I think it was back in the mid to late 2000s when I first met John Pata, who had recently made a short film called Better Off Undead (2007). Even after I told him that I usually didn’t like low budget films, he wanted me to see his anyway, which I actually ended up really enjoying. And we’ve been friends ever since. In fact, Mr. Pata was the guy who laid out my book, Discover the Horror. But he’s also continued on as a filmmaker, co-directing the 2012 film Dead Weight, an intense short film called Pity (2014), but has now completed his first feature film as a stand-alone director for the film Black Mold. Pata also wrote and edited the film as well.

Years ago, Pata owned and operated his own printing shop and business was good, but he that wasn’t what he wanted to do with his life. I remember a few conversations with him saying that he’s got a good gig now, one that many people his age (at the time) would love to have. But he wanted to get into film and didn’t take my advice. And I’m so glad he didn’t.