For the Love of All Things Melodramatic

The Interwebz is all abuzz about the new Dark Shadows movie. Sadly, most of that buzz is not the good kind. At least not from the dinosaurs among us *raises hand* familiar with the original show or its 1990 reboot attempt.

I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I’m willing to give it a go when I get a few extra bucks–especially with the lure of awesome popcorn and the opening scenes that are supposed to be close to the magic that was the original DS.

As a bit of a consolation I decided to watch House of Dark Shadows. Once again, the story and original actors’ characterization sucked me in despite some apparent flaws (my guess in bits of scenes being left on the cutting room floor).

There was a certain depth there I was hoping Burton & Depp would showcase–Barnabas “finding” his reborn love. Dr. Hoffman’s scientific fascination turning to a crush, her jealousy and need for revenge when Barnabas, drunk on being “normal” once again, unthinkingly rubs her face in his love for the pretty young thing. His turning back into a monster when she tries to sabotage him.

The original writers of the series knew their stuff in terms of storytelling and the actors pulled off even the most “out there” plots by always playing it straight (this backed up in a recent interview with Lara Parker and Kathryn Leigh Scott). The writing and characterization imparted by both screenwriters and actors is what’s made the show so endearing and I’m sure helped to shape other writers as it did me.

Tim Burton was quoted as saying as much which makes it all the more disappointing that, for whatever reasons, he didn’t follow through with his vision of the Dark Shadows world.

* * *

And now some rambling on what could be a Spawn of Dark Shadows—The Secret Circle.

This show has had some ups and downs and WTF moments but like my beloved Dark Shadows it’s got some great core plot and characterization that keeps me hanging on. The finale last night was a perfect example of that. They left a lot of unanswered questions and I hope we get a season two to get some answers.

Polite Society…with fur

If you’ve ever had a cat (and especially multiple cats) for any length of time then you know there’s a reason the ancient Egyptians revered them as superior beings–the cats expected it.

Being the primary housekeeper for a small herd one  notices early on they have individual personalities much like non fur-covered folk. Ours happen to be upper crust types straight out of a Dickens knock-off.

And thus, I present to you…

Mr. Pip’s blog

A Bit Slow on the Uptake

Secret Circle has been on for how many months now? And I’m just now figuring out why Diana’s dad *cough* looks so darn familiar to me. Then all of a sudden it hit me. He reminds me of Ghost Adventures Zak! Charles could be Zak’s older brother it certainly would explain Zak’s fascination with the paranormal amirite???? ^_^

Don’t believe me? Check it out.

Feeling Inspired & Grateful

It’s been a long time since hours have flown by while I’m pondering a new story and looking up bits of research. It’s a way cool feeling and I can’t wait to start delving into the public domain 19th century sources for the New Project I just found on Google Books.

Man, but that has got to be one the greatest marvels of my lifetime. Being a dinosaur who used to write on a hulking steel manual typewriter I thought word processing was to die for, but the living angels who acquire and scan all these 100+ year old books I’d never have access to otherwise earn my eternal thanks.

Secret Circle Awesomeness

Happy Happy Joy Joy!

Nick is coming back  to Chance Harbor!!

Zap2it has exclusively confirmed that Nick (Louis Hunter), who was killed in a surprise twist in the fifth episode back in the fall, is coming back to Chance Harbor! Apparently not the same Nick that we know. Death changes people …

“We are thrilled to have Nick back, but he’s not the same person as he was before,” executive producer Andrew Miller tells us. “The Circle is stunned, but those closest to Nick, his brother Jake and girlfriend Melissa, find themselves on opposite sides as they struggle with how to deal with his unnatural return.”

*squee time*

I think Louis Hunter would make a pretty awesome Mark in a movie version of my Shadows Fall Away.  I wonder if he’s much of a skateboarder. ^_^

Spawn of Dark Shadows: The Secret Circle

D’oh! Forgot to post this. Ed Gross from Blog of Dark Shadows was kind enough to let me lead off his new feature “Spawn of Dark Shadows” about current TV shows and such with roots that go back to all the things we loved about the granddaddy of heartthrob monsters & mayhem Dark Shadows.

My post compares the original DS to The Secret Circle. Check it out.

My (formerly) Beloved Dark Shadows

To Tim Burton I say:

Just saw the first trailer of the upcoming Dark Shadows movie and at first it was totally awesome and I was all “Oh yeah I can’t wait…” But then, about 52 seconds in…well… Judge for yourselves:

Life in Ruins

Life in Ruins is a series of blog posts on places Penny Randall, one of my YAFF-mates,  has visited.

If her newest installment (Part 3) doesn’t send a shiver down your spine I don’t know what will.

Life in Ruins Pt. 1

Life in Ruins Pt 2

Life in Ruins Pt. 3

More Musical Inspiration

When I envision a story and start to write it plays out like a movie in my head complete with soundtrack the minute I hear an appropriate song.

For Shadows Fall Away it began with an image of a cute guy, ticked off at the world and everyone in it and riding his skateboard like  maniac to the tune of Good Charlotte’s Misery. I totally saw it as the opening of a movie with the skating cutting away to arguments with mom & dad, getting in trouble with bad news friends and closing out with my Mark standing before a juvenile court judge and hearing the verdict that would propel him into his adventure.

I confess, I’m all about counting the chickens before they hatch so of course I’m pondering the sequel to Shadows Fall Away even before it attracts an agent. Again it began to unfold like a movie. This time Mark had a more positive air about him even though he zipped around on his skateboard wildly enough to make the mother in me cringe.

A few chapters in, another song from a couple years back hit me as the focal point for Mark’s frame of mind as he watches the girl he thought would occupy his future begin to slip away.

 

(Carl Bell is a fabulous songwriter and so looks like Mark’s dad to me )

I say let’s re-elect Abe in 2012!