1981

The origin of Lordi Films, originally known as Lordi Home Video (LHV), dates all the way back to February 28, 1981. Ron Lordi 's DO IT UP started the low budget productions. DO IT UP was a series of off the wall skits and music videos from songs of the 70's and early 80's. It was filmed in black and white and entirely in a basement, mostly in part because the camera could not come off the "squeaky" tripod.

1982-1985

Between 1982 and 1985 many music videos and skits were made such as Pablo & Carter and Moron Movies. All of these videos and skits have been subsequently "lost" somewhere on random Beta tapes.

1986

October 31, 1985 another 10 minute skit was made, but this was no ordinary skit, these 10 minutes would lead to the first full length movie, THE CELLAR DWELLARS. For the first time scenes would be filmed out of sequence and a movie would be edited together. THE CELLAR DWELLARS premiered in the summer of 1986. A couple scenes for The Cellar Dwellers Part 2 were filmed, but nothing was ever done with them as they too are lost.

Later that year KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE was filmed. Knights would prove to be the pilot episode for a future LHV series (see 1988).

1987

In 1987 a new camera was purchased, a Panasonic Omni movie color camcorder. Now movies can be filmed outside the basement and would be on VHS, instead of Beta. The music videos slowly went away and skits became more prominent- HOUSE OF BAYVILLE, HEADS OF SHALAMAR, and THE ADVENTURES OF BURT AND PAUL to name a few.

The first attempt at a LAND OF THE GIANTS movie was also done this year.

1988-1990

On Friday night, April 1, 1988 , the first episode of CELTIC PRIDE was filmed. A total of 74 episodes spanning 7 seasons and 2 and a half years. The first two seasons would be filmed in sequence and music would be pumped in live on the set. It wouldn't be until Season 3, episode 25, that editing, splicing and dubbing music/sound effects would become a standard.

On a summer day in 1989, as a break away from CELTIC PRIDE, A WORLD OF GIANTS was filmed in Bayville and premiered the same day.

1991

With a new Chinon camcorder in hand, THE GODFATHER started production February 2nd 1991, and premiered August 9th the same year. The original version, which was 3 hours and 3 minutes, was trimmed to 2 hours. Some scenes that were removed would later be used for the sequel.

At the same time THE GODFATHER was in production, Nick Lordi started his own series T.E.C.M.O. The series was 10 episodes for a total of 2 hours. The Team of Experienced Combat Military Operations consisted of four men who fought crime in the town of Konami . Many of T.E.C.M.O.'s references (names) came from the likes of Nintendo, specifically the video game TECMO Super Bowl.

Scenes for a second season were filmed, however T.E.C.M.O. Season 2 never made it to the air waves.

1992

In the summer of 1992, T.E.C.M.O. The Movie premiered. Interesting enough, T.E.C.M.O. the movie was not a continuation of the series, instead it was a retelling of the series with a few of the same characters and some memorable co-stars.

Earlier in the summer of 1992, THE GODFATHER PART II premiered. Using some footage filmed a year ago mixed with some new scenes THE GODFATHER PART II ended the run of Godfather movies. Talks for a 3rd movie were in the works, but no official script was written.

With a couple series and movies under their belt, LHV did a couple half hour comedy shorts in the summers of 1992 and 1993- SPHERE and SPHERE 2.

1993

Nothing came to fruition in 1993 and early 1994. Three movies had roughly 15 minutes of footage each, but were never completed. SAYREVILLE 08872, THE UNTOUCHABLES and LAND OF THE GIANTS.

1994

In 1994 Ron completed what would be the first of his many "giant themed " movies. This one was appropriately called LAND OF THE GIANTS. Basing it on the pilot episode of the 1968 series, LAND OF THE GIANTS featured some special effects and trick cinematography.

1995

On September 1st , 1995, Lordi Films had its first big movie premiere. The movie was PLAN 9 FROM URANUS and the premiere took place in Union , NJ . The movie, featuring many of Lordi Films' "stable" was a combination of sci-fi, fantasy and comedy. The premiere went off without a hitch and made movie premieres an event that would be a mainstay.

1996

One year later TALES FROM THE TURNPIKE premiered November 2nd in East Orange , NJ . The tales were twelve individual episodes ranging from 7 to 15 minutes each, covering comedy, horror and science fiction.

1997

Although there were no premieres in 1997, it was a busy year for Lordi Films. AFTERMATH was a 23 minute pilot episode for a brand new series starring Dawn Marie, now known for her role with WWE. Shortly after the pilot was completed Dawn Marie's wrestling career took off, thus ending the AFTERMATH series.

Prior to AFTERMATH, DESTROY ALL MONSTERS was a twelve minute short about a post apocalyptic world in which a handful of survivors faced off against giant monsters.

Also in 1997, a remake of the horror classic HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN was on the agenda. Segments were filmed, but the project suffered when it was tough to get different people together and find someone to play the monster.

1998

1997 started the directing career for Mike Lordi. On July 13, 1997 Mike set out to film his first movie- RESIDENT EVIL. Based on the hit 1996 video game, it currently holds the record for longest production and ironically it is Mike's shortest movie. After more than a year in production, RESIDENT EVIL premiered August 7, 1998 in Bayville, NJ.

At the same time RESIDENT EVIL was in production, Ron was filming KING KONG vs. GODZILLA. This film used scenes from the original 1962 film, mainly the King Kong and Godzilla scenes. On April 26, 1998, KING KONG vs. GODZILLA premiered in East Orange, NJ.

Earlier in the year, scenes for another science fiction short were filmed. These scenes were edited together to form PLANET TITANIC.

1999

After a busy two years LHV decided to spoof a certain public access TV show. THE PUBLIC ACCESS VARIETY SHOW, an inside joke to many, is a 35 minute special that has some hilarious moments.

On October 27, 1999, Mike started the script for his second feature film.

2000

As an avid fan of the old horror movies of the 30's and 40's, Mike filmed THE INVISIBLE MAN in black and white, and paid homage to the 1933 James Whale original. The premiere took place on August 11, 2000 in Westfield , NJ and got rave reviews for its acting and special effects.

2001

Later in 2000, the next project, a wild one called Y2KAOTIC was filmed with a lot of the regulars and a variety of new faces. Y2KAOTIC premiered on January 12, 2001, in Kenilworth , NJ .

After doing two science fiction/horror oriented films, Mike decided to take a crack at the crime drama genre. In April of 2001, Mike started to film JERSEY HEAT. Using New Jersey as a back drop JERSEY HEAT showed what happens when a rich man, a foreign power, the FBI and an organized crime family get intermixed. On Christmas Day 2001, JERSEY HEAT premiered in Freehold, NJ.

2002

For 2002 Mike and Ron had plans to do a remake of the 1963 all star comedy It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. A couple scenes were actually filmed in December of 2001, but the plans quickly dissolved as it would require a lot of people for several days to get it done.

Ron went on to make two "giant" short movies called JERSEY GIRLS IN GIANTLAND. Mike spent the first half of 2002 rewriting the Mad World script, trying to make it easier to film and cut down on some parts.

2003

On August 17, 2002, production started on IT'$ A WORLD GONE MAD. After five months of filming and four months of editing, IT'$ A WORLD GONE MAD premiered on May 21, 2003, in Union , NJ . It was an instant hit and fan favorite.

Coming off the success of IT'$ A WORLD GONE MAD, Mike began right away on his next project- CLUE. Taking the premise of the 1985 movie, Mike ran into the same old problems of getting a lot of people together on different nights. The one scene that was filmed, on October 24th, had nine different actors, including Mike. After that night Mike knew it would take a lot to get this movie done so he went to the revision plan. New scenes were shot, however, the Clue movie never got made.

2004

Also in 2003 Ron started working on his next project, another Sci-Fi flick involving characters and scenarios from four Irwin Allen television shows. The movie was appropriately titled IRWIN'S PLAYGROUND and premiered on April 28, 2004, in Union, NJ .

Instead of the traditional remake, Mike decided to make an original movie. In the summer of 2004 Mike started writing a script for a horror movie with only a few main characters. In October, the filming began of Mike's latest movie.

2005

After only 3 months of principle shooting and nearly six months of post production, PARANORMAL premiered June 17, 2005, in Freehold, NJ. This was the first movie that was digitally put together using a non linear computer editing system. It is also the first movie to brand the new logo and name Lordi Films. With its unique story, dazzling special effects and eerie atmosphere, PARANORMAL was a huge success.

Over the summer of 2005 we took another look into the world of giants. This time a fifth grader shrinks three of his teachers and puts them in a doll house. Welcome to the WILD WORLD OF SHRUNKEN GIRLS.

2006

Lordi Films compiled the movies, the series, the skits, the shorts and even the unfinished projects over the years into an 81 minute DVD special- LORDI FILMS 25th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL.

Ron's next movie was a combination of skits, commercials and spoofs. Some funny, some scary, some darn right disturbing. Either way it was LMAO.

Staying with the horror theme, mixed with mystery and suspense, Mike took the cameras to Boonton, New Jersey for his next production. Featuring a handful of first timers as well as some of the core actors, four months of production lead to THE TOURNE.

On Friday, October 13th both movies premiered as part of a Double Feature labeled "Come for the laughs.stay for the mystery."

2007

Mike Lordi goes back to black and white horror with his next movie THE WOLF MAN. Based on the 1941 film and story by Curt Siodmak, The Wolf Man features a stellar cast, updated story and even a twist here and there to differentiate itself from the original. This would be the last film that Mike makes with his Sony MiniDV and edit on a PC. More on that in 2008.

While the Mike and the Freehold branch of Lordi Films works on The Wolf Man, Ron Lordi and the Edison Branch attempt the first musical. The end result is a sci-fi, comedy, musical SPACE SIDE STORY.

For the second year in a row there was a Double Feature Night. On Friday, November 16, 2007, both movies premiered in Edison, New Jersey.

2008

Equipment change for the Freehold branch of Lordi Films. The seven year old Sony Mini-DV camera is replaced by the new Canon HV20, with the capability to film in HD. The editing will now be done on a MAC using Adobe's latest Premiere Pro CS3.

In Spotswood, NJ, on Friday, July 11th it was another night of horror and mystery with the double feature of
FIVE FACES OF FEAR and TREPIDATION.

2009

Production begins for Mike Lordi's next movie. A science fiction, action, comedy- Travel Time. For the fourth year in a row a double feature world premiere is held. On Friday, July 10th, in Spotswood, NJ, TRAVEL TIME and ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST are premiered in front of the largest audience to date.

2010

In May Mike started the script and production of an all out action flick RETRIBUTION. After a couple long filming weekends principle photography was complete by mid June.

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