Dante Tomaselli: Difference between revisions

Dante Tomaselli
Dante Tomaselli
Born	October 29, 1969 (age 55); Paterson, New Jersey
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Pratt Institute,; New York School of Visual Arts
Occupation(s)	Director, screenwriter, score composer
Relatives	Alfred Sole (cousin)

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Dante Tomaselli (born October 29, 1969, in Paterson, New Jersey) is an Italian-American horror screenwriter, director, and score composer.^[1]^[2]^[3] In 2013 Fearnet named Tomaselli one of their "Favorite Underrated Horror Directors", as they found his work "unique and eccentric".^[4]

Biography

Tomaselli was born on October 29, 1969, in Paterson, New Jersey. He expressed interest in becoming a horror filmmaker while he was still a child due to his enjoyment of films such as The Exorcist and Don't Look Now,^[5] which he would watch with his mother at local theaters.^[3] He studied filmmaking at Brooklyn's Pratt Institute and later transferred to the New York School of Visual Arts, where he received a B.F.A. degree in Advertising.^[6] In 1999 he released his first film, Desecration, which he based on an earlier-made 23-minute short.^[6] On January 14, 2014, Tomaselli released his first audio CD of electronic horror music, Scream in the Dark, through Elite Entertainment and MVD Audio.^[7]

Tomaselli is gay and was involved with a project called Gay of the Dead.^[1]

Themes and influences

Tomaselli heavily utilizes themes of Catholicism and Christianity in his work, which is inspired partly by his Catholic upbringing as a child^[5] though he is critical of the concept of religion as a whole.^[1] Other factors that influenced his work include Tomaselli's relation to Sole and surrealism, as well as severe nightmares he had as a child, which he has tried to work into his films.^[3] Some critics mistakenly attribute directors such as Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci as influences due to some similarities between their work, but Tomaselli stated in an interview with author Matthew Edwards that he did not view those directors' work until his early twenties.^[3]

Reception

Critical reception to Tomaselli's films is usually very polarized, with some criticizing the films as lacking a linear plot line.^[8]^[9] Other critics have praised the films for this feature and remarked on the variety of filmgoers' reactions by saying that the movies would not appeal to all viewers and especially not to those that favor more mainstream fare or do not prefer surreal films.^[10]^[11]

Discography

Scream in the Dark (2014)^[12]
The Doll (2014)^[13]^[14]
Nightmare (2015)^[15]
Witches (2017)^[16]

Filmography

Year	Film	Director	Producer	Writer	Composer
1999	Desecration	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
2002	Horror	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
2006	Satan's Playground	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
2012	Torture Chamber	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Abley, Sean. "Gay of the Dead: Dante Tomaselli, Part Two". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
^ "First Stills - Dante Tomaselli's Torture Chamber". Dread Central. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Edwards, Matthew (2007). Film out of bounds: essays and interviews on non-mainstream cinema worldwide. McFarland. pp. 112–125. ISBN 978-0786429707.
^ Doupe, Tyler. "Five More of Our Favorite Underrated Horror Directors". Fearnet. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
^ ^a ^b Green, Dai. "Interview: Dante Tomaselli (Horror, Satan's Playground, Desecration)". HorrorNews.net. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
^ ^a ^b Davies Brown, Phil. "Dante Tomaselli (Interview)". Horror Asylum. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
^ Gingold, Michael. "Dante Tomaselli wants you to "SCREAM IN THE DARK"". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
^ Bertrand, Merle. "Desecration (review)". Film Threat. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
^ "Horror (review)". AMC. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
^ Weinberg, Scott. "Horror (review)". EfilmCritic. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
^ "DESECRATION (review)". DVD Verdict. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
^ Doupé, Tyler. ""SCREAM IN THE DARK" (CD Review)". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
^ Hanley, Ken W. "Exclusive first details/art on Dante Tomaselli's "THE DOLL" and conceptual soundtrack". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 19 January 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
^ ""THE DOLL" (CD Review)". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
^ Doupé, Tyler. ""NIGHTMARE" (CD Review)". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
^ Galluzzo, Rob (27 March 2017). "Dante Tomaselli Unleashes Dark New Album WITCHES!". Blumhouse.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.

External links

Dante Tomaselli at IMDb

[fang2014-1] Abley, Sean. "Gay of the Dead: Dante Tomaselli, Part Two". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.

[2] "First Stills - Dante Tomaselli's Torture Chamber". Dread Central. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

[book-3] Edwards, Matthew (2007). Film out of bounds: essays and interviews on non-mainstream cinema worldwide. McFarland. pp. 112–125. ISBN 978-0786429707.

[4] Doupe, Tyler. "Five More of Our Favorite Underrated Horror Directors". Fearnet. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

[HN.n-5] Green, Dai. "Interview: Dante Tomaselli (Horror, Satan's Playground, Desecration)". HorrorNews.net. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

[HA-6] Davies Brown, Phil. "Dante Tomaselli (Interview)". Horror Asylum. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

[7] Gingold, Michael. "Dante Tomaselli wants you to "SCREAM IN THE DARK"". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

[8] Bertrand, Merle. "Desecration (review)". Film Threat. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

[9] "Horror (review)". AMC. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

[10] Weinberg, Scott. "Horror (review)". EfilmCritic. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

[11] "DESECRATION (review)". DVD Verdict. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

[12] Doupé, Tyler. ""SCREAM IN THE DARK" (CD Review)". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

[13] Hanley, Ken W. "Exclusive first details/art on Dante Tomaselli's "THE DOLL" and conceptual soundtrack". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 19 January 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

[14] ""THE DOLL" (CD Review)". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.

[15] Doupé, Tyler. ""NIGHTMARE" (CD Review)". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

[16] Galluzzo, Rob (27 March 2017). "Dante Tomaselli Unleashes Dark New Album WITCHES!". Blumhouse.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|American film director}}
-'''Dante Tomaselli''' (born October 29, 1969, in [[Paterson, New Jersey]]) is an [[Italian-American]] [[horror film|horror]] [[screenwriter]], [[film director|director]], and [[score composer]].
+{{Infobox person
+| name        = Dante Tomaselli
+| image       =
+| alt         =
+| caption     =
+| birth_name  =
+| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1969|10|29}}
+| birth_place = [[Paterson, New Jersey]]
+| death_date  = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{Death-date and age|Month DD, YYYY|Month DD, YYYY}} (death date then birth date) -->
+| death_place =
+| nationality = American
+| alma_mater  =  [[Pratt Institute]],<br> [[New York School of Visual Arts]]
+| other_names =
+| relatives   = [[Alfred Sole]] (cousin)
+| occupation  = Director, screenwriter, score composer
+| known_for   =
+}}
+'''Dante Tomaselli''' (born October 29, 1969, in [[Paterson, New Jersey]]) is an [[Italian-American]] [[horror film|horror]] [[screenwriter]], [[film director|director]], and [[score composer]].<ref name=fang2014>{{cite web|last1=Abley|first1=Sean|title=Gay of the Dead: Dante Tomaselli, Part Two|url=http://www.fangoria.com/new/gay-of-the-dead-dante-tomaselli-part-two/|publisher=Fangoria|accessdate=1 November 2014|archive-date=1 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101162644/http://www.fangoria.com/new/gay-of-the-dead-dante-tomaselli-part-two/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=First Stills - Dante Tomaselli's Torture Chamber|date=17 October 2012 |url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/38545/first-stills-dante-tomasellis-torture-chamber#axzz2tGcbAMKn|publisher=Dread Central|accessdate=14 February 2014}}</ref><ref name="book"/> In 2013 ''[[Fearnet]]'' named Tomaselli one of their "Favorite Underrated Horror Directors", as they found his work "unique and eccentric".<ref>{{cite web|last=Doupe|first=Tyler|title=Five More of Our Favorite Underrated Horror Directors|url=http://www.fearnet.com/news/list/five-more-our-favorite-underrated-horror-directors|publisher=Fearnet|accessdate=14 February 2014}}</ref>
 ==Biography==
+Tomaselli was born on October 29, 1969, in [[Paterson, New Jersey]]. He expressed interest in becoming a horror filmmaker while he was still a child due to his enjoyment of films such as ''[[The Exorcist (film)|The Exorcist]]'' and ''[[Don't Look Now]]'',<ref name=HN.n>{{cite web|last=Green|first=Dai|title=Interview: Dante Tomaselli (Horror, Satan's Playground, Desecration)|url=http://horrornews.net/38643/interview-dante-tomaselli-horror-satans-playground-desecration/|publisher=HorrorNews.net|accessdate=14 February 2014}}</ref> which he would watch with his mother at local theaters.<ref name=book>{{cite book|last=Edwards|first=Matthew|title=Film out of bounds: essays and interviews on non-mainstream cinema worldwide|date=2007|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0786429707|pages=112–125|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XpsLAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Desecration%22+Tomaselli}}</ref> He studied filmmaking at [[Brooklyn]]'s [[Pratt Institute]] and later transferred to the [[New York School of Visual Arts]], where he received a [[Bachelor of Fine Arts|B.F.A.]] degree in Advertising.<ref name=HA>{{cite web|last=Davies Brown|first=Phil|title=Dante Tomaselli (Interview)|url=http://www.horror-asylum.com/interview/dantetomaselli/interview.asp|publisher=Horror Asylum|accessdate=14 February 2014|archive-date=30 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330082525/http://www.horror-asylum.com/interview/dantetomaselli/interview.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1999 he released his first film, ''[[Desecration (film)|Desecration]]'', which he based on an earlier-made 23-minute [[short film|short]].<ref name=HA /> On January 14, 2014, Tomaselli released his first audio CD of electronic horror music, ''Scream in the Dark'', through Elite Entertainment and MVD Audio.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gingold|first=Michael|title=Dante Tomaselli wants you to "SCREAM IN THE DARK"|url=http://www.fangoria.com/new/dante-tomaselli-wants-you-to-scream-in-the-dark/|publisher=Fangoria|accessdate=14 February 2014|archive-date=19 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219093430/http://www.fangoria.com/new/dante-tomaselli-wants-you-to-scream-in-the-dark/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
+Tomaselli is [[gay]] and was involved with a project called ''[[Gay of the Dead]]''.<ref name="fang2014"/>
-===Directing career===
-Dante studied filmmaking at [[Brooklyn]]'s [[Pratt Institute]], then transferred to the [[New York School of Visual Arts]], receiving a [[Bachelor of Fine Arts|B.F.A.]] degree in Advertising there.<ref name="horrorasylum1">Davies Brown, Phil: "[http://www.horror-asylum.com/interview/dantetomaselli/interview.asp Dante Tomaselli interview]" ''Horror-Asylum.com.'' July 23, 2004.</ref> His first film was a 23-minute [[short film|short]] called, ''Desecration'', which was screened at a variety of horror and mainstream film festivals and venues. Tomaselli later expanded ''[[Desecration (film)|Desecration]]'', which he also wrote, to feature-length. In 1999, the film received its world premiere to a standing-room-only audience at the [[Fantafestival]] in [[Rome, Italy]].<ref name="moviemike1">Gencarelli, Mike: "[http://moviemikes.com/2010/04/interview-with-dante-tomaselli/ Interview with Dante Tomaselli]" ''Moviemikes.com.'' April 11, 2010.</ref>
+==Themes and influences==
-Tomaselli has been a lifelong supernatural/horror aficionado and is also the cousin of film director [[Alfred Sole]], whose ''[[Alice, Sweet Alice]]'' (1976), made its own mark in the world of Catholic-themed [[horror films]] twenty-eight years prior. ''Desecration'' was distributed on DVD and VHS by Image Entertainment.<ref name="horrornews1">[http://horrornews.net/interviews/_interviews_Dante_Dante%20Tomaselli.html#HOME Dante Tomaselli's interview with Dai Green] ''HorrorNews.net.'' January 18, 2009.</ref>
+Tomaselli heavily utilizes themes of Catholicism and Christianity in his work, which is inspired partly by his Catholic upbringing as a child<ref name=HN.n /> though he is critical of the concept of [[religion]] as a whole.<ref name="fang2014"/> Other factors that influenced his work include Tomaselli's relation to Sole and [[surrealism]], as well as severe nightmares he had as a child, which he has tried to work into his films.<ref name=book /> Some critics mistakenly attribute directors such as [[Dario Argento]] and [[Lucio Fulci]] as influences due to some similarities between their work, but Tomaselli stated in an interview with author Matthew Edwards that he did not view those directors' work until his early twenties.<ref name=book />
+==Reception==
-His second feature film, ''[[Horror (film)|Horror]]'' (2002), began principal photography January 15, 2001, in [[Warwick, New York]]. It was his first commercially successful film, as well as the first to receive a wide DVD release. Horror charted # 7 out of all movies on the IMDb for the week of September 21, 2003.
+Critical reception to Tomaselli's films is usually very polarized, with some criticizing the films as lacking a linear plot line.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bertrand|first=Merle|title=Desecration (review)|url=http://www.filmthreat.com/reviews/498/|publisher=Film Threat|accessdate=14 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Horror (review)|url=http://movies.amctv.com/movie/2002/Horror|publisher=AMC|accessdate=14 February 2014|archive-date=21 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221214536/http://movies.amctv.com/movie/2002/Horror|url-status=dead}}</ref> Other critics have praised the films for this feature and remarked on the variety of filmgoers' reactions by saying that the movies would not appeal to all viewers and especially not to those that favor more mainstream fare or do not prefer surreal films.<ref>{{cite web|last=Weinberg|first=Scott|title=Horror (review)|url=http://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=9534&reviewer=128|publisher=EfilmCritic|accessdate=14 February 2014|archive-date=24 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224000148/http://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=9534&reviewer=128|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=DESECRATION (review)|url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/printer/desecration.php|publisher=DVD Verdict|accessdate=14 February 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222100336/http://www.dvdverdict.com/printer/desecration.php|archivedate=22 February 2014}}</ref>
+==Discography==
-Tomaselli then made ''[[Satan's Playground (film)|Satan's Playground]]'' (2006), his first linear film (as opposed to the extreme surrealism of his previous features). It starred 70's and early-80's cult-horror icons [[Felissa Rose]] (''[[Sleepaway Camp]]''), [[Ellen Sandweiss]] (''[[The Evil Dead]]''), and [[Edwin Neal]] (''[[The Texas Chain Saw Massacre]]''). The film is set, and was filmed in, [[New Jersey]]'s infamous [[Pine Barrens (New Jersey)|Pine Barrens]] Forest.<ref name="horrorasylum1"/> Satan's Playground was distributed on DVD by Anchor Bay Entertainment.
+*''Scream in the Dark'' (2014)<ref>{{cite web|last=Doupé|first=Tyler|title="SCREAM IN THE DARK" (CD Review)|url=http://www.fangoria.com/new/scream-in-the-dark-cd-review/|publisher=Fangoria|accessdate=14 February 2014|archive-date=9 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209134936/http://www.fangoria.com/new/scream-in-the-dark-cd-review/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
+*''The Doll'' (2014)<ref>{{cite web|last=Hanley|first=Ken W|title=Exclusive first details/art on Dante Tomaselli's "THE DOLL" and conceptual soundtrack|url=http://www.fangoria.com/new/exclusive-first-detailsart-on-dante-tomasellis-the-doll-and-conceptual-soundtrack/|publisher=Fangoria|accessdate=14 February 2014|archive-date=19 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119175708/http://www.fangoria.com/new/exclusive-first-detailsart-on-dante-tomasellis-the-doll-and-conceptual-soundtrack/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title="THE DOLL" (CD Review)|url=http://www.fangoria.com/new/the-doll-cd-review/|publisher=Fangoria|accessdate=4 June 2014|archive-date=5 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605200653/http://www.fangoria.com/new/the-doll-cd-review/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
-Dante's new feature, ''[[Torture Chamber]]'' (2013), the fourth installment in his nightmarish journey exploring the imaginations of Hell and damnation, made its World Premiere at Sitges 2012 Festival in Spain. Torture Chamber is set for release on DVD/Blu-ray & VOD by Gaiam Vivendi Entertainment January 28, 2014.
+*''Nightmare'' (2015)<ref>{{cite web|last=Doupé|first=Tyler|title="NIGHTMARE" (CD Review)|url=http://www.fangoria.com/new/nightmare-cd-review/|publisher=Fangoria|accessdate=14 February 2014|archive-date=13 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213020011/http://www.fangoria.com/new/nightmare-cd-review/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
+*''Witches'' (2017)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Galluzzo|first1=Rob|title=Dante Tomaselli Unleashes Dark New Album WITCHES!|url=http://www.blumhouse.com/2017/03/27/dante-tomaselli-unleashes-dark-new-album-witches/|website=Blumhouse.com|accessdate=20 April 2017|date=27 March 2017|archive-date=20 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420152633/http://www.blumhouse.com/2017/03/27/dante-tomaselli-unleashes-dark-new-album-witches/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
-<ref>[http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/38545/first-stills-dante-tomasellis-torture-chamber First Stills – Dante Tomaselli's Torture Chamber] ''DreadCentral.com.'' July 14, 2010.</ref>
-<ref>[http://www.fearnet.com/news/interview/exclusive-interview-dante-tomaselli-torture-chamber-alice-sweet-alice-and-more]''Dante Tomaselli Interview FEARnet.com.'' April 27, 2013.</ref>
 ==Filmography==
@@ Line 38: / Line 58: @@
 |-
 |2002
-|''[[Horror (film)|Horror]]''
+|''[[Horror (2002 film)|Horror]]''
 |{{yes}}
 |{{yes}}
@@ Line 60: / Line 80: @@
 |{{yes}}
 |
-|-
 |}
-==Notes==
+==References==
-{{reflist}}
+{{reflist|2}}
 ==External links==
 * {{IMDb name|id=0866414}}
+{{Dante Tomaselli}}
-* {{myspace|horrorthemovie}}
+{{authority control}}
-{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
-| NAME              =Tomaselli, Dante
-| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
-| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American film director
-| DATE OF BIRTH     = October 29, 1969
-| PLACE OF BIRTH    =
-| DATE OF DEATH     =
-| PLACE OF DEATH    =
-}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Tomaselli, Dante}}
-[[Category:American screenwriters]]
+[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
 [[Category:American horror writers]]
-[[Category:American film directors]]
+[[Category:Film producers from New Jersey]]
-[[Category:American film producers]]
 [[Category:Pratt Institute alumni]]
-[[Category:People from Paterson, New Jersey]]
+[[Category:Writers from Paterson, New Jersey]]
 [[Category:1969 births]]
 [[Category:Living people]]
+[[Category:American LGBTQ film directors]]
+[[Category:American gay writers]]
+[[Category:American LGBTQ musicians]]
+[[Category:LGBTQ film producers]]
+[[Category:American LGBTQ screenwriters]]
+[[Category:LGBTQ people from New Jersey]]
+[[Category:American critics of religions]]
+[[Category:Film directors from New Jersey]]
+[[Category:Screenwriters from New Jersey]]
+[[Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people]]

v t e Dante Tomaselli
Films directed	Desecration (1999) Horror (2002) Satan's Playground (2006) Torture Chamber (2013) Alice, Sweet Alice (TBA)
Discography	Scream in the Dark (2014) The Doll (2014)