Things By Jeremy: Halloween Edition Part One

Halloween is here, my favorite non-holiday type holiday. It's not really a holiday since no one gets a day off from it, but it's a lot less depressing than Valentine's Day, and a lot more sober than St. Patrick's Day. Halloween represents fun to me, I love hanging around and watching scary movies, I usually have a few up my sleeve that are musts.

My favorite horror movie isn't exactly a horror movie, it's more of a dark comedy, it's "Bride of Frankenstein", it's a classic. You look at it today, and it's campy, but it's also funny, not "bad movie" funny, but deliberately funny. It's actually a film that's obsessed with the ideas of life and death and finds dark humour in it. Plus it has Boris Karlof as The Monster, and Elsa Lanchester as his bride and also Mary Shelley who wrote the original "Frankenstein" story. She's shows up at the beginning, and tells the story. Plus it's a great looking film in black and white, some films just belong in black and white and this is one of them.

I have to say I've become more of a fan of horror movies as time goes by. Maybe as a kid, I was usually not aloud to watch anything gory, but it's grown on me. I especially love Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining", and John Carpenter's "Halloween". Plus Hitchcock's "The Birds" which I do find frightening, plus "Psycho" is just a classic.

Halloween is also the time when my absolute favorite show of all time "The Simpsons" comes out with their latest "Treehouse of Horror" anthology. "The Simpsons" are still very funny, maybe not as funny as they once were, but they are still able to make me laugh more than most shows.

But let's get back to scary movies, after all that's what I really love it for. Along with "Bride of Frankenstein", there's all the Universal horror monsters like "Dracula" with Bela Lugosi, and "The Wolf Man" with Lon Chaney Jr. Okay so here's a shock, I find those movies vastly overrated. Yes, looking at "Dracula", I find it to be dull despite Lugosi's great performance, it's underwhelming, in fact the only vampire movie I find actually good are the original "Nosferatu" and its remake by Werner Herzog in 1979, check those out if you want to see something horrifying. I also saw the film "Let Me In" just recently which I thought was another great vampire movie, but that was based on a Sweedish film I have not seen.

"The Wolf Man" is very atmospheric and has a lot of good performances (Hooray for Ralph Bellamy), but the monster itself doesn't do much but snarl at the camera a few times. He also isn't that mysterious once you see him, his reveal isn't as epic as the first time you see Frankenstein or Dracula in those old movies.

There's lots of old movies I love in the horror genre, you should check out the Val Lewton films like "Cat People" and "The 7th Victim" plus there's Peter Lorre in "Mad Love", and for pure camp and fun there's Humphrey Bogart playing a living dead person in "The Return of Doctor X", one of his pre-star days.

One horror movie monster I have mixed feelings about is the zombie. Probably because they are over-exposed, I'm starting to have this problem with the vampire too, they aren't scary anymore and there isn't much of a point to them anymore. Plus I wasn't much of a fan of the original zombie films like "Night of the Living Dead" or "Dawn of the Dead", the whole idea of them isn't frightening, yet so many people make zombie movies.

So here's my top ten favorite horror movies of all time some of them aren't scary by today's standards, but I still like them.

1. Bride of Frankenstein
2. Psycho
3. The Shining
4. Repulsion
5. The Birds
6. Cat People
7. Rosemary's Baby
8. The 7th Victim
9. Frankenstein
10.Halloween

Tomorrow I'll talk about more Halloween related material.

Good or Bad: All Things Must Pass

It's difficult to explain something that you don't understand all that well. Living in this world, full of great mysteries and wonders, I sometimes wish I could just spend my time thinking about them and not worry about the other things. Over the summer, I retreated from the city and decided to take solace in a residence where I worked. I liked doing this, I enjoyed the solitude and being able to be alone with my own thoughts.

I spent most of my time reading books that were in my collection but have not been touched. I also watched films whenever I wanted, and wrote in between all of these. When I wanted to see my family or my friends, I simply went home and spent time with them. This probably couldn't have happened if I wasn't financially secure which I was, being able to have a full time job that paid well but wasn't too demanding, I didn't have to go home thinking about work, I could turn it off like a faucet.

But of course summer came to a close, I was feeling very optimistic after my experience at residence; I came facing the real world with a new found philosophy or so I thought.

One thing that I can never seem to shake is feeling the expectations from others on what I should do with my life. I've been told many times to get a job, make money, find some sort of direction. I suppose when summer ended and reality crept in, I started forgetting what I learned. When it was time to move from my old house into a new place, our old landlords were unhappy with the way we left the place, they were going to keep our damage deposit plus they were threatening us with more money we were going to owe them.

This put a damper on my new beginning I was trying to start for myself. I was excited about moving in to my new place, I made up a den in the downstairs, yet as time went by, I started feeling down, I'm not sure how to explain it, but I was struggling to get up in the morning the first few weeks living here. Thanksgiving came and went, I wasn't feeling any better, I had this bleak feeling inside of me that wasn't going away, I didn't know what to do, I didn't even know who to talk to about it.

More time went by, some days I felt better, other days, I was sad. I had to find a new job, yet I couldn't bring myself to look, by luck I got one at Chapters just when I needed it.

Soon things were looking up, I went to my new job and I felt better, I actually enjoyed parts of it, I wasn't dreading it. I did a weekend of Bullskit which also cheered me up, it was so good to hear people laughing and doing a show with friends, I could feel myself coming out of my depression slowly but surely.

Today I woke up surprised and delighted to see snow on the ground. I don't know what it is, but there's something almost reassuring to see snow on the ground, it reminded me of how things come and go, and it was nice seeing it again.

I had not unpacked all my stuff since I moved in, my room has been full of boxes, I just didn't have the energy to do anything about it. I was in a stupor, I couldn't concentrate and get on with the work that had to be done, but something finally snapped in me, and I felt the urge to get on with it. I finally unpacked my stuff, I made my room livable, it's finally starting to look like home. I feel much happier just looking at my room and outside. I haven't read a book since I moved in, and I finally felt like reading one, and of course that one book had to be Dickens.

I don't know why I was in such a negative mood for such a long time, there were days when I actually thought I was dying, I knew it was all in my head. It had been a long time since I felt like that, and I actually thought I was over feeling it.

What I do understand from feeling that way is that life isn't always certain, and neither is happiness, but what I was doing wasn't living, I wanted to stay in bed all day, I didn't want to face the world, it was becoming too difficult. But one thing I had to realize was things like this must pass, I was going to be okay, I didn't want to be afraid anymore, and most importantly I wanted to get on with my life.

Living is actually a courageous thing, there are so many things and people out there that can hurt us, yet we choose to face them, sometimes it becomes overwhelming, and that's when we just have to remember all things must pass, and we can go on living again. We get sad, we get down, but life doesn't stop just because we want it to. I sometimes struggle to remember that, right now I'm happy, and looking out, I'm excited about the new possiblities surrounding me, don't forget that life is a struggle, but it's all for days like these, when you can witness snow on the ground and get the courage to finish moving into your room.

Three Obsessions of the Week

1. Hereafter: A movie with some serious flaws, yet the way it's handled I found effective and life affirming. I think it's one of the best movies of the year, and I actually can't wait to see it again. Clint Eastwood is an assured director and Matt Damon is becoming one of the most reliable actors around, when will people notice how good he is?



2. Our Mutual Friend: Dickens' final finished novel, I felt the urge to open it this morning when I saw snow on the ground. I've read every finished novel by Dickens up to this, it's rather bittersweet that I have to finish it, yet once I open a Dickens book, I must finish it, only perhaps I'll take my time with this one.



3. A Child's Dream of a Star: Just to connect all three of these obsessions up. I was looking up the famous painting "Dickens Dream", which was mentioned in "Hereafter" since Matt Damon's character has an affinity with Dickens. Googling the word "Dickens" and "Dream", I came to this rather obscure short story which was written by Dickens, which I read online. I found the story to be wonderfully sentimental the only way Dickens could write it, it's sort of a lullaby of a person's life as it starts as a small boy who throughout his life suffers the loss of loved ones, waiting for the day he could join them. It's quite profound and moving, I wouldn't jump to conclusions if I called it one of the best short stories I've read.

Stephen Colbert: Making Sense out of Non-Sense

The Proust Questionnaire

This was an original questionnaire made famous by novelist Marcel Proust which became the inspiration for James Lipton's "Actor's Studio Questionnaire". According to Wikipedia, Proust did the questions in the 1800s, I'll do my best to answer all of them.

1. What is the principle aspect of you personality?: I have a charming disposition.

2. What quality do you desire in a man?: Integrity

3. What quality do you desire in a woman?: The same

4. What do you appreciate the most about your friends?: Their honesty, and intelligence, the fact that they accept me for me.

5. What is your main fault?: My confidence is shaky

6. What is your favorite occupation?: Student

7. What is your dream of happiness?: To live without fear.

8. What would be your greatest misfortune?: To have never met some of the people in my life who have meant the most to me.

9. What would you like to be?: Someone who made a difference

10. What country would you like to live in?: Canada is fine, if not, I would give France a try.

11. What is your favorite color?: Blue

12. Who are some of your favorite prose authors?: Charles Dickens, Anton Checkov, J.D. Salinger

13. Who are some of your favorite heroes in fiction?: Superman, Dr. Who, Indiana Jones, Groucho Marx

14. Who are some of your favorite heroines in fiction?: The Bride, Elizabeth Bennet

15. Who are some of your favorite composers?: Brian Wilson, Bob Dylan

16. Who are your heroes in real life?: Charles Dickens, Yasujiro Ozu, Groucho Marx

17. What historical figure do you most admire?: Gandhi, Jesus

18. What historical figure do you despise the most?: Hitler, Stalin

19. How do you want to die?: I'll be old, and I'll have my loved ones surrounding me.

20. What is your present state of mind?: Calm

21. What is your motto?: There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

Actor's Studio Questionnaire

For those of you interested, here are my answers to the "Inside the Actor's Studio" Questionnaire.

1. What is your favorite word?: Perception

2. What is your least favorite word?: Any racial or bigoted slur.

3. What turns you on?: Great conversation

4. What turns you off?: Remedial work

5. What sound or noise do you love?: Light rain

6. What sound or noise do you hate?: People who talk without listening.

7. What is your favorite curse word?: Shit

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?: Journalist

9. What profession would you not like to do? Serial Killer

10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?: I'll explain everything.

Dear America: I'm not impressed

I don't normally watch "The View" and have never seen a single episode of "The O'Reilly Factor", however it came to my attention this morning of a heated debate going on between "The View" gals and Mr. O'Reilly who was appearing on as a guest.

The debate was about should they build a mosque near ground zero. This debate has gone on for some time now, and probably has been handled slightly more sophisticated than what was seen this morning.

O'Reilly put his foot in his mouth by calling the people who flew the planes into the twin towers not "Terrorists" or "Islamic Extremists", but "Muslims". This made "View" co-hosts Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg storming off the set.

When I saw a clip of this happening, I wondered this is what is wrong with American ideals, there doesn't seem to be any. Everyone is so far left or so far right, there isn't any point to it all.

Seeing the clip, I felt Goldberg and Behar went for O'Reilly's bait hook, line, and sinker, they let him get to them, or did they, I wouldn't be surprised if the whole scene was an elaborate stage. Maybe it wasn't, that's neither here nor there, what I would've liked to see was two parties intelligently debating this issue. The problem may not have been "The View" ladies, although from what I have seen from them, they do tend to compromise any merit in favour of juicy television. O'Reilly is a sensationalist, he comes off as someone who knows he's the bad guy, he reminds me of a professional wrestler who revels in the boos of an audience; he wants to get a rise out of them, and I think he knows it too.

There was a time when debates like these were done with taste, one party heard another party out, but even important topics like building a mosque near ground zero, which touches on sensitive subjects as race, religion, and politics in America today are being subjected to sensationalistic tabloid arguments.

This is a problem I see in America today, everything is given either a love it/hate it ultimatum. Both the left and the right have failed to succeed on anything unless it's a "pro" for their side. They refuse to hear anyone out, these are both sides I'm talking about because I'm no longer playing favorites.

I know there are rational people on every side, yet it is they who are constantly back benched in favours of the sensationalists. I take solace in actually watching PBS, who actually have professionals from both sides of the fence giving their story; There is never any yelling or storming off sets when this happens.

I will also defend a show like "The Daily Show" where Jon Stewart has welcomed both Liberals and Conservatives to his table and is always open to hear their side. The people he mocks are people who don't listen and who stay ignorant in their little bubble. If you watch a debate with Stewart and someone on his show, you can actually see a difference between that and what was shown on "The View" today (Side note, he has also had O'Reilly on numerous times, and I don't think it has ever turned into a shouting match, mostly because I think O'Reilly has to be on his toes when pitted against Stewart).

As a Canadian, I'm an outsider when it comes to America, I've often felt disconnected with the American way of life, which is strange seeing how Canada is so close, and we also talk so much alike. I do feel like I have been influenced by American culture and ideals, and these have been felt throughout the world. Yet now when I look at America, I am even more so disillusioned with it, it looks to me as a country that has lost its way, and in that way I'm a bit scared, this is the most powerful country in the world and they're acting like a bunch of clowns.

How quickly they seemed to have forgotten the tyranny of Bush/Cheney, and how fast they have become disillusioned with Obama and the Democrats. America was looking for a quick fix, then they didn't get it, now it's time to jump to extremes and shout the loudest, for only then will people hear you, the only problem with that is the person shouting doesn't always have to make sense.

I'm concerned because America has been looked to as the moral centre of the world, yet lately the morality is course and perverted. I'm hoping the people who may not shout has loud as the ones who don't make sense, find a voice and bring everyone back to the centre again.

When Landlords Attack!

So okay, just wanted to get this down in blog form, this will probably turn into a rant not sure, I just started writing.

My roommates and I have finally freed ourselves from the clutches of our former house. It seemed like a long time coming, I remember how excited we all were when we moved in, we felt like we were getting a great deal on the house, and our landlords were very pleasant.

As time passed, things started to change, we had a gas leak from our stove, our basement lights burnt out, the door to our dryer didn't work, our washer leaked, our doorbell didn't work, and the economy crashed, all in all you're looking some not-so-happy campers.

Looking at it from a tenants point of view, much of what happened we blame the landlords, well maybe not the economy crashing, although they do seem to be the type of who can be blamed for something like that happening.

We asked for our rent to be lowered since we saw many homes dropping in price and we thought that was a reasonable request before we sign our new lease. That didn't happen, we still signed our lease, but the landlords promised to fix everything as soon as possible. That didn't happen either, so we were stuck with them for another year.

As April or June came by, we were feeling it was time to move on so we asked to get out of our lease, our landlords wouldn't budge, I think this was when they began to turn on us. By this time, I was tired of paying such a huge rent with the little money I had, (last winter wasn't good to me)I wanted to get out, we all did.

Finally, September came and we were out of our lease, the nightmare seemed to have ended, yet it was just beginning. Once we were moved out, our landlords came for a final walk through. By the end they accused us of turning the house into a wreck, which we didn't. Some damage was done, but in our defense it was mostly wear and tear, it didn't matter to them, according to them, we left the place not in the way we found it in. That's actually not true, the house was in fact in the same or maybe even worse condition than we found it.

The walk through ended with the landlords saying they were keeping our damage deposit, and perhaps even billing us for more money if need be. I was there when this happened, and I can't believe I didn't do anything, I was trying to defend what we did the night before, but they didn't hear anything what I was saying.

Afterwards my fellow roommates still had some odds and ends to get out, which the landlords said they could, but when they came back later that day, the locks were changed, we were unable to get back in.

So that's the whole sordid story, our landlords have ten days to get back to us about what we owe them, on a plus side, their window of opportunity is closing fast, ten days will be over on Sunday, then they will have to forfeit our damage deposit over to us. Huzzah!

As for us, my roommates have found a new house that they seem to be happy with, I'm currently moved into a comfy cozy townhouse I share with one other person, paying a rent that I can afford. Everything in my place works, and the landlord is someone I know and trust, it's like starting over on the right foot this time.

I don't know what will happen with our old landlords, yet it feels good to vent about them, they definitely rank in the top five of most unpleasant people I've met. I hope secretly they read this blog and they know who this is, but I know they don't and they won't ever. I've been told by my former roommate Matt that apparently it's illegal to slander landlords so I won't name them, however the majority of people who read this blog do know their names and know exactly what I'm talking about.

Bottom line, our landlords were the suckiest landlords ever and for anyone going to rent from someone else, watch your step.

Bull Skit is back!

Bull Skit, the only sketch comedy show in Red Deer at the moment has returned for yet another season of shows. We actually just had our first show run in September, but there's still time to catch our October show at the end of the month.

Sadly, my contribution to the show this year will be somewhat limited as prior commitments will leave me unavailable for the December show, and I will probably only appear for improv in the November show.

However you shouldn't just come to Bull Skit to see me, especially since we have a few more people joining the team. Blaine Newton, Paul Sutherland, and Matt McKinney are just some of the new faces joining the team, along with Jenna Goldade, Matt Dale, Amy Erlanson, and Serge Belliveau returning.

I'm actually quite excited with this year's Bull Skit it seems the talent is just getting better and better the more we do it, and I must admit the reason why I continue to be on stage is to make people laugh, and Bull Skit allows me to do that, it's a great high. So come check us out if you haven't already.

Watch it before they take it down!