#best indian short films

[arizariz00]

[deforest]

SHE'S CRAZY WITH THE HEAT — 1946 ft. The International Sweethearts of Rhythm

In 1946, William D. Alexander began the production of a series of one-reel shorts, half-hour featurettes and feature films that would serve a dual purpose. These black cast subjects would be released to theaters that welcomed African American audiences; concurrently, the music segments would be excerpted from the films and released as Soundies. Ultimately, sixteen of Alexander’s musical shorts reached the Panoram screen, spotlighting the bands of Lucky Millinder, Billy Eckstine, Henri Woode and the International Sweethearts of Rhythm. (Alexander actually produced four films with the Sweethearts, three ten-minute short subjects and one feature, although some of the performances turns up in more than one film; only three performances saw release as a Soundie.) The International Sweethearts of Rhythm grew out of a band formed in the 1930s at the Piney Woods Country Life School, an institution – in part an orphanage – for poor African American children. A member of the music department had apparently taken note of the success of Ina Ray Hutton’s Melodears and decided that an all-woman band composed of school members might lead to something special. While they performed locally, the ISR did not begin to hit its stride until it left Piney Woods and became a professional touring outfit in 1941. The band was certainly “international” in nature, and its ranks included African American, Latina, Chinese, Indian, White and Puerto Rican musicians. In 1941, Anna Mae Winburn joined the orchestra as front woman and featured vocalist. During the war years Maurice King joined the band as both arranger and band manager. Born Clarence King in 1911, King played reeds and later became a fine swing arranger. While here we recognize his composition and arrangement for the Sweethearts – he called this tune “She’s Crazy with the Heat ” – King is best known for his longtime association with Barry Gordy and Motown Records for which he served as director of artist development. He worked closely with vocal groups, teaching the singers how to voice and phrase together. “Maurice brought sophistication and class to Motown,” said session musician Johnny Trudell. By 1946, the Sweethearts was recognized as one of the finest African-American bands in jazz. They recorded for Guild and RCA Records, broadcast regularly for the Armed Forces Radio Service, and toured Europe entertaining the GIs. While much of the success was due to Maurice King’s arrangements, the band’s musicians were all strong, and a special nod must go to Viola Burnside, one of the most neglected tenor soloists of the 1940s. I chatted with my friend Roz Cron, a member of the Sweetheart’s reed section, shortly before her passing. When I thanked her for her contribution, she paused and said, “Yeah, we were one of the best, one of the very, very best.” (via Jazz on Film)

[kaythefloppa]

Wild Kratts - Our Blue and Green World: Part 1: Review [Spoilers]

Welp, here it is, the Wild Kratts TV movie (not to be confused with the feature film they've been teasing us with since 2021). There's been a lot of hype around this special and season, especially with how much the latter was being hyped up during the hiatus. Let's see if the blue and green bros were able to deliver: Spoilers under the cut

Well, this is certainly an attention grabber!

This entire live action intro is shot and edited like an animated Wild Kratts episode, it's glorious.

Woah, intro change!

They said the thing! They said the thing!

HELP THIS IS SO RELATABLE. Also, THE BOYS ARE FIGHTING

Lmao I don't think they do it very often, but using animals/nature in their insults is very creative.

Also, whooping crane episode when?

This entire song is mercifully short. Like most character sung songs in Wild Kratts, it's not good, but this at least is clever in its lyrics and its visuals. It feels like a Disney reference at best and I am content with that. I also ADORED seeing the Draco and Walrus Suit return again. It's arguably the best musical number in the series. No, that is not saying a lot.

MARTIN WHY ARE YOU THE ONE WHO'S MIFFED YOU NEARLY MUFASA'D YOUR LITTLE BROTHER

CHRIS WHY ARE YOU MILDLY INCONVENIENCED YOU GOT ACRAPHOBIA FALLING FROM THAT HEIGHT

When I first saw the clip, I thought that they were going somewhere with this, like they'd activate Peacock Powers at the end when they recognized the compatibility and blue and green. But nope. Wasted potential is an understatement.

Also, where the fuck are they right now? In a previous shot there was Target the Chameleon, implying that they've been to Madagascar, but that is an Indian peafowl, and as far as I'm concerned, they don't live in Madagascar. Were they just having an off-day? These animals have little to nothing to do with the plot when they really shouldn't have, so I don't see why they couldn't have just shown a projector image or something.

Remember when I joked about the Wild Pony Power Suit returning in S7.... fuck you Apollo.

Man, they are eating it up with the animation here. It's hard to tell with screengrabs but man, is it fluid.

The first half of this episode is mixed. While it feels like the brothers are incredibly stubborn, it also does make sense for them to be this fixated on their favorites. So I can totally buy this. It could've been insufferable to watch, but it wasn't.

As if YOU haven't spied on them since the first time your dorito-headed ass showed up on screen

Did you find that funny? Because not only do they do a similar joke like that later on, but they follow through on that joke in the most unexpected way you will shit your pants when you first ingest it.

Oh my god if they make a Creature Power Suit off of that bird, I will take back any diss I've made, that is so beautiful.

Good to know that Aviva put the button near the chest and not near the back.

Maybe it's just me but this is kinda pushing it. Chris is literally getting his organs crushed, I think that should matter more than A) being right or B) trying to get 2 people to stop fighting.

I'm loving the callback and what this leads up to but ew, all this does is remind me about how ugly bright the color pallatte in S6. Really glad they fixed it in S7.

HELL FUCKING YES

This episode finds really unique ways of showing how the two different biomes are interconnected. It's like Rainforest Stew's (very brilliantly handled) message only to a larger degree. Kids can learn a lot from this.

I fucking love this episode, man.

Honestly, the way they write Paisley in the first half of the episode is very in-line with her character. Most shows that do what this episode does has them be out-of-character as a set-up, but here, she's just roasting the fuck out of Zach. Once again, recontextualized entirely in the climax.

HOW THE FUCK DID HE GET TO MADAGASCAR FROM THE GODDAMN AMAZON IN ONE AFTERNOON THAT IS LIKE MORE THAN 1,000 MILES AWAY?? ARE ANACONDAS THAT FAST?????

Also, INDRIS!!!!! :D

I was frankly expecting this to horribly backfire but spoilers, it doesn't. This actually winds up working. Common Aviva W.

To be continued.... will the blue and green rivalry end? Will one prove superior over another? And will they be able to stop Zach and Paisley and save the planet earth? And will this change the adventures of the Wild Kratts team forever? Stay tuned for part 2!

Pros:

The live action segments.

The animation of the earth's model.

The musical number not being ass.

Paisely's catty behavior.

The Anaconda Suit.

The inventive ways they show how the stability of the Earth is complex. There are a lot of ways it functions and thus a lot of ways it needs to survive

The comedy.

Cons:

The villains do not do anything until the second half of this episode. In fact, they're left completely in the backdrop. I expected them to make their prescence known and for Aviva to invent the discs to get them together for the SAKE of fighting the villains. But no. It makes the stakes feel hollow, which is the opposite of what they should be gunning for in an hour long special that they hype the shit out of.

CONCLUSION:

It was an "okay" set-up. It did live up to some of the hype it had, but not all of it. Honestly if it wasn't for the second half of this episode, this movie would be mediocre or slightly above average, but no. They do pick themselves off the ground and... they do jump the shark. But we'll get to that next time

[jgroffdaily]

@britishfilminstitute Everyone is invited!

Discover the world's best new films, series and immersive storytelling in London and around the UK 9-20 Oct.

Tickets from £10 on sale Tue 17 Sep (BFI Members book early).

Explore the line-up via the link in bio.

#LFF

**

The first short clip from ‘A Nice Indian Boy’ is at 0.34 seconds in this clip.

[daceofs]

Mystic Falls High

Part 1

I honestly do not know what I am doing

~~~~~

"Paddd...muh...nee"

"Padhumanidhi Sundarrajan" I blurted stopping the counselor from making my ears bleed, "I am the new transfer student."

"Yeah that's what I said" she muttered, "You are signed up for...?"

I take a deep breath, "AP biology, Integrated Math, Racket Sports, Theatre, Drawing and Painting, AP World history, French and AP Literature."

I knew it by heart because each subject was hand picked. Ivy league here I come.

She flippantly gives me a form, "fill out your club applications."

I smiled. Tightly,

I look through it,  I need to pick a minimum of two and I know exactly what they are, I eagerly fill the applications for Photography and chess. I wanted to pick films, but previous experiences have thought me that film clubs in US are not fun at all.

Chess has Asians and Indians, whichever little population of them this back water town has.

I submit my forms and take my schedule with a smile. Inside I'm shaking.

I'm wearing a short red kurta and jeans, I have simple bracelet, two gold earrings, a small miniscule bottu and my hair is plaited into a single messy braid. I wore two until last year, but I'm 17 now, so I'll wear  a single braid. But that still gets me a few weird looks.

Thankfully, I have my earphones and my ipod, A birthday gift. Yeno Yeno from Aadhavan soothes my nerves as I scramble to my history class.

The teacher is late.

Apparently he's new too so he begins to introduce himself.

"ALARIC SALTZMAN"

The name on the board reads, then he begins to explain how to pronounce his name and honestly I wish I could do that.

But it would be of no use.

I sigh and gear up for a busy day.

~

A week later

I am at school, everyone is dressed up, I am wearing a hoodies and my hair is a bun. Everyone is going to the dance, I am going to the chess club. Because today is the last day to 'officiate' my membership by showing up. I didn't even have time until now and now it bit me in the ass.

It's not that I was missing the dance. My mum would have barely allowed, I would have been so out of place. It's just that.. I feel like a creepy stalker.

I navigate around the halls and rooms, trying my best to not be seen.

I just need to dump these books in my locker. Take my Ipod and go to the club. Someone had stayed behind today for me... because there was a dance, it was officially school hours. It was a rare chance and I should make use of it.

Determined I walk into the empty hallway.

And.. immediately regret it.

Two, decidedly hot but also kind of creepy guys are right at the end of hall standing at the entrance to the small eatery with the vending machine.

The guy who is good at history, Stefan... I remind myself and another guy. He's older and creepier.

And they....

are both looking at me.

Vary.

It lights up my nerves on fire.

"Padmuh" Stefan asks. Oh god he knows my name, that's how he butchered it so well. I'm going to die. This is so awkward.

"Yeah?" I answer fidgeting.

"This is like shady parts of a city right now, what are you doing here?" the man asking is smiling but I know that it's not an innocent question at all. I can sense it. I just don't know why.

"Uhhh" I mutter, my lip curling in confusion, "this is my locker." I point at it. What is happening?

"Padmuh" Stefan starts again, ugh, that is not my name, "Why didn't you go to the decade dance?"

Am I being interrogated?

"It's just everyone is there.." he elaborates.

"Oh I couldn't go... I have work" I explain.

He nods.

I walk to my locker. The other one is staring at me, Stefan smacks him and he stops and turns to look at him. I shove my books in the locker. I take my ipod and walk away from there like I'm running away from an animal.

The entire time I could feel someone's eyes on me.

The experience grates on me and I drag my tired body to the club. I just want some peace and quiet until I finish this.

I step in and there is music... blaring...

"Devudaaa..

(Oh god)

Naa mathi chedipoyenu poorthiga,

(My mind has completely gone to ruin)

Ayanaa..."

(Yet)

(Noppi noppi song from Pokiri 2006)

Well at least it's not some rock garbage, it's a good song. I step in to the club room. With a strained smile that says 'touch me and I'll kill you.'

There is a single boy in the classroom and... he is Indian.

"Baagundhi haay-"

(It feels good-)

He pauses the song listening to my steps and goes rigid. The strain leaves a little from my smile.  He looks up and relaxes. He stands up and awkwardly extends his hand, my smile is not strained anymore.

"Hey"

"Hey"

I shake his hand, "Padhumanidhi Sundarrajan! Call me Padhma"

"Venkat Ghattamaneni" he follows.

"A telugu guy huh?" I ask, he gives a 'yeah' with a smile and I follow with, "I'm a tamilian."

"You're the only one here?"  I ask as we both sit down by something that looks like a table. I take out my bottle and start drinking some water.

"There were two other members, one transferred and the other..."

"Left?"

"Died!"

I spit out the water I was drinking and coughed. He laughed dryly despite himself and gently patted on my head.

"I was not expecting that!" I said still sputtering.

He sighed, "It was an animal attack, I wasn't in town... I didn't even know her name."

"Hmm" I hummed in thought, "sorry though."

We had nothing better to do... so we talked.

He told me that he had started living in the town three months prior. But was out of town for a week. His father's friend/colleague's daughter's wedding.

He'd just got back.

I told him I moved here a week ago.

That I missed my country and I missed my elder sister. She'd gotten into Yale.

He told me had an elder sister, she got into IIM and was back home.

He missed her terribly.

We had history, theatre, racket sports, integrated math and French together.

"Wait you were going to stay at the Salvatore boarding house?" He asked surprised.

"Yeah" I said with a chuckle, "We didn't find a house yet, the motels weren't good at all. But it cost an arm and a leg and my mum got really bad vibes."

"I am even surprised that you got to talk to someone in the house" he chuckled, "The guy from history, Stefan, I assume you know him, he's really good. He lives there apparently and they don't get customers. Like at all!"

"Wow" I exclaimed, "Good thing my dad asked around before trying to check in."

"Yeah... Good thing" he agreed.

Soon the session ended, we absolutely did nothing.

Then my dad called, he'd come to pick me up. By this time the school was already empty.

He was waiting at the entrance with an umbrella.

He smiled as soon as he saw me and I smiled back. It was a mild drizzle but I still got under the umbrella.

"How was the session ma?" He asked holding me around my shoulders.

"Semma pa" I grinned, "I made a friend."

(It was great)

Venkat had come out too. He was wearing a rain coat over his jacket.

I showed him to my dad.

My dad waved.

"Vanakkam uncle" he waved back, "I'm Venkat."

(Hello)

I cocked my brows in shock.

"My mum is half Tamilian... So, I'm quarter Tamilian" he explains with a smirk.

I look to my dad and smile, "Avuna sare ayithe..."

(Oh okay then)

This time he is shocked.

"My atha married a Telugu guy when I was 7" I explain.

Then a car pulls up behind ours and he goes, "that's my father."

A man around my dad's age gets out of the car also wearing a rain coat.

My dad and him exchange a hello and something about the roads in the town.

~

Around two weeks later

Venkat's family had come over to ours for dinner. My mum and his mum connected as the only Indian aunties in the entire town.

We lived in the same street, a few houses apart.

So, we were neighbors and to be family friends.

"Ma... can me and Venkat go for a walk while you guys talk?" I plead.. no beg.

She gives me a stern smile, "Walk where?"

"Just out" I say in a small voice, trying to give her puppy eyes.

"Don't go out of town" She says.

I nod dutifully and then walk out with a smile to my dad and Venkat's parents.

Venkat does the same and follows me out.

We lived on the near edge of the town, so it was more like don't go out of the block.

"So, where should we go?" he askes me just as we're out of the house.

"You're the host" I answer, "to this walk.. you should decide"

"Remember that Salvatore boarding house?"

"Hmm hmm"

"It's right around the lane" he reveals, "we could walk until the property, look at what gave your mother bad vibes and come back."

"Sure" I chirp.

We start on the way, "So, how's the town?" he asks.

"It's okay" I answer.

"Okay as in I am getting used to it and it's gonna be great or I hate it but I have to get used to it" he asks with a mischievous smile.

I mirror it and answer, "One of those."

He laughs. I join him.

"It's just that it's so different from India, from home, this town doesn't even have a theatre" I whine, "it might have a prissy theatre but it's not gonna play any Indian movies."

"You like movies?" he asks. "A lot" I answer, "Especially Indian movies. You don't?"

"I looove them" he almost purrs.

"There's this new movie coming out" I say, enthusiasm filling me, "It's a Telugu movie. You probably know it."

"Which one?" he asks, curious and excited.

I think for it's telugu name, then it strikes me, "Magadheera" I announce.

"Ohh" he mirrors my excitement, "I am madly waiting for it."

"But how do we watch it" I dampen the mood, "it's not gonna play around here."

"It will play in Cincinnati" he points out, "it's a few hours  from here."

"My parents will never agree" I say rolling my eyes.

"Well neither will mine" he joins in, "but we could ask nicely. There's a train."

"One can try" I cave into his hope, "how do we do it?"

"Sudden perfect grades, chores.. what else?" He schemes.

"That should do it" I confirm, "We'll see if it works."

We're about to enter the property and we can see the boarding house from here.

"Ta da" he  says pointing at it.

"That" I mutter, "is definitely haunted."

"I know right" he chuckles.

Then we hear it. A strange rustle with a rush of air, it's not human.

Then it happens again, and..

"Jai hanuman gyan guna sagar, jai kapeesha tihun loka ujaagar

Rama dhoota athulitha baladhama, anjani putra pavana sutanamaa"

(Hanuman Chalisa)

(Hail hanuman who is an ocean of knowledge, who is from the kapi clan and who is known in all three worlds…

Rama’s messenger, strong beyond comprehension, the son of anjana and the heir of the god of wind.)

Venkat nearly screams, I look at him ready to laugh, but he is completely serious and gesturing at me to move. So,

"Mahaveera vikrama Bajrangi, Kumati Nivaara Sumati Ke Sangi

Kanchan varsna viraaja Subesaa, Kanan kundal kunchit kesa"

(Greatest of warriors, valiant as thunder, friend to the good and exterminator of the bad)

I sing with him as we kind of, no, definitely ran from there.

We're at  "Raghupati Kinhi Bahut Badaai, Tum Mama Priya Bharata Sama Bhaii" by the time we reach the road and then he stops, so I stop.

(Rama gave you the greatest praise, ‘you are as dear to me as my dear brother bharat’)

Then I start laughing while I am panting and he's just panting.

"Did you seriously just scream Hanuman Chalisa?" I ask him, incredulous and near hysteric.

"I did not scream it" he says, weakly.

I laugh some more.

"It worked didn't it" he points out.

"That it did!"

~

What on God's Green earth was that?

Damon has been alive for lot more than a century and this is the first time, he had seen such a reaction when he preys on someone.

He was so weirded out that he didn't even eat them.

"Only in mystic falls" he muttered as he vamped back to boarding house.

"Found anything" Stefan asked now changed from the shirt Frederick stabbed him in, but still wincing and favoring the side.

"This is exactly why I tell you to drink people blood"  he pointed out again.

Stefan gives him a bitch face. Well your loss baby brother, just don't bleed on my carpet again, just don't bleed again.

"No sign of any tomb vamps" he says, then pauses, considers.

"but?" Stefan asks, "There is a but, I feel that but."

"I saw that girl from the other day" I confess.

"Padmuh?" he asks.

"Yeah she was with an Indian boy" I continue.

"Whenkat?" He asks again.

"You know him?" I ask him back, I could do with information like that.

"How many 17 year old high school going Indian boys are there in this town?" He deadpans.

"Well something is weird about them" I brush him off, "I tried to scare them..."

"Damon" Stefam admonishes.

"They were on the property, right after two vampires tired to attack us unprovoked on a perfectly good evening" I droll the dangers into his dense head.

"They were on the property?" Stefan asks puzzled.

"Just outside" what does it matter duh! "The point is they're suspicious. The boy came into town with you and the girl came into town with Alaric. They might be working with Noah!"

"Damon" Stefan whines, "they both have families. They are perfectly normal. They-"

"How are they in school?" I cut him off.

Stefan rolls his eyes. Rude, "Well they're polite, nice. They're very studious and have strict parents. They mostly keep to themselves though."

"We saw her right after the dance being all sketchy. They weren't at the dance. They weren't at the desirable bachelor thing."

"Because it was for people in mid 20s like you... there were rarely any kids present" he counters again.

"Well then explain this brother... the day I didn't get Katherine out of tomb... every stupid child in the town was at Dull or Duke or whatever's party. Except for them" Damon presents fool proof evidence.

"Strict parents Damon"  Stefan drawls.

"I still think they're fishy... they don't act like regular students" I emphasise.

"They're not regular students" Stefan points out, "both are emigrants and exchange students."

Yeah sure Sherlock

~

Hindsight is such a bitch.

Stefan is now an anti therapeutic punching bag and he needs Van Helsing ripoff and little miss Katniss to get him out.

He manages to goad the hunter/teacher into helping them. He shows them stuff he had specifically brought  to kill Damon and oh goodie how useful.

They each stock themselves and come up with a fool proof contingency plan.

Well it's not fool proof but he doesn't have the time for it.

I exit the room, Alaric and Elena on my heels and there she is.

The suspicious girl from other night.

She doesn't look like a hermit this time but she shouldn't even be here.

When he's making a plan to get his vampnapped brother out.

I give a smile which is actually a sneer and she clutches the books in her hands tight as if they could offer any protection.

Alaric jumps in, unnecessarily, "Padmuh... what are you doing here? It's not a school day.."

"Mr Saltzman" she greets him, then continues, "Ms Jones asked me if to help her with a project for extra credit."

She looks at Elena and fidgets.

I roll my eyes with a sigh. Have we learned nothing?

"Were you eavesdropping on us? Answer truthfully" I compel her.

"Damon" I hear Elena... Gee Elena, it's not like we have the clock ticking to a rescue and cannot risk any failures.

"Chiii" the girl exclaims, uhm, then she continues, "why would I ever do that?"

(Ewww)

"Well then I want you to forget this conversation" I compel again.

"I want that too, I'll try" she replies with barely hidden disdain.

You'll what...

"I'm sorry, we were just doing some founder's business" Elena covers immediately. Ooh clever.

Except she's on Vervain Elena.

"Yeah no problem" she says in a rush and sidesteps me.

Before I can act, "We need to go" Elena drags me ahead.

"She's on Vervain" I hiss.

"We can worry about that later"  she hisses back.

"Paagal Saale" I hear a murmur. Is she hexing us?

(Lunatic bitch)

But I feel nothing and I don't have time for this now. So, I comply.

~

Founders day rolls around and hell breaks loose.

Damon is still greedily gulping his blood bag. He reeks of ash and smoke and hates it with every fibre of being.

He feels Stefan's eyes on him and that grates him even more.

"What were you doing down there?" he manages to ask. He knew Stefan wasn't down there, he'd checked, it was the first thing he did.

"Saving your ass" comes the answer.

"Why?" he wants to know.

"You're my brother... Go Figure" Nonchalance huh brother it doesn't suit you.

He doesn't even say it out loud. Just gives a listless smile.

"That went so well" someone squeals and they both become alert.

'Went well?' what kind of diabolical-

"We should do that again" some else says and they're bloody chuckling and he wants to snap their neck.

"Who was that?" he grates, "Someone from council?"

"Has to be" Stefan says, the tomb vampires are all dead after all.

"We should plan it better though" he can hear it better now and he knows it's a girl and he's heard her before.

"Yeah it got quite late" the other one's a boy and he's heard him too.

"Yeah well..." the rest turns into garble as a taxi stops by them.

"Padmuh" Stefan realises, "and Whenkat!"

They're too weak and slow to follow them now, "We've got to deal with them."

"Damon" Stefan chides.

"You heard them" Damon hisses, "they had a plan, it went well... who knows what they did!"

~

"So... we watched Magadheera" Padhma squeals into her phone, "Akka it was so good."

(Big sister)

"Wow" Maitreyi, her sister replies equally enthusiastic, "You sound like you enjoyed it a lot. How was Cincinnati?"

"It was okay" she answered, "better than this backwater town."

"I wish we could have watched it together" Maitreyi says with a small whine.

"Next time come to Cincinnati" she suggests.

"Or I'll take you all to New York" Maitreyi counters.

"Brilliant" she chirps.

They chat for a few more minutes before hanging up, she comes down to the living hall.

Her parents are talking about something seriously.

"Ma" she asks tentatively, "everything okay? How was the celebration?"

"It was great kanna" her mother answers, "but there was an accident. The mayor died."

(Sweetheart)

"Oh" her eyes widen in shock, "that's so sad."

"Yeah" her father sighs, patting her shoulder, "We're all going to the memorial tomorrow."

"Should we take anything?" her mother ponders.

"Lasagna, apparently" Her father answers.

"That is so weird" her mom says and they all chuckle.

How very morbid!

~

"Hey there's Tyler" Venkat says taking a sip of water, everything else is alcoholic here and their parents would kill us if they as much as drank a glass. They're at the memorial, the entire town is.

Their parents are talking to other adults and after the formalities, here they are, in the garden.

"Oh yeah" Padhma ponders, "should we go say hi?"

"We don't even know the guy" He points out.

"It's a minimum curtesy" She counters.

Their argument comes to moot when he walks inside the house, away from the crowd with a guy who just arrived, must be a relative.

"Well" he smirks. She shakes her head. The she smiles.

"Oh hey there's coffee" she chirps. He perks up, "Now you don't have to worry about feeding only water to your manly body."

"I never said that" he says abashed.

"No?" she teases. She picks up a cup of it, with a straw in the lid and hands it to him. He takes it with a tip of an absent hat.

He sips it and immediately spits it out.

Padhma looks at him startled, then looks around embarrassed. He collects himself and stops sputtering. They both look around before he puts the cup aside.

She clicks her tongue and rolls her eyes, "Wow!"

He raises his finger to point in his defense, "It was hot and there was no milk. Why are they serving espressos at a funeral?"

"Would you prefer they served Iced caramel lattes?" she asks with a huff.

"As a matter of fact" he answers, "yes!"

~

"No" This idiot. We watched it all happen, they're frolicking chatting something we can't catch and he's still in denial.

"Stefan, listen" Damon implores despite himself, "he took a sip of coffee and spit it out. The coffee has vervain in it. That's exhibit 1, Exhibit 2... the other day I couldn't compel her. Exhibit 3, she was being shady in an empty hallway. You were right there, Exhibit 4-"

"Damon" Stefan sighs, "you're spiraling. The other day you were convinced that they were in the council. Now you're convinced he's a vampire and she's a witch. This isn't fanfiction Damon."

"No little brother" Damon drawls, "This is our very real messed up life which is why there are no coincidences. Especially because Katherine is here."

"Fine" Stefan relents, finally, "there's a high school carnival tonight..."

"We'll take care of them there" Damon finishes.

"No" Ugh, Stefan, "We'll investigate."

"Fine" Damon relents, "how do we know they'll show up, given everything they've... skipped?"

"I'll invite them" Stefan answers.

Well...

~

They're, embarrassingly, chuckling like teenagers when Venkat sees Stefan approach them.

"Oh shit" he mutters.

She follows his sight and her eyes widen, she hits him lightly and mumbles, "I told you this wasn't appropriate behavior."

She turns to Stefan who is now standing just a couple feet before them, "We're sorry. We know this is disrespectful."

Surprisingly, he chuckles, "Oh no.. I know funerals can be boring, especially when you know no one."

"Yeah" Venkat nods with a guilty smile, "but we're still sorry."

"Don't worry about it" Stefan says, "I'm not policing you guys."

She gives him a strained smile, he continues, "I was just wondering why you guys didn't show up to the Founder's day celebrations..."

"Oh yeah" she drawls, they skipped it, "We were out of station. Our parents went, initially we were supposed to come too but well our schedules clashed."

"Your schedules clashed?" He asked confused, "What happened?"

"Well" Venkat answered, "We went to Cincinnati to watch a movie."

Stefan looks baffled, "you went to Cincinnati.. to.. watch a movie?"

At the expense of not sounding crazy, Padhma continues, "It's an Indian movie. It doesn't play around here."

"Oh" he almost sighs, "I see. You guys like movies huh?"

Venkat shrugs and Padhma chuckles. "I like them too" he continues.

"Really?" Venkat asks and Padhma follows, "are you in the film club here?"

"No" Stefan says with a dry laugh, "listen there's a school Carnival tonight. I'm sure you know.. are you planning to come?"

"Uhm" she mumbles not knowing what to say.

"You should come" he implores.

"We will come" Venkat answers, "thanks for the invite Stefan."

He nods with a smile, they smile back and he leaves.

"You think they'll agree?" Padhma turns to Venkat.

"Sure they will" Venkat answers, "It's a high school event and we've been on our best behaviour."

~

"Well played Fincher" Damon teases him as soon as he comes back, "smooth."

"We have to find out who the 'they' they were referring to is." Stefan says not playing that game.

"We will" Damon smirks.

~

"This is the worst high school carnival of my life" Damon says phantom dusting his pants.

"This is the only high school carnival of your life" Stefan points out standing beside him.

"Har har Stefan" Damon bites. Stefan smirks.

"So... we've got problems 1,2,3 covered... moving on to problem 4... where are the brown love birds?" Damon quips.

"I did spot them earlier, they were playing some games" Stefan answers, "They should be around."

"Let's go find them" Damon smirks all evil debauchery in glory.

Finding two shifty possibly humans or maybe vampires should be easy for two fine vampires such as the Salvatores.

Except they've combed the entire ground and haven't found a whiff of trace.

"Where are they?" Damon almost shouts, annoyed.

"They'll be here.. they'll be here.." Stefan placates.

"Who are you searching for?" Elena asks them having seen the fuss.

"Have you seen Padmuh and Whenkat?" Stefan asks her, in a 'this is important but don't worry' tone.

"Padmuh and Whenkat?" She asked.

"Yes" Damon hissed, "the Indians."

"They left" she stated.

"They left?" Stefan asked, incredulous.

"Yeah.." she said confused, "something about a curfew."

Stefan looks at Damon, completely exasperated.

"Curfew?!" Damon bites, borderline hysterical, "IT'S 9:30!!"

To be continued

Part 2 https://www.tumblr.com/daceofs/767922715345764352/so-we-start-from-season-2-episode-3-season

[drivingsideways]

Year-end discussion in the Indian film space was dominated by the success of controversial film maker Sandeep Reddy Vanga's latest offering of undiluted misogyny and rage, appropriately titled "Animal"; but the best commentary I've seen on failed fatherhood and violent, toxic masculinity this year comes in a 2 minute scene in Kaathal: The Core, where a wizened old man testifies quietly in a family court that yes, he always knew that his son is gay, and still coerced him into a heterosexual marriage.

Kaathal: The Core isn't a film without flaws; one could argue that it's the quintessential film made about queer people by straight allies- actually more interested in the reaction to queerness and the adjustment to queerness by cishets, than in queer lives; that it has a one dimensional view of the reality of queer living in India. It has its moments of what I call "educational speechifying" that feel tonally at odds with the rest of it, but again, this paternalism in Indian cinema of the self-consciously "progressive" variety isn't unfamiliar.

The ending feels a little trite, and some artistic choices- an actual rainbow in the sky appears as the two lovers drive off into the sunset of their newly liberated lives-feel particularly anvil-like- much like the ending of another of director Jeo Baby's films, The Great Indian Kitchen, which was an exploration of the brutality of Indian-flavoured patriarchy. In short: a movie filled with intricately and deliberately placed subtleties that occasionally - somewhat inexplicably-loses confidence in its audience, and chooses to remedy that by being a bit over the top.

But those are minor quibbles. This movie gutted me. The story revolves around a middle-aged closeted gay man from a small close knit village community in Kerala whose life- and the lives of those around him- is thrown into disarray when his wife of twenty years files for divorce citing his gayness as the reason for the breakdown of the marriage- a step she takes just as he's nominated as his party's candidate for the local elections. With this premise, you'd be forgiven for expecting the movie to be high decibel melodrama- and possibly a tragedy- from start to finish. Instead, it deliberately chooses the quieter route, the most tender one; while not flinching away from the grim realities of widespread homophobia, it portrays both individuals and a community who , in a moment of crisis, discover that they are better than they think they are. And it does this not from a jingoistic, self-congratulatory ethno-nationalist perspective- but from a place of genuine love- as a reminder and a beacon in these dark times.

All of this is anchored in some fantastic performances- Mammootty once more showing up to remind us why he's one of the greatest living actors in the world, and Sudhi Kozhikode as Thankan in what should be a multiple-award winning performance as his long time lover. I've rarely seen an actor make so much of their limited screen time. When I say that minutes 50-52 of this film are the most devastatingly tragic-romantic moments in world cinema, you'll think I'm exaggerating and perhaps I am, but I can also guarantee that you're going to want to rewatch that sequence at least ten times and cry about two old geezers in love. Lives were changed in those moments, no lie.

My one disappointment in terms of performances is Jyothika, playing Omana, the long suffering wife. Omana is one of the stand-outs in the history of female characters in Malayalam cinema, and Jyothika is- barely adequate. When you contrast it with a similar role - say Hsieh Ying -xuan's performance as Liu San-lian in Dear Ex (2018)- the flatness is even more jarring. Still, the sheer love with which her character and her relationships, especially with her husband, are written carry the film through.

Tl;dr: watch it on Amazon Prime or at a theatre near you! You will not regret it.

[forthegothicheroine]

Horror novel recommendations

@allthestoriescantbelies​ asked for horror novel recommendations, so I thought I’d throw one together to post on the blog! Largely focused on non-gothic stuff since I’ve already made a gothic lit list over here.

As a general warning, all horror books listed here will have potentially triggering material. If you want more specific trigger warnings, you can ask me or see if people have listed them on goodreads or storygraph.

My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix: I know you’ve read this, but I’m putting it on the list because it is one of the scariest books I’ve ever read, about a teenage girl in trouble and the only other girl willing to help her. I’m told the movie makes it much more straightforwardly comic rather than horror-with-jokes, which disappoints me. I’m a big fan of Hendrix in general, though I know you (and plenty of others!) find him hit-or-miss.

Red Dragon by Thomas Harris: Another one I believe you’ve read, but for reference, it’s the best serial killer thriller I’ve ever read. Francis Dolarhyde is a much more interesting character than Hannibal Lecter, I will die on this hill.

We Will All Go Down Together by Gemma Files: Centuries ago, the Five Family Coven made a deal with the Fairy Queen, and their descendants have been doomed ever since. I could have just as easily recommended Files’ book Experimental Film- if you like one, read the other as well.

The Drowning Girl by Caitlin R. Kiernan: A schizophrenic woman has two different memories of her ex-girlfriend and the horror that followed her- was she a werewolf, a mermaid, or were both memories wrong? This is Kiernan at her most heartfelt and most accessible; if you like this and want to try her grosser stuff, read The Very Best of Caitlin R. Kiernan.

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski: A haunted house in a haunted film in a haunted memoir, written in a work of visual art. I won’t blame anyone who bounces off this, but give it a try!

Carrie by Stephen King: If you’re only going to read one Stephen King, make it either Carrie or Misery. I don’t feel like any film adaptations have captured all the aspects of this tragedy about a girl who deserved a better life and the town who didn’t save her while there was still a chance, including the epistolary format.

Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant: This novella was followed up by Into the Drowning Deep, but I found Rolling in the Deep much scarier. It’s brisk and high-tension to watch a semi-fake documentary team put together, piece by piece, just what the monsters are that pursue them.

Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge: The Great Pumpkin, but scary! Seriously, though, if you are willing to accept the concept of a boy with a pumpkin head and a knife and a yearly child sacrifice, this is short and a lot of fun.

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones: Just an elk killed when some kids were blowing off steam. Just an elk damning the rest of their lives. (Jones’s My Heart is a Chainsaw was too sad for me to recommend as a favorite, but I am curious about the sequel.)

The Wolfen by Whitley Striber: I wanted to include a good werewolf novel on this list, and The Wolfen wins by far for interesting creature design. (The runner up was The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan.)

The Auctioneer by Joan Samson: A very atypical entry on this list, closer to Twin Peaks than your average thriller. A rural town is turned into a capitalist police state when a slick salesman comes to see what they’ll allow him to do. It turns out, it’s a lot.

The Drive-In by Joe R. Lansdale: The only “splatterpunk” I’ve ever loved, this is an absurdist nightmare about a southern drive-in crowd who get stuck in a world with only the movie screens and each other, turning into literal and figurative monsters. Usually published with the sequel, since both are short, though I didn’t like the latter as much. If you like it, read one of Lansdale’s short story collections.

As always, reblog with suggestions of your own!

[corleonewrites]

La Vérité

AU: Anatomy of a Fall (2023)

Vincent Renzi x Original Female Character fanfic.

Summary: Two people connected by the same past. Two lawyers. And one tangled case which brought them back together again, giving them the opportunity to sort out their feelings towards each other, no matter how painful memories are to both of them can be.

Chapter 4. Gnossiennes: No. 1

______________________________________________________________

It never occurred to me before, but I got really suspicious about the woman whose case we were about to solve and present at the court. And only when I was preparing myself to leave the hotel room next morning to meet Vincent and our defendant, I gave a second thought to the way of how did Vincent describe her.

______________________________________________________________

“Who’re we going to represent in the court?”, I asked my ex-tutor when the waiter brought me my coffee.

“She’s a good friend of mine, actually, I’ve known her and her husband for a couple of years now”, Vincent replied, when surprisingly for myself I drew close attention to it. “Her name is Sandra Voyter, she is a writer”

I didn’t believe in a “good friend” between a man and a woman, despite the fact that I had a friend of mine from university years, but I knew that he liked me at some point.

“Ah, well, okay”, I shoved it off, taking a sip from my coffee. Vincent looked at me long enough and asked:

“What?”

I got confused:

“What “what”?”

“What’s the reaction of yours?”

“You never told me about her before”, I shoved it off again, feeling the jealousy rising up out of nowhere. Even though Renzi wasn’t mine it was tough to believe that he could have women friends or hang out with somebody else.

“Oh, but we didn’t talk much with her anyways so there was no need to tell you”, he put the ash from his cigarette in the ashtray.

I got furious, not only I wanted to win the case but to win his attention over everyone. I knew that it wasn’t right to think like that, and tried to put my concentration back to the case.

“Fair enough, monsieur Renzi”, I tried to reduced it from my head and asked the waiter to bring us new ashtray.

______________________________________________________________

Vincent’s red vintage Mercedes stopped near the big wooden house with a balcony facing picturesque view on mountains. A woman with short blonde hair was standing there, and when she recognized us – she disappeared, probably getting down to greet us.

I remembered Renzi’s car from university years, when he used to pick me up after classes or from my flat and we drove somewhere only we knew where.

We got out of the car and Vincent introduced me to the woman:

“This is Camille Cadieux, I already told you about her and her abilities in law and advocacy, she was one of the best in my class during her master studies. Camille, this is Sandra Voyter”

“Nice to meet you”, Sandra held out her hand, smiling. I didn’t like to look at people’s eyes when I was meeting them for the first time, which was a very bad habit of mine, so black sunglasses were protecting my sight this time, when I shook Sandra’s hand:

“Likewise” We got inside spacious house, greeted Sandra’s son and his guide dog Snoop and sat around kitchen table, just as soon as the kettle finished boiling.

______________________________________________________________

“One ticket to Indian Summer, please”

I loved going to cinema by myself, it gave me the opportunity to pay very close attention to the film and not to care whether my companion liked the film or not. I’ve seen Indian Summer before, but since there was Valerio Zurlini’s retrospective at cinema and this film was among the other works of this Italian director I couldn’t miss the opportunity to watch one of my favourite films on a big screen.

When the film finished, I was about to leave the cinema hall, when I recognized Vincent among the viewers, who was also on his way to leave the hall when he saw me.

“Salut, Camille”, he smiled, when I moved closer to him, continuing our way to the exit, “Did you love this film?”

“It’s one of my most favourite, and I’ve seen it couple of times before”, Renzi was a little surprised when he heard me, but I continued, “I’m a film addict, absolutely crazy about cinema”, but then I laughed, “These were the words of Jean-Luc Godard, but they describe me as well”

“I see”, my tutor laughed with me, “I love to go to cinema, and especially to see old films, good old classics, and this film put a big impression on me”

“Agree, I was blown away by it when I watched it for the first time”, I continued, when we were going down the stairs and exited the cinema, “But most of all I loved this melancholy and desperation which you can feel in this film, everything is screaming about it”

“Why did you love it?”, Vincent asked me, but I didn’t know if I wanted to answer this directly, I didn’t want to say that I felt the same way as almost all of the main characters in it: lonely, melancholy and in need to have someone beside me who would listen and understand. Not to let it out I answered:

“Everyone needs to have someone who’ll listen to them and everyone is afraid of loneliness, even though they won’t admit it firstly”

My tutor looked at me in silence, as if he sorted out my clue, and he probably did. I wanted to say something else, but on this exact moment the rain started, and I forgot to take an umbrella with me.

“I parked my car near the cinema, I can drove you home, that’s not a problem”, asked Vincent, when I put my hands over my head to cover it from the rain

“To be honest I wanted to go to the café and eat, you can join me, if it’s alright with you”, I said it and couldn’t believe myself, I had no idea what I was thinking. But since I honestly didn’t want to go home and wanted to know him better than just listening to his lectures and him criticizing my essay, I decided to give it a try.

“That’s okay with me, yes”, Vincent took car keys, “And since it’s the weekend we can discuss Indian Summer and all the other beautiful films in cinematography rather than your essay, which is, actually, one of the best that I’ve read”

“I’m flattered, monsieur Renzi”, I smiled, but inside myself I was screaming from joy, because I put a lot of effort on my degree essay and I was happy that he thought like this. And that’s how I got inside his car for the first time and we drove to the city center, when the rain intensified. ______________________________________________________________

“Well, what do you think?”

The sun was already done when we left Sandra’s house, heading to one of the bars in Grenoble, which was close to hotel where I was staying.

“We need to organize the expertise which will measure the angle of the fall and all the details which we haven’t seen”, I answered, checking my notes, “Also, we should find if there were some recordings of her conversations with everybody for the past time, especially with her late husband”

“You’re right, I thought about it, probably I have some convenient contacts left from my previous case, they can help us now”

“Good”, I didn’t even look at him, “Also, we must know who’ll be the victim’s lawyer, I know some people who can potentially be involved, and some of them are too smart, too perspicacious and too inquisitive, they can turn the case upside down if they want to.”

“We’ll need help and I have some people in mind who can help us with it”, my ex-tutor replied and stopped the car: we’ve reached our destination.

______________________________________________________________

In couple of days later, after the meeting at the cinema, when lectures were over, Vincent asked me if I wanted to visit Louvre, because during the discussion of my degree essay we somehow switched from the topic to discussion of law in art and I mentioned that Louvre had one of my favourite paintings: Death of the Virgin by Caravaggio was among them. My tutorial on essay was the last one of the studying day and monsieur Renzi asked if I wanted to visit Louvre that evening, as we had time. To be fair, I was surprised by his question, but agreed. When I got inside his car which was standing near the university, I saw Estella’s and Loise’s amazed gazes, but didn’t pay attention to them. Of course, they’d ask questions and of course I wouldn’t answer them neither their little annoying gossips.

And on exactly the same moment when I was standing in front of the painting Death of the Virgin by Caravaggio – I felt Vincent’s gaze at me behind my back. And my mind didn’t fool my senses about such things, this tension and curiosity was filling the area where we were standing. He moved slowly and closer to me, when my heart started to beat faster with every new second.

He stood near me, looking at me, but then his gaze fell on the painting and he said:

“Pure beauty and photographic depiction, and the sacral topic of it, that’s what makes this painting so beautiful and eye-catching”.

I couldn’t reply to him, it felt like I was frozen in one place and couldn’t move. I didn’t like this feeling at all and was surprised that I felt the curiosity growing inside me towards Vincent. Not only this. The worst was that I started to understand that I was falling for him and not in terms of tutor/student relationship at all, but in passion and admiration.

______________________________________________________________

“What’s the number of your room?”, Vincent asked me, when we were going up in the elevator at the hotel where I stayed. We just arrived from the bar, slightly drunk and out heads were dizzy. I didn't want him to walk me to my room, but Renzi was persistent. Years ago, I liked it, but now it drove me mad, but didn’t say no to him. I just knew where it could lead both of us if we decided to forget the past and release our faded attraction towards each other.

“Honestly, you’re unbearable sometimes”, I sighed and led him in the quiet corridor to my room, which was exactly in the middle of the corridor.

“I know this. And you know this, mademoiselle Cadieux and used to like it”, Renzi sighed and leaned on the wall, when I was trying to find keys of the room in my bag.

“But this time is over, monsieur Renzi and tomorrow we should be prepared to work”, I looked at him, “So now I’m going to bed to have the bits of sleep, and you should do this too”.

Vincent looked directly into my eyes without anything. After a couple of moments he just said quietly “Good night, Camille”. I took the last of my strength in my hands, looked away from him and turned the keys in the door lock, saying “Good night, Vincent”, without even looking at him. The door closed behind me and the darkness and silence of winter night surrounded me.

______________________________________________________________

La Vérité masterlist

[notinthislife50]

Chapter 11

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

You came out of your bedroom,  flinging yourself on the sofa and sighing.

“You okay short stack?” Jensen asked chuckling.

“Just finding it hard to wind down after months of filming. I feel fidgety,” you explained resting your head on his shoulder.

“Enjoy it now, next week we start flying out for the cons,” he said.

“I know, but I just don’t know how to cope on my own,” you said absentmindedly.

Jensen sat up causing you to look at him in confusion.

“Hey I was comfortable," you complained

“You’re not on your own though," Jensen looked at you.

You caught on to what you said. “Jay I didn’t even realize what I said,” you began to explain.

Jensen looked at Jared and Jared cleared his throat. “How about I get us some food?” He asked.

“Indian please, " you and Jensen said together.

Jared laughed “You two are more alike than what you think, I’ll be back in thirty minutes.” he grabbed the keys and took off.

After Jared left you felt the tension in the room build.

“Jensen I wasn’t thinking,” you began hoping you hadn’t caused too much offense.

“Y/n let me talk," he interrupted you “Please,” he whispered the last part.

“I never want you to apologize for anything that has happened,” he began

“Jensen, but what about?” you started.

“Nothing," he said almost angrily causing you to move away from him.

“Y/n the past few years you never done anything wrong. You did what I asked of you. And I’m sorry I treated you the way I did,” Tears began to fall from his eyes. No matter what thoughts you had about Jensen the one thing you knew he would always take accountability.

“But what about now?" you asked, “I thought we were going to try and work on our friendship, but you’re been standoffish.”

“I don’t mean to be, I haven’t told you but I’m going to therapy and I’ve realized, you tried everything to be a good friend, but please understand, when my marriage was about to end,  I needed to know I did everything possible to save it, everything. Y/n I needed to have no regrets, no what ifs.”

“I understand Jensen" you promised “But it doesn’t mean that some of the things you did were very hurtful and unforgivable. You tried to take my job.”

“Believe me Y/n I will never forgive myself for that, I was desperate. Amy was constantly in my ear telling me I was betraying her. I am not excusing it but my mind was not my own."

You took a breath to stop your own tears from falling “Jensen,  of course, I understand you wanted to do all you could to make your marriage work, it‘s why I’m sitting here with you right now, but understand I’m not excusing your actions, you hurt me, your one of my best friends and you hurt me. So it will take time for me, but I’m willing to take the time because I love you.”

Jensen sighed you weren’t sure if it was out of relief or sadness. But he answered “That’s all I can ask for, I will give you the time you need and this is all about you. You control the pace. But I love you too and I am sorry "

Neither of you asked after. You put your head back on his shoulder you were unsure whether to cry or be happy but either way, it was a new start.

Jared came back with the food and the three of you ate like, chatting and laughing away. And you all couldn’t help but think that finally everything was the way it was meant or be

@deansgirl79 @suckitands33 @deans-baby-momma @dragony937 @linzerrr

@deans-spinster-witch @fraidoftedark

[skstudiotheatre]

AWARD WINNING SHORT INDIAN SHORT FILM, KINDLY WATCH AND SUPPORT ME AND SUSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL WHICH IS SK STUDIO THEATRE

[wyrmfedgrave]

Pics: Inspiring HPL.

1. Irvin S. Cobb - American writer, editor, humorist & columnist hailing from Paducah, Kentucky¹.

He was the highest paid staff reporter on the NY World newspaper².

Irvin would write 60+ books & around 300 short stories.

Some of which were adapted into silent movies. And, 2 of his later tales were actually filmed, by the famed John Ford³, during the 1930s!

2. Cobb's "dark side" (horror works) of the otherwise lighthearted comedian & the story in question.

3 & 4. Comedic frontpieces(?) for books by Cobb. The 2nd even boasts an Abraham Lincoln quote!

5. Cover to Cobb's collection of other authors's short horror tales.

6. Inside art from Fishhead's ending...

1913 Addendum -

Intro: Irvin Cobb's infamous short story "Fishhead" is set in the back- wood bayous of the vast Reelfoot Lake⁴.

Plot: The tale concerns the murder of a local outcast freak by "poor whites."

With its surprise Jaws⁵-like ending, this gruesome work reminds readers of an issue of EC comics⁶!

Criticism: Lovecraft lauded Cobb for, "... Carrying on our (own) spectral tradition is the gifted... humorist, I.S. Cobb, whose works... contain some finely (made) weird (tales)."

Of the plot, Howard stated that, "Fish- head" (is) an early achievement, ... banefully effective in its portrayal of (an) unnatural... hybrid idiot & the strange fish of an isolated lake."

Lovecraft further opined, "It is (my firm) belief... that... few short stories of equal merit have been published anywhere (else)..."

Legacy: Cobb's "Fishhead" is seen as a major influence on Lovecraft's own "Shadow Over Innsmouth."

Robert M. Price⁷ noted that, "What (Howard) found revolting was the idea of interracial marriage (&) of different ethnicities mating, (thus) 'polluting' the (white? human?) gene pool."

Fishhead is supposedly "the son of a Negro father & a halfbreed Indian mother." It's never mentioned what her other half was from...

This is the same premise behind HPL's "The Shadow Over Innsmouth."

Except that Lovecraft calls them Deep Ones & has a whole city that's been 'turned'...

More when we get to this story...

Notes:

1. Paducah, as 1 out of 9 U.S. Creative Cities, is a haven for thinkers, artists & creators!

Architectural Digest recognizes this city's historic district as 1 of the most beautiful main streets in America.

There are 20 downtown blocks listed in the National Register of Historic Places!

Weird Shit: Paducah's nickname is "The Atomic City."

This was because it was once the U.S.'s only uranium plant, making atomic bombs for our Defense Department...

2. The NY World newspaper began (in 1860) as a leading voice for the US Democratic Party.

But, once under Joseph Pulitzer, it became a pioneer in "yellow journalism."

Catching readers's attention with sensational (sex, sport & scandal) news stories.

This raised their circulation past the 1 million mark!!

Best known for being among the 1st to publish daily comic strips.

They actually created "Hogan's Alley", "Everyday Movies", "Little Mary Mix- up" & "Joe Jinks!"

Merged with The NY Telegram in 1931.

Revived - online - in 2011 by Columbia U. But, hasn't had any new content since 2016...

3. John Ford was an American movie director who won Oscars for "The Informer", "The Grapes of Wrath", "How Green Was My Valley" & "The Quiet Man."

The best of his many Westerns are "The Searchers", "Stagecoach" & "My Darling Clementine."

4. Reelfoot Lake is a real lake best known for its shallowness - about 5½ feet on average.

It's located in western Tennessee &, strangely enough, no swimming is allowed there...

The lake is named after an 1800's Chickasaw warrior with a deformed leg...

Reelfoot Bayou, with its cypress trees, flows out of the lake to join the Obion River - which runs straight to the Mississippi.

5. "Jaws" is, of course, director Steven Spielberg's 1st international master- piece.

And it doesn't need any hype, from me, for you to see it again!

97% on Rotten Tomatoes!!

Enough said...

Make it so!

6. E.C. Comics was an American publisher specializing in horror, crime, dark fantasy & sci-fi comicbooks.

William Gaines printed mature tales of war, adventure, satire, etc...

Noted for its stories high quality, shock endings & progressive social awareness.

Among the themes that EC creators touched upon are: racial equality, anti- war sentiments, nuclear disarmament & even early environmentalism!

Sadly, official censorship forced EC to focus on its "Mad" magazine - which became it's greatest success!!

EC has just been revived, by Oni Press, on this past February of 2024!!

Good times guaranteed...

7. R.M. Price is an American biblical scholar, author & an authority on H.P. Lovecraft.

His works include: "Deconstructing Jesus", "The Reason Driven Life", "The New Lovecraftian Circle", "World War Cthulhu", "The Disciples of Cthulhu", "Arkham Detective Agency", "The Da Vinci Fraud", "The Apartheid State in Crisis" & more great stuff!!

Price was the editor of the greatly lamented Crypt of Cthulhu, Midnight Shambler & Eldritch Tales fanzines.

He even edited a whole series of Mythos anthologies for Chaosium.

Today, Price is editor of The Journal of Higher Criticism!

Busy little tentacle, ain't he...

[lovings4turn]

𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐀 𝐕𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐄 — send me a lil description of yourself + fandom(s) and i'll ship you with someone + give you your best friend !

hello love! first up, a huge congratulations once again for the milestone, i am very proud of you and you deserve all the follows you have and much more !! 🫶🫶🫶 now i have to describe myself, huh? here we go then! sending it from off-anon for funsies i guess !! 😭 you already know me though, so wellll... let's go for real!!

i'm dutch && indian, speaking upto five languages, and tend to ramble in any of those at any given time. (english; spanish; dutch; hindi; sindhi!) though, an odd catch is i do not speak until spoken to - yep, i'm that much of an introvert 😭 my bad, i guess? i do speak when comfortable with someone, of course! i have short dark brown hair, and unfortunately am very short, making me not look my age. i've been confused for my younger brother many times because of my voice, apparently it sounds like a child?? (oh my gosh, imagine the ship joking around about that! 😭) onto my likes, i love F1 and spending my time on pinterest as well as that, i love reading and frying my cells about STEM because women in stem ✌🏼but i also have adhd, so i can barely pay attention for long before mentally blocking out everything in sight. i love making things look pretty and playing games on my laptop. also, one weird thing is i can never sit to watch a movie - i don't have the attention span for it, nor can i sit still for that long, AND i always feel guilty for spending time watching a movie, because i feel like i could be productive. but.... i guess that's it about me? if anything, you can ask/my account is there at your viewing pleasure! :DD another congratulations love!!

EEEK hello my lovely !!! ruhi you truly are the sweetest ever , thank u sm and thank you for all of the love n support i swear :(( thanks so much for joining in w the celebration lovely ,, i hope you like this !!!

𝐢'𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐬 !

now i did have a bit of a struggle trying to choose just one driver to ship you with , but lando won in the end for me !! i just think you two would be oh so cute together , and are a match made in heaven !

ᡣ𐭩 lando loves how you're shorter than him , oh my god does he love it !!! he's such a little shit about it , constantly resting his elbow on top of your head or joking that he's going to do his back in one day bending down to kiss you ! the first time he witnesses you be mistaken for your younger brother , he loses his absolute mind . thinks it's the funniest thing he's ever seen , and presses a kiss to your pout through his laughter . he never lets you live it down , i'm afraid

ᡣ𐭩 so so impressed by the fact that you're a woman in stem ! lando cannot wrap his head around most , if not all , of the things that you study , and any time he peers over you're shoulder when you're reading a textbook , he eels his brain turn to mush . is always telling you how smart you are and how proud of you he is , because his girl is so smart and he's so proud !!!

ᡣ𐭩 you guys love playing games together , oh my god !!! lando likes that he can spend time with the person he loves most whilst doing something he loves , too ! you both get far too invested in the game , and are teasingly competitive with one another , and lando thinks it's the best way to spend his time !

ᡣ𐭩 lando doesn't mind that you don't have the attention span to sit and watch a film - he much prefers being able to do something more active / engaging with you , anyways !!!! lando loves being busy and on the move , so it works out perfectly for him

𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐱 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧 !

ᡣ𐭩 this makes so much sense to me , and i love the idea of max being besties with lando's gf okay !!! max loves that he can speak dutch with you , something about not having to do the quick mental translations means he can max-splain and yap to you as much as he wants !! he makes an effort to engage in conversation with you whenever he sees you , even though he knows you're comfy enough to spark the conversation

ᡣ𐭩 he understands you , with the whole 'always feeling the need to be productive' thing . max is a guy who always wants to be doing something (hence his inability to get off of the sim !!!) and so this idea is something you can both bond over and joke about

ᡣ𐭩 also very intrigued about your studies !! max finds the whole thing super engaging , and though he says he wouldn't have a clue about anything you're studying , he has no issues with you rambling about the subject to him - or just straight up complaining about the amount of hard work you have to do !

[anulithots]

‘Your Name’, Kishotenketsu, and the Power of Storytelling.

(This is a messy little essay, but I just found out a way to watch anime and read manga... and my life as a storytelling fanatic has been the biggest lie in the best way possible. Please feel free to correct me if I got anything wrong, as I'm still new here. - I'm most versed with western stories and Bollywood/Indian cinema. Also when I say 'western stories' I'm generalizing to more of the 'Hollywood Blockbuster' sort of movies, and as far as movies/manga that use kishotenketsu, I've only seen 'Your Name', 'A silent Voice', 'The promised neverland' and I haven't finished 'the Girl from the other side'.)

In 2016, Mikato Shinkai created the film ‘Your Name’, which proceeded to become one of the most beloved movies of the time. This is due to both the storytelling tatics used, along with the intertwined rhetorical strategies. From the differences inherent in the Kishotenketsu storytelling method, to the inspirations garnered from the environment, and the message showcased through its stunning visuals, ‘Your Name’ provides an example of how different methods of storytelling showcase vastly different themes from that of western media, and in turn create a vastly different effect. 

An aspect of East Asian culture and storytelling is the emphasis of the world, its beauty, and the effect it has upon those who live in it. For Mikato Shinkai, this became apparent in his inspiration. In 2014 he visited a shrine, which gave him the idea for ‘Your Name’. This shrine visit contrasted with both his visits to Tokyo and his childhood within the countryside, and this dualistic perspective became the basis for the movie’s message. Other motifs of the time also seeped into the movie’s setting and its theme, such as the ‘red string of fate’ often depicted in East Asian culture. This red string symbolizes the idea of both the supernatural and the connection that can come as a result. The first scene of the movie showcases the red string, in which the two main characters of the film - Mitsuha and Taki - become connected after Taki repeats the movie’s title, as he asks Mitsuha for her name. Mitsuha and Taki act as the speakers for the movie’s message, for they are vessels for different aspects of the same message. It’s often this exploration of the world and its relation to the characters that creates a method for delving into the characters and their internal characteristics in a way that is not often seen in western storytelling. In other stories, backstory takes the place of this, yet both accomplish the same goal - ‘Ki’ or ‘introduction’. The point of this introduction is not to introduce the plot,however, as one of the most impressive aspects of Kishotenketsu is how little it relies on a typical plot. Rather, the creator weaves a world and characters that have a history and a past quite quickly. It gives the narrative an air of depth that more plot-based stories would not be able to accomplish in such a short amount of time. 

The characters of ‘Your Name’ also differ from western storytelling. Instead of an agent of the plot, or even being a conflicting force with the plot, characters in ‘Your Name’ each embody a different aspect of the overall point. They are characters first, and the story caters to that rather than nudging them to change with the whims of the plot. Mitsuha embodies the idea of perspective. She’s quite shy and polite, and withstands the humiliation of her family’s rituals along with the burden of being the governor’s daughter.  Her current life suffocates her, and she wishes for another, more glamorous life within Tokyo. This all shifts when the story changes from the ‘Ki’ or ‘introduction’ stage to the ‘Sho’ or ‘development’ stage. Mitsuha wakes up in Taki’s body, and she experiences a shift in perspective and the life she’s always wanted. Whilst she indulges herself in the life she craved, she also sees Taki’s world through her lens. It’s Mitsuha who connects with Taki’s crush. It’s Mitsuha who enjoys Taki’s life to the point where the others take notice of his difference in personality. It’s Mitsuha who uses her childhood in which she weaved together threads - that symbolizes connection through time - into braids to change Taki’s life for the better. The tone of the film shifts (right before the ‘ketsu’/ ‘twist’ stage) to Taki’s different view on the same message. His point of view - especially when he inhabits Mitsuha’s body - focuses on time and the connections through it. Such as when Mitsuha’s grandmother tells him about masubi - the flow of time and how their work as a priest family is to braid the threads of time together. These dual aspects of the narrative interweave through the two characters in a way that is seamless and allows for a deeper analysis of the message made. 

This film caters to people who live in Japan, as both the story structure and the societal expectations differ from western ideals. Because of the ages and desires of the two main characters, ‘Your Name’ specifically caters to the young adult audiences, for they can see themselves within the protagonists and their desire for a different life with different experiences. Those who see their environment as their cage, and who think if they were only able to find another place, another life to live, they may discover that this film speaks to them and inspires them to live as themselves. 

Overall, this movie is the tale of two people connected through time via body swapping on random days. This continues through the development phase until Taki discovers the meteor that killed Mitsuha and her town three years ago. It is through their shared perspectives that they not only save the residents of Mitsuki’s town, but they also discover the connection in their past. Through this narrative, Makoto Shinkai wishes to impart on his audience the messages of two interwoven themes: of the differences in perspective over the same event or environment, and how those shared events connect people in time. The first scene established this through the meteor as it painted the sky in brilliant colors. Taki looked upon the meteor with nothing but awe and wonder, yet this is the same meteor that sent Mitsuha to her death. The meteor, despite the destruction it wrought, connected both Mitsuha and Taki, for it is implied that the supernatural of Mitsuha’s world started the events of the movie for the sake of preventing the meteor’s deaths. Similar to the braids that Mitsuha had to weave and the one she gave to Taki at the beginning of the narrative,  individuals' lives are connected to these special moments of love and wonder, such as when Taki marveled at the same rituals that embarrassed Mitsuha. Their differences in worldview may cause the threads in their lives to untangle or knot, but they experienced it together. The audience then left the movie with a newfound appreciation for their unique worldview and the small things in their environment that they may take for granted. They are connected to others who will value them, both in their past and when they continue to the future. 

Kishotenketsu allows for a deep analysis on a specific message or a specific perspective, whereas a hero’s journey or a three-act story structure allow for a transformative journey of self-development. Both have their strengths and there is a spectrum of artistic expression and overlap between the two methods. Kishotenketsu, for example, is able to explore a complex theme that surrounds multiple sub-themes- whilst doing so through a close examination of the characters and their world. A story made in the west may be expected to have a greater emphasis on the conflict, lest the audience become bored. This leaves the message and the characters to compete with the plot unless the creator weaves them together. Even so, western stories emphasize change driven by conflict, and they deem a proper story one characterized by a transformation to face an external obstacle. In kishotenketsu there is no difference between any internal or external development, for the character navigating the world and the premise set up in the introduction provides all the development needed. 

An example of a western story in which both the plot and the message are interwoven to achieve a transformation is Puss in Boots: the Last Wish. This film explores a fear of death and the anxiety that comes with this. Through the change in the main character, the audience - who may also share this experience, as it is deeply personal to the creators - learns the lesson of living life to the fullest instead of running from fear. This is not a lesser story structure by any means, but it does serve a different purpose. This structure is meant to provide an example to the audience about how to grow from flaws or limitations, whereas kishotenketsu is similar to its poetic roots in its overall purpose. These stories do not need character transformations or a removal of flaws - such as in ‘Your Name’ where both Taki and Mitsuha forget the events of the film - instead they look at life and depict it as beautiful art and magical stories. The story is allowed to spend time with the mundane and the characters, and it leaves the audience with an impression and an appreciation of the world. It’s a new perspective, a new way to look at life, and the message is left to personal interpretations. (Rarely is the message ever outright said. The message in western stories is much more obvious and apparent). Kishotenketsu showcases the wonder of life, as it is, in the present - no change required. 

[feral-sock-boy]

TMNT

Info about my iteration tmnt:

Yoshi (Splinter) is from the hidden city, when he turned 25 he went to explore the world above. He gets himself into shit, finds a bunch of baby turtles with goop on them, and becomes a father (btw, bro comes from a pretty shitty household full of generational trauma).

He runs away to raise the turtles, and ends up finding a nice little space in the sewers, to which he builds them a home.

Donnie and Raph are twins both 16 with an hour age difference, Leo is the middle child at 15 and Mikey is the youngest at 14. Casey is a 16 year old transgender bitch and April is a 17 year old Girlflux KRAANG hybrid thing. O’neils mother really just banged a mushy alien thing that can shape-shift into anything in the universe.

Donnie:

Galapagos Tortoises

16 (oldest child, older than Raph by an hour)

Intersex, Biromantic, they/them

Has a dinosaur obsession, likes learning about the human body and other animals, like trains and machines, has probably had a couple lab rats and just didn't tell Yoshi (Splinter). Bro definitely knew.

Usually a bit too big for clothes, so he gets Raph to make most of them to make them bigger. Usually wears "baggy" pants (they ain't baggy on him), long sleeve thermals and flannels.

Raph:

Common Snapping Turtle

16 (second oldest, younger by an hour)

Bisexual, He/ Him

He likes sewing, knitting and painting. Has a massive collection of old magazines, comics, books and other random items because he has a hard to giving stuff up.

Has a little pet turtle named Slusher. He will fight you over food and will bite you if deserved.

Usually wears windbreaker pants, singlets and jackets.

Leo:

Painted Terrapin

15 (middle child)

Unlabelled, Trans Fem, She/Her She likes skating, finding cool bugs and watching si-fi movies. She's not really into horror movies, but can handle them. If you give her the chance she'll talk on and on about her interest in Galactic Heros (similar to space heros). She also really likes glitter.

She'll probably eat anything. Like. Anything.

Usually wears sweaters, leg warmers and tracksuit pants.

Mikey:

Spotted Turtle

14 (youngest)

Aromantic, Agender, usually just uses it/they

They're a very random person, and would probably eat anything and everything. They definitely collect hot wheels and all that stuff. Bro has a 2000s alt fashion mixed with little boy vibe to them, it think it's really cool. They like to express itself with bright colours.

Usually wears beanies, shorts, hand gloves, shirts and ties. Sometimes bracelets too.

Yoshi (Spliter):

Rat Yoki

41 (father of turtles)

Demisexual, He/Him

He's extremely new to parenting even now, has had no idea what he was doing from day one. He's not the best father but he tries. Watches soccer, dramas and soap operas. Gets all their from the thrift store or the bins. Has a bracelet that disguises him as human. Usually wears a band t-shirt and sweatpants or pyjama pants.

April O'Neil:

Part Indian, Part KRAANG

17 (friend of the turtles, has an older brother)

Sapphic, Girlflux (she/her, they/them, she/ they)

She can "shape-shift"into pretty anything as long as they can picture it. It's a defence mechanism of the KRAANG. It's basically camouflage. She's able to hide their ear tentacle things, which are usually used for hunting things down and connecting to other KRAANGs. She's a pretty good fighter, and usually uses a baseball bat. And she usually hides her KRAANG features.

They also play baseball. They moved from Michigan when she was 13. She's into filming, journalism and photography.

Usually wears long sleeves, jeans, converses, cardigans and her homemade necklaces and earrings.

Casey Jones:

Part Mexican, Part American.

16 (friend to turtles, oldest child of two)

Bisexual, Trans Masc (He/Him)

He's a bit of a trouble maker. Especially after he moved back in with his dad after his mother died. His dad had no idea he was trans, but didn't really care, cause he'd always wanted a son. He's a big hockey fan, watches and plays. Never misses practice or a game. He eventually becomes captain.

Born and raised in New York. He's lost a couple of teeth but he's all good. He's broken his nose twice, busted his lip, fractured he's knee, elbow and a couple of his fingers. Did get put on medical marijuana for a bit after he'd been bashed against the barrier, causing him to dislocate his shoulder. He's a pretty good skater, on and off the ice, and really enjoys it. Usually wears jeans, tops and/or singlets and boots.

Renet:

British

18 (friend and allie to the turtles)

Pansexual, Bigender (She/He)

She is a timestress trainee, and works part time at a clothing shop. He likes going to raves and concerts, and has a LOT of merch. She likes skating, surfing and road trips. Moved from Liverpool to New York to live with his grandparents. Very much in love with everyone she thinks is pretty and has an attractive personality. Usually wears tank tops, jackets, flared jeans and a gazelle indoor shoes.

Sunita:

Brazilian

17 (friends with the turtles)

Lesbian, she/her

She grew up with her dad and mother in brazil, until they got divorced, leading her to leave with her dad to live in New York with her dad's parents. Her dad meets Timothy's mother, and they hit it off, leading her to become step siblings with Timothy and his little brother. She's into swimming, sculpting and dancing. she goes to visit her mother every school holidays.

Usually wears lounge pants, shirts or tank tops, jackets, leg warmers and boots.

Timothy:

Korean

16 (friends with the turtles)

Omnisexual, he/him

He grew up with his mum and little brother in a farm house. They moved to New York when his mother gets a job. He's really into basketball, and is pretty good at it. He's kinda like Troy from High School Musical. But gayer and better. His mother met Sunita's dad, they hit it off and he and his little brother become step siblings with Sunita. He likes singing, basketball and books. He has nothing to do with his dad.

Usually wears cargo shorts, long sleeves, jackets and Nikes.

[jedipoodoo]

What's the best Indiana Jones movie for you?

Ohhhhh Amalthia you've opened up a whole new can of worms 😂😂😂

I'll come clean and say I've seen all of them except for Temple of Doom, because it has too many horror vibes™, but I read the chapter book adaptation instead and Short Round is such a cutie. I first became familiar with the Indiana Jones adventures by playing the LEGO video games with my dad, so I have a fond attachment to the first four movies because of such, but not so much for Dial of Destiny. Here's my personal ranking of them:

Raiders of the Lost Ark: Best Cold Open, Best love interest (MARION MOTHER FRIGGING RAVENWOOD-WILLIAMS), Best Villain (Rene Belloq), Best comeuppance for the Nazis, Best Artifact (Ark of the Covenant).

Temple of Doom: Best Sidekick (Short Round), Best setting (India (which is almost never seen in American media, so I love the allusions to Indian history and Hindu lore) especially the elaborate mine system).

The Last Crusade: Best soundtrack, Best emotional journey, Best Sallah moments.

Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: Comfort film, it's not really the "best" at anything, but I have a nostalgic attachment to it due to the LEGO games and sets. The first time I watched it, I just put it on late one evening to watch with my sister, and our parents both wandered in and sat down to watch it with us, and that memory always makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

I'm gonna circle back to Raiders for a second because people will point out that Indiana's involvement in it was a moot point bc the Nazis would have all been wiped out by opening it anyway, but THAT'S NOT THE POINT!!! It would be a good story, plenty of people would like to just watch a movie about Nazis melting alive, but that's nowhere near as compelling as the emotional attachment we get to Indy and Marion and their relationship, and their story.

Plus, if the story wasn't about Indy, we wouldn't have gotten Last Crusade.

Tldr; The Best Indiana Jones Movie is Raiders of the Lost Ark, with Crystal Skull and Crusade coming in close behind.