Continued from Page 4
statements from Maila Niemi before her
death, the pair later had a son who was put
up for adoption.
In Hollywood, Nurmi worked odd-jobs
until she created the character of Vampira,
inspired in part after the cartoon Morticia
Addams. In 1954 and 1955, Vampira hosted
a horror movie show on the local ABC affil-
iate, the first show of its kind on television.
Her hourglass figure glided through fog,
she screamed like a banshee, punted puns
and soon became a local celebrity.
After the cancelation of “The Vampira
Show,” Nurmi starred in a string of movies.
The most notorious was the 1959 Ed Wood
feature, “Plan 9 from Outer Space.” Vam-
pira played a silent vampire opposite Bela
Lugosi. The two portray reanimated ghouls
that help aliens in flying saucers conquer
Earth to prevent humans from creating a
doomsday weapon.
“She never intended to make this
movie,” Niemi said. “But she was going
through a hard spot in her life, she was flat
broke, and she needed the $200.”
Vampira insisted on not speaking a
word in the film because she found Wood’s
script appalling.
The movie ended up making her famous.
In the 1950s, Nurmi also became close
with James Dean.
“Jimmy lost his mother when he was
nine,” Niemi said. “So he was a motherless
boy and became sort of a surrogate son to
her. When he died, she was inconsolable.”
“The Golden Turkey Awards,” a 1980
book written by a film critic labeled the
“Plan 9 from Outer Space,” the “worst film
ever,” which helped propel it to cult status.
Nurmi died in 2008, at age 85, in her
home. Her tombstone features an image
of Vampira, hailing her as a “Hollywood
Legend.”
“Plan 9 from Outer Space” will headline
the Astoria International Film Festival’s
opening on Friday night. A Finnish docu-
mentary about Vampira will be presented
Saturday night.
The biography
“Glamour Ghoul: The Passions and
Pain of the Real Vampira, Maila Nurmi,” is
based on the icon’s notes, diaries and draft
autobiography as well as Niemi’s personal
encounters with her aunt. Niemi wrote the
biography to keep Vampira’s memory alive.
“If I didn’t write it, she would just be
a sad little footnote in her history,” Niemi
said. “And I couldn’t let that happen. She
deserves so much more.”
Niemi was an Astoria resident for 60
years before moving away in 2007. She
now lives in Salem.
Like her aunt, she graduated from Asto-
Peter Korchnak
Astoria International Film Festival Executive
Director Ron Craig.
ria High School.
“It’s my hometown,” she said. “My
whole family, we’re Astorians.”
Craig originally planned for the festi-
val to host an in-person book signing with
Niemi, as well as a costume party at the
Labor Temple, which Vampira had fre-
quented. The events were canceled due to
the pandemic.
The change in plans is particularly dev-
astating to Niemi because she had planned
to meet Vampira’s son. Through an online
DNA service, Niemi tracked him down in
Vermont, where he is a retired attorney.
“He said, ‘Oh my god, I waited 75 years
to find out who my mother is and I find out
she’s a vampire,’” she said.
The film festival
Craig, an award-winning filmmaker,
author and creator of the Astoria Interna-
tional Film Festival, has lived in Astoria for
six years.
“Astoria is one of the most spiritually
historical spots in Oregon,” Craig says.
“The energy that’s here is just incredible,
there’s just so much entrenched talent here.
With Vampira, that creative energy is part
of the story.”
Other films to be shown during the fes-
tival include “Fahrenheit 451,” “Some Like
It Hot,” and “Zorba the Greek.” The festi-
val’s program and tickets are available at
astoriainternationalfilmfestival.com. Proof
of vaccination or a negative COVID test are
required.
The main character Syn, from the short film ‘Synonymous With.’
PrOjEcT wItH lOcAl tIeS wIlL
aLsO bE sHoWn aT fEsTiVaL
BY PETER KORCHNAK
The Friday night screening of “Plan 9
from Outer Space” at the Astoria Interna-
tional Film Festival will be followed by
three short films, including a project with
local ties.
“Synonymous With,” released in 2021,
was directed by Thom Hilton. The film-
maker is the son of Astoria City Coun-
cilor Tom Hilton.
The 12-minute mockumentary-style
short stars Remy Germinario as Syn, a
former host of a horror movie show on
a defunct public access channel, who is
interviewed by a film student, played by
Hilton.
“Basically it’s about a gay Vampira,”
Hilton said. “The guy realizes he’s spent
his entire twenties doing just this show
and now he’s having to find out what to
do with his time and who he is as a per-
son. It takes place around Halloween.”
Syn channels Vampira in his presenta-
tions. Hilton also drew inspiration from
the horror movie show “Sinister Cinema,”
which ran on KATU, the ABC affiliate
in Portland in the 1970s. Although typi-
cally hosts in the genre are spooky men
or buxom, vampiric women, the character
Syn is an awkward, mellow fellow with
an old fashioned look.
Hilton is a long-time Portland and
New York resident, and found out about
the festival when his father sent him the
poster of the upcoming film festival. The
filmmaker submitted his film the next
day.
“Turned out to be kismet, I guess,
because a lot of the focus of the festival
(is) about Vampira,” Hilton reflected.
The Hiltons are currently working on a
tight-lipped nonfiction film project.
“Many people who live in Astoria
have already been a part of it,” said Hil-
ton. “It’s really gorgeous.”
“Synonymous With” is available for
viewing on Vimeo.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2021 // 5