Ramzi Abed's Bloodshot Pictures B-LOG [entries|friends|calendar] Ramzi Abed THE DEVIL'S MUSE "bLaCk Dahlia" My Space Profile [ userinfo | livejournal userinfo ] [ calendar | livejournal calendar ]

Let's see... Yes, I'm still here on this planet and have things to say. [05 May 2009|04:26pm] [ mood | artistic ] I am by no stretch of the imagination perfect, close to it, nor attain to be so. I'm a flawed but reflective individual who lives first and foremost for his cosmic and indecipherable Creator and to create art into the nothingness of life, space, and endlessness. My being is here to transmit what I receive, and try to have fun (and find some financial success) in the process of creating and creative endeavors, especially in film and literature. Physically manifesting ideas is what it's all about at any rate. And here's the scoop... IF you live in LA, you can come and be part of the magic. This is a Signing for "The Devil's Muse" (which came out wide on dvd Sep. 2008 from Halo 8 Entertainment ( http://www.halo8.tv ), so go get it!), a mini-screening of the film, a press junket for the new film "In A Spiral State" (which comes out in Sep. 2009, Halo 8, read the news here: http://www.fangoria.com/home/news/9-film-news/2112-halo-8-gets-into-a-spiral-state.html)... AND an open casting call for "Noirland" and "Puff, Puff, Pass!", the new features (in pre-production) by Ramzi Abed. So if you are in town (and I mean Southern California), well come on up (or down) to famous cult film actor, Eric Spudic's video store this Saturday (MAY 9th, 1-3pm) from that's right... 1-3pm and get stuff signed, buy a dvd, meet some of the cast (including model and star, Amie Nicole (Coffin Case, Pin-Up Girl Clothing)... We'll be promoting the Halo 8's release of "The Devil's Muse" and selling dvds there.  Come on out for a photo or autograph at: Spudic's Movie Empire 5910 Van Nuys Blvd. Van Nuys, CA  91401 (open 12-8) Here's a link to the film's page on MySpace: www.myspace.com/blackdahliamovie *info on the party/signing/screening is on that page's calendar... look for it! *It's kind of a surprise little thing, so it ain't a big deal, but come if you can! Also if you can't, then please by all means, Netflix "The Devil's Muse", or order it online from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BestBuy, Virgin, Deep Discount, and many others. You can also find it at cool stores like Hastings, Amoeba Records, Jay and Silent Bob's, and Burning Paradise to name but a few of the many great indie stores out there that need your support also~! Here's the link for the film at Amazon, please GET IT: http://www.amazon.com/Devils-Muse-Kristen-Kerr/dp/B001BP14NK Or look it up on Google: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=the+devil%27s+muse&btnG=Google+Search So, give us some love... Much love and magic in return, R 1 RIP| knock on death's door

I almost died (for real)... and my new slant on the world [26 Jul 2007|05:08pm] [ mood | calm ] I know I've been gone for a while... and I can't wait to start writing in here again... but a whole lot's been a foot and going on... Good, bad, and ugly, but mostly majorly good now... Anyhow, I'm too pooped to seriously post right now, BUT I have copied below the email I sent to all of my personal friends, family, collaborators, and professional contacts (and the one I blogged on Myspace) about my whole blood poisoning due to a kidney infection experience... Please read below: 7-16-2007 Hi there everybody, Unlike many of my emails, this is no film-related press release, update, or promo-pushing junk mail. I'm just letting you know that I almost died over the course of the last 5 1/2 days from blood poisoning due to a kidney infection. I am currently a great deal better, but I will still be recovering for the next few days too. It all started on Wednesday while I was at my day-job in Burbank/Glendale, when I discovered blood in my urine. Well, I do get kidney stones (I was diagnosed with them and an enlarged left kidney back when I was in college at Pitzer College 15 years ago), but I'd never seen blood before, so it was very shocking. Of course, then the pain started mounting, and it was mainly in my left lower back where my kidney is located, so I was sure it was just one mother of a stone that I was going to have to pass. I holed myself up for several hours on the floor of my boss' office in the dark, writhing in pain. The pain was all-encompassing.  Eventually, instead of asking for a ride home, I left work only one hour early and drove home in agony. My wife took care of me that night as best she knew how, and fed me lots of fruits and vegetables, some of which we found out later might not have been good for my condition. The pain would fluctuate. I took Thursday off, and felt a tiny bit better, but just braved the pain. I talked to a few friends that day and told them I was pretty sure it was going to be no big deal. Well, this was only the beginning... and a small fever was starting to brew. All the while, my wife, Amanda, is by my side without sleep doing everything she can to figure out what is going with me... and yes, no hospital visit yet, because I felt it would all be fine. Friday rolled around, and by morning, I felt more delirious and weird. I'd noticed that I could see practically all the blue veins in my hands, which I thought was odd. But for some reason, I thought, oh that's probably how my hands always have been, but I'd never noticed... anyhow, I kept fighting it, but by 4pm, the pain in my kidney had become so fierce, it felt like some had shot a .44 magnum shell into my organ at point blank range, then sealed it back up to fester. My whole body throbbed with pain. Amanda said that's it, we're going to the emergency room right now, and my friend Eric drove us there. Well, because we're so strapped financially, we thought it would be best to go to USC Medical Center, even though it's clear across town (we live in West Hollywood). When we got to USC Medical Center, the place was a nightmare/hell-on-earth... Half of the people there were hard criminals in shackles and the rest were either terminally ill and elderly homeless people or people from other countries with diseases like Hepatitis... I waited for over 5 hours on the bench, letting just the coolness of the metal bars of the back of the chair be my comfort, as I mentally prepared to die basically. The nurse had put only the IV in my arm with no drip or anything attached, and I still waited. In that time, I had to go to the bathroom, and I think it was there that I finally passed the stone. When I came out, I felt a little better, and really just wanted to get out of there, so I requested that they pull the IV and release me. They did, and we left... I was sure in my head again that it was over, and that mentally I could heal the rest. Well, that wasn't the case. At about 11:30, we got home, and Amanda decided she wanted to go to CVS to pick up some urinary tract infection test strips and an additional thermometer for good measure. While she was there, I passed out for half an hour in our living room. When she got back, she took my temperature and it had risen to 104 degrees! I told her, no, no, it's fine, and she screamed that we had to go to Cedar Sinai. She also had me do the urinary test strip, which came up positive for a UTI. Luckily, Cedar Sinai is 2 minutes away by car. When we got there, she took my temperature again, and it had spiked up to 105.3. My brain felt like it was inside an oven or a microwave set on high. They admitted me right away. They did a CAT-Scan of my lower body to make sure there was no additional blockage in my kidney, and gave my an IV drip of Saline to cool me down. They also gave me a large IV of Triazepan (?) to fight the infection. Luckily the result of the CAT-Scan was negative, and there was no blockage... However, they did get the diagnosis from my urine and blood analysis, which they also collected... I had a Kidney Infection, which was poisoning my bloodstream. It started with a Urinary Tract Infection, AND I did indeed pass a Kidney Stone too, BUT the major part of my sickness was a Kidney Infection... Anyhow, at 6am, they let us go, and Amanda was at my side the whole time. I was prescribed a high-dosage antibiotic and a high-dosage fever reducer. All this time by the way, I'd been drinking about 3-5 liters of water to keep my kidneys flushed. The fever is another story... it returned HARD on Saturday night, and my wife once again saved my life... The fever rose up to 104.8, and I felt like I was going to have a heart attack, so my wife put me in the bathtub, and filled it with cool water, and I lied there half submerged, shivering and crying, while she scrubbed me down to keep me cool. I was sure that I was going to die at that moment... Anyhow, Sunday was no fun either, but it's been getting better and better. Today is Monday, and my hands look normal, my fever has mostly broken, as I filled the bed with ice cold sweat, and now I'm writing this to all of you. Yes, I will continue to make films my way. Yes, I am still alive. Yes, I will still work for a living. Yes, I will value my existence like never before. And I love my wife so much more than she could know. She saved my life. I also love each and every one of you for somehow or other touching my life in one way or another. Really, I mean that more than you think. *As a final note, I have quit smoking cigarettes, quit drinking coffee/espresso/lattes etc. (I will sneak some of the above every once in a while, but the days of coffee and cigarettes are basically over with now.) I am also making some very marked changes in my attitude towards life, stress, my dreams and ambitions, and so much more. My eating habits and the amount of water I imbibe have now changed tremendously. I'm drinking between 3 and 5 liters of water per day! May you all live happy and pain-free existences and feel the love that is all around you. Blessings and thanks to you all, Ramzi Abed 2 RIPs| knock on death's door

RIP Elizabeth [15 Jan 2007|06:07pm] [ mood | sympathetic ] Today,  January 15th 2007,  marks the 60th anniversary of the the day that Elizabeth Short was found murdered and mutilated in a lot at 39th and Norton. The murder captivated Los Angeles and set off a media frenzy fueled by the lurid life and brutal death of  "The Black Dahlia".  60 years later  this crime has still gone unsolved and still continues to captivate not just Los Angeles...but the entire world. In honor of Elizabeth Short join us tonight.  As part of THE LOST WEEKEND  we present: "Requiem For A Dahlia, A Macabre Cabaret" featuring David J. of Bauhaus and Love & Rockets The Lost Weekend in Conjunction with The Tease @ 3's present: Mon. Jan. 15, 10pm, "Requiem For A Dahlia" Showcasing live music from "Black Dahlia Movie" by David J from Bauhaus, Ego Plum, Dame Darcy and Death By Doll. Macabre Burlesque, Vaudeville and Magic will be performed by Bella Beretta, Courtney Cruz, Eliza Bane, The Great Merlini, Scarlett Letter, Lulu Lunaris, Vixen Magdalene and more doors open at 9pm, show starts at 10pm. This is a NO COVER event. Please bring flowers and candles to decorate the space and show your respects to the memory of Elizabeth Short and all the other young women who meet a bloody end in this tinsel town ... "Requiem for a Dahlia" 3 Clubs 1123 Vine @ Santa Monica look for the white neon "Cocktails Sign" Doors @ 9:45 Show @ 10:15 NO COVER For more info. http://www.myspace.com/thelostweekendlosangeles Also... Join us for the V.I.P. GALA PREMIERE of "Black Dahlia Movie" Tuesday, January 16th, 2007   OFFICIAL PREMIERE on January 16th. Many CAST MEMBERS will be in attendance as well as several SPECIAL GUESTS. The Premiere will screen: Tuesday January 16th 8:00pm and 10:00pm Laemmle Grande 4-Plex 345 S. Figueroa St. Downtown Los Angeles, 90071 *Tickets $10.00.   Buy NOW to ensure a seat! Phone 213-617-0268. Reception to precede at 6:00pm at the Gallery Bar in the: Biltmore Hotel 506 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles, CA, 90071 (*The Biltmore Hotel was the last place Elizabeth Short was seen alive) For more info. please visit http://www.myspace.com/blackdahliamovie. www.blackdahliamovie.com 1 RIP| knock on death's door

Small breaths of life [04 Jun 2006|01:57pm] [ mood | listless ] http://www.motorentertain.com/client/ftp/inhouse/Black%20Dahlia/Dahliav8.mov Hello from me... It's been a darned long time, and lots of things are coming to final fruition. The movie has gone through TREMENDOUS changes, revisions, and revampings, but I'm happy to say that the 12th edit (yes, that's right 12 versions of the movie) will hopefully be the FINAL cut, so that we can move to final color correction, titling, sound mix, and finally printing/mastering... Yipes... Anyhow, above is a new trailer (which will probably be replaced by a newer one in a week or less), but anyhow, please check it out... Motor Entertainment is the company that's doing the trailer campaigns for the film. If you want also, you can go to http://www.motorentertain.com/client/ftp/inhouse/Black%20Dahlia/ which is the referring parent page, so if the 1st link doesn't work, chances are a new version is up at the parent page or whatever... Anyhow, also "Upside Downtown" is still in post, but it is really being edited, and hopefully will be done well before year's end. In addition, I've got a script I'm going to be working on soon, about 2-4 music videos I've gotta seal up and make sure happen, and possibly some musical recording later this year as well... All this and trying to make more dough at my job, and trying to work towards a real release for "Black Dahlia" and embarking on more projects than listed here... Last but not least, I'm hoping to have an art show at the Frame Fatale gallery in Glendale later this summer. Hopefully all of the above happens, and not with too much pain and suffering... There's been PLENTY (OH SO PLENTY) of the last two things... pain and suffering... I want to taste the rainbow and smell that pot of silver... forget gold, i'll settle for the holiness of silver. Cheers and thanks for bein' there, Ramzi Abed Director Some affiliate collaborators, friends, family, and such... http://www.blackdahliamovie.com http://www.bloodshotpictures.com http://www.providenceproductions.com http://www.kristenkerr.com http://amandastaggs2005.tripod.com/ http://www.musicformovingpictures.com http://www.egoplum.com http://www.iamtrouble.com http://www.sarahmscott.com http://www.kerrykate.com http://www.norakeyes.com http://www.amiedecker.com http://www.peggyreavey.com http://www.gidgetgein.com http://www.myruin.com http://www.abbytravis.com http://www.johnneff.com http://www.djamkaret.com http://www.trenthaaga.com http://www.lenoraclaire.com http://www.willkeenan.com http://www.damedarcy.com http://www.courtneycruz.com http://www.juliestrain.com http://www.jadestarr.com http://www.jilltracy.com http://www.biancasboudoir.com http://www.lloydkaufman.com http://www.countsmokula.com http://www.uptowngothic.com http://www.redmartian.com http://www.azrarecords.com http://www.everlovingrecords.com http://www.media-blasters.com http://www.davidjonline.com http://www.cavehzahedi.com *That's mosta' the team... way to go, team! Much love and happiness to all... the mysteries of life continue... 4 RIPs| knock on death's door

Press, Play, and Punchin' It [18 Jan 2006|10:34pm] [ mood | refreshed ] It's a new interview with me which just came out in Moviemaker Magazine... It made my otherwise rough as heck day... esp. with all my bills going into late payment status... yipes... such is the life of an indie artist of any kind, big or small, i suppose... I'm really happy and proud of this interview, aside from the one with Post Magazine, it's the neatest press I've gotten in some time... Anywho... Check it out online at http://www.moviemaker.com Or directly at http://www.moviemaker.com/hop/vol6/01/digital.html Also, I'm gonna be shooting some important pick-ups as well as small brand new scenes in the next few days... culminating with a spooky scene with Courtney Cruz, Gidget Gein, and Lyla Sullivan... Thanks for all the help and support! All the best, Ramzi www.blackdahliamovie.com www.bloodshotpictures.com 2 RIPs| knock on death's door

we miss you, Elizabeth Short [15 Jan 2006|02:52pm] [ mood | thankful ] On this day here in Los Angeles, 59 years ago, Elizabeth Short was found in two blood-emptied halves on a vacant lot. She was discovered by a mother and her daughter, who were just walking by on a morning jaunt... Her mystery and horrible reality will haunt Los Angeles and the world forever. She was known by some ( in her last years in Hollywood) as the Black Dahlia... She will be remembered... and in 2006 and 2007... a resurrection of her spirit and the mythology around her will surface... She is the saint of struggling actresses and women in Los Angeles... Hollywood is the city of broken dreams. One love to all, Ramzi http://www.blackdahliamovie.com 6 RIPs| knock on death's door

Happy and Magikal New Year Unto Ye All [04 Jan 2006|06:06pm] [ mood | thoughtful ] Howdy dooty there... Man, I'm rather rarely on here, with MySpace becoming an easily obsessive place to go... But anywho... Nothing beats the real diary-like nature of Livejournal, which I obviously love as well... Anywho... A very happy new year to one and all, and may 2006 bring some emerging peace to the world, and good health, great success, kind karma, loads of mystery, and general magic to you all personally... 2006 is gonna be busy, as I'm FINALLY getting "Black Dahlia" finished on the post end of things. However, that being said, I'm also gonna be shooting one last final day of important pick-ups (*basically 4 new small scenes, which may end up becoming 2 final days of pick-ups then, right?) for the movie... It'll be neat though, as it will be stuff to wrap things up with three of my actors, namely Gidget Gein, Courtney Cruz, and Trent Haaga... Can't wait to get it done. Also sound mix and color correction are still ever-imminent, so we'll see... Anyhow, in the 2 months, one way or another, the ENTIRE film will finally be done (yay?!)... Up on the slate for 2006, is Amanda (my lovely and inspiring wifey) going back to school for fashion design and such... And for me, it's more work, work, work... but some really interesting possibilities and some concrete plans too... "Erotikafka", which will be me, Jack The Zipper, and Rolfe Kanefsky (and a 4th director, unchosen at this time, plus possibly a 5th director (very likely, my friend Eric Johnson (who directed "Tweek City"))... this should be a neat film... Black and White HD, and eroticized renderings of 4 of Kafka's stories (each featuring a primary color in an integral scene) along with an original wrap-around story... And it looks like we may get the small budget and stuff taken care of to make it happen... I've got another film in very early development too, but I'm not gonna overdo it, unless blessings fall from the sky... But I will be writing, and working a hell of a lot harder to make ends meet as well... So hopefully both logic and dream shall both be words to prevail for me in the so-called '06. Also working on some interactive content oddly enough, but I'm not at liberty to divulge anything... In addition, my film "Upside Downtown" will most likely FINALLY see the light of day soon, as I got my elements/masters back, so that we can edit the picture here in LA... Also, I'm now hooked up with a number of bands/artists, and you may end up seeing some music videos and experimental collaborations between me and the following bands this year: My Ruin, Djam Karet, Ego Plum and The Ebola Music Orchestra, Vylette, Pia Pale, and this month, I'll be directing/producing 2 music videos for the awesome Seattle band (electronia/synthpop/guitar-based rock, but very, very unique and artful) called Red Martian... Anyhow, a shiteload (my Cockney's popping up) bubbling up for 2006... So, here's to it... and to you. May the universe guide us all towards inner peace and self-fulfillment. Cheerio and Bon Chance, R http://www.blackdahliamovie.com http://www.bloodshotpictures.com p.s. check out the official MySpace for "BLACK DAHLIA": http://www.myspace.com/blackdahliamovie 9 RIPs| knock on death's door

new sneak peek [04 Nov 2005|03:14pm] [ mood | busy ] howdy y'all kitties and kats, hope you're all swell and dandy... been at AFM off and on... gonna be there full time from saturday through next wednesday... watched the promo for "inland empire" with the guys at Studiocanal at their office (actually had a meeting with them)... my lead actress, Kristen, is prominent in his trailer/promo... i'm freaked out by this synchronicity... it looks interesting... oddly enough in some ways similar to my new movie... anyhow... check this out, fellers and felines: http://homepage.mac.com/wesmp/.Public/BDtrailer1029.mp4 that's the top secret new teaser for "BLACK DAHLIA". Best Wishes, R 2 RIPs| knock on death's door

long, long, long, long time [12 Sep 2005|03:35pm] well, it's been crazier than a billion charlie mansons stuck in an ice cream truck... LOADS of stuff going on... but here's a teaser-a-ma... for yuz... http://homepage.mac.com/ontherhodes/iMovieTheater30.html It's the music video I directed for the title theme song (aka. "Black Dahlia Theme") to my feature film, "BLACK DAHLIA"... the song was written/composed by David J (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets), and sung/performed by Nora Keyes ( www.norakeyes.com )... If you have Quicktime (the correct version, and if you're on a PC, you have to make sure to have the right settings on there) All the best, Ramzi Abed http://www.bloodshotpictures.com P.S. I will make a darned good attempt to update more often! knock on death's door

little bumblebee? [05 Jun 2005|10:26pm] [ mood | creative ] It's been a busy and exhausting last week or so. Ever since we shot the stuff with Cinque, Sarah, and Lizzy, we've been exceedingly busy... I just found out today that my sister is pregnant, and her husband and her will be expecting in just under 8 months possibly! Also, my lovely wife, Amanda, and I are gonna be headed out of the country at the end of June to visit my parents for a little while then go to London for a few days. It's also been busy film-wise. Yesterday I went to Cinegear (http://www.cinegearexpo.com ), partially representing EVS (http://www.evsonline.com ), since I work there, of course. It was a lot of fun, and I didn't have to work our booth since I was there of my own choosing, albeit with the badge EVS got for me. I met with Paul Bunnell and Steve Lazur (I've been producing with Paul on his movie, "the ghastly love of johnny x"), and we checked out a lot of awesome new camera gear. Steve gave me a copy of the dvd of his movie, which he did with the amazing ambient composer, Steve Roach. Roach's work is all on Projekt records, who also put out the dvd. I met with the folks at both Panasonic ( http://www.panasonic.com ) and Dalsa ( http://www.dalsa.com/dc/index.asp ), and looked at their new wares, and followed up with them about getting some deals coming up in the final stretches of the Dahlia project. It was cool to know that Jan at Panasonic was aware of the project. With Dalsa, the exciting thing is possibly getting a great deal on a VariCam package... It helped that I dropped some words about the Post Magazine article, or at least couldn't hurt. We also got some first hand scoopage on the new Panasonic camera, the HVX-200, which looks to be pretty amazing, as does the new JVC HD-100, which will be a killer camera to own as well... Exciting stuff... The Micro 35mm adapter we're gonna start carrying is gonna be nice from what I hear too... Yowza, I did meet Peter Deming, who is one of my favorite DPs, and was awesome to talk to. I mostly talked to him about "House Party" oddly enough, which is the first film I'd seen his DP years upon years ago. We also talked about "Black Dahlia", and he was very intrigued, and shared some funny things about the other movie, which I can't say here... but it's great to know that people value the fact that even if it's on a smaller budget, we've been shooting in LA mostly because it makes the most sense, after all it's a true Hollywood story... Anyhow, it was awesome meeting Peter. I also bumped into my friend, Bryant Lemmelle, whom I'd gone to college with at Pitzer ( http://www.pitzer.edu ), and found out he's been ACing a lot of big movies, and now is at AFI finishing in Cinematography. I also just talked to my new DP, Mark Mervis' partner, which set me at ease, 'cause apparently Mark's just out of town shooting in Virginia, so it should work out that we'll shoot again at the end of this month... Speaking of shooting, last weekend, I directed TWO music videos wackily enough... one was for the title theme song for "Black Dahlia", which is a song that David J wrote and produced (engineered and co-produced by John Neff, actually, if you want to give credit where it's due as well), but Nora Keyes (http://www.norakeyes.com ) from the avant-garde LA band, The Centimeters (http://www.thecentimeters.com )sang. The video worked out beautifully, and the visuals will be both startling and magical, I do believe. Some of it was sychronistically enough a tribute to Guy Maddin and that kind of archaic low-fi approach. Nora was a gypsy psychic in the video singing in dark retro spaces, amongst a lot of red and darkness, with a pin lite illuminating her in a very silent film kind o' way... Oh, wacky but weird too is that I met Guy Maddin this past week, and got a chance to slip him a copy of the Dahlia promo dvd, and here's another coincidental thing, he's a big fan of Nora's... I hope he digs the movie stuff, and spreads the word. A friend of mine, who is big amongst the death metal world online and radio online as well, said he's just spread the word everywhere... this is exciting too... Oh, and without further adieu/ado... the 2nd video I directed was one for a brand-spankin' NEW song by Ego Plum called "No Time", which was finished and recorded for me to shoot the video. The video features Gidget Gein (http://www.gidgetgein.com ) who basically sings the chorus while being interrupted by the POV of a Cat Man / Cat's eye view, while Gidget is painting in his studio. The video features a lot of macro cat footage, a tricky mirror trick or two involving a creepy Cat man (character from my films, "The Interview", and "Upside Downtown", which btw is finally being cut) looking into himself "to find the answers" *lines from the song... A lot of crazy Fig Rig (designed by Mike Figgis, http://www.manfrotto.com/figrig/ ) involving the outside world, traffic, skies, trees, signs, and all via a frenetic "Irreversible" type of Cinematography which I did all myself (it was liberating to shoot both of the videos completely myself, and will help me in the final days of "Black Dahlia" too, when I start collaborating with Mark Mervis on the new stuff and dramatic shtuff... The two videos should be pretty cool once we cut them. Today, I went with Dame Darcy, her boyfriend, Benjamin Mahoney (who is also in her band, Death By Doll, and does a lot of post-production work by day), as well as my buddy, Eric, and Richard (Rich) Polysorbate 60 (who has the coolest room I've ever seen, including both a human baby and a pig both in big old jars, and some of the coolest Mexican monster masks I've seen) to scout out some locations for this music video I'm going to direct for Dame Darcy as a sort of promo for the movie she's trying to make for her graphic novel, "Gasoline". The locations were fantastic, but only one of them will work for the video. It should be a little tricky, but if we do what I'm planning, it might be pretty rockin'. I'm also now really into shooting some of the San Diego scenes from "Black Dahlia" in San Pedro and Redondo Beach, because I think it will work really well. Richard actually said that the park we were in today was an old haunt of Ms. Short's, and that she was in that area in her days living in Los Angeles... anyhow, more on all of this later... I go back to reflecting on the very present picture, which is my sister is pregnant, which is both awesome and mind-blowing at the same time, AND that Amanda and I will be embarking on some major world travel soon, and will get to be with my parents for a little while... What else? I saw "Intermeddio" on dvd last week, which was one of last films my friend and was-to-be future collaborator, had shot before he passed away. It was some excellent cinematography, and was fun to see just for Ed Furlong, who acted in it. I want "The Machinist" on dvd btw... so please, anyone who wants to... go ahead and buy it for me on dvd... Heh! Much love and happiness to ye all, Ramzi *Turn up your speakers, when visiting these links... http://www.bloodshotpictures.com (FULLY REDESIGNED SITE! Amanda's handiwork!) http://www.blackdahliamovie.com Also please check out Amanda's makeup/design site at http://amandastaggs2005.tripod.com AND NOW... AS PROMISED... A sneak peak... http://www.uptowngothic.com/blackdahlia P.S. Keep on with the good thoughts, they can only help... Bless you all... one love... P.P.S. If you see the "Reservoir Dogs" documentary on IFC, look out for Julie Strain, who's in the special a number of times... Julie has been fantastic in "Black Dahlia" so far... we're praying and hoping we can show the world the whole kit and caboodle very soon... 5 RIPs| knock on death's door

just a peek [24 May 2005|09:41pm] [ mood | anxious ] behind the shadows... turn up the audio... and click below: http://www.uptowngothic.com/blackdahlia/ Marcelo has worked pure magic... it's just the start, and it's offline ( it'll be replacing the content on the "black dahlia" movie site, and will have active links and other pages too)... but it's the beginning... Let me know what you think, please. Cheerio, R http://www.bloodshotpictures.com 2 RIPs| knock on death's door

Gone and done it... [23 May 2005|09:20pm] [ mood | crazy ] Okay, first thing's first, while Marcelo ( http://www.uptowngothic.com ) redesigns a brand new "Black Dahlia" site, Amanda (my wonderful wife and creative partner) redesigned our Bloodshot Pictures website. I did the front entry page, but she did the overall concept and execution of everything else. She created a pretty nifty and cool group of pages, which are a million times better than the almost never updated site we had before. The site will go through more changes at the end of the year... but please, by all means, go and check out Amanda's great handiwork at: http://www.bloodshotpictures.com Well, since the last time we've spoken, a good deal's been going on over here in LA-LA-Land. Some battling and putting up the good fight type stuff to get this film finished. Lots of little issues too with my producing partner, who unfortunately many times just doesn't appreciate the value or importance or inherent cultural significance of some of my collaborative choices and cast members. I can't wait not to have to fight on even the smallest of films. It's going good though. Last week, we shot a couple of WONDERFUL scenes with none-other-than Cinque Lee, whom some of you may know or recognize from his roles in two of Jim Jarmusch's films, "Mystery Train" (he was the bellhop) and "Coffee & Cigarettes" (where he played one of the two Evil Twins in the scene with Steve Buscemi). Cinque's also well-known for co-writing "Crooklyn", which his brother, Spike Lee, directed. Anyhow, the scenes were absolutely fantastic, and I'm really excited about how they will play out in the film. Also our actors are really proving themselves, as the interplay between them in the movie has just gotten better and better. Lloyd Kaufman's little scene (which is an essential and dramatic flashback, oddly enough) was very elegant and creepy in a very thespian kind of way. Anyways, two bits of news. First off, "Black Dahlia" got some significant press in the latest issue of the film/tv post-production trade magazine, POST MAGAZINE ( http://www.postmagazine.com ), and it's awesome news, because not only are we dead center in the middle of the magazine, but it's the "Star Wars" issue, so you know people are reading it! Oddly enough, the cover of the issue reads "Back In Black", of course, they're referring to Darth Vader, who graces their cover... but it could just as easily be "Back In Black... Dahlia". It's a great article on independent film actually, and we're just proud to be in there. There's a little photo in there too of my editor, Wes Paster, and myself, as well as a pic of our original poster/postcard art. It's online and in the physical magazine. Here's the article online: http://www.postmagazine.com/post/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=161762 Okay, so now back off to la-la-land... Oh, and btw, more to come... We hope... All zee beste and plush, soft, wonder to you, R http://www.blackdahliamovie.com http://www.bloodshotpictures.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bloodshotpictures 3 RIPs| knock on death's door

David J playin' at this moment... (There's a spy... in the cab...) [30 Apr 2005|09:50pm] [ mood | creative ] Lots going on... perhaps too much right now... gonna be shooting the last bit of this movie in a few weeks over at Lacey Street Studios and about 4 real locations the following week (about 2 weeks total)... David J's ( http://www.davidjonline.com/home.html ) been an integral force to the entire film obviously, having creating amazing music for the film, and still yet to do more scoring for the actual picture in the coming months... the title track alone shows only a small glimpse of his incredible talent and alpha state inspiration... Lots of great collaborations and synchronicity between all of us... Anyhow that being said... David is performing as we speak at COACHELLA ( http://www.coachella.com ) with his glorious and iconic band, Bauhaus... They played a secret show last night in Pomona at the Glass House also... A couple of pics in homage to our composer and rock guru, David J: (first pic is of me and david at bluespace a ways back, and the second one is of me, mr. uncertain (who also does a tune for our movie... a song called "pretty", which david wrote, and he along with ego and mr. uncertain created/performed/produced), rebekah del rio (who does a duet with Johnette Napolitano of "concrete blonde", again which david wrote and produced, and ego plum instrumentally augmented), and a blurry David, himself... Here's to you, Dave... "I'll be your chauffeur..." Truly, -R http://www.blackdahliamovie.com http://www.bloodshotpictures.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bloodshotpictures P.S. Another tidbit about the upcoming shoots for "Black Dahlia"... it looks like a new painting by Peggy Reavey ( http://www.peggyreavey.com ) will be a central prop in an important and cool little scene... More soon... 'Nuff said. 2 RIPs| knock on death's door

Screen captures from edited scenes... and songs... [18 Apr 2005|07:44pm] [ mood | curious ] Ok, first something compulsive I've wanted to do... What's cooking in the oven right now? Shrimp & Green, Yellow, Red Peppers & Mushrooms in a foil ball in the center of my oven. CDS IN THE CHANGER: 1) ASWAD "Distant Thunder" 2) PATRICK WATSON "Just Another Ordinary Day" 3) SCORN "Zander" 4) TAD "Live Alien Broadcasts" 5) TOM WAITS "Night On Earth" (Motion Picture Soundtrack) Last movie I watched: Either "Morvern Callar" or "The Ugly" or something else that's on the tip of my mind. Ok, enough of that... So, those were a few lil' screen grabs from the editing of our movie, Black Dahlia... Now, for some of my favorite lyrics ever... From "Subculture" by NEW ORDER: "I like walking in the park When it gets late at night I move `round in the dark And leave when it gets light I sit around by day Tied up in chains so tight These crazy words of mine So wrong they could be What do I get out of this? I always try, I always miss One of these days you'll go back to your home You won't even notice that you are alone One of these days when you sit by yourself You'll realise you can't show off without someone else In the end you will submit It's got to hurt a little bit I like talking in my sleep When people work so hard They need what they can't keep A choice that leaves them scarred A room without a view Unveils the truth so soon And when the sun goes down You've lost what you had What do I get out of this? I always try, I always miss One of these days you'll go back to your home You won't even notice that you are alone One of these days when you sit by yourself You'll realise you can't show off without someone else In the end you will submit It's got to hurt a little bit" 2 RIPs| knock on death's door

Finally, les photographes... our Wedding (Oct. 31st 2004) [11 Apr 2005|05:52pm] [ mood | thoughtful ] (note to self: for some reason, the first pic is the wrong size... i may fix it in the journal later) Even the pictures appear to tell a story... of course, from the order of photos, it may seem to be this story... a young man and young woman meet, live together for nearly 6 years, and make a huge step in their lives to become emotionally and spiritually bonded, then for a moment during the wedding, the woman is taken away for a series of posed photographs, when suddenly a classically trained rogue vampire attacks here for a moment, only to find peace and love at last taking the final bow, when it is revealed that the original gent and the very same dame were back together again... and doing what? None but waving goodbye, on their way to a Honeymoon in New Orleans... The real story is similar in some manners... Hope you dig. All the best and then some, R http://www.bloodshotpictures.com http://www.blackdahliamovie.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bloodshotpictures 4 RIPs| knock on death's door

Aaargh... really bad back [09 Apr 2005|11:07am] [ mood | confused ] From lower back has been killing me for the last week and a half, and I thought at first it might just be my kidneys (I get kidney stones from time to time, which is really fun). Anyhow, it got so bad, that over the last few days, especially in the mornings, I've been having major difficulties in genereal. What sucks and is odd is that Amanda's tailbone is killing her too. I feel as if we must be built with bad spare parts or something. For me, at least, it must be because I'm a freakin' geezer or sometin' (although I'm 32 now). Anyhow, it's a real stinker, 'cause I really wanted to go to my friend and composer, David J's art show in San Diego tonight (the reception's this eve). Of course, as much as I want to go, I have to take it easy, or I'm gonna be finishing the year off on a walker or wheelchair. Ay! Here's some info on David's show tonight... please, by all means: GO TO IT! http://www.davidjonline.com/news/acid_magick.html Also, the BBC show aired last week... It's on Jonathan Ross' "The Secret Map Of Hollywood", which is a new BBC 1 show produced by Mr. Jonathan Ross (he's like the UK's Jay Leno). Anyhow, a whole episode basically about Elizabeth Short, segmented with other odd tidbits about certain areas of LA. Well, apparently we made the cut on the show. I haven't seen the footage, but the producer on the show had promised me copies of the stuff on Beta and VHS, so we'll see. Supposedly, there's interview stuff in the show from me, Lenora Claire, and Julie Strain, and possibly some of our other talents, as well as some behind-the-scenes footage of us shooting the movie. Coolio, huh?! Check it: http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/tvguide/progdetails.php?regionid=4&chid=1&bd=2005-04-04&bt=23:05 Ok, now finally... I must go rest... and I then have to go to the Bank before they close, and also mail off a cd/dvd package to the VP of soundtrack music at Lakeshore Entertainment (I've been putting off sending the package for a while, but why?? Esp. if they're into it... It would be a great thing for our movie's kick butt soundtrack)... anyhow, I'm rambling (rose)...) Next entry will include some favorite pics from me and Amanda's wedding... coolness. Cheerio... and go to DJ's show tonight, if you can... Beste, R P.S. Digable Plantets and Breakestra are playing tonight at the El Rey... the show might be sold out, so Josh is looking into some hookups... either to get in free or find some spare ticketoos... I might need to check them out... I have seen Digable Planets years ago (back in 93? 94? can't remember)... They absolutely rule. 5 RIPs| knock on death's door

as promised... more snapshots into the world of... Black Dahlia...? [02 Apr 2005|11:47pm] [ mood | awake ] Ok... First off... To tease, intrigue, tantalize, and perplex... a few storyboards of some of the most top secret scenes in the film... And now some pics from the set, etc... Isabelle, Dame Darcy's doll (and familiar), also makes a couple of appearances in the movie. The Strain sisters in vintage wares... They are involved in the movie-within-the movie, and more... Our gifted lead actress and main character personified, Kristen Kerr (playing Lisa Small and Elizabeth Short) during some makeup and hair preparations. Kristen again... There's always time to smell the flowers. Josh (our fearless camera op. and 2nd unit DP) and I getting closer to the end of a day's shootin'. Lizzy before some scenes commence... Lizzy after the scenes end... Excellent work on all counts, y'all! Lizzy and Julie during some interviews for the film's EPK (Electronic Press Kit) And now... For something completely different... This is Amanda, my wife and co-creator (we share many projects, hopes, dreams, etc.), who also happens to be my Key Makeup Artist on practically all of my films... Here she dressed up (and created the entire outfit, not to mention the painstaking special FX makeup you see here)... for Halloween in 2003 Below... is... A photo of the two of us... right before hitting the streets of LA on Halloween night 2003... I was dressed up as Willard (Crispin Glover's personification of "Willard", to be exact). Anyhow... enuff for now, folksies... More soon... I bought the new (debut album) Regina Spektor album for Amanda as a surprise... It's gonna be good. Ooh, and I still gotta open up "Visitor Q"... Media Blasters sent it to me months ago... tonight might have to be the night to watch it... hmmm... Tomorrow, I'm meeting with a couple of actors for some of the very last remaining small parts in the film... And afterwards, I may have to swing by my editor's place to check out some new cuts, and also take a silly picture with him as we're "editing". Post Magazine ( http://www.postmagazine.com ) wants some pictures to go along with an article and interview they did on us and our post-production process, which will be appearing in their May issue. Welp... have a splendid and luxurious evening, everyone. Cheerio, R http://www.bloodshotpictures.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bloodshotpictures 16 RIPs| knock on death's door

An easy gift [30 Mar 2005|08:19am] [ mood | sore ] Ok, here's one for the wishlist. Can someone please buy this for me? It'd be really nice (of course, if you can't, I can understand a simple payment by way of bank wire or cash deposit for the same value). http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/books/artists_editions/all/facts/02601.htm An incredible gift, in my humble opie-onion. Oh, and also I'm going over the Lacy St. Studios to check their space out, as my producer wants us to try to shoot all of our remaining stuff their (a one week shoot there, and 3 days for 3 other locations, and we can wrap the puppy). Lacy St. looks pretty neat (although my Prod. Designer said it's both great and not-so-great). Their site is awesome. Lacy Studios: http://www.lacystreet.com More pictures and updates soon... first, I have to get through this last phase of scheduling and script revisions. Shortly thereafter, I can figure out how to book travel for both of the Lees (Cinque and Bill), and get my art department together to build some cool sets. One can only hope. Still surviving somehow with sinister sentiments stagnating my solid state, -R P.S. Happy Birthday, Amanda, my love. I know it was rough b-day, but the cosmos celebrates you... and I celebrate you the most. knock on death's door

New Website/Poster "rough" version [22 Mar 2005|10:49pm] [ mood | pensive ] From Marcelo Giscome, the genius behind http://www.uptowngothic.com , comes this new design, which is just a rough of what we're developing for our black dahlia movie website (which right now is basically raw and totally under construction)... Also, we've recently been in touch with John Sloss' company, Cinetic Media ( http://www.cineticmedia.com ), who may be championing the film soon... A lot of things have me crossing my fingers lately... Angela Bettis ("May", "Girl Interrupted") came by our office today, and I really hope we can cast her in one of these last big/crucial roles... So much still to do, it's unbelievable... I just want this film over, done with, and complete... It's been an insanely anxiety-ridden journey of wait and go, wait and go, and mostly just waiting... Amanda and I have little time to chill out, between the two of us... Well, for her birthday, we're gonna do something special... and soon, hopefully there will be time to mellow out... Till then though, the buzzards buzz like saws upon our necks, as we trek into fields of fire with mud on our shoes, espresso fueling our bleeding guts, and movement propelling into the future... where who knows what may lay in store for anything ever... For now though... here's the rough new art: 5 RIPs| knock on death's door

marcha' feeftha' [05 Mar 2005|02:03pm] [ mood | jubilant ] IT'S MY BIRTHDAY. YAAAAAAAY. I'M GOING TO HAWAII, YEAH!!!!!!! YOU SURE LOOK PRETTY LADY! YEAH, YOU LOOK LIKE MY MOMMY!!!! No, really... it's my birthin' day... I beez (like a bumblebee), and am now 32 years olde (english) on this planetoid. Love to all things great and small, -R 8 RIPs| knock on death's door

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