Thursday, December 31, 2015

Some call this "Spock Thoughts" - Happy New Year

I'm not an overly religious man.  
Spiritual, yes.  
But not religious...
This poem; Desiderata, has had an impact on me over the past decade tough.  And recently it's been on my mind quite a bit.  Some read it as religious.  I don't.  I just think it's good, fundamental thinking.  

“Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. 
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. 
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. 
Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. 
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. 
Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. 
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. 
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. 
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. 
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. 
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. 

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.


 - Max Ehrmann,
1927


Friday, December 4, 2015

Feels like a century ago... But it was only 1994...


I remember this guy...  
He had just bought a Prince bootleg no one else had heard, I'm sure...  
And when done listening to that was blasting Gn'R (or something) while planning a movie that never got made...  
He worked at a real coffee shop, and hung out with guys with funny names like Tricky Rock, Mighty J.Slim, Rich Warren, Sten, and women who were probably too good to been seen in public with a dork like me....
 Go ahead...  Laugh.  It's OK. I did too when I saw the hair!

It's that time of year when we need a smile, a laugh.  
The video, shared below, was one I posted to Facebook and YouTube earlier this week, and shared in a mass message to some friends and family.
It's a little (very little) piece of history.  But it's a big piece of history for me.  
My brother was so much to me.
Not just a brother, but a best friend, a collaborator, and more.  Had he lived longer he would have been a part of Elmwood Productions without a doubt, and I can only imagine what he would have cooked up.

Anyway...
It's the "holiday" season.
Let's Do Good Things.
 Let's be good people.  And let's share positive thoughts and keep smiling.
We live in such a wild world now, Hell, we lived in on in 1994 when this was first filmed...
This wild world needs a smile.  Needs a "hug".
Let's do that.  Embrace each other.  Show love regardless of religion, skin color, age, gender, whatever...
Let's just be in love, with each other.  


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. 
My aunt also gave me a copy of the tape recently, which prompted me to transfer it to digital, and share it.
I don't own it, or the music. Just want to share this small piece of my family history.



So that's it...
Til 2016, Jon's Java is on vacation!
See you in the new year!

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Thanks....


I had a good year...
Better than a good year in fact.  It's been a great year.
There is so much for me to be thankful, and grateful for this year.

I hope everyone in my life knows how much I appreciate them, and how I hope they all feel as good as I do right now.

Sweet dreams...  

Some pics from only a few of the good times...  So many great times to choose from!





 






Friday, November 20, 2015

Getting ready for next year, and happily wrapping up this awesome one... Live and Let Die


Thing might be a little quiet here on Jon's Java for the rest of 2015
But...
In 2016 the puppets will come back to this page a bit more...
Going to make an effort to post a puppet a week as Elmwood is prepping some big things to be shot over the year, and as I bulk up on commission and puppets on my Etsy page!
Looking forward to getting back to work!



Thursday, November 19, 2015

Shoulda took more pics last nite...

 Elmwood gang being goofy... 








Proud

I'm so damned proud of these guys.  And I'm proud of this flick...  Looking forward to the madness we create in 2016...

Gabe, Mike, and Russ (not in the pic)
did a killer job on the special effects on HEAD and more than earned this award!
Rick (in back) agrees with me...
Looking forward to a great 2016 with these guys and eventually an even more great "HEAD 2"!

Friday, November 13, 2015

It's Madness

"For reasons long forgotten, two mighty warrior tribes went to war, and touched off a blaze which engulfed them all...
 They'd built a house of straw. The thundering machines sputtered and stopped. 
Their leaders talked and talked and talked. But nothing could stem the avalanche. 
Their world crumbled. The cities exploded. A whirlwind of looting, a firestorm of fear."







Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Re-charging

There is not enough coffee for me today...



Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Almost back...


Got a message yesterday...  When something like this:
"Jon!  I see you haven't updated the ol' blog since mid-October!  Is everything OK?"

Yes.  Everything is wonderful...
Just been so busy!!!

HEAD has been screening all over the world, I've been doing events with Elmwood, including this coming weekend!  And I've been prepping for the big stuff coming next year...

DOn't worry if you enjoy the blog I have here.  It's still alive.  Just give me about another two weeks and I'll share some wonderful madness again!



Monday, October 19, 2015

Uhhhhhh

Who has two thumbs and needs coffee?

This guy.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Hands of Fire


I'm sure I've posted this before...  But it still is killer...

Trust Obey

Monday, October 5, 2015

HEAD SCREENING ON HALLOWEEN AT PARIS IN PLANTSVILLE!



Halloween is upon us!

It's time to Trick or Treat! Or even better - Trick AND Treat!
Come out on to Paris In Plantsville on Halloween for the party of the season!
From 6PM to 8PM we're inviting all the little ghouls and their parents to come in and do some trick or treating! We want to see all your great costumes, and we'll provide the treats and some entertainment too! (All to be announced soon!)
Then, after the sun goes down we get really spooky! Starting at 8PM join us for the party for the grown ups!  
Again we'll provide the treats and entertainment! Music and dancing, costume contests with prizes, and a late nite screening of HEAD from Elmwood Productions!  
And it's the last nite of the amazing art show "Return of the Harbinger" featuring the art of Clinton Deckert!
MORE INFO COMING SOON!

It's BYOB for the grown ups!
$5.00 Suggested Donation at the door!

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Truly Independant Film...



Elmwood Productions and Euphio Films
Now on VHX!
And you can get VHX online, or on Roku and Apple TV!

Thursday, September 24, 2015

This Saturday! Draw Batman With Me!!!


Normally this blog is all about puppets, and coffee, and music, and puppets, and coffee....

Sometimes I mention my doodles...
This is one of those times!

This Saturday at 3:00PM I'll be at Barnes and Noble in Blue Back Square 
in West Hartford doodling Batman!
And I'll be there to teach you too!

It's all part of the annual BATMAN DAY!!!
There will be other cool stuff happening too!  Including FREE STUFF!  Who doesn't like free stuff?
And the Batman Doodle Lesson is free to!!!

Hope you see you there!

Monday, September 21, 2015

Friday, September 18, 2015

Monday, September 14, 2015

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

TOMORROW NITE! Come see "JOSH AND TODD"!!!



I'm really excited for this screening (it's a Thursday nite)...  It'll probably be the last time we screen the flick for a while as we do the last bits of DVD prep for it, at last!!!!

Join us September 10, 2015 for this laugh out loud bro-mantic comedy film!  
$8.00 at the door, or $5.00 with canned or dry food item!
Proceeds to benefit Amazing Grace Food Pantry!

Rated R, so leave the kiddies at home!

And Todd will be there too!  Come get your picture with him!  

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Watch the movies I made.. And Support the MDA!

NOW THROUGH LABOR DAY!!!

Get "Josh & Todd", "HEAD" and "The Risley Brothers" for just $10!!! You don't want to miss out on this great deal!!!  And for every download or rent we'll donate $1.00 to the Muscular Dystrophy Association​!!!  Not only are you getting 3 fun flicks but you'll be saving and improving lives for people fighting muscle disease!    

Click the link below to get the flicks!





Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Josh and Todd... One more time!!! In Ten Days!



I'm really excited for this screening (it's a Thursday nite)...  It'll probably be the last time we screen the flick for a while as we do the last bits of DVD prep for it, at last!!!!

And Todd will be there too!  Come get your picture with him!  

Monday, August 31, 2015

Sweet dreams Mr. Craven....

Woke up this morning after a series of nightmares.  
Put on the coffee pot.

Decided to finish writing the next horror film that's been sitting, waiting, for a bit.  I've been busy with screenings, and "Risley" and so on...

Open the file, then hope online while the coffee brews, and I see the news.  Wes Craven passed away,

Mr. Craven - I wish you the sweetest dreams, and thank you for the decades of entertainment and inspiration.


Now off to that coffee pot...  


Sunday, August 30, 2015

Two Weekends... Three Screenings!

HEAD and The Risley Brothers both screened on Friday at 
We had an awesome nite, and fun crowd!

And the weekend before The Risley Brothers screened with The Hollow Waltz from Euphio Films at Paris In Plantsville!
Another couple of great nites!

Our next screening is 9/10 at Buttonwood Tree in Middletown, CT!

After that a slight break until Halloween!!!




Sunday, August 23, 2015

Two great nites...

Boy do these puppets look tired!
And what is Heather's hand doing to Schmutsy?!?!

It was a marathon!

Shot in two days, edited in a week-ish, and screening only a couple weeks later!

Elmwood - We pulled it off, and it went over great!!!

Look for more of 'The Risley Brothers" and their bar to come your way!



Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Did I Mention The Screenings Friday and Saturday are BYOB?!?

 
So it's after 8 PM, and in two days Elmwood will be screening "The Risley Brothers" at Paris In Plantsville.  I'm kicking back there now, having just finished the set up for the weekend.
Five years ago right now J.R. Calvo and I first came to PiP (Paris In Plantsville) to pitch a screening here.

Wow.  
Where have the years gone?
So much has changed...

Good and bad.

And I've lived through it.
And came out OK. 

I want to thank everyone who has had ANYTHING to do with Elmwood and Paris over the past five years.
You know who you are, it's too many to list right now.
And I want to thank all of you who have come out to see the Elmwood screenings...

I really hope you come to this one. It started here, at PiP.
With Jordan and Sean...   And our laughter.  The laughter that carried over to all the Elmwood guys, especially Mike and Nick, who have spent hours upon hours here...

Please, come see the screenings this weekend!  I promise you'll laugh! 
 This show, as simple and fun as it is means so much to me. For so many reasons... Come out to the screening and ask me why at the Q&A's!

OK...
Here's all the details for the screenings, stolen from PiP's event page-  

Paris In Plantsville continues it's film screening series this summer with a short film double feature!
August 21 and 22 we'll be screening the thriller "The Hollow Waltz" from Euphio Films, and the comedy "The Risley Brothers" from Elmwood Productions.

And this is just the start! Look for more screening and film events to be announced.

The doors open at 7PM for the screening on both nights, and the films start at 8PM, $5.00 at the door for admission. Following the screening the film makers and cast members will be on hand for a Q&A
And it's BYOB!

THE HOLLOW WALTZ
Written and Directed by S.W. Rand
In a city filled with corruption and greed, a sorted array of characters
lead this tale through a corrupt New England city. Everyone is trying to
survive another few days despite their dwindling luck. Revenge,
backstabbing, and riches make for a good time in Frog Hollow.

Rated R for language and violent behavior
www.euphiofilms.com

THE RISLEY BROTHERS: WELCOME TO THE WOODEN BEAVER
Written and Directed by Jon Bristol
Wes and Quig have just re-opened their grandfathers bar. With low expectations for success and discovering that the old regulars have all past away they aren't sure if they will make this first months electric bill. But they have bigger problems to deal with: The women in their lives…

Rated PG-13 for language and brief sexual discussions
www.elmwoodproductions.com

Total Runtime of both films is approximately 90 minutes

And for the 8/22 screening there will be a pre-show musical guest - Robert Fullerton will be performing songs from his album "Never Too Late" and more! His music can also be heard in "The Risley Brothers: Welcome to The Wooden Beaver"
Check out his work - https://www.facebook.com/rcfmusic

Have a film you want screened at Paris In Plantsville? Contact us at parisinplantsvillefilms@gmail.com

We look forward to seeing everyone at the screening!

Sunday, August 16, 2015

A few more behind the scenes pics from "The Risley Brothers"!



Here's a few more pictures from the making of "The Risley Brothers"!

See ya next weekend a the screenings!
all the info on that - HERE!