Bitter Old Man or "Get off my starship, you damn kids!"

As you can guess, I'm not part of the hordes of moviegoers and critics who are practically fellating STAR TREK and J.J. Abrams. The reviews are favorable and everyone seems to confirm that the franchise is back...

Truth is, the last TREK movie that I was interested in was UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY. The last TREK spin-off that I liked was DS9. I'm lukewarm on NG TREK, actively despise VOYAGER and ENTERPRISE. I have plenty of TREK to choose from, thank you, and I tend to like the Original Recipe.

What I've seen of STAR TREK: THE PEPSI GENERATION, I'm not impressed with. "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades - 'Cause Of The Lens Flares." It seems to be a case of 'CLOVERFIELD Syndrome' - everybody loves the initial rush, but in 5 years or so looking back, everyone will be embarrassed that they actually thought it was good.

This isn't limited to TREK, or a case of "raping my childhood" -- I really have lost my taste for the megabudget, big event films that should make my life more complete. Bat-Hype totally killed any interest I had in going to THE DARK KNIGHT, and indifference to comic adaptations was my excuse for IRON MAN, WATCHMEN, WOLVERINE... and not being a real big fan of Abrams made the TREK announcement a non event for me.

Most of these are really great thrill rides - a couple may actually be really good films. But in-between these two poles is a lot of mediocre style that people mistake for good filmmaking.
I don't really have the need anymore to rush out to watch mediocre films. "Lemming-cinema", as I'll start calling it from now on.

At best, Pepsi Gen TREK is a cheap matinee, or a wait for the DVD. I hope to be surprised that it's a good movie...

I just really hate the thought of wearing sunglasses inside while I'm watching it.






Update: Best one line review of Pepsi Gen TREK from the A.V. Club comments. And yes, it's offensive.

8 May 2009 | 1:03 PM CDT hatin

JJ Abrams' Star Trek = reacharound

Courteous, yes. But you're still getting fucked in the ass.

Tornado!

Coming back from the screening of LAST BREATH in KC, MO I encountered this -- now THIS is scary!

In theaters April 24 & May 1: MIL MASCARAS VS. THE AZTEC MUMMY & SONG OF THE DEAD


When I posted news of SOTD's acquisition by Monogram Releasing, I had no idea it would be so soon - like May 1 soon! But an even bigger surprise was finding out about another film out even sooner; like THIS FRIDAY!!


In theaters April 24

Courtesy of B-Movie Nation, read a review of MMVSAM, and for a crash course in "ProducerSpeak"... what's that smell? - an interview with the Producer. Also, read an interview with Chip Gubera about SOTD.

Both movies will be digitally released - the theaters listed are in the South and Midwest... maybe there'll be other regions listed soon. Both should see their DVD releases later in the year.

I'd be happier to also see news about ACADEMY OF DOOM!, but I know there's tons of lucha fans who will be happy to see this... and good to see SOTD get some exposure in this country.

UPDATE: ACADEMY OF DOOM! is scheduled for release on June 19. So all 3 should be out on DVD by the Fall.


In theaters May 1

Theater listings:

Nova at Sabal Palms
2539 South Federal Highway
Fort Pierce, Florida 34982

Nova Georgia
340 Tanger Drive
Commerce, Georgia 30529

Studio 10 Cinemas
1624 E. State Highway 44
Shelbyville, Indiana 46176
Movieline: 398-FLIX(3549)

Georgetown 14 Cinemas
3898 Lafayette Road
Indianapolis, Indiana 46254
phone: (317) 291-3456

Nova 10
4353 Merle Hay Road
Des Moines, Iowa 50310

Movie Palace Cinemas
1231 Woodland Drive
Elizabethtown, Kentucky 42701
phone: (270) 769-1505

Dixie Dozen Cinemas
6801 Dixie Highway
Louisville, Kentucky 40258
phone: (502) 935-3771

Theatres of Georgetown
401 Outlet Center Drive
Georgetown, Kentucky 40324

Branson Meadows Theatres
4740 Gretna Road
Branson, Missouri 65616
Branson Meadows Outlet Mall
Phone: 417-332-0464
Movie Hotline: 417-332-2884

The Amp Oxford Mississippi
206 Commonwealth Boulevard
Oxford, Mississippi 38655
Movie Hotline: 662-236-4080

Portsmouth Cinemas
1623 Chillicothe Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
Movieline: 355-FILM(3456)

Lake Geneva 4
244 Broad Street
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin 53147

TOGI & RHUBARB PIE Logrolling

Because there's no such thing as bad publicity...

My behind the scenes pics from THE ONLY GOOD INDIAN;

'Up To Date' with Steve Kraske on KCUR interviews Kevin Willmott about TOGI, and has info about KC Filmfest; and an additional interview with Kevin on 'KC Currents' from late March of this year. It's about 12 minutes - it starts at 10'18" in and ends at about 22'14";

My behind the scenes pics from RHUBARB PIE;

and an article about the short appears in the current Urban Times paper - pg. 4 in the .pdf file.

SONG OF THE DEAD GETS DISTRIBUTION

I had thought that there would be no more SOTD news, since the producers started selling DVD's & soundtrack CD's directly & through Amazon.com -- but, surprise of surprises, this showed up today:

Song of the Dead Gets Distribution Deal and “We Got Distribution” Celebration

Chip Gubera and Bob Swope, the producers of the zombie-musical Song of the Dead, just signed a distribution deal with Monogram Releasing ( US Theatrical rights) and Echelon Studios (World theatrical, DVD, and VOD rights). Monogram will release Song of the Dead to several screens in the Midwest this summer through digital cinema technologies. Echelon will release the DVD to the US later this fall. No dates currently set for worldwide releases.

The “We Got Distribution” celebration in honor of the deals will be at Eastside Tavern in Columbia, Mo, May 1st 2009. Gubera’s band The Unfashionables, who performed the score for Song of the Dead, will be playing. Several of the original cast members will be performing songs that they sing in the film with the band. The celebration is free and open to the public.


Nice!

LAST BREATH Logrolling

In light of its premiere at KC FILMFEST next Saturday, here's a ton of stuff related to the film. For a synopsis and info about the film, check out the website, which has a trailer.

Here's a behind the scenes featurette:



and for more wacky behind-the-scenes action, check out 'The Joys of Lo-Budget Filmmaking' series.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8

Here's my collection of pics from the set of LAST BREATH.


Watch 'em, enjoy 'em, and come stoked for the premiere!

KC Filmfest 2009

It used to be known as the Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee... apparently they have combined forces with another local festival. The emphasis is on local work, or work that has local ties.

For the past few years, it's usually been that I've been unable to make the festival due to working on some production scheduled at the same time. This year, there's incentive to attend, like the productions that I worked on:








So, this is a big event for me... usually there's only one project that gets screened, but it's a rare occurrence to see several all at once. In some instances, festival screenings may be the only exhibition that the work gets -- it's happened on a few films that I've been on. As I've stated before; you go onto a film hoping to get paid, but in indie film, even if you get paid, it's not a lot... I like to be able to see the finished product, and if you're lucky, it turns out to be good or better than you expect.

So, hit the KC FILMFEST if you have the chance. It kicks off next Wednesday - I'll of course have plenty to say about the films after I see them... maybe I won't piss off too many people.