First tattoo/horror film festival this weekend at Marriott

Expect zombies in downtown Chattanooga Saturday.

The walking dead are the featured stars of this weekend’s first Full Moon Tattoo and Horror Festival, which opens in the Marriott Hotel’s meeting space today.

Actors who portrayed zombies in last summer’s AMC Network series “The Walking Dead” will be on hand Saturday for photo-ops with festivalgoers and to judge that night’s Best Zombie Contest.

According to promoter Tom DePriest, three tattoo conventions have previously been held in Chattanooga, but this is the first time the event has expanded to include a salute to horror movies.

“My new business partner, Ben Dixon, puts on a horror-tattoo convention in Nashville in May. It’s in its 10th year. I went to one of his shows and loved how he ran the show and the whole horror aspect,” said DePriest, who decided to stage a similar event in Chattanooga.

DePriest said more than 60 tattoo artists will be attending, and there will be live tattooing. Tattoos must be fully healed for all tattoo contests, except Tattoo of the Day. First, second and third places will be awarded in 18 tattoo competitions.

In addition to informational seminars for tattoo artists, DePriest has added two panel discussions for horror-film fans to hear from their screen stars. He said there will also be screenings of horror movies.

Industry stars who will be attending the festival are Bill Moseley from “The Devil’s Rejects,” Michael Berryman from “The Hills Have Eyes,” Brad Loree from “Halloween: Resurrection,” and Richard Brooker of “Friday the 13th, Part 3.”

Also coming to the Marriott are Andrew Bryniarski and Edwin Neal of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” Stacey Dixon of “Old Habits Die Hard” and scream-queen actress Tiffany Shepis.

Anyone may enter the Saturday night Best Zombie contest. DePriest encouraged all visitors to come dressed as their favorite horror movie star.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

SATURDAY SCHEDULE

• Noon. Tattoo contest registration, $10 per category

• 12:30 p.m. “Monsters in the Movies.” Panel discussion with Brad “Michael Myers” Loree, Richard “Jason Voorhees” Brooker and Andrew “Leatherface” Bryniarski.

• 2:30 p.m. “So You Want To Be An Actress.” Panel discussion with industry scream queens Tiffany Shepis and Stacey Dixon.

• 4-7 p.m. Tattoo contests

• 8 p.m. Best Zombie Contest, no registration fee

• 10 p.m. Tattoo of the Day

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

• 11 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Tattoo contest registration, $10 per category

• 2-5 p.m. Tattoo contests

• 5:30 p.m. Tattoo of The Day

TATTOO SEMINARS

Saturday

• Noon. “Tattoo Business in Today’s Economy” by Ben Dixon. Free. Information on running a tattoo shop such as taxes, payroll, banking, employees.

Sunday

• 10:30 a.m. “Fine Lines” by Rachel Telles. $100, includes instructional book. Learn the finer points of creating script lettering.

• 11:30 a.m. “Black & Gray Realism” by Chris Saint Clark. $150, includes book. Create realistic images in black and grey on skin.

Source: Tom DePriest