IT Came From Kickstarter: "Never Sleep Again: The Making of 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' "

This was a feature I wanted to start way back in October but never got around to it. What brought me back was that I needed something to break my monotony while working on a rather large blog post that has taken my weeks to finish (Spoiler alert: it's about Electric Zombie again. Always the apple polisher.) More than that I really wanted to have a regular feature to exalt and praise and push projects on Kickstarter and Indiegogo that I feel fulfills the motto of this blog of covering anything that ultimately proves culturally significant. In this instance I feel the project covers that parameter.

I was a enormous fan of 'Never Sleep Again' when it first came out. How could you not love what was the end-all-be-all chronicle of one of the most entertaining film franchises of all time. Looking now it is somewhat amazing that the team of Thommy Hutson, Daniel Farrands, and Andrew Kasch were able to collect as many participants as they did.

Even Lezlie Deane...and friend? Wait, what's going on here?

More than your typical DVD/BD retrospective, what they created was one of the most engaging and informative docs made in years. It's almost three hours long and I still wanted more. They would each go on to work on other horror docs, many which are also quite well researched (and worth the time to check out).

Well, now Thommy Hutson is back and it seems like he wasn't quite done with Freddy.

Never Sleep Again: 'The Making of Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street'

Thommy and Red Rover Books are crowdfunding a hardcover tome to accompany the 'Never Sleep Again' documentary. Think of it as a physical copy of all the material covered in the three hours plus more. The campain description explains the book as:

"...hardcover, over two hundred pages and include both color 

and black-and-white photos and materials. 

It will be printed on high-quality, semi-gloss paper. 

It is an oversize (approximately 9.5" x 12") coffee table book."

The thing I love more than a horror book is a horror film coffee table book. What better way to generate conversation at a tea party than an extensive detailed exploration of the most famous undead child murder film?  You know, this book sounds familiar. What will Never Sleep Again exactly cover?

"- A foreword by Wes Craven
- Wes Craven's career
- The beginning of New Line Cinema
- The pre-production, production, release and legacy of the film
- An afterword by Heather Langenkamp
- And more!"

Yeah, this seems so familiar now. Like I've read something a lot like it or own something covering a similar film series. Who else is involved with this book?

"Peter Bracke (design and layout) is an accomplished journalist and 

the man behind the incredibly creative and wildly successful book,  

Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th. 

His design aesthetic is top-notch and brings an amazing, distinct look to this project."

Wait...what?

Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th

Holy...

That's why his mask is so big, it's full of secrets.

 O.K., I know many of you probably saw this coming but this is still pretty amazing. Crystal Lake Memories is one of my most prized possessions. I have lost hours re-reading all the stories and anecdotes collected. Not only is thi meant to be a companion piece to the 'Never Sleep Again' doc it is also feels like a campaign to Crystal Lake Memories. That. Is. Awesome.

Pledge $25 or more

"DEEP SLEEP" 

"You could just see the cuts happening. You're getting closer to Krueger and to helping us make the book a reality! Pledge $25 and you'll get: a shout out on Twitter, thanks on our website and a rolled, 12"x18" poster of the amazing, exclusive book cover art by Nathan Milliner!"

 Pledge $50 or more

"REM" 

"You are definitely dreaming. And it's a good one, too! This is your chance to get your hands on this one-of-a-kind, definitive book. Pledge $50 and you'll receive: a shout out on Twitter, thanks on our website and a copy of the book that includes an official seal from Red Rover Books indicating the number of your copy in this "Premier Release" (total number of copies in the initial release will be based on the number of pledges at this level or higher)."

Pledge $100 or more

"NIGHT TERROR" 

"[SIGNED BOOK (Heather, Amanda & Thommy) & POSTER (unsigned)] Fred Krueger did it. Pledge $100 and you'll get: a shout out on Twitter, thanks on our website, the Premier Release numbered book signed by Elm Street stars HEATHER LANGENKAMP ("Nancy") and AMANDA WYSS ("Tina") plus author THOMMY HUTSON (autographs only, not personalized) and the 12"x18" rolled book cover art poster (unsigned)."

Pledge $150 or more

"THE ULTIMATE NIGHTMARE" 

"[SIGNED BOOK (Robert, Heather, Amanda & Thommy), POSTER (unsigned) & "THANK YOU!"] You're into survival! Pledge $150 and you'll receive: a shout out on Twitter, thanks on our website, the Premier Release numbered book signed by ROBERT ENGLUND ("Freddy"), HEATHER LANGENKAMP ("Nancy") and AMANDA WYSS ("Tina") plus author THOMMY HUTSON (autographs only, not personalized), the 12"x18" rolled book cover art poster (unsigned) and get a "Thank You" credit printed in the book!"

Pledge $1000 or more
"DREAM WARRIOR" 

"[10 SIGNED BOOKS (Robert, Heather, Amanda & Thommy), POSTER (unsigned) & "THANK YOU!"] You stand with the elite, ready for battle. Pledge $1,000 and you'll receive: a shout out on Twitter, thanks on our website and TEN copies of the official "Premier Release" book signed by Elm Street stars ROBERT ENGLUND ("Freddy"), HEATHER LANGENKAMP ("Nancy") and AMANDA WYSS ("Tina") plus author THOMMY HUTSON (autographs only, not personalized), the 12"x18" rolled book cover art poster (unsigned) and get an exclusive "Dream Warrior Thank You" credit printed in the book. (All copies will be sent to the same address.)"

So now go and help fund this project. Keep the nightmares alive and get this book made.