The Eulogy

The year 2010 finally seems like “the future”. Maybe it is because of the movie 2010: A Space Odyssey. Whatever the reason, time keeps marching on–but where are the flying cars? I really wanted to do something special with the movie last year, since it was the 20th anniversary of filming, but my schedule just wouldn’t allow it. Maybe I’ll get around to doing something this year. I’m hoping to have a screening for friends and the public sometime soon. Peace and Happy New Year!

It’s been way too long. But now that I’m back, I’ve got some things to share. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the filming of ELVIS’ GRAVE. I’m planning on doing some special events to mark this occasion. If you are on Facebook, try searching for the ELVIS’ GRAVE Page and become a fan. Type in ‘Psycho Impersonators from Hell’. I decided to use that name in order to circumvent any legal issues with the title. Stay tuned for more details. Oh yeah, don’t forget to bookmark us or subscribe to our RSS feed. As always… Thankyouverymush!

It has been quite some time since I posted an entry. Shame on me. But here I am to start filling in the gaps. It is just a testament to how fast time is traveling for me. I have been busy working at my sons school. In addition to working in the afterschool program, I am teaching a couple of special classes, including filmmaking. I have already completed one film with a group of elementary kids and it turned out great. I’m working on a second film with more elementary kids and one with some middle school kids too. It is fun and rewarding. I’ll post links as soon as I can. The screening of EG last August was a ton of fun and I had a nice turnout. Everyone seemed to like the movie and laughed at the right spots! Thanks to all of those that came out. I might try to do it again this August.

As you view ELVIS’ GRAVE tonight, I’m getting things prepared for a special screening here in my city of Raleigh North Carolina, USA. I hope you enjoy watching my film and I’m sorry I couldn’t be there in person. Please feel free to post any questions you may have as a comment on this blog, and I will try my best to answer them in a timely manner. Oh yeah, MILDRED ROCKS!!!!!!!! Best of luck M!

Prior to the screening of ELVIS’ GRAVE, on two continents I might add, I’ve gotten a little bit of press. I just thought I’d share it with everyone. Here it is:The Independent — a Raleigh Weekly , The News & Observer — the Raleigh Daily:David Menconi’s Blog, Article by David Menconi. And I hear there is a follow up article set to print on Friday. Very cool.

ELVIS’ GRAVE will be showing on two continents on August 16th. Here in Raleigh, NC at the Rialto theater and in Nairobi Kenya at the Rock and Roll Film Festival of Kenya, ROFFEKE. I am working on getting the word out and look forward to seeing EG back up on the big screen. It should be a lot of fun. Check out the new poster, designed by local Raleigh artist, Kevin Peddicord. Hope to see you there!

Here are a few films I’ve seen lately. Since I’m working on an action thriller script, I’ve tried to watch a lot of that genre and here are a few that I’ve liked. First is RUNNING SCARED, a really edgy film that I had heard nothing about until the guy at Blockbuster told me to watch it. It was really good. Good story and some really interesting characters. Worth viewing. Another, even more obscure, film is called OLDBOY — subtitles — is quite a ride. I believe it is Japanese. Check it out. I also liked a low budget film called PRIMER that was more of a science fiction/drama/thriller. If you can find it — watch it too. Then I finally got around to seeing Shaun of the Dead — very funny. Those are a few of my faves, but I’ve also watched these: North by Northwest, Vertigo, Mission Impossible II and III, Miami Vice, Bad Boys I and II, Lucky Number Slevin, Jaws, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Seven, Chinatown, just to name a few.

A few weeks back, I get this very interesting email asking me if I was interested in submitting the movie to a new film festival in Nairobi Kenya. I was flattered, but a little taken aback. When I think of Africa, I think of safaris and the Sahara desert — tribesmen hunting wild game in the bush. But I found out that I am very ignorant of the real Africa, especially the real Nairobi Kenya. So, I started doing a little research to try and learn more about Nairobi. As it turns out, Nairobi is a large metropolitan city, some three million strong. Not that I would be opposed to showing ELVIS’ GRAVE in some small village in the middle of the African desert — that might be fun!
But what really gave me a clue that I wasn’t dealing with some out-in-the-bush tribes person, was the email correspondences that I received from a very bright young lady named Mildred. Mildred is the head of the film festival and an extremely funny person with a wonderful spirit. She is a real go getter. It is amazing that a half a world away you can get the sense of her spunky personality through email. She has definitely won me over with her positive attitude and I have pledged my support in helping her in anyway that I can. I hope I can meet her in person some day and maybe she can educate me in Kenyan culture. Goodness knows I could use some educating.
The festival is called ROFFEKE. Which is Swahili for freind. The ROck and roll Film Festival Kenya. Stay tuned for further developments.

My submission finally made it onto the website for the upcoming reality show, On The Lot and I need your support. Please follow this link and give ELVIS’ GRAVE a 5 star rating and a good review and then pass it on to all your friends. If I win, I’ll give you a part in my next film! Thanks for your support. http://films.thelot.com/films/8414

I’m finalizing my application for submission. I uploaded the trailer to the site and I’ll send in a DVD copy along with my application tomorrow, then it will be a waiting game to see if they approve me for the site. When they do, I’ll need everyone I know to visit the site, vote for me and then tell all their friends. With a little luck, I’ll just get in under the deadline. Check back for updates. Here’s the show’s website: On The Lot — Thanks!