KREATING KARLOFF

I was lucky enough to be asked to star alongside actor Conor Timmis in a Boris Karloff biopic-style, screen test documentary titled, “Kreating Karloff.” The DVD is officially released today, November 18th, hence my posting a day early, and is currently available at popular on-line stores like Amazon.com, Target.com, and Oldies.com, as well as other retail movie locations. The project also has a very “personal” connection, which is explained below.

This film is directed by Vatche Arabian and recreates, in black and white, famous scenes from two of Boris Karloff’s biggest films “Frankenstein” (1931) and “The Mummy” (1932). It matches the costumes, make-up, sets, blocking, lighting, and style of the time.

In true documentary style, it follows the cast and crew behind the scenes through the entire process, including highly skilled and talented make-up artist Norman Bryn (Saturday Night Live). As well as the re-created scenes themselves accurately filmed by director of photography, Scott Sniffen, it includes interviews with the project participants, and captures the many raw moments that happen in between “action” and “cut.”

The film made its way around the film festival circuit and took home the award for Best Experimental Film at the Honolulu International Film Festival last year, among others, all of which was very exciting. The project also gained the support of Sara Karloff, Boris Karloff’s daughter, who added a truly touching endorsement on the cover of the DVD:

“I know how flattered and amazed my father, Boris Karloff, would be, that after so many years someone of Conor Timmis’ talent would put the time, energy and devotion into such a project as Kreating Karloff.

Conor gathered around him people of like mind and talent for this project and, as my father would have said: “The proof is in the pudding.” From start to finish, the script, the makeup and the acting are a real tribute to both my father and to Conor’s determination to see the film through to its first rate conclusion.

Again, in my father’s words, “Full Marks” to all involved in Kreating Karloff. The fans are in for a real treat.” – Sara Karloff

Above all else, I was honored to get to play the classic role of Helen Grosvenor in the recreation scenes of “The Mummy.” A role originated by Zita Johann in 1932. This gave me an opportunity to play in the acting style of the time and to showcase something different. But there was a more important, personal reason, as well. I am, in fact, Ms. Johann’s cousin. My Aunt Jane has been able to work out the exact relationship on our family tree and, with this and much personal research at the New York Performing Arts Library, we have been able to learn a great deal about my famous cousin.

Ms. Johann, who was once married to actor/producer John Houseman, is best known for her starring role as Helen Grosvenor / Princess Anck-es-en-Amon opposite Boris Karloff in “The Mummy.” Although she acted in a few other films, including “Tiger Shark” with Edward G. Robinson, she openly preferred the theatre to Hollywood films. She gained the most fulfillment acting on Broadway, which she did from the late 20’s into the early 40’s. Her role in “Machinal” placed her on stage alongside Clark Gable, an unknown at the time, and later paired her with Orson Welles, co-founder of Mercury Theatre.

I continue trying to find out more about her, and am often pleasantly surprised by the number of things she and I share in common. These Include my love for children and a strong desire within to work with children with special needs and to open my own children’s charity foundation. This is something I have found Zita was able to do during her lifetime, after acting. I have been contacted, through my website, by so many who knew Zita personally; even a few of those children, grown up today, whom she taught.

The thing I hear most often from Zita’s fans and those who knew her, is how much I look like her and that we share the same eyes. They openly tell me how she was someone who truly touched them, through her work or in life, and who had a spirit that they have never forgotten. This is something one of her dearest friends, Rick Atkins, whom I mentioned in my blog about Carla Laemle’s 99th birthday, also expressed. It is through him that I have been able to get to know Zita Johann as well as I have, since our family, unfortunately, had lost track of her until after she passed away in 1993 in Nyack, NY, not too far from where we were living at the time.

Today, I act because I truly love it and the ability it gives me to go places I would never go in real life. It provides me an outlet to layer qualities, personalities, and emotions I don’t personally exhibit. However, I also act for Zita with the hope that I would have made her proud. She was one of those who paved the way for me, and future actors, like myself, during a time when there was no acting union, and it was far more difficult to follow one’s acting dream than it is today.

Zita Johann truly believed in people, just as I do, and never let this industry change her morals or who she was, something I have stuck to since day one. I personally feel I have been given a chance to carry on where she left off, and hope I can do so with as much honestly, style, and class as possible. Though I will never get to meet her, I did get to be closer to her than I would have ever thought possible, thanks to people like Rick, and opportunities like “Kreating Karloff.”

“Worth the price of admission!” – Dave Colton (USA Today) “Kreating Karloff” Review

“I treat children as equals. I work hard to gain their trust and in a sense, offer to build a bridge between us if they will meet me halfway. I listen to them…and I love them. I will always love them for being so fresh and alive and full of hope.” – Zita Johann