Troma Entertainment - Work Since 1995

Work Since 1995

From 1995 to 2000, Kaufman directed three independent films distributed in limited theatrical releases: Tromeo and Juliet, a loose parody of Shakespeare's play; Terror Firmer, a slasher film loosely based on Kaufman's book All I Need to Know about Filmmaking I Learned from the Toxic Avenger, and an independent film sequel to The Toxic Avenger trilogy titled Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV.

Troma's financial hardship worsened after the botched funding of a low-budget video feature titled Tales from the Crapper, which cost $250,000 despite most of the footage being completely unusable. India Allen, one of the producers, backed out of the film halfway through, and sued Troma, citing breach of contract, slander, sexual harassment, trade slander, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Kaufman supervised a reshoot in an attempt to salvage the film, dividing the footage into two parts and recasting the film as a double feature. Tales from the Crapper was released on DVD in September 2004.

Currently, Troma produces and acquires independent films, despite financial hardships and limitations. Troma Films has distributed many films from third parties including Trey Parker's Cannibal! The Musical. Lloyd encourages independent filmmaking, making cameo appearances in many low-budget horror films, occasionally without fee. Among his more recent appearances is in former collaborator James Gunn's directing debut, Slither.

Kaufman's film, Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead was released in 2006 in theaters and 2008 on DVD.

During the winter of 2010/2011, Troma produced a feature length film Father's Day, which Kaufman calls "a response film to Mother's Day". The film was written and directed by the Canadian filmmaking team Astron-6, debuting October 21, 2011, at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival where it took home the top prize of BEST FILM, as well as five other awards. In 2012 Father's Day was featured on the cover of Rue Morgue magazine and won BEST FEATURE FILM, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST MALE PERFORMANCE, and BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS at The Fantastic Planet/A Night of Horror International film festival. This is a rare and impressive feat for a film that cost only ten thousand dollars to make. On October 31st, 2012, Father's Day was refused classification in Australia, which makes it effectively illegal to sell or exhibit the film.