The Halloween Five

Satan In Disguise -
Michael Shinafelt

"Happy, Happy Halloween, Halloween, Halloween. Happy, Happy Halloween, Silver Shamrock!"

Halloween III: Season of the Witch is a quite underrated movie. John Carpenter and Debra Hill were approached by Universal to do a third Halloween film after the studio picked up the sequel to the indie smash Halloween.

Their plan? To do a franchise under the Halloween banner every year, with a different theme. Turns out the public demanded and only had love for Michael Myers. Gotta give those two credit though for trying to be innovative and fun!

Which brings me to the theme of this year's Season of the Witch post. I am going to give you five of my favorite fright films, in no particular order, with the exception of number one. I bet you already know what that is...

Halloween
Always Number 1!

1) Halloween - This is my one and only when it comes to sheer horror. I can not count how many times I have seen it and how much I love it! It was the first horror film my Father took me to, and it scared the shit out of me. It is still under my skin to this day, even though I know what's coming. Jamie Lee Curtis rules!

2) Excision - Teen angst, domineering mothers, delusional aspirations of being a world class surgeon.
This psychological gore fest is a brilliant feature debut from Director/Writer Richard Bates, Jr. It also features two great performances from AnnaLynne McCord and Traci Lords.

3) Psycho - Like mother like daughter. Janet Leigh shocked the world of cinema by appearing in Alfred Hithcock's then explicit and never seen nothing like it thriller Psycho. Janet as you may or may not know was the mother of future Scream Queen and Halloween star, Jamie Lee Curtis. This movie still holds up today as a master class in film making and what an intelligent slasher film could and should be.

4) The Hunger - was anything sexier than Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie slashing their prey's throats with an ankh and drinking their blood at the height of orgasm? Well, one more thing in this awesome vampire flick was, the sex scene between Deneuve turning Susan Sarandon into her latest immortal fling. Tony Scott's best.

5) Cat People - No, not the original in 1942. That one I never saw the big deal about. But the re-imagining of it by auteur Paul Schrader. While the film is more of an erotic fantasy. It is peppered with enough horror elements and violence to really set it above the cut. With Malcom McDowell at his freaky best and Nastassja Kinski doing what she does best...meow, sex kitten.

While these are not the only Holiday Flicks I love, they are the cream of the crop to me. With John Carpenter's Halloween always remaining #1 in my blackened heart.

Happy Halloween! Until next year...

Follow me on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt    

Spend Mother's Day With Traci Lords

Happy Mother's Day Everyone!

To all of you Moms out there Happy Mother's Day!

One of my favorite people, Actress/Writer/Icon Traci Lords says her greatest role ever is being a Mom to her son Gunnar pictured with her above. No, he isn't the guy with the silver hair on the right he is the young man in the middle. The guy on the right is her foxy husband Jeff.

So I thought I would share this portrait of Traci and her family, courtesy of Celebrity Wife Swap.

Yes, you read correctly Traci will be swapping places with Jackee, of 227 and Sister, Sister fame on the Wednesday May 20th episode of Celebrity Wife Swap at 10pm on ABC.

Traci says she and her family had a great time and that son Gunnar steals the show. I am sure he does, his effervescent personality jumps at you in the photo. 

"The natural state of motherhood is unselfishness. When you become a mother, you are no longer the center of your own universe. You relinquish that position to your children" - Jessica Lange 

Keep up with Mama T at:

https://www.facebook.com/tracilordsfan
https://twitter.com/thetracilords

"Where Are The Freaks? I'm Getting Bored!"

Spiders To The Max!

It's October, my faaaaaaaavorite time of year, and anyone who follows this blog knows why. 

Because it's when the freaks come out, not just at night, but twenty-four hours seven days a week..Wicked!

Yep, I am a horror junkie, thus I love Halloween and to me, it is a month long celebration.

Thus every year at this time all posts I make for the entire month will be directly or, via my creative imagination, related to the high holy day.

A few examples of last year's horrific fun for those who might be uninitiated are:

Which Way To Pet Sematary?

An interview with Fiona Dourif, the daughter of Chucky literally. About her lead role in the latest sequel to the homicidal doll series Curse of Chucky.

Margaret Cho on her love of Ouija Boards.

Traci Lords chiming in on why she avoids mirrors.

Also, there is my annual Halloween fun with fellow horror lover, author M.E. Franco.

Yes, I do have some awesome shocks, cool surprises and freaky stuff coming your way this month, but most of all, prepare to be entertained!

The photos accompanying this piece are courtesy of Me, Myself and I. They were shot at Horror/Supernatural/Erotic author James Buchanan's annual Halloween shindig.

Speaking of "freaky" let's kick off October 1st 2014 with the latest trailer via Buzzfeed for American Horror Story: Freak Show...Step right up, Boo!

                                                                  Look, It's The Freaks!

Freak Out! at: https://www.facebook.com/americanhorrorstory

Traci Lords Is A Punk Rocker

Look! It's Traci Lords

Hey readers guess who stopped by recently? That's correct peeps, friend and favorite on "Entertain Me" Ms. Traci Lords is in the house!

The Ramones fan stopped by to discuss her latest project The Ramones Go To Heaven on FOD, that's Funny or Die for the uninitiated. There are also several other things that she is up to, or that crossed her mind during the course of our one on one that just might surprise you, or perhaps not.

When the two of us get together it's anything but boring...

Shall we get this party started with a big Gabba, Gabba, Hey?! Yep, I thought so, here she is the girl with the most cake, Traci Lords!

TL: Oh my God Honey, I'm sorry I was late.

MS: That's OK sometimes people space out, I know I do. (laughs)

TL: Yeah, I don't know if it's old age, distraction, or what it is (laughs)

MS: So what have you been up to besides your recent video on Funny or Die? 

TL: What have I been up to besides the video? I am in the process of writing my next book. 

MS: Dish. What's it called? What's it going to be about?

TL: Um, I don't have a title yet. I'm not going to tell you anything about it, it will be a surprise. (laughs) I want to keep it under my hat for a moment.

MS: Well that's most likely one of the reasons you are distracted. When you write, time does not exist.

TL: You can appreciate that. Once you sit in that chair, I don't think a lot of people really understand that writing is really a physical act. You have to put your ass in the chair and write.

MS: And you let your brain flow, doesn't it surprise you what pops out on the written page?

TL: Oh yeah, and sometime it surprises me the way I feel about things. I mean, I know that I feel that way about them, but then I read back what I've written and I'm like, wow, that's kind of intense. 

The Ramones Go To Heaven

MS: So my dear how did The Ramones Go To Heaven video for Funny or Die with Dave Foley come about?

TL: Actually it came directly from Funny or Die - and I wondered, because I had Tweeted about Tommy Ramones death a little bit, when I heard that he had passed away it was a moment like: Wow! they are all gone. There was that time I thought it was so strange that they are all not on this earth. It made me think about life. That as you carry on with it, if you are lucky enough to, that you see people go before you, people that you know. I don't know if you have ever lost somebody that you are close to, somebody that you know? It makes you think about your own mortality. 

MS: Oh Yes.

TL: Maybe it's why it's that uh, huh moment. It made me think of the Limelight and how The Ramones were always there. More than anything I think it marked a certain time in my life, and that was a really fun time, but life goes on and things change and now it's completely different. I don't long for the past, but I love the memories. 

MS: I get it, I don't long for my past either, trust me not in a million years, but you do have those memories that are always going to be good. The Ramones were a good memory for a lot of people.

TL: Did you know I sang back-up on their song Somebody To Love? 

MS: No I didn't, was that the cover of the Jefferson Airplane song? 

TL: Yes, that's the one!

MS: What was your first exposure to The Ramones? 

TL: My first exposure to them was probably, oh, the late 70's.  

MS: Was it  Rock N Roll High School ?

TL: It was Rock N Roll High School - I had never heard anything like it before and I was like: What is that?! We have this whole history together, Gary Kurfirst who was their first manager and is no longer on this planet signed me to do my first album 1,000 Fires, I was influenced by the artists he represented like The Ramones &  Debbie Harry and then to go into this world of dance music...

My Name Is Traci, I'll Be Your Mistress Tonight

MS: Your dance music was always edgy it was not typical.

TL: And I can hear it in my first single from the album, Control it was a heavy metal riff that inspired that song. It wasn't fluffy or bubblegum at all.

MS: That's why I gravitated toward your dance album, I like my music edgy.

TL: Oh thank you honey.

MS: By the way, I  think your work in the film Excision was as good as anything I have ever seen nominated for an Oscar.

TL: I appreciate that. I have to tell you I am very proud of that film. In my opinion that is some of the best work I have ever done. That and my stuff on the Profiler was really good. It's such a shame that the stuff that I have done that is really good, nobody's seen. (laughs)

MS: Although I told you this a while ago I was rehearsing a play at the time, I came home and turned on the TV and Profiler was airing. I saw this great actress in a guest starring role and I could not place her, yet she was familiar, you did have a black wig on, then it registered it was you!

TL: You were like, ah ha! (laughs)

MS: Name your favorite Ramones song.

TL: I don't know if I have a favorite.

MS: That's fair.

TL: Although I don't know that I have a favorite Ramones song, but the theme song I had for my time in the 1980's was I Wanna Be Sedated.

MS: I'm partial to Sheena is a Punk Rocker.

TL: I love that one too. I mean who didn't want to be Sheena?!

MS: I know I did! (laughs)

TL: I did too! (laughs) I would have fought you for it! (laughs)

Cry-Baby/Johnny Ramone Tribute Screening
L-R: Joe Dallesandro, Traci Lords, John Waters, Johnny Depp, Ricki Lake

MS: Let me throw a quote at you that I would like some clarity on, when the Cry - Baby reunion/Johnny Ramone Tribute screening came up at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery this quote was attributed to you about the incarcerated actress Amy Locane who was in the film: "Amy Locane, the female lead, was 17 -- she wanted to get out of high school. Now she's in prison." This seems out of character for you, was it taken out of context?

TL: You know it's funny. The way it came across in print I was not happy with,  I truly wasn't trying to be insulting to Amy Locane - what happened with her could have happened with anybody. Thank God that has not been my journey in life. I think where the quote came from is I said everyone on the set was trying to escape from something. She was only seventeen when she did that movie and she did a fantastic job! I was not trying to disrespect her.

MS: I didn't think you were, but I wanted to give you the chance to clarify your intentions for those who might have. 

TL: Oh good, when I read it it made me cringe because I though it made me come off a little bitchy. 

MS: Well since you had a certain stigma attached to you at the time...

TL: Yeah, there is that stigma, I can't believe how much I have pulled off! Hollywood has been an amazing playground for me, I've gotten to do some amazing things. I am amazed and grateful for every opportunity I have had. Wow! What a ride! I'm just now moving into the next phase of my career and my life.  I'm moving into producing & directing. I will have the opportunity to act or not act in my projects, to make music for them or not, it's a whole new world for me and I am excited about being a female filmmaker! The possibilities are absolutely endless, I am happy about that.

MS: So shall we call it Traci, what number are we at? 3.0 I am guessing?

TL: (laughs) I think that's where I am, it might be more.

MS: What is the greatest role you have ever played?

TL: It's not one that's been filmed. I have this amazing child, my favorite role is being a Mom. It's the most juicy, satisfying character I have ever played! 

Go "Punk" with Traci at:
https://www.facebook.com/tracilords
https://twitter.com/thetracilords
http://www.tracilords.com/ 

Seriously Rose McGowan?! Wow!

The Cooler, Than Cool, Rose McGowan

I was kind of in shock and awe when I saw this item recently via the Huffpost, although I am not sure why.

My attitude towards women is a little more respectful than this, in fact I like them more than men as they tend to be way more interesting and intelligent.

Look at all of my amazing, beautiful, talented and intelligent female friends who have visited me here on a regular basis: Margaret Cho, Traci Lords and Naama Kates , to name a handful.

In all honesty the most shocking thing about this story is a woman said this to another woman, um, excuse me, I thought there was such a thing as sisterhood, in this tough business called show, maybe not?

Let me recount the tale of one of my favorite actresses and people Ms. Rose McGowan.

Two years ago, Rose McGowan says she was stifled by an agent for speaking too well.

The fact that she is an intelligent woman intimidated people — particularly men — McGowan says. She said that did not go over too well in production meetings.

"I had an agent that told me not to speak in meetings because I was too intelligent and it was stressing to the men," McGowan told HuffPost Live host Ricky Camilleri, recalling a two-year-old meeting. "It was a woman that told me that."

Wow! That woman who told you that really needs to learn a thing or two about men. A friend recently told me I was a bigot, I scratched my head thinking: "WTF does he mean?"

He continued: "You don't like unintelligent people"

Ya know what? I believe he's on to something.

Be on the lookout for her Directorial, debut Dawn a short film about a "young teenager who longs for something or someone to free her rom her sheltered life." It will play at the 2014 Sundance Festival early next year.

Rose you are welcome here on Entertain Me anytime you like.

From a man who is non-stressed about you.

Check out my favorite televised Rose McGowan moment below going off on the then Governator of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Go Rose! On IMDB:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000535/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_1

The Horror: Why Traci Lords Avoids Mirrors

Traci Lords

Actress Traci Lords is no stranger to horror films, having appeared in all sorts of mayhem related to the horror genre, I mean who could forget her as Racquel "The Vampire Bitch" (Seriously?! Has anyone ever heard of a non-vampire bitch?) in " Blade".

Traci as "Phyllis" in "Excision"

Not to mention her Award Winning role as Mom "Phyllis" to Annalynne McCord's sociopath daughter "Pauline" in one of my favorite psychologically disturbing films of all time Richard Bates Jr's critically acclaimed "Excision" - I highly recommend this one.

She recently wrapped "Devil May Call" about a sadistic killer getting to a girl through a crisis hotline -

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek! Sadistic killers suck!

Traci has admitted to me in the past that horror movies really scare her even though she knows it isn't real and has acted in them - Tis' the season, so I checked in with one of my favorite people to find out what scares her the most when filming one.

Traci as Racquel in "Blade"

Here is what she had to say:

"My bloody reflection! I avoid all mirrors if I have cuts, blood..other injuries. Even though I KNOW it's special effects...it's a weird head trip! It makes me feel like leaving set to seek medical assistance"

Oh, Traci you look beautiful even in blood - 27 more days until Halloween...!

Bloody Traci, say that three times and see what happens....at:

Her Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/tracilords &

Her Webiste: http://www.tracilords.com/

Celebrate Marriage Equality !

Love is Love

"Sometimes, there's so much beauty in the world - I feel like I can't take it, like my heart is just going to cave in" - Ricky Fitts "American Beauty"

June 26, 2013 - will go down in history as the day the most beautiful thing in the world conquered all...LOVE!

Yes, The Supreme Court of The United States of America ruled that DOMA, The Defense Of Marriage Act, which bans same sex marriages is unconstitutional. Way to go Supreme Court, High Five!

This overturns Proposition 8 which passed by a very narrow margin and banned same sex marriages in the state of California.

Civil Rights are for everyone, not just who someone chooses to dole them out to. Gay people pay taxes like everyone else, yet they were being treated second class. 

So being a supporter of Civil Rights for all, I attended the celebration rally in honor of this historic day held in West Hollywood, CA. 

There was an amazing energy and feeling of victory in the air, and most important, I was surrounded by LOVE!

In pride and celebration I took photos, of the event and people at it. A special thanks to the Female couple featured above who allowed me to take their photo and use it.

 Scattered among my amateur photography I asked friends and favorites of "Entertain Me" to chime in with their thoughts...Experience the LOVE!

White Wedding

"Kind of spectacularly awesome! But there are going to be so many more crock pots to buy! Time to buy stock in Bed Bath N Beyond"! #loveislove - Actress/Writer/Singer Traci Lords


"I didn't get married to get state or federal benefits. I got married because Michael Briggs has healed, loved and nurtured me in ways that are beyond words. That said, knowing that our marriage is federally recognized is amazing, something we never would have imagined 10/2/10. I am humbled by everyone's hard work to accomplish. Simply amazing". - Singer/Songwriter Tom Goss

"History is on our side and Equality is within our reach! A monumental day for Gay Rights"! 
- Singer/Sogwriter Aiden Leslie

We Made National News!

"I'm so proud to live in America-now more than ever- and to celebrate equality for all. Thanks to Edie Windsor for showing us that even one person can make a profound difference in the lives of many to come. LOVE is EVERYTHING"!  - Pop Princess Shara Strand

"Fuck yeah, its about time" - Punk Princess Ariel Beez

"Yeehoo that is just the way it should be...We must progress even more"! - Actress/Singer/Songwriter EG Daily

"Truly, truly thrilled for so many of my close friends today & all gay couples across our nation. HUGE step in the right direction. Equality for ALL Period"! - Singer/Songwriter Debby Holiday

"Progress always wins!"#LoveIsLove - Singer/Songwriter/Owner Sea to Sun Records Sylvia Tosun

"It's an historic day! Congrats to all my friends who can finally marry the one they love! Equality, finally!" - Actress/ Lead Singer "The Runaways" Cherie Currie

The Roar of the Crowd

"After nineteen years..NINETEEN YEARS..JoeDietl and I finally have the same rights as everyone else. So many friends I wish were still alive to see this. What an amazing day! Thanks to all who have fought so hard to make this happen" - "Where The Bears Are" Ben Zook

"Goodbye and good riddance, DOMA and DUMMER!  Thanks for the memories"... Americana With Twisted Roots Group "The Drews"

"It's an historic day for all Americans who regardless of their sexual orientation, value equal rights and opportunities for all." - Dr. Nina Savelle-Rocklin "Win The Diet War With Dr. Nina"

Speech! Speech! Speech!

"We've been so inspired with marriage equality passing earlier in our home state of Rhode Island and now with the overturning of the marriage ban in our current state, California. We have a new song we're working on about everyone being equal on the dance floor and just launched a Kickstarter for it. There's still a lot of work to be done in this world for equality but we're feeling very optimistic today" DJ/Songwriter/Performers "The Perry Twins"

"I'm crying tears of joy for this moment - we are closer to marriage equality than we have ever been. I'm proud of my community and proud of this country. I'm also getting excited about being able to perform ceremonies again" - Actress/Comedian Margaret Cho

Find out more about Marriage Equality at The Human Rights Campaign: http://www.hrc.org/

Traci Lords Revisits "Stupidville"

Actress/Singer and Writer Traci Lords was born in Steubenville, OH where she was the victim of a sexual assault at the age of ten.

Today: March 17th 2013 two football players living in Steubenville, OH were found guilty of raping a sixteen year old girl and sentenced accordingly.

By all accounts Steubenville, OH is very proud of it's "Boys Club" and the outcome of this trial is a victory.

The trial and national focus that was shined on it brought Ms. Lords back to the place she was all too happy to leave. She took her thoughts, feelings and opinions public via the media. As a fellow writer she expressed to me how one of the ways she got those feelings out was via her song "Stupidville".

Although the trial had an outcome in favor of the victim, rape is an experience that stays with the violated party forever. Sexual assault is a huge epidemic in the world with one occurring on an average of every two minutes...."Stupidville" indeed.

MS: Hi Traci, what was it like growing up in Steubenville, OH?

Traci Lords

TL: I left when I was about twelve years old, and was raped there when I was ten. Which, I think poisoned my mind. Rape is not something that you can really deal with at any age, it's extremely difficult. But when you are an adolescent dealing with the violence and dealing with that kind of an assault it really does something to your psyche. It completely shaped me, it gave me a lot of angst, I completely hated myself...doubted everything...I have no doubt that it influenced me going into my teens. With the normal things going on with being a teenager I turned to drugs, ended up being on the streets, doing porn, doing all those things because of the whole mind fuck that goes with all of it. You feel you're not worthy and you try to take the power back in whatever way you can. 

MS: Tell everyone about "Stupidville".

TL: This is not about me, I was so incensed by the recent incident in my hometown that I couldn't sleep. I write a lot in the  middle of the night, as a writer you can relate to this I'm sure.

MS: Yes, I can.

TL: It haunts you, it calls you, I wrote my feelings about the what was going on, how I felt it, and it became "Stupidville". The struggle was whether I once again wanted to stand up for this, you know this isn't something I have just now come out about. For the last 48 hours I've been reading things like "Look, she's finally stepping forward with these shocking allegations"...and you know what?! I've spoke of this twenty years ago, Hello?! I wrote a book about it...

MS: You also addressed it on your CD "Control" with the song "Father's Field".

TL: That was my first record in 1997 - I've been talking about being a victim of violent assault for twenty years! It's like, "No, I'm not jumping on any band wagon" I'm just so angry, that I realized my voice, because of who I am, people will tune in and they'll look for whatever reason. Just for curiosity, or maybe they want to mock my music, maybe see how well I've aged - the bottom line is: I don't care if they like me, I care if they hear me. This is a world wide sickness that is not going away, when you talk about this poor woman in India who got rape and murdered, her crime? Going to a movie with a male friend and affording a bus, it's not even human, what's going on?! Before we can even deal with the Global issue we have to deal with what's going on in our own backyard. For me what happened in Steubenville, OH really was my backyard. So, like a lot of artists do when I can't express myself anymore through words, I do it through my art. I am a singer, I am a writer, I am an actress, I am all of those things. That's where "Stupidville" came from, that's what the locals call it, that's pretty much what all of Ohio calls it. This is not directed at the good people of Steubenville, OH, there are good people there....and to them I say, "It's time for you to step up"! It's not about bashing the good people of Steubenville, it's there to remind them that this crap has been going on and it's been going on long enough, and it's time for them to do something about it!

Traci on "Piers Morgan Live"

MS: Like you stated "deal with what's in our own "backyard".

TL: We're dealing with "Baby Athletes" here that get a free pass, that get to do whatever they want because what can they do?! Oh, they can throw a fucking ball, are you kidding me?! They're the "jocks" the "untouchables" whatever they are, they're the ones who will go and pick on the little gay boy at school and nobody does anything. Then they wonder why the gay boy goes and does some hideous thing in retaliation, or God forbid hurts himself because he can't deal with it.

MS: I've always wondered whatever happened to parents being involved in their children's lives?

TL: That's what I'm talking about, whatever kind of violence is happening in schools, why are the parents not doing more?! 

MS: While I have no desire to be a parent, one of the things I find offensive in our current state of the world is I think parents don't think they have any fucking responsibility anymore.

TL: Ask me my greatest job in my life? Being a parent, I take it very seriously, I have an amazing five year old son. He is not accidentally amazing, I am not a rich woman and I don't have a nanny, I have put a lot of time in with him and we have a lot of conversations, the amount of work and energy that goes into raising someone who is conscious is insane, but so worth the while. There are people who have looked at what I am doing and saying: "Oh, look a slut talking about a slut", those are the people I am directing the title "Stupidville" to! That kind of mentality is what feeds the ugliness of our society, you can tell I'm really pissed!

"Stupidville" video

MS: I don't blame you, when someone does something to someone I love - male or female, my gut reaction is "Tell me who they are, I 'll kick their ass" but, do I actually do it? No, but I will defend people in the appropriate capacity. 

TL: When you start taking your children to the play ground and begin teaching them to play with others. You spend that time saying: "We don't hit other people, we respect other people, we are kind, use words to communicate" - we are supposed to teach that, why all of the sudden is that gone? 

MS: The verdict came in today on the Steubenville, OH rape trial, what do you think of it?

TL: Relieved at the guilty verdict. But don't think the punishment fits the crime! One and Two years. I hope this girl sues them in civil court.

Keep up with the developments on "Stupidville" when the single is officially released proceeds will be going to a organization to stop violence against women and others. For all the latest log onto: http://www.tracilords.com/

The Horror: Richard Bates, Jr. "Excision"

Ever so often a film comes along that catches this writer by surprise, such is the case with "Excision" which I caught at Screamfest in Los Angeles, CA.

"Excision" is one of the most disturbing, yet honest horror films about misunderstood adolescence to come along in quite some time, with two great leading performances by Annalynne McCord as "Pauline" and Traci Lords as her Mother "Phyllis".

With an ending that leaves you speechless. Here to discuss "Excision" is the man behind the vision Richard "Ricky" Bates, Jr.

MS: After seeing "Excision" I really wanted to speak with you, I was not expecting what I saw, I was really blown away by it. The trailers lead you to believe it is more of a gore fest than it actually is, it's  actually a very intelligent movie.

RB: Anchor Bay who bought the movie said that selling it as a horror film was the only way to market it. I have not had any input in marketing it, other than the poster I did with Annalynne where she looks sort of like a Queen, Anchor Bay deemed to artsy for the DVD cover.

MS: Well the movie isn't exactly not horror, but the horror element is more psychological/disturbing than anything.

RB: Honestly 78% of my film influences in the movie are horror filmmakers.

Ricky (far right) and the cast of "Excision"

MS: One of the things that is fascinating about the film is Annalynne's character "Pauline" comes off as a misunderstood teenager in the beginning, she does not come off vile right away like she does as the story progresses. Traci's character comes off like a total bitch in the beginning and is someone you gain sympathy for as the story progresses.

RB: Yes, it really interesting watching this movie with parents and their children, it's like before you have children and see a Mom yelling at her kids and you think "God what a bitch". Then you have kids and you see a Mom yelling at her kids and you think "What did that little shit do"?

MS: I love the way you did not make "Pauline" an outright evil character.

RB: What I tried to do was balance her, I didn't want her to be too bad. I pulled her back a little bit, because I didn't want it to be a "F#$k You Mom" movie. I tried to make her confused about it all. Hopefully that translates.

MS: It did for me, and what's great about the ending is you do see it coming at some point, but it still has a strong impact.

RB: Yeah, it's not like there is a twist ending (laughs) it was the only way for me that the movie could end. It's funny when I made the short, the people who saw it were excited about the feature, they were like "I can't wait to see it, finally we get to see what happens after the garage scene". I'm thinking: "you are going to be sorely disappointed". (laughs) That's it, that's the end of the movie.

MS: In my opinion the ending was perfect.

Good Times

RB: Truly I would not know what to do past that, for me that's the end of the story. Traci and Annalynne really brought it that day. I think it helped that we shot that scene near the end of the shoot and they were so on the verge of killing me at that point. (laughs)

MS: Another interesting thing about "Excision" is how you cast everybody against type. For example I never thought Annalynne was a bad actress, but I did not know she could deliver the kind of performance she did as "Pauline".

RB: Yes, it's funny you should say that, so I told my Mom there was this actress, Annalynne McCord who wants to be in the movie, she said "The girl from 90210? Let me watch it and tell you what I think". she calls me the next day from West Virginia and says "Now honey I just don't know if she can pull it off". But I had seen interviews with Annalynne and spoke with her and knew she could do it, my goal was to cast against type, take a chance on actors since they were taking a chance on me. Plus I'm a young director and wanted to make a ballsy a statement "they're actors, it's not their job to be one type". It was a crazy experience dude shooting this thing, you have no idea.(laughs)

MS: Oh, I think I might. (laughs)

Ricky & "Excision"

RB: Dude, you know what I didn't tell you? Do you remember the cotillion scene when Annalynne sits next to that girl with the black glasses?

MS: Yes.

RB: That girl with the black glasses is the decoy girl on "To Catch A Predator". She is actually 28 years old and looks like she is 16! Annalynne and I were on her getting her autograph and grilling her about the show. She was the only one we were star struck over.

MS: That's funny! What inspired you to write "Excision"?

RB: I tried to make the most personal movie I could about growing up. When I was in the eighth grade I saw this movie called "Happiness" that inspired what I wanted people seeing "Excision" to experience as many extreme reactions as possible while watching it. Half of this movie is super personal kind of stuff about growing up in Virginia, me wanting to be a filmmaker and "Pauline" wanting to be a surgeon. I actually did have to go to cotillion with a cold sore on my face like "Pauline" did too, that was straight out of my life, but she does what I wanted to do, I wanted to kiss the chick, like she did to the guy with a cold sore on my mouth. This whole movie is very therapeutic for me. (laughs)

MS: Well Ricky you have a lot to live up to, what are your plans for a follow-up?

RB: I'm shooting it in March and right now it's called "The South Will Rise Again". It's a horror comedy , it's about a kid who moves to the big city and then has to move back home to the house he grew up in and live in his parents basement, but the house is now haunted. So, he, the punk rock chick from the bar and all the town weirdos get together and try to solve this mystery, it's like the "Goonies" on crack. (laughs)

Got something you want "excised"? Go to: http://excisionmovie.com/

"Entertain Me" Turns One !

Photo: Jay R. Lawton

Yep, it's hard to believe September 14, 2011 I published the first posting on this blog an interview with singer Graham Colton about his then current release "Pacific Coast Eyes".

Since that time there have been plenty of other interviews - Margaret Cho, Traci Lords & James Durbin come to mind.

Not to mention my geek guy thoughts on things I am a fan of: "American Horror Story", "Pretty Little Liars" and "Revenge".

This blog was started for me to have an outlet where I could write about who and what I wanted with regard to the Entertainment Industry. The things, people, music, movies....blah, blah, blah that I like and or find interesting.

In honor of turning a year old today I thought I would re-publish the #1 post on this blog.....or to put it a little more simply, the posting that has had the most hits of all time on "Entertain Me".

And the number one blog post is, drum roll please..... Traci Lords "Last Drag" !!!

http://mshinafelt.blogspot.com/2011/10/traci-lords-last-drag.html

Enjoy your weekend...!

Checking In With: Traci Lords

Traci Lords is back! After taking some “Mommy Time“, the notorious TL hit the dance floors last year with her smash single “Last Drag”.

Well Traci has more things coming your way … we checked in with each other this week via phone.

Time to get your chat on with Traci Lords.

MS: How’s everything going with you?

TL: Everything is wild! I got off a plane last night around midnight, and now I am driving to Santa Monica, CA. I was in North Carolina at this insane Monster Mash convention. It was with all kinds of wild people, like Linda Blair…all of these horror people. Who would have thought that the fans in North Carolina would be some of the dirtiest MotherF#%kers on the planet!
(both laugh)

MS: That’s Hilarious!

TL: It’s the middle of the Bible Belt! I’m like wow! I told this last night to my husband and he’s like: “Well of course it‘s the Bible Belt”! (laughs) I saw some really interesting and shocking things…it was like “Oh my God, my eyes”!

MS: So, how your trip to Sundance with the horror movie you star in “Excision”?

TL: Absolutely amazing! All kinds of things happened, I swear I’m going to write a book one day, like “Tales From The Trenches” or something…about the stuff that happens behind the scenes when you are doing it all. Things like getting stuck in a blizzard and Me, my Manager & my Publicist having to dig our car out. I was wearing faux fur and I looked like a Russian Mobsters wife or something. (laughs) There was a blizzard and we couldn’t get our car up the hill, so we had to hike down the side of the mountain, it was seriously action packed! (laughs)

MS: La Femme‘s Nakita ! (laughs)…how was the screening of “Excision”?

TL: One of my favorite moments, and it has nothing to do with me. When John Waters comes on the screen and he doesn’t do anything, he just raises one eyebrow and the whole place went wild! He wasn’t there because he had a speaking engagement someplace else. I called him and I told him “People really miss you in independent films”. I told him about the reaction and the whole thing, he was really pleased. This was the little movie that shouldn’t have and I was really proud of what we all did.

MS: I heard that people walked out because they found it disgusting.

TL: That didn’t happen at the screening I was at, but it did happen at the press screening. A friend of mine in the press, a French Man, told me about 1/3 of the audience disappeared in the beginning because they could not handle the horror. What’s really horrifying to me about “Excision” is it could happen, the truth of the film is what’s really terrifying.

MS: The truth is a terrifying thing on many levels.

TL: Every time I see it, I’ve seen it now 4 or 5 times. Every time my eyes well up, it’s just that powerful.

MS: Spill about your gig this Friday, March 30th - The Miss Hooker Pageant at The Dragonfly in Hollywood, CA.

TL: It’s me Dave Navarro & Alexis Arquette judging. I love Lexi and I love Dave, who I haven’t seen in years, so it’s going to be a good time!

MS: The other option I had for tomorrow night was an art opening, I’m weird about those, it’s too much of a crap shoot.

TL: Yeah, it can be really painful.

MS: When this came up I said to a friend: “What does it say about me that I would rather go see “The Miss Hooker Pageant” than go to an art opening?

TL: I want to warn you I am driving through Santa Monica, CA right now and I might lose you.

MS: As I was saying… it says, I want to have a fun time!

TL: Yes, exactly! You know there is going to have to be latex and whips involved! With Lexi, Dave Navarro & Me, C’mon ! I know I am wearing my latex corset.

MS: I remember when they used to hold Club F#$k at The Dragonfly on occasion - I used to think they staged the sex stuff until one night I saw, to put I politely, a full figured woman in a tight bondage outfit being whipped, who was grunting like a pig, that guy was really hitting her hard! I was surprised they were doing that.

TL: I’m surprised she liked it.

MS: She must have or she would not have kept participating.

TL: Ya know Michael, I’m telling you human nature, the freakiness of people, it’s just so fascinating.

MS: I agree with you.

TL: Most of the time I’m like “Wow, did that just that happen”?

MS: We are so complex, aren’t we?

TL: Yes, here I am the token ex-porn star in the room and I am like the most normal, sane person in it. 20 years ago John Waters said to me: “One of the great things about your past, is you will never ever have to do another bad thing in your life, people will just assume you are a bad ass and you can just relax”. I didn’t understand it then, but now I totally get it.

MS: You took some "Mommy Time" for a bit which is so cool.

TL: I've come out of the "Mommy Cage" (laughs) my son is 4 1/2 now, oh honey he knows everything. the quote of the week, they were talking about this in preschool, they asked, what do your parents do for a living? He said" My Daddy walks in high places, My Mommy walks in high heels". My husband is an iron worker, that's the information he has been able to process, it's pretty extraordinary.

If you live in Los Angeles, CA check Traci out tomorrow night, she will be judging....The Miss Hooker Pageant at The Dragonfly.

www.tracilords.com