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Description
TINA AND THE TARMAN:

On my list of favorite movies, "Return of the Living Dead" by Dan O'Bannon, is way, way, way up there at the top. This film came out in 1985. I was in the seventh grade and saw it at the theater. I went in with average expectations. Based on the TV commercials, it looked like it should be a decent zombie movie. Instead, what I got was a horror paradise.

Its incredible mix of genuine freaky scares, good humor, exaggerated comic book style zombies, punk rockers, gory violence, great characters, memorable dialogue, excellent special effects, and a believable feeling of Midwestern American goofiness really, really hit me and charged my imagination into overdrive.

Since then I have seen it many, many times and over the years my love for this movie has only increased. I have often wondered if it might just be my number one favorite horror movie of all time. I hate to say any horror film is my #1 favorite cause there are so many I love so much. But this film is certainly in my top three.

My favorite scene in the entire film is when nice-girl Tina leaves her group of punk-friends, wanders off by herself, and gets attacked by the hideous Tar-Man zombie.

A couple of years ago, I did an illustration of the Tar-Man scene, which you can also find in my Deviant Art Gallery. But afterwards never thought much about it.

So imagine my excitement when I woke up one crisp October morning and found the following e-mail waiting for me:

“Dear Bryan,

I just saw the artwork you did for "Return of the Living Dead - Tarman." Do you sell your original art? If so how much do you sell it for? I played Tina in the movie. Enough for now... thanks for making me look sooooo cool in your artwork. I am so honored.

Beverly Randolph-Hartley
~Tina from Return of the Living Dead”

That sure knocked me out. I emailed Beverly back and we got talking online. She is a wonderful, sweet lady. I had to tell her I’d already sold my previous Tar-Man illustration but would be happy to create a new one for her, and she agreed. I couldn’t believe it. An actress who starred in one of my all-time favorite horror films, a movie I’d been watching repeatedly since I was 13 years old… wanted to commission me to do an illustration of her, in her most famous horror movie moment?? I was amazed and flattered. Well it took a little while to squeeze it into my regular work schedule. But here it is. Since then Beverly and I have kept in touch and I’m proud to say she’s become a friend.

UPDATE: MORE BRAINS!

I am excited to announce that a brand-new, feature-length documentary about the making of this film, has just been released on DVD. It's called:

"MORE BRAINS! A Return to the Living Dead"

Naturally, I would be excited about "MORE BRAINS", because cult horror films don't usually receive this level of in-depth behind-the-scenes documentation, with such candid, no-holds-barred interviews, featuring almost every single cast and crew member...

...But another reason I am so excited about this documentary - is because it features two of my illustrations!! Yes, you heard that right! Watch for my artwork to appear during the behind-the-scenes discussion of the famous Tar-Man sequence!

This wonderful opportunity came about thanks to Beverly Randolph, the actress who was menaced by the Tar-Man zombie in ROTLD (and who was also a producer on the doc). It's a long story but I met Beverly a couple years ago and we became friends. I knew nothing about "MORE BRAINS" until she let me in on it, while it was in production, about 9 months ago. It was she who requested my artwork to appear in the documentary. ...And I've been biting my tongue about it ever since! Haha.

I can't express how hugely excited and flattered I feel, to have my artwork connected, in even the smallest way, with a movie that I have loved so much, for so long. Not to mention - seeing my name in the credits of an official Return of the Living Dead - thing...? THAT was a trip! ...I wish I could be all cool and laid back and professional about this... But that would be a lie. I am just too big of a fan. Thanks a MILLION Beverly! Thank you thank you!

...And finally - speaking purely as a fan - I highly recommend all you zombified wierdos out there, track down a copy of this DVD as soon as possible, before rigor-mortis sets in! "MORE BRAINS" is one of the best behind-the-scenes docs, about one of the best zombie movies, you'll ever find. Watching it will... make the pain... go away... the pain of being DEAD... Can't you feel yourself... ROTTING???

Here's the Amazon link: tinyurl.com/6tqpsom
ORDER IT NOW!!!

Description
TINA AND THE TARMAN:

On my list of favorite movies, "Return of the Living Dead" by Dan O'Bannon, is way, way, way up there at the top. This film came out in 1985. I was in the seventh grade and saw it at the theater. I went in with average expectations. Based on the TV commercials, it looked like it should be a decent zombie movie. Instead, what I got was a horror paradise.

Its incredible mix of genuine freaky scares, good humor, exaggerated comic book style zombies, punk rockers, gory violence, great characters, memorable dialogue, excellent special effects, and a believable feeling of Midwestern American goofiness really, really hit me and charged my imagination into overdrive.

Since then I have seen it many, many times and over the years my love for this movie has only increased. I have often wondered if it might just be my number one favorite horror movie of all time. I hate to say any horror film is my #1 favorite cause there are so many I love so much. But this film is certainly in my top three.

My favorite scene in the entire film is when nice-girl Tina leaves her group of punk-friends, wanders off by herself, and gets attacked by the hideous Tar-Man zombie.

A couple of years ago, I did an illustration of the Tar-Man scene, which you can also find in my Deviant Art Gallery. But afterwards never thought much about it.

So imagine my excitement when I woke up one crisp October morning and found the following e-mail waiting for me:

“Dear Bryan,

I just saw the artwork you did for "Return of the Living Dead - Tarman." Do you sell your original art? If so how much do you sell it for? I played Tina in the movie. Enough for now... thanks for making me look sooooo cool in your artwork. I am so honored.

Beverly Randolph-Hartley
~Tina from Return of the Living Dead”

That sure knocked me out. I emailed Beverly back and we got talking online. She is a wonderful, sweet lady. I had to tell her I’d already sold my previous Tar-Man illustration but would be happy to create a new one for her, and she agreed. I couldn’t believe it. An actress who starred in one of my all-time favorite horror films, a movie I’d been watching repeatedly since I was 13 years old… wanted to commission me to do an illustration of her, in her most famous horror movie moment?? I was amazed and flattered. Well it took a little while to squeeze it into my regular work schedule. But here it is. Since then Beverly and I have kept in touch and I’m proud to say she’s become a friend.

UPDATE: MORE BRAINS!

I am excited to announce that a brand-new, feature-length documentary about the making of this film, has just been released on DVD. It's called:

"MORE BRAINS! A Return to the Living Dead"

Naturally, I would be excited about "MORE BRAINS", because cult horror films don't usually receive this level of in-depth behind-the-scenes documentation, with such candid, no-holds-barred interviews, featuring almost every single cast and crew member...

...But another reason I am so excited about this documentary - is because it features two of my illustrations!! Yes, you heard that right! Watch for my artwork to appear during the behind-the-scenes discussion of the famous Tar-Man sequence!

This wonderful opportunity came about thanks to Beverly Randolph, the actress who was menaced by the Tar-Man zombie in ROTLD (and who was also a producer on the doc). It's a long story but I met Beverly a couple years ago and we became friends. I knew nothing about "MORE BRAINS" until she let me in on it, while it was in production, about 9 months ago. It was she who requested my artwork to appear in the documentary. ...And I've been biting my tongue about it ever since! Haha.

I can't express how hugely excited and flattered I feel, to have my artwork connected, in even the smallest way, with a movie that I have loved so much, for so long. Not to mention - seeing my name in the credits of an official Return of the Living Dead - thing...? THAT was a trip! ...I wish I could be all cool and laid back and professional about this... But that would be a lie. I am just too big of a fan. Thanks a MILLION Beverly! Thank you thank you!

...And finally - speaking purely as a fan - I highly recommend all you zombified wierdos out there, track down a copy of this DVD as soon as possible, before rigor-mortis sets in! "MORE BRAINS" is one of the best behind-the-scenes docs, about one of the best zombie movies, you'll ever find. Watching it will... make the pain... go away... the pain of being DEAD... Can't you feel yourself... ROTTING???

Here's the Amazon link: tinyurl.com/6tqpsom
ORDER IT NOW!!!