Very First Newsletter!

Welcome to the Piece Of Advice Newsletter!

This newsletter will explore amazing people and their one piece of advice that helped them achieve their dreams!

First of all, thank you so much for joining me for the very first newsletter of "POA"!

I've always loved learning about extraordinary people of history, art, business and all kinds of extraordinary achievements!

Each week, we will explore a person of incredible achievement and I'll end the article with their best piece of advice they've ever received! How would I be able to get that information you ask? By asking them of course! Whether it be by phone, email, or mail by post, l've asked every single one of those folks

"What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?" Some answers are short, some even being one worded, but others are paragraphs long!

It's truly fun, inspiring, and I'm confident you will find value in these newsletters!

Without further ado, here is our article for the week; starting off strong looking into the story of Sean S. Cunningham; the director of the original “Friday The 13th” that just celebrated it’s 45th anniversary this past Friday!

Camp Crystal Lake Confidential: How Sean S. Cunningham Turned a Poster into a Slasher Legend

Before Jason donned his iconic hockey mask, before the summer screams echoed through theaters, and before a machete became horror’s most notorious accessory; there was a visionary named Sean S. Cunningham armed with a dream, a poster, and, astonishingly, no script.

Yes, you read that correctly.

In early 1979, Cunningham boldly placed an advertisement in Variety magazine proclaiming “the most terrifying film ever made,” accompanied by a chilling cracked title logo for “Friday the 13th”. At that point, the film’s script was still in development . This audacious move generated significant buzz and interest, even before the film had taken shape.

Cunningham, who had previously collaborated with Wes Craven on “The Last House on the Left”, saw an opportunity to capitalize on the success of John Carpenter’s “Halloween”. He wasn’t aiming to revolutionize the horror genre; he sought to create a hit. And he succeeded spectacularly. The original “Friday the 13th” was produced on a modest budget of approximately $550,000 and went on to gross nearly $60 million worldwide .

Interestingly, Jason Voorhees wasn’t the killer in the inaugural film. That chilling role belonged to his mother, Pamela Voorhees, portrayed by Betsy Palmer. The plot unfolds as a suspenseful “whodunit,” with camp counselors being eliminated one by one, culminating in the shocking revelation of the killer’s identity .

The film’s eerie soundscape, particularly the iconic “ki ki ki, ma ma ma” whisper, was crafted by composer Harry Manfredini. Drawing inspiration from the line “Kill her, mommy!” Manfredini distilled it into “ki” from “kill” and “ma” from “mommy,” recording the sounds and processing them through an echo reverberation machine to create the haunting effect .

While Cunningham didn’t direct the subsequent sequels, his influence remained integral to the franchise. He returned as a producer for later installments, including “Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday” and “Jason X”, ensuring that his creative vision continued to shape the series.

So, the next time you find yourself near a secluded lake or hear an unexplained whisper in the woods, remember Sean S. Cunningham; the man who transformed a simple advertisement into a cultural phenomenon that continues to captivate and terrify audiences decades later!

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Sean S. Cunningham: Work hard, do good, and listen with your heart.

Thank you so much again for joining me for the very first newsletter! Please consider subscribing to it to receive it every Monday! I have a really cool one for next week! Have an amazing week!