John A. Russo
Encyclopedia
John A. Russo sometimes credited as Jack Russo or John Russo, is an American screenwriter and film director
most commonly associated with the 1968 horror classic Night of the Living Dead
. As a screenwriter, his credits include Night of the Living Dead, The Majorettes
, Midnight, and Santa Claws
. The latter two, he also directed. He has performed small roles as an actor, most notably the first zombie who is stabbed in the head in Night of the Living Dead
, as well as cameos in There's Always Vanilla
and House of Frankenstein 1997
. John Russo is also the founder and one of the co-mentors along with Russell Streiner
of the John Russo Movie Making Program at DuBois Business College
in DuBois, Pennsylvania
. John A. Russo has completed several interviews over the years discussing his film making career, with a recent interview with BioGamer Girl Magazine
, in which he appeared on the magazine's radio show Undead Noise.
he is writing a number of comic books:
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
most commonly associated with the 1968 horror classic Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent black-and-white zombie film and cult film directed by George A. Romero, starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman. It premiered on October 1, 1968, and was completed on a USD$114,000 budget. After decades of cinematic re-releases, it...
. As a screenwriter, his credits include Night of the Living Dead, The Majorettes
The Majorettes
The Majorettes is a 1986 horror film. It was filmed at Cornell High School in the Pittsburgh suburb of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. It was directed by S. William Hinzman, who also starred in George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead. It was written and produced by John A. Russo, from his own novel...
, Midnight, and Santa Claws
Santa Claws
Santa Claws is a 1996 horror film written and directed by John A. Russo. It stars Debbie Rochon as a Scream Queen B-movie actress who is stalked by an obsessed fan....
. The latter two, he also directed. He has performed small roles as an actor, most notably the first zombie who is stabbed in the head in Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent black-and-white zombie film and cult film directed by George A. Romero, starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman. It premiered on October 1, 1968, and was completed on a USD$114,000 budget. After decades of cinematic re-releases, it...
, as well as cameos in There's Always Vanilla
There's Always Vanilla
There's Always Vanilla is a 1971 film and was director George A. Romero's second motion picture and, , his only romantic comedy. It is one of the few Romero films that does not deal with a zombie apocalypse or other supernatural horror themes...
and House of Frankenstein 1997
House of Frankenstein 1997
House of Frankenstein 1997 is a television mini-series that revives Universal's classic threesome, the vampire , Frankenstein's monster and the werewolf...
. John Russo is also the founder and one of the co-mentors along with Russell Streiner
Russell Streiner
Russell Streiner , also credited as Russ Streiner and Russell W. Streiner, is an American film producer and actor.-Career:...
of the John Russo Movie Making Program at DuBois Business College
DuBois Business College
DuBois Business College is one of the oldest private business colleges in the United States. It opened in 1885 and is located in DuBois, Pennsylvania...
in DuBois, Pennsylvania
DuBois, Pennsylvania
DuBois is a city in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Pittsburgh. It is the principal city in the DuBois, Pa Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. John A. Russo has completed several interviews over the years discussing his film making career, with a recent interview with BioGamer Girl Magazine
BioGamer Girl Magazine
BioGamer Girl is an internationally-distributed US publication dedicated to females in the genres of horror and gaming since 2010.According to the Better Business Bureau of North Alabama, BioGamer Girl is a Limited Liability Corporation and a publisher's magazine that is located in Fyffe, Alabama,...
, in which he appeared on the magazine's radio show Undead Noise.
As screenwriter and director
- Escape of the Living DeadEscape of the Living DeadEscape of the Living Dead is a five-issue zombie comic book limited series published by Avatar Press, published in 2005. It is written by John A...
(2011) - Saloonatics (2002)
- Santa ClawsSanta ClawsSanta Claws is a 1996 horror film written and directed by John A. Russo. It stars Debbie Rochon as a Scream Queen B-movie actress who is stalked by an obsessed fan....
(1996) (as John Russo)- aka 'Tis the Season
- Scream Queens' Naked Christmas (1996)
- aka Naked Christmas (USA)
- Heartstopper (1993)
- aka Dark Craving (USA: video title)
- Midnight 2 (1993)
- aka Midnight 2: Sex, Death and Videotape (USA: video title)
- Midnight (1982) (also novel)
- aka Backwoods Massacre
- The Booby Hatch (1976) (screenplay) (story)
- aka Dirty Book Store
- aka The Liberation of Cherry Janowski
As screenwriter only
- Voodoo DawnVoodoo DawnVoodoo Dawn is a 1990 American horror film that was directed by Steven Fierberg, written by Jeffrey Delman, Evan Dunsky, Thomas Rendon, and John A. Russo, and produced by Steven D. Mackler. It received an R rating...
(1990)- aka Strange Turf (USA)
- The MajorettesThe MajorettesThe Majorettes is a 1986 horror film. It was filmed at Cornell High School in the Pittsburgh suburb of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. It was directed by S. William Hinzman, who also starred in George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead. It was written and produced by John A. Russo, from his own novel...
(1986) (also novel) (as John Russo)- aka One by One
- Night of the Living DeadNight of the Living DeadNight of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent black-and-white zombie film and cult film directed by George A. Romero, starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman. It premiered on October 1, 1968, and was completed on a USD$114,000 budget. After decades of cinematic re-releases, it...
(1968) (screenplay; co-written by George A. RomeroGeorge A. RomeroGeorge Andrew Romero is a Canadian-American film director, screenwriter and editor, best known for his gruesome and satirical horror films about a hypothetical zombie apocalypse. He is nicknamed "Godfather of all Zombies." -Life and career:...
) (as John Russo)- aka Night of Anubis
- aka Night of the Flesh Eaters
As an actor
- House of Frankenstein 1997House of Frankenstein 1997House of Frankenstein 1997 is a television mini-series that revives Universal's classic threesome, the vampire , Frankenstein's monster and the werewolf...
(1997) (miniseries) .... Honor Guard - Santa ClawsSanta ClawsSanta Claws is a 1996 horror film written and directed by John A. Russo. It stars Debbie Rochon as a Scream Queen B-movie actress who is stalked by an obsessed fan....
(1996) (as John Russo) .... Detective- aka 'Tis the Season
- The Inheritor (1990) .... Unknown role
- The MajorettesThe MajorettesThe Majorettes is a 1986 horror film. It was filmed at Cornell High School in the Pittsburgh suburb of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. It was directed by S. William Hinzman, who also starred in George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead. It was written and produced by John A. Russo, from his own novel...
(1986) (as John Russo) .... Coroner (Dr. Gibson)- aka One by One
- There's Always VanillaThere's Always VanillaThere's Always Vanilla is a 1971 film and was director George A. Romero's second motion picture and, , his only romantic comedy. It is one of the few Romero films that does not deal with a zombie apocalypse or other supernatural horror themes...
(1971) (uncredited) .... Music producer- aka The Affair
- Night of the Living DeadNight of the Living DeadNight of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent black-and-white zombie film and cult film directed by George A. Romero, starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman. It premiered on October 1, 1968, and was completed on a USD$114,000 budget. After decades of cinematic re-releases, it...
(1968) (uncredited) .... Washington military reporter/Ghoul in house
As producer
- Children of the Living DeadChildren of the Living DeadChildren of the Living Dead is a 2001 American direct-to-video zombie film written by Karen L. Wolf and directed by Tor Ramsey. Executive produced by John A. Russo, the film serves as a sequel to Night of the Living Dead: 30th Anniversary Edition, a recut version of the original film that Russo...
(2001) (executive producer) - Santa ClawsSanta ClawsSanta Claws is a 1996 horror film written and directed by John A. Russo. It stars Debbie Rochon as a Scream Queen B-movie actress who is stalked by an obsessed fan....
(1996) (producer)- aka 'Tis the Season
- Night of the Living DeadNight of the Living Dead (1990 film)Night of the Living Dead is a 1990 American remake of George A. Romero's 1968 horror film of the same name and was directed by Tom Savini. Romero rewrote the original 1968 screenplay co-authored by John A...
(1990) (producer) - The MajorettesThe MajorettesThe Majorettes is a 1986 horror film. It was filmed at Cornell High School in the Pittsburgh suburb of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. It was directed by S. William Hinzman, who also starred in George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead. It was written and produced by John A. Russo, from his own novel...
(1986) (producer)- aka One by One
- There's Always VanillaThere's Always VanillaThere's Always Vanilla is a 1971 film and was director George A. Romero's second motion picture and, , his only romantic comedy. It is one of the few Romero films that does not deal with a zombie apocalypse or other supernatural horror themes...
(1971) (producer)- aka The Affair
Documentary appearances
- "One For the Fire:The Legacy of Night of the Living Dead" (2008)...Himself
- UnConventional (2004) .... Himself
- The Dead Walk: Remaking a Classic (1999) (V) .... Himself
- Note: this is a "making-of" special featured on the DVD edition of the 1990 remake of Night of the Living DeadNight of the Living Dead (1990 film)Night of the Living Dead is a 1990 American remake of George A. Romero's 1968 horror film of the same name and was directed by Tom Savini. Romero rewrote the original 1968 screenplay co-authored by John A...
.- A-Z of Horror (1997) (mini) TV Series .... Himself
- aka Clive Barker's A-Z of Horror (UK: complete title)
- Night of the Living Dead: 25th Anniversary Documentary (1993) (V) .... Himself
- A-Z of Horror (1997) (mini) TV Series .... Himself
- Note: this is a 25th Anniversary special featured on a video release of the original Night of the Living DeadNight of the Living DeadNight of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent black-and-white zombie film and cult film directed by George A. Romero, starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman. It premiered on October 1, 1968, and was completed on a USD$114,000 budget. After decades of cinematic re-releases, it...
film.- Horror F/X (1989) (V) .... Himself
- Note: Russo interviews frequent collaborator and fellow Pittsburgh horror movie maker, Tom SaviniTom SaviniThomas Vincent "Tom" Savini is an American actor, stuntman, director, award-winning special effects and makeup artist. He is known for his work on the Living Dead films directed by George A. Romero, as well as Creepshow, The Burning, Friday the 13th, The Prowler, and Maniac. He directed the 1990...
, in this low-budget shot-on-video documentary.- Drive-In Madness! (1987) .... Himself
- aka Screen Scaries (USA: video title)
- Drive-In Madness! (1987) .... Himself
Comics
With Avatar PressAvatar Press
Avatar Press is an independent American publisher of comic books, founded in 1996 by William A. Christensen, and based in Rantoul, Illinois.Avatar initially published only mini-series; however, they have since begun to branch out...
he is writing a number of comic books:
- Escape of the Living DeadEscape of the Living DeadEscape of the Living Dead is a five-issue zombie comic book limited series published by Avatar Press, published in 2005. It is written by John A...
- George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead
- Plague of the Living Dead