John Amplas interview

[thxleo]

I'll be there. Will Mr. Amplas have any snazzy color photos of Martinez available for signing? That's what I'm looking for. Hey, and you'd better get your butt over to Gary Streiner's table to say 'hello' or Gary will come looking for you with his meat hook! Dubious, Yes, John will have a color shot of his "greasy little Puerto Rican ass" from Dawn of the Dead. Axlish was nice enough to provide some help with photos - as did "The Greek" himself, Chris Stavrakis. John also has a great portrait shot of himself from "Knightriders" that Tom Savini took, just a great photograph of John in his mime make-up(which John applied himself). He also has a personal behind the scenes shot from "Day of the Dead"(which interestingly enough, John feels he looked too young for the part) that he will have available. And my personal favorite is the rare comic book art from the Creepshow comic book prop of Dead Nate coming out of the grave. One photograph that I liked, that John didn't, was a behind the scenes still from "Dawn of the Dead" with John and Tom Savini. John's arm was used for the part where Ken Foree closes the sliding mall door on the zombie's hand and cuts it off. The photo shows Tom rigging John with a stump for the scene. I'm actually very excited that Gary Streiner will be at the show. I enjoyed his documentary on Jerry Seinfeld, "Comedian", very much. I'll see you at the show!

[gallowisgod]

John will have a color shot of his "greasy little Puerto Rican ass" from Dawn of the Dead. Axlish was nice enough to provide some help with photos - as did "The Greek" himself, Chris Stavrakis. John also has a great portrait shot of himself from "Knightriders" that Tom Savini took, just a great photograph of John in his mime make-up(which John applied himself). He also has a personal behind the scenes shot from "Day of the Dead"(which interestingly enough, John feels he looked too young for the part) that he will have available. And my personal favorite is the rare comic book art from the Creepshow comic book prop of Dead Nate coming out of the grave. One photograph that I liked, that John didn't, was a behind the scenes still from "Dawn of the Dead" with John and Tom Savini. John's arm was used for the part where Ken Foree closes the sliding mall door on the zombie's hand and cuts it off. The photo shows Tom rigging John with a stump for the scene. Now I'm even more jealous of you guys that are able to be there! ...I suppose no one would be able to buy a few prints for me and send them to Sweden?

[thxleo]

Now I'm even more jealous of you guys that are able to be there! ...I suppose no one would be able to buy a few prints for me and send them to Sweden? Gallowisgod, Go ahead and private message me your information.

[gallowisgod]

Gallowisgod, Go ahead and private message me your information. Thank you, I love you, and you have been PM'ed. <3

[thxleo]

Thank you, I love you, and you have been PM'ed. <3 No problem. John would be very flattered to know how much you enjoy his work.

[DubiousComforts]

Dubious, Yes, John will have a color shot of his "greasy little Puerto Rican ass" from Dawn of the Dead. Axlish was nice enough to provide some help with photos - as did "The Greek" himself, Chris Stavrakis. Awesome, that's exactly what I am looking for. I'll definitely be spending some cash with Mr. Amplas. Please tell me that you convinced him to have prints of the photo showing Savini rigging his tear-away arm in DAWN available at the show. Sounds incredible!

[thxleo]

Please tell me that you convinced him to have prints of the photo showing Savini rigging his tear-away arm in DAWN available at the show. Sounds incredible! Dubious, Unfortunately no. However, if you mention it to him at the show it might help change his mind about it. John sometimes forgets that I'm a huge Romero nerd and that stuff that I think is cool, other fans will think is cool too. I had to twist his arm on a couple of pics to use at the conventions. LOL I got that photo from Chris Stavrakis actually. Chris has TONS of very rare "Dawn of the Dead" pics that he has collected over the years. He's picked up personal photos from his brother Taso, of course. He's also gotten stuff from Tom Savini's personal collection and from John Rice(SWAT suicide victim). His Mac is literally filled with tons of rare stuff that hardly anyone has ever seen, unfortunately. See you this weekend!

[DubiousComforts]

It was awesome to finally be able to meet John Amplas at the Chiller show this weekend. As is the case with most of the people involved in George Romero's films, Mr. Amplas is very accommodating and appreciative of his fans. He was happy to chat about his work, and seems to be truly astonished that such a fan base exists for these films. Thanks to HPOTD's Thxleo for putting together Mr. Amplas' appearance at the show, and great work by Axlish and all involved for the spectacular array of photos that Mr. Amplas had for sale at his table (I got a Martinez!) There was a video loop playing at the table which I'm told Axlish put together, as well. All around, it was a very impressive display. "Martinez" himself holding a photo of the Building 107 mastermind from Dawn of the Dead (sorry for the flash, I suck at photography). John Amplas at left, Thxleo at right and Thxleo's lovely girlfriend (whose name escapes me) at center. It was almost as awesome meeting Thxleo as it was the man who played Martin (but not quite!)

[gallowisgod]

Thank you Dubios for the pictures! *o* And yes, thank you Thxleo <3 Wish I could've been there! (...holy friggin' crap look at all those goregeous prints! *stares*)

[DubiousComforts]

Wish I could've been there! (...holy friggin' crap look at all those goregeous prints! *stares*) I prompted Mr. Amplas to put together a web site so that fans unable to attend these conventions would be able to contact him.

[Yojimbo]

I am so jealous of you dudes that were able to attend the convention. Wish I could have gone, but finances and work schedules as they were would not allow my presence. Glad to hear that Ampalas might be putting together a website to share his stuff with the fans - Good job, Dubious!

[krakenslayer]

Whatever happened to Amplas's boyish good looks? Didn't he used to have cheekbones that could cut cheese? Well, I guess it comes to us all. I suppose, he actually looks pretty good for a man his age, it's just that I haven't seen his in anything since Day.

[gallowisgod]

May I be annoying and ask what print it is beside Whiteface, behind the waterbottle? (if it is a print; it's smaller than all the others and I might be delusional, haha.) krakenslayer: Well, that's the story of life I guess. You can't look young and pretty forever. (even if you try, like Janice Dickinson... *shudders*) Actually, I've seen a picture of him from 2006, so compared to that one I think (being very biased in every statement I make, hah!) he looks great now! Especially for (as you said) a man his age. DubiousComforts: That would be amazing, I really hope he does! Not that I'd dare to mail him though.

[AcesandEights]

Nice info and pictures (the flash wasn't that bad, really), DC! Thanks for the share.

[thxleo]

Thank you Dubios for the pictures! *o* And yes, thank you Thxleo <3 Wish I could've been there! (...holy friggin' crap look at all those goregeous prints! *stares*) I will get the pics out to you probably on Tuesday Malin. I hope you enjoy them. It was almost as awesome meeting Thxleo as it was the man who played Martin (but not quite!) Dubious, It was great meeting you at the show as well!