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Femme Fatales (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Femme Fatales is an American
men's magazine focusing on film and television actresses.
Femme Fatales was founded by Frederick S. Clarke in the summer of 1992, as the sister publication of his science fiction film
magazine Cinefantastique
. Published by Clarke, it was originally edited by pin-up photography collector and expert Bill George. "Cinefantanstique" contributor Dan Cziraky joined the staff as Associate Editor several months prior to its launch. It focused on science-fiction, fantasy, and horror actresses, from B-movies to Academy Award winners, featuring provocative non-nude photography pictorials, alongside extensive career interviews. It was unique in that it encouraged contributions from the actresses themselves, and featured articles penned by scream queens Brinke Stevens
and Debbie Rochon
, amongst others. Interviews with film makers that helped bolster the "scream queen
" market, such as Andy Sidaris
and Fred Olen Ray
, were also featured. It was a publishing success, at one time producing an issue every three weeks. Cziraky left the magazine in 1994 over creative differences with George, and was replaced as Associate Editor by Rochon.
Clarke committed suicide in 2000, and for two years, both magazines were published by his widow, Celeste Casey Clarke. At the end of 2002, Femme Fatales was published bi-monthly, and had an unaudited circulation of 70,000. In 2002, Clarke contacted Mark A. Altman
, the president and chief operating officer of Mindfire Entertainment, a film/TV writer and producer, the former editor-in-chief of Sci-Fi Universe and a regular contributor to both Cinefantastique and Femme Fatales, allowing Mindfire to take over their publication. David E. Williams, a former executive features editor at The Hollywood Reporter, became editor-in-chief of both publications. Both magazines' operations were moved from Chicago
to Culver City.
Williams planned the 2003 revamp of Femme Fatales as a version of the men's magazine Maxim
focusing on actresses in science fiction and horror films. Mindfire later sold "Cinefantastique" to another publisher and discontinued Femme Fatales, which was purchased by Williams in 2010.
The magazine became the basis of the film noir-inspired HBO/Cinemax series Femme Fatales
, 13 episodes of which were originally ordered and began to air on May 13, 2011. On July 15, 2011 it was announced that 13 more episodes of the show have been ordered and will air in early 2012.
Mark A. Altman
is the co-creator and executive producer of the show while Williams is credited as co-executive producer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
men's magazine focusing on film and television actresses.
Femme Fatales was founded by Frederick S. Clarke in the summer of 1992, as the sister publication of his science fiction film
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
magazine Cinefantastique
Cinefantastique
Cinefantastique was a horror, fantasy, and science fiction film magazine originally started as a mimeographed fanzine in 1967, then relaunched as a glossy, offset quarterly in 1970 by publisher/editor Frederick S. Clarke...
. Published by Clarke, it was originally edited by pin-up photography collector and expert Bill George. "Cinefantanstique" contributor Dan Cziraky joined the staff as Associate Editor several months prior to its launch. It focused on science-fiction, fantasy, and horror actresses, from B-movies to Academy Award winners, featuring provocative non-nude photography pictorials, alongside extensive career interviews. It was unique in that it encouraged contributions from the actresses themselves, and featured articles penned by scream queens Brinke Stevens
Brinke Stevens
Brinke Stevens is an American actress, model and writer.-Life and career:Born in San Diego, California, Stevens has studied several foreign languages, including Esperanto, and gained a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology from San Diego State University and a Master of Science in Marine...
and Debbie Rochon
Debbie Rochon
Debbie Rochon is a Canadian B-movie actress and former stage performer, best known for her work in Troma films.-Biography:...
, amongst others. Interviews with film makers that helped bolster the "scream queen
Scream queen
A scream queen is an actress who has become associated with horror films, either through an appearance in a notable entry in the genre as a frequent victim or through constant appearances as the female protagonist...
" market, such as Andy Sidaris
Andy Sidaris
Andrew W. "Andy" Sidaris was an American television and film director, film producer, actor, and screenwriter.-Early life:...
and Fred Olen Ray
Fred Olen Ray
Fred Olen Ray is an American director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and cinematographer.-Biography:He is the producer, director, and screenwriter of low to medium-budget feature films in many genres, including horror, science fiction, action/adventure, softcore sex films and crime dramas...
, were also featured. It was a publishing success, at one time producing an issue every three weeks. Cziraky left the magazine in 1994 over creative differences with George, and was replaced as Associate Editor by Rochon.
Clarke committed suicide in 2000, and for two years, both magazines were published by his widow, Celeste Casey Clarke. At the end of 2002, Femme Fatales was published bi-monthly, and had an unaudited circulation of 70,000. In 2002, Clarke contacted Mark A. Altman
Mark A. Altman
Mark A. Altman is a film producer, screenwriter and actor. In 1998, he won Best New Writer at AFI Fest. His credits include:*DOA: Dead or Alive *The Specials *Free Enterprise...
, the president and chief operating officer of Mindfire Entertainment, a film/TV writer and producer, the former editor-in-chief of Sci-Fi Universe and a regular contributor to both Cinefantastique and Femme Fatales, allowing Mindfire to take over their publication. David E. Williams, a former executive features editor at The Hollywood Reporter, became editor-in-chief of both publications. Both magazines' operations were moved from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to Culver City.
Williams planned the 2003 revamp of Femme Fatales as a version of the men's magazine Maxim
Maxim (magazine)
Maxim is an international men's magazine based in the United Kingdom and known for its pictorials featuring popular actresses, singers, and female models, sometimes pictured dressed, often pictured scantily dressed but not fully nude....
focusing on actresses in science fiction and horror films. Mindfire later sold "Cinefantastique" to another publisher and discontinued Femme Fatales, which was purchased by Williams in 2010.
The magazine became the basis of the film noir-inspired HBO/Cinemax series Femme Fatales
Femme Fatales (TV series)
Femme Fatales is an anthology TV series based on the men's magazine of the same name and produced by Cinemax.-Episodes:-External links:*...
, 13 episodes of which were originally ordered and began to air on May 13, 2011. On July 15, 2011 it was announced that 13 more episodes of the show have been ordered and will air in early 2012.
Mark A. Altman
Mark A. Altman
Mark A. Altman is a film producer, screenwriter and actor. In 1998, he won Best New Writer at AFI Fest. His credits include:*DOA: Dead or Alive *The Specials *Free Enterprise...
is the co-creator and executive producer of the show while Williams is credited as co-executive producer.