H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival

[Josh Feltman]

My wife and I went to the H.P. Lovecraft film festival in Portland this weekend, and we got to meet up with Novadak! Had a great time, watched some excellent Lovecraft-inspired shorts, as well as some not-so-excellent ones, as well as one longer film, an Aussie flick called H.P. Lovecraft's Chtulhu, which was really a strange mix of "The Thing on the Doorstep" and "The Dunwich Horror," but was pretty entertaining overall. Got to see, but not meet, Ramsey Campbell. I felt like we really got to see some interesting stuff that you normally wouldn't see in the theater. I also snagged a copy of The Call of Cthulhu, a modern silent adaptation of Lovecraft's masterpiece. I also got a great Cthulhu t-shirt at Mrs. Feltman's insistence. I don't think the event was really real to her until I got a shirt.

Ate some pretty decent food, stopped at a fantabulous (and fantabulously overpriced) comic shop, rode the light rail a jillion times, got lost near the airport both coming to and departing from our hotel, but other than that, it was a relatively smooth trip. The nine-hour drive each way is something I could have done without though; it left my neck feeling a bit kinked. Like I told Nova, I'll be renting a shoggoth next year instead of driving.

It was great getting to meet Nova, one of the few times I've met an online friend in real life. Very happy I got the opportunity to do so. We'll be going to next year's festival for sure.

A pic of the film I snagged:

Edited to add an image of the t shirt now that ImageShack is working again.

 

[Aardvark]

Cool shirt, Josh. Would love to wear it to work.

Do you (or anyone else) have a phonetic spelling of "Cthulhu"?

BTW, it isn't holding Homer Simpson's head in it's left hand, is it?

 

[Josh Feltman]

It's generally pronounce Ka-thoo-loo, though pedants will tell you different. Lovecraft himself said it that way from what I understand.

I'll be wearing the shirt to work tomorrow.

 

[Kevin the grey]

Betcha nobody takes the last cup of coffee in front of you at work tomorrow .
For insurance you could wear a blade like the one on the shirt .

I,m just wondering . Would people in the audience talk to each other during a silent movie ?

 

[Lion's Roar]

I'm ignorant. Never heard of him, but looks pretty cool.

 

[Ad Astra]

I know the Frogs are pleased by this turn of events.


Mike :foot:

 

[Josh Feltman]

When we got home last night, I could hear them chanting in their little burbling voices, "Ia! Yog-Sothoth! Ia!"

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Would people in the audience talk to each other during a silent movie ?

Only in sign language.

 

[Novadak]

Hey Josh!! Glad you guys had a good time; it was very cool to meet the lovely and talented Feltmans as well. Definitely see you next year!

Turns out some of the films from the festival, such as CollectAll and Hyde, are available online. Still waiting for Red Hatchet Films to put up their excellent claymation version of "From Beyond", which I strongly recommend people see if they get the chance.

When we got home last night, I could hear them chanting in their little burbling voices, "Ia! Yog-Sothoth! Ia!"

Probably just jealous because they missed out on the group chant of "Ia! Ia!" during the closing ceremonies...

 

[Josh Feltman]

I'm thinking the group chant is probably what set them off! They've carved some stunning bas-relief sculptures on the aquarium rocks. Amazing talent considering they only have four fingers on each front hand.

"From Beyond" was easily the best film I saw there.

 

[Bill Marsh]

That festival really sounds like fun.

Lovecraft's stories have always impacted me. I began reading early as a sickly child growing up on a farm.

The concept that there were some really bad, alien creatures trying to gte back to our demesion and that their return would be so inemical as to destroy all oife as we know it.

That these creatures were somehow working to influence unborn babies to be their minions and open the portals from our side so they could invade...... Brrrr!

The creeping chaos Nyarlothep.

The shining icosahedron.

The Mountains of Madness.

The Dark Brotherhood.

Pickman's model.

When I was growing up, my bedroom light switch was a string hanging by the bulb. I had to go into a pitch-dark room and find the string to turn on the light.

I remember madly swinging my arms around tryiing to find that damn string so I could see. Kept hearing chittering noises in the dark and I was sure that some malevolent creature was lurking, watching me and holding the string up where I could not find it.

and that creature was grinning.

Brrrrr......!

 

[Kevin the grey]

Bill ? What a mind I have . I would have hung something slimy and creepy like last nights spaghetti on the light string .

 

[Bill Marsh]

Bill ? What a mind I have . I would have hung something slimy and creepy like last nights spaghetti on the light string .

Would this have been to stop the Lovecraftian critters, or yourself?

 

[Kevin the grey]

Would this have been to stop the Lovecraftian critters, or yourself?

I was placing myself in the devoted brother role . The spaghetts would have been for you to find when searching for the switch .

You proabably woulda soiled yer shorts or come after me with something . You didn,t collect knives back then ?..... Did you ?....... Bill ? ................ Bill !