Heavy Metal

WHAT'S ON MY BRAIN: February 7, 2005 I think I'm going to have to stop calling the "What's On" updates monthly in stead of weekly! I know I start out with the best intentions every week to find time in my schedule to do them, but suddenly 10 days have blasted by and I still haven't found the time. Crazy, but I'll work harder on it-- and the message boards--lotsa great new posts there. Been traveling way to much these days, mostly business related--still beating the bushes fund raising for the new Heavy Metal movies and games--getting closer everyday, but Hollywood and the money folks in NYC move extra slow these days. Joe Pearson and I are still keeping on top of the animated "Highlander" film. Mad House Animation is working their way through the storyboard faze and we hope to start receiving them on a regular basis by late March. One fun thing I got to do was the "Big Apple Convention" in New York January 22nd and 23rd. It was a great show, with great folks running it, great to see the fans that could make it--there was only one problem, there was a GREAT amount of snow that came along for the ride! It started snowing around noon on Saturday and there was near 9 inches by three in the afternoon. Many of the fans and guests fearing they wouldn't be able to get home scooted. Allot of guests, included Simon Bisley decided not to risk the trip at all incase they got trapped in the city. I ended up hanging out with some friends that did stay, and we all walked around the city in the snow looking for open bars, which there were several. I ended up hanging out till late on Sunday (about 50 fans made the trek to the show that day quiet but fun!), and was able to get up to Northampton for a few days of scheduled work before beating it back to LA. I got to escape the shoveling! Another cool thing about the show, which leads me to the photos this week, was I got to sit next to the Troma Film crew! Love those guys, and one of the films they were pushing was their newest release, "Julie Strain's Tales from the Crapper!" I know I mentioned it in one of my other notes, but thought I'd share a few more behind the scene stills you might get a kick out of. By the way, if you end up buying it, don't forget to fast forward through all my scenes! I can't even be in the same room when it is on, as my acting is so bad!
The first image is of the cover--the Troma team did it as a 3D special edition, and I think it came out great! It also comes with a signed Julie Strain poster--I hope you can still find a copy out there.
The next photo is a still taken after Julie and I had an on camera romp--Troma style of course--Please fast forward through that one. Gahh!
The next two stills are from "the morning after" breakfast scene we did--all our scenes were shot at our house in LA! I don't know what Julie thinks she's going to do with that banana, I don't like the way she's pointing it at me!
Is this a killer suit or what? Julie found this for me as a joke outfit for Halloween, and once Lloyd saw it he insisted I wear it in the "Soul Stripper" tale, one of three short movies in the collection.
Oh, here's one with the jacket on--I'm sure it had to have been used for some wedding or prom in the early seventies. Julie plays a cop in the movie--she's a fucking riot actually--takes it way over the top and then some as she's trying to track down my killer. Yes, I get killed early on fortunately.
The next two shots are from Julie in undercover mode at the "Shimmering Beaver' strip club were all the murders in the movie were taking place. I don't want to ruin it for you, but the showdown at the end between Julie and Arban Ornelas is genius.
Ah, the rewards or working on a Troma film, and on location in a real strip club--having real beer used in the scenes filmed towards the end of the day! Which was cool, as that was basically what I was paid!
Last up, I just wouldn't feel right about talking about the Troma team without showing two of the companies most famous mascots, "Sgt. Kabuki Man" and "Toxie" himself! Cheers you guys, I had a great time working with you!
Well guys, I think that's going to do it for me this time out--I'm babbling on a bit now, so I should wrap it up. I do want to mention we've got a brand new book out by Luis Royo called "Tarot!" It's beautifully painted images with text, and well worth adding to your collection. I also want to give you a heads up on the new "Spring Special"--it's a "Middle Earth" theme where I run the final installments of both "A Bit of Madness" and Korrigans!" Simon Bisley provides the cover that includes Julie as a warrior elf, and him and I as Hobbits! Cool beans! Talk to you all soon! Best, Kevin