The Once and Future Smash
In 1970, Mikey & William both portrayed football cannibal Smash-Mouth in the influential cult hit, End Zone 2. Now, 50 years later, only one can wear the mask.
The Once and Future Smash is the story of Mikey Smash and William Mouth, who both played Smash-Mouth, the football-themed slasher character in the lost 1970 cult film, End Zone 2. They are now on the convention circuit 50 years later, trying to reclaim the iconic role in the upcoming reboot sequel that starts one hour into End Zone 2.
More info: https://launchover.com/launch/film/the-once-and-future-smash/
A Launch Over and Without Your Head Film; Produced by: Sophia Cacciola / Michael J. Epstein / Neal Jones
Directed by Sophia Cacciola / Michael J. Epstein - Written by Michael J. Epstein
Starring: Michael St. Michaels (The Greasy Strangler), Bill Weeden (Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.), A.J. Cutler
Featuring: Mark Patton (Nightmare on Elm Street 2), Laurene Landon (Maniac Cop), Richard Elfman (Forbidden Zone), Mark Torgl (Toxic Avenger), Melanie Kinnaman (Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning), V.C. DuPree (Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan), Victor Miller (Friday the 13th), Marc Sheffler (Last House on the Left), Carl Solomon (Tropical Cop Tales), Adam Marcus (Jason Goes to Hell), Todd Farmer (Jason X), John Dugan (Texas Chain Saw Massacre), Bill Johnson (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2), Bob Elmore (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2), LLoyd Kaufman (Troma), Claudio Fragasso/Rossella Drudi (Troll 2), Tim Dry (Xtro), Dan Yeager (Texas Chainsaw 3D), Joe Castro (Terror Toons), Jared Rivet (Day of the Dead TV series), James Branscome (Cinematic Void), Heidi Honeycutt (Etheria)
End Zone 2
Fifteen years after the events of End Zone, Smash-Mouth is back to finish off the cheerleaders who killed his mother
Produced by Tex Beckerson, Jacques Renault; Written by L. Ray Hobbson; Directed by August Kane; Starring: Percy Wynne, Bernadette Ryan, Dahlia Dimont, Patricia Ford, Melody Riviera, Mikey Smash, Randall Browning
More info: https://launchover.com/launch/film/the-once-and-future-smash/
About the restoration:
End Zone 2 was shot in 1969 on a modified Arri 16ST. Most 16mm release prints were struck from the original composite negative, which was eventually irrevocably damaged in the process. Six partial prints and a partial Italian internegative (the only source for the titles) were used to recreate the film in as close a form as possible to the original presentation based on written records and a partial magnetic audio master. While some prints were prepared with widescreen mattes, the film is presented here in unmatted form with 1.375:1 aspect ratio. As with all previous attempts at restoration, it was not possible to locate the last thirty minutes of the film. It is believed to be lost.
Launch Over is honored to present this landmark work to the public for the first time since its original theatrical run.
Festivals
- FrightFest, London UK - World Premiere: August 29, 2022
- Screamfest, Los Angeles, CA - North American Premiere: October 19, 2022
- Nightmares Film Festival, Columbus, OH - Midwest Premiere: Oct 23, 2022 (Nominated: Best Horror Comedy Feature)
- Morbido Film Fest, Mexico City, Mexico: Oct 31, 2022
- Be Afraid Horror Fest, Gorizia, Italy - Nov 24-27, 2022
- The South African Independent Film Festival - Capetown, South Africa - African Premiere: Nov 27, 2022
- Winner Best Documentary Feature
- South Texas Underground Film Festival - Corpus Christi, TX: Dec 3, 2022
- Winner Best of Fest Feature
- Winner Directors’ Choice
- New York City Horror Film Festival, NYC - East Coast Premiere: Dec 4, 2022
- Winner Best Horror Comedy Feature
- Renegade Film Festival, Atlanta, GA: March 2-4, 2023
- Winner Indie Spirit
- Nominated: Best Feature, Best Directors
- Panic Film Festival, Kansas City MO: April 13-19
- Bruggore Film Festival, Brugg Switzerland: April 28, 2023
- GASP! Horror Fest, Manchester UK: June 18, 2023
- Chattanooga Film Festival, Chattanooga, TN: June 23-29, 2023
- Gen Con, Indianapolis, IN: August 3-6, 2023
- Winner: Best Documentary
- Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival, Buffalo NY: August 20, 2023
- Winner: Outstanding Comedy Feature
- Nominated: Outstanding Director, Outstanding Screenplay
- GenreBlast Film Festival, Winchester VA: September 1, 2023
- Winner: GenreBlast Forever Award
- Nominated: Best Feature, Best Comedy, Best Mockumentary, Best Screenplay,
Best Actor: Bill Weeden, Michael St. Michaels, Best Supporting Actor: AJ Cutler, Best Duo: Bill Weeden/Michael St. Michaels
- The Dead of Night Film Festival, Liverpool UK: October 7-8, 2023
- Hysteria Film Festival, St Louis, MO: Ocotober 19 & 20, 2023
- Audience Award Winner: Best Feature, Best Actor Feature Film: Bill Weeden
- The Milwaukee Twisted Dreams Film Festival, Milwaukee, WI: October 22, 2023
- Winner: Best Director, Best Ensemble Cast, Best Supporting Performance: Bill Weeden
- Nominated: Best Screenplay, Best Leading Performance: A.J. Cutler, Best Supporting Performance: Michael St. Michaels/Bill Weeden
Festivals
- FrightFest, London UK - World Premiere: August 29, 2022
- Screamfest, Los Angeles, CA - North American Premiere: October 19, 2022
- Nightmares Film Festival, Columbus, OH - Midwest Premiere: Oct 23, 2022 (Nominated: Best Horror Feature, Best Cinematography)
- Morbido Film Fest, Mexico City, Mexico: Oct 31, 2022
- Be Afraid Horror Fest - Gorizia, Italy: Nov 24-27, 2022
- South Texas Underground Film Festival, Corpus Christi, TX: Dec 3, 2022
- Winner Directors’ Choice
- New York City Horror Film Festival, NYC - East Coast Premiere: Dec 4, 2022
- Renegade Film Festival, Atlanta, GA: March 2-4, 2023
- Winner: Best Score
- Nominated: Best Feature, Best Director (August Kane), Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction
- Panic Film Festival, Kansas City MO: April 13-19
- GASP! Horror Fest, Manchester UK: June 18, 2023
- Chattanooga Film Festival, TN: June 23-29, 2023
- Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival, Buffalo NY: August 20, 2023
- Winner: Off Beat Cinema Award
- Nominated: Outstanding Fantasy, Horror, or Science Fiction Feature
- GenreBlast Film Festival, Winchester VA: September 1, 2023
- Winner: Best Cinematography: Sal Cassini
- Nominated: Best Feature, Best Midnight, Best Actress: Percy Wynne, Best Ensemble, Best Score: Red Marino, Best Song: Henry 'Oak' Tiller, Best Poster
- The Dead of Night Film Festival, Liverpool UK: October 7-8, 2023
- Hysteria Film Festival, St Louis, MO: Ocotober 19 & 20, 2023
- The Milwaukee Twisted Dreams Film Festival, Milwaukee, WI: October 22, 2023
- Nominated: Best FX
[…] got back into shooting our new feature film, The Once and Future Smash starring Michael St. Michaels (The Greasy Strangler) and Bill Weeden (Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D). We […]
[…] flew to Mad Monster Party in Charlotte, NC to begin principal photography on our new feature film, The Once and Future Smash starring Michael St. Michaels (The Greasy Strangler) and Bill Weeden (Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D). We […]
[…] friends, and he has worked with us on numerous projects, including Clickbait, Half-Cocked, and The Once and Future Smash. We always love working with Matt and were honored to be asked to be part of the crew and cast for […]
[…] were sadly unable to attend Gen Con 2023 to be at the screening for The Once and Future Smash, which won Best Documentary, but we were delighted to be invited to serve on virtual panels for […]
[…] Happy Valentine’s Day! To celebrate, Sophia and Michael joined Jacob Davison and Ryan Cultrera on the Hallo-Rewind Podcast to talk about the Halloween episode of Dinosaurs, one of the greatest TV shows of all time! Because we can’t keep things simple and the episode of the show ends with a song, we also hurried-up and mixed the Dinosaurs-themed song, “Not the Mama” that The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library wrote for the Encyclopedia Show Somerville some years ago! Put it all on your earballs! Oh, we also talked about The Once and Future Smash / End Zone 2! […]