Show# 11: ELVIS: Brian commemorates 31 years since the passing of Elvis with a handful of songs."Suspicious Minds" - 1970
Bedbugs XLVI
Click here for an explanation of how Bedbugs is created.
Click here for last week's Bedbugs.
Too many helpless and hopeless gathered around a plastic symbol
gilded with fake gold that they were told was important; the head
admirer was wrenched out of the muscle portion of his leg
in the process of wasting time in thinking it was vital
or even real. When he gets back home he'll make sure
his housemates know their place and sewn lips shut,
as not to cause dissent in the color of the texture
of whatever you're thinking. Who said you could think
it out of your system? Riots of ideas will bring the suburban
malaise, the deadliest of viruses, into your mind and
bank account. No matter which type dialogue
between you and the color. Inside the best kinds of
circuitry, you still have to face up the repeated
tally of oak's knowing glances from across a space
consisting of air, dead ideas and intentions gone
sour because you left them out in the heat.
Sit down and answer the question, please, before
you fall down. I'm even stuck in a loop of rebellion
against supposed smothering authorities; is that a
type of trap? My body buys a paper on 18th street,
snapping back to the agreed-upon slightly grimy
universe of here and now. I should be somewhere else.
Repeating what you just said.
Next week's seven phrases/groups of words:
-bright red patch of skin
-no more patterns resembling insects
-thirty-seven repeated in each room
-scrawled in an expensive tome
-wasting waste and timing time
-nobody reads it so why spend so long
-professional victims need not apply
-Adam
Minimalist situation comedy/radio play.
Episode 7 "Hippo99"
Cast:
Samantha: Melissa King
George: Peter Rinaldi
Setting:
The Upper West Side of Manhattan
Bedbugs XLV
Click here for an explanation of how Bedbugs is created.
Click here for last week's Bedbugs.
There's only one way to settle this; put the camera away and remove
your glasses and talk to me without barriers. Sandpaper
memories ingrained in the broken mental track you're
still trying to push rusted carts on. Believing the
sun will still come up, she foraged ahead. Where is the
door in this wretched place? The hallway, I hear
has something in it that's been waiting a long time for you.
She shows up, love between 1 and 2 pm is better than none,
so I'm told. Faith ain't enough to stop your plunge when you
jump from one cliff to another. Your gravitational beliefs are
an override, you agreed to them first. Shells found outside
were precious, taking years for the water to reveal them. Will you
hear me if you put one up to an ear? There's keep him away from
my family, if you know what's special about metal under the surface of
grow a pair and show me, it blurts out. Not at high tide
I won't. I perceive a lighthouse out there, even though
its bulbs are broken; that place is miles away but I can see it.
Next week's seven phrases/groups of words:
-wrenched out of the muscle portion of his leg
-sewn lips shut, as not to cause
-texture of whatever you're thinking
-riots of ideas
-dialogue between you and the color
-sit down and answer the question
-repeating what you just said
-Adam Barnick
When he's not watching, with beads of sweat, his fellow, legally blind, senior citizens parallel park, Frank Palmcoast is catching seven dollar movies at the local multiplex from sunny Pompano Beach, Florida. He's retired, he's angry at the world, he can't spell to save his life, and he hates Hollywood almost as much as Hillary Clinton, but that will not stop our irreverent, dementia fightin', AARP card carrying everyman from giving us a fresh take on all things Hollyweird. Besides, how can he pass up that marvelous senior citizen discount?
*********************************************************
Frank Palmcoast RETURNS from agonizing knee replacement surgery to cast his vote on Kevin Coster's latest flick Swing Vote
*********************************************************
As usual, nothing much happening at the movies. So instead of watching Matlock reruns, we saw Kevin Costner's newest picture and Costner's newest toupee! Many stars in this one: Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Kelsey Grammer,Tucci, George Lopez, Judge Reinhold and many guest appearances like Willie Nelson, Richard Petty and by the way Petty looked like he died and they forgot to bury him! Without a doubt Madeline Carrol stole the entire movie! Governor Bill Richardson can't be to happy the way the movie shows that everyone in New Mexico lives in Mobile homes and that's not completely true, they also live in tents! It's hard to believe hollyweird allowed no violence, no sex, no nudity and no real vulgar language! I suppose this flick is a satire about our political system. Typically hollyweird presents the presumption that only liberals want world peace, a clean environment and a better economy for the poor. I believe this is a delightful movie and it should be seen by our current presidential candidates. The character that Costner plays, Bud is a felon and felons don't vote and also one man cannot determine the end results, only the electoral college can determine the outcome. This film does projects certain themes: drunkenness, child abuse and neglect, political waste, a sad commentary about America but true! We think we, America lead the free world and we have on of the lowest voter turnouts. We have been invaded by Mexico, we allowed an illegal war, our useless congress and government is running up the national debt by trillions of dollars, a very weeken dollar, stupid health care, the dumbing down of our education system and this movie was making fun of America and rightly so! This is a must if you want to see how George Bush got elected.If you are part of this dumbing down in America, don't go to see this picture---you may have to think! Swing Vote got my vote!
Palmcoast Returns
Minimalist situation comedy/radio play.
Episode 6 "The Mole"
Cast:
Samantha: Melissa King
George: Peter Rinaldi
Setting:
The Upper West Side of Manhattan
Show# 10: Songs from Woody Allen's Films. Brian plays a handful of songs from three Woody Allen films.
Bedbugs XLIV
Click here for an explanation of how Bedbugs is created.
Click here for last week's Bedbugs.
Nail gun surgery was the wisest alternative. Powder
found on trial again when all thoughts are scattered
and narrative fractured four black dresses match what
people we never dated were wearing and no matter
never mind it's snowing black ash inside and
out; get the children inside! Nobody reads this
or anything else. Will it be found by I volunteer to
take it even if I lose everything. Who is making
that sound? Shouldn't people be here? What on
earth is on my doorstep scratching at the wood?
Stay downstairs! Fractured thoughts you can still splinter
your hand on. Between the cracks, people shouldn't be here.
Pretentious run-ons won't fit on a business card. It's improving
in small increments.
Next week's seven phrases/groups of words:
-put the camera away
-sandpaper memories ingrained
-love between 1 and 2pm
-shells found outside
-keep him away from my family
-grow a pair and show me
-that place is miles away but I can see it
-Adam Barnick
Today’s Topic: So You Think You Can Intimidate Me?!
*Warning: This post contains a gratuitous use of outdated slang, obscure patois and random insults that will likely confuse more than outrage…proceed with caution!
So I have this neighbor –she lives in the building next to ours. Now I’d draw you a diagram to illustrate the way our buildings are sort of connected but I can’t so I’ll just say that the back part of their building is about ten feet away from the back part of our building, though we have this small concrete gangway path that our porches lead down to and it goes out to the alley. Now this woman –as I said, she is in the OTHER building –and simply put, she’s a cunt. Ever since she moved in, she has this habit of screaming at anyone who happens to be out on their porch or on the gangway if they are making any noise at all. A lot of people will go outside to smoke or they’ll have a quiet conversation or they’ll barbecue or any number of other things that normally occur on back porches.
Apparently, she doesn’t feel that socialization and/or conversation should be allowed to occur past the hour of
Now –I live there. I know how much you can hear from apartment to apartment –and yes, sometimes it can be a bit irritating but really, it’s part and parcel of apartment and big city living. And given that our building has mostly younger people in it, there’s going to be some socializing going on. There’s going to be couples having sex. There’s going to be arguments, perhaps an overloud cell phone conversation, music drifting in and out of windows –things of that nature. To my way of thinking, provided any of those things isn’t gratuitous, you just kind of live and let live. Most people try to be considerate –and exceptions are of course made for holidays and weekends as far as how late these activities go on. My thing has always been just let me know if you’re going to be having a shindig so I’m not caught unprepared –and minus the one inconsiderate fuck that got kicked out of the building –everyone has been pretty awesome about it. Yeah, I still have the chick who practices opera and the one girl who sounds like a cat being tortured while having sex –but those things are so laughably bad that I don’t ever say anything. Neither does anyone else…though of course we snicker about it in the hallways.
So fast forward to the other night. It was really late –like
We just kind of snicker and in a louder, totally conversational tone of voice Jory says to me, “You know one night you were taking a shower and you were listening to music and she yelled at you for an hour and you couldn’t hear her and we just laughed.” I nearly choked, trying not to bust up and I said, “Oh I heard her –I just chose to ignore her.” We of course know she’s listening now, and we don’t care. We continue our conversation and then we both head in for sleep. The wee raccoon is still squawking but there’s nothing we can do so we just have to leave it.
The following day, she does it again. Only this time, she wakes me up out of a sound sleep, screaming at these two people who were apparently disturbing her –even though I couldn’t hear so much as a murmur of conversation. I decided that I had had more than enough. I got out of bed, went over to the window and pushed up the screen and stuck my head out…and let loose a stream of invective the likes of which that building had never heard. It goes something like the following:
Me: Excuse me!
Woman: What?!
Me: Look you vitriolic, pestilential harpy –I am sick and tired of being woken up by your ceaseless nagging.
Woman: I have…
Me: Shut yer cakehole you fishwife!
Woman…
Me: You’re going to listen to what I have to say, you misbegotten muck snipe spawn of a tubercular trollop or by all that’s holy I’m going to make it a point to set my alarm every night for 3:47am and I’m going to wake you up by banging a big stainless steel pot and playing polka music while reciting very bad poetry.
Woman: *Gasps a little*
Me: First of all, I live here. I can hear pretty much everything that goes on that makes a sound above a whisper. I can hear people piss, shit, puke, fuck, fight, talk, I can identify the music they’re listening to, the movies they watch and what sporting events happen to be on television. Hell I even know what food they’re ordering sometimes. It’s part of living in an apartment building –it’s part of living in a big city. People are close by you and there’s not a lot of privacy –if you don’t like this, then bugger off to the suburbs.
Second! If you insist upon spewing such a pointless amount of puckering, you glocky haybag, you could do us all a favor and inject a bit of variety into it. Nobody likes a lazy meddler, and you seem to think that hurling the same three repetitive sentences at us will be enough to send us running for cover. In actuality, you’re merely proving that you lack imagination as well as restraint and tact. You might want to think about that…
Third! As I mentioned previously, it is YOU who wake people up when you scream at them for having a whispered conversation or for playing music within their own homes. If anyone has woken up your daughter it’s YOU madam, with your excessive nattering and cursing –and YOU’RE going to be the reason she’s in therapy in a few years and probably with a fondness for a nip! You might want to consider how your ill-mannered verbiage is affecting her –you know, kids have run away for less! And might I also point out that you don’t seem to bother screaming at people who are having very loud intercourse or a loud verbal dispute –because god forbid you interrupt carnal rutting or a domestic disagreement –instead you save your chastisement up for those people enjoying a quieter moment and generally minding their P’s and Q’s.
And finally, Madam Shrew, consider this: I know something of the law and I know that we have every right to talk on our porches, listen to music and generally live our lives in OUR building provided we are not being unduly disruptive –and considering that no one in OUR building has filed a complaint against any of the tenants, an officer of the law is going to find it hard to believe that they were doing anything all that terrible. And also consider this - you should be grateful that conversation and socialization are all that occur –no one is dealing drugs, getting into physical fights, breaking bottles, or generally being delinquent and dangerous. But…all of that aside –we can call the law on YOU for harassment –and don’t think for one second that we won’t if your cunty blathering persists! Goodnight!
Woman:………………………..
Suddenly I hear a mix of snickering, giggling and clapping. Then the sound of a window being slammed down.
Three nights and counting…nary a peep.
*buffs nails*
Six Word Theater
Click here for last week's entry.
Inspired by the challenge Hemingway undertook to tell a story
in six words("For Sale: baby shoes. Never worn."), I attempt
to polish my skills by telling a six-word story or phrase each
Wednesday.
Feel free to "continue the story" or start your own.
Today's Entry:
Am I undecided?
Yes and no..
-Adam
Six Word Theater will be taking a short vacation..
see you end of September!
Minimalist situation comedy/radio play.
Episode 5 "Space Nerd"
Cast:
Samantha: Melissa King
George: Peter Rinaldi
Setting:
The Upper East Side of Manhattan
The BBF Interview: Writer/Director Nick Gaglia (part II) what we usually hear in low/no budget indies. The music department was headed by John Presnell. He was a supporter from very early on and brought on his crew of talented musicians. Dale Chase was solely responsible for the sound design. He's a one man army. Was 2007 your first time at Slamdance? How was the film received and that festival experience overall? 2007 was my first time at Slamdance and I gotta say it was you have to know someone to get into a big festival and it's all political, that's bs when it comes to Slamdance. We submitted a rough cut without knowing anyone on staff there and they chose us based on the merit of our film. After our first screening they had to stop our q & a because it went on so long. And afterward I had a line out the door of industry and various people wanting to speak with me. And that's where we got approached for theatrical distribution from Seventh Art. Afterward, I spoke with Dan Mirvish (one of the festival founders) and he said that we were the first 'under-the-radar' narrative feature in the festival's 13-year history to get offered a distribution deal after our very first screening. it probably took about a year until we had picture lock. That's mainly because we didn't shoot this in the traditional way. We were very guerilla style in the sense that we shot any free moment we had - nights, weekends, whenever, until we finished. you endured, or had you made piece with what had happened to you before shooting? I found the film surprisingly objective while still extremely personal. The process was probably the most cathartic thing I've ever done. least biased way possible and have the audience decide. The details in the film were as it actually happened. Tell us about the upcoming DVD release.
click here for part one of this interview.
Nick Gaglia knew he wanted to be a filmmaker since he was 11,
when he picked up a camera for the first time and wrote,
directed, and acted in his first short film. He was the
youngest kid in his theatre group and studied acting
at Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan.
His personal life, however, started to deteriorate
when he got into drugs at age 13. Subsequently, his mother
checked him into an unregulated “tough love”
drug rehab(KIDS of North Jersey) that would change
his life forever. The rehab boasted of being the only place
in the world that could keep kids safe and sober, but what
really went on behind closed doors was quite the contrary;
corporal punishment, humiliation tactics, sleep and food
deprivation, false imprisonment, and mind control were
daily routines for Gaglia and group members.
After enduring the abuse for 2 ½ years, Gaglia escaped
the rehab and went on to study filmmaking at Hunter College.
After honing his skills with several short films, Gaglia made his first
narrative feature, Over the GW, based on his unique experience
in rehab. GW premiered at the 2007 Slamdance Film Festival,
where it was the first “under the radar” feature in the festival’s
13-year history to get a distribution deal after its first screening.
The film went on to play theatrically in New York, Los Angeles,
Chicago, and Maryland and was received with enthusiastic praise.
Click HERE for part one of this interview.
AB: How did you get released? And when/how
was the program stopped?
Nick Gaglia: The program got shut down in '98 I believe, then
went underground and still took place illegally in people's houses.
I escaped one day on the GW bridge on the way to a host home.
When did you reveal to people working on this that the film
was based in truth?
Besides Kether, I never told anyone it was based on me.
I wanted the work to be about the subject and the text
and not exactly about me. After the film came out I made a decision
to make it public that it was based on me because I wanted
audiences to know that this is a real issue that's going on
and not just some movie I made up. So I think when the cast read
all the press on the film that's when they actually found out
it was based on my story.
What has been the reaction at festivals and during your
theatrical run been like, for general audiences
and survivors who have come to see it?
The film has been incredibly well received, especially by survivors.
It's really interesting though, when a general audience member
sees the film they're like, 'wow, this must be the severely dramatized
version of what went on.' And when survivors see it they're like,
'I really love the film but that's the watered down version.'
So I always laugh. I did water it down because I felt it would be too
tough to watch if I went all the way with it.
Especially for survivors, with PTSD and all.
Private screening of GW in New York;
many survivors in attendance:
Who did your music and sound design? They’re heads above
one of the best experiences of my life! First off, when they say
How long did it take you to edit the film?
The editing was on-going as we shot the film. So, all in all,
Was the filmmaking process cathartic for the experience
On the 'objective' comment, I wanted to tell the story in the
Kether, George, and myself did a really fun commentary
together. It'll be available later on this year. And the soundtrack will
be available on iTunes this Fall.
What’s next for you as a director and/or writer?
I'm working on developing several projects right now.
One in particular is a documentary putting the teen
'tough-love' industry in context.
Please give us some words of wisdom.
All I can say is follow your passions no matter what.
That's all we have in this life.
"Over the GW" gets cited in a Congressional Hearing
on "Child Abuse and Deceptive Marketing by
Residential Programs for Teens."
-Adam Barnick
Bedbugs XLIII
Click here for an explanation of how Bedbugs is created.
Click here for last week's Bedbugs.
"I'm disappointed in you," the artificial box says, attached to
the machine pretending to be my wife. I'd turn it off but
what's the use? Another distraction is at the door; the decay
has left three holes in the floor; none of which anyone can fit through.
The moment has been prepared for. I'm giving up on you.
And this time I mean it. No matter man in white on the top of it
must be pretending to be God; well, SOMEBODY has to.. I'll
shut it out. Anything that could change us into what we should
or want to be. 44 years of denial- one day, who's going
to reach this and lay in the field, as they add color and sirens
of the aural and flesh-covered kind. I need one to lie down here.
Make me wait for anything real? Sadly someone, if not the entire
population, will. The phone in her head won't stop ringing.
I snicker at the potential punchline.
Exactly four years ago things sucked but were proclaimed 'the good
old days.' Breaking a glass, the third man carves 'this is all
a waste of time' into the wall. It oozes sap, bleeding like he can't.
Turning, smiling, two rows of teeth on top and bottom. Knowing
Dad's health is improving is a fine wish. But even if everyone gets it
together, she might not. Can't wait for you forever.
Next week's seven phrases/groups of words:
-on trial again
-four black dresses
-nobody reads this or anything else
-I volunteer to take it
-shouldn't people be here
-people shouldn't be here
-it's improving in small increments
-adam
Six Word Theater
Click here for last week's entry.
Inspired by the challenge Hemingway undertook to tell a story
in six words("For Sale: baby shoes. Never worn."), I attempt
to polish my skills by telling a six-word story or phrase each
Wednesday.
Feel free to "continue the story" or start your own.
Today's Entry:
Two gentlemen entered...
only one left.
The BBF interview: Writer/Director Nick Gaglia (part 1)
Nick Gaglia knew he wanted to be a filmmaker since he was 11,
when he picked up a camera for the first time and wrote, directed,
and acted in his first short film. He was the youngest kid in his
theatre group and studied acting at Professional
Performing Arts School in Manhattan.
His personal life, however, started to deteriorate
when he got into drugs at age 13. Subsequently, his mother
checked him into an unregulated “tough love” drug rehab
(KIDS of North Jersey) that would change his life forever.
The rehab boasted of being the only place in the world that
could keep kids safe and sober, but what really went on
behind closed doors was quite the contrary;
corporal punishment, humiliation tactics, sleep and
food deprivation, false imprisonment, and mind control
were daily routines for Gaglia and group members.
After enduring the abuse for 2 ½ years,
Gaglia escaped the rehab and went on to study filmmaking
at Hunter College.
After honing his skills with several short films, Gaglia made his first
narrative feature, Over the GW, based on his unique experience
in rehab. GW premiered at the 2007 Slamdance Film Festival,
where it was the first “under the radar” feature in the festival’s
13-year history to get a distribution deal after its first screening.
The film went on to play theatrically in New York, Los Angeles,
Chicago, and Maryland and was received with enthusiastic praise:
“…Mr. Gaglia has produced a work that’s as much an act of emesis
as of filmmaking…the rehab drama is here to stay.”
– Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
“‘Over the GW” is an assured first feature by 25-year-old
writer-director Nick Gaglia.” – V.A. Musetto, New York Post
“Not to be missed” – Chicago Sun-Times
“shocking…the film accrues a learned sense of what it feels like to have
the very fibers of one’s soul placed under a magnifying glass.”
– Rob Humanick, Slant Magazine
“…emotionally potent…” – Joe Leydon, Variety
Trailer for "Over the GW"
AB: Tell me about the inspiration behind this film.
Nick Gaglia: When I was a teenager, unbeknownst to my mother,
I was admitted into an abusive cult-like drug rehab. I was on dru
