This Saturday is the big HALLOWEEN HORROR PICTURE SHOW 2004 event at the University of South Florida's Cooper Hall 103, presented by Enigma Films and Metropol Productions. For horror, indie film, and genre fans, this is a do-not-miss event. The HHPS '04 will be showcasing the best and most horrific short and feature-length horror films of the year, including: Fangoria Video's "Eternal Blood" (Sangre Eterna), "Chameleon", "London Voodoo", "The Reaper", "Filthy", "The Fall", "The Crypt Club", "Don't Worry, It's Only Your Imagination", "Sheep's Clothing", "Gotta Make Them Angels", "post-op", "Wishes in the Dark", and a music video from the upcoming horror thriller "Saw" by Pitbull Daycare: "You Make Me Feel So Dead".
The event will be hosted by actor/comedian John Biebrich ("Rocky" from "Filthy"). John Biebrich was recently voted by Weekly Planet readers as "Best Actor in Tampa Bay"in the WP's famous "Best of the Bay" issue.
Our awesome line-up of Special Guests and Filmmakers includes: Our own Nolan Canova and PCR writer Andy Lalino (me!). Other guests include Professor Paul Bearer II of Channel 44's new CREATURE FEATURE show, sexy actress Krista Grotte as "Necro Nancy" from "The Nightmare Collection", horror indie filmmaker Rick Danford, Chris Woods and Simon Lynx of Icon Film Studios, filmmaker and PCR contributor Jason Liquori, actress Sheri Lawrence ("Fermentia" in "Filthy"), Rodrick Colbert (President of USF's University Film & Video Association), Renegade Films' Kerry Hogan and actresses Hollie Winnard and Chanel Bagwell of Hocus Focus Productions' "The Lunar Pack".
Best of all, 100% of the admission proceeds go directly to the Florida Hurricane Relief fund. So when you come out, you're not just supporting indie horror filmmaking, but benefiting a great charity as well.
Costume contests, prizes, special guests, great movies, the chance to meet and greet actresses, actors, and filmmakers, the opportunity to purchase some of the films at the event...what more could a horror fan ask for? Come out and experience the HALLOWEEN HORROR PICTURE SHOW '04 if you dare!
HALLOWEEN HORROR PICTURE SHOW 2004
When: Saturday, October 30th, 2004
Time: 5pm - 1am
Where: University of South Florida - Cooper Hall 103
4202 E. Fowler Ave.
Tampa, Florida
Admission: $5.00 - All proceeds benefit the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund
Official Website: www.halloweenhorrorpictureshow.com
FILTHY to play in Orlando area at "Flicks on Fairbanks"
Metropol Productions' horror film "Filthy" is continuing to make the rounds in the state of Florida, the latest screening being on Nov. 1st (Monday) at the popular "Flicks on Fairbanks" in Winter Park, which is near Orlando. "Flicks at Fairbanks" features a cool coffee house setting where, after watching "Filthy", you can hurl into your latte. A big thank you to Constantin Preda for requesting that "Filthy" be part of their excellent film series. If you live in the Orlando area, don't miss this screening.
FLICKS AT FAIRBANKS Indie Film Screening of "FILTHY"
When: Monday, November 1st, 2004
Time: event begins at 8pm; "Filthy" will most likely play at 9:30pm (or possibly earlier)
Where: Austin Coffee & Film
929 West Fairbanks
Winter Park, Florida 32789
Admission: None
Official FLICKS ON FAIRBANKS Website: http://www.constantinpreda.com/flicksonfairbanksmain.htm
"Do They Know It's Christmas?" '04
In a plot that's like Orson Welles asking Ed Wood to remake "Citizen Kane", Sir Bob Geldof (of all people) and mighty Midge Ure (Ultravox) have approached Britain's 'top artists', such as 'Dido', 'Coldplay', and, most embarrassingly, 'Robbie Williams', to participate in an all-new version of the classic charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
Before tomatoes are thrown, let me say that it's great they're doing the charity thing and all, but please admit that 2004 isn't exactly a banner era for British pop, and 'artists' from this era should be kept away, like garlic to a vampire, from treading into sacred territory, in this case re-recording one of New Wave's biggest-selling and most sacred singles.
For those too young to remember, 1984 was a magic time when there seemed to be a bottomless spring of top-notch British New Wave acts, including those who participated in one way or another with the Band-Aid project, which benefited African famine relief: U2, Paul Weller/The Style Council, Boy George/Culture Club, Paul Young, Bananarama, Sting, Status Quo, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, *cough*Wham!*cough*, Marilyn (a drag queen; not sure who he had to blow to get that gig), and many others.
Uh, I was there, and believe me, 2004 is no 1984. I mean, just take a look at the insanely great bands I listed above. To dare invite 'Dido', 'The Darkness', and 'Robbie Williams' to croon such a sacred single in inconceivable. Robbie Williams? St. Bob, Mighty Midge, what are you thinking? These knuckleheaded 'new' Brit bands don't even have the motivation to do an all-star charity project for themselves, let alone sit around waiting for Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to knock on their door. Bottom line is that pimply-faced teens may go ga-ga over some of these groups, but those of us who have the insight in comparing the musical quality of both eras know that BritPop of 2004 topples like a candle in a hurricane to the mighty New Wave bands of the early '80s. Coldplay, you 'aint no Big Country.
Propping uninteresting Brit acts on a foundation of balsa wood in the hopes of giving them some much-needed US publicity is to me a project which reeks of utter desperation, and should be shelved before us thirty-something's have to suffer through this upcoming atrocity.
Do I want another British invasion? Sure I do, but if 'hot, new' Brit bands were willing to slap on make-up and break out synthesizers, they'd get much more respect from me. Were I their manager, I'd sit them down and make them listen to the Human League's "Dare" album until they got the picture. Maybe one day the U.K. will once again be a reckoning force that will blast Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Eminem, all boy & rap bands off the MTV screens. But to quote Go West, I'd be the "King of Wishful Thinking".
Are we to expect "Live Aid 2005" next year?
Oddservations Calendar of genre events & concerts
Oct. 26th, Tue.
"Dawn of the Dead" (2004) debuts on DVD.
John Carpenter's "The Thing" (1982) debuts on DVD.
An Evening with Meg Ryan and Bobby Kennedy Jr.(!). Both celebs will be promoting John Sayles' new film "Silver City". Kennedy will be signing books(!). Where's John Sayles? Tampa Theater, 5pm.
Oct. 27th, Wed.
Skinny Puppy in concert at Masquerade in Ybor City. $25.
David Byrne (ex-Talking Heads) in concert at TBPAC's Ferguson Hall. $45. For that ticket price, I'd want more Head.
Oct. 29th, Fri.
"Saw" (horror) opens in theaters. Stars Shawnee Smith ("The Stand", "The Blob").
Oct. 30th, Sat.
The Halloween Horror Picture Show 2004 - Short/feature film event featuring the best indie horror films of the year. This year's host, taking over from last year's Uncle Creepy, will be actor/comedian John Biebrich ("Rocky" from "Filthy"), recently voted Best Actor in Tampa Bay in the Weekly Planet's "Best of the Bay" reader's poll. Special Guests include Nolan Canova of Nolan's Pop Culture Review/Crazed Fanboy, actress Krista Grotte ("Necro Nancy" from "The Nightmare Collection", "Pussey" from "Filthy"), filmmakers Chris Woods and Simon Lynx of Icon Film Studios, actress Sheri Lawrence ("Fermentia" from "Filthy"), filmmaker Jason Liquori, and Tampa Bay's newest horror host Professor Paul Bearer II, host of the all-new Creature Feature that can be seen on WTOG Channel 44, and many others. The HHPS '04 begins at 5pm at USF's Cooper Hall 103 in Tampa, Florida. For more details, visit http://www.halloweenhorrorpictureshow.com
Oct. 31st, Sun.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Nov. 6th-7th (Sat. & Sun.)
- Screamfest 2004 Horror Convention. Special Guests include Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Doug Bradley, Ricou Browning, David Naughton, Ken Foree, Basil Gogos, Linnea Quigley, Pamela Susan Shoop ("Halloween 2"), Lloyd Kaufman, Don Calfa (Ernie in "Return of the Living Dead"), HGL, Bill Grefe ("Death Curse of Tartu" dir.), and others. I went last year, and this event was a lot of fun.
Holiday Inn
1711 N. University Drive
Plantation, FL 33322 (near Ft. Lauderdale)
http://www.spookyempire.com
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! TV Events
From everyone here at the Oddservations Oddservatory (okay, it's just me!) I wish everyone a very happy and safe Halloween. Take your kids out trick or treating, and don't believe all these urban legends about tainted candy. Let's bring Halloween back to the fun night of trick-or-treating it once was. Let's also keep our guard up against the Born-Again Christians, who are again on the warpath to eliminate Halloween as a seasonal event (it's a "pagan" holiday, you see). I wish Democrats would start courting them, because I'd love to see the day they git kicked out of the Republican camp.
For adults, there's plenty to see on the boob tube. This season's best offering is IFC's salute to Italian horror, hosted by Sex Machine himself, Tom Savini, where he'll be spotlighting horror films by Dario Argento and Mario Bava. Oct. 30th will feature "Suspiria", "Inferno", "Deep Red", and an Argento doc; Oct. 31st is devoted to Bava, with "Bay of Blood", "Black Sunday", and "Baron Blood". Both homage's start at 8pm. This one's a don't miss!
Here are some other Halloween TV happenings:
Halloween (Oct. 31st) CREATURE FEATURE Halloween marathon, featuring 2 "Nightmare on Elm Street" sequels, and that horror classic, "Amityville 2: Dollhouse". Forget the flicks, and groove on the horror host: Professor Paul Bearer II, who has made a splash as the new host of Creature Feature.
AMC has their usual excellent MONSTERFEST celebration all week long. Special events include BRUCE CAMPBELL hosting "Entertainment Weekly's 20 Scariest Movies" (wait a minute...Entertainment Weekly?). I watched this the other night and it's okay. Campbell needs to dress better. Check local listings.
Monitor TCM this season. They always have great horror selections. Last night featured the original "Frankenstein", "Dracula", "The Mummy", "The Wolfman", and "The Invisible Man".
The Travel Channel has a meaty line-up of haunted destinations, most of which are cheaply-made time-wasters. If you catch a good one, they can occasionally be tolerable, but largely they're ridiculous shots of stand-ins posing as costumed civil war ghosts with opacity set at 25%. Check local listings.
CMT(!) has a fairly good paranormal special about ghosts, which is narrated by George Noory, which lends credibility to the project. Noory hosts a paranormal show on 970 WFLA radio at 10pm. Check local listings.
Bravo features "100 Scariest Movie Moments" and "Creature Feature Monsters" on Oct. 27th.
For more late-breaking TV updates, check the message boards. Happy Halloween, everyone!
"Oddservations" is ©2004 by Andy Lalino. The Oddservations banner is a creation of Andy Lalino. All other graphics are creations of Nolan B. Canova. All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2004 by Nolan B. Canova.
