Tuesday, July 31, 2018

The First Failed Manos Sequel : Part One


I first learned of Philip Francis from a music video he had posted on You Tube titled “Take it Easy, Manos Style” in June 2010, which can be seen right here.   Take it Easy: Torgo Style  
I contacted Philip through the wonders of the internet and he gave me a phone number asking that I call to discuss a project he was working on.  When I called, the person who answered had me hold while he got another guy with an odd New Zelandish/ Australian type accent who told me his name was Rupert Munch Senior.  He said he was the guy who created the music video and who played Torgo. He went on to say he had several projects in the works concerning Manos and wanted to know if I would be interested in participating.  I told him that I was interested in anything Manos.  About then, the accent dropped and he revealed he was the initial person who had answered the phone.  A bit eccentric, but what the hell.  It’s about Manos.  He told me he had attended ComicCon as Torgo and had the idea he would continue developing his version of the character. He was hoping to connect with Rifftrax, Cinamatic Titanic and anyone else in an effort to create some projects with support.  Torgo at San Diego Comic Con    Over the next year he wrote a script that included my dad and I and anyone else from the original he could find.   We spoke often as his plan developed and he went on and on about how, if his film ever made money that my dad and I would be compensated with percentages that are unheard of in the movie business and how everyone thought he was crazy to offer so much, that nobody but him would do such a thing.  All verbally and without stating what kind of numbers he was talking about.  We would share in all the merchandising and that he had already worked a deal with an action figure company to make our action figures. He asked if I would be interested as an artist to create the art and many of the props for his film as my dad did in the original. I would be able to sell copies of my work with his help and make more money. His script was titled Manos, Search for Valley Lodge and I had agreed to play the lead role of Debbie Morgan, the grown version of little Debbie from the original Manos. He began collecting other notable cast members, found a Director of Photography, put some money together to get started and began making tangible plans for shooting his film. He convinced my dad, Tom Neyman to reprise his role of the Master in a cameo scene and sent him $500.00 as an enticement. In May 2011 he came to Oregon for 4 days to shoot my dad’s scene because my dad was unwilling to travel away from his family. The group that came to Oregon was Philip, Jay Lee our Director of Photography and a documentary crew who are making a documentary about the sequel to “The Worst Movie Ever Made”. They all stayed at my home and the home of my friend, Rick Zunck who was chosen as Assistant Director of Photography. Philip convinced Joe Warren, Hal Warren’s son  (Hal, the director of the original Manos, died in December 1985)  to loan us the original Master’s robe he had so my dad could wear it for his scene. We were thrilled to see it again and to know it had been so well cared for, but were sad to have to send it back since that was the deal Philip had made.  That was when we learned that Joe had The Masters painting and it, too was safe, but we would never have it back either.   
If I was blind to all the red flags up to then, I should have seen them on that first shoot.  Four days for one scene.  Granted, it was a The Master and Torgo scene, but still.  

See you next Torgo Tuesday for part two of this epic and ridiculous story.

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Debbie Does San Diego Comic Con

I just got back from my epic Southern California trip yesterday afternoon.  Three weeks all together and I interviewed six different people for my Jackey's Hand of Horror podcast including Dwane Whitaker, the pawn shop dealer in Pulp Fiction.  I only say that for reference.  Dwane and I had a great chat on a number of subjects.  That episode will air on Thursday July 26th.   https://soundcloud.com/handofhorropodcast

I had an amazing last minute opportunity to attend a panel at the Los Angeles You Tube Space that was moderated by Felicia Day, who I was honored to meet and chat with briefly afterward.  The panel was "The All Female Showrunners Panel" and included Willow Polson who is creating the new project we're working on.  I talk a bit about that a couple blog posts ago.

For the big event, I attended San Diego Comic Con last Thurday, Friday and Saturday as part of the Pulsar Entertainment booth to promote the upcoming Web Series and Comic Book titled Manos: The Debbie Chronicles.
It was an incredible experience in so many ways.  Was a blast hanging out at the table and seeing how many people figured out that I was the little girl in Manos and The Master is my dad.  Wish I had a Go Pro set up to get the reactions, as it would make a funny compilation of surprised expressions.
The networking over those three days was more than hoped for and will take some time to absorb and organize.  The energy, crush of people, sound and visuals were at a constant maximum making the whole event both exhilerating and exhausting.  Fortunately, the two day drive home to Oregon gave me some good time to reflect and sort it out. 

Just got back yesterday afternoon and am already hitting the ground running.  Much to do for all that is coming. 

Enjoy the photos of San Diego Comic Con and I'll be back next Torgo Tuesday.















Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Headed to San Diego Comic Con

Short post today because I'm preparing for San Diego Comic Con.  Not only is it hard to believe I'm actually going, but that I'm going as part of a really cool project.

Short post too, because I can't say much about that project yet, other than it is both a web series and a comic book,  titled Manos: The Debbie Chronicles.  Very much looking forward  to sharing a lot more about this upcoming weekend where I'll be signing at the Pulsar Entertainment LLC booth #1235 at San Diego Comic Con, July 19 - 22.  I plan to be there all four days so if you attend, I hope you'll stop by.

While you're here now though, I hope you'll check out my Jackey's Hand of Horror podcast.  I'm still on a learning curve (but who isn't?) and feeling really good about the development.  We still have some polishing to do but I love the segments, the ideas, the special guests and my team.  Enjoy.

Jackeys Hand of Horror

For the next upcoming episode I had the great pleasure of chatting with Duane Whitaker who played the pawn shop owner in Pulp Fiction and yesterday I interviewed an amazing young woman with a popular YouTube channel for another episode.
Please consider clicking that follow button while there. 💗💗💗

Here are other ways you can find me, see what's happening in the Manos world and connect.

https://www.facebook.com/Debbiesmanos/

https://www.facebook.com/GrowingUpWithManosTheHandsOfFate/

https://www.facebook.com/Jackeys-Art-338570813299450/

Manos: The Hands of Fate Fan Club
Join us, won't you?


Manos Returns screenings and movie information 

https://www.facebook.com/manosreturns/

https://www.manosreturns.com/


...and... a fun little article about me in

 Weed Aficionado Magazine 

See you all next Torgo Tuesday when I tell you all about San Diego Comic Con and share a few photos.  One goal is to get a better photo with Felicia Day than the one I got a couple weeks ago. 😜 She looked fine.  Me? Not so much.



Thursday, July 12, 2018

Debbie Does Los Angeles

I make a goal of getting a blog post out on Torgo Tuesday's, but if you follow me here, you'll know that's not always the case.  Sometimes it's more like Wobbly Wednesday and even missing a week or three altogether when there's too much going on to sit down.  Time just slips away.
In this case, Tuesday turned into a really busy day and Wobbly Wednesday became catch up day.  No idea yet what to call Thursday.

I'm in Southern California for a couple weeks and for San Diego Comic Con next weekend.  When coming down here for extended times, I try to arrange meetings and visits with people in the area to make the best use of my time as possible.  At this point, between all my connections and upcoming projects here and other connections and projects in Washington State, Oregon makes a nice home base.  Good thing I've got a great car and enjoy road trips.
 Tuesday became much more than I had expected.  I had an appointment in Studio City to interview                                                                      Duane Whitaker 
on Jackey's Hand of Horror Podcast.   We had a fun visit and catch up.  The first time we met was in April when we were both guests at Cinema Wasteland in Cleveland.  Although Duane's biggest claim to fame is as the pawn shop owner in Pulp Fiction, he is a writer, producer and acting coach as well.

 I did pretty well heading back to where I'm staying with a bit over an hour drive, and was feeling a little proud of myself when a message came through my facebook chat from Willow Polson, creator of a new web series titled Manos: The Debbie Chronicles and instigator of a comic series with the same title.  She says, "Did you get the invitation?"  After a string of confused back and forth, we realized I never received the email inviting me to an event in Los Angeles (an hour and 45 away) that looked pretty cool.  Problem was, the event started in 3 hours at YouTube Space Los Angeles.  After a brief internal struggle and with the realization that Felicia Day would be moderating the event, I jumped into action. I got myself ready and back on the road headed much the way I had just come.  What a great event it was.  I met so many forward moving and successful women in writing, film, You Tube and social media.  The All Women Showrunners' Panel was so full of information and inspiration tht I am still riding that wave and ready to go ahead with some new ideas.  Click here to learn a  bit more about the event  http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/genre-tvs-female-showrunners-talk-life-after-metoo




While there, I made sure to introduce myself to Felicia.  Debbie finally got to meet Kinga.  So great that I was a bit tongue tied, which is rare for me. Managed to remember to get a photo but my rushed planning ensured my phone would die at any moment for lack of a charge but managed to get a quick one snapped.  Not my most flattering but can't resisit sharing.  Heard she'll be at San Diego Comic Con next week with the Shout Factory booth so I'll see if I can get another chance.


I'll be there as well to promote the web series and comic as part of the Pulsar Entertainment booth number 1235.  If you attend the con, I hope you'll find me and say hi.   I'll have my books to sign and a few photos...and always a story or two.







Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Debbie Just Turned 59

It's been a while since I last wrote.  Busy, busy.


First of all, I had some Manos Returns Kickstarter fulfillment to do.  We all had been assembling the rewards for a few weeks and once the final items arrived, it was go time.  My house became the fulfillment center and I became the staff.  I had the lists, the packaging, the merchandise and a "planning how to ship" conversation with the one employee at our tiny Post Office.  Was exhausting, but the whole thing worked remarkably well.  A few days later the backers began posting about how much they liked our film and how we had honored the original film, the original cast/crew and the fans.  Best News Ever!



Manos Returns had another screening a couple weeks ago.  This time, in Seattle at The Grand Cinema.  My co-writers, Tonjia Atomic our director, and Rachel Jackson assistant director got to do a little Q and A with the small but enthusiastic audience.  The screening was great and our audience responded in such delightful ways at the moments we would have hoped.  My sister Juli came with me and we all had a great time.  Best Team Ever!


Just a few days after coming home from that trip, my new granddaughter made the decision to be born two weeks early.  I had talked to her previously about being sure to cooperate with my travel schedule and happily she did.  I was able to be there when she came into this world and one of the first to hold little 4 lb, 15 oz. Kylie Ivy Raye Jones.


I continue to develop my new podcast, Jackey's Hand of Horror while learning so much alongside  co- hosts Rachel Jackson, Tonjia Atomic, Nuria Aguilar and my granddaughter, Araydia with each episode.  So grateful to my support team too and Quinn in particular for all the recording and editing work.  Nothing happens without that.

                       Click here to listen to Jackey's Hand of Horror Podcast

 

Am preparing myself for my first hosting gig. Although I've been in front of many audiences and am quite comfortable, this is a bit more than a Manos question and answer before a screening.  I am already invested in being prepared in every way possible.

                                           Click for tickets to MSTease 3K


Before that, though, I will be a guest of the Pulsar Entertainment booth at San Diego Comic Con July 19th - 22nd to promote the new comic series coming up titled Manos: The Debbie Chronicles.  If you happen to attend, come say hi...if you can find me. It's in a big place. 

 

I just had another birthday yesterday and turned 59 years old.  I can honestly say that Manos is helping me to improve my health and I'm doing pretty good for 59.  Am very excited about what this next year will hold and for the projects that I cannot talk about yet.  A willingness for new things all the time, a vast curiosity to learn, and joy of sharing is what is keeping me young.  Thanks for coming along on this journey with me.  That's what makes it fun.