I Wish You All A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

And a Happy. Healthy, Prosperous and Peaceful New Year!

Later,

Paul Parducci

Rest in Peace Mr. Barbera

Cartoon Legend Joseph Barbera passed yesterday at the age of 95. It was my good fortune to meet both Mr. Barbera and Mr. Hanna while doing a cartoon for their studio in the nineties.
On one of my frequent visits to the old Hanna-Barbera Studio complex I was able to introduce my father to Joseph, (Both Italian and only a year apart in age they got along great.) it remains one of my fondest memories.
Mr. Barbera's office was filled with memorabilia, but as an obviously devout Catholic, he was most proud of those which commemorated his audience with the Pope.
Thank you Mr. Barbera for all the wonderful smiles.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Michael Schorr's Schultze Gets The Blues on Showtime and a Full Plate

Just saw Michael Schorr's brilliantly written and directed story about the rebirth of artistic passion: Schultze Gets the Blues.
Highly recommended. It's playing all month on Showtime
Later,
Paul Parducci

PS: Sorry for the paucity of posts this month. But my plate has been very full.

Paul Parducci's Next Movie Project Update # 5

It had to happen...
I have begun shooting my next film.
(I've moved my recently completed script onto the shelf for the time being and decided to pursue another idea instead.)
At the end of the day this decision was one of pure instinct. In a strange way I think the script I just wrote prepared me for this project.
I am working in a whole new way as well.
I hate to be so cryptic. But if I could explain it all here, there would be no reason to make a movie.
Thanks for checking in.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Stan Brakhage "The Dante Quartet"

About Stan Brakhage





Also check out Fred Campers Site

Later,
Paul Parducci

Attention SIRIUS Subscribers! Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace

Congratulations to my great friends Dave and Susan Konig on their new Radio Show! The fun starts this week: Monday December 4th 2006.
They are both super smart and super funny and I guarantee you will LOVE this Show.
Here's everything you need to know:

SPEAK NOW...OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE
STARRING DAVE KONIG & SUSAN KONIG
Monday - Friday
10 AM - 12 Noon eastern
7 AM - 10AM West coast
Sirius Satellite Radio
The Catholic Channel 159
Call in! 1-888-3-CATHOLIC
Enjoy!
Later,
Paul Parducci

Happy Holidays From Nightmare Boss!

I would yet again like to thank everybody for supporting Nightmare Boss.
The response to "The Nightmare Boss Holiday Special" has been over-whelming.
Lot's of things are happening with this project and I will do my best to Blog about them.
(And yes this could very well alter my production plans over the next year or so.)
Later,
Paul Parducci

Post Thanksgiving, Dexter and Masters of Horror

I hope everybody who celebrates it had a great Thanksgiving Holiday. I sure did. My time off included three epic Risk battles, a couple timid forays into various stores and plenty of turkey (I really like turkey-save the drumstick for me please.)

I am hooked on the Showtime series Dexter. (If you haven't been watching it, do yourself a favor and tune-in and catch-up.) Last night after Dexter I bounced over to Video On Demand where I saw the excellent Masters of Horror episode entitled "Family."Brent Hanley wrote it,(I've blogged about his work before on this site) John Landis directed it and George Wendt perfectedly inhabited the main role. (I worked with George a few years ago on a radio project for the BBC and he is a great guy: easy-going and pleasant etc.)
Well it's time to get back to work...
Have a Great Day!
Later,
Paul Parducci

PS: If you like Rockabilly and early Rock and Roll like I do check out RRRadio.com

The Interview and The Expanding Universe

This is the postcard from: "The Interview." It's been hanging around on one of my book shelves. It's the only one left so I figured I'd better post it before it too disappears.
You can watch the film itself here.
Later,
Paul Parducci

PS: Of course this is truly insignificant in light of the Expanding Universe.

Nightmare Boss #7 "Is This My Pen?"

So far this one is my agents favorite.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Citizen Kane Theatrical Trailer

Is this cool or what?
You can just feel the excitement. At this moment the whole world was there for Orson Welles.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Introducing The Official Nightmare Boss Podcast!!

Again I would like to thank everyone for making "Nightmare Boss" such an amazing success.
I have had many requests for a Podcast of this series, so I am very pleased to announce:
"Here it is."
Also for your ipod.Have a Great Day!
Later,
Paul Parducci

PS: For Cool Cartoon Podcasts go here.

Freakonomics, Age of Empires 3 and Work Front Decisions

I am currently reading Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner's fascinating book: "Freakonomics." This book is essentially the economics of the stuff you really want to know about delivered with a refreshingly comfortable clarity. A wonderful read.

Currently playing: Age of Empires 3.
I have been a fan of Age of Empires since the beginning and I regret taking so long to move on to this installment. In fact the expansion for #3 has just been released and I suspect that I will be getting that soon as well.

On the work side:
"Nightmare Boss" continues to grow in popularity and I continue to polish the script for my next feature film.(the feedback from readers has been uniformly positive) As time is really the only thing any of us have to spend,I feel a tough decision coming up.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Paul Parducci's Next Movie Project Update # 4

The Second Draft is finished.
It is now going out to select people for their reactions.
Later,
Paul Parducci
PS: I like it and Shadow the Script Dog approves!

Why I Don't Read The Calendar.

I do my best to keep things simple:

Act.
Write.
Make Movies.

The Calendar is the Entertainment News section of the LA Times. It along with the Hollywood Reporter and Variety are what are known as the Trades.

From time to time over the years I have tried reading them in order to "Stay Informed," but I ultimately find them (yet again) to be both disheartening and useless.

As an artist I want to surprise, scare, entertain, inspire and make you laugh. I have found that for me,to do this properly, (as properly as it can be done)I have to focus single-minded on the work itself, not on the results of the work.
And the Trades are generally all about the results, real or imagined, honest or spun.

Well, that's all the pontificating I can stand from myself for now.
I wish you all exciting ideas and the time to fulfill them!
Later,
Paul Parducci

The Houdini, Ghandi, Fellini Halloween Connection

What do Harry, Indira and Federico all have in common?
They all died on Halloween. Forbidden Knowledge maintains a list of other well-knowns who passed on October 31st right here.

In the spirit of the day here is an apartment in New York supposedly haunted and well-covered with Cameras by Ghostwatcher.com
Happy halloween!
Later,
Paul Parducci
PS: This is a picture I think is kind of creepy that I took in a Hanseatic League kitchen in Bergen, Norway.

Bosnian Pyramids, Helmut Schleppi and Falling Back

Just saw Helmut Schleppi's excellent film a Foreign Affair. I suspect we'll be seeing a lot more of this director in years to come.

Also have you are heard about the very strong possibility that there are Pyramids in Europe?

This weekend we in North America Fall Back, that is we set our clocks back one hour in order to get us some extra daylight (Daylight Savings Time). Unfortunately this necessarily causes it to get dark sooner- and lets me know that summer is really over. I know it's been over for a while now. But for a Southern California transplant like myself (who had his fair share of winters and snow) an endless summer would be fine with me!
Later,
Paul Parducci
PS: This is a picture I took of Big Ben. (Remember it's the clock not the tower that carries the name.)

Paul Parducci's Next Movie Project Update # 3

The first draft is finished. (95 pages) Actually I finished the first draft Tuesday night and it came it at 93 1/4 pages. But the process of tighting, fixing and refining has already brought the page count up.

In any event, I am now a prisoner to this project. To that end here is a picture I took at the POW exhibit at Edinburgh castle the summer before last.
There were two American Sailors held there. This picture shows the Stars and Strips carved into the prisons heavy wood door.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Deliberate Practice and Success

I ran across a fantastic article on Success from Fortune Magazine.
They talk about deliberate practice as a key component in success. I agree completely.
You can read it here.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Paul Parducci's Next Movie Project Update # 2

76 pages in.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Nightmare Boss # 6 "Business Attire"

Thank you all for your continued support of Nightmare Boss. Here is Episode #6 where NB gives his rational take on Dressing For Success!
Later,
Paul Parducci

The Fascinating Subject of Cycles

There has been a great deal of research in the area of identifying and studying Cycles. From sunspots to Real Estate, a mountain of data has been collected, analyzed and interpreted in an effort to discern repeating patterns. One of the most famous proponents of Cycles was the late Edward R. Dewey who was also the chief economist with the Department of Commerce.

Here are some excellent links.

Cycles Research Institute

Sunspot Cycles

Ray Tome's site

The Case for Cycles

War Cycles

As always I am interested in your opinions, reflections, observations and theories. (As evidenced by my email this Blog has some of the smartest readers in the world!)
Have a Great Day!
Later,
Paul Parducci

The Fascinating Concept of Cycles

There has been a great deal of research in the area of identifying Cycles from sunspots to Real Estate one of the most famous proponents of Cycles was the late Edward R. Dewey who was also the chief ecomnomist with the Department of Commerce.
Here are some excellent links.

Cycles Research Institute

Sunspot Cycles

Later,

Paul Parducci

The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Long Overdue Watching and a Russian Possession

Well I'm back.
Had a great trip back east visited with family, did some Leaf peeping in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and caught up on some movies.
Finally saw The Aviator: Excellent (It's Scorcese what did I expect? Cate Blanchett as Katherine Hepburn: Amazing)

Robert Schwentke's Flight Plan: Great Cast, Big Fun! See it.
and The Exorcism of Emily Rose: If you are a regular reader of this Blog you would probably think this would be a day of release viewing for me. But I must admit to a prejudice: I am suspicious of Horror movies rated anything other than "R." And Emily Rose is PG-13 so I thought it would be at the very least ineffective. I was wrong, see this movie. Scott Derrickson masterfully brings this film in and it does not disappoint. (Tom Wilkinson, Laura Linney,Jennifer Carpenter and Campbell Scott knock it out of the park---It is based on a real exorcism performed in the 70's in Germany.)

Here's a bonus, this is purported to be the recording of a Russian Exorcism.

Later,

Paul Parducci

PS: The photo is of the real "Emily Rose" Anneliese Michel

Paul Parducci's Next Movie Project

Sorry for the grandiose Title but it helps with the search.

Since House Jesus in 2004 I've written three screenplays, Wrote and Directed as well as produced and acted in the Nightmare Boss Mobi/webisode series and worked various and sundry Acting jobs.
But through it all I have been artistically restless.
"House Jesus" which is available online as well as linked to this site, was in many ways a personal breakthrough for me as a filmmaker. Although I had been moving in this direction since EVP-by the way I want to thank everyone out there who continue to support this film)Because of it, I couldn't go back to doing things the way I did them before.

With the success of "Nightmare Boss," the next logical step for me should be a comedy feature, but it's not there.

So for months now I've been outlining and chasing various ideas that have all ended in dead-ends... Until now.

I am 22 pages into the script for the next feature length project that I will be making. It is a Dark contemporary piece.

I've decided to periodically Blog about the entire process from Script to Screen.

Stay tuned.
Later,
Paul Parducci

PS: I'll be traveling for the next week so as is usually the case when I'm with suitcase, I will not be posting-but I'll catch you all up when I get back.

Johnny Appleseed and the Church of the New Jerusalem

When I was a kid I remember frequently hearing about Johnny Appleseed.
Everybody(my teachers) seemed to think it was of tremendous value to the United States that he planted Apple trees everywhere.
To this day deep down I feel that Apple trees are fantastic.
Anyway, on this day in 1774 Mr. Chapman(his real name) was born.
You can learn all about him here.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Fun Fact: Like Helen Keller, Johnny Appleseed was a follower of Emanuel Swedenborg he was in fact a missionary for the church he founded(The Church of the New Jerusalem.)

Primer

Last night I saw Shane Carruth's excellent Sci-Fi Thriller "Primer."
It's playing on Showtime this month.
It won Top Honors at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival and it deserved it.
Well written, directed and acted this work delves into the human Algebra surrounding the control of time.
Here is Roger Eberts review.
Highly recommended.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Creepy Microwave Incident

From Coast to Coast AM
Later,
Paul Parducci

Also Follow on Facebook

One of Those Great SoCal Weekends!

Friday night: The Dodgers vs The Padres . (The Boys in Blue won!) It was an outing organized by my son's school, the parents, teachers and kids are all terrific. (I've known many of them for years) and we all got hats!

Saturday: Paintball with a bunch of my closest friends. My great friend Mark is marrying his best gal Michelle and in lieu of a typical Bachelor party we did this and had a blast! For those of you who haven't played those paint balls hurt and for days after you get to show off very macho and Soldierly welts. (My son was impressed or at least pretended to be.) Then watched said son play fantastic football as he and his team carried the day!

Sunday: Hanging out with my family. Annual Church Bar-B -Que etc.
I am a grateful man!
Later,
Paul Parducci

The Genius of the Crowd: Charles Bukowski

The Genius Of The Crowd

there is enough treachery, hatred violence absurdity in the average human being to supply any given army on any given day

and the best at murder are those who preach against it
and the best at hate are those who preach love
and the best at war finally are those who preach peace

those who preach god, need god
those who preach peace do not have peace
those who preach peace do not have love

beware the preachers
beware the knowers
beware those who are always reading books
beware those who either detest poverty
or are proud of it
beware those quick to praise
for they need praise in return
beware those who are quick to censor
they are afraid of what they do not know
beware those who seek constant crowds
for they are nothing alone
beware the average man the average woman
beware their love, their love is average
seeks average

but there is genius in their hatred
there is enough genius in their hatred to kill you
to kill anybody
not wanting solitude
not understanding solitude
they will attempt to destroy anything
that differs from their own
not being able to create art
they will not understand art
they will consider their failure as creators
only as a failure of the world
not being able to love fully
they will believe your love incomplete
and then they will hate you
and their hatred will be perfect

like a shining diamond
like a knife
like a mountain
like a tiger
like hemlock

their finest art

Charles Bukowski

Last night I saw the excellent documentary. Bukowski: Born Into This
Highly recommended.
Later,
Paul Parducci

9-11: I Remember

Five Years ago at sometime before 6 AM Pacific time my friend Matt called me. His words were simple, "Turn on the TV, someone just flew a plane into the World Trade Center on purpose."

My wife and I then watched the dark oily smoke as it billowed from the side of the North Tower. Could this be an accident? But that line of thought ended at 6:03 when United Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower.

My son was five years old at the time. And I remember feeling despair...War. Explanations would be for much later. But for that morning: cereal and cartoons in the family room.

The Pentagon was struck. How wide was this attack?

We watched the report of Flight 93 and simultaneously said the same thing: "There were heroes on that flight."

There were many Heroes that day and many since.

Nothing I can write today is worthy of this tragedy.

Although I live in Los Angeles now, I grew up in New Jersey and lived in New York City for ten years, it is a town I love, a magic place filled with a buzzing energy unmatched by any other city in the world.

I have it seems a limitless supply of snap shot thoughts about this day, like polaroids dipped in sad water and left out to dry on a tarred city roof:

Civilians: Men, Women and Children!

I never got to the top of the World Trade Center.

They were beautiful on that day I took a circle line cruise just before I left for the west coast.

My brother Bill who died in July 2001 was a construction genius. Would he have been involved somehow?

Loss, a chasm of Loss.

And on and on...

Five years later we are still here. Both the idea and the country of America is working as it has since 1776.

As I write this, my son now ten is beginning his fifth grade day. My wife gathers the leash to walk our shelter rescue character of a dog Shadow, and I remember.

I remember.

Later,
Paul Parducci

Nightmare Boss now has his own Website!

I want to thank everyone for making my Mobisode "Nightmare Boss" so popular.
I will continue to post episodes here on my Blog, but you can also find them at the Official Nightmare Boss site.
Thanks Again!
Later,
Paul Parducci
PS: The picture is Jerry Lewis from "The Day the Clown Cried."

Nochnoy Dozor (Night Watch)

Director Timur Bekmangetov has got some chops.
I recommend this well-done Russian Horror actioner: Nightwatch.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Labor Day Wishes

Have a Great Weekend!
Be Safe, Be Happy and enjoy your family and friends.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Happy Birthday From Nightmare Boss!

A very special Birthday message from the World's Favorite Boss from Hell!
Later,
Paul Parducci

Rest in Peace Bruno

I had the opportunity to work with the Excellent Bruno Kirby who left us much too soon.
He was both a skilled actor and a genuinely warm human being.
Here is a previous post about Bruno.
Every day is a gift.
Later,
Paul Parducci

EC Comics: Horror in Color!!!

All About

As a kid my taste in comics never really went to the Super Heroes--For me it was all about the Horror.

And my absolute favorites were the EC Comics reprints.

Later,

Paul Parducci

Is Exorcism Real? Was One of the Scariest Movies Ever Made:"The Exorcist" based on an Actual Event?

William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist directed by the magnificent William Friedkin is by this point completely enmeshed into the popular consciousness. One of the lynchpins of this story is that it is supposedly based on actual events.

To that end here are some links you should find useful:

Here is a piece by Father Saunders.

Walter Opsasnick's Exhaustive Investigation

Interview with Eye Witness Father Walter Halloran

Later,
Paul Parducci

Haunted Hollywood: The Real Ghosts of Tinsletown?

Here are some excellent links pertaining to Haunted Hollywood and the creepy side of the Land of Dreams:

Nice Overview

Hal Siemer's Piece

Some Famous Folks Who MaintainThey've Seen a Ghost

California's Most Haunted

13 Celeb Hauntings

Famous Ghosts

Silent Spectres

Hollywood Ghost Hunt Weekend by Richard Senate

Beneath Los Angeles

The photo is the Wem Town Hall Picture (Not from Hollywood but still cool.)
Later,
Paul Parducci

Zion National Park, Kubrick's The Shining and Speilberg's War of the Worlds

OK, this is the last post that will include a reference to my fantastic national Parks focused vacation. Here is a picture I took (through the shuttle bus roof) while at the absolutely breath-taking Zion National Park.
This week I saw Kubrick's The Shining (for the fifth or sixth time, it never disappoints) and finally Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds, in fact I saw WOW twice, first alone and a second time with my wife. Absolutely brilliant.
Later,
Paul Parducci

PS: Today is my fathers Birthday, Happy Birthday Dad!

More About Our Southwest Tour: Lake Powell!

Spent a day last week at Lake Powell located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Center.
We cruised aboard the Desert Shadow, went swimming at the Lake Powell Resort and had a wonderful time!
Later,
Paul Parducci

The Grand Canyon!

Just got back!
Here is a picture I took from the window at Kolb Studio which literally hangs on the South Rim.
And this is me hiking the Bright Angel Trail (also at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, this is also the trail the mules use)
It is my sincerest recommendation that everyone schedule a trip to see the Seventh Wonder of the Natural World before the dirt sleep.
Later,
Paul Parducci
PS: The Specs: 277 miles long. 1 mile deep 1904 Square miles in area, Established in 1919

Homeboys in Outer Space and an Alien Named Gorgo

It seems shows have a life of their own: Almost ten years ago I appeared in the short-lived UPN Sitcom Homeboys in Outer Space. Lately I have had a lot of inquiries about this role so:
My character was Gorgo (it was the only time in my career when I was subjected to a lengthy make-up process.)
As far as I know this is the only known existing picture.
As you can see by this pre digital age polaroid all that latex altered my appearance drastically (hey I heard that!)
Later,
Paul Parducci

Thanks to All My Friends, Elvis Presley's Earliest and Collecting

To Everyone who stopped by to see me in person at the show in Burbank this weekend I want to say Thank you!!! (including of course Dennis from the outstanding Movie Blog: Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule)
I had an absolute blast! (I caught up with several old friends and made several new ones.)
It was my first time doing a public event like this and it was an honor to meet you all.
(One of the drawbacks to being a film and television actor is that you rarely get to meet the folks who actually look at your work.)
Many were kind enough to ask for my autograph and it got me thinking about signature collecting in general and really valuable scribbles in particular so to that end: (included is a picture of what is considered to be the earliest Elvis Autograph.)
Later,
Paul Parducci
PS:Also Thank you very much for your tremendous support of my new Sprint Mobisode "Nightmare Boss" it is most appreciated.

Rest in Peace Mr. Hughes

We recently lost a truly great American Actor Barnard Hughes.
He had a long and successful career but my personal favorite was his work on the short-running sitcom Doc. As a kid I just loved the interplay between Hughes character"Dr. Joe" and the late great John Harkins character "Fred."
Mr. Hughes will be missed.
Later,
Paul Parducci

This May be the Best Real Ghosts Caught on Tape Show Ever

Despite the inclusion of the highly suspect James Van Praagh and a goofy Ghost in the attic sequence, Some of Don Weiner's "World's Scariest Ghosts Caught on Tape" is very compelling. (includes what appears to be startling poltergeist activity)

You can watch it in it's entirety here.
Let me know what you think.
Later,
Paul Parducci

PS: The Broom Photo

Herk Harvey and Carnival of Souls

Herk Harvey's Carnival of Souls (based on the Ambrose Bierce short story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge) was endlessly run on local television when I was a kid. It's imagery and pace make it a masterpiece. Herk Harvey was an industrial filmmaker from Lawrence, Kansas and COS was his only feature. (All it takes is one.) It is hands down one of my favorite movies.
It is not by any means a perfect picture (if such a thing exists) but it is Cinema at it's best.
Watch it and you will be affected.
Later,
Paul Parducci



An Essay by John Clifford

Out-takes

Zombie Joe's: The Tell Tale Heart and The Bells

I'll be brief.
My good pal ZJ has pulled apart the fibers and reconfigured Edgar Allan Poe in a truly amazing way.
If you are in the LA area see this show.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Happy Birthday America!

I am an American, I was fortunate to have been born a citizen in this wide beautiful land where most of the time we seem to agree on nothing at all. We pray different ways, we dress different ways, we vote different ways. But somehow We are a People.
We've been stumbling our way toward an ideal for over two and a quarter centuries,sometimes quickly...mostly not. We usually start to get something right after every other option has been tried. But we keep moving forward. Americans are a rebellious bunch and we do not quit. We don't look alike, but there is something about the way we carry ourselves that marks us for who we are. And there is something else... underneath, a quiet joyful secret we all share in our ambitious, striving, Don't Tread on Me hearts. Ain't freedom grand!
Happy Birthday America (and please be careful with the fireworks.)
Later,
Paul Parducci

"Nightmare Boss" is Now on Sprint TV!

In the growing tradition of portable entertainment:
I am happy to announce you can now watch episodes of my new show "Nightmare Boss" on FLM (Powervision Channel 19) on Sprint TV.
Later,

Paul Parducci

Are UFO's Real? Dr. Steven Greer and the Disclosure Project

Caught a few minutes of George Noory's interview with Dr. Steven Greer on Coast to Coast AM. Although I am skeptical by nature, I decided to look into his work a little further:

The Doctor runs an organization known as The Disclosure Project

Here's another piece about his work in UFO Evidence

This is a picture of a purported UFO in Mexico in 1997.

Later,
Paul Parducci

16 Blocks and a PS About Another Movie You Should See

Watched 16 Blocks last night ad my wife and I both enjoyed it very much.
Richard Donner did his usual bang up job with this non-stop Cat and Mouse penned(tightly and with excellent dialogue) by Richard Wenk. Bruce Willis gave the best performance of his career and Mos Def and David Morse were stupendous. Get yourself a snack, pop in the DVD and enjoy the ride.

Later,
Paul Parducci

PS: Richard Donner also made the amazing Radio Flyer