Charles Robert Band (born December 27, 1951) is an American film producer and director, known for his work on horror comedy movies.

Career

Band entered film production in the 1970s with Charles Band Productions. Dissatisfied with distributors' handling of his movies, he formed

Empire Pictures Empire International Pictures (also known as Empire Entertainment) was an American independent small-scale theatrical distribution company. Charles Band formed Empire in 1983, prompted by his dissatisfaction with distributors' handling of films ...

in 1983. At its height, Empire would release an average of two films a month, one theatrically and one on home video. Movies released by Empire included ''

Ghoulies ''Ghoulies'' is a 1985 American horror film, directed by Luca Bercovici in his directorial debut. The film was co-written with producer Jefery Levy. It stars Peter Liapis, Lisa Pelikan, Michael Des Barres, Jack Nance, Scott Thomson, and Maris ...

'' and ''

Ghoulies II ''Ghoulies'' is an American comedy horror film series that consists of four films released from 1985 to 1994. The films center on a group of small demonic creatures that have a wide range of twisted appearances. Films ''Ghoulies'' (1985) T ...

'', and the

cult classic A cult following is a group of Fan (person), fans who are highly dedicated to a person, idea, object, movement, or work, often an artist, in particular a performing artist, or an artwork in some List of art media, medium. The latter is often cal ...

Re-Animator ''Re-Animator'' (also known as ''H. P. Lovecraft's Re-Animator'') is a 1985 American comedy horror film loosely based on the 1922 H. P. Lovecraft serial novelette " Herbert West–Reanimator". Directed by Stuart Gordon and produced by Brian Y ...

''. Empire folded in 1988, due to financial difficulties. Band would found

Full Moon Productions Full Moon Productions was a record company started in 1991''Full Moon Productions''
accessed on 23 January 2013.

the same year. Full Moon releases include the ''Puppet Master'' and ''

Subspecies In Taxonomy (biology), biological classification, subspecies (: subspecies) is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (Morphology (biology), morpholog ...

'' series. Full Moon's family-oriented label Moonbeam Entertainment released the ''

Prehysteria! ''Prehysteria!'' is a series of three family monster comedy films made in the early to mid-1990s about the adventures of five miniature baby dinosaurs named after famous pop musicians. The dinosaurs were Elvis, a male ''Tyrannosaurus'', Paula, a ...

'' trilogy.

Personal life

Band was born in Los Angeles, California. He is the son of director-producer

Albert Band Albert Band (born Alfredo Antonini; May 7, 1924 – June 14, 2002) was a French-born American film director and film producer. He was the son of artist Max Band, father of filmmaker Charles Band and of film composer Richard Band and the grandfath ...

, and brother of composer

Richard Band Richard Howard Band is an American composer of film music. He has scored more than 140 projects, including '' From Beyond'', which won the award for Best Original Soundtrack at the Sitges Film Festival. Lately he scored '' Exorcism at 60,000 Feet ...

. Band's grandfather was the artist

Max Band Max Band (21 August 1901 – 8 November 1974) was a Litvak landscape artist born in Kudirkos Naumiestis, Lithuania, the son of Abraham K. Band and Anna Tumpowsky. Band enrolled in an art school in Berlin in 1920, and he then lived in Paris from 1 ...

. With his former wife Meda, Band had two children, including

Alex Alex is a given name. Similar names are Alexander, Alexandra, Alexey or Alexis. People Multiple * Alex Brown (disambiguation), multiple people * Alex Cook (disambiguation), multiple people * Alex Forsyth (disambiguation), multiple people * Al ...

, the vocalist for the band The Calling. He had two sons with his former wife Debra Dion. Fictional-Example-Mount-Rushmore-Charles-Band-Characters-AndreToulon

Fictional-Example-Mount-Rushmore-Charles-Band-Characters-AndreToulon

Filmography

As director

* '' Last Foxtrot in Burbank'' (1973, as Carlo Bokino) * ''

Crash! ''Crash!'' is a 1977 film directed by Charles Band. It starred José Ferrer, Sue Lyon, John Ericson, Leslie Parrish, John Carradine and Reggie Nalder. Synopsis Jealous invalid husband (Ferrer) tries to kill sexy blond wife (Lyon), who uses oc ...

'' (1977) * ''

Parasite Parasitism is a Symbiosis, close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives (at least some of the time) on or inside another organism, the Host (biology), host, causing it some harm, and is Adaptation, adapted str ...

'' (1982) * '' Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn'' (1983) * ''

The Alchemist An alchemist is a person who practices alchemy. Alchemist or Alchemyst may also refer to: Books and stories * ''The Alchemist'' (novel), the translated title of a 1988 allegorical novel by Paulo Coelho * ''The Alchemist'' (play), a play by Ben ...

'' (1983, as James Amante) * ''

The Dungeonmaster ''The Dungeonmaster'' (originally ''Ragewar: The Challenges of Excalibrate'' and ''Digital Knights'') is a 1984 American anthology fantasy horror film produced by Charles Band, and is split up into seven distinct story segments, each written an ...

'' (1984, segment "Heavy Metal") * ''

Trancers ''Trancers'' (also released as ''Future Cop'') is a 1984 American science fiction action film directed by Charles Band and starring Tim Thomerson, Helen Hunt, and Art LaFleur. It is the first film in the ''Trancers'' series. Thomerson plays Jac ...

'' (1985) * ''

Pulse Pounders ''Pulse Pounders'' is a 1988 American anthology film directed by Charles Band. The film is composed of three 30-minute films, two of which are sequels to ''The Dungeonmaster'' and '' Trancers''. The third is an adaptation of H. P. Lovecraft's " The ...

'' (1988) * '' Meridian: Kiss of the Beast'' (1990) * '' Crash and Burn'' (1990) * ''

Trancers II ''Trancers II'' (also released as ''Trancers II: The Return of Jack Deth'') is a 1991 American direct-to-video science fiction film, science fiction action film directed by Charles Band. It is a sequel to ''Trancers'' and is set six years after t ...

'' (1991) * ''

Doctor Mordrid ''Doctor Mordrid'' is a 1992 American superhero film directed by Albert and Charles Band, and starring Jeffrey Combs. The film was originally intended to be an adaptation of Marvel Comics' Doctor Strange, but the studio's rights expired during ...

'' (1992) * ''

'' (1993) * ''

Dollman vs. Demonic Toys ''Dollman vs. Demonic Toys'' (on screen title being ''Dollman vs. the Demonic Toys'') is a 1993 American direct-to-video horror film. It is a continuation of three films released by Full Moon Features: '' Dollman'', ''Demonic Toys'' and ''Bad Chan ...

'' (1993) * '' Head of the Family'' (1996, as Robert Talbot) * '' Mystery Monsters'' (1997, as Robert Talbot) * ''

Hideous! ''Hideous!'' is a 1997 comedy horror film and monster movie, about several elite human oddity collectors and traders who find themselves locked in a castle with several mutated creatures come to life. The film combines live-action actors with rod ...

'' (1997) * '' The Creeps'' (1997) * '' Blood Dolls'' (1999) * '' NoAngels.com'' (2000) * '' Full Moon Fright Night'' (2002, TV Series) * '' Puppet Master: The Legacy'' (2003) * '' Dr. Moreau's House of Pain'' (2004) * '' Decadent Evil Dead'' (2005) * '' Doll Graveyard'' (2005) * '' The Gingerdead Man'' (2005) * ''

Petrified In geology, petrifaction or petrification () is the process by which organic material becomes a fossil through the replacement of the original material and the filling of the original pore spaces with minerals. Petrified wood typifies this proce ...

'' (2006) * ''

Evil Bong ''Evil Bong'' is a 2006 American stoner horror comedy film directed by Charles Band about a group of stoners who smoke from a sentient, malevolent bong that traps the smoker in The Bong World, a surreal realm filled with killer strippers and ot ...

'' (2006) * '' The Haunted Casino'' (2007) * '' Decadent Evil Dead II'' (2007) * '' Dangerous Chucky Dolls'' (2008) * '' Evil Bong II: King Bong'' (2009) * '' Skull Heads'' (2009) * '' Evil Bong 3-D: The Wrath of Bong'' (2011) * '' Killer Eye: Halloween Haunt'' (2011) * '' DevilDolls'' (2012) * '' The Dead Want Women'' (2012) * '' Puppet Master X: Axis Rising'' (2012) * '' Ooga Booga'' (2013) * '' Blood of 1000 Virgins'' (2013, Documentary) * '' Nazithon: Decadence and Destruction'' (2013, Documentary) * '' Unlucky Charms'' (2013) * '' Bada$$ Mothaf**kas'' (2013, Documentary) * '' Gingerdead Man vs. Evil Bong'' (2013) * ''

The Haunted Dollhouse ''Craig of the Creek'' is an American animated television series created by Matt Burnett and Ben Levin for Cartoon Network. The show's pilot episode premiered on the Cartoon Network app on December 1, 2017, and the first episode of its first seas ...

'' (2013) * ''

Trophy Heads A trophy is a tangible, decorative item used to remind of a specific achievement, serving as recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies are most commonly awarded for sporting events, ranging from youth sports to professional level athletics. Add ...

'' (2014) * ''

Evil Bong 420 Evil, as a concept, is usually defined as profoundly immoral behavior, and it is related to acts that cause unnecessary pain and suffering to others. Evil is commonly seen as the opposite, or sometimes absence, of good. It can be an extremely ...

'' (2015) * '' Kings of Cult'' (2015, Documentary) * '' Evil Bong: High 5'' (2016) * '' Ravenwolf Towers: The Feature'' (2016) * '' Ravenwolf Towers'' (2016, TV Series) * ''

Fists of Fury ''The Big Boss'' (; originally titled as ''Fists of Fury'' in the United States) is a 1971 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Lo Wei (who also wrote the film) and Wu Chi-hsiang. Bruce Lee stars in his first major film in a lead role, and ...

'' (2016) * ''

Evil Bong 666 ''Evil Bong'' is a 2006 American stoner horror comedy film directed by Charles Band about a group of stoners who smoke from a sentient, malevolent bong that traps the smoker in The Bong World, a surreal realm filled with killer strippers and ot ...

'' (2017) * '' Puppet Master: Axis Termination'' (2017) * '' Evil Bong 777'' (2018) * '' Bunker of Blood: Chapter 2 - Deadly Dolls: Deepest Cuts'' (2018) * '' Death Heads: Brain Drain'' (2018) * '' Vampire Slaughter: Eaten Alive'' (2018) * '' Bunker of Blood: Chapter 6: Zombie Lust: Night Flesh'' (2018) * '' Bunker of Blood: Chapter 8: Butcher's Bake Off: Hell's Kitchen'' (2018) * ''

Corona Zombies ''Corona Zombies'' is a 2020 American comedy horror film directed by Charles Band, and produced and distributed by Full Moon Features. The film stars Cody Renee Cameron, Russell Coker and Robin Sydney. It is the first installment of the ''Barbi ...

'' (2020) * '' Barbie & Kendra Save the Tiger King'' (2020) * '' Barbie & Kendra Storm Area 51'' (2020) * '' Evil Bong 888: Infinity High'' (2022) * '' Barbie & Kendra Crash Joe Bob’s Drive-in Jamboree!'' (2024) * ''

Barbenheimer Barbenheimer ( ) was a cultural phenomenon which preceded and surrounded the simultaneous theatrical release of two studio tentpole films, Warner Bros. Pictures's ''Barbie (film), Barbie'' and Universal Pictures's ''Oppenheimer (film), Oppenheim ...

'' (TBA)

Bibliography

* ''Confessions of a Puppetmaster: A Hollywood Memoir of Ghouls, Guts, and Gonzo Filmmaking'' (2021, with

Adam Felber Adam Felber is an American political satirist, author, radio personality, actor, humorist, novelist, television writer, and comic book writer. Biography Felber attended Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, and graduated as an English maj ...

)

List of Full Moon films

Charles Band Productions

* '' Last Foxtrot in Burbank'' (1973) * '' Mansion of the Doomed'' (1975) * ''

Cinderella "Cinderella", or "The Little Glass Slipper", is a Folklore, folk tale with thousands of variants that are told throughout the world.Dundes, Alan. Cinderella, a Casebook. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsin Press, 1988. The protagonist is a you ...

'' (1977) * ''

'' (1977) * '' End of the World'' (1977) * ''

Auditions An audition is a sample performance by an actor, singer, musician, dancer or other performer. It typically involves the performer displaying their talent through a previously memorized and rehearsed solo piece or by performing a work or piece giv ...

'' (1978) * ''

Laserblast ''Laserblast'' is a 1978 American independent science fiction film directed by Michael Rae and produced by Charles Band, widely known for producing B movies. Starring Kim Milford, Cheryl Smith and Gianni Russo, featuring Keenan Wynn and Rodd ...

'' (1978) * ''

Fairy Tales A fairy tale (alternative names include fairytale, fairy story, household tale, magic tale, or wonder tale) is a short story that belongs to the Folklore, folklore genre. Such stories typically feature Magic (supernatural), magic, Incantation, e ...

'' (1978) * ''

Tourist Trap A tourist trap is an establishment (or group of establishments) created or re-purposed with the aim of attracting tourists and their money. Tourist traps typically provide overpriced services, entertainment, food, souvenirs, and other product ...

'' (1979) * ''

The Day Time Ended ''The Day Time Ended'' is a 1980 American science fiction film directed by John 'Bud' Cardos and starring Jim Davis, Christopher Mitchum and Dorothy Malone. The film was originally titled ''Earth's Final Fury''; this was changed to ''Vortex'', ...

'' (1980) * '' The Best of Sex and Violence'' (1980) * '' Famous T&A'' (1982) * ''

'' (1982) * '' Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn'' (1983) * '' Filmgore'' (1983)

Empire

*''

'' (1983) *''

'' (1984) *'' Ghost Warrior'' (1984) *''

'' (1984) *''

'' (1985) *''

'' (1985) *''Savage Island'' (1985) *''

Underworld The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld. ...

'' (1985) *'' Walking the Edge'' (1985) *''

Zone Troopers ''Zone Troopers'' is a 1985 American World War II science fiction film directed by Danny Bilson and starring Tim Thomerson. It was filmed in Italy by Empire Pictures with Charles Band as executive producer. The original music score was composed by ...

'' (1985) *''

Breeders A breeder is a person who selectively breeds carefully selected mates, normally of the same breed, to sexually reproduce offspring with specific, consistently replicable qualities and characteristics. This might be as a farmer, agriculturalist, ...

'' (1986) *''

Crawlspace A crawl space or crawlspace is an unoccupied, unfinished, narrow space within a building, between the ground and the first (or ground) floor. The crawl space is so named because there is typically only enough room to crawl rather than stand; any ...

'' (1986) *''Dreamaniac'' (1986) *'' Eliminators'' (1986) *'' From Beyond'' (1986) *''Necropolis'' (1986) *'' Rawhead Rex'' (1986) *''

Robot Holocaust ''Robot Holocaust'' is a 1987 post-apocalyptic science fiction film written and directed by Tim Kincaid, and produced by Charles Band. Plot After society was almost destroyed in a robot rebellion in 2033, the remnants are either slaves to the Dark ...

'' (1986) *''

Troll A troll is a being in Nordic folklore, including Norse mythology. In Old Norse sources, beings described as trolls dwell in isolated areas of rocks, mountains, or caves, live together in small family units, and are rarely helpful to human bei ...

'' (1986) *''

TerrorVision Terrorvision are an English rock band. They were formed in 1987 (as The Spoilt Bratz) in Keighley, West Yorkshire, and initially disbanded in 2001. The band used Bradford as a base after the name change to Terrorvision in 1991, by which time ...

'' (1986) *''Vicious Lips'' (1986) *'' The Caller'' (1987) *''

Creepozoids ''Creepozoids'' is a 1987 American science fiction horror film directed by David DeCoteau, and starring Linnea Quigley, Ken Abraham, Michael Aranda, Richard S. Hawkins and Kim McKamy (also known as Ashlyn Gere). It was the first DeCoteau-direct ...

'' (1987) *''

Dolls A doll is a physical model, model typically of a human or humanoid character, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have also been used in traditional religious rituals throughout the world. Traditional dolls made of materials such as clay and ...

'' (1987) *'' Enemy Territory'' (1987) *''Mutant Hunt'' (1987) *''

The Princess Academy ''The Princess Academy'' is a 1987 independent film comedy directed by Bruce A. Block and written by Sandra Weintraub. It was filmed entirely in Yugoslavia near Zagreb and at Yadran Studios. Plot Cindy Cathcart ( Lar Park-Lincoln) is a studen ...

'' (1987) *''

Prison A prison, also known as a jail, gaol, penitentiary, detention center, correction center, correctional facility, or remand center, is a facility where Prisoner, people are Imprisonment, imprisoned under the authority of the State (polity), state ...

'' (1987) *''

Valet Girls ''Valet Girls'' is a 1987 American comedy film directed by Rafal Zielinski, written by Clark Carlton, and starring Meri Marshall, April Stewart, Mary Kohnert, Jack DeLeon, Jon Sharp, Michael Karm, Steven Lyon, Randy Vasquez, Stuart Fratkin, and Ton ...

'' (1987) *''

Assault of the Killer Bimbos ''Assault of the Killer Bimbos'' is a 1988 American comedy film starring Elizabeth Kaitan, Christina Whitaker, and Tammara Souza. Premise Two go-go dancers, Lulu (Elizabeth Kaitan) and Peaches ( Christina Whitaker), are framed for the murder of ...

'' (1988) *'' Buy & Cell'' (1988) *''

Catacombs Catacombs are man-made underground passages primarily used for religious purposes, particularly for burial. Any chamber used as a burial place is considered a catacomb, although the word is most commonly associated with the Roman Empire. Etym ...

'' (1988) *''

Cellar Dweller ''Cellar Dweller'' is a 1988 American-Italian monster horror film about a comic book artist who unleashes a demon after drawing it. It was directed by John Carl Buechler, written by Don Mancini (credited as Kit Du Bois), and stars Debrah Farentin ...

'' (1988) *''

Ghost Town A ghost town, deserted city, extinct town, or abandoned city is an abandoned settlement, usually one that contains substantial visible remaining buildings and infrastructure such as roads. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economi ...

'' (1988) *''

Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama ''Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama'' (also known as ''The Imp'') is a 1988 American comedy horror film directed by David DeCoteau, loosely based on the classic short story "The Monkey's Paw". Notable for scream queens Linnea Quigley, ...

'' (1988) *''Transformations'' (1988) *''

Arena An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...

'' (1989) *''

Deadly Weapon A deadly weapon, sometimes dangerous weapon (although some jurisdictions differentiate between the two) or lethal weapon, is an item that can inflict mortal or great bodily harm. By statutory definition, certain items, especially firearms, are d ...

'' (1989) *''

Intruder Intruder may refer to: Film and television Film * The Intruder (1914 film), ''The Intruder'' (1914 film), Wallace Reid filmography, directed by Wallace Reid * The Intruder (1933 film), ''The Intruder'' (1933 film), an American film by Albert ...

'' (1989) *''

Robot Jox ''Robot Jox'' is a 1990 American post-apocalyptic mecha science-fiction film directed by Stuart Gordon and starring Gary Graham, Anne-Marie Johnson and Paul Koslo. Co-written by science-fiction author Joe Haldeman, the film's plot follows Achi ...

'' (1989) *'' Spellcaster'' (1991)

Full Moon

Pulp Fantasy

* '' Head of the Family'' (1996) * ''The Killer Eye'' (1998) * '' Killer Eye: Halloween Haunt'' (2011)

Action Xtreme

* ''

Alien Arsenal ''Alien Arsenal'' is a 1999 made-for-television science fiction film directed by David DeCoteau. It is a loose remake of an earlier Charles Band production, ''Laserblast''. It is also known as ''Teenage Alien Avengers''. Premise Ralph (Josh Ham ...

'' (1999) * ''Murdercycle'' (1999)

Filmonsters!

* ''Frankenstein Reborn!'' (1998) * ''The Werewolf Reborn!'' (1998)

Alchemy Entertainment/Big City Pictures

* ''Ragdoll'' (1999) * ''The Horrible Dr. Bones'' (2000) * ''Killjoy'' (2000) * ''The Vault'' (2001) * ''Cryptz'' (2002) * ''Killjoy 2: Deliverance from Evil'' (2002)

References

External links

*
Charles Band's Blog

Killer POV - Career Interview (January 2014) (MP3)
* (Flash) {{DEFAULTSORT:Band, Charles 1951 births Film producers from California Film directors from Los Angeles American horror film directors Horror film producers American science fiction film directors Living people American people of Lithuanian-Jewish descent Jewish American film people Writers from Los Angeles 21st-century American Jews 21st-century American male writers