Victory: 2020 Version

Another great collage of the past. I always enjoy these pictures as they serve as puzzle pieces to the current ‘Now Today Society.’ I was happy to see your old A.V. Teacher appear, and the finale certainly drove home the early ideal ‘Art-horror’ you continue to strive for.

The First Tasting

Part 1 of what I consider the “Zoom Dialogue Trilogy’ of the night. I’m curious as to where the Count exists in the timeline and what his presence might mean for the future of the society, since we the audience know where several of the characters’ stories end. (Or do they!?) Happy to see Steven Ghostly and Rhy’s Terrible back to their old tricks. Since the trilogy is predominantly stationary, I find the characters’ physical movements to take on more importance, and to me Gordon Stacks immobilized on his back was perhaps the most apt metaphor for 2020. MUTED.

Sea Peoples Despite the covid restrictions I was happy with the way the film turned out. No longer living by the ocean has given me a bit of nostalgia for Winthrop and Sea Peoples draws upon that. Big thanks to all those involved. I hope that this film can join the ranks of previous Extensions Saturday ‘sea-centric’ classics such as Herr O’s ‘Sea Virus: Pilot’ and Mr. Y’s “The Black Curse of the Seagull’s Seashell.”

2020 & Girl with the Most CakeGreat experimental work by Cherry Marashino. I was really lucky to have her deliver a pitch perfect voice cameo for Sea Peoples and I look forward to more of her films in the future!

The Will

The 2nd of the Zoom Dialogue Trilogy, The Will wields silence to its great benefit, creating tension throughout. Was happy to see the Professor, Herr O, Blim and Vlindenhauer duel it out through the dialectic dance Reek Crudely choreographed. As a sort of meta-commentary on the Gourmand Society, I assume that this is a seperate faction of the society – they share the same slogan, but their gruesome ritual is less cannibalistic and more determined by chance…or is it?

Sleep Demon & On the Transmigration of Marjorie NolanTwo quaint pieces from Reek Crudely serve as a perfect sinew between the heavier works on the night. Always amazed by the animation Reek puts together and having been privy to his bodily sound effects for years I find them to be perfectly suited for the Transmigration.

The Tasting

The 3rd film of the Zoom Dialogue Trilogy. I enjoyed participating in this work and was happy to revisit Navin Tickwillis. The presence of Count Vrahalyse again infers some kind of intergalactic coordination by he and Stephen Ghostly. What does the moon cheese mean for the Gourmand Society, and more importantly, how does this affect the later events of the Haverhast winner two years ago? With that type of twist ending, baited by the Count, and Navin’s potential murderous intentions, new things have come to light!

When The Alarm Goes Off

F2 once again delivers for this year’s Extensions Saturday. Somehow able to execute both comedy and horror in single sentences, I’m once again blown away by the special effects Frank is able to so deftly intertwine with his self-reflexive narrative. His own personal war on drugs continues, but this time I feel a sense of completion. The projector sequence not only wows the senses, but examines the past of F2 and potentially signals towards and future. And the future looks…limitless!

Realization

Another great finale that explores the absolutions Vlindenhauer and friends have experienced over the course of this tough year and the Political Frank skit at the end was a cherry on top of a grim but hopeful sundea.

Final Reflection:Cheers to all the participants! I’m curious about the recurring and unintentional theme of guns that were scattered throughout the line up. Maybe the media has something to do with it.