Monster Memories
LOREN BENOIT/Press Paul Parla’s interview with John A. Russo, co-producer and co-writer of 1968’s “Night of the Living Dead,” was published in the 2018 “Halloween Spiritacular” issue of Scary Monsters magazine, a quarterly publication. Parla and his wife, Donna, have conducted more than 130 interviews with film and TV icons of the horror genre through the years.
Werewolves, mummies, vampires and other creatures of the night are practically on Paul and Donna Parla's speed dial.
"The subject of science fiction, horror, fantasy, paranormal, in film, is that there are no boundaries, really, for the imagination of the writer, the special effects people," Paul said during a visit to The Press on Tuesday. "There are really no boundaries or limits where their imaginations can go ... The genre of sci-fi, horror, fantasy, paranormal, it's just unique unto itself."
The Parlas, of Coeur d'Alene, have conducted more than 130 interviews with movie monsters, make-up artists, stunt doubles and many more in the horror film industry through the years, including Paul's recent email interview with "Night of the Living Dead" co-writer and co-producer John Russo.
Paul was on set during the shooting of the film when he was a youngster and has many great memories of that experience. "Night" was released in theaters in October 1968, creating the undead subgenre that continues to be incredibly popular 50 years later. It was the first film project of legendary director and father of the zombie film George Romero, who died in July 2017.
Paul's email interview with Russo was published in the 2018 "Halloween Spiritacular" issue of Scary Monsters magazine, a quarterly publication packed to the fangs with history, reviews, interviews and in-depth appreciation of early and contemporary scares of the silver and small screen.
"I've always said that when filmmakers have little funds, raw talent and tons of imagination ... the end result is not only memorable and lasting but remains apart from the rest of the 'herd,'" Paul wrote to Russo.
“ ‘Night of the Living Dead’ is a law unto itself,” Russo replied. "No other film in history has been on screens constantly for 50 years! George Romero, Russ Streiner, Survinski, Gary Streiner and I had collaborated on dozens of film projects — mostly commercial and industrial before we made our first complete feature. We were such a tight-knit group we could almost read each others' thoughts."
The Parlas have connected with countless B-movie icons and camp champs from the Golden Age of Hollywood. They became friends with the late Harry Thomas, a legendary make-up artist who worked on 1958's "Frankenstein's Daughter" and 1953's "Cat-Women of the Moon."
"Harry made me up as a werewolf, and I convinced him to do it," Paul said. "We'd go to his house right off Hollywood Boulevard ... He apprenticed with make-up artist Jack Pierce who made up Boris Karloff in the original 'Frankenstein' in 1930. He was on the set."
These interviews have been a labor of love for the Parlas. But connecting with old-school horror stars and those behind the scenes is one way to keep alive the movie monsters of yesteryear, and what better time to celebrate them than Halloween?
"I've enjoyed being a part of it and getting all the interviews and meeting all these people," Donna said. "We enjoy that."
"I don't live in the past but I miss those days very much. I yearn for them," Paul said. "One would have to be old school and have grown up in that period to understand the extreme affection and passion to relive those times."
Info: www.mymoviemonsters.com