Oh… The Horror Of It All…
Posted on | February 28, 2010 | No Comments
February has just about come and gone and with it another annual Nevermore Film Festival! I’ve always chuckled that I didn’t even find out about this fest until I’d been living down here for several years. If you’ve frequented this site in the past you’ll definitely get the irony. I’ve always been an avid horror movie junkie, I absolutely love the genre (movies, art, books, music, what have you…), so when the Carolina theatre dedicated an entire weekend to horror films I jumped at the chance to experience it!
That was five years ago, and I’ve been going to it ever since.
This year’s line up was pretty exceptional, offering up a ton new independent stuff that sure looked promising, as well as some true classics that you’d be hard pressed not to see on the big screen (most likely for the first time). Unfortunately I couldn’t see everything (time and money we’re an issue, maybe some year) this year, so I settled on two indies that ended up being great for a variety of reasons.
The first one Mel and I took in was a british vampire flick filmed in Romania, called “Strigoi“. It was definitely different and fresh, rooted very much in Romanian culture their mythology. When I read early reviews I was a little leery because almost everyone used the dreaded “quirky” to describe the film. I typically hate films described that way, but when the lights came up and we all shuffled out into the cold, that was exactly what I thought.
With a great blend and balance of jet black comedy, really great acting, a bit of gore, really awesome music and excellent dialogue, it was definitely a winner!
Recommended for sure!
The next night, we took in an independent American film called “Dawning“, which was minimalist horror at it’s best. It tapped into the more cerebral elements of horror that I absolutely love! It didn’t spell everything out and it left a lot to your imagination. The acting was MUCH better than expected (all unknowns) and aside from a few weak points in the film, it was a really well paced, slow burn of a movie that Mel and I really dug! They also had some really killer one-sheets!
You can check them all out below:
That was all we were able to take in schedule-wise this year. 
Judging by the turn out of ’09, I was unsure if the festival would even be back this year. But apparently they recouped all of their expenses and made a good bit extra to boot! So we’ll definitely be attending next year!
So if you’re ever in the area in February or you want to travel to see what I keep talking about each year, come and crash at our place, you’re more than welcome!
We’ll be sitting in the dark, right with ya! 
Where in the world was this posted? Well, it was [geolocation] (hover over the link for a map)
2009 and the Last Decade…
Posted on | January 9, 2010 | 1 Comment
So yeah, I had every intention of putting an end of the year post up on New Years Eve. But two nights prior, I’d driven 16 plus hours to get home from New England so that sleep deficit won out, big time. Then I had to return to the rat race the next week and that snow balled into today.
Anyways, like many members of the human race I spent a good bit of the holidays wondering about this next year/decade and what I was going to do to somehow make my myself and, seemingly by proxy, my life, better and more shiny than the last (year/decade, not life).
So I thought and I pondered. I focused equally on my failings and successes. I dwelled on mistakes and what I would’ve done differently. I focused on sad moments and times where I was exhilarated.
I did this quite a bit, and honestly? I didn’t come up with a whole hell of a lot that I’d change.
In many ways the last decade used me as punching bag emotionally (and physically somewhat), but in every instance it molded me into a person that appreciates life even more.
I don’t feel deadened by any of it and I don’t feel enriched per say, I just feel… honed.
For the first time ever in my life, I lost family and friends who were incredibly dear to me. Their passing wasn’t timely or fair, but I came away with an intense understanding of the organic nature of everything. That everything is so damn temporary and that preconceived shelf lives mean absolutely nothing. I learned more so than ever that there is an exception to every rule and that that exception assumes many roles. I learned that the gift of breath is sweet and that I miss it when it’s gone. I learned acutely, that our bodies are just vessels and that when they are emptied, what’s left truly doesn’t matter.
I learned that I’m aging… officially. That when you run your fastest and collide with a similarly shaped, just bigger, object that you don’t mend as quickly you did when you were 18, or even 25. That grey hairs show up at odd times and when they do, they are ear-marked pages in a story still being written and that they shouldn’t be unfolded or forgotten. Quite the opposite in fact. It means most likely that you’re living your life.
I learned that trying to go “back to basics” is actually an evolution of oneself and is a goal worth fighting to attain.
I learned I’m tired of having “stuff” and that getting rid of it is ok. Really.
I learned that music is truly a thread that every human holds in some form or capacity.
I learned that helping people out for less or no compensation than normal is often more rewarding. Especially when they are genuinely grateful.
I learned that “getting yours” often gets you nowhere.
I learned that I really hate money and that I wish I didn’t any of it at all.
I learned that there is actually something scarier than living through a logging truck accident. I also learned that I never want to skydive again. Ever.
I learned that finishing something that is special to you is equally as important as when you started it. Even if it was years ago.
I also learned where Melinda and I are heading and I gotta tell you, it’s a pretty cool place! We just gotta find out where.
So yeah, I learned a lot. We all did. But that doesn’t necessarily equate to any life changing resolutions. The route I’m on is a noble one, at least I like to I think it is. But even the best scenarios could use a little tweaking.
So, that said, here’s what I’d like to brush up on:
- Consume less, so I can be present more.
- Don’t let so many irritants drag me down in my day to day. Life’s too short.
- Get more out of my comfort zone frequently.
- Write more. It’s saved me so many times and it’s become too neglected as of late.
- Hike/camp more.
- See more of the world.
It’s a short list, but there’s some good stuff there. Stuff I can’t wait to experience and share! I’d love to skip to a future chapter. But something tells me this story is just getting started.
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Now playing: Volcano Choir – Husks and Shells
via FoxyTunes
A Eulogy For A Friend…
Posted on | December 17, 2009 | 7 Comments
Mathias was purchased a LONG time ago by two young twenty somethings who figured they’d want a dog sometime down the road. They did a little research, found a breeder, didn’t have the money to pay for him with cash out-right and brought him into their home and life knowing not one thing about raising a dog, much less one that’d weigh over 90 pounds at some point.
He did a lot of puppy things. Like tearing the toys we got for him up into shreds just to get the plastic squeaker out from within (we stopped buying those). Chewing the corner of the window frame of our first place we rented when we moved to NC (miraculously we didn’t get charged for it). He even started to chew pits into the dry wall when he went through the initial bouts of separation anxiety when we left him at first to go to work.
So yeah, he challenged us. But more than any of that, more than any irritating spectacle that would make you sigh, shake your head and chuckle; he loved. He loved everything!
And as he grew, so did his love. We knew from the get-go that he was a sensitive soul. I don’t think he ever knew the physical space he took up, which was ironic because he especially loved smaller things. Tiny dogs, cats, human babies, he was especially gentle with all of them, giving light nuzzles and the tiniest of kisses. It was as if he knew the world was this huge and daunting existence and that it’s inhabitants, all of them, needed care and love every once and a while.
One memory in particular comes to me from when Mel was up north caring for her mother while she was battling cancer. I’d just got off the phone with her. She’d been gone for weeks and I’d been home making everything else fall into place. I’d been strong (trying to anyways) up until that point but all of the sudden it was just too much. I cracked. I immediately started sobbing uncontrollably and took a knee trying to pull myself together. At that point when my chest was the tightest and my heart was squeezed completely, Mathias came over, reached up and literally put a paw on my shoulder. It was the only way he knew how to hug me, and man did I ever need it. He was the only one that ever did that for me during that awful period.
Now, in full disclosure, I’m not a terribly open person emotion-wise. I got a ton of support during that time in my life, but Mel and I are intensely private people, so often when the fit hits the proverbial shan we have each other, but what happens if half of that equation is elsewhere?
It was just such a snapshot of how Mathias was…
As time passed we had many trials and tribulations. We added an an other! Her name is Cadence and she is equally as wonderful (that’s not parent logic, she truly is)! And even though he wasn’t terribly enamored with her at first, he grew to love her a lot. Years went by, wonderful years! Years of laughter, grins that made your face hurt and tears, the happy ones.
But, then he started having a lot health problems and without going into a lot of gruesome details, we had to turn our focus on how to make him “better”. It was the least we could do.
3 years, countless dollars and not a whole hell of a lot to show for it, we sat back and watched a grand animal who could run like the wind, be incrementally reduced to a pet who loved us no less, but couldn’t even stand up on his own, much less walk farther than 6 feet.
It broke us to do so, but it came abundantly clear he wasn’t going to make this “easy on us”.
We had to let him go…
The uncompromising dignity that he afforded the rest of the world had to finally be returned to him. And while it devastated us to do so, we knew then and there exactly we had to do.
So it was then, in a nondescript vet’s examination room (a truly exceptional vet by the way), that we boycotted every attempt by our furry son and said goodbye.
The plunger went down, it was quick, incredibly gentle and with a nod and some droopy eyelids, he went to sleep.
And just like that, the world was without Mathias… and so were we. He left 2 parents, two furry sisters (Midnight and Cadence) and a whole slew of admirers. Even at the very end we had strangers remarking how beautiful he was and he was. Utterly.
So it is with the heavy heart of a father, that I say goodbye to one of the most incredible beings I have had the privilege of meeting. I don’t know what happens when we die, I truly don’t, but I sincerely hope I get to see him again.
You taught me so much and I can only hope to apply some of it to myself somehow. You will be missed “Little Man”.
More than you could’ve ever known.
Thank you.
Please Give A Warm Welcome to the New “neoknits.com”!
Posted on | December 8, 2009 | No Comments
I’ve been working in collaboration with the awesomely talented Melissa Wehrle for the last few months reworking a brand new site for her blog and knit designs. She was a true joy to work with and I think together we created a really wonderfully clean site to display her thoughts and stunning knitwear design!
So please, when you get a chance, head on over and check it out! http://www.neoknits.com
Congrats on your new home Melissa! Enjoy! 
Tumbling, Expanding and Finishing…
Posted on | November 15, 2009 | 1 Comment
I find it particularly interesting when I witness portions of my life that have existed in one form of stasis for years, suddenly evolve. It’s not like it happens all of the time, but it has begun to happen in the last few months.
Let’s start with Tumblr shall we? And yes, I do mean the web based web 2.0 blogging service that is elegantly simple. For longest time I’ve always wanted to have a web-based project that utilized any interesting photography I’ve been able to snap. I tried “The Pebble Project” a few years back and that fizzled due to the herculean effort of keeping up with it. I almost gave up the idea entirely when along came an iPhone app that went on sale. What it did was allow me to take photos from my phone (not a great camera honestly) and then transfer them filter that made them into what looked like old school pictures from a polaroid camera. I even have to shake my phone to make them expose completely! It’s pretty cool and along with Tumblr’s own iPhone app, I feel pretty confident in mentioning the newest project I’ve been taking a valiant stab at. It’s called “Bits and Pieces…” and it can be found right here! It’s been fun and I think I’ve come up with some pretty awesome and compelling pics. Take a look and let me know what you think!
I’ve also been expanding out into the video tutorial realm with my clients and the WordPress sites I’ve been building for them. It’s far from Coppola or anything, but it has been fun working with video editing software a little more often and it’s been great working with other web-based services out there. So if you are interested in learning the basics on how WordPress sites work, check out my tutorials I’ve built in over on my Vimeo channel. It’s been a really fun learning experience for me.
Also, if you are curious as to what I used to create these tutorials, it’s an amazing screencast software utility called “ScreenFlow”. Google it, you’ll find it and love it!
Lastly, I also had the distinct pleasure of FINALLY finishing the first draft or horror film screenplay that I’ve been collaborating with a good, good friend on for the last two years. It’s really good! And it also happens to be the only thing in recent years that I’ve actually finished. We took both of our wives out this week and celebrated the occasion with hearty toast and lots of reflection! So what’s next? The second draft! Which, with a little luck, should go a lot faster. We have hopes of selling it, but we also have hopes of making it into a graphic novel and film it ourselves!
We don’t know exactly what we’re doing, but there is one thing I can say with utmost confidence: it feels good… really good.
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Now playing: Iron & Wine – The Trapeze Swinger
via FoxyTunes