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.

Advertisement

Return to main Astro Zombies M4: Invaders From Cyberspace page

Ted V. Mikels' Astro Zombies Coming Again To Florida

Blue Heron International Pictures Press Release, Dec. 31, 2010

TVM Global Entertainment, in association with Blue Heron International Pictures, announced today that the new year will see another close collaboration between the two film companies.

"We are starting the year off with ASTRO ZOMBIES M4: INVADERS FROM CYBERSPACE," said associate producer Richard Lester.

"Our award-winning director, Gary Lester, will be working as assistant director on principal photography in Las Vegas in March, alongside legendary director Ted V. Mikels. Gary will also be working as second unit director for all of the scenes to be shot in Florida. We are scouting locations and establishing a talent pool of Florida actors as we speak."

Lester also had high praise for screenwriter/producer/director Ted V. Mikels.

"Many people are unaware that Ted has lectured extensively to film students at such schools as Carnegie-Melon University, Long Beach City College, Los Angeles City College, Columbia University, and UNLV Las Vegas. Many of the teachers at those schools were Ted's students."

Lester notes that, "Ted has launched the movie careers of more than 7,000 people. Many of those people have experienced illustrious careers because of their work in Ted's movies."

Shanti, Bruce Campbell and Ted V. Mikels

Among Ted Mikels' successful alumni are Francine York, who has appeared in major Hollywood studio movies; Lila Zaborin, a New York Shakespearean actress brought to Hollywood by Natalie Wood; and Tura Satana, a Ted V. Mikels starlet as well as a celebrity in her own right.

Perhaps his most sensational discovery was Shanti, a British world-acclaimed entertainer with a universal following. Both Satana and Shanti are expected to have cameo roles in ASTRO ZOMBIES M4: INVADERS FROM CYBERSPACE.

"Ted's popularity just grows and grows," said Lester. "He receives well over a thousand e-mails each week. Ted may be the most knowledgeable of any living director today because he has created more than a million and a half camera setups in 62 years of movie-making."

"Ted's movies are now gaining a new audience and fan base in Japan," said assistant director Gary Lester. "People don't realize that, in order to survive in the movie business for 62 years, you have to make both entertaining and profitable movies. That is exactly what Ted does best."

History proves Lester correct. Back in the 1970's, Ted V. Mikels movies were out-grossing many major studio releases in principal markets including Los Angeles.

"Ted even has a letter from the Commonwealth Theater chain, which had 264 theaters back then," said Richard Lester. "His trilogy with CORPSE GRINDERS as the header brought in more income to the theater chain in one year than any other movie made by the major studios."

"That's absolutely correct," confirmed Ted V. Mikels from his studio headquarters in Las Vegas. "My movies kept theaters and drive-ins alike in business, bringing in patrons who otherwise might not attend their theaters. Often, the movies were re-booked several times in theaters and drive-ins, because the owners and circuits could depend upon excellent grosses to keep their businesses afloat."

Fast Forward to the dawn of 2011.

YAHOO recently stated that Ted V. Mikels' GIRL IN GOLD BOOTS is their 14th biggest seller in the country.

Box Office Magazine rated THE CORPSE GRINDERS as the 14th biggest grossing movie in the country, shortly after its release.

In the book published by McFarland Publishing, FILM ALCHEMY: THE INDEPENDENT CINEMA OF TED V. MIKELS by Christopher Curry, the writer claims Ted V. Mikels' movie, THE BLACK KLANSMAN (re-releasing this year in January via U.S. Films), is a movie that everyone in the world must see. The writer claims it is superior to MISSISSIPPI BURNING.

Aaron Spelling thought enough of Ted V. Mikels' THE DOLL SQUAD to attend the screening at 20th Century Fox, and four years later re-created the movie -- calling it CHARLIE'S ANGELS, and reprising the personable character of Sabrina (the role first created by Francine York) for both television and movie audiences.

"Ted's tenure at places like Columbia Pictures, Samuel Goldwyn Studios, Allied Artists, Producers Studio (Raleigh), General Services Studios, and his own TVM Studios, has given him a deep insight into what movies were more marketable and potentially successful, not to mention highly entertaining," said Richard Lester.

"Now, we are gearing up to bring the world another Ted V. Mikels blockbuster, which I am sure is destined to become another classic in Ted's rather extensive film library. I believe it will be his best one yet!"

For further information, contact TVM Global Entertainment at www.tedvmikels.com.

Advertisement