Photos: BLACK DYNAMITE explodes in Oakland!

Written By Will Viharo
Monica - wearing her mother's 70s coat - and me with Black Dynamite himself, Michael Jai White, at the Grand Tavern pre-show party
With Michael and director Scott Sanders (left), Grand Tavern
Michael and Scott with Monica's brother Quetzal, Grand Lake Theater
On stage with Black Dynamite, Grand Lake Theater
The Magic Tiki makes its Grand Lake debut

Kudos to Kalhil Karn, Colette Washington and all the cool kids of the OAKLAND UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL for their spectacular success in bringing the hilarious 70s blaxploitation send-up BLACK DYNAMITE to the Bay Area! With special guests, star Michael Jai White (who also co-wrote the brilliant script) and director Scott Sanders appearing in person, OUFF packed the Castro Theater in San Francisco with over 500 people last Friday, November 20, and then SOLD OUT the Grand Lake Theater in Oakland (over 600!) Saturday November 21. Monica Tiki Goddess and I were given the honor of MCing the latter gig, which marked the return of Thrillville to the East Bay. OUFF and I are already in talks to bring more sensational indie/outre cinema to you Thrill Seekers, stay tuned for but for now, check out the pix (many more here). Michael and Scott could not have been more humble, gracious, cool and pleasant, and BLACK DYNAMITE immediately shot to the top of my Best of 2009 film list - it is drop dead hilarious and pitch perfect in every aspect. All in all , it was quite a memorable event. Here's to Oaktown and OUFF! Cheers, Will
Will Viharo

WILL "THE THRILL" VIHARO is a freelance writer and the author of several "gonzo pulp" novels including "A Mermaid Drowns in the Midnight Lounge," "Freaks That Carry Your Luggage up to the Room," "Chumpy Walnut," "Lavender Blonde," "Down a Dark Alley," and the “Vic Valentine, Private Eye” series, the first of which, "Love Stories Are Too Violent For Me," has been optioned for a film by Christian Slater, reissued in 2013 by Gutter Books, which also published the new Vic Valentine novel "Hard-boiled Heart" in December, 2015.

Two science fiction novels, "It Came from Hangar 18" and "The Space Needler's Intergalactic Bar Guide," were written in collaboration with Scott Fulks, who added real science to Will's pulp.

Will's own imprint, Thrillville Press, has issued a three volume anthology series featuring all of his standalone novels called "The Thrillville Pulp Fiction Collection," along with another omnibus called "The Vic Valentine Classic Case Files," which include four novels from the 1990s, "Fate Is My Pimp," "Romance Takes a Rain Check," "I Lost My Heart in Hollywood," and "Diary of a Dick," plus a recent short story, "Brain Mistrust."

More recently published books include the Vic Valentine "Mental Case Files" trilogy comprised of "Vic Valentine: International Man of Misery," "Vic Valentine: Lounge Lizard For Hire," and "Vic Valentine: Space Cadet"; the original story collection "Vic Valentine, Private Eye: 14 Vignettes"; the erotic horror noir novella "Things I Do When I'm Awake"; and a collection of erotic horror noir stories, "VIHORROR! Cocktales of Sex and Death."

Additionally Will has had stories included in a variety of anthologies including "Fast Women and Neon Lights: Eighties-Inspired Neon Noir"; "Mixed Up!"; "Long Distance Drunks: A Tribute to Charles Bukowski"; "Deadlines: A Tribute to William Wallace"; "Dark Yonder: Tales and Tabs"; "Knucklehead Noir" and "Weird Winter Wonderland" (both Coffin Hop Press); and "Pop the Clutch: Thrilling Tales of Rockabilly, Monsters, and Hot Rod Horror."

Viharo's unique brand of "gonzo pulp fiction" combines elements of eroticism, noir, fantasy, and horror. For many years he has also been a professional film programmer/impresario and live music booker. He now lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and cats

https://www.thrillville.net
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