Fred Olen Ray

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Fred Olen Ray
File:Fred Olen Ray.jpg
Ray with reels of some of his films, 1992
Born (1954-09-10) September 10, 1954 (age 69)
Wellston, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation Film producer, director, screenwriter
Years active 1971–present
Spouse(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • Dawn Wildsmith
  • Kimberly A. Ray (m. 1997)

Fred Olen Ray (born September 10, 1954) is an American film producer, director, and screenwriter of more than 200 low-to-medium-budget feature films in many genres,[1] including horror, science fiction, action/adventure, erotic thrillers, crime dramas, and holiday films.[2]

Ray is the head of Retromedia, which releases DVDs of both his own productions and archival films.[3] He has also worked for other well-known independent studios and on a few occasions for major Hollywood studios. He has been cited as an inspiration for many independent filmmakers. He loaned a 16 mm camera to Quentin Tarantino so he could make My Best Friend's Birthday.[4]

Aside from his work in the film industry, Ray was also a professional wrestler. His wrestling name was Fabulous Freddie Valentine.[5]

Early life

Ray was born September 10, 1954, in Wellston, Ohio, to a family originally from West Virginia. As a teenager, he regularly read Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine. Being a fan of horror and science fiction films such as Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein and the AIP movies of the 1950s and 1960s, Ray started making his own movies at the age of fourteen.[6] At age seventeen, he self-published three issues of the amateur fantasy-film fanzine, Dagon in 1972.

Career

Early work and The Brain Leeches (1970s)

After serving in the United States Navy, Ray began working at a local television station in Orlando, Florida. He first appeared in a small role in the 1975 film Shock Waves, which starred Peter Cushing and John Carradine.[7] Ray then began directing independent films during his free time using station equipment, starting with The Brain Leeches (1978) produced on a budget of $298.[8][9] Ray also co-wrote the screenplay with political essayist Brad Linaweaver, and the two later collaborated on additional films.[10]

1980s

Ray's next film was shot on a budget of $15,000. Lessons learned from The Brain Leeches allowed Ray to keep production cost to a minimum, while using the bulk of the budget to attract a recognized Hollywood name to the project. Alien Dead was shot featuring an elderly Buster Crabbe, cinema action hero of the 1930s and 1940s, and star of three Flash Gordon serials from 1936 to 1940. With the success of that film, Ray decided to move to Hollywood to be close to the film industry. He was interested in working in make-up and special effects, "probably from all of those years of reading Famous Monsters magazine", he later said. He found out "it soon became apparent that you would always be between jobs and I was looking for something that would actually earn me a living. I think I became a director because that was the fastest way to get a film made on the independent side of things."[6]

Ray succeeded in raising money for a low-budget horror film, Scalps (1983), which featured cameos from Carroll Borland and Forrest J. Ackerman. The Tomb (1986) starred Cameron Mitchell and John Carradine. Ray switched to action films with Armed Response (1986), which starred David Carradine and Lee Van Cleef. Ray had affection for this movie because "it had a great cast and was one of the first times I had more than two nickels to rub together."[6] He then turned to science fiction: Deep Space (1987) and Cyclone (1987). Beverly Hills Vamp (1988) was a horror comedy with Eddie Deezen. Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers (1988) was made in only a few days and turned out to be a big hit.[5] Less popular was The Phantom Empire (1988).

1990s

File:Fred Olen Ray making Operation Cobra.jpg
Ray during the filming of Operation Cobra in 1996

After Alienator (1989) he was reunited with Deezen for Mob Boss (1990), another comedy. He entered sword and sorcery movies with Wizards of the Demon Sword (1991) and made the more popular Bad Girls from Mars (1991). During this time he published a book he had written, The New Poverty Row: Independent Filmmakers as Distributors (1991).[11]

Ray co-directed Scream Queen Hot Tub Party (1991) with Jim Wynorski, shot in one day.[12] Ray moved into erotic thrillers with Inner Sanctum (1991) starring Tanya Roberts. It was a hit and Ray would make others in that genre, including Inner Sanctum 2, Mind Twister (1994) and Possessed by the Night (1994).

Evil Toons (1992) was a comedy-horror, then he co-directed another with Wynorski, Dinosaur Island (1994). Witch Academy (1994) was the last of his "scream queen" movies.[12] After Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold (1995), he made Fugitive Rage (1996), Friend of the Family II (1996), Inferno (1997), Hybrid (1997), and The Shooter, which has been referred to as Ray's best film.[5] Dear Santa (1998) was a family film and Billy Frankenstein (1998) was a comedy.

2000s to present

In 2001, he made the film, Critical Mass. He later said he was a "Critical Mass kind of guy. I like to shoot things and blow stuff up. I also like comedies. Don't like erotic thrillers."[6][13]

He established a DVD company called Retromedia. Ray made a film called Bikini Airways "on a lark and it did really well", said Ray. This led to a series of Bikini films.[12][14]

In 2007, he reflected on his career:

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Money is always a barrier. The more they give you, the more they expect, so you're always caught short, regardless. I don't think anything I've done was ever budgeted properly for what was expected of me, but that's just the nature of the business, I guess. There certainly are films I did because there was a paycheck attached. It's a working man's world and it doesn't pay to get too idealistic about things like directing low-budget movies if you have a family to think about. I usually try to find something that interests me in each and every project. It's not really possible to phone it in. Making a film with no money or schedule is ten times harder than it is to make a big-budget show where you're surrounded by a gang of super-talented people.[6]

Budgetary constraints notwithstanding, Ray has, on occasion, been able to attract A-list actors to appear in his films. Two-time Academy Award nominee Peter Fonda played Marshal Kane in the 2010 Ray film, American Bandits: Frank and Jesse James.[5] One reviewer described American Bandits as perhaps "the most boring Jesse James film ever made".[5]

In 2017, he received a "Living Legend Award" at the Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival.[15]

In 2019, he produced and released, Boggy Creek: The Series with director Henrique Couto at the helm.[16]

Books

  • Grind Show - Weirdness as Entertainment (1993)
  • The New Poverty Row: Independent Filmmakers as Distributors (2011), ISBN 978-0786467556

Filmography

Film

Year Title Pseudonym(s) Notes
2022 Piranha Women Writer & director
2020 Dying For A Daughter Writer, producer & director
2016 Trial Director
Sniper: Special Ops Writer, producer & director
Accidental Switch
2014 After Midnight
Christmas in Palm Springs Producer & director
House of Secrets
2013 All I Want for Christmas
Abner, the Invisible Dog
2012 Collision Course Writer, producer & director
Baby Dolls Behind Bars Director
Hatfields and McCoys: Bad Blood Writer, producer & director
Busty Housewives of Beverly Hills Nicholas Medina Director
2011 Super Shark Writer, producer & director
Together We Can Find a Cure Director
Little Witches Nicholas Medina Writer, executive producer & director
Lady Chatterly's Ghost
Knock Outs
2010 Housewives from Another World Writer & director
Twilight Vamps[17] Writer, executive producer & director
Bikini Frankenstein[18] Nicholas Medina
Bikini Royale 2 Writer & director
American Bandits: Frank and Jesse James[5] Writer, producer & director
2009 Silent Venom Director
Dire Wolf
2008 Solar Flare Director
2006 Bikini Pirates Nicholas Medina Writer & director
2005 Glass Trap Ed Raymond Director
Bikini Round-Up Nicholas Medina Writer & director
2004 Tomb of the Werewolf[5] Sherman Scott
Bikini a Go-Go Nicholas Medina
Sherman Scott
The Bikini Escort Company Bill Carson
Nicholas Medina
Sherman Scott		 Writer, associate producer & director
Genie in a String Bikini Nicholas Medina Writer, producer & director
Bikini Chain Gang[5]
Bikini Cavegirl (also known as Teenage Cavegirl)[5] Nicholas Medina
Sherman Scott		 Writer & director
2003 Final Examination Ed Raymond Director
Bikini Airways
2002 Southern Discomfort: Wrestling on the Indie Circuit Freddy Valentine Actor, writer, producer & director
Venomous Ed Raymond Director
13 Erotic Ghosts Roger Collins
Nicholas Medina
Peter Stewart		 Actor, editor, writer, executive producer & director
2001 Air Rage Ed Raymond Director
Mach 2
ACW Wrestling's Wildest Matches Sherman Scott
Freddie Valentine		 Actor, producer & director
Kept Uncredited director
Stranded Director
2000 Submerged
Sideshow
Critical Mass Ed Raymond
Inviati speciali
1999 Invisible Mom II Producer & director
Fugitive Mind
The Prophet Sherman Scott Actor & director
The Kid with X-ray Eyes Director
Counter Measures Producer & director
Active Stealth Director
Scandal: On the Other Side Nick Medina
1998 Mom, Can I Keep Her? Producer & director
Illicit Dreams 2 Roger Collins
Billy Frankenstein Director
Dear Santa Peter Stewart
Mom's Outta Sight
1997 The Shooter[5] Ed Raymond
Inferno Actor & director
Invisible Mom Actor, producer & director
Bikini Hoe-Down Roger Collins
Nicholas Medina		 Producer & director
Hybrid
Invisible Dad Writer & director
Little Miss Magic Writer, producer & director
Masseuse 2 Peter Daniels Writer & director
Maximum Revenge Bill Carson Actor & director
Night Shade Nicholas Medina Producer & director
Rapid Assault Sherman Scott Director
1996 Friend of the Family II Nicholas Medina
Fugitive Rage Actor, producer & director
Over the Wire Nicholas Medina Director
Masseuse Peter Daniels
1995 Sorceress Producer
Droid Gunner Actor, producer & director
Bikini Drive-In Randy Rocket
Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold
Star Hunter Sam Newfield
1994 Inner Sanctum II
Possessed by the Night Actor, writer & director
Dinosaur Island Producer & director
Mind Twister Actor & director
1993 Dinosaur Girls Writer, producer & director
Witch Academy Producer & director
1992 Evil Toons Uncredited voice actor, writer, producer & director
1991 Haunting Fear Writer, producer & director
Spirits Director
Inner Sanctum Co-producer & director
Scream Queen Hot Tub Party Bill Carson Actor, writer, producer & director
Bad Girls from Mars Sherman Scott
Wizards of the Demon Sword Producer & director
1990 Mob Boss
1989 Terminal Force
Alienator Uncredited actor & director
1988 Warlords Producer & director
The Phantom Empire Writer, producer & director
Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers[5] Dr. S. Carver
Beverly Hills Vamp Producer & director
1987 Commando Squad Uncredited actor, co-producer & director
Cyclone Uncredited actor, uncredited writer & director
Deep Space Actor, writer, producer & director
Evil Spawn Producer & uncredited director
1986 Armed Response Actor, writer, co-producer & director
Prison Ship Co-writer, co-producer & director
The Tomb Producer & director
1985 Biohazard Actor, writer, producer & director
1983 Scalps Writer & director
1980 Alien Dead Fred Ray Actor, writer, cinematographer, producer & director
1978 The Brain Leeches Fred Ray
Brian Wolfe
1971 Demented Death Farm Massacre Producer & director
New footage

Television

TV Movies

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
2004 Haunting Desires Yes Yes No as Nicholas Medina and Sherman Scott
2007 Nuclear Hurricane Yes No No n/a
Bewitched Housewives Yes Yes No as Nicholas Medina
Super Ninja Doll Yes No No as Nicholas Medina and Sherman Scott
Girl with the Sex-Ray Eyes Yes Yes No as Nicholas Medina and Sherman Scott
An Accidental Christmas Yes No No n/a
2008 Polar Opposites Yes No No
Bikini Royale Yes Yes Yes as Nicholas Medina
Voodoo Dolls Yes Yes Yes as Nicholas Medina
Tarzeena, Queen of Kong Island Yes No No as Nicholas Medina
2009 Reptisaurus No No Yes n/a
2010 Turbulent Skies Yes Yes Yes
Bikini Jones and the Temple of Eros Yes Yes Yes as Nicholas Medina
2011 Bikini Warriors Yes Yes Yes as Nicholas Juan Medina
Lady Chatterley's Daughter Yes Yes Yes as Nicholas Juan Medina and Mark Reynolds
Bikini Time Machine Yes Yes Yes as Nicholas Juan Medina
Sexual Witchcraft Yes Yes Yes as Nicholas Juan Medina
2012 Dirty Blondes from Beyond Yes No No as Nicholas Medina
Jersey Shore Shark Attack No No Yes n/a
A Christmas Wedding Date Yes Yes Yes
2013 Holiday Road Trip Yes No Yes
All I Want For Christmas Yes No Yes
2014 A Perfect Christmas List Yes Yes Yes
2015 Eyewitness Yes Yes Yes
A Prince for Christmas Yes Yes Yes
The Christmas Gift Yes Yes Yes
2016 A Mother's Revenge Yes Yes Yes
Unwanted Guests Yes No No
A Christmas in Vermont Yes Yes Yes
2017 The Twin Yes No Yes
Stage Fright Yes No No
Deadly Vows Yes No No
Framed by My Fiancé Yes No Yes
2018 Witness Unprotected Yes Yes Yes
Fiancé Killer Yes No No
Deadly Shores Yes No Yes
A Wedding For Christmas Yes No Yes
A Christmas In Royal Fashion Yes Yes Yes
2019 Sister of the Bride Yes No No Uncredited
One Fine Christmas Yes Yes Yes n/a
Baking Christmas Yes No Yes
A Christmas Princess Yes Yes Yes
2020 A Mother's Secret Yes Yes Yes
A Royal Christmas Engagement Yes No No
2021 The Killer in My Backyard Yes No Yes
2022 A Royal Christmas on Ice Yes Yes Yes
Dognapped: Hound for the Holidays Yes No Yes

TV Series

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
2000 Emmanuelle 2000 Yes No No as Nicholas Medina, Episode: Emmanuelle's Sensual Pleasures
2002 Sexy Urban Legends Yes No No 2 Episodes
2006–2007 Dante's Cove No No Yes Supervising Producer
2007–2009 The Lair Yes Yes Yes Creator, Executive Producer
2018–2020 The Bay No No Yes Co-executive producer
2019 Boggy Creek - The Bigfoot Series No Yes Yes Executive Producer

See also

  • Sam Newfield, a filmmaker who uses the "Sherman Scott" and "Peter Stewart" pseudonyms.
  • Brad Linaweaver, science fiction writer, publisher, and frequent Ray collaborator.

References

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  11. ↑ 2007 Audio Interview at Your Video Store Shelf Archived March 30, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
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External links

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