Thursday, October 31, 2013

TTDILA COMICS #15 - Halloween Greetings


by ARG



HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
I WAS BITTEN BY ONE OF MY DOGS
...I DON'T FEEL TOO WELL.
ENJOY THE CANDY.
AND
ENJOY THE COMIC.


Murder Balloon and Time Machine



Murder Balloon returns as per TTDILA tradition. This year it's joined by my other old favorite Time Machine, starring Murder LA's James Cohen. Murder Balloon is the story of a murderous balloon on a college campus made to be a B-Horror film from the get go. Time Machine is a sci-fi comedy with some horrible events taking place towards the end. Enjoy! Have a Happy Halloween!

It's Halloween in LA , What Do I Do?

For all the Halloween events check the right side of the site or the links below for any last minute Halloween events, parties and so on.

At Things To Do In LA we have your list for all things to do for Halloween.
Latest Halloween Updates

Horror Movies and Festivals
LA Haunts
Theme Park Haunts
Halloween Parties Part 1
Halloween Parties and Crawls Part 2
Events and Attractions


Haunt Reviews
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
Halloween Harvest Festival and Fright Fair Screampark
The Purge: Fear the Night
Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights
Knott's Scary Farm 

You can also try Findahaunt for any haunts that might be near you. Be sure to check each site to see what times they're open.

Halloween Update: Release the Hounds and Last Minute Haunts


-Release the Hounds: Episode 1

British reality game show based on horror movies.

-Last Minute Haunts from Hollywood Gothique

-Even more

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Halloween Update: West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval and more

Digging this poster
-West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval
Oct 31 6-11pm
West Hollywood
Santa Monica Boulevard from Doheny Drive to La Cienega Boulevard

The biggest Halloween party in LA, the streets will be filled. Parking will surpass what you want it to be, but it's not a weekend night so will see how it goes.

Some of the most amazing costumes will be shown off, because this is an industry city. Queen Latifah may be being crowned of the festivities, but I'd rather have a real "Queen" or at least someone with talent getting that honor. You don't have to listen as there will be six stages of entertainment going on at the event.


 






-Trick 'r Treat 2 was announced at the free showing of the first film part of BeyondFest.


Halloween Comedy


-Late In Night With Frankenstein
Thu October 31, 2013 11:00pm 
UCB Theatre

Frankenstein's monster has broken lose and he's taking over Late Night! Join him and his undead pals as they celebrate October 31st.

-The Ed Ghoulvez Haunted Punk House
 Wed, October 30, 2013 10:00 PM
Westside Comedy Theater

 he Ed Ghoulvez Haunted Punk House is the Longest running Halloween Themed Comedy show. Featuring Stand up, Sketches craziness of the season! Hosted By Ed Ghoulvez.


Game Night Spooktackular at Glitch City 
Thu October 31, 7pm

Yoshi's Head On LA Brea


Found: One green dinosaur head.

Yoshi's severed head was found in another pile at

Metropolis Nick Collectible Furniture
100 S La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036

It's going for $150. No idea who made it or why they did. If anyone has info, please put it in the comments section or e-mail if you know its origin.

Sriracha-gate Day 2

With the lawsuit going to court Thursday for a Sriracha plant to be possibly be shut down for causing some residents to be disturbed by the smell outlets are already coming up with some terrible headlines for sensational journalism, including this site.

Sriracha Production Suspended
-Now this title is just wrong as the plant hasn't stopped at all yet, no word on that until tomorrow after a court ruling

Sriracha CEO on odor gripes: 'If it doesn't smell, we can't sell'
-This only takes part of what he said to grab you. He also explains how the plant tried to get the smell down with filters two times.

Sriracha lovers, don't panic! Make your own Sriracha sauce.
- Funny for the Daily Dish article

You can also get this Choracha Hot Sauce Tee or hoodies on sale at Yeti today only



Halloween Update: Day of the Dead and Other Halloween

Other Dead/Hollywood Launch Party
Wednesday 10/30/2013 6pm
Meltdown Comics
7522 Sunset Blvd.

Featuring:
Kevin Eastman (TMNT, Heavy Metal)
Joshua Ortega (Gears Of War)
Digger T Mesch (Agent 88)
Sam Shearon (Ministry Artist)
Live Zombie Animal
Body-Painting by Dulce!
*Open Bar
Food Truck
Carnies
Costume Contest


The Queen Mary Dark Harbor Halloween
October 31
Little Monsters Costume Ball
4-6PM
Dark Harbor's Halloween Costume* Ball
7:00 pm - Midnight


The Queen Mary has a kid's ball and then later in the evening an adult Halloween bash.

"In addition to the annual Halloween Costume Ball at Dark Harbor- where guests of Dark Harbor can wear costumes and win up to $1,000 in prizes - The Queen Mary will host Trick or Treating for the kids from 4-6 p.m. (also at Dark Harbor), will also open up a special ghost tour aboard the ship with famed ParaXplorer Project founder Matthew Schulz at 10 p.m. for you Ghost Hunters out there and finally - we do have a limited number of hotel rooms available - to sleep with the spirits aboard this haunted ship."

Dia De Los Muertos Descends upon Dark Harbor
Nov. 1 & 2

Then after the Halloween festivities Dia De Los Muertos events for Dark Harbor



Dia De Los Muertos at Hollywood Forever
Saturday, November 2, 2013 12:00 pm -
11:30 pm
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90038


"*A vibrant traditional procession in the home of Hollywood's Immortals with traditional Aztec blessings and *Regional Musical-Dance group dedications
*Musical performances
*100+ Altars created by members of the community to their ancestors and loved ones
*Hundreds of Aztec Ritual Dancers in full costume
*A new Dance Plaza featuring historical and modern dance rituals
*An Art Exhibition in the Cathedral Mausoleum
*A costume contest for the best dressed Calaca (skeleton)
*A children's arts project area presented by LACMA (The Los Angeles County Museum of Art)
*Arts and Crafts vendors
*Food vendors from around Los Angeles"

Grand Park's Downtown Dia De Los Muertos
November 2, 2013 @ 3:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Grand Park
200 North Grand Avenue
Los Angeles,CA 90012

"Angelenos love Dia de Los Muertos. Celebrate together in Grand Park with altars, food trucks, free face-painting, awesome bands, and full bar en el centro de Los Ángeles!"

Cult Camp presents: The Thing
Saturday, November 2nd
Doors at 11:30PM
Film at Midnight
Thursday, November 7th: 9PM
$5

Weekly What To Do: No Halloween Stuff Here

If you're looking for Halloween events check the Halloween updates.


App Developer's Conference and Game Developer's Conference Next
Nov 5-7
LA Convention Center

Apps and games head to the LA  Convention Center before cars do early next week. From the people who brought you GDC comes GDC Next, well that's an original name and a conference on apps. It's their first in LA, but with E3 being here every year and the knowledge of past GDC people it seems like you'll be learning a lot about the next big game and/or app.

"The App Developers Conference (ADC) is a brand new app developer event focusing on the very best development, UI, marketing and business of apps. Whether their apps run on mobile devices or the web, whether they embrace iOS, Android, both or neither, whether they operate even further afield--we're bringing together the very best app creators for this event and getting them to present their best practices to you.

From the creators of the Game Developers Conference (GDC), Game Developers Conference Next (GDC Next) is a brand new developer event focusing on creating the game experiences of the future, including how we will play games, on what we will play them, and how we will monetize, distribute, market, and share them--we're bringing together the creators of tomorrow's biggest and most innovative video games for this event and getting them to present their best practices to you."


Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular
Fri, Nov 1, 2013 - 8:30PM
Club Nokia
800 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90015
 
"In its 25th year of successful touring, this year’s Pink Floyd LaserSpectacular features “The Dark Side of the Moon”! The second half of the show features The Best of Pink Floyd including “The Wall”

Nintendo Experience
Los Angeles
Brea Mall | Lower Level Center Court
11/2 11AM - 7PM
 Del Amo Fashion Center | Lower Level JoAnn's Court
11/3 11AM - 7PM
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nov 1-2
Santa Anita Park 

Into horse racing?
 
Check out some Nintendo games at these malls.


Captured Aural Phantasy Haunted Horror Spook Show
(sponsored link) Sunday, November 3 7:30pm
El Cid  4212 W. Sunset Blvd. 
Los Angeles, CA  90029
Saturday - November 2, 2013 - 04:00 PM
Meltdown Comics
 
  "Fans of "The Simpsons": come on down to The NerdMelt Showroom every 1st Saturday of the month to answer two rounds of trivia questions with your fellow Springfield residents for a chance to win some sort of prize -- which may be edible or inedible! Expect special guests to drop in and screenings of everyone favorite episodes!"


One Sound Concert: Taiko Festival XII 
Saturday, November 2, 2013 6:00 pm
Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
244 S. San Pedro St

Los Angeles, CA 90012
 
 L.A. Matsuri Taiko and Venice Koshin Taiko, of Hongo Taiko Schools, are proud to present One Sound Concert: Taiko Festival XII.

"This will also be a celebration of the 40th anniversary since Sensei Etsuo Hongo brought his taiko style to the United. States.

The One Sound Concert will also be featuring a special guest artist Mizuho Zako, a female leading taiko player from the internationally renowned Oedo Sukeroku Taiko"

Creepypasta: WNUF Halloween Special

Creepypasta, reviews of horror to watch, games to play or other Halloween goodies. Creepypasta's real meaning is short online horror stories or urban legends.


If you want to watch something scary this Halloween check back through the Creepypasta catalog.

Sadly, it's too late to get a copy of the WNUF Halloween Special, it's  requires a VHS player if you still have one and there's no online version so far.

If you remember the review of Ghostwatch you might notice some similarities between the two. You'll be getting WNUF's 1987 Halloween Special, featuring 30 minutes of the local news. Like Ghostwatch and Orson Welles' War of the Worlds you're being told a scary story through the medium of news, making it seem all the more real. Then for an hour you have a field reporter going into a haunted house for fun and slowly realizing everything is turning out to be real.

It seems almost like an American version of Ghostwatch.

Get it here
On DVD and VHS.


Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Comikaze Expo Nov 1-3 Local Pop-Culture

Comikaze Expo
Nov 1-3
LA Convention Center


 Last year, I read "growing pains" way too often over reviews of the event. You have a mix of a lot of local indie talent and quite a few fan favorites showing up. A few big name nerd properties to enjoy too. Many how to's and how to start out in any part of the pop culture business panels. It might be a good starting con for anyone.


The Long Beach Comic-Con is at the end of the month, so you might want to pace yourself. For anime fans PMX is this following weekend.

 Here's some events the got my attention. Check out the full schedule at the link above.

Friday

Hot Topic Main Stage
FINS UP! SHARKNADO TOUCHES DOWN ON COMIKAZE!
In 2013 the perfect storm came together to deliver the bloody, fun, and
shark-filled disaster movie: SHARKNADO. After defying the nay-sayers and
setting records with each encore screening, the pop-culture phenomenon
descends onto Comikaze. Join the cast and filmmakers as they discuss
the film that took social media by storm, demanded multiple viewings, and
became an event not to be missed.
Participants: Aaron Sagers (Entertainment pundit and geek culture expert),
Ian Ziering, Cassie Scerbo, Jaason Simmons, Anthony C. Ferrante (Director),
Thunder Levin (Writer), David Latt (Producer)

Saturday
Room 306AB
AXE COP
Join the creator and team behind the celebrated comic book and animated
series AXE COP as they discuss the creation of the universe, the creative
process, and the future of the series.
Participants: Sax Carr (Fandom Planet), Ethan Nicolle (Creator/Producer/
Artist: AXE COP), Chase Conley (AXE COP)

Hot Topic Main Stage
ICON: “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC
The comedy and music legend comes to the Main Stage for a Q&A with the
Comikaze crowd!
Participants: “Weird Al” Yankovic (three-time Grammy Winner and the
biggest comedy recording artist in history) 

Room 303AB
KABOOM! STUDIOS PRESENTS: ALL-AGES COMICS
With titles like Adventure Time, Regular Show, Bravest Warriors, Peanuts,
Garfield, Snarked, and Herobear And The Kid, KaBOOM! Studios, an imprint
of BOOM! Studios, is publishing some of the best all-age-friendly comics
in the industry. Join KaBOOM’s editors and several creators as they share
some behind-the-scenes secrets and stories, and tease what’s next!
Participants: Mel Caylo, The KaBOOM! Editorial Staff

Hot Topic Main Stage
THE POWERPUFF GIRLS REUNION
The Powerpuff Girls: Tara Strong (Bubbles), Catherine Cavadini (Blossom)
and E.G. Daily (Buttercup) reunite on the Comikaze stage to talk about all
things Powerpuff.
Participants: Tara Strong (My Little Pony, Fairly Oddparents, New Batman
Adventures, Rugrats), Catherine Cavadini (Powerpuff Girls, An American
Tale: Fievel Goes West, Babes in Toyland, Broken Age ) and E.G. Daily (Pee
Wee’s Big Adventure, Rugrats, Valley Girl, The Voice, Devils Rejects , Friends,
Happy Feet 1 and 2 as Baby Mumble)
Sunday

Room 306AB
MEET THE ACTORS FROM GRAND THEFT AUTO V
Meet the actors behind Grand Theft Auto V’s Franklin, Trevor, Michael and
Jimmy as they discuss their roles, behind the scenes info and what it’s like to
be a part of the latest game in this critically acclaimed series.
Participants: Shawn Fonteno, Stephen Ogg, Ned Luke , Danny Tamberell

Halloween Update: Haunted Hayride Gets 2 Million?

-A fright came from the latest Shark Tank, not the bad jokes of the rich on their sofas, but Ten-Thirty One Productions, the group behind the LA Haunted Hayride asking for a stake in their company.

Plans from the show revealed a return of the Great Horror Campout as well as a New York based Haunted Hayride. Another shock was that 10 horror camps will be popping up around the country next year.

Ten-Thirty One Productions also got a couple of millions out of it. Mark Cuban made a deal for $2 million for 20% of The LA Haunted Hayride.

-Here's a breakdown of what happened via Business Insider

Sriracha-gate

Just days after the first Sriracha festival in LA news has been spiced up with the possible shut down of a sriracha plant. Local residents near an Irwindale plant can no longer take the hot stench and spiciness of being near the plant. They don't want it shut down, but would like if the factory could eliminate the smell in the surrounding area or at least reduce it. The city has sued Sriracha as a public nuisance, this might cause the plant to shut down if a judge gives it the okay.

The CEO of Sriracha was quoted that prices might surge for the sauce if the plant is temporarily shut down as demand is so high.

This is one of the more funny stories local news will be writing about with some of the dumbest titles and graphics.

via


Halloween Update: Horror Past October


35 Years of Terror
November 15-17 Pasadena, California
Pasadena Convention Center, 300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101


“The ultimate Halloween tribute, 35 years in the making!” Celebrate Halloween with a cavalcade of past stars and panels on the films. A bus tour of filming locations around LA too.










Brought back from the Alamo Draft House we have the weird as Hell, sci-fi/horror film out of 1979, The Visitor.

LA Showings

Nov. 1-Nov 3
Midnight
The Cinefamily
611 N Fairfax Avenue 

Nov 6
8:00 PM
The Crest
1262 S. Westwood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024




Cult Camp presents: The Thing
Nov 2 and 7
Midnight
The Downtown Independent Cinema
251 S Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
United States


The Wicker Man The Final Cut
Friday, November 1 One Week Run
Nuart Theatre

Whimsic Alley Halloween Craft Faire 2013




Whimsic Alley, the wizardly haven on Wilshire held a Halloween Craft Faire over the weekend. Strange items based off of movies and TVwere up for sale from indie artists. Not everything was very Halloween-related, but if you wanted to grab an early holiday gift you had an array of choices to choose from.









Janelle Monáe @ Club Nokia Nov 2

Janelle Monáe 
Nov 2 8PM
Club Nokia

The futuristic afro punk style of Janelle Monáe comes only for one night this November.

Thor Arrives Friday at Disneyland

Thor arrives Friday at Disneyland just like Tony Stark's Hall of Armor did a little while back. Just in time for the new movie coming out on Nov 7 we have

Thor: Treasures of Asgard at Disneyland Park
Friday Nov 1
Disneyland


You go over the bifrost (ice bridge) and then you get to meet Thor and look at Asgardian treasures.

CBR got to take a preview look. More details are suppose to pop up online soon.

Monday, October 28, 2013

LACMA Muse Costume Ball 2013 Film Noir Memory


My night started like any other, my date was my job and to a lesser extent my photographer. I don't mean that literally, he ain't a damn. Nothing's wrong with that mind you, have fun at the West Hollywood Carnival with as many Batman and Robins as you like. Really, it's a lot of fun for everyone, we posted on it earlier.


For the birds
It was a cool Saturday evening on the 26th. I had just seen Carrie, a remake that needs to be remade, and just bumped into the local owner of the IAM8BIT Gallery on my way out of Arclight on Sunset. He questioned why I was dressed like a 1950's reporter minus my fedora hat and I gave him a quick spill about covering the night's affairs at the LACMA on Wilshire. Museum row was filled with museums and that night I'd be covering the one next to the tar pits. A good place to dump a body the tar pits, maybe Murder LA will cover how many they found over the years in a future article, but I don't write that section or care for the former felon writing it. Though the only prison he's ever been in is loneliness and a love for old people food.

I got in my car and headed past all the famous street names until I got onto 6th. Popped into LACMA put on my fedora with press on the side and waited to hear my date, my photographer mumbling about being hungry. We met in courtyard after he entered the LACMA Lot.

We walked past the Peterson to Johnny Rockets. My kind of place for my kind of costume.

The place looked deserted. We couldn't tell if the place was open until we entered, then we still couldn't cause the staff was almost about to play cars. I popped a nickel into the jukebox and had Monster Mash play for a bit.

He had the biggest burger on the menu. I had a chocolate banana shake. He ate his until he was satisfied, a term he didn't seem to understand and instead went with , "eighty percent full". I hated him for using that term instead of just saying he was satisfied with his meal, like a normal person.

We dropped our cash and headed back to the ball, it was just starting. Soon Princess Leia, spacemen and monsters were passing us by. I asked one of the costumes if LACMA was burning. They were just walking to another Halloween party in big numbers.

With that my "date" and I turned a corner and went down the red carpet to the LACMA Muse Costume Ball. Greeted by Bane, Catwoman, Posion Ivy and Scarecrow I was happy to see some old favorites. Wonder Woman was the odd man out of their team and later that night she'd trip on her high heels on some stairs, maybe she bumped into her invisible plane, maybe she had one too many.

Don't worry she wasn't hurt you caring $*#*.

This party was an eye sore I could enjoy. Costumes of all sorts dancing and drinking. FDR could walk again and every few seconds I was telling my "date" to take another photo.

For the best costumes of the night check out the gallery here
Here's LACMA's Facebook photo gallery of the event




Clairy Browne and the Bangin' Rackettes got on stage eventually and asked the audience questions about getting freaky and getting some before mentioning every time out of song how they were from Australia. For down under tourists they got people upright and on the dance floor. That night there music made the monsters dance and the men dressed as WWF wrestler go, "Oh, yeah".

I went inside to lose some of my shake. This was the only time I was allowed inside an exhibit so far that night and unless you like Duchamp's Fountain it wasn't your thing. Did come across the twins from The Shining on my way out. When your alone in art museum with Stephen King characters you get afraid. These two dames would later win the Halloween costume contest or a tier  of it. It was a bit jumbled this year. They should have been at the last Halloween Ball.



Facing the facts, last year's ball and the one before that had so much more terrifying themes and exhibits. You had Tim Burton in 2011 and Stanley Kubrick in 2012 in exhibit form. This year's exhibits weren't open until a little past 10pm and couldn't hold a flame to those other long gone exhibits and masters of film.

The judges might be high up costume designers, here's their quick resumes: Judianna Makovsky (The Hunger Games), Julie Weiss (Hitchcock), and Daniel Orlandi (Down With Love), but they didn't have much of a speaking role in that night's activities.

I'm remembering back to a year ago when the costume contest had some more room. The judges were on the floor looking up at the contestants and the host made some fun small talk for the evening. The host this night rushed through what might be have been entertaining event. The judges seemed to have been swayed by the audience and the award for "Best Ghost of Hollywood Past" went to a Jurassic Park number? There were many folks in costumes from old films and the guy who gets killed by a velociraptor in Jurassic Park who said, "Clever Girl", won for Hollywood Past? Sheesh.

You have a year to plan the Halloween night, plan it right. Get a host who can toast.



It was like someone was late to the party. The Stanley Kubrick Hal and Monolith were in fact late to the party. They might have won... if they could travel back in time to the ball from last year with a Stanley Kubrick motif, a monolith did win best costume last time.

After the costume contest ending? Did it even start? Costumes were allowed to wander. Riding an escalator with a monkey in front of you and and cowboy behind you made the evening stand out of strange things you might of done in your life. We made it up to the third floor where zombies and other weird miscreants courtesy of Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre squirmed around us. Theophilus London was DJing on some sort of a fortress square block art piece the rest of the night.
clever girl

We made our way to first floor, down the giant elevator used for moving big pieces. There were some real pieces, mind your business, in the elevator on the way down.

Before my "date" and my eyes was Metropolis II and I don't mean the exhibit on the work of Fritz Lang. This Metropolis was like if a toy store was robbed by another toy store, things got complicated and they both died at the scene, too much crammed into one little city. Was it a jab at modern society? In any case it took a lot of hot wheels to work.

The wheels were still spinning hot and DJ was still playing and the costumes were still partying when my "date" and I left the ball. It wasn't over for the costumes. It be night they remember or maybe not depending on how much they had.

my angel
Mario meets Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope
What the Hell?

Got to give it up for live art costumes


cut her loose, man


Bioshock Infinite in a Metropolis

The menu of doom