Schlock-A-Thon showcases dregs of film art

How low can you go? And, do you want to be in a documentary?

That's what the folks who bring you the monthly Fantasmo Cult Cinema Explosion film series are wondering.

Today, the Central Library's head of reference services, Jim Blanton, and his partner in cinematic crime, Rob Floyd, will organize their third annual all-night Schlock-A-Thon, showcasing the dregs of film art, beginning at 8 p.m.

And about two hours prior to tonight's movie muck, a film crew with Horse Archer Productions will be visiting Blanton, Floyd and other fans to film a portion of the documentary "Virginia Creepers: The Horror Host Tradition of the Old Dominion."

After learning about the film project, Blanton contacted producer/director Sean Kotz and invited him and his crew to Chesapeake.

Fantansmo, which in the past has hosted such horror dignitaries as the Bowman Body and Penny Dreadful, has invited two more to the library today. On hand to be part of the documentary will be Jerry Sandford, a Peninsula resident who played Ronald the ghoul on WVEC-TV's "Shock Theatre" from 1959-1961, and Rick Clark, who hosted "Chamber Theater" as "The Keeper" on WVEC from 1984-1986.

"They're going to be interviewed, and, hopefully, will be doing some speaking to kick things off," Blanton said.

Kotz also plans to interview fans who have memories of the horror hosts, starting around 6:30 p.m.

Afterward, Blanton and Floyd will present a voting list of selected films before the all-night screenings. And we're not talking "Citizen Kane."

This roster of rotten - two dozen titles in all - will include "Breaker! Breaker!," "The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant," "Frogs," "Zapped," "Squirm" "Thunderbirds Are Go" and "SSSSSSS."

One odorous film is non-negotiable - "Shark Attack 3: Megalodon."

"Believe me when I tell you, there's everything you know about bad cult movies," Blanton said, "and then there's 'Shark Attack 3: Megalodon.' Prepare yourself."

This 2002 "Jaws"-wannabe travesty is about a "20-ton killing machine with a 10-foot bite."

All of this free awfulness takes place tonight at the Central Library, 298 Cedar Road. It starts at 8 p.m. when the voting begins. Later, your cheesy choices, along with "Shark Attack 3," will be screened into the dawn. No one will be admitted after 10 p.m.

Team Fantasmo will offer all survivors an array of sugared breakfast goodies. Call 410-7135 for more details about the Schlock-A-Thon or the filming. For even more details about the documentary, visit www.virginiacreepersmovie.com.

Eric Feber, 222-5203,

eric.feber@pilotonline.com