Italian Lemonade

Screw Valentine's Day.

2012-02-09T08:55:00.000-08:00

I hate Valentine's Day. Lame ass holiday. An excuse for single people to feel bad and attached people to feel obligated to buy something.

I was gonna watch a giallo or two on Valentine's Night. Or maybe Human Centipede 2. But now I have to work that night.

I hope chocolates get recalled on the 15th for something that causes debilitating diarrhea.

I hope some Cabin Fever-infested hobo molests all the lingerie at Victoria's Secret.

I did have a joke about hoping birth control failed, too. But it ended too dark. Even for me.

Anyhow, at least Valentine's Day will be the day my first Film Series is due for 70's class.

My professor expected me to do gialli. And I delivered. But of course my stupid ass decided to challenge myself.

I'm doing gialli that criticize the Catholic church.

Don't Torture a Duckling, House with the Laughing Windows, Alice Sweet Alice (I call it an American giallo), and Killer Nun.

I barely see why Killer Nun has been classified as a giallo. But its giallo elements are almost an afterthought. And Anita Ekberg needed to really get naked. Paola Morra was hot, but her browned teeth ruined it for me. I mean, I have a jacked up grill, but if I had any brown on my teeth, I'd take out another student loan to fix that shit.

Rewatching Don't Torture a Duckling, I forgot how well crafted a film it really is.

On another note, I keep remembering old stories and treatments that I had ages ago. You know, that went in the fire of 2000 with my computer.

Latest rediscovery is a treatment I had called Noir. It was very Suspiria-Phenomena-batshit crazy like. I might have to revisit it sometime soon.

Okay. Gonna fart around and drink my smoothie while waiting for my 3:00 class. We're watching Black Caesar.

Later.
-Justin

5 lbs

2012-01-23T20:07:00.000-08:00

Halfway to my first goal.

I've lost five pounds so far, according to my scale at home.

Of course, I am still getting Four Flies on Grey Velvet on Shameless Blu Ray. Dario Blu Rays are non-negotiable exceptions. Other exceptions: Birthday Money and if my family does anything for Valentine's.

Though I will ask a question.

I have a shitload of coins saved up that I plan on cashing in for amazon.com gift cards. Can I use any of them on gialli? I'll ask your permission.

Okay. Off to bed.

Later.
-Justin

Orchid Revisions

2012-01-19T08:45:00.000-08:00

I keep on telling myself I'm gonna work on Orchid. Then I end up going to work. Or falling asleep in my comfy comfy bed. Or cataloging my giallo collection.

Now I have a chunk of time where if I really wanted to, I could work on it. But I'm not.

Ah, Procrastination. Everybody's favorite vacation nation.

Anyhow, my new plan involves adding a character. But I'm trying to figure out how to introduce this character. Once he's introduced, I pretty much know the rest of the trajectory and how he fits into the picture. I'm just stuck on how to introduce him.

I'm sure I'll figure something out.

BLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAH...

Later.
-Justin

My current catalog

2012-01-13T18:01:00.000-08:00

Here it is. A list of every giallo I own. The shelf is alphabetized, but by the title on the spine of the case. I'm gonna write the English title whenever possible. Because I want to.

2 Gatti a Nove Code e Mezzi ad Amsterdam

2 Masks for Alexa

AAA Massagiatrice, Bella, Presenza Offresi

All the Colors of the Dark

Amer

Bird with the Crystal Plumage

Black Belly of the Tarantula

Black Sabbath

Blood and Black Lace

Bloodbath in the House of Knives

Sweets for a Stranger

The Card Player

Cat O'Nine Tails

Clap You're Dead

Death Carries a Cane

Death Laid an Egg

Death Occurred Last Night

Deep Red

Delitti Privati

Do You Like Hitchcock?

Don't Torture A Duckling

Door Into Darkness

The Double

A Dragonfly For Each Corpse

Night Evelyn Came Out of Her Grave (Emilio P. Miraglia box set)

Red Queen Kills Seven Times (Emilio P. Miraglia box set)

Eyeball

Phantom of Death (in 2-pack w/Eyeball)

Eyes Behind the Wall

Eyes of Crystal

Fashion Crimes

Flower with the Petals of Steel

Footprints

Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion

Formula for a Murder

Four Flies on Gray Velvet

Giallo

Who Saw Her Die (Giallo Collection)

Short Night of the Glass Dolls (Giallo Collection)

The Bloodstained Shadow (Giallo Collection)

The Case of the Bloody Iris (Giallo Collection)

Erotic Games in a Respectable Family

The Girl Next Door

House with the Yellow Carpet

Human Cobras

Snapshot of a Crime

Interrabang

Kill the Fatted Calf

The Killer is One of Thirteen

The Killer Reserved Nine Seats

Libido

Love Me Strangely

Mia Moglie, Un Corpo por L'Amore

Nothing Underneath

Suspected Death of a Minor

Eye in the Labyrinth

Opera

Perfume of the Lady in Black

Phenomena

Plot of Fear

Police Grope Around in the Dark

Puzzle

The Pyjama Girl Case

Qui?

The Room Next Door

Rorret

The Seducers

The Vanity Serum

The Skin Under The Claws

Sleepless

Spirits of Death

Stagefright

The Stendhal Syndrome

The Strange Story of Olga O

Tattoo (I counted it)

Tenebrae

Too Beautiful To Die

Torso

Trauma

The Weapon, The Hour, The Motive

Without Trace (Calling All Police Cars)

And coming soon, courtesy of an awesome sale at Christmas time, New York Ripper (Blu Ray) and Strip Nude For Your Killer (Blu Ray preorder). Along with the Shameless Blu Ray of Four Flies on Gray Velvet.

WHEW! That's an awful lot of black gloves...

So, what do you think? Impressed? Creeped out? You'd totally do me?

Later.
-Justin

Re-alphabetized...

2012-01-07T13:02:00.000-08:00

First day of school. Tired as crap. Up at 6 am, class at 9. Home by 12. Needed to do something to stay awake.

So I finally did what I've been meaning to do for months: Re-alphabetize my DVD collection.

Because since moving into this house, I've purchased quite a lot of DVDs and haven't taken the time to put them in their place.

I also learned something:

I have completely filled my bookshelf. And had to put the last bit in a separate DVD storage thingy my Mom got for me 6 years ago.

Yep, I'm a collector.

Once I figure out how to post some pics from my new smartphone, I'll show you my masterwork.

"That and Misery's Child. Those are the only two divine things EVER in this world."

Later.
-Justin

Check it out.

2012-01-06T14:06:00.001-08:00

The fruit of my labor, the series my TV Production class worked on, is on Vimeo.

Here are some links:

http://vimeo.com/33731559 Episode 1

http://vimeo.com/33746929 Episode 2

http://vimeo.com/34670826 Episode 3, the episode I wrote

http://vimeo.com/34670961 Episode 4, the one I edited

http://vimeo.com/34670961 Episode 5, the thrilling conclusion.

New Year!

2012-01-02T10:52:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, y'all!

This has been a Winter Break without the Break.

Once school ended, I got thrust into work and the Christmas holiday. Luckily most of the customers were relatively cool this year. The idiocy didn't come around until after Christmas day.

Then I got offered the head writing job for the ODU Film Society project we're doing next semester. So my non-work time got spent on working on that. I finished the treatment on New Year's Eve. With one half hour to spare of 2011...

Thus explaining my lack of giallo watching. And giallo posting. And working on Orchid.

I've only watched one giallo this break. Death Carries a Cane. Had its moments, but I couldn't stay 100% invested in it.

My giallo buying might change as well.

I was going to spend my Christmas money on gialli, but only bought three: New York Ripper, and preorders of Strip Nude For Your Killer on Blu Ray and the Shameless Blu Ray of Four Flies on Gray Velvet. The rest, I spent on workout clothing. At one point I had lost 65 pounds. I gained 50 back over the past year and a half.

So I am going to go back to the gym. That, plus craploads of gift certificates for Tropical Smoothie and Subway, and I am going to lose this weight again.

And it's not a resolution. Those things break.

Anyhow, my cousin came up with a great idea. I can come up with a series of weight loss goals. And every time I hit a goal, I can buy a giallo to reward myself. Unlike past rewards, which usually involved food.

I like this idea. Of course, if any Dario Argento movies come out on Blu Ray, or if Case of the Bloody Iris comes to Blu Ray, I'll buy those anyway. Non negotiable. But anything else, only if I lose this poundage.

I'm thinking maybe every ten pounds. What do you think?

Later.
-Justin

This semester is officially OVER!

2011-12-19T17:29:00.000-08:00

Holy crap. This was a tough one.

I say that every semester. But this time, I mean it. Two film series (one I may post on here), an eight-page research paper completed over the course of three days from conception to completion, 40+ shop hours, learning all about lighting a film, and the production of a web series. All while working in retail and not murdering anybody.

I got my last grade today. Let's see...

Lighting for Stage and Film: B
Introduction to Production Technology: B
TV Production: A-
American Film History: A

Dunno how TV Production constitutes an A-, since I got a 94%. But whatever. It's not keeping me from graduation. And every time I think of mentioning it to the professor, I think of that scene in Welcome to the Dollhouse where Dawn has to face the class and talk about "grade-grubbing."

All in all, a 3.425! My lowest GPA since starting at ODU, but it's still pretty damn good. Especially considering how hard this semester was.

In the next couple days, I'm gonna take a day to do nothing but watch gialli. Death Carries a Cane and the Blu Ray of Torso are sitting next to my player.

Christmas is six days away. Got your shopping done? I do!

Just hoping I got a giallo or two in my stocking. Or a gift certificate to www.cinema-de-bizarre.com. Or money.

Okay. Gonna relax a bit for the night.

Later.
-Justin

Light at the end of the tunnel...

2011-12-13T16:49:00.000-08:00

Spending all day tomorrow working on my two (?) final projects for Lighting class. Then there's also a test for that class on Thursday.

Then Friday, it'll be the American Film History final.

Then I'll be DONE FOR THE SEMESTER!

I say this every semester, but this is the most demanding semester I have ever had. But it has also been the most fun. I've managed to come out of my shell and have made a lot of cool friends. It makes me look forward to next semester.

BTW, I had an ultrasound on my leg last week. I didn't tear anything. I do have a couple of blood clots underneath the skin, but they're not in the veins, so they won't travel to my lungs or my brain or anything.

And the big honking knot? Just a big ass bruise. I got lucky.

Half tempted to unwind with a giallo tonight. After all, I gotta work my ass off tomorrow. If so, what'll it be?

Later.
-Justin

My Christmas Watch List

2011-12-04T10:31:00.000-08:00

This is one tough-ass semester. Everything's piling up.

I have a 2500-word research paper due Friday that I haven't even started. A final edit for my TV Production episode due Tuesday. Another short film for Lighting that I haven't even started yet, and a light plot for the same class. And a painting for Production Tech.

Hence the lack of giallo-watching.

Then on top of it, on Black Friday, I fell through a floorboard on my deck and royally fucked up my leg. Nothing's broken, but the hospital didn't have an MRI. So I dunno if I tore anything. I think I did, because the side of my knee is hard as a rock and it still hurts. Missed a crap ton of work, too.

So I WAS planning on going to the gym during break. But with this new development, I doubt that'll be possible. Unless I grab a personal trainer and find out some things I can do that won't bother my leg.

Anyhow, I think on my days off I'll probably spend them catching up on my "purchased but unwatched" collection. You know, those movies I bought but haven't had time to see.

I just piled a whole bunch on my book shelf for the occasion. Here's what I have:

Taxi Driver (not a giallo, but I'm still mad at myself for never having seen it)
Death Carries a Cane
Human Cobras
Erotic Games in a Respectable Family
The Seducers
Love Me Strangely
Spirits of Death
Amer (watched first 40 minutes, loved it, but had to get some sleep)
Phantom of Death
The Girl From Cortina
Bloodbath in the House of Knives
Torso (Blu Ray)

I doubt I'll watch all of them. I will still have to work. And I can't really spend all Christmas day holed up in my room...or can I?

Anyhow, I'm gonna fart around a bit before getting ready for work. Hopefully I can stand/walk for the whole shift...

Later.
-Justin

Dang...

2011-11-22T18:13:00.000-08:00

I dunno why, but I was bored for a brief second.

Why? It's not like I have plenty to do or anything...editing, writing a paper for Production Tech, working on other films for other classes, No Shave November...

So I decided to count how many gialli are in my movie collection.

And my grand total?

81.

I own 81 gialli.

And that is not counting multiple editions of the same film. Otherwise I would probably be at 90.

Holy crap.

If I watched one every day, that's almost three months worth of movies.

Again, Holy crap.

And I have, like, 5 or 6 in my Christmas wish list from Amazon.com.

Sometimes I think I am truly going to die a virgin.

Later.
-Justin

Batting around ideas...

2011-11-18T14:01:00.000-08:00

I wanna start writing another script. Something to take my mind off Orchid for a while before restructuring it.

In the summer, I'm gonna be doing an independent study with my Screenwriting professor where I write another script over the course of a semester. Debating over what I want to work on with him.

Just stole my friend's tactic and wrote all my ideas onto one page.

Over the winter break, I wanna write a synopsis/treatment. I've narrowed it down to two, but I think I know which one I wanna go with after talking with my friend. It's a totally crazed out Suspiria bat shit crazy script. And it's gonna rock while breaking your heart at the same time.

Okay. Shoot in an hour.

Later.
-Justin

Passing time pre-shoot...

2011-11-11T15:34:00.000-08:00

About to go to my shoot in an hour for the TV Production class. This is lots of fun, but we're gonna be shooting outside. In 37 degree weather.

So I'm all bundled up. Bought an extra pair of sweatpants, too. I needed them, anyway.

I'm pretty much finished watching all the movies of my American Neo-Giallo series. Here's what I ended up with:

Basic Instinct
Color of Night
Blink
Jennifer 8 (though this one might not make the paper)
and Sliver.

Some observations while watching these movies:

Sharon Stone shaves.

Bruce Willis is circumsized.

Madeleine Stowe used to be hot.

Uma Thurman didn't always look like an alien.

I fully understand why Demi Moore was pissed after watching Color of Night.

William Baldwin needs to wax his ass.

Thrillers from the '90's were too blandly slick looking.

I wanna see Clash of the Titans to see if Jane March is still hot.

While the music is good in these films, none of these scores can hold a candle to Ennio, Bruno, Stelvio, or Goblin.

David Cronenberg should've directed Basic Instinct 2.

If you're gonna throw in a subplot about a girl getting touched in a no-no spot by her stepdad, don't tack it on at the end.

For Neo-Gialli, there were very few actual murder set pieces.

My next script idea is very similar to Blink. I might still go through with it, but make it look like Blink if Dario got a hold of it with a red marker.

Sharon Stone would be way hotter if she weren't so delusional and stuck up.

I actually bought the theme song to Color of Night off iTunes. "The Color of the Night" by Lauren Christy. My new guilty pleasure. It was nominated for both the Golden Globe for Best Song and the Razzie for Worst Song.

What happened to Tom Berenger? And Madeleine Stowe for that matter...

Okay. I'm off. Crew call is in an hour. When I finish the Film Series, I'll post it on here. Unless the grade sucks.

Later.
-Justin

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T08:44:00.000-07:00

Yep. It's that wonderful time of year. Where there's free candy and chicks dressed up like sexy cats.

Seriously, on Saturday night I counted three sexy kittens in two minutes on campus. Mmm...three sexy kittens who lost their mittens...something something pie...

But I digress.

Anyhow, Happy Halloween!

Random Bits and Pieces

2011-10-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

Film Series 2 is underway for my Film History class. I'm doing American attempts at giallo. I watched Basic Instinct. And plan on watching Alice Sweet Alice and Color of Night. Debating on adding either Jennifer 8, Blink, or Sliver.

I got a copy of Bloodbath in the House of Knives. Talked to the director a couple of times. Seems like a cool guy. When class stuff is over, I'm gonna give this one a spin.

My giallo-rific ideas for my TV Production class ended up with mixed results. I got assigned a different episode after writing the murder scene (the prof did that on purpose, so we'd be challenged or something). The killer still has a fedora, and she's still stabbed, but we don't see the actual murder. Damn.

Instead, I got assigned episode 3 to write. The one with the big chase scene that nobody wanted to write. I guess I did a good job, because the final product ended up almost exactly like I wrote it. The professor even kept the gay joke I put in during the phone conversation. Winning.

I wanna work on Orchid. Is it Christmas yet?

I wonder if I could get Orchid into Dario's hands.

I'm gonna head to class.

Later.
-Justin

150!

2011-10-21T15:40:00.000-07:00

150th post!

Woo-hoo!

Now if only I had something to update with.

In a couple months, I'll be back to my old self...

Till then,

Keep rockin...or something...

Later.
-Justin

An actual update?

2011-09-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

Hmm...Let's see...

Still no word from Screamfest regarding Orchid. I think they don't announce until after the fest is actually over.

But...I do have some other stuff.

My Screenwriting professor asked me last week how Orchid was doing in the contests, and when I told him it wasn't going well, he offered to read my latest draft. Well, I asked him and he said "I'm not reading much right now..." I kinda volunteered it for him. But I would have taken "No" for an answer if he were busy.

On Monday, he walked up to me before class (he's my American Film History professor) with a printed copy. He actually printed it out and made notes.

Some very good feedback, this time.

Since turning Orchid into the contest, I've felt that Gia was a bit too passive. He picked up on that, and came up with some good ideas regarding how to make her more active in her destiny.

He also pointed something out that I didn't notice. After the first two murder scenes, which are spectacular set pieces, the next few death scenes are more low key. Heck, one is literally bloodless. The death scenes should be getting grander in scale as they progress. And he made some really cool suggestions regarding the final confrontation. All involving more violence. Hey, any advice that involves ADDING gore is always good.

He also said my visual motif is very strong in the beginning, regarding flowers and velvet popping up everywhere, but by the end, it fades away. He's totally right. Probably stems from the fact that I wrote the last 56 pages in 4 days. So busy moving the plot forward that nuances kinda take a backseat.

So I've taken these all into account and think I know how to improve things. Too bad I got so much crap on my plate this semester. When class lets out, I'll spend my non-working-in-retail time revisiting my baby.

Cool thing is, with this feedback, I think I FINALLY know how to nail my ending down the way I want it.

I oughta take some notes down so when I get a chance to go back, I'll know what to do without having to search too hard in my warped little mind. Because by then, I'll be fatigued from looking for TVs and keeping my hands off idiot customers.

Also, in semi-giallo related news, I think I know what my next assignment will be in American Film History class.

We have to do two "Film Series." Where we watch 3-5 movies of a certain type and analyze them. I am working on the first one right now: American Silent Horrors, which I notice tend to revolve around an "outsider," a freak who doesn't get the girl and dies tragically.

I think my second series will be American attempts at the giallo. The late 80's-mid 90's are full of these: Basic Instinct, Sliver, Final Analysis, Color of Night, Sea of Love, Knight Moves, Jennifer 8...Plus, lotsa nudity. That should keep me awake. I might throw in Basic Instinct 2 just for a good laugh.

Okay. I'm about to head to class. I have a Quiz in Production Technology. Then we're watching The Thin Man in Film History. I hope it's good. I contemplated going home and going back to bed after the quiz, but I need the 11 points for showing up to this screening.

Later.
-Justin

Ah, Fall Semester...

2011-09-24T14:14:00.000-07:00

Always fun.

This semester is shaping up to be pretty busy.

At least we're making a Film Noir for our TV production class. When I submitted my script, I added my own little giallo twist, of course. Needless to say, I didn't get chosen to write that episode...

So things will be tight regarding movie time.

The only movies I have time to watch are for class assignments. And I can only watch American movies. Like right now, I gotta watch Hunchback of Notre Dame, Phantom of the Opera, The Unknown, and The Man Who Laughs for a film series.

Maybe my second film series will be American attempts at gialli: Basic Instinct, just about any Brian de Palma movie, Color of Night, etc.

I also wanna go through my collection and write down exactly how many gialli I have. That'll be fun.

Okay.

So, if you'll excuse me, I have a set strike to attend.

Later.
-Justin

Well...um...

2011-09-15T06:53:00.000-07:00

Orchid didn't make it into the New Orleans Horror Film Festival.

Stinks. But maybe it just isn't ready yet.

Next big amount of $$ I get I'll probably get some coverage or something. I've been so embroiled in the script that it's probably hard for me to see the flaws. It's my little giallo baby and as its mommy I think it's perfect. :)

Well, onward and upward.

Later.
-Justin

No Way!

2011-09-04T11:03:00.000-07:00

They made a sequel to Nothing Underneath! And I didn't know anything about it.

No, not Too Beautiful To Die. I know the story behind that.

This one is called Sotto il Vestito Ninente, L'ultima Sfilata (Nothing Under The Dress: The Last Parade).

Apparently it came out in Italy earlier this year and is by the same dude who directed the original: Carlo Vanzina.

The DVD is coming out in Italy this Wednesday, but, alas, it's Italian only. That really really sucks, considering my knowledge of the language is limited to giallo titles and the menu at the Olive Garden.

I saw the trailer on Youtube and it looks pretty freakin' sweet! Someone needs to subtitle this and send it my way.

Okay. I gotta head to work.

Later.
-Justin

Well...anyhow...

2011-08-31T05:46:00.000-07:00

Didn't make Shriekfest.

Still glad I entered. Since simply entering, the lady who runs the festival, Denise Gossett, has sent me all sorts of information and help regarding distribution. She is truly one who likes to help the horror community.

Off to my first day of school. This is gonna be a fun, yet taxing semester.

Still praying for New Orleans Horror Film Festival (I'll know on the 15th) and Screamfest.

Later.
-Justin

Okay, my giallo loving peeps...

2011-08-29T08:38:00.000-07:00

Shriekfest just announced that every screenplay semi-finalist should receive an email by Tuesday. I am hoping and praying that Orchid makes the cut. If y'all could send some good thoughts/vibes/voodoo my way, I'd appreciate it.

And the New Orleans Horror Film Festival will have their announcement on September 15.

Oh yeah. Irene took out my power for a day. We stayed in a hotel, and I got my own room. Best $60 I've ever spent, even though there was no power in the hotel either. But everything is fine now. All powered up and now I don't have to take a cold shower to go to work today.

Hope everyone else was safe.

Later.
-Justin

Wish list...

2011-08-15T17:51:00.000-07:00

So many gialli are getting either DVD or Blu Ray releases. But there are still many that I feel are missing on each format. Some gialli deserve the Blu Ray treatment, while some others simply need to be SEEN.

So, here's a short wish list of movies I feel need the Blu Ray treatment, and a list of movies I feel simply need a release...

Blu Ray:

Don't Torture a Duckling-My favorite Fulci film, one that got the shaft with the US DVD. I wonder how the upcoming Shameless UK DVD will turn out. Still, this one needs the high-def treatment.

Phenomena, Tenebrae, Opera, heck, every Dario film that doesn't have one-Yes, Arrow has released a bunch of Dario's work on Blu Ray in the UK, but I've heard they're absolute shit. Much as I love Two Evil Eyes, how did that get the US Blu treatment before these?

Case of the Bloody Iris-I just love this film. And I wanna see THAT SHOT in high def. You know. Edwige, naked, covered in flowers.

Black Belly of the Tarantula-A great film that seems to be overlooked. For some reason, whenever I discuss gialli, it gets forgotten about. Paolo Cavara should've done more gialli (Plot of Fear had its moments, too).

All the Colors of the Dark and Your Vice is a Locked Door and Only I Have the Key-Gialli with Edwige. Need I say more?

Red Queen Kills Seven Times-More people talk about Emilio P. Miraglia's other giallo, The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave. But I prefer this one. I'd gladly buy both if they came in a double Blu set, though.

DVD:

Death Occurred Last Night-I heard Raro Video USA was gonna release this. But until it's available for order, it'll stay on my wish list. I'll also add Bloodstained Butterfly, because the English subbed DVD is hard to find, and I inadvertently gave my dad my old VHS dub.

Love and Death in the Garden of the Gods-I wanna see this one SO bad. Someone PLEASE subtitle it and make my life so much better.

The Cat in Heat, Casa Del Buon Ritorno, Casa Dell'Amore La Polizia Interviene-Same reason. I wanna see it, but there are no English subs. My Italian is limited to gialli titles and the Olive Garden menu.

The Police Grope Around in the Dark-A decent movie, with some cool ideas, one I think should be given some sort of release.

Maybe there should be some sort of Forgotten Gialli box set that lumps a bunch of lesser known ones into one big collection.

I'm sure there will be more that come to me. But here's my list.

Later.
-Justin

Perche' Quelle Str

Still talking to me?

2011-08-12T17:09:00.000-07:00

Sorry I didn't manage to pull off a full giallothon.

It just didn't happen.

Not gonna try again for a while, since school is starting up.

Still waiting to hear from the contests. Dunno what's going on.

Okay. Gonna start relaxing. Early bedtime. Stupid morning meeting.

Later.
-Justin

So...

2011-08-06T17:58:00.000-07:00

it didn't go down...

Sorry. :(

Ah, well. I did manage to watch some good movies that I've been meaning to watch. So it's not a total waste.

Later.
-Justin

But not tonight...

2011-08-04T14:40:00.001-07:00

Already 5:40 and no gialli.

No excuses. Just haven't gotten to it.

Maybe tomorrow I'll have a day two.

Day One Roundup: Iguana with the Tongue of Fire, Qui?, and Puzzle

2011-08-03T21:55:00.000-07:00

So...I finally managed to embark on day one of the giallothon.

Not too much of a marathon, per se, since I plan on around three movies a day. But, hey, baby steps. Right?

Draining the pool and deflating it took way less time than I expected. So I ate and headed into my room.

I don't own a physical copy of Iguana with the Tongue of Fire. Instead I have some sort of Instant Stream thingy from Amazon.com. Paid $8 and I can't even watch it on my TV. WTF?

So I pressed play and set the browser to Full Screen.

Some thoughts:

I don't think acid has that effect on human flesh. The film makes it look like tempera paint drying and flaking on the girl's face. That said, can you imagine if Fulci had done this movie?

I honestly didn't know what was going on half the time. But Dagmar Lassander was in it. Looking as nice as ever.

Stelvio Cipriani is woefully under-appreciated in terms of giallo scores. From the pre-Goblin era, you almost only hear about Ennio Morricone's contributions to the genre. And some Bruno Nicolai. But Stelvio did some great stuff. Don't believe me? Look up the soundtrack to this bad boy.

The movie didn't pick up until the last 15 or so minutes. Then it gave a great trashy fun finale. But I don't remember the killer from earlier in the film. Did my email pop up when he was on?

Then I took a little (long) nap. Last night's Vicodin was still in effect.

Woke up, went to the store for dog food and markers, and grabbed some Arby's. Melodramatic episode of Big Brother. Back to business.

Movie #2 was "Qui?"

This one was in French, but the subs didn't automatically pop up. So I miss the original conversation while reconfiguring my settings. But Marina (Romy Schneider) insults her boyfriend, Claude. He retaliates by freaking out behind the wheel and driving off the cliff into the sea. Marina jumps out at the last moment, but Claude isn't found.

So she then hooks up with Claude's brother, Serge. Literally within two days of him driving off a cliff she sleeps with the dude. If I had a brother, and he committed suicide, I hope his GF was a total slut like this, too.

But is Claude even dead? Did Marina kill him? What's going on?

This one was actually quite fun. Aided by Romy Schneider's sexiness (seriously. I'd totally hit that), and a catchy pop tune (Whoooo Are You?...no, not by The Who), Qui? flew by at a brisk pace. Definitely worth checking out. And I want that revolver/music box. If you've seen this film, you'd know what I am talking about.

Movie three was Puzzle, another one I'd been meaning to see for quite some time. So after a quick pee, I jump right into it.

Puzzle opens with Peter, who is an amnesiac who cannot remember who he is after a car accident 8 months ago.

He is nearly killed by a man who refers to him as "Ted," but the man is killed himself by a sniper's bullet.

Through a series of events, Peter meets up with his estranged wife. Now living as Ted, he is being pursued by all sorts of types who he was supposedly involved with, who he had double crossed for a million bucks.

This one was probably my favorite of the three today. Involving throughout, well photographed and acted, with great music.

Seriously, I wish Duccio Tessari had made more gialli. I'm a huge fan of his work (Death Occurred Last Night is probably my favorite new film I saw from last year's 30 day marathon). All three of his gialli I have seen are truly quality works, and sadly under-noticed. I heard somewhere Raro Video USA was releasing Death Occurred Last Night in the future. If that's true, I'm half tempted to buy a case and give them away as gifts. I'm that big a fan.

Okay. Time to rest up.

Later.
-Justin

Guess who won...

2011-08-03T08:49:00.000-07:00

Took half a Vicodin last night. It actually had more of a knock-out effect on me than a whole Vicodin.

About to embark on the giallo journey after I eat.

Thinking about how I'll update. If I post after each film, it'll be a lot of posts. So maybe I'll do a day-end roundup.

Anyhow. I'm hungry. And I gotta empty out the fartknocker's inflatable pool and put it away.

Later.
-Justin

Tonight...?

2011-08-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

Well, I did slate tonight for the start of the giallo-thon, with a viewing of Iguana with the Tongue of Fire.

If my gout flareup isn't requiring another Vicodin, that's still the plan.

Otherwise, tomorrow morning.

BTW, the transmission is gone on my car. Anyone wanna start a Buy Justin a New Car fund?

Later.
-Justin

Y'all Have Spoken...

2011-07-30T12:36:00.000-07:00

And the film that is kicking off my giallo-thon is...

The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire!

I'm looking forward to this one. It was actually the one I was hoping for. And, no, I did not vote. Guess y'all read my mind.

Couple other bits of good news today.

I found my copy of Adrian Luther Smith's "Blood and Black Lace!" For some strange and odd reason I thought I already had it in the house, but, alas, it was still in a box in the garage.

I also found my Netflix copy of Lars von Trier's Antichrist. Happy about that, because I paid $20 and reported it lost. I'm probably gonna give it a watch tonight and ship it back on Monday. If they get it back within the next year, they'll give me the $20 back. Free money!

Also retrieved my copies of Crystal Lake Memories and the Grindhouse book.

I should go through the garage more often.

Later.
-Justin

Setting a date...

2011-07-29T08:45:00.000-07:00

If I had known I'd end up with four days off in a row this week, I would have had my giallo-thon this week.

So here's the plan.

Tuesday night, I'm gonna watch the first movie y'all have chosen for me after work. Unless it's Private Crimes. That's six hours long. And I clock out around 9:30. That + late dinner = 5:00 AM bedtime. Can I get a "Hell, No?"

Wednesday: Gym. I'm totally fluffy. You could paint me pink and call me Kirby. Then while coming down from the testosterone high, the giallothon shall begin.

Thursday: More gialli. Only to be broken up by Project Runway.

Friday: Gym, finishing off the giallothon.

Aiming low, with ten movies. Because this is my first moviethon, and I've rarely been able to watch more than two movies a day, so this is already pushing it.

Okay. I gotta clean things up a bit. Before Mom goes all Annie Wilkes on me about my room. Yes, I'm 27 and still at home. But I'm in school. I have an excuse. :P

Later.

-Justin

Yet Another...

2011-07-24T20:25:00.000-07:00

Contest...

This time to the New Orleans Horror Film Festival. 1st Annual.

Hey, the more I enter, the more chances I have to win something...right?

I dunno. All I know is it seems like I can't go three days without mentioning Orchid on this thing. Y'all sick of it, yet?

Only reason I'm regretting it is because I dunno what my car is gonna set me back...I probably should've skipped this one...

Anyhow.

Oh yeah. VOTE IN THE POLL! As of writing there are no votes. And y'all know I can't make decisions on my own. So make them for me. :)

Later.

-Justin

Giallo-thon

2011-07-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

I think I'm getting closer to a date for my Giallo Marathon.

My work schedule for the first week of August shows that I have three days off in a row. Plenty of time to not only catch up on my unwatched gialli, but go to the gym, too. Plus, it'll be the last couple days before payday, so I'll probably be broke and unable to do anything else. Especially if my car is still on life support.

Just posted a poll so y'all can vote on my first movie.

Where's the J&B?

Later.
-Justin

P.S.-Check out my good buddy Richard's blog, doomedmoviethon.blogspot.com He has done all sorts of marathons, including FIVE Giallo marathons and a recent slasher marathon. I salute your butt-cheek fortitude, Richard!

Bugh...FML...and other assorted sayings...

2011-07-22T19:50:00.000-07:00

My car broke down.

Again.

Third time this month.

First time was the air compressor. Made the car smoke like the old lady in Beetlejuice.

Second time, wouldn't let me shift. Had to have a friend from work help me push it into a parking space. Then I spent my entire shift working while waiting for the tow truck to arrive (I told him not to rush, since I was working 'til 9, so it's not like I had to go anywhere).

Third time, I turned it on, and it did the same thing it did the second time. This time in a mall parking garage. In this HEAT!

I love my car. It's a classic. But I'm tired of it breaking down.

Word of advice: When someone inherits a car, and they let it sit in their garage for three years because they can't bear to do anything with it for sentimental reasons, don't buy it from them when they're finally willing to let go.

Bugh...

Well, if Orchid ends up winning any cash prizes, I think I know where it'll be going...

BTW, Roxy Music's "In Every Dream Home a Heartache" is one creepy ass yet amazing song.

Later.
-Justin

Honest Opinion Time...

2011-07-17T22:21:00.000-07:00

Is it unhealthy that I'm harping and obsessing so much about Orchid? Or is it a part of the process?

Screenwriting friends, gimme your input on this one...

I'm now wondering how Orchid would pan out as a graphic novel.

Like I could find an artist who "gets" gialli and would work for free (after all, that's all I can afford).

I'd draw it myself, but I can only draw people two different ways: stick figures, and stick figures with boobs.

Stupid contests, making me wait, giving me so much time to think up these crazy, Lucy Ricardo schemes...

I need to go to bed.

Good night.
-Justin

So many unwatched gialli...so little time...

2011-07-16T21:06:00.000-07:00

Let's see what gialli I own but haven't watched yet. Maybe it can kick off my mini-giallo-thon...

Death Carries a Cane
The Girl From Cortina
Qui?
Spirits of Death
Love Me Strangely
Private Crimes (holy crap, a six hour miniseries--that's a giallo-thon in itself!)
Erotic Games in a Respectable Family
Human Cobras
Puzzle
Phantom of Death
Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion
The Seducers

I have a feeling there are more. That's all I noticed in my library.

Any suggestions?

Later.
-Justin

Back to the giallo grind...

2011-07-16T10:54:00.000-07:00

Finished watching What Have You Done to Solange last night.

Even though I still had some problems with the whole knife-in-the-hoo-hah thing (as any well-adjusted person should), I was better able to appreciate this film the second time around.

I guess what turned me off the first time was mainly the killer's MO. Unlike New York Ripper, I didn't know about it when I gave it a whirl, so I was thrown for a loop. That, and at the tender age of 20, I still had a fragile little mind.

That said, now that I've seen it with new eyes, Solange is indeed one of the better gialli out there. Beautifully photographed, expertly plotted, and armed with one of the greatest scores Ennio Morricone has ever produced. Seriously. I want that soundtrack.

Sometime before the summer ends (I guess classes start August 27), I need to do a mini giallo-thon. However, I won't do a month-long thing like last year. Mainly because I feel working on Orchid all last semester (really, all last year if you take into account the synopsis, character study, and treatment I had to do in Screenwriting I) more than makes up for it. But also, I need to get back to the gym and my schedule is so wonky that adding a giallo a day would make me a recluse. That, and Project Runway starts again soon.

I feel like having a giallo weekend. Catching up on some of my ZDD purchases and Blue Underground Blu Rays. Mixing old with new.

Let's see what I can get done.

Until then, does anybody have $60 I can have? I was gonna say "borrow," but let's be honest...and it would be for a good cause...entering Orchid into another contest...

Later.
-Justin

Completely Off Topic...

2011-07-06T21:23:00.000-07:00

Okay. Time for a little soapbox rant.

So Casey Anthony was found not guilty.

Since the verdict has been read, I've seen all sorts of posts on Facebook about it. People saying she deserves to die, that she's going to Hell, that they hope someone does some vigilante justice, etc.

I personally don't agree with the verdict. I believe she did it. But it's out of my hands...actually, it was never in my hands.

Actually, it was never in any of our hands.

Acting like the judge, jury, and executioner is not going to solve anything. Wishing her dead will not solve anything. Sending Hell fire and damnation her way will not solve anything. It'll just bring hatred into our hearts, which in the end, only hurts us. And Caylee will still be gone.

I don't know how to feel, but I know how not to feel. And I know that wishing ill will is not the way to go.

Okay. I gotta go to bed. Eye appointment tomorrow morning. Then I'm off 'til Tuesday. Maybe a mini-giallothon in between some much needed workouts?

Later.
-Justin

Anyhow Anyhow...

2011-07-03T21:43:00.000-07:00

Watched The Killer is One of Thirteen the other night. Very engrossing. Surprisingly so. The highlight of the film is the dinner scene near the beginning. A fifteen or so minute dialogue scene, with no action, managed to keep me on edge. Kudos.

Giving What Have You Done to Solange another shot. First time I watched it, I couldn't get over the whole "knife in the lady parts" thing.

About halfway through it. Stopping only because I'm tired. But I appreciate it a lot more so far. And I forgot how freaking AMAZING the cinematography is in this movie. And the music.

Okay. Going to bed now. Happy 4th of July!

Later.
-Justin

If I only had the cash...

2011-07-01T18:24:00.000-07:00

I'd SO hit up www.zddvisualmedia.com again. Today's the last day of the buy 2 or more, get 15% off sale.

Alas, I can't afford it.

However, I did recently hit up Coinstar and cashed in my change for an amazon.com gift certificate. My Blu Ray of Torso is gonna be mine for absolutely FREE! And everyone knows FREE is a student's favorite number.

Anyhow, I think I'm gonna curl up with a good giallo. Especially after the past week I've had...glasses and car drama...BLARGH.

Later.
-Justin

Another Payday...

2011-06-24T15:41:00.000-07:00

Another Contest...

Just re-tweaked Orchid and entered it into Shriekfest.

I would ask for "Winning" vibes, but that just opens the door to dated Charlie Sheen jokes.

Hopefully next payday I can enter this bad boy into the NYC Horror Film Festival. Would it be tacky to ask for donations so I could enter it earlier?

Wish me luck...and nudity...

Later.
-Justin

123

2011-06-18T07:23:00.000-07:00

Noticing this is my 123rd post. Some odd OCD piece of me thinks this is significant somehow.

So...Orchid has been sent to Screamfest...

And I'm gonna enter it into Shriekfest next week.

I emailed my professor and asked him about other contests. Big mistake. He sent me to a website that has, like, ALL the current contests. And now I want to enter craploads of contests.

Which wouldn't be so bad, except that they all have entry fees. Anywhere from $35-70 a pop.

Anybody know any good Ramen recipes?

Later.
-Justin

Aah...

2011-06-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

So.

I just submitted Orchid to Screamfest.

Won't hear anything till, like, November.

Wish me luck. And sexy.

Feeling like a weight has been lifted. I don't wanna touch this script for a while...just wanna submit it around and see what feedback I get.

Speaking of feedback, last night I got feedback on the first ten pages, which I submitted to another contest. I didn't win, but I got all high marks. They really liked me as a writer. I think I lost points because the first ten pages revolve around the opening murder in a self-contained scenario.

Okay. Lemme see what other contests I can send this bad boy off to. And prepare myself for a giallo-thon next week.

Later.
-Justin

Almost Contest Ready...

2011-06-10T21:36:00.000-07:00

I finally managed to get around to writing that scene for Orchid I've been wanting to write.

Seven pages in two hours. Jean Claude Van Damme I'm good!

And that's with a Vicodin. Damn gout.

So all I think I gotta do is tweak the ending a bit and I'll be ready to enter this bad boy into the contest!

This ending's been bugging me forever. I'm trying to end it like Tenebrae, but I can't figure out the right stopping point. Maybe I'll throw that idea out the window. There's enough giallo-esque goodness in the script. I don't want it to be a "point out the reference" movie, should it get produced.

Okay. I gotta go lay down. Good night.

Later.
-Justin

Breaking my restriction

2011-06-08T15:19:00.000-07:00

Laid up with a bum foot. Gout suck-diddly-ucks. I had to go to the doc today for it...and got a trifecta of anti-inflammatories, steroids, and even painkillers (first time I've ever been prescribed painkillers for this...it's that bad).

Called out yesterday and today from work. Darn it...I needed the cash...

I can only watch so many reruns of Judge Judy without going insane. So I watched my Netflix DVD of Hatchet For the Honeymoon. Pleasant surprise, with some striking images (the room full of mannequins, especially).

And I decided to give What Have You Done to Solange another try. I bought it a few years back, and had an incredibly hard time with it. The killer's MO really disturbed me, to the point where it took three tries to get through it. I ended up selling it for store credit at FYE.

Since then, I've watched a few movies with similar subject matter, like The New York Ripper, which I managed to actually...er...what's the word...appreciate?

So, here goes round two of Solange...it just arrived from Netflix...lemme check it out with new eyes...

My Siouxsie and the Banshees Downside Up box set also just arrived. Oh happy day!

Later.

-Justin

Still on restriction...

2011-05-30T21:39:00.000-07:00

Is it Thursday yet?

Because that's probably the next day I can sit down and work on this thing to get it into contest shape.

I did enter the first ten pages into another contest, however. Mainly because every entry gets notes back. I've tried dropping hints to a couple of my screenwriter friends to see if they wanna read it, but I'm being too subtle or something.

Whatever. I love my first ten pages and certainly believe they have the power to grab attention.

Okay. I'm going to bed.

Good night.

Later.
-Justin

Restriction

2011-05-26T22:19:00.000-07:00

I am grounding myself from watching gialli until I sit down and revise Orchid.

The early contest deadline isn't that far away (barely over two weeks). And Dad is coming to visit before then. So you know I won't get any work done. Haven't seen him in person in, like, forever.

Tomorrow is laundry day. So while waiting to fold my unmentionables, I can get workin'.

Okay...I oughta be sleeping.

Later.
-Justin

Have you ever been so bored...

2011-05-25T21:46:00.000-07:00

...that you sat around coming up with porno titles for famous movies?

Maybe it's just me. I am incredibly perverted, after all.

Here's a few porno gialli titles I've come up with.

Reader Discretion is Advised

Bird with the Crystal Poonage
Cat O'Nine Inches
Four Thighs on Gray Velvet
Deep Head
Death Wanks at Midnight
The Night Evelyn Came On Her Grave
Pudd and Black Lace
Do You Like His Cock?
The Girl Who Blew Too Much
Twitch of the Pleasure Nerve (aka Bay of Lust, Last Ass from the Left part 2)
What Do You Want To Do To Solange?
Naked Girl Thrilled in the Park
New York Stripper

Came up with one for Interrabang, but it was too dirty even for me. And I'm depraved. Or at least that's what my scout master said.

Okay. Fun time over. I really need a mini-giallothon. To restore my sanity.

Later.
-Justin

Now that I am good and un-fatigued...

2011-05-21T20:37:00.000-07:00

Is "un-fatigued" a word? I don't feel like looking it up right now.

I think I've taken enough of a sabbatical. Managed to start watching gialli again. Watched Eyeball the other night (good, clean, stupid fun). Started watching The Killer is One of Thirteen, too, but it was too late. So I'm gonna finish it later (I'm pleasantly surprised by it so far, though). Also cracking open my copy of La Dolce Morte from time to time (okay, during bathroom breaks). All I need to do is unpack my copy of Blood and Black Lace.

I'm gonna enter Orchid in the Screamfest Screenplay contest and see how it fares. I do have some more tinkering to do, though. Mainly fleshing out Gia and the Detectives. And a dialogue wash.

And I gotta do it quick. June 15th is the early deadline. Any later, and I'll have to pay an extra $15. I'm a student. I can't afford that. I can barely afford to cut my hair...hence my Bieber-esque coif (I am SO rectifying that this Friday...maybe some highlights if my paycheck allows it...or maybe completely blonde simply to say I did it once--what'cha think?).

Getting back on the giallo train, and it's like I never fell off. Feels good.

Okay. I gotta go to bed. Meeting at work tomorrow 9:30-10:30. Then working 12-7. BLARGH. My whole day is shot.

Later.
-Justin

P.S.-What's up with the DVD of Death Will Have Your Eyes? Amazon cancelled my order. Is it postponed? Cancelled?

I think I feel...

2011-05-08T17:42:00.000-07:00

...a mini-giallothon coming on...

Off Thursday and Friday. Not planning anything (except a workout on Friday, and a couple naps).

So maybe I'll see how many gialli I can cram in.

Also, already thinking about the next screenplay I wanna write.

Debating between a comedy that takes place at a store like where I work and a giallo that's been brewing in my head in longer than Orchid...

Dunno.

Gonna spend some time revising Orchid, too. Already fixed the "is/are" problem my professor talked about. Need to go over the dialogue next.

Okay. Now, if you'll excuse me, I had a big honkin' dinner and the Amazing Race finale is on. Go Zev and Justin!

Later.
-Justin

Merlin

2011-05-03T21:17:00.000-07:00

So I've been going to ZDD Visual Media for quite some time now (www.zddvisualmedia.com). I think I own, like, 30 DVDs from them. Maybe more. I lost count.

Anyhow, roaming the site again (15% off orders of 2 or more DVDs through May 8...damn work paying me on the 13th), I was reminded of how many movies had been "fansubbed," or subtitled by someone who doesn't have any affiliation with the film.

And the name that pops up the most is Merlin.

Many of the movies I've purchased from ZDD, it turns out, were subtitled by this Merlin guy.

So now I'm wondering...

Who is Merlin? Does anybody know him? Is he one person, or an elite group of ninja fansubbers?

And also, does he take requests?

For as long as I've had my copy of Blood and Black Lace by Adrian Luther Smith, I've been dying to see a little movie called Amore e morte nel giardino degli dei, or Love and Death in the Garden of the Gods.

ZDD has it available, but only in Italian. And my Italian is limited to giallo titles and the menu at the Olive Garden. And I can't afford Rosetta Stone.

If there were a subtitled copy out there, I could finally have one of my most coveted gialli...and be like Gollum...with a thyroid problem and a sexier voice...

So, Merlin, if you're reading this...I'd really super appreciate it if you tackled this movie. Like, REALLY appreciate it. PLEASE...

I'll name my firstborn after you...unless the future Mrs. vetoes it...

And if anybody knows Merlin, please forward this blog his way.

Okay. Off to bed. Still awaiting grades from my classes to be posted...only Acting has been posted so far (B+!).

Later.
-Justin

My Grade on Orchid...

2011-04-25T18:37:00.000-07:00

The end of the semester is in three days. Things are finally starting to wind down. Two papers and a final edit of my final video project are all that stand between me and extra hours at work (and the gym...I promised myself I'd get back into the swing of things and quit feeling so damn lethargic).

Normally I'm scheduled to work Mondays until 3. Today I was scheduled till 2. Not like I am complaining.

So I went straight to school. Changed in the parking garage. I learned this past semester that I am incredibly adept at changing pants in the front seat of an Oldsmobile Ninety Eight.

As I finished a final draft for my Short Script class, the suspense started hitting me full force. Not quite diarrhea-inducing suspense, but close.

I tried anything and everything to pass the time. I had three hours to kill and no money to eat a full meal. Just enough for a Diet Dew...then later a Dew Throwback (and a bottle of water, in case all the caffeine I consumed today started turning me into Cornholio).

Finally class came. And since there weren't cops waiting for me at the door wanting to arrest me for my gory death scenes, I knew I'd be all right.

My instructor came in with a big honking' stack of scripts in his arms. Probably 30 pounds of paper.

And he handed them out, with his critique tucked into it neatly (and my classmate's, since he emailed his).

And...

I...

GOT AN A!

I wanted to jump up and dance. But I knew that never ends pretty.

I did lose points for typos/format problems (he wrote a paper on how we are not supposed to use "is/are" phrases...and I used them). But whatever...I still got an A.

Lemme pull out his critique and plaster some quotes like review excerpts.

"Your homage to Giallo is really working. And as a mystery it works pretty well."

"You open with the murder of...(spoiler deleted)...and did a real good suspense thing by delaying it a bit."

"The surprise ending worked and I liked the double surprise, which is also kind of expected in a giallo. Good job there."

"This is definitely an A project...I hope you'll continue working on it and enter it in contests."

I am feeling good right now. Like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

I've spent all semester (heck, all year) working on Orchid. Sure, the majority of the actual script was written in four days. But I've spent all this time incubating this little kernel of an idea and nurturing it into a full-fledged script...and the first screenplay I've completed in 11 years.

Couldn't have done it without your support.

Thank you.

Now, if you'll excuse me, the season finale of RuPaul's Drag Race is about to come on.

Later.
-Justin

Running on fumes...and caffeine...and other stuff...

2011-04-21T10:13:00.000-07:00

What is it about the end of the semester? I end up tired, irritable, gaining weight...

It's finally starting to wind down, however.

I have two papers to write for Acting. I could probably churn both out tomorrow. One of them revolves around a play I have to watch tonight (2nd Thursday in a row I had to buy a ticket and watch a show). And I have a monologue. Somehow I figured a way to play a Moliere character like a country bumpkin.

Revision for Short Script. Due Tuesday. Will work on it on Sunday.

Final edit of my Video Project. Doing a series of still shots leading to the image of someone who has committed suicide. Figured out how to play music backwards on Final Cut, so I reversed Moonlight Sonata to score it. I wanna record some voice overs, but didn't get to do that for the rough cut.

And I have to evaluate a classmate's screenplay. More worried about him evaluating mine. He wrote what looks like a courtroom drama. And here I am writing death scenes that even Fulci hasn't attempted. Feeling a bit cheated because he wrote 79 pages, but I was told to aim for 100 on mine...

My professor has already read Orchid. Hasn't given me much feedback yet. Probably waiting to finish reading all of them, first. Dammit, why did I have to be the first one to turn it in? Now that I know he'd read it, I wanna know what he thinks. I'm all OCD that way. I'm the person who checks my grades every five minutes the morning after taking my final.

Can't wait to get this semester over with. Love my classes, but I'll also be glad to see Summer Break. More hours at work, more time to work out, and more time to do that comedy voodoo I do so well.

BTW, the more I listen to Siouxsie and the Banshees' "Kiss in the Dreamhouse," the more I love it.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to relax a bit before class at 3. I think we're gonna watch rough cuts. Hope mine doesn't get ripped to shreds.

Later.
-Justin

My PSA for Video Project class...

2011-04-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

Check it out. Here's the finished PSA I did for my Video Project class.

And the movement I used is called "Uranus, the Magician." True story.

That End-Of-The-Semester Brain Fry...

2011-04-14T11:37:00.000-07:00

Ah, yes.

Ever see Hannibal?

Remember the dinner scene?

I feel like Ray Liotta.

Feeling a strange post-partem depression, having turned Orchid in on Tuesday. I'll meet my professor in about two weeks regarding it. And since we get to evaluate each other's work, another student will read it, too. Now THAT one will be interesting...Really interesting...

For the most part I really only have two classes to majorly worry about: Acting and Video Project.

In Acting, I have, like, three papers due in the same two week period. One about the character I wanna play in a monologue (I can only choose from the works of Moliere). One about a play I have to watch (gonna try to catch it tonight). One about how I've grown in class.

Video Project shouldn't be too bad. I have one big project left. Have to make a short that "plays with conventional storytelling structure." Checking the camera out tomorrow. And I learned recently that I am incredibly adept at editing under time constraints. The rough edit of my last project was finished in one hour and got good reviews. Just need to figure out how to do voice over.

In Short Script, I just need to write another draft of an adaptation piece. Same instructor as Video Project. He said I'm a good student and I'm getting the hang of it. So I must be doing something right.

Registered for classes today. Got all the classes I wanted (needed), but my work schedule is gonna suffer. I'm sure I'll figure something out. But I'm taking Intro to Production Technology, Television Production, Lighting for Stage and Film, and American Film History.

It dawned on me after turning Orchid in...this is the first screenplay I've finished in 11 years. Granted, it's a first draft, but still. That's an accomplishment. Darn it.

Gotta stop buying movies. I also picked up Spider Labyrinth. And my DVR is full of stuff. And I think I'm gonna rent Hobo with a Shotgun.

Okay. I'm rambling, now.

Heading to class.

Later.
-Justin

Ladies and Gentlemen...

2011-04-11T20:35:00.000-07:00

Orchid is FINISHED!

I finished about twenty minutes ago.

I didn't necessarily make it to the golden 100 mark, but the story is done. Completely done.

I am going to give it a once over tomorrow before I turn it in. Because I wanna look at it again with fresh eyes before clicking SEND.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I want to relax a bit. Performance tomorrow. And a meeting.

Later.
-Justin

Orchid Watch 2011

2011-04-10T21:44:00.000-07:00

Hey, y'all.

Ready for another round of post-writing bloggage?

I've finished writing for the day. My most productive day yet.

I managed to write 16 pages. 16. Lemme say it one more time. 16!

And that's with a nap halfway through.

So now I am officially at 85 pages. Only 15 to go.

And, boy, if this ever becomes a film, it'll be bloody. I won't get into specifics, because I don't wanna spoil anything. One scene is the realization of something I have always wanted to see in a horror movie since fourth grade. I don't even think Fulci did this. Argento came close, but not like this.

Surprisingly, the hardest parts to write have been the death scenes. They require loads of description and don't allow for any dialogue to break things up. You have to write every detail, which makes me feel dirty. What flashes by in mere seconds on film comes from paragraphs.

I've run out of synonyms for "cut" and "slice."

Probably won't be able to reach page 100 tomorrow. I am off from both work and Screenwriting class, but I have to try to meet my advisor again, and I'm gonna meet some people from Acting class to work on performances for Tuesday...

Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I deserve a bit of rest.

Later.
-Justin

Marathon Writer

2011-04-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness gracious I am DRAINED.

I am on page 69.

Huh huh...69...huh huh...

Anyhow, I managed to write another death scene (one that even disturbed me in its brutality) and a love scene. I'm gonna try to write one more death scene before hitting the pillow.

The giallo fatigue is starting to go away. I'm not exactly clamoring to watch more at the moment, but I'm not wanting to pack them all up and put them away, either.

I am, however, looking for a copy of Spider Labyrinth. Does Video Search of Miami have it?

Okay. Enough internet ADD. Back to work.

Later.
-Justin

P.S.-listened to this song on repeat while writing the love scene.

Before I go to bed.

2011-04-08T20:54:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to say I hit page 55.

I am now officially more than halfway done.

If I keep at this pace, I could be done by Wednesday.

I have my Blu Ray of Taxi Driver sitting on my headboard. Refusing to let myself watch it until I turn the script in to my professor. And that's really hard, because I've never seen the film and I have always wanted to.

Actually cutting myself off from all movies until this is done. DVR-ing Dead Ringer with Bette Davis, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Galaxy of Terror, and Coquette. If I do indeed finish on Wednesday, Friday is gonna be one heck of a marathon day.

Okay. Gonna relax a bit. It's almost midnight.

Later.
-Justin

Fresh Eyes, Set Pieces, and Deadlines

2011-04-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

Dude.

I'm only on page 38.

This is due in ten days.

Fuck.

Luckily I have the next week and a half off from work. When I'm not in school, I'll be writing. Only taking breaks for eating, sleeping, and internet porn.

Went through a period of agonizing over the setting of the script. My professor's words about changing it to a strip club made me paranoid. Then again, everything makes me paranoid. Especially pooping in the restroom at work...But that stems from many poop-at-work traumas I experienced working for Sears (two peeping toms, one stalker co-worker, and many dirty doors).

But I decided I'm keeping the setting the same. My first professor LOVED the setting. And I do, too.

Had a buddy read my treatment the other day to get a pair of fresh eyes. He had some good notes. Especially regarding disguising the killer's identity. I will admit, though, I put extra blatant clues in the treatment to please the first professor after he read the synopsis and said it was a cheap surprise.

Also said the murders were a bit too varied. I get that.

I did manage to finish another spectacular gory set piece last night. One so spectacular that in the treatment, my first professor went so far as to leave notes on it saying it was "grisly and good." This coming from a devout Mormon who was obviously uncomfortable whenever I tried to mention anything horror related in his class (He was my advisor last semester, too. I'm halfway convinced he switched me to somebody else after I asked if Friday the 13th and similar slasher movies were exceptions to Robert McKee's Story structure. He liked me, don't get me wrong, but I think I annoyed him a bit)...

Okay. Less bloggy, more screenwritey...after class...

Later.
-Justin

P.S.-NEW TIMBER TIMBRE!!! Can't wait for this to hit my doorstep!

34.

2011-03-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

I'm on page 34.

About to get to the next big set piece.

Still gonna take a little break once this is done, though. I did buy Stage Fright with my birthday money, however. It was only $8.

I'm feeling better about this script. I've always loved the story, but I'm just so immersed in it that I can't wait to purge it out of my system.

If somebody would send me a bottle of J&B, I wouldn't mind. Or maybe make me a Jack Daniels milkshake.

Okay. Less blogging, more school work. Off to Acting class to work on Commedia Dell'Arte. Then revising my Short Script assignment (a 5-6 page script about a freakin' bowl).

I might stay late and work on Orchid until traffic dies down. Get this mega-bloody death scene on paper (well, Final Draft).

Later.
-Justin

Before I hit the stage...

2011-03-24T17:22:00.000-07:00

My first comedy performance in two months. Wish me luck.

I'm burnt out. Totally burnt out. And I still have another six weeks or so for this semester.

Two more performances for Acting class. Plus I gotta watch two more plays. And write a 3-4 page paper on one of them.

Filming a PSA tomorrow for my Video Project class. Then I have to edit it. And work on my big project: a five minute short that "plays with the conventional narrative structure."

And Orchid is due on April 15. And I'm on page 30.

And I still have another class to worry about.

Plus work.

Right now Orchid is my biggest worry. I am so immersed in it that I'm sick of it. I just wanna type it out, put a big pretty yellow bow on it, and move on. I assume any big project eventually brings these feelings out in its creator at one point or another.

It's to the point where outside of Orchid, I don't even want anything to do with gialli right now.

Yes. I said it.

I'm kind of over it right now. Every time I close my eyes I see my characters. Whenever I wake up, I worry about how to work the set pieces out. The killer's look. The setting. Dialogue. How to make everything tie in together.

Writing a giallo is actually harder than watching one every day for a month.

Once I finish Orchid, I may have to do the opposite of my Thirty Days of Giallo. I may have to take 30 days AWAY from the genre I love so much.

Not because I hate gialli, but because I love the genre so much that I don't want to become permanently sick of it.

I might need to completely cleanse my palette. Watch comedies and superhero movies. Finally see The Dark Knight and The Social Network. Catch up with the rest of the world.

Change my laptop background from Edwige Fenech to Julianna Guill.

Go back to the gym. Eat more fiber. Drink more water.

I dunno. I'm sure every writer goes through this at some point. Maybe talking to some of my comedian friends (who also write) will make me feel better.

I do want to say this, though. If I do take a sabbatical, it won't be too long. I will come back to you. I promise.

Okay. I'm gonna go now. Showtime in 40 minutes.

Later.
-Justin

Happy Birthday to Me!

2011-03-21T08:27:00.000-07:00

Today's my birthday!

27...crap, I feel old. Though I don't officially turn 27 until 1:14.

My copy of Perfume of the Lady in Black should be shipping today. And I think I have a couple more gialli waiting for me at the post office. Yes, more. And I already preordered Death Will Have Your Eyes. I need another bookcase. And I need to quit buying movies I can't watch until Orchid is finished. I seriously feel a marathon coming on.

So what's on the docket for today? Picking up my car, grabbing free fro-yo at Skinny Dip, and writing. Gonna have birthday dinner/presents this upcoming Sunday (PIZZA SUBS!). Because that's when my whole family can get together.

Okay. I'm off to do stuff.

Later.
-Justin

Orchid Meeting #2

2011-03-17T18:52:00.000-07:00

What a day.

Maybe I should have worn green for St. Patty's. But I didn't. And if you try to pinch me, I'll shank you.

Where do I start?

First, I had a monologue in my Acting class. Still feeling rusty after not having acted in nine years. Yes, I have done stand up, but that is a whole different animal. Stand up requires you to pull the audience in and interact with them. Acting forces you to pretend they're not there.

First run through was OK. Not my shining moment, but OK. Then I was asked to adjust it. And I blanked halfway through. I got another adjustment and did it again. This one was good. But I'm totally beating myself up. Because that's what I do best.

Then on the way to my meeting with my screenwriting professor, I decided to make a pit stop. Because, well, my golden rule is "Never Pass Up An Opportunity To Use The Bathroom." That and I had that kinda gas that felt like more than gas.

So at some point while I sit down in the stall, my arm rubs up against something. I look down and there's...poopie on my arm. ::gag::

I just peed and decided to run straight to the sink. Used practically half a container of soap. The whole rest of the day I kept checking myself for phantom poopie.

Then came the meeting.

I sit down and he pulls out my Genre Assignment. And out of nowhere, he suggests a bunch of changes.

First off, I should change the setting from a legal brothel to a strip club.

Then Gia, the protagonist, should be a stripper. And not just a stripper, but a wannabe dancer who strips because she doesn't get into a prestigious dance company. And she doesn't prostitute, but she's considering it...

Huh?

So he says I should change Gia's intro. I should have her audition for the prestigious dance company and not make it because some producer overhears of her stripper history.

I immediately thought of this:

I smiled and nodded during that part of the discussion. I didn't wanna make waves. But anyhow, I honestly think I'm gonna disregard that suggestion. I honestly like my idea of the whole legal prostitute thing. I dunno if I'm stuck on my idea and being stubborn or what. What's y'all's thoughts on that?

Onto other aspects:

He thinks the set pieces are key to the script. In other words, the murders. They need to be big and bold and spectacular. I totally agree with that. But he did mention Red Dragon and Manhunter. Mainly how the murders work on building something bigger. Made sense.

He did say I need to elevate things a bit. Said at one point I have a good, average, "crappy" giallo and that I needed to raise everything. I dunno exactly what he meant by that.

And he did say most everything is really in place. Just a matter of typing.

So I am taking one bit of advice: sitting down and figuring everything out regarding the killer's M.O. and everything surrounding the killer.

I think I still have my copy of Manhunter lying around...lemme check...

Later.

-Justin

ONE HUNDREDTH POST!

2011-03-12T18:07:00.000-08:00

Yes, ladies and gentlemen.

I have made it to 100 posts.

Thank you all for reading this blog. Without you, I would've stopped after the month-long giallothon.

Recently bought some gialli:

Erotic Games of a Respectable Family
Skin Under the Claws
Qui?
The Killer is One of Thirteen
Eyeball
Phantom of Death
Death Will Have Your Eyes

Plus I still have (yet haven't watched):
Human Cobras
Puzzle
Spirits of Death
Love Me Strangely
Private Crimes
Iguana with the Tongue of Fire

Gotta feeling a mini-marathon will be in order after the semester is over. Though after finishing my own little giallo script, The Orchid with the Petals of Velvet, I might actually be giallo'd out by then (Huh? That's IMPOSSIBLE!). Only time will tell on that.

Speaking of Orchid, I made it to page 22 yesterday. Gonna see how much I can write between classes and during slow times this week.

Okay. I'm gonna let y'all go.

Thanks again for all of your support.

Later.
-Justin

My brain is fried...

2011-03-10T19:08:00.000-08:00

Halfway through page seventeen.

Seven pages in one day.

My head hurts.

And it's hot in here.

And I don't wanna stop...yet I'm creatively drained for the day. To the point where I don't even wanna finish watching Amer...

Why oh why did I procrastinate?

Can someone send positive vibes, pep talks, and the like my way? I'd appreciate it.

Later.
-Justin

More writing...

2011-03-10T12:18:00.000-08:00

This ADD is bothering me.

Anyhow, I'm writing. I plan on writing until at least 8:00. With the exception of dinner.

Bought a few more gialli. When this semester is over I anticipate either a week of one giallo a day or a two-day marathon. Dunno if I can pull off another month.

Well, back to the grind...Um...dunno if I oughta say that or not. I'm writing a sexy scene right now. Grind might not be appropriate...

Later.
-Justin

Ten pages...

2011-03-07T17:44:00.000-08:00

That's all I've got so far.

Ten.

Ah, well.

I do have the first murder scene/set piece down, though.

Spent today at work then visiting my sis in the hospital. She had surgery. Seemed to be doing all right, with the exception of the nausea from the anesthesia.

Of course I'll visit Sissy tomorrow, but I'm also gonna work on the script. If y'all could send some love/prayers/good vibes her way, I'd appreciate it.

Gonna relax a bit before calling it a night and finishing Amer.

Good night.
-Justin

Writing...

2011-03-06T13:30:00.000-08:00

The thing I hate about writing on the computer is that there are so many freakin' distractions.

Facebook, Italian Lemonade, etc.

I just finished re-typing my first seven pages and now I am onto the setup for the first death scene. Blood and gore and violence and all that good stuff.

Let's see what I get done by the end of the day.

Hope it's a lot.

Later.
-Justin

Before I head to class...

2011-03-03T07:22:00.000-08:00

Today's my last class day before Spring Break. Woo-hoo!

And I finally got my copy of Final Draft. It took two weeks to tell me there were problems with the order, when they knew the whole time. Ah, well.

Transferring Celtx to Final Draft is impossible. So I'm gonna retype the first seven pages in Final Draft, because I don't wanna rip my hair out trying to reformat. I just got my hair to a manageable length. Don't wanna ruin it.

BTW, I just noticed that ZDD (www.zddvisualmedia.com) added a whole bunch of gialli. Including some I'd never heard of. And one I'd always wanted to see. So guess what I'm gonna buy when my taxes come back...(I'll at least be getting Erotic Games of a Respectable Family and Skin Under the Claws).

Also, on the subject of ZDD, they rule. There was a problem with one of my orders, and they gladly sent it again. Then the first one arrived. They are letting me keep both orders. Now I can give some away to friends and introduce them to my obsession. Thanks, ZDD!

I find it kind of ironic that people tell me to write what I know...and I write about murder and fucking. I've done neither. LOL.

Well, I guess I oughta head to class. Acting, then Video Project. Gotta watch a play tonight. Maybe I'll sit down with Killer Reserved Nine Seats when I get home.

SPRING BREAK!

Later.
-Justin

Spring Break!

2011-03-01T10:47:00.000-08:00

Thursday is my last class before Spring Break!

Unlike other college kids, I'm not gonna be spending it in drunken debauchery. Partially because I can't afford it, but mainly because I have work to do.

I'm still only on page 7 of The Orchid with the Petals of Velvet.

And I have to have 100 pages turned in by April 15th.

Luckily, I have the whole storyline written out in treatment form. I just have to expand it.

So I have it all planned out:

Friday: Watch some more of the gialli that arrived from ZDD.

Saturday: Morning meeting and work. Because apparently once you become an adult, nap taking is not allowed.

Sunday: Gym, finish the first death set piece.

Monday: Work, then visit sis in the hospital. She's having surgery that day. Please send all sorts of good vibes in her general direction.

Tuesday-Friday: Work like crazy. Stopping only for meals, sleep, and internet porn.

Sounds like a plan. Huh?

So...how is it gonna turn out?

Why, it's gonna be awesome, dammit.

Wish me writing ability. And smarts. And sanity.

Later.

-Justin

It has arrived...

2011-02-26T18:19:00.000-08:00

My package from ZDD Visual Media has arrived!

Boy am I happy!

Let's see...

A Dragonfly For Each Corpse
Killer Reserved Nine Seats
Love Me Strangely
Spirits of Death
Private Crimes (Edwige Fenech/Sergio Martino miniseries from the early 90's)

All is well in the world.

Later.
-Justin

Creep on Creepin' on-Already pre-ordered this bad boy. I suggest checking out their other work. Especially the self-titled CD. Pure brilliance.

I can relax a bit...

2011-02-14T14:32:00.001-08:00

Unpacked and alphabetized. All is well in the world.

Back from the meeting...

2011-02-11T15:26:00.000-08:00

So...had my meeting with my Screenwriting professor.

Still somewhat processing everything that went down.

I totally jacked up the first seven pages. Conversion from Celtx to PDF didn't go smoothly. Remind me to get Final Draft when my tax return comes in. I can get it half price since I'm a student. Ended up with 107/125 because of that.

When he went into the story, the first thing he said was, "Are you familiar with a filmmaker named...Dario Argento?"

My brain totally ejaculated. I perked up and showed him my Suspiria tattoo. He said "So I'm sure you're familiar with the giallo film..."

Why didn't I have this guy last semester? He knew Deep Red and Suspiria and referenced individual scenes, too.

We talked about different angles the story could take. Could it be an outright giallo or something more of a mystery where the giallo elements don't pop up until the end?

Though he did bring up the police procedural thing like last semester. He feels I should make the script more about the investigation. I've never wanted to go in that direction. Maybe my attachment to Gia has been blinding me to the fact that leaning toward the investigation would make better sense. Gia was never even mentioned in the meeting.

He did also think I should change the location. I understand his reasoning (moving it to a rainier city, like Seattle, would force everyone to wear a raincoat, upping the giallo ante), but last I remember, prostitution isn't legal there.

That's another thing...the prostitution angle. I had to set it in Nevada because of the brothel element. I've done some research (and boy are my wrists tired) about the subject. I might need to do more, but there was a bit of a disagreement involving how the working girls get paid. I'm used to watching Cathouse, where she takes the guy to the back room and they negotiate services/prices/etc. He said that doesn't happen...That one I might have to be stubborn with. Worse comes to worse, I could tell him to Netflix the show.

He did mention how gialli are often known for their set pieces, and how I need to put an emphasis on these. I agree on that. The death scenes are elaborate. If it were already a movie, the first and last two death scenes would certainly be talked about on Dark Dreams.

He did enjoy my love of the genre, and was looking for a book about gialli he had lying around, but couldn't find it.

Anyhow, I did get some good feedback. And he did say I was on the right track but that the detective story wasn't quite there yet.

He said he looked forward to reading more.

All in all, quite informative.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm freakin' starving.

Later.
-Justin

P.S.-Amazon.com has Deep Red available to pre-order on Blu Ray for only $14.99! GET IT NOW!

TOMORROW!

2011-02-10T17:38:00.000-08:00

I don't think I've been this excited about anything giallo related since the launch of the 30 Days of Giallo.

Tomorrow I have a meeting with my Screenwriting professor regarding Orchid with the Petals of Velvet.

This will be the first time I've really spoken with anyone at length about this project. I did get to discuss it for a few minutes last semester, but this is an hour long meeting.

I did get 100% on my treatment reworking. Hopefully that's a good sign. I'll have more insight when we also discuss the first seven pages.

Totally jazzed, yet totally freakin' nervous. Reading way too much into it.

Wish me luck, gimme pep talks, and say a little prayer for me at 2:00 Eastern Time tomorrow afternoon. :)

Later.
-Justin

Progress...?

2011-02-07T19:02:00.000-08:00

So...

Tonight the first five pages of our screenplays were due.

Guess what I did all night last night.

Partially because I didn't have much time to do it other than last night.

Partially because I hate sports and wanted some Super Bowl counter-programming.

I ended up changing the opening. Same character, similar scenario, but I think the move made it more dynamic. I'm personally not interested in movies that start with radio interviews. However, I do tend to enjoy films that start with stripteases.

I'm a perv. I know. I've been corrupted by the best of them.

Managed to squeeze out seven pages. And realized tonight that I really need to upgrade to Final Draft when my tax return kicks in...if I have anything leftover after fixing my car and getting new glasses (praying for a 2-for-1 special). Celtx is great and free, but I think paying to fix things like page breaks will greatly help. Plus all the school computers use it, too.

Okay. Off to rest. Acting and Short Script tomorrow.

Later.
-Justin

A sporadic update...

2011-02-05T20:23:00.000-08:00

Thanks whoever voted in the poll.

Moving sucks. But I'm trying not to complain because I got out of a lot of it.

Pre-ordered Death Will Have Your Eyes. And the Blu Ray of Amer is on its way.

And do yourself a favor by seeking out a film called Bajo la Sal. Not quite a giallo in the 70's fashion, but it shares a lot with Occhi di Cristallo. Very good film. Worth checking out.

Okay. Off to bed. Good night.

Later.
-Justin

Just thought I'd let you know...

2011-01-29T19:40:00.000-08:00

Updates are gonna be sporadic over the next couple weeks.

Just got word on Wednesday that we're moving on Monday.

Most everything's packed. Except for my shirts.

Anyhow, our TV/internet service isn't gonna be brought to our new house until the 10th.

Yeah. The 10th.

So the only internet access I'll have is at school. Looking up porn is gonna be hard. There's only so much room in the bathroom stalls.

Good side to this, however: I can use my no-TV time by either going to the gym or catching up on gialli.

Later.
-Justin

Superstar

2011-01-23T12:26:00.000-08:00

Working on a scene for my Short Script class.

Then I have to truncate my 10-page treatment to four pages for my new instructor. It's not due until next week, but I wanna have it done soon.

Because I'm moving in, like, a week. FML.

I dunno why, but part of me wants to do make Orchid the way Todd Haynes did with Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story.

Google it. Then tell me I'm fucking nuts. But I think it would be strangely brilliant.

OK. Back to my short script.

Later.
-Justin.

Some feedback on Orchid!

2011-01-16T20:15:00.000-08:00

Decided to email my old Screenwriting professor regarding my treatment of Orchid with the Petals of Velvet. I knew my grade, but never did receive any feedback on what worked/what didn't. And since I was gonna expand this little thriller to 100 pages (give or take), I wanted to hear what he had to say.

Well, I got my response tonight.

He told me to fuck off.

Not really, but that would have been funny.

I'll start with the constructive criticism.

One thing he pointed out was that the treatment had the same main problem as the synopsis: The protagonist. I've always envisioned the protagonist to be the female lead, Gia. Her role is a bit more passive, however. Because the script is a mystery, he feels the protagonist should be the detective investigating the case. I understand the reasoning, but I would rather try to figure out how to make Gia more active.

The red herring doesn't seen sophisticated enough. He's a bit underdeveloped, too. I understand that. The red herring was a bit of an afterthought when I did the synopsis.

The romantic subplot was also not fleshed out enough. OK.

One death scene included a slight twist that I enjoyed. But he pointed something out and I realized I need to tweak it to make it work right.

There isn't a clear moment of "crisis," the moment where the protagonist has to make an important decision that shows their true character.

The ending is a bit weak in his eyes. Both the killer's explanation of motive and the killer's death. I like the final moment, but I see his argument.

And the positive:

He's always liked the setting. It's fresh and intriguing. I always feel strange when I really sit down and think about how much I know about brothels.

The beginning grabbed his attention.

He refers to one death scene as "grisly, good." I LOVE that! I mean, come on. The dude said GRISLY! I'd only ever heard that word when I've read descriptions of those 80's slasher movies I loved so much as a kid.

There is an interesting side plot, which I won't divulge because it later fits into the finale.

He loves the identity of the killer, saying he didn't see it coming.

He told me to keep working on it, and that it has promise.

Woo-hoo!

Makes me look forward to expanding this to 100 pages.

Okay. I gotta go to bed. I open tomorrow.

Later.
-Justin

A Daunting Task...

2011-01-10T19:53:00.000-08:00

Went to my first session of Screenwriting II tonight. Seems to be a different approach from my previous class.

Ah, well. All I know is I enjoyed it.

By the end of the semester, we will have a "clean" first draft.

And we'll be using our stories from last semester!

Do y'all know what that means?

By the end of the semester, I will have a full first draft of The Orchid With The Petals Of Velvet!

However, there is one thing that kinda frightens me.

This instructor's Screenwriting I course ended with students completing the first 50 pages. My old instructor just left us with a ten page outline.

So a bunch of the students are coming in with a half finished script. I have to start from page one. However, they didn't have a treatment. And I have one.

Now I'm worried. I need, like, a hundred pages by April 15th.

Of all the times to cut the caffeine out of my diet.

At least with the treatment, I know where the story is going. Maybe that'll help.

Yes, this post is all jumbly. My brain is all jumbly.

If y'all could just leave a comment along the lines of "You got this!" or "You're gonna rock it," I'd really appreciate it.

Later.
-Justin

BTW

2011-01-03T11:19:00.000-08:00

Check out my other blog: Perro Sexivo: Becoming The Funny Sexy Guy

It's about how I'm gonna finally lose this gut for good and be the sexy bitch on the outside that I am on the inside.

It shows another aspect of me...and will guarantee sexy results...or something...

perrosexivo.blogspot.com

Later.
-Justin

So...let's just get this out there...

2011-01-01T20:08:00.001-08:00

I sent back Cannibal Holocaust yesterday.

I couldn't go through with it.

What is my penance?

Later.
-Justin

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T08:03:00.000-08:00

So...how was y'all's Christmas?

Picked up some cool stuff.

Including cash.

Some of which I've already used to pickup some gialli from www.zddvisualmedia.com

Private Crimes TV miniseries
A Dragonfly For Each Corpse
Spirits Of Death
Killer Reserved Nine Seats
Love Me Strangely

Boy am I happy.

Merry Christmas.

Later.
-Justin

Santa Claus' Torture Session

2010-12-18T13:19:00.000-08:00

Funny how working in retail takes all the fun out of Christmas. Carolers become crazed madmen and sugar plums become projectile display boxes. Finals pile up and the window of opportunity to go to the gym closes.

In other words, whenever I sing "It's the most wonderful time of year," I'm not happy. I'm really being sarcastic and bitchy.

Also, whenever I'm on the clock and mention I'm looking for the "goodness gracious" remote/TV/accessory/whatever, "goodness gracious" is my code word for "mother fucking." Just thought I'd throw an FYI.

One more week 'till Christmas. Lemme just say it: Buy your gifts now. If you wait until Friday, then give me shit about how Christmas is ruined because something isn't in stock, I will pull out your intestines and use them to decorate my tree.

So...onto other things...

My original plan for Thursday/Friday kinda fell down the tubes. I spent Thursday watching my niece. So no gym. And since she's four, it's probably not a good idea to show her any Video Nasty trailers (even I have my limits). Then yesterday, I was just spent. So I watched about an hour of the trailers. With intros. That dude who talked about Absurd really needs to know when to STFU. He went on for, like, seven minutes talking about it. I don't even think I spent seven minutes blogging about it. Just shut your yap.

I got a 95 on my treatment for The Orchid With the Petals of Velvet. Very happy. He hasn't sent feedback, though. I thought it would. Maybe he's just waiting. I dunno.

OK. Off to relax a bit before jumping back into the warfare known as the Sunday before Christmas.

Later.

-Justin

P.S.-Just got my grades back. A- in Acting, A- in Voice, A- in Screenwriting, and an A in Intro to Digital Filmmaking. Woo-hoo! 3.775!

Quick mention...

2010-12-12T16:02:00.000-08:00

The outline for Orchid got a 95!

Still waiting to hear about the treatment. Part of me wants to say I know I'm all right, but I don't wanna get my hopes up.

Wish me luck.

Later.

-Justin

The Orchid With the Petals of Velvet-a faux trailer

2010-12-09T05:22:00.000-08:00

Here it is-my Filmmaking final. We had to edit footage to a song. I decided to make a faux-trailer for The Orchid with the Petals of Velvet.

I used footage from Case of the Bloody Iris and All the Colors of the Dark. The music is the main theme of Iris.

Enjoy.

Getting back on track...

2010-12-07T20:34:00.000-08:00

Yes, I've digressed over my past few posts. Je regrette. Lo siento.

It's just once one final finishes, another one pops up.

So I'm gonna try to make it up to y'all.

Next week, finals are FINALLY gonna be over. And then I have some plans that'll please fans of both my blogs (the other one is perrosexivo.blogspot.com).

Next Thursday will be my first full day off after finals. And I am going to celebrate another semester without going postal by having a gym session to end all gym sessions. No machine left behind. Full force, total body workout.

Then that Friday, I'm gonna be in bed, cursing myself for being so stupid for having done as much as I did. And watching Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide. All of it. All 72 trailers for every single Nasty to make the list. It's supposed to be 7 1/2 hours of nothing but Nasty.

And maybe I'll finally get around to Cannibal Holocaust. Yes, I do still have the Netflix disc of it.

Okay. Gotta take the trash out, pee, and go to bed. Meeting my partner for one of my acting finals tomorrow before work.

Later.
-Justin

Finals--ugh

2010-12-05T17:19:00.000-08:00

Right when I thought I was finished with my assignments for my Intro to Digital Filmmaking class, my instructor gave us our final: Get footage from movies/videos of whatever type, re-edit it, and set it to music. So I decided to make a trailer for The Orchid With the Petals of Velvet.

I used footage from All the Colors of the Dark and The Case of the Bloody Iris. The music is the main theme from Iris.

I think it turned out all right, but it's not loading. Whatever. I'll find out when I turn it in.

Later.
-Justin

FINISHED!

2010-11-29T16:19:00.000-08:00

My treatment for The Orchid with the Petals of Velvet is finished! Done! Completed! Some other word that means finished...um...Executed!

Savage yet stylish, Sexy yet sensual. I love how the story turned out for the most part.

Now I can't wait to turn this baby in.

Wish me luck.

Later.
-Justin

Due tomorrow...

2010-11-29T12:03:00.000-08:00

And I'm only on page 6.

Of 10.

I can do it. This is gonna rock.

Listening to Siouxsie and the Banshees as I write.

Later.
-Justin

Treatment

2010-11-23T07:03:00.000-08:00

Starting on my treatment. It's due next Tuesday. Wish me smarts, brilliance, and sanity.

So I had class tonight...

2010-11-09T19:04:00.000-08:00

Last class, we turned in our synopses and the professor started reading them aloud. He'd then give us constructive criticism and invite everyone in the class to do so.

Mine was next in line for evaluation...then we ran out of time.

Darn it!

I was looking forward to hearing feedback.

The professor said if our synopsis hadn't been read, we could revise it and turn it in again. I debated about it, but I was afraid of over-thinking everything.

Yes, believe it or not, the guy who begged on this blog to help come up with an alternate title was afraid of over-thinking everything.

I decided to leave things as is.

My synopsis was read first. So, here's what I took from it:

Nobody said anything about the title. I shit bricks for nothing. The Orchid With the Petals of Velvet it is.

Going by the synopsis, the film is missing a protagonist. Yes, the film lingers mostly on one person, but their actions are too passive. I need to figure out how to give this person a more active role in the plot.

I need to change the name of the female lead. I call her Gia, but the professor kept pronouncing it with the G in "gust" instead of the G in "genius." Relatively easy fix.

The professor said my setting was fresh. He really liked the potential of setting the story in and around a brothel. The possibility of colorful characters excited him.

There aren't enough red herrings. Agreed. There's one main red herring in the synopsis, but to add others would have made the synopsis too long (we were only allowed 2 pages). I can easily rectify this in the treatment.

The revelation of the killer comes off as a cheap surprise. I knew this one ahead of time. Not having 100 pages to plant subtle clues makes it look cheap. I could have made the red herring the killer and it still would have looked cheap. I know how to make it a genuine surprise.

The opening threw him off. The beginning revolves around one character who dies fifteen minutes in. I tried to use Dressed To Kill as an example, where you think Angie Dickinson is gonna be the lead...only to be killed early on. He didn't recall that film. Had to use Janet Leigh in Psycho.

Now that I have some outsider perspectives, I can use them for the treatment, which is due in three weeks. Ten to twelve pages. Wish me genius and sanity.

Later.

-Justin

Some Essential Gialli

2010-11-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

Hey, y'all. I dunno why but I'm anticipating somebody might be interested in gialli after reading my screenplay synopsis in class. So I'm reposting my intro/description to gialli from my first post and writing a list of some to check out.

What is a giallo, you ask? Well, let me tell you.

Back in the day, crime/detective novels were incredibly popular in Italy. Mainly they were penny dreadful cheapies involving murder, sex, femmes fatales, and intrigue. Not too far from noir, but with a style that was clearly its own thing. These novels were published with bright yellow covers. The word for 'yellow' in Italian is 'giallo.' So eventually this genre was known as the giallo.

The Girl Who Knew Too Much, directed by Mario Bava, is regarded as one of the first cinematic rendition of a giallo. It was released in 1963 and owes more to Hitchcock than later gialli.

Later Bava directed the first giallo shot in color: Blood and Black Lace. This film is one of the classics of the genre, and a prime example of how to make a horror film in color (to paraphrase Video Watchdog's Tim Lucas). It's beautiful, haute-couture, candy-colored mayhem.

Gialli didn't really have much of an impact until Dario Argento's directorial debut-The Bird With The Crystal Plumage. The film was such a huge hit that one theater played it in Italy for three years straight. It was even the #1 film in America for a while (Take that, Love Story!).

The Bird With The Crystal Plumage set the standard for gialli: Highly convoluted plots, unconventional camera angles, long drawn out murder set pieces, and beautiful scores (mainly by Ennio Morricone and Bruno Nicolai). Many of these films dripped with style and '70's flair.

Gialli were also known for the bevy of beauties who graced them: Erika Blanc, Barbara Bouchet, Nieves Navarro, and especially Edwige Fenech, the queen of the giallo (Google them).

Gialli have had their ups and downs, with sharp rises in the 80's. Luckily DVD has enabled the world to fall in love with them all over again.

Available on Netflix:

Films by Dario Argento:

The Bird With The Crystal Plumage
Cat O'Nine Tails
Four Flies on Gray Velvet
Door Into Darkness
Deep Red
Tenebre
Phenomena (NOT the John Travolta movie)
Opera
Trauma
The Stendhal Syndrome
Sleepless
The Card Player
Do You Like Hitchcock?
Giallo

By Lucio Fulci:

Dont Torture A Duckling
The Psychic
Perversion Story
The New York Ripper
Lizard in a Woman's Skin

Other notable gialli on Netflix:

The Case of the Bloody Iris
All the Colors of the Dark
Blood and Black Lace
Hatchet for the Honeymoon (also available via streaming on Netflix)
Twitch of the Death Nerve (AKA Bay of Blood)
The Black Belly of the Tarantula
The Night Evelyn Came Out Of The Grave
The Red Queen Kills Seven Times
Torso
What Have You Done To Solange?
Who Saw Her Die?
The Bloodstained Shadow
Seven Bloodstained Orchids
A Blade in the Dark
Macabre

If you have a region-free player, check out:
Plot of Fear
Eyes of Crystal
Iguana with the Tongue of Fire
The Vanity Serum
The Perfume of the Lady in Black
Sleepless (The one on Netflix is Full Screen. Artisan sucked).

Also, if you have a player that does PAL-NTSC, go to www.ZddVisualMedia.com and scope out their selection. Some of their gems include:
Nothing Underneath
Death Occurred Last Night
Eye in the Labyrinth
Libido
Rorret
The Weapon, The Hour, and The Motive
The Police Grope Around In The Dark
Death Laid An Egg
Eyes Behind The Wall

Just a word of warning. If you're anything like me, gialli are like Pringles. Once you pop, you can't stop.

And if you're new to Italian Lemonade, welcome!

Later.
-Justin

Assignment DONE!

2010-11-01T12:03:00.000-07:00

Ah...gee I feel better.

Sure, it's not a staggering work of cinematic genius. Yet. But it's my first synopsis/character bio.

Here's a super-truncated version for y'all, minus the ending. See if you can spot my references

The Orchid With The Petals Of Velvet

Famous porn star Ruby Rain is in New York City promoting her upcoming gig at the Melody Ranch in Nevada. After a radio interview, she is murdered on a subway platform.

Back in Nevada, Detectives Eric Wade and Pauline Campbell are assigned to investigate the Melody Ranch and see if there were anybody who may have known anything about Ruby's death. There the detectives meet Gia, a popular girl at the Melody.

Other girls at the Ranch start dying brutally at the hands of a murderer, and Gia is becoming the center of the case. Will she survive the ordeal?

That's all for now.

Okay. I'll let y'all go while I get ready for work.

Later.
-Justin

Okay. I Think I Have This Figured Out...

2010-10-31T16:20:00.000-07:00

So...here goes.

I'm sticking with The Orchid With the Petals of Velvet. I love the title. Screw it. I need to stick to my guns and edit later.

I also figured out how to do what I originally wanted to do with the female lead, which was make her the main protagonist. The crisis is gonna be hard, but I'm sure I'll figure something out.

2/3 through page one. This is gonna be good.

Later.

-Justin

Thinking is Hard

2010-10-30T19:03:00.000-07:00

So...I'm trying to work on this synopsis/character bio/whatever.

And I'm debating on something else, now.

For the sake of the class, and our understanding on the screenplay form, we have to choose one protagonist, and have the bulk of the story revolve around them.

Who exactly to choose?

I could go with the female lead, one of the most popular girls at a brothel. Think Edwige Fenech in Case of the Bloody Iris...only instead of modeling, she sells sex.

Or I could go with the male lead, a detective assigned to investigate a series of murders involving girls who work in the brothel. Only reference I can think of is Liam Cunningham in Card Player. Only younger.

While I want this to be led by the female lead, I have a feeling the male lead is gonna be the more logical way to go for the story to propel forward. But I think the female character is far more interesting.

I dunno. Maybe a little sleep and a day at work, where I do my best daydreaming, will help.

In case my boss reads this, I'm just kidding. I don't daydream at work. I work diligently and sell like a pro. My last name should be Credible. Just say it aloud. Justin Credible. Dammit, I'm gonna make that catch.

Anyhow, off to bed. Gotta start Halloween with a morning meeting. Blah.

Later.
-Justin

Okay, I'll Explain

2010-10-28T07:23:00.000-07:00

This whole title situation...

I'm in a screenwriting class. I was anticipating a big assignment by coming up with my own giallo to write an outline and treatment for.

I've been having a hard time with a title, because I love my title for it, but I have a feeling the people in the class who are unaware of gialli (in other words, all of them) will look at me like a dumbass.

My title for the script: The Orchid with the Petals of Velvet.

I dunno why but I love this title. Lurid yet delicate, like a lost giallo from 1971.

I've tried shortening it to Velvet Orchid but it sounds like some Zalman King Skinemax softcore thingy to me.

Anyhow, we ended up getting the big assignment about an hour after I posted the last entry. So now I'm really debating on what to do with the title.

I'm sure I'll figure it out. Maybe something will hit me when I start the synopsis/character bio.

If you come up with any more ideas, please let me know. I am reading them, and I like what I've seen so far. The first part of the assignment is due Tuesday, so I have until Monday night to make a decision.

Later.
-Justin

Need Your Answer

2010-10-26T13:57:00.000-07:00

This one may require Babel Fish translation. I had to use it to write this question.

You're a hip film distributor and the year is 1970.

You just picked up a groovy little thriller from Italy by some guy whose name you can't pronounce. All you know about him is right now he's making more money than Fellini in his home country.

The film revolves around "working girls" of a brothel getting killed by someone in a trench coat and fedora.

In its original language, the movie is called "L'orchidea con i petali di velluto"

The marketing guy tells you the literal translation is gonna be too long for theater marquees and posters. You need something shorter yet still snazzy.

What do you name it?

I'll explain after I get your answers.

Later.
-Justin

Wonderful News!

2010-10-21T16:39:00.001-07:00

zddvisualmedia.com is back in business!

All is well in the world.