Cody Knotts Sold Out

Cody Knotts has sold out.

But the North Strabane newspaper publisher and two-time state House candidate said the sale of his publication, The Weekly Recorder, has little to do with any downturn in print media.

It's because he's going Hollywood.

Knotts, who has served as publisher of the weekly politics-centric newspaper since 2002, has sold the publication. Friday's edition will be the last under his leadership.

"We have an agreement of sale and we will close on Wednesday," he said.

DFM Publishing has bought the paper and South Strabane resident and local 9/12 enthusiast Jeff Foutz will serve as the paper's new publisher.

Knotts declined to disclose details of the sale, but said the paper's format isn't expected to change drastically.

Asked if politics would still be a main feature, he added: "Oh yeah, it's going to be more political."

But for Knotts, his time writing about politics and running for office are over.

And he said he's never been happier.

Knotts said his recent experience writing and filming his first feature horror film, "Lucifer's Unholy Desire," drew him and and now he has a handful of other projects on the horizon.

"Making a film was fascinating," he said. "You get to tell a story, like journalism, but you get to tell (it) with cool pictures and good looking people."

Politics?

"Ironically, I think I got beaten by a good-looking politician," Knotts said with a laugh after again confirming he would never run for political office a third time. "(State Rep.) Brandon Neuman should be in the movies."

Now that he put his final paper to bed as publisher, he can work on the various other local movie projects.

"We've got two more horror films in the works," Knotts said. "One of them is 'Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombies.'"

And he said his company has already received a letter of intent from Shane Douglas, a former ECW and WCW wrestling champion.

That film is now in development, and while it would be classified as a low-budget movie—the budget, he said, is greater than that of "Lucifer's Unholy Desire."

Knotts is also working with Peters Township's Anthony Colliano on a film titled, "Murder For Dummies."

Colliano, he said, recently won the Pittsburgh Horror Fim Festival for his movie "12/24."

Knotts said he is excited to be a part of the film, which will star Michael Madsen, Mischa Barton and Kiow Gordon of "Twilight" fame.

His work in "Murder For Dummies" will even take him to Malibu for filming, Knotts added.

Knotts is also working on Monroeville native Cory Tucek's film "Commuters"—one the filmmaker described as the story of kids trapped living at home with mom and dad "while being stuck in 13th grade."

"It's the story of my life and the life of my friends Scott and Jason Varner, who wrote the movie with me," Tucek said of the comedy. "Around our sophomore year in college, the three of us started to notice that there were a lot of crazy things happening to us."

Tucek said he met Knotts through a mutual friend and enlisted his help with fundraising for the movie.

"The thing about Cody is he has a big background in fundraising," he said. "We really understand the creative part. I needed someone to focus on raising money. Cody is one of the most well-connected people in this area."

He added: "Comedy has been our thing, and horror is Cody's thing, but a movie is a movie—and it's what you can sell."

While casting is still ongoing, former Pittsburgh Steeler Meryl Hodge will make a cameo appearance and Dave Hanson of "Slap Shot" fame has signed a letter of intent. The lead actress will be Taryn Southern, who played a role in "Rules of Engagement."

Knotts said if that isn't enough, he will also be working on a musical about a serial killer.

"It sells," he said. "Nobody cares who the stars are."

As many opportunities that are coming his way in the arena of movies, he still said he was "melancholy" over saying goodby to his role at The Weekly Recorder.

The high of his journalism career was seeing District Attorney Steve Toprani win his election, but he admits he had his share of low moments in the field, too.

"I was too harsh on people," he said of apologies he made in the final issues of the paper. "Most people let their ego get in the way of admitting their mistakes. That's not me."