Local film fans and pop-culture enthusiasts -- including director Mike McCarthy and The Commercial Appeal film critic John Beifuss -- have organized a festival honoring one of Memphis' most entertainiing characters. "The Sivads of March" celebrates the role played by Watson Davis as the vampiric host of WHBQ-TV's "Fantastic Features" in the 1960s and early '70s. Davis, the Malco ad executive, played Sivad, "the Monster of Ceremonies," and was host of the "Fantastic Features" horror movie program on WHBQ-TV Channel 13 from 1962 to 1972.

The Commercial Appeal has more information here.

Towers Productions’ “Behind Bars” airs on the Discovery Channel tonight at 8 and 11 p.m.

The production shot for 18 days at the Shelby County Correctional facility.

Anthony Alexander, Administrator of Operations for the County Corrections department said the crew was at the facility interviewing officers, staff and inmates.

Producers give this description of the program: At Shelby County Division of Correction, seven men spearhead the battle to keep gangs and contraband at bay. Known as the Gang Intelligence Unit, an elite squad of officers, keeps close watch on some of the most dangerous criminals in Memphis.  GIU faces a constant challenge from brazen inmates who are willing to do almost anything for illegal contraband and to protect gang alliances.

The hourlong show, according to Discovery's site, "explores the uncompromising reality of prison life. Through unrestricted access to the cell blocks of some of the highest level security prisons, each hour-long episode captures a world where every day constitutes a fight for survival."

In other words, as Alexander said, "they were looking for the nitty gritty."

The Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission worked with client Towers Productions on the making of this episode.

Fraternity Massacre at Hell Island -- in which Mud Island plays a key role -- is coming to video.

The locally made film — a client of the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission — will be released on DVD April 20.

Here's the trailer for the 2007 film written and directed by Mark Jones.

Click here for the film's Website.

The film project known as "Fandango" has been renamed "A Fine Step" and will soon be wrapping up local shooting. Read John Beifuss' story in The Commercial Appeal here for details on the project, which hired about 150 crew members, some half of them local. Memphis actors Amy LaVere and Anna Claire Sneed are in the cast that includes Luke Perry and Armand Assante.

Producer Bret Saxon is cited in the story as saying that his Insomnia Media Group plans to shoot three additional low-budget films here this year: "The Master's Tree," inspired by Mississippi's Palmer Home for Children, directed by David Mickey Evans ("The Sandlot"); the hitman suspense film "The Last Story of David Allan," from Memphis filmmaker Justin Gullett, who is handling second unit work on "A Fine Step"; and "90 Minutes in Heaven," inspired by the Christian best seller.