The Wild World of Ted V. Mikels

Who is Ted V. Mikels?

American filmmaker Ted V. Mikels holds a unique position as one of the most unconventional directors of exploitation cinema. Famous for his eccentric home life (he once lived with a harem in a castle with secret passageways) and promotional gimmicks (he was known for having nurses and ambulances on hand to assist "scared-to-death" moviegoers), Mikels is now considered a pioneering master of low-budget movie making.

Examples of Mikels' influence can be seen everywhere: from music (punk band The Misfits wrote a tribute song called "The Astro-Zombies"), to Mikels' film The Doll Squad being the template for the television series Charlie's Angels, to inspiring the look of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill.

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Astro-Zombies M3: Cloned

The Doll Squad fights off rare demented monsters bent on destroying the earth.

Theatrical debut: June 19, 2010
DVD release date: September 28, 2010
Genre: horror/comedy
Produced and directed by Ted V. Mikels
Kevin Sean Michaels served as creative consultant and even painted some of the zombie heads from green to flesh color!

Synopsis from press materials

The Doll Squad meets the Astro Zombies!

An ultra-secret government weapons project is headed up by a mad scientist's grand-daughter. Her mission: recreate the demented killing machines known as Astro Zombies. It doesn't take long before the deadly mutant clones escape from Area 51 and all hell breaks loose! Elite teams of Men In Black attempt extreme damage control measures, while government officials, master criminals, and the famed Doll Squad spring into action -- creating a mess of epic proportions!

More information

IMDB listing

On-location photos from Blue Heron International Pictures LLC

Article by scriptwriter Cory Udler

More images

Astro-Zombies M3: Cloned pre-release DVD cover

Videos

Teaser trailer

Location scouting

Here is a short feature assembled from second-unit footage shot in San Francisco and Sacramento locations: Astro Zombies Invade Northern California!

Here is footage of Ted and other speakers at the world premiere event in Las Vegas in 2010.

Where to buy

Now available for pre-order from Oldies.com, shipping September 28, 2010!

Merchandies

Poster available from Ted V. Mikels website (limited time offer).

Press

Astro-Zombies: M3 Cloned DVD Debuts September 28, 2010
press release, September 6, 2010
(Excerpt)

Legendary independent filmmaker Ted V. Mikels is at it again. By the end of September, he will have unleashed his demented Astro Zombies on the world for a third time. Astro Zombies M3: Cloned will be released on DVD nationwide and throughout North America on September 28 by Alpha Video.

In addition to the award-winning film, the DVD contains a number of special features which include trailers, out-takes and behind-the-scenes information, as well as an audio director's commentary.

Read full press release with photos

Mikels To Unleash Astro Zombies By Halloween
Alpha Video Commits To National DVD Distribution
press release, August 2010
(Excerpt)

TVM Global Entertainment announced today that the company has signed a contract with Alpha Video for national home distribution of Astro Zombies M3: Cloned. TVM also inked a deal for Alpha Video to distribute Demon Haunt, the company's latest supernatural film.

"I am absolutely delighted," said Producer/Director Ted V. Mikels from his home in Las Vegas.

Read full press release

JACKSONVILLE ON ALERT FOR ASTRO ZOMBIES
FilmInFlorida.com, June 11, 2010
(Excerpt)

Legendary Hollywood director Ted V. Mikels has done it again. Not content with grinding up corpses and turning them into lethal cat-food, Mikels has now decided to unleash his demented mutant Astro clones on theatre audiences for a third time, and this time they are heading straight for Jacksonville, Florida.

Peter Mosely, manager of the Five Points Theater is actually pleased with this development. "Our theater is honored to have been chosen to host the Florida premiere of Astro Zombies M3: Cloned," said Mosely. "We have always supported independent films, and this one is definitely destined to become a part of classic movie history."

Read full article

Screenings

Enjoy these great photos from the Florida premiere mentioned in the clipping above. Photos and captions courtesy of Gary Lester, Richard Lester, and Blue Heron International Pictures.

Actress Laci Lites (Doll Squad) with Second Unit Director Gary Lester

And here is a great article (with more photos) about the premiere from Ed Tucker.