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Film Friday Movies

Film Friday: Death and the Wine Maker

Freaky Fright-Filled Flicks for Film Fanatics

TGIF! The Horror Of Being Emily likes to start the weekend off right by featuring one spooky short film each week. Watch late at night with the lights turned down low to maximize the scary atmosphere. Grab your popcorn and enjoy!

Since my days curating ScareLA’s screening room, I have loved watching creative films from around the world. Short films are a wonderful way to start out as a filmmaker and demonstrate a proof of concept for longer works. It is much harder than you’d think to convey a coherent story in a short amount of time! I hope you enjoy this curated selection of the best fantastic horror, science fiction, and fantasy the internet has to offer. 

Want to binge more? Check out all my past Film Friday entries.

Death and the Winemaker (Directed by Victor Jaquier)

Death and the Winemaker Poster

Fans of horror animation will love this week’s entry: Death and the Winemaker. Written and directed by Victor Jaquier, this short was based on an old tale from the Swiss region of Valais.  Featuring watercolor backgrounds and darkly whimsical characters, viewers are pulled into the fantastically macabre world from the very first few seconds. Be forewarned, that this is not the most uplifting film I have presented to you here in this blog, however, its beautiful story of misguided acts for love and eventual understanding will stick with you long after the film’s seventeen minutes have passed. 

I love fairytales and films set in whimsical interpretations of the past. Jaquier crafts a beautiful depiction of Death (“La Mort”), highlighting both the fear and beauty that lie within her embrace. Man’s feeble attempts to outsmart their inevitable fate have dire consequences that can affect far more than an individual can realize. Take heed from the young winemaker’s mistakes and accept that which cannot be avoided. 

Released in 2021, this film had a successful film festival run, screening at Fransasia, Fantastic Fest, Filmquest, and over 40 other events. It has since been posted on ALTER’s youtube channel. ALTER describes itself as “an ever-expanding platform for the most daring storytellers in the world of horror”. 

Synopsis

A young winemaker creates a wine so exquisite, that even Death demands to taste it. As he learns the awful truth about his beloved’s fate, he captures Death in a barrel, ignoring the consequences on the natural order of things.

Watch the Movie

Behind the Scenes

Want to learn more about Death and the Winemaker, and Victor Jaquier? Jaquier released a behind-the-scenes video chronicling the making of the short. In it he describes his filmmaking process – from unearthing a long-forgotten Swiss tale to working with a talented team of actors, animators, and live symphony. See rough sketches, animation reference videos, and the voice-over actors recording their lines. Gain even more insight into the process through a 2023 interview Jaquier had with Ramin Zahed of Animation Magazine.

Stay up to date with the latest news and announcements from Victor Jaquier on his website and Instagram. Click here for Death and the Winemaker’s official website. 

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Fears & Beers Under the Stars – June 2023

Fears & Beers Under the Stars – June 2023

Get ready for a fully immersive experience as Screamfest’s Fears & Beers screens Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter under the stars. The screening will take place on Saturday, June 24th, 2023 at 8:30 p.m. at the McGroarty Arts Center in Tujunga, CA. Tickets are $15 and include a complimentary Angel City Brewery beer for guests 21+. DeadHead run cocktails will be available for purchase – served in collectible shrunken head cups. Additionally, Sarah’s Sammiches * Salads * Sides food truck will have some delicious menu items. Popcord, sodas, and more will be available at the concessions stand.

Prior to the main feature, Screamfest has another trick (or perhaps treat) up its sleeve – a special screening of the horror short, The Eyes. Directed by Screamfest alumni and local Tujunga filmmaker, Mike Timm, The Eyes premiered to rave reviews at Screamfest 2022. Delve into a world where nothing goes unseen as the eyes of karma haunts one man’s wrong choices in this unforgettable 80s camp creature thriller. It is the perfect pairing to the feature!

Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter

Haven’t seen this flick before? Brush up on the series for backstory on the lore and then get ready for “The Final Chapter”:

After the Crystal Lake Massacres, Jason is pronounced dead and taken to the hospital morgue, where he is mysteriously revived, allowing his diabolical killing spree to continue at the camp where the gruesome slaughtering began. But this time, in addition to terrified teenagers, he meets a young boy named Tommy Jarvis who has a special talent for horror masks and make up, leading up to a horrifying, bloody battle that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Has the diabolical Jason finally met his match? revives and embarks on a killing spree as he makes his way back to his home at Camp Crystal Lake.

Check in and food sales begin at 7:00 p.m. The movie starts at 8:30 p.m. No one under 17 will be admitted without a parent of guardian. 

The McGroarty Arts Center is located at 7570 McGroarty Terrace, Tujunga, CA 91042.

See you there!

Past Screamfest Fears & Beers events include:

My Bloody Valentine 3D

Ho Ho Horrors

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Events News

Screamfest Fears & Beers: My Bloody Valentine 3D

Screamfest Fears & Beers: My Bloody Valentine 3D

Get ready for a deadly date night with your sweetheart! At 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 14th, 2023 the Screamfest Fears & Beers: My Bloody Valentine 3D Screening will take place at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres. My Bloody Valentine 3D is the 2009 remake of the classic 80’s Valentine’s Day slasher flick of the same name (minus the “3D”). The film is directed by Patrick Lussier and stars Jensen Ackles, Jaime King, Kerr Smith, and Betsy Rue.

The screening will include a Q&A with wdirector Patrick Lussier and other TBA cast members. Brush up on your My Bloody Valentine & horror trivia to win great  prizes. Attendees 21+ will also receive one complimentary beer per ticket. 

My Bloody Valentine 3D tickets are $16.00 each and can be purchased on Eventbrite. Purchased tickets will be available at the Screamfest will-call table in the theater’s lobby starting at 6:30 p.m. (NO EARLY ENTRY). Please bring your Eventbrite email confirmation.

My Bloody Valentine 3D

Tom returns to his hometown on the tenth anniversary of the Valentine’s night massacre that claimed the lives of 22 people. Instead of a homecoming, Tom finds himself suspected of committing the murders, and it seems like his old flame is the only one that believes he’s innocent.

Cast: Jensen Ackles, Jaime King, Kerr Smith, Betsy Rue

After the film, there will be a Q&A with cast & crew. Be sure to check the Screamfest website for participant announcements.

Spaces are limited for this screening and Q&A event. Get your ticket early to ensure your spot.

The TCL Chinese 6 Theatres is located at Ovation Hollywood, 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90028.

Have a meal at one of the nearby restaurants and grab some popcorn from the theater’s concessions stand. This Screamfest screening is sure to get your heart pumping this Valentine’s Day. 

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Happy Halloween shopping 2024! For over two decades now, the Halloween shopping season has been my main time for household and clothing purchases. Each year, I love to shop around

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Film Friday Movies

Film Friday: Hazbin Hotel

Film Friday: Hazbin Hotel

Freaky Fright-Filled Flicks for Film Fanatics

TGIF! The Horror Of Being Emily likes to start the weekend off right by featuring one spooky short film each week. Watch late at night with the lights turned down low to maximize the scary atmosphere. Grab your popcorn and enjoy!

Since my days curating ScareLA’s screening room, I have loved watching creative films from around the world. Short films are a wonderful way to start out as a filmmaker and demonstrate a proof of concept for longer works. It is much harder than you’d think to convey a coherent story in a short amount of time! I hope you enjoy this curated selection of the best fantastic horror, science fiction, and fantasy the internet has to offer. 

Want to binge more? Check out all my past Film Friday entries.

Hazbin Hotel (Created by Vivienne Medrano)

Hazbin Hotel is the brainchild of animator Vivienne Medrano (AKA Vivziepop). Medrano graduated from SVA (School of Visual Arts) in NYC with a major in animation. She has a distinct style with her original cartoons – they are snarky, fluid, and filled with spunk. Medrano assembled a talented team of artists and animators to create a 30-minute pilot for an adult-themed animated series, Hazbin Hotel. This passion project is a mix of a traditionally animated style, the sexual themes, coarse language, and wackiness of Ralph Bakshi, and a dash of Invader Zim all mixed together with Medrano’s signature characters at the helm. And, it’s a musical!

Synopsis

Follow Charlie, the princess of Hell, as she pursues her seemingly impossible goal of rehabilitating demons to peacefully reduce overpopulation in her kingdom. After a yearly extermination imposed by angels, She opens a hotel in hopes that patients will be “checking out” into Heaven. While most of Hell mocks her goal, her devoted partner Vaggie, and their first test subject, adult film-star Angel Dust, stick by her side. When a powerful entity known as the “Radio Demon” reaches out to Charlie to assist in her endeavors, her crazy dream is given a chance to become a reality.

Watch the Movie

Warning: While this may be an animated series pilot, it is intended for mature audiences. Be prepared for lots of inappropriate language, sexual themes, and adult situations. This is an R-rated watch for sure!

My Thoughts on Hazbin Hotel

While I would prefer just a tad less swearing and overtly sexual overtones, I am enthralled by this VivziePop version of Hell. There are so many little details in each scene – even after multiple viewings, I am still finding new nods to other characters and ways that each segment relates to other scenes.

I also love how the pilot perfectly sets up the relationships between the various characters and introduces many different storylines a full series could follow. There are no one-dimensional characters here; they all feel alive and multi-layered. 

Charlie, the princess of Hell, is a bubbly, passionate young woman. She follows her dreams of reforming the damned souls of those in her kingdom. Her partner, Vaggie, is far less of a glass-half-full personality, but her commitment to Charlie and protectiveness make her a force to be reckoned with. Angel Dust, a famed adult-film star & stripper may outwardly seem headstrong and in control, but part of him is certainly happy to be Charlie’s first test subject with her “Happiness Hotel”. 

The last main character of note is simply referred to as the “Radio Demon” . He is one of the creepiest animated characters I have ever seen. I can’t wait to find out what sinister motives are hidden by his ever-present grin (although the fan girl in me wants him to end up secretly being a good guy instead of the main villain). I’ll just have to wait to find out. What can I say – I’m a sucker for bad boys!

The Future of Hazbin Hotel

In 2020 A24 (the company behind such modern horror classics as Midsommar and Hereditary) announced that they would be producing a full season. No release date is currently scheduled, but you can learn more about Hazbin Hotel and all VivziePop’s updates at the official website, Twitter, and VivziePop’s Patreon page. You can also check out VivziePop’s Youtube channel for other original animations from her and her team.

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Film Friday Movies

Film Friday: Rick & Ruby

Film Friday: Rick & Ruby

Image credit: samuelfddunning.com

Freaky Fright-Filled Flicks for Film Fanatics

TGIF! The Horror Of Being Emily likes to start the weekend off right by featuring one spooky short film each week. Watch late at night with the lights turned down low to maximize the scary atmosphere. Grab your popcorn and enjoy!

Since my days curating ScareLA’s screening room, I have loved watching creative films from around the world. Short films are a wonderful way to start out as a filmmaker and demonstrate a proof of concept for longer works. It is much harder than you’d think to convey a coherent story in a short amount of time! I hope you enjoy this curated selection of the best fantastic horror, science fiction, and fantasy the internet has to offer. 

Want to binge more? Check out all my past Film Friday entries.

Rick & Ruby (Directed by Scott Woodburn)

Image from the Rick & Ruby Kickstarter Campaign

Rick & Ruby is the brainchild of Writer/Producer/Actor Samuel FD Dunning and Director Scott Woodburn. Dunning wrote the piece after the success of Woodburn’s previous horror short, It’s a Boy. Hype and excitement continued with this new venture – over $26,000 was raised from two Kickstarter campaigns to film and later complete post production for the short. Since entering the film festival circuit in 2019, Rick & Ruby has graced screens around the world at Screamfest, NYS Horror Film Festival, Dead by Dawn Film Festival, and Sitges Film Festival – just to name a few.  

Although I had thoroughly read the description in the 2019 Screamfest Horror Film Festival program and had been recommending this short to festival attendees for most of my week, nothing prepared me for the awesomeness that is this action-packed horror-comedy short. From an intriguing opening of a mysterious woman dragging a large chest to the surprising reveal of Rick, the audience never quite knows exactly what twists and turns they are in for next. This film had me and the rest of my fellow moviegoers laughing and cheering for the captivating onscreen duo of  Samuel FD Dunning and Ellie Lee. Their strong chemistry as allies journeying to defeat a shared enemy brought the already well-written script to life. Dunning’s Rick is a fun, refreshing take on the classic vampire – and his comic timing is impeccable. Lee’s Ruby holds her own as a strong female character who is an equal to her vampiric counterpart. One also can’t help but enjoy the over-the-top gore and mayhem.

The short sets up a larger story that I hope someday becomes the feature film we all deserve. I need to know exactly how their quest end!. Well, I am pretty sure Rick & Ruby will kick butt – but I need to know how they ultimately get there, what other quick retorts they will spew out, and how many bodies will pile up along the way.

Stay up-to-date with the filmmakers via Samuel FD Dunning’s website and the films Facebook & Instagram pages.

Synopsis

Ruby, a mysterious, leather-clad badass, drags a trunk with unknown cargo to a seedy Roadhouse in the middle of nowhere.​ Inside, three overly friendly hicks overpower her and prepare to have their “dueling banjos” way, when her trunk teeters over and… out…​pops…​RICK, a “man” with an unquenchable thirst and an allergy to the sun.​ In short order Rick and Ruby dole out their own form of frontier justice on the trio of hillbillies in a suitably grotesque and oddly satisfying fashion. Heads and dad-jokes roll.

Watch the Movie

** Warning: This film contains violence, gore, strong language, and is intended for mature audiences. **

About Screamfest

Screamfest Horror Film Festival is America’s largest and longest running horror film festival. The festival runs for 10 days each year in October in Los Angeles. Screamfest, has launched careers – providing a platform for filmmakers and actors to showcase their latest work to enthusiasts and general audiences. Every week they upload a fantastic short horror film that has premiered in their festival to their Youtube channel. Horror fans please LIKE, SHARE, FAVORITE or EMBED their videos with your friends and support talented filmmakers on Screamfest’s official Youtube channel. Join me in supporting this amazing non-profit organization!

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Happy Halloween shopping 2024! For over two decades now, the Halloween shopping season has been my main time for household and clothing purchases. Each year, I love to shop around

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Categories
Film Friday Movies

Film Friday: Shine

Film Friday: Shine

Freaky Fright-Filled Flicks for Film Fanatics

TGIF! The Horror Of Being Emily likes to start the weekend off right by featuring one spooky short film each week. Watch late at night with the lights turned down low to maximize the scary atmosphere. Grab your popcorn and enjoy!

Since my days curating ScareLA’s screening room, I have loved watching creative films from around the world. Short films are a wonderful way to start out as a filmmaker and demonstrate a proof of concept for longer works. It is much harder than you’d think to convey a coherent story in a short amount of time! I hope you enjoy this curated selection of the best fantastic horror, science fiction, and fantasy the internet has to offer. 

Want to binge more? Check out all my past Film Friday entries.

Shine (Directed by Jesse Blanchard)

Although not used together as much as they should be, horror and puppetry go together quite well. From Jim Henson’s creepy Skeksis to fluffy aliens in Attack the Block, puppets can add an element of horror to films. They lead themselves to practical effects and can be quite expressive if done well. 

Puppetcore understands this principal well. The group makes all-puppet horror films. Their self-imposed rules are simple: 1. The Characters are real; they just happen to be puppets. 2. The effects are practical whenever possible. This leads of solid horror films that would work well even if created as live-action films. The group has created multiple short films and, in 2020, a feature. 

Shine (2011) uses a simple concept – and harmonious tune – to create a chilling little tale of terror Be wary, there will be blood – a surprising amount in fact. This juxtaposition of cutesy puppets and gore adds to the uneasy atmosphere and watching these poor puppets meet their horrific fate packs an extra punch for the viewer. 

As someone who enjoys spending her time in the spotlight, I think I’ll keep an extra light (or two) on tonight – because you never know what may be lurking out there in the dark. Enjoy!

Shine - Synopsis

A barbershop quartet fears their moment out of the spotlight.

Watch the Movie

Fun Fact: A Family Act – The barbershop quartet’s costumes were creaeted by director Jesse Blanchard’s mother. 

Now that you’ve had a taste of Puppetcore, are you ready for more? In 2020 Puppetcore finished their first feature film, Frank & Zed. It has since been touring the festival circuit and delighting horror fans around the world. You may even see a cameo from our lovable quartet in the feature. Follow the film’s latest news and stay abreast of release announcements via Puppetcore’s official website

Frank & Zed Synopsis: Two reanimated corpses, dependent on each other for survival, live a life of solitude until a power-hungry magistrate tricks a group of villagers into attacking their lonely castle, fulfilling an ancient prophecy: The Orgy of Blood.

See the trailer below.

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Happy Halloween shopping 2024! For over two decades now, the Halloween shopping season has been my main time for household and clothing purchases. Each year, I love to shop around

Read More »

57 Ghosts

Take part in a spirited séance aboard the historic – and haunted – Queen Mary with 57 Ghosts. From Master Magician and Apparitionist Aiden Sinclair, this 90-minute immersive experience takes

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