The Tribe II: Camp Cannibal book trailer!
Book trailer time! THE TRIBE II: CAMP CANNIBAL hits the shelves April 22nd from Disney/Hyperion. Thanks to Daniel Kramer for the kick-ass trailer. Order your copy now! This one's a doozy…
Check it out here: http://bit.ly/1eRTMXP
March 19, 2014
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Good Son Family Reunion
Greetings from Colombia! A special moment happened on the set of THE BOY during our final week of shooting. As you may recall, our producer, Elijah Wood, starred in a certain movie titled THE GOOD SON with our leading daddy David Morse. They haven't seen each other in over twenty one years. Twenty one years! Here I am, attempting to do my best Mr. Highway impersonation.
March 15, 2014
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New cover for Camp Cannibal!
Check out the kick-ass cover for THE TRIBE II: CAMP CANNIBAL! The second installment in the Tribe trilogy hits shelves April 22nd. If you know what's good for your friends and your family, you'll pick this book up before somebody gets hurt. Maybe you should pick up a couple copies. Don't say we didn't warn you.
March 7, 2014
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Dream cast for THE BOY!
The Wrap just announced our official line-up for THE BOY and it's a doooooozy. Rainn Wilson (The Office), David Morse (The Green Mile), Mike Vogel (Under the Dome), Zuleikha Robinson (Homeland) and Bill Sage (We Are What We Are) have all joined our dream ensemble cast.
Add our main man, 9 year old Jared Breeze—and his sidekick Aiden Lovekamp—and you've got one hell of a movie on your hands.
Now all we have to do is… make the movie. No pressure, right?
To read the article of The Wrap, click here: http://bit.ly/1cnAHMj
February 26, 2014
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It’s a BOY!
It's official: After two years in development, we are bringing the feature film version of our short Henley to the big screen. Now titled THE BOY, we begin principal photography next month in Medellin, Colombia. Written by me and our director Craig Macneill, based on my novel Miss Corpus, produced by Elijah Wood's company Spectrevision and Chiller Films… THIS IS IT.
The press picked up on the news pretty quickly, popping up in Variety, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter and a dozen other spots…
“Elijah Wood Producing Serial Killer Origin Trilogy “The Boy,” Variety: http://bit.ly/1dCs8lP
“Elijah Wood to Reveal the Rise of a Serial Killer with “The Boy,” The Hollywood Reporter: http://bit.ly/1dCsOYe
“Serial Killer Movie Trilogy Announced Beginning with “The Boy,” Deadline Hollywood: http://bit.ly/LgUl5h
Here's what the press release says:
“Based on the award-winning short subject film, Henley which appeared in competition at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, The Boy is the first film of a planned trilogy tracking the childhood of a future serial killer, with installments depicting the character at ages 9, 14 and 18, respectively, and ending with his full transformation to an iconic mass murderer. The Boy is directed by Craig McNeill from a screenplay by McNeill and Clay McLeod Chapman, who created the characters in his novel “Miss Corpus.” The pair previously collaborated on the respective direction and writing of the short film. SpectreVision's Elijah Wood, Daniel Noah and Josh C. Waller serve as producers. Partnering with SpectreVision on the project is Chiller Films.”
There are so many people who made this happen. So many people to thank. Eddie and Nate at The Gotham Group, Daniel, Josh and Elijah at Spectrevision, Shane and everyone else at Chiller, not to mention Almitra and Hale and everyone else responsible for our short… Now let's make a movie!
January 18, 2014
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Birdfeeder is the Best of the Best!
Look where we've popped up now! I wrote a story titled “Birdfeeder” that made its way into the Best American Short Plays 2007-2008 anthology… And now Applause Books has decided to reprint the piece in their uber-anthology of super-monologues: Best Monologues from Best American Short Plays Vol 1. That ain't such a bad way to start off 2014!
January 17, 2014
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It’s a Spider-Man Xmas!
Just in time for Christmas, Amazing Spider-Man #700.4 has hit the shelves! It's not too late to tell Santa you want one stuffed in your stocking… Unless you go to Richmond Comix, where I just bought pretty much their entire stock. Sorry about that.
December 18, 2013
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Pumpkin Pie in the Press
The Pumpkin Pie Show: BOOGEDY BOO officially wrapped up last night. Three weeks, nine performances and a lot of new faces in the audience. This was our (more or less) 15th year of performing the Pumpkin Pie Show. Fifteen years. We. Are. Old. The reviews for this year's show were great. Thumbs up all around. Here's a round-up of what folks were saying about us:
Time Out NY's BEST BETS for Off-Off Broadway (Oct 10th-16th)
“The Pumpkin Pie Show: Boogedy Boo” serves up a big, fat, delicious slice of good old-fashioned Grand Guignol with a dash of Southern Gothic thrown in.”—StageBuddy (http://bit.ly/167dBGx)
“Provocative, entertaining, and beautifully staged… with enough social realism to make (these stories) unsettling.”—Theater Is Easy (http://bit.ly/18YZRAV)
“Stories are such an integral part of our personal development as well as our cultural integration… So it’s wonderful to have the storyteller right there, making eye contact, breathing the same air, inviting you in to their minds for a few minutes of – in this case, creepy – shared experience.”—Woman Around Town (http://bit.ly/17CVesD)
The Pumpkin Pie Show “will leave you horrified, aghast, and titillated in places you didn’t even know were possible… The ultimate Halloween celebration.”—NyTheaterNow. (http://bit.ly/1bSGWN1)
“Sick genius Clay McLeod Chapman returns… joined by the incomparable Hanna Cheek… Two stellar newcomers join Chapman and Cheek this year: Ana Asensio enthralls with a tale of haunted hair extensions while Shayfer James' gothic cabaret musical interludes perfectly accentuate the creepy yet fun vibe.”—Flavorpill (EDITORS PICK) (http://bit.ly/19Jq1Vp)
The Pumpkin Pie Show is “carried brilliantly” by Ana Asensio, Hanna Cheek and Clay McLeod Chapman. Cheek is “seriously screwed up.” Chapman is an “adrenaline pumping host… The perfect way to get some intimate, underground (literally) scares for Halloween this year.”—Times Square Chronicle (http://bit.ly/GYgraV)
The Pumpkin Pie Show “...will put images in your head that will be hard to forget without a happy movie afterwards. This show is a must see.”—Manhattan With A Twist (http://bit.ly/15ISZrb)
The Pumpkin Pie Show “...looks at the sort of real-life monsters that live among us.”—Theater for Nerds (http://bit.ly/17i0UyQ)
“Clay McLeod Chapman knows how to tell a story that will have you screaming like a banshee—with laughter, that is.”—New York Amsterdam News (http://t.co/l6Dg6xQZ0u)
“...Mixes creepiness, outlandish humor and the ghastly distasteful.”—Arts & Leisure News (http://bit.ly/1cpOjYS)
Vaude Visuals snapped off some action shots of The Pumpkin Pie Show: Boogedy Boo. Check them out: http://bit.ly/1cgadOf
Special thanks to Hanna Cheek, Ana Asensio, Shayfer James, along with Erez Ziv, Emily Owens, Caitlin Kelly, Harrison Adams and everyone at Horse Trade who made this show possible. We couldn't have done it without you!
October 27, 2013
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Free Double-bill of Tales from Beyond the Pale Streaming Online!
Want to hear a double-bill of weird kid radio plays? For FREE? Glass Eye Pix is streaming the amazing Jt Petty's JOHNNY BOY along with my own LIKE FATHER LIKE SON all week long. Should be good for a few nightmares…
Head over to Tales HQ and get listening: http://bit.ly/1cpKaEl
October 15, 2013
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Ain’t It Cool News Digs Like Father, Like Son!
I got my first review from Ain’t It Cool News for my Tales from Beyond the Pale radio play “Like Father, Like Son” and it’s a big ol’ thumbs up!
“…A story that would have made H.G. Lewis proud. …A gritty and dire story that most likelywill churn your stomach and make you twist with unease. …Fantastic voicework from Fessenden… The final grueling scenes are gory and splattery and all sorts of wrong and I loved every second of it.”
To read the full review, click here: http://bit.ly/19k9lp9
September 20, 2013
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Spider-Man Comic Hits the Shelves in December!
Marvel announced their December solicitations today (as in just now), which means I can finally announce that I've got a story in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN! I wrote for Amazing Spider-Man!
My story, “12 O'Clock High” is a loving homage to my favorite 80's movies of all time. I'll see if you can guess which one.
This is a total total dream come true. I'm completely over the moon for Javier Rodriguez. His artwork has turned my story into a work of art. It's beautiful. December can't get here fast enough. Reserve your copies now! Order fifty! You better believe I am. They'll make awesome stocking stuffers!
Here are the details…
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #700.3 & #700.4
JOE CASEY, JEN VAN METER & CLAY McLEOD CHAPMAN (W)
TIM GREEN, EMMA RIOS & JAVIER RODRIGUEZ (a)
Covers by PASQUAL FERRY
#700.3 VARIANT COVER BY JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
#700.4 VARIANT COVER BY MIRCO PIERFEDERICI
• Continuing the special celebration of THE ORIGINAL SPIDER-MAN from Man of Action’s Joe Casey & Tim Green (AVENGERS ACADEMY)!
• What is the Black Lodge? And how has Spider-Man been trapped there, surrounded by his deadliest foes? Then, the Black Cat and Spider-Man team-up to bust an international art thievery ring in CAT & MOUSE by Jen Van Meter (CAPTAIN MARVEL) and Emma Rios (SPIDER-MAN).
• Finally, a young boy must learn he can’t rely on super heroes like Spider-Man to stand up against bullies in 12 O’CLOCK HIGH by Clay McLeod Chapman (AVENGERS: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES) and Javier Rodriguez (DAREDEVIL).
For more info on Marvel's December solicitations, click here: http://bit.ly/1aF9hpr
September 12, 2013
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Tales from Beyond the Pale launches nationwide!
Glass Eye Pix, the maverick production company responsible for a vast slate of captivating independent genre movies including THE LAST WINTER, I SELL THE DEAD, THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL, STAKE LAND and THE INNKEEPERS, has announced the wide release of the highly anticipated second season of their sensory rich genre audio dramas TALES FROM BEYOND THE PALE.
I was fortunate enough to have been invited to contribute a script for the series, writing a touching family story titled LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON. It features the voice talents of Larry Fessenden, Vincent D'Onfrio, and many others… It's a heartwarming tale about a father who will do anything to keep his family together. And I mean anything.
Season two of TALES FROM BEYOND THE PALE will be available for purchase/download at the TALES online store beginning Friday, September 13th for $2.99 per episode: http://www.talesfrombeyondthepale.com.
Last October, we actually staged these radio shows live at Dixon Place, bringing in a boat-load of actors like Sean Young, Mr. D’Onofrio, Mark Margolis, James LeGros, Michael Cerveris, Kate Lyn Sheil, Jonny Orsini and a whole lot more. It was pretty amazing to see live, but now Glass Eye has remastered the recordings and made them available for you to listen to in the safety of your own home!
The press picked up on the announcement. Here's what they have to say:
“Sean Young, Vincent D'Onfrio to Star in New Tales from Beyond the Pale Terror Tales,” Entertainment Weekly: http://bit.ly/15cz9Qt
“All-Star Cast Headlines 2nd Season of Tales from Beyond the Pale,” Movie Geeks United: http://bit.ly/15cyGxL
“Second Tales from Beyond the Pale Launches on Friday the 13th,” Fangoria: http://bit.ly/15czAdt
Here's the rundown of the entire second season. Check out this awesome roster of writer/directors:
RAM KING by Joe Maggio (BITTER FEAST, MAN ON THE LEDGE)
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON by Clay McLeod Chapman (HENLEY, THE TRIBE: HOMEROOM HEADHUNTERS)
STRANGER by Jeff Buhler (THE MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN, JACOB’S LADDER)
DEAD MAN’S SHOES by Ashley Thorpe (THE DEMON HUNTSMAN, THE HAIRY HANDS)
SARAH MINDS THE DOG by Kim Newman (ANNO DRACULA, NIGHTMARE MOVIES)
THE CRUSH by Glenn McQuaid (I SELL THE DEAD, V/H/S)
DEAD AIR by Simon Barrett (YOU’RE NEXT, A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE)
CAPER by Larry Fessenden (BENEATH, THE LAST WINTER, WENDIGO)
August 26, 2013
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Video interview at TDF!
A little love for Horse Trade, home of the Pumpkin Pie Show for 15 years, popped up online. I was interviewed by the Theatre Development Fund to talk about our longstanding relationship and how we're aiming for 20 more…
Here's what TDF has to say: “From sword swallowers to burlesque dancers to playwrights going wild: Horse Trade Theater Group welcomes them all. Get to know them in this exclusive video from Theatre Development Fund. Featuring Horse Trade staffer Erez Ziv, plus artists Clay McLeod Chapman, James Presson, and Angelica Cheri.”
Watch the video here: http://bit.ly/155nR2n
July 11, 2013
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The Penalty makes The New York Times pay!
Gregg Mozgala and his new theater company The Apothetae grab the spotlight in The New York Times' Metropolitan section today. For their first production, Gregg commissioned me to adapt the classic Lon Chaney silent flick “The Penalty” for the stage, which sadly closed last night. But just as the post-show blues were kicking in, The Times comes to the rescue!
“Shaking Up the Stage: The Apothetae Aims to Merge Disabilities into the Theatrical Mainstream.” Read the article here: http://nyti.ms/19JOD6J
The infamous toe-sucking scene in which Neil Genzlinger is referring to in his article was the first thing I actually wrote for the play. I think it's the best part of the show. It's not in the movie, or the original book by Gouvernor Morris. I'm proud to admit that having a legless man slather up a woman's toes with his tonge was all my idea. (Lon Chaney is rolling in his grave right now…)
Congrats to Gregg and The Apothethae, along with our amazing director Kris Thorgeirsson and everybody in the cast and crew. You did an amazing job and this Times article is such a cherry on top of all your hard work.
June 30, 2013
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Five Questions, One Drawing
This is officially the coolest thing ever. Artist Steven Weinberg interviewed me for his series “Five Questions, One Drawing” at the ever-awesome website Brooklyn Based. You can read the interview here: http://bit.ly/12Nku2p
Check out that amazing drawing! Steven: It's official. You are the coolest member of The Tribe. Thank you for immortalizing me and Jasper!
June 20, 2013
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Video Interview at Author Feast!
I got the talk show treatment on “Author Feast,” hosted by S. Luke Abaffy. AF is an “...online show where writers of diverse backgrounds and writing styles talk about their work and the publishing industry.”
Watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/11O43hl
Author Feast's goal is “to spread pragmatic knowledge about the process of writing and to offer up real-world advice on getting work published. We also want to introduce readers to their favorite writers, and great writers to a new audience.”
Super-thanks to Luke for the red carpet treatment. I had a blast!
June 19, 2013
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THE PENALTY is coming!
The Apothetae's production of my new musical THE PENALTY, with music and lyrics by Obie-winner Robert M. Johanson, opens up next week. I did this video interview with Vaudevisuals that you can watch here: http://bit.ly/1bcss4v
The Villager had some nice things to say about me and the show here: http://bit.ly/12uHF2N
“Like a rundown carnival’s dark ride attraction, Clay McLeod Chapman packs his monologues, short stories, novels and plays with the unnerving sense that serious danger is lurking just around the bend. But unlike promised Midway thrills that rarely materialize, Chapman’s characters always deliver when it comes to crossing the line that separates sinister impulse from violent action…” THE VILLAGER
Hope you can make it out to the show! Six performances only at Dixon Place…
June 7, 2013
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Interview w/ Mac Rogers
The Brooklyn Rail invited me to interview with of my personal heroes, playwright and all around great guy Mac Rogers. Mac has a new play opening up at The Secret Theater this summer and you better believe I'll be in the front row.
Read the interview here: http://bit.ly/14bMFHj
June 3, 2013
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The TRIBE has a book trailer!
We have a book trailer! We have a boooooook trailer!
Filmmakers Hugo Perez and Noah Greenberg put together an uh-mazing mini-movie masterpiece for my new novel HOMEROOM HEADHUNTERS. Want to see it? Click on over to Youtube: http://bit.ly/10cDUh8
And the award for Best Book Trailer goes to…
April 18, 2013
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All Work and No Play Makes Clay a Dull Boy
I'll be performing at The Overlook Hotel. The one and only hotel from The Shining.
You heard me right. The 1st Annual Stanley Film Festival is taking place in the hotel that inspired Stephen King to pen his classic novel. I can't believe this is happening, but I've hit the performance/literary/cinema trifecta… Not only will our film HENLEY be screening in part of their shorts program, but THE PUMPKIN PIE SHOW will be performing in the haunted halls of the hotel itself. And not only that! I'll also be presenting a family-friendly reading of my new middlegrade novel HOMEROOM HEADHUNTERS. I'm going out of my mind.
Heeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Clay!
The Hollywood Reporter did a little write-up on the festival with a mention of me. You can read about it here: http://bit.ly/Z6vJzz
The hotel plays Kubrick's The Shining on constant 24/7 rotation in room #237. I'm so in. I have died and gone to haunted hotel heaven.
About the fesitval: “The Stanley Film Festival showcases classic and contemporary independent horror cinema all set at the haunted and historic Stanley Hotel in beautiful Estes Park, Colorado. The Festival presents emerging and established filmmakers enabling the industry and general public to experience the power of storytelling through genre cinema. Founded in 2013 by The Stanley Hotel to celebrate the property’s iconic Hollywood heritage, the four-day event showcases filmmakers latest works, Q&A discussions, industry panels, the “Stanley Dean’s Cup” student film competition, and special events for cinema insiders and fellow artists.”
For info on The Pumpkin Pie Show: http://bit.ly/Z6uUXA
For info on Homeroom Headhunters: http://bit.ly/17paGfi
For info on Henley: http://bit.ly/Z6v0hU
All work and no play makes Clay a dull boy all work and no play makes Clay a dull boy all work and no play makes Clay a dull boy all work and no play makes Clay a dull boy all work and no play makes Clay a dull boy all work and no play makes Clay a dull boy all work and no play makes Clay a dull boy all work and no play makes Clay a dull boy…
April 9, 2013
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“A deeply eerie and evocative portrayal of what it's like to stare into the abyss and find something there waiting for you. A memorable, disquieting ghost story about stories, rendered inside a Möbius strip.”
— Kirkus
