The Revealed Masters: Kerry O'Quinn
July 08, 2007

Cross-posted to doorQ.com, The Gay SciFi, Fantasy and Horror Site

I've been teasing with promises of revealing who all is involved with the website. I've been able to line up a small squad of advisors, people with experience in and around Hollywood and SciFi to help keep this project on track and to make sure I'm able to realize this dream.

I haven't shown my cards because, well, we're still lining folks up. Many of the names are people I know and respect, behind the scenes types that aren't as familiar and common to the average fan. I've got enough people now who are willing to go on the record that I thought I start sharing them with all of you dedicated readers. This is the first post in that series.

We all need our Gandalfs, Obi-Wans and Master Po's. I've lucked into several of them over the years and landed two for this site, the first one is the legendary Kerry O'Quinn, founder and creator of Starlog Magazine.

Before the internet -- if you can believe such a time existed -- getting information about SciFi, Fantasy or Horror was limited. You might get a stray spread in the movie section of a local paper or hear about a favorite director interviewed on a TV show, but the behind the scenes, nitty-gritty, imagination made real details of the actors, writers, directors, and dedicated creative people involved in the making of movie magic was scant and hard to find.

I discovered Starlog as a we-un, sometime around 11 or 12. As an omen of things to come, I was the doorq who memorized the name of the magazine's publisher and chief editor -- Kerry O'Quinn. Starlog spoke to me, and a legion of like minded travelers, by making the realm of imagination real, doable. Create-able. As a kid, I filed Kerry's name away. I wanted his gig before I even knew what his gig was.

A Texas true-blood, Kerry graduted from the University of Texas and then zipped to New York, where he produced commercials for Grey Advertising. Along side his friend and business partner Norman Jacobs, Kerry launched a magazine publishing company (!) in 1972, feeding the addiction of Imaginiative Minds with imprints like Starlog, Fangoria, Cinemagic, and Future Life.

I think I read every one.

While Starlog & Fangoria are his most well known productions, Kerry has a history as a writer / producer / director of movies and docs as well. "Justice, Inc." (1968), "Voyage to Darkness" (1972), "Starlog's Birthday Fantasy" (1980), "Fright Show" (1985), "Scream Greats" (1986), "Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors" (1986.) He also produced the "Star Trek Live 20th Anniversary Event" and the "Star Wars Live 10th Anniversary Event."

Whaddyathink? Does he know his SciFi or what?

Kerry is hot off receiving the 2007 Saturn Service  Award, from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. The award was presented to him by his good friend Tom DeSanto-- who you might recognize as the producer of a little film called Transformers,currently rolling out and over its competition at the box office.

On a chance, I reached out to Kerry through the email, tracking him down through the wonders of the interweb. I'd read a few years back that Kerry was gay, had stepped back from publishing Starlog, had adopted a son, had ran a bar for several years, and was now, like me in Los Angeles and climbing the screenwriting trail.

Kerry loves the doorQ idea, and has been helping in any way that he can. (Can you say "On A First Name Basis With Anyone in SciFi/Fantasy/Horror?") He's even got some stories of his own that he'd like to write and direct for the site.

I'm truly honored he's on board.

Tomorrow, the boys from Mythgarden...

Posted by Jody at July 8, 2007 11:07 AM

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