Ted V. Mikels
Ted V. Mikels (born Theodore Mikacevich on 29 April 1929) is an American filmmaker of independent cult films. Mikels was also known for his home life, as he once lived with a harem in a Glendale, California castle that contained secret passageways.
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[edit] Career
During his grade school years, he was an amateur photographer who developed his own film in his bathtub. While in eighth grade, he was awarded his first acting role in a film that was to star William Powell, but World War II forced the cancellation of the production. By the age of fifteen, he was a regular stage performer, and developed an interest in filmmaking when he attempted to film his performances. "I figured out that you have to move the camera around to get different angles, and then you have to edit the film when you're done."
In the 1950s, Mikels moved to Bend, Oregon, joined the Bend Community Players little theater group, and founded his own film production company.[1] Soon, he began producing both educational documentaries,[2] and short dramatic features.[3] Additionally, as horseman, archery expert, Indian, and stuntman he contributed to the production of several Hollywood films made in Central Oregon. Notably, during on location filming of The Indian Fighter, he taught studio special effects crews a technique for making flaming arrows appear authentic. Before leaving Bend in the early 1960s, Mikels wrote and directed his first feature length film, "Strike Me Deadly".[4]
Since 1993, Mikels has run TVM Studios, a film and video production studio based in Las Vegas, Nevada. On August 28, 2005, he was presented with a Certificate of Recognition by Nevada Lieutenant Governor Lorraine T. Hunt on the day of screening of his then-latest film, Heart of a Boy, which was the only G-rated film of his career. The certificate was awarded to Mikels for his contributions to the filmmaking industry.[5]
In 2009, a book called Film Alchemy: The Independent Cinema of Ted V. Mikels, written by Christopher Wayne Curry, was published by McFarland & Company.
In 2010, Alpha Video released The Wild World of Ted V. Mikels which is a documentary about the film-making career of Mikels directed by Kevin Sean Michaels and narrated by John Waters.
[edit] DVD releases
In 2007, Alpha Video released ten of Mikels' films on DVD under the Alpha New Cinema imprint. Six of these titles included 10 Violent Women, The Doll Squad, The Corpse Grinders, The Corpse Grinders II, Girl in Gold Boots and Blood Orgy of the She-Devils, all of which Alpha later released as a six-DVD set titled Ted V. Mikels Signature Collection, which was autographed by Mikels.
[edit] Selected filmography
- The Wild World of Ted V. Mikels - documentary (2008)
- Demon Haunt (2008)
- Heart of a Boy (2005)
- Mark of the Astro-Zombies (2002)
- 10 Violent Women (1979)
- The Doll Squad (1974)
- The Corpse Grinders (1972)
- Blood Orgy of the She Devils (1972)
- The Astro-Zombies (1969)
- Girl in Gold Boots (1969)
[edit] References
- ^ Betty L. Oakley, "The Torch Bearers of Bend Oregon, 1912-1978", Maverick Publications, Bend, Oregon, 1993, p. 49.
- ^ [1], "school system previews Mikels film on rocks", Bend Bulletin, Bend Oregon,March 22, 1961, p. 1.
- ^ Yellow Roses,"Ted Mikels Keeps Big Cast Busy in TV Film Enterprise", Bend Bulletin, Bend Oregon, February 16, 1957, p. 1.
- ^ [2], "Ted Mikels off to Hollywood to sell feature- length film", Bend Bulletin, Bend Oregon, October 11, 1961, p. 9.
- ^ Heart of a Boy - tedvmikels.com, August 2005. Retrieved on 11/15/08.
