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

Back to the giallo grind...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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

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...

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

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...

...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...

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...

...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

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