fiction.wikisort.org - Actor

Search / Calendar

Twin brothers and filmmakers Mark Polonia and John Polonia (born September 30, 1968) founded Polonia Bros Entertainment and Cinegraphic Productions. Between them they have written, directed and produced over 40 feature films, mostly in the genres of horror and sci fi, making them low-budget film cult icons.[1][2]

Mark Polonia
Born (1968-09-30) September 30, 1968 (age 54)
Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, United States
OccupationFilm director, film producer, screenwriter, actor
John Polonia
Born(1968-09-30)September 30, 1968
Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, United States
DiedFebruary 25, 2008(2008-02-25) (aged 39)
United States
OccupationFilm director, film producer, screenwriter, actor

When John Polonia died suddenly at the age of 39 on February 25, 2008, Mark Polonia continued to make films with childhood friend and longtime film collaborator Matt Satterly, through their production company Cinegraphic Productions.


Early days


The youngest of five siblings, the brothers were interested in and making films from a very early age. Their first commercial release was Splatter Farm, released on VHS by Donna Michele Productions in 1987,[3] a shot-on-video offering, written, acted, directed and filmed by the teenage brothers and a high school friend.


Career


Although the brothers had mixed feelings about this film[clarification needed] in later years (according to their DVD commentary), in part because the initial release was a rough cut and not edited to their satisfaction, it contained many of the signature elements that would come to define the Polonias' work – a primitive production quality reflecting a very limited budget; the brothers themselves appearing in key roles; liberal use of people and places available to them through their day-to-day lives, and homage to the horror films they grew up with and loved.

In 1996 the brothers' alien invasion film Feeders was picked up by Blockbuster in the aftermath of the commercial success of Independence Day, and became Blockbuster's No. 1 independent-film rental for the year.[4] Starring John Polonia and fellow-B-movie maker Jon McBride (Cannibal Campout, Woodchipper Massacre) in their first foray together, this film about an invasion of Earth by small rubbery flesh-eating monsters with no mouths marked the Polonias' first wide distribution, and paved the way for future releases – perhaps 20 more of them before John's death in 2008.

Jon McBride became a regular collaborator with the brothers,[5] and over time a fairly extensive group of actors, technicians, special effects artists and others came to work repeatedly with the brothers on horror films that aimed to entertain at all costs. Killer piranhas, killer Easter bunnies, haunted houses, trips to Mars, assorted demons, all were covered in the course of several decades of film-making.

In 2007 they released a new and improved cut of Splatter Farm, on DVD through Camp Motion Pictures.[6] The new version is missing a couple of the more outrageous scenes that made the original a 'cult classic', but is nonetheless a more professional-looking offering, easier to follow, and augmented by excellent and entertaining commentary and featurettes – which also have become trademarks of the brothers' DVD offerings.

Within the indie film community, the brothers were known for their kindness and generosity to aspiring film-makers.[7]

Polonia Brothers Entertainment and Cinegraphic Productions released Halloweenight, based on a screenplay by, and dedicated to the memory of, the late John Polonia, in October 2009.[8][9]

In 2010 Mark Polonia dissolved Cinegraphic Productions after the sudden passing of partner Matt Satterly to concentrate solely on the Polonia Bros Entertainment (PBE) brand.

Since his brother's passing in 2008 Mark Polonia has been steadily producing and directing new films with long-time collaborator Brett Piper.

In early 2021 writer Douglas Waltz self-published the book "Monstervision: The Films of John and Mark Polonia". The paperback is a chronicle of 55 movies, some produced jointly by the brothers, and the remainder solely by Mark Polonia. It also includes recollections from people who have worked on Polonia Bros. Entertainment films (mostly actors), along with interviews and set photos.


Filmography



References


  1. Books.google.com
  2. Cinema Slave
  3. Bleedingskull.com Archived March 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  4. B-independent.com
  5. Crackedoncinema.com
  6. DVD Talk
  7. Potentiallyoffensive.com Archived July 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  8. Fangoria Archived October 14, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  9. Stargazette.com
  10. B-independent.com
  11. DVD Talk
  12. Dread Central




Текст в блоке "Читать" взят с сайта "Википедия" и доступен по лицензии Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike; в отдельных случаях могут действовать дополнительные условия.

Другой контент может иметь иную лицензию. Перед использованием материалов сайта WikiSort.org внимательно изучите правила лицензирования конкретных элементов наполнения сайта.

2019-2025
WikiSort.org - проект по пересортировке и дополнению контента Википедии