About
As a film writer, Brad Weismann’s work brought him to the attention of legendary film critic Roger Ebert, who supported and encouraged his early film writing. He has interviewed film figures ranging from Monty Python’s Terry Jones to Blaxploitation superstar Pam Grier, legendary director Alex Cox, Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney, screenwriters such as John August, Tod Davies, and Scott Moore, and Disney producer Don Hahn (Beauty and the Beast). His Film Patrol website features published stories and independent projects; several of his essays appear in the compendium '100 Years of Soviet Cinema.' He has been selected by the Library of Congress to to contribute explanatory essays to its list of National Recording Registry entries. As a broadcaster and blogger, he has done everything from participating in the infamous no-budget amateur-film anthology TV series Homemovies to irritating Oliver Stone in front of a sold-out crowd. His book 'Lost in the Dark: A World History of Horror Film' was published by the University Press of Mississippi.
In eight years at the Boulder International Film Festival (BIFF), Weismann pioneered multiplatform social media coverage, covering festival appearances by Shirley MacLaine, James Franco, William H. Macy, Blythe Danner, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Peter Fonda, and many more. He rose rapidly from producing workshops and panels covering everything from screenwriting to financing, to creating the festival’s social media presence, concluding as Director of Digital Communications in 2014.
For nearly a decade, his Obit Patrol website has documented significant, overlooked, and interesting obituaries, becoming a resource and reference for obituarists worldwide, serving more than 20,000 visitors a month. It was featured in the 2016 documentary film Obit, and he has interviewed its director and introduced the film itself in multiple venues. He is a member of the Society of Professional Obituary Writers.
Weismann is an award-winning writer and editor who returned to the place he grew up, in the shadow of the Colorado Rockies, after 15 years of performing standup, improvisational, and sketch comedy on stage, radio, and television. Ever since, he has worked as a journalist, feature writer, and contributor to publications and websites worldwide such as Senses of Cinema, Film International, Backstage, Muso, Parterre, Movie Habit, 5280, EnCompass, Colorado Daily, and Boulder Magazine. He focuses on the arts and popular culture, covering topics from grand opera to midget wrestling; a cross-section of his work can be found at brad-weismann.com. He was inducted into the Denver/Boulder Critics’ Circle in 2001.
He has served as host, moderator, and interviewer at such events as BIFF, the Conference on World Affairs, and Boulder’s Outdoor Cinema. He has lectured on Bernstein for the “Telling Stories” concert series, on film scoring for the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, and on Eugene O’Neill at the Denver Public Library. When not writing, Brad can be found catching up on cinema, at a baseball game, listening to old-time radio, or playing the ukulele. He knows how to milk goats, but would prefer not to.
Featured Work
Horror Unmasked: A History of Terror from 'Nosferatu' to 'Nope'
From the silent-film era to the blockbusters of today, Horror Unmasked is a fun-filled, highly illustrated dive into the past influences and present popularity of the horror film genre.
The horror film’s pop-culture importance is undeniable, from its early influences to today’s most significant and exciting developments in the genre. Since 1990, the production of horror films has risen exponentially worldwide, and in 2021, horror films earned an estimated $580 million in ticket sales, not to mention how the genre has expanded into books, fashion, music, and other media throughout the world.
Horror has long been the most popular film genre, and more horror movies have been made than any other kind. We need them. We need to be scared, to test ourselves, laugh inappropriately, scream, and flinch. We need to get through them and come out, blinking, still in one piece. This comprehensive guide features:
A thorough discussion on monster movies and B-movies (The Thing; It Came from Outer Space; The Blob)
The destruction of the American censorship system (Blood Feast; The Night of the Living Dead; The Texas Chainsaw Massacre)
International horror, zombies, horror comedies, and horror in the new millennium (Matango; Suspiria; Ghostbusters)
A dissection of the critical reception of modern horror (Neon Demon; Pan’s Labyrinth; Funny Games)
Stunning movie posters and film stills, plus fan-made tributes to some of the most lauded horror franchises in the world (Aliens; the Evil Dead; The Hills Have Eyes; Scream)
A perfect reference and informational book for horror fans and those interested in its cultural influence worldwide, Horror Unmasked provides a general introduction to the genre, serves as a guidebook to its film highlights, and celebrates its practitioners, trends, and stories.
Other Works
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Lost in the Dark: A World History of Horror Film
2021
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One Hundred Years of Soviet Cinema
2019