Evil Film School: Not This Friday!

Hey Kids,

So, because I am a goof, I did not realize that Blim had actually scheduled Evil Film School for Thursday November 30th, not the 24th as I had been advertising.

DO NOT GO TO BLIM THIS FRIDAY!!

Turkish Wizard of Oz will be happening on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30th.

A big huge apology to anyone this might inconvenience.

Thank you,

~meeko

How I Spent My Summer Vacation (and Most of the Fall): A Return to Blogging

This post is meant partly as an explanation and mostly as a round-up of relevant stuff I've neglected to post about in the last few months. First, let me just say that my life has been rather rocky recently, and instead of boring all of you with my emotional travails, I opted to just keep it to myself.

So here, in bullet form, is what I was up to:

Moved - Moved into my first solo apartment. It is huge. I was hoping to post some pictures, but my digital camera got busted before I could do so. I still need to paint and work on getting a couple more chairs for the kitchen & a few more pieces of wall art, but in general it really does feel like home. The only downside so far was the one time I was propositioned on the the way to work (bearing in mind that I leave for work at 5:30am, more on that later). Other than that, the neighborhood rocks. Everything is within walking distance, from markets, to doctors to drugstores and butchers. People are generally unpretentious and I'm close enough to The Drive to conveniently go for a nice dinner or brunch and far enough away to avoid most of the hippies.

Found a New Job - So, shortly after I moved into my new apartment (read: my rent just doubled), the company I was writing Anime Scripts for failed to get me a translation script in time for me to work on and invoice for a script, meaning I didn't get paid that week. Realizing that this was no way to live and that I was beginning to tire of working from home (not to mention Shojo in general), I decided that it was time to find a real job. After some frustration, I was suddenly confronted with two promising offers, one in the film field with room to move, and one in sales with the possibility of travel to New York. Since the sales position was a lock and likely paid better than the other job, I went with it. However, because I work a territory in Eastern US, I have to start work at 6am. To say that this has been an adjustment, is an understatement. My karaoke appearances are sporadic at best and I have given up entirely on going out Friday nights. In fact, the last time I was invited out on a Friday at 8:45pm I actually thought to myself "Good god, who would want to go out so late?!" Luckily everyone I work with is very nice and we all get along very well. It is a small company (>20 people), so it is cozy and comfortable, but owned by a larger company, which means good benefits. I don't plan on spending more than a couple years here, but by that point I should have paid off most of my debt and saved sufficiently for my next adventure. While sales isn't my first choice of jobs, the industry and my position require enough crossover skills with my dream career that it seems like the right place to be right now. Plus, I have the potential to make mad cash for a change.

Went to the Seattle Film Festival -- Had a very good time, made a pilgrimage to Scarecrow, saw A Scanner Darkly & Strangers with Candy. Got to hang with Xian & MiuMiu. Scanner's probably still my favourite film so far this year, but there's a lot I haven't seen yet. Strangers was funny, but didn't really add anything new. The Dan Hadeya cameo was cute.

Made my Burlesque Debut -- In the spirit of trying new things and broadening my horizons I took the Femme Factory Burlesque workshop. I did the 5 week course which includes an opportunity to appear on stage. Between moving, finding a job & trying to get my scripts done, I basically had one week to choreograph my routine and build my costume. Runthrough with my instructor did not go well (I was unprepared) & I found out that she'd done a routine to the same song a couple of weeks prior. Eek! Stressed out terribly and swore up and down that I would do it this once and then never again since I "just don't have the time". The actual event went marvelously. The crowd was very responsive and multiple people complemented me on my enthusiasm. Pics are available on Flickr here. Photos of my finale are available to friends via email request. Oh, and because I know Theron will want to know, my routine was to SCOTS's cover of "House of Bamboo".

Hosted a Bunch of EFS Nights -- All well attended, with one notable exception. Put together a Halloween shorts program which went over very well, although I was a little disappointed at the small number of local submissions I received. I'm starting to get media inquiries and attendance is becoming more consistent. Yeah me.

Watched Lots of Movies -- Capsule reviews to be posted shortly.

Trying to Improve My French -- There are multiple reasons for this one, but I'm not ready to comment on most of them yet. Mostly it's the fact that I've been learning it since I was 3 years old and I still don't feel comfortable using it at work. Not that I have to use it that often, but it'd be a nice thing to include on my resume & would help with a couple of projects I'd like to start.

So there it is, in a nutshell. I do plan on posting more regularly & will be expanding my reviews to include restaurants because it was brought to my attention recently that I am a foodie. If you give two craps, I would ask you to leave a comment. However, I seem to have deleted that function. Please email me if you are more proficient at HTML than I.

Thanks,

~meeko

Monster Mash - Oct 27th!

Hey Kids!

Have Halloween weekend plans yet? Well, now you do!

What - Evil Film School's First Annual Monster Mash

When - Friday Oct 27th

Doors - 7pm

Admission - $5 - $10 sliding scale

It's a Halloween Party with a horror shorts program, costume contest (with AWESOME) prizes and of course, the main attraction: The Monster Squad [1987]. Directed by Fred Dekker (House, Night of the Creeps) and written by Shane Black (Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang; Leathal Weapon), this is sure to be a major nostalgia fest for many of our regulars.

Remember, costumes are manditory, and if you don't have your own, one may be provided for you.

Shorts start at 7:30pm, costume contest stars at 8:30pm and The Monster Squad will be on around 9pm. Bring your friends!!

Prizes provided by Fright Rags and Happy Bats Cinema! Thanks guys!

Blaxploitation Rarities - Sept 29th!

Hey Everybody,

Just a quick reminder that the next Evil Film School is less than 2 weeks away!



Evil Film School Presents: Blaxploitation Rarities

When: Friday, Sept. 29th
Doors: 7pm
Admission $5 - $10 (Sliding Scale)

For more info, email evilfilmschool@gmail. com

Hope to see you there,

~Mariko

p.s. I'm still accepting submissions for our Halloween Monster Mash. Email me for more info.

Fang in Cheek! Friday Aug 25th

Hey Kids!

First off, a big thank you to everyone who made it out to Summer Camp last month.

Second, we're doing it again! This month's theme is Vampire Comedies!


What: Fang in Cheek
Where: Blim (197 E. 17th @ Main)
When: Aug 25 (Fri)
Doors: 7pm
Admission: $5 - $10 Sliding Scale

7:30pm -- Sundown, The Vampire in Retreat [1991]: Count Dracula (David Carradine) thinks he's got it made after retiring to the Western town of Purgatory, a sort of Fort Lauderdale for vampires. They're all non violent and drink a blood substitute. Unfortunately, he didn't count on a bumbling descendant of Van Helsing (BRUCE CAMPBELL, yes, that Bruce Campbell) or a rogue band of vamps intent on returning to the old ways. Extremely goofy and silly, it's still a rather unique take on an old tale. And just think, Ash vs. Bill. That's gotta be worth something, right?

9:30pm -- Vampira (a.k.a. Old Dracula) [1974]: David Niven stars as the count, and Teresa Graves (a.k.a. TV's Christie Love) stars as his lady love Vampira after a faulty blood transfusion turns her black. No really. Tries to be sort of an English version of "Young Frankenstein", but doesn't quite live up. Worth a look if only for the unflappable Niven and of course a whole host of hotties including Graves and the lovely Jennie Linden.

As usual, beer & popcorn will be available

Mind. Blown.

So, on Robin's LJ a couple days ago he posted this awesome link for this site with hundreds of 80's and early 90's music videos some guy had culled from YouTube. I highly recomend you check it out. What's extra cool about the site is that he's included groups from all over the world, and it runs the full gammit of 80's-ness: everything from Warrant to Paula Abdul to weird Minutemen concert footage.

Of particular note:

Sam Kinison singing "Wild Thing" with an all-star back-up band of 80's metal icons. And Billy Idol.

Les Rita Mitsouko, this awesome New Wave band from France that I'd never heard of before.

And, Show-Ya.

Japanese.

All Girl.

Hair Metal.



And guess what?! They just reunited! And they're still hot!

Joy!!!

Some Notes on The Job Hunt

An open letter to potential employers. A few suggestions based on my recent experience:

* If you are not interested in hiring me, or do not feel that I am suited to the job; do not call me and treat me like I am wasting your time. Guess what, you've just wasted your own time.

* If you are going to be conducting a phone interview, use the words "phone interview" when you call me. "A few questions" implies that what you want to know is a) am I still interested and b) am I available to come in for an interview. At the very least give a time frame for the conversation, like: "this will take approximately 20 minutes". Even if it takes longer than 20 minutes, I'll at least know whether I'll be able to make my lunch date or not. Just because I'm underemployed doesn't mean I don't have things to do.

* Just as I am expected to be prepared for an interview, so I expect you to be prepared. At the very least make sure that you have read my resume before you call. That way you'll be well informed about the highest level of education I have achieved and whether I am a teacher or a rocket scientist. Asking questions I have already given you the answer to gives me the impression you are reading off a script and probably don't remember my name.

* Repeating the same question over and over again is tantamount to harassment. If I am not giving you a clear idea of how my past experience relates to the job, either a) you have not explained the requirements of the job to me sufficiently or b) I am not actually suited to the job in your opinion. Throw me a bone, or move on.

* Treating me like an idiot does not make me want to work for you. You need me as much as I need you. Remember that.

* Just as you have had to wade through multiple resumes, I have sent resumes to multiple employers in a variety of fields. Assuming that yours is the only company I have applied to is naive and unrealistic. I would never assume that I am the only person who has applied for the job and strive to present myself in the best light possible as a result. I suggest you do the same.

* If you are outsourcing your HR duties to someone, makes sure they are suited to the job. In fact, there are many wonderful agencies that specialize in this field that hire friendly, personable staff. Just as my resume creates your first impression of me, the person who calls to discuss my resume is my first impression of you.

*Asking if maintaining a professional appearance will be a "problem" for me is both judgmental and vague. A better way of determining such things would be during the interview, or to give an example of what you consider to be "professional" attire, ie: "do you own a suit?"

This is dedicated in particular to the woman from the Real Estate Agency and the woman from the National Bank of Canada. Thank you for your time.

New Look

In attempt to get myself motivated about blogging again, I've made some changes to the look of my blog. If anyone still reads this thing, let me know what you think.

Debut Date

Some of you may be aware that I have taken up Burlesque Dancing. Some of you perverts have even expressed an interest in seeing me get nekkid. Well, here's your chance.

When: July 15th (it's a Saturday).
Where: The Lamplighter.

I'll be opening for a bigger touring act. Tix are likely gonna be about $15. More details as they come.

Movies I Watched Instead of Writing: Fauxteur Edition

(I feel like I should post a warning about spoilers, but frankly if you haven't seen it already you probably don't care enough to let spoilers bother you. That and it would be very hard to ruin this movie more than Mr. Ratner already has.)

So, even though everyone I know and their monkey had already seen it and told me how bad it was, I knew I still had to see X-Men 3 for myself. Was it as bad as I'd feared. Yes. Was it so bad it was good? Not quite. Mostly it felt rushed, marked by a myriad of missed opportunities ("Hey, let's introduce Dark Pheonix and then have her stand around for most of the movie,") and gaping plot holes, ("So, did Pyro escape or what?") While it probably made enough money to warrant another sequel, let's hope they actually get someone who cares about crafting dramatic tension as opposed to just cramming in so many mutants you end up not giving a shit about anyone.

Pointing out in any further detail why X3 pales in comparison to the first two films seems redundant at this point. So, instead I leave you with a link to Mr. Ratner's personal website. Be sure to check out his music video work. Especially if you like close-ups of asses and tits. Shiny, slow motion asses and tits.

I Think This Bodes Well For The Hygiene of My New Apartment

So, more or less moved in. Still waiting on my couch (logistical concerns). Cat has stopped being freaked out and is verging on bored. Actually managed to cook a meal that didn't come out of a box. Internet should be up in a week or two, coffee shop with wireless near my house is cool though. Will post photos when there's less boxes.

You Are Bert

Extremely serious and a little eccentric, people find you loveable - even if you don't love them! You are usually feeling: Logical - you rarely let your emotions rule you You are famous for: Being smart, a total neat freak, and maybe just a little evil How you life your life: With passion, even if your odd passions (like bottle caps and pigeons) are baffling to others

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

House Warming Gift Idea

I love that this exists. Thank you Eva for introducing me to it. And don't forget to "build your own".

(Can you tell I'm dying of stress right now?)

Single Girls?

Kind of an unusual post for me, but the request was so strange I couldn't really resist. Got the following email in my inbox the other day:

Stumbled across your blog and noticed that you're in Vancouver. I'm an NYC-dweller on a quest to get the word out about one of my readers; a hot single guy who lives in Vancouver. Please check out my blog post and/or forward the link to an adventurous friend who might be up to the challenge! :)

Blog: Rants, Raves & Other Fun Stuff
Post: Why Is This Man Single?!
Link: Why Is This Man Single?!

So, do I have any single friends? Or at least, anyone who'd be interested in dating a surfer who hates karaoke? Well friends, follow the link...

What I've Been Up to The Last Month +

Okay, some of you may have noticed I've been kinda M.I.A. lately. Some of you may even care what I was up to during this time. I had planned elaborate posts about some of the goings on, but being that so much time has passed, that all seems rather silly now. So, for those of you who care, the salient points:

-- I touched Peter Hook. I also sang "Bizarre Love Triangle" to him, and he sang back. It was magical.

-- Alex & I drove to Seattle at 3 in the morning to attend the Emerald City ComiCon. Alex got sketches by Adam Hughes and Tony Harris. I met tonnes of cool people like Dave Crosland, John Layman, Joshua Ortega, Eric Stephenson from Image, some folks from Oni, a couple of dudes from Things from Another World, Patrick Morgan, Roman Dirge, Alberto Ruiz-Diaz, Steve Lieber, and a whole bunch more whose names I have sadly forgotten. Many of these people were nice enough to talk to me and answer some of my questions regarding getting into the biz. Thanks guys! Oh, and pix are available here.

-- My team won 3rd prize at the company bowling party.



-- I'm moving into my first solo apartment. This is scary and exciting and sad all at the same time.

-- There will be another Evil Film School.






























-- I've decided to start looking for a real job. One with a dental plan, maybe.

-- I've taken up burlesque dancing. Don't tell my mom.

-- I have an internet doppelganger.

-- The Universe is fucking with me.

One More Before Bed

No really. Somebody help me.

#1 Sign I've Been Writing Shojo For Too Long

This is how I spent my morning. Thanks Kat.

Only 28 more episodes to go!!
Weeeeeeee!!!!

Thank You!!

Big huge fat thank you to everyone who showed up at Evil Film School's FREAK OUT last night. It was one of our best turn outs ever (I almost broke even!) & really helped renew my dedication to this project. Wasn't Skidoo so much better than you expected?

Hope to see all of you at our next event May 26. Details to follow.

~meeko

Reminder: Evil Film School This Thursday!

Hey Everybody!

Just wanted to remind y'all that Evil Film School's "Freak Out" is happening this Thursday @ Blim (197 E. 17th @ Main).

Doors: 7pm
Movies: 7:30
Admission: a mere $5

For more info go to www.evilfilmschool.com

Sorry This Isn't A More Substantial Post...

But I'm all for flighty distraction right now.




Your theme song is Groove is in the Heart!


What's Your Theme Song?

Brought to you by Tickle

(Note: This test was recommended by a friend. I didn't realize it was a dating site at the time.)

Movies I Watched Instead of Writing Part 13

The Demon Seed [1977] -- When the words "Based on a Novel by Dean R. Koontz" came on screen, we should have taken that as the warning it was meant to be. But no, it had Julie Christie in it. She was a classy actress, wasn't she? While watching her performance I had such trouble believing this that I actually had to get up and check IMDb to figure out what she had been in. Guess Doctor Zhivago had been a long time ago by the time she got involved in this mess. The physical manifestation of the computer was pretty cool, but the "social/political" overtones that others have sited are not only dated but half-arsed. Right up there with Orca.

The Entity
[1981] -- Way creepier than it had any right to be, likely thanks to the fact that it was based on a true story. Obviously certain things had been changed to make it more marketable, like the stupid ending w/ all the 'splosions, but when it was just trying to be spooky, it was a damn good scary movie. Ron Silver was perfectly typecast as the obsessive psychiatrist and Barbara Hershey gives a solid, sympathetic and engaging performance. Highly recommended.

Sympathy For Lady Vengeance [2005] -- Beautiful, lyrical, sick... Seriously dood, what more do you want from a Park Chan-wook movie? Yeong-ae Lee was surprisingly good in the lead, despite her tree-like performance in J.S.A. While still true to the whole "vengeance trilogy", it does have a distinctly "feminine" feel to it, which is odd since no doubt Park Chan-wook is considered a "male" director in North America because of the violent content of most of his films to this point. Elegant and epic. Also highly recommended.

Capote [2005] -- After waffling for a few years there, Philip Seymour Hoffman is again on my list of potential sires for my illegitimate love-child. A stirring portrayal of the breakdown of someone wracked with guilt over his own confused motives. An important film for writers I'd say. And of course, Chris Cooper, Bruce Greenwood & Catherine Keener are fabulous in supporting roles.

16 Blocks [2006] -- Fairly standard action/buddy/cop movie that gets derailed by a few too many endings. It was nice to see David Morse as a bad-guy (he's so good at it) and Mos Def is quickly becoming one of my faves, despite spending most of the movie doing what seems like his best Chris Tucker. Bruce Willis was practically a non-presence due to his efficiency as the drunken washed up cop, and part he seems to be able to play in his sleep at this point.

Block Party [2006] -- Funny, inspiring & humane. An important concert film and an eye-opener for people like myself who had never developed a taste for rap music. But really, with Dave Chappelle & Michel Gondry working together, how could I not like this movie?


Re-Animator [1985] -- Jeffrey Combs, also in the running for sire of my illegitimate love-child. I spent much of the film clapping my hands and squealing like a five year old at Christmas. My friend described his performance as "a special effect unto himself". Seriously, why has it taken me thing long to see this movie? I am going to dig up every scrap of Stuart Gordon I can find (bearing in mind that I have already sat through Robot Jox & Fortress).

The Squid & The Whale [2005] -- Devastating, beautiful, honest. And very, very funny. Not a good movie to watch if you're in the middle of a break-up though. Jeff Daniels gives a brave performance as a thoroughly unlikeable character. And the little kid, Owen Kline, is amazing (then again, what do expect from the spawn of Kevin Kline and Pheobe Cates?)


Next Stop Wonderland [1998] -- Intelligent, hopeful indie-romantic comedy of the sort I used to watch all the time with my sister. Neither of us could figure out how we'd managed to miss this one. Hope Davis' character is an inspiration and it was nice to see Callie Thorne in something other than Homicide.

Concert Review

Went to the Narduwar Doot Doola Doot Doot DVD release party last Tuesday, so being that it's been a full week since I actually saw the show, I figured I'd finally post a review of it. Luckily, Chart Online beat me to it, so I'm gonna be lazy and link to their review since I don't have much to add, except that I did have to pat myself on the back for not humping Chris Murphy's leg when I was sharing Nardward stories with him (oh god, did I just out myself as a Sloan fan? I think I did). Oh, and the theremin lazer battle was beyond rad. Even though Beej was dying of a cold he nearly jizzed in his pants when he heard that ethereal hum. A little sad there weren't more people dancing, but they did it in the movie theatre at UBC, and it is Vancouver afterall.

Canada's Oscars!!

The Genie Awards happened last night, and not surprisingly Quebequois film was first and foremost with sleeper hit C.R.A.Z.Y. taking away the most statues. I think it played in Vancouver for about 15 days. The rest of the winners are listed here.

Interesting that Global opted not to broadcast the actual ceremony since last year too many people made acceptance speeches in French only. Can they help it if their movies are interesting and make money?

Otaku Alert!!

Do you have a lot of time to kill? Like, A LOT of time?! Then go here and you too can have your own Dream Avatar. Exciting!

(Eva, I don't know whether to kick or kiss you.)

And the Winners Are...

Since I posted about the Alternative Oscars, I figured I might as well run down the winners as well.

Best Picture: Transamerica
Best Director: Miranda July (Me and You and Everyone We Know)
Best Actor: Felicity Huffman (Transamerica)
Best Actress: Laura Linney (The Squid & The Whale)
Best Supporting Actor: Jeffrey Wright (Syrianna)
Best Supporting Actress: Thandie Newton (Crash)
Best Canadian Feature: Water
Best Non-Human Actor: Penguins (March of the Penguins)
Worst Picture: Dukes of Hazzard

Movies I Watched Instead of Writing Part 12

Brokeback Mountain [2005] -- Finally decided to check out what all the fuss was about. While it was very pretty and well acted, I have to admit it didn't really do that much for me. The fact that I was bloated from too much Chinese food couldn't have helped, but I found the story too simple to really move me in any significant way. I'm still trying to figure out why Syrianna wasn't nominated for best picture...

The Weatherman [2005] -- Really well made, beautifully shot, acted and written movie about mediocrity that goes... nowhere. I sort of enjoyed the non-ending, and Nick Cage & Michael Caine were really funny, but my God, couldn't anything good happen in this movie? I really liked it and I'm glad it was made, but I understand why it didn't make a red cent. Who wants to spend $12+ to sit through 2 hours of someone else's crappy life? I'll recomend it, but be warned, it's a downer.

My Wife is a Gangster [2001]-- Not nearly as goofy as I'd feared, it's more a comedy of manners in a lot of ways. At least, that's when it seemed to work best for me. Eun-Kyung Shin is excellent as the reluctant bride and her sense of movement and deadpan delivery make what could have been another tedious wacky Korean comedy suprisingly entertaining. I kept thinking about what an American remake would be like and the only word I could come up with is "awful". What was a charming dissection of gender roles in a country that's still getting used to the idea of women in the work force would be reduced to a lame vanity piece for a washed up starlet and whatever Hollywood Roadkill was still hanging around.

Criminal Woman: Killing Melody [1973] -- Predictably plotted, but well paced entry into the "Female Boss" subgenre of Pinky Violence that doesn't lack blood or boobies. It also opens and closes with a Reiko Ike/Miki Sugimoto cat fight, which frankly sold me right away. Reiko Ike is at her bitchy best, and while Miki is mostly relegated to pouting and looking hot with a full back dragon tattoo, seeing the two of them together in something that makes more sense than Sukeban Guerilla was a perfect birthday treat. And Ryoji Hayama from Bloody Territories is in it too!

Of Movies and Men

So, a couple of years ago the Washington Post posted an article about the enduring legacy of the movie Sixteen Candles and the character of Jake Ryan in particular. I found this very amusing since, while I never really did understand why so many women would obsess over Mr. Ryan, my sister was a big fan of Sixteen Candles and could be counted amongst their ranks (to the point where I had to get her this t-shirt when I found it in L.A.)

Well, this year they posted a companion piece, this time about a movie crush I could relate to: Say Anything's Lloyd Dobbler. Now, while my sister can also count Mr. Dobbler amongst her fantasy crushes, I think the fact that I just don't get the whole Jake Ryan thing brings up some interesting points about what these sorts of things say about our personalities.

The protagonist of Sixteen Candles, Samantha Baker (Molly Ringwald), basically spends the entire movie complaining about how no one ever notices her and how her whole family managed to forget her sixteenth birthday. My sister, being the middle child, can no doubt relate and for many years honestly believed that bad things were destined to happen on her birthday (it also didn't help that bad things did have a habit of happening on her birthday, but that also depends on you definition of "bad things").

The protagonist of Say Anything, Diane Court (Ione Skye),is a bookish golden girl who has a hard time believing guys find her attractive. Now, while I don't suppose myself to be nearly as smart and gifted as Diane Court, I certainly was a bit of a nerd in highschool.

Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling) is, to borrow a phrase, "perfect" (personally I find him boring as hell, but that's me). He's rich, good looking, is kind to those lower than him on the social ladder and he drives a bithin' car. My sister's boyfriends, in general, have come from good families, been good dressers and almost all had cars that they could drive her around in.

Lloyd Dobbler (John Cusack) is aimless, neurotic, and totally devoted to Diane. My boyfriends, in general, have been loyal and awkward, with a penchant for wearing hightops and or trenchcoats.

I'm not really sure where I was going with any of this, but I guess what I'm getting at is that all this pop culture crap that we latch onto really does have a bearing on our personalities. Whether the crap shapes those personalities, or whether our choices in crap are influenced by pre-existing predilictions is hard to say as both films were a part of our formative years. But it matters none the less.

So, out of curiousity, where do you stand? Jake or Lloyd? (Boys can comment too...)

Videomatica's Alternative Oscars

So, every year the videostore I used to work at held a promotion they called the "Alternative Oscars". Basically the staff nominated movies or people they thought had been ignored by the Academy and then customers got to vote on our nominies. Everyone who voted was entered into a draw. Well it's that time of year again, and while I may not work there anymore, I figured it was worth a little post and a link:
Alternative Oscars

Been Busy

Sorry for the lack of regular posting, but life's kinda been all over the place for me lately. However, I do seem to be closer to getting into a groove, and I've got a few posts saved up so the next little while should yield some fun stuff.

More importantly, blim has informed me that there will be another Evil Film School night!



Thursday March 30th: Skidoo & BJ Lang Presents

Refreshments highly recommended.

For info: check the Evil Film School website

Skinemaxtastic!!

Have you seen the "promo reel" for Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction (!) that got posted on the web yesterday?!
What? You didn't even know they were making a sequel? Oh. My. God. Do yourself a favour & check it out RIGHT NOW!!!
I have not laughed that hard in a long time. What the hell is Charlotte Rampling doing in this movie?!

So. Much. Humping.
::Giggle::

Cool Shit in VanCity

Cinema Sewer launch party this Friday (Feb 10)!
7:30 -9(:30).
BYOB

For more details go to Robin's LiveJournal

Pardon My Meme

Best. Blonde Joke. Ever.

Foods For Thoughts

Insightful article from the BFI publication Sight & Sound about the current renaissance in Korean film and the inability of mainstream North American critics to get past the ultra-violence. With particular attention paid to Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, Lady Vengeance), Kim Jee-woon (Tale of Two Sisters, A Bittersweet Life) & the generalized Korean distrust of authority. Also check out the interviews with Park Chan-wook & Kim Jee-woon.

Need a Giggle?

I know I do.

Dancing Jesus

Sure I'll Join Your Cult...

But that doesn't mean I'll be your friend.

So, a couple of weeks ago Theron finally talked me into joining MySpace. I had considered joining a while ago, since apparently I know lots of people on there, but I just got kind of a skeezy hook-up vibe and chickened out. But, since a friend had invited me to join, I figured it couldn't be that bad. And for the most part I'm sure it isn't. However, other than Theron and my buddy Roman (and Bess & Katie), the only other people who've offered to add me as a friend have been sleazy DJ types with 1008 friends, most of them women in halter tops. Which I'm sure is fine for them, but I have no idea how I fit into that scene.

So, if you're my friend and you're on MySpace, please add me as your friend so I don't have to be friends with sleazy DJs.

My Profile

Update

I don't know who's heard what, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm doing okay. Your support is appreaciated, and while the next little while won't be easy, I'm confident that we can get through it.

Thanks. Now back to our regularly scheduled posts about nothing.

Attention Wannabe Horror Filmmakers

Found this on Craigslist the other day by accident. Wouldn't have bothered posting about it except that I know the guy who posted it. I reviewed his film Subhuman about a year ago, and I do have to say I was impressed. This man is serious, and talented, so if you have a project in mind it's probably worth contacting him. I wish him much luck in this endevour and I look forward to following his progress.

This is Kinda Cool...

So, as most of you are aware, the Sundance Independent Film Festival is currently in full swing. I've never been myself, but it is something on my to do list, although my fear of yuppies will probably keep me away for a while yet. However, Film Threat has come up with the next best thing. In addition to the regular deluge of reviews they provide, they've added a blog and videos (!) to their coverage this year. That's right, now you too can watch a drunken Eric Campos mutter about how all the parties suck, and watch Chris Gore coast on his name. And it's updated everyday. I'm so jealous.

I Love Uwe Boll!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the man is my hero. There seems to be a misconception that he is somehow a part of the Hollywood scene, but as this interview proves, he too rages against the machine. Apparently we should in fact be blaming Billy Zane, something I don't really find that hard to do. My favorite part is when he talks about how he deleted an entire script from his computer. Genius!

So, who's coming with me to see BloodRayne?

Buy This!!

In an effort to make up for my lack of posting this week, I've decided to just spread out my week's posts over the course of today. Gives me an excuse to stop the Anime insanity (cramming, what's cramming?) and you an excuse to keep hitting "Refresh." And so...

Our lovely friend (I said friend, I feel so special) Robin Boogie has released another DVD, which you need:



For more info or to order, check Robin's Live Journal or go here.

Good Excuse

Okay, so I disappeared off the face of the planet again. But when I tell you why, I think you'll be happy. That's right, we're doing another Evil Film School night.

Friday, January 27th.
Doors are at 7:30pm, first film is at 8:00pm.
And the films, oh the films!
Legends of the Superheroes and 3 Dev Adam (a.k.a. Turkish Spider-man)!!!
Same location as the Xmassacre (Blim @ 197 E. 17th, just off Main).
Admission is again by donation (suggested $5 to cover operating costs & to ensure future screenings).
For more info, email evilfilmschool (at) gmail (dot) com.

Dubai's Guide to Marital Bliss

Found this while reading Brian's Globe & Mail over his shoulder on the plane to Calgary and had to share. Who knows, the marriage you save could be your own.

In the United Arab Emirates, nearly one in two marriages fails -- a high rate by the standards of Muslim societies. To help improve the odds, the Dubai Police department recently published a six-page pamphlet aimed at educating newlyweds. What follow are selected excerpts.

Advice for The Man

• A woman doesn't like a miser. So don't be stingy in offering gifts and invitations frequently.


• Don't forget to flirt with her and satisfy her desire in bed.


• A woman doesn't like criticism. So don't engage in verbal assaults to show her weak points openly.


• Don't expect her to solve problems in a reasonable way, because she is too passionate to solve them logically.


• Don't interfere with how she runs the house. Instead, give her the confidence and let her feel the queen of her nest.


• Try to satisfy her femininity by praising her and admiring her clothes, makeup, cooking and home design.


• You should take into consideration a woman's mood swings during child-birth, pregnancy and menstruation.


• Don't sway away from your wife because she likes to be heard or listened to.


• A husband committing adultery is the harshest issue to a woman, so don't even think about doing it.


• Don't forget what she asks for. Otherwise, she will feel unloved and that she means nothing to you.

Advice for The Woman

• Don't compare yourself to him. He is different.


• Don't intrude into his solitude when he prefers to be alone to deal with problems he is trying to solve.


• Don't provoke the cruel nature in your man. When he is nervous, he can lose his patience instantly.


• Don't expect him to do what you like doing, for he does not think the same way you do.


• Don't impose your thoughts on him, because he will get angry if he feels that you are dominating him.


• A man doesn't like a talkative woman. Don't nag because it will only confuse him.


• Don't wait for him to say sorry, because he doesn't like to apologize. In case he wants to express regret, he will do it indirectly.


• Don't leave him feeling unwanted, in order not to lose his tender loving care.


• Don't tell him something he doesn't like, because doing this would hurt his feelings and ruin his mood.


• Don't criticize him in front of his friends or family, for he will feel that you are challenging his masculinity.


• Don't nag him with questions all the time, because he likes to be free as a bird.


• Don't let him feel unwanted during love-making; otherwise, he will seek pleasure from another partner.


• Keep the secrets of your husband because he is secretive by nature.


• Don't tell him you are better than him in order to not lose his love and respect.


• Shower him with your love and care for him because this satisfies his desires.


• Don't give your children care and tenderness more than your husband. He should be the focus of you attention when he is home.

Gulf News

Video Joy

So, despite being a "blogger" and playing around lots on the intraweb, I have managed to miss out on many a meme or cool site. Like today, I decided to spend a good 2 hours educating myself on Numa Numa and Red vs. Blue. I know, don't mock me too harshly (although I have a feeling you can probably guess how much work I actually have to do this weekend, ha!)

However, my favourite recent discovery (courtesy of my good friend Louie, who is awesome), is Teen Homicide, a series created by a couple of his friends for Channel 102, the East Coast cousin of the also very excellent Channel 101. For those not familiar (okay, fine, again it's just me, but fuck you I'm gonna explain it anyways), Channels 101 & 102 work thusly: Every month, filmmakers submit a 5 minute pilot. These pilots are voted on at a live screening, with the winners returning the next month with another 5 minute episode. Losers are either considered "Failed Pilots" or "Cancelled". I think it's a great concept, and it really seems to have taken off. In fact, Channel 101 seems to have become such an empire that many of their more popular shows are all self-referential. A little frustrating for the uninitiated, but watching these communities being built is still kind of inspiring. And for the record, my favourite Channel 101 show right now is Yacht Rock. Do yourself a favour and watch all 5 episodes right now.

Movies I Watched Instead of Writing Part 11

Big Doll House [1971] -- God bless Jack Hill. Pam Grier's first big movie. She wasn't given that much to do, but what she was given certainly gives her opportunity to stand out. A little slow moving, (ok, fine, I fell asleep) but all in all a respectable American entry into the chicks behind bars genre. Sadly, after Female Convict Scorpion, there really isn't much going back.

Syrianna [2005] -- The two most common complaints I've heard regarding this movie are that a) it's too hard to follow and b) it doesn't go far enough. Both of these complaints are pure and utter crap. If you find reading the newspaper confusing, then sure, maybe the movie could be hard for you to follow, but most people with half a brain in their heads should have no trouble. As for the other complaint, the fact is it's a film made with Hollywood money meant to appeal to a broad(ish) audience. To completely explain and examine the complicated issues surrounding the subject matter (oil) would require a television series that would need to run for about 10 years. As far as boiling down the basic points and putting them into context, I think the film did a great job, especially in tying each facet of the story to a character or characters we could really invest in. It also managed to avoid the soapier moments of Traffic (also written by Stephen Gaghan), and as a result I really prefer Syrianna. A self assured & throught provocking directorial debut.

Grizzly Man [2005] -- Werner Herzog doc on self-proclaimed "Guardian of the Grizzlies," Timothy Treadwell, who spent 13 summers in the wilds of Alaska living with and documenting the native grizzly population before he and his girlfriend were mauled to death in 2003. As is expected, Herzog does an amazing job of first drawing our sympathies towards this sensitive crusader who would lecture in schools free of charge, before slowly peeling away at the fabricated persona to expose a much darker, confused soul, who by all accounts got what he perhaps subconsciously wanted.

Munich [2005] -- Nice try Spielberg, but no cigar. What starts off as a gripping, dark ode to gritty '70's films like The Conversation, quickly devolves into typical Hollywood melodrama. And he really did have me going, which is perhaps why the devolution which occurred irked me so much. Then again, maybe it's just that for me, there's no question. The assassinations were purely political, with Munich providing a nice excuse to rouse patriotism. Did we really need 3 hours to examine how futile the "eye for an eye" ideology is? I actually laughed out loud near the end during the big "sex/assassination" montage. However, I felt the performances were all very strong and I did appreciate the final shot of the Twin Towers. But, having just seen the intelligent and classy Syrianna, I have no idea what this movie is doing at the top of so many top 10 lists.

Wedding Crashers [2005] -- Much funnier than I expected, with a nice raucous John Landis sort of feel through much of it (they even use the Otis Day and the Knights version of "Shout" from Animal House)However, the Will Ferrell cameo near the end almost sank it for me. He was fine when he was inside the house, but given room to move around, the magic wore off very quickly. What happened to you Will Ferrell?! You were supposed to save comedy! You and Dave Chappelle were supposed to be our saviours!! Oh well, I guess it's up to Seth Rogen now.

I'm Baack!

Some of you (okay, fine, just Theron) may have been wondering where I’ve been for the last week. Well, from Thursday to Sunday I was in Calgary at another motorcycle show. Prior to that, I was going crazy trying to get all my stuff finished in time for the bike show. Three days & three nights of writing Anime, drinking green tea by the pot and eating leftover marshmallows does tend to wear on the soul.

As for the bike show itself, what can I say? It was better than Seattle, since people actually seemed to show up this time. And the weather was surprisingly mild, mostly clear and sunny hovering around zero during the day with only the faintest specks of white dancing in the sky. And the eats in Calgary are surprisingly good. Thursday night we went to this French restaurant called Fleur de Sel that we discovered last year. Brian talked me into getting the ostrich, which was not nearly as gamey as I had feared. Kinda like pork, but with a richer poultry-like flavour. Waiter kept trying to convince me that ostrich was native to Canmore (some sort of freak glacial incident), which led to the on going debate between Brian and myself as to whether the waiter was gay or not. Didn’t manage to settle that one, but I’m confident my gaydar is finer tuned than his is.

Friday night was spent at Mercato, an unusual Italian bistro style place that’s actually inside an upscale Italian supermarket. Again, much better than I suspected, I had the Forest Mushroom Fettucini, which was excellent, and a very nice Pinot Blanc. Dinner conversation was this time preoccupied with cracks about pecorino & risotto balls, not to mention the two foot long pepper mill.

Saturday we went to The Living Room, a very trendy lounge style place where Mike spent the whole time giving the waiter grief, something which Brian & I teased him about for the rest of the trip. Being that I’d managed to grab a sandwich with my aunt & uncle who happened to stop by the show, despite my not calling them (or anyone I knew in Calgary for that matter); I opted for a light dinner of warm spinach & scallop salad and the phyllo wrapped brie (okay, maybe not so light) accompanied by a big buttery Chardonnay. Mike got me to confess that the only reason I do the bike shows is for the Chardonnay & the creme brules. And let me tell you, I have had my fair share of crème brules & this had to have been one of the best. It was tri-flavoured & came in this cool stripy dish that didn’t work so well with the big fat desert spoon I’d been given. Amaretto, chocolate, & a honey rosemary thing that nearly caused me to cream my panties. So good!!

Sunday was a hard slog as it usually is, but it did give me time to get some bike pictures & girl talk with Stephanie from Nakusp. Managed to bluff my way through two bike centric conversations with one of the Ducati salesmen, something I seem to be getting better at. Or maybe he didn’t care either since I’m pretty sure he was trying to flirt with me. Oh well. Then it was time to pack up & rush out to the airport for the flight home. Only one more show to go (Vancouver, in two weeks), then I’m all done with bikes until next year.

Just because everyone keeps telling me how good I look on a scooter.

For more pix of me on a Vespa, go here.

Happy New Year!

Just got back from my baachan's house where, as is tradition, I stuffed myself stupid. New year's is a big deal in Japanese culture, and while it used to be celebrated according to the lunar calendar like in China & Korea, they decided to change it in 1873. Which means that come January 1rst, no matter how hungover and skanky I feel, it is my duty to clean myself off and join my family at my baachan's house so that we can eat fresh sashimi (the only time of year my baachan actually splashes out on raw tuna) & try not to make too many faces at the stinky New Year's soup that only my mom will eat. Went pretty easy on the sake considering the events of the night before (I'll get to that another day) & was pretty disappointed at the lack of mochi. Especially since the frozen mochi my sister had brought last night was dried out & tough, although she did promise to buy me a mochi machine when she goes to Japan. That would be sweet.

(The graphic is from a traditional New Year's Card or nengajyo that you can buy through this site.)