Nathan/Bouncy

253 down - 12 to go!

At the beginning of the year I decided to watch EVERY film featured in The Great Book of Movie Monsters.

This week I shall be finishing that challenge.

The final film shall be The Mole People as it’s the cover title for the book, so it felt appropriate to watch that one last.

Jesus. Diane Keaton. RIP to a legend who managed to carve out a lifelong career in an industry that frequently robs women like her of dignity and status once they hit 40.

Diane just threw on a turtleneck and said "fuck you, I'm still going."

Pass secured for Autumn Screening Days + Audience Dev Day. The highlight of my film year, and whilst I’ll be flying this one solo for the first time in almost five years, I’m still super excited to catch up with familiar faces and meet new ones too! And the added bonus of being at the Phoenix again!

As part of my (almost finished!!) Monster Movies challenge I watched Burn Witch Burn/Night of the Eagle for the first time and BOY is it a good ‘un!

Revisiting an old favourite this week, thanks to the excellent Network release on Blu (including retro tv ad breaks ❤️). Just super.

That is ALWAYS a joy.

Yesterday evening I popped my ‘Indie Cinema Manager’ hat on and went along to the excellent South Holland Centre to watch 15.And.Killing.It (or at least the existing two episodes). It’s been put together by the Holbeach Film Company - not letting budget restraints temper their creativity.

Synergy

Four people who should know better are way around a laptop recording a live podcast. Most have glasses and beards.

In other news, this memory popped up of the EGX Fringe love show with the MGP folks. Was my first proper one without any alcohol in play. Was VERY worried about not being able to perform but by the end of it audience members had sat on my knee, I’d blagged free water and mocked a Pokemon story.

Finally catching up on watching Slow Horses. Why did no-one tell me that Jack Lowden was so fast!? Like a blonde Sonic the Hedgehog if this edit is to be believed.

a woman is sitting in a chair with the words this is me ignoring you ALT: a woman is sitting in a chair with the words this is me ignoring you

Should reboot my interest in this. Finally binned Twi/X - following an experiment of what would happen if I didn’t engage and didn’t post anything. Answer? Whole thing has become a stream of flag shagging, racism, Islamophobia, transphobia and genuine fuckery. It takes work to keep waters clean.

How I feel right now: British Sci-fi Edition

I have two of the films lined up for cinema viewings (The Fly and the Lon Chaney Phantom flick) - a shame I don’t live further south, missed about a dozen at the PCC.

I’ve been continuing with my year-long project of watching all 265 movies featured in the Great Book of Movie Monsters. This are the most recent watches - many for the very first time.

It’s going to be a VERY tough slog to actually source EVERY movie, but I’m working on it.

A bad week - but one with enough light and good people to keep me from cascading into the abyss.

I’m lucky in that respect. And that’s what I need to focus on. I can help people like people help me. It’s not always possible to put oneself first when one’s head is actively trying to kill them.

It’s great meeting people too. Gives extra insights, little vignettes into other lives. I wish I could hire a shed full of great people and support their development and help build their confidence - but then I let mine fester and slip, often. I push others. I help. Then I ignore myself.

I’ve been interviewing prospective new hires for the cinema - and it’s a joy, but also so sad hearing horror stories from other job hunting encounters. It’s such a horrible process for so many. I work to make ours flexible, relaxed and positive (whatever the outcome). That’s my duty - morally.

I joked today that I’m essentially that old vase that has been knocked over and fixed so often that no one can remember the original pattern. It’s just a patchwork of glue, chipped paint and lines. That’s not a criticism on oneself. Just a fact.

Haven’t been posting on here as much as I intended. It’s strange - but since semi-retiring from Twi/X I’ve been less engaged. I was following a well-curated bunch that in part has now been scattered to the wind.

Today was a tough day. Been a tough week. Just about broken me. Again.

There are precious few films that have me imploring a character OUT LOUD to do the thing that will make them happy.

Chuck Chuck Baby is one such film, both heart-warming and heart-breaking in equal measure.

TWELVE YEARS!!! I can still smell it.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

Had the double pleasure last night of screening Black Christmas alongside an informative and entertaining presentation from my friend Emily on the subject of Holiday Horror.

Made some Yorkshire pudding batter this week. Have been banging on about how good I am at it and - in all honesty - this was a sub-par effort…

Midsommar (Ari Aster - 2019)

But overall, LOTS of smiling happy faces having a laugh at a fat, soggy manager in an elf hat! That’s worth it.

“What on Earth are you doing!?”

“You’ll catch your death!”

“Do you have a brain?”