MovieChat Forums > Squirm (1976) Discussion > I Was Assistant Production Manager

I Was Assistant Production Manager

posted 21 years ago by egeil1
7 replies | jump to latest

Hi, Ed Geil here. Noticed my name associated with film. I was also credited as the "Worm Wrangler".

This was my first job out of college. Now I am an attorney. Great experience. I got paid $60 a week and lodging was at the house featured in the film. As the house was destroyed by the worms, I had to move into different rooms.

Besides all sorts of "go-for" work I also made frequent trips to the aquatic research center outside Savannah GA to pick up our worms. They were blood worms. Salt water worms used for bait in the Northeast. Yes, they did have mouths that shot out with "teeth" on the ends, but they never bit. The other worms were tons of plastic ones. I still have a couple!

Rick Baker was make-up artist. Very famous now. Don Scardeno became a big time Broadway star and producer. William Newman did OK and I think was the Kosher franks guy ("we answer to a higher authority"). The writer/director made another film about LSD crazed yuppies. No one else did much after that film. Definitly a 70"s cheezy classic!

[–] MuzikJunky 21 years ago

Funny, Jeff name-drops you in the director's commentary, particularly in the scene where the worms have eveloped the first floor of the house, and mentions the same things that you did! He says you were one of the people under the worms, pushing on some kind of fabric thing that has worms all over it on top.

Jeff's new film, "Satan's Little Helper," shot on 24p HDTV (yuck), is seeking distribution (and did fantastically well at the Tribeca Film Festival) and exhibits much of the same satirical intelligence that was prevalent in "Squirm," so, you see, he continues to be an independent horror maverick.

I really like "Squirm" because of what it tried to do with so little money and a lot of hard work--it transcends its meager ingredients, as all of Jeff's films do. Jeff, however, was a bit obnoxious at the question-and-answer session that followed after the showing of "Satan." Edgar Lansbury, whom I met on the shuttle on the way back to Broadway from the theaters in Battery Park City, beamed and was very friendly when I mentioned "Squirm."

A nice story, Ed. Peace.

[–] jnsavage3 21 years ago

Thanks for your work Ed. I'm not sure what it is about this movie, but ever since I saw this in the local movie theater back in '77, I have always considered this movie to be quite a cut above the rest of the horror/sci-fi movies from that era. I'll always remember the strong auience responses during the movie. It really made an impact back then. The music, atmosphere, characters/actors, etc., everything just seemed to work so well together.

In 1977, my friend and I paid to see this movie at least 7 or 8 times. To us, it was flawless. Having just purchased and watched the newly released DVD, Squirm still holds up very well, especially for (very) pre-CGI.

I'm very glad to see that Don Scardino is doing well in the entertainment industry these days. I saw his name in the credits when watching the new Cosby show a few years back and wondered if it was the same one from Squirm.

I would love to know what happened to the unknown cast, like R.A. Dow (Roger), and Patricia Percy (Gerri), and Alma. I wonder if they ever come onto this site. If so, I would congradulate them, and all involved in this movie for a job very well done.

Thanks, and I wish you well.

[–] mcintyro 20 years ago

ONE REASON WHY THIS FILM WORKS, AND THAT IT WAS SAD TO SEE AT AS AN ENTRY IN MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 IS BECAUSE YOU ARE DEALING WITH A STRONG CAST WHO CAME FROM A SOLID THEATRICAL BACKGROUND.

Scardino was no stranger to films or theater before this film, having appeared in the film HOMER as well as NUMEROUS theater television credits: NYPD, GHOST AND MRS. MUIR, commercials, and Broadway. The Sheriff, Peter MacLean was in FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE, the soap SOMERSET (1974/75), and numerous stage appearances as well as the mother.

What I would like to know is WHAT HAPPENED TO R.A. DOW? I know he did a lot of New York theatre around the time of Squirm, but wha' happen'?

Also, was R.A. Dow the same guy or does he have a brother who played Julianne Moore's husand in BOOGIE NIGHTS or the rock manager in the Jennifer Jason Leigh film GEORGIA?

WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING WITH THE DOW MAN? Was he a nice guy and professional?

[–] helenawtry 20 years ago

Good job. I have seen this film in Spanish TV several months ago, and I like much.

[–] tenfour 20 years ago

Hey Squirmers! Jeff Lieberman here. Nice to see people still talking about that film from 30 years ago-- my youth at 25.

Sorry if I came off 'abnoxious' at Tribeca, I thought I was on my best behaviour! Anyway, 'Satan's Little Helper' is my return to the genre and Universal will be putting out he DVD around July. There'll be midnight screenings before then too and the foriegn sales are going great. So... check it out 'yall' at Satanslittlehelper.com -- And Squrim On!

best to all JL

[–] rhutto 20 years ago

Hi, I was a local production assistant on Squirm and am the first human seen in the film running through a rainstorm. I'm now an elected member of the Macon City Council (having served in the Carter White House)and own a small book publishing company. Bring a film crew to Macon and we'll make sure you're treated well!

Rick Hutto

[–] 20 years ago

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