Recently, I was early for work in Willimantic and decided to take a half an hour wander through the nearby cemetery while sipping some coffee and taking pictures. For some reason I find cemeteries fascinating, and peaceful. I visit to be reminded that struggle is normal and as long as we don't let it overwhelm us we are getting what we are supposed to out of our time on earth. And I visit to get a glimpse of how our families make a monument out of our graves to try and have us be remembered beyond their own memory. Someday, I will pick one grave which I find particularly interesting and see if I can find anything out about them from town records and such.

Hey, I never said I was normal.

Not going to lie, it was the 20 year old in me that thought the last name was funny...

Wedding Planning

As most of you know I am engaged to the wonderful and Talented Alexander Andriulli, and now that my work schedule is loosening up a tinsy bit we're finally getting focused on some wedding planning! For this post, I'm simply posting some of my favorite research.

Weekend of Indie

There is quite a bit going on our little underground world of film this upcoming month or so. The question is, which one to pick?

On Friday November 18

a) MAC 650 Gallery is having an opening night for Linda M. Klusek
    i) 650 Main Street Middletown CT
    ii)4pm-9pm
   iii) free admission
   iv) I'll be attending for the beginning of the event ;-)

b) World Premiere for Hanging Tree
    i) Quad Cinema in NYC
   ii) 10pm-??
   iii) $15 at the door or $12 if you order online
   iv) after party at Studio XXI
   v) I will be attending this also :-D

On Saturday November 19 you could see:

a) The Fence
    i) at Clinton City Hall (CT)
   ii) show's at 8pm red carpet at 7pm
   iii) tickets are an affordable $10 and can be purchased right at the door.

b) Ninja Zombies
    i) Tribeca Grand Hotel (NYC)
   ii) 7pm for cocktail hour, two film shorts, and then feature
   iii) all of which only costs $10 to enter
   iv) and, bonus, part of all proceeds go to Healing the Children Northeast


On November 30th and December 1st:
a) Media Production Confrence and Expo (I recommend it for all of the ripe for picking networking opportunities)
    i) it costs nothing to see the exhibits
    ii) $35 for just one workshop
    ii) $100 for 4 workshops
    iii) $200 for as many workshops as you want, access to all of the keynote speeches, and to the evening reception.

Indie Film Stalking

All of these film premieres!

Sadly I've been working too much to make it to the film premieres I'd been looking forward to: The Melancholy Fantastic Directed by A.D. Calvo, and Zom Rom Com directed by Daniel Lee White, which totally breaks my heart :-(

However I have been diligently Facebook stalking them to find out when their next screenings will be taking place.

Alexander got to go to the last screening of Melancholy Fantastic and from the sounds of it I would have loved it. Horror, meets suspense, meets emo kid, meets mannequins? Yep, that's totally my cup of tea.

Their next screening is Friday December 16th at Real Art Ways in Hartford CT. And for once (knock on wood) I won't be working! So I'll actually get to go!

Check out their website for more info: http://www.goodnightfilm.com/melancholyfantastic/ or your could become a fellow FB stalker --erm-- fan at http://www.facebook.com/melancholyfantastic

No idea when I'll be able to catch Zom Rom Com next, but I'm keeping an eye out for it.

On the note of films I want to see but know I won't be able to make it to is Ninja Zombies. This one looks like it would be so much fun to go and watch!!! And I'm adding it to my unofficial list of reasons I need to move to NYC. (Item 1:, the people, Item 2: The work, Item 3: All of these freaking awesome film premieres I keep missing out on! I guess it's an offical list now that it's been written... )Anyway, back to Ninja Zombies

Their premiere is going to be Saturday November 19th at 7:00pm in the Tribeca Grand Hotel, NYC. And here's your stalking info:
Website: http://www.ninjazombiesfilm.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ninjazombiesfilm
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=301219969907488

Diamond Trailer

Love this new cut of the trailer (fan edit ^_^)

New Film Project

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2108600549/the-tillinghast-nightmare

A shout out to Alec Asten's new project! Tillinghaust! You should totally donate to this project and help make it happen! I am working on some artwork of my own to add to the endeavor so keep an eye out for some macabre Jeanette Drake originals!

To follow some research on the subject to inspire some work on my part:

I'm thinking of doing some sketches in the style of the old woodcuts from the 1800s.

my current misadventure

Once upon a time it was a quiet fall in scenic New England and I had just begun work at a new theater as their scenic charge and props master. Very excited to join the crew and ready to get going on an 11 day build/install of the theater's upcoming production of Smokey Joe's Cafe.

And along came Alfred. He emptied his overflowing supplies of snow onto the unsuspecting North East. Trees toppled, transformers were ripped off of their perches and the quiet New England fall was plunged into wintry black out.

Meanwhile- back at the new theater- I began to paint the set out on the porch, bundled up against the cold and working as long as there was light. (And forever persuading the paint to dry despite the cold. The pre-built scenery ran out. 4 days of black out later an already crammed build schedule becomes impossible to complete in time for opening night. But no worry, if there was one thing I learned on Diamond Ruff it is that anything is possible with enough extra help. So, a few phone calls later, in come the reinforcements! Chris and Joe, also Diamond veterans, spend hours wiring bulbs for the full light-boxed stair unit and uncomplainingly give a hand with the painting as well. The last scenic charge from 7A was also there to lend a hand. Thanks Dan!

Now, a few sleepless nights later, the to-do list in down to manageable items and I am looking forward to a good night's sleep the way a kid looks forward to Christmas morning. But the set is looking beautiful and (big plus) a job well done means my rent's not an issue this month :) huzzah!!

What's the theater you ask?
Why, it's 7 Angels theater located at 1 Plank Rd. in Waterbury CT.

When can you see this remarkable triumph against Alfred?
Well, the show opens today (as I write, in fact, the show is running for it's first audience upstairs). and it runs until December 18th. Check it out at their website: http://sevenangelstheatre.org/

Who are the key players here?
Artistic Director is Semina De Laurentis
Set designer is Erik Diaz
Technical Director is Josh Clabaugh
Me! :o) as scenic charge and props master

Want a sneak peak?
Ok ;o)

Here are a few process photos I've taken along the way.

More later :o)