Sometimes it snows in April

 

 

Sweet Dreams

Jules Bass. Legend and an influence... Sweet dreams sir, Job well done.

https://www.animationmagazine.net/2022/10/rudolph-frosty-producer-jules-bass-dies-age-87/ 

The Real Monsters...

 For a kid my age Scooby-Doo was probably my first introduction into what horror is. Sure, it was goofy and not very scary, but we were served up monsters with every episode. The show was dark, it was kind of moody too, and it was just kind of bizarre fun. 

Now if there's one lesson we can all learn from the Scooby-Doo cartoons is that monsters usually aren't real even in the Scooby Universe. The monsters are usually a rich old man trying to maintain his stature, his celebrity, and his wealth through any means necessary including hurting the people, community, and world around him.

Something to wrap your head around huh?

So, for Halloween I want to say thank you to Scooby-Doo and Hanna Barbera for being among the first to introduce me to horror. Horror of all kinds.

And decades later Scooby and the gang fought monsters with Axl.  So, there is that piece of awsomeness too...

 

That's how we did it in the '90's

 I could write a ten-thousand-word essay on the impact the films of Kevin Smith have had on me since 1994.

But I won't.  Who wants to read that anyway?

For tonite I'll keep it simple.

Clerks.
Now the best trilogy ever.
Goodnight and thank you to the filmmakers.
Indie Film Forever.

My Wibo. My Friend.

 Thank you Wibo.  

Thank you for the random phone calls the past couple years to make sure I was OK. 

Thank you for laughing so hard when we saw each other.  

Thank you for being you.  

A one of a kind.  Mr. Wilbert Boles.

It's been a rough week.  Shit.  This news does not make it better.

My heart hurts. So much. So fucking god damned much.

Lost a shining star of a friend today.

Be good to each other. We only have a limited time to do so.

We all get the same amount of time, a lifetime.

Treat people right. And you light will shine forever in them.

Sweet dreams to the one and only Wilbert Boles. Wibo.

My friend. The legend.

My uncle Wayne told me once that after my brother died he took a bow and arrow out and shot it into the sky, hoping to take out one of God's eyes to teach God a lesson.

And I wish I had a bow right now.

Hug those you love. Tell them you love them. And be real.

Good nite.

"Big things are coming for you" - Wibo 2022 ❤️

Me too, John, me too...

 

Wisdom

 

Wisdom

 

Sweet dreams Taylor. Job well done.

Summer 2000 I got tickets to see the Chili Peppers.  The Foo Fighters were the opening act.  I cannot lie and say I was a huge fan at the time.  I knew the hits and did love "Everlong" and "Monkeywrench".  But I was at that show that nite for the Chili Peppers.

I was converted to a Foos fan that nite.  They stole the nite.  And have been a huge fan since.  I remember the drummer from that nite so well.  All teeth.  Smiles.  Lanky and long.  Like actually watching Animal play drums.  

I've been lucky enough to see the Foo Fighters a few more times over the years.  Always amazing.  And they always give their all to the audience.

I'll miss you Taylor, even though we never met in real life.  And while everyone will be rightfully discussing your talents and music with the Foo Fighters for centuries to come I wanna share a tune that I love of his own...  

Wish I could get one more encore.

Sweet Dreams Emilio... Job well done.

 

Sweet Dreams. Meat Loaf.

 This one hurts.

My brother turned me on to him and his insane music. 
"Bat Out of Hell 2" was the last CD my brother bought before he passed away in 1993.  That CD got so many spins in the months and years after.
And ever since I've followed Meat Loaf's music.

The world is going to be a lot quieter today.

Job well done, Meat Loaf.  Sweet dreams and thank you.

Jim Henson - Happy Birthday!

 

Today would have been Jim Henson's 85th birthday.

Anyone who knows me knows this is a holiday as far as I'm concerned. ;)

I remember vividly when this episode of "Great Performances" first aired on our local PBS channel in 1994.  I videotaped it.  And I watched it over and over again.

I still have the tape, and even converted it to a DVD a few years ago.
And I recently was given the "official" VHS release by by friend Rick.  I didn't even know it was actually released!  Nice little piece for the collection for sure.

I couldn't get enough of this show though.  Along with the other Muppet and puppet videos I had I watched it over and over.  Studying it.  Trying to learn from it.

And between this and the book "Jim Henson: The Works" that came out the year before I think I learned more about being creative, and being a good person, than I learned about puppetry.

1993 and 1994 were pretty dark times for me.  Even though I was smiling through so much of it.

Thank you Jim.
Not just for what you had done for the art I love so much, and not just for being an inspiration to generations of puppeteers and film makers.
But thank you Jim for bringing me joy and leading a path to being a good person.

Happy Labor Day - Support the MDA!

 

Support the MDA mda.org In 1994 local television station WFSB was still airing the annual MDA Labor Day Telethon. Late that summer they sent a small crew to my parents home to do a piece on my brother, Michael, who had passed away just after the 1993 telethon. This is a transfer of that piece from a VHS tape provided to my family after it aired. I don't own it, or the music. Just want to share this small piece of my family history.

Thank you.

I'm very grateful to have this video. My awesome aunt Sharon gave me a copy that she had recorded and saved when it aired in 1994, and the local CBS affiliate WFSB also gave us a master copy. I still have both.

Good morning.

I spend a few minutes in meditation and prayer each morning. I find that this really helps me to start the day with a good frame of reference. As part of my prayers, I thank whoever is helping me 
- I'm sure that somebody or something is -
I express gratitude for all my blessings and try to forgive the people that I'm feeling negative toward. I try hard not to judge anyone, and I try to bless everyone who is part of my life, particularly anyone with whom I am having any problems.
 - Jim Henson

Ralph Bakshi

 "You're kinda like the Ralph Bakshi of puppetry"

It was said to me as an insult.  Because the person who said it is so stuck in what would best be called "mainstream" arts.

And I thought: "Fuck you.  I should be lucky to be that good."

But instead I just said "Thanks" and smirked.  And I think the guy who said it was in shock a little.

Thing is, I LOVE Bakshi's films.  

Not every single one, or every short or series he's done.  But I do love his work as a whole.

I would love to make a movie as powerful as "Heavy Traffic" or "Coonskin"...  Or as influential as "American Pop" or his "Wizards" flick.

I lean more towards his reality based work.  Like the mentioned films (minus "Wizards") over his fantasy work.  The storytelling is this different level.

The dialog, the recording of it.  So real, natural.  The animation and character design is always so distinct and original, and eye catching.  Even his adapted works like "Fritz The Cat", "Lord of the Rings" and "Spider-Man" all have this very personal look, this very real feel.  

I want Elmwood to be that diverse, that unique.  And we work on that.  We don't just do the one genre Americans expect from puppetry (family entertainment) we are trying to do "one of each" as I say...  R-rated comedy, a horror movie, a drama, experimental flicks, family friendly stuff, and so on.  

I'd love to do a straightforward action film and romantic comedy, and more.. . We're getting there.  

And it's a mold Ralph Bakshi made, but with animation.

So thank you to the guy who thought he was hitting me with a witty insult: Eat shit.  Bakshi is a fucking genius.  And I thank you for comparing me to that.

And if you can...  Track down the book "Unfiltered".  A great look at his work.  I highly recommend it to all film buffs.  I think his website still has it, and I'm sure it can be tracked down used too.

HAPPY JIM HENSON DAY!

 

It's Not Easy...

30 Years Later... And I still say - "Thank you"

Sweet Dreams Mr. Spinney

Caroll Spinney passed away a week ago at 85.  

An amazing life, and amazing man.

So many people were messaging me about it, and sharing links with me about it, and it warmed my heart to know people even thought of me and the Elmwood gang at this time. 

I think that's part of Caroll's legacy.  Kindness and thoughtfulness. 

I was sad to read of his passing, and still am.  He lead what was a wonderful life, and did many great things.  And through the characters he created and performed taught us to be good people. 

"Lead by example".  This makes Caroll one of the great leaders of all time. And one of the greatest puppeteers that ever lived.

I'll miss him, and his performances.  We're lucky to have them recorded so we can still watch them and share them for generations to come.

Every year around this time I make it a point to watch "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street".  It may be the best thing Sesame Street ever produced.  And Big Bird and Oscar are the heart and soul of the whole thing.  Big Bird and Oscar... Caroll Spinney.

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