The Once and Future Smash won Indie Spirit Award at Renegade Film Festival!
The Once and Future Smash won a Lizzie Award at Renegade Film Festival in Atlanta, GA for Indie Spirit and Catherine Capozzi won Best Score!!
The Mummy Song and The Hearse song from Fat Fleshy Fingers
We recorded two new songs for the anthology FAT FLESHY FINGERS (that we created a segment for). “Sexy Mummy,” features in our mummy-themed segment, King of Carrot Flowers (with lyrics and vocals by Michael, and guitar from Catherine Capozzi). We … Read More
Sophia directs segment for Fat Fleshy Fingers Anthology – now at festivals
Fat Fleshy Fingers, the Bizarroland anthology that Sophia directed the segment “King of Carrot Flowers” for, is now playing festivals. [IMDb] [TMDb] [Letterboxd] 1/16/2023 – Film Maudit 2.0 – Santa Monica, CA – World Premiere 9/1/2023 GenreBlast – Winchester, VA … Read More
Transmutations, Vol. 1 by Night Kisses featuring Michael J. Epstein
Transmutations, Vol. 1 by Night Kisses featuring Michael J. Epstein Transmutations, Vol. 1 by Night Kisses featuring Michael J. Epstein One tool Night Kisses uses in score composition is the creation of bed soundscapes, looping and altering some of our … Read More
Sophia and Michael appear as spectators in Tori Pope’s “Salomé: Do Not Dance, My Daughter”
IMDb – Letterboxd Salomé is a young princess obsessively in love with John the Baptist, a prophet who has been taken prisoner by her stepfather for publicly shaming her mother. Because John hates Salomé’s family, he has no interest in … Read More
Nightmare Film Fest Award for Innovation in Film given to Sophia & Michael
Sophia and Michael were very honored to receive the Innovation in Film award from Nightmares Film Festival for their work on The Once and Future Smash and for their work in the filmmaking community.
Sophia and Michael produce Shiny Diamonds (directed by Seth Chatfield and Toni Nagy) – now streaming!
Shiny Diamonds IMDb – Facebook Valerie has a job to do, and Todd seems ready to help. But there are dangers lurking in the night. Written and Directed by Seth Chatfield & Toni Nagy Produced by Seth Chatfield, Toni Nagy, … Read More
Sophia is cinematographer and Michael is gaffer, production sound, and editor on Izzy Lee’s short film, Memento Mori
Synopsis: In 1983, a scientist in isolation resurrects a dead colleague. Winner of the NYX 13 Minutes of Horror Competition to be included in a micro-short anthology. The anthology also streamed on Shudder and won the Rondo for Best Short Film, … Read More
Sophia is cinematographer and Michael is gaffer, production sound, and editor on Izzy Lee’s short film, Meat Friend
Synopsis: An ex-con, sentient pile of hamburger meat teaches after-school lessons to a child. Now playing festivals: https://www.nihilnoctem.com/meat-friend Credits: Co-Written, Produced & Directed by Izzy Lee Co-Written, Puppeteered & Produced by: Steve Johanson Starring: Marnie McKendry, Megan Duffy, Steve Johanson (Meat Friend voice) Cinematography: Sophia Cacciola … Read More
Michael interviewed for “What do Filmmakers have to Say about Film Festivals in 2022”
J. Horton’s channel (Linktree): Independent Filmmakers give film festival tips and opinions. What do Filmmakers have to Say about Film Festivals in 2022. Interviews from the Microbudget Marauders series.
Bizarroland 72-Hour Debacle Film challenge, “I don’t like your pants”
We signed up to participate in the third Bizarroland 72-Hour Film Debacle. With a team of Michael, Sophia, Kate McCoid as GOD and Nick Hatch as Cheesy Boy. We revived a song Sophia wrote for the movie, The Ungovernable … Read More
50 Most Recent | Film | Film Fests | Michael | Podcasts / Interviews | Sophia | Transformations of the Drs. Jenkins
Sophia and Michael’s 2021 in Review
2021.Well, it was a lot of lockdown and some brief moments of shooting films, a couple film fests, and a quick visit East.In sadness, our beloved chihuahua that we adopted at the start of the pandemic in 2020, King Ghidorah, … Read More
Sick ‘n’ Wrong 72-Hour Debacle Film challenge, “I thought his name was Blarche”
We signed up to participate in the second Sick ‘n’ Wrong 72-Hour Film Debacle. With a team of Michael, Sophia, and Blanche the dog, we set out to destroy god themselves. Synopsis: A woman and her questionable veterinarian search … Read More
Sophia and Michael interviewed for Micro-Budget Marauders: Micro-Budget Mentality documentary
Micro Budget Marauders: Micro Budget Mentality 2021 · 81 min Several independent filmmakers discuss micro budget filmmaking – IMDb PLEX TUBI Vimeo Xumo Sophia was also interviewed for Microbudget Marauders Too https://blog.mikeandsophia.com/2020/12/sophia-interviewed-for-filmmaking-documentary-microbudget-marauders-too/ Michael was also interviewed for Microbudget Marauders … Read More
Michael appears in In The Dark (World Premiere Screening Q&A) – The Fears And Nightmares Of Indie Horror Film Makers (trailer out)
Are you ready? To be scared? Join over twenty indie horror film makers and discover there deepest darkest fears! From Trash Arts and Vestra Pitctures. Featuring- Shane Ryan, Katrina Grey, David Black, P.J.Starks, James Quinn Tony Newton, Selena She … Read More
50 Most Recent | Cinematography | Film | Michael | Others' Films | Podcasts / Interviews | Shorts | Sophia
Sophia and Michael interviewed by Killer Shorts about working with Aaron Barrocas to bring his “Sitting Duck” to life
See also, our post about the film to find out where Sitting Duck is playing and more! As we approach our Regular Deadline, Killer Shorts is very excited to bring you this interview with the production team behind the horror … Read More
Michael visits The Grim and Bloody Podcast to talk Clickbait and more!
Michael had a great time visiting The Grim and Bloody Podcast and talking Clickbait. Give a listen! Hailing from Los Angeles California Michael J. Epstein is a man of many talents: Director, Actor, Writer, Musician, and Producer known primarily for … Read More
Sophia and Michael appear in Emilie Black’s 2022 “You Got Red On You” calendar
We’re delighted to be part of the 2022 You Got Red On You Calendar! Order your copy now! Who’s in it this year? The cover lady is Our Lady of Horror herself, Eileen Dietz (The Exorcist, does more really need … Read More
50 Most Recent | Darling Pet Munkee | Documentary | Film | Michael | Music | Others' Films | Shorts | Sophia
Sophia and Michael collaborate with Friday Night Films / Jim McDonough and Tim Tate on “Darling Pet Monkey” – the true story of a mail-order monkey!
Darling Pet Monkey IMDb – Facebook True Story as narrated by Tim Tate. 1969 Outside of Washington D.C. Two brothers ordered a monkey for $19.95 out of the back of a Monster magazine. Things get weird. Tim’s monkey story has … Read More
Sophia and Michael produce Aaron Barrocas’s Sitting Duck, at festivals now. Trailer out!
We had the pleasure of producing Aaron Barrocas’s horror-comedy short, Sitting Duck! You can read a wonderful, extensive interview with Aaron and us talking about the production over at Killer Shorts! Screenings: New York City Horror Film Festival – 12/2-9/2021 – … Read More
Sick ‘n’ Wrong 72-Hour Debacle Film challenge, Murderous Space F************s
We signed up to participate in the Sick ‘n’ Wrong 72-Hour Film Debacle. It was tough to make something in that time, but we managed to find a discarded 1980s hand drawn cartoon to turn in called, “Murderous Space … Read More
Sophia and Michael are on the A Degree Absolute! podcast talking about their love of The Prisoner and their band, Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
I (Chris) have long suspected The Prisoner is a show with a particular appeal to creative people, and I love to be proven right. Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling is a Prisoner-inspired punk duo comprised of filmmakers/musicians/writers/creators/etc. Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein. When … Read More
Michael is on the Shrimp Night podcast!
Bob has a chat with his good friend, talented filmmaker, musician, writer and PHANTASM super-fan Michael J. Epstein! They talk about the horrors of making people watch something you made, lamenting the film tastes of others and Michael’s myriad of upcoming projects! … Read More
Michael is featured in documentary, Microbudget Marauders 3, now streaming on Plex
Several independent Filmmakers explain what micro budget movies are and how they make, distribute and market them. https://watch.plex.tv/movie/microbudget-marauders-3?autoplay=1&utm_source=justWatch-catalog&utm_medium=deeplink&utm_content=60b14c63406794002c4ad952
Launch Over Podcast: Episode 12 – June 25, 2021
Episode 12 – June 25, 2021 Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein of Launch Over share insights into the creative process, discussing and analyzing the movies they watch and the movies they make. [ Without Your Head ] [ Anchor.FM … Read More
Fat Fleshy Fingers – Sophia & Michael part of a Bizarroland anthology film – crowdfunding now
The latest fest announcements and updates on the film can be found at: https://blog.mikeandsophia.com/2023/01/fat-fleshy-fingers-world-premiere-at-film-maudit-2-0-also-streaming-free-at-the-fest-through-1-22-2023/ The film had a world premiere at Film Maudit 2.0 in January 2023.
Michael revisits Conan the Destroyer on podcast, The Hold-Up with Stephen Stull
Talked barbarians on The Hold-Up with Stephen Stull. The premise of the podcast is that in this part 1, we talk about Conan the Destroyer, a movie I have not seen in a couple of decades. We will return for … Read More
Quotes from Michael appear in Free Lunch: a quarterly memo on the state of global affairs!
Free Lunch! A quarterly MEMO on the state of global affairs. An experimental magazine. Covering, uncovering & colliding.
Chimera
https://writers.coverfly.com/projects/view/ee2b3e8e-925a-4f83-a75f-2d68df9b256f/Chimera Chimera Television (Half-hour) · Horror · 32 pages After the accidental death of his twin sister, a guilt-ridden teen and his friends use lucid dreaming to free her captive spirit, but unwittingly open a gateway for malevolent forces. Written by Michael J. … Read More
Michael appears on Hellbender Media’s The Creative Draw
Welcome to The Creative Draw — a webseries about craft, creativity, and connections. Each episode features a person (or persons) who are deeply creative, faced with a randomly-drawn question from a deck of cards. Why random? Let’s bypass all the … Read More
Free Uncensored Radio Show 1994-2000
https://blog.mikeandsophia.com/2011/02/httpwww-mikeandsophia-com201102m-slik-da-ninja-aphorisms-on-aphonia-html/ https://blog.mikeandsophia.com/2017/05/the-beethoven-reclamation-society-presents-the-symphony-no-9-in-d-minor-op-125/ From 1994-2000, I hosted the sound collage experimental radio show, Free Uncensored on WHRW (and later on WRBB for a short time). Many of those shows are now available on YouTube. More info coming soon!
Michael is a guest on the You Don’t Have to Yell podcast – Bigfoot Does Not Exist | A Scientific Approach to the Issue of Voter Fraud | YDHTY, Ep. 78
Michael joined You Don’t Have to Yell on Thursday 1/21 to talk about how we can apply scientific thought to the topic of voter fraud and election outcome based on the concepts discussed in his book, Bigfoot Does Not Exist. … Read More
Michael talks about the scientific method and his book, Bigfoot Does Not Exist, on the Haunts and Hops podcast
Haunts and Hops This week we chat with Michael J Epstein, Filmmaker, Writer, Podcaster and author of the very insightful book, BIGFOOT DOES NOT EXIST!: An introduction to the fundamental principles of statistics, science, and logic.
The Big Steep – a film about the tea genie (teanie) – made by David Whitney, Michael J. Epstein, Sophia Cacciola with a little help from Mark Brown
The Big Steep starring David Whitney made by David Whitney, Michael J. Epstein, Sophia Cacciola with a little help from Mark Brown
50 Most Recent | Books | Crowdfunding | Film | Michael | Non-Fiction | Podcasts / Interviews | Writing
Michael talks to J. Horton about his crowdfunding book “Learn to Market Indie Films Better through Crowdfunding”
Check out the whole channel Crowdfunding book: https://blog.mikeandsophia.com/2020/06/pre-order-michaels-book-crowdfunding-basics-in-30-minutes-rel-march-13th-2017/ Learn to Market Indie Films Better through Crowdfunding | with Michael J. Epstein Today I’m talking crowdfunding with filmmaker/author/musician/man-about-town Michael J. Epstein. He gives some great crowdfunding tips and we talk … Read More
Sophia and Michael dance as silhouettes in The Record Summer’s White Dress music video directed by Bill Moldt
Sophia and Michael dance as silhouettes in The Record Summer’s White Dress music video directed by the fantastically talented Bill Moldt Check out this info on the making of… New Album ‘Lay It Bare’ Available March 5th on Bodan Kuma … Read More
Sophia and Michael’s 2020 in Review
2020. Well, it’s over. We could go on forever about all of the horrible suffering, much of it due to neglect, failure, and maliciousness, but we’ll try and reflect on the positive things we personally found and did in a … Read More
Sophia directs Bloodhound – available on Arrow Player (An ancient vampire is stuck in the body of an angry chihuahua)
During the pandemic we adopted a very special chihuahua-mix, King Ghidorah the Dog. It became evident along our journey that he was actually an ancient vampire is stuck in the body of an angry chihuahua! We made this mini-documentary about … Read More
50 Most Recent | Film Fests | Launch Over Podcast | Michael | Podcasts / Interviews | Shorts | Sophia | Transformations of the Drs. Jenkins
Launch Over Podcast: Episode 11 with Bob Rose – December 11, 2020
Episode 11 with Bob Rose – December 11, 2020 Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein of Launch Over share insights into the creative process, discussing and analyzing the movies they watch and the movies they make. [ Without Your Head … Read More
Michael makes a cameo in the St. Patrick’s Day segment of Happy Horror Days (2020)
Michael appears as Mr. Keane in Bel Deliá’s St. Patrick’s Day segment.
My First Horror Movie Ep. 83 w/ Sophia and Michael talking about A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 and The Stuff
My First Horror Movie Ep. 83: Michael Epstein & Sophia Cacciola (Launch over Productions) [Instagram] [Twitter] [Facebook] https://www.youtube.com/sledgehammerhorror?fbclid=IwAR1uOUheQ3SK8Hmxby8EY7_qnZVWoBvoTzXxkjDc2c-1UhsiCNeJ59whhYw
50 Most Recent | Film Fests | Launch Over Podcast | Michael | Podcasts / Interviews | Sophia | Transformations of the Drs. Jenkins
Launch Over Podcast: Episode 10 with Stephen Stull – November 20, 2020
Episode 10 with Stephen Stull – November 20, 2020 Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein of Launch Over share insights into the creative process, discussing and analyzing the movies they watch and the movies they make. [ Without Your Head … Read More
Sophia and Michael appear in the Zoom film, Candemic: Secret Werewolf Saga
The Rhino Crate Presents a Troy Minkowsky Film “Candemic: Secret Werewolf Saga” Michael Epstein – Sophia Cacciola – Josh Teale – Kayla Caulfield – Victoria Paradis – Richard Chandler Music by James Force Recorded & Edited by Dennis Maler Titles … Read More
Launch Over Podcast: Episode 9 with Aaron Barrocas – October 23, 2020
Episode 9 with Aaron Barrocas – October 23, 2020 Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein of Launch Over share insights into the creative process, discussing and analyzing the movies they watch and the movies they make. [ Without Your Head … Read More
Sophia and Michael collaborate with Without Your Head’s Neal Jones on short documentary, Umbilicus Desidero
Earlier this year, Neal Jones’ body was forever changed by a surgery. This 4-minute, satirical doc explores how Neal’s life has changed. Shot by Sophia and directed and edited by Michael, the film features family guest appearances by Neal’s mother, … Read More
Sophia and Michael help shoot Direct To Video, a documentary about the early-mid 90’s “Direct To Video” horror films – Out now!
Sophia and Michael have been working with director Dustin Ferguson to help shoot his forthcoming documentary, Direct to Video, a 2019 documentary about the early-mid 90’s “Direct To Video” horror films! Check out some of the interviews we’ve helped on! … Read More
Night Kisses: Launch Over Short Film Scores: Volume 1
Launch Over Short Film Scores: Volume 1 by Night Kisses Film Scores: Volume 1 contains all of the odds and ends of Launch Over produced (or tangential) short films and feature films for which we’ve made small contributions by Night … Read More
50 Most Recent | Blood of the Tribades | Bring Us Your Women | Clickbait | Darling Pet Munkee | Launch Over Podcast | Michael | Music Videos | Podcasts / Interviews | Shorts | Sophia | TEN
Launch Over Podcast: Episode 8 with Catherine Capozzi – October 9, 2020
Launch Over Podcast: Episode 8 with Catherine Capozzi – October 9, 2020 Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein of Launch Over share insights into the creative process, discussing and analyzing the movies they watch and the movies they make. [ … Read More
Michael interviewed for The Horror Anthology Handbook out on October 27th! Pre-orders now
I am honored to be included in the “words of wisdom” section of this fantastic guide to horror anthologies! We’ve done quite a lot of microbudget anthology work in the past few years and I’m definitely excited to see the … Read More