Se7en Questions with Horror Blogger and Podcaster
Ryan Michael Coby
Who are some of the artists or some of the works
that inspired you to get started in your field? Of today’s current artists, who do you draw inspiration from?
As a writer, I was always drawn in by the bleak outlook and unimaginable horrors that H.P. Lovecraft created, though I ran through a lot of the big names growing up to check them off my list and familiarize myself with everything I could get my hands on. If I had to choose more contemporary writers who inspire me, I would have to say that China Mieville’s breathtaking prose and Richard Laymon’s blatant disregard for restraint push them to the top of my list.
For films, I adore John Carpenter’s never-ending 80’s love letters and some of the more cult directors, such as Takashi Miike or Nicolas Winding Refn. There’s a definite line that gets blurred between reality’s harsher moments and beauty that seems to be buried somewhere in between them all. Sharp, jaw dropping and fun are qualities I always look for in the medium.
What have thus far been some of the negatives of being an indie artist in your field?
For me, the art of writing and networking is overshadowed by the sheer amount of people who want to be heard. I’ve stepped away from my vision of Neon Bloodbath through multiple iterations because I did not want to become another copy of a copy. I’m still working out the kinks, but I’m much more satisfied with what I’ve built so far. Time is always a creativity killer as well, but I’ve learned to be patient and enjoy the journey more than the destination.
What have thus far been the positives of being an indie artist in your field?
The people who truly believe in what they are doing is why I’m even a part of this. I’ve been a fan of horror, in all of its forms, since I can remember. Gaming, music, film, art. It’s always been a part of who I am. The further along I get and the more I push to give back to the genre I love, the more I meet people who are just as passionate and driven as I want to be every day. And to say that the support system is unique doesn’t begin to give credit to people who are willing to throw themselves out there for the sake of helping others. I’m constantly astounded and humbled.
What have been your favorite completed projects to work on up to this point? Can you tell us a little bit about them?
I started writing for Survival Horror Online (second largest horror gaming site online) and had a blast meeting people and sharing what we did; it was a sad day when the decision was made to let it go. I had an opportunity to connect with Guy Cihi, who was the voice actor for James in Silent Hill 2, and I couldn’t believe how easy and human interaction with some of my personal nerd heroes could be. Otherwise, Neon Bloodbath has been in inception for years and is just now coming to fruition. The idea is to not only offer a place to celebrate the horror genre, but give indie artists a way to share out their vision and voice to more people. I’m excited to see what other avenues I can take and I have the feeling that we’ll be able to turn it into something with an even wider scope in the future.
What projects are you currently working on or have planned for the near future?
Neon Bloodbath will expand to a Youtube channel with regular updates, news and interviews. I would love to continue the podcast idea we had set aside previously, but I am looking at ways to broadcast across platforms. We’ll see what happens next. A friend of mine asked about conventions or film fests and we’ll have to build up some more momentum before that becomes a realistic conversation.
I’ve been a writer for years and will occasionally steer away from the journalistic/online writer side of things to be more creative. I do have a short film script in the works that may or may not see the light of day. Being a father for the first time over the last year has inspired me to revisit some of my horror roots, as, at times, there’s nothing scarier than being in control of a tiny human’s life. I hope to have it written within the month, or shorter, if I can drill down and find the time.
Where do you see yourself in a few years and what would it take for you to consider your career a success?
I’m successful in where I’m at right now, but I would love to not only have steadier ways of communicating with writers/directors/artists, but the page gaining more recognition both online and in person. Three things that I would love to see happen are 1) we have the opportunity to represent Neon Bloodbath at conventions and film fests, 2) I have the means to push my creative work out there, either to interested parties or festivals, and c) I can write at least one feature or article for a major horror publication. If Horrorhound sent me an email today I could die happy. This is what I love.
If you couldn’t do this anymore, what career path do you think you would have followed and why?
This is a trick question for me because I’m actually in education when I’m not writing and interviewing cool people. I’ve been teaching now for over twelve years (I lose track of time) and will continue to do so. It’s taught me how to interact with people and to step back to see life from a different lens when have those brief moments to do so.
