HHF/B&B Newsletter - LOVE POTIONS, EYE-GORE, BIGFOOT, OSCARS & more
Mar 26, 2024 5:00 pm
LOVE POTIONS, EYE-GORE, BIGFOOT, OSCARS & more
Hi ,
I'm sending you this NEWSLETTER because you either know me personally, worked as a volunteer, or I fell in love with your art, having seen it at one of my film festivals, MONSTERPALOOZA, G-FEST, AFM or we chatted at THE TABLE.
Why this NEWSLETTER? Well, I feel we artists should celebrate and support each other's work and our community as a whole. So here we are again, this time with our 5th fun and art/action-packed edition.
At HHF/B&B we've been busy all week planning our first in-person MEETUP event (details below). So apologies for the late delivery of this edition. Remember don't forget to click on all the photos and highlighted text in this issue - for lots of extra info and rare footage links.
Now, as they say, on with the show…
ELENA FABRI - WHY FILM FESTIVALS ARE IMPORTANT
At HHF we love to celebrate and showcase our own eclectic, indie-horror community. So I recently talked to the incredibly talented 2023 Short Script Award Winner ELENA FABRI, learning about her background, affection for horror and the impact her Award for THE (LOVE) POTION has so far had on her filmmaking journey.
MILES FLANAGAN: Hi Elena. Firstly congratulations on your recent award win. Can you give our readers a short introduction about yourself?
ELENA FABRI: Absolutely. I was born in Geneva, a native French speaker, but moved to the States when I was five. My father was a commercial director, which is what got me into film very young. He was introducing me to directors like ADRIAN LYNE and RIDLEY SCOTT when they were still making commercials. So that's kind of how I knew I wanted to be in the business.
MF: What particularly drew you to the horror genre?
EF: My interest in horror probably started with Stephen King, in the late seventies early eighties. I loved the movie adaptations. Those macabre pieces with a twist at the end, such as CARRIE and THE SHINING. Real filmmakers were taking hold of these stories.
As for more recently. I was an actress and a writer for many years. I've produced my own films. I've made no-budget, low-budget on my own. I remember the first film I made I did with a handheld flip camera, if you recall those in the mid 2000s. I submitted it to the Playhouse West Film Festival. But it was too grainy and low resolution. Well there was a student filmmaker in the audience. He says, I'll reshoot this for you. Frame for frame on my Red. He loved it so much. It was my homage to LARS VON TRIER.
So anyway, it debuted there. It was my own take on horror. There was a twist at the end you don't see coming.
MF: Twists and unexpected endings seem to be a feature of your work. Your winning script, THE (LOVE) POTION, has a very surprising ending too. It’s one of the things that makes is so good. Going back to your first film, was that a feature?
ELENA FABRI at the HOLLYWOOD HORRORFEST 2023 AWARDS NIGHT
EF: No, that was a short. I've not made a feature myself.
MF: So is that something you want to do?
EF: Well sure. But that's a complicated question. How do you get that done as far as time management, as far as budgeting, as far as financing? Is it my money? Is it your money? Is it my script? Is it your script? Do I want to make films, features or shorts? The answer is yes, of course.
I left the industry ten years ago and I work in a totally different field now. And, you know, it was during COVID that I brushed off my script and submitted it to HHF and a couple of other festivals. A lot of people did that.
MF: Well the HHF judges loved THE (LOVE) POTION.
EF: And I love the script, I love the idea. I love that love is a disease. So I think in a lot of ways, for some people it is a disease that they have to treat like alcoholism. It's the flu, and you have to take some sort of antibiotic to get rid of it.
So, do I want to make a feature? My way, yes, sure. To have control of the locations and to have some sort of creative control. Is that realistic these days without a lot of success behind me or somebody else's money? Unlikely. But yeah.
MF: I’m always of the opinion that you’ve just got to think differently. You've got to basically give yourself a design brief. The brief is, you’ve got no money, so you set yourself limitations and then you work around that. I’ll say to friends writing scripts, so what are you working on? And they’ll say, I’m writing a story based in Paris. I ask why is it based in Paris? It’ll never get made. Do you want to make it or do you just like writing scripts, which is fine. But if you want to make it, make it do-able. For very little to no money. So set it in LA, set it in your house.
EF: Set in your backyard.
MF: Exactly. Make the script work for you. Then shoot it on your phone.
EF: Exactly.
Festival Director MILES FLANAGAN and ELENA FABRI
MF: So what have you been doing, film-wise, since the festival win?
EF: Well THE (LOVE) POTION also got the attention of a very talented Actress, Writer, Producer, SIENA GOINES, who wants to put me under her umbrella. She's now in the position of an overall deal on a series/feature, depending on how they develop it. There's two different scripts for the same concept.
MF: So how did that happen?
EF: I told her about the festival awards and I pitched it to her. I've placed in probably a dozen contests so far, prior to ten years ago when I was just writing. And see what has happened now.
So I just gave her the pitch. THE (LOVE) POTION story is part of a trilogy that's kind of an homage to the old TWILIGHT ZONE THE MOVIE, which were several independent stories.
MF: So, to conclude, festivals definitely help?
EF: Of course. There's that track record of okay, this person is credible or other people have believed in these projects. And it's kind of what brought me to her attention.
So anyway, I hope that answers the question. For me, festivals do work and HHF in particular because there's a fanfare around it and it's beautifully executed. And something has happened as a result.
To somebody who hasn't been in the industry in ten years.
That's how quick it is.
Interview - Miles Flanagan
#hollywoodhorrorfest #elenafabri #shortfilms #shortfilmshoot #horrormovies #shortfilmfestival #shortfilmmaking #filmcommunity #womeninfilm #indiefilmmaker #horrormovies @cinematic.masterpiece @larsvontrier @gdreal @blackmirror.netflix
LA'S HIDDEN GEM - MARTY "EYE-GORE" FELDMAN'S RESTING PLACE
Continuing our series of cool, interesting and genre-inspired places in Los Angeles, I wanted to share some of the (to me) surprising people I discovered were laid to rest in our very own Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills Cemetery.
First up is MARTY FELDMAN (1934-1982). He was one of Britain's greatest comedy writers and later, comedic actors. He began his career as a writer of BBC radio comedy classics, including co-writing the famous (and still hilarious) FOUR YORKSHIREMEN SKETCH. Later performed by the MONTY PYTHON TEAM but first performed by MARTY and friends on AT LAST THE 1948 SHOW. (Click the links and photos for clips and sketches)
There are so many versions of this enduring classic, but this is one of my favorites (featuring the PYTHON'S and ROWEN "Mr. Bean" ATKINSON).
Much later in his writing career MARTY suffered from thyroid disease and developed Graves' ophthalmopathy. Resulting in his now-famous bulging eyes. Though the BBC hierarchy initially thought viewers would be "sickened" at the sight of him on TV, it's that very unique look of his that drove him to start acting in the scripts he wrote.
He was a wonderful slapstick performer and was a huge fan of the great silent comedy legend BUSTER KEATON. Like his hero, MARTY did all his own stunts and used these to comedic effect - particularly in the prison escape scene from THE LAST REMAKE OF BEAU GUESTE (1977).
Of course, here in the States, he's most remembered for his iconic role as IGOR. Sorry, I meant EYE-Gore! How silly of me. From MEL BROOKS & GENE WILDER'S YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974).
He was also in GENE'S wonderful THE ADVENTURE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES' SMARTER BROTHER (1975) and MEL'S equally funny SILENT MOVIE (1976). Both are highly recommended.
Like many of the greats, he left us far too early, at the age of only 48. He was a huge smoker, often consuming 5 packs a day. While filming GRAHAM CHAPMAN'S (greatly under appreciated and star-packed) YELLOWBEARD in Mexico in December 1982, MARTY suffered a massive heart attack and died. Leaving behind the love of his life, LORETTA SULLIVAN FELDMAN.
MARTY is laid to rest in the Garden of Heritage in Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills Cemetery. What's particularly cool (and sweet) is that he lies directly across from his idol, the great "stone face" BUSTER KEATON.
Visiting these graves is the closest many of us will get to meeting some of our heroes. But more importantly it simply reminds us of our own mortality. It is the great equalizer. No matter who we are, we're all headed in that very same direction. Facing death puts life in perspective. It's life affirming. It reminds me to procrastinate less, enjoy the act of creation, and (more importantly) enjoy the journey. The entire journey. Since neither tide nor time waits for no-one.
And that's why I do this and why I celebrate the uniqueness and vitality of our community.
More cool "Hidden Gems" next issue.
FOREST LAWN Photos - Miles Flanagan
#martyfeldman #youngfrankenstein #hiddengem #hhfnewsletter #montypython #melbrooks
HHF FILMMAKER/ARTIST MEETUP - THURS. APRIL 4th
On Thursday April 4th we're holding our first informal HHF INDIE FILMMAKER/ARTIST MEETUP at the BIGFOOT LODGE EAST in Los Feliz (Los Angeles, CA). Whether you're a horror film fan, artist, filmmaker, writer or you just want to make new friends, join us for HAPPY HOUR (5.00pm-8.00pm)
BIGFOOT LODGE, 3172 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039.
We're open to one and all. There's usually ample parking - both in front and in the nearby streets. This will be the first of a monthly event - the first Thursday of every month (unless otherwise stated).
BTW don't you just love the crazy Yellowstone-look of the place? It's the perfect venue to hang out and talk all things horror, culture, art and filmmaking. Bring your laptops, bring your business cards, bring your work if you want, show us what you're working on, reach out for help - from editing, music, FX, post-production, distribution and promotion. Or just chat about your favorite films.
If you intend to join us RSVP on our FACEBOOK EVENT page. It just gives us an idea of numbers. It's entirely FREE to join us and the drinks are Happy Hour prices. Look forward to seeing you Thursday April 4th, anytime from 5.00pm-8.00pm.
We'll also be giving out FREE (and rare) memorabilia to the first folk (did I just say folk!?) to arrive and while stocks last. And feel free to stay even longer. We'll be here all evening.
Thursday APRIL 4, 5.00pm-8.00pm (HAPPY HOUR)
BIGFOOT LODGE, 3172 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039.
#bigfootlodge #hhfmeetup
AND THE OSCAR GOES TO...
...ME!!!! Well not really, but it was fun holding a real, solid (and very heavy) OSCAR. Particularly after working at the OSCARS two weeks ago. This is the 1984 HONORARY OSCAR given to HAL ROACH (who produced the films of Harold Lloyd, Laurel & Hardy, and the Our Gang/Little Rascals to name but a few). Thanks to the ROACH Family and the LAUREL & HARDY WAY OUT WEST TENT for allowing me to hold it.
#Oscar #halroach
AND FINALLY …
B&B MAGAZINE - BACK ISSUES
Don’t forget there are still back issues of our beautiful, coffee table art & culture B&B magazine available online. New issue coming soon.
Check then out here:
https://www.magcloud.com/browse/magazine/1652452
FESTIVAL 'DISCOUNTED' PRICING ENDS SOON
We're still accepting discounted submissions for both our 2024 festivals through FILMFREEWAY. HHF "Regular" pricing till April. 26, and B&B "Early Bird" till March 31st.
https://filmfreeway.com/BoobsandBlood
https://filmfreeway.com/HollywoodHorrorfest
So spread the word and get your friends to subscribe to this essential and always fun newsletter.
That's it for now. I'm still busy working on my feature film THE WHISPERERS. Hope to have some words for you on that shortly. I know, I keep saying that. It's just I don't have anything particularly exciting to show you... yet. But stay tuned...
Speak to you all in two weeks time. And maybe even at the BIGFOOT LODGE.
If you have any feedback or questions, just reach out.
Cheers,
Miles
Festival Founder/Director
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