I just took my kids to see Venom at the local drive-in this week. I hadn't been to a drive-in since 1981, when I was ten years old and saw a double feature, Scanners followed by Escape from New York. The week prior, my babysitter and her boyfriend took me to a midnight showing of Rocky Horror. I also had my first beer that night, though it was heavily cut with Coke (the drink, not the powder). That year I also saw An American Werewolf... The Road Warrior, Excalibur, Stripes, Quest for Fire, Halloween 2, Time bandits, Heavy Metal, History of the World, Reds, The Howling, Outland, Taps and The Great Muppet Caper ( I saw a lot of movies as a kid, and many of them I didn't really understand, though they ignited my brain in ways movies can't once the innocence of youth is lost) I definitely think 1981 was the year my creativity began to form.
I doubt Venom had the same effect on my kids, maybe I should fire up History of the World or Taps for them this weekend.
You were great on Rogan and I love the newsletter. Your words inspire, provoke, and confound me, and I enjoy every minute of it. Also reminds me I need to catch up on some of your books. (I am ashamed to admit, but I am just one person so what does it matter?) Thank you for sharing your brain damaged brilliance with the world.
There’s a serial show, in its 3rd season now, on Netflix called, “The Movies That Made Us” with an episode about “Aliens” that is pretty helpful to offer up some production, behind the scene info. The narrator is awful, but mildly entertaining. If you watch the beginning on through of Season 3, there’s some pretty good industry info about how movies in the 70’s were being made through some rag tag efforts of people that love to make movies and went on to make ALOT more classics in syfy/horror. Much of the success rested in the hands of the people getting the movies to the movie houses—- super hard hustling right there and lots of favors being called in! The rise of John Carpenter on the series was informative, along with Wes Craven. This was why I got into SFX make-up for 28 years now. I love it. Have make-up kit— will travel & learn!
The best part about where I live is I’m between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Tom Saving’s school for SFX make up is it Pittsburgh along with the areas where many now famous and cult classic films were made. My area and surrounding is full of still working Drive-in’s which, during the pandemic, were the only active places showing films where people could safely gather and feel some sense of normality. My area also has the highest rate of serial killers, haunted houses, and paranormal research. Wee!
I’m glad you came back to talk about this more! “Alien” was a movie that stuck with me throughout life due to the SFX, a strong woman lead, mother’s protecting their race to survive. “Prometheus” left a similar feeling after watching— and hard to go back to. All of these movies lead me to Pittsburgh Filmmakers where I wanted to go into cinematography and film editing. We started out with Super 8— I could edit film the rest of my life!! I loved adjusting frames and messing with the timing of how long a person could pay attention or catch something with just a few amount of frames. When “Fight Club” came out, the industry discussion about cigarette burns and sneaking pieces of adult films into child one’s— I laughed out loud in the theater because I knew about this! I thought, “who’s been talking from school?”
It’s amazing how fast shots change now in film making. If you count— it’s mere seconds. There’s no time to waste or you will miss a lot of the story builders. The film, “Halloween” is a favorite because it builds tension so well and if you notice, there’s very little blood. That film is one I go back to because I admire the editing and how they blew most of the money on the camera they used for it. “Alien” is by far a favorite as well—- along with James Bond films featuring Sean Connery. I love how those are shot and edited!
I’m so glad you mentioned Let’s Scare Jessica to Death. I still remember the final scene and haven’t seen it since the first time (on TV but I was younger than 10, I bet).
Is safe to assume that your preference is ‘Alien’ > ‘Aliens’, Chuck?
Also, do you intend to finish ‘The House that Jack Built’ now that you know a particular scene was achieved via special effects and the talented acting of one particular Chick?
Given the world at the moment and the way it's going, I do wonder what the 'fallback' is for people as (to my eyes) there doesn't seem to be anything clear. Perhaps a general move towards adults consuming more things aimed at children?
Re: #2… The first time I was ever offered crack was at a drive in movie snack bar in exchange for a burger. I was pretty hungry, so I passed.
Also, I used to volunteer for concessions at Kauffman stadium for a fund raiser (this was back before they remodeled it — it was a concrete shit hole at the time) and the sketchy dude in charge showed us how to ‘defrost’ hot dogs in the dishwasher. I can also remember the used syringes lying on the bathroom floor. But maybe it was just for insulin.
I should have asked this on the other post, but I didn’t think of it until now. Is it possible (or problematic) to have more than one gun?
I always thought Rocky was kinda the exceptional movie of the 70s. I see Rocky Balboa basically free-rolling. He didn't expect to have a shot at winning big but, he was presented with one. That movie is as optimistic as winning a giveway ticket to Pokerstars sunday million and then final table-ing it.. a win win even if you just finish 9th. Thats how I see it.
I was in 9th grade when my dad took me to see Alien in its first run. That was the scariest film I had ever seen! I had to look under my bed that night before I could go to sleep, just in case, you never know. Before the sequel came out, I thought the Alien could morph bigger or smaller, but the sequel made it into a growth stages. I wonder if I was not correct until the sequel came out, because Alien had the shot of the Alien looking into Jonesy the cat's carrier, soon after, there is lots of suspense when Ripley grabs the cat carrier and takes Jonesy onto the lifeboat pod. Was I really the only one who thought the Alien probably got inside of Jonesy and now Ripley is taking the Alien onto the lifeboat pod! Doh!
Currently watching Saturday Night Fever and was struck by a very early line line of dialogue by Manero’s boss in response to the line “Fuck the future.” “No, Tony. You can’t fuck the future. The future fucks you.” Also, at work today I made the niece of one of the guys who played a cop in Fight Club laugh. Another employee is planning a trip to Italy and is learning the language. I told the “cop’s” niece “Everyone knows a little Italian. His name is Al Pacino.”
I'm a huge horror fan and don't scare easily*--but as a kid I remember being absolutely terrified just by the trailer to Let's Scare Jessica to Death, and I'm stymied by how many people _don't_ remember The Sentinel, which was also one of the few movies that scared me. I'm so glad you mentioned them both.
*The other shows that scared me were The Exorcist (the "subliminal messaging" face was actually the worst part to me) and any episode of this particular black-and-white Japanese TV show about ghosts (yokai), but mostly the one about the long-necked ghost woman (rokurokubi).
I'm a little late to the party on this one, but do you remember "The Legacy"? I saw it as a kid in the '80s, and the pool scene still gives me nightmares.
I just took my kids to see Venom at the local drive-in this week. I hadn't been to a drive-in since 1981, when I was ten years old and saw a double feature, Scanners followed by Escape from New York. The week prior, my babysitter and her boyfriend took me to a midnight showing of Rocky Horror. I also had my first beer that night, though it was heavily cut with Coke (the drink, not the powder). That year I also saw An American Werewolf... The Road Warrior, Excalibur, Stripes, Quest for Fire, Halloween 2, Time bandits, Heavy Metal, History of the World, Reds, The Howling, Outland, Taps and The Great Muppet Caper ( I saw a lot of movies as a kid, and many of them I didn't really understand, though they ignited my brain in ways movies can't once the innocence of youth is lost) I definitely think 1981 was the year my creativity began to form.
I doubt Venom had the same effect on my kids, maybe I should fire up History of the World or Taps for them this weekend.
You were great on Rogan and I love the newsletter. Your words inspire, provoke, and confound me, and I enjoy every minute of it. Also reminds me I need to catch up on some of your books. (I am ashamed to admit, but I am just one person so what does it matter?) Thank you for sharing your brain damaged brilliance with the world.
There’s a serial show, in its 3rd season now, on Netflix called, “The Movies That Made Us” with an episode about “Aliens” that is pretty helpful to offer up some production, behind the scene info. The narrator is awful, but mildly entertaining. If you watch the beginning on through of Season 3, there’s some pretty good industry info about how movies in the 70’s were being made through some rag tag efforts of people that love to make movies and went on to make ALOT more classics in syfy/horror. Much of the success rested in the hands of the people getting the movies to the movie houses—- super hard hustling right there and lots of favors being called in! The rise of John Carpenter on the series was informative, along with Wes Craven. This was why I got into SFX make-up for 28 years now. I love it. Have make-up kit— will travel & learn!
The best part about where I live is I’m between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Tom Saving’s school for SFX make up is it Pittsburgh along with the areas where many now famous and cult classic films were made. My area and surrounding is full of still working Drive-in’s which, during the pandemic, were the only active places showing films where people could safely gather and feel some sense of normality. My area also has the highest rate of serial killers, haunted houses, and paranormal research. Wee!
I’m glad you came back to talk about this more! “Alien” was a movie that stuck with me throughout life due to the SFX, a strong woman lead, mother’s protecting their race to survive. “Prometheus” left a similar feeling after watching— and hard to go back to. All of these movies lead me to Pittsburgh Filmmakers where I wanted to go into cinematography and film editing. We started out with Super 8— I could edit film the rest of my life!! I loved adjusting frames and messing with the timing of how long a person could pay attention or catch something with just a few amount of frames. When “Fight Club” came out, the industry discussion about cigarette burns and sneaking pieces of adult films into child one’s— I laughed out loud in the theater because I knew about this! I thought, “who’s been talking from school?”
It’s amazing how fast shots change now in film making. If you count— it’s mere seconds. There’s no time to waste or you will miss a lot of the story builders. The film, “Halloween” is a favorite because it builds tension so well and if you notice, there’s very little blood. That film is one I go back to because I admire the editing and how they blew most of the money on the camera they used for it. “Alien” is by far a favorite as well—- along with James Bond films featuring Sean Connery. I love how those are shot and edited!
I’m so glad you mentioned Let’s Scare Jessica to Death. I still remember the final scene and haven’t seen it since the first time (on TV but I was younger than 10, I bet).
The rat ….. shudder.
Is safe to assume that your preference is ‘Alien’ > ‘Aliens’, Chuck?
Also, do you intend to finish ‘The House that Jack Built’ now that you know a particular scene was achieved via special effects and the talented acting of one particular Chick?
Thanks for this. I'm going to change the ending I am currently rewriting based around it.
Given the world at the moment and the way it's going, I do wonder what the 'fallback' is for people as (to my eyes) there doesn't seem to be anything clear. Perhaps a general move towards adults consuming more things aimed at children?
Re: #2… The first time I was ever offered crack was at a drive in movie snack bar in exchange for a burger. I was pretty hungry, so I passed.
Also, I used to volunteer for concessions at Kauffman stadium for a fund raiser (this was back before they remodeled it — it was a concrete shit hole at the time) and the sketchy dude in charge showed us how to ‘defrost’ hot dogs in the dishwasher. I can also remember the used syringes lying on the bathroom floor. But maybe it was just for insulin.
I should have asked this on the other post, but I didn’t think of it until now. Is it possible (or problematic) to have more than one gun?
I always thought Rocky was kinda the exceptional movie of the 70s. I see Rocky Balboa basically free-rolling. He didn't expect to have a shot at winning big but, he was presented with one. That movie is as optimistic as winning a giveway ticket to Pokerstars sunday million and then final table-ing it.. a win win even if you just finish 9th. Thats how I see it.
For a time, my boss was the guy who wrote the tagline "In Space No One Can Hear You Scream."
Clearly I'm moving up in the world. ;)
I was in 9th grade when my dad took me to see Alien in its first run. That was the scariest film I had ever seen! I had to look under my bed that night before I could go to sleep, just in case, you never know. Before the sequel came out, I thought the Alien could morph bigger or smaller, but the sequel made it into a growth stages. I wonder if I was not correct until the sequel came out, because Alien had the shot of the Alien looking into Jonesy the cat's carrier, soon after, there is lots of suspense when Ripley grabs the cat carrier and takes Jonesy onto the lifeboat pod. Was I really the only one who thought the Alien probably got inside of Jonesy and now Ripley is taking the Alien onto the lifeboat pod! Doh!
Currently watching Saturday Night Fever and was struck by a very early line line of dialogue by Manero’s boss in response to the line “Fuck the future.” “No, Tony. You can’t fuck the future. The future fucks you.” Also, at work today I made the niece of one of the guys who played a cop in Fight Club laugh. Another employee is planning a trip to Italy and is learning the language. I told the “cop’s” niece “Everyone knows a little Italian. His name is Al Pacino.”
I'm a huge horror fan and don't scare easily*--but as a kid I remember being absolutely terrified just by the trailer to Let's Scare Jessica to Death, and I'm stymied by how many people _don't_ remember The Sentinel, which was also one of the few movies that scared me. I'm so glad you mentioned them both.
*The other shows that scared me were The Exorcist (the "subliminal messaging" face was actually the worst part to me) and any episode of this particular black-and-white Japanese TV show about ghosts (yokai), but mostly the one about the long-necked ghost woman (rokurokubi).
I'm a little late to the party on this one, but do you remember "The Legacy"? I saw it as a kid in the '80s, and the pool scene still gives me nightmares.