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Laurie Holden answers your questions!

5/14/2018

Silent Hill Paradise fans recently had the opportunity to send in questions for Laurie Holden to answer.

Known for her role as Cybill Bennett in the original Silent Hill movie as well as Angela in The Walking Dead. She has recently finished working on her latest film Pyewacket.

Pyewacket is the story of;

'A frustrated, angst-ridden teenage girl who awakens something in the woods when she naively performs an occult ritual to evoke a witch to kill her mother'

Holden was on board for answering any questions the fans sent her way, find out below if she answered yours and thanks to everyone who submitted a question for her.

Question 1 Ryan Shaffer: "You were also in the film adaptation of Stephen King's ‘The Mist,’ whose source material heavily inspired the original Silent Hill games, and which led you to work with director Frank Darabont again on ‘The Walking Dead.’ What was it like, working on the movie?”

They always say it’s best when you can work with your friends. That was definitely the case on this film. I had worked with many of the crew previously on “The Majestic” and I was already quite friendly with Jeff DeMunn and Alexa Davalos. It was an intense shoot....but a LOT of fun. Frank Darabont is magic in his element.

Question 2 EJ Murray: Is there one type of role that she has not done that she would like to and what makes her really want to explore that role?

I would like to play a CIA operative or a Navy Seal. Why? Because they are BADASS and BRAVE...and I love kicking ass.

Question 3 Fernando DA: Hi Laurie! My question is with regards to your thoughts on the silent hill franchise when you first stepped into your role. Did you realise how big and amazing this franchise was, along with the dedication fans have to it? I'm so happy you were able to be a part of it, and here's hoping in some way you get to come back to it (prequel, tv series, etc)!

I knew going in how incredible the “Silent Hill”franchise was because I was a fan of the video game. I was over the moon to take on the role of Cybil...I loved everything about that character. Oh, and a tv series would be AMAZING.

Question 4 Henrietta Darcy: Which are more scary, Walkers, or Silent Hill Monsters?

Silent Hill Monsters for sure!!!

Question 5 William Prosser: What has been your favourite role so far and why?

My favourite role so far has been The Mother in Pyewacket. You will get it when you see it....it was a very complex and challenging role (or shall I say TWO ROLES!) I loved everything about the dynamics between the characters. It was all just so very authentic and REAL.

Pyewacket is available to purchase or rent from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com now!

Silent Hill Requiem is finished! But what now? An interview with creator Gareth Morgan

12/17/2017

In 2015 the world was introduced to Silent Hill Requiem, a fan film that was being created by the now famous within the Silent Hill community, Gareth Morgan.

Three years later Requiem is finally finished and has been released into the world for new and old fans to see! Paradise interviewed Gareth in 2015 to talk a little about Requiem and now it's here, it only seems right to catch up with Gareth to find out even more about Requiem, what's next from the town of Silent Hill and his overall reaction to it's release.

What is Silent Hill Requiem?

Silent Hill Requiem is a fan made feature length film made possible by a successful crowdfunding campaign back in 2014 which raised the modest sum of $5k. The synopsis is as follow; 'The year is 2015 and Heather Mason, James Sunderland and Henry Townshend find themselves back in Silent Hill to deal with the nightmare once again. Can they survive the fog and monsters long enough to stop the Otherworld's influence from infecting the entire planet? '

In your original interview with Silent Hill Paradise you said that creating a film that fits with the franchise was your biggest challenge. Do you feel like you managed to complete that challenge and what was the hardest part about it?

Short answer, yes I believe I did accomplish that goal with this movie! But don't just take my word for it, this is some of the feedback I received from fans of the film;

"it's like I was watching the game"
"I kept feeling like I needed to get ready to grab my controller as I felt like I was watching a cut scene"
"Requiem is like a lost Silent Hill game, I wish I could play it",
"Omg this is a masterpiece of it's on rite .Better than Hollywood... I am excited for the next one !!!!... I loved this film so much I may watch on repeat !!!! This needs to get on crackle or screambox. Omg I just saw some of Lazarus !!!!! This is so awesome !!!!"
"Jesus Fucking Christ....Your ability to tell a completely fresh narrative while paying homage and reference to the whole series AND Zenithfilms Easter eggs were so well crafted. I'm going to watch this several times just to catch everything. Fucking bravo man. As a fan I love it, as a fellow filmmaker I cry for your eyes and years spent to create that seamless film... You're incredible, my friend"

This aspect of making Requiem fit into the Silent Hill Universe wasn't easy to do, this was, in fact, the hardest part.

Let me try to explain. At the end of the day we all know that art is subjective and how I feel about it isn't how others will and that flows through every aspect of my work. I am a true indie film maker in the sense that it's just me making it, though I have a team of excellent actors performing my script in front of the camera, all pre and post production is down to me. Due to working with limited or sometimes no budget, I use a very specific art style with my work to help raise its production value. This choice always leads to a 'love it' or 'hate it' response, it appears that there is no middle ground to my art style choice, and I'm fine with that.

In designing Requiem I did make a very specific choice to use the cinematography from the original SH games and to find music that invoked that Yamaoka feeling. Those choices are what initially helps ground Requiem within the original franchise for me and for those that have enjoyed the film thus far.

If it's not obvious, Silent Hill 2 was the main influence for Requiem, in regards to its pace, narrative choices, monsters and landmarks used. With Silent Hill 2 there is much more attention to human horror, many of the monsters resemble people twisted and tortured, unlike the other games that focus more on grotesque monsters and denizens from the Otherworld. As much as I would have loved to use some of these monsters, especially ones from SH3, the budget we raised would never have covered the cost of their inclusions, so people are just going to have to forgive me on that one, $5k only goes so far.

Though Requiem starts with a bang or 'hits the ground running' as it were, (which is a personal choice for me with all the stories I tell, its most probably due to my affinity with Anime that more often than not starts in the middle and only concludes the characters story never the world its set in. Also with Requiem I am using characters whose backstories are already well known, this is a film for fans initially, although as the film progresses there is enough information on the characters backstories for those that don't know who they are to catch up) Requiem quickly moves back into the spirit of Silent Hill, with its long moments of movement and tension, leading to build ups for reveals and Asian horror crescendos.

One thing that needs to understood regarding the narrative of Requiem, I had to choose specific endings from SH1 through 4 to establish its narrative cannon. To die hard SH fans those endings will be obvious when watching the film for the first time but just to clarify, to decide on which endings to use, I went with whatever ending I achieved the first time I completed the first 4 SH games. Those being; SH1 Good Ending, SH2 Leave Ending, SH3 Normal Ending, SH4 Eileen's Death.

As Requiem is set in the year 2015 these endings establish the respective timeline for Cheryl, James and Henry. As these are older versions of the characters you know and love, they now have their own scars and traumas taken from their first experiences in Silent Hill, this is what grounds who they are in Requiem's story, including how they interact with each other. To make sure I was never going off script, I worked with a Silent Hill consultant. AJ, also know as thegamingmuse (you may have seen her Silent Hill Symbolism videos on youtube) really helped keep my ideas grounded and helped with my approach to characters speech and the language they used. AJ is an incredibly knowledgeable person with regards to Silent Hill and I am very lucky that she chose to give me what little free time she had in developing the Requiem script. All of these aspects is what allowed me to make a Silent Hill film that is a part of the Silent Hill Universe, rather than a mere adaption of it.

Now it’s finally here for all to see what is the overall reaction to the film?

It has received Critical Acclaim, which is more than I could have ever imagined it would achieve. Reviews have all been positive and fans have been very very passionate towards it, contacting me personally to share how much the film means to them and that I have done the job they were hoping for. Even some of those that have viewed it with disdain and have decided to get into civil conversations with me about it and have changed their opinions towards it and helped with promoting it. As with all art a small percentage of those that have seen it have not enjoyed my efforts, but it's a passionate fandom, a reaction is a reaction none the less.

If you could do it all over again, is there anything you would do differently?

No not really, I stand by everything I did in this movie. Also I tend to look forward, retreading or reworking isn't something that interests me. We have a finite time in this life and I need to use it as best as I can to make as much as I can. End of the day I did my best with this film and that's all I could ever do. Of course I have learnt so much from this experience in all aspects of film and story creation, and these lessons will help with the next project and so on.

What would you say is your favourite scene and why?

Unfortunately to say what it is would be a massive spoiler for those that have not watched the film yet. But what I can say is that's it's my favourite scene because of the actors that are involved with it, they brought it to life in a way that still gives me chills when I watch it now.

Your next project is Silent Hill Lazarus, tell us more about Lazarus and what the fans can expect?

Silent Hill Lazarus is set 16 years after the events of Requiem and follows a British Psychology Student who has come to Silent Hill for more research on her Thesis, but she soon discovers her own personal connection to the town. The basic premise for Lazarus is taken from the cancelled Wii game Silent Hill Cold Heart. Lazarus is designed to be a 12 part show rather than another feature length film, there's a few reasons for this. First I want to be able to get content out at a faster rate, I don't want to have people holding on for another 3 years for the final result. Having it as a show also allows me to use audience feedback to help with future episodes. Secondly I like the show format as it will allow me to explore smaller ideas rather than one longer narrative. There will be a continuing story throughout the show as most shows have, but it will also have 'freak of the week' style episodes that are self contained stories, but will also add to character develop and world building.

How can the fans get involved in helping make Lazarus happen?

There is an Indiegogo crowd funding campaign running at the moment which ends on the 17 of Jan 2018 (though I admit it's timing is pretty poor with it being this time of the year, but Requiem was finished and I just wanted it out the door y'know?) After the Indiegogo Campaign finishes there will be a paypal donations page on my website and I will be start a Patreon account for people to still get involved in Lazarus if they so wish.

Will Lazarus be your final walk into the town of Silent Hill or do you have any future plans to make something else?

I think so. Since Silent Hill Lazarus is designed as an episodic show, I believe that all of the ideas I have for the Silent Hill universe will be realised within it.

Finally what has been the most rewarding aspect of making Requiem over the past 3 years?

Finishing such a large project by myself and then for it to be accepted by a large majority of the Silent Hill fandom .

____

Check out the first 13 minutes of Silent Hill Requiem on Youtube and if you would like to donate to see the full film and help to make Silent Hill Lazarus you can check out the Indiegogo page right here. Also don't forget to like Zenithfilms on Facebook.

Also keep checking back for Paradise's review of Silent Hill Requiem in the very near future!

Win the original Silent Hill soundtrack signed by Akira Yamaoka via REPlay

6/14/2017

Want to win a Silent Hill vinyl? Not just a regular vinyl but one signed by Akira Yamaoka himself?

Sure you do!

The original Silent Hill soundtrack was released by Mondo this year and the awesome guys over at REPlay have got a few to give away!

All you need to do is join their mailing list!
And while you're at it why not like their Facebook page to stay up to date with all things REPlay (such as awesome giveaways like this one)

To enter just head to the bottom of their homepage right here and enter your email address.

Good Luck!

Masahiro Ito Delves into Silent Hill on Twitter

6/11/2017

Masahiro Ito has been sharing details about various elements of Silent Hill via his Twitter account. The creature designer (amongst over roles) has been treating fans to various bits of info for the past couple of months now.

Ito revealed a concept image for a cancelled Silent Hill game in March of this year (2017) and has continued to share even more details with fans. Ito has shared details about Silent Hill many times before with Fans on Twitter but lately has been sharing much more info and images than usual.

Below are just some of the images and bits of info he has shared recently with hopefully much more to come! Thank you Mr Ito for sharing this with us.

A exhaust fan in the elevator to other world in SILENT HILL 3 is homage to “Angel Heart (1987)”. The ones in this movie is so impressive. pic.twitter.com/HiOXIxpXNO
— 伊藤暢達_Masahiro Ito (@adsk4) 27 April 2017

Also this exhaust fan means Heather's reincarnation or the cycle of rebirth by Valtiel. When Heather gets back to other world, it's running. https://t.co/CgzvIJJsEN
— 伊藤暢達_Masahiro Ito (@adsk4) 27 April 2017

This is a one of Softimage 3D rendered test pictures in SILENT HILL 3 making days. I didn't use this concept but one of my favorites. pic.twitter.com/XvFVB0DXSc
— 伊藤暢達_Masahiro Ito (@adsk4) 27 April 2017

Valtiel new concept sketch. pic.twitter.com/bsATs1KyOp
— 伊藤暢達_Masahiro Ito (@adsk4) 28 February 2017

So, this new concept Valtiel was a piece of that plan. However the Pyramid Head in its plan is really different from James's one. (2/2) pic.twitter.com/J50En9b3sj
— 伊藤暢達_Masahiro Ito (@adsk4) 25 May 2017

I drew some sketches & made 3D renderd pictures of inside of its helmet for new Gecco's Pyramid Head. However I haven't heard it recently... https://t.co/44VDuVkync
— 伊藤暢達_Masahiro Ito (@adsk4) 19 May 2017

I didn't design & make Pyramid Head face, but have a image of inside of helmet in those days. It's a binded someone's head with many frames. https://t.co/zC98ODnhSx
— 伊藤暢達_Masahiro Ito (@adsk4) 19 May 2017

Also,
“cage / frames” on creature's body in SH2 is inspired by Isamu Noguchi's “Death (Lynched Figure)”. Please google his great works! pic.twitter.com/9C8k40P7i6
— 伊藤暢達_Masahiro Ito (@adsk4) 21 May 2017

“A mouth on the face” of Closer in SH3 is inspired by the figure in the center drawing of Francis Bacon's “Second Version of Triptych 1944”. pic.twitter.com/1R193mGaeL
— 伊藤暢達_Masahiro Ito (@adsk4) 21 May 2017

Lisa, patient Alessa and Valtiel in Silent Hill - Cage of cradle. pic.twitter.com/mqKbLxKucJ
— 伊藤暢達_Masahiro Ito (@adsk4) 18 May 2017

The design of two objects at Angela's stairway synchronized with Abstract Daddy's one. And their meanings are much the same. pic.twitter.com/3yUpkK8GVF
— 伊藤暢達_Masahiro Ito (@adsk4) 23 May 2017

Edges of Pyramid Head's helmet is inspired by skirt of lower hull of German tank “King Tiger” in WW2. Yes, I'm WW2 German tank enthusiast. pic.twitter.com/XUfFqo9a0p
— 伊藤暢達_Masahiro Ito (@adsk4) 24 May 2017

Bubble head nurse, the face details of in-game model. Do you see a baby's face on her face ? pic.twitter.com/c5awa47vqR
— 伊藤暢達_Masahiro Ito (@adsk4) 3 June 2017

It's a vestige or remains which I tried to make the symbol of a James and Mary's wish. ( However It was not easy to do such a thing.) https://t.co/XwmcCpN7sF
— 伊藤暢達_Masahiro Ito (@adsk4) 3 June 2017

Also the head of Bubble head nurse describes suffocating Mary's swallen head. And she shakes her head like struggling Mary on bed. https://t.co/gqF6cTS2Ju
— 伊藤暢達_Masahiro Ito (@adsk4) 3 June 2017

Silent Hill Play novel ported to PC

6/11/2017

Fans of the original Silent Hill now have the chance to play the Japan exclusive Silent Hill Play Novel.

Originally released in March 2001, the game was available for the Game Boy Advance and was created as an intereactive story. You can choose to follow Cybil or Harry and the player is given various choices to progress through the game and are rewarded with digital trading cards at the end.

Fortunately for Silent Hill fans Giromancy of the Silent Hill Community has ported Harry Mason's story over to PC with Cybil on the way in the near future. The ported game even features alternative endings.

You can download the game to play yourself right here.

Silent Hill Origins 2007 Beta Video

6/11/2017

A video featuring a 2007 beta version of Silent Hill Origins has appeared online via the Youtube Channel PtoPOnline. This particular video shows unfinishing content that would eventually lead to the final version of the game.

Origins was originally being made by Climax LA but was fortunately scrapped (It originally featured Zombies) and production was transferred to Climax UK. With Origins now in the UK teams hands they had to pretty much start from scratch to create a game worthy of the Silent Hill title.
Below is the prototype video in which there are a number of changes and difference within it that would ultimately lead up to the final finished product.

You can also see an additional video below which features the original early work and ideas for Origins when it was still being made by Climax LA.

Silent Hill Soundtrack Vinyl details and release date revealed

4/10/2017

After what feels like forever, the soundtrack to the original Silent Hill is finally being released on Vinyl this Wednesday (April 11th 17) via Mondo.

Once again the artwork comes from Sam Wolfe Connelly who previously designed two limited edition posters for Mondo which were sold in April of last year.

The vinyl is pressed on 2X 180 Gram "Snow Fall" Colored Vinyl (Clear with Heavy White splatter) and features an image of Harry's crashed car on the sleeve.

Priced at $30, the soundtracks goes on sale at 12 noon (Cst time). A black retail variant is also available.

You can check out additional images below and more information right here.
Here's hoping this is the first of many Silent Hill soundtracks.

Masahiro Ito shares unseen Silent Hill game concept art from 2013

3/15/2017

Masahiro Ito has shared an concept image from an unheard of Silent Hill game he was potentially working on in 2013.

The small image Ito uploaded appears to show the beginning of a entrance or long hallway. Unforuntately the image itself is quite small and Ito can't/won't upload a high res image so details are hard to distinguish but Twitter users have asked for more information.

Ito stated that it's a concept image he was working on in 2013 and was not part of P.T as he was not involved in that project. He also states that he cannot describe the image as it "contains metathors of the story".

As great as this is to see additional Silent Hill concept ideas from Ito himself, it's sad to see that if this wasn't a part of Silent Hills that it would appear another game was canned before even having a chance to shine. Fingers crossed Konami are taking huge notes about this and are working on something big already.

You can check out a slightly bigger image of the concept art below.

Source

Gecco "Hopefully" releasing more Silent Hill merchandise this year

2/16/2017

Way back in April 2015 Gecco announced they were working on two more Silent Hill statues but since then very little information has appeared about them.

The most recent update came from Whitney of Silent Hill Historical Society in December. She reached out to Gecco to see if there was any news to share with regards to the statues but unfortunately was told that they're still working on them and will post any news to their Facebook page.

As it was only two months ago that we had an update I decided to contact Gecco myself but instead of asking for an update I was curious to see if Gecco had any plans to release any additional merchandise this year. As Gecco have released a bunch of T Shirts and iPhone cases in the past I wanted to see if we can expect more additional items to come.

Gecco responded to my email to let me know that there was no update on the statues (Which I expected) but they;

"Hopefully will release other items this year, and they are more like accessories".

So expect even more awesome releases possibly this year from Gecco!

P.T Has been datamined and its glorious

12/4/2016

Just when you think the dust has settled on P.T, the teaser for what would have been Silent Hills, a fan has opened up a whole new can of worms and it's glorious!

On the 1st of December (2016) XeNTaX forum user: Luxox18 revealed that they had datamined P.T and revealed files that have never been seen before. As well as being able to make use of the files (which have already been used in MGSV) you can also see full models of Norman Redus, Lisa, the sink fetus and more.

Since discovering that P.T has been decrypted, users have gone crazy picking apart of the teaser to see what they can find.

Check out some of the images below and view more via the XeNTaX forum, Neogaf and Facepunch.

With P.T now being pulled apart, there really isn't much else it can show us. Surely after nearly 2 years it's time to put it to rest and say goodbye?