I’m planning another Friday book that will be solely about the making of the first film, the 1980 film. This will be to Friday the 13th, the first film, what the Last House on the Left book was to that film, a really detailed book on the making of a single film.

As this book will cover the making of a single film – the first film – the book will cover the making of the 1980 film in painstaking detail, and will include interviews with virtually everyone living who worked on the film.

Although there have been DVDs, books, and other retrospective materials on the first film(I actually published the very first Friday retro in Fangoria back in 2026), I’m confident that I have enough materials, stories, interviews that even most the diehard fans will find fresh and exciting.

So, for fans of the original 1980 whodunit will have something very special to look forward to in the future. We will keep everyone informed of any information that is made public when it happens!

David Grove’s first book, ‘Making Friday the 13th‘ was actually released before ‘Crystal Lake Memories’ in the same year, 2026, and offered a different style and layout compared to ‘CLM’. Whereas ‘Crystal Lake Memories’ offered an abundance of pictures and an organized interview layout, ‘Making’ is a well written research documentation of the making of each friday the 13th film with its own brand of picture offering.

We have not been able to confirm definitively if a new book is in pre-production yet, but we will let you know when anything turns up.

A terrible visage to behold, the Jason Voorhees – Friday the 13th Part III Premium Format Figure brings to life the legendary horror icon of the Friday the 13th film series. Complete with a hand-tailored fabric costume, each piece is hand-painted and finished, each with its own unique quality and detail that is the trademark of a handcrafted Sideshow Collectibles Premium Format Figure.

There are two versions of the figure being sold. The exclusive figure comes with interchangable hands so to have Jason show off either an axe or machete. Also, that same figure comes with an interchangeable head to display Jason’s face which is something only his mother could love. For more information on this figure or to place an order, visit the Sideshow website!

We were not aware that our unfinished story was even read by anyone as we removed it very quickly from our website. However, we live in an information age and once something is put out on the web, it’s there, permanently. That being said, we felt it necessary to clear a few things up and confirm some information that has already been floating out there on the forums or blogs today.

People who visit our website on a regular basis have been well informed on the status of the potential sequel to the 2026 film produced by Platinum Dunes and Distributed by New Line Cinema/Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures. Brad Fuller, of Platinum Dunes, was very gracious in keeping fans updated on his Twitter account throughout the release of Friday the 13th last year as well as during the production and release of Nightmare On Elm Street in 2026.

Mr. Fuller’s updates shed a lot of light on the sequel process as well as his interviews on Dread Central, Bloody-Disgusting and Shock Till You Drop. All of these outlets aloud us to inform our visitors with facts about the sequel that other people may have missed through the long and traveled process of getting a new Friday the 13th to the cinema. Below are listed facts pertaining to a new Jason Voorhees film via comments made by Brad Fuller and to some extent, Andrew Form.

1. Platinum Dunes wholeheartedly intended to make a sequel to their 2026 reboot and to do so in a very timely manner.

2. PD intended to have the new film released for August 13, 2026

3. Mark Swift and Damian Shannon turned in a draft for the new film to Warner Bros.

4. The new film would have some sort of winter setting, perhaps not for the whole film, but it would be included. A camp setting was also to be involved in some way.

5. For reasons not fully explained, Warner Bros. decided to not greenlight a sequel utilizing the script that was turned in.

6. Since that decision by Warner Bros., Platinum Dunes has moved on, preparing to remake Monster Squad as well as a possible new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie.

7. In May of 2026, Head of Distribution for Warner Bros., Dan Fellman, was asked by the Associated Press about further sequels to A Nightmare On Elm Street after that remake had a successfull opening weekend. Mr. Fellman mentioned that the company would certainly entertain sequels for both Nightmare On Elm Street and Friday the 13th.

This is all of the information that has been officially reported by genre websites or by Mr. Fuller himself. Back in October we were notified that Warner Bros. was beginning development of a new Friday the 13th film. This was not officially confirmed and still is not at this moment, but we mentioned it on our website as a way to let fans know that there was movement. As the weeks have passed, our website has learned of other information pertaining to a possible sequel. That information was to be held onto for a time until we felt it necessary to post. That brings us to today.

Due to an error, as previously mentioned above, a partial story was made live on our website and now this yet-to-be-confirmed information is a matter of public knowledge. That knowlwedge is that Warner Bros. is developing a new Friday the 13th and that Platinum Dunes is not involved. This information has not been officially released by any of the parties involved, such as Warner Bros., but we can say in good faith that this is true.

The great thing for fans is that things are moving and that’s all the die hard series fans can hope for. When more information is made available, we will definitely let you guys and gals know!

Mr. Tait was also very generous in providing us with some never before seen behind-the-scenes photos from his days shooting on the Freddy vs Jason set. So, we hope everyone enjoys his thoughts and also the awesome photos he has provided!

My primary goal when I started was always to act. I loved performing, and I started working at Universal Studios in High school playing Frankenstein and other Classic Movie Monsters, and that is what got me started in acting behind masks and makeup. I became obsessed with playing monsters at an early age. Most recently I have gotten into producing films that I am in. I produced the film One By One: Deaths Door which stars Tony Todd and myself.
 
2. How did you get involved in the Freddy vs Jason production? Had you worked with any of the crew from Freddy vs Jason previously?

I got involved by going through casting. I had gone to several auditions, and call backs and was being considered for the part. Ronny Yu wanted a taller leaner Jason Vorhees. I actually feel bad for Kane Hodder, If I was Kane I would have been upset also if a Director would cast someone else when I had played Jason in so many prior films. Anyway, after weeks had gone by I was told they hired Ken, so I sadly moved on. Then almost a year later they called me for the reshoot.

3. How many days were you on set for filming and what was the typical amount of time and preparation you needed for your scene? What kind of makeup appliances and props were needed for the Jason outift that you were to wear?

I was on the film for a couple days. The water sequence took a lot of preparation. They realized that when I got wet,  I looked too skinny in the clothes, so they had to bulk me up with pads and extra clothing so it would look like I was still big. Being with all this extra weight, one eye covered, a machete in one hand,  Freddy’s head in another hand, and being totally submerged in water, made that scene very difficult. Also, Ronny Yu wanted me to walk like I was walking on land. He wanted it to look like I could walk through the water without it making me rise to the surface. To do this effect, they had a rope tied under water that I held onto with my left hand (with Freddy’s severed head in it also), and I held myself down on the ground so I could pull myself and walk forward.

4. What was your experience working with Director Ronny Yu and also Robert England? Are there any funny or interesting behind the scene stories that you woud like to share?

Working with Robert Englund and Ronny Yu was great. Robert Englund was a class act. He was such a great guy, and we talked about his character, and how he was a huge influence on my acting behind prosthetic fx makeup. It was  a dream come true to work with him. I actually have an emberassing story about Ronny Yu. When I came in to meet him, he was showing me the Jason movements he wanted and he was hunched over and dragging his leg, so I copied him several times, and he kept saying no, no, like this… and he did the same thing. Finally he got called to another room and he limped out. I realized that he had a bad leg and I was imitating it, I felt so terrible.

5. The scene that you are known to be playing Jason is at the very end of the film where Jason emerges from the water with Freddy’s head in his hand. Is that truly the only scene you played Jason? If that is the only scene, were you supposed to appear in other scenes as Jason at one point, but eventually were not needed?

Unfortunately for me, it was the only scene I was hired to do. The test audiences were confused about the original ending, they thought Jason Ritter’s character was becoming Jason. You can see it in the deleted scenes, that is why they decided to reshoot the ending. Originally I was being considered for playing the role of Jason in the entire film. It was actually between me and Ken. When they took the film to Canada, I was out of luck. There was no way they were going to pay for my flight and hotel stay when Ken was a local. Also, Ken is older than me and he was a lot more established in the business than I was at the time.

6. Do you know the circumstances as to why you had to be brought in to play Jason for your scene(s)? Was Ken Kirzinger just not available or were there other reasons?

I heard different information about why Ken didn’t do the shoot. At the time I was told that they were saving money by hiring me locally for the reshoot. Later on I heard he was on another project and couldn’t get out. I am not sure which is the right answer. Maybe Ken would know…
7. What was your overall experience like on filming Freddy vs Jason? Was it an enjoyable and free spirited set and crew?

It was a great experience working on Freddy vs. Jason. It was my first big Feature film, and I was only 24 at the time. I had a person onset who’s only job was to hold my Machete, (She never worked cause I wouldn’t let go of it!) I remember standing in the water with Freddy’s head in my hand thinking: Wow, I am working with Robert Englund and behind the mask of Jason Vorhees! Both of them scared the hell out of me as a kid and they are the two biggest Horror icons of all time!

8. Did you watch Freddy vs Jason and if so, what is your thoughts on the film? Do you follow the franchise at all and have any thoughts to share with the fans?

I have watched Freddy Vs. Jason several times, and I like it a lot. I really like the blending of the two iconic worlds that these two are from. I think it was well done and I still enjoy watching it. I have always been a fan of the franchise and I feel very privelaged to have been a part of it. I wish I could have done more, but at least I got to experience what I did.

9. You recently began attending conventions. What has that experience been like and what do you think of all of the fans that attend to see their favorite actors and artists?

I wrote off conventions in the past and just recently started attending them. I started to get calls for my character in Star Trek and I enjoyed the experience. I used to think conventions were for actors who no longer had a career, but I was wrong. So I hooked up with the best signing agent, Sean Clark at Convention All Stars, and the rest is history. Interacting with fans has been the greatest thing I could have ever done, and I love it. I will always do conventions to stay close to the great fans out there. I have a fan who wants me to play Michael Myers in the next Halloween and he built a Facebook Fan site and made a slideshow of my monster pictures, it is very flattering. I will be at Weekend Of Horrors this weekend and HorrorHound Weekend next month.

10. What do you have in the works right now in Hollywood and what is that one project that you would really like to get done in the industry before it is all said and done?

I am working on a Horror as we speak, playing an Alien creature who lands at a campsite in the mountains of a small town and I wreak Havoc on the campers and town.  Soon I start the new TV Series Teen Wolf, I play the Uber Violent Werewolf in the series, and I just got offered a Lead Monster role in the Hansel And Gretel remake starring Jeremy Renner. The monster will be a huge practical Beast, (NO CGI) and it will be Directed by Tommy Wirkola of Dead Snow.

11. You recently were on set to film scenes for Knights Of Badassdom,’ starring Steve Zahn. Larry Zerner, who was in Friday the 13th Part 3, was also asked to film a scene for the film. Did you happen to be filming the same day he was? Did you two meet and if so, did you two discuss anything related to Friday the 13th or films in general?

Knights Of Badassdom is going to be a cult Horror masterpiece, it is Directed by the talented Joe Lynch and he was great to work with. Unfortunately Larry shot his scenes after I had already left Spokane Washington where the movie was filmed.

Below is a fun excerpt from the David Grove book, Making Friday the 13th pertaining to Marta almost starring in Friday the 13th Part 7: The New Blood.:

“Another interesting casting note is that Marta Kober, Part 2’s after-sex impaling princess, was initially offered a part in The New Blood, the casting directors oblivious to the fact that she had starred and been killed in Friday the 13th: Part 2. ‘Yes, my agent actually sent me out to read for The New Blood, and they liked me, and I had the job,’ recalls Kober. ‘They didn’t know I’d been in the previous film, and I felt bad about not telling them so I told them because I knew they would’ve been upset if they’d found out later.’” – pg. 155

So, when I found out that Marta was going to be appearing at the Monster Mania convention a few weeks ago, I asked a big Friday the 13th fan and veteran convention attendee if she could relay some questions for Marta to answer. Big thanks to MrsV for getting Marta the questions in the following Interview.

1. Where did you grow up as a kid and what are some of the crazy stories you have from those days?

I GREW UP IN NEW YORK CITY. EVERYTHING WAS CRAZY. OUT ALL NIGHT ROAMING STREETS. SINCE I WAS VERY YOUNG I WAS ALWAYS GETTING INTO TROUBLE.

2. Outside of acting, what previously were and currently are some of your passions in life?

I HAPPEN TO WORK FOR DEATHROW AND DEF JAM RECORDS. TLC WAS MY VERY FIRST GIG IN 1991. 10 MILLION RECORDS WITH TUPAC SHAKUR. MUSIC IS MY PASSION AND STILL RECORD EVERY SO OFTEN. THE LATEST STORY IS THAT I PUT OUT PICS WITH DEF JAM AND BAD BOY.

3. How did you get into acting and what were some of the roles you had before joining the cast of Friday the 13th Part 2?

I WON AN EMMY FOR NBC AFTER SCHOOL SPECIAL. I WAS IN A HIT OFF BROADWAY SHOW THAT RAN FOR COUPLE OF YEARS. THEN I WAS HIRED FOR FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH AND STARTED MY CAREER. I BELIEVE STEVE MINER AND JOHN SAYLES MOVED TO LA AND HAVE RESIDED ON THE WEST COAST EVER SINCE.

4. How did you learn about the opportunity to audition for Friday the 13th Part 2?  I WAS HIRED STRAIGHT FROM THE OFF BROADWAY SHOW. I BELIEVE, DUE TO MY MUSIC CAREER, THAT I HAVE LOST MANY ACTING JOBS, BUT AM STILL OFFERED JOBS HERE AND THERE.

5. We have heard of some crazy auditions for actors that have tried out for parts in the Friday the 13th franchise. What was the audition process like for you in trying to join the cast of Friday the 13th part 2? Did anything jump out at you that was strange and unusual during your reading and audition?

I WAS ASKED, DO YOU WANT TO WRESTLE? THAT WAS A BIG LAUGH. I WAS AN UNDERAGED EMANCIPATED MINOR AT THE TIME AND A LITTLE EMBARRASSED.

6. After getting the part of Sandra in Part 2, did you know any of the actors beforehand that you were going to be with on the film?

NO. ALL FRESH FACES TO ME AND IT HAS BEEN FUN TO SEE THEM AGAIN.

7. Do you recall how many days you were involved on the shoot for the film and what did you think of the locations you filmed at?

 IT WAS A COUPLE OF MONTHS. WE USED THE REAL CAMP CRYSTAL LAKE. WE STAYED IN THE BUNKS. IT WAS LOW BUDGET AND SCARY!

8. I am going to ask you about working with a few of the actors and crew individually, however, overall, how was it to work with the crew during the shoot?

ALL CREWS ARE FUN. AT THE TIME, I MADE A FEW CLOSE FRIENDS.

9. How was your experience working with, at that time, first time director Steve Miner? Was he easy to take direction from and can you recall how he and the rest of the film crew got along?

I BELIEVE HE WAS EASY GOING. IF I RECALL, YOUNG AND FUN MANY YEARS AGO. AS I SAID, IT HAS BEEN FUN TO REUNITE.

10. Although, you had a very brief scene with him, what was it like to work with the late Walt Gorney?

I WORKED WITH MANY OLD ACTORS LIKE JACK WESTIN AND KEENEN IVORY WAYANS. THE STORIES THEY HAVE TAKE MORE THAN ONE DRINK AT THE BAR TO TELL. AND THE PEOPLE THEY HAVE MET WOULD BLOW YOU AWAY.

11. What do you rememeber about your experiences with Stu Charno? His character was a practical joker on film, but did he share the same personality off-screen?

I RAN INTO HIM ONE TIME MANY YEARS AGO. HE IS A CHARACTER. THAT IS ALL I WILL SAY, ON AND OFF SCREEN.

12. Of course I must also ask you about your co-star and on-screen boyfriend Bill Randolph. You both share some pretty intimate moments on screen together. What were your experiences working with Bill on set?

BILL, I JUST SAW. HE IS STILL MARRIED TO THE SAME WIFE AND WE ARE STILL FRIENDS. IT’S FUN TO SEE HIM.

13. You and Bill are involved in one of the most famous scenes in the Friday the 13th film series, which involved both of you being impaled together on a bed. What do you remember about that scene? In particular, what did you endure for the makeup and set up time to get the proper shots for the director?

IT TOOK NINE HOURS TO MAKE THE FAKE BACK, THEN I WOULD SLIDE IN AND OUT UNDERNEATH BILL FOR HOURS OF FILMING ALL DAY. IT WAS GRUELING, BUT IT IS MY CLAIM TO FAME.

14. When the cameras were not rolling, what did you and other cast members do for fun?

WE ATE, DRANK, AND DANCED. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF HOH HON BARS IN THAT TOWN IN CONNECTICUT, IF I REMEMBER. I ALSO REMEMBER ALOT OF PRACTICAL JOKES PLAYED ON THE GIRLS. IT WAS A FUN TIME FIRST FILM!

15. After filming wrapped, what type of wrap party was there and is there any kind of crazy stories from that time?

I BELIEVE THE SCREENING WAS A BIG DEAL. I WENT WITH TOM (MCBRIDE). I BELIEVE I WAS JUST TOLD HE DIED OF AIDS. THAT IS SAD FOR SURE. IT HAPPENED MANY YEARS AGO. I HAD NOT SEEN ANYONE FROM THE FILM IN QUITE AWHILE. LIVES GROW APART AS MANY PEOPLE ARE INTO DIFFERENT THINGS NOW.

16. When did you first see Friday the 13th Part 2 and where? What was your reaction as well as your family and friends’ reaction to your role and the film in general?

I WAS SCARED! IT WAS A 40 MILLION DOLLAR PARAMOUNT HIT. THE FILM IS STILL RECOGNIZED TO THIS DAY. IT WAS THE START OF ALL SLASHER HORROR FILMS, BEGINNING WITH FRIDAY 1 AND 2 AND THEN CAME MORE HALLOWEEN FILMS.

17. Did you keep anything from the film and if so, what is the item(s)?

I KEPT A CALGARY MOUNTY HAT FROM A DIFFERENT FILM AND ALSO KEPT THE HEAD THAT WAS IN THE FRIDGE FROM FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2 FOR MANY YEARS. I STOPPED COLLECTING SOUVENEIRS AND ALL GOT LOST ALONG THE WAY.

18. After working on Friday the 13th part 2, you went on to act in a number of television shows and movies through to the mid 1990’s. Afterwards, you seemed to stop acting altogether. Is this actually true and if so, what have you been up to since then.

AS I SAID, I GOT BIG INTO THE MUSIC LABEL OWNED BY ATHLETE, DEATHROW. EVERY SO OFTEN I WILL DO A SMALL PART IN A FILM. I JUST DID A COMMERCIAL IN NEW ORLEANS WITH A COUPLE OF BIG PEOPLE. I HAD A SMALL PART IN THE FILM ‘AMERICAN GANGSTER’ AS WELL AS ‘TRAINING DAY’. BEFORE THAT, I WAS JUST SELLING RECORDS. ALSO, AS I SAID BEFORE, I WAS DEPORTED FROM LONDON IS HOW I WILL PUT IT.

19. You recently attended your first fan convention. What was it like to meet fans in a controlled environment for the first time and what type of questions were you asked?

ALL FANS JUST WANTED A PIC AND AUTOGRAPHS. SINCE I WAS WITH CO-STAR BILL RANDOLPH, THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE SEEING EACH OTHER AGAIN. HE IS A SWELL MAN. IT WAS A GOOD TIME!

20. What are your feelings towards the whole Friday the 13th experience? Do you have any regrets towards being in that type of film and did it affect your life afterwards?

EVERYONE IN THE INDUSTRY HAS DONE HORROR FILMS. I BELIEVE THEY REUSED SOME OF MY SCENES FROM PART 2 IN LATER FRIDAY THE 13TH MOVIES. I WAS PAID FOR THAT, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer all of these questions and good luck with everything you aspire for in life!

We at Friday The 13th: The Website have received the cricket sounds when looking into this date and no other horror related website has even mentioned the tiniest little wimper about the July date being a possible release for a new Jason Voorhees romp. We have not heard back word from Warner Bros. yet, but the feeling here is that Garrison Keeler may have been throwing out a “possible” date.

Surprisingly, a number of people had emailed about this, so it made sense to squash the rumor for the time being and wait for something more concrete. Thanks to the site visitors for writing in about this topic!

Each item will have a red link associated with it when that feature is ready to be viewed. So, keep an eye out and visit often to see what we have in store for the visitors and fans of the best slasher franchise in the world.

1. The 8-Bit Jason Project
2. Trailerpalooza Part 2
3. Interview: Debi Sue Voorhees (Tina, ‘A New Beginning’)
4. 30 Years Of Fear Contest Winner Announced
5. Win ‘The Man In The Lake’ On DVD With Your Favorite Quote
6. Deadpit to Interview ‘A New Beginning’ Alumn Tonight
7. Sideshow Collectable’s Part 3 Premium Format Figure
8. ‘The Man In The Lake’ Fan Film Debut (10PM EST)

While you’re here, why not say hi to everyone and wish them a Happy Friday the 13th!

Summer of Contests Part 3: Crazy Ralph

Visit our blog to read the full contest details!

Create A Promo Video For Friday The 13th: The Website!

Visit our blog to read the full contest details!

The summer contests that fridaythe13thfilms.com have run so far this summer have been met with tremendous success as we have had great turnout with contest entries. For those that are new to the website, check out our previous contests Part 1 and Part 2 and see what our great visitors have already won up to this point. Well, next up for our Summer of contests is something very special that we have been hinting at for a few weeks now. Here is you chance to win a one of a kind 7 inch custom Crazy Ralph figure from One’s Customs.

This contest is going to involve a lot of people as this is a joint contest between visitors to our website as well as One’s Customs’ Youtube Channel followers. I am sure you all want to know how to win this awesome figure, so below are all of the details for the contest.

How To Enter The Contest
1. First things first, you need to find the video review of this custom Crazy Ralph figure at One’s Customs’ Youtube Channel. Be careful as there may be another video of ol’ Ralph posted at the channel from an earlier date. You will know when the correct video is found as it will reference this contest.

2. Copy the Youtube link of the video review and email that link to [email protected]. Please put “One’s Customs Contest” in the subject line. Yes, people who frequent One’s Customs Youtube channel will have a slight advantage as they will have already found this link before visiting our website here, but it is an even playing field after this point.

3. Once the initial email entry is received by this website containing the correct Youtube link, visitors will then receive a reply to their email entry with six trivia questions. All of the questions pertain to our favorite Prophet of Doom, Crazy Ralph. Answer the questions and then email your reply with the answers back to [email protected].

4. The contest will start Thursday July 8th and end on Sunday August 1st. After August 1st, email entries with the correct trivia question answers will be thrown into a hat and a winner will be randomly selected. The winner will be announced on One’s Customs’ Youtube channel the following week. Make sure to follow the instructions given above as well as the instructions given in the emails that are sent out.

If you have any questions, leave a comment below as the comments are always viewed and an answer will be given to you shortly. Big thanks go to One’s Customs for generously donating this extremely detailed custom figure for a lucky fan to win! Good luck in the contest, have fun, and thank you to everyone for helping celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Friday the 13th!

According to NECA’s Randy Faulk, the next order of business is to release a smaller, 7.5 inch version of the 2026 18 inch reboot figure this Fall, 2026. Everything that was included with the 18 inch Jason will be available once again. The 7.5 inch figure will contain two heads, one with the hockey mask and one with the sack. The figure will also include Jason’s favorite weapon, a machete. We will keep you updated with more news of this figure and other Jason Voorhees figures as NECA announces them. Big thanks to Tony for the heads-up!

I asked Crash if he would like to answer some questions about how his passion for his art and the Friday the 13th franchise and how that helped put him into a position that many fans envy and wish they could live every day.

Thanks. I’ve been drawing since I was a kid. My parents still have sketches I did before I even started kindergarten. Thanks to them I had drawings published in a national newspaper when I was 7. As I grew older, if I wasn’t out playing baseball, then chances are I would be in my room drawing. Throughout school I was the kid who always won the “most artistic” awards, poster contests, etc. But my other love was sports, particularly baseball. When I began junior high I started learning more about other aspects of art like sculpting and painting. By the time I was in high school I was sculpting figurines and dabbling in special effects creating gags, simple wounds and Halloween costumes, things of that nature. Later on I knew that I could probably pursue either baseball or art. So I eventually chose art and graduated college with a degree in design.

2. While in school, was there any projects or experiences that you were most proud of being apart of?

Definitely. I had a great art teacher in high school who was also an awesome sculptor (and former green beret too!) He has produced life-sized bronze statues for malls, parks, libraries, etc. In my junior year he had a project fall into his lap for a sculptural piece for the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching. Going before the school board, he suggested that 3 of his best students should be involved in the project. He would oversee it and help out of course. They loved the idea and under his guidance, I and two others got the opportunity to be involved in a big way. My high school worked with our schedules and allowed a final class period at the end of the day for us to specifically work on this sculpture. Early on I was given the task at doing the concept sketch which consisted of 3 life-sized figures; a teacher and two students. Each of us had our own specialty. One was a welder, who welded our armatures for the figures, and I shared sculpting duties with the other. By the time we finished high school, 3 other students were brought on board to finish out the piece. During my first year of college, we took the entire sculpture to a bronzing facility to be bronzed. A few weeks later it was installed in the front of the teaching center and still stands there today along with a plaque listing our names. That was the coolest thing I have ever been involved in. And for those two years I learned a tremendous amount about anatomy, structure, aesthetics and the art of sculpting. More so than any book I ever studied. The hands-on approach at that age was very influential and the final accomplishment was my proudest moment I think.

3. Was your interest always in the horror genre growing up and what kind of horror movies did you enjoy watching the most?

I was lucky enough to grow up in the 80s. I dug everything from Star Wars to superheroes. My first memory of horror was seeing the original Halloween on cable with my dad. I loved being scared, but my dad was good enough to make sure I knew it wasn’t real. I think, later on, the Friday series was really what got me into the horror genre. Of course the 80s was the heyday of the slasher films and it was great. I stuck mainly with the obvious stuff, but we’d rent some of the more obscure titles on VHS from time to time. I can remember seeing The Wizard of Gore and a few of those H.G. Lewis bloodfests along with movies like Silent Night/Deadly Night, Romero’s Dead movies, I Spit on Your Grave, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, etc. One of the coolest things was my parents took my buddy and me to see the original A Nightmare on Elm Street at our local drive-in. It was double-billed with one of those italian zombie flicks. My buddy and I got a big kick out of the zombies stumbling down a hill.

4. What about the Friday the 13th series captivated you and made you a fan of the series for as long as it has? What are your favorite and least favorite movies of the franchise?

The first Friday I saw was part 3 on its initial HBO run after it left theaters. I can remember running back and forth from the living to my bedroom just to see what was going on with this Jason guy. As cliché as it sounds, I guess I was intrigued by that damn hockey mask. I wanted to see what was underneath it. Growing up, I related to the series on one aspect due to the lake setting. I live in the mountains and we are surrounded by woods, lakes, summer camps . . . the whole deal.

My favorite to this day is still Friday the 13th Part 3. Was it the best? Nah. In my opinion that title is given to The Final Chapter. The first four movies are on the top of my list. Aside from the look and feel of them, I dig the “man in the woods” approach and not really seeing the killer until the final reel. I can enjoy watching and can find redeeming qualities in all of the movies except for Jason X. It is definitely on the bottom of my list. As a matter of fact I think all of the New Line Fridays are my least favorites. There’s something cool about that old Paramount logo with the Manfredini soundtrack playing over it to begin the movie. I don’t care if it’s a comedy or drama from Paramount, but every time I see that logo I think Friday the 13th.

5. How did you get into creating replica hockey masks and was it always your intention for your art of creating these masks to grow into what it has become today? What is the Crash Army and is it an extension of your hockey mask making hobby/business?

My buddy and I used to sit in my dad’s cabinet shop and paint those awful mass produced hockey masks in the late 80s. We both made one for every movie at the time. And I don’t mean that as a singular incident. We’d do it all the time it seemed. It wasn’t until years later that I discovered this crazy hockey mask hobby via the internet where you could get a mask that actually looked like the one in movies. At that time there were plenty available, as is now, but I never found one that I was completely satisfied with so I decided to paint my own. From that point it took off. Fast. I was bombarded with requests to paint other fan’s masks with the same attention to detail as I had put into my own. It was great. There was like a whole movement in the hobby after that. I never intended to make anything else out of it. I just loved doing them. The Crash Army came about as a way to show some of the different projects I was going to be working on. I don’t really promote or sell myself or my work anywhere. So it was cool to have a little place of my own. Soon it may be merging into a site for my illustration work. Which is my primary goal anyway. I kind of got sidetracked with hockey masks for a few years.

6. You create replica hockey masks, it is then widely assumed that you are a huge fan of Friday the 13th. Do you only create material for that franchise or do you create pieces for other film series or subjects?

I’ve done pieces for franchises in the horror genre. A few years back I illustrated comic book covers for the Halloween series Halloween: Night Dance. I’m open to anything within the genre. It just so happens that Friday the 13th has been a big part of my work. I have quite a few projects on paper that are totally not related to a hockey mask or a guy named Jason. It’s just finding the time to get to some of them.

7. What process do you go through to create your hockey masks? Do you get a rough mask blank or do you receive your blanks trimmed already?

Almost every blank I use starts out rough. From there I trim off the excess and drill out the vent holes and the eyes. I do a lot of prep work before I even begin painting. I knock down all the rough edges and lightly scuff the surface. In most cases it really isn’t necessary, but it is noticeable in the final product. After I’m satisfied with the mask itself, I’ll lay down the base coat and start detailing after that. The detail work is usually done in stages and sealed between them. Once the final sealer coat is on and dry, I’ll strap the mask and it’s finished. As anyone who paints these things know, we probably put more work and attention into them than the actual movie props have.

8. What’s your favorite part of creating the masks?

I enjoy all aspects of working with the masks. But I really like the steps leading up to painting like trimming, drilling and sanding. This is where the mask takes it shape. Literally. If your final product is to be a part 6 mask, then you’d better have those eye holes cut in the correct shape. To me, the eyes are a big factor in how accurate the mask will look in the end.

9. Have you ever created hockey masks for anyone associated with the Friday the 13th franchise to sell at conventions or be part their private collections? Do you have any contact with people from the series?

Working on the Deluxe Edition DVDs opened up a few lines of communication. I have a few contacts with people associated with the series. Most are casual, but there are a couple or three that I do have listed in my Contact list on my phone. I’ve built hockey masks for A New Beginning director Danny Steinman on a couple of occasions and Richard Brooker owns an early part 3 mask from me. Probably the coolest thing though was having Ted White call me and personally ask me to produce a mask for him. I don’t push my work on anyone, so it was a surprise to answer the phone and hear Ted’s gruff voice on the other line. Along those lines, I also got a phone call from Joe Zito while working on the DVDs. He’s a great guy and even asked if I knew of any additional “missing” or “cut” scenes from his own movie.

10. For those fans that do not know, you were lucky enough to work on the Deluxe Edition DVD’s of “The Final Chapter”, “A New Beginning”, “Jason Lives”, “The New Blood” and “Jason Takes Manhattan”. How did you become involved in working on the creative team that worked on the DVD’s?

I started a blog site about a year before the the DVDs began production called the Crystal Lake Variety Store, which was a direct reference to the cafe/store appearing in Friday the 13th Part 3. With the site, it was my idea and purpose to portray the world of Friday the 13th as realistically as possible and bring it into the “real” world. So I came up with backstories on characters, places and events associated with the series and built imagery around that to enhance and illustrate them. It was all open to so many possibilities. I created anything I could think of to spin off from the movies like video footage being found of police investigations, newspaper headlines, photos of characters early on in their lives and much, much more. While working on the very early stages of the DVDs, Daniel Farrands and company needed a hockey mask to use during production. It just so happened that I had painted a mask for a client that was working with Daniel. He told Daniel about the site and the next thing I knew I was getting a phone call from him. Being a fan of the series himself, Daniel really liked what I was doing on the site with the characters and backstory, etc. It ran parallel with what the production team was planning to include on the DVDs in “mock”-umentary form. So with this opportunity of becoming part of the production team, I not only got to use things I had previously designed, but I produced numerous other graphics, illustrations, masks and ideas as well. That was the beginning of a great friendship and a great working relationship.

11. What did you contribute to the Deluxe DVD Editions and what were you able to obtain from the production of the discs? Specifically, were you privileged enough to have access to the rare behind the scenes photos and slides that were found at the Paramount Studios?

We came up with everything from Jason’s medical papers and skull x-rays down to establishing location shots in the Crystal Lake Massacres: Revisited feature. Before coming onboard the production team, I faithfully recreated almost every newspaper clipping briefly seen in the films. But I actually took it a step further and wrote the articles under the headlines. Most of the screen-used clippings had dummy copy filling up the article. I wrote my own as I thought it pertained to the headlines. Some of those wound up being very useful. Pretty much everything I did ended up in the final cut. Some of which the viewer wouldn’t even notice, like the Eye-On News logo for instance. It’s cool that, being a life-long fan of the series, I was able to invent or interject some lore into it.

Being part of the project, I was able to see submitted items that may not have made it onto the discs. I ended receiving 5 DVDs loaded with photos, scans of articles and handwritten notes, shooting schedules, production art, wrap party invitations, and many more things. There are copies of candid photos from people who worked on the films, etc. And a lot of very interesting behind-the-scenes photos from each film in the series that have never been seen in any publication or production. Some of which would surprise fans. One interesting letter comes from a producer addressed to an agent regarding a potential conflict with the production team and an actor. My favorites are behind-the-scenes snapshots showing what appears to be certain wardrobe and costume fittings from Friday the 13th Part 3.

12. Have you been contacted about working on other genre movies in terms of special effects on movies in-production or help on other special edition releases of DVD’s?

Yes, actually. Most notably I did some work for The Haunting in Connecticut and The Stepfather.

13. What has the experience of making these replica hockey masks and working on the Deluxe DVD Editions the last few years meant to you personally and artisitically? What do you see as your future working within the realm of Friday the 13th?

It’s very fulfilling in the sense that I was able to officially contribute to and be a part of something I grew up watching. Even though it’s probably a very small part. It all takes me back to the days of painting cheap hockey masks or constructing a Jason costume for Halloween. And fans STILL do that to this day!

I have a few illustration projects lined-up pertaining to Friday the 13th that I’d like to get out there and I’d eventually love to do something in an official capacity again. I’ve made some contacts and have a couple of interesting ideas that are being batted around right now. Hopefully we’ll see them take light. Until then, I hope to keep sharing this love of the series with fans around the world through my work and the new website/forum we’ve recently established.

Fridaypedia is our stab at a Friday The 13th-based wiki. It will eventually be the ultimate resource for info on the movies and Jason in general.However right now it is the definition of simple and rudimentary because it has to start somewhere. So this is the ground floor.

we are in Phase 1 of the wiki. We have ported over content from the main website (Movie pages, books, comics etc.). All of those pages are linked on the front page here and are protected from non-admin editing until later notice. However you may use the Discussion tabs on each page to submit text, suggest your changes, kindly debate the information, etc. We will be drawing from this pool when updating the protected pages.

Several extra pages are editable, and from there people can create their own pages on pretty much any topic. That’s happening right now, so jump on in.

Images and other bells and whistles are forthcoming, FYI. It’s just a skeleton right now.

Please bare with us as we work through any technical glitches, in fact we’ll rely on you guys to tell us what works and what doesn’t. “It sucks” won’t help – because we know it sucks right now, but that’s how a wiki starts. It’s a blank slate and up to you guys to utilize it or not.

I only check my F13-based email accounts once a week now, because of the over 30 emails per day – every day – from fans submitting their own trivia, goofs, references, timeline corrections, etc. that it is simply impossible to update the site with them at that rate, even if we had a full staff working 24-7.

So we now put the power in your hands to instantly put stuff onto Friday The 13th: The Website without going through the middlemen. This has always been the plan and we hope it’ll pay off.

Fridaypedia

I started out to the Stockton Fire Dept, where the original 1934 Chevy Firetruck resided in 2026. The truck as most of you know can be seen at the end of the film when they are putting out the fire of the main house. The firetruck now resides at Stockton Gas right down the road. It is behind the rustic old Gas Station down in the woods (rusting). The truck is now owned by a Mr. Lee that owns Stockton Propane Gas. He will let you look at the truck but only during business hours 9 to 4:30. So call before you go. If you don’t go up to the door of the business which looks closed down and ask to see it before going back. (Note: there is no fences, no gates and no no trespassing signs.) It would appear that you could just drive down the dirt road to it, but do not, this is how I almost got shot (for real). I got as far as to see the truck and my wife said there it is, as I was screamed at to halt. The neighbor and I’m guessing employee guards the road and is told to shot first and ask questions later. Luckily I was going slow and had kids in the car. I explained to the man why I was there and told him I meant no harm after that he was nicer than nice, but detoured me to Mr. Lee’s house. which is down the road a ways.

I pull up at Mr. Lees house, which is one of the coolest old men I have ever met. Mr. Lee looks like a mixture of Waylon Jennings and Burt Reynold’s before all the face lift and plastic surgery. He walks out of his garage nicely dressed with a huge Mr. T style gold medallion and necklace. He has tons of old cars behind the house, mostly old Cadillacs and a pretty new Cadillac Limo in his driveway, what for in the middle of no where I have no idea. But this guy was a country pimp. I humbly walk up to this man and say, “Hello Sir.” “Are you Mr. Lee?” He answers back, “What’s left ov’ him, who’s asking?” Like out of a movie or something. I extend my hand to shake his hand and he just stares me down. I am thinking to myself at this point, this is a no go. The man asked me next what I am doing there and who sent me. I tell him his employee and that I am a fan of Friday The 13th and he was “neighborly like” as they say after that. He told me that if I come to the office during business hours, he will be more than happy to show it to me and let me take some pics. I will be going back tomorrow and will update after I get some pictures. He also told me that the two fireman/ EMT’s in the film were Burns or could be Mr. Henry P Barns and Mr. Seals (A.K.A. Uncle Seals). They were both real firemen real Stockton Firemen. Barns moved to North Alabama and is still a fireman. Seals retired an lives at a retirement home in around the area in Baldwin County.

Below is a link to my facebook album where I am uploading photos of the visits. I made it to the main filming location at Byrnes Lake off of 225 in Baldwin County Al. It is right of 65 north of Mobile Al. The location is a public camping/fishing area with a boat launch and the small pier that was beside the bigger pier that was torn down by telekinesis in the beginning of the film still stands. The place where the main house was is flooded and grown up, the big house was blown up and destroyed as yo now in the film. The party house was also a “Shell House” and was moved to another unknown location, which I am looking for. That area is cleared and is partly accessible. There is a ton of trails and paths in the woods for hiking which looks to be were they filmed the woods scenes. This is a great location still to have a picnic or fish so it serves more than one purpose and can be enjoyed all day or camp out all weekend.

I went back out today and got some pictures with the firetruck, pier and tried to see if I could make out where the main house was. It is clear as day where the party house was cause there is pavement there. The place where the main house was is like marsh land now. I put on some boots and went out there to see If I could get some good shots of where it might be but it is all marshy and grown up could be any woods.

The little pier is exactly the same, exept repairs have been made for safety. The road leading in has been paved up to the actually landing, but you can still tell it is the place. There is a big clearing right before that would make an excellent campgrounds. If that area was there I can tell why they used this location, it would be perfect for trailers, camp and production crew area, being close by, but still hide from the houses and lake.

I am still looking for the party house because I am told it is near by somewhere and the shell was moved. I assume the shed out in the woods was somewhere else or torn down. I have video of everything coming soon.

“It’s certainly something we would entertain, the same with “Friday the 13th”

So, as we mentioned the week before last, a sequel to the 2026 reboot is definitely something that is still in the cards and not dead. Keep an eye out in the near future as I am sure there will be more to come! Thanks to steiny69er for the heads-up.

Source: Yahoo Movies