOTES 3.
knowwhat to do. He's havinga nightmareand he's not evenasleep.
"I wantedthe film to be funny," says producerBorchers, "but alwayswithin the confinesof a situation basedin reality."
Borchers,whose previous producing credits for Newl,{orld Pictures include
"Crimesof Passion,""Children of the Corn," "Angel"and "Tuff Turf," originally had the idea for the film that stemmedfrom just a title that wasa play on words
and a notion that all the events- whateverthey wouldbe - take place in one night. He then turned to writer/director RichardWenk who conceived the structure. Throughout
the writing process,Wenk's main concern was that all the action be "kept within a certain 1ogic, eventhough the characterswould get themselvesinto situations that are highly improbable."
After a script waswritten that blendedequal parts of humor,fright and adventure,the next step wascasting. A'11concerned agreed Grace Jones would be
ideal for the slinky, silky role of Katrina. Theactress/songstress/model, who has beenfeatured in suchfflms as "Conanthe Destroyer"and "A Viewto A Kill," agreedand quickly went to work on helping to create her elaboratemake-up needed for her character.
Katrina's first appearancein the film is whenshe performsan erotic and lithesomedance at the After DarkClub. Performingon a bare stagewith nothing but an abstractly painted high-back,throne-type chair, she wearsnothing but red hair and lively and uniquelydesigned white bodypaint. NewYork graffiti artist Keith Haringcreated the body-art compositionsspecifically tailored to compliment Jones.
"Thewhole process of paint'ingGrace took approximatelynine hours," Haring says. He had previous'lydone a bodypainting of Jonesfor a special live performance.
(more) "VAMP''/PRODUCTIONNOTES 4.
"I had a plan of what I wantedto accomplishand howher charactershould look.
I usedpaint as a form of costumedesign, thoughI addednew things as I wentalong."
Equally importantfor the feel of the film wasthe casting of the three young men. With Makepeace,who has beenin "MyBodyguard" and "TheFalcon and the Snowman,"
Rusler, of "Nightmareon ElmStreet 2, Freddy'sRevenge" and "l,JeirdScience," and
Watanabe,who has starred in "GungHo" and "SixteenCandles" in the key roles, as well as veteranactor SandyBaron, who's been featured'in "BroadwayDanny Rose" anci"Birdy" and newcomerDedee Pfeiffer, wholast appearedin "ChoiceKill," it wastime to roll the cameras.
"Vamp"was shot on location'in southernCalifornia durjng the first part of 1986. It wasa shoot filled with dangerousstunts, interesting special effects, diversified locales, long hoursand an abundantamount of dedication.
"This wasthe mostdifficult productionI haveever undertaken,"says producer Borchers. "L.lehad stunts, special effects, children, animals,vampire make-up and far too muchrain throughoutthe courseof production. lrlehad two burglaries, a sidewalkcave in, three cars stolen, a psychokiller with a machete,one nervous breakdownand two sets held for ransom. Thenightmarish qualities of the film were certain'ly felt by our cast and crew."
Thefirst day of filming wasan intricate car sequenceshot in downtown
Los Angeleswhere a vehicle spins aroundin a circle, seeminglyout of control. To help regulate the traffic, eight Los Ange'lesPolice Departmentofficers were broughtin to ensurea smoothand easyflow, only ha)ting traffic whenactual fi'lm'ing was'in progress. It didn't quite workout thjs way; cars backedup in every direction. Thepolice department,fearing the worst, revokedthe requ'iredshooting permits and this, ultimately, could havethrown off the entire shootingschedule.
(more) ''VAMP"/PRODUCTION NOTES 5.
Therewere hurried negotiationsto reactivate the permits and oncethey were again acquired, filming continuedtroubJe free.
0ther locations provedto be less harrowing,but no less unpredictable.
Anotherlocation utilized wasthe University of SouthernCalifornia, one of the finest higher institutions of learning in the country. Thoughthey havea bell tower whichwas needed in the openingof the fi)m, they had no bell. A )arge tubular one wasbuilt, but then anotherpredicament arose: it wastoo big and bulky to get it up into the tower.
The solution wasto cut the bell in quarters and then individually transport the pieces to the tower and oncethere, g'luethem back together. But the g]ue wouldn't stick; the atmospherewas too dampfor it to hardenproperly. Quick thinkfng broughtout a blow torch. It's extremeheat quick'lydrfed the glue and filming, onceagain, got underway.
Also at USC,one of the older, moresedate libraries wasused, but not as a place to read or checkout books. Ratherapropos, the moviescript collection roomdoubled for the dormroom of roommatesKeith andA.J. Theprivate, rare bookscollection roomwas turned into Duncan'slodgings. Thefilming here went without a hitch, but it wasa bit disconcertingfor the crewnonetheless; they had to go about in uncharacteristicquiet.
To enhancethe look of the fi1m, specia'lfighting wasdesigned that emphasized greensand magentas,and since muchof the action takes place at night whenthe vampiresare free to prow'lfor victims, the look of the Club becamecrucial. Just as significant wasthe look of those creaturesof the night, the undead. Two make-upartists wereprimarily responsiblefor the appearancesof the vampires: GregCannom, who was in chargeof special make-upeffects and designthat included
(more) ..VAMP"/PRODUCTIONNOTES 6.
the effect of eyeballs rolling back into the head,melting faces and special
blood-spurtingveins whichgave the vampirestheir neededsustenance, and Pamela
Westmore,of the famedWestmore make-up family, whoheaded the teamof make-up
art'ists responsiblefor the vamp'ires'special effects make-upapplication that
enabledtheir skin tones to becomeincreasingly horrific as the night woreon.
Oneof the moredifficult effects in the film takes place after the completed
vampiretransformations. Like all "living" beings, they too neednourishment; it's just they go aboutfeeding in a different way. To showhow they do satisfy
their hungerand thirst wasexceedjng'ly rigorous. "It is painstak'ingand delicate work involving a special device to pumpblood throughan arm," says Cannom,whose credits include "Cocoon"and "TheHowling." "Sucha dev'icemust be invisible to the camera,and yet allow the blackish liqu'id to start gurgling out for the vampire to start drinking." Havingworked on several films featuring aliens, Cannomwelcomed the return to mysteryand suspense. "I havenightmares," he says, "but not from this kind of stuff." Additional workdone by Cannomon "Vamp"'includedthe creat'ionof
"gelating headswhich melt at the fire whichthreatens the lives of the vampires.r'
Westmorealso had the chanceto use her imaginationin her work. "In the film, you don't realjze that the waitressesare vamp'iresimmedjately," she says.
"It involves subtle differencesand changesthat makethem evil gradual'ly. First we changedthe color of the face, bringing up the contours,adding blues and greens. In the next stage, we whitenedthe face and broughtout the veins. Andthe hair gets wilder as they progressthrough the night." Dependingon the severity of the make-up,jt took anywherefrom two to six hoursto get the actors to look appropriatelyspooky...but not too scary.
(more) ''VAMP"/PRODUCTION NOTES 7.
"In an effort to savemoney," says Borchers,"at one point we considered using real vampires,and eventhough we werewilling to shootnights to accommodate their special schedule,it ultimately did not workout."
whv?
"Whenwe did a cameratest," Borcherslaughs, "it confirmedthat vampires do not photographwel I . "
###