Draft:Charles Schneider

Charles Schneider was born 19 February 1960 in Highland Park, Illinois to Joseph and Florette (Sackheim) Schneider. His father was a renowned circuit court judge in Chicago and his mother was an accomplished ceramacist.^[1] Schneider was educated at Francis W. Parker School in Chicago and attended Wesleyan University and Pratt Institute (where he received a B.A. in filmmaking in 1983). It was at Pratt Institute where Schneider met cartoonists Daniel Clowes and Rick Altergott, establishing lifelong friendships, resulting in Schneider's participation in Clowes' films Ghost World and Art School Confidential, both as actor and as visual artist.

An internship at MGM was the motivation for Schneider's move to California in the mid 1980s. He soon began working for Propaganda Films, honing his craft writing music video concepts for directors such as David Fincher, Michael Bay and Alex Proyas. During this same time, from the 1980s-1990s, he was very active in L.A.'s underground theater and performance art scene, writing and directing many original plays and outrageous spectacles. His works drew inspiration from and helped revived the French tradition of Grand Guignol horror theater of the early 20th century, horrifying many a jaded audience and leading to Schneider acquiring a devoted cult following. Grotesque and shocking special make-up effects were often created by his frequent collaborator Screaming Mad George, surreal Japanese make-up artist, whom Schneider met in New York City during the 1980s at the height of the punk rock era. (Schneider's early notorious gore film It Took Guts played midnight shows at CBGB alongside performances by Screaming Mad George's band The MAD). In addition to filmmaking, painting, drawing, writing, and performing, Schneider explored his love of outsider music by producing CDs for both the talented underground folk musicians Bob Moss and Charlie Cox.

Schneider has also worked in the animation industry, writing both story and script for many Tom & Jerry Tales cartoons, and others. One of the these Tom & Jerry Tales cartoons, Abracadumb, combines his passion for both magic and animation and was praised by magician David Copperfield for the accurate depictions of magical illusions. Other cartoons penned by Schneider include The New Woody Woodpecker Show and Poochini's Yard.

Schneider relocated to Northern California in 2008 where he focused on developing several feature-length horror and fantasy films. This period also resulted in the creation of books of macabre strories and art published in limited editions by European specialty presses Ex Occidente Press, Zagava, and Egaeus Press.

Schneider's literary productions embrace his love of the weird, the arcane and the gothic, and include fiction, poetry, art, comics, and nonfiction.

As sole author (fiction and poetry)

• Again, the Granite (chapbook), published by Zagava, 2023^[2]
• Ruination in Bloom, published by Ex Occidente Press, 2015
• The Mauve Embellishments, published by Ex Occidente Press, 2011^[3][4]
• Woodstock, published by Marvel Comics, 1992

As contributing author (short stories and poetry)

• The Book of Flowering, published by Egaeus Press, 2019^[5]
• The Book of the Sea, published by Egaeus Press, 2018^[6]
• Wound of Wounds, an Ovation to Emil Cioran, published by Mount Abraxas, 2017^[7]
• And The Whore Is This Temple, published by Mount Abraxas, 2016^[8]
• Soliloquy for Pan, published by Egaeus Press, 2015^[9]
• Transfiguration of Mister Punch, published by Egaeus Press, 2013^[10]
• Deepest, Darkest Eden: New Tales of Hyperborea, published by Miskatonic River Press, 2013

As editor and essayist

• Burlesque Paraphernalia, published by Fantagraphics, 2010
• CAD: A Handbook for Heels, published by Feral House, 1992
• Maggot-Zine #1 (including early works by Schneider and artists Daniel Clowes, Rick Altergott, Screaming Mad George, Grass Green, Peter Kuper & S. Clay Wilson), self-published, 1981

  

As illustrator

• The Imperishable Sacraments by Damian Murphy, published by L'Homme Recent, 2015
• An Ossuary for M.P. Shiel^[11] by Harold Billings, published by L'Homme Recent, 2015
• Babyfat #16 (mini comic) published by Comix World, 1980

As co-translator

• Panorama of Hell by Hideshi Hino (with Screaming Mad George), published by Blast Books, 1984[1]

Schneider's film and video work reflects a lifelong fascination with the macabre and fantastical. Schneider has worked in diverse roles in film and television for over 50 years, as director, actor, writer, special effects artist, and puppeteer.

Schneider started out writing concepts for music videos for the renowned film director David Fincher. He has directed music videos for Charming Disaster, Mariee Siou, The Centimeters, and many others.

As director

Feature films

• Midwestern Myth (featuring Neil Giuntoli), 1982

Short films

• Animals Eat the Sky, 2019^[12]
• The Thrilling Adventures of Nellie Dare, (with Meredith Axelrod) 2017
• Gringo Like Me, 2015
• Ice Age Garden #1, 2008
• Dying Birds, 2007
• Monkey Washing Kitty Cat (Bob Moss documentary), 2007

Music videos

• Sympathetic Magic for Charming Disaster^[13][14]
• Snake Bit for Charming Disaster
• Baba Yaga (2019 NPR Tiny Desk Concert entry) for Charming Disaster
• Swimming Through Stone for Mariee Sioux
• Help Is On The Way for The Centimeters
• Ballerina Out of Control for The Ocean Blue
• Scarred for Life for Motorpsycho
• Truth for Motorpsycho
• Ghosts for Kerri Anderson
• Drink Ticket for Mount Whateverest

As second unit director

• Night of the Dead: Leben Tod, 2006
• Alien Abduction, 2005
• Shapeshifter, 2005

As writer

• Tom & Jerry Tales cartoons, 2006-2007

• Poochini's Yard cartoons, 2002-2003

• The New Woody Woodpecker Show cartoons, Season 1, Episode 8, Pinheads, 1999
• Boy in the Box^[15], 2004
• Disney Sing-Along Songs: Happy Haunting Party at Disneyland^[16] , 1998
• Midwestern Myth, 1982

Schneider also co-wrote many music videos for David Fincher, Michael Bay, Greg Gold, Alex Proyas and others for Propaganda Films.

As actor

• Phantoms of the Holbrooke, George Perkins, 2018

• Saint Bernard, Angry Motorist, 2013

• Zodiac, Cabbie / Paul Stine, 2007

• Viva, Party Wit / Waiter / The God Pan, 2007

• The Devil's Muse, The Mesmerist, 2007

• Night of the Dead: Leben Tod, Autopsy Ghoul, 2006

• Shapeshifter, The Father, 2005

• Dead Men Walking, Reverend, 2005

• Alien Abduction, Science Officer Arks, 2005

• Blood Dancers, Hovik, 2004

• Ghost World, Joey McCobb, 2001

• Ascension, Mover #2, 2000

• Zarkorr! The Invader, Arthur, 1996
• Hideous Puppets, Henry Nettles, 1995

• Tombstone, Professor Gilman, 1993
• Howie Meets the Ghost of Environmental Disasters Yet to Come, CBS Earth Day Special, (with Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves), 1991
• The Idiot Box, Episode 1.1, Goodfella (with Alex Winter)

• Bride of Re-Animator, Crypt Creature, 1989

• Beetlejuice, Hanging Man^[17], 1988

• Crime Story,"Pursuit of a Wanted Felon" (Season 1, episode 8), Valet, 1986
• Meals on Wheels, (with Alex Winter) 1984

• It Took Guts, The Eater^[18], 1979

Schneider also had cameo appearances in several classic music videos, including Paula Abdul's Cold Hearted Snake (directed by David Fincher), the Ramones Substitute (directed by Tom Rainone), and Billy Idol's L.A. Woman (also directed by David Fincher).

As himself

• Quit Yer Belly-Achin with Charles Schneider, 2019
• Struggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szulkalski, 2018
• Treasures of Long Gone John, 2018
• Clark Ashton Smith: The Emperor of Dreams, 2018
• Welcome, Sinners! The Velvet Hammer Story (documentary about The Velvet Hammer Burlesque featuring Rube Ruben, Schneider's vaudevillian comedian alter-ego character), 2001

As puppeteer

• Who Framed Roger Rabbit, various creatures, 1988
• Big Trouble in Little China, Flying Eye-Spy, 1986
• Poltergeist II, various creatures, 1986

Schneider continued to hone his directorial skills by particpating in the Los Angeles underground theatre scene, from the 1980s onwards. His theatre troupe found an unlikely but perfect home at Milt Larsen's Variety Arts Center in downtown Los Angeles. Larsen, he of Magic Castle royalty, loved Schneider's perverse and special effects-laden theatre pieces, and invited him to run several major plays there. An article profiling Schneider and his theatre work (Fringe Festival: The Horror of One Man's Ways) appeared in the Los Angeles Times on 12 May 1987^[19]. Schneider's work in Grand Guignol theater is also featured in the book Grand Guignol: Theater of Fear and Terror (1988) by Mel Gordon. An inteview with Schneider about his Grand Guignol theatre work, titled The Methods of Charles Schneider, appeared in Headzine 2.6 in 2018. ^[20]

As writer and director

• The Keaner Eye
• The Universe is Permeated with the Odor of Peanuts
• Punch and Judy
• The Methods of Colin Spikes
• Scream, Clown, Scream!^[21]

As performer

• The Keaner Eye (as The Professor)
• The Universe is Permeated with the Odor of Peanuts (as Woody Schulz)
• Punch and Judy (as The Junkie)
• Peter Pandemonium (as Michael)
• Shut Up, Little Man!

As producer

• Bob Moss: Folknik Folknik II, and Folknik III (unreleased), Soundco Records, Salt Lake City
• Charlie Cox: Songs from the Tar Pits, Tarstruck Records, Los Angeles, 2005

As performer

• Rube Ruben (45 rpm record), Sympathy for the Record Industry, 1991

Schneider is also an accomplished and prolific painter and illustrator. He was chose to paint the "death portraits" in the feature film Art School Confidential. His work is held in many private collections and has appeared in numerous publications such as Taboo:The Art of Tiki published by Outre Gallery Press, 1999 and Outre Journal. Career highlights include Schneider's one-man show exhibition "Media Mutilations" at Los Angeles' 01 Gallery. His unique art diorama The Meerschaum Pipe , featuring his shadowbox artwork created for and inspired by the story by L.A. Lewis, was produced by German publisher Zagava in a limited edition. Schneider's second L.A. Lewis-inspired limited edition diorama is forthcoming from Zagava in 2025.

The art of magic, with a focus on storytelling and close-up sleight of hand, has played a major role in Schneider's theatrical life. He perfoms often and is constantly creating original magic effercts. He is a frequent online performer and is a longtime member of Society of American Magicians and International Brotherhood of Magicians. Schneider is also a member of award-winning magician Jeff McBride's Magic & Mystery School.

Schneider wrote, produced, and starred in the variety show The Great Merlini's Midnight Spook Show. This production accurately recreated the great spook shows of the burlesque era. Several shows were held in Los Angeles at the Velaslawasay Panorama and subsequently in Grass Valley, California. In many ways, these spook show recreations served as a vehicle in which Schneider combined his love of magic, the macabre, special effects, burlesque, and showmanship.

An avid gardener, pickle maker and collector of decadent and mysterious objets d'art, Schneider lives in Oregon with his girlfriend, cats, and a library of 13,000 books.

Official website

Charles Schneider on IMDB

Charles Schneider Film YouTube channel