Laurence T. Fessenden (born March 23, 1963)[1] is an American actor, producer, writer, director, film editor, and cinematographer.[1] He is the founder of the New York based independent production outfit Glass Eye Pix. His writer/director credits include No Telling (written with Beck Underwood, 1991), Habit (1997), Wendigo (2001), and The Last Winter (written with Robert Leaver, 2006), which is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.[2] He has also directed the television feature Beneath (2013), an episode of the NBC TV series Fear Itself (2008) entitled "Skin and Bones", and a segment of the anthology horror-comedy film The ABCs of Death 2 (2014). He is the writer, with Graham Reznick, of the BAFTA Award-winning Sony PlayStation video game Until Dawn. He has acted in numerous films including Bringing Out the Dead (1999), Broken Flowers (2005), I Sell the Dead (2009), Jug Face (2012), We Are Still Here (2015), In a Valley of Violence (2016), Like Me (2017), and The Dead Don't Die (2019), Brooklyn 45 (2023), and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Larry Fessenden | |
|---|---|
 Fessenden in 2010 | |
| Born | Laurence T. Fessenden March 23, 1963 New York City, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Spouse | Beck Underwood (1 child) |
Early life
editFessenden was born in New York City.[1] He attended St. Bernard's School, then Phillips Academy, from which he was expelled.[3]
Career
editFessenden has operated the production company Glass Eye Pix since 1985.[4] Fessenden regards the old Universal Monsters as a substantial influence for him.[5] In a review of Fessenden's film Wendigo (2001), Dave Kehr of the New York Times stated, "The independent filmmaker Larry Fessenden has set himself a challenging project: to approach the themes and thrills of the classic American horror movies through a determinedly modern approach, as if John Cassavetes had been working for Universal in the early 30s."[6]
As an actor, screenwriter, director and film editor, he has worked, in addition to feature films, on such television projects as the NBC horror anthology Fear Itself (2008), directing the episode "Skin and Bones". He wrote the screenplay of Orphanage (2007) with Guillermo del Toro, an English-language remake of El Orfanato.[7]
Fessenden has worked as a mentor to young directors, such as Jim Mickle and Ti West.[8] He has been a producer on projects including Ilya Chaiken's Liberty Kid (2007), Kelly Reichardt's Wendy and Lucy (2008), James McKenney's Satan Hates You (2010), West's The House of the Devil (2009) and The Innkeepers (2011), Joe Maggio's The Last Rites of Joe May (2011), and Rick Alverson's The Comedy (2012). Under his low-budget horror banner ScareFlix, Fessenden has produced films including West's The Roost (2005) and Trigger Man (2007), Glenn McQuaid's I Sell the Dead (2008), Maggio's Bitter Feast (2010), and Mickle's Stake Land (2010). More recently he has produced for prolific horror auteur Mickey Keating with Darling (2015) and Psychopaths (2017).
As a character actor, Fessenden has appeared in numerous films, including Martin Scorsese's Bringing Out the Dead (1999), Steve Buscemi's Animal Factory (2000), Brad Anderson's Session 9 (2001) and Vanishing on 7th Street (2010), Jim Jarmusch's Broken Flowers (2005), Neil Jordan's The Brave One (2007), McQuaid's I Sell the Dead (2008) for which he won best actor at the Slamdance Film Festival; Reichardt's Wendy and Lucy (2008), Mickle's Mulberry Street (2006) and Stake Land (2010), Joe Swanberg's All the Light in the Sky (2011), and Ted Geoghegan's We Are Still Here. Fessenden also starred in the Sundance Film Festival picture River of Grass (1994), which was Reichardt's debut feature, and Margarita Happy Hour (2001) directed by Chaiken. He has appeared on television in Louie, The Strain, and as himself in National Geographic's Brain Games.
In 2010, Fessenden partnered with Glenn McQuaid to launch Tales from Beyond the Pale, a series of macabre audio dramas[8] now available as a 47 episode podcast. In 2011, he released his third rock album with the band Just Desserts, an on-going partnership with songwriter Tom Laverack.[9] In 2012, he executive produced and was interviewed in the documentary Birth of the Living Dead, which examines the legacy of Night of the Living Dead.[10] In 2016, he produced, acted, and served as cinematographer in his son Jack's feature debut, Stray Bullets.[11] The same year also saw Fessenden release a book titled Sudden Storm, A Wendigo Reader.[12]
Fessenden has also established a strong presence in the video game world. In 2015, he and Graham Reznick collaborated on writing the video game Until Dawn. Fessenden also played the role of a mysterious stranger armed with a flamethrower in the game itself.[13] The game earned positive reviews and would go on to receive the "Original Property" award in the 2016 BAFTA Games Awards.[14] Fessenden and Reznick also set a Guinness World Record for "Longest script for a graphic adventure videogame," with their script reaching 1,000 pages.[15] The two writers would team up again in 2016 to develop a spin-off game known as Until Dawn: Rush of Blood,[16] and later in 2018 for the Until Dawn prequel, The Inpatient.[17]
Fessenden has run the company Glass Eye Pix since 1985 with the mission of "supporting individual voices in the arts." Glass Eye Pix continues to nurture young talent, most recently producing the debut features of Robert Mocker (Like Me, starring Addison Timlin and Fessenden), Ana Asensio (Most Beautiful Island), and Jenn Wexler (The Ranger).[18]
Fessenden's Frankenstein-themed feature, Depraved, which he wrote, directed, edited and produced, was released on Friday the 13th of September, 2019 through IFC Midnight.
His werewolf film Blackout premiered at the 27th International Fantasia Film Festival in July 2023.
Filmography
editAs actor
edit| Year | Title | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | White Trash | Man Who Looks Through Trash | Short film |
| 1981 | Lifeline | Man | Short film |
| 1981 | A Face in the Crowd | Narrator | Voice only |
| 1982 | Habit | Sam | Video |
| 1991 | No Telling | Eden Ridge Employee | |
| 1994 | River of Grass | Lee Ray Harold | |
| 1997 | Habit | Sam | |
| 1999 | Bringing Out the Dead | Cokehead | |
| 2000 | Hamlet | Kissing Man | |
| 2000 | Animal Factory | Benny | |
| 2001 | Third Watch | Ruby Granger | Episode: "A Hero's Rest" |
| 2001 | Session 9 | Craig McManus | |
| 2002 | Bad Day for a Tow | Tow Guy | Short film |
| 2002 | Happy Here and Now | Clifton | |
| 2004 | Imaginary Heroes | Store Clerk | |
| 2004 | The Off Season | Phil | |
| 2005 | The Roost | Tow Truck Driver | |
| 2005 | Broken Flowers | Will | |
| 2005 | The Resurrection Apprentice | Willy Grimes | Short film |
| 2005 | Headspace | Father | |
| 2006 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Boaz | Episode: "Diamond Dogs" |
| 2006 | Automatons | Enemy Guard | |
| 2006 | The Last Winter | Charles Foster | |
| 2006 | The Pod | Telly | Short film |
| 2006 | Mulberry St | Man Behind Gate | |
| 2007 | The Hunter | Kenny | Short film |
| 2007 | Trigger Man | Henchman | |
| 2007 | The Brave One | Sandy Combs | |
| 2008 | I Can See You | Mickey Hauser | |
| 2008 | Wendy and Lucy | Man in Park | |
| 2008 | I Sell The Dead | Willy Grimes | |
| 2009 | Blood Red Earth | Cowboy | Short film |
| 2009 | Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever | Bill | |
| 2010 | Hypothermia | Fishing Host | |
| 2010 | Bitter Feast | William Coley | |
| 2010 | Satan Hates You | Glumac | |
| 2010 | Vanishing on 7th Street | Bike Messenger | |
| 2010 | Stake Land | Roadhouse Bartender | |
| 2011 | You're Next | Erik Harson | |
| 2011 | Silver Bullets | Sam | |
| 2012 | Wolf Dog Tales | Wolf Dog | Video short; Voice only |
| 2012 | Hellbenders | Detective Elrod | |
| 2012 | Wolf Dog | Wolf Dog | |
| 2012 | Jug Face | Sustin | |
| 2013 | Ritual | Motel Clerk | |
| 2013 | We Are What We Are | Bearded Tenant | |
| 2014 | Late Phases | O'Brien | |
| 2014 | Louie | Upset Man | Episode: "Elevator: Part 6" |
| 2014 | The Strain | Jack Noon | Episode: "Runaways" |
| 2014 | Worst Friends | Jerry | |
| 2015 | Pod | Smith | |
| 2015 | Body | Arthur | |
| 2015 | We Are Still Here | Jacob Lewis | |
| 2015 | Until Dawn | Stranger | Video game; Voice & likeness |
| 2015 | The Mind's Eye | Mike Connors | |
| 2015 | Southbound | The D.J. | Voice Only |
| 2015 | Darling | Officer Maneretti | |
| 2016 | Carnage Park | Travis | |
| 2016 | In a Valley of Violence | Roy | |
| 2016 | Callback | Joe | |
| 2016 | The Transfiguration | Drunk Man | |
| 2016 | Good Funk | Kevin | |
| 2016 | No Way to Live | Jerry | |
| 2016 | Stray Bullets | Charlie | |
| 2016 | Until Dawn: Rush of Blood | Dan T | Video game |
| 2016 | The Stakelander | Biggs | |
| 2017 | Girlfriend's Day | Taft | |
| 2017 | Like Me | Marshall | |
| 2017 | Small Crimes | Earl | |
| 2017 | Most Beautiful Island | Rudy | |
| 2017 | Psychopaths | Henry Earl Starkweather | |
| 2017 | Hidden Agenda | Vernon LeMay | Video game |
| 2018 | Clara's Ghost | Fan Man/Man In Bar | |
| 2018 | The Ranger | Uncle Pete | |
| 2018 | Sadistic Intentions | Father | |
| 2019 | Depraved | Ratso | |
| 2019 | The Dead Don't Die | Danny Perkins | |
| 2019 | Dementer | Larry | |
| 2020 | Cold Wind Blowing | The Wolf | |
| 2021 | Jakob's Wife | Pastor Jakob Fedder | |
| 2021 | Dashcam | Lieberman | |
| 2021 | The Spine of Night | Prophet of Doom | |
| 2022 | Offseason | H. Grierson | |
| 2023 | Brooklyn 45 | Clive "Hock" Hockstatter | |
| 2023 | Killers of the Flower Moon | Radio Actor (William Hale) | |
| 2024 | MaXXXine | Security Guard |
As writer
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | The Eliminator | Short film |
| 1980 | White Trash | Short film |
| 1980 | The Field | Short film |
| 1981 | Lifeline | Short film |
| 1981 | A Face in the Crowd | |
| 1982 | Habit | Video |
| 1989 | Hollow Venus: Diary of a Go-Go Dancer | |
| 1991 | No Telling | |
| 1997 | Habit | |
| 2001 | Wendigo | |
| 2006 | The Last Winter | |
| 2008 | Santa Claws | Short film |
| 2015 | Until Dawn | Video game |
| 2016 | Until Dawn: Rush of Blood | Video game |
| 2017 | Hidden Agenda | Video game |
| 2018 | The Inpatient | Video game |
| 2019 | The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan | Video game |
| 2019 | Depraved | |
| 2023 | Blackout | |
| 2023 | Crumb Catcher | story |
As director
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Jaws | Short film |
| 1979 | The Eliminator | Short film |
| 1980 | White Trash | Short film |
| 1980 | The Field | Short film |
| 1981 | Lifeline | Short film |
| 1981 | A Face in the Crowd | |
| 1982 | Habit | Video |
| 1985 | Experienced Movers | |
| 1986 | Chinatown | Documentary short |
| 1987 | Mismatch | Documentary short |
| 1989 | Stunt: A Musical Motion Picture | Short film |
| 1989 | Hollow Venus: Diary of a Go-Go Dancer | |
| 1991 | No Telling | |
| 1997 | Habit | |
| 2001 | Wendigo | |
| 2002 | Searching for the Wendigo | Documentary short |
| 2006 | The Last Winter | |
| 2008 | Fear Itself | Episode: "Skin and Bones" |
| 2013 | Beneath | |
| 2014 | Frankenstein Cannot Be Stopped | Video short |
| 2014 | The ABCs of Death 2 | Segment: "N is for Nexus" |
| 2019 | Depraved | |
| 2023 | Blackout |
As producer
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | River of Grass | Associate Producer |
| 2004 | The Off Season | Executive Producer |
| 2005 | The Roost | Executive Producer |
| 2006 | Automatons | Executive Producer |
| 2006 | The Last Winter | Producer |
| 2007 | Trigger Man | Executive Producer |
| 2008 | I Can See You | Executive Producer |
| 2008 | Wendy and Lucy | Producer |
| 2008 | I Sell the Dead | Producer |
| 2009 | The House of the Devil | Producer |
| 2010 | Bitter Feast | Producer |
| 2010 | Satan Hates You | Producer |
| 2010 | Stake Land | Producer |
| 2010 | Hypothermia | Producer |
| 2011 | The Innkeepers | Producer |
| 2013 | Beneath | Producer |
| 2014 | Late Phases | Producer |
| 2015 | Darling | Executive Producer |
| 2016 | Certain Women | Executive Producer |
| 2016 | Callback | Co-Producer |
| 2016 | Stray Bullets | Producer |
| 2016 | The Stakelander | Producer |
| 2019 | Depraved | Producer |
| 2019 | Foxhole | Producer |
| 2023 | Blackout | Producer |
| 2023 | Crumb Catcher | Producer |
Awards and honors
editAwards
edit- Won – 1997 Independent Spirit Award Someone to Watch Award (Habit)
- Nominated – 1997 Independent Spirit Award for Best Director (Habit)
- Nominated – 1997 Austin Film Festival Award for Best Feature Film (Habit)
- Won – 1999 Williamsburg Brooklyn Film Festival Audience Award for Feature Film (Habit)
- Won – 1999 Williamsburg Brooklyn Film Festival Award for Best Editing (Habit)
- Won – 1999 Williamsburg Brooklyn Film Festival Award for Best Actor (Habit)
- Won – 2001 Woodstock Film Festival Jury Prize for Best Feature Film (Wendigo)
- Nominated – 2003 Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Screenplay (Wendigo)
- Won – 2007 Sitges Film Festival Maria Honorary Award (Himself)[19]
- Nominated – 2009 Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature Film (Wendy and Lucy)
- Won – 2009 AFI Award for Movie of the Year (Wendy and Lucy)
- Nominated – 2010 Piaget Spirit Award for Producing (Himself)[20]
- Won – 2010 Slamdance Special Jury Mention for Best Performance (I Sell the Dead)[21]
- Nominated – 2010 Independent Spirit Award Producers Award (I Sell the Dead and The House of the Devil)[22]
- Won – 2011 Chlotrudis Award for Career So Far (Himself)
- Nominated – 2014 Chicago International Film Festival Audience Choice Award (The ABCs of Death 2)
- Nominated – 2015 Fright Meter Award for Best Supporting Actor (We Are Still Here)[23]
- Nominated – 2016 Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Supporting Actor (We Are Still Here)
- Won – 2016 BAFTA Games Award for Original Property (Until Dawn)
- Won – 2017 Develop Award for Best Performance (Until Dawn: Rush of Blood)[24]
Honors
edit- 2011 – Inducted into the Fangoria Hall of Fame
- 2011 – Total Film Icon of Horror at the London FrightFest Film Festival
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Southern, Nathan. "Larry Fessenden Biography". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 21, 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
- ^ "Larry Fessenden. The Last Winter. 2006 | MoMA". The Museum of Modern Art.
- ^ Adams, Sam (August 31, 2009). "Larry Fessenden". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ Truitt, Brian (2013-06-25). "Sunday Geekersation: The many horrors of Larry Fessenden". USA Today. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ "Icons Interview with Larry Fessenden". IconsOfFright.com. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ Kehr, Dave (February 15, 2002). "FILM REVIEW; A With-It Way to Jump Up and Say 'Boo!'". The New York Times.
- ^ "New York horror mogul Larry Fessenden". Fangoria.
- ^ a b Kohn, Eric (April 15, 2011). "A Kingmaker in the Realm of Cheapie Horror". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ "Sojourn Records". www.sojournrecords.com.
- ^ Casciato, Cory (October 23, 2013). "Larry Fessenden on Birth of the Living Dead". Westword. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
- ^ McDonagh, Maitland (February 8, 2017). "High School Auteur: Teenager Jack Fessenden makes an auspicious genre feature debut with Stray Bullets". Film Journal International. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ "Sudden Storm: A Wendigo Reader". Glass Eye Pix.
- ^ Graham, Roy (2015-10-26). "Here's What Happens When Great Indie Horror Directors Make a Video Game". IndieWire. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
- ^ "2016 Games Original Property | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org.
- ^ "Longest script for a graphic adventure videogame". Guinness World Records. 26 August 2015.
- ^ "Supermassive Games - Until Dawn: Rush of Blood". Supermassive Games.
- ^ "Supermassive Games - The Inpatient". Supermassive Games.
- ^ "Larry Fessenden / bio". Glass Eye Pix.
- ^ "Larry Fessenden and Gualberto Baña receive the Honorary Maria Award in Sitges 07' - Sitges Film Festival - Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya". sitgesfilmfestival.com.
- ^ "Movie Reviews". The New York Times. September 3, 2019.
- ^ Jones, Michael (January 24, 2009). "Slamdance winners announced".
- ^ "Larry Fessenden Awards Nominations – Fandango".
- ^ "Fright Meter Awards".
- ^ "Develop Awards 2017 Winners Include Guerrilla Games". PlayStation LifeStyle. July 13, 2017.
External links
edit
- Larry Fessenden at IMDb
- Glass Eye Pix
- "Must-Read Interview with 'Bitter Feast' Indie Producer Larry Fessenden!". Bloody-disgusting.com. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 2011-08-04.