The Brain Leeches is a 1978 American low-budgetscience fictionexploitation film directed by Fred Olen Ray and starring Paul Jones, Marcia Scott, and Ray Starr. It has a running time of 55 minutes, and was completed on a budget of $298.00. The film was shown publicly only once, although it has since become available through distributors. The project proved to be a turning point in the careers of two of the principals.
Principal photography took place in 1978.[3] The film was shot using an old Auricon 16mm camera, and (expired) nine-year-old black and white film stock obtained from an Orlando, Florida, television station where Ray worked.[1][4] The alien invaders were represented by large rubber ants purchased at a dime store for 19 cents apiece.[1][2] Earthlings under mind control by the aliens were portrayed as having all-white eyes. The special effect was achieved by applying white tape to the actors' eyelids.[1] The destruction of the alien headquarters (the TV station where Ray worked) was depicted using stock footage of a nuclear explosion from an old 16mm documentary found in the television station's film archive.[1]
Scoreedit
The film score is a public domain recording of Moussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, taken directly from a "cheap record album". According to Ray: "No effort was made to synchronize any of the music to the picture. We just put on a classical record and let it play."[1] Portions of the film were shot at a bar, The Foxhead Tavern, in Orlando.[3]
Production of The Brain Leeches was completed, on budget, for $298.00.[1][4]
Distributionedit
In 1991, Ray stated that The Brain Leeches had been shown publicly only one time, and that it would never be released for distribution.[1] However, more than 30 years after its first showing, copies of the film have become available through distributors such as Sinister Cinema.com.[5][6]
Legacyedit
The project proved to be a watershed moment for two of the principals. Political essayist Brad Linaweaver received his first original story credit (for film) for The Brain Leeches. The experience changed the trajectory of Linaweaver's career path, emphasizing film and science fiction writing for the rest of his life.[5][7][8] The film also jump-started the career of prodigious Hollywood director/producer (and sometimes professional wrestler[9]) Fred Olen Ray, who is also known for having loaned Quentin Tarantino his first 16mm camera to make My Best Friend's Birthday.[10] The association and collaboration between Linaweaver and Ray continued until Linaweaver's death in 2019.[5]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghFred Olen Ray (1 January 1991). The New Poverty Row: Independent Filmmakers as Distributors. McFarland. p. 176. ISBN978-0-89950-628-9.
^ ab"An eye for an eye". The Orlando Sentinel. June 11, 1978. p. 388. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
^ ab"The Brain Leeches". The Orlando Sentinel. May 28, 1978. p. 133. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
^ abMike Quarles (21 June 2010). Down and Dirty: Hollywood's Exploitation Filmmakers and Their Movies. McFarland. p. 80. ISBN978-0-7864-6257-5.
^ abc"Brad Linaweaver (1952-2019)". Locus Publications. September 3, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
^"Sci Fi Brain Leeches, The*". Sinister Cinema.com. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
^"Libertarian Screenwriter Brad Linaweaver Slams Neocons". Hollywood Investigator. August 12, 2007. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
^"In Memoriam-Brad Linaweaver". AmazingStories.com. September 12, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
^Johnny D. Boggs (10 January 2014). Jesse James and the Movies. McFarland. p. 225. ISBN978-0-7864-8496-6.
^Gaydos, Steve (14 March 2007). "Q&A with Tarantino…when he was Mr. Green". Variety. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
brain, leeches, 1978, american, budget, science, fiction, exploitation, film, directed, fred, olen, starring, paul, jones, marcia, scott, starr, running, time, minutes, completed, budget, film, shown, publicly, only, once, although, since, become, available, t. The Brain Leeches is a 1978 American low budget science fiction exploitation film directed by Fred Olen Ray and starring Paul Jones Marcia Scott and Ray Starr It has a running time of 55 minutes and was completed on a budget of 298 00 The film was shown publicly only once although it has since become available through distributors The project proved to be a turning point in the careers of two of the principals The Brain LeechesDirected byFred Olen RayWritten byJim KennedyBrad LinaweaverFred Olen RayProduced byFred Olen RayStarringPaul JonesMarcia ScottRay StarrCinematographyMarvin LevineJohn RaberFred Olen Ray as Fred Ray Music byPaul JonesSugar LeeModest MussorgskyRunning time55 minutesLanguageEnglishBudget 298 00 Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 3 1 Filming 3 2 Score 4 Distribution 5 Legacy 6 References 7 External linksPlot editA former nuclear scientist turned pro wrestler does battle with invading aliens who are taking over the brains of people in a small town 1 Cast editPaul Jones as Dr John Hayes Marcia Scott as Susan Ray Starr as Rusty Fender Jennifer Knight as Rose Brad Linaweaver as Billy Johnson Fred Olen Ray as Brian Wolfe as Tom 2 Production editFilming edit Principal photography took place in 1978 3 The film was shot using an old Auricon 16mm camera and expired nine year old black and white film stock obtained from an Orlando Florida television station where Ray worked 1 4 The alien invaders were represented by large rubber ants purchased at a dime store for 19 cents apiece 1 2 Earthlings under mind control by the aliens were portrayed as having all white eyes The special effect was achieved by applying white tape to the actors eyelids 1 The destruction of the alien headquarters the TV station where Ray worked was depicted using stock footage of a nuclear explosion from an old 16mm documentary found in the television station s film archive 1 Score edit The film score is a public domain recording of Moussorgsky s Pictures at an Exhibition taken directly from a cheap record album According to Ray No effort was made to synchronize any of the music to the picture We just put on a classical record and let it play 1 Portions of the film were shot at a bar The Foxhead Tavern in Orlando 3 Production of The Brain Leeches was completed on budget for 298 00 1 4 Distribution editIn 1991 Ray stated that The Brain Leeches had been shown publicly only one time and that it would never be released for distribution 1 However more than 30 years after its first showing copies of the film have become available through distributors such as Sinister Cinema com 5 6 Legacy editThe project proved to be a watershed moment for two of the principals Political essayist Brad Linaweaver received his first original story credit for film for The Brain Leeches The experience changed the trajectory of Linaweaver s career path emphasizing film and science fiction writing for the rest of his life 5 7 8 The film also jump started the career of prodigious Hollywood director producer and sometimes professional wrestler 9 Fred Olen Ray who is also known for having loaned Quentin Tarantino his first 16mm camera to make My Best Friend s Birthday 10 The association and collaboration between Linaweaver and Ray continued until Linaweaver s death in 2019 5 References edit a b c d e f g h Fred Olen Ray 1 January 1991 The New Poverty Row Independent Filmmakers as Distributors McFarland p 176 ISBN 978 0 89950 628 9 a b An eye for an eye The Orlando Sentinel June 11 1978 p 388 Retrieved April 9 2020 a b The Brain Leeches The Orlando Sentinel May 28 1978 p 133 Retrieved April 6 2020 a b Mike Quarles 21 June 2010 Down and Dirty Hollywood s Exploitation Filmmakers and Their Movies McFarland p 80 ISBN 978 0 7864 6257 5 a b c Brad Linaweaver 1952 2019 Locus Publications September 3 2019 Retrieved April 6 2020 Sci Fi Brain Leeches The Sinister Cinema com Retrieved April 6 2020 Libertarian Screenwriter Brad Linaweaver Slams Neocons Hollywood Investigator August 12 2007 Retrieved April 6 2020 In Memoriam Brad Linaweaver AmazingStories com September 12 2019 Retrieved April 6 2020 Johnny D Boggs 10 January 2014 Jesse James and the Movies McFarland p 225 ISBN 978 0 7864 8496 6 Gaydos Steve 14 March 2007 Q amp A with Tarantino when he was Mr Green Variety Retrieved April 6 2020 External links editThe Brain Leeches at Internet Movie Database The Brain Leeches at Movies msn com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Brain Leeches amp oldid 1201659199, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
