The Further
Jamie Lee Curtis Officiates Terminally Ill ‘Halloween’ Superfan’s Wedding an Hour Before He Passed Away
I can’t speak for other genres, but many of us horror fans consider ourselves family. Taste doesn’t matter because we’re unified by our dedication to celebrating the horror lifestyle. This is why it hurts to lose someone in our community, even if we’ve never met them. We lost one of our own.
A heartbreaking story was shared over at Deadline this morning in which a hardcore Halloween fan passed away just an hour after franchise star Jamie Lee Curtis officiated his wedding. Prior to the ceremony, director David Gordon Green set the table by showing an early cut of his Halloween Kills, which won’t be released until next October.
“Anthony Woodle, a super horror fan, married his longtime girlfriend Emilee in a ceremony officiated by ordained minister Curtis. The 29-year-old aspiring director had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2019. But just prior to that, he had been in touch with Rough House Productions, the South Carolina house that is reviving the Halloween franchise,” writes the site, adding that Curtis offered to officiate, and arrangements were made for Sept. 13.
“The day of the ceremony saw Woodle’s health deteriorate dramatically. Curtis was on the phone as Woodle’s family surrounded the bed where he lay unconscious, with Emilee at his side. The ceremony started at 10:30 PM.”
“Anthony and Emilee, all anyone is promised is this moment,” Curtis said. “We live and we love in this moment. May the blessings of God rest upon you, may his peace abide with you, may her spirit illuminate your heart now, in this moment. With the power vested in me by the internet, it is my great pleasure to tell you that you are now married people.”
Woodle died at 11:17 PM.
Before he died, Woodle and Emilee were the first outsiders to watch the upcoming thriller Halloween Kills, adds the site. Director David Gordon Green set up a private screening of the film.
“That was the most I’ve seen him smile — during and after the movie,” Emilee said to Charleston’s Post and Courier media outlet, who added that Anthony and Emilee were together eight years and planned to marry on Oct. 31. They met at a Marilyn Manson concert in 2013.
The horror community sends their thoughts and prayers to Anthony’s surviving friends and family. He was one of us.
The Further
Killer Shorts Horror Writing Competition Open NOW With New Category for Feature Screenplays!
The annual genre competition dedicated to finding and launching the next generation of horror writing talent, this year’s Killer Shorts is now officially open for entries!
Founded in 2019, Killer Shorts has established itself as a premier industry launchpad. The competition connects screenwriters and prose authors directly with the executives, managers, and producers who actively greenlight and option dark genre cinema.
But this year’s competition isn’t only about killer horror shorts…
For this brand new season, Killer Shorts is expanding its categories to include feature-length screenplays alongside its traditional short script, one-page script, and short story divisions.
The Top 10 finalists across all categories are evaluated by an elite industry jury composed of over a dozen horror legends, literary managers, and producers. The panel includes:
- Barbara Crampton (Horror Icon, Actress & Producer — Jakob’s Wife, Suitable Flesh)
- John Zaozirny (Literary Manager & Producer, Bellevue Productions)
- Tananarive Due (Author, Producer & Horror Historian)
- Lucas Ford (Producer, Ford Films — The Backrooms)
- John Squires (Editor-in-Chief, Bloody Disgusting)
- Sophie Carroll (Creative Director, ALTER & DUST at Gunpowder & Sky)
- Gigi Saul Guerrero (Director & Co-Founder, Luchagore Productions)
- Aaron B. Koontz (Producer & CEO, Paper Street Pictures)
Yes, yours truly is joining the Killer Shorts judging panel for the first time ever!
Killer Shorts has a proven track record of transitioning undiscovered writers into working professionals. Alumni success stories include Season 2 finalist Vanessa Võ, who signed with Bellevue Productions, and Season 3 finalist Kelly Nugent, who secured representation at Wonder Street.
Additionally, screenplays submitted for coverage that receive a “Recommend” rating qualify for inclusion on The Scream List. This real-time tracking board is monitored by top-tier genre companies, including Screambox, Raven Banner Entertainment, Zero Gravity Management, and Grey Matter Productions.
Submissions will be accepted across all major platforms, including the official Killer Shorts website, Scrybe, Stage 32, FilmFreeway, and Network ISA.
For full guidelines, prize breakdowns, and submission details, visit the official website!
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