SpaceGypsies

Cineprov Carries on the Tradition of MST3K

Jennifer's Body: Somewhere on the hot/crazy scale is awful.

Recently two SpaceGypsies had a chance to take in a local Atlanta impov tradition,  Cineprov.  Cineprov carries on the practice of RIFFING, most famously practiced by the folks at Mystery Science Theater 3000.  Riffing, for those who aren’t aware, is the practice of watching a movie while making fun of it.  We all do it, but the best riffers do it in public.

With nearly a dozen seasoned riffers, Cineprov rotates the pain through the riffers.  This improv troupe was founded by Larry Johnson. They have found a patient and accepting location at the Relapse Theater, close to the Georgia Tech campus. The evening we tramped down Larry was joined by Pat and Don.  The movie for the evening? “Jennifer’s Body.”  The movie was chosen by Pat specifically for the Jennifer and Nity (pronounced Needy) kissing. Pat was able to choose because it was his birthday.

Did I mention that unlike MST3K, Cineprov is not family friendly? No? Okay…it is not family friendly. Not at all.  It is a dirty, dirty, hilarious evening of mockery.

So…we have a movie that is nearly soft-core porn, three men covering a variety of adult ages, and beer…lots of beer.  Did I mention the bar? Much like Watching MST3K at home, Cineprov comes with a full bar in the basement.  Also … during the show the wait staff from the basement come up to take orders.  The staff also give out popcorn and cookies for most show, but for Pat’s birthday we had cupcakes.  Cupcakes and Fat Tires.  Not a bad snack.

There is not a lot of point in reviewing the movie…it was awful and was skewered.  Basically, I will watch anything with Amanda Seyfried…but this movie really bends that rule.  (Note: I am a dude and therefore I have never seen “Mama Mia.” That doesn’t count.) But, it was a great night for me and my traveling companion, who continued to discuss both the comedy and the flaws in “Jennifer’s Body” at Glady Knight’s Chicken ‘N’ Waffles.

If you missed “Jennifer’s Body” at Cineprov, do not panic…they ridicule films every Friday night.  On the agenda for the next few months are William Castle’s “House on Haunted Hill,” “Days of Thunder,” and “300.”  They are also showing “The Room,” though I find it difficult to believe this is even worth the effort…but I am intrigued.  I am also sad I will not be able to see “House on Haunted Hill”…which Rifftrax Live recently riffed.

Call for reservations (and check out the details on their website).

Star Wars – Once  Month

I have saved the geekiest point of Cineprov for the end! On the first Saturday of every month from January through June Cineprov will be riffing on Star Wars Episodes I – IV.  It is too late to enjoy The Phantom Menace…in fact, I think it’s been too late to enjoy the Phantom Menace since 1999.  But, that aside…Attack of the Clones will be shown on February 4, 2012.  I will be there for that show, by the grace of God.

SpaceGypsy traveling keeps me on the road…

For more information see:

http://cineprov.com/

http://www.facebook.com/Cineprov

Relapse Theatre
380 14th Street NW
Atlanta, Ga 30318
404-246-3805
Every Friday! First Saturday Each Month! Doors and Bar at 7:00 PM Show Starts at 8:00 PM
cineprov@gmail.com

If it was possible for an actor to be typecast as a vampire, then Christopher Heyerdahl has pretty much bought the t-shirt. Not that we mind though! After all he is extraordinarily good at playing long-lived psychos with a blood-lust.

 As reported by Deadline and Gateworld.net, Chris has landed a part in HBO’s popular vampire series True Blood.

He will portray Dieter Braun, an ancient, powerful vampire who plays a large part in the intelligence of the Authority and especially enjoys enhanced interrogation. – Deadline

Yeah, that sounds about right, doesn’t it? Chris has proven again and again that he has a knack for this kind of role, first a Wraith on Stargate Atlantis, then Marcus in the Twilight films. True Blood is expected to be a recurring role for Chris, and while Sanctuary fans were puzzled by his long absence in the fourth season, this would seem to indicate that if – or rather when – Sanctuary is given a fifth season, John Druitt will still be missing in action.

The fifth season of True Blood will arrive this summer on HBO.

You can catch Chris right now in Hell on Wheels on AMC.

Sylvester McCoy, Seventh Doctor and all around master of physical humor and musical spoons, tells us all at Dragon-Con about where he got his stage name, how he put a ferret in his pants and drops hints about his upcoming role in The Hobbit.
(spoiler warning: his character’s outfit is brown!)

Penny Dreadful Productions (PDP), of Duluth GA, has an international reputation for amazing costuming, theatrical and film special effects, and art direction.  Under the guidance of founder Matt Silva, this cooperative group of artists and artisans have given the world amazing creations. In most corners of the Geek World, PDP’s work is well known. But nothing they have done so far compares to the scope and ambition of The Remnant.  Remnant is a multi-layered concept in imagination and collaboration that includes world class costuming, independently produced short films, novels, short stories, and a collaborative world of creativity.

The Brother’s Young, of Marietta GA, have been creating children’s entertainment, advertising, and experimental programming for many years. Matthew and Jared Young are probably most widely known in the Geek World for Galactic Perry’s Learning Starship.  Now they  have joined forces with PDP to move this costuming idea onto film, through a series of short vignettes that reveal the depth and breath of the world of The Remnant world using state of the art green screen technology to bring this saga to life.

The First Actual Screen Capture from REMNANT

So what is Remnant? Remnant is a costuming concept representing a post-apocalyptic dystopia where society is segmented into twisted social statuses that embody the cruelty of the absolute leadership and mindlessness of the controlled masses. There are those trying to break free from tyranny and reclaim human dignity.  Originally debuted at Dragon*Con 2011, PDP’s vision for the costuming is to produce an easily reproduced costuming line that is tied to films, graphic novels, gaming, and other media.

SpaceGypsies has been invited to a unique behind the scenes view of Remnant production and will be presenting a series of articles that interview key players, explain the social dynamic of the world of Remnant, and present hints about the future of Remnant.

So why does Remnant need you?  The answers will be revealed.  And with it…you will learn that you need Remnant.

Saucerers and Gondoliers
Dominic Green
Science Fiction, Young Adult
August 2011
Smashwods
171 pages
Format: epub
Accquired: Author sent copy for review
This review is cross-posted to On a Pale Star.

Saucerers and Gondoliers is a fun romp through space with two British teens, Cleo and Ant. We meet the two of them off the side of the motorway, where it’s apparent that Ant’s father is loading his eighteen wheeler with illegally purchased goods. When Ant asks his father what’s being loaded into the truck, he answers “green diesel” – and then the deal starts to go sour. Ant, based on previous experience, takes Cleo off into the woods to get away from the deal his dad is trying to close.

And then Ant and Cleo encounter another example of a man trying to load up a vehicle with ill-gotten goods. Only this one is a flying saucer. Cleo and Ant have gone from a truck loaded with contraband to a flying saucer loaded with it. They have all the luck!

Before long, the two of them find themselves flying through space with their saucer’s captain who is unconscious from his injuries. With no idea of where they are headed, they survive on the crisps and foodstuffs loaded on the saucer, and have a moment of panic when they stop flying and are just…wherever they are. Adrift, with their pilot unconscious.

This sets up my favorite exchange in the book. It cracked me up when I read it, and I kept going back to it:

The alien saucer turned side-on to the light, and Ant saw a faded emblem stenciled across its side. A star in a circle, two rows of stripes like wings, and the letters USASN.

“We’re saved!” he said. “It’s friendly!”

“How do you know it’s friendly?”

“It must be friendly! It’s American!”

This leads Ant and Cleo to the settlement of Croatoan of the New Dixie colony, which is inhabited by the worst examples of Southern Americans possible. Nearly everyone Ant and Cleo encounter here are parodies (I hope they are parodies) of ignorant, racist rednecks who are frozen in pre-civil rights era thinking.

On the one hand, I find it amusing. On the other–maybe it’s some bias on my part as a reader living in the American South–it’s really, really annoying. The only thing that made the residents of Coatoan bearable is that later the Soviet Russians and then Brits that the kids encounter are also all caricatures (though the Brits are perhaps less obnoxious); everyone is equally two dimensional.

Ant and Cleo’s adventures in space opens up several questions about the beginning of the US space program that turns into the Colonies of the United States in space and the United States of the Zodiac with no resolution. Cleo and Ant (and their eventual +1 from Croatoan, Glenn Bob) find out about the mysterious Saucerers, who may or may not exist, and then…nothing. No resolution or exploration of the mystery.

Their romp in space is fun, and I was entertained. Ant and Cleo are clever and entertaining teens. It was easy to read the whole story as a tongue-in-cheek mockery of the space adventures of old. It felt more like a series of encounters than a thoughtful story, though. This thing happens. And then this! And clever humor at the expense of the Americans and Soviets and generally not bright adults! So I wouldn’t pick this up if you are looking for thinky thoughts. It is entertaining, though. Just not deep.

Visit the author’s Website.