Yellow Ape Film Fest: Schlock and awe

The first ever Yellow Ape Film Festival begins Wednesday at 7 p.m., but in spirit, at least, it begins at midnight.

That's the witching hour for a certain type of movie fan whose tastes lean toward schlock, horror, low humor and high weirdness. Anyone who's stayed awake for a stroke-of-12 screening of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" or "Scanners" or "The Groove Tube" will be in good company at the Yellow Ape festival, a collection of gonzo short films that also features live music, stand-up comedy and -- why not? -- burlesque performers.

"Our slogan is 'Movies for the Midnight Hour,' " says Jim Haggerty, founder of the Floral Park-based studio Yellow Ape Productions. "Films like this don't usually get much respect from the film festival circuit. There's a smugness there, they feel these movies aren't artsy enough or important enough. So I wanted to have a festival to showcase these kinds of films."

STIFF COMPETITION

Haggerty, who launched Yellow Ape in 2010 as a way to produce and distribute his own movies -- including the cult horror faves "I Dream of Dracula" and "Witchmaster General" -- has put the festival together as a contest of sorts. The winning short will become one of three included on "Vaulted: Films From the Yellow Ape Vaults," an anthology DVD which harks back to the days of creature-feature television with a vampish host, Lady MacDeath (Massapequa's Josephine Iannece, who'll appear at the festival).

In competition are seven short films, some with self-explanatory titles like "Dead End Diner" and "A Farewell to Arm" (directed by Philip Snyder of Island Park and Robert M. Snyder of Valley Stream's Gibson section). Sitting in judgment will be a panel of four jurors: Local filmmakers Glenn Andreiev ("Vampire's Embrace") and Keith Crocker ("Blitzkrieg: Escape From Stalag 69"), plus scream-queen Suzi Lorraine ("Bikini Girls on Ice") and actress Beverly Bonner, best known as Casey from the 1982 shocker "Basket Case."

"If you're going to be judged," says Haggerty, "it's better to be judged by folks who have done great things."

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT

But wait, as they say on late-night television -- there's more. Local live acts include the cover-band Stimulus (fronted by Haggerty's filmmaking colleague Dennis Newman), the barbershop quartet Bodyguard and stand-up comic Tami Kelly (Bonner will also do a comedy set). Baron Misuraca, a vampire lounge singer who sings Transylvania-inflected versions of American standards, will also perform. Among the burlesque dancers are Codi Phoenix and, under the name Rosy Roulette, actress Natalie Brooks, star of Haggerty's film "Cold Dead Hand," which will screen at the festival. (Haggerty, without elaborating, says Brooks will do "an act related to the film.")

"We just want to entertain people and give recognition to filmmakers that don't usually get much recognition," Haggerty says. "I grew up wanting to make movies, and I've achieved that. It's the most wonderful feeling in the world -- and anything I can do to help others, that's what I want to do."