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13X Studios Empire Expands

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Business owner Rick Styczynski began 13X Studios, a mask making company, 3 years ago.  From an idea that started with the sale of only a few masks over Etsy, he has now sold thousands!

1. What was the reason behind starting 13x Studios?

Rick: 13X Studios came from very humble beginnings.  Three years ago after Halloween 2016, I decided to make a few masks and put them on Etsy After 2 weeks I sold a few. After few months I sold hundreds. I felt I found my calling. My previous jobs included Poker, DJ and Bartender. They all took a bit of a toll on me, so I wanted to try something new, and I found it; from there13X Studios was born!

2. What has been your largest order?

Rick: In the past 3 years I was lucky enough to get into retail stores. Initially I got into Gods and Monsters in Orlando, followed by Kevin Smith’s Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash, Halloween Mega Store and Nightmare Toys.

All of these retailers always put in big orders, but out of the blue I met a guy who owns Wall Street Cattle company, and he was opening a ranch on Halloween.  After talking a bit he told me he wanted to send out masks to clients. He ordered 400 masks! That was my biggest order to date.

My Silent Bob Mask at Stash has sold out 16 times already. I feel my product has been loved by many.

It’s a great feeling, and I put my heart and soul into each and every mask I make. When I started making masks I decided that I wanted to put my spin on them with keeping them affordable and good quality.

3. Have you ever received backlash from any of your masks, especial the real life killers?

Rick: Since 3 years ago when I began I haven’t had any backlash for my masks. However, I did feel I went a little overboard when I did a lot of the serial killer styles. I decided to stick to Manson and Gacy, then drop everyone else, from Dahmer to BTK. I just feel I crossed the line. When I do cons and kids walk up to my Manson mask I just tell them it’s angry Jesus.

4. Did you expect this business to get this big?

Rick: I feel I have made great business decisions so far. Not every convention I have done was a monster, but I now know I have to cut down on pop culture cons and focus more on horror cons. I definitely will be thinking outside of the box in the future, and doing many other things with 13X.

5. What have been some of your most rewarding and memorable moments running 13X Studios?

Rick: There have been so many memorable moments from 13X in the last year.

In the first 2 years, the deal with Kevin Smith was hands down my most memorable, always and forever. The Secret Stash is so good to me. They are amazing people.

This last year I got a partnership with Kane Hodder. He was one of my idols growing up and now we are in business. It started at Mad Monster Charlotte when I asked Kane; how would he see a mask through his eyes?

I wanted to do a limited edition run. It was called “Kwaj” mask, and I took all his inspirations and made 13 of them. They sold out in 1 day! A percentage of the mask went to Friday the 13th part 7 Director John Beuchler’s Go Fund Me Memorial page. I know how close Kane and John were and I thought this was the right thing to do.

After that I had an idea of doing a limited edition mask with partnership with him. The mask was called “Kane Part 7 Kill Mask”. I took the part 7 style and made it red and used dirt from the actual Friday the 13th part 7 camp, and weathered it into mask.

We did 100 of these masks and they were sold at 2 separate conventions, and all of them sold out. Mayra Cruz who is Kane’s handler at cons is also a part of our deal. We are doing a Kane Part 8 Kill Mask very soon. There will be 2 different versions.

My other memorable moment this year was doing a limited edition Art the Clown mask from Terrifier. It had disgusting bloody feces spelling Art’s name on the mask. This has been one of my favorites that I created.

I became friends with Damien Leone who is the director of Terrifier. We are surprisingly similar. We love movies, and we both have this huge positive drive. I love surrounding myself with likeminded people.

I will also be in Terrifier part 2! I have no idea what I’ll be doing, but just to be part of one of my favorite horror movie sequels will be amazing. I also hang out with David Howard Thornton who plays Art, as we both attend many of the same cons.

Lastly, one of my personal coolest moments of the year is when Director Adam Green emailed me as I sent him a Kwaj mask since he and Kane are friends.  He hung up the mask in his studio, so when he does Facebook live I always see my mask!  That makes me happy.

6. Where do you want 13X Studios to go from here?

Rick: I feel like I’m really starting to get everything I’ve planned for in this business.

The last 2 years I was just having fun, and doing my own thing. Now I realize that I have a legit business. I’m building 13X as a brand, and who knows what I’ll do next. Movies. Music. TV. I have so many things that have popped in my head and have resulted from this business.

I have been jotting them down and see if I can make them happen. I’m planning on getting into more retail stores for sure, and primarily focus on the bigger horror cons.  I love meeting new people, and this is something I will never get sick of.

I have many supporters and fans everywhere in the country, and I hope they know how much they mean to me.

I know I will definitely keep adding new ideas for masks from pop culture to horror. And keep growing!

7. What are your next events?

Rick: The next event I have is Days of the Dead Charlotte at the end of September. Next will be the Terrifier 2 shoot and Florida’s Spooky Empire in October. Then I’ll be taking November through January to focus on family and online sales.

I’ll be back at it in February with Days of the Dead Atlanta and Mad Monster Charlotte.

8. Where can readers find you online?

Rick Styczynski
13X Studios
www.13xstudios.com

Instagram-Facebook (13Xstudios)

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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