An actual update?

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...

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...

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!

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...

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...

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...

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?

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...

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...

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

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...

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...?

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

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