By Fred Topel
“The potential for these devices for good and evil is immense.”
– Wes Craven
When I became a journalist, it was a dream to be able to meet the filmmakers who inspired me as a movie-loving kid. After 12 years in the industry, it’s even more fulfilling to follow these filmmakers as they continue to influence our lives with the stories they tell.
Wes Craven is on his third or fourth cycle. For me, A Nightmare on Elm Street opened the world of dreams and overcoming your fears through Freddy Krueger. Also, The People Under the Stairs unleashed all the creativity that could exist buried in a dangerous suburban house.
The generation before me got to know Craven from his brutal thrillers Last House on the Left and The Hills Have Eyes, both of which Craven has produced remakes for in the last decade. The Scream series was already impacting horror fans younger than me, but I certainly enjoyed the way its characters knew the rules of the horror movies in which they were stuck, and it didn’t help them much.
Scre4m is already addressing a further generation by incorporating cell phones and internet technology, and discussing the rules of horror movie remakes. For the latest film, I once again got a chance to chat with my creative guru.
Read our exclusive interview with Wes Craven on SuicideGirls.com.
By Nicole Powers
“It can be its own creature.”
– Scroobius Pip
Scroobius Pip went out one day, and made a record for people to play. Then all the beasts in the world came round, thanks to his killer wit and rhymes so sound. The Nyan cat, the dog and the kangaroo, with “Thou Shalt Always Kill” the YouTube massive he did woo. Then the wolf he howled, the horse he neighed, “I’m releasing a second solo record” the Pip brayed. And when the Pip began to roar, there never was heard such a noise before. And every beast he stood on the tip, to peruse a video of the Scroobius Pip. At last they said to the Pip “By far,
you’re the wisest beast! You know you are!” SG got close to Scroobius Pip to say, ‘Tell us all about yourself we pray. For as yet we can’t make out in the least, if you’re punk or hip-hop, or poet or beast.” The Scroobius Pip looked vaguely round, and hollered these words with a rumbling sound: “Chippetty flip, Flippetty chip, my only name is the Scroobius Pip.”
In truth, he may not have said “Chippetty flip” or “Flippetty chip” – but here’s what went down when SuicideGirls spoke to the Pip…
Read our exclusive interview with Scroobius Pip on SuicideGirls.com.
by Steven-Elliot Altman (SG Member: Steven_Altman)
Our Fiction Friday serialized novel, The Killswitch Review, is a futuristic murder mystery with killer sociopolitical commentary (and some of the best sex scenes we’ve ever read!). Written by bestselling sci-fi author Steven-Elliot Altman (with Diane DeKelb-Rittenhouse), it offers a terrifying postmodern vision in the tradition of Blade Runner and Brave New World…
By the year 2156, stem cell therapy has triumphed over aging and disease, extending the human lifespan indefinitely. But only for those who have achieved Conscientious Citizen Status. To combat overpopulation, the U.S. has sealed its borders, instituted compulsory contraception and a strict one child per couple policy for those who are permitted to breed, and made technology-assisted suicide readily available. But in a world where the old can remain vital forever, America’s youth have little hope of prosperity.
Jason Haggerty is an investigator for Black Buttons Inc, the government agency responsible for dispensing personal handheld Kevorkian devices, which afford the only legal form of suicide. An armed “Killswitch” monitors and records a citizen’s final moments — up to the point where they press a button and peacefully die. Post-press review agents — “button collectors” — are dispatched to review and judge these final recordings to rule out foul play.
When three teens stage an illegal public suicide, Haggerty suspects their deaths may have been murders. Now his race is on to uncover proof and prevent a nationwide epidemic of copycat suicides. Trouble is, for the first time in history, an entire generation might just decide they’re better off dead.
(Catch up with the previous installments of Killswitch – see links below – then continue reading after the jump…)
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by Daniel Robert Epstein
“I dont go after anything.”
– Alan Arkin
It was a real treat and a pleasure to get to talk to living legend Alan Arkin. I told a number of people that I was going to talk to the Oscar nominated improv guru and they said, “You got to ask him about Glengarry Glen Ross.” I was like, “Fuck that I’m going to talk to him about Bad Medicine!” But of course I was also very interested in talking with Arkin about his latest role, that of the heroin snorting grandfather of the dysfunctional family in Little Miss Sunshine. The film also stars Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear and is directed by music video masterminds Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris.
Read our exclusive interview with Alan Arkin on SuicideGirls.com.
by A.J. Focht
The entire line of DC’s New 52 has hit stores. The fan response to the reboot has been phenomenal, though all of the comics have received very diverse reviews. Almost every comic in the New 52 has been both praised and bashed. Most have gained a following, and a couple have already gained infamy, while very few have slipped under the radar altogether.
Several of the more obscure comics however pulled in great reviews, such as All-Star Western and I, Vampire. All-Star Western explores Gotham City during its founding through the eyes of Jonah Hex, while I, Vampire introduced a new vampire threat to the DC universe. One of the biggest surprises was Justice League Dark which already has built a strong following. Even more shocking were the positive responses to the sexy stripper-adorned title Voodoo — from the many of the same people who bashed the overt raunch of Catwoman and Starfire.
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by Lithiumpicnic
“I am in the studio more than is good for me.”
– Sascha Konietzko
In 1984 KMFDM (Kleine Mitleid Fur Das Mehrheit,” which means “No Pity For the Majority”) was founded in Germany by Sascha Konietzko. The band released three albums on European labels before begining their relationship with Wax Trax! Records in Chicago, Illinois. After touring with Ministry in 1989-1990, they were signed to Wax Trax! Records and quickly became a part of the industrial music scene in Chicago that included Ministry, Front 242 and My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult.
KMFDM has no fixed roster, Konietzko is the only member that has been directly involved with every KMFDM project. En Esch, Raymond Watts, and guitarist Günter Schulz are other key members in the band’s history.
Other notable musicians that have contributed to KMFDM projects include Bill Rieflin of Ministry/R.E.M., Nivek Ogre from Skinny Puppy and OhGr, John DeSalvo of Chemlab, Tim Skold of Marilyn Manson, F.M. Einheit of Einstürzende Neubauten, and Nina Hagen. Additionally, Chemlab, Die Warzau, Nine Inch Nails, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, and Giorgio Moroder have remixed music for KMFDM.
Read our exclusive interview with Sascha Konietzko of KMFDM on SuicideGirls.com.
By Fred Topel
“As you get older, you seem to just get more ideas.”
– Todd Solondz
Todd Solondz had to leave the Toronto International Film Festival early to return to one of his international teaching engagements. I saw his latest film, Dark Horse, on the second to last day of the festival, so was not able to get a Q&A in person. However, he was happy to make time to speak by phone. Across a 15 hour time difference, his distinct voice came on the line via a clear connection to Singapore where he was teaching a film class.
Given the subjects he often deals with, Solondz has a surprisingly warm and soft spoken voice. He had a sympathetic child molester character in Happiness, and in Palindromes a group of religious fundamentalist killing abortion doctors, and their families in the crossfire.
Dark Horse is a comparatively less volatile film, though still deals with characters consistent with Solondz’ ouvre. Abe (Jordan Gelber) lives with his parents, collects toys and slacks off at the office job his father (Christopher Walken) gave him. Abe meets Miranda (Selma Blair) at a wedding and proposes to her after a week of awkward non-dating. He is unshakable despite Miranda’s morose apathy, not just towards him but towards life.
It’s a comedy, by the way. Those awkward interactions between Miranda and Abe, Abe’s total confidence in his lifestyle and his contentious relationships with coworkers and families remind one of Solondz’ breakthrough film Welcome to the Dollhouse. Hopefully Dark Horse will secure distribution soon so everyone can experience what Toronto got to preview at the festival.
Read our exclusive interview with Todd Solondz on SuicideGirls.com.
