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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 Thursday, February 10th, 2022 Regency Theatres Van Nuys Plant 16 will be home to the Screamfest Fears & Beers: My Bloody Valentine 3D Screening. 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 writer Todd Farmer, director Patrick Lussier, and other TBA cast members moderated by Brian Collins. Attendees 21+ will also receive one complimentary beer per ticket.ย 

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 7:00 p.m. (NO EARLY ENTRY). Please bring your Eventbrite email confirmation.

COVID Policy:

All attendees will be required to show proof of full vaccination and matching photo ID.

You can access your digital vaccine record atย https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov

For more info visitย SafePassLa.org

Regency Theatres COVID Guidelines

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.

Regency Theatres Van Nuys Plant 16 is located in a shopping center in Van Nuys. The address is: 7876 Van Nuys Blvd Van Nuys, CA 91402.

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 be a frighteningly fun event!

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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 ScareLAโ€™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 youโ€™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.ย 

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.ย 

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”.ย 

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 2020ย A24ย (the company behind such modern horror classics asย Midsommarย andย Hereditary) announced that they would be producing a full season. No release date is currently scheduled, but you can learn more aboutย Hazbin Hotelย and all VivziePop’s updates at theย official website,ย Twitter, andย VivziePop’s Patreon page. You can also check out VivziePop’sย Youtubeย 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 ScareLAโ€™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 youโ€™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.ย 

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 Directorย 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.ย ย 

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 ofย  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.โ€‹ Inside, three overly friendly hicks overpower her and prepare to have their “dueling banjos” way, when her trunk teeters over and… out…โ€‹pops…โ€‹RICK, a “man” with an unquenchable thirst and an allergy to the sun.โ€‹ 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 Americaโ€™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 โ€“ 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 Screamfestโ€™s official Youtube channel. Join me in supporting this amazing non-profit organization!

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Film Friday Movies

Film Friday: Rebooted

Film Friday: Rebooted

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 ScareLAโ€™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 youโ€™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.ย 

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

Before the days of CGI and the catchall “we’ll fix it in post”, practical effects were king in horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. Ray Harryhausen’sย stopmotionย  skeletons in Jason and the Argonauts and dinosaurs in One Million B.C. thrilled audiences. Rubber suit monsters like The Creature from the Black Lagoon terrorized teens at the drive in. The animatronic t-rex from Jurassic Park still holds up for today’s audiences.

Rebooted, written and directed by Michael Shanks of Late Nite Films,ย  pays homage to these classic effects with a touching story that is sure to delight move fans of all ages. Despite being a silent stop motion skeleton, Phil is relatable and a character to root for as he comes to terms with the fact that the world has moved on from the type of filmmaking he rose to stardom through. Although Phil’s world may no longer have a use for stop motion, this film proves that classic practical effects do still have a place in modern films. With a strong story and using digital processes to enhance the practical effects, you can create a filmic world that feels real – much better than CGI alone.ย 

Synopsis

Itโ€™s not easy for a movie-star to age – especially when youโ€™re a stop motion animated skeleton monster. Phil, once a terrifying villain of the silver-screen, struggles to find work in modern Hollywood due to being an out-of-date special effect.

Watch the Movie

Mixing Classic and Modern Techniques

Rebooted is a perfect example of how filmmakers can mix classic techniques and the “realness” of practical effects with modern computer technology. Shanks incredible team combined traditional stopmotion animation, rear projection, creature suits and more with motion capture and After Effects to bring Phil and his friends to life. You can learn more about the techniques and filmmaking process for this short from this interview Shanks did with Ian Failes of Befores & Afters. Shanks describes many of the behind the scenes challanges the team faced – and overcame – during production. It is a fascinating read and quite inspirational!

Want another behind-the-scenes look? This video gives a more in-depth look at the stopmotion and VFX processes used to create the film:

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Movies

The Tattooist

The Tattooist

In the movie business, short films can be a way to give audiences (and financiers) a taste of a director’s style and vision for a longer piece. A wonderful example of this is: The Tattooist (directed by Michael Wong). The short has been making its way through the horror film festival circuit, winning in the Best Trailer category at the 2018 Independent Shorts Awards, HorrorHaus Film Festival 2018, Terror in the Bay Film Festival 2018, Cult Critic Movie Awards 2018, Bloody International Film Festival 2018, The Optical Theatre Horror Film Festival 2019, and more.

Official Synopsis

โ€˜The Tattooistโ€™ follows the dark obsessions of a tattooist whose studio is acclaimed for its exceptional and intricately crafted tattoos. Those who receive his prized masterpiece are drugged, imprisoned, and then forced to fight their fears in a race against the clock to escape. Can they escape or will they become victims of The Tattooist?

Review

This 1 minute 20 second proof of concept micro-short has all the trappings of a standard horror flick – a deranged killer, pleading victims, and a tattoo parlor that hides a sinister secret. While the short itself lacks a narrative (despite the story described in the synopsis), it provides the viewer with a glimpse of what could be coming should Wong create a longer piece with these characters.

What sets this piece apart is beautiful cinematography while in the tattoo parlor set. A bright pink, purple, and blue color palette is a stark contract to the gray and brown of the Tattooist’s industrial torture chamber. In these tattoo parlor segments the camera is constantly moving, mirroring the energetic groove of the jazzy soundtrack. Unlike the generic industrial sets of the torture area, the shop feels fresh and full of possibilities for a vibrant environment for a longer piece.

I would surely check out a longer story with the characters from this short, but my hope would be for more of the bright colors and energy of the tattoo parlor and less of the standard gore from the torture chamber.

About the Director - Michael Wong

Michael Wong is an independent filmmaker with 16 years experience as an ad agency art director and creative director. He has worked with brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Unilever, Microsoft, and more.ย 

His directorial debut short film โ€˜The Story of 90 Coinsโ€™ picked up 60+ accolades from international film festivals. This includes Best Direction and Best Cinematography at Malta Short Film Festival, Rising Star Awards at Canada International Film Festival, Best Foreign Short Film at Ukrainian International Short Film Festival, Best Drama and Best Cinematography at Los Angeles Film Awards, Best Foreign Short at Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards, among others.

Michael’s works have been featured in Shots, Trendwatching and Graphis magazine. He has judged at the New York Festivals International Advertising Awards and Ad Stars Festival.

I look forward to seeing Michael’s future works. Hopefully they include a feature-length version of this creative and visually interesting short!

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Emily News

My History of Halloween & Horror: Part I

My History of Halloween & Horror: Part I

The Horror of Being Emily serves as a creative outlet for my love for all things scary and spooky. I hope that through sharing news, recommendations, and opinions I can spread awareness for talented artists and vendors, promote Halloween, and empower others to join the Halloween & horror community. There are many amazing blogs covering these topics already, so what makes my perspective different or suggestions credible? I am fortunate to have experienced the Halloween & horror industry as both a fan and a professional. I really do add spookiness to all aspects of my life! So to help you understand my perspective on this interesting world, here is my history of Halloween & Horror:

Homemade Halloween Costumes Sparked Creativity Early

Every child loves Halloween, but my parents went above and beyond to foster my love for the holiday and all the creativity that comes from it. From my first Halloween, my Mom created intricate handmade Halloween costumes and accessories. (She would later become a professional costumer & seamstress.)

Little Emily Godzilla on Her First Halloween in a Costume Made by Her Mom

She took inspiration from popular costumes and my interests over the years to craft unique costumes with attention to detail. When I was a witch as a toddler, she made a matching handmade doll for me to carry. When I couldnโ€™t decide whether to be Daisy Duck or a princess, the Princess Daisy Duck costume was born.

Two images of "Princess Daisy Duck" and an image of my second Halloween costume, a witch with a matching doll.

The process to create these costumes took weeks, sometimes months. She would start with sketches, create a mock-up, and then use fabric, foam, and wire to make costumes that grew more elaborate each year. No idea was too silly or out of reach – although some took more planning and interpretations than others. Even peculiar requests like being our familyโ€™s black cat, Colette Uno Rua (a.k.a. โ€œPookieโ€), resulted in a fantastic giant cat costume.

A homemade black cat costume. Our black cat (right) for scale.

These early lessons not only gave me basic sewing skills that continue to assist me in my creative efforts, but also taught me how to look at things a different way. And come up with unique solutions on a budget!

Fated For Horror From the Start

My Dad is a life-long horror fan and couldnโ€™t wait to pass along that love as soon as I could watch movies & tv. Very early on he introduced me to the best monster movies ever made: Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolfman, and Godzilla. I knew all their characteristics and weaknesses by heart in case I ever met one out in the field. My Dad and I watched horror movies on broadcast tv, VHS, and even old 8mm film prints on a dusty old projector.

By the time I was four, I had rented Chopper Chicks in Zombietown so many times from our local video rental shop, my Dad decided to just start buying movies to save money. Thus our horror, sci-fi, and fantasy film collection began. We bought all sorts of spooky films beginning with VHS tape and transitioning to DVDs and Blu-rays as technology progressed.

As of March 2021, our main collection is nearing 3,000 titles. I have my own, 600+ film collection (with many duplicates) as well, since it is hard to borrow films when I live across the country.

As I grew older my Dad and I started to go to every horror movie convention within 8 hours of Western New York and he introduced me to filmmakers, makeup artists, and actors. He encouraged me to make my own films, enroll in afterschool writing courses, and pursue art.

Lessons in Creating the Fantastic

When I was about six years old, I wanted a swing set – one of those rickety PVC pipe swings with a metal slide attached. So my dad went above and beyond to make something wonderful. He researched all the playgrounds in Western New York, had me describe my fantasy play area, and then built me a two-story castle. It contained swings, a curly slide, tunnels, a climbing net, a playhouse, puppet theater, and working drawbridge. Where others may have taken the easy route, my Dad created an extraordinary world for the imagination to thrive. That experience transformed my understanding of what was possible. It showed me that we can make the world a fantastic place through hard work and creativity.

My father also taught me about building fantastic places through my favorite part of the Halloween industry โ€“ haunted houses. I cut my teeth on haunted attractions with The Haunted Catacombs in Buffalo, New York and a variety of year-round horror wax museums in Niagara Falls, Canada. When available we also took lights-on tours to see how the monsters were made and the sets constructed. Then, each year I could choose one haunt within a 7-8 hour drive to visit. We traveled to the Eastern State Penitentiary, Spooky World (Foxboro, Massachusetts), haunted hayrides in Canada, and more. I am thankful we were able to see so many unique styles of haunts and now classic attractions. From professional to home haunts, there was always something to learn and inspiration for future projects.

Becoming a Horror Filmmaker

A post production supervisor in her natural habitat.

I am forever grateful for the help and guidance of my professors, and their patience as I turned in project after project with odd themes and characters โ€“ everything from monsters under the bed to a peculiarly possessed chair. Film school is not essential to becoming a filmmaker, but for me this opportunity helped me to refine my craft and give me the scholarly tools to add depth and meaning to my works.

Why My History of Halloween & Horror Matters

My history of Halloween & horror – especially these early years – has shaped my approach to the holiday & genre. I will always associate Halloween and horror with creativity, family, and endless possibilities. I create this blog to highlight news, events, and more that I find noteworthy. Having spent my entire life researching, enjoying, and participating in these areas, I strive to sift through the enormous amount of information and content out there so you can find some of the best in one place: TheHorrorOfBeingEmily.com.

Stay spooky!

ย 

Want to know more about me?

Emily Louise Rua on IMDB

Read My Short Stories in Haunters Tale: Volume II

Follow My Latest Film – 9 Ways to Hell

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Texas Frightmare Weekend

Texas Frightmare Weekend is presented by Arrow Video. The event takes place annually in the Dallas Fort Worth area. Texas Frightmare Weekend hosts celebrity appearances, autograph signings, screenings, exclusive parties and horror memorabilia vendors from all over the country. They also feature Texas filmmakers and rising horror talent via screenings, panel discussions, and Q&As.

Virtual Horror Con

Virtual Horror Con is horror-themed digital-centric tabletop RPG convention experience complete with panels, workshops with industry professionals, streaming gameplay demos, virtual tabletop gaming sessions, and an online vendor & artist alley.

A portion of the proceeds from Virtual Horror Con 2021 will go directly to Black Girls CODE and Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary. Panel and actual play stream audiences will have the opportunity to donate directly to these charities while enjoying the show.

Sinister Creature Con

Sinister Creature Con celebrates the art and artists within horror culture such as makeup artists, fabricators, character designers. mask makers, & more.

Scarefest

ScareFest has quickly become the largest event of its kind in the country. It is held annually in a nearly 90,000 sq.ft state-of-the-art convention center in Lexington, KY. The show draws fans from all over the country for three days of horror. paranormal & other fandom filled entertainment. Fans can shop from 150+ unique and unusual vendors; meet and get autographs from their favorite stars of horror movies as well as many other genres, attend workshops, seminars, Q&A panels to learn more about the fields they love; watch the newest in independent horror and paranormal documentaries; party the night away EARLY at the Thursday Launch Party, Friday’s VIP party, Saturday’s Costume Ball, or bring the whole family for a Rockin’ Kids Day on Sunday! This weekend is all about making memories that will last forever!