Advanced search
- TITLES
- NAMES
- COLLABORATIONS
Search filters
Enter full date
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
Only includes names with the selected topics
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
1-16 of 16
- Producer
- Actor
- Writer
David F. Friedman was born in Birmingham, Alabama. His father was a local newspaperman and his mother was a professional musician who played the piano and organ in silent-movie theaters and in churches. Friedman was exposed to the adult world at the age of four or five when his parents took him out "on the town" to restaurants, movies and stage shows. His father, already in his 50s when he was born, died when Friedman was 13. His mother re-married a few years later. After graduating from high school, Friedman was drafted into the US Army and served in Europe during World War II. After his discharge in 1945 he settled in Chicago, where he married and found work in filmmaking at Essanjay Films, where he knew co-owner Irwin Joseph, and they collaborated on making 8mm and 16mm underground sex hygiene films.
During the 1950s Friedman worked for Paramount Pictures as well as Essanjay Films--which later became Modern Films--as well as the independent Apex Attractions in producing and working on a number of short pictures of the underground softcore set. Friedman met Herschell Gordon Lewis in 1960 while he was working in Chicago pitching for producers for his first low-budget film, The Prime Time (1960). He and Lewis formed a partnership, with Friedman in charge of obtaining production financing, to make what were known as "nudie-cuties", very low-budget, crudely made films featuring female nudity, which was not seen in "mainstream" films.
Over the next few years Friedman and Lewis worked as mercenary filmmakers, with Friedman being the producer and sound man and Lewis being the director and cameraman. They made a series of softcore sex films, the first of which was The Adventures of Lucky Pierre (1961), then Daughter of the Sun (1962), Nature's Playmates (1962), Goldilocks and the Three Bares (1963), Boin-n-g (1963) and their first "roughie", a softcore sex film with some rather strong violence committed on the female characters, called Scum of the Earth (1963). Most of these films were shot on location in and around Miami, Florida, during winters when Friedman and Lewis lived there, away from the cold winters in Chicago.
Wanting a change of pace away from the nudie-cutie exploitation genre, Friedman and Lewis worked together to produce Blood Feast (1963), which was filmed in Miami only a few days after filming their last nudie-cutie effort, Bell, Bare and Beautiful (1963). Despite many bad reviews and the low production values, "Blood Feast" brought in more money than they had gotten making "nudie-cuties", which soon led to their turning out Two Thousand Maniacs! (1964), followed by Color Me Blood Red (1965). After that Friedman ended his partnership with Lewis for a variety of reasons, both artistic and financial. Friedman moved to Los Angeles in 1964 to continue his production work there.
In 1965 Friedman formed his own filmmaking company to make "roughies", and produced, co-wrote and co-directed The Defilers (1965), a low-budget exploitation film about two guys who kidnap and hold hostage a young woman "just for kicks". The film was a hit and restarted his career in the softcore field. A stream of more roughie and soft-core exploitation movies followed throughout the 1960s, which he produced, co-wrote and even acted in; some of these were A Sweet Sickness (1968), A Smell of Honey, a Swallow of Brine (1966), The Notorious Daughter of Fanny Hill (1966), The Brick Dollhouse (1967), The Lustful Turk (1968), among many others.
By 1969, Friedman's career began to slide as the Hollywood film industry abolished the Hays Code and adopted the new Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rating system in which independent and Hollywood mainstream filmmakers began producing X-rated, hardcore sex films, which soon swept aside the softcore roughie genre. Unwilling to get into the hardcore adult film industry, which was very profitable (but also very illegal), Friedman turned down several offers to direct hardcore sex films because he felt that it was "not as fun" as producing or directing the simulated roughie films. He continued to produce and direct a number of softcore sex films during the early and mid 1970s, such as The Adult Version of Jekyll & Hide (1972), The Erotic Adventures of Zorro (1972), Come One, Come All (1970) and the violent grindhouse vigilante flick Johnny Firecloud (1975).
In addition to producing, Friedman also ran a theater in Los Angeles for several years which ran many of his exploitation films. Though producing exploitation movies was no longer lucrative, he occasionally dabbled in various independent productions in Los Angeles through the 1970s and into the 1980s. By then, Friedman more or less retired from film producing and re-settled back in Alabama, though he continued to come out of retirement to lend a hand at producing independent erotic or gore horror films, as he put it, "just for fun." Most recently was when he was reunited with Herschell Gordon Lewis in 2001 to produce Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat (2002), as well as co-produce a remake of "Two Thousand Maniacs!" that was titled 2001 Maniacs (2005).- Music Department
- Composer
- Sound Department
John Strauss was born on 28 April 1920 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a composer, known for The Blues Brothers (1980), Hair (1979) and Take the Money and Run (1969). He was married to Charlotte Rae. He died on 14 February 2011 in West Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actor
- Composer
- Music Department
George Shearing was born on 13 August 1919 in Battersea, London, England, UK. He was an actor and composer, known for Bedtime Stories (2008), Green Book (2018) and The Muppets (2011). He was married to Eleanor Geffert and Beatrice Bayes. He died on 14 February 2011 in New York City, New York, USA.- Camera and Electrical Department
Douglas Adamsson was born on 25 February 1921. He is known for Libel (1959), Gorgo (1961) and The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964). He died on 14 February 2011 in Hampshire, England, UK.- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Actor
- Writer
Vanja Aljinovic was born on 14 August 1946 in Split, Croatia, Yugoslavia. He was an assistant director and actor, known for No Man's Land (2001), Titus (1999) and Before the Rain (1994). He died on 14 February 2011 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA.- Václav Troska was born in 1931. He was an actor, known for Slunce, seno, jahody (1984), Slunce, seno, erotika (1991) and Slunce, seno a pár facek (1989). He died on 14 February 2011 in Hostice u Volyne, Czech Republic.
- Andy Jurinko was born on 17 June 1939 in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, USA. He was married to Pat Moore. He died on 14 February 2011 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
- Tommy Burns was born in 1922 in New South Wales, Australia. He was an actor, known for The Rugged O'Riordans (1949). He died on 14 February 2011 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- Additional Crew
James Todt was born on 26 November 1923 in San Rafael, California, USA. James is known for The Storm Rider (1957). James was married to Judith. James died on 14 February 2011 in San Rafael, California, USA.- Vladimir Gubanov was born on 29 January 1940 in Moscow, USSR. He was an actor, known for Zavist bogov (2000), Frenchman (1988) and Bozhya tvar (1991). He was married to Lyudmila Suvorkina. He died on 14 February 2011 in Moscow, Russia.
- Frigyes Pleszkán was born on 1 July 1959 in Csorna, Hungary. Frigyes was a composer, known for Mozgóképregény (2010). Frigyes died on 14 February 2011 in Budapest, Hungary.
- Producer
- Cinematographer
- Writer
Darrell D. Milstead is the founder and CEO of Nandar Entertainment and Silver Cinema. He brings an impressive and multifaceted record of business and management success to this new endeavor.
A native of Saginaw, Michigan, and an Air Force veteran, he began his career in engineering as an electrical apprentice and was soon on a rapid climb through the ranks and into management positions with more than 9 different companies. He has been responsible for multi-million dollar design and construction operations in more than 20 states all across America.
His executive reputation was built on his skills in value engineering, high-level trouble-shooting, and the ability to motivate employees while containing costs, maximizing productivity, and increasing profits. From his days as a foreman and project manager to his years as President and Chairman of the Board, Milstead has believed in the philosophy of teamwork and a lean management team. He also practices and is emphatic about the role of continuing education and training for all staff and executives. He recognizes the value of expanding one's knowledge in the technical, creative and marketing spheres of their business...in order to keep on the forward edge of progress on all levels.
In addition to his credentials and achievements as a corporate leader, Milstead has a unique background in the arts...as a musician, dancer, stage designer, actor, director and producer. His well-rounded lifestyle also includes such diverse activities as: piloting light aircraft, open water diving, water and first aid instructor, judo and martial arts competition, ranch operator and horse trainer, rifle marksmanship, former training officer for the Arizona Rangers, former Captain of the Cass County Sheriff's Posse, and founding member of Reel Cowboys.
The extraordinary combination of business experience, executive skill, creative know-how, and extra-curricular insights, bring a special new energy and spirit of independence and innovation to the motion picture industry.
Milstead believes that success begins with a clear vision and realistic goals. To his he adds simplicity of operations, entrepreneurial enthusiasm, discipline, and intelligent decision-making...all this plus a willingness to adapt to change, the recognition of invisible opportunities and a work ethic that balances the wise use of time and money.- Art Department
Kara Engel is known for Secretary (2002) and Coming Clean (2002). She died on 14 February 2011 in Murrieta, California, USA.- William P. Duncanson Jr. was born on 31 January 1985 in the USA. He was an actor, known for WAW Aftermath (1998) and NLP No Limit Pro Wrestling (2006). He died on 14 February 2011 in the USA.
- Producer
- Art Director
Hannes Hoff was born in 1927. Hannes was a producer and art director, known for Festival (1961), Der Kürbis, das Transportproblem und die Traumtänzer (1969) and Nikita Chruschtschow - Versuch eines Porträts (1959). Hannes died on 14 February 2011.- Muhamet Sherri was born on 12 March 1948 in Fier, Albania. He was an actor, known for Fundi i një gjakmarrjeje (1983), Udha e shkronjave (1978) and Dy krisma ne Paris (1983). He died on 14 February 2011 in Fier, Albania.