Everybody wants to be the person with the info. At least that’s the way it seems these days with social media. For some things like celebrity deaths or great deals on fine footwear that’s ok…whatever. But can we please leave spoilers for movies and now, trailers, out of it? Come on, kids…play nice.

I’m conflicted posting this as it may become spoiler-ish in nature by purely mentioning it but I’m assuming that if you’re here you already peruse movie news websites. If not, stop reading and go away. Come back after you’ve seen Iron Man 2.

Two days ago I had no idea that J.J. Abrams was involved in another “Cloverfield” type of project called “Super 8″. The teaser trailer is to be attached to prints of Iron Man 2 much like “Cloverfield” was a surprise for everyone watching “Transformers”. So leave it to the attention starved weenus bags of the info web to start blabbing every effing detail about this little treat. People…if you know this stuff, leave it be. But if you must tell please include some sort of spoiler alert. It’s lame to even have to say that.

Would the “Usual Suspects” have had the same impact with today’s cinema going public? People respected that movie, recommended it and let folks discover the secrets for themselves. Nobody told what was going to happen. Same thing with “The Crying Game”. The difference now is the dicks are off screen and in the seats waiting to tweet or update every damn detail before people can see it for themselves.

J.J. Abrams and his crew work very hard to keep things from the audience. I’m guilty of reading the news and seeing what’s going on in the world of production. Broad strokes. If you’re so compelled to throw stuff out there please label it with spoiler alerts so that some of us can still be surprised.

All of those Chuck Norris jokes are funny, sure, but if you change the name to Tom Atkins they become gospel.

Tom Atkins, star of “The Fog”, “My Bloody Valentine 3D” and “The Rockford Files”, doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. I feel it’s my duty, because of a reinvigorated obsession with “Night of the Creeps” and as someone who was greatly influenced by his work in it, to share a few things with you.

1) His unyielding awesomeness:

2) His ability to be a total bad ass:

3) This shot:

These are all bits from “Night of the Creeps”. The movie is a gem and this is a thinly veiled attempt to get you to rent or purchase the bastard and witness in full the glory of Tom Atkins as Detective Ray Cameron. This is his best work and the clips above give you a mere glimpse into the character and tone of the film. Fred Dekker supplied an amazing script and really put together something special. It wasn’t understood when it came out in 1986 but thanks to it’s recent release on DVD and BluRay there is another chance for this film. If it does well there is a chance for “Dawn of the Creeps”. Let the director of “Monster Squad” get back behind the camera and see where these characters are now.

Already a fan? Check this bad boy out:

http://www.fright-rags.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=69

Thrill me in the comments section!

The real victory that should be celebrated from this year’s Super Bowl is that Snack Attack Samurai, a contest entry commercial for Doritos co-directed by Cole Koehler and Ben Krueger, is currently the most watched commercial…EVER! According to the Neilsen Wire blog 116,231,920 people had eyes on their television at 9:30PM this past Sunday. That is insane. Even crazier? It’s a really good commercial.

See? Told you…

Congratulations to the crew and cast of Snack Attack Samurai. You have placed 4th in the contest but you are unquestionably #1 in the eyes of the nation. We now have the numbers to back it up. Snack on that, shock collar dog!

My obsession with the Star Wars Holiday Special began back in 1997 when I bought a VHS copy from a vendor at the monthly L.A. comic convention. When I got home and watched the madness play out before me I was at once horrified, mystified and had a new mission…to share this abomination with as many people as possible. Siblings, relatives you only see at holiday gatherings, friends that should know better…no one was safe. It wasn’t until 2007 when I saw the potential to use this thing to not only satisfy people’s morbid curiosity but do some good as well. The 1st screening was held on Saturday, December 1st, 2007 in  the IFP classroom. 12 people showed up during a snowstorm and had an absolute blast. There is power in numbers! I knew then we needed a bigger venue so more people could join the jamboree. On November 19th, 2008, 2 days after the 30th anniversary of the original airdate we sold out Bryant Lake Bowl and had to turn a few folks away. Here I found myself in some sort of David Lynchian world as all of a sudden as I was now telling people, “Sorry, you can’t come watch Chewbacca’s dad enjoy some soft core VR with me.”

This year I underestimated you. Never. Again.

On Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 more than 225 people descended upon Bryant Lake Bowl for the MFTVB’s 3rd annual Toys For Tots Screening of the Star Wars Holiday Special. What the hell were they thinking?

First, thanks to all you nutters out there for braving the cold and slogging through two sold out screenings of this wookiee laden drivel. There were a couple of sour grapes in the bunch, sure, but the patience and generosity of those who made it out was overwhelming. In a year showing record low donations for Toys For Tots we were able to make a big difference for a lot of kids. The Marines from Toys For Tots weren’t even prepared for the haul you brought in. Thank you. Also to the lady that chucked a Russian loaf at me, in a night showcasing people’s willingness to give to those less fortunate than themselves you threw cellophane wrapped black bread at me. That was a first, thank you very much and what the hell?

The show was scheduled for doors at 9P and a start time of 9:30P. Well, since the first show was sold out shortly after 8P that bird didn’t fly. BLB was an absolute madhouse with costumed characters, toy donators, bread throwers and generally curious members of the public all wanting to see, despite my very vocal warnings, the best/worst thing to ever air on television. We were able to start the show early and add a second, which was sold out right about 9:30P.

Man, what a great night! This year we had a special intro from Transylvania Television, hand silk screened “Treebacca” posters by Clint Lugert of THEY Design, a written apology from SWHS credited writer Pat Proft and members of the Rebel Legion meeting and greeting folks. The first show was fantastic but screening numero dos was loopy beyond compare. People quoting Chef Gormaanda’s dialog, a sing along with Bea Arthur and Carrie Fisher? Friends, your voices have been heard and next year already promises to be bigger and better.

In the meantime you can check out the intro to the SWHS from TVTV below and purchase your very own limited “Treebacca” from here.

Thanks to Paul Clark and Sophie Scheller for being the only 3-time veterans of this event, Bryant Lake Bowl, Transylvania TV, Pat Proft, The Rebel Legion, Clint Lugert of THEY Design, my coworkers at the MFTVB, friends who got sucked into being helper elves and everyone that made this such an epic event. Next year, the saga continues…

Happy Life Day, everyone!

Here it is in all it’s gory glory. I’ll be back tomorrow to further explain the low tech magic of the fx in the film. Let me know what you think in the comment section below. Other 48 teams share your links to your projects too.

“Minutes to Midnight” is our effort for the 2009 48 Hr Film Project. Going into it this year the team’s goal was to bookend the film with exploding heads and/or gunshots to the head upping the anty with each gag. Lofty, I know… We were hoping to make use of zombie heads and get back to our horror/comedy roots. Pulling Historical Fiction/Period Piece didn’t prove to be quite the stumbling block I thought it would. The team sat with it for awhile, researching outbreaks, insane asylums, medical testing, and even urban exploration looking for that idea that would make use of our genre, our warehouse location and gratuitous gore.

The big break came courtesy of Colette Ricci, Y2K. Remember how mental people went over that bit of business? Seriously? So the idea is it’s a few minutes before the turn of the new millennium and some poor sods are stuck in an office making sure things don’t go to shit when the bell tolls. Unfortunately for them they are messing up a janitors (Chris Bakke) stockpile and plans of preparation for what he believes is sure to be mayhem and destruction.

Fun Fact #1 – The US Government spent over $300 BILLION in preparation for Y2K

The film opens with some sandwich eating nerd (James Allen Gappa) getting shot in the head. All of our fx work is done on the spot, in camera and enhanced only by sound design and editing. The gag is pretty basic. Make up a batch of blood, fill a condom with said blood, attach it to the back of your friends head and blow the fucker up. You want to fill the condo up pretty generously and then tie it off. To detonate we use Black Cats attached to an ignitor that runs to alligator clips attached to a battery. We mounted the blood heavy condo on an aluminum rod fit to sandwich nerd’s back. When the second clip touches the lead on the battery the ignitor does it’s thing, the Black Cat goes boom, the blood goes splat. Check and make sure your friend/actor is alright. Hooray!

Questions? Fire away in the comment section…

The 48 Hr Film Project means many things to many people. Is it a chance to get your name out there or tinker with new equipment? Maybe get some recognition for a job well done and win an award? Or maybe you just say fuck it, rally some friends and make each other laugh while fueled by single serving bags of Frito Lay chips, fun size Nestle products and energy drinks. Anyway you approach it, it’s an adventure.

Having done the production dance for 12 years now I know what to expect from such an event and what I want from it. For the past two years I’ve worked with Off-Center Entertainment, spearheaded by Ryan Schaddelee, and the past two years I’ve had a blast. When I’m working for someone else (The Man) the position and paycheck have to make sense. When I’m working for myself or with friends I couldn’t care less about those things. I’m going to do whatever I need to do and we’re going to end up with a project everyone can be happy with. We’ve all worked together before and share similar sensibilities and have a shorthand that makes things a breeze for the most part. There was one argument I’ll save for a post screening update.

For those of you unfamiliar with the 48, here are the broad strokes. Put together a team, show up at a designated place on a Friday night to get your genre and turn your finished film in before 7:30P on Sunday. The first genre option comes from a list of 14 (horror, western or musical, comedy, detective/cop, etc…). If you don’t like the first pick you can go back to the well for a wild card genre. These get a bit more specific (historical fiction/period piece, ghost story, family film, fable, etc…). Once you choose to draw a wild card, that’s it, you’re stuck sucka. Then there are 3 elements that must be incorporated into every film regardless of genre. This year they were:

Character: Kathleen or Kevin Schanbel, an expert
Prop: A sandwich
Dialog: “I hope they decide soon.”

Our one pre-production meeting consisted of us determining what genres we would ditch for a wild card. There were also burritos. We decided fantasy, romance, film de femme and mockumentary were not for us. So of course we draw fantasy and now we have to wait around to see what the hell we get in the wild card draw. I was certain it would be fable but it was not.

If you don’t have anything going on tonight come on down to the Riverview and see how we incorporated everything mentioned in this post’s title into a 6 minute film with the genre of historical fiction/period piece. Were we able to manipulate the genre enough to play to our strengths? Will old school, in camera fx play well with the crowd? We’ll see…

I’ll be back with updates and photos explaining how the gags were done over the course of the next week or so.

87 teams signed up for the Minneapolis 48 Hr Film Project road show with all screenings held at the Riverview Theater. For more details visit:
http://www.48hourfilm.com/minneapolis/

The Minnesota made horror film “13 Hours In A Warehouse” hits Red Box today. That’s pretty cool, and chances are if you are in a place that has Red Box you don’t have the most discerning taste (or you collect Madagascar 2 toys and that’s not good either). You might as well spend another buck and support a local filmmaker.  Amazon, Best Buy, Blockbuster, Netflix…you can find the film just about anywhere. People are divided over Dav Kaufman’s film. Tripe or triumph, gorehound or not, whatever you think here is some fodder for people on both sides of the fence.

“13 Hours In A Warehouse” Drinking Game:

1 drink – every time you see a rat
1 drink – every time someone smokes
1 drink – every time someone drinks
1 drink – every time someone dies
1 drink – every time you see a ghost
1 drink – every time you see “32369” written on a wall (which is also the director’s birthday)

And on the other side here’s what our friends at Metro Magazine have to say:

Local Horror Film Wins Big
Hundreds of independent horror films are produced in Minnesota each year, most of which never leave the camcorder in which they were shot and simultaneously edited. Occasionally, however, a locally produced horror film will rise from out of the corn-syrup-and-chocolate blood concoction and get noticed. This year Dáv Kaufman’s 13 Hours in a Warehouse did just that. The film, shot locally with regional talent, took home the Gold Remi Award at WorldFest, Houston’s prestigious international film and video festival. The film later found global distribution and is now available through Netflix.

Watch the trailer and enjoy a pint:

Congrats to Dav Kaufman and crew on getting this one out there.

Far too often it’s Hollywood that gets the headlines…that’s about to change.

The ADS Group and the Minnesota Film & TV Board are proud to announce “MFTVB Presents”, a new series of screenings showcasing the work of Minnesotans in the moving image industry. Our first event features the work of filmmakers who have all had success bringing out of state money and/or projects back to Minnesota.

Jonathan Nowak (SILO Films), Andrew Hunt & Jason Lausche (Sleepy Eye) and Ryan Wood (Dangerously Adorable Films).

Jonathan Nowak started his prosperous commercial career with Fallon, moved to LA and has brought numerous national ad jobs back into the city. Jon recently launched a Minneapolis chapter of his production company SILO a few weeks ago.

The filmmaking team of Andrew Hunt and Jason Lausche, SleepyEye, will also be featured. Andy was selected to be on the filmmaking reality show “On The Lot”, created by Mark Burnett & Steven Spielberg, beating out 12,000 other filmmakers and became a finalist on the show.

Finally, the screening will conclude with the new episode of the internet success, ‘Fear of Girls’. Currently, Ryan Wood is (”humbly”) attempting to create a definitive long form comedy series with “Fear of Girls” as it tumbles and bumps its way along its 13-episode arc.

Don’t miss your chance to see all of this work on the big screen, projected to the tune of 10,000 lumens in beautiful Blu Ray. Get your popcorn and get ready to laugh, this is a lineup of comedic work that is tough to beat. There will be a brief Q & A with the filmmakers after the screening and a chance to speak with them in further detail at our after party hosted by The Local.

Tickets to the event are $10 with all the proceeds going to the MFTVB, a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation with the mission of building and promoting the art and commerce of the moving image industry in Minnesota as a force for economic growth.

It’s going to be a great night. Come out and support these local filmmakers and your friendly neighborhood film commission.

Thursday, December 4, 2008
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: Riverview Theatre
Street: 3800 42nd Ave South
City/Town: Minneapolis, MN

Find the Facebook invite here.

Thanks to The ADS Group for sponsoring this event (without them this wouldn’t have happened). Thank you to the filmmakers for sharing your work and believing in the talent, crew and vendors in your own backyard. Thanks to The Local for taking care of us all after the screening. Thanks to MCTC student and photographer Tom Kemmer for silk-screening. Word up and huge praise to Clint Lugert and “THEY” Design for the kickass poster. A signed and numbered edition of 100 will be available at the screening for $10.

See you all Thursday night!

Crypticon is in full swing and since I’m here and you’re reading this that means you’re not. Come on down! An iced latte would be great, thanks. There are tons of vendors, piercings and people trying to silently outdo each other with obscure metal band shirts. I was in the lead for sure until the dude with the Dimmu Borgir shirt showed up. James Duval and Michael Berryman are meeting fans and shaking hands.. Scarlet Salem and the NFTS Productions crew are in full swing. It’s a cornucopia of Minnesota horror delight. When I get my shee-at figured out I’ll update you with photos as well.

I’ll be updating throughout the weekend. Hit F5 and keep the spirit alive…

6:25P

Paul Von Stoetzel (or PVS to his fans) had to bail on me because “Hannah & Her Sisters” was on WGN, Chicago’s very own Channel 9. Whatever…get out of your Woody Allen phase already. Michael Howe is here to keep me company now and promote “Dawning”. Gregg Holtgrewe wrote and directed and TJ Schwingle shot it. Creepy, moody, worthy of discussion for long after and pretty much one location. Go to the website and see for yourself. Posters designed by our good friend Clint Lugert from THEY Design. www.wholecrue.com or www.dawningthemovie.com

7:28P

The dealer room is packed! Transylvania TV is screening right now but you can catch a clip on the
main page on the website in MN Showcase. Our table is next to Electric Dragonland’s tattoo master Dan Dittmer and the North Star Roller Girls. I have sexy neighbors! There are worse ways to spend a weekend. Ric McCloud (www.ricmccloud.com)is firing out screeners of “Unholy Reunion” like Brewster spent his millions. Come get some.

9:02P

The Radisson has run out of Doritos…chaos ensues! How the hell did someone let this happen? Now there are going to be orange fingered horror fans running through the streets of Roseville. Chris Sarandon is a fast reader. Fact.

9:14P

This concludes our broadcast day but we will be back tomorrow with several local horror lovin’ rascals to add to the wit and wisdom of the blog. Boosh.

9:19P

I lied. There’s a discussion going on with Dan and a rollergal…”muffin top” has come up twice as a concern in tattoo placement. Muffin top? Muffin top! Also, and I didn’t know this…faux hawks are in this winter.

Saturday

11:32A

Matt Osterman is here previewing the trailer for “Phasma Ex Machina”. He directed from his own McKnight screenwirting finalist script. There are dudes dressed as Ghostbusters here today too.

I am deadlocked in a staring contest with Doug Jones.

12:22P

The staring contest is over but it ended with a hug. We are friends again. The trailer for “Phasma Ex Machina” will screen at the Traffic Zone Center for Visual Arts this coming Friday. Find out more at www.phasmamovie.com.

1:03P

Getting crowded…herd mentality is ruling the day. John Kassir just frightened the poo out of everyone after launching into his Cryptkeeper voice. A little trip down memory lane…

1:25P

Big money hustla, Dav Kaufman, and Jasmine Reid have taken over the MFTVB table with “13 Hrs In A Warehouse” gear. They will also share grooming tips and have a chili cook-off.

2:22P Charles Hubbell is hanging at the Transylvania TV table with Gordon Smuder. Charles preforms the Count LeShoc character. He can also be seen purchasing “13 Hrs in a Warehouse”, or acting in Jon Springer’s “The Hagstone Demon” and a ton of other production.

2:32P

How the hell did I not mention that , Charlotte Kemp…Frankenhooker herself, is here. That VHS box holds special memories for me. There was a subway lamp post on the box when, if pushed, would cause the cheap speaker to squawk out “Wanna date?”

4:42P

Todd Cobery is out of the house. Jon Springer is in the house. Ryan Schaddelee is bringing down the house.

5:25P

There is love: The Doug Jones photo essay..

.

5:33P

From the best live show/campy movie program you have yet to see, Strange Show Sandwich’s Rock N’ Roll Ray is here.

www.rockandrollray.com

6:38P

Minnesota’s finest:

Sunday

12:59P

It’s pretty quiet today but that’s good for the folks here because they get some quality time with the actors and horror icons from years past. Christian Hansen and Mike Etoll are doing some live fx demos. Minnesota native Kelli Maroney is sharing cookies from her gift basket and hanging with her family. Chris Sarandon has finished The Winds of War and has started in on suduko.

3:22P

Things are winding down now for sure. I think it’s time to pack it up and head home. It’s been a good weekend and thanks to all the MN filmmakers and industry professionals who came out and showcased what we have to offer.

John Kassir is blasting some Cryptkeeper holiday tunes. If he wasn’t a fan of Transylvania TV I would go wrassle’ him to the ground and take his Fisher Price boombox away. Not true, but damn…that would be a great way to wrap the con up!