Debbie Answers a Few Questions

I was asked to record answers to a few  questions from a MST3K panel at CTCON 2013 who also happen to be Manos fans.  This is the first request of this type and my first attempt at filming myself.  It an amateur attempt, I know, but when you are more famous in your own mind than reality and have to do it all yourself, you become a jack (Jackey) of all trades.  I like the idea however, of talking to fans this way and answering questions so if anyone else has something Manos related that they would like an answer for, let's give this a try.

The Questions

The Answers

I'm headed to Seattle next week as a special guest for a Screening of the Restoration of Manos The Hands as Fate on Aug 7th and staying for the awesome puppet theater 

Manos : The Hands of Felt on Aug 9th and 10th. 

 If you are in Seattle for either, please be sure to say hi.  It's no secret that I love talking Manos with fans.

The Restoration Screening

http://www.siff.net/cinema/manos-the-hands-of-fate

Manos: The Hands of Felt

http://puppetmanos.brownpapertickets.com/

Tom and Jackey Raye Neyman Present Day

I interviewed last week with "Talk to the Hand" Podcast Host, Keith McCaffety.  I think it's the best and most comprehensive interview I've done so far where I begin to test the waters in sharing more personal experiences in which the Hand of Fate has touched my family.  I've said it before and I'll say it again.  Manos has become so much more than a bad film.

Talk to the Hand Jackey Interview

Many more cool Manos things coming soon.  I will be in Seattle in August for both a screening of Ben Solovey's Manos Restoration and to see Rachel Jackson's Puppet Theater Show Manos Hands of Felt.  

Click the links below for details.

Manos Hands of Fate The Restoration

Manos: The Hands of Felt

...And lastly for today... a teaser from an up coming documentary by Ben Solovey...I present, The Master!

https://vimeo.com/manoshd/manosuncut1

As always.  May the Hand of Fate Bless you and Yours.

"Recasting Manos" A Graphic Novel

An awesome new Manos project is in the works and I'd like to share it with you all and ask you to consider pitching in to make it happen.  Keith McCaffety  is a huge Manos fan and a very talented artist.  I met Keith in El Paso at a screening of the Manos Restoration last August.  He drove all the way from Florida to El Paso for the event at the El Paso Classic Film Festival and even had an awesome sweater to wear like Micheal's from Manos.  Keith told me about an idea he has to create a Graphic Novel of Manos with new characters and a much deeper fuller story line.  He had a couple preliminary drawing to show which I found very impressive.  Since then, Keith has been airing a podcast titled "Talk to the Hand" which I interviewed for along with other Manos related folk.  Here is my interview  "Talk to the Hand" Jackey's interview
Be sure to checkout some of the others too with Rachel Jackson of Manos Hands of Felt fame, Sam Beddoes, the Manos Game creator, Ben Solovey the Manos Restoration genius and more.

Keith is now doing a fund raising promotion to go to VidCon where he will meet and connect with many of the real life personalities that he is using for the Manos characters.  It will be an opportunity to raise awareness of his novel and to build support so he can get it done and make it available to all past, present and future Manos fans.  He's not asking for much.  Just enough to build the momentum to take it the next step.  If he goes beyond his minimum goal, I will also be able to go and can help him with promotion and do a bit of self promotion as well.  Oh yes, I have Manos goals also and will soon reveal them to you all.  So, you see, you would be helping me too.  A bit here and there adds up, so come on, skip a few lattes and help Manos mania to continue building.  http://www.gofundme.com/ManosVidCon

Thanks for visiting!  May the Hand of Manos Bless You and Yours.

Diane Mahree is Very Much Alive.

Hello all,
Long time between posts.  We're all so busy these days.  Home projects, Yard work, Gardening, Art shows.  I figured you wouldn't miss me much since you all are just as busy.

A Facebook friend just alerted me to a post on this site http://www.ilxor.com/ILX/ThreadSelectedControllerServlet?showall=true&boardid=40&threadid=46705&bookmarkedmessageid=19

with this message on it

Diane Mahree - April 12, 1940 - December 30, 2007

I just wanted to write a few words about my mother, Diane Mahree. My Mom was one in a million, a very well respected and proud woman, with good values who was dedicated to her family and loved life.

Most people on the Web will remember her as the character Margaret in the cult classic film Manos the Hands of Fate. While many laughed at aspects of this film, I always felt her performance was the redeeming quality, and that she brought tenderness to what many said was just a "B-Movie" role.

The outpouring of support from fans of Manos and of the show Mystery Science Theater has been tremendous. I wish Mom was around to see how many fans have sent flowers and given well wishes to my family. Thank You for keeping us in our thoughts. We appreciate everything you've done. Mom would be proud.

Love,
Ruth Mahree Fletcher
January 5 2008

Whoever this Ruth Mahree Fletcher is (if that's even her real name), she is lying.  Diane is very much alive and I spoke with her on the phone this last Saturday for about an hour.  I also saw her in person and spent a week with her in December 2010.  I realize that public figures can't control the terrible things people say about them but you can be sure that when it comes to Manos, I will do my best to ferret out and expose these lies.  I welcome any questions or referrals to other questionable statements about Manos.  

Breathe easy folks.  Diane is alive, still gorgeous and a whole lot of fun to know.  You may just get the chance yourself to know her down the road a little ways.

Until next time.  May the Hand of Manos Bless You and Yours

Manos Hands of Felt Kickstarter

The Manos: Hands of Felt puppet show will be appearing on stage in Seattle Washington for two weeks starting August 9th.  There are so many of you that won't have the opportunity to see the show live but you will have the opportunity to get a DVD of this awesome event.  Rachel Jackson, the creator of Hands of Felt     plans to have the show professionally filmed and will offer it for purchase.  She has begun a Kickstarter to raise the needed funds and is already doing great in such a short time.  More than halfway to her goal, in fact.  There are some cool items for backers including dinner with me before the show on August 10th. Well, I think it's cool. Lol.  Anyhow, Check it out and pitch in if you can and come to the show if you can.  It'll be a blast!

Manos: Hands of Felt Kickstarter

How It All Began

I'm re posting my first stories for new readers and to refresh continuing readers.  Thank you all so much for being here.

The Inside Story of Manos.  Part One

Hello all,
If you know Manos, The Hands of Fate, you know me.  I was Debbie, the little girl who became a wife of The Master in the end.  For any of you that I just gave the ending away to...Sorry, but really, it's not that great a film to begin with.  As fans know, it's the total experience of sitting through it that counts.  Certainly not the plot.
     Manos was truly a family film.  For me personally...not the poor hapless audience.  My father Tom Neyman played the role of The Master (He still quite hale and hearty, by the way).  The Master's demon dog was played by our family dog, Shanka.  My mom made the costumes for the Master and the wives.  She also made the dress I was wearing but that came from my own closet.  My mom made all my clothes back then.  The convertible car that carried the Micheal, Maggie, Debbie family was the Neyman family car.  Torgo's coverall, jacket and hat all came from my father's closet.   That's just a piece of our involvement.  My dad, Tom is an amazingly talented artist and had been in his "hand" phase for several years when Hal Warren asked him to help make the film.  Initially, the film was to be titled, "Finger's of Fate" but in a production meeting, my dad suggested the new title of "Manos, The Hands of Fate"  He reasoned that since he had been asked to not only star in the film but to provided sets, costumes, and artwork (all on a promise of future payment), that he could better put his time to work if he could use some of the art he already had.  Hands, lot's of them.  I haven't actually counted the pieces in the film but all the art, the sculptures and the Master's painting were created by his hand.  Sadly, some of those item's were never returned to my dad.  But hey, I got paid something.  I received a shiny red bicycle with training wheels and my dog, Shanka got a 50 lb. bag of dog food.
     That's it for now.  Thanks for reading and come back soon.  I've got lots to say about Manos, The Hands of Fate

The Inside Story of Manos.  Part Two

Here’s the story of how we re-discovered Manos more that a quarter century from it’s original release...

     As friends of my youth will attest to, I had talked about a film I had done with my dad when I was small and wanted very much to see it again.  It was a point of nostalgia for me considering how involved my whole family, including our dog, was in the making of Manos.  You must remember.   These were the days before personal computers and before the internet. 

     I called around, asking and searching for years.  Libraries, university film departments,  film archives, any place I could think who might be able to give me a lead.  I had pretty much given up when my phone rang 1993.  My dad was calling and said, “You’ll never believe what I just saw.  I was dozing off while watching the Comedy Central channel and heard some strange but familiar music.  When I opened my eyes, there I was on the television.  They just showed Manos, The Hands of Fate!”. He had been so shocked that he didn’t call me until it was over.  I immediately turned on Comedy Central and saw they had an 800 number on the screen to call for information.  So I called the number.  I had reached the HBO offices in Manhattan and a young man named Mathew.  I told him I had an unusual request.  “My dad just saw an episode of Mystery Science Theater featuring the film, Manos, The Hands of Fate.  I’ve been looking for that film for years.  My dad and I were in it and if at all possible I would do just about anything for a copy.”  Next came a looong pause and then “Oh My God!  Are you Debbie?”  I was simply stunned as I pulled the phone from my ear to look at it while my mouth hung open.   He then said “That is our favorite bad movie here in the office.  I just had a copy on my desk the other day.  I would love to send it to you and am so happy to talk with you”.

     And now, as we all know…the rest is history.

The Blessings of Manos

I haven't been posting as regularly as I should but not because I've run out of things to say about Manos but because I've been so busy just living Manos.  I'm also attempting to learn how to make this blog easier to navigate.  For instance, I need to figure out how to have the blog titles displayed so you can find the story you wish to read.  I mean, sheesh, even I can't find some of the stories I'd like to review.

As you know from my last couple posts, I've been involved in a play about Manos in Portland. https://www.facebook.com/CapitalIProductions?fref=ts

. This is the third out of four weeks of the show.  7 more performances to go. All is going great. This show is tremendously funny whether or not you are a Manos fan although the Manos and MST jokes do add another dimension.  So if you are anywhere in the Portland, Oregon area before May 5th, be sure to come.  I get to play the voice of Debbie with my on stage character being played by a puppet.  Poetic justice when you realize that my voice was dubbed by a grown woman in the 1966 original Manos: The Hands of Fate.  Now I'm the grown woman dubbing myself.  I also painted my version of my dad's famously sinister Master and Dog portrait for the set of the play.  For a limited time, I'm offering 11" X 14" prints individually signed and quite suitable for framing.  If you've ever dreamed of having this on your wall or need the perfect gift for your favorite Manos fan, here it is.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230968389196#ht_500wt_1203

 Besides that, I need the help, please.  This play is community theater which is not a paid gig and I must fund my own meals, travel, etc and being a poor artist type, it's a challenge, but one I must do, for my heart and my soul.

 I'm having some of the best times of my life.  One of the cast members has very generously offered the use of an adorable small short term rental in a very cool part of Portland so that I don't have to drive 70 miles home each night.  I've taken advantage of this opportunity to find new venues for my art, to make connections and create friendships with other motivated, successful creative people.   I can honestly say that Manos has opened up my life in the last couple of years in ways that could never have been imagined or planned, and without going into it much, Manos has helped heal and create new kind of relationship between me and my dad, The Master.

It is truly incredible to think that something that happened so many years ago could come to impact a life so much now.  How can it be that the Worst Movie Ever Made could be the catalyst  to bring my life's work and purpose as a creative being to public consciousness?  As many artists can tell you, a creative nature can be a real detriment to cultural standards of worth.  Fulfilling to the spirit perhaps but not to the stomach.  I cannot help who I am, no matter how often I may wish I could be content with a soul sucking job that at least pays the bills. Not really.  I just wanted to try out that last sentence but truthfully, I never regretted my choices because in the end, being an artist is not a choice, it just is.  I only wish society could recognize the value of what I do.

To see some of what I do, please click the "Jackey's Art"  tab at the top of the page.  If you are interested in any of my work or wish to commission a custom piece please contact me directly at jackeyraye@msn.com
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