Charles Robert Band, a multifaceted artist, was born on December 27, 1951, and has since made a significant impact in the entertainment industry. He is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and film producer who has been involved in various projects throughout his career.
Band's entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish Charles Band Productions in the 1970s, which eventually evolved into Full Moon, an independent company that has been producing and distributing films exclusively for the home market. Over the years, he has founded several side companies, including Moonbeam Entertainment, Filmonsters, Action Xtreme, Pulsepounders, Torchlight Entertainment, Surrender Cinema, Monster Island Entertainment, Alchemy Entertainment, Big City Pictures, and Pulp Fantasy Productions.
These companies have produced a diverse range of films, catering to different age groups and genres. For instance, Moonbeam Entertainment and Filmonsters focused on creating movies for kids and tweens, while Torchlight Entertainment and Surrender Cinema produced soft-core films for the adult market. Monster Island Entertainment specialized in man-in-a-rubber-suit monster movies, and Alchemy Entertainment and Big City Pictures created urban horror films. Pulp Fantasy Productions, on the other hand, produced non-Full Moon type horror films.
In the early 2000s, Band temporarily rebranded Full Moon as Shadow Entertainment, feeling that the company's product had strayed too far from its original brand. During this period, many films were produced by J. R. Bookwalter's Tempe Entertainment. Since 2004, Band has taken a more active role in the company, producing and directing almost every film released.
In addition to film production, Full Moon has also ventured into other areas, such as toys and music. For a short time, fans could purchase a line of toys based on characters from the films, including Shrieker, Radu from Subspecies, and the Puppet Master puppets, under the Full Moon Toys brand. The Monster Bra line, specializing in gag brassieres, has also been introduced. CD soundtracks have been released through Full Moon Records, featuring works by Band's brother Richard Band. Comics based on Dollman, Puppet Master, Subspecies, and Trancers have been published through Eternity Comics.
