Tag: movies

More T-Shirts?! How I play and pay homage TO MY FAVE FILMMAKERS

On By karmamarie23Leave a comment

Some might not know but I have an online store called Karma and Destiny where I display and occasionally sell creative clothes. Lately I’ve been inspired by my favorite filmmakers. If you dare, take a peek here: https://karmaanddestiny.printful.me/ Honestly, this is fun and a great break from the daily grind. I hope you like.

Ah the BIG SCREEN, that magical portal into wonderous landscapes, spirited adventures, passionate romances, nail biting thrillers and even side splitting comedies.

I remember as a child staring, slack jawed and wide eyed while a future Jedi, a scoundrel, a Wookie, a metallic mannequin and beeping trash can rescued a princess with cinnamon rolls for hair. I was hooked!

So while I’m on my own quest as a screenwriter/filmmaker, I’m paying homage to some of my favorite directors. Pass the popcorn will ya?

NOW SHOWING: The Spirit of Independence! or Sui Generis (pull up your dictionary app)

They may have bigger budgets now but that independent energy remains!

The front of the shirts displays EDGAR & KEVIN & RICHARD & WES

Edgar Wright – SPACED (yes it’s a tv show and no, I do not care!)the Cornetto trilogy – Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World’s End, Baby Driver, Scott Pilgrim vs the World, The Running Man etc…

Kevin Smith – one of the first auteurs to make me believe I could fly – er film. CLERKS, Mallrats, CHASING AMY, Red State, Dogma, Tusk, the Jay and Silent Bob series etc…

The back of the shirt displays “SPACED out DAZED & CONFUSED CLERKS acting like SLACKERs chasing AMY like SHAUN OF THE DEAD with a bottle rocket through RUSHMORE!”

Richard Linklater – SLACKER, the Before series Before Sunrise, Sunset and Midnight, A Scanner Darkly, DAZED and CONFUSED, School of Rock, Hit Man, etc…

Wes Anderson – I’ll admit, the quirkiness of Andreson’s films didn’t hit me at first, but I grew to appreciate and love them, especially the color! BOTTLE ROCKET, Moonrise Kingdom, The Royal Tennenbaums, RUSHMORE, the Darjeeling Limited, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Grand Budapest Hotel, etc…

***PLEASE NOTE that The titles on the shirt were created using fonts or a combination of fonts and graphic elements – I tried to capture the essence without copy/pasting from their movie posters. So they are not exact replicas…I guess you could call them ‘independent’ 😉 Honestly, it took me like 4 hours!

Mooving Piktures logo on right sleeve so you know it’s fresh 😉

Other Showings
High Octane!
Oh, the horror!
Dum, dum, dum! (Suspense)
Love Is In The Air!

Let me know who YOUR favorite filmmakers are, I’d love to chat about it.

And until next time, Love and Blessings Y’all!

Looking For Mr. Wright

On By karmamarie23Leave a comment

So last we left, I was running from the office of Neil Gaiman. Oops! Perhaps next time I should use more than Google for research but there are no telephone books anymore. What am I, the C.I.A.? M.I.6? FOX?

I gotta tell you, I felt pretty defeated, in that I – didn’t – succeed – at – my – mission kind of way. But life is short! Or maybe, it’s long!

I think we can all agree that life is something, right?

Anyways, in my obsess- purely normal interest in this accomplished filmmaker, Edgar Wright, I have been reading interviews and reviews and watching movies and even short films. There is a lot you can learn from this talented and tantalizing -(that’s a director word) – auteur.

I’m especially keen to try out some of his quick cuts and sound effects. I don’t have a fancy camera yet but I will try with my phone. I already have an eager and willing talent to star. Bella Marie!

Anyways, Edgar wrote, directed, filmed and edited the short film Dead Right. A parody of Dirty Harry movies that was filmed from 1992, mostly shot on weekends, and released in 1993.

It’s great fun, I loved it! You can see a lot of his signature style of long shots, cut aways, zooms and of course his trademark editing and humor. It was shot for approximately 275£ or $365.23 American cash. Which is pretty impressive, especially for an 18 yr. old and his friends. I can tell you I wasn’t so ambitious when I was 18. What? What do you mean, you’re not surprised?

It also contained– MORE SIGNS! That’s right, the Universe, she threw me for a loop – yet another film term. 😉 Don’t I sound like I know what I’m talking about? No? Don’t worry I will, just stop paying such close attention.

SPOILERS AHEAD

There is a scene where he uses a viewing of Grease 2 as sadistic torture device! Hell to the Yeah!

Now, I’m not sure if I shared the story of my (totally imaginary) beef with Brett Goldstein, Roy from Ted Lasso but also from the macabre named yet inspiring podcast – Films to Be Buried With. https://www.filmstobeburiedwith.com/

Brett brings on various guests from the film and tv world to discuss the first movie they ever saw, the movie that made them laugh, makes them cry and so on. One such guest was the beautiful and talented, Yvette Nicole Brown and the category was favorite critically hated movie…

The two of them bonded over…GREASE (motherf’n) 2!

They thought it was amazing- in fact they wouldn’t shut up about it. So much so that I experienced a temporary lack of judgement and I…

I watched it.

I know, it was a moment of weakness. I like to believe I’m an incredibly open minded and cultured patron (I have an extremely vivid imagination!) truth be told, I so badly wanted to fit in with the popular kids, so I said to myself, “You know Karma, maybe you didn’t like it the first time you watched it back in 1980 whenever was because you were just a kid and you didn’t get it.”

Maybe I needed 30 years and this charming duo to open my eyes to the wonder, enchantment and sheer delight that is Grease 2.

NOPE! No, I tried and couldn’t get past the first musical number. Sorry kiddos, I stand resolute in my dislike of the sequel to the Olivia Newton John masterpiece.

So seeing it in the movie used in the most perfect way was a definitive sign!

Now for the second sign, there’s a scene in Dead Right where the lead character, Detective Stern, picks up a stuffed elephant! Wait, I didn’t tell you why the elephant is important.

(Not actual photo of stuffed elephant sign)

Okay, so I was watching a motivational video by Mary Kate on YouTube, she’s incredible, you can check it out here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExHeiVtXEls&lc=UgyAJqwgIs7stnWesKl4AaABAg

The point of the exercise was to choose an item and when you see it, that is your sign that you are in alignment with G.U.S. – God, Universe, Source. The options were a bear, butterflies, pineapple, blue bird aaaannnnnnddd wait for it……………………………………………………ELEPHANT!

That’s two signs that Edgar and I are meant to be…….

Co creators of an awesome film! Not that I would be adverse to-

Tim: “So what’s the deal with you and Karma?”

Edgar: (shifting uncomfortably) “You know about the deal?”

Tune in next time for more signs, that may or may not lead me towards my goal of director friendships and all about my (totally imaginary) beef with Brett Goldstein over the exclusion of Muppet Treasure Island from any Muppet lists. Why is it always about Muppet Christmas Carol with you mate? Treasure Island is a gem! It stars Tim Curry for crikes sake!

Until next time – cheers!
Karma Marie

Wait! Before you go, leave me a comment about whatever you like but extra points if you have a special sign that you call lucky 😉

Oh the horror! or my t-shirt list design of my favorite horror directors!

On By karmamarie23Leave a comment

I was recently inspired by the name & trend for shirts and thought I’d put my own spin on it by showcasing my favorite directors! If this was already a thing then don’t tell me but if you do I will just pretend like I can’t hear you anyways 😛

The shirt designs can be found on my online store Karma and Destiny

OH THE HORROR!

Strange sounds in an otherwise empty house, red eyes staring out from the darkness, that cold chill that runs down your back, turning on my phone camera when it’s on selfie mode!
YIKES!!!

I don’t know what started man’s obsession with scaring themselves, maybe the thrill of being chased by lions and tigers and bears, oh my! had worn off. Or maybe all the rum was gone – prohibition anyone? But it’s been the stuff of nightmares for the entertainment industry since the late 1800’s…or so I’m told, I wasn’t around to validate – seriously, how old do you think I am?

I’m an oxymoron – no really, my mother had me tested. I love scary movies but I’m also a big baby. I also love the idea of rollercoasters but enjoying them from the bench holding everyone’s phones, purses and sodas. I prefer the lights on, curtains open and a blanket to hide under with my trusty labradoodle nearby.

So here is my list of my favorite horrific directors, in alphabetical order not preference.

John Carpenter – Halloween, Christine, The Thing and The Fog. I heard his movie Vampires sucked – see what I did there 😉

Wes Craven – I’ve lost many a night’s sleep thanks to the Nightmare on Elm Street series, The People Under the Stairs, a poster for The Hills Have Eyes and let us not forget the reinvention of the slasher film with the intelligent and FRIENDly SCREAM series. I bet Monica was pissed trying to get blood stains out of her white shirts.

Guillermo del Toro – Pan’s Labyrinth wasn’t about a boy named Peter and they didn’t fly but it was scary as hell! Speaking of HellBoy, I’m not sure if it counts as a horror movie but I LOVE it and it’s my list so there! 😛 Blade II and there is actually a movie with the word nightmare in the title – Nightmare Alley and don’t forget The Shape of Water — not a horror movie you say, it’s about lovey dovey romance so I beg to differ. Hmmpf

Sam Raimi – Spiderman…wait, wrong list. The Evil Dead – love me some Bruce Campbell! Army of Darkness and my favorite; Drag Me to Hell or what I like to call it, Antique Roadshow.

George A. Romero – the pioneer of zombie entertainment or what I like to call early bird dinner theater. It started at Night of the Living Dead then they came back at Dawn and stayed through the Day and then claimed their own Land and of course there was the dear Diary film with the movie within a movie – like Inception but with reanimated corpses and don’t forget Creepshow…I know I can’t!

So there it is folks, my list of my favorite horror directors…not in its entrirety but what could fit on a t-shirt. Let me know if you agree with my picks. Did I miss anyone?

I mean, it doesn’t really matter if you do – I don’t need your approval…just kidding, please like me :-O The external validation is all I’ve got going for me right now 😉

ROBERT RODRIGUEZ MADE ME DO IT!

On By karmamarie23Leave a comment

If this turns out bad, tell my mother I had no choice! Public opinion might claim I was brash, impudent and unqualified, I prefer daring, self assured and optimistic wink. Either way, I was on a ‘Go BIG or go home’ excursion and it was all his fault.

Robert Rodriguez – filmmaker extraordinaire – El Mariachi, Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Machete, Spy Kids film series, We Can Be Heroes, The Faculty, Dusk Till Dawn, Sin City, and on and on…

Before Robert, I was a flip flop, a waffler, a half asser if you will. I would throw myself into a project then abandon it just as enthusiastically once sh#t started to get real. Do you know what it’s like to have 32 separate files with incomplete creations? Like petri dishes with multicolored life yearning to explore beyond it’s tiny container yet suppressed by some unseen force?
I do.
I had BIG ideas for BIG screens and I imagined meetings with BIG names who would take my hand and lead me to this magical place of creation where dreams become actualized and relevant. In my bold and brilliant imagination these weren’t the gestures of pity or charity or even kindness but of need, their need to work with ME!

I was under a spell, an illusion that I was a creative connossieur, a breath of fresh air for a suffocating audience, hell I believed I could freakin fly!

The great Robert Rodriguez is like the fairy godmother in Cinderella, he waves his wand and speaks magical words meant to transform the drabest scribe into the belle-trist of the ball…well potentially.

He writes, directs, he shoots, he scores wink and edits, heck he has his own studio! Troublemaker Studios, previously Los Hooligans Productions) in Austin, Texas complete with costumes and the Alita Battle Angel city, Double R Productions for co creating content, R.I.P. Rodriguez International Pictures that focuses on horror and by the time of this writing he’s probably created a device for interdimensional travel or at least the ability to simulate it on a green screen wink

And did I mention he even made it on Evan Carmichael’s YouTube channel, dedicated to motivational greats including Wayne Dyer, Depak Chopra, Les Brown, Tony Robbins, etc… Yes, he’s even a motivational speaker! swoon

His 10 minute film school, detailing how he took $7225 – mostly earned as a lab rat, a borrowed camera, a busted guitar case, a wheelchair, a tortoise, and oh yes, his brilliant mind for solving complex or costly filming issues in the most clever and FREE or affordable ways, for his debut film El Mariachi, could inspire my own grandmother to grab her Nikon and her knitting group in hopes to screen their senior exploits at Cannes, or dare to dream, SXSW (South By Southwest). sigh

So how could someone like me be immune? I, with stars in my eyes since the tender age of 3 when I danced my way off stage (my bed) and into the E.R. – still got the scar to prove it! – greeted by Sam Shepard on my way out his movie set in Roswell, New Mexico as a teen (missed opportunity!) aspiring novelist and then aspiring screenwriter who was too shy to enter the Project Greenlight contest as an adult but learned a lot as a member and made friends for life and even got the chance to speak to Ben Affleck (yet another missed opportunity!).

How could I, the eternal dreamer, not be mesmerized, romanticized and possibly even hypnotized when Robert looks (at the camera) into your eyes…no your very soul and says, “You can do it.”?

It’s impossible, so why fight it? I’m no longer aspiring, I AM. I CAN do this, no, I WILL do this! So, be sure to wave when you see me passing above on that Delta flight to Austin, I’ll be waving to you.

Hey, tell me in the comments, are you a fan of Robert Rodriguez (of course you are!) Which movie is your favorite?

Also, if you haven’t heard it lately, YOU are amazing, worthy and deserving – YOU CAN DO IT!

But first you have to BELIEVE

Love and Blessings! Karma Marie

The Universe’s Totally Ridiculous Plan to Have My Debut Film Produced by Ben Affleck

On By karmamarie23Leave a comment

Some strange synchronicities have been occurring lately; I mean the Universe has really been having fun with me.

It started when I made the decision to write the screenplay for my novel, Amuse, a romantic portal fantasy with mythological elements.

In my head I heard a voice say, “And Ben can produce it.” This was really odd, because for one, I wasn’t aware that my subconscious and Mr. Affleck were on a first name basis and second, he isn’t a producer…

“He could be,” my son argued, “a lot of actors are producers.”

I shook my head, “Maybe for their own projects. They used to have Live Planet, which produced the Project Greenlight series way back in the day, but I had looked it up last year and it wasn’t…”

“You never know, it could happen,” he reasoned.

A quick Google search revealed Ben Affleck and Matt Damon had created the production company, Artists Equity. Ha Ha, good one Universe! But still, not an option for me, thanks anyways.

I decided I was going to move forward but with a story about a grandmother lost in the woods, more realistic than a big budget fantasy pic, and began watching every video on screenwriting I could find.  

Also, at the same time I was a member of House of Manifestation with Kathleen Cameron. For one of the exercises, you were supposed to journal as if you already received your manifestation. Mine said:

“I’m so excited that I’m traveling to L.A. to meet with producers and agents about my screenplay(s).” I then took it further, pulling out my suitcase, choosing my outfits and even recording a video (just for me on my phone) about my exciting trip!

What happened next was pretty cool. In my Facebook feed, an ad popped up for the Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting  contest – winners receive an all expense paid trip to L.A. to meet with producers, agents, etc… Hmmmm, interesting.

Even better, Final Draft offered a 30-day free trial. Okay, things were going along in a good and not weird at all way. Yay!

Over the next few weeks, Mr. Ben Affleck (still knowing my place) kept popping up. The sheer absurdity had become like a running joke between the Universe and me. I did have a momentary lapse of practicality where my imagination offered up a plausible possibility. Maybe Ben and Matt could reach out to people from the early days of Project Greenlight – a kind of ‘where are they now?’ and possibly ask, ‘You got anything to show us?’.

The Universe responded to that in a hilarious manner. I stumbled across an interview of Ben (at this point I’ve earned it) by Theo Von. During said interview, Theo mentioned he had auditioned for the Project Greenlight movie, Feast, (which I believe was season 2).

I posted in the comments about how that took me back to Season 1 of Project Greenlight, which I was involved with and that I had met Ben at the PGL party and he was very amiable. The very next day, a user by the name of Benjamin Geza Affleck commented, “Can you remind me when?” [insert eye roll]

Anyways, I responded that it was around 2001 or so in Manhattan Beach at a place called Mr. Pockets and how Ben was incredibly generous, taking time out to talk to every single person who approached him. I said, he’s one of my favorite people.

Benjamin Geza Affleck responds, “That was me anyways. I am Ben.” [cue belly laugh]

So I responded, “Well that’s perfect, you promised to produce my first low budget film!” 😉

I’ll be honest, a tiny, or not so tiny part of me fantasized, maybe, just maybe Theo or someone on his team would see the exchange and it would get back to real Ben…not the artificial one, and they would think it might make a good story and reach out to me and at least glance at what I had written. “Hey it’s not for me but I know someone who might be interested.” And I would dance with glee while my labradoodle Bella stared and judged.

The reality was no way that this nor any other screenplay would be of interest. My story style is fluffy cotton candy while his is gritty grit.

One of my screenplays is called, Lucky, about a woman who loses everything and turns things around by being obnoxiously hopeful. His films are Argo, The Town and Gone Baby Gone. It’s like we speak different languages.

But yet again, the Universe strikes. A Scriptfella YouTube video mentioned the screenplay for the movie AIR, about the signing of Michael Jordan to the Nike label in 1984. The screenplay by Kevin Convery is an example of a well f’n written first page. I read on and asked myself, ‘how have I not seen this movie yet?’ I’m a huge Michael Jordan fan, 23 is my lucky number!

I watched and it was incredible, I was absolutely giddy. Okay, so you got me Universe, he can produce happy feel good content. But who is the director, I mean this is really good…oh wait, it’s him, of course I should have known.

To be continued…

Tell me, have you ever had a premonition, dream or idea that was totally out of the blue? How did you respond and how did things turn out?