Joe Mendillo of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. has launched a fundraising campaign so his town can have a life-size bronze figure of one of its most famous native sons: low-budget sci-fi director Edward D. Wood Jr. Mendillo tells The Poughkeepsie Journal he’s aware Wood's name is synonymous with bad cinema, thanks to movies like Bride Of The Monster and Plan 9 From Outer Space. Nevertheless, he believes Poughkeepsie's most esteemed former resident (if you don't count Predator actor Bill Duke) still deserves to be honored, because of the inspiring spirit that drove his cult movie career.