News In Brief

• We were sad to learn of the recent death of legendary make-up artist Dick Smith, who passed away this week at the age of 92. His Oscar-winning career encompassed pioneering prosthetic make-up for numerous films including The Exorcist, Little Big Man, The Godfather and Amadeus. His pioneering old-age creations were put to good use on Dark Shadows, memorably ageing Jonathan Frid's Barnabas for television and later on the big screen in House of Dark Shadows.
• Online broadcaster Hulu has recently expanded its library of original Dark Shadows episodes. 240 installments can now be viewed, beginning with the introduction of Barnabas, with more additions planned in the coming months. To watch online, click here.
  
•  Jonathan Frid's starring role in Oliver Stone's directorial debut Seizure is set to get a new lease of life with the release of an official restored Blu-Ray in September. The new edition can be pre-ordered on DVD and high-definition Blu-Ray by clicking here.
• A host of Dark Shadows stars can be seen in the new independent film Doctor Mabuse: Etiopomar, which has just been released in video-on-demand format. The retro-styled thriller features Jerry Lacy (Reverend Trask), Lara Parker (Angelique), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans) and Christopher Pennock (Jeb Hawkes) and can be viewed online by clicking here.
• And finally, the team behind Dark Shadows-inspired online soap Ragged Isle are raising funds for a new horror project, On a Country Road, which will star Dark Shadows' very own Sharon Smyth-Lentz (Sarah Collins). To read more and donate online, click here.

Remembering Jonathan Frid Book Released

The life of Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins) is celebrated in a new book from Evil Twin Publishing. Remembering Jonathan Frid is a 200-page paperback that gathers memories and insights from Jonathan's friends, colleagues and fans, illustrated throughout with rare and unseen photographs.

The book includes contributions from Lara Parker (Angelique), Marie Wallace (Eve) and Jonathan's longtime producer and writer Nancy Kersey, along with Dark Shadows News Page editor Stuart Manning. From the publisher:

Jonathan Frid was thought to be something of a mysterious figure: He disliked the celebrity spotlight, he never aspired to stardom and seldom spoke about his private life. What made him tick? What kind of a man was he? From his early days on the stage to his time as vampire Barnabas Collins on the cult television classic Dark Shadows, Remembering Jonathan Frid gathers friends, family and colleagues to share their insights and memories of this complex and talented actor, illustrated throughout with over 130 rare and unseen photographs.

Remembering Jonathan Frid is available in paperback and can be ordered at a discount price by clicking here. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the John H. Frid Foundation, the charity fund Jonathan that established in his name.

Hermes Press Launches Dark Shadows Appeal

As we recently reported, Hermes Press are currently preparing a new volume dedicated to the 1971-72 Dark Shadows daily newspaper comic strip, which will include the Sunday panels presented in full colour as originally printed. In association with Dan Curtis Productions, Hermes are looking for complete copies of the Sunday Dark Shadows comics covering the publication dates of November 14 1971 to March 4 1972.

Dark Shadows fans or comic strip collectors who may be able to help with some of the needed Sunday clippings will be acknowledged in the upcoming book with a special thank you and will receive a complete set of all the Hermes Press Dark Shadows books for their assistance. If you can help, please contact info@hermespress.com.

Dark Shadows: The Complete Newspaper Dailies and Sundays is due out in August and can be pre-ordered by clicking here.

Dark Shadows Newspaper Strips Reprinted

Hermes Press have announced that they will be reprinting the 1971-72 syndicated Dark Shadows newspaper strip in a deluxe 224-page collector's hardback. The strip originally ran for a year in various newspapers across the US, featuring stunning art by Kenneth Bruce Bald. 

The new book will feature the complete run of strips digitally restored, along with the Sunday instalments reproduced in full-colour as originally published. Bonus content will include surviving examples of original artwork and an accompanying essay.

Dark Shadows: The Complete Newspaper Dailies and Sundays is published in August and can be pre-ordered at a discount price by clicking here.

Counterfeit Dark Shadows DVD Warning Issued

MPI Home Video, the official distributor of Dark Shadows on DVD, have responded to reports that inferior illegal copies of their Dark Shadows: The Complete Original Series DVD box set are being sold. The official sets are available from Amazon at this link. MPI's statement is as follows:

Dear Customer 

It has come to our attention that there are counterfeit sets being sold and distributed for Dark Shadows: The Complete Original Series Deluxe Edition (MPI item # DVD7991). These counterfeit sets appear nearly identical to the authentic sets. If you are experiencing playback issues with your discs, it is possible that you have purchased a counterfeit set. If so, please alert us as to where you purchased the set. The more detail you can provide us (seller, links, pictures, etc.), the more it will help us put a stop to this illegal distribution. Below is a list of ways you can tell you have purchased a counterfeit set:

• The authentic set is wrapped in a plastic polybag whereas the counterfeit set is shrink wrapped.

• The authentic set has a thread that prevents the coffin lid from opening too far. The counterfeit set will open all the way (i.e. no thread).

• The colours are much purer on the authentic set (stronger reds and blacks).

• The pages in the booklet are a thinner/poor quality whereas the authentic set is a thicker glossier stock.

• The corners of the set might be banged up on the counterfeit set.

• MPI used eco-friendly trays in the amaray cases which have holes in them to save on plastic where the counterfeit sets have solid black plastic backing behind each disc.

• The picture quality of the actual program will be poorer. The counterfeit sets use a single-layer disc, compressing the quality onto one disc, whereas the authentic version contains dual-layered discs.

• The counterfeit set will have defective discs whereas the authentic set should not.

MPI is not responsible for the purchase or quality of counterfeit sets. If you have purchased an illegal set, we recommend contacting eBay and putting a claim against the seller of the counterfeit set. We also encourage you to make your purchases through established retailers such as Amazon.com. eBay is not a recommended outlet for this item, and MPI does not sell this item via eBay. 

Sincerely
MPI Home Video

Doctor Mabuse and Dracula Screening

On Wednesday, April 30, the world premiere of Doctor Mabuse: Etiopomar will be held at the historic Vista Theatre in Hollywood as part of a double feature celebrating the 40th anniversary of Dark Shadows creator Dan Curtis' Dracula in a newly-restored print. Guests from both films will be in attendance to sign autographs and meet fans.

Doctor Mabuse: Etiopomar is a new independent film starring Dark Shadows actors, following on from last year's Doctor Mabuse. Jerry Lacy (Reverend Trask) reprises his role as the mysterious title character, alongside Lara Parker (Angelique) and Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans) as supernatural sisters and Christopher Pennock (Jeb Hawkes) as a new nemesis.

Dan Curtis' Dracula stars Oscar-winning actor Jack Palance as the legendary vampire in a critically acclaimed adaptation of the Bram Stoker novel which originally aired on CBS-TV in 1974 and was released theatrically outside America. Shot on location in Yugoslavia and England, the film includes an atmospheric music score by composer Dark Shadows composer Robert Cobert, who turns 90 this year. Cobert will attend the April 30 event and sign copies of the new CD of his Dracula soundtrack music, along with the Blu-Ray release of the film.

Doors open at 6.15pm, with the actors signing in the lobby, where a selection of merchandise will be available. A charity auction of special Dark Shadows memorabilia will be held at 7.30pm, before Doctor Mabuse: Etiopomar is screened at 8.00pm. Afterwards director/writer Ansel Faraj and cast will take part in a question-and-answer session, before Dracula is screened at 10.00pm.

The Vista Theatre is located on 4473 Sunset Drive, Los Angeles, California 90027; Telephone: (323) 660-6639. Tickets for the evening are only $15.00 per person and can be purchased via PayPal from ShadowGram@aol.com or by sending checks payable to: ShadowGram, PO Box 1766, Temple City, CA 91780.

To pre-order Dracula on Blu-Ray at a discount price, click here. To pre-order the Dracula soundtrack, click here.

News In Brief

• Round 2 Models have re-released the original 1960s Dark Shadows model kits in a special collector's double pack, which includes brand new bonus heads featuring new improved sculpts of Jonathan Frid and the werewolf. To order the kits online at a discount price, click here.
• Nostalgia convention Monster-Mania is holding a Dark Shadows reunion as part of their March 7-9 event, which takes place in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. In attendance will be Lara Parker (Angelique), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans), Jerry Lacy (Reverend Trask) and Marie Wallace (Eve). For more information, click here.
• The Dark Shadows Festival is now accepting registrations for its previously-announced June event in Tarrytown, New York. Joining the guest list are Sharon Smyth-Lentz (Sarah Collins) and Christopher Pennock (Jeb Hawkes). For more information, including a printable registration form, click here.
• The new Colin Farrell film Winter's Tale features scenes shots at Lyndhurst, which appeared as Collinwood in both original Dark Shadows movies. It can be seen in cinemas now.
• Kathryn Leigh Scott has just filmed a new guest spot for ABC sitcom The Goldbergs. Kathryn first appeared on the show last November, with her new episode set for broadcast soon.
• Dynamite are to release a second volume of their Dark Shadows comics in a collected format. The 224-page trade paperback is out in June and can be pre-ordered by clicking here.
• And don't forget, you can also follow the Dark Shadows News Page on Facebook and Twitter for daily Dark Shadows updates, on-this-day trivia and other exclusives. 

New Dark Shadows Merchandise From MPI

MPI Home Video have just mailed out a Dark Shadows merchandise bulletin, showcasing their latest products and promotions. New products include a Barnabas Collins tote bag, a ballpoint pen and a branded water bottle. Click on the images below for a larger view.

Additionally, MPI have teamed up with Amazon to offer their Dark Shadows: The Complete Original Series DVD box set at a new low price of $289.99, a saving of 52% from the original retail price. The 131-disc collection includes all 1,225 classic episodes plus bonus features in a coffin-shaped presentation case. To order the set, while stocks last, click here.

New Merchandise From The Dark Shadows Festival

The Dark Shadows Festival has released a 2014 Vampire Calendar. Measuring 8 1/2 x 10" and printed on thick coated paper stock, it features 15 rare and unseen full-page photographs from Dark Shadows, each reproduced directly from the original negatives.

To order the calendar, send payment of check or money order of $14.99 (price includes postage within the US) to the address below.

The Festival is also distributing the independent film Doctor Mabuse on DVD. Starring Jerry Lacy (Reverend Trask), Lara Parker (Angelique) and Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans), this feature-length psychological thriller comes with bonus interviews and additional extra content. A sequel, Doctor Mabuse: Etiopomar recently wrapped and will be released next year.

A preview trailer can be seen below. To order the Doctor Mabuse DVD, send a check or money order for $19.95 plus $3.00 postage to: Dark Shadows Festival, PO Box 92, Maplewood, NJ 07040.

Lara Parker Goes On Tour

Wolf Moon Rising, the long-awaited new Dark Shadows novel from Angelique actress Lara Parker is released next week, and Lara is embarking on a tour to promote the book. Here's a list of confirmed dates and times.

Tuesday August 20 – 7.00pm Barnes & Noble at The Grove, 189 The Grove Drive, Suite K-30, Los Angeles, California. Telephone: (323) 525-0270.

Wednesday August 21 – 7.00pm Mysterious Galaxy, 7051 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Suite 302, San Diego, California. Telephone: (858) 268-4747.

Friday August 23 – 7.00pm Borderlands Books, 866 Valencia Street, San Francisco, California. Telephone: (415) 824-8203.

Sunday August 25 – 4.00pm Barnes & Noble, 7227 South West Bridgeport Road, Tigard, Oregon (Portland/Bridgeport area). Telephone: (503) 431-7575.

Friday August 30 – Sunday September 1 DragonCon convention in Atlanta, Georgia. Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans) will also be appearing. For more information on the event, click here.

Wednesday September 4 – 7.00pm Barnes & Noble, 2416 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida. Telephone: (407) 894-6024.

Thursday September 5 – 6.00pm Booksellers at Laurelwood, 387 Perkins Extended, Memphis, Tennessee. Telephone: (901) 683-9801.

Monday September 9 – 7:00pm Barnes & Noble, 150 East 86th St. New York City. Telephone: (212) 369-2180.  

Saturday September 14 – 2:00pm Dark Delicacies, 3512 West Magnolia Boulevard, Burbank, California. Telephone: (818) 556-6660 /1-888-DARKDEL.

Wolf Moon Rising can be ordered at a discount price by clicking here. UK readers can order the book by clicking here. And don't forget to check out our interview with Lara about the book, along with the novel's teaser Prologue.

Wolf Moon Rising Preview Extract

Angelique actress Lara Parker has a Dark Shadows novel out next month, and we're delighted to be able to share a preview of the book's prologue. Wolf Moon Rising is an exciting new story stretching across a century, following on from 2006's The Salem Branch. You can also find out more about the book in our exclusive author interview with Lara from last year by clicking here.

Wolf Moon Rising: Prologue

The trees draw in their shadows, a violet stain seeps over the sky, and beneath the stone walls of a hundred year old mansion, the vampire stirs. Encased in a smothering blackness that smells faintly of blood, Barnabas can feel an unfamiliar surge of strength, but where he lies there is no space, no air, only his foul breath, and demon memories crawling beneath his eyelids like maggots. Panicked, he gasps to breathe, claws above his head. His fingernails rip his silken shroud, and wooden splinters dig into the quick. 

Then, in the midst of his struggling, a wave of sorrow washes over him and he lies back in his coffin with voices humming in his brain. Once again, he has died forever. Had he been royalty in the Elizabethan age, an effigy would have been carved to adorn his tomb. He is that figure of veined and polished marble, hands fixed, face motionless, and buried within, a scarred and blackened soul.

High in an upstairs bedroom of the Great House, another anguished immortal paces the floor. restless and loose-limbed as a caged carnivore. Head pounding from too much brandy, Quentin lurches toward the mirror of his bureau and grimaces at his loathsome reflection. He lifts a furred hand to blot it out, and a low growl rumbles in his chest. 

News Digest

• For the whole of July, Pomegranate Press are offering Dark Shadows: Return to Collinwood in Kindle format for just $1.99. The book is a great illustrated guide to five decades of the show and can be ordered online by clicking here.
• As we reported last week, actor John Karlen (Willie Loomis) is currently in hospital in Los Angeles. Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans) reports, "Johnny and I had a great visit. He was warm, funny and in great spirits... he's a sweetheart and deserves all the love and encouragement we can give him." Fans are encouraged to send John letters and cards; For more information and a postal address, click here.
• Kathryn Leigh Scott also recently appeared on Variety as a guest writer, offering a response to the recent Mad Men storyline in which aspiring actress Megan Draper worked for a stint on a 1960s soap opera. To read Kathryn's essay, click here.
• Jerry Lacy (Reverend Trask), Lara Parker (Angelique), Kathryn Leigh Scott and Christopher Pennock (Jeb Hawkes) have recently finished work on Doctor Mabuse: Etiopomar, a sequel to the independent film Dr. Mabuse. Kathryn and Lara will be discussing the film with director Ansel Faraj at the upcoming San Diego ComicCon on Friday July 19 as part of the Famous Monsters of Filmland Stake of the Union panel.
• And finally, Big Finish Productions have just released two new Dark Shadows audio stories, The Phantom Bride and Beneath the Veil, with more CDs due in the coming months. To order online, click on the hyperlinked titles.

Final Cover Art For Wolf Moon Rising

We're pleased to unveil final cover artwork for Wolf Moon Rising, the new Dark Shadows novel by Lara Parker (Angelique), which will be released in August. Click on the image for a larger view. From the publisher Tor:

When a portrait that has maintained Quentin Collins' youthful appearance for than a century – and has also kept his werewolf curse at bay – is lost, Quentin begins to dread the full moon.

Meanwhile, David, the sixteen-year-old heir to the Collins fortune, has fallen in love with Jacqueline, a young girl living at the Old House, who is the reincarnation of Angelique. David and Jacqueline are swept back in time to the Prohibition Era of the 1920s, where David uncovers dark secrets of Collins family history.

Most threatening of all, Dr. Nathaniel Blair, an expert in the paranormal, has come to Collinwood because he suspects it of harbouring a vampire. Fortunately, Barnabas Collins has returned to his coffin after a disastrous flirtation with life as a human, but what Blair discovers places the entire Collins family in jeopardy. 

Wolf Moon Rising can be pre-ordered at a discount price by clicking here. To read our interview with Lara Parker about the book, click here.

Kathryn Leigh Scott's Novel Mystery

Dark Shadows actress Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans) has written a new novel, Down and Out in Beverly Heels, which is released today. We caught up her to chat about the book's inspirations and her writing routine...

So Kathryn, what was your starting point for Down and Out in Beverly Heels?

I once saw a segment of 60 Minutes about women who were living homeless in affluent neighbourhoods in plain sight – what I call homeless and hiding it. I was intrigued by the idea of a woman who had it all and lost everything, and it doesn't take much. Illness, bad investments, career meltdown, divorce, mental health issues or natural disaster can destroy everything in short order. For me, writing and acting always begin with a what if? So I imagined not only what it would be to lose everything – home, friends, reputation, earning potential – but how to survive it and, most important, redemption and finding the road back. But I also write funny, so my story has an edgy humour.

You first published the story as Murder in Primetime, back in 2006. What made you decide to revisit the idea and how different is the new version from the original?

I printed a limited number of Murder in Prime Time paperbacks that were never sold in stores, but only available to fans of Dark Shadows at the festivals and on my website. I asked everyone who read the book to send me their suggestions to make it better. Well... I got so many really complimentary letters full of ideas... I used all those reviews and comments to rewrite the book, and even changed the name of the lead character. It's a far better book, and I am now almost finished with the sequel!

The theme of suddenly losing one's financial security seems more topical now than it was when the book was first published...

In truth, these days anyone can identify with this story because it's about people who have worked hard, found success through their own efforts and then see it all wiped out. Who doesn't understand that?

Meg, your central character, is an actress from a cult television show. Dare we ask how much of her is drawn from your own experiences?

I write like an actress. I write in scenes and imagine what I would do 'if'... Hollywood is a world I know and experience, so it's fun to write about, but also when something goes wrong, the public exposure is terrific! I know you can hear my voice in the writing, but Meg Barnes is quite different from me and what she experiences only exists in my imagination.

What's your approach to writing? Are you disciplined when working on a manuscript?

I make up a story and write it down in a few pages, that are full of what ifs. Then I write an outline and force myself to write 1,000 words or three pages a day and I don't get a glass of wine until I do. Sometimes I find an excuse to come up with less, but it has to be a really good excuse.

Who inspires you as a writer?

I've always been a fan of the great British women mystery writers, who create wonderful atmosphere, characters you care about and stories that pull you into their world...  Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham, P.D. James, Josephine Tey... I love them and their use of language! And I'll never be their equal.

Nonetheless, is there a particular passage or scene in the book you're proud of?

There are some scenes where Meg is auditioning and working on set that I think really capture the behind-the-scenes experience... and I'm most proud of the scenes when Meg is very vulnerable as a homeless woman living in her car.

What are you working on next? Are there any more novels in the pipeline?

I have a screenplay based on Down and Out in Beverly Heels completed and another screenplay in the works. I'm almost finished with the sequel to Down and Out... I am half through a non-fiction book  and have the sequel to Dark Passages to write.

To order Down and Out from Beverly Heels in paperback and Kindle formats, click here.

Kathryn is also offering fans a bonus signed bookmark with proof of purchase from the book from Amazon. For more information, click here. Kathryn will be signing copies of the book at New York's Barnes & Noble store on 82nd Street and Broadway on Monday April 1 from 7.00pm. For full event details, click here.

News In Brief

• Dynamite have announced a new comic book miniseries, Dark Shadows: Year One, which will explore the origins of many of the show's familiar characters. Says the publisher: "How did Barnabas Collins become a bloodthirsty vampire? All it took was one night of weakness, and Barnabas cursed his family – and himself – forever! The twisted tale of one of pop culture's most iconic and enduring vampires begins here!" The series hits stores from April onwards.
• James Storm (Gerard Stiles) can be heard in the new online radio drama Hothouse Bruiser, a hard-boiled dystopian detective series. To find out more and listen to excerpts online, visit the show's official website.
• Elizabeth Wilson, who appeared in the very first episode of Dark Shadows as Mrs Hopewell, can be seen in the new Bill Murray movie Hyde Park on Hudson. Elizabeth is still acting at the grand age of 91 and plays Mrs. Roosevelt in the new film.
• David Selby (Quentin Collins) has just filmed a guest appearance for TNT's drama series Rizzoli & Isles. He's also set to appear in You Are Here, a new film from Mad Men creator Matt Weiner. 
• Marie Wallace (Eve) has been added to the guests sailing on Dark Shadows Festival's 2013 cruise to Bermuda, taking place from October 27. For information on the event, click here.
• And finally, Sharon Smyth (Sarah Collins) and Kathleen Cody (Hallie Stokes) are to appear at Seaview Terrace, the original Collinwood, as part of a special event on May 18, which will include a ghost tour of the historic mansion. For more information, click here.

End of Year News Bites

• Earlier in the year, we reported about a host of foreign editions of Lara Parker's novel Angelique's Descent, which have recently been joined by a Hungarian edition of the sequel, The Salem Branch. The new version, seen above, has been published under the title Salem Kísértete (Salem's Ghosts). Click on the thumbnail image for a larger view.
• Dynamite will be publishing a second Dark Shadows graphic novel next Spring, collecting their recent Dark Shadows: Vampirella offshoot. The 112-page trade paperback is due out in April and can be pre-ordered at a discount price by clicking here.
• Donna McKechnie (Amanda Harris) returns to New York in January with her one-woman show. Donna will be appearing at Broadway nightclub 54 Below on January 2, 3 and 6 at 7.00pm and January 4 and 5 at 8.30pm. For more information and to book tickets online, click here.
• This is our last update of 2012. Thanks to everyone who has read, contributed to, and supported the site over the past year – it's been a privilege to document these exciting times. However, the year was not without sadness, and the loss of Dark Shadows' greatest star, Barnabas actor Jonathan Frid, is still keenly felt. Keep visiting in 2013 and remember you can also keep abreast of the latest Dark Shadows news from us on Twitter and Facebook.

December News Digest

• Daniel Day Lewis' new film Lincoln features a mini Dark Shadows reunion in its cast. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Gulliver McGrath play Abraham Lincoln's sons Robert and Tad, having both played David Collins respectively in the 1991 Dark Shadows revival and 2012 movie remake. Jackie Earle Haley (movie Willie Loomis) also features in a supporting role.
• FX's American Horror Story: Asylum included a little nod to Barnabas in its November 14 episode, which featured villain James Cromwell wielding the familiar wolf's-head cane. Series creator Ryan Murphy is a self-confessed Dark Shadows fan and has spoken before of his love of the show.
• Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans) is running a holiday promotion on her Dark Shadows books and photographs. From now until the new year, each order will come with a free signed Dark Shadows Christmas card. For more information, click here. Also, Kathryn's next novel, Down and Out in Beverly Heels, is released next March and can be pre-ordered now by clicking here.
• CBC Hamilton has published a fascinating story about departed Dark Shadows legend Jonathan Frid (Barnabas), revealing some of the provisions made in his will and details of his retirement years in Canada. To read it online, click here. And finally, TCM have released their 2012 In Memoriam video reel, which includes footage of Jonathan. It can be viewed in the window below.
  
  

Writing The Visual Companion: Mark Salisbury

As director Tim Burton's official biographer, author Mark Salisbury has worked a number of Burton-related volumes, including the acclaimed Burton on Burton and the newly released tie-in Dark Shadows: The Visual Companion. We caught up with Mark to get the lowdown on the new book...

You've had a long association with Tim Burton. How did you first make contact with him?
One Sunday afternoon in 1985 I went to see a Touchstone Pictures’ dinosaur film Baby: The Secret of the Lost Legend at my local cinema and was surprised to find Burton’s original short Frankenweenie showing prior it. I didn’t know who Tim Burton was – this was before Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure was released – but I was completely enthralled from the word go, and knew I was watching something very special. I remember scribbling Burton’s name on a scrap of paper in the dark when the short ended, certain it was one to remember. 

Did it take long to meet the man himself?
I eventually met him a few years later at a Warners’ Christmas party in London – he was shooting Batman at the time – although I had arranged to have dinner the following week with him and horror author Clive Barker for an article I was writing for the now defunct horror magazine Fear: Their conversation was later reprinted in the book Shadows of Eden. I interviewed Burton again for Edward Scissorhands and Batman Returns and in 1994 approached him about writing Burton On Burton, which was first published the following year.

Given your unique perspective, where would you say Dark Shadows fits into the Burton filmography?
I think all of Burton’s usual themes and preoccupations are present in Dark Shadows. Perhaps the only difference is the film marks the first time Johnny Depp asked Burton to direct him in a film. Typically it’s been Burton doing the asking.

Any theories on what attracted Burton to tackling Dark Shadows?
He grew up on the show. Just like Depp, he would run home from school in order to see it. As a monster movie-loving child what’s not to love about a TV show featuring vampires and werewolves and ghosts? Moreover, a show that was on during the afternoon.

You were on set for Dark Shadows. How would you compare the atmosphere to previous Burton shoots?
Burton’s sets are generally fun-filled and relaxed. This appeared even more so. The script was funny, once the actors got hold of it, wearing those costumes, in those environments it was hysterical to watch. There was much laughter on set and during dailies.

What does The Visual Companion have that will surprise fans?
Because the book’s publication comes after the film’s theatrical and home entertainment release, we were able to show certain images – among them Carolyn’s transformation – that we might not have been able to if the book had preceded the film. For me, the book’s strength, however, is the sheer amount of behind-the-scenes photos that reveal the artistry involved in creating the film’s amazing sets. I particularly love the section detailing the creation of Collinsport – designed by the genius that is Rick Heinrichs – although my favourite photo is on pages 124-125, which shows Alice Cooper performing at the happening.

And what did you think of the finished film?
I always find it really hard to comment on any new Burton film, because, typically, I’ve read the script, spent many, many days on set, and so feel too close to the finished product to form an objective opinion. Typically it takes me a few years to divorce myself from the “I-was-there-when-they-shot-that-bit” or “That-wasn’t-in-the-script” thoughts when I’m watching one of his films. That said, I’ve seen Dark Shadows a couple of times and really enjoyed it.

Dark Shadows: The Visual Companion is available at a discount price by clicking here, and also in a limited collector's edition signed by Tim Burton, which can be ordered by clicking here. UK readers can also purchase the book by clicking here.

Win Dark Shadows Movie Blu-Rays!

Both original Dark Shadows feature films have just been released on Blu-Ray and, courtesy of our friends at Warner Home Entertainment, we have two sets of both to give away.

House of Dark Shadows starred Jonathan Frid in a vivid retelling of Barnabas' introduction story, while Night of Dark Shadows starred David Selby as a troubled artist haunted by memories of the eternal Angelique, played by Lara Parker. For your chance to win, just answer this simple question:

What was the name of the Tarrytown mansion used for Collinwood in both films? Send your answer, along with your name and postal address, to webmaster@collinwood.net by November 12. 

Readers can order House of Dark Shadows on Blu-Ray online by clicking here and Night of Dark Shadows on Blu-Ray by clicking here.

Movie Visual Companion Preview Pictures

The long-awaited behind the scenes guide for the recent Dark Shadows movie, The Visual Companion, is finally released next week and, courtesy of Titan Books, we're delighted to share some exclusive preview images from the book. 

Shown below are director Tim Burton posing with actors Gully McGrath, Jonny Lee Miller, Michelle Pfeiffer and Chloe Grace Moretz, along with early concept artwork for Widows' Hill and Collinwood. Click on the pictures for a larger view.

Dark Shadows: The Visual Companion by Mark Salisbury is published on 26th October 2012, by Titan Books priced £29.99, and will be released in the US in November. UK readers can order the book now at a discount price by clicking here. US readers can pre-order the book at a discount price by clicking here.

 
Photographs are ™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.