Ray Schillaci

Film/theatre Journalist and Screenwriter

Valencia, Los Angeles County, California

Member Since:
September 2020

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> 2 weeks ago

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About Ray

I am a professed film enthusiast whose wife thinks he’s downright obsessive. She insists I love film more than her, our kids, and our dog. Not true, I love that dog!

I’m an entertainment journalist. I’ve written everything from film reviews, articles on the industry, and controversial opinion pieces (Manson and the Media) for both The Movie Guys and Kevin Smith’s website, FRED Entertainment. I’ve been featured on podcasts that included interviews with Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator, From Beyond) and Marcus Nispel (2003 Texas Chainsaw Massacre, 2011 Conan the Barbarian). Have hosted both the Phoenix Film Festival and the International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival.

I have over 25 years experience in the motion picture and television industry. The last 5 years I shared duties running one of the major unions in Hollywood. I was a director of both MPIPHP and FTAC (Film Television Action Committee). I was also a successful advertising executive for Republic Media. While working at the studios, I did a brief 3 year stint as a comedian working alongside Arsenio Hall, Fritz Coleman, and Jenny Jones, to name a few.

Throughout my writing career I was fortunate to have a great deal of guidance from my mentor, Karl Schanzer, a Roger Corman protégée. Karl was a producer, and also known as one of the best story analysts in Hollywood. He worked with a variety of talent from Coppola to Cameron. He was also the co-author of the industry book, “American Screenwriters” and would be an invaluable sensei for me.

I finished my first novel, a supernatural spaghetti western, "Gothic Dust" currently seeking publication while entertaining prospects of a graphic novel. I've written over a dozen screenplays, my last one completed is inspired by actual events, a mystery/sci-fi/thriller that is a cross between "The Exorcist" and "Arrival," dealing with sleep disorders. My reviews and articles can be found at the http://www.themovieguys.net/ and other work can be found at

Unique traits: Film historian. Presenter/Interviewer. Specializing in horror and comedy.

Gender:
Male

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The Vessel Budget: $1M - $5M | Thriller ⋄ Mystery Dr. Michael Price, associate professor/sleep neuropsychologist, is unprepared for his new research subject who falls into REM sleep within minutes and manifests voices that threaten her life. He soon discovers that the voices have also effected people with dementia, Alzheimers and the homeless. A mystery to the future of humanity awaits.
Watermarked Budget: $0 - $100K | Horror A young tabloid writer journeys through a rural town, Crossgoat Hollow, to find rumors of a beguiling lake that may be home to a “water witch,” that collects bones of her victims to build a bridge to free her of the aqueous prison.
Get Real Budget: $5M - $10M | Drama ⋄ Comedy A comical panning of the entertainment industry exploring the fantasy of reality TV. Two overnight (in the making for twenty years) sensations attain their goal in life – a hit TV show; based on a surrogate and the people she is having the baby for.
King of the Road Budget: $0 - $100K | Horror ⋄ Action A literal race for life with death on a dangerous fog covered canyon road.
Live by the Gun Budget: $5M - $10M | Action A homage to 70s action/thrillers, a cross between Lethal Weapon and Billy Jack. Hired by a gubernatorial candidate to locate his kidnapped daughter, a private detective is stunned to discover the man had the child abducted to gain popularity in the polls. What makes this former P.I. different from any other is that he is a Native American who comes from a long line of trackers and leaders.
Thangs That Go Bump in the Night Budget: $1M - $5M | Horror ⋄ Comedy An old world vampire moves to Boyle Heights only to have his sleep disrupted during the day by the local gang members and their music. After attempting to appeal to the group's good sense, he is forced to reveal he is a creature of the night. Undaunted, the crew divulges they are not a gang, but a pack of... werewolves.