Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Wolfman (Feb 12, 2010)

Anyone who knows me knows that while Dracula is my favorite monster, The Wolf Man is my favorite Universal monster movie. I'm a very conflicted person. When the remake was first announced several years ago, all I could think was "Why?" The original is perfect. But, when I heard that Rick Baker would be in charge of make-up, I knew we'd be in for a treat. My fears at least in the way of visuals were quickly put to rest when those early production stills were released. Now with the premiere of the trailer, I'm officially excited. Hopefully, the actual movie will be just as good. The only downside? It's been pushed back again until a Feb 2010 release.

View the trailer!
http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/the-wolfman.html?showVideo=1


There are a couple of cool shots in the trailer. Reminds me of what Craig and I wanted to do with our movie, Degree of Blood.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

R.I.P. Blake Snyder


The movie world lost a great mentor on Tuesday, August 4, 2009. It is with great sadness that I write this, as I feel screenwriters lost someone who was truly on our side. My heart goes out to his family and friends. For someone to be so warm and caring to his fans and fellow screenwriters, I can only imagine the joy he was to those closest to him. I never had the opportunity to meet him, but I will forever be grateful for all he taught me.

I always said that one day I would email him a few loglines to get his opinion, but I never did. I also thought about emailing him to stir up a friendly conversation about why I think the movie "Signs" is in fact a good movie [Note: a reference to his first "Save the Cat!" book]. And I kept putting it off. And putting it off. And now I'll never get the chance to have that discussion. Nor will I ever get to say "Thank you" for all that his books and blogs have taught me. He was a huge mentor to me and he didn't even know it.

I've read numerous screenwriting books and without a doubt, I believe Blake's theories and ideas deserve to be at the top of the list. In fact, I refuse to write anything without his books by my side. He had a way of breaking down the elements of a movie, and therefore a screenplay, in simple terms that anyone could understand. Just studying his BS2 (Blake Snyder Beat Sheet) would open up any movie fan to a whole new world. I know it did for me. I can't watch a movie anymore without glancing at the clock and mentally noting the beats. And I smile big when they 'get it right'.

No one breaks screenwriting down more efficiently than Blake. His enthusiasm, passion, and wisdom for the craft as well as for helping other writers is untouched. I will miss his weekly teachings through his blog updates and I will mourn my never having the privilege to meet him. I learned a lesson today. Don't put off until tomorrow what I can do today. Or, as Blake liked to say, "seize the day". Blake's passing has made me even more determined to finish my first feature length script. When I do, I will dedicate it to his memory. And I will continue to spread the word about "Save the Cat!" until I, too, one day meet the King Cat in the sky.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

REVIEW: "Orphan"

I went into Orphan expecting a psychological thriller and was pleasantly surprised that we got so much more. It has an adult-themed plot with superb acting all around. The casting director deserves an award of some kind for sure, especially for the youngest member (Aryana Engineer). The effectiveness of the tense scenes is due in part to the great casting. Everyone handles the horrific elements with veteran experience. And there are definitely moments that drive home the R rating and push it into the horror category.

The movie is solid for sure, but I do have 2 complaints. 1.) The twist isn't that hard to figure out, especially for me, as I usually guess movies' twists/endings very early on. It's a gift and a curse. No biggie. However, I feel my other complaint holds back what could have otherwise been an unforgettable movie.

2.) The ending was a total cop-out. They set the stage for something truly unforgettable that would have made movie goers walk out of the theaters dragging their jaws on the ground behind them. They missed out on a chance to shock the hell out of us with good writing. Yet they chose not to. Instead, the movie is "good" and not "unforgettable".

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

REVIEW: Either You're In.....

"Either You're In or You're In the Way" will be read and re-read, as I will return to it time and time again for inspiration. If you are a filmmaker, you must read this book. But you don't have to have aspirations as a filmmaker to learn from the determination of the Bros. (authors and brothers, Logan and Noah Miller). Anyone who has a dream, a goal, a feat that must be achieved, can find enjoyment and encouragement.

I loved this book so much I bought it twice. Crazy? Sure. But that is just how awe inspiring it is. I first bought it in Kindle version for my iPhone and I loved it so much that I thought it deserved a permanent place on my screenwriting/filmmaking bookshelf with the best of the best.

It's one of the most inspirational books I've ever read. It's funny, it's immersive, and it's a superb read. You will laugh, cry, and smile while sharing the journey with the Bros. I would tell you the part that had my eyes full of tears, but that would be spoiling a classic storytelling moment.

Before the book, I had never heard of "Touching Home" (the movie that inspired the book). Now I can't wait to see it. If the movie is half as good as the book, we are in for a treat.

For more information on "Either You're In or You're In the Way," please visit: www.inorintheway.com.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

we shot our first commercial

On June 29, 2009, we shot our first commercial! It's for the "Big Game" contest for CareerBuilder.com. Lori called us one weekend with the idea and asked us to shoot and act in it. Sounded good to us! We met the next afternoon at a business. After quick hello's with the other actors, and a quick run down of the script, we were off and running. It only took about an hour to get all of the shots we needed.

We couldn't set the commercial to music before entering, but Craig did edit a version with music. Once the contest is over, I'll upload it to our youtube page. Until then, you can view the video below.

Update! 8-7-09
Our contest entry has made it past the initial selection process and will now be voted on by judges. Hopefully it will continue to push on!

Here is the official CareerBuilder.com contest page with our entry:
http://www.hiremytvad.com/video-detail.php?videoID=dcj8BrOjd5A

Monday, June 29, 2009

Thoughts on my first public showing

Li'l Film Fest 10: Family has come and gone. Despite losing several attendees due to the schedule change, we still had a decent sized support group of friend/family for our film "Sunday". We didn't win anything, but... I did experience something that for a filmmaker is greater than any award. Audience acceptance! We got a nice applause and a good reaction from the audience during the showing. I even had a few people come up to us afterwords to tell me they liked it. I enjoy making movies for people, an audience. That is what filmmaking is all about! So to have it perform well is a dream come true!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

REVIEW: "Pearls & Prey"


No longer should we only think of the classics when we think of horror. Very Lovecraftian in style, Goff is a name that deserves to haunt the minds of horror fans everywhere. Mary Goff has an uncanny ability to make her reader see images as if we were walking around inside her head while she dreams up (sometimes literally) these often disturbing stories. We feel the cold, smell the blood, and sense the fear along with her characters. She paints a very visual landscape that isn't always pretty. And that's a good thing. Dark and grotesque settings and otherworldly monsters haunt her stories.

Ms. Goff out performs herself with her sophomore effort if for no other reason than the amazing "Inmate No. 762030" - a personal favorite. And speaking of dreams, "Cry, Wolf" is based on just that. The sadness can be felt through the pages and it is not one to be missed. Give "Pearls & Prey" a read, but a word of caution.... Make sure the doors and windows are locked and you have a warm, cozy place to read. I hear it can get mighty cold in Hell.

For ordering information, please visit www.koff-inn.com.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Postponed - Li'l Film Fest 10 (Updated!)

Due to inclement weather, Li'l Film Fest 10: Family was postponed from last Saturday. The building the fest is being held in has been without power for several days. Still waiting on a confirmation for the rescheduled date.

Stay tuned!!!


Update!
The fest will take place Sat, June 27th. Can't wait!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

"SUNDAY" playing in local film fest!

In early May we made a 5 minute short for a local film festival, and I'm happy to report that it has been selected!!! It'll play in the Li'l Film Fest 10 this Saturday along with 12 other entries. This "little" fest is put on by Live from Memphis. By entering, we are granted consideration for the Indie Memphis Film Fest that is held every October. Live from Memphis holds the Li'l Fest every quarter with a required theme and a time limit of 5 minutes. This fest's theme is 'family'.

"Sunday" was put together in about a week and was filmed over a rainy weekend. It was edited and scored within a few hours. We definitely beat our editing time from "Don't Look in the Fridge". While awards will be given at the festival, I'm just thrilled to be a part of the event and to see our movie played on the big screen!


"Sunday"
directed by: Val Overstreet
written by: Dolan Mills
shot by: Craig Morris

Staring:
Jake Mills
Lori Mills
Dolan Mills
Valerie Campbell
David Jacks

For more information about the fest vist:
Li'L Film Fest 10

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Li'l Film Fest 10 Entry - "SUNDAY"

I'm superstitious when it comes to filmmaking (among other things) and did not want to post this until after I knew whether or not "Sunday" was accepted into the Li'l Film Fest 10. I'm very thankful that it has been selected and now I present to you the story behind how it came to be.

Back in March, one of my filmmaking buddies invited me to a local film fest to see his movie screened. I thought it was a cool experience and mentioned that I'd like to participate in the next one. Live from Memphis hosts a quarterly fest every year with a required theme and a 5 minute time limit. The event is called "Li'l Film Fest". The theme that my friend's movie, "Journeyman", was a part of was "Memphis - Fact or Fiction?".

When he sent word about the next fest (#10), I was very excited. The theme was "family" and you can imagine the ideas my dark and disturbed brain immediately thought of. However, all of those ideas seemed too easy, too cliche. So, I turned to a script idea that I've been working on that fit the theme of family perfectly - and was not horror. However, it turned out that there was no way to write a 5 minute script without jeopardizing the story, which I was NOT about to do. I was bummed.

But... all was not lost. Dolan, my brother-in-law, saved the day by coming up with an idea that could benefit from a shorter time limit. Oddly, it wasn't really horror either. He wrote the script, sent it over, and I immediately went to work storyboarding. "Sunday" was literally put together in about a week. I would have preferred to have had more time, but circumstance didn't work out that way. Considering the time that went into production, I am pleased with the outcome.

We filmed "SUNDAY" on a rainy weekend in May. The production went well. All of our actors were prepared and hit their marks as expected. Jake, our nephew, shined once again. It was a good experience. I missed a couple of shots due to how rushed we were, but that's how it goes in the world of amateur filmmaking!

Craig got the footage edited and we scored it within a couple of hours. I even mailed our entry with a few days to spare! Today (6-10-09), I learned that our little movie was chosen to be screened in the fest! I'm very excited. This is the first time this has happened for us in our very young filmmaking endeavor. There will be awards given at the fest, but I can honestly say that I'll be happy just to be there. I can't wait for my friends and family to come out and support our efforts and see our movie on the big screen!

A big THANK YOU to all of our awesome cast/crew!

Friday, April 24, 2009

new camera, new experiences

i recently got back into photography and found that i enjoy it more than i expected. i say 'back into' because when i was a kid, i was obsessed with taking pictures. i didn't go anywhere without a camera in my hand. and spent all my allowance on developing film. i've got more snapshots of family and pets than i know what to do with. i still have the old minolta film camera my grandparents gave me when i was about 13.

craig got interested in photography last fall and when i showed an interest, too, he gave me a canon xsi. he's awesome! now that i've got a decent DSLR, i'm trying to be more creative with my photography... and not just take snapshots. we've been to various cemeteries, visited downtown on multiple occasions, and i've even tried my hand at sports photography.

having a camera at my side has been good for me. it's gotten us both out of the house more. having a hobby to share with my husband (and best friend) is priceless. we now visit places around our city that in the past we tended to neglect. and when we go away on vacation, planning a photo shoot comes naturally.

i'm amazed at how liberating and empowering photography has been for me. and it's all thanks to craig!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

i like story

sometimes i'm anal about keeping my stuff looking new. craig makes fun of me because when i get a new horror magazine in the mail i can't stand for it to be bent, torn, folded, or damaged in any way. i am normally like that with my books, too, but while reading "story" by robert mckee, i'm constantly reaching for the highlighter. there is so much good stuff in this book that even with taking notes, i will need multiple reads to really put his teachings into practice.

i recently blogged about having a weird form of writer's block. i've got all these ideas and am having trouble taking the next step into developing a story. well, "story" may be just what i needed. in the book, mckee addresses the issue of writer's block and even suggests a good cure: research. in a round about way, reading "story" is like the research i didn't realize i needed.

mckee really digs deep when breaking down the elements that make up a story. it's philosophical and practical at the same time. it really makes you think. the examples he uses from popular movies, both old and new, really helps to paint the picture. i doubt i will ever put to use all of what he teaches, but it really is a good read. i highly recommend this book for all you writers. plus.... he quotes john carpenter! what's not to love?


p.s. thanks to andrew for turning me on to this great book!

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

final thoughts - "FRIDGE"


When one of my closest friends (and actor in the short) came up with the idea for "Don't Look in the Fridge", I was elated to be given the opportunity to make it a reality. "Fridge" was not only my directorial debut but also my first opportunity to perform duties in cinematography. Lighting for a cinematic feel and proper mood were of importance for this story.

Principle photography occurred over two afternoons and was shot with a consumer camera (Canon HV20). It was edited on a MacBook Pro using Final Cut Studio 2. With my team of friends and family, I feel I was able to accomplish my goals and am proud of my first short film effort.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Reading's for wussies...

[Note: Originally written Feb 23, 2008, see update after entry]

Not really, but I once believed that. Growing up watching my sister lounge around the pool or house with book in hand, I never understood why someone would want to spend their time reading. I felt that I should be outside being active rather than just sitting there flipping pages. Even watching movies (which I did a lot of) took less time than reading.

I suppose much of my prejudice came from the fact that I am a slow reader. Because of this, I found myself reading a lot of comics (the pretty pictures!). "Ghost Rider" was my poison and I read everything related to the Midnight Sons that I could get my hands on. As I've gotten older, I have come to appreciate lounging in the sun doing squat, zilch, and notta, and have therefore learned to enjoy a good book. Now that I'm writing again, I want to read, too. I suppose it comes with the territory.

A few years ago a friend lent me his copies of a trilogy by a very talented lady named of Jeanne Kalogridis. Her vampire trilogy, "The Diaries of the Family Dracul", rival any vampire story written or filmed. The story is told through journal entries of various characters and is exceptionally written. Everything is so detailed and alive. Kalogridis expands on "Bram Stoker's Dracula" by setting the first book in the trilogy 50 years before that legendary tale. By the time you reach the third book, the story begins to overlap that of Bram Stoker's.

Shortly after finishing "The Diaries of the Family Dracul", I found myself reading a series of books about a boy wizard by J.K. Rowling. Maybe you've heard of him? "Harry Potter" needs no introduction. It's one of the greatest series of novels ever written and a true generation bender. I started reading Harry Potter when I was 27 and my mom, who was approaching 50 at the time, had started years before me! Even that guy from Maine reads Potter.

Despite having seen almost all of his movie adaptations, I am a newcomer to the written world of Stephen King. It only took one novella ("The Mist") to make me a lifetime fan. I absolutely adore his writing style. I really enjoy his short stories and I highly recommend his book, "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft" to any beginner or established writer. It's a fun read. I've also recently discovered Clive Barker's books, which I thoroughly enjoy. "Books of Blood" is a must read for any horror fan.

There are a few other horror authors that I'm eager to try (Laurell K. Hamilton, Brian Keene, etc.), and I just purchased "Sharp Teeth" by Toby Barlow, which I can't wait to sink my teeth into.

So, in closing, I suppose I have to either fess up to being a wussie or stop reading. And I ain't no wussie. Or a quitter.

We'll call it a draw.

[Update: I'm happy to report that after writing this entry a year ago, I have read even more books! In fact, I started the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton and read the first 7 books in 4 months. It's a great series!

I've also read numerous books on filmmaking and screenwriting. Everything from Lloyd Kaufman's "Make Your Own Damn Movie" to Robert McKee's "Story". I'm currently reading "Save the Cat! The Last Book On Screenwriting That You'll Ever Need" by Blake Snyder.

To say I have found an interest in books, especially self-help books, is an understatement.]

Friday, March 6, 2009

"FRIDGE" poster art

Craig finished up the poster for "DON'T LOOK IN THE FRIDGE". Check it out!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

watch "FRIDGE" now!

our latest short, "DON'T LOOK IN THE FRIDGE" is finished!



story by: james mcelyea
screenplay by: val
directed by: val

"FRIDGE" was a test in lighting and VFX for us. i'm pleased with the outcome, as it was a good learning experience. craig did an awesome job helping me learn and kudos go out to him for the VFX also. and a big thanks goes out to james and jake. they both did a great job!

watching the footage, i already know of several things i can improve upon. one of the biggest things is camera movement. i want more movement so that the scene transitions will have more energy. even if it is simply peaceful, flowing energy, it would be an improvement over plain cuts. that's just one of many things i hope to 'do better next time'.

i appreciate everyone's help with this project and cannot wait to make another movie! i'm very eager to use what i learned on something new.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

"FRIDGE" is in the can!

our shoot sunday went really well. everyone was prepared which helped us move along quite nicely. our nephew, jake, was a joy to direct. he hit his mark every time, followed my suggestions to the letter, and gave a great performance. james did great, too. his interaction with jake was very believable.

i'm also happy to report that we had no lighting or blocking issues, which is good considering how much preparation went into filming. since we filmed at our house we had ample time to prepare.

craig has already built the end sequence with the f/x and it looks good. i'm very pleased with how it turned out! we will work on editing this week and hope to have the timeline ready for music and foley soon.

stay tuned!

"FRIDGE" special f/x and visual f/x

how does an old married couple spend their friday nights? making movies, of course! hahaha

craig and i spent last friday evening working on the special f/x and visual f/x for "Don't Look in the Fridge". Without giving anything away - because I'm NOT! - it turned out well. Muahahahahahahahaha!

Monday, February 16, 2009

Review: Friday the 13th (2009)

Let me start off by saying, I didn't hate it. I can appreciate "dumb fun" that pays homage to previous entries in a franchise. However, there are so many things wrong with this movie that it makes it difficult to say I like it, either.

First off, there was no suspense. Jason is only Jason when he is stalking his prey slowly through the woods. We rarely ever got that with this remake. Jason would simply appear behind the person. Zero tension. Secondly, other than one death in the opening sequence and one death later on in the lake, the deaths were lame. L.A.M.E. I realize this isn't Saw, but surely that wasn't the best they could do. The death of Mr. Grade A Douchebag was so unfulfilling. A character like that deserves an extended demise where we can root for the bad guy just once.

Which brings me to my third point, and I'm really about to go off on a tangent here, so bare with me. I don't know if it is an MPAA thing or poor judgment on the filmmakers' part (I'm sure the MPAA would have a cow if graphic violence and sex were mixed), but it's unfortunate that they had to sacrifice clearer death scenes for extended sex scenes so we could get more ridiculous dialog. Seriously, stupendous? The shaky-cam that shows up in so many horror movies today is as tired now as the first time I ever saw it. Why is this popular? Does the shakiness really add tension? It only gives me a headache and brings me out of the action. It's as if using that effect is to make up for the fact that the filmmakers don't know how to build real tension and are too scared to show the special f/x in the death scene. Honestly, I would prefer to see CG or even bad f/x than to deal with the camera mimicking a Mexican jumping bean.

And finally, one of the golden rules of horror movies was broken multiple times and that simply won't do. You cannot, cannot, show power tools or unique death bringers and not freaking use them! That is inexcusable and disappointing. I thought for sure the power saw in the tool shed would allow us a good crimson bath, or the wood chipper actually, oh I don't know... get to rip through flesh. Is that too much to ask? Again, see my third point.

On a side note, I have dreaded a remake of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" ever since it was first announced and after seeing what Michael Bay has done with "Friday" (not to mention the disgrace, "The Unborn"), I'm down right scared to death.

I won't even bother with what I feel about the new Jason. Derek Mears did his job fine, but it almost feels like his talents were wasted. The lack of Manfredini's original score was also a let down. Again, I didn't hate the remake; this movie could easily fall into place in a "Friday the 13th" home viewing marathon. But it fails on so many levels that it's easy to rip it to shreds. Basically, I'm making up for the misused wood chipper.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

psst... don't look in the fridge!

filming for "DON'T LOOK IN THE FRIDGE" will commence on sunday! woohoo! my friend james came up with a story idea a few months ago that i agreed to write the screenplay for and direct. it's going to be really short, but i'm using this as a test for myself to learn more about all the aspects of filmmaking. i plan to be as hands-on as possible, as i'll take care of the lighting and camera operation during filming and even handle most of the editing and post production. craig will of course assist in this endeavor; i wouldn't want to do it without him. but i figure the only way i'll learn more is to do more.

james will also star in "fridge" along with my nephew as a horror-movie-loving kid. sunday we'll shoot about 90% of the principle photography with the main actors. after that, craig and i will handle a couple of special f/x on our own in the following days.

even though it'll be a quickie, it should be a fun little ditty. any excuse to shoot something is fine by me. can you tell i'm excited?

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

music lessons v.4 and v.5

Mon, Feb 2 and 9, 2009

i'm combining last week's and last night's lessons into one blog. partly because i was lazy and didn't write one last week, but also because these two lessons go hand in hand.

ok, so i'm making some progress. moving along in my lesson book. i've started on a couple of new songs (one of which is a blues tune!!!), and we also talked about chords and chord progressions. thanks to this music theory book i read about a year ago, i was already familiar with the concept. but understanding what theory is and using it are two very different animals.

along with practicing songs from my book, this week i'll be playing around with making up a melody to put over the top of a simple chord progression. ahh... the first steps in possibly writing my first song!

until next time....

storyboarding can suck it

first off, i can't draw. i've no artistic ability whatsoever. my stick figures even look like rejects. secondly, since i can't draw, transferring what is in my mind to paper in a discernible form is next to impossible. one can imagine how awful my storyboards look.

so, i'm done. no more storyboarding for me. i gave it a shot and it is time to move on.

what i am doing instead is writing out a shot list. and i can be as detailed with this info as i need to be. like labeling whether a shot is day/night, characters, props, or any info i need to remind myself of what the heck i'm doing.

adieu, storyboards!

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

macs + age = still awesome

yay! i got my powerbook back! i traded my 15" widescreen macbook pro to craig for the 12" powerbook g4. the powerbook is 3 years old and was originally mine. it was completely my idea. i freakin' love the 12" screen and really missed its portability. it really says something about the stability of a computer to *want* a 3 year old, "slower" machine. gotta love the power pcs.

we put a 250GB harddrive in it and maxed out the RAM to 1.25MB. its processor is just barely slower than the macbook pro's, but for what it's worth.... the power pc's are more stable than the intel macs. at least right now.

this thing is a rock. the only reason i ever upgraded to the macbook pro in the first place was because i started using Logic Express and needed the screen space. it's a big application! it takes up a lot of screen real estate. well, Logic is the most illogical thing i have ever tried to use in my entire life. so my main reason for having the macbook pro was null and void.

craig will make better use of it than i will since it's got an intel chip. although, it does pain me to know Windows is about to be installed on it. that's just blasphemy any way you look at it! oh well, i don't have to use it. heh

i really, really like the 12" screen. i know that sounds crazy to some, what with everything going widescreen these days, but 12" is nice and portable. even craig lusts after it.

Update: 1-26-11
I finally added this entry to my blog. It's been in draft form for years. Anyway, I wanted to add that the Powerbook still lives! It spent about a year with my stepmom before she upgraded, and I'm happy to report it's back in my possession and still ticking!

Monday, February 2, 2009

for the writers out there

do you ever get writers block?

sometimes i get it because i feel overwhelmed with too many ideas, not because i have nothing to write about. right now i have a list of ideas that i can't seem to do anything with. lately it seems that all i do is just that.... jot down quick notes. before i can outline one idea i'm already having another.

i don't want to cut off my reception to new and cool stuff (i'm really an alien with antennae on my head), i just want to complete a story! dammit!

maybe i need to invent a cranium answering service. "....so and so is busy writing... please leave idea and i will make sure she receives it in a timely manner...."

music lesson v.3

I've got a lesson tonight but I'm just now getting around to writing about last week's lesson. Basically, I've been familiarizing myself with chord inversions. And practicing Braham's Lullaby over and over and over. I think I am finally close to nailing that song, lol. It has given me fits for a while. There is a lot of hand movement (up and down the keys) in that song. Thanks to my instructor, I'm learning to move around more freely and not be so worried about staying in C position.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Review: I'm In the Basement (2008)


"I'm In the Basement" brings back that familiar old school scary story fun. From the unique homemade DVD cover to the witty dialog, Gonzoriffic are at it again. Directed by Andrew Shearer and staring Gonzoriffic's usual crop of great female talent, "Basement" is full of effective humor and storytelling. But it's Gonzoriffic's subtlety and timing that sets their movies apart from other SOV fare. I may be cheating the material if I point out things like the cracker box (look for it!), but that is just one of many unspoken treats to discover.

"Basement" finds us huddled inside a camping tent with four friends goofing off and telling scary stories. Something we've all done and can relate to. But when they begin to get harassing phone calls, the creepy factor gets turned up a notch. The ending has a nice twist that will make you appreciate the choice for blonds.

DVD is chocked full of goodies. Everything from the staple outtake reel to behind the scenes footage of "Basement's" premiere at Athens Cine in Georgia. Even the synopsis write up on the back cover will cause explosive laughter.

I can trust that when I receive a DVD wrapped in black and white poster art that I'll be entertained once again by the latest installment of Andrew, Monica, and Co.


For more information, or to buy your copy, please visit: www.gonzoriffic.com Tell 'em Val sent ya. You won't get anything free, but I'll feel better about myself. Ha.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

music lesson v.2 - intervals and power chords

intervals

when i first started teaching myself piano i studied intervals from my lesson book. but while i learned what intervals are, i didn't learn how i can use them in playing. this is why having an instructor is beneficial. in my second lesson i was introduced to the concept of actually "reading" (or recognizing) intervals in music notation. i see now how helpful it will be in reading notation faster.

my instructor showed me the notation for a version of "smells like teen spirit" written by tori amos. she's an amazingly talented musician and wrote a complicated piece out of a nirvana song. i'll go ahead and state right now that i'm not much of a grunge fan and i like nirvana even less. grunge killed the guitar solo. :P however, her piece was pretty. then we got into talking about intervals and went back to the notation for tori's song. still complicated, no doubt, but recognizing intervals in the piece suddenly made it not so impossible-looking.


power chords

now i'm playing with power! oh wait, that's a nintendo reference. see, video games are never very far from my conscience. so, craig showed me what he learned in his guitar lesson: power chords. they are a little harder on my untrained fingers, but wow, do these sound good! fun to play, too. now when friends or family come over i'll at least be able to fake it and show off that i've learned something, haha.

update: i've been playing power chords for a couple of days now. my hands and fingers are finally starting to loosen up. still have a long way to go, but i'm making sounds now!

Monday, January 19, 2009

my first guitar

i suppose i should start off by saying that my music lesson blog entries may include notes about guitar as well as piano from here on out. after playing around with craig's ibanez electric guitar for several days i decided to get my own. in fact, he returned his and bought a different one, too. an upgrade, basically.

i went with a fender stratocaster (mexican made). it's blue with a white pick plate. not only is it a beauty, but it plays and sounds awesome, too. once i tweak it a bit for my playing preference i think i will love it even more. the action (string height) is too high, so i'm having it lowered this week. i'm always very excited to get a new music instrument. while i've owned several iterations of a piano/keyboard, this is a first for me. to say i'm on a high right now is an understatement.

the guitar that craig bought was also one of my choices. it's another ibanez (part of their RG series). it came set up with a very low action and slightly lighter (thinner) strings than my strat. thinking back, i'm not sure why i chose the strat over the rg ibanez; i would've been happy with the ibanez's factory set up. but i do like how clean the strat sounds and how it feels in my hands. which is why i think with some tweaking it will be my preferred guitar. i can always play craig's and he can always play mine. that's one cool advantage to buying two different guitars; they each differ in pick ups and sound.

so far all i've really learned is how to play the opening riff of 'smoke on the water' (deep purple). i'm looking forward to tonight's lessons so that i can not only learn something new for piano but also for guitar. after practicing guitar for less than a week, i have already noticed improvement. i told craig last night (after playing my strat for a bit), "i can do this. give me a few months and i'll be playing guitar."

Friday, January 16, 2009

drums are soothing

sometimes things seem to not be working out and then suddenly it all comes together. that happened to me last night. i played around on the piano for a few minutes and realized that i wasn't into it. i just wasn't feeling it. so, i moved on to practice guitar. i was off. i stayed with it for about 15 minutes, but i left unsatisfied.

screw it, i said.

i sat down at my drums and started banging away and had the best time. you know those moments when things seem to gel musically? when the flow is smooth and natural? that's what it felt like at that moment.

drums are good. drums are soothing.

update - degree of blood

filming has been sorta slow on degree of blood. scheduling and weather have caused a delay. but that's the life of independent art. you have to go with the flow sometimes. once the weather warms up a little we should resume filming.

in the meantime, i'm working on various things:

short film - an idea that james passed along to me. if we can get together with those involved, we should be able to knock out 80% of the shoot in one day.

short story - working on something that is in the vein of "murders in the closet", a fun horror story i wrote last fall.

val

Thursday, January 15, 2009

piano lesson #1

So, I had my first lesson Tues night (1-13-09). We mainly talked about what I have already taught myself so the instructor could gauge where we need to begin. I got confirmation on a few things I was doing right, which I am very happy about, and learned a few tricks, too. I've been struggling with this one lesson (song) and after applying the tips he gave me, I've already noticed improvement. We talked a little about music theory, too. Something else I'm interested in learning more about. It only makes sense to understand the "why's" of music. Taking lessons is really going to help me. I'm really excited about it!

Our instructor is great. We hope to watch his band, Distilled, perform Fri night. Should be fun.

I also started practicing guitar with Craig. Unlike piano, I know ziltch about guitar. I think I will do ok with some practice. I'm already wanting my own to play on. Haha...


Also, for my birthday, Craig gave me an Alesis Trigger IO interface for my Ion Drum Rocker kit. I'm in love with that thing. All I need now is a new kick pad and pedal and I'm good to go. It'll hook straight into my Mac and I can use any drum sounds that I already have from Garage Band and Logic. Can't wait to lay down a beat to either Craig's guitar and or my piano tracks.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

piano lessons start tonight!

1-13-09

i'm so excited! craig and i start music lessons tonight! i'll be learning piano and craig will learn guitar.

last week we met with the owner of vision music (jason whitt) in munford. he's been an instructor for many years, but over the christmas holiday he moved into a storefront in downtown munford. it opened last week, so we stopped in to get the details. our first (free) lesson is tonight. then we move to monday's next week. it will cost $15 per 30 minute lesson through march and then move up to his regular rate of $18.

we went last week to guitar center and bought craig another starter guitar kit (he sold the one he bought 2 years ago). it's an ibanez and it looks sweet. it's more of a metal guitar, but craig really liked the thinner neck; said it felt better in his hands. i agree. the neck is nice and thin.

i'm hoping we will get 2 for the price of 1 with the guitar lessons. i want craig to show me everything he learns so i can practice, too. that'd be awesome if i learned to play piano, drums, and guitar!