Mike Vraney's fascination with exploitation cinema began during his teenage years when he worked at various drive-in movie theaters and adult entertainment venues. A high school dropout, Vraney's early entrepreneurial endeavors included running a comic book shop, producing concerts, and organizing film conventions. This experience laid the groundwork for the launch of his video distribution company, Something Weird Video (SWV),in 1990.
SWV has since become renowned for releasing a vast array of low-budget, out-of-the-mainstream independent films on VHS and DVD. The company's eclectic catalog encompasses a diverse range of genres, including horror, softcore, vintage educational scare films, TV commercials, hardcore pornography, theatrical trailers, and collections of nude loops and burlesque clips.
Over the years, SWV has issued films by several notable figures in the schlock cinema scene, including Herschell Gordon Lewis, David F. Friedman, Harry H. Novak, Joseph W. Sarno, Doris Wishman, William Grefé, Bethel Buckalew, and Barry Mahon.
In addition to his work in the film industry, Vraney also held a role as associate producer on the belated sequel Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat (2002) and appeared as himself in several documentaries, including Hell's Highway: The True Story of Highway Safety Films (2003),Mau Mau Sex Sex (2001),and Hype! (1996).
Vraney's personal life was marked by his marriage to artist Lisa Petrucci and his involvement with the punk band 'DEK', of which his son Mark Vraney was a member.
Sadly, Mike Vraney passed away at the age of 56 on January 2, 2014, due to complications from lung cancer. He was a dedicated advocate for the preservation and celebration of exploitation cinema, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and entertain fans of the genre.
