www.dionconflict.com - The official Dion Conflict Blog-a-log

SHOCK AND AWE RETURNS TO THE FOX CINEMA! SEPTEMBER 25TH!!!!

2010-09-20T09:44:00.008-05:00

It's back!!!!!!!!!!!

Can't wait to host the upcoming SHOCK AND AWE, the first and best all night grindhouse film festival here in Toronto!

Seriously, where are you going to see in one film fest the Osmonds, Dolph Lundgren, and Bill Shatner?

Dion Conflict and the Fox Cinema Present

"Shock And Awe: The All-Night Grindhouse Experience"

Saturday September 25th @ 11:30 pm

2236 Queen Street East

Toronto, ON

Tickets $25 in advance, $35 at the door.

SHOCK AND AWE returns!

SHOCK AND AWE is the dusk till dawn grindhouse homage showcasing an eclectic mix of exploitation, from killer tarantulas (Kingdom of the Spiders), awol commie agents (Dolph lundgren in Red Scorpion), an Osmonds espionage musical (Goin Coconuts) and ending with the home video classic GHOULIES. Most of the prints have been unseen on the big screen in Canada for decades, and the event padded with lots of ta...sty themed food at the snack bar, SHOCK AND AWE is not a film screening, it's an event! 6 films, one night/morning! Sleep when your dead, and join the celluloid sleepover!

Presenting (ALL ON FILM! 35mm and 16mm)

KINGDOM OF THE SPIDERS – Bill Shatner returns as a small town vet in Arizona who deals with an onslaught of deadly spiders. This cast of creepy crawlers will stop at nothing to take over your ranch… or take down a 747 ! Can Shatner out emote the evil eight legged menace!??

GOIN’ COCONUTS – Donny and Marie “That Nutri-System girl” Osmond in an espionage/musical shot in Hawaii and Utah? Crime was never such a laugh riot as in this wonderful mega flop that is just as disastrous as you’d think.

MYSTERY FILM – A rare film, guaranteed to delight! First Canadian screening in decades!

THE STUD: Joan Collins (Dynasty) plays Khalid Fontaine a woman with an unmatched sexual appetite who gets what she wants! Amidst LSD disco pool parties, she discards inadequate men like common garbage! High society divas treat each other like dirt in this trash epic!!

RED SCORPION – The ‘world’s greatest actor’ Dolph Lundgren plays Nikolai, a KGB agent sent to kill an African revolutionary. When the commies double cross Nikolai he goes into killing machine mode to deliver boatloads of vengeance. Makes Rambo look like Justin Bieber.

GHOULIES –Satan worshippers and sexy girls bring to life the Gremlins’ ghastly gorgon relatives. Your toilet bowl will never be safe again!

Please note: The order listed below will be adhered to on the 25th.

Tickets on sale Wednesday September 1st.
Only $25 in advance and $35 at the door.

SHOCK AND AWE tickets can be purchased at:
- Fox Cinema box office
- Suspect Video (605 Markham St., near Bathurst and Bloor)
- Eyesore Cinema (801 Queen St. West above Rotate This).
- The Film Buff West & East (73 Roncesvalles Ave. & 130

Tickets are cash only at these locations and a $1 service charge may apply.

Wristbands will also be given to patrons for "in out privleges" or "to get some air" for the marathon film screening, the first of it's kind in Toronto.

Marketed as much of an event as a film screening, SHOCK AND AWE will also have tables of merchandise offering obscure explotation collectables including Super 8 films, B-movie DVD's, and small press publication from other GTA area film publications. Intermissions will also feature themed snack bar offerings at the FOX including breakfast items, film tie-in themed treats, and local area business restauranteurs. Curator and host Dion Conflict will also showcase some lost music videos, surprise celebrities, world premier short films by local directors, and trailers of other obscure grindhouse offerings from his archive (one of Canada's most eclectic private archives).

Some serious fun goes down at these, so DEF come check it out! See you there!

Long Overdue Update - May I introduce you to my other baby.... PAXELS.COM

2010-09-20T08:33:00.004-05:00

Pics: Paxels screen capture at live event. 2nd pic: Fox Cinema kingpins Andy and Dan (and me in the Sean John Suit) at the Paxels Streaming Video Network launch (March 1st, 2010).

Wow.

I'm shocked as to how long it's been since I've updated my website/blog. One of the reasons is that sometimes I think Social Media can really be tiring, and since with something like Facebook, you get instant interaction (somewhat) in regards to doing events and the such. Also recently, I got injured on my beloved moped and when I haven't been consumed with projects, I've been doing my rehab. And for months and months, I worked exclusively on one main project, and that is PAXELS.COM

PAXELS is the world's first 24 hour streaming "superstation" on the web showing everything from sports, to concerts, to seminars, to movies, to music vids. With a little help from my team on Bay Street, we were able to launch what some people thought could never be done..... my own TV Station!

But besides clearing the legal rights for the material, PAXELS consistantly creates it's own content. With exclusive shows like "The Sports Junkie", my own music program (Late Bar with Dion Conflict), Seminars/Talk shows (Social Networking for Success), "Analog Gallery" (a show featuring local artists, where you can buy their work via paypal), and "Concert Capsule" which features live and retro concerts. A helluva lot of content, pretty good considering I had about 10 cents to get it off the ground. And with more financing, it will really fly.

It also had me develop my editing and directing chops, sometimes shooting 5 different shows, promos, and parts of a show in a day. It really helped me develop my true love, directing, and do it, in abundance!

Here's some pics from out launch, so go over and check it out. We also launched "The POD" (Paxels on Demand) where you can watch some of our shows, live events, etc.

And here's some pics from the launch, which we did at the amazing JPC POST facility in the Junction. Long overdue to our sponsors Boardwalk Chocolates and Cool Brewery for making the night so great!

SHOCK AND AWE RETURNS NOVEMBER 28TH!

2009-11-21T09:05:00.004-05:00

The Best Revival Programming in the city returns for it's 4th time around. This time we're bringing you a massacre in one of the lower states. The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is the headliner for the next Shock and Awe which includes everything from weird 1960's mod horror to Blaixploitation Kung Fu and the Canadian Star Wars.

DION CONFLICT AND THE FOX CINEMA PRESENT
"SHOCK AND AWE" - THE DUSK TILL DAWN GRINDHOUSE EXPERIENCE
Presenting (ALL ON FILM! 35mm and 16mm)
Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 11:30pm
Fox Theatre
2236 Queen St. East
Toronto, ON

Please note: The order listed below will be adhered to on the 28th.

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME (1979) - Beyond the earth! Beyond the moon! Beyond your wildest imagination! Jack Palance disco dances with toy robots in Canada’s cosmic “Star Wars” knock off.

MYSTERY FILM!

SUPERGIRLS DO THE NAVY (1984) - Ron Jeremy, Taija Rai, and Paul Thomas take "serving your country" to a whole new level! The supergirls and the naughty navy team up in a submarine of sin! This sub is equipped with a cockpit!

SATANIK (1968) - An old bag sips a "youth potion" and turns from drab to fab, but was the potion created by Satan himself?

BAMBOO GODS AND IRON MEN (1974) - In this Philippino Blaxploitation film, a soul brother on his Hong Kong honeymoon must battle some bad crackers who want to put his Honeymoon action in traction.

THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974) - The classic hits the screen again after a long-overdue absence when a vanload of hippies cross paths with leatherface, his chainsaw and a carnivorous cannibalistic family. Nothing cuts like the original!

Tickets on sale Monday November 9th.
Only $25 in advance and $30 at the door.
GET YOURS NOW!!

SHOCK AND AWE tickets can be purchased at the Fox Cinema box office and also at Suspect Video (605 Markham St., near Bathurst and Bloor) and Eyesore Cinema (801 Queen St. West above Rotate This). Tickets are cash only at these locations and a $1 service charge may apply.

Wristbands will also be given to patrons for "in out privleges" or "to get some air" for the marathon film screening, the first of it's kind in Toronto.

Marketed as much of an event as a film screening, SHOCK AND AWE will also have tables of merchandise offering obscure explotation collectables including Super 8 films, B-movie DVD's, and small press publication from other GTA area film publications. Intermissions will also feature themed snack bar offerings at the FOX including breakfast items, film tie-in themed treats, and local area business restauranteurs. Curator and host Dion Conflict will also showcase some lost music videos, surprise celebrities, world premier short films by local directors, and trailers of other obscure grindhouse offerings from his archive (one of Canada's most eclectic private archives).

Most of the night's offerings haven't been screened in theatres for decades! And for the instance of "Bamboo Gods and Iron Men", this film hasn't been released on DVD or VHS and this is the last known print of this flick, PERIOD!

Look forward to seeing you there!

Dion Conflict guest at TORONTO SCREAM FEST 2009

2009-08-02T10:32:00.003-05:00

Hey Folks:

I'll be a special guest at "Toronto Scream Fest"
which happens August 6th at the Fox Cinema.

This fest looks to be a great new springboard for
up and coming horror film makers and it should be a fun night.

The Toronto Scream Fest was created so that film makers from all different areas and experiences could come together, network and showtheir films. We are trying to connect film makers that are juststarting out and haven't had much experience with other film makersthat do have the experience. The night is broken up into 3 sections;first being the "First Time Film Makers" section. Here is where we took submissions from anyone and everyone with no submission costs at all. We chose 4 films that have never been seen on the big screen togive these film makers a chance to have their films in a festival.

The next section has 2 short films made by more experienced film makers; first "Behind My Eyes" is a horror film made by Sheridan Media Arts Graduate Robert Barrow and second is a short grindhouse film byco-creator of Scream Fest and soon-to-be graduate of the SheridanMedia Arts program, Mike Klassen. Also in this section we have aspecial sneak peak at an independent feature film entitled "48 HoursIn Purgatory". This film was written and directed by Jason Armstrong.In our last section we wanted a to screen a film that has made somenoise in the industry but also has a strong independent feel. The film"Zombie Girl: The Movie" fit that bill perfectly. As an added bonus tothe night, one of the directors Justin Johnson will be coming downfrom Texas to Scream Fest and will be doing a Question and Answerperiod after the screening of the film.

Sites: Official Toronto Scream Fest site: www.torontoscreamfest.com

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

I'll update my blog here shortly about some other upcoming events, and a bigger project I'm working on.

Hope you are all enjoying the summer. I'll have more to chat about here shortly!

SHOCK AND AWE-SOME and HUNKA JUNK OTTAWA

2009-07-06T17:44:00.002-05:00

Again, it's been a stretch of time that I've got to write about film events that happened, or the follow up, including SHOCK AND AWE

In June, just before the SHOCK AND AWE madness, I went to Ottawa to another screening of HUNKA JUNK 6, the first time I've done a screening in Ottawa this decade (I actually had shown some background films there with Digital Poodle back in the 90's, but not as a showcase).

Playing 2 nights, HUNKA JUNK 6 had some serious competition being a well pushed screening for the unwatchable TROLL 2 (which I'm not a fan of, but GHOULIES 2 is a different story!). Driving up seemed somewhat long, but I got to Ottawa for the midnight screening on the Saturday and the people had a good time. After a flub with my accomodations, at 3am I headed to my bed and breakfast to crash for the night, a former Cuban consulate (!!). In the morning, drinking coffee and eating fresh strawberries, I talked with some folks there who were studying doctors, working on their masters in Dermocology. One was from St John, Newfoundland and the other from Edmonton, Alberta. We discussed the recession in our cities (and think the media had blown things out of proportion) then afterwards I explored the city and also searched for a helmet for my new scooter (which I could go ON about but I'll spare you). After my Sunday show, I hit the road to return my rental car for the 9am due date. It was a very strange ride home before getting on the 401 with my car being the only one on the road, except for 2 rental moving vans.

Back home, it was time to deal with preparations for SHOCK AND AWE. There was great press coverage in the Toronto Star, Metro, Blogto, and various other media outlets.

Our turnout was good, but hell, I'm always wanting to have a sell-out Toronto show. But the folks that came were ready for an all-night ride ready to be entertained. I came into the show, very tired and only got my 2nd wind around 7am. The films played pretty well and I got to meet so many nice people that I hadn't met before. When we wrapped up and cleaned the theatre, the Fox boys, Tim and myself hopped in Daniel's home ready to crash.

What was interesting afterwards was how the two shows kind of merged into something afterwards. I had pitched in Ottawa to bring SHOCK AND AWE there, and earlier this month, they kind of "borrowed" the idea of the "all night festival" including the mystery movie. I guess copying is a form of flattery and I had told the Fox boys that it would be a matter of time before someone would knock-off my creation. Ho well.

But both shows were good fun and I got to meet great folks. It was the first time in SOME time I gave intro's strictly in English! Hahahahaha!

SHOCK AND AWE RETURNS - JUNE 13TH TO FOX CINEMA - THE ALL NIGHT GRINDHOUSE EXPERIENCE RETURNS TO TORONTO!

2009-05-26T19:35:00.005-05:00

The All-Night Grindhouse Festival RETURNS!
Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 11:30pm
The Fox Theatre
2236 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON
Tickets - $25 in advance, $30 at the door (see below for ticket retailers)

My favorite event to do in Toronto returns folks, and it's even BETTER than ever!

Relive the grindhouse experience with an all night (and Day) screening briging you back to the cinema experience of those "other theatres".For ONE NIGHT ONLY, the Fox Cinema brings you back to the days of exploitation, shock, shlock and fun!

Oddball Toronto film archivist Dion Conflict returns with one of his most ambitious projects to date with help from the FOX CINEMA and sponsors Rue Morgue Magazine and the After Dark Film Festival. "Shock and Awe" is an all night film festival running till almost the afternoon of the next day showcasing long lost drive-in shlock, and ending with the “unseen in ages on the big screen” Dan O’Bannon punk zombie epic "The Return of the Living Dead", long lost from Toronto Rep theatre repetoire.

With a dossier of 6 films, SHOCK AND AWE promises to provide the authentic grindhouse experience, touched upon by the Tarantino/Rodrigues film "Grindhouse"."SHOCK AND AWE" pays homage to the grindhouse experience unearthing some of the hardest and rarest 35mm and 16mm prints of these long lost films (which themselves more than likely ran in grindhouse theatres or low-rent drive-ins), with some prints being the only known elements left of the films themselves. The titles include Jack Nicholson’s onscreen partnership with one of North America’s most notorious biker gangs (Hell’s Angels On Wheels), The Louisiana student film which later inspired films such as “Evil Dead” and “Friday the 13th” (Screams of a Winter Night), West-German sexy coming-of-age trash (Swingin’ Pussycats), the first theatrically distributed adult film (Mona) and a mystery film. Between films will be vintage short subjects, cartoons, and grindhouse movie trailers, all shown from original film prints.

Not just a film screening, but even more of an event, SHOCK AND AWE will also have tables of merchandise offering obscure explotation collectables including Super 8 films, B-movie DVD's, and small press publication from other GTA area film publications. Intermissions will also feature themed snack bar offerings at the FOX including breakfast items, film tie-in themed treats, and local area business restauranteurs.

Curator and host Dion Conflict will also showcase some lost music videos, surprise celebrities, world premier short films by local directors, and trailers of other obscure grindhouse offerings from his archive (one of Canada's most eclectic private archives).SHOCK AND AWE tickets can be purchased at the Fox Cinema box office and also at Suspect Video (605 Markham St., near Bathurst and Bloor) and Eyesore Cinema (801 Queen St. West above Rotate This). Wristbands will also be given to patrons for "in out privleges" or "to get some air" for the marathon film screening, the first of it's kind in Toronto.So come out for a night and morning of marathon fun!

Here's the lineup!

MONA (1970):The first theatrical adult motion picture, complete with bad wigs and dungy allies! The trials and tribulations in the day of Mona, a Valleri Bertinelli knock-off and the weirdos she meets. Bukowski written actors seem like they've just popped out of the methadone clinic to do some summer stock. Complete with over the top, theatrical music sounded like it was ripped from "The Bible"

SWINGING PUSSYCATS (1969):Lost West-German Eurotrash showing the sexy hijinks at Filander Manor. Can Alexandra endure an entire summer at her family's castle after her return home from school? Filled with more loins than plates of schnitzel at Octoberfest!

HELL'S ANGELS ON WHEELS (1967): Jack Nicholson and REAL Hell's Angels terrorize the screen! A gas station attendant (Nicholson) finally gets into the Hells Angels & goes on a rampage of Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll and violence! It's a battle of bikers against hippies! Ripped from todays headlines of Quebecois newspapers!

SCREAMS OF A WINTER NIGHT (1979): The under-rated horror gem from Louisiana which after seeing, you can see where "Friday the 13th", "The Evil Dead" and "Blair Witch Project" happily borrowed from. A group of teens camp out at an abandoned house and share ghost stories they have heard from the area. From it's opening credits, you know you're in for some VERY creepy thrills. Still unavailable on DVD.

MYSTERY FILM: An Ultra-Rare, seldom-seen film, guaranteed to delight!

and ending with the Dan O'bannon classic:

THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (1985): Thrills, chills and chuckles combine in the 80's zombie classic as a gas released in a medical supply company brings the dead to life! Brains! Brains!

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT:
- Suspect Video (605 Markham St., near Bathurst and Bloor)
- Eyesore Cinema (801 Queen St. West above Rotate This).
AND the FOX THEATRE box office.

Get em before they're gone! And be sure to join the facebook group offering lots of prizes and goodies before the show!

Iso kiitos Suomi! Tänan Teid Eesti!

2009-05-25T08:06:00.009-05:00

(Photo: At a luncheon with the Mayor of Haapsalu, Estonia (Ingrid Danilov) and Sten, the organizer of the Haapsalu Õudus- ja Fantaasiafilmide Festival)

It's been several weeks since my return from my tour of the Baltics but wow, indeed it was a month I would never forget.

My month of April was busy beyond belief and as I approached my final week in Finland, I was exhausted after over 40 bus rides, 7 train rides (including 2 Pendolino), various trams, subways, cars, and fast boat cruise ships.

The world debut of the program kicked off at the Night Visions festival in Helsinki and I gotta say their fest is incredible. There, I had two screenings with the 2nd one which was at 4am on a Saturday, had sold out! From there it went on to Jyväskylä, Lahti, and Tampere. After that, it was off on a cruise ship to Estonia to the Haapsalu Õudus- ja Fantaasiafilmide Festival, after spending the night in Tallinn, I was on a minibus with my pals from Night Visions and director of the horror film "Splintered" Simeon Halligan to Haapsalu, Estonia.

While some of the tour had me feeling like a ping pong ball, bouncing from town to town, it ended on a great note. The final stop of my program had me enjoying a nice Baltic Breakfast, a tour of Haapsalu by a great tour guide and Silja (the Guest Manager) showing us Haapsalu's gorgeous castle. There was a ceremonial luncheon with the Mayor of the town who embraced the festival (and they presented us with gifts including mud from the town - Haapsalu is a spa town). Before my final screening, I swam in a heated pool from inside the spa we stayed at, outside to see the orange red glow of the sun setting into the Golf of Finland. After doing sauna with my Night Visions crew, it was off to do the final screening. Afterwards, sign a couple DVD's and hang out in a Haapsalu club where lots of very nice Estonians came up to talk with me. The day ended with some Eesti booze, and Simeon and myself fighting over some stolen pepperoni from a fridge at the spa. Good times!

On top of it, my booker in central Finland had me speaking at a Polytechnic giving my first lecture to Cultural Managment students. My discussion focused on being proactive in saving our visual history, the unpredictable nature of popular culture, and breaking down the success of the "Hunka Junk" series for Finland. Afterwards a student presented me with gifts from the school. I was elated by the whole event and look forward to doing more.

Again, there's some BIG THANKS for the many "terveet kadet" that made this last tour such a huge success. First off, NIGHT VISIONS in Helsinki (Mikko & Crew) for bringing me over to be part of their amazing film offerings. Also: Keski-Suomen elokuvakeskus, Kino Iiris ja poikka(z) Janne ja Markus, Pirkanmaan Elokuvakeskus (Juha ja Juha-Pekka), Humak, and all my friends there that helped out either feedin me, letting me stay with them, or helping me get somewhere!

In Estonia: Big thanks to Haapsalu Õudus- ja Fantaasiafilmide Festival including Sten, Silja, Ingrid, Hotel Spa Fra Mare, Dynamit energy drink (which I miss back here in Canada), Naistemaailm, Trash Can Dance, and just all the nice people I met.

Hope to see everyone soon!

(Photo: Night Visions (Helsinki, Finland)
page from film program)

CREEPY CHRISTIAN FILMS - New films from Conflict Archives hits Finland AND Estonia!

2009-03-30T20:53:00.004-05:00

I'm happy and delighted to tell you the launching of a new series of films pulled from my vault to premiere at the NIGHT VISIONS FILM FESTIVAL in Helsinki, Finland this week. "Creepy Christian Films" is a line-up of oddball films where your admission was a passing of the collection plate!

Night Visions and Dion Conflict present
"CREEPY CHRISTIAN FILMS"
USA 198x * m/v & väri * 16 mm * n. 115 min. *

Kino Engel 2 pe klo 23.00 ja la-su-yö klo 04.15

Night Visions -perjantain avajaiselokuvaksi valittu Borat-ohjaaja Larry Charlesin hulvaton dokumentti Religulous kohottaa uskonnon yhdeksi tämänkertaisen festivaalin tärkeistä teemoista. Teoksen aisapariksi on valittu ainutlaatuinen amerikkalaisten lyhytelokuvien kooste, joka ei voisi tarjoilla syventävää näkökulmaa aiheeseen piirunkaan vertaa ällistyttävämmin.
Kaksituntinen Creepy Christian Films -kokonaisuus näyttää, että propagandistinen elokuvakerronta taittui jo menneillä vuosikymmenillä muiltakin kuin idän diktatuurien elokuvantekijöiltä. Ken Andersonin animaatio Phantom Lake (1984) valjastaa hämmentävästi Scooby Doota muistuttavan koirahahmon pyhään tarkoitukseen. Tony Dew'n ohjaus Nikolai (1986) perehdyttää katsojansa rautaesiripun takaisiin kauhuihin Neuvostoliitossa. Championsissa (1984) saarnamieheksi on valjastettu NFL-tähti Neil Lomax. Hallelujah!

Kanadalainen elokuvatutkija ja -keräilijä Dion Conflict on poiminut kokonaisuuden teokset käsin Pennsylvaniassa toimineen lahkolaiselokuvateatterin jäämistöstä. Conflict saapuu myös Torontosta Helsinkiin esittelemään löydöksensä henkilökohtaisesti.
Luvassa on uskomaton show ällistyttävällä tyylillä, joka on tuttu kaikille Hunka Junk -mainos- ja lyhytelokuvakoosteiden hullaannuttamille katsojille.

Also, this will be playing the following cities in Finland as well..... -
Lahti (April 11th) - Kino Engel -
Jyväskylä (April 14th) -Ravintola Rentukka -
Tampere (April 15th) - Kino Niagara

AND ESTONIA!
Haapsalu - Haapsalu Õudus- ja Fantaasiafilmide Festival (April 17-19, check website for date - www.hoff.ee)

Be sure to check back for other dates and follow ups for other info and tune in this week to YLE-X radio for an exclusive interview as I discuss Christian cinema.

Look forward to seeing you all again VERY shortly!

HUNKA JUNK 6 - CANADIAN DEBUT - JANUARY 23RD @ 11:45 PM!

2009-01-17T13:55:00.004-05:00

THE CONFLICT ARCHIVES is proud to announce the Canadian premiere of the recent installment in the HUNKA JUNK series as HUNKA JUNK 6 makes it's Canadian debut at the Bloor Cinema on Friday, January 23rd for a special late nite screening!

DION CONFLICT PRESENTS

HUNKA JUNK 6

Friday January 23rd @ 11:45 PM The Bloor Cinema,

506 Bloor Street (at Bathurst) Toronto, ON

Members $5, Non-Members $8

The "no format" film fest returns from it's smash run in Finland, to it's home turf, Toronto for it's CANADIAN PREMIERE!!!!!HUNKA JUNK 6 brings again some of the oddest 16mm celluloid saved from the finer garbage dumpsters of UHF TV stations and defunct film labs. With it's "no format", there's over 20 different films showcasing lost commercials (including defunct airlines, obscure 70's toys, and the latest in flashbulb camera technology), strange educational films (learn how to use soap with subtitles for the deaf! See how your schools "lost and found" works!), thrifty animation (including bad stop motion pipe cleaner and macrame bead ants and talking vehicles!), movie spots, and more strange fun!This installment also has a focus on "info-tainment", the pre info-mercial designed as "entertainment, but mere ad-filler" running longer than the average commercial with 3 different ones showcased. Learn about a new product called "spray paint" or see a bad "travel doc"/fashion show with the most horrendous sweater collection on the planet.It's all ends with one MO-FO of a Arabic film that's more drug trip, than kiddie film. Considered lost, until now!The screening will including and intro by Dion Conflict and prize giveaways worth "bizillions of Euros"! Don't miss the fun!

NOTE: This HAS NOT been released on DVD yet. But you'll be able to purchase the other volumes of the series!

Call the babysitter and break out of the cabin fever of this VERY COLD winter! And don't forget to join the facebook group!

2008 Rewind: My best year ever

2009-01-13T21:15:00.002-05:00

I'm loving 2009 which instead of looking at with this glum paranoia of "It's a resession! We're all doomed" instead with eyes looking towards the many opportunities that are on the horizon for so many of us.

The year started interestingly. A friend and I hit up a local bowling alley. He's 29 and had only bowled "with the Wii" which to me is just wrong, so it was time to hit up our local bowling alley. While the neon was dimmed and the alley played retro eighties music, I blew my party horn from 2008 into 2009 holding my balloon in the alley, ready for the new year.

2008 however, i'm sad to leave behind, because it truly was incredible.

There had been so much I had seen and done that year. I had done screenings in three different countries, countless press, lauched my production company which did not only a documentary, but also allowed me to get back behind the director's chair for a new music video. Travel wise, I had put my foot down in five different countries. We launched a whole new series with my awesome pals at the Fox, plus I saw some of those that I had given their break in television in, shine.

I had been on music video sets, operating rooms, Kosova mountain tops, Pennsylvanian highways, twenties era hotels, Finnish pendolino trains, and just shared so many great times with friends and family. All those around us truly touch us in ways, and I gotta say that I was surrounded by the best. All I can say is, thank you, for one of the best years ever.

Off the sentimental path, be sure to come back and visit here for an update on the Canadian premiere of HUNKA JUNK 6. I'm excited about the future, and wish you all the best for 2009!

It's Kosova, not Kosovo - My adventures in a new country

2008-12-30T20:58:00.006-05:00

(Photos:

Bottom, View

from the

mountains.

Top, outside

the Gjergj Kastriot i

monument

(Pristina,

Kosova)

It's been a bit since I was in Kosova, and captured some of the memories here in my blog, but the funny thing is how vivid this was for me. For the first time in awhile, it was primarily a trip to relax. Sure, I did some business there (including pitching some music videos), but unlike my travels in recent years, Kosova was meant for some times of exploration and just living life.

It kind of came out of the blue, but was planned for some time. I noticed that a local travel agency had tickets on sale for Frankfurt, Germany and from there I knew that it might be a bit easier to get to Pristina. After clearing with my pal Adem that I could crash there, my flight got booked and off I went to the country less than a year old... Kosova (or as many as you know it by the Serbian pronounciation, Kosovo).

Napping at my hotel in Frankfurt, I slept a bit wandering around and filming the red light district I was staying in, waking up in the morning to a typical European buffet breafast, similar to the ones I had at many hotels in Finland. Then on a very foggy morning, it was off to the aiport to fly to Budapest, Hungary en route to Kosova.

Landing there and clearing customs, I was pulled aside and my carry on searched again. If anything, they seemed genuinely interested as to why I came to Kosova to visit. While it might be off the beaten path for most, indeed it was well on my radar, and it had been for some time.

Little is known about this former war-torn country, but I can tell you it has tons to offer. It has beautiful mountains, breath-taking waterfalls, and super nice people. Many times I would have someone ask "Why are you here?" as it's not a mecca for tourists. When I would explain that I was there as a tourist and wanting to see their country, they would usually ask if I was having a nice time and wished me a pleasant trip.

Kosova has some of the best food. For 1 EUR, you can get an amazing Albanian hamburger (which are unbelievable), fantastic burek, and a full-on pizza. "Machiato", a type of expresso are great for energy, along with "Golden Eagle", the Kosova-made variation of RED BULL, which can't be beat.

I also enjoyed the time spent with my friend's family the most. Amusing his son with an Elmo toy I had brought, a road trip to Peja and the mountains, and walking to the local market to pick up things needed around their new flat.

The country also provided me with many valuable lessons that would be applied for the months to follow. Yes, I had seen ruins of war ravaged homes and towns. Yet, the optomism of hope was contagious to myself. Some of the nicest people you could ever meet, live in Kosova.

At one point, on a mountaintop, I could look over the peaks. This was the first time I had really ever seen and been on a mountain in real life. As you look over the skyline, you know these are the moments that make life worth living.

Once you've been there, you can understand why Kosovars are so passionate about the place. It also hammered into myself again that hope, dreams, and ambition, are priceless.

SHOCK AND AWE-SOME! THE DION CONFLICT - FOX CINEMA EVENT A HUGE SUCCESS!

2008-11-14T21:13:00.005-05:00

My eyelids were getting heavy before going to SHOCK AND AWE, and my night was pretty much starting. During the day I was running around picking up this and that (including prizes and dropping off film prints) and of course, ATTEMPTING to look good for my audience (Insert plug here for my barber Justin @ CUT AND RUN, the best barbershop in the city).

I wasn’t too concerned about the sleep thing however. The week before, I went from being in Frankfurt, Germany’s red light district (where I fell asleep to the techo music of a nearby strip club) to finishing off my day in Toronto doing a screening of “Night of the Living Dead” at the Fox. Jetlag and me were hand in hand.

SHOCK AND AWE 2 (as some people are calling it) was another huge hit. It seemed like more people this time and they all seemed to be wound up like 25 hour clocks. They knew what they were in for, and seemed ready for the long haul. For the first time ever, I forgot merchandise and things I needed for the evening, and had to make my way BACK to the hood, then back to the theatre, missing the first film. For the second, famished from eating a chuck of Carolyn’s pizza slice and a handful of popcorn, I devoured the BURRITO BOYS that was given to me.

This time around, we also featured a “mystery movie” which about 5 of us knew what it was going to be, and nobody else did. The suspense seemed to build beforehand when people at the snackbar were thinking it might be an Evil Dead or Texas Chainsaw franchise flick. It wasn’t and hopefully the fun nature of the film (which is a secret between the folks that went to S&A and myself) still entertained. Before it started, the audience was given party horns to blow during long shot car scenes and a certain word to warn others that a car was on the road. Anyone wishing for sleep was surely out of luck. I told them as well that it was a film that I told them in film school was one of the reasons I came, which I’m sure they prolly scratched their heads. But for me, it was what a film comedy should be, entertaining, fluffy, and maybe not reinventing the wheel, but putting nice rims on it.

What was shocking, was how people gushed about the Jimmy McNichol vehicle “Night Warning”, easily the surprise hit of the evening. When many came out in the early morning doors of the Fox for air, they gushed about the flick being “unbelievable” and “something special”. It would be doubtful many would have given the time of day, if not FORCED to watch it (ahahaha), but it’s great when you see a flick, expecting nothing, and being pleasantly surprised. I love that feeling.

A grindhouse fest wouldn’t be complete without a sex film. This one seemed to kind of shock people for well, delivering the goods, and then even more. Perhaps my views on sexuality are just too Scandinavian, cuz I never really bat an eyelash or get shocked by this type of thing. The one thing they didn’t say, that it was a poorly made film. It’s an interesting artifact to see something so painstakingly made and to give all of the characters such dimension in a decade where we see people on the internet f**k and s**k with no real context to them or the act itself. Who are these people? Anyhow, at least Canadians aren’t as shy about sexuality as Americans (or I can rephrase that, their government!)

It all ended with THE TOXIC AVENGER, and the most uncut print of it ever seen. It looked great on the big screen, but maybe needed a bit of tightening as it was almost TOO uncut. It so wouldn’t be a film Hollywood would make, but that’s such, such a good thing.

By the end, I was wishing people “have a good morning” and after spending 12 hours in a theatre with everyone and meeting such nice people with such warm wishes towards SHOCK AND AWE, I felt like a Dad sending his kids out to battle the world. As we left the theatre, for myself, you look at the world and people outside so much differently. You notice every person walking a dog, cheery parents pushing kids in strollers, and every car on the road when you drive home.

I can’t wait to do it again!

But heck, first off we should thank our sponsors for this one who really showed a TRUE sense of community buckling together to get the word out: RUE MORGUE, BLOGTO.COM, SUSPECT VIDEO, EYESORE CINEMA, AFTER DARK FILM FESTIVAL, AND WATCHER COMICS. But biggest hats off is to all those who come out to support it. Your enjoyment has totally been my payback!

Look for SHOCK AND AWE again for June 2009. Would we stop Toronto’s best all-night grindhouse fest? Hellllllllnooooo!

Andy’s right. Sleep is for suckers.

(Photo: During intermission, SHOCK AND
AWE 2 patrons enjoy a short film on
horse racing from the 50's)

SHOCK AND AWE RETURNS!

2008-11-06T22:32:00.003-05:00

Back by POPULAR DEMAND! We've brought back the all-night/day Grindhouse a-thon, "SHOCK AND AWE" and while I was in Finland, we secured the rights to bring up one of the most fun cult films of the 80's..... THE TOXIC AVENGER!!!!

DION CONFLICT AND THE FOX THEATRE PRESENT

SHOCK AND AWE

Saturday November 8th @ 11:30 PM till November 9th at 10:30 AM

FOX THEATRE 2236 Queen Street East - Toronto, ON Tickets are $20 in advance, $30 at the door

Toronto's all-night homage to the Grindhouse experience is BACK after much demand! No need to dream about the days of 42nd street! SHOCK AND AWE returns with the all night party with more food, fun, and lots of films pulled from the CONFLICT ARCHIVES. Why see one, when you can see FIVE different films, all presented from the original 35mm prints. Grabs some friends, chug back lots of coffee, pizza, donuts, Jolt Cola (!!!), and between films scour through the CONFLICT ARCHIVES merch table to do some Christmas shopping! Here's the lineup, in no particular order! -

NIGHT WARNING (1983) Starring: Jimmy McNichol, Susan Tyrrell, Bo Svenson, and Bill Paxton (!!) Director: William Asher Jimmy Mc Nichol (yes, Kristy's brother) stars in this creepy, sleazy, and under-rated thriller gem about an orphaned teenager, his over-protective Aunt (Tyrrell) who just won't let him out of her grasp... at all costs. Incest and Homosexual undercurrents play in this creepy little film, all directed by William Asher (who directed slews of I LOVE LUCY episodes!).

SENSATIONS (1975) Starring: Brigitte Maier, Veronique Monet, Miss Tuppy Owens Director: Alberto De Ferraro (Lasse Braun) Screened back in the days of FESTIVAL with their newspaper headline screaming "Dion Conflict says 'It's the hottest film I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of them!'" it still holds back for a command performance. Margaret from Minnesota (Maier) goes on a strange journey after meeting some liberated people on a cruise ship including a horny cello player from Hungary, and a rich British woman living in Amsterdam. With a hook arm, excellent music and cinematography, SENSATIONS was suppose to play in places such as Hull, Quebec for 2 weeks, and ended up playing 6 months! The absolute best of the adult genre, directly from the distributor in Sweden.

THE BUS IS COMING (1971) Starring: Mike Sims, Stephanie Faulkener Director: Wendell Franklin When a soul bro returns to the hood n finds out his brother has been killed by racist pigs, it's out for revenge! An excellent early Blaxploitation pic, it paved the way in subsequent years for films such as SUPERFLY. Enjoy some delicious donuts before and after the film at the snack bar, in honour of the pigs (we're trying to get some pork product!). A VERY VERY rare find!

MYSTERY FILM (???) Starring: ????? Director: ?????? Anyone that knows me knows I love surprizes and I hope you do too, with this favorite of mine to add some fun to the evening? You're not really going to know WHAT it is till it hits the screen. But we guarantee, 100% entertainment!

DARK STAR (1974) Starring: Brian Narelle, Dan O'Bannon Director: John Carpenter John Carpenter's student film got picked up by a distributor, who gave him a bit more $$$ to beef up the time and shoot some more footage. What resulted is this ambitious cult classic with hippies on a 20 year mission in outer space to blow up unstable planets. Featuring talking bombs (ala 2001), a beach ball alien, and a solar energy pack which is a muffin tray. ... and to close the event.....

THE TOXIC AVENGER (1984) Starring: Andree Miranda, Mitch Cohen Director: Michael Herz, Lloyd Kaufman THE BEST TROMA FILM EVER! We pulled teeth to bring you this print into Canada, and we're sure it won't disappoint. Poor Melvin the Mopboy lives in Tromaville and works at a local health club. After some locals have him kiss a lamb, he falls out a window in a bucket of toxic waste, turning from man into THE TOXIC AVENGER! Featuring tasteless laughs, gruesome gore, tacky stock music, and lots of boob, it's what put TROMA in the bigger league of indy companies. It played in Toronto for a weekend during it's original release, cut to shreads. THIS PRINT IS UNCUT, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN CANADA!

.... So folks. Remember, sleep is for suckers! Get your tickets for SHOCK AND AWE at the Fox Theatre box office, Suspect Video (605 Markham Street, beside Honest Eds), or Eyesore Cinema (801 Queen Street West, above Rotate this). DON'T MISS THE FUN! GRAB YOUR TICKETS TODAY!!!!! Special thanks to our sponsors as well.... Eyesore, Toronto After Dark Film Festival, Rue Morgue Magazine, Suspect Video and Watcher Comics... You guys rock!!!!

Returning to the director's chair: The newest Dion Conflict directed music video for Mikey Bustos

2008-10-11T19:05:00.002-05:00

There has been many starts and stops when it's coming to directing a new music video. At one point I was kind of so-so about the genre and on top of it, it seemed that many outlets in Canada were drying up to actually get them shown. Two things changed this... Youtube and Myspace.

When I met up with Brian and Dave (basically the guys that make things happen in real time for my production company) and sprung on them "You guys want to work on a music video?", it was a matter of minutes before Mikey joined us at one of our production meetings playing his latest cuts he recorded. I was particularily fond of the track that they were wanting to release as a single "If it feels good then we should" as a catchy lil ditty, which had me taking notes as I listened to the track. Those original notes had "Water, blue blue and more blue".

I listened to the track about 30 times, developing the storyline for the video which mixed in the water theme, a hot day, thirsty girls, ice, and putting Mikey in a character as a water delivery guy which takes him out of his context for the Canadian viewer of "Canadian Idol" and making him the everyman. Well, hopefully the everyman to the female leads! One thing that was predominant when mentioning the theme to Mikey and my team is that I wanted the video to be black and white, but also blue, a somewhat unsual color scheme, but one that would be unique.

The location was one I came across in Toronto by accident. A friend and I were walking down by the lakeshore in Toronto when he showed me an area he said "he use to mess around in when he was 16". When I had taken my Assistant Director Brian there, we kind of got lost and found this unusual man-made pond area with a dock stricking through the middle of it. We were in love with the location, and describing it to others and those auditioning was interesting!

The shoot day was usually hot. But everyone was in gear and ready to work. One funny thing was there was a shady grassy area we at first would sit at, until we got bit by red ants. Mikey made me laugh saying "I'm getting bitten by these red ants!" Leaving food out was a no-no. The actresses were all troopers, ready to go for it and for the first time in SOME time, with Brian as my AD, I could concentrate on working with the actors. We were looking for WHERE we were going to shoot the scene for the chorus and bridge, when Dave my steadycam operator and I searched a bit and came across the "Reconciliation" rock. Could we get any luckier? While shooting the scenes with Mikey and the girls on the rock, I knew there was real chemistry between him and the girls as I had to pinch myself to yell cut. People looking on hanging out in the park just looked at them transfixed. Lake Ontario, usually not too nice looking, had waves sparkling as we shot.

We ended the majority of the shoot, packed up everything in the rental van, while my crew sat on the recliners the girls sat on. Exhausted, we ate Little Casaers in the parking lot, looking over our burns (Virpi, who was here from Finland and was a production assistant, was ESPECIALLY burnt.). When I removed my Versace sunglasses, everyone laughed.

I'm really happy with the final result, and while there's more shots I wish I could have added to it, the track and video work well together. Mikey now gets e-mails from girls saying "I see you like jugs" - hahahahaha.

The funniest moment was after pitching the concept to my team, Mikey was DYING to know the concept and made me come up to see him after I had a day full of meetings. It was 11pm and I drove up to his place, where we went close to Jane/Finch for some Vietnamese Pho where I pitched the concept. With a huge smile, and clapping his hands, he said he loved it. "But D, what's a water cooler?"

ISO KIITI SUOMI! - HUNKA JUNK 6 RETURNS FROM FINLAND!

2008-10-11T18:30:00.002-05:00

(Press Coverage: Hunka Junk in Finland, 2008)

From the time I landed till the time I left, every hour and minute seemed to be packed full while in Finland. But still this time, I still got to spend some quality time with friends who kept me balanced through the heavy diet of non-stop screenings, and just as many interviews. The above photo shows just who I was talking with when I wasn't showing HUNKA JUNK 6 and spending time with friends, sometimes with a pint of cider.

EVERY time I return, it seems like home. So much, that I had to do some real soul searching on why it was exactly I was returning. Finland is my second mother, and when I leave, I'm being pulled from it's arms.

HUNKA JUNK 6 had lots of "terveet kadet" with it's success this time there, and here's a short list of people who REALLY made it all possible. Starting from Canada, Mihai (my editor), Greg (with the DVD post for VIDEO DINER) really deserve more than just my thanks. In the United States, Skip at A/V Geeks for the transfer, and in Russia, Igor made a special trip to make sure I had merchandise for the masses.

In Finland, iso kiiti should go of course to Juha-Pekka at Pirkanmaan Elokuvakeskus gets the ball rolling everytime (Tampere), Kaisu @ Keski-Suomen Elokuvakeskus (Jyväskylä), Marcus and Janne at Kino Iiris (Lahti), and Mikko at the Night Visions film festival deserve me to be kissin their feet for their hard work in bringing it to the masses.

Press wise, my hats off to various newspapers that I did interviews with which include Helsinki Sanomat, Valo, Aamulehti, Keskisuomalainen, Etelä-Suomen Sanomat, and those that covered HJ6 including Radio Helsinki, Lahiradio, YLE. Kiitos!

Also, all of you who came out to the shows (and some from all over Finland).

I remember taking the train back from one show, passing through towns such as Tikkurila and Jamsa, thinking how blessed I am. Thank you again for opening your hearts, homes, and time with me to share my paska films!

HUNKA JUNK 6 - WORLD PREMIERE IN FINLAND, AND TOUR ACROSS THE COUNTRY!

2008-08-19T21:07:00.006-05:00

(Photo Courtesy: Aleksi Moisio)

Moi!

Good things come in threes, and so I'm very excited to
be returning to Finland and also having the WORLD PREMIERE there of HUNKA JUNK 6 and touring the country with 4 different cities, and over 5 screenings of the latest installment of the HUNKA JUNK series.

HUNKA JUNK 6 brings again some of the oddest 16mm celluloid saved from the finer garbage dumpsters of UHF TV stations and defunct film labs. With it's "no format", there's over 20 different films showcasing lost commercials (including defunct airlines, obscure 70's toys, and the latest in flashbulb camera technology), strange educational films (learn how to use soap with subtitles for the deaf! See how your schools "lost and found" works!), thrifty animation (including bad stop motion pipe cleaner and macrame bead ants and talking vehicles!), movie spots, and more strange fun!

This installment also has a focus on "info-tainment", the pre info-mercial designed as "entertainment, but mere ad-filler" running longer than the average commercial with 3 different ones showcased. Learn about a new product called "spray paint" or see a bad "travel doc"/fashion show with the most horrendous sweater collection on the planet.

It's all ends with one MO-FO of a Arabic film that's more drug trip, than kiddie film. Considered lost, until now!

All the screenings in Finland will including myself (Dion Conflict) doing the intros and giving away prizes worth "bizillions of Euros"! Don't miss the fun!

HUNKA JUNK 6 will be playing in 4 different cities at press time (Tampere, Helsinki, Jyväskylä and new to the tour this year, Lahti). Be sure to check this website for other new information, and please check the theatre's website for even more information. These are the playdates:

Festivaalikiertue vierailee Suomessa seuraavilla paikkakunnilla:
PE 29.8.2008 TAMPERE, elokuvateatteri Niagara, klo 20.30
LA 30.8.2008 HELSINKI, Kino Engel, klo 21.00
TI 2.9. JYVÄSKYLÄ, Nikolainsali, klo 19.00
PE 5.9. LAHTI, Kino Iiris klo 18.00
LA 6.9. LAHTI, Kino Iiris klo 14.00

To sign up for our mailing list, and for more press support, be sure to drop us a line at eurocoleco@hotmail.com

Look forward to seeing you all! Chill the Golden Cap Ciideri... NYT! :)

REEL BUSY - The "transition" from showing films, to making them!

2008-08-16T22:12:00.003-05:00

(Photo: On set during the casting of the music video @ the CBC Building, Downtown Toronto)

It's been some time since writing in my blog/website. But I gotta say I don't know if it could get any busier. Well, maybe it could.

Firstly, my DVD came out on ALPHA for the lost film "Second Chance", the film with Ruth Warrick and Hugh Beaumont, which includes a documentary on saving the film print and it "Church Films" with yours truly as the talking head, and shot by my production company KAUNIS PETO GROUP. When we submitted it to the people at Alpha, the head hancho Steve told me he loved "every frame of it" which made me happy. It felt great to get back into production and layed some concrete with Brian and Dave, two of the integral aspects of the techinal end of things. That got the ball rolling for something even bigger....

A few months later, we would be together again working on a much bigger project. I'm finally happy to say that after a hiatus, I'm back in the director's chair and have directed a NEW music video! I'm still "hush hush" about the artist till the video is released, but we've wanted to work together for years. After having a production meeting with the other guys, we invited him in to hear the track. I loved it, and I think I'm always REALLY CRITICAL when it comes to music and couldn't just direct a music vid for anyone.

While it's been lots of work (from scheduling on all our ends) I think the end product looks SPECTACULAR. My assitant director Brian made sure I was on track the day we were shooting, making sure I got the shots I needed. The location was unbelievable, and everyone pulled in to make it work. Directing is my true love, and it's always great to be reunited with the ones you love, right?

Hopefully, we will be premiering this to the world in some format, September 1st, and who knows, maybe a TV Premiere in Finland! Which brings me onto the topic of Finland...

Beginning August 29th, I'll be on tour in Finland with the latest installment of HUNKA JUNK. Tampere again will mark the start of the WORLD PREMIERE of HUNKA JUNK 6! From there, it will move onto over 4 different cities and venues. Be sure to check back here on the latest dates and showtimes, plus whatever else I might be up to there! I always look forward to retuning to Finland, and this time is no different. Finns, save me your Hesburger coupons, and chill that Golden Cap ciideri for me!

That it for now, but yea. Life's good. If while there, I get my TV show pitch off the ground with Finnish television, that would be even better!

CONFLICT ARCHIVES PRESENTS - 3-D BRIT KNICKERS FUN WITH "THREE DIMENSIONS OF GRETA"!

2008-07-11T21:59:00.012-05:00

COME! See Greta throw her panties at the screen in analglyphic

3-D!!!!!

THE CONFLICT ARCHIVES PRESENTS

"Three Dimensions of Greta"

(UK 1973)

(in 3-D!)

Sunday July 13th @ 9:15 PM

Tuesday July 15th @ 9:15 PM

Starring: Tristan Rogers, Robin Askwith and Leena Skoog as "Greta"

Director: Pete Walker

Tristan Rogers (who's appeared in too many North American soaps to mention) plays a German reporter/investigator (with the most laughable German accent ever committed to celluloid) to find Greta in "swinging London" so he can give her some bread. His journey takes him to various sleazy Soho clubs (including a ghetto basement stripclub) and Greta's friends explaining when they had last seen Greta and WHAT exactly she's been up to (in 3-D flashbacks). The big question is, will they ever find Greta?

This was the first 3-D feature produced in the UK by under-rated cult/sexploitation pioneer Pete Walker and it's a doozey from the laughable accents, to seeing a cheeky side of Brit hippie and mod culture. More groovy than looking at a crumpet and tea on the cube, it's all good fun. Robin Askwith (who's been in bizillions of Brit boobie fare) also makes and appearance, and Greta tips a cap quite well to uninhibited Scandinavian values!

Shown from the Conflict Archives 35mm print, we're told that it's perhaps one of the better prints that have survived of this trashy UK classic in North America. Unseen on a screen in Canada in DECADES, it will be a must for 3-D buffs, and those who want to see a Swedish girl on a swing (in 3-D) and a bra thrown into the audience (in 3-D).Of course, there's prizes and an intro by Dion Conflict. Tickets are available at the box office or see www.foxcinema.ca for more info.

THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST CONFLICT ARCHIVE SCREENING IN CANADA FOR THE SUMMER!Don't miss the grooviest event of the summer! Feel free to send this invite to others! Glasses provided, FREE!

SHOCK AND AWE was SHOCK AND AWE-SOME! The Rundown

2008-06-23T09:25:00.004-05:00

Since I started showcasing materials
from my archive back in the early
90's, I had dreams of doing an all
night show. First coming to Toronto
when in film school, I was facinated
with an old grindhouse on Younge Street, called the RIO and their "4 Great films for $4.75" which had their odd mix of something not too far away from their theatrical run then something long from it's initial run (back in the nineties they had "Tarzan Goes to India" showing at one point), some cut-to-s**t adult film, and some action flick. I always thought it would be great fun to cram in continuous films and go well beyond the normal times films would show. With the Rio's closing in 1992 and with me
beginning my screening career
shortly afterwards, it was virtually
impossible for me to reconstuct
an all night movie marathon.
Tim and I dreamed of doing this
with FESTIVAL CINEMAS, but
on it's demise, I thought it would
be impossible. Luckily the FOX
boys after a return from Finland
and the Canadian premiere of HUNKA JUNK 5, made it happen.

With an hour before we opened the
doors, I noticed several people milling outside. By the time the doors opened, I stepped outside and saw a
lineup around the block. Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!

Patrons got seated for the night/morning long marathon of material from my archives, and an exclusive screening of the Peter Jackson disgusting splatter classic/comedy "Dead Alive", which thanks to Tim and the Fox Boyz, we got the Canadian exclusive on. Before we started, patrons got to see some "vintage" Russian music videos from an old tape I picked up before going to a St. Petersburg Russia 3-D grindhouse back in the day. They seemed to be having fun, and ready to buckle down for the evening.

Fox theatre manager introduced me as "the king of Finland" (LOL!) and off to the races we went.

Getting ready for one show is lots of work in itself, but running six back to back def had me workin on my game. As the evening went and the more sleep deprived I became, I had to really concentrate on the hosting skills and making sure everything ran on time. Andy luckily had me down on the schedule. Tim was also my backbone at the merch table.

All in all, the films were all great fun, and the audience was locked down to have fun for the evening/morning and they were in for the long haul. I can't say there was one particular highlight of the nite, but instead can say I enjoyed the whole nite!

Special thanks to all that came out, the Fox guys for getting it in gear. Sponsors RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE, FILM BUFF, CUT AND RUN, and the AFTER DARK FILM FESTIVAL helped get the word out. Also, THE TORONTO STAR, BLOG.TO, Stuart at CKLN 88.1 made sure people were in the know. BURRITO BOYS, AMATO's PIZZA made sure there was nutritional value past the popcorn. But to everyone who came out to make it a truly special night, my hats off to you.

Team SHOCK AND AWE is ready to work on it again! November is when we plan the next one, and it's funny, already I'm excited.

The funniest moment might have been when the projectors were shut down and we cleaned the theatre after being there for 12 hours. I've never picked up so many RED BULL cans in my life!

SHOCK AND AWE - THE GRINDHOUSE EXPERIENCE - SATURDAY AT THE FOX CINEMA!

2008-06-16T00:23:00.004-05:00

WHO is the mystery celebrity that will show up?

WHAT are the mystery films and world premier shorts showing (including one student film with a perky Game Show girl?)

WHEN will the new goodies hit the snack bar, including Burrito Boys, Beef Jerkey, Danishes, pizza slices, and breakfast items?

WHY not invite your friends and indulge in a night and morning of the rarest films from one of Canada's best private archives, all in their 35mm glory?

HOW could you EVER EVER think of sleeping????

This is it folks! The FINAL WEEK stretch to one of the CONFLICT ARCHIVES most ambitious events EVER! SHOCK AND AWE hits the Fox Theatre (2236 Queen Street West) this Saturday, running from 11:30 PM till 10 AM the next morning. In one mind blowing experience, you'll get to see SIX grindhouse packed flicks. Eat tons of goodies from the snack bar, buy lots of cool DVD's, film reels, and cool film publications. From obscure burlesque (NAUGHTY NEW ORLEANS), Art-House Horror (THE BOOGEYMAN), Blaxploitation (THE BLACK SIX), Dirty (DANISH PASTRIES), Threesome love triangle/Jaws Rip-off (TINTORERA) and the final capper of them all, Peter Jackson disgusting yet tongue in cheek gorefest (DEAD ALIVE), SHOCK AND AWE is a Toronto first, and something YOU CANNOT MISS.

Presented by DION CONFLICT, RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE, AFTER DARK FILM FESTIVAL, and of course the fine boyz at the Fox, you'll have all Sunday to sleep. RUN to get your tickets (the hottest in the city!) at all FILM BUFF locations (73 Roncesvalles Ave. & 1380 Queen St. East) and at the FOX box office.

DOORS OPEN AT 11PM (get that seat early for you to chillax in for the night/morning!). And like a grindhouse, you can almost come crash anytime. But not if it's sold out! So grab your tickets.. NOW! A wrist-band policy is also in effect for those of you that need to go outside to 'get some air' ;)

http://www.foxtheatre.ca/

Sleep is for suckers.

Knight into Day...

2008-06-01T21:34:00.004-05:00

I was recently on tour in Ohio and to alleviate

some of the stress from my bookers, had taken it on myself to book a hotel room. Looking over hotels.ca, one thing was aparent, was that accomodation in Youngstown, Ohio was reasonably priced. Looking over the choices, I decided to go with a Knights Inn. It was a chain I've seen before, but had never stayed in (and at this point, I've seemed to have done them all, except something such as the Hilton). Again, it was MAD CHEAP. Not too far from the interstate, I was expecting the usual I would find at roadside motels.... Out of state travellers, truckers, people there for such and such a conference... the usual.

After driving through the peacefull roadways of Pennsylvania state, I switch over to Ohio, and eventually find the turnoff for my motel. Coming off of working seven days straight at my day job, and having to plan for a television interview the next morning, I was EXHAUSTED. Down the road on Motor Inn drive, I pull in to the Knights Inn. The adventure started.

The woman behind the counter seemed to be baffled by my reservation. "Is this being billed to your company?" as she glances over my online reservation. "Sure" I say. One thing I do like when I'm out on tour (and driving) is a fridge, so I request that then head to my room, finally after a long day on the road.

Pulling into my room, a guy with some scrappy looking people shouts over the balcony "Oh Canada!" then proceeds to tell me that he's been to Canada to see "Phantom of the Opera" in Toronto (they must have had a HUGE marketing campaign for Phantom down this way because I've met TONS of people in Ohio that had been to Toronto to see "Phantom"). Smiling, I open the door to my room. It's devoid of artwork and painted white with the typical ammeneties you would get in a motel. But the beds were clean and cozy, so it was what I needed. The maintenance guy knocks on my door and tells me that the fridge they have is missing the door, so sorry, no fridge. I call my booker and tell her I'm in town and where I was staying "Dion, you jump right into Youngtown culture! Damn!" As we chat I lay on the bed and look up and some weird speckle on the ceiling. Blood spatter comes to mind, but more than likely it's my active imagination. Mentioning it to her, she mentions that Youngstown was featured on the A&E crime program "City Confidential".

Settled in, one can get thirsty on the road (and the fact that Toyota Yaris' don't have drink cups) so it was off to the gas station up the street for a drink when I exit my room a tubby guy with a crappy rust colored sweater and baggy raver jeans approaches me drinking a beer. "I hope you don't mind me bothering you" he says with his distinct Ohio accent and continues to rattle on asking why I'm there with his eyes lighting up after telling him I had a show at the Butler Museum of American art. "I'm a pretty cultured guy" he explains and then tells me about how he lived in San Francisco, how he was drinking beer that the whinos drink, and how it's hard for him to be gay in Youngstown. "Are you gay? Because you're beautiful. You look like David Beckham." He says, then quickly afterwards says, "Oh sorry, you're a minister arn't you? A man of the cloth" this being possibly, the most baffling thing anyone might have ever said to me. I then get an invite to his room to do some drinking and told he has a fridge which I could put my ice pack in. I decline telling him that my evening should be spent preparing for my show the next day, and also doing some prep for an interview I was to do with a local NBC station. After that, to the store.

The pitter pat of feet and shouting upstairs. Nodding off to some CNN, I get a knock on the door around 1:15 in the morning. Do I answer it? Would you?

Morning comes, and after a coffee (which I got from the gas station, NOT the front lobby) it's off to the TV station. With some nice banter with my interviewer getting ready to depart she asks where I'm staying and I tell her The Knights Inn. Her cheery expression dissolves from her face. "Oh God. (sigh) Be careful! And please don't talk with anyone!" Well, there was no need to worry about that as they would talk with me. After getting a little lost, and stopping off at some bargain stores with vast desolate parking lots, it's time to head back to the Knights Inn to get ready to have lunch with my bookers. There as I pull up by a vehicle with a smashed window storing wooden dressers I return to my room. Outside again was the 300+ pound guy with his shirt off, sitting on a towel on the cold pavement 3 doors down from mine, and yes, my little admirer with his cousin (who also lived there). They said they watched TV all morning hoping to see me. I share my stories with my Youngstown bookers over lunch at my fav restaurant, Ponderosa. But back to the motel I go to prepare for our screening that evening.

Realizing I forgot something in the car, I go out throwin on some jeans, my tims, and a white t-shirt. The housecleaning staff was in the parking lot with, you guessed it, the gay guy with the bad sweater. "Yo homeboy!" one of the girls shout.

"What's up?" I say

"You single?" says one of housekeeping.

"Yeah, and Canadian. (laughing). Who wants to know?"

"She does" where the girl points not at the toothy gay guy, but at well, a homegirl. She was kind of a Kim Mathers knock-off who hung around with the other wigger girl and her home-boy boyfriend (who gave me snake eyes a couple times going to the ice machine). I smile at them. Gay sweater looks like he's going to gouge out the girls eyes.

Upon leaving for the evening, I'm approached by another guest asking me about jobs in Canada. "Our economy is very good right now" I tell him. He proceeds to tell me he worked in a factory, and his kid got Leukemia, treatment was a million dollars, which was why he was living there now. It's a sad story, and afterwards Michelle (my booker) tells me "it's sad, but more than likely maybe 50% true).

The evening I return. There's nobody in the parking lot to greet my return, which in a way kind of gives me a "shuckers" type feeling. I nod off to sleep with no thumping on the floor upstairs. It's eerily quiet.

Next morning: knock on the door. The homegirls are there. "Are you checking out today?" one says as they both eye me up and down with an oh-so-obvious twinkle in their eyes.

And I was. Upon exiting the building I surveyed my surroundings. The back units of the building were all closed off, with their windows and doors boarded over for tourists and visitors that would never fill the rooms. The host from the TV station calls and as we chat she says, "The next time you come down, I'll pay for the hotel!" Leaving the Knights, to my left is a downed Holiday Inn sign.

Maybe some people when they tour have to have a 4-star hotel but y'know, for me culture is always richer than some hoitey-toitey hotel. Our lives are always enriched by those around us, the ones we encounter, no matter what side of the tracks they come from. We always need a reality check, a people skills tune-up. From the Knights Inn, to my bookers, to the friendly people at the screening sharing their stories of Canada, Scandinavia, and of course film, I drove away from the Knights Inn truly liking Youngstown and left meeting truly great people, no matter their background, and good people are never a bad thing!

Would I stay there again? Yeah. But if I wanted to take the host from the TV station up on her offer, I'd be down for that too!

Thanks Youngstown! Thanks Toronto!

2008-05-29T19:37:00.004-05:00

(Photo: Inside the venue at Butler North, Youngstown, Ohio)

Wow, I gotta tell you, 2 countries in 2 weeks was indeed an insane feat, getting me ready for the Finnish rollercoaster this summer.

HUNKA JUNK 5 made it's Youngstown, Ohio debut with lots of fanfare. It was great sharing with many of you stories of your own lost film before, during and after the films. Plus I enjoyed the "tips" on getting some mad cheap DVD's in the area. My biggest hats off go to Michelle from Youngstown Film for all her hard work in bringing HJ to the masses in Youngstown. Also, thanks again to the Butler Museum, The Vindicator newspaper and Guy there for his amazing article, Metro Monthly newspaper, The Tribune Chronicle (and Andy Gray), NBC TV 21, NPR, Big Panic, The Review Newspapers, Pop Video Web and WYSU 88.5 FM.

Next stop was Toronto for our "Midweek Mondo Madness" at the Review. Thanks again to all the staff there, and especially Mysterion. If you missed it, Mysterion did an incredible feat with a gallo that had the audience at the edge of their seat. Thanks again M! (and Dave Faris for designing the amzing posters!)

Well folks, I can say that you need to visit here again VERY SHORTLY for the event that I've been dreaming about doing for a loooooooooong time now. It will be the "mecca" of all the film screenings we've ever done in the greater Toronto area. Stay tuned!

Oh yea, I spilled the beans to some Youngstown journalists indeed that I would write about the adventures of my stay, in particular a certain motel. That story will be posted here on the weekend!

For all you new acquaintances to the CONFLICT ARCHIVES, make sure u drop a line to my mailing list. I've had some complaints that it's been impossible to find my addy on here, so here it is. eurocoleco@hotmail.com . Drop me a line and be sure to join our e-mail list!

But again, thanks to all the folks who were great in both countries! I had a blast!

MIDWEEK MONDO MADNESS - WEDNESDAY AT THE REVUE CINEMA!

2008-05-25T10:56:00.005-05:00

DION CONFLICT PRESENTS
MIDWEEK MONDO MADNESS
ONLY ONE NEW YORK (1964)
(Ultra rare 16mm print!)
DIRECTED BY: Pierre-Dominique Gaisseau
PLUS! AMAZING MENTAL FEATS BY MYSTERION!
** FIRST CONFLICT ARCHIVE SCREENING IN CANADA THIS YEAR! **
Wednesday, May 28th, 2008
9:00 PM
THE REVUE CINEMA
400 RONCESVALLES AVENUE (Just south of Dundas West Subway Station)
www.revuecinema.ca
Admission: $10

It's MIDWEEK MONDO MADNESS in one evening you can see the strange metropolis they call New York City AND supernatural powers of the human mind!

Unseen in decades, "ONLY ONE NEW YORK" is a long lost documentary capturing New York City in all it's early sixties glory. Mixing part travelogue and "mondo film", ONLY ONE NEW YORK moves from stunning shots of it breathtaking skyscrapers, to Coney Island on a winters day. Oscar winning director Gaisseau also shows us things that aren't on the agenda for the "I love New York" tours. SEE a real live gypsy wedding with a black R&B band playing! WATCH as Playboy bunnies play tackle football in Central Park! SCREAM in horror at a genuine Bronx black magic voodoo ceremony! CHEER in delight to German kids in lederhosen do a dance with benches! THRILL to the sound of Asian children lighting random firecrackers! Never released on ANY home video format, it's all in one film - ONLY ONE NEW YORK!

Plus, Parkdale and Canada's most famed mentalist, MYSTERION THE MIND READER will thrill the audience with his ESP talents as he takes them into his realm of the supernatural with a far-out mental journey as he puts his extra sensory abilities into overdrive.
ONE NIGHT ONLY! DON'T MISS IT!

HUNKA JUNK 5 HITS YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO - MAY 21ST @ 7 PM!

2008-05-15T07:42:00.001-05:00

Indeed, Hunka Junk 5 is returning to Ohio
for another evening presenting lost 16mm
virtually being saved from the dumpster!

On Wednesday May 21st, HUNKA JUNK 5
makes its Youngstown, Ohio premier at
BUTLER NORTH (Next to the Butler Institute
of American Art) at 524 Wick Avenue. Doors open at 6:30 PM with the show beginning at 7.
Admission $5

I look forward to seeing everyone in Youngstown!

Be sure to hit the website next week as well for
a very special film event here in Toronto on
May 28th, so keep that date open for me!

For more information on HUNKA JUNK 5 - YOUNGSTOWN, be sure to visit
http://www.youngstownfilm.com/showtimes.html

Something a tad different as I talk about another love of mine!

2008-04-18T23:21:00.004-05:00

It's a given for me to rattle off about film, Polish hip hop, Finland,

self exploration, and other things one could rattle on about on a blog, but would you have expected that I would be a huge fan of UFC and MMA (mixed martial arts)?

My introduction to it was long ago when watching an episode of TSN's "Off The Record" when they were having a debate on a new sport called "Ultimate Fighting". Some Canadian wanna be actress was calling it "barbaric" and it kind of caught my eye. I ended up seeing a UFC 39 DVD or something of that sort and I was kind of interested a little more. But it wasn't until I purchased THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER reality series at Target when I kind of got hooked. Light heavyweights Forest Griffin taking on Stephan Bonnar in the final live round, must have been one of the best UFC fights ever.

When UFC 83 was announced to take place in Canada, I was totally wanting to go. On the card, Canadian Georges St Pierre is to take on Long Island's Matt Serra (who clobbered St Pierre). Sadly, tickets sold out in mere minutes, and coughing up $250 a ticket wasn't on the agenda. Considering I balk at the mere fact of paying full price for a film, and having friends kind of not really too into going to Montreal to see the fight (Well, maybe Ricky J would go!).

Anyhow, when it was announced, the Canadian press gushed all over St Pierre with a slow handjob, painting the guy almost pretty much like he had won, and the fight hasn't even taken place. Only Sportsnet UFC specialist Showdown Joe Ferraro was saying that basically even though he was friends with St Pierre, that Serra might be the underdog. Indeed.

Seeing interviews with both Serra and St Pierre this week, I gotta say (and I'm sure Canadians will call me traitor) that my bet is on Serra as well, and I'm a St Pierre fan. St Pierre appeared in one interview with two dime sized bruises on his face with his head looking like a human bowling ball. Meanwhile, Serra who might not have really fought in a pro bout for a year due to a back injury said he's fully recovered. Like Liddell or Couture, it looks like St Pierre has kind of fallen into the Canadian hype machine. He looks tired. It will be interesting to see the turnout, but my prediction is St Pierre taps out in the 2nd.

Out of any sports, there's two that appeal to me in actually doing. My pal Lorraine in Chicago got me interested in Yoga, and second, mixed martial arts. Oddly enough before dealing with a family crisis, I was going to train. When telling my friends about this, they thought I was mad. Well, Tim and Brenda thought it WAS typical for me to do. And consideiring Couture is in his 40's, do I feel too old to pursue this? Nooooooooo!

But yeah, there you have it. Besides being (as one online website referred to me as) "the overlord of Flea-Market cinema", I'd pursue ultimate fighting. Now, it's just being able to find the routine for traning as the new shiftwork kind of is preventing this at the moment. But once it does, you've got the tip up, not the tap out ;)

OK... Back to our regularly scheduled programming!

Goodbye Dino Video

2008-04-08T19:38:00.003-05:00

It's interesting times right now in home entertainment.

Let me be honest about something. I don't rent movies. Since I tend to have more in my collection than the average consumer, I find keeping up with that keeps me away from the videostore, plus I'm horribly cheap. For a couple bucks more, I usually will buy something to watch again at a later date, or lend friends. With bigger chains like BLOCKBUSTER or ROGERS, i find the releases kind of kind of a dull mix of Hollywood hodge-podge that I'm not dying to see for a nite and the ones that I do want to see, I can eventually own second hand for a couple bucks more. Collecting isn't for everyone's tastes, especially when most people CAN watch something that night and don't want it around collecting space.

Peoples tastes have also changed with the times as well. When VCR's first came out, people could easily get suckered into checking out films due to the title or a description from some small VHS studio. People just wanted something to put into the machines. This was before Hollywood kind of caught on to the home video revolution and also dropped prices on the product. Mom and Pop stores always seemed to stock so many of these obscuro titles, especially if they were cheap to fill the shelves. With the bigger chains stomping these smaller ones into the ground, it's been tricky to find video stores that have lasted over a decade. That's why I was sad to hear that DINO VIDEO EXPRESS, a videostore out in the Agincourt area close to my work was closing its doors, but interested in their collection being sold off.

One thing seems to be certain, regardless of how much is STILL not on DVD, people don't seem to want to embrase VHS any longer. After going through so much of what has been re-released on DVD, I've still been finding that I've wanted to see many obscure titles that still haven't made it to DVD and with the market being saturated, they were not going to find a release anytime soon. The same way people went gaga over the first CD's, repurchasing their vinyl collections, die hard collectors will still not finding so many releases that didn't make it to compact disc.

So, I go to DINO during my lunch hour the week before they close their doors. The VHS is now down to the rock bottom price of 25 cents a tape. Dino had a collection of tapes basically caputuring the full history of the VHS industry. My younger co-worker Coralie joined me on the treck looking at racks upon racks of obscure titles. I ended up grabbing about 40 my first visit. Nobody else was in the store.

The next day, I knew I had to make a pilgrimage back to get more and came out with another 25... It's funny, at 25 cents a pop, you would almost think that ANY title with your remote interest you would snap up right? Still, I would hold some tapes in my hand with indecision. One thing about picking up VHS now is the whole storage issue. After people collect DVD, VHS seems so unappealing with it's bulkyness. But still, the nostalgia of picking up tapes I can remember seeing in my youth which developed my tastes for strange cinema in the first place (I'm not of the generation to be stuck in grindhouses or cinema matinees, but cheap VHS rentals of cheaper films). While many of us pine for so much urban nostalgia, a film geek like myself will get it with cheap logos by studios from back in the day. Companies like Interglobal, Premiere Entertainment, Paragon, Academy, and Lettuce Entertain You would provide titles that you HOPED would be entertaining. Early video was always a mystery box, and hell, I love grab bags.

Visit 2, I thought I pretty much got what I needed. Then they e-mail me and tell me there's one final day where the tapes were 10 cents each, or $1 a bag. Remember those ones I told you I was balking at 25 cents a pop for. Well, not for a dime!

In total, I came out with over 100 VHS tapes for less than $20, and an incredible document of the VHS movie industry. Even at this price, only a local was inside talking with the perky Asian owner, "I'll miss this place" he said.

In the meantime, I'm going through tons of films on top of the rest of my collection. Every time I seem to hit play, there's a surprise going down.

I still don't know where to put them all!

Thanks Cleveland!

2008-04-05T10:19:00.002-05:00

A long overdue notice to say thanks to all those in the Cleveland area who made HJ there such a huge success including the Cleveland Cinematheque, coolcleveland dot com, The Cleveland Free Times, the Martins, The Alkazar Hotel, and all those that came out for the United States premiere!

It had been some time since going to Cleveland, and there's always been some sort of bonding I've had with Ohio since going there back in the early nineties to see punk bands at Kent State U. Besides dealing with announcements back in Toronto about a impending snow storm, I always enjoy my time in Cleveland and noticed many things since last being there in 2004. But the one thing was the potholes. When you drive on Martin Luther King Drive, look out! You can lose a car in some of them!

The audience was great, and I got a chuckle out of someone who kind of knew about the whole Finland connection thing asking me to sign their DVD, but in Finnish, which I did.

Otherwise, on the news front. My production company has finally completed my first doc in some time for the upcoming release of the film "Second Chance" with a documentary called "Second Chance at Second Chance" which will be included with the DVD released by ALPHA HOME VIDEO. Dave and Brian, my other partners in crime are truly professionals and great to work with.

Nicer weather is on it's way, and I look forward to the spring and summer. Slowly, plans for Europe are falling into place. That's good!

HUNKA JUNK 5- HITS CLEVELAND, OHIO!

2008-02-11T23:17:00.000-05:00

FINALLY! It's here, the United States premiere of HUNKA JUNK 5!

I'm so looking forward to going to the Cleveland to show and tell with my hodge-podge of film and seeing so many friends that I haven't seen for ages. Back in the day, I would mail my friends hodge-podge videotapes of mixed montages of films or during booze binges hanging with friends in Kent, we would watch some crappity-crap tape I bought at the local K-Mart. Some things change, but some things stay the same!

THE CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF ART CINEMATHEQUE PRESENTS
"HUNKA JUNK 5"

AMERICAN PREMIERE!
FIRST CLEVELAND SHOWING! ONE SHOW ONLY! (INCLUDES INTRODUCTION BY DION CONFLICT)
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, AT 9:15 PM
CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF ART CINEMATHEQUE
11141 EAST BLVD IN UNIVERSITY CIRCLE
TEL. (216) 421-7450 * FREE PARKING * WWW.CIA.EDU
ADMISSION $8, CINEMATHEQUE MEMBERS $6

Dion Conflict is a Canadian film collector who maintains the Conflict Archive. At least he calls it an archive; the rest of us might regard it as more of a junk pile. Conflict's collection consists of old, campy 16mm short films - instructional movies, commercials, animation, music performances, and other celluloid cast-offs. For a number of years now he has gathered his most-prized oddites into full-length programs that he presents to large, often cellout crouds in his native Canada , and more recently, Finland. HUNKA JUNK 5, his latest compilation is the first to play Cleveland. Among the show's 20 films are YOU'RE THE SALESMAN, which teaches service station workers how to sell kitschy items to unsuspecting motorists; LIGHT UNTO ALL, a strange film about mobsters, politicians, and religious visions from the master of bizarro social-guidance films Sid Davis; psychedelic Australian ice cream commercials; and advice on how to look prettier for your boss. But the crap won't just be on screen... prizes and giveaways supplement the screening! 16mm - Approx. 120 min

Thanks to the Cleveland Cinematheque for this awesome description from their current calendar. I couldn't say it better myself!

VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK - Fettes Brot's "Jein"

2008-02-08T21:11:00.000-05:00

The weekend is finally here and I'm slowly preparing for HUNKA JUNK 5 - CLEVELAND. Ohio has always held a million stories after a visit, and I know this will be the same. Ohio and Finland have both been kind of these personal "oasis" places for myself. Plus, it is the home state of Nick Lachey, Traci Lords, John Holmes AND Devo!

It looks like either this week or next week, I'll be shooting a DVD documentary supplement so I'm trying to prepare for that, and still get out of my burnout state. My work has a ban on vacations JUST after I leave for Cleveland, which sucks because of dealing with a million other things lately, I was hoping to fly to Kosova for a week to visit some friends. This might have to happen in April as I'm not booked up anywhere that I know of... YET.

But hey, here's my VIDEOCLIPE of the week of my fav song by one of my old Fav German hip-hop groups, FETTES BROT. Many times I've spun this and people have said, "Whoa, what's that? It's great". Well dayum, I hate giving away ALL my secrets, but sharing FETTES BROT and this spagetti western inspired video makes me say "Einfach gesagt fettes brot is die beste rap band der welt!!!"

VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK - Mari Liis' "Kellegi jaoks"

2008-01-22T22:35:00.000-05:00

Whoa. Unbelievable things have been happening within the last week, which I'm going to get to when I have some more time to unwind. But in the meantime....

HUNKA JUNK DVD's are at GOOD CATCH! See my previous post for location to purchase your own copy and check out other posts for locations within the GTA where you can pick up your copy of HUNKA JUNK 5!

But hey, time to post a VIDEO! Mari Liis is from Estonia, and I saw this AGES ago on an Estonian music DVD I picked up at a mall in Tallinn, Estonia. Anyhow, this cut of the different is much different then the one made for home video. It's bubblegum Eesti-Pop, so enjoy Mari Liis in the videoclipe of the week!

A Good Catch!

2008-01-08T22:50:00.000-05:00

GOOD CATCH is another fine retailer that carries the HUNKA JUNK 5 dvd. If you're not familiar with this shop and live in Toronto, YOU SHOULD BE!

Located at 1556 Queen Street West (close to Sorauren, just West of Lansdowne), GOOD CATCH is a General Store, loaded with all kinds of goodies inside. How many stores in Toronto can you buy delicious organic spelt tarts, fair trade hot chocolate, AND a Mysterion 7" record? Add HUNKA JUNK dvd's to the treasure!

http://www.goodcatch.ca/

Well, I might have some more good news on the horizon as I was stuck in meetings yesterday evening. I was thinking it would be (as the Go-Go's would say) an "automatic rainy day", but instead went into work winning the hockey pool, then had this good meeting.

Good catches, all around!

VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK - PREMIER MINISTR: "Northern Girl"

2008-01-06T22:21:00.000-05:00

It's 2008 everyone! Indeed even with the week being sluggish and about as interesting as Friday's leftovers, I'm optomistic to move on with bigger and better things. I'm slowly looking forward to bringing HUNKA JUNK to Cleveland (February 15), the DVD deal with Alpha, and generally being optomistic!

But hey, for Christmas I got a new flat screen TV and was watching my DVD by Russian boy band PRIME MINISTR (which PAL/SECAM dvd's look amazing on the new TV), and thought about most Europeans who follow the Eurovision competition would remember them from 2002 and their English track, "Northern Girl". While far from my fav Russian pre-fab band, this track I like to hear from time to time. Anyhow, it's my VIDEOCLIPE of the week!

Later on this week, I'll write a letter to Lenor. If you don't know WHO Lenor is, you should be ASHAMED to a certain extent, and also search my other blog entries for the legend of Lenor, and also a pic! I talked with Igor last week however and he told me they are not using Lenor at the moment because of the baby. Poor Lenor

VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK - K'Maro - "Femme like U'

2007-12-31T00:27:00.000-05:00

Well, it looks like the year is coming to an end! Indeed 2007 was an interesting ride! I've been blessed with great friends and others believing in my vision this year, so there's really no complaints. From hanging out in Times Square with Albanian pop stars, to being a Best Man at a wedding in Finland, Eating Indian food on a 4 hour trip to Estonia, hell, why complain?

So, I was thinkin 'bout K'Maro, the Lebanese/French-Canadian "urban" artist. Possibly, the MOST sucessful Canadian Urban artist in the world that NOBODY in English Canada has heard of! This is an older track by him from his debut album, mixing English and Francais. His follow up, which I got at the Russian version of Home Depot, is terrible.

But anyhow, K'Maro ends our VIDEOCLIP OF THE WEEK for the year.

And may all my friends out there be blessed with the best for 2008! Bring it on!

New Event! Hunka Junk DVD info - Christmas Kitsch-A-Roo - Dec 21 & 23rd!

2007-12-15T18:03:00.000-05:00

Every day, I keep getting requests in regards to how to get the HUNKA JUNK dvd. Well, look below for some more mail order information plus you can purchase it at Suspect Video in Toronto (both locations which include b-side Honest Eds and the one on Queen, just East of Bathurst on the south side) and you can purchase it as well at the Revue Cinema itself. If you're still having problems, just drop me a quick e-mail (look forward on other posts) and I'll set you up.

The Conflict Archives has been truly blessed with a year beyond what we could have imagined. So, we're ending it off with a bang and opening up our vault once again for some fine Christmas films we bet you haven't seen!

The Conflict Archives Presents

“Christmas Kitsch-A-Roo”

December 21st @ 9:30 PM / December 23rd @ 2:00 PM

Revue Cinema (400 Rocesvalles Avenue - Toronto - Just south of the Dundas West Subway Station & Bloor)

Tickets $6 for members, $12.50 for non-members (which includes membership)

Deck the halls with balls of cornball as Dion Conflict opens his archives to showcase lost family friendly films, which yule-tide your heart over with! CHRISTMAS KITCH-A-ROO features lost and forgotten campy short films celebrating Christmas. The baffling “Santa in Animal Land” shows that even poorly (and creepy) constructed hand puppets can ask for bunches of junk under the tree. Also you can see Christmas films from David and Goliath, Woody Woodpecker, Bargain Basement Swedish-Christian fables, and bouncing ball Christmas Carols (complete with poorly animated backdrops) which will have the theatre singing with joy! The “big kids” screening on Friday will also feature the most violent/racist children’s film ever, SANTA CLAUS PUNCH & JUDY. “All Kids” could feature a visit with the big man himself! Take a break from the holiday bustle, get ready to move into the new year with going back in time with some no-shame holiday Campy-ness! You’ll jingle all the day!

HUNKA JUNK 5 - dvd - hittin tha streets!

2007-12-01T14:42:00.000-05:00

Thanks Toronto for the great turnout for the screening at the Revue last Friday! We had well over 150 eager patrons to partake in HUNKA JUNK 5. It was a great night and it was nice returning home and sharing film with everyone here. Besides a slight little breakdown with the projector (The Revue's manager Tim got a jolt of electrocity sent through his body trying to diffuse the problem!). Special thanks should go to the following who REALLY helped bring this to the screen: Tim Revue, Tim Smy, Brenda, Richard @ Adidas Toronto (who outfitted me for my BT appearance) Breakfast Television, Andrea @ Blogger.to, Stephe Perry @ CIUT 89.5 FM.

After the BT appearance, I've had MANY MANY requests for the DVD. I have a small amount imported from the distributor in Russia which I can offer here (these dvd's are playable here) for $15 post paid to the follwing address (MONEY ORDER or well concealed $$):

KONFLIKT IN THE KINO,

PO Box 81008,

45 Harbour Square

Toronto, ON

M5J 2V3

Be sure to return to dionconflict.com to find out about our next screening "Christmas Kitsch-A-Roo", happening during the holiday season!

And, be added to our mailing address by dropping a line to eurocoleco@hotmail.com

HUNKA JUNK 5 returns home (Friday November 23 @ 9:30 PM) - Revue Cinema, Toronto

2007-11-15T09:23:00.000-05:00

Friends:

Join me in celebrating the return of Toronto's infamous "no-format" film festival back home where it all started....

HUNKA JUNK 5 has it's Candian premiere and returns back to Toronto after it's premiere in Finland in the first CONFLICT ARCHIVE screening in over a year in the Toronto area. And a new venue!

DION CONFLICT PRESENTS "HUNKA JUNK 5" (CANADIAN PREMIERE!)
16mm film print
Friday November 23rd @ 9:30 PM
Revue Cinema (400 Roncesvalles Avenue, South of Dundas West Subway station on Dundas)
www.revuecinema.ca

HUNKA JUNK is back! The no-format film festival brings you lots of oddball 16mm films being saved from obscurity and from the trash bin! In one sitting, see over 20 different films including strange educational films, forgotten commercials, bad animation, grindhouse movie trailers, and bargain basement art-house fare, all in one sitting! Highlights include animated bikes singing in a child's dream, Wham-O commercials, films on looking prettier for your boss, kiddie vandalism sprees, and so much more! See the strange "Light Unto All" by Sid Davis (who did the anti-homosexual epic "Boys Beware" mix mobsters and bargain basement footage of Jesus. "You're The Saleman" teaches gas pump attendants to sell unsuspecting motorists junk. It all ends with one of the most jaw dropping films you will ever see about "what people do at night". INTRODUCTION BY DION CONFLICT & WIN PRIZES! Receive a free copy of Issue #17 of KONFLIKT IN THE KINO.

HUNKA JUNK 5 returns home after it's tour of Finland, selling out on it's last stop in Helsinki 2 hours before showtime, in 10 minutes! Don't miss it!

***

2) KONFLIKT IN THE KINO #17 - HITTING THE STREETS OF NORTH AMERICA, NOV 23

The premiere of HUNKA JUNK will also launch the debut of the 17th issue of KONFLIKT IN THE KINO. Issue #17 contains interviews with Helln'back from the Candian First Nation hip hop group "Team Rezofficial", Actor George Stover (John Waters' Desperate Living, Female Trouble and all of Don Dohler's films) answers the 3 QUESTIONS, and get insight into doing music in Kosova with legendary Albanian artist Memli from the group Ritmi i Rrugks. Plus reviews of music and film from around the globe, going past the press releases. GET IT FREE AT HUNKA JUNK!

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3) HUNKA JUNK FINLAND HIGHLIGHTS ON YOUTUBE!

Various highlights from the last tour of HUNKA JUNK 5 can be located on YOUTUBE. Just simply type in "HUNKA JUNK" into your browser. I put some there, other's have been posted by Finns and other fans.

***

Well, I'll keep this short for now. I hope you are able to share in this special "homecoming" event with me and HUNKA JUNK at a new home, the newly renovated and reopened Revue Cinema. It's been awhile since we've been able to share a film together and look forward to you joining me! Feel free to pass this on to other film fans.

Regards,
Dion Conflict

VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK - Artaj Bajrami "100 Grade Celcius"

2007-11-13T20:16:00.000-05:00

I was looking at a tape of Arta Bajrami performing this track on the Labia New Years Party of 2005. My copy had a bad control track problem on the master, so I hit up YOUTUBE to find perhaps Arta's best track. It's a little washy, but still not bad.

There's some GREAT gossip I'd love to share with you about Arta, but I should be kind of discreet.

Anyhow, enjoy some classic Artaj Bajrami on the VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK!!!!

A well lit city...

2007-11-11T08:51:00.000-05:00

I've woke up after only sleeping about 4 hours (this is my routine as of late).

After hanging with my friend Aleksi yesterday I came home in the evening. My apartment had it's normal disarray but it seemed horribly like the last place I needed to be in the world. For some reason I got in the door and had to just take my keys, my wallet, throw on a Detroit cap, and bounce.

Out the door I go thinking maybe by hitting the streets, the answers would come from a long walk.

From my West end home, I had to go all the way South to Younge and Queens Key, down King Street, up Roncesvalles to go back home. This walk went 6 hours and during my last bit of it, I felt physically like someone had taken my one leg and twisted it like a piece of licorice.

With a chill in the air, I was in search for answers, or trying to figure out all that the week had "given me". Here's what I found:

a) The city is well lit
b) I almost got punched out by some fiend/possible homeless person. I was just walking and he almost punched me out
c) It was chilly. As I walked along the boardwalk of Harbourfront, a young Asian couple was laying on the boardwalk, engaged in romantic conversation and laughing as she rested on his chest. My initial thought was to push them in the water, but it was cute.
d) Lots of people who look like they are from Woodbridge eat at Richtree.
e) Some guy real west on King Street asked me for directions to get to Zanzibar (a downtown strip joint). He was from Ottawa, a little drunk, I encouraged him to grab a cab.
f) Some scrap was going on right on Symington. It was loud and people were coming around from out of nowhere. It was a little odd.
g) You can't find answers when the question itself is in code or doen't really have an answer

Figuring Out Dreams....

2007-11-10T11:27:00.001-05:00

Again, I'm trying to be more dilligent in writing on here. Sometimes it just kind of feels odd in a "dear diary" type sense but maybe writing more for me right now would be theraputic.

It's kind of been a down week for me this week as I try to figure out things in my personal life. Last week I was innondated with really good news outside of my work life dealing with CONFLICT ARCHIVES, then this week was kind of more personal blows. On top of it as well, my Mom just called to say my Grandfather isn't doing very good. Indeed it's strange when I reflect on back when I was a little boy and would see him come home to my Grandparents house, strong and built like an ox. My parents recently retired. You look back and go "where did the years go?" Eventually, we all get older. With my grandparents, I can see how the time has flown by. Plus I have just came to the conclusion that some things, you just can't generally control. You can give love, but it might not be enough. You can't control changes in your body when you get older. It's work in progress that you need to work and figure out what the parameters are (with aging and love) and see what will work best for you and others around you.

I've slept horribly lately and prayed this morning to have someone I cared deeply for return, and some kind of sign to figure it all out. I fell asleep and was given this strange dream....

I was in the United States and driving with some older woman who I was driving back across the border after some kind of conference. The woman kept showing me these papers of all this "personal self seminar" kind of stuff. While driving, I noticed so much construction. Boards randomly construted at exits looking like bad AGO art projects. I reached in my pockets to find my passport and just found my licence and my bank card. How did I get across the border without my passport? And why are there so many exits that are blocked up? How am I going to get back into Canada????

It ended and I woke up, a little bit more rested but trying to figure out the dream. If there is another plateau, was this some kind of vision that they were putting into my head? Or was this me trying to figure out the highs and lows of my life recently. Who knows.

But reflecting now on the dream... It's really has caputered how I feel right about now. I'm still figuring out the journey sometimes without the security of my passport which gets me cross borders by saying who I am, and what my business is.

So, in essense. I don't know if it's something created in my mind, or the divine creator placed it there to say "Hey, life is an adventure Dion! Figure it out!"

Maybe I just need to write a letter to Lenor (if you don't know WHO Lenor is, see later on in my blog).

Well, it's time to go about my day. And hopefully I don't hit too many exits with strange wooden borders!

HUNKA JUNK 5 + KOTI = NYT! / Halloween Screenings

2007-10-29T21:02:00.000-05:00

(Above: Ad for Night Visions Program - Finland)

Terve!

Well, I have been slack AGAIN with updating my blog but I always think to myself "Who reads this?" but apparently some of you do as I got a couple e-mails saying "PLEASE update your blog!" Well, tassa se on! ;)

I guess there's news on the CONFLICT ARCHIVES front here that I will be doing a screening of HUNKA JUNK 5 here in Toronto on November 23rd. In some ways, it feels kind of weird. For over a year, I've been screening in Finland and now, it feels like I'm coming back home. But on some grounds it's kind of exciting. A new cinema, hopefully new faces and yeah, I'm a big fan of "new"! LOL!

Halloween was always a fun time for screenings here. But I dunno, so far I don't know what to see as far as public screenings are going. EVIL DEAD is showing, but I've seen it plenty of times before. HOUSE OF WAX in 3-D is showing while I love 3-D, the film plays kind of slow. Perhaps I'm dreaming of a screening of some trashy 80's slasher flick just to shake up the city a bit. But it might only get 20 people. It looks like I might have a meeting in another attempt to direct a new music video that night anyhow.

During my last visit to Western New York, we saw all kinds of freaky Halloween type things. One that was pretty interesting was a foam coffin with skeleton and sound effects. The whole gaudy contraption was well worth the $45 price tag at K-mart. BIG LOTS had this nasty rat in a huge rat trap that squirmed and squaled when you pressed a button. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't like rodents, so that won't be on my shopping list.

But you know I'll be stocking up on all that 50% off candy the day after.

VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK - HI-FI's "Черный ворон"

2007-10-08T14:54:00.000-05:00

I taped this AGES ago from RussianMix here in Toronto, but hadn't found it and here it was on youtube! HI-FI's classic "Voron" (means "Crow" in English.

HI-FI have been around for some time, and there's been lots of new gossip bout them. The lead singer's "jealous boyfriend" supposidly posted naked pics of him somewhere on some Russian online site, and the girl has left cuz she's married and now has a kid. I'm not sure what she did except maybe sing their classic English track "Call Me Misha". But whatever. Maybe someone on there can fill me in!

HUNKA JUNK 5 - FINNISH TOUR DATES

2007-08-16T00:09:00.001-05:00

(photo courtesy: Minna Harmaala)

Moi ja mita kuuluu!

HUNKA JUNK 5 returns to Finland to show an obscure collection of 16mm educational films, commercials and other strange celluloid. See animated bikes sing! The worst in sound foley! Local pitch men sell used cars! Kids go on smashing sprees, and so much more! Over 25 different short films, all in one evening!

Here's the dates as to WHERE you can see HUNKA JUNK 5 in Suomi!

AUGUST 24th @ Kino Niagara (Tampere, Finland) - 20:30 PM - (Pirkanmaa Film Centre)

(http://www.elokuvakeskus.com/niagara/index.htm)

AUGUST 25th @ Kino Thalia - (Turku, Finland) (16:00) (

http://www.kinothalia.fi/)

AUGUST 29th @ It-dynamon auditorio (Jyväskylä, Finland) (time tba) (http://www.ksek.fi/)

NYT!!!! - Dion Conflict will be appearing on the program YLE EXTRA on Thursday with Finnish Idol contestant - pop star - ANTTI TUISKU! Joo, it's true. After 18:00, before 19:00. Check listings for YLE EXTRA in your hood!

SEPTEMBER 1ST @ Kino Engel (Helsinki, Finland) (21:00) (tickets to be sold at 19:00)

Also, be sure to check out dion on Lahiradio's "Meteliä maan alta" (100.3 FM) August 26th @ 20:00 with Pekka Malinen spinning new Albanian hip hop and other "paska" from around the globe!

Contact us for more information including press releases, photos, screener information, and more!

Ja, be added to the e-mail lista by typing in eurocoleco@hotmail.com for all the latest info on the HUNKA JUNK 5 appearances, and other Conflict Archives info!

2007-07-06T23:47:00.000-05:00

(Photo: King Road Ministries, spreading the gospel to truckers in Grimsby, ON)

Grimsby really does earn it's name. A friend of mine and I recently got stuck there and were going to chill and ready to do a BBQ in the back of a truck stop motel. The courtyard was littered with skunks (I saw 2), a cat, and a wild rabbit. Creepy, and not what I was dying to see when I was wanting to have a late night BBQ. But anyhow, I ended up grilling my cuts of turkey mignons wrapped in bacon in a schoolyard in Grimsby while listening to some smooth R&B. Grimsby doesn't allow "parking" by their public parks after 1 am. Lighten up Grimsby!

Otherwise, it's been a pretty ho-hum week. I'm slowly working on Issue #17 of KONFLIKT IN THE KINO which should be good fun, on top of that, getting ready for HUNKA JUNK 5.

Emma text me and told me that it was "sing Ultra Bra" week in Finland which I blared to work and en route to going to see "1408" (which wasn't that good, but I liked seeing my friend jumpy). Anyhow, Finland was playing in my head and thinking that it wouldn't be too long till I got to be there again and chillin with my friends. Good times!

Anyhow, not much else to say for now. It was a nice night and Mike White has been telling me to update my blog more, so here it is!

When the Brian Collapses / Welcome to dionconflict.com!

2007-06-20T21:12:00.000-05:00

Wow! It's been so long since I've posted anything! The weeks pass by and we get caught up in our lives and on top of it, I've just been busy with getting ready for some things. After looking at Jully Black's awesome blog, I was saying to myself "Damn, I gotta blog more!"

First off, wow! Finally after so much coaxing, I finally bought dionconflict.com! So, hooray! Eventually I hope to have it as a site that would have links to some other things, some pics and other things (such as my blog). Dionconflict.com is looooong overdue however.

Otherwise, FACEBOOK has also been other ways of communicating with friends. It's kind of creepy in a weird way with people knowing my real last name, but them the brakes. I've had lots of people from my past contacting me about "What's this Dion Conflict thing" and "What's this Finland thing" which is always kind of interesting when you have to update someone about the last decade or decade and a half!

The big news is that I'm booked for Finland again and also will be having the world premier there of HUNKA JUNK 5. That's pretty damn exciting! I look forward to seeing all my friends back there as well, and it will be nice to reshare my film collection with audiences. Also, I'm working on the new issue of KONFLIKT IN THE KINO (can you believe the 17th?) which is cool too.

Lenor would be proud of all the day trips I've got to do and really enjoying the summer.

Certain elements of my life have seemed to go on auto pilot, but now things are slowly changing back into more fufilling activities. In so many ways I'm ready to turn over new rocks and begin new journeys. I think I'm always ready for a new challenge and now, more so than ever.

A funny thing happened today. It was a horrible day at work with the typical kind of sibling bickering between me and some of my younger co-workers when out of the blue the phone rings, "Is this Dion who was on STYLE BY JURY saying such and such a woman looked like a hoochie Mama in a lazy boy?... We love you! We need you back on the show!"

VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK - Dima Bilan's "Pozdravljaju!"

2007-04-11T21:44:00.000-05:00

I haven't added one of these for ages, but here it is. Dima (from Russia) had a track that came in #2 in this year's Eurovision. While in Europe, Igor would say "He should have won" and when I would mention the #1 artist from Finland (Lordi) he would say "This is a joke"

Meanwhile, Finns would say "The Russian guy couldn't even pronounce the English properly!" (that's Emma)

Regarless, I like this early Dima video from around 2004 or so. I even like the girl with the crimped blond hair. Anyhow, Dima is my VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK

New York City, Shpat Kasapi, and the temptation to exist

2007-04-08T12:52:00.000-05:00

(Photos - Times Square on a Sunday night / Dion Conflict and Albanian Pop Superstar Shpat Kasapi backstage at BB Kings)

Damn! It has been awhile since I have blogged! But I thought I should document my quick little visit to NYC while it's still fresh in my head.

Friday I arrived by train and after trying to catch a cab at Penn Station, I thought f--k it, I'll try my hand at transit. After going too far uptown I got to my hotel in West Harlem. The first room I had had an earring on the floor and the door wide open, but then I got another room. Big, quiet, I slept like a baby. I walked out on the street to get a vibe of my surroundings. It was pretty quiet, unlike my previous visit where I stayed in the Bowery. Back to my bed.

Saturday I woke up and just started walking. I was eventually going to find the East Village and unlike many trips I've had, there was really not much of a set agenda during the day. While walking Broadway, I could hear the song playing in my head. How I got from 107th street to the East Village is beyond me, but it was a fabulous day. In the evening I got a call from my cameraman who was going over what we were going to do that evening. You see, I was suppose to film and interview Albanian pop star, Shpat Kasapi doing a show at the legendary BB Kings. The dink tells me "I'll ring you at 10:30, see you then" - I waited 2 hours for the guy... who didn't show. Now, my blood is boiling. There were about 15 camerapeople who applied to do this, I offered him OK money, and no show! What a bloody joke.

After Shpati's show, I sneek backstage. Someone approaches me and shocking knows who I am and said that they read my postings on some forum. The internet has made the world small. After some apprehension, I meet Shpati backstage and chat with him about doing an e-mail interview or a full sit down interview when he returns in September. This cameraguy left me still with egg on my face. But when you're in another country, there's not MUCH you can do about the situation.

Sunday: I sleep terribly the night before because of the rattle of the hot water heater in my room. However, I meet up with a friend I chatted with online. Will meets me outside the hotel and we make our way to Times Square, then the East Village, just chatting about life. I introduce him to BAMN AUTOMAT, a self-serve vending machine wall with hot food. After downing some Teriyaki burgers, I get lost back in Soho, then find my way to do some more shopping. I sleep 3 hours before taking an Amtrak back to Canada, while sitting beside a yappy child (this always happens that a kid will sit next to me and love to talk).

New York. It was my 2nd time there and I like it, but like Toronto a little bit better just because I do find it still a little more diverse now, and some of the shops that I was finding were just so-so. But having the down time to myself was quite good. Having a trip as well where I didn't have to watch EVERY penny was nice too.

It's weird however. NYC reinforces that I could so get up and move away with no problems, IF the opportunity knocked. Toronto is OK, my home in a ways, but I've always felt more of a man of the world. Opportunity here is kind of limited. But anyhow, that's the reflection.

My newest letter to Lenor

2007-02-09T21:07:00.000-05:00

If you are unfamiliar with Lenor, you need to read a little further in my blog about the mystical girl on Russian fabric softener bottles for the full story.

Dear Lenor:
Hey, it's been awhile. I hope you're still shining your sunshine in the way only you can to the fine housewives of Russia.

Well, it's been frightfully cold here. Yesterday I went to get a table for my new printer. Yes Lenor, I've finally become part of the digital age and have a computer now in my home. My friends must be baffled. The DVD's burners come in handy! ;)

But anyhow, I went to dial the number where to pick up the table and could barely push the buttons as my fingers were becoming mumified! Eegads, but tonight isn't too bad.

Well, I'm missing you and Finland and my friends over there. Or maybe it's just travelling as things are the same old here. But I'm sure some are stunned that I'm actually taking time to clean and get that part of my cluttered life in place. But it is exhausting especially after the long trek out to work, which is, as you would say in Shqip, "Muti"!!!! ;)

But I'm slowly getting some film things together. But it's been nice having a well deserved break. Forever, I've been multi-tasking about 1000 projects. Could I be burning out in my old age? Nah, I think it's just time to step back and reflect and focus in on what one should be doing.

Well, I wish you were here to help the clothes smell better, but after I finish my bottle of SNUGGLE fabric softener, I'm going to use something more "earth friendly". We all gotta do our part.

Oh, and I won't sign this with "lots of love" as Valentine's day is coming up and I'm sure there will be lots of couples bumping and grinding on satin sheets with pillar candles ablaze. May you light them all on fire! HAHAHAHA!

cheers,
dion

PS: I'll have a VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK next week, I swear!

2007, songworm and the VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK - Aurora's "Lele Kaquele"

2007-01-05T16:45:00.000-05:00

So, Bill Riley might think this "global warming" business is crap...eh?

Here in Toronto today, our high is +13C! I'm dealing with more flu like symptoms because I think my body can't figure out what time of the year it is! We've had no snow, and it's just kind of creepy.

New Years was very spontaneous and weird! Johnny Rourke and I were going to shoot pool, but then Mirva called and we got to have some drinks at Joe Mercury's. While they had NO MENU after 11, we ended up hitting Whalen's pub just before midnight. Indeed the small place (smaller than my flat), was crammed with a motley bunch and it had taken awhile for me to get some cider as the barmaid was busy doing whiskey shots with customers. No worries, as I had cider in my hand in time to toast in the new year. After that, we did a quick b-line to 7-11 where my boozer appetite came in. I had a croissant, Mirva had ice cream.... within the hour the poor girl was robbed at gunpoint by "two unidentified black males" a cop later told us outside of another pub (the third of the evening).

There, a girl named "Steff" went over to a homely guy, poured tequila on his pierced nipple, and sucked it off. She hit this "last stop" pub on her way to PIZZA PIZZA with her friends (she later confided to us outside).

This is how I launched 2007. I guess it wasn't THAT bad.

SONGWORM is what they call a song that plays over and over in your head. Here's what's played in mine for days.... Albanian boy-band AURORA! It might be one of their better tracks they have recorded, and I have a better quality clip from an awards show. Regardless, enjoy this VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK.

... and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy Holidays - "Don't pick your nose dear"

2006-12-25T00:30:00.000-05:00

(Above: Nice little clip of kid-singer Bobby Carter on the infamous NYC cable show "Stairway to Stardom")

Enjoy the above clip from my favorite public access show from the 80's, STAIRWAY TO STARDOM. Most of my friends would tell you I'm infatuated with the show and it's talent, even my co-workers know too much about it.

Well, it's the holidays and I'm relaxing up at my parents. I finished off my running around and buying presents and enjoyed an evening up here with my folks friends and chowed down on some good Polish food my Mom prepared. It's funny that Mom makes such good Polish food (we're not Polish).

I got hit by a bike on Friday after work crossing Bay and Queens Quay around 4pm in the afternoon by this older man driving his bike (holding an umbrella!). I'm OK, but was stunned after it as it was a hard hit, finding myself on the ground not sure WHAT I was hit by. I'm OK, just a little sore on my side. Where this bike came from is beyond me.

Anyhow, I'm hoping you and those around you have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK - M-Flo & Crystal Kay

2006-12-13T17:14:00.000-05:00

It's been an utterly boring day, but I'm trying to figure out if I'm going to NYC for New Year's. But the big obstacle has been accomodation. If it all falls into place, it will be my first trip in ages that will not have me showing films, DJing, or pimped back to back with meetings. Weird!

But I want to get out of the trailer park we call Toronto just to do something different. And I've heard NOTHING going on here AT ALL! That's not good!

Onto the VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK from Japan comes M-Flo and Crystal Kay (who will be my future wife btw;)... This fun video almost makes you think of summer. M-Flo is annoying and reminds me of the Tang character Bobby Lee plays from MAD TV, but it's a fun little video, so enjoy M-FLOW & CRYSTAL KAY with REEWIND! / I LIKE IT, my videoclipe of the week!

Christmas Party (HELL)hole Memories

2006-12-12T16:32:00.000-05:00

Michelle has been nagging at me to go to our company Christmas party and I'm kind of "so-so" about going. Seeing your co workers tipsy can sometimes be not so pretty. When I recall older Christmas parties there's been some funny instances with some co-workers including...

- Drunk woman going home with manager of the pizza place I worked at who later got busted in Homosexual-department store washroom sting, which my hometown paper printed peoples names in the paper.

- Morning show producer goes home with Sports Producer (Sports producer had a kid... 2 weeks before)

- Drunk co-worker asking female friend if me and her were going to f***

This year, our Christmas party doesn't even have an open bar, since it got ruined (so I hear) by some out of control females in another department. (Damn them!)

It made me think of what might be the best Christmas party I went to, and oddly enough it was the worst place to ever work at. The Canadian Home Shopping Channel.

After dealing with management that made a chapter out of LORD OF THE RINGS seem almost heavenly, I convinced my friend Liisa to go to it, back in the day. I decided their retarted mind games were not going to stand in the way of me enjoying some chewy roast beef at the somewhat tacky, LUNA ROOM, a ballroom that looks like a condemed attraction at Disney World.

Liisa came into the T dot by way of her ex-boyfriend on a very snowy night, with a Chevette that kept breaking down along the way. Earlier that day I went to Kensigton Market and picked up a vintage dress shirt and green striped tie, along with some Chia Green hairspray to rip the rug away.

We sit with some people from the store (who I didn't know) and just start yammering on, while we hit the wine which NOBODY at the table was drinking. There was nobody from production at my table, and with Liisa, we just continued to have a fun time. Meanwhile, the cool people I liked in production staff (including a parade of Zirconia models and cameramen) came over to our table when the store staff left.

Then came the prizes. 3rd Prize was a VCR, which was won by some employee I didn't know.

"I should have won that!" I said. Then they were doing the draw for the 2nd Prize, a camcorder... The Sanyo Fuzzy Logic. The same camcorder that I had to explain to shopping channel show hosts how to demonstrate on air (the line they used over and over I created, "It works like the retna of your eye"... LOL!) "Now, I DESERVE to win that!"

Did Hugh rig it? I'll never know, but it was the BEST prize I ever won. Long after the debacle of selling my soul along with poorly made info-mercial based merchandise, who know that camcorder would document the next couple of years with me and go around the world to places like Poland, Russia, Finland, Estonia, Amsterdam, and the list went on.

Long after the green hair and the alcohol, the camcorder stayed with me. It was the best, and most practical thing I had ever won.

Who cares about the rest of the party? LOL!

DINING OUT IN TORONTO @ YOUNG/BLOOR "THE BAY" - VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK - Houk's "Wstań"

2006-12-06T17:51:00.000-05:00

(Photos: A foggy evening in a hood we call Symington. Right: Zack ingests some fair to poor quality desserts at THE BAY)

Flu's come when you really don't want them, but I've actually been free of one long enough. I'm sure my cold came from taking public transit where people cough and clip their fingernails with abandon. Class!

Before I got sick however, Zack and I ventured to a "hidden" all you can eat at the somewhat dingy BAY department store last Wednesday. You need to take the escalator to the 5th floor in order to hit the golden gates of HUDSON BAY COMPANY's culinary garden of Eden.

Growing up in Oshawa, and going to the Oshawa Centre in the 80's, THE CANADIANA RESTAURANT was one of the few restaurants that was somewhat passable in the dingy mall. If one could call it an upscale cafeteria, it was.

For Wednesday "all you can eat" evening, there's few people around. Zack whines about the cole slaw being there "since 10:30 or 11 this morning". The meatballs and sweet and sour chicken strike a delish cord and also seem denture friendly. The shepherd's pie has beef that has a texture of sand littered with the occasional corn kernel. Only one of the pop fountain taps, works. Ginger ale anyone?

A nosy busy body sits next to us ease-dropping in the close to vacant restaurant, meanwhile we eyeball the walls in need of a paint job. Zack looks like I've brought him to hell. Geez, it's just dinner! ;)

Dinner for 2 will be about $30 for the ALL YOU CAN EAT. This is urban exploration for the palette!

Now, for the VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK - I couldn't believe that I found this vintage video from HOUK, a Polish-Christian metal band, and classic Izabelin Studio sounds from the mid 90's. It's funny seeing how cheap Polish music videos use to look, and while there seeing many along the same lines. I wonder WHO taped this off of TV Polonia! E tak dali....

Anyhow, enjoy my classic VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK! Time for me to grab some more soup and attack this flu. Na zdrowie!

VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK - SALVATORE ADAMO - "La Nuit" - Dion esittaa Ihana paska!

2006-11-28T15:32:00.000-05:00

(Photos: Mr. Conflict outside the Russian version of Home Depot - Far right: Scott
with his Bespin World Star Wars (in Box)
set after Eclectic Screening Room gig)

The weather has been particularily nice in the slum we call Toronto, but it just makes me think all is eerie in a weird kind of way. It gets dark really fast, and this has to be one of the foggiest fall seasons I can remember. But I digress.

I put up some older pics that I've been clearing out of my camera, as I still go through liquidating lots of film prints and such. However, I've been grabbing many more for my collection. Give me everything in the world!!!! :)

Otherwise, it was a fairly dull weekend. After a full day of running on Saturday, I was ready to crash for the evening. However, the next day I got to see the Toronto Finish Theatre Co's premiere of "Ashes to Ashes, Boom to Bust" directed by Janne Suutarinen at Suomi-Koti. This must have been the best production so far as all the acting was very good, and you know I'm usually UBER critical and NEVER give props! It's funny that most of the English plays I've seen (from Finland) involve funerals, or a funeral home! Hardee har har!

Still been involved with getting the music video production stuff together and the weekend before last had an OUT OF CONTROL pub crawl with East Coast rhymer, Johnny Rourke. If only I could share the story about the guy in the bathroom from Newfoundland and a 9pm Graffiti shoot. But anyhow!

In the meantime, here's a Scopitone for you by the incredible Adamo and "La Nuit"! Zack pointed out that the female in the video reminded him of former CFMT hostess Karen Burdelson, who hosted entertaining segments between Jerry Springer and other CFMT shows. Karen, where are you? Speaking of Scopitones, there's a machine for sale on Ebay! Now that's a Christmas gift I want!

Enjoy the VIDEOCLIPE of the week. Adamo!

Salut!

Lost film and lost music...Toronto's sucky Halloween

2006-11-15T13:39:00.000-05:00

This morning on the subway, I started into reading the Frank Thompson book "Lost Films" which discusses the plots of many films, considered lost from the early days of Cinema. This was a purchase from years ago, but I only re-found it this morning.

It was kind of within the last while talking with old FESTIVAL alumni about the good old days and the disappointing barrage of films that played in Toronto on Halloween. There was no more "Friday the 13th in 3-D" programmed by head festival guru Tim Smy, or even myself and the CONFLICT ARCHIVES with a rickety, bargain basement screening of Orson Wells Occult horror"Necromancy", complete with planted female in the audience screming "I can't handle this! It's too scary!"

As I snoop in the CONFLICT ARCHIVE vaults and re-examine some of the films we showed over the time we spent with FESTIVAL, I realize there is even more film that still hasn't seen the light of day and would be considered "lost". Or perhaps, I should use the term "neglected".

It's funny how with the throng of re-releases in both CD and DVD that we "assume" everything is at our disposal when it comes to entertainment. Perhaps if you are upgrading your copy of James Cameron's Titanic from VHS to DVD that may hold true, but for me it still doesn't hold true. Sadly, the thing is... there are so many titles that I have that I'm always frightened that it will deteriorate into nothing. Does anyone want to see "Rice Girl" or "Yao of the Jungle"? I do!

On another note. During August for one of our VIDEOCLIPE of the week links I featured the incredible Moroccan James Brown, named "Vigon" and his Scopitone.

NPR indie reporter Jennifer Sharpe has done an excellent audio story on the SCOPITONE machine, the overtly large 60's video jukebox from France. I almost bought a Scopitone machine earlier this year and tried to convince Mihai to go on a road trip to Utah. Damn him for not believing in the Scopitone dream!

Here's the link for the NPR story...
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5630027

It's funny how my co-workers here actually have favorite Scopitones! Try to picture armchair jocks discussing the Argos and NCAA basketball playoffs and yammering on about Scopitones TOO!

Visiting Jane/Finch - VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK - "Älä koskaan ikinä" - Kuikka??? ;)

2006-11-13T17:12:00.000-05:00

The weekends sure are jammed filled, but maybe it's because I'll leave some things horribly late. Usually when weekends come here, I have meetings to go to. Some form of meeting about something.

Sunday afternoon has me at trendy Mitzi's sister eating homemade yoghurt with vanilla with Dave and Julie and baby Emily. Perhaps we were kept out of the loop as to how popular the place has become because it was busy busy busy.

Afterwards, I had a meeting regarding working on another music video which required me to go to the notorious intersection of Jane and Finch, what most of Canada envions parts of Johannasburg is like.

Getting off the bus, there's some open space where the booming highrises are. The artist and I walk through the Jane and Finch mall which had a great flea market filled with a great selection of mixed tapes and the like. Afterwards we head over to another mall. My friend is pretty well known there and was greeted by many. "Yeah D, we got lots of love here" he says and he's right. Despite what many will say about the area, it is one of the few areas in Toronto where you really do get a sense of community. Really, this happens very little in the rest of Toronto. Sure, if you got beef goin, stuff can go down. It can happen pretty much anywhere and depends how high you want to aim for the sky, or who you want to roll with. But I've been around the world and know to ALWAYS question what the media says. ALWAYS.

My mailbox again is busting with a mixture of Christmas presents and things I've picked up. One was a print of "The Mysterious Mr. Wong" with Bela Lugosi. Originally, I thought they ripped me off a reel, but everything was compressed on 3 reels. Bela Lugosi, with his thick hungarian accent, playing an Asian. Gotta love it!

Speaking of love, ja rakkaus.... Tassa se on, my VIDEOCLIPE of the week. I haven't featured anything from Finland for awhile, so here's a fun video by EGOTRIPPI which is from the soundtrack of one of my fav Finn films, "Nousikausi". "Älä koskaan ikinä" on ihana! Kippis!

Praying for the Sun / Videoclipe of the Week - TOKIO HOTEL "Schrei"

2006-11-06T17:26:00.000-05:00

After a cold week we actually had some sun this weekend! But it's still been a mind f--k dealing with the whole temperature and lack of sunlight thing. Good times....

The weekend was oddly enough relaxing in a weird sort of way, but at some point I did have to work on a soundtrack. Yours truly got asked to "oversee" the sountrack to a small film a co-worker commissioned me to do after reading an article about me in our company newsletter. It's actually an angle in filmwork I've never really thought about doing, but working on the project has exposed me to lots of new bands, and some very good talent out there as well. Even on the weekend, someone in my hood was trying to sell me some DVD's and I got their mixed tape. If only some of you knew how many mixed tapes of hip-hop I get in, and how many of them are actually playable/enjoyable, but this one was, by far, the BEST Toronto hip-hop demo I've heard in years.... It's like, WTF! The only reason coming in contact with this was because of a freak chance encounter!!!!!!

Which takes me to our video of the week by Germany's Tokio Hotel. My exposure to this band was in a Russian resort in the summertime in a bar, where I asked our fluent in English bartender (from Moldova) what was playing. He told me "Tokyo Motel" but after seeing the band on a Russian music mag, problem corrected and solved. This vid (sourced from VIVA) is much better quality then another one running on youtube, so enjoy!

Freak encounters. Gotta love em!

MOTHERLODE / VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK - "Nora Istrefi's Taxi"

2006-10-31T16:35:00.000-05:00

(Picture: My latest acquisition)

After returning from Finland, I spoke with another film collector regarding some film title that I was vaguely interested in. My e-mail was met with an inquisitive "Oh, there you are! I have some film you might be interested in". Long story short, I ended up with about 375 film reels in 16mm and if you're wondering what that might look like, here it is! My friend Greg helped me move them from the "sketchy" Jane and 401 area. Orginally I saw the collection at night but during the day, it looked like it would never end. Anyhow, I've come across some interesting stuff, but most i'll be getting rid of, some throwing out. Within a 3 second glance, I know to keep something or not. May the gods of bargain basement film shine their light on Greg who looked like he was going to throttle me with all these bloody reels of film, but chose not to bang one over my head like a disgruntle projectionist in Abu Ghraib!

On another note, it's got VERY dark here in Toronto due to the clock turning back. It's VERY dark here by about 5pm. Splendid.

I'll keep it short for now but also show you another video by sexy-Alba-doughnut, Nora Istrefi! I've played the track off of the long out of print "Hip Hop N R&B" comp on Chillout long ago. She's from Kosovo. Anyhow, nice performance and VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK. Enjoy!

My letter to Lenor & VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK - 4-CATS "Al Zaman"

2006-10-21T23:25:00.000-05:00

Photo: Igor and the 2nd love of his life, Lenor. Is she a witch, or wonderful?

Going through my camera, I found this great photo of my pal Igor in Russia that I snapped of him with Lenor. Who the f--k is Lenor you ask? Well, if you see the bottle of fabric softener he's holding there's some kid with overtly crimpled up hair. That's who we think is Lenor, or came to this conclusion after drinking (for me it was cider, and we did some kind of dark booze). The more we drank we wondered if any lonely Russian might write Lenor a letter or something, along the lines of "Dear Lenor: You look so happy on the bottle behind the clouds. I'm addicted to pills and broke. Can you help me?" All the time we kept making up these "Dear Lenor" letters. Some were sinister. They always make us laugh. I shared the Lenor story to my pal Zack who just said, "OMG D, that's just WEIRD WEIRD WEIRD!" Indeed. Especially because it's worth of a blog entry!

Anyhow, since I haven't written for awhile, I thought it was time to send Lenor a letter, and I'm not even on the sauce! Anyhow, here it is....

Dear Lenor:
How are you? Are you helping Russians make their clothes smell all nice? Keep smiling while they do their wash, and especially look out over Igor at Kate.
Life is pretty dull here in Canada. I miss Finland and Russia, but could smell your cloudy touch on my Celtics jersey when I opened up my suitcase on my return. But anyhow, yeah, just busy with some projects here and dealing with the whole weather change thing.
Have you been doing much besides laundry? If you ever want to come to Canada, maybe you would want to be in one of my films or music vids? Hopefully soon I'll be able to get a project done and find an artist that is indeed dilligent.
Anyhow Lenor..... Keep the cider cold for me and look after my friends. You are an angel obviously because on the bottle, there's clouds behind you. Russians should put you on a ruble coin!

xxx,
dion

PS: Before I go away, I will also leave you my VIDEOCLIPE of the week (long overdue) and an old Arabic favorite by the 4-CATS, "Al Zaman". The song is old (almost 10 years!), but the video does have an interesting quality to it, and it has an upscale sound. I wish they would do a concert here. Anyhow, enjoy!

Life NOW with the Ipod Shuffle

2006-09-01T18:08:00.000-05:00

I'm trying to adjust to my "normal" life back here in Toronto and last weekend wasn't TOO terribly normal as I did another appearance on STYLE BY JURY. Poor girl. Decked out in leather with her collar up and a leather skirt so short you could almost see her pootie, I told viewers that "Her wardrobe was inspired by a Lazy-Boy recliner and if she was a woman of the night, her name would be naugahide delight" which made the staff laugh.

From my apprance however, I've used the money to get something I was trying to get before going to Finland.... An Ipod Shuffle! And I got to tell you, they frickin rock! Usually technology in this sense isn't really my thing, but indeed they do rock. You look at the little f'er and go "How does it have such awesome sound AND be so small?" Mine is loaded up with just tracks and stuff from CD's that I picked up while on vacation, and indeed it's a motley mix. From a somewhat obscure band like Russia's "Total" to Estonia's "Rappar-A", it's a good backdrop for taking transit in Toronto. A great Craigslist item!

Otherwise, it's the long weekend here in Canada, so that means hopefully the CNE. But they say it's suppose to rain. That will be good for me to FINALLY tackle some of my laundry along with curl up and watch some bad DVD's. Y'know, I have a couple!

I'll get the VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK for tomorrow, and hopefully some more pics from my trip. But in the meantime, C'ya!

Some quick trip pics and descriptions

2006-08-24T16:05:00.000-05:00

So, here's more pics from the trip. Just some quick things and thoughts...

This is me outside my old flat in Keskustus, Helsinki. close to Bear Park and the "Kallio" area. Daniel pulled us over in this area and asked if I remembered where we were. If you look just left of me and up you can see a balcany. My 2nd visit to Finland, I would sit out there and drink coffee and eat toast while watching the tram go by and people in the park. Good times!

This is shortly after crossing the Russian border and going past Vyborg. If you heard about the forest fires in Russia, well.... I saw them! You could smell them sometimes in Finland, but you could really smell (and see them) along the highway. We pulled over and snapped a pic and if you are able to enlarge it up and look far to where the cars are, you can see the smoke.

Here's a quick pic to describe the direction Russia is turning. NEW! NEW! NEW! This shot comes of one of many new malls around the St. Petersburg area. You could eat off the floors of this one! Went to the Timberland store and the prices were out of my league. So, if you picture stalls and stuff you've seen in old Soviet-era movies, well... take a look. My fav thing oddly enough (in this mall) was a new Russian franchise called Tepemok which have filled Pancakes and a weird Russian beverage that taste like flat beer. You can see what I'm talking about at their francise website at http://www.teremok.ru/

That's it for photos! I'll dig out some more shortly, but picked those for some strange reason.

VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK + MORE TRIP PHOTOS - Toe Tag's "Legendaarne"

2006-08-23T12:08:00.000-05:00

Ahhh, jetlag... It makes you feel bloody dopey all the time. Or that you're coming off sniffing poppers or glue. Not that I'd know.

I've had requests to share more photos from the trip, so I'll throw some on when I can over the next little bit. This first one here is from a Russian flea market on a Sunday afternoon. While shopping deep within it's grasp, there from the far side I could hear off-key "singing". What I found was a stage with Karaoke, complete with some crazy girl and some boozers dancing. It was 3:30 in the afternoon....

But now for the VIDEOCLIPE of the week by Estonian hip-hop group, TOE TAG. It's not my fav Eesti hip-hop group, but this song isn't too bad. It could be in the nomination of the worst Estonian video of all time, and if they ever came to Canada, I'm sure that I could fit them on a makeover show. Just close your eyes however and enjoy the track, "Legendaarne"

STRANGE DAYS - Tampere, Toronto and beyond (Last of Week 3)

2006-08-22T11:45:00.000-05:00

(Photos: Finnish Hunka Junk 4 Poster / Throng of press photos)

Thursday was a rough day. After interviews and living off a combination of kahvi ja ice cream, and of course Ciideri, getting to Tampere was taking a little longer than anticipated.

Tampere is a nice city with a youthfull vibe to it. Pekka came to greet me at the railway station which was when I got to go their koti and enjoy some awesome salati ja ribs from Stockmann (who knew they made such good ribs?). After finally meeting up with Hannele and other friends, we did a quick jaunt up to "Tampere Tower" and looked at the view of the many lakes that surround the Tampere area. Afterwards, I got to visit with my friend Jussi for a pint and also met some very drunk guy who ran another cafe. Heading towards home, I was zonked and looked forward to crashing for a big day the next day.. Much bigger than I could have expected.

Hannele and Pekka were awake making coffee and bread and reading papers. They then showed me articles appearing in NYT (in one of the widest circulated papers in Finland) and "Aamulehti Valo" (the 2nd most read paper, or publication in the 2nd most read). The photos looked great and Hannele said she liked the "Valo" piece as it was "more serious". I knew another one came out that day in Hameen Sanomat, which later on in the day at the railway station, indeed I did get to read the full page article which happily gossiped about my taste in music, directing videos, and Finn-Celeb gossip. Three papers in one day, not bad!

But indeed, I had to do an introduction at Kino Niagara of "Hunka Junk 4". After a quick nap in the evening, I met up with the posse of friends that had come from Helsinki to some cool cafe that looked like some pioneer amish house behind the railway station. Luckily then Mikko had taken me to the theatre.

Quickly, the people were great (including one guy that after I said that I was happy some people were "tipsy", he grabbed a small Vodka and passed it in front of his friends while I gave a speech). Great fun. Afterwards, people picked up the DVD and told me about which article they read in the paper and also discussed some shining examples of Finn music (cough!). Afterwards Pekka, Kirsi ja mina drove on a dark Finnish highway, stopping at some roadstop overlooking the highway while eating over-priced veggie cheese sandwiches.

As my trip dwindled down, I realized it went by so fast. But as briefly as I got to see friends, any time with them was good. Even doing something such as buying "paprika" at ALEPA, or hitting up a paska Flea Market, it was all good. As hard as it is to leave, I think my friends and the excellent people of Finland draw me back time and time again. Kiitos.

But back at work, suffering jet-lag! Just doing dull things. I'm still not into the work mood yet and going through detox. But them are the breaks! Tomorrow I'll post my new VIDEOCLIPE of the week and more pictures of my travels in the Baltics. Till then, cheers!

VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK - Отпетые мошенники - DAY 17 - FINLAND

2006-08-16T16:22:00.000-05:00

There was a wee bit of rest this morning when I got to drink 2 pots of coffee and watch momentarily some Estonian music videos on my portable dvd player, but then there was work to do. Preparing some DVD's for my screening in Tampere, Finland on Friday... this was work that had to be done before going. Milana came home from school, and I ran to the shower. I had an interview with a reporter later on that evening, so I couldn't be seen looking like some tourist who came off the bus of stink. But no worries as I shaved with Turkish shaving gel from Russia, then I flew out the door to get the bus from Porvoo to Helsinki.

Before that I grabbed some cider with my friend Mikko who programs films for the TV Network here called Nelonen. We went to an older cinema which is now owned by the city of Helsinki, which also has a very cool rooftop patio that overlooks keskusta Helsinki, and a view of the Opera and Train station. My mobile goes off and I have to run for the other interview.

The journalist was really cool as we grabbed some Finn-made ice cream. Then, it was off to Anttila where she snapped photos for her article of me looking at CD's. At first, it needed to be cleared with the Anttila people, but after it did she clicked away with me hovering over bins of Finn delete bin discs. Meanwhile, my freind Pentti waited and some other people just stared while trying to do their shopping. Interesting!

Tomorrow it's off to Tampere. Hannele called me today and I look forward to seeing her and my other friends there as well. In regards to the articles and media interest of me here she said something funny... "Now I have to share you with the rest of Finland". Hannele baby, I'll always be for you! ,)

But finally here's a new video by one of my fav Russian bands, Отпетые мошенники. I picked up their discs the first time in Russia, and their album from last year still doesn't disappoint. Think a Russian version of Raptori, mixed with the Beastie Boys, and lots of fun. I love the kid with the mohawk bustin some moves in the boxing ring. Отпетые мошенники, you still rock in my books. And I think I got Igor liking their slow jams! So here's a video by Отпетые мошенники!!!!!

"The cheaper the car, the louder the music" (My Week in Russia)

2006-08-08T13:19:00.000-05:00

Photo: Somewhere in Russia, en route to our resort

The Finnish radio in Lapeenranta was covering the forest fires outside of St. Petersburg, and going into the country, I saw them. This was one of the first things that bestowed my eyes after clearing Russian customs (and dealing with a lady who gave me customs forms to fill out, of course, in Russian).

Russia has changed TONS since my last visit in 2000. As I've told friends here in Finland, there are 3 words to describe Russia at the moment. NEW - BUILD - REBUILD. Going into St Petersburg, you see tons of NEW things and en route see billboards for WONDER ISLAND (English translation), a Russian Disneyland of sorts. First off, there's more than just Ladas and you see tons of NEW cars entering the border. Then you see MALLS. New malls of course, loaded with things you can buy. I can now say I've looked at Timberland boots in a Timberlands store in Russia, along with shopping at OKAY, kind of a Russian hybrid supermarket (think Super K-mart) where I could buy CD's, a roast chicken for dinner, and look at shoes or suitcases.

My week was UBER busy. After a day of flea markets and looking at CDs, we went to a great resort (new as well) called Ravola. My days were spent on Russian beaches, playing ping pong, and drinking more cider (which wasn't even a Euro!) Ahhh, the life. Did I mention it had all you can eat Russian food?

Going back to the city, I got to do some more flea markets and on Saturday hung out on Nevsky Prospekt. With Igor, Katja and their friend Andrei from Moscow, we drank some weird boozey drink with mint, then walked around downtown before going to a place we went last trip, a Mexican eatery which was not too bad.

I almost bought a new 16mm movie camera, which now I kick my ass I didn't. 500 rubles (around $20 USD). But the time FLEW by.

As we approached the border for Finland, we stopped for a quick moment by a Russian truck stop so I could sneak in and see what CD's they had. We hung out here many a times on my last visit and it was a nice send off to the new Mother Russia.

Back in Finland today, it was down to more promotional business. I did an interview with a reporter from a magazine called NWT, which comes in Friday's Helsingin Sanomat, the most read newspaper in Finland. They also snapped photos of me at Lahiradio, where I spun some strange worldboom on Pekka's show, shortly before returning back to Porvoo.

Tomorrow, I have another interview, and maybe then I'll add a new music video if I'm able to get to the computer, but for now, it has been a LONG day. How am I going to bring back 60 plus new CD's, not to mention DVDs????????

Any ideas???

Oh yeah, what's the title mean? Outside Igor's flat in St. Petersburg, guys would boom their shitty music out of their Ladas. Igor then turned to me and said, "The cheaper the car, the louder the music". Some things ARE universal!

Elagu Eesti! (Day 4,5,6) = 1 Day, 2 Countries...

2006-08-06T18:30:00.000-05:00

Photos: Helsinki Kamppi, Saturday @ 3:30 am / Sign in Tallinn, Estonia / Pekka having a strange conversation with a Finn outside a patio in Tallinn.

Daniel and Milana left for Turku on Friday while I met up with Pekka, Kirsi ja lapset in the cool area where he lives in Helsinki We sat outside and had a great dinner with his kids. It's funny that I can understand Finn children a little easier than others, but I have picked up tons since being here. His oldest daughter kept doing this goofy "Italian impression" while we were eating Indian food. Pretty funny! I had to call it an early night as I had to go back to Porvoo, then go back to Helsinki the next morning for Tallinn.

I've mastered the bus system quite nicely as I got back to the bus terminal in time to meet up with Pekka for the speed boat to Estonia. Man, that country has changed since I was last there 6 years ago. They are errecting skyscrapers, and when not in the old town, it looks like your average big city. Emma showed me how to get to Kaubamaja, where I picked up some new Eesti hip-hop cds. Every hip hop CD I heard, I bought! Then it was off for some more drinks. The photo of Pekka was one I snapped of this blotto Finn wearing some obscure hockey jersey. Dude was loaded, and kept saying "It's magic" as often as I use the word "like". Then it was off to DEPECHE MODE bar. Any guesses to what they were playing. My batteries died on my camera, but I broke my curse with cameras and Estonia by RUNNING to the local supermarket for some Duracell. In the evening, we ate at this nice restaurant which name I can't translate into English... But I happily enjoyed Georgian chicken and Armenian Chicken Soup, while drinking wine from Georgia as well. Virpi, her Dad and brother sailed to Estonia for the day and we all shared fun stories at the table (in joke.... blah...blah..blah).

More cideri on the way back to Finland. They ran out and I had to go to drinking "long drink gin". Tiina ended up chatting with some boozer old geezers making the mack on her shortly after I stripped off my top for a digital pic (not included). Clearing customs, you would almost call this a day, but we met up for some more pints, and I got on the 4 AM bus back to Porvoo. Ohhhh, some boozers on there! And tons of people yammering on the phone. Does this country ever sleep?

Today has been nice and quiet. After some kahvi ja watching some Estonian music Video DVD, I grabbed some Hesburger and some stuff from German market LITL for dinner. Perkele, I missed ANKKAROCK, but only heard from someone mid day asking if I was going. No worries, as I did a North American BBQ for Daniel and Milana, plus convinced Virpi and her bro to stay (Virpi grabbed some pics of me for her article for one of Finland's bigger paper, AMULETTI (My spelling!). They were fun, including me holding film reels and looking like hip hop white trash in a sauna. As the sun set, we called it a day.

And speaking of that time for bed. Off to Russia tomorrow. Say a prayer as we cross Russian customs! Kippis.... sinä!

Gettin Silli wit it (Day 3,4)

2006-08-04T01:58:00.000-05:00

Ohhhh, yesterday I had problems sleeping (and last night). On Wednesday after getting back from Helsinki by myself taking public transit back to Porvoo, I chilled out here in the afternoon. That evening however after sauna and Milana making an awesome meatball dinner, we got into the Argentinian wine. Bottles upon bottles till Daniel and I actually saw the sun come up (it starts to come up at 3am, but we saw it up pretty much completely by the time we got to bed). His remedy the next day for me was to have some more cider. My remedy was to come back into town to grab HESBURGER, my junk food of choice in Suomi. While there, the phone rings and I was asked to do an interview when I get back from Russia for NYT, a magazine publication which is featured in HELSINGIN SANOMAT, the most read newspaper in Finland. Later on Pekka says that he had been contacted as well and asked questions about me being on his radio show (which will be broadcast on the 20th). It's all cool, but for the first time in a long, long time, I'm relaxing. Lots. Emma said something in Helsinki that had stuck with me. She said this was the most relaxed she had seen me ever. Plus, in Toronto I am so overloaded with projects I look like, well, never fully relaxed. Its pretty much true.

Last night we dined outside on Daniel and Milana's balcony eating SILLI. I think it's short for Sillampa, which is herring, potatoes, hard boiled eggs, and a dill sauce. It's actually pretty good!

Tomorrow, I'm spending the day in Tallinn, Estonia. Pekka is going, plus Emma, Ville, and Tiina. It should be a fun day as we take over the Linja Line fast boat, which feels like a wide boat with plane seats that goes very fast. You can hear the booze bottles rattling in the duty free. Maybe its a hidden message to me saying 'drink me'!

Funny side note. Daniel and I are drinking cider and coffee (I'm doing coffee) on a shipped parked in the port of Porvoo. He's trying to encourange me to drink more booze again. I say that nobody in Finland wants me to sleep as they have kept me up to exotic hours day and night. He turns to me and says with his Turku accent, "Dion, did you come to Finland to sleep?"

Kiitos Danu!

(Photo: My secret location. Come over and we'll have some cider!)

DAY 2 & VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK - Vigon 'Harlem Shuffle'

2006-08-02T08:01:00.000-05:00

I didn't get to post yesterday only because I was tied up with so many things. After having a good sleep of a night of drinking long drink (see previous post), sauna and playing pool with Daniel and Milana, in the afternoon I was off to Helsinki. Right now I've been staying at Daniel's place in Porvoo, which is just outside Helsinki. I met up with Virpi and Emma, friends I met in Canada who worked for the Finnish paper, Vapaa Sana. Then it was off to visit 'Otto' (the bank machine) to get money to shop at my fav store in Suomi, ANTTILA! Picked up some CDs by AIKA KONE and EGOTRIPPI, which made my friends groan and one go 'Luckily you are taking some of this bad music out of Finland'´. Not true! :))))

We had an awesome dinner at this restaurant in Kallio. Our waiter was right out of Aki Kärismaki flick. Pekka finally came, a pal of mine I met on my 2nd trip to Finland. Then my small posse hit another bar where I got into the Finnish cider. I got drunk enough I had to crash the night in Helsinki, and come back this morning. I was pretty proud as well to find my way from Emma's flat to the bus terminal and back to Porvoo without any help whatsoever! Also while drinking the night before, we crashed a grilli (snack bar) where I was able to say 'French Fries' in Finnish perfectly. There's a weird way to say Finnish R's compared to English and it's actually pretty tricky. But for awhile I could say it and like a little kid, kept saying 'French Fries' over and over again.

Onto my vid pic for the week. Here's an old French Scopitone for France's original R&B king, VIGON. Scopitones were one of the earliest (or early jukeboxes) from France and this performance from the mid 60's of Vigon is great doing the classic 'Harlem Shuffle' (the best version yet). Who knew a Moroccan/French performer could kick so much bootay?

The single for this song (with picture sleeve) sells for close to $40 USD on Ebay, but well well worth it.

Enjoy VIGON, my VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK!

Tervetuluo Suomi! (day 1)

2006-07-31T19:08:00.000-05:00

Oh, what a long day it's been. Bear with me till I get use to this Finnish keyboard!

After locking myself out momentarily, and doing shots of Whiskey in Terminal 3, I was on my way to Helsinki. While in the duty free, I ran into two Finns I knew. One was an actress named Märrit and the other one was a glass blower I met at the Finnish indepedence day celebrations named Mirvi. It is a small world.

My friend Daniel came to pick me up at the airport which was nice. He gave me a long drink (booze with Gin) en route to Porvoo, Finland. Oh yeah, the flight was OK except Finnair served some kind of Ginger Chicken that looked like kitty cat.

After a nap, Daniel and I grabbed a sauna which was great. It was a little wet, but dry heat as well. Afterwards, we sat with our beers out in the middle of a field, just wearing bathrobes. Then we did grillaus (bbq) that his wife Milana made which was awesome. For the evening, we drank booze and played pool on their huge pool table which came from Sweden. Now, this is the life!

No pictures to show you today, but I'm sure you can imagine.

Time to go. It's been a long day. Jetlag is a weird thing however.

THEY'RE KILLIN ME

2006-07-29T19:16:00.000-05:00

Getting ready for this trip today started out kind of quiet. Me sippin coffee at my place watching CBC NEWSWORLD (Honestly, I watch it all the time).

Then Cat and I did a b-line towards St. Lawrence Market. We also did an "all you can eat" breakfast at Golden Griddle (the shittier version of DENNY'S for Canada, mod interesting to see trannies at the College Street location at 3am!), then did a quick run to grab some kebabs. Then I continued running.

I got trip stuff together blah blah blah. But something almost happened today that made me cry.

I went to the HOUSE OF LORDS to get my haircut. As I told the dude (a French guy with cool hair), "Make me look like I just served time in Iraq with American Troops". That he did, but he accidently shaved off my chin strap! (that gotee that runs along my jaw line). This is the first time without one in 5 years.

Going on the bus along St Clair, I would see various guys with it. I felt empty. So, it looks like there will be awhile with NO pics in Finland, or no shaving (more of the latter).

If he wasn't such a nice guy, I would have had him fired.

Anyhow, tomorrow it's off to Finland. Now I'm starting to feel prepared for it. There's still tons of work to do, but when you're on the plane, you can only drink Vodka (I'm taking FINNAIR).

Right?

I got it (the passport, not life silly)

2006-07-28T08:30:00.000-05:00

Today I get to interrupt my day at work to go pick up my passport from the Russian Consulate. SMACK DAB in the middle of my day. Does it ever end?

Yesterday I had to deal with that plus also quickly meet up with my folks for some business. We also did a quick jaunt to the Pacific Mall and some Mongolian Grill (which Minna hadn't tried before). Dinner was good but Mom was making an interesting observation that I've worked myself into the ground and she said "You BETTER relax this trip", which is true.

But already I have some great plans off the bat. Daniel is coming to pick me up after my direct Toronto/Helsinki flight. We're going to his house in Espoo, where I'm going to take a quick nap and in the evening it's "grillaus"! "Grillaus" is pretty much a variation of a BBQ which will include lots of Long Drink (a canned booze which tastes like gin and fresca), and some good times. Ihana!

Someone also rang my number. I'm thinkin it was a booty call... That I slept through!!!!!!!

Fun and Games with the Russian Federation Passport Office

2006-07-26T20:31:00.000-05:00

With my papers finally arriving, I dart off to the Russian Passport office, thinking that I pay my STEEP $210 for entry into Russia.

The entry into the building is from swanky Bloor and Bay (not too far from the Finnish Consulate). It's interesting going into a room with one man behind plexiglass (who sends you next door and speaks no English) to a room full of disgruntled travellers from both Russia and Canada.

After waiting hours, the "gentleman" said that the documents were incorrect and I had to contact my host again. BLOODY NOSY as far as what I'm doing. But whatever...

I can barely keep my eyes open while I type. Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....

VIDEOCLIPE OF THE WEEK - Blero - "Pa Pritur"

2006-07-25T16:08:00.000-05:00

FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY!

At my PO Box sits my papers for my papers to visit Russia! Igor's visit to the Ovir office seemed much quicker than me actually being able to pick up the bloody papers! Even being sent from Finland! The cool thing however is that there is an Consulate office here in Toronto for the Russian Federation, which is much better than me sending my Visa to Montreal (which was the case years ago).

This week the trip is sinking in. Paska, I haven't packed at all, but made a nod in the right direction having picked up a better toothpaste than the one I had at home.

ANY-HOOOO, Here's my video pick for the week. BLERO from what I know (and heard) is an Albanian born artist living in Sweden. One friend in Kosovo called him the "Alba R&B King", which I'm not too keen on. This track is more solid pop than his album that came out a year or so ago (which sold out from North American distributors in no-time).

This performance is from the "Top 3 Fest" in Albania which had some great talent. It's not the best quality, but the song has played in my head for the week, therefore.....

Enjoy BLERO and "Pa Pritur", Circa March 2006!

2006-07-24T15:12:00.000-05:00

Perkele!

I thought I would throw in this much better marquee shot of TRAILER TRASH 2 at the Royal before I forget and also say, one week to go before I bounce out of maple syrup country to the land of the flowing vodka. Whowee.

Tomorrow I'll have an appearance up as well by Albanian/Swedish R&B king "Blero". Great performance.

Time for me to look for a SHUFFLE (see next article)

Do the Ipod Shuffle!

2006-07-24T12:45:00.000-05:00

The weekend is done! And it flew by and I got about 20% of what I wanted accomplished.

Friday I ran to my PO Box hoping my papers were in for my Home Stay in Russia. In case you didn't know, you have to apply for a visa in order to enter Russia, and it's actually quite annoying paperwork. It wasn't there. Walking up Yonge Street looking at a mix of wife beater tops, horror movie DVDs, and ballcaps, my neighbour calls to see if we were going to watch her home movies (which we did while the Police came around to deal with a reported break in). The 8mm projector was on stand by while it seemed the cop was making a move on the neighbour (which will remain anonymous).

While the rain sprinkled down on Saturday morning, I thought my friend who well call "M" would be around on time. It would have been great to leave for my folks BBQ and picnic at 9.... He got to my place at 3. With my folks packing up their days festivities, we go to the sketchy DIXIE VALUE FLEA MARKET. You can get a Choclair CD for $2! Back home to another meeting where "M" calls at 12:45 at night. Duh, I happened to be sleeping.... like him that morning we were suppose to bounce to the Canadian shield.

Zack rings me up on Sunday morning. I'm to do my 3rd appearance on the TV show "Style By Jury". Greg calls after I get out of the shower to tell me that he's ready as well (along with Zack) to appear on the Number #1 show for the W network. I rattle on with the other people that are there, with two women involved within the cosmetics industry.

As far as how the production went down, I'm not really saying anything, but I'll use Zack's quote after we left to go out in the lobby.... (to me), "Dion.... Kinder Egg? You're just dirty. DIRTY!!!"

Off from there where I went downtown to look for an IPOD SHUFFLE with the money received for commenting on the ladies. No such luck. But can the day end quietly? Nope, how about a meeting regarding a music video, coffee later on that evening with a friend here from Japan, and to talk to my pal Stephe at 89.5 CIUT to see talk to him between his radio gig but he's much too busy. No worries as I get to talk to some ROYAL CINEMA alumni as we talk "the good old days".

By 12 AM, I return home. Still without an Ipod shuffle.

...and how was your weekend?

The $10 Hasselhoff

2006-07-20T12:42:00.000-05:00

This bruised mark on my neck from some drunken 26 year old is finally gone. Doing my yard sale on the weekend, in my Spurs jersey, unshaven with a "yellowish bruised area" on my neck, it must have looked like I fit into the hood. Charming.

I got the deal of the decade yesterday on 2 DVD boxed sets. I got season 2 of KNIGHT RIDER with David Hasselhoff, and 1/2 of Season 3 of LOST IN SPACE for the low low price of $10, brand new, each boxed set! With my upcoming trip and spending some train time, it might be nice to take my personal DVD player and catch up on some tv, and the Hoff is worth $10.

Speaking of the trip, I'm still not packed or planned really as much as I should be. It's been busy trying to iron out the rest of the booking for HUNKA JUNK 4, along with dealing with truckloads of stuff here.

And yesterday while taking the bus into work, I thought the weirdest thing... "Wow, I haven't been on TV for a week!" (that's pretty funny). But alas, STYLE BY JURY calls up and asks me to be part of the panel (this time the nicer "after makeover" panel). Their compensation to appear is money well needed for the upcoming trip. Funny.

VIDCLIPE OF THE WEEK - Praf In Ochi "Peste Sufletul Meu"

2006-07-18T12:19:00.000-05:00

Whoa! Another day in a row! Well, actually I finally got some sleep last night. For days, I've been running on 4 hours sleep and last night I finally got some. But there's something weird I have the ability to do now at my tender age.... sleep on the TTC. As long as I have something to rest my head on, I can nod-off half way through my ride. It's kind of a creepy thought in a way, but you gotta catch the "z's" when you can.

I'm still planning my European trip but got a "knock" in my bank account from the fine a-holes at BELL. Considering I don't even use my home phone anymore, I'm not sure exactly how the rates have got so high. Anyhow, I'm still trying to iron our details of my trip now that I'm not loaded down with a million commitments. It looks like the secured screening is in Tampere on the 18th. Not only will it be fun to expose the fine folks of Tampere my "odd" film collection, but Hannele and I can sit in the "Granny Cafe" and talk about life and relax.

So, I promised you a taste of a fav group of mine or video from around the world. I reviewed PRAF IN OCHI from Romania in an issue of KONFLIKT IN THE KINO and I still think that it's one of the best albums that I got for 2004/2005. "Peste Sufletu Meu" kind of means "In My Soul" or something to that effect. At first I didn't like the video, but the last 30 seconds are visually stunning. Anyhow, hope you enjoy one of my fav Romanian bands.... PRAF IN OCHI!

PS: This cut of the track is different than the one that made their album, and I've done the call out. I'll either put out or pay up for their complete MTV ROMANIA concert.

The theatre Sleeps Tonight - My final screening at the Royal Cinema

2006-07-17T12:13:00.000-05:00

Upper Left: TRAILER TRASH 2 MARQUEE
Upper Right: Before TT2, the audience grooves to new music videos from Russia (Photo Courtesy: Greg Woods)
Bottom: Lining up for TT2 (Photo Courtesy: Greg Woods)

I kind of knew awhile about the whole FESTIVAL CINEMAS thing closing and now reflecting over it in the last while, it's interesting. In the new issue of KITK (#16) I kind of reflect more on the closing of these theatres. But I guess my blog entry is to remember what happened on the last time I would ever do a screening for FESTIVAL CINEMAS.

My last CONFLICT ARCHIVE screening at the Royal, after over 5 years of subjecting Torontonians in this location my trashy tastes, was DION CONFLICT: TRAILER TRASH 2. For those who don't know, it's a collection of movie trailers for some good and not so good films. But hell, what's good anyhow? My pal Mihai helps me edit the reels upon reels of film from my collection. Sometimes, there's an order, but I also like to just throw in something random, sight unseen... Because we can! In total, there was over 40+ trailers for films with titles such as "Let me Die a Woman!" or "Trap for Seven Spies", interspliced with some local ad for shag carpeting for some long lost business in Michigan or Florida (??).

Always before a screening, we would have the same ritual. Tim (who would book my screenings for FESTIVAL) and his wife Brenda and I would do dinner at Sneeky's. We would also rope some other friends together not only for dinner, but to help fold the latest issue of KONFLIKT IN THE KINO while muching on cheese nachos. I usually bounce out early to go grab prizes, sort out music at the theatre, and talk with other cinematic partners in crime working the candy counter.

THANK YOU FOR SMOKING wraps up and we fix it that I'm able to do something that we talked about forever, but NOW got around to doing. Showing some NEW cool Russian music videos with DTS sound!

So, the box office opens and for the first time, I don't work the door giving out raffle tickets. I sneek into the theatre to watch an Irakli music video. What's particularily interesting for my last show is the constant amount of the audience taking photos or video with digital cameras, camera phones, video cameras, etc. At one point, I called over the house manager to check it out. It was a really interesting site. This was the final screening for some people for going to the Royal and I know a lot of people just wanted to grab pics from/of the theatre. That theatre gave me lots of memories and hope it was the same for others.

On with the show. I give my usual pitch and told the story about how the CONFLICT ARCHIVES came to be in this location. Blah blah blah, then on with TT2. Besides a couple wrongly placed trailers (my screenings have usually had some form of technical problem). Some of the trailers in the first half were great. I really now want to see "Carmen" and track down a copy of "Charles and Lucie"!!!

The intermission I give away prizes. Normally afterwards, I plug our next screening at the Royal but this was it. Going throught the motley bunch of films I showed, the memories flooded back regarding my time presenting films at the Royal. It was because of the CONFLICT ARCHIVES, it put me in contact with some great people. My friends Greg and Tim who I cherish both were because of these screenings. I remembered almost destroying the screen during a "pop guzzling contest" for SURF II, or the sound going TOTALLY out for the Rev Al Sharpeton 3-D feature, "Run for Cover" (which I gave the Canadian premier to). Many good memories. I got pretty choked up and told the audience, "I've enjoyed sharing this time with you" said a quick goodbye, then we did the final reel.

It's weeks later and Colin tells me yesterday about some retro 70's 16mm reels he bought. He also says "I guess I'm missing the Royal" and I am as well.

As I get ready to embark on tanking my HUNKA JUNK film fest to Finland, I still think about those great wacky screenings that we would do at the Royal. The Royal for me was kind of like a f--k friend. But eventually, one day, they get married. And then it's just you.

There were so many people to thank that night however in regards to the CONFLICT ARCHIVES at the Royal. MANY MANY PEOPLE helped out in some way of getting the word out about (what I think) was the best kept cinematic secret in Toronto.

They say the Royal will open again and there's gossip about it. I'll wait to see what it is. But in the meantime, all you people clickin and videotaping that night! I'd love to archive whatever stills or video you have from our final festival cinemas screening. You can contact me here.... and we can take it from there!

MY UPDATE / D'S "VIDCLIPE" OF THE WEEK - ULTRA BRA "Viiliviini"

2006-07-12T10:38:00.000-05:00

Okay Okay, so I've been HORRIBLE in writing in my blog but it's been bloody busy lately. Here's what's been going on
- FESTIVAL CINEMAS CLOSES UP: I do TRAILER TRASH 2 film screening
- TELEVISION TELEVISION - I appear on Toronto's number one morning show, "Breakfast Television" one week to promote Trailer Trash, then a Canadian game show the next
- Organizing my new film vault
- My day job
- The new KONFLIKT IN THE KINO
- A trip to Finland, a tour in Finland, papers for entry into Russia.

But enough of all that crap. Thanks to Colin who showed me how to YOU TUBE into my blog, therefore I thought I would try to share when I can a vid each week of one of my fav bands from around the world.

Here we have Finland's "Ultra Bra" with "Viiliviini". I hadn't seen this video before until recently, but love the fact that this was recorded off JYRKI, Finland's RIP Much franchise. The track was released as a single before ULTRA BRA's last album. It all stars out looking like a typical Finn evening at the cottage (Even with "grillaus"!), but look out!

I'll write more updating the blog with final pics from my last FESTIVAL CINEMAS screening and some other pictures of the final days of FESTIVAL CINEMAS.

Beat the cough!

2006-05-01T15:02:00.000-05:00

All last week, I've been trying to fight off a cough and cold. My friend Colin will say "You're always sick!" but it's more of dealing with Toronto's strange weather (today is +21C, but there was frost last week in the morning). It's sucks not only because it prevented me from bootay calls, but just making me feel lethargic and sleepy a lot of the time.

But some fun things happened on the weekend anyhow. On Saturday I talked my neighbour Kat into hitting up some church flea markets. The first one we went to had the best lemon meringue pies ever, and cool things like Strawberry Daquiri jam (cool!). At the next one I picked up some crap, including a book on Malcolm X (By any means necessary) and Mattel Synsonic drums (a very early drum machine). Cat and I grabbed a quick bite at Ikea before going home, and me going back to bed (for this cold).

Sunday had me meet up with Greg and Mirva for some South American buffet at PLAZA FLAMINGO on College street. Last time we had the worse service by a waiter who's face reminded me of my Mom's meatloaf for some reason, but the service was incredible this time. If you come to Toronton or are in the city, this is a great surprise for $8... All you can eat and some really good food to boast.

Of course, after bidding Mirva adieu, Greg and I hit a bazaar in a Buddhist Temple. Greg of course immediately swarms the videotapes almost pushing me aside to get em (I was looking at the box first! But tis ok, I didn't need anymore tapes). But I did get some weird Asian CD by a spice girls looking group called "Blush". I'll spin it shortly. It looks awful.

For the evening I stood inside and between napping and watching a 9/11 movie, there were loads of laundry to do. Ahhhh, my boring life.

I guess it's good to have some down time.

Anyhow, still battling the cold but today just feel OUT OF IT here at work. The mix of the cough medicines and just generally being tired is too much.

No real photos yet! I'll snap something shortly. Hopefully I'll hear some "good news" this week (More on that later).

My week from ball hockey, honkytonks, 2 Germs

2006-04-26T16:02:00.000-05:00

(photo: Mirva refs in downtown T-dot)

Odd title I’m sure but I gotta say the weekend was fun, and made me think more about what will be coming up as the weather gets nicer.

It rained and RAINED as of Saturday. While buying sealed Honky Tonk 8-tracks at Goodwill, Mirva calls me up to ask if I can meet with her for a bit, so we hit up Gino’s. She was already eating and I didn’t know what I wanted, so I had some nachos which were kind of blah. The next day I wake up and go down to my PO Box. It’s raining STILL. Regardless, I manage to go up to see Mirva ref a ball hockey tournament that I set up with her featuring ex-Toronto Maple Leafs Nick Kypreos and Doug Gilmour. It was out in Dundas Square, a small communal area right smack in Downtown Toronto. Some people hate the space, but I’m quite fond of it. Mirva is running around, the rain is coming down, and the people at Gilette seem sad they can’t hand out more cans of their shaving cream.

After grabbing a drink at the Hard Rock café which must have been loaded with some sort of dye (I got hives 5 minutes afterwards), I made my way up to the Noah’s Natural Foods where when I was reaching for piece of Vegan Carrot Cake from my favorite bakery, a “rodent, with a quite large tail” comes out. EWWWW. Scratch me going to Noah’s on Yonge Street anytime soon. The rest of the afternoon was filled with meetings.

Sunday after 4 hours of sleep (I got home at 6am), Dave F and Julie came to meet up with me at our favorite nabe-grill, J.Mercury’s, along with their baby girl, Emily. She has piercing blue eyes and looks around everywhere. We chatted and looked at the rain.

It’s Wednesday today, and I’m battling a cold for a second day. It sucks because I just wanted to Mihai’s to screen a lost film print, “Happenin’ In Hamelin”. But it’s time to recharge the batteries. It might be a weekend of finding 8-tracks of Honky Tonk Music, rats in health food stores, and rain. But they say it should be nice here this weekend.

Canada's MUCH VJ Search - Tim Deegan wins - Keep Searching!

2006-04-15T21:53:00.000-05:00

I got sucked into the MUCH VJ search like the handfull of other Canadians watching it. I felt bad for Kardinal Official and Steve Anthony for getting sucked into it all, but prayed to the gods of "Canadian Reality Television" that they were fed good craft services.

Compared to other industry people, I was really nice regarding what was being said. One old time CITY personality I've known for years bitched about the production values to me, saying the whole thing was "unwatchable". A musician friend who watched it at my place commented on how the people seemed annoying. They both were right.

Here's how it went. Most of the cast bitched on one another, but the first to really get the brunt of it was Montreal's "Frank" who boozed it up at many opportunities. Well, geez, throw me in a penthouse with a bunch of whiny VJ hopefulls and I'd be doing that and hittin the roof looking for barrel swish! After he got the axe, contestants started aiming their pistols at the bland-West-Coaster, Erik. Everyone talked about how "phony" he was and his lack of knowledge of music. The final episodes had Erik, hopelessly dull Nicky (from the mid-west), a screechy voiced homosexual named Shawn, and "wild card" Tim Deegan who might not have been the smartest cookie from the jar, but he sure had white teeth and abs to wash Erik's boozed out barf clean up rags with!

Canada gets to vote which of the 4 finalists will make the next VJ. Ohhhhh boie. Considering Canada had problems electing a decent prime minister with the last election, asking the Canadian public to pick a DJ might not be such a swell idea. The winning vote gets scooped by Tim who claims he knows tons about music (but gets beat by Shawn in a trivia challenge the previous episode), as he shines his pearly whites and stammers on a speech that makes NO sense.

As you can tell, perhaps it wasn't the contestant that I wanted to win. But who would I choose if I was the one to pick one of the VJ finalists to be on air. The contestant that could garner interest in me watching videos on the station and who could actually ask more than cookie-cutter typical questions? Who would I choose, or as the theme song would blare each week, "What would you do?"

ANSWER: Scrap them all. Ask them "If you had any iota of interest in doing this, what have you done to get to where you're at now?" then ask them if they wouldn't feel ashamed of how people viewed them on the show (generally being caddy and whining about other contestants to the point they sounded like Nanny 911 should come in and take a car ariel and give them a good whippin). Could any Canadian artist look at what they did on the show and really take them, in any way shape or form, seriously? Plus, they all seeemed so hopelessly DULL. Like the kind of dead fishes that would be at your Cousin's Tupperware party. Pleasant enough to talk with while looking at lettuce crispers or digging into whole wheat biscuits and hummus while your cousin cusses' out one of her children, but that's it!

Perhaps it's just sad that dullness now is rewarded as either a "journalistic sense", "television entertainment" or "knowledge".

The interesting thing about Canadians when they vote on anything is that they seem to love bringing back down who or what they vote for, so Tim from my hometown of Oshawa, prove me wrong. It's sink or swim time and you have a whole generation of kids that now can program their own video shows via ipods and the internet. You got your work cut out for you...

..and flashing a smile and abs will only work for SO long.

The Great Easter Egg Ribs

2006-04-15T21:28:00.000-05:00

It's interesting how the Holiday of Easter is perceived by North Americans. Honestly, I can saw with my family it was never having anything to do with any form of religion. Passover meant "pass over the platter of food" or "Could you stuff any more peanut butter into a chocolate shell of an egg" (Sorry folks for the bad "yoke";)

My childhood versions and visions of Easter are filled with odd vibes for sure. We would spend it with family friends of ours on a place called Crystal Lake (yes, just like the FRIDAY THE 13th movies). We would have Easter Egg hunts until I outgrew it. One year I remember my parents got me a Eurthmics album (Spelling). I loathe solid chocolate bunnies.

This year has been especially odd because of strange internal dealings. Plus, I guess I'm just exhausted and fed up in many ways. An army of my friends are in the same boat just dealing with people that are clueless that are preventing them to achieve their dreams. But I digress.

So anyhow, this was an Easter where I exploded over something stupid, which I hate. Now Easter has this really weirdo feel to it.

If this provides little insight and answers, well, that's the way it goes. But in the meantime after a bit of the rift was sorted out, my folks and I had an amazing dinner with some BBQ dinner. If you're wondering what happened to the Easter Bunny, (see photo attached).

But the nicer weather is coming and hopefully a trip on the horizon. Hey, I can't complain too much, I did get a copy of the film Madonna doesn't want anyone to see (A Certain Sacrifice) and made Hannele a copy of a Stranglers CD I got at the CNE, and drove along backroads in the Canadian shield listening to APULANTA's "Kylla" cd!

Feeling GREEN

2006-03-17T15:24:00.000-05:00

(Right: Julie Faris and Monty @ Propeller Center for the Performing and Visual Arts - Toronto, ON)

The flu has been passing around Toronto here like the wind. Not like SARS or Avian however. I went from walking around enjoying Sunday (temp around +16C) to sniffling, feeling dizzy, and just wanting to hang out in bed while watching JUDGE JUDY.

Last night however I rushed home, brushed my teeth, grabbed some laundry to go to the cleaners, and headed out. Not to grab some more cough medicine with codeine, but to see the artwork of my pal Julie Faris.

Julie had a show where she painted portraits of local artists and how she explained it, artists that you wouldn’t think would be getting portraits done (such as Monte Cantsin). This was her best work yet, and I was really proud of her for getting the whole thing together while being busy with her new baby, etc. Plus, she made the friggin hummus as it was an opening! How come any of my friends that are photographers or painters make kick-ass hummus? By all means go check this out at PROPELLER, located a little bit East of Queen/Ossington.

Things have been kind of quiet this week, as I think I’ve just been trying to figure out how to rid this cold, and get a little rest.

I must be sick if I watching trash like “American Idol”, “Nanny 9-1-1”, and “The Much Music VJ Search” which makes me embarrassed to be Canadian, or would make me pine to watch TRAIN 48 reruns.

It’s St. Patty’s today as well. The statistic in today’s paper is that 68% of Torontonians don’t celebrate the holiday. I did. I used Irish Cream coffee whitener.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

A funeral and a clothes line?

2006-03-02T16:28:00.000-05:00

It's been a weird last couple of days here.

My uncle passed away suddenly and our families had to deal with the various things that go into a funeral and the death of a loved one. One thing these instances do is teach us not to take those around us for granted, and also to value the time and life we have to spend on this planet. There's also other "life lessons" which I'll spare you with here....

Coming back from Pickering, the sun was shining and I thought the wind would be rougher than in the Tdot, but it was a nice winter day (and not an oxymoron at that). Once enterting the city however, it was BITTER cold. The wind ripped through me on the way to the post office.

So, the first half of my day was dealing with a funeral. Mirva calls in regards to the 2nd...

"Are you coming to see CLEANING WOMAN?" which was in town for Canadian Music week. After she called back to let me know what time and where, back on the TTC I was while answering calls from the guys regarding the music video.

CLEANING WOMAN are a group from Helsinki, Finland who play various washing appratus. Last night they happened to also play the score with these "cleaning products" to the silent Eisenstein classic, "Battleship Potempkin". At times, it was pretty good.... I've had bootleg copies of their stuff before (not from Russia), so I kind of knew what to expect and surely it's one of the more interesting music acts part of "Canadian Music Week" (sticking middle finger in mouth).

Potempkin is one of my favs and even with this depressing movie, it cheered me up from a sombre day. Mirva and I had taken the transit up to station where she discussed various guys asses at the club, then went to McDonalds where I stole the fries from her value meal.

Then I came home and crashed.

Birthdays, Buffalo and Big Lots

2006-02-22T16:00:00.000-05:00

(Photos: Sundown around Niagara on the Lake & An abandon Arby's in West Seneca, NY)

So, this past weekend was my birthday. And it was pretty hectic for the most part, but good fun. Saturday Greg from Eclectic Screening Room and I went on a border run. No, I don't mean TACO BELL.. But instead we went across the American border to Buffalo to indulge in much urban nostalgia.

It started off with a lunch at Ponderosa where I ate pretty much everything... Meatballs, whipped potatoes, chicken breast, friend chicken, baked potatoes, all you can eat salad bar... Should I go on? From there we rolled place to place picking up just weirdo stuff. Got some great odd 7"s at a GOODWILL with songs like the "Watergate Shuffle" and "Honey, will you be my Chauffeur?".... all white label DJ promos. After minimal hassles getting back over, I grabbed some cool night shots as we went through the Niagara region.

Tim calls and asks if we're going to RANCHO for dinner. The last thing I can do is eat, but a drink would be nice to rule off the day. So we head to Joe Mercury's and grab a drink and I actually grab.... FOOD! How I ate anything after the 5 plates at Ponderosa is BEYOND ME.

The next day I met up with Chris, Danella, Rob and Rick for a nice casual Sunday brunch. They gave me GAP heart shaped underwear and Danella's awesome shortbread cookies for the b-day and we just chatted enjoying our breakfast burritos as the sun shone brightly outside (but there was a bitter wind!).

This year, there was no BIG parties (I use to have parties with over 20 people), but I really did enjoy the quiet, down low time of my b-day and spending more QUALITY than QUANTITY time with friends. Thanks again to Greg for really making a great fun day in Buffalo.

How often do we get to say we jet set out of the country for the day? I'm a lucky guy!

I want my life back, but what is it anyway... anymore?

2006-02-17T16:17:00.000-05:00

Photos: LEFT - Jennifer W and friend look in weird color orb at DAVE AND BUSTERS (Vaughn, ON) - MIDDLE: The drawing and artist, handed to me at CUT AND PASTE 2006 (person unknown) - RIGHT: Isaiah Trickey at his photo exhibit at Harbourfront (part of the KUUMA 2006 Festival)

So, the last couple of weeks have been NUTS beyond words. Besides trying to reach deadlines with writing and organizing the Olympics at work, it's been busy busy BUSY. I pushed KITK at 2 different small press shows, organized b-day stuff, a film screening, radio interview. LOTS.

But 2 weeks ago it started by going to my friend Isaiah's photo exhibit (and I think his first) at Harbourfront as part of the KUUMBA festival. Between him and Steve Carty, their collection of Urban Photography was amazing. Y'know those moments when you're REALLY REALLY proud of your friends? This was one of them.

The next day I did my first appearance at the notorious Toronto small press fair, CUT AND PASTE at Sneeky Dees. Richelle and I shared a booth together which was REAL slow going at first. Then I just had taken the shyness of people and turned on my Ron Popeil/Shopping Channel background to sell DVD's and various other goods distributed by my dime store entertainment empire. I'm loving my digital camera as I ended up taking the photo above of some girl who was handing out the drawings she was doing during the show. Thanks again to Stacey Case for getting it together.

On rolls the next week and another show. This one in Brampton. Now I know why I only go to Brampton for the VERY occasional booty call! Nobody buys s--t! Kids didn't really come over to see what we were selling. But I did chat it up with some other female vendors that were making the mack, so it was still fun. Greg (Eclectic Screening Room) and I went up with Conflict Archives fans Brian and Rita who were too much fun. We were all like crack addicts at Cash Converters with 99 cent videos.

Sunday was an early B-day celebration before my folks left for Cuba. Jenn W and I share our birthdays on the same day, and it's been too long since both our families got to hang out. DAVE AND BUSTERS is a pretty fun place. My longtime family friend (and Jenny's Mom) Mame is kick ass on the skeeball/horseracing game!

I also hosted the BE MY VILE VALENTINE screening on Tuesday. I did a fun tongue in cheek radio show on CIUT 89.5 FM and DJ Skip's show "Ska Party". Afterwards, While on my Nokia at Bistro 422, Tim Royal tells how I should hurry as there's been lots of people asking about it. I couldn't believe how good the turnout was! Best one we've had in awhile! On top of it, we gave out prizes to three random people to tell us their best "Story of Heartache or Heartbreak". It was great fun as the first person starts off "I was 15 and in love with this lesbian rabbi..." A good night all around the ickiest time of year, Valentines Day!

After work the next day, I had a meeting with some people regarding working on a new music vid. We brainstormed afterwards in a very skuzzy Baker's Dozen doughnuts and cruised back in the city.

No wonder I crashed last night on the couch, eating meatballs and onion rings, watching DALLAS SWAT.

I'm burnt out beyond words.

But the busy schedule was STILL not over (

Keggers, Krazies, and a helluva lot of nachos

2006-01-30T15:53:00.000-05:00

(TOP - Olga and friend at Frat Party after sick punk band, MIDDLE - Mihai around 1:45, BOTTOM: Kippis ja Emma! - A going away party, Finn style)

After a previous weekend of domestic life that included as a highlight getting dumplings on sale for $2 or doing laundry, finally I had a weekend that was full from day in to day out.

Friday after work, I had a meeting with a band I might be shooting a new music video for. This however required me to go out to Square One in the West End city of Mississauga. This requires taking the "somewhat dodgy" Mississauga Transit which isn't too reliable. Upon arrival at the "mall", via wide roads in spraling dark suburbs, I made it to the mall. The meeting went well and I thought this new crew was down. Just when we're getting into a chill mood, I had to go back to the T., as we had NO IDEA how late the transit ran till, and being stuck out there after a certain time might not be too key.

Saturday gave me a bit of time to sleep in and finish off some articles and interviews for KONFLIKT IN THE KINO and other papers. The internet cafe was actually somewhat quiet except for some Spanish guy rambling the entire time I was there on some "web based long distance". I came home and still hadn't eaten, but saved myself for going out to Emma's going away party.

My Finn-Canadian friends and I met up at a fav spot in Parkdale. It was funny when one of them asked "Where are we?" as anyone from the east end of Toronto seemed "lost". Didn't I deal with this the previous night? Anyhow, after ordering nachos and eating nachos and burritos, I was nachoed out. My date to the consulate party, Mirva was texting on 2 cell phones. Markus (writer for Scandinavian paper) asked to get a "Brokeback Mountain" shot on his knee... Before you can say "Salsa and sour cream", it was off for me to Mihai's frat party, while answering another business call. The air was thick with "smells" and it surprised me that DADDY YANKEE's "Gasolina" was playing. Mihai was helping a punk band who played for 3 hours wrap up their gear when I snapped this fine pic.

I got home at 6am, and got up at 10:30. Dave F. and I were meeting at our fav local hangout along with other local sketchy people needing some coffee AND beer. Emma joined us as we all yammered about our evenings while scarfing down burgers. Emma needed some souvenirs so I introduced her to HONEST EDS where you can buy a Toronto "metal tray" that has pictures of bears, lakes, but NOTHING to do with Toronto! Then I had made my rounds downtown to do things such as go to ABC books or by organic milk.

At 6pm I get a call regarding another meeting. Could I come out to Mississauga again? My eyes can barely keep open. We ended up scheduling for Wednesday which OK as you can only do so much in a weekend and after music video meetings, frat parties, burgers, Finns in Parkdale, and other things that I WON'T be sharing with you, I felt finally that the weekend was full.

NO WAY, NO WAY, NO WAY IN HELL (great track by Bomfunk MC's!)

2006-01-20T18:40:00.000-05:00

(above: Emma vs Canadian Institution, Zellers!)

Bah! Bomfunk MC's "No Way in Hell" is playing over and over in my head and many elements of these Finn rappers could be applied to this week.

It started off well enough as Emma and I ended up going my fav ghetto flea market in my hood. And indeed it is. From the sales of some stuff which looks like it has been salvaged from a recycling bin. But it's still fun as Emma picked up some things. When you enter the flea pit, there's signs saying "No Hoodies!" (actually you can't wear them up while you're there due to gang activities".

Also on the docket was making sure that a property I developed wasn't copied by a former friend/business associate, but alas they made their own train wreck, unworthy of any more mention here. Blah blah!

Anne was on the bus. She's a friend I've known forever who works for the "National News Broadcast" (or network) that I use to. She told me she has felt "A migrane coming on for a week, due to Stephen Harper taking office" here in Canada (outside of Canada, you can read more about this "leader" on various news services) and I can't blame her.

Plus there's been deadlines. Oh, so many deadlines. I need to get 2 articles done and have meetings. But tonight, I might be forcing a friend to go see "Karla". More details on that later.

The weather has been awesome here! Today's high was +11C! And that's why I'll leave now. To enjoy it!

Voting in Canada

2006-01-12T17:25:00.000-05:00

In less than 2 weeks, Canadians get to go to the poles and make their vote on who would make the next Prime Minister of Canada.

The current PM, Paul Martin is having his numbers sliding. Perhaps the fact that the Liberal party, which was once held in high regard has now gotten much bad press over many scandals involving payolas and the like. Which has the Progressive Conservative candidate, Stephen Harper in the lead.

Loved by the mid-west, Harper running Canada gives me hebee-geebees WORSE than Mulroney did! With really no stance on gun control or violence, and a plan of ridding the GST so it would end up that goods and services end up costing more, and just for being about as worldly as a visit to Gooderham, he's unfit to do the job, let alone represent Canada.

Jack Layton (NDP) is good for Torontonians, but who knows really how good he would be to lead the country. In his television debates he always says, "Remember, there's always a third choice". Why can't he speak as a leader with strength?

The Green party have some good ideas as well, but their leader is a somewhat weak speaker. It's disgusting that they were not invited to any televised debates when they do have a candidate running in EVERY riding.

I'm really not that impressed with ANY of the parties. But the one think I do know is that I don't want Harper running the country with his neo-conservative views. Really Canada is lacking in someone to create unity or show any real leadership.

Of course I'm going to vote. Considering I've been to places where democracy can be really iffy, or they've been former communist countries, I'm proud we're given the right to express who we feel can steer the boat the best. But for this election here, I'm undetermined as to being unthrilled with all the candidates.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

GOING THE DISTANCE - with film and food

2006-01-09T17:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Sandra and I made a venture to the fine Pickering Flea Market. Besides the throngs of trashy urbanites that get me hotter than a bowl of Mr. Noodles with chopped Maple Lodge Wieners, we ate 50 cent samosas. And I bought a DVD (shocking!).

GOING THE DISTANCE was a Canadian road movie about some kids in BC that go on a road trip so one of them can propose to his girlfriend, who's interning with a sleazy record exec (Played by Canadian Jason Priestly). Nick (Christopher Jancot), who's looking to propose to his girlfriend working in Toronto (with a $10 ring) takes his friends Dime and Tyler on the adventure (actually they kidnap him after his parents get him stoned off of "special brownies") and they also pick up 2 hitchikers from Newfoundland. There's some real Canadian moments that actually make me laugh, including being in Montreal broke, and heading to a "all you can eat buffet" at a strip bar plus the crashing of the Much Music Video Awards including someone telling George to "shut up". Even more laughable is SWOLLEN MEMBERS (remember this HORRIBLE "hip-hop" group?) taking a jet to Toronto (RIGHT!).

But the cool thing about the flick is that it doesn't shy away from being Canadian, and instead uses Canada as a set itself instead of a set for bad American films and TV series. Also, compared to other American youth comedies that only go so far, and since Canadians have never gotten out of the 70's "aren't we naughty" stage of cinema it will go where some comedies won't as far as politically incorrect humour.

It was well worth the $7 I paid for my brand new copy of it!

Sandra and I ended the evening with a new game I concocted called "Have you been to" which lead us around all over the place to a restaurant that we hadn't been to. We ended up at a Korean place that just opened where a McDonalds which was always filled with homeless people stands. The dinner was good, but I hate that game. Or playing it in Downtown Toronto anyhow.

It's a New Year - And it's snowing!

2006-01-08T02:13:00.000-05:00

I'm back home right now visiting my folks and
it looks like snow has returned for 2006. I drove
up some crappy roads while booming a $2 copy of the O'Town cd. Sad eh?

So yeah, it's a new year. I rung it in on a weirder note just spending some quality time by myself after being exhausted from the holidays and heading straight back into work. But it did throw me a couple curveballs right around 12.

But I was feeling in a bit of a funk. The last 2 years I've rang in my new years in Richmond, Virginia which has always been fun. One year it was in an alleyway on a hill looking for firecrackers and last year it was hearing local yokels firing their guns into the sky and moving somewhere safe just in case. Being in Canada this year just had a weird feel to it.

City TV had their "Canada New Years" bash which began at 11. It was unbearable to watch. The Shawn Desman peformance was fun but the hosts looked like they came out of an Etobicoke dinner theatre version of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas". Blah. I threw on my Tims and went out walking to 7-11 for something (around 11:20). Shortly before midnight I grabbed a soyamilk and wished a happy new year to the poor butch-lesbian-Philippino behind the cash, then started walking again. I heard some cheers and that "pop pop!". Great, gunshots I thought as it sounded like screams, but then looking towards a park I saw some great firecrackers as some locals decided to screw the bylaw. The sky was clear so they looked awesome. Then I made my trek home.

Here's hoping that 2006 will be a great year for us all. 2005 was a very interesting year for me on many levels, expanding what I do outside of the typical parameters. But here's hoping we all achieve our goals and dreams for the new year.

Oh yeah, this photo I had taken with my new digital camera outside my parents door.

Plesant Distractions

2005-12-12T15:38:00.000-05:00

INDEED it’s been quite some time since I last dropped an entry into my blog, hasn’t it? I guess there’s been so much on my place since that time. There’s been more film screenings, a DVD release, a new issue of KITK, the pre-production of a film shoot, the pre-production of a pilot, some interviews, some TV, all on top of my normal work schedule.

However, there has been some pleasant distractions. As we approach the Christmas season, there’s always some time for good cheer. My first party was an invite from the Consulate of Finland to celebrate Finland’s “Independence Day” (and no, not their version of the Sci-Fi cheezefest with Wil Smith). Adding more mileage to my Nairobi suit, my date (A blond female hockey referee!) and friends headed to the beautiful ballroom in Central East Toronto. Shots of Finlandia Vodka sat in a huge 3 foot block of ice while delicious smoked salmon sat in the round table. My biggest regret was not bringing a camera, but luckily Paula had taken some pics.

Also, awhile back I got to do a screening in London, JUST as the DVD came out. My last visit to London was a visit during a tour with PARADE playing the Embassy Club (I think?) which was in a desolate street where we had bad Ethiopian food and a so-so turnout (However, I did find a great book store where you could buy a 8mm film loop of “Serena: An Adult Fairy Tale”!!). Mihai drove while my Finn reporter friend Emma helped fold KITK’s and sing DINGO and ULTRA BRA.

The people of London were really nice, having met most of the crowd. Afterwards, we got asked by some roughed up queen in front of a gay bar if Emma and I were selling cookies (!!! – We had a box of DVD’s) and then Mihai, Emma and I enjoyed INCREDIBLE Greek food from one of the downtown trailers, similar to the kind of “Grilli” you see in Finland or Chip Trucks you see in Durham Region. Damn that souvlaki was good.

Otherwise, I’m preparing for Christmas…and doing a poor job of it this year for sure! It’s just been overload on too many things.

But I’m going to try to get back on track with blogging! Hope everyone’s doing good!

Photo: Skot from No-Frequency Media and Mihai adjust the projectors at the London screening (Courtesy: Emma Ovaskainen)

How come there's no turkey shaped pinatas?

2005-10-09T22:22:00.000-05:00

LEFT: My cousin's kid clobbers a pinata
BELOW: Uncle Bill has LOTS of squash from his garden

My cousin Jackie with a scarecrow from the garden (left)

A cute photo of my Cousin's husband Greg and their little boy I call "bubby" (LEFT)

I didn't get too much sleep today, but last night I did finally tweak up a version of my script, which is great (my draft is a mix of a shooting script and a first draft). Regardless, it came in exactly at the number of pages I wanted, so it's all good.

The sun was up and after sipping some java hit my parents screened patio and for a second, it reminded me of spending a morning at our old house in Florida my Grandfather had. It was going to be a nice day, as we loaded up and went to my Grandparents for Candian Thanksgiving.

I'll do a little bit of a photo "show-and-tell" to explain the rest of the day....

I was there for a photo shoot for my Grandparents. An aunt of mine is looking to make a calendar of all the relatives and offspring with a photo of us for each month of the year. It was a nice idea. On the drive up, I ask my Mom who the photographer was. She informed me that everyone was taking photos. It had taken a bit for it all to sink in, "whaa? no professional photographer??" Sometimes when you work in a world where you're use to creating media and always look for the best in the field, you can sometimes overlook just having simple fun, which is what it was. For some reason when I stood by my Aunt Patty for the month of February, something struck our funnybone as we were giggling just like kids, who were playing with a pinata or something.

Our families all did turkey dinner in my Grandparents basement with another Aunt who does meals for a retirement home running the procedure. It went off without a hook, and the food always at these things is incredible. I swear we must have been Eastern European or something in another life because all my relatives were egging me on to eat more.

It was a fun day, and a good change from the usual "detail" of my life, involving meetings, my day job, and more meetings. The leaves up in the Central Ontario area have turned a golden red with some green foilage as well. My Mother commented, "I can't believe some people from Toronto have never been up this way." And that I would have to agree.

So to all my friends around the world, Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

(PS: I had grabbed this digital pics with a cheapie digital camera that I got my Mom for Mother's Day one year to see if she would "like it" or use it. Not bad pics for a $29 investment eh?)

Это ты объявила войну, but haven't we all? :)

2005-10-06T15:32:00.000-05:00

ULTRA BRA - Still "perkele hyvaa" ;)

It was the first time I got to meet up with some friends since June, so I bolted home and had a whopping 20 minutes to myself before having to arrive for dinner. So, I hop in the shower and throw in something that I hadn't played for months. Ultra Bra's "SINÄ PÄIVÄNÄ KUN SYNNYIN". Frick, I forgot how good that DISC 2 is. While soaping myself up, I'm belting out "villiviini" which I was sure a neighbour might any minute try to kill me. But one older neighbour said he actually started liking ULTRA BRA from repeated playing at my place! It's not like I'm playing AURORA or KORNI over and over. Well, that was last month!

Tonight I have NO real commitments, except meeting with my neighbour Cat for some dinner as we enjoy the last real night of "summer type weather". I'd crack open a bottle of Georgian wine, but there's really no red meat in my freezer as I try to finish off veggie burgers and the like, preparing for winter. It will be nice to chill this evening anyhow.

Anyhow, I'm listening to Shpat Kasapi, feeling overwhelmed, and can't wait to split. So I will, and spare you this thread of ka-ka.

October/Summer-Not a Bummer!

2005-10-03T13:12:00.000-05:00

Whoa, this weekend was SO nice here! Today alone is 27C! There's an Indian summer going on, which I don't mind one bit!

On Saturday evening, I walked along College Street (the Little Italy area of Toronto) and had myself question if there was part of it blocked off for a street festival or something. There was THRONGS and THRONGS of people out, drinking on patios, throwing up asian noodle dishes in back alleys, etc.... But it was 1 AM when I actually arrived in that area and started walking home! Past Dufferin close to 2, there were some people doing the Macarena and some dodgy Brazillian "sports club" (you find these Ethnically defined "sports clubs" sometimes in the West End and some like the Turkish are "Members Only").

The weekend however was pretty typical for a weekend... Saw 2 documentaries (STEVIE and the seldom seen LEGACY (PBS 2002). Met up with my friend Dmitri who does the "Boogie Nights Again" out in Vancouver (film screenings), plus also did a tour through an abandon Police Station here in Toronto. It's very cool and my friend said, "If you want to shoot something here, as long as you don't f--k up the ceilings, it's OK". There's several floors and it's very cool, so I'm thinking what I could do on a Fred Olen-Ray type budget.

Speaking of film stuff, I'm still hammering away on my short and am now doing the delicate art of casting. An agency gave me a website filled with tons of head and body shots asking me to look through and see if there was anything interesting to me. It's feels really weird however doing it, as it almost feels like "Ebay of People". But anyhow, it's good all the same.

But as October begins, the month doesn't seem to be entering into the bleakness of winter. It's bright, shiny and nice outside. Who can complain?

Apple Head Headhunter for a Freaky Friday

2005-09-30T13:49:00.000-05:00

So, here's a pic of my outdoor cinema (with my RIP story listed below). I'm looking at a WEE part of the audience and there's my pal Minna who's back in Finland now. Perhaps I'll have to send her over a copy of "The Wasp Woman" just for nostalgia. :)

The last couple days at work have been DREADFUL, but talking with another co-worker about our film productions has been good. Now it's dealing with some casting stuff.

Oddly enough, one place I put a call into for casting is BARBIZON. Remember them? They were "exposed" on various "20/20" and "Fifth Estate" type shows as not really being modelling agencies. Well, one of my favorite actors came from BARBIZON so you never know what a school might spawn. Who would that be? 80's XXX film actor, Jerry Butler!

But yeah, there's no real plans for the weekend. Just to do some writing and the typical meetings and stuff. Fall has come here to Southern Ontario.

Hopefully I have some more interesting stories to tell you after the weekend.

Drop me a line if you know anyone that went to or did BARBIZON! Let's hear the gossip about the course!

To refresh your memory, visit www.barbizonmodelling.com .

PBS ROBS ME OF 2 NIGHTS

2005-09-28T11:26:00.000-05:00

Don't you hate when TV robs you of two nights of your life?

"American Masters" was showing on PBS as a 2 part of the Martin Scorsese film "No Direction Home: Bob Dylan" which avoiding TERRIBLE stuff on the tube such as "Dog the bounty Hunter", I decided to watch. I was tottering on that and a "mystery DVD" that arrived in a surprise package from Ebay of the film "Running Man".

I'm not a big fan of Bob Dylan, but I don't hate the guy either. "No Direction Home: Bob Dylan" consists of some fantastic stock footage and stills showing the early years of Dylan up to his 1966 motorcycle accident.

The doc spanned over two evenings and last night finished with a sit-down interview with Martin Scorsese, being interviewed by Charlie Rose.

Could Charlie Rose offer any more of a blowjob to Scorsese? It was getting to the point on penal worship and you wanted to scream "Enough!" Yeah, the film was good (it wasn't excellent, but it was good) but Rose went on almost as if Scorsese shot the footage himself (he didn't).

If your doc refers to previous events, and you need lots of stock footage, your end statement will only put people "in the mode" when it's reflective of strong file film. This is where "No Direction Home" shines with great footage from the Newport Folk Festival, various pressers around the globe, and even a great Andy Warhol screen test.

I thought that the interviews were good (Scorsese didn't do them, he just assembled the thing), but too bad it didn't cover his recordings which created the first bootleg albums (thank Dylan for that!) and creating the subculture with that.

Anyhow, it was a good film, but I'll wait for PBS to bring back my beloved FRONTLINE for the next season, or offer a meatier doc.

However, it did make me want to see the mid 80's doc by the BBC on The Velvet Underground. Anyone ever see it?

Psychic Tea

2005-09-27T14:07:00.000-05:00

I was thinking a couple days ago when I had my first cup of tea. It was in high school when I was having my tea leaves read by a psychic named Evelyn.

Dave and Jim were friends that I knew from their numerous visits to the video store I worked at as a teen. They were always wanting to do seances, ouija boards, blah blah blah. One time they told me that they were having a psychic come to Dave's house to do a reading.

They picked me up in Dave's Honda where Evelyn, who lived in nearby Ajax, was waiting in the back seat. On the way to Dave's house, we were travelling on one of Oshawa's main roads which had a mix of suburbia and strip malls loaded with latex paint stores (this was pre Home Depot, and this street had tons of them for some reason).

"Oh, I can feel you live in a nice neighbourhood!" said Evelyn, who looked too much like my grade 8 teacher, Ms. Findlay.

Dave and Jim mentioned this afterwards in a "whoa! she's good kind of way". Frick, wasn't Oshawa all the same, somewhat?

Evelyn read tea leaves, so we had to drink the tea in the teacup, leaving just the tea leaves in the bottom of the china cup, turning the saucer overtop of it. The tea tasted bitter. Tea was always something "gross" to me. Being at my Grandfathers in Florida drinking it without sugar one time by accident in a southern buffet almost made me gag. But this tea, was warm. I drank it and played with Dave's dog Chocoholic while they had Evelyn spew her wisdom out with each of us (privately), one at a time.

After gulping down the nasty toilet water passing as tea, it was my turn to see Evelyn. She flips over my cup and says I can ask three questions.

"What will my prom be like?" (a pressing question for anyone in their senior year).

"I see this girl," Evelyn says, "She's wearing a leg brace as she's had some kind of childhood disease like Polio. She's laughing and I see her swaying and having a good time!"

My mind pressed if there was a female that even FIT this description in our school. My next question focused on my "film career". Evelyn basically said that I'd be involved with computers, and didn't see me doing anything with film, maybe commercials.

This was crushing to a young lad like myself. Dave and Jim were comforting saying to take whatever a psychic says with salt. Tea leaves wern't exact.

Indeed. Film has ate up lots of my life and Sandra (who I'm still friends with and wrote about below in the Perkins story) was my prom date. I kept asking her if she had a leg brace and knowing our run-in with Evelyn, we would laugh. At one point, I was almost wishing she WOULD put one on, for effect!

So, I NEVER really drink tea otherwise. And working in Adult Cinema made me become a coffee addict (another story!). Perhaps I can't drink tea now without thinking about that SWINDLER who calls herself a psychic, Evelyn and tell her she's wrong, wrong, wrong!

..and tea, unless it's ice tea, basically sucks!

Banana Cream Pie, Pimping, and film projects

2005-09-26T11:40:00.000-05:00

I did a roadtrip to a Perkins in Etobicoke, almost got picked up as a male prostitute, and interviewed a cool cameraman to hopefully work on a new 35mm project. And how was your weekend?

My friend Sandra called me up on Friday night after I came home exhausted. My friend Caroline drives me after work close to the CNE grounds, and after that I walk home. Sandra calls me up and wants to go out for coffee.

Sometimes I love urban nostalgia. My American friends groan (I'm sure) when I beg them to take me to Ponderosa, K-Mart, and Big Boy. We ALWAYS make it to K-Mart (several times!).

Channel 5 in Toronto is the TV guide channel which scrolls what's really on/not on television while running ads. This is when I saw ads for the American chain "Perkins" having not 1, but 3 locations. So when Sandra called wanting to go for coffee, I met up with her and told her it was time to do a roadtrip. Well, one to another city anyhow. Sandra and I rattled past midnight in it's bright flurecent interior (it's also located next to a Holiday Inn, not too far away from the airport) eating the best banana cream pie EVER and mozzarella sticks. Sandra and I have always went on these short but unusual road trips. It might be good I DON'T have a car right now as I would do it all the time.

Otherwise, the weekend was just filled with this and that. I'm trying to find a good experienced 35mm cameraperson for a short project I'm working on and getting tons of reels. For some reason, lots seem to be devoid of the material they shot on 35mm. If you're applying to shoot something in 35mm, perhaps you should have examples of that on your reel, you think???

The male prostitute thing was pretty funny... I was walking a drunk friend home who lived in the downtown area. I'm normally NEVER in the downtown area past 4 in the morning, but was slowly making my way up to the vomit comet (an all night bus here in Toronto) when some strange Pakistani guy who looked like a cross between Osama and Luke Perry kept trying to move closer to the curb, somehow thinking I was a working boy saying s**t like "looking for work?" out the window of his ratty car with a faded blue exterior. What was funny was anytime he turned a corner, his front end would make this screechy sound. The car was WORSE than my silver mama I had! (I'm sure lots of you know it). Then while taking a side street a huge rat ran across the street. Soon I was in the safety net of drunk people on the bus, rambling home, wishing I had a calling card to call friends overseas.

But yeah, it was a good weekend (or interesting). I guess it beat staying at home and cleaning.

Last day of summer BLOOZ

2005-09-21T15:50:00.000-05:00

Sadly, today marks the last day of summer and the muti thing is, I barely did ANYTHING with it. There were no exotic trips, cottaging, etc. My plans were to fly into Moscow then from there go to Finland and Estonia, but with flights for August "Starting" at $2000 going upwards, it seemed like I would be yet again enjoying what Toronto had to offer for the summer.

Actually, hanging out with some friends here that were very adventurous, we got to do some fun things including lots of street festivals and such. We went to the CNE twice this year (Canadian National Exhibition) which I forgot how much fun it is. One could agree with the writer from Eye Magazine who wished we had something like the CNE going on all year for Toronto. On two visits to the CNE I got to a) See a stuffed 3 eyed & 2 snouted pig in a freak show, b) buy a cool Football jersey, c) Eat the only Pizza Delight basically left in Southern Ontario and d) Grab a David Hasselhoff CD. Oh yeah, we forgot about the human cannonball! And last weekend here was the Polish Street Festival which was OK, but really lean on the Polish product and music. There were lineups for perogies and sausages and the occasional Euro food vendor, for the most part, there was very little that seemed Polish. Roncesvalles is rich with a Polish-Canadian culture and should maybe be reflected a little more in the fest. But Minna and I had a good time.

But I'll actually miss summer here in Toronto because there was just a lot going on and for very little money. Lots of times, friends and I just walked around and maybe grabbed something to eat at the "under $5" level. There were always bad bands playing. But again, it's fun just to be able to go out and hit up the street fests. Good times.

I've been busy working on 2 projects in the meantime, and doing some interview stuff for the new KONFLIKT IN THE KINO. It's going to be great, but I really need some time off as I'm getting burnt out. But them the breaks.

Anyhow, go out and enjoy the last night of summer!