Irwin Yablans, creator of the "Halloween" films that forever changed the genre, says the answer's easy.

"When done right, a horror movie evokes an involuntary response involving fear, excitement, repulsion and fascination," says Yablans, (www.irwinyablans.com), author of the new memoir, The Man Who Created Halloween. In it, he details his rise as a successful independent producer, sales chief for Paramount Pictures and head of Orion Pictures. His masked creepster Michael Myers, who debuted in 1978, spawned a wave of iconic horror characters, and a new way to do business in Hollywood.

"Too many commentators focus on the cost of making a film, and how much the lead actors were paid," he says. "But, from a producer's point of view, the most important money question is: Is our movie worth the $10 ticket price?"

Yablans shares his views on why we love to be horrified:

• Universal appeal: Horror will always tantalize the masses because it touches a visceral emotional response within everyone - unlike other genres. Not everyone finds the same things funny, for example, but just about everyone finds the same things scary, he says. "Horror connects on that most fundamental level. A truly frightening boogieman, a likeable protagonist and sympathetic victims puts audiences right in the shoes of the characters being chased," he says.

• The difference between horror and horrible, and fan loyalty: As a boy, Yablans grew up in a poor tenement in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, listening to radio shows that relied on "theater of the mind" narratives, which captured the imaginations of listeners. He used this approach with the Halloween film series. "Too many of today's horror films rely on blood and guts to coax gross-out responses from audiences," Yablans says. " 'Halloween' was successful, in large part, because it played more on the mind, where fear lives." Horror fans tend to give new movies the benefit of the doubt, and if the first one is good, then they'll return for parts 2 and 3, he says.

• Cost-effective: Most of the greatest horror film franchises began with modest budgets, including "Night of the Living Dead," $114,000; the first "Halloween," $320,000; "The Blair Witch Project," $35,000. Each of those movies were wildly successful, grossing millions. The "Friday the 13th" series, inspired from the success of "Halloween," has earned a worldwide total of $465 million. "There have been many failures, but the genre is one of the best bets in the film industry," he says.

• Great marketing: Yablans' legendary horror series appropriated a children's holiday, Halloween, and made it exciting for adults. "Everyone wants to be young again - at least sometimes," he says. Other successful horror franchises - "Nightmare on Elm Street," "Friday the 13th" and "Scary Movie" copied Yablans' branded approach: recognizable titles, costumes or makeup and theme music.

About Irwin Yablans

Irwin Yablans is the executive producer and creator of the "Halloween" film series, which forever changed the horror genre and the old studio system. His new autobiography, "The Man Who Created Halloween," details a true rags-to-riches tale of a boy who grew up in a roach-invested tenement in Brooklyn to become the man who transformed society's view of a children's holiday. Yablans' influence in Hollywood includes setting the standard for a new breed of independent producers and filmmakers, the discovery of famed director John Carpenter and advocating for studio support of one of the most acclaimed films in history, Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now."

With MIKESCHAIR, Lindsay McCaul & Everfound

7:00 p.m. Saturday, September 29

Adler Theatre, Davenport

DAVENPORT, IA (Monday, August 13, 2012) - Contemporary Christian singer and songwriter, Matthew West, will perform at the Adler Theatre on Saturday, September 29, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. Special guests are MIKESCHAIR, Lindsay McCaul and Everfound.

Reserved tickets ($19 & $30 Artist Circle) are On Sale Now! Tickets are $16 for Groups of 10 or more by calling 563-326-8522.  Tickets will be available at the Adler Theatre Box Office (136 E. 3^rd St.), Ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000 and at select Ticketmaster outlets.

In addition to writing songs that have made him a Dove Award nominated artist in the Christian market, West's songwriting prowess has also earned him the respect of artists in other musical genres. His songs have been recorded by multi-platinum Country trio Rascal Flatts and other country artists.  West's songs have also been released by various Christian artists, including Michael W. Smith, Mark Schultz, Natalie Grant and Point of Grace.

For more information:

www.MatthewWest.com

www.MIKESCHAIR.com

www.LindsayMcCaul.com

www.Everfoundmusic.com

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Three Iowa City-based filmmakers are bringing Hollywood star power to their newest independent film project. "The Formula," starring Brandon Baker, Reginald VelJohnson and Sasha Jackson, has wrapped principal photography and is currently in post-production with a hopeful Iowa premiere of December '12 - January '13. Backrow Studios will be releasing the company's new website and trailer for "The Formula" on Tuesday, September 18^th.

Backrow Studios' production team Ravi Patel, Tim Nash, and Joe Clarke bring the story of two engineers who invent a mathematical formula for seducing women with "The Formula." The film stars Brandon Baker, best known for his work in Disney movies such as "Johnny Tsunami," "The Jungle Book," "Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board," as well as the NBC sitcom "One World." Also starring in the film is Reginald VelJohnson, a veteran actor best known for his roles in the classic action picture, "Die Hard," and as Carl Winslow in the long running family sitcom, "Family Matters." Rounding out the cast is Sasha Jackson, who played the lead role of "Dana" in 2011's "Blue Crush: Wild Coast." She also plays the recurring character of "Kylie" on the popular TV series, "One Tree Hill."

"The Formula" is the story of Quinn (Baker) and Graham (Schminke), two engineering students who discover a mathematical formula to pick up women with ease. Quinn is a hopeless romantic who falls head over heels for a young student teacher. Graham is a chauvinistic womanizer who thinks the key to finding the woman of his dreams is by wooing as many as possible. As "The Formula" follows Quinn and Graham from one date to the next, they discover that there is no shortcut to finding true love.

"The Formula" is the third film produced by Backrow Studios, LLC. Its first feature length film "Kung Fu Graffiti" signed a contract for sales and distribution with Los Angeles -based production house Entertainment 7. The company's second feature "The Wedge" is hitting the film festival circuit, and landed three awards including Best Professional Feature at the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Makers Festival on April '12. Go to www.backrowstudios.com to see the trailer for "The Formula" and other films and digital shorts by Joe Clarke.

"The Formula" was written by Joe Clarke and directed by Joe Clarke and Thomas Beecher. For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact producer Tim Nash at 319-531-6324.