The Once and Future Smash
A horror mockumentary exploring the legacy of a supposed cult slasher and the two men who played its masked killer.
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End Zone 2
A deliberately faux-lost slasher that connects to the world of The Once and Future Smash.
Final Transmissions: You Were Never Alone
An analog found-footage horror story, made with Sophia Cacciola for the Final Transmissions anthology.
Clickbait
Social-media satire and horror from the Launch Over filmmaking team.
Blood of the Tribades
A visually stylized vampire feature inspired by 1970s European genre cinema.
Magnetic
An experimental science-fiction feature built around a strange and unstable reality.
TEN
An ensemble mystery-thriller in which ten women find themselves caught in a deadly puzzle.
The Transformations of the Transformations of the Drs. Jenkins
A collaborative experimental feature made through inventive filmmaking processes.
The Ringing
Body-horror short by Brandon Scullion, featuring Michael as a man driven to extremes by a mysterious ringing.
Hacking at Leaves
Documentary by Johannes Grenzfurthner exploring history, technology, and the politics of making art.
Bart & Bobbi Kill Each Other
Short-film collaboration listed in the Launch Over filmography.
STILL
A short film in the Launch Over filmography.
Bloodhound
A short-form genre filmmaking project.
Reel Trouble
Two friends uncover a lost animated film from the 1920s.
Sitting Duck
Horror-comedy short directed by Aaron Barrocas.
Darling Pet Monkey
A film based on the true story of a mail-order monkey.
Shiny Diamonds
A short directed by Seth Chatfield and Toni Nagy.
Half-Cocked
A short film also included in the Mother Goose’s Scary Tales anthology.
Umbilicus Desidero
Short-form filmmaking project.
Dial Tone of Doom
Short-form filmmaking project.
Mother Goose’s Scary Tales
Anthology featuring two shorts from the Launch Over filmography.
I Am An Addict: Pyromania
An anthology segment listed in the Launch Over filmography.
A Taste of Phobia: Somniphobia
An anthology segment listed in the Launch Over filmography.
2 Die For: With Whip
An anthology segment listed in the Launch Over filmography.
Conspiracy X: Operation: Fist of God
An anthology segment listed in the Launch Over filmography.
60 Seconds to Die 2: Poisoned
Short horror anthology segment.
60 Seconds to Die: Doppelganger
Short horror anthology segment.
The Motion Sick
Indie rock, touring, and recordings that helped launch Michael's music career.
Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
A music project with Sophia Cacciola inspired by the television series The Prisoner.
The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library
Collaborative baroque-pop songs, recordings, and performances.
Darling Pet Munkee
Songs inspired by the unusual products once advertised in old comic books.
Neutral Uke Hotel
An acoustic interpretation of Neutral Milk Hotel's music.
Space Balloons
Oddball songs about aliens, mustaches, and the absurd.
Night Kisses
Original music and soundtracks for moving-image projects.
Binary Test Record
A further corner of Michael's recording catalog.
M-sli©k da ninjA
One of Michael's experimental musical aliases.
Spotify music sampler
A selection of recordings from Michael's various musical projects.
Blood Relative
An adopted woman discovers an identical twin—and a dangerous vampire family she never knew existed.
Dance All Night, Die All Night
A sheltered student learns that a hit pop song may be conditioning listeners into obedience.
The Bat
A true-crime writer is drawn into a murder mystery inside a serial killer's desert house.
Tell Them
A supposedly fraudulent haunting refuses to end after every practical trick has been exposed.
The Mice Will Play
Two contract workers stumble through a dangerous and absurd night of assignments in 1990s Los Angeles.
May Their Memory Be a Blessing
A family's period of mourning becomes a contained mystery of memory and loss.
Ghost Cars
An impound-yard death, phantom mileage, and surveillance footage lead into a tangled procedural mystery.
Three Will Leave Alive
A rock band hears a broadcast from tomorrow predicting that only three members will survive.
The Unnaturals
Interconnected lives collide in a surveillance state built on compulsory confession and punishment.
Chimera
Twin survivors in alternate worlds use lucid dreaming to reach one another—with catastrophic consequences.
Bristle
Brushing his teeth opens an impossible slit in the bathroom wall; refusing has consequences of its own.
End Zone 2: The Official Novelization (opens in a new tab)
Written by Michael J. Epstein · The official novelization of the retro slasher End Zone 2, with an explosive new ending. Presented as a rediscovered genre artifact from the fictional world of the films.
Crowdfunding Basics in 30 Minutes (opens in a new tab)
Michael J. Epstein · A practical guide to planning and running crowdfunding campaigns for artistic and entrepreneurial projects.
Bigfoot Does Not Exist! (opens in a new tab)
Michael J. Epstein and Elana Reiser · An accessible introduction to statistics, logic, scientific reasoning, and the evidence behind claims.
How to Talk to People with Hearing Loss (opens in a new tab)
Mary Florentine, Julia B. Florentine, and Michael J. Epstein · A practical guide to more effective communication with people experiencing hearing loss.
All links on Linktree (opens in a new tab)
The complete Linktree profile
Watch Smash / End Zone 2 (opens in a new tab)
Streaming, discs, and related links
Launch Over filmography (opens in a new tab)
Feature and short film projects
IMDb (opens in a new tab)
Film and acting credits
Letterboxd (opens in a new tab)
Film diary and profile
YouTube (opens in a new tab)
Videos and music channel
Spotify sampler (opens in a new tab)
Music from different bands and projects
Writing and books (Amazon) (opens in a new tab)
Author profile
Google Scholar (opens in a new tab)
Research publications and citations
AMP Laboratory (opens in a new tab)
Research work
Shared blog (opens in a new tab)
Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein
Mailing list (opens in a new tab)
Launch Over updates
Bluesky (opens in a new tab)
@michaeljepstein.com
Facebook (opens in a new tab)
Michael J. Epstein
Launch Over shop (opens in a new tab)
Films and merchandise
Filmmaking Fool (opens in a new tab)
Articles on film production
Writing portfolio archive (opens in a new tab)
Existing essays, nonfiction, journalism, and bibliography
Legacy acting materials (opens in a new tab)
Reel and acting work
Instagram (opens in a new tab)
Official Instagram
Threads (opens in a new tab)
Official Threads
TikTok (opens in a new tab)
Official TikTok
LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)
Professional profile
Michael J. Epstein stars in horror short The Ringing (opens in a new tab)
2026-08-06
Sophia Cacciola’s The Prisoner essay is published in Half a Dozen of the Other – It Means What It Says: Volume Three (opens in a new tab)
2026-08-06
Michael faces tough horror ??? on Captain Bumout’s Gate to Hell (opens in a new tab)
2026-06-02
Sophia and Michael interviewed on Discover the Terror (opens in a new tab)
2026-01-12
Sophia and Michael filmed interview with Christopher Young Vestron’s Hider in the House Blu-Ray (opens in a new tab)
2025-09-18
Sophia and Michael appear in Johannes Grenzfurthner’s documentary Hacking at Leaves (opens in a new tab)
2025-09-03
Sophia and Michael direct an episode of the analog, found-footage anthology series, Final Transmissions – World Premiere GenreBlast (opens in a new tab)
2025-08-06
Sophia and Michael filmed interview with Joel Mick for Igniting The Spark, The Story of Magic: The Gathering (opens in a new tab)
2025-08-05
Sophia and Michael filmed interview with Sandy King Carpenter for the Arrow Video In the Mouth of Madness Limited Edition 4K UHD Blu-Ray (opens in a new tab)
2025-07-31
End Zone 2: The Official Novelization (opens in a new tab)
2025-07-31
Sophia is the cinematographer (and Michael assists) on Gregory Blair’s The Mystery of Emma Thorn – Trailer out now! (opens in a new tab)
2025-07-30
Watch Launch Over produced “Half-Cocked” and “Sitting Duck” in Mother Goose’s Scary Tales Episode 1 on Tubi (opens in a new tab)
2025-06-11
Sophia and Michael filmed interviews with Ernest Dickerson and Gary Frank for the Arrow Video Enemy Territory Blu-Ray (opens in a new tab)
2025-05-30
Sophia and Michael filmed interviews with Brett Wagner, Steve Jablonsky, and Lukas Ettlin for the Arrow Video Texas Chainsaw Massacre and TCM: The Beginning 4K (opens in a new tab)
2025-05-30
Michael is on They Mostly Pod Out at Night…Mostly (opens in a new tab)
2025-05-29
Sophia and Michael filmed interview for Howard the Doc, a documentary about Howard the Duck (opens in a new tab)
2025-05-16
Sophia and Michael talk political horror on Another Goddamn Horror Podcast! (opens in a new tab)
2025-05-08
Sophia and Michael work on James Balsamo’s Bite School 2 (opens in a new tab)
2025-04-16
Sophia and Michael filmed Dariusz Wolski interview for Dark City 4K/blu-ray (opens in a new tab)
2025-03-28
Sophia and Michael filmed Lewis Teague interview for Fighting Back blu-ray (opens in a new tab)
2025-02-06
Michael will be a guest on Pop Culture Kaboom on Sunday 2/9/2025 (opens in a new tab)
2025-02-06
Sophia and Michael filmed Eric Allard interview for F/X 2 blu-ray (opens in a new tab)
2025-02-06
Sophia, Michael, Bill talk Smash on Whole Damn Enchilada Podcast (opens in a new tab)
2025-01-17
Exploring the Paranormal: My Guest Spot on Into The Parabnormal (opens in a new tab)
2024-10-30
Darling Pet Munkee! (opens in a new tab)
2024-10-30
Join Our Mailing Lists! (opens in a new tab)
2024-10-16
Sophia and Michael filmed interviews and recorded commentary track with cast and crew for The Taking of Deborah Logan 10th Anniversary Blu-Ray Release (opens in a new tab)
2024-10-09
Sophia is cinematographer on Izzy Lee’s House of Ashes premiering at Brooklyn Horror (opens in a new tab)
2024-09-17
Michael interviewed in Bigfoot Isn’t Real documentary (opens in a new tab)
2024-08-26
Severin Super Shock Pop-Up Fest Podcast Without Your Head (opens in a new tab)
2024-08-25
Michael Co-Writes J. Horton’s A Hard Place (trailer out now!) (opens in a new tab)
2024-07-29
Sophia and Michael murdered by the Psycho Ape in Psycho Ape 2! (opens in a new tab)
2024-07-27
Video of Sophia on a panel at Midsummer Scream! (opens in a new tab)
2024-05-29
Michael interviewed by Film Courage (opens in a new tab)
2024-05-25
Sophia and Michael shoot Auden Court music video (opens in a new tab)
2024-04-05
Sophia and Michael are interviewed about The Once and Future Smash / End Zone 2 by Movie Jawn (opens in a new tab)
2024-03-06
Sophia and Michael talk Dinosaurs Halloween Episode on The Hallo-Rewind (Plus The Once and Future Smash / End Zone 2) (opens in a new tab)
2024-02-15
Tales from the Grave: The Dial Tone of Doom – part of the American Terror Tales III and Tales from the Grave anthologies – GenreBlast IV (Catherine Capozzi Best Score WINNER) – Aug 29-Sept 1 – Alamo Drafthouse – Winchester, VA (opens in a new tab)
2024-02-02
Without Your Head The Once and Future Smash / End Zone 2 Interviews: Bill Weeden, AJ Cutler, Catherine Capozzi, Joe Castro, the Ladies of End Zone 2, Nick Zaino, Sophia Cacciola, Michael J. Epstein (opens in a new tab)
2024-01-17
Michael is on the Just Screen It podcast talking about distribution (opens in a new tab)
2024-01-17
Sophia and Michael Help Produce “Reel Trouble” (opens in a new tab)
2024-01-03
Michael was interviewed on L. Andrew Cooper’s Horrific Scribblings (opens in a new tab)
2023-12-29
Michael is on the Low Budget Rebels podcast talking The Transformations of the Transformations of the Drs. Jenkins and The Once and Future Smash (opens in a new tab)
2023-12-29
Kickstarter: Help bring horror mockumentary, The Once and Future Smash, and accompanying relic restoration, End Zone 2, to physical media & beyond! (opens in a new tab)
2023-12-21
Sophia filmed Suzy Amis interview for Two Small Bodies blu-ray (opens in a new tab)
2023-10-25
Sophia filmed Suzy Amis interview for Ballad of Little Jo blu-ray (opens in a new tab)
2023-10-25
The Once and Future Smash / End Zone 2 (opens in a new tab)
2023-09-25
Sophia filmed interview for Vinegar Syndrome’s The Prophecy 1-3 UHD set (opens in a new tab)
2023-09-24
Sophia filmed special features for Neon City (Special Edition) (1991) (opens in a new tab)
2023-09-24
Sophia shot some additional footage for Kate McCoid’s My First Dick – streaming now! (opens in a new tab)
2023-09-19
Heidi Moore’s Kill Dolly Kill (Michael edited) premieres at Fantastic Fest! (opens in a new tab)
2023-08-15
Sophia and Michael are on filmmaking panels at Gen Con 2023 and The Once and Future Smash wins Best Documentary! (opens in a new tab)
2023-08-09
Sophia filmed special feature interview with Colleen Camp for the Game of Death release as part of the Bruce Lee at Golden Harvest Box Set (opens in a new tab)
2023-07-18
Sophia will appear on Independent Filmmakers panel at San Diego Comic-Con! (opens in a new tab)
2023-07-11
Sophia and Michael talk The Once and Future Smash / End Zone 2 on L8 Night Ghouls for Chattanooga Film Festival – with Bill Weeden, Michael St. Michaels, Neal Jones (opens in a new tab)
2023-06-26
Michael visits Around the Reel podcast to talk about making money with indie movies – “Make New Mistakes!” (opens in a new tab)
2023-06-16
Sophia and Michael discuss The Once and Future Smash / End Zone 2 and the madness of indie film on The Overlook Hour Podcast (opens in a new tab)
2023-06-08
Sophia is cinematographer and Michael assists on Ama Lea’s “Don’t Fuck with Anne Margaret” (opens in a new tab)
2023-06-04
Sophia works on crew on the 2023 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards (opens in a new tab)
2023-06-04
Sophia and Michael talk The Once and Future Smash / End Zone 2 on Another Goddamn Horror Podcast! (opens in a new tab)
2023-06-01
Sophia and Michael work on Wake Not the Dead – Crowdfunding now!!! (opens in a new tab)
2023-05-28
Sophia filmed special features for new 4K The Night of the Hunter release (opens in a new tab)
2023-05-13
Sophia filmed interview with Peter Weller for new Naked Lunch release (opens in a new tab)
2023-05-01
Sophia and Michael co-produce Rakefet Abergel’s Still! (Sophia was cinematographer) (opens in a new tab)
2023-04-19
Sophia interviewed on the New Horror Express podcast (opens in a new tab)
2023-04-19
J. Horton’s Craving now streaming! (Sophia is cinematographer) (opens in a new tab)
2023-04-19
Sophia and Michael are interviewed on The Walter Paisley Movie House Podcast (opens in a new tab)
2023-04-19
The Once and Future Smash won Indie Spirit Award at Renegade Film Festival! (opens in a new tab)
2023-03-10
Sophia collaborates with Anastasia Elfman on “Unhinged Valentine” (opens in a new tab)
2023-02-15
The Mummy Song and The Hearse song from Fat Fleshy Fingers (opens in a new tab)
2023-01-28
Sophia filmed special features for new The Vagrant (1992) release (opens in a new tab)
2023-01-26
The Transformations of the Transformations of the Drs. Jenkins – watch now! (opens in a new tab)
2023-01-25
Sophia directs segment for Fat Fleshy Fingers Anthology – now at festivals (opens in a new tab)
2023-01-19
Transmutations, Vol. 1 by Night Kisses featuring Michael J. Epstein (opens in a new tab)
2023-01-18
Sophia filmed Annie Sprinkle for special features for Kamikaze Hearts release (opens in a new tab)
2023-01-13
Sophia and Michael appear as spectators in Tori Pope’s “Salomé: Do Not Dance, My Daughter” (opens in a new tab)
2022-12-22
Nightmare Film Fest Award for Innovation in Film given to Sophia & Michael (opens in a new tab)
2022-11-30
Sophia interviewed by Film Courage (opens in a new tab)
2022-09-19
Sophia and Michael produce Shiny Diamonds (directed by Seth Chatfield and Toni Nagy) – now streaming! (opens in a new tab)
2022-09-01
Sophia is cinematographer and Michael is gaffer, production sound, and editor on Izzy Lee’s short film, Memento Mori (opens in a new tab)
2022-07-25
Sophia is cinematographer and Michael is gaffer, production sound, and editor on Izzy Lee’s short film, Meat Friend (opens in a new tab)
2022-07-25
Michael interviewed for “What do Filmmakers have to Say about Film Festivals in 2022” (opens in a new tab)
2022-07-25
Bizarroland 72-Hour Debacle Film challenge, “I don’t like your pants” (opens in a new tab)
2022-07-11
Sophia and Michael’s 2021 in Review (opens in a new tab)
2022-01-29
Sick ‘n’ Wrong 72-Hour Debacle Film challenge, “I thought his name was Blarche” (opens in a new tab)
2022-01-07
Sophia and Michael interviewed for Micro-Budget Marauders: Micro-Budget Mentality documentary (opens in a new tab)
2022-01-03
Mythophilia included in 2020 anthology Philia! (originally Leopard Parts I and II – world premiere at GenreBlast – Best Actor Nomination for Michael) (opens in a new tab)
2021-12-01
Michael appears in In The Dark (World Premiere Screening Q&A) – The Fears And Nightmares Of Indie Horror Film Makers (trailer out) (opens in a new tab)
2021-11-08
Sophia and Michael interviewed by Killer Shorts about working with Aaron Barrocas to bring his “Sitting Duck” to life (opens in a new tab)
2021-10-28
Bloodhound and Weekend Vampire on UK TV on Latest Visions (opens in a new tab)
2021-10-27
Michael visits The Grim and Bloody Podcast to talk Clickbait and more! (opens in a new tab)
2021-10-17
Sophia and Michael appear in Emilie Black’s 2022 “You Got Red On You” calendar (opens in a new tab)
2021-10-14
Sophia and Michael collaborate with Friday Night Films / Jim McDonough and Tim Tate on “Darling Pet Monkey” – the true story of a mail-order monkey! (opens in a new tab)
2021-10-14
Sophia and Michael produce Aaron Barrocas’s Sitting Duck, at festivals now. Trailer out! (opens in a new tab)
2021-09-17
Sick ‘n’ Wrong 72-Hour Debacle Film challenge, Murderous Space F************s (opens in a new tab)
2021-09-08
Sophia is on the Shrimp Night podcast with Bob Rose! (opens in a new tab)
2021-07-15
Sophia and Michael are on the A Degree Absolute! podcast talking about their love of The Prisoner and their band, Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling (opens in a new tab)
2021-07-07
Michael is on the Shrimp Night podcast! (opens in a new tab)
2021-07-07
Sophia revisits the movie Pi on podcast, The Hold-Up with Stephen Stull (opens in a new tab)
2021-06-30
Michael is featured in documentary, Microbudget Marauders 3, now streaming on Plex (opens in a new tab)
2021-06-28
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