Splice at the Lightbox

I won free tickets to see Splice at the Lightbox as part of the Canadian Top 10 of 2010, I was going to see it anyways since I missed it's theatrical run. It was fun take on the Frankenstein story. The director, Vincenzo Natali was in attendance and spoke about the film afterwards. It was very cool.

Wise Man says "Dont Fret the Bass"

I got off the bus at 6:15am, back in sweet Toronto, I went home and then slept all day.

Now I'm hanging with my friends The Stormalongs in the jam space, and they sound fucking great.

Here is what they worked on tonight:

The Stormalongs Jam List, Notice no "Freebird"

Red State out October 19th, see it early

Kevin Smith debuted his new film Red State at Sundance this week, and then announced with much fanfare that he would forgo selling his first horror film to traditional distributors and release the film himself. Kevin Smith alway bets on Kevin Smith. It's a good bet and it's paid off before (Kevin backed his first film Clerks on multiple high-intrest credit cards). He is willing to make this gambit because he has supreme confidence in his work and in his ability to secure an audience by networking directly with his fans. He blogged for a long time, and then he pretty much stopped blogging the minute he discovered twitter, and hasn't stopped tweeting since.

The movie will Open October 19th 2011, but US fans can see it early, buy tickets here.

March 5 Radio City Music Hall, NY, NY
March 6 Wilbur Theater, Boston, MA
March 8 Harris Theater, Chicago, IL
March 9 State Theater, Minneapolis, MN
March 10 Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI
March 11 Clowes Memorial Hall, Indianapolis, IN
March 12 Midland Theater, Kansas City, MO
March 14 Clark State PAC, Springfield, OH
March 22 Paramount Theater, Denver, CO
March 26 McAlister Auditorium, New Orleans, LA
March 28 Paramount Theatre, Austin, TX
March 29 Cobb Energy Centre, Atlanta, GA
April 4 Marion Oliver McCall Hall, Seattle, WA

I'm sure he will add some Canadian dates, perhaps around the Walter Gretzky Ball Hockey Tournament in June. I hope the screenings happen at the Lightbox but I could see it happening at the Underground since they have a bigger room. Either way Red State will sell out when it screen in Toronto. I will be there and if you want to know about it keep checking this blog.

Incendies at the Tiff Bell Lightbox

My good friend Regimbal wanted to see Incendies. the Canadian film that was nominated for a Best Foreign-Language Film Academy Award on Tuesday. It's playing at the Lightbox (it opened at Tiff). I picked up the tickets early because some showings have been selling out. I finally got to use some of my massive Volunteer Voucher stockpile to get the tickets. When I told Regimbal that he would have to reimburse me for the ticket with his time, he said he would rather pay me in cash.

The movie was fantastic. It's no wonder it was nominated. I would recommend it for anyone who can handle some heavy subject matter. The movie is about a mothers dying request of her children and their journey to fulfil it. Thats all I'm gonna say. Go see it and support Canadian Cinema.

"That's Called Chin Music"

Eric Nagler hands you a brick in a sock and you ask "What kind of music does this make?"

I'm at the jam space watching the guys run through the set, just heard them play a great Clowns. Colin was getting shocked by his amp being plugged into an ungrounded outlet. They worked out the beginning of Days Alight, different since Momo is gone.

The Stormalongs played in Sudbury this past weekend. The show went well I'm told, although the car battery died on them as they tried to leave. I really want to go with the guys next time they go out of town. I'm missing all the rock n' roll adventure.

I had a Johnny Cash dvd I was going to sell at a CD store, but since they would probably only give me 2$, I figured I might as well just give it to Colin. 

 

Waiting in line for a new Health Card

I just downloaded an update to this blogger-droid app and figured I would test it out while in line at Service Ontario.  I need a new health card. I love socialist medicine but I can't get any without a Health Card. In the past this app has not worked well, so if you are reading this on my blog then it works, the next step is seeing if it works with a photo (this has given me a lot of trouble before).

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Coffee for Intenet is fair trade

I'm in a coffee shop across the street from my place. I can actually see my bedroom window from where I am sitting. I would like to be enjoying the interwebs from the comforts of said bedroom but my brother has yet to secure an interweb provider. I used to come to this Second Cup when the net was down at my old place which was quite often in the past few months. I'm pretty much a regular here now, which fuels paranoia that the staff no doubt talk about me behind my back.

 

Birthday Lightbox

I had decided to work on my birthday because I really like being at the Tiff Bell Lightbox and it was the only Captain shift available for the rest of the month. I went and met with Granny Mo, we went to Tim Hortons for some lunch. She did not have any of the bread, she is sticking to her new diet and loosing weight. Gmo feels like she has been getting really old really fast, but its been a gradual process from my point of view.

I started my Captain shift and Granny Mo explored the Tim Burton Extibition for over two and a half hours. She really enjoyed it, and was inspired to try some stop motion herself. I have an idea I will write out for her and see what kind of sketches she comes up with. We grabbed dinner at the Canteen on my break and talked about the exhibition. I'm lucky to have such a cool supportive granny in my life. It made for a great birthday.

Facebook has made birthdays way too easy on people. People can post best wishes on your wall and feel satisfied with a job well done. Facebook is fine for wishing someone you went to grade school with a happy birthday, but if I was your best friend since we were 5 and you almost killed me in a car once and I performed your marriage last year, then maybe I deserve a personal call on my birthday *hint*. I got so many posts on my facebook I put up my cell number and asked for text best wishes, and overloaded my phone with texts. I also had no idea who the messages were coming from since I didn't have their contact in my phone and the senders usually only wrote "happy birthday!".

After my shift I went and picked up a few cans of Steamwhistle and went back to my place to celebrate my birthday. It was low key affair. A few friends came over for a few beers. I really enjoyed it. Ian brought me a bottle of Wild Turkey, so I made some Rusty Nails with Wild Turkey Burbon and Wild Turkey Liqueur.

Breakfast and Green Hornet

Paul and I have a bounty of food in the fridge, thanks to me. Today I started breakfast while he was doing his ablutions. Bacon and sausage cooked on ye olde Geogio Forman and a super-cheese omelet and hash browns. It covered all the grease groups. Over coffee Paul mentioned how he would like to see some Captain Crunch in his cereal bowl, I recommended he try the grocery store.

Ian and I like to see every new movie we can, and opening weekend is a great time. We both wanted to check out Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg penned Gondry directed Green Hornet. Ian picked me up in his production wheels and we drove to the Carlton since the snow was going to prevent us from making it to the Queensway in time for the 1:30 show. The old Carlton Cinemas was owned by Cineplex and had fallen in disrepair, but the Rainbow Cinemas bought it and cleaned it up a bit. The screens are still ridiculously small, and I probably would avoid going to see a movie there again if I was offered any other option. The movie itself was very entertaining. James Franco has a great cameo up against Christoph Waltz, who as the villan can't seem to gain the fear and respect he so deserves. Jay Chou is a great Kato and Rogen maintains plausibility as a hero. Rogen and Goldberg are my heroes, their writing is so violent and so funny.

My other hero Kevin Smith had a go at Green Hornet back when it was a Miramax picture. They have adapted his un-produced screenplay into a comic book, I'm going to check it out for sure.

Gmo Monday!

I went shopping with my Granny Mo today. I got a pair of black New Balance shoes for working at the Lightbox. My dress shoes are just too uncomfortable to stand in for long periods. I have a few shifts this week so I'm glad to have good comfy shoes. We went to lunch at Baton Rouge, it was a little pricey, but Gmo loved the soup. She thinks she's been getting really old really fast. She has to take a lot of breaks to sit down and I cant really walk slow enough for her, I don't mind slowing down. I'm lucky I get to spend time with her. Her questions can be frustrating. Sometimes she wants me to elaborate on Yes or No answers.

My buddy Ian started working on reshoots, so he has a production vehicle again. We went for an evening drive. I love rolling around the city with Ian. We just talk movies and the conversation is always so enthralling.

Danny Husk in a Comic Book

I was at the CNIB all day helping distribute the 2011 TTC Metropasses. Afterwards I hurried to the Beguiling to pick up Scott Thompson's graphic novel The Hollow Planet and meet the man himself. I'm a huge Kids in The Hall fan and it was great to meet him in such an intimate setting. He was very nice and the book looks really funny.

 The book features one of Scott's most memorable characters from the series, Danny Husk. If you don't remember Danny then watch this video:

Last Day at Sandy's

I'm moving. This is the last post I will write from this room that I have lived in for over 3 years now. I'm so sick of that bastard Happy Hardcore I can't wait to leave. He had a party on Tuesday night that went into the 3am zone. I wouldn't give a shit if I wasn't volunteering but I am. I can't deal with this shit anymore and now I don't have to. Matt is on his way over with a van and I'm getting some more helpers throughout the day. I cam't wait to be in my new place with my brother Paul.

Man in black for tiff

I'm going to my first shift as a volunteer for the Tiff Bell Lightbox. I will be working at the theatre end, but I'm not sure what my duties will be. I'm up to dress code, all in black, wearing my nice new clothes (Thanks Gmo). I'm very excited about the opportunities this position could bring if I work hard and get noticed. I sure will get noticed if I'm late, so I had better be leaving now.

Kevin Smith's Red State Coming Soon

Kevin Smith's new movie Red State is out next year, premiering at his alma mater the Sundance Film Festival. It's his first attempt at horror, and I can't wait to see it. Kevin has been auctioning off the movie poster to the highest bidder (funds going to charity), which would get any blog or website many thousands of hits. This first winner was Giant Fire Breathing Robot, you can click here to see the first poster. Smitty is now accepting bids for the next poster, but since I can't afford it I thought I would just post these great videos I took of Kevin Smith. I really need a HD video recorder.

Tron Legacy Toronto sneak-peek, TRONopoulos!

Torontonians following @Strombo on twitter were lucky enough to catch an advance look at this winters day-glo blockbuster Tron Legacy at the CN Tower.

This movie is excellent! It's been almost 30 years since Disney gave us the live-acation/CG hybrid Tron. Now the Mouse House brings us back into the gird in 3D! This time Flynn's son Sam must travel into the grid to find his long-lost father. Jeff Bridges is back as Kevin Flynn, and as his program alter ego CLU. CGI Botox makes Bridges look like his 80's self, mullet and all. It's very trippy to see them together. The older Flynn gives off a serious Lebowski vibe at times, and the crowd loved it. Daft Punk pumps some sick music on the soundtrack, and has a sweet cameo in the film. I really wish I could see 3D, but since I can't I have to rely on the oohs and ahhs of the audience, which were quite plentiful. I have the strongest feeling that the Production Designer goes to Burning Man. I really recommend you go see the new Tron when it comes out next week.

this time I'm right, Tron at CN Tower

All that running around and tweeting /blogging like a madman, I find myself in line at the CN Tower for strombo's super leet tron legacy screening. I was so wrong so much,maybe I should give it a rest but I wanted to update anyone who stumbled on this blog. The next post should be a tron legacy review.

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Tron Legacy to sneak at Tiff Bell Lightbox

So I was wrong. Tron Legacy will not be at the Scotiabank tonight. @catherinefaas tweeted I might try and look further south east. The Lightbox denied any knowledge of a screening, but anonymous commented that the Lightbox was the place. Roy Thompson Hall is full of old people so I know it's not there.

I'm at a Second Cup, heading back to the Lightbox to get some answers.

Tron-onto! Strombo promises sneak-peek at new Flynn

Twitter is a great way to find out about cool things going on in your neighborhood. I'm lucky that the King of Queen W., George Strombo lives in my neighborhood, and is also on my twitter. He's hipped me to a free screening of the new Tron movie. When he tweeted:

I did the math and figured it was at the Scotiabank Theatre mere blocks from the CBC. But upon arrival I was met by a clueless employee who assured me the movie doesn't open till next week. When I told her Strombo sent me she said maybe Strombo had lied.

I'm waiting in a Starbucks next to the Scotiabank Theatre, where I'm sure the event is going down. I'm just waiting for Strombo to tweet the word.

Adam "momo" Morello is alive and well (not dead I assure you)

Momo rocking

The Stormalongs have announced that Adam Morello has decided not to continue as the bands rhythm guitarist. He is however still alive. The band's recent posts may have led fans to believe that Morello had joined the ethereal plane, posting a video called "A Tribute To Adam", and otherwise eulogizing their guitarist on facebook (Guys, Youtube, please! I can't embed facebook video).

Momo will be missed. His musical talent is matched only by his rugged good-looks. I have been fortunate enough to see my friends Colin, Matt, and Mo jam together in different incarnations for more than 10 years now. I consider myself lucky to have watched the captured lightning for so long.

The Stormalongs will continue as a three piece, but are actively searching for a guitarist to fill Momo's large shoes. This would be a perfect opportunity for ME to join the Stormalongs, but my inability to play guitar would prove rather embarrassing during the audition process.

Movember is over,

Thank you so much to all my Movember supporters. Your donations will help fight prostate cancer, and build a future where fingers are only put up asses for recreational purposes (sorry Dr. Procto). A special thanks to my friend Robot Head, who made the final donation that pushed me to the 100$ mark, the bar has been set for next year. I promised a John Waters looking Mo' if I could hit my mark, so...

It turns out John Waters uses a makeup pencil to draw his mustache on. I trimmed mine and then brought it down as close as I could. I think I did pretty good for a blind guy. I'm walking around in public with this thing for now, but I will shave it off later today and say goodbye to mustaches till next Movember.

It looks better with a smile