Ok, so I'm a sucky webgod, but here are a few nifty updates:
First off, our good friend, John Lurie, on top of still having an awesome book out has a show opening in Luxembourg . If you're hanging out on the Continent, be sure to check it out.
Next, another alum, Larry Blamire has a couple things coming down the pipe. First, the sequel to the beloved "Lost Skeleton of Cadavara" -- "The Lost Skeleton Returns Again" is starting to make the rounds. He's also got a swell new book out: TALES OF THE CALLAMO MOUNTAIN. Be sure to pick up a copy so you can be the coolest kid at your school.
Features alum, Larry Blamire dropped me a note to give a heads up on some cool news:
DARK AND STORMY NIGHT, our 1930s old dark house murder mystery spoof, is going before the cameras June 9th (with lens caps off and everything...and real film in the camera--only it isn't, it's HD). Now one of the things I'm most excited about here is that the amazing Bob Burns (yes BOB BURNS) is dusting off the old gorilla suit to do a cameo. How excited am I about that? Have you seen the Ghost Busters TV show? Do you marvel at how dang outright hilarious anyone can be under all that hair and suit and hair? And what's cool is, Bob's just as excited as we are. He told me one thing he always wanted to do was play the gorilla in an old dark house movie. Well, doesn't this work out nicely. I am most happy about this.
Bob's rounding out a great cast--many of them the usual suspects. There always seemed to be four main categories in these victims-gathered-on-a-nasty-night scenarios. First, nosy protagonists like Danny Roebuck and Jen "Animala" Blaire who play competing reporters, with Dan Conroy as the hapless cabby in tow who brought them out to the gloomy Cavinder estate. You've of course got the greedy gathered heirs drooling over the will, like Brian Howe, Fay Masterson, James Karen, Andy Parks, Jim Beaver and Christine Romeo. Then there's the my-car-broke-down-can-I-stay-the-night kind of saps--in this case medium Alison Martin, idiot me, and racketeer Kevin Quinn. Then there's the lurking help as I like to call it; cockney maid Trish Geiger, suspicious butler Bruce French, and deeply disturbed cook Bob Deveau.
And there are cameos by lovely Betty Garrett, alternate cop/heavy character actor Tom Reese and the most excellently funny Marvin Kaplan. And of course we have to have an unctuous lawyer, played here by actor-writer-director Mark Redfield, which just gives me a chance to use the word unctuous. H.M. Wynant shows up looking for an escaped mental patient. Susan McConnell's in this too, but she's in her own category that I can't divulge under pain of death (or death of pain--something like that).
The set by production designer Tony Tremblay (check the imdb) is a knockout--this is a complete soundstage mansion I tell you--it's like a freakin' maze in there. Costumes by Kristin Burke and Kristina West are authentic and real and vintage and wonderfully good in ways that are positive. Music by Christopher Caliendo who knows more notes than practically anyone I know. Producer Sara Van der Voort is producing in ways that haven't been produced before. And to top it off, ace DP A.J. Rickert-Epstein is shooting on one of the original HD cameras from the 1930s--think of it! And you know how big those suckers were.
Add thunder and lightning, a hooded phantom, sliding panels, secret passageways, a missing letter, lots of murders and what do you have? Why, the movie we're making of course. What a coincidence! Should be ripping good fun what? And I swear I am not biased in any way as writer-director and have absolutely no vested interest in saying this. It'll be great. Really.
Hey kids, I know it's been freaking forever since I checked in, but I gots a bit of news. I was doing a little online browsing and found that our good friend, John Lurie, has come out with a gorgeous collection of his work appropriately entitled "A Fine Example of Art". Pick yourself up a copy right this instant because it's awesome!
And in case you haven't yet, pick up a copy of his first collection, "Learn to Draw: Volume One" (of which snippets appeared in "All the Stupid Little Children") because it is great with the awesome as well.
Well kids, your faithful Joe has survived another year at the little site o' love. I'll be honest, it hasn't been easy year here. While there is some room for change it looks like 2008 is going to be the last year for Joe-Mammy.com, or at least new material. But don't worry, I plan to go out with a bang, and you never know, maybe it'll get the juices flowing for 2009 and beyond.
Anyway, let's recap, shall we?
Old friends Kari Byron, Joe R Lansdale and John Lurie returned to give us updates about what's going on in their worlds. John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants dropped by to talk shop, as did Mythbuster and retired backup C3-PO Grant Imahara. Most recently the immensely talented Michael Knott stopped in. In case you missed any, drop by the ol' Features page and get acquainted (or re-acquainted). You'll be glad you did.
"All the Stupid Little Children" a collection of short stories by yours truly was released (and includes art work by the aforementioned John Lurie!). It's cleverly biding its time until it takes over the world, but you can beat the rush and pick up a copy right here.
Finally, I'd like to pass on a bundle o' thanks to the people in 2007 who sat through the angst, the emergency room visits, the crankiness, goodbyes and an acceptable amount of fun and made the year what it was.
Dustin and Kari, the Platypus Man and, um, Bride of Platypus Man who are right decent people.
Brent and Adina, because sanity can't be undervalued.
Lisa McCool-Grime, or as I call her, "Lisa" for making sure I didn't completely disappear.
Mikey, wherever have you gone, my brother?
Rod Erdahl, for being Rod Erdahl.
Sam, Katie, Michelle and Delton, cuz work peeps are important too.
The Chad. 2008 will be the year of the GMC!
Kari W, it wouldn't have been the same without ya.
and a special personal thanks to one Mr John Lurie for being a class act, a gentleman and at three times cooler than he ever needed to be. Much thanks!
I'm sure I forgot people. But I didn't mean to. Sorry.
I am pleased to announce that the long-awaited Feature with Michael Knott is finally up. Check it out. You may not have heard of him but he's worth checking out. Consider it my Christmas gift to all of you.
Well kiddies, not much on this end other an nifty little note from Feature alum, Larry Blamire:
Just a quick note--right now I'm running around like a chicken without its head cut off. We're getting ready to shoot a sequel to THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA in late January called...THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN (in the Spring we'll be shooting DARK AND STORMY NIGHT, but that's another story).
Below are the synopsis and cast. Hope all is well with you. Take care, --Larry
Dr. Paul Armstrong, missing in the jungle for 2 years and now a bitter alcoholic because science let him down, is needed by the government to help find a powerful new rock, jerranium 90. His loyal wife Betty knows he'll probably come home when he's ready but doesn't hesitate to join the expedition. Also along is Peter Fleming, twin of the late Dr. Roger Fleming, trying to restore the family name, who finds among the stuff he inherited from his brother a skull that begins to take him over. Seems the only thing that will restore the Lost Skeleton's body is the legendary Dalp of Annacrabb, which just happens to be made of...jerranium 90.
And so, led by Jungle Brad--twin brother of the late Ranger Brad--the expedition is soon underway, encountering characters old and new as they seek to obtain the powerful rock in the only place it can be found...the dreaded Valley of the Monsters. And hot on their trail...villains who want the same thing and will stop at nothing until they get the same thing.
General Scottmanson.....................H.M. Wynant Reet Pappin....................................Frank Dietz Sandra Fleming..............................Christine Romeo Peter Fleming.................................Brian Howe Betty Armstrong.............................Fay Masterson Handscomb Draile.........................Robert Deveau Carl Traeger...................................Kevin Quinn Dr. Paul Armstrong........................Larry Blamire Gondreau Slykes............................Daniel Roebuck Lattis...............................................Susan McConnell Kro-Bar..........................................Andrew Parks Jungle Brad.....................................Dan Conroy Dr. Ellamy Royne..........................Trish Geiger Animala..........................................Jennifer Blaire Chinfa.............................................Alison Martin Bentivegitantus...............................John Stuart West
I am pleased to announce that the long-awaited Feature with Michael Knott is finally up. Check it out. You may not have heard of him but he's worth checking out. Consider it my Christmas gift to all of you.