Richard W. Haines
Encyclopedia
Richard W. Haines is an American
independent genre filmmaker and film historian best known for his cult movies Space Avenger in Technicolor
, Run for Cover in 3-D, and Splatter University, and the book Technicolor Movies.
, Haines' first job was as an assistant editor for the low-budget 1980 exploitation film Mother's Day, directed by Charles Kaufman. This job led to a six year association with Troma Entertainment as the company's post-production supervisor when Charles Kaufman sent Haines over to his brother Lloyd Kaufman
after Haines satisfied them with his editing and sound editing work on the film.
Haines edited several films for Troma including the 1984 cult classic The Toxic Avenger
.
During this period Haines also made his feature directorial debut independently with the widely-known 1984 slasher film Splatter University. A testament to the cult popularity of Splatter University is the reference by the character Randy Meeks (played by Jamie Kennedy
) in a phone conversation in Wes Craven
's Scream 2
(1997). A slasher film with rare social and religious commentary as one of the more recent print reviews states, "Even some of the lesser ones have something interesting to offer, trying to go beyond the usual hack and slash routine. One such film surprisingly enough, is Splatter University...."
Following the commercial success of his first feature, Haines wrote a script titled Atomic High School, which he set up at Troma to direct as a work for hire under the title Class of Nuke 'Em High
(1986). Following completion of Class of Nuke 'Em High, Haines left the exploitation field to form his own company, New Wave Film Distribution, Inc., which specializes in low-budget mainstream genre films. Haines retained complete creative control on all subsequent features producing, directing, writing, editing and marketing his productions.
The satirically violent sci-fi comedy Space Avenger (1989) was the first film Haines made after going out on his own. The film was produced by the film restorer Robert A. Harris. Space Avenger received much attention within the film industry for being printed in the dye transfer Technicolor process, which yielded vibrant primary colors that never faded. Haines traveled to China to make prints of the film in the dye transfer "Glorious Technicolor" which was covered by The Hollywood Reporter
, Variety
and Entertainment Tonight
. The film was retitled Alien Space Avenger for its home video release.
Haines donated a Technicolor print to the George Eastman House
archive as an example of dye transfer printing.
Haines' next project was the 1994 sci-fi thriller Head Games, followed the by action film Run for Cover (1995), which starred Adam West
and featured the final film appearance of Viveca Lindfors
. The film also included cameos from various well-known New York personalities such as Ed Koch
and Rev. Al Sharpton
. Run for Cover was shot in the Stereovision 3-D process and was the most successful film to ever play in Russia, as it had a five year run. It was also premiered in Israel as part of a 3-D Festival Haines co-sponsored. Haines also co-sponsored a Technicolor Festival at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill, New York
.
Haines is the author of two books, Technicolor Movies (1993) and The Moviegoing Experience, 1968-2001 (2003), and several articles published in Wide Gauge Film and Video Monthly and The Perfect Vision. The former is in its second printing. Haines was also the illustrator for the 2002 children's book Animal Kingdumb, written by his father, Richard D. Haines.
Haines' most recent features include the film noir
Unsavory Characters (2001), the political satire Soft Money (2005), and a return to the horror genre, where he began his career, with What Really Frightens You (2008).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
independent genre filmmaker and film historian best known for his cult movies Space Avenger in Technicolor
Technicolor
Technicolor is a color motion picture process invented in 1916 and improved over several decades.It was the second major process, after Britain's Kinemacolor, and the most widely used color process in Hollywood from 1922 to 1952...
, Run for Cover in 3-D, and Splatter University, and the book Technicolor Movies.
Biography
A 1979 graduate of the film school at NYUTisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts is one of the 15 schools that make up New York University ....
, Haines' first job was as an assistant editor for the low-budget 1980 exploitation film Mother's Day, directed by Charles Kaufman. This job led to a six year association with Troma Entertainment as the company's post-production supervisor when Charles Kaufman sent Haines over to his brother Lloyd Kaufman
Lloyd Kaufman
Lloyd Kaufman is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and occasional actor. With producer Michael Herz, he is the co-founder of Troma Entertainment film studio, and the director of many of their feature films, including The Toxic Avenger and Tromeo and Juliet. Kaufman also serves as...
after Haines satisfied them with his editing and sound editing work on the film.
Haines edited several films for Troma including the 1984 cult classic The Toxic Avenger
The Toxic Avenger
The Toxic Avenger is a 1984 comedy horror film released by Troma Entertainment, known for producing low budget B-movies with campy concepts. Virtually ignored upon its first release, The Toxic Avenger caught on with filmgoers after a long and successful midnight movie engagement at the famed...
.
During this period Haines also made his feature directorial debut independently with the widely-known 1984 slasher film Splatter University. A testament to the cult popularity of Splatter University is the reference by the character Randy Meeks (played by Jamie Kennedy
Jamie Kennedy
James Harvey "Jamie" Kennedy is an American comedian, rapper, and actor.-Early life:Kennedy, the youngest of six children, was born in Upper Darby Township, a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His family is of Irish descent and he was raised Roman Catholic. He attended and graduated from...
) in a phone conversation in Wes Craven
Wes Craven
Wesley Earl "Wes" Craven is an American actor, film director, writer, producer, perhaps best known as the director of many horror films, particularly slasher films, including the famed A Nightmare on Elm Street and Wes Craven's New Nightmare, featuring the iconic Freddy Krueger character, the...
's Scream 2
Scream 2
Scream 2 is a 1997 American slasher film created and written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven, starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Jamie Kennedy and Liev Schreiber, released on December 12, 1997 as the second installment in the Scream film series...
(1997). A slasher film with rare social and religious commentary as one of the more recent print reviews states, "Even some of the lesser ones have something interesting to offer, trying to go beyond the usual hack and slash routine. One such film surprisingly enough, is Splatter University...."
Following the commercial success of his first feature, Haines wrote a script titled Atomic High School, which he set up at Troma to direct as a work for hire under the title Class of Nuke 'Em High
Class of Nuke 'Em High
Class of Nuke 'Em High, also known as Atomic High School, is a 1986 film made by cult classic B-movie production group Troma Entertainment. It was directed by Richard W. Haines and Lloyd Kaufman under the pseudonym Samuel Weil...
(1986). Following completion of Class of Nuke 'Em High, Haines left the exploitation field to form his own company, New Wave Film Distribution, Inc., which specializes in low-budget mainstream genre films. Haines retained complete creative control on all subsequent features producing, directing, writing, editing and marketing his productions.
The satirically violent sci-fi comedy Space Avenger (1989) was the first film Haines made after going out on his own. The film was produced by the film restorer Robert A. Harris. Space Avenger received much attention within the film industry for being printed in the dye transfer Technicolor process, which yielded vibrant primary colors that never faded. Haines traveled to China to make prints of the film in the dye transfer "Glorious Technicolor" which was covered by The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
, Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
and Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
. The film was retitled Alien Space Avenger for its home video release.
Haines donated a Technicolor print to the George Eastman House
George Eastman House
The George Eastman House is the world's oldest museum dedicated to photography and one of the world's oldest film archives, opened to the public in 1949 in Rochester, New York, USA. World-renowned for its photograph and motion picture archives, the museum is also a leader in film preservation and...
archive as an example of dye transfer printing.
Haines' next project was the 1994 sci-fi thriller Head Games, followed the by action film Run for Cover (1995), which starred Adam West
Adam West
William West Anderson , better known by the stage name Adam West, is an American actor best known for his lead role in the Batman TV series and the film of the same name...
and featured the final film appearance of Viveca Lindfors
Viveca Lindfors
Elsa Viveca Torstensdotter Lindfors , better known under her professional name of Viveca Lindfors, was a Swedish stage and film actress.-Life and career:...
. The film also included cameos from various well-known New York personalities such as Ed Koch
Ed Koch
Edward Irving "Ed" Koch is an American lawyer, politician, and political commentator. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1977 and three terms as mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989...
and Rev. Al Sharpton
Al Sharpton
Alfred Charles "Al" Sharpton, Jr. is an American Baptist minister, civil rights activist, and television/radio talk show host. In 2004, he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. presidential election...
. Run for Cover was shot in the Stereovision 3-D process and was the most successful film to ever play in Russia, as it had a five year run. It was also premiered in Israel as part of a 3-D Festival Haines co-sponsored. Haines also co-sponsored a Technicolor Festival at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill, New York
Peekskill, New York
Peekskill is a city in Westchester County, New York. It is situated on a bay along the east side of the Hudson River, across from Jones Point.This community was known to be an early American industrial center, primarily for its iron plow and stove products...
.
Haines is the author of two books, Technicolor Movies (1993) and The Moviegoing Experience, 1968-2001 (2003), and several articles published in Wide Gauge Film and Video Monthly and The Perfect Vision. The former is in its second printing. Haines was also the illustrator for the 2002 children's book Animal Kingdumb, written by his father, Richard D. Haines.
Haines' most recent features include the film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
Unsavory Characters (2001), the political satire Soft Money (2005), and a return to the horror genre, where he began his career, with What Really Frightens You (2008).
Filmography as director
- Splatter University (1984)
- Class of Nuke 'Em HighClass of Nuke 'Em HighClass of Nuke 'Em High, also known as Atomic High School, is a 1986 film made by cult classic B-movie production group Troma Entertainment. It was directed by Richard W. Haines and Lloyd Kaufman under the pseudonym Samuel Weil...
(1986) - Space Avenger (1989)
- Head Games (1994)
- Run for Cover (1995)
- Unsavory Characters (2001)
- Soft Money (2005)
- What Really Frightens You (2008)
Books
- Technicolor Movies (1993)
- Animal Kingdumb by Richard D. Haines (illustrator) (2002)
- The Moviegoing Experience, 1968-2001 (2003)