Extra-Vaganza Underworld part photos of secrets

Mooky and Sara, having had a real underground location fall through, were able to book a better, and more symbolically "underground" location for their Hallows Eve cabaret last night. Everyone was there. Loved it all. Congratulations on such a successful event.

Setting up for the Extra-Vaganza

The party tonight, at the yet undisclosed location, has really come together. Hope there is a decent crowd because this is going to be very fun. I am running the "Secret Cinema" (see image above).
Go to 1975 Scarth Street between 7:45 and 9:11 for instructions of how to find the location. 

Pumpkin carving photos

We carved five pumpkins last night. William has become the master, his carving is as intuitive as his sketches. The roasting of the seeds produced more inconsistent results than previously, probably because some of the pumpkins were green. They need to roast until dry. 

German Expressionist artist trading cards

Michelle hosted a great workshop at the MacKenzie for the artist trading card collective today. We got there a bit late but it seemed to be a full house and all the images were very cool.

Updated list of German Expressionist films

At the end of the summer I thought William and I had pretty much exhausted our watching of German Expressionist films. I was wrong. Since September first, we have watched a dozen more, making this our new final list (there are more expressionist films, but most are not available in our libraries locally):

Hands of Orlac	Robert Wiene
Metropolis	Fritz Lang
Three Penny Opera	G.W. Pabst
M	Fritz Lang
Cabinet of Dr Caligari	Robert Wiene
Nosferatu	FW Murnau
Warning Shadows	Arthur Robison
Pandora's Box	G.W. Pabst
Faust	FW Murnau
Waxworks	Paul Leni
Westfront 1918	G.W. Pabst
Blue Angel	Josef von Sternberg
Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler	Fritz Lang
The Testament of Dr.. Mabuse	Fritz Lang
Kameradschaft	G.W. Pabst
Diary of a Lost Girl	G.W. Pabst
Sunrise	FW Murnau
The Last Laugh	FW Murnau
Die Nibelungen 1: Siegfried	Fritz Lang
Die Nibelungen 2: Kriemhild's Revenge	Fritz Lang
Destiny	Fritz Lang
Woman on the Moon	Fritz Lang
The Finances of the Grand Duke	FW Murnau
Tartuffe	FW Murnau
Spies	Fritz Lang
Secrets of a Soul	G.W. Pabst
Student of Prague	Paul Wegener
The Golem	Paul Wegener
Student of Prague	Henrik Galeen

Frankenstitch and other expressionist images for Dunlop art competition

After a long day of William working on his animation for school, we came by the library in the evening to see the entries in the Dunlop's Expressionist art competition. William won in his category and Margaret and I both got honorable mentions. Great profile for the project and fantastic to see so many more people engaging with this form. 

Re-elected the mayor today. I don't know if anyone was all that excited about the election; no real issues. 

Doug Cuthand delivers Minifie lecture

This evening we attended the Minifie lecture with Doug Cuthand delivering a pretty interesting review of first nations history in Saskatchewan. He ended up on a very hopeful note, seemingly to the surprise of a number of people. 

Weekend off

Art Gallery of Regina works by Loretta Paoli, Judy Anderson, Sheila Nourse.

I took the weekend mostly off, but for some re-rendering of videos and entering 10 film festival. Walked down to the Balkwill in the rain yesterday and took a look at the new exhibition with Judy Anderson and Loretta Paoli. The rest of the time was resting; I watched a bit of tv, had a couple drinks, delivered a couple pumpkins, had coffee with Berny and played him my cylinder player, and put in the storm windows. Generally hung around the house. Good times. 

Life normal again?

It has been so busy that I could barely hold my eyes open today. Fortunately the grad students were in a very talkative mood so I didn't have to be. We stayed home all evening and vegged out. What a week. 

300 people rock at Caligari Project events tonight at MAG

The Caligari Project had another really amazing night. The Filmpool screening was at capacity with standing room only in their 180 seats theatre. The rest of the "hoard" (the security reported that they counted 299 people in attendance) were milling about in the galleries, awaiting the Prairie Puppet Underground sideshow. Chrystene outdid herself with a new persona (missed his name) who was constantly repairing the intricate and frightening fortune telling machine. Berny's Noserfatu single person puppet theatre was very cool, as was Kenn's gear based display of wonders. The Fiji Mermaid was over the top creepy. Sylvie's "Man Eating Chicken" was hilarious, as were Terri's cat tricks, and Rowan did some wonderful work with marionettes. I was able to build a suitcase film theatre for single viewers to see the world premiere of my new film "Testament of Frankenstitch".

have monster, will travel

To find out what sort of monster is in this suitcase, come out to the MacKenzie Art Gallery tonight for film screenings and the magical puppet side show, all in homage to German Expressionism. Doors open at 6:30. Films from 7::00-8:00, sideshow following. It is also a great opportunity to see the exhibition of expressionist works up in the gallery, mostly on loan from the WAG. 

Christina, Chrystene, and I talk publicly on Expressionism

It was the final night of the Expressionist speaker series, capping it all off with Chrystene Ells and myself talking about the role of filmmakers working in this mode long after the original expressionists are gone. Christina Stojanova then discussed Jung and shadows, projections, and other insights into German Expressionism. Great evening with lots of questions. 

Helen Pridmore and German Expressionist Emancipation of Dissonance music

Cool evening of music tonight as Helen Pridmore performed selections of early 20th century German Expressionist era music. Wow. I have no words to describe it. 

Andrew Burke, key note speaker on Guy Maddin

Andrew Burke's key note address was really great this evening. He talked about Guy Maddin, focusing primarily on "Careful" and "Cowards Bend the Knee". The crowd was smaller but it was fantastic that the Dean came and introduced him. 

Happy Birthday Margaret

Happy Birthday Margaret. It was certainly an out of the ordinary day. Breakfast in bed for you was partially for love and partially to distract you from my suitcase projection project covering the kitchen table. The three of use each ordered the stack at Hunters and Gatherers, which was quite filling and kept us sated until after the concerts. Oh yeah, that is what else happened! We had the big "Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" screening with music at the Conexus. Something like 435 people (including the comps) were there.  Everyone had a blast. Mooky took this picture of us outside after the show with the near-full moon. 

Rehearsed and ready of Caligari

Victor Sawa and the Caligari Orchestra rehearsed with full tech on Saturday at the Conexus (or as I still call it: "The Centre of the Arts") and it looks great. Tickets are still available for the screening of "Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" for Sunday night. Again, and I can't say this often enough, this is a one time only thing and it will be cool. Try to come.

Jellied salads at mom's church supper

One entire table was dedicated to jellied salads at mom's church fowl supper. Of course there was turkey and other fixin's. I was ravenous and ate two full plates. The only unfortunate thing was that we were in the last sitting and the only pie remaining was pumpkin, which I'm not fond of. 

Trunk screening "room"

It is hard to believe that I just started another project with a short deadline that I have a limited skill set in. Ug. I've purchased an old trunk and am building it into a personal video viewer for next Thursday. I think the aesthetics of the rust should help. I had originally thought I'd be getting a cleaner trunk and would have to age or modify it to fit the scene, but I fortunately go one that will be usable "as is". Lots of work still ahead. 

Caligari speaker series with Ken and Helen

This week's Expressionist speaker series was quite dynamic with Ken Wilson presenting a reading of a play he has written about the artist Dix. The structure of it was somewhat like a documentary with interviews being conducted with numerous people who knew him over the span of his long 20th century career, ranging from the teens to the seventies.

Helen spoke to, and demonstrated, aspects of expressionist music with her voice and with a piano accompanist. This also brought the music and the theory to life. Quite amazing. 

Caligari project is the talk of the town!

Catch Chrystene Ells, Jason Cullimore, and Victor Sawa on Access 7 this week or, better yet, buy tickets for the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari this Sunday at the Conexus. It is a once in a lifetime thing. Don't miss it. 

Rehearsing Caligari

The first live rehearsal of Jason Cullimore's new score for the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari took place at Knox Metropolitan this evening. The musicians are in fine form. Only five days left to get tickets!