Made By Other People.

Hawk.

As birds of prey go Hawks demand a lot of fear and respect. They are also pretty awesome. There are a lot of movies that use the screech of the mighty Hawk as a standard noise to let the audience and the character on screen that the character in question has been left, most likely dumped on purpose, in a desolate location, often hot and dry, to die alone. The screech is the last sound a lot of animals hear before they die. I’ve seen hawks pick up squirrels and fish and can’t imagine the horror they will experience once the bird tears open their soft bellies with its immense talons, taking the time to let the hot guts of the small prey steam in the cool air, snapping its beak in some sort of grotesque laughter as it swallows chunk after chunk of flesh.

As such I was recently in a conversation with a few friends about going to the woods in the near future. One friend wants to bring her puppy and I very appropriately stated, “Yes of course. but I would warn to be vigilant for Hawks.” It’s safe to say my friends do not fully understand the respect a Hawk commands because MBOP’s own James Vandewater crafted this little screenplay in response:

EXT MOUNTAIN PEAK – DAWN

SIR MITCH stands stoically on the edge of a great crevasse. The countryside lies below him with an eerie calm about it. Smoke drifts lazily from a battlefield.

SIR MITCH takes a moment to adjust the belt on which his greatsword hangs, the blood of countless men frozen on it’s blade.

His legendary beard flecked white with snow, he turns to the small wood-elf beside him.

SIR MITCH

I would warn to be vigilant for hawks.

FADE OUT.

A scene almost as awesome as the Hawk itself. If you want an example of how perfectly the Hawk screech works as a sound effect that actually adds something to a scene re-read the script above and press play immediately after reading the dialogue aloud. I understand if you now have to change your pants.

Until next week I remain vigilant.

Ghostbusters.

Those who know me know that Ghostbusters is one of my two favorite films. I grew up watching the Cartoon, owned most of the toys (still do) and have now amassed an entire collection of memorabilia. I have even gone the extra mile and created a screen accurate costume (you can see me wearing it in the video). I’m just missing the proton pack. I’ve been waiting to do a scene from this movie since I came up with the idea for this little monthly event.

To say that this film has had an impact on my life is an understatement. I sometimes quote or get excited about references to it and the only other MBOPer that knows what I’m getting excited about is Billy Allinson. We even planned a Dan Aykroyd themed party that celebrated Ghostbusters almost above all else.  I’m always amazed at how seriously Bill takes the process of writing. He is constantly writing something that may never see the light of day. The films he does make are unmistakably his voice and style. – Films like Regular and recently I Spyders, which are experiences that will either change your life or at least force you to change your pants.

This was one of the most fun “Karaoke” experiences we’ve done yet. We didn’t really need the script since we knew the lines by heart. The only worry was making the proton pack sound right. I used an old flash for the sound of it turning on and the beam is a combination of sparklers and a vacuum cleaner (bill’s inspired suggestion). Which is ironic really because how many times during my childhood, a lot of our childhoods, were spent pretending a vacuum was a proton pack in the first place.

Until next month, Who Ya Gonna Call?

Feedback.

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More next week?

Batarang.

I had already written most of this post as well as put together the sound when I heard about the shooting in Colorado this morning. It was 95% jokes; making fun of how over hyped these Batman films are (though I do enjoy them a lot) as well as the people that take them far too seriously. While I still believe those jokes were born out of the truth and ridiculous nature people in which regard these movies, I thought I’d not be a complete asshole and get rid of them out of respect for what happened during last night’s midnight screening.

Certainly the fact that this happened during a superhero movie isn’t lost on me but it’s also not lost on anyone else. Though as I sit here writing this I think the very fact that this happened at and in a movie will weigh thought of this tragedy heavily in a lot of people’s minds. I mentioned I’ll be seeing The Dark Knight Rises tonight and, essentially, be actively taking part in the same circumstances the victims in Colorado did. Anyone going to the movie will be doing the same. Going to the movies is an activity most everyone does regardless of age – so I can only assume this senseless shooting will bring emotions to whomever attends a theatre for this weekend at least. The movies are supposed to be a safe place, safe for people to escape and imagine, and yes even in violent movies I would argue an audience feels safe in their temporary limbo. I think that that feeling will be missing for most audiences this weekend. The Superheroes are stuck on the screen.

More (something enjoyable?) next week.