March 4th: The Day That's Also a Command!

Go Fourth...I mean Forth!

Later,

Paul Parducci

Rashomon and the Nature of truth

In Kurosawa's Rashomon different stories are told about a crime and it is left to us to determine what is true.

It is a brilliant film in many respects but this theme, this focus on the very essence of how truth can be known (or even if it's possible) makes it a must see.

(Filmically the dappled images in the forest scenes and the Medium are for me the most potent-- as I write this I am thinking of the driving rain, and now the Samurai, so I'll just stop trying to highlight.)

If you haven't seen this Cinematic Masterpiece yet, do yourself a favor and rent a copy.

Criterion as a nice release of it on DVD.

Later,

Paul Parducci

My New Favorite Short Story: The Picture in the House

"The Picture in the House"

By HP Lovecraft.

Later,

Paul Parducci

Dr.Ian Stevenson and the Scientific Study of Reincarnation

Dr. Ian Stevenson recently passed. He was a researcher who devoted most of his professional career to the investigation of reincarnation.

Among his many accomplishments was the establishment of the University of Virginia's Dept of Perceptual Studies.

Here is an article on the Doctor's inquiry into Birth marks.

You can get a great overview of his life and work here.

Dr. Stevenson of course had his critics as well.

Later,

Paul Parducci

PS: Today is my birthday. Is this Post topic a coincidence...I think not!

Mag Lite: Or Why I Will Never Buy Another Flashlight

Here in California you are supposed to maintain earth-quake readiness. One of the ways we do that is by keeping a flashlight handy. I own a MagLite and keep it next to my bed. Often as not I use it to read by, (I limit the beam with a blanket corner so I don't disturb my wife.)

There is an invincible quality about a Mag, it is a Hefty piece of equipment and I have enjoyed mine for five years. In those five years it has worked perfectly moving from it's usual bedside position to mountain cabins, tents and wilderness hikes.

Recently my trusty Mag went dark. I changed the batteries but still no shine. It dawned on me that perhaps the light bulb was burned out. Where would I find another one? (I'm used to things like this being a hassle.) Then a remnant of a memory drifted to the surface. I unscrewed the end of the battery tube and there it was...an EXTRA lightbulb!
I put it in, and once again:Light!

It's nice to know that Quality and Pride of workmanship is alive and well.

Mag Instrument Inc was founded in 1955 by Anthony Maglica you can read about the company here.

Later,

Paul Parducci

Special Animated Version of "Monday, Wednesday, Friday"

Hope you like it.
Later,
Paul Parducci

"IS" and Robert Anton Wilson

Also check out: Robert Anton Wilson.

Later,
Paul Parducci

J. Searle Dawley's "Frankenstein" 1910 From The Thomas Edison Studio

Watch Here.

Frankenstein, a young medical students, trying to create the perfect human being, instead creates a misshapen monster." Based on Mary Shelley's classic novel, screenplay J. Searle Dawley, directed by J. Searle Dawley, 1910.
Enjoy,
Later,
Paul Parducci

Bill Gates, Nightmare Boss and the Internet TV Revolution

Many of the readers of this Blog already know that in 2006 I created a Mobisode/Webisode entitled Nightmare Boss.
Beside being incredible fun for me to do, it quickly became an extremely popular comedy mobisode (Sprint Powervision Channel 19) as well as a growing phenomenon on the internet.
Now I have been in the entertainment industry for twenty years, I have been up and I have been shall we say not so up. But since the release of Nightmare Boss I have had a steady stream of media inquiries and attention from all parts of what I consider to be the upper tier of Hollywood Production.
Change is afoot. The way in which we are viewing and responding to what we consider to be television entertainment is in rapid flux.
Bill Gates spoke on this recently and I feel he hit the nail on the head. You can read it here.
Have a Great Day!
Later,
Paul Parducci

PS: Keep and eye out for the Nightmare Boss Short film Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
PSS: The image is from the great site TVHistory .TV

Amicus and the Greatest Movie Moments of My Life

There are two films that stick out like mountains in my film psyche:

The Original Tales From the Crypt (1972) directed by Freddie Francis (who was also the DP on David Lynch's The Straight Story)
and
Asylum(1972) directed by Roy Ward Baker. (also written by the magnificent Robert Bloch-Psycho)
Both films were released by Amicus, the studio that essentially created the Horror Anthology sub-genre.(My favorite by the way.)

All about Amicus:
The Studio That Dripped Blood.
Classic Horror

Later,
Paul Parducci

Monday, Wednesday, Friday (The Film)

Hope you like it.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Coffin Joe Trailer!

Later,
Paul Parducci

The Very Personal Horror of Jose Mojica Marins or Watch Out for Coffin Joe!

Wah?
Huh?
Look here.

Tonight you can watch "This Night I Will possess Your Corpse" on IFC.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Genes: Unlocking the Riddle of Aging

Just saw a fantastic segment regarding the latest research on Aging on the very excellent Nova Science Now Series on PBS.

For a great overview: check out Genetic Science.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Drew Friedman and his New Book or Put some Old Jewish Comedians on Your Coffee Table!

Drew Friedman is a good buddy of mine. (I am also a huge fan of his fantastic work.)
His fourth book has just come out.
You can read the review here.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Is "Campus Ladies" the Best Comedy on Television?

My wife got me started on this show which runs every Tuesday on the Oxygen channel.
(Notice how I mentioned my wife? )
Anyway it's hilarious, well-written, acted and directed.
Watch it, you will not be disappointed.
Campus Ladies
Later,
Paul Parducci

David Cronenberg and A History of Violence

I am a David Cronenberg fan. (Dead Ringers was one of the creepiest films every made.)

I finally got around to seeing A History of Violence, and I absolutely loved it. Cronenberg's use of space, doors and chairs to denote worlds and place is absolutely brilliant. The whole cast was outstanding and its always great to see Stephen McHattie in anything.
Roger Ebert wrote an in depth review of it that I heartily recommend. You can see it here.
Later,
Paul Parducci
PS: Here's an early Cronenberg Film

Ken Garabadian My Friend

Around thirteen months ago the world lost a great man and I lost a great friend and one of the most amazing people I have ever met.
He was a spiritual giant and a kind, kind man. ( and Bleeping Smart!)
We met at my first real job out of the Army and remained close for over twenty years.
I had a tremendous urge to Blog about Ken when he passed, but honestly it was too raw for me then, too personal. In many ways it still is.(Not a week goes by that I don't miss the funny emails and marathon phone calls.)
Truth be told, with Ken gone, the world is a little less fun.

Harvard Magazine has done a feature story on Ken, you can look at it here.
Every day is precious.
Later,
Paul Parducci

element is completed

I will be sending it out to select film festivals.
The final cut came in at 3 minutes 25 seconds.
Later,
Paul Parducci
PS: Now that this has been settled,(Purged?) I can get back to prepping the script I just finished.

It's a New Year and A Number Worth a Second Look!

2007.
Can You believe it?
2007.
Holy Toledo!
2007!
There's something about the number itself that is forcing me to actually look at it.
It's impressive isn't it?
Two thousand and...Seven.
Maybe it's a lifetime of hearing Lucky Seven. But I have a good feeling about this year.
Later,
Paul Parducci