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Thursday, August 20th, 2009
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8:05 am - Fanmail From Some Flounder
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Hay-soos! Has it really been 4 months since I updated this thing?
From the look of the date on the entry below this one, I guess so...
Well, where to begin...
2009 is more than half over and there are some things to report.
There's a bunch of articles that came out (or are coming out) in Fango, the latest of which is my director / writer profile for the upcoming sci-fi horror film, PANDORUM. From what I've seen of the film, it looks pretty cool with a sort of EVENT HORIZON feel.
My work on the novel slugs away, but we're really close to being done. C's done her edit and several people have read it and the response has been universally positive. I'm still trying to decide the best way to get it out there, but there's still time to decide.
The big push now is to get some short stories out there into the market and maybe get into some podcasting. I used to do a sort of live podcast-type show in JTV a while back and it was well received. I'm thinking of doing the same thing now only with audio only. Let's face it... some people have a face for radio... and I think I'm one of those.
Film viewing-wise... my schedule of 2-3 films has day has gone on with only a few days missed. I'm nearing the point where I've rated 5,000 films on Netflix. I've linked my Netflix ratings to my Facebook page, so... If you're interested in seeing what I'm watching and what I think... go there.
Books... I post what I'm reading on my Facebook page as well. Right now, I'm in the middle of Kalush & Sloman's biography on Harry Houdini which I'm enjoying much more than I probably should be.
C and the kids are great.
The sleep gig is... well, a job.
I know people always make promises to try to post more on this sort of thing, so I won't make promises I can't keep.
We'll see...
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| Sunday, April 12th, 2009
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2:52 pm - Call To Action: Doing the Proud Poppa Thing
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So, here's the deal...
My daughter has made it into the final round as a spokesperson for the store Wet Seal.
I think they sell freshly washed otters or something.
Anyway...
They asked that she make a video detailing why she should be their next model.
Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WZnRJ5wzCI
What I need you all to do is click on the above link in order to cast your vote for her!
Thanks in advance!
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| Sunday, January 4th, 2009
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7:23 pm - End of Year ‘08
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As I've previously noted here numerous times, Time does fly and the best laid plans of mice and men can get boofooed.
I'd hoped to be able to keep this bloggy thing updated, but... sometimes, as I say, “Life can oftentimes get in the way of Living.”
Forgive me.
Since, oh... Thanksgiving, we've been SO busy around here what with Xmas, family stuff (more on that later), and trying to get a clear idea of what's been happening this past year, where we're going this coming year, and how it is we plan to get there, we've sort of retreated from Life and locked ourselves away from human contact. To any friends reading this, I can only apologize for that and beg their indulgence. Please understand... it's just something we have to do in order to keep our collective sanities. As they say, “It's not you... it's us.”
But, setting that all aside...
Here's an update on the happenings of the Clan Carnell and what's been going on here at the Chunkblow Chateau... for my homies.
Work: The sleep gig rumbles along... sucking more cock than a bus station prostitute. For the most part, my department is run by miscreants and dishonorable nincompoops. There are some exceptions, but they are few and far between. Enough said about that, the better.
Writing: First, let's talk about Non-Fiction... I've just completed a lengthy – about 4 hours of recording time - interview with Clive Barker which I am currently transcribing. The article based on it is slated for inclusion in Fangoria's 30th anniversary issue for which I have the cover. Woo! There are also some other super-secret plans on the table of a CARPE NOCTEM variety which I'll announce once they firm up. Suffice it to say some aspect of that era may find its way – slithering up from the ooze and ashes – to see the Light once again. C (my wife) has what I call “that Rodger and Hammerstein look in her eye" (ooOOOoo, a WHITE CHRISTMAS reference!) and she has some big plans (online mag? comics? world domination? who knows! *cue the collective elation / apathy*). This past year, I've managed to lose some focus (due to writer's block or maybe just an “cranial / anal infusion") and to my horror discovered that I had become the one thing I loathe and swore I would never become – a writer who didn't write. The plan for the future is to correct that (see next section of this entry).
Fiction... After setting the zombie novel aside for almost a year, I think I've developed “new eyes" and can re-approach it for a final time. My Pitch List of ideas is growing again and I'm actually excited about spilling some ideas out of paper. In addition to fiction, I'm planning to learn the Rules of scriptwriting and will undoubtedly try my hand at that. We'll see... Some people of an “industry" persuasion have expressed interest in the tales which take place between my ears, so... I plan to spend more time in front of a keyboard in the near future.
Some projects that were looming and were planned seem to have fallen off the table as the parties involved are busy with other things... which is understandable. The projects may get put back on the table – which would be terrific – but, as of now, they seem content to take up residence in a pile on the floor marked “Maybe Someday.”
Still... I hope to make more of my scribblings available for anyone who gives two shits.
Reading: LOTS being done here. I'm currently slogging through Stephen King's latest short story collection which is proving itself to be a mixed bag. Some of the stories are vintage King. Others seem like half-formed ideas and are of note simply because they come from a Master's hand. Previously, I devoured Jann Wenner's bio of Hunter S Thompson, GONZO (which was good), Christa Faust's MONEY SHOT (which was also quite good and, as a side note, I love the way this lady writes), John Joseph Adams' THE LIVING DEAD anthology (which was... ok. Do yourself a favor and read Skipp & Spectors' BOOK OF THE DEAD 1 & 2 instead) and Sang H Kim's VITAL POINT STRIKES (which is an ESSENTIAL book for any one interested in martial arts). Next up... Black Belt Books has published BRUCE LEE'S FIGHTING METHOD in one hardcover volume and then I have Kalush & Sloman's bio, THE SECRET LIFE OF HOUDINI, and finally Carroll's THE PHILOSOPHY OF HORROR.
Movies: What can I say? I've given up on trying to defend my “junkie-like movie habit" of 2-3 films a day. That pace did slack off during December (due primarily to my new-found obsession with Valve's LEFT 4 DEAD game), but I'm back on track with it and things should be returning to normal on that front.
For those interested, go ahead and add me to your Netflix friends list. Remember that I send out Movie Notes on each and every movie I see.
http://www.netflix.com/BeMyFriend/PhKc2kyWDd6dd0fL6FiR
Be warned though... it means you'll get an email or three from me (sent from Netflix) daily.
Exercise & Training: Back in September, I went to the doctor for a checkup and to my utter horror I was told I was tipping the scales at 265! I KNOW!! WHAT A FAT FUCK AM I! So, I began a reassessment with my love affair with food and, while the affair continues, I've now become more rational about my intake. Let's just say that certain foods (sugar, chocolate, fried foods) and I have “agreed to see other people.” So, I've started writing down everything I eat and am assigning calorie counts to each item. The “diet" is now restricted to 1,500 calories a day which is becoming surprisingly doable. Also, I'm back at the gym 4-6 times a week for two hour a day clips. I've changed my regimen and took my max lifting weight for ten reps divided that amount in half but raised my rep count to twenty. As a result, I've dropped 40 lbs as of now. The work, as they say, continues.
Family: We'll take this one by one...
Catia: Again, my wife continues to amaze me with her wits, her smarts, and her compassion. I consider myself lucky to be married to a woman who puts up with me and my nonsense and has done so unflinchingly for over 20 years.
My daughter, Connor, continues to grow into a fine, smart, willful woman. Sure, she has her days, but, for the most part, her beauty and strength causes my heart to weep with joy. It is my hope that as the years continue to go by we can remain above all else friends... as well as daughter and Daddoo.
My son grows into a stout, funny, caring man. He is one of the few people who can effortlessly make me laugh... and that means a lot in my book. He is currently living in Seattle (which is an hour or so away) and so I find myself seeing him less and missing him more and more. But, as is the Way of Things, he will, I know, continue to become his own man and lead his own life. Still... as I look back, I still think of those long evenings of bong-hits and Halo with reverence and delight. We do talk more now that we're both signed up to Xbox Live. Who knew that would be the thing to bring us closer. I should do a commercial for them. “Xbox Live... we bring families... and slathering fanboys... closer!”
My mom... well, that's another story. Mom's slow, inexorable slide into mental oblivion continues. I have a trip scheduled to visit her and to broach some REALLY unpleasant things (even to me “assisted living" feels like a distasteful euphemism as does “thanatological waiting room"). Still, when she's “on," the bits of her that remain shine through brilliantly. She's a tough lady and, even now, she stands an example of what all women should be. Oddly, during my interview with Clive, the subject of Alzheimer's came up and he asked if we could talk about it as research for an upcoming book of his. I know this sounds weird to say, but... I was honored and am more than willing to talk to him about it. If I am to talk about this with anyone, talking about it with someone who I respect and consider a friend may help me make it make some sense.
So... that's about it.
You may feel free, dear reader, to insert some feeble promise of me trying to keep this more updated here. At best, I'll commit to trying to try to be true to that.
So... be well, dear friends.
Be safe.
Tell those you love that you love them.
Call your mom!
And remember... “Clock's ticking.”
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| Wednesday, October 29th, 2008
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7:01 am - Some New Stuff To Read...
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| Thursday, October 9th, 2008
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11:50 pm - Been A Long Time...
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TONS to talk about...
1. Let's lead off with this election business. I am appalled on a daily basis of the aggressive ignorance of the American public and the way Republicans have trademarked hatred and an almost Nazi Party-like pursuit of homogenization. McCain is a dottering old fool who still thinks he can poke people in the chest and be a badass. In reality, he is a warmonger and reminds me of guys in a bar late at night trying to get laid - he'll say ANYTHING to get what he wants. Palin... Oi! Yes, she's an idiot. Yes, she's a religious zealot. But more importantly, he's a pawn who is utterly unaware of the blatant way she's being used by people who could care less about her gender. So... vote Obama. He may not be a perfect candidate, but he's not a psychopath either.
Ok... enough of that.
2. Movies. I've seen a LOT lately and continue to view 2-3 films a day. There's not a lot of good out there... especially not in the US. If you want to get updates on what I'm watching click here and become a Netflix friend. I send out noted on each and every film I see:
http://www.netflix.com/BeMyFriend/PhKc2kyWDd6dd0fL6FiR
3. Books. Right now, I'm finishing up John Joseph Adams' THE LIVING DEAD anthology. It's ok. There are a LOT of reprints (especially from Skipp & Spector's seminal BOOK OF THE DEAD series). There's a lot of stories here that are half-assed at best, too. Also, I just finished Joe R. Lansdale's LEATHER MAIDEN which was decent. Not great, but decent. I'm excited to hear he's doing a new Hap & Leonard book.
4. Conventions. I was asked to attend some conventions and did. They were fun. I even was talked into moderating some panels (specifically a Fiction Writing Panel and a Filmmaking Panel). Both were well received and I'll probably do more (if asked).
5. I'm back at the gym and eating very little. The plan is to workout 6-7 days a week and keep to a 1,500 calorie a day diet. Since the first week of September, I've lost 20 lbs, 4 notches on my belt, and 2 full pant sizes. So far, it's going well.
6. Writing. Where to start... I have a new article in the October issue of Fangoria coming out. There's a web new article coming on Richard Valentine's new film THE TAKEN coming (I'll post the link here when it's out). I just got news of doing another web piece about an artist who's doing the covers of a bunch of new Clive Barker releases. Speaking of Barker... I'm also doing an interview with him for Fango's upcoming 30th Anniversary issue. So, that's all good.
Some other things coming down the pike (writing-wise)...
I'm presently in negotiations with Bluewater Comics to write installments for their VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS... series. Basically, it'll be some short stories of mine converted to comic format. I'll post more when contracts are signed.
Now the weirdness...
A few years ago, I wrote a story that I was CONVINCED would never see publication. Why? Well, the list of reasons is extensive - too much sex, too much weird sex, too much gore, too much disgusting sex... Flash forward to a week ago. I'm talking with some people and I mention this story. We all laughed about it, but some folks asked to see it. I sent them the text file and fully expected them to never talk to me again. Ok... a day or so passes and I get a call/invitation to dinner. Long story short (too late!)... the story's been optioned for a feature length film. I know!!! I about died when I heard it. The director and I will work together on the script and go into Pre-Production in April. According to our discussion, I'm to be involved with everything from scriptwriting through casting, shooting, editing, and final press. the budget is low, but the story doesn't have anything that necessitates a big budget. Sure, we'll have to tone some of the sex down, but... We'll see. I fully expect it to not work out, but... I enter the process full of hope and excitement.
Other than that...
C and the kids are good.
We are all healthy and happy.
What more could one ask?
So... to anyone who's cared that I've not updated this in a while, I apologize. I always intend to be more disciplined in keeping this current. This is where I'd usually make promises to do better, but... who am I kidding?
Till next time...
"Clock's ticking!"
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| Thursday, October 2nd, 2008
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7:55 pm - Am The Only One?
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| Thursday, August 28th, 2008
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7:04 am - Please Help!!!
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Here is a link to an article I did for Fangoria's web site regarding Bob Wilkins.
http://www.fangoria.com/news_article.php?id=7195
As many of you may know, Bob was the host for many years of KTVU 2's CREATURE FEATURES show.
A few years ago, Bob was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and is in a pretty advanced stage of the disease these days.
Bob was an important role model for me and many others.
I urge anyone reading this to try to help out!
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| Thursday, May 1st, 2008
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4:49 am - Been a Long Time...
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Far too much has happened in these past few months to talk about in anything resembling full detail.
Here are some highlights....
I took and passed my accreditation in Sleep Medicine.
It basically means that I can make more $$$ now as well as making me far more marketable.
I know... big whoop.
The writing has been slow. I did a Fango piece on Creature Designer Aaron Sims (I AM LEGEND, 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, THE INCREDIBLE HULK, CONSTANTINE, THE GOLDEN COMPASS, among many, many others). The article will be out in May's Fangoria. Aaron is a cool guy. I'm glad to be able to get him more notice.
I got some news about a new super, secret project working with some people I respect and what it means is that I'll be exploring screenwriting for a bit. I have a couple of ideas which should fit into the format (short teleplays) quite well. I'll post more as it develops. I don't mean to be all cloak and dagger about it, but I also don't wish to jinx it.
Books... It's been mostly military strategy, explorations in Zen & Tibetan Buddhism. I am slowly making my way through Jose Saramago's BLINDNESS (which, so far, is good). Oh, and look for BLINDNESS to be made into a film soon!
Film... Jeez, what a monkey cinema is on my back. I made a conservative estimate the other day and figured out that I actively maintain a 800-1150 movie a year habit. When it gets put that way, I realize... I need a fuckin' hobby.
C and the kids are doing well.
Everyone's healthy and safe.
My mom's slow decline into what I call "her space" continues.
I don't think I've mentioned it here, but... Mom was diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer's several months ago. Yeah, it sucks.
Our conversations get harder and harder.
Anyway, I hope to post here more than I have these last few months and keep anyone interested in our goings-on.
I know how these promises get made a lot here, but....
Hopefully,. I can keep this one up; at least more than I have been.
So... until next time, remember...
"Clock's ticking!"
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| Thursday, January 10th, 2008
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5:31 am - New Year... Old BS
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First off, let me say that I'm sick.
My eyes and nose burn... throat's scratchy... voice sounding like Mercedes McCambridge in THE EXORCIST.
I NEVER get sick.
Still... in my regular job (the one that pays the lion's share of the bills) I come into contact with a LOT of people in a variety of intimate (no, not like that, Gutterminds) ways... so, I guess it was bound to happen.
My immunity is down from working out so much and, if I were to be honest, I've felt this coming on for a long time.
So, I may cut my work week short and take a day of sick.
Not much else to talk about today.
I'm gearing up for the new year's writing schedule... trying to learn Dreamweaver on the fly... and doing that book/dvd thing.
I just finished reading Nicklaus Suino's "Strategy in Japanese Swordsmanship" as well as Chungliang Al Huang & Jerry Lynch's "Thinking Body, Dancing Mind: Taosports for Extraordinary Performance in Athletics and Business."
Next up...
Peter and Laura Ralston's "Zen Body-Being: An Enlightened Approach to Physical Skill, Grace, and Power" and Jose Saramago's Nobel Prize winning novel, "Blindness."
As for DVDs... there's been a lot I've seen, but little worth mentioning.
The best of the bunch has been Ten Shimoyama's 2005 adaptation of the manga/anime "Basilisk" called "Shinobi - Heart Under Blade" which was a lot of fun - very pretty (in a HERO kind of way) with lots of ninja-esque derring-do. It's sort of an Asian Romero & Juliet with throwing stars. Again, very pretty.
There were a lot of other films, but... I've become slightly jaded these days and I long for a film that moves me. I've always felt, to paraphrase BLADE RUNNER, that Art is a test designed to provoke and emotional response. There is nothing worse than reading/viewing someone's art and thinking, "It's... ok." Love it... Hate it... just don't be apathetic about it.
Sadly, most of what I've seen lately has been just that... "Ok."
What else?
More gym... more sword... more time alone with C (which is great).
I know it sounds corny, but... my wife and I have been together for 20 years or so and our relationship seems to get better each and every day. Oh, we have our share of troubles, but, more and more, I'm very content with the thought of spending the rest of my life with this woman.
That said... if Monica Bellucci calls... all bets are off.
More later...
"Clock's ticking"
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| Thursday, December 27th, 2007
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9:54 pm - End of Year Already?
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First off, let's get this out of the way...
My interview(s) with the cast of ALIENS VS PREDATOR: REQUIEM is up at Fango's web site:
http://www.fangoria.com/fearful_feature.php
Also, my interview with AVP:R's FX guys runs in January's Issue #270 which is available January 22.
Also, go buy Issue #269 on newsstands now.
Ok... Pimp Hat off.
Life here with the Clan Carnell has been good.
Everyone's doing well and all are healthy, wealthy, and wise.
Ok... healthy. The other two are sorta debatable.
Xmas came and went without fanfare.
The kids went to visit their Grandmother in LA, so our familial gift giving was put on hold until 12/30.
I got C a nice diamond ring in honor of both Xmas and our being together for roughly 20 years.
She got me HALO 3.
I think that sort of sums up our marriage pretty well.
Writing has sort of been set aside for a few weeks and Holiday Madness took control of our lives. I'm brainstorming (ok... more like a light sprinkling) about making changes to my website, publishing the novel, and doing more interviews for the funeral director book.
Movie consumption continues at its rabid pace - 2-3 a day.
Most of what I'm seeing coming out of the US has been crap and the things people tell me to see are even worse. For example, I'd heard and read so much about the film HATCHET that I'd started to have some very high hopes that it'd be a good little horror film. WRONG! the film is like a gift from the neighbor's dog you'd find on your lawn. Just horrible.
I did take some heart at the new SWEENEY TODD which I liked with certain caveats. I miss the song "The Tale of Sweeney Todd" which was deleted from the film. Depp did a find job in the main role although his range seemed to be from 'angry' to 'scowly.' Helena Bonham Carter was my biggest problem. In a word, she was terrible. In two words, she was "horribly miscast." Everyone else did a fine job and the film itself was very pretty.
One cool thing about being a grown up at Xmas was that I ended up buying myself a bunch of cool presents. Hey, screw everyone else... I'm getting what I want one way or the other. So, I bought myself some books, the big BLADE RUNNER box set (the one that comes in the briefcase with the little car and unicorn), and a copy of the 3 CD Vangelis BR score. Sweet! Nothing says Xmas like shooting Replicants, eh?
So, now I'll be spending the next few days working on the website plan and mapping out the list of what I want to accomplish in 2008.
What else?
I'm back at the gym after a layoff and I'm hitting it HARD. Running, biking, weight training, sword training... it's all being taken care of. I'm doing 6 days a week, but, for some reason, I'm not losing any LBs. I have lost 3 notches on the belt, but my overall body weight is staying the same. I'm chalking it up to the Fat/Muscle Conversion and hoping I'm not deluding myself. In the next year, I'll tweak what I'm doing as well as overhaul the diet. After that, I should be fine. The most interesting aspect of it all is... I'm starting to feel my age. What I mean is... I find that I can still do most of what I did in my twenties, but now... I just feel like I don't bounce back the way I once did.
As my pal Joe Rogan once said, "Time is a motherfucker."
So, I guess that's about it.
There's been some good books read (Pressfield's TIDES OF WAR and the BATTLE ROYALE novelization) recently, but I'll skip those for now. Suffice it to say, you all should read them.
I'm planning on doing more entries to this journal this year.
We'll see...
Hope y'all had a good holiday and here's hoping the next year brings much happiness, peace, and prosperity.
Take care!
Call your mom!
Tell your friends you love them!
And remember... "Clock's ticking."
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| Tuesday, December 18th, 2007
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5:58 am - Fango #269 Is Out
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Yes, it's that time again, Kids...
Fangoria #269 is out and on newsstands now.
In it, if you look careful, you'll find my interview with ALIENS VS PREDATOR: REQUIEM director(s) Colin & Greg Strause as well as a sidebar on them returning to an "R" rating.
Also, my review of Clive Barker's new book, MR B GONE in there somewhere.
Here's the rest of what's there:
http://www.fangoria.com/upcoming_issue.php
So, now you know what to ask Santa for Christmas!
And yes, I know... I owe this journal and update.
It's coming.
I just need to find the time to do one.
current mood:  groggy
current music: Gene Newton "ELemental Suite"
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| Tuesday, October 16th, 2007
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6:47 am - Horror Illustrators Needed
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I am looking for illustrators who specialize in horror (specifically zombies).
What's needed is B&W, pen & ink single panel illustrations for an upcoming novel which will be going out to many well known people in the horror literature and film mediums. After that, it will be made available to the public either via our publishing house or another.
$$$ & rights are negotiable depending on quality of work.
Contact me either by posting comments here or at:
carnell@nofleshshallbespared.com
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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| Saturday, October 6th, 2007
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1:17 am - Final WRONG TURN 2 Coverage...
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| Monday, September 17th, 2007
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8:45 pm - Fango #267 Is Out
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...and on newsstands now.
The issue features info on SAW IV, HALLOWEEN, 30 DAYS OF NIGHT as well as my initial coverage of ALIENS vs. PREDATOR 2: REQUIEM and visit to the set of WRONG TURN 2: DEAD END.
Also...
The article on Clive Barker's Jericho is up:
http://www.fangoria.com/news_article.php?id=4975
current mood:  ecstatic
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3:08 am - Lost Weekend
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Working hard these days on a variety of projects.
I'm doing a line edit on this fucking novel I've been working on for far too long. I'm almost halfway through it and it's sitting at 103,257 words... for now. It's sure to balloon out by at least a couple of thousand more. It's slow going, but I know the story will benefit from me taking the time to do this.
On the Fango front, after completing the last AvP2 article (see last posting), again I thought life would slow down and I could do some Me Stuff. Again, I'm not complaining - ok, I am a bit - but, hot on the heels of that piece, I was given another WRONG TURN 2 article for the web as well as one for a game Clive Barker's doing called JERICHO (which looks REALLY cool). Hopefully, after turning these both in, I'll be able to finish the novel's line edit and then get assigned something new.
After that, I'm planning on moving on to a non-fiction book on the funeral industry; a real no-holds-barred, from the inside look at it all. As many of you know, I worked in that field for almost a decade and, believe me, there's LOTS to tell about both the good of it and the bad. SIX FEET UNDER wasn't even close to the kind of shit that goes down in the occupation on a regular basis. For that, it's going to require about 100 interviews with funeral directors across the country and then transcribing all of the tape.
The hospital gig is continuing on...
LOTS of unwarranted and unwanted drama there. Ridiculous. One weird thing was that, on a whim, I took some diagnostic equipment home to see what it would be like to be hooked up like a patient is. I took it back and - BOOM - I have sleep apnea. I mean, What. The. Fuck. I did a sleep study and a titration and pick up my machine tomorrow. I'm flabbergasted. Hopefully, I'll feel better after using it. We'll see...
Other than that...
My daughter had her tonsils out and it was very sad. She was in so much pain. I really felt sorry for her.
My son continues to do well at Microsoft and, in fact, just got his gig extended. Good news!
C is doing well although she seems to be coming down with a cold... which sucks.
Movies...
I've seen a few things, but nothing worth mentioning, really.
The best things I've seen recently were the PLANET EARTH series from the BBC and a documentary called I LIKE KILLING FLIES. Everything else has been just so-so.
Now, I'm off to get something to eat and try to kick out a couple of more chapters on the line edit.
Until next time... Stay frosty!
Remember... "Clock's ticking!"
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| Monday, September 10th, 2007
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6:24 pm - New AVP2: Requiem Article Up @ Fango.com
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| Tuesday, September 4th, 2007
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1:28 am - Busy Days...
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Man, talk about up to your ass in alligators...
I've been working like a dog these days.
After completing the Clive Barker interview, I was ready to take a few days off and start planning the final re-write on a novel that has been sitting on the back burner for far too long. At the last minute, Fango wrote and asked if I could pull together a sidebar on the whole ALIENS vs PREDATOR 2: Requiem ratings thing. It seems that after the first AvP (which was rated PG-13) was a bit of a critical and fan flop, they are returning to an R rating for the new one. So, I cranked that out and turned it in WAY before deadline.
BTW... as a side note, if you haven't seen the new red band trailer for AvP2:R, you should.
Go here and feast your eyes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx7MtZI8DpY
Anyway, so I finally have a clear desk and am planning on focusing on getting the novel done. Now watch... in tomorrow's email, there will be a new assignment and I'll be fooked (in a good way, mind you).
One cool thing... After not having done much fiction as of late, I did manage to spit out a 5,000 word story that I'm pretty happy with even on first draft. Usually, I have to polish something till I hate it before I get all the rough spots out of it. But, this time, it just came out really easy. I tried a new way of writing and, in a really creepy way, it made it easier. See, the story had to do with a 3rd grade class of kids and their teacher. So, I went out on the web and Googled (is that now a verb?) "3rd grade classroom" and "elementary school." What I got was a host of pictures of schools and kids. So, I picked a class at random, arbitrarily gave the kids in the photo names, and then grabbed some pictures of different classrooms. And voila! My setting and characters physical descriptions were complete. After I laid the ground work, I just went about killing off each of the kids one by one. See what I mean... kinda creepy. But, man did it make my life a LOT easier.
So, thank you World Wide Web.
Ok... so what else?
Good films have been scarce although I will recommend a little Irish film called ISOLATION which I saw and really liked.
Here's a trailer for it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAzJ5XEmcUk
And I think that's about it.
C and the kids are fine although my daughter is having her tonsils out in the morning.
Didja know that shit's an outpatient procedure now? Wild.
Other than that though, life here in WA is good.
I'm off now to get something to eat and then attack a chapter of, well... basically filler... for the novel.
No, wait... filler sounds bad.
Let's call it 'background color' instead.
Yeah, that's better.
Ok... so...
Take some time to tell the people you care about how much they matter.
Hug someone you wouldn't normally hug.
Call your mom.
"Clock's ticking..."
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| Tuesday, August 21st, 2007
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11:47 pm - Blown Away
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Thought I'd share...
Yesterday, while interviewing Clive Barker for an upcoming Fangoria article on his new book, MR B GONE, he dropped this little bombshell and invited me to use it in my press kit:
"No one has done more for the legitimization of the beauty of the horror genre than Carnell.”
- Clive Barker, August 20, 2007.
Suffice it to say, I was floored.
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| Sunday, August 19th, 2007
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11:30 pm - Mid August Already
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Busy... Busy... Busy...
Life around the ol' Chunkblow Chateau is crazy as of late.
Between painting and switching rooms around, regular work, writing, and everything else, we're up to our ass in alligators.
I managed to crank out my owed coverage of both BLACK DEVIL DOLL and the set visit for ANIMALS this past week. Tomorrow, I'm interviewing one of my favorite people, Clive Barker. He was kind enough to send me a text file of his upcoming book, MR B GONE (which will be out for Halloween from Harper Collins). The book was a quick, fun read. At first, it took some getting used to since the main character talks directly to the read and begs you to stop reading and burn the book, but once I got into its rhythm, I enjoyed it. The interview is going to be focused on both MR B GONE, his upcoming SCARLETT GOSPELS, and a literal avalanche of new projects. Every time I think I'm busy, I look at what Clive's up to and feel as if I should be doing more.
Before the interview, I have a little meeting with the local traffic court. It's all rather silly, but I'll pop down there, pay a quick fine, and be home in time for tea.
I'm hoping, on one hand, that Fango will throw some more work my way.
On the other hand, I have this pile of fiction that needs addressing.
The pulled my hat out of the ring on the Mystery Gig when I realized how much of my time it was going to eat up. If I had an extra 2-3 hours a day to devote to it, I should be devoting that same time to fiction and other projects. So, for now, I'm letting that bit of business slide.
Not too much to talk about movie-wise...
I saw a documentary about willful amputations called WHOLE and, last night, I watched an interesting film called RENAISSANCE which was a sort of film noir made in stark black and white animation. When I say Black and White, I mean BLACK and WHITE; no grays. Again, it was interesting once your eyes got used to it.
What else?
C had some surgery on her foot yesterday, so she's hobbling around.
So, other than that...
It's business as usual.
I'm going to make the time honored, oftentimes broken, commitment to try to update this journal more often. I mean to... but Life keeps getting in the way.
We'll see how successful I am.
Until then...
"Clock's ticking!"
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| Monday, August 13th, 2007
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3:47 am - Mid-August Update
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Lots going on here...
As usual, I'll break it all down by subsections.
Work (Fangoria):
Assignments are coming in fast and furious.
I'm still working on coverage of the big screen rendition of Skipp & Spector's ANIMALS. I have 2 or 3 articles due on that. No hurry as the film won't come out for almost a year, so I'm just slowly chipping away at those. Then, I got a surprise request for one more article on ALIENS VS. PREDATOR 2 which I surprised even myself by turning around in less than 24 hours. I was thinking that would be it and I could get to some fiction editing. Then, I got word that Shawn Lewis was at work on a twisted little project called BLACK DEVIL DOLL. Fango did a little web blurb about it, so I contacted the editors and mentioned how I'd known Shawn for years. As a result, another assignment lands in my lap. Mind you, I'm not complaining. I LOVE being busy like this. It just means some personal writing will need to get back burnered for a bit. All in all, this makes 16 pieces I've place at Fango in the last year. I am exceedingly pleased about that.
Work (Mystery Gig):
I threw my hat into the ring on a Mystery Gig that I can't really talk about. I'm just waiting to hear back as to whether I got it or not. If I did, I'll announce it here. Suffice it to say, this is a fairly big deal which won't mean a lot of $$$, but it will mean a ton of exposure.
Work (Hospital):
Feh... This is what it is. I do my time there only to finance my other interests.
Movies:
My viewing schedule has been crimped as of late given that I'm so busy with other things. I did manage to see over the last couple of weeks or so The Amazing Screw-On Head, Shooter, Arang, The Hills Have Eyes 2, Shinjuku Triad Society, Letters from Iwo Jima, Peaceful Warrior, Blood and Chocolate, The Heirloom, The Abandoned, Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, Horror Business, Breach, Afro Samurai, The Testament of Dr. Mabuse, The Bridge, and a few others.
Books:
I just re read some older Joe R. Lansdale "Hap and Leonard" novels which rocked. I'm now reading a text book on Krav Maga. Next up, one more Stephen Pressfield novel called TIDES OF WAR. After that, I've read everything he's written.
Family:
C and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary. My son and daughter continue to be awesome! My mom... well, my mom continues to slowly slip away (she's been diagnosed as Pre-Alzheimers) and talking with her on the phone gets more and more difficult. Her illness has managed to bring my oldest sister and I a tad closer, but... that offers little consolation.
What else?
I'm back working out, but... Man, am I ever feeling old. The muscle soreness is kicking my ass. I know it'll get better, but, for now, I'm dyyyyyyyyin'.
And that brings us about up to date.
So, until next time...
"Clock's ticking."
current mood:  sore
current music: Delerium "Chimera"
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carnell's journal