The Video Watchdog Digital Archive Kickstarter Campaign!

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Video Watchdog's Dog Days Sales Event

All through August the Video Watchdog website is running a major sales event. Each day will bring a different sale over at VW, 31 absolutely wonderful reasons to visit their site throughout August. The first sale, five dollars off Tim Lucas' essential Video Watchdog book, is up and running and I have added a little panel over to the side to make it easy for folks reading here to click over there all month. So throw some support Tim and Donna Lucas' way, and at the same time get your self some discounted VW goodies all throughout August.

Twenty Years of Video Watchdog

Tim Lucas is reporting over at much missed Video Watchblog that this month marks the twentieth year that his overwhelmingly influential Video Watchdog has been in existence. In an era when it is next to impossible to keep an independent publication anywhere near above water, the fact that Tim and Donna Lucas have managed to keep Video Watchdog alive and kicking is more than worthy of a celebration. The fact that Video Watchdog has also managed to be consistently far and away the most important genre, and film in general, publication around is even more remarkable. So, congratulations to Tim and Donna, and here’s to twenty more years of Video Watchdog!

A Twelve-Pound Package Arrives From Cincinnati

This morning I went to the post office with the feeling that today might be the day that I would have something very special waiting for me. As I opened my PO Box I saw a key alerting me to the fact that I had an oversize package awaiting me. Now I have a couple of small items I have ordered recently so I thought this might not be it and to not get too excited. I made my way over to the numbered boxes and noticed that it was a key to one of the large boxes. Opening the box I excitedly found something large, HEAVY and marked from Video Watchdog. As I was walking out of the post office I was still in a bit of disbelief. I looked around and wondered is this really the day?


I got home with the package and sat it down on the floor to grab something to drink before I opened it up. My trusty Cat, and fellow Mario Bava fanatic, Mazzy immediately started to study the package and after deciding there was nothing harmful or explosive inside, he gave me the feline go ahead to open it.
I must say opening this box reminded me of being a kid again on Christmas morning. I had a near uncontrollable urge to put the music from A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS on as I was gently pulling the WEIGHTY surprise out of its priority mail container.

So here it is. I feel like I am dreaming and I can't believe it is finally in my possession. It is magnificent...just everything I imagined it would be and more. You can feel the love pouring out of every page of this book. I can't imagine how long it will take me to get through and truly absorb it all but I am looking forward to every second I will with it.
Here are some shots of me with my new baby. Congratulations to Tim and Donna Lucas on a remarkable achievement and thanks to the both of them for making this project so special. This is easily the finest book on cinema and one of its true masters that I have ever seen. I must also say that having my name featured in the back of it puts a major lump in my throat.
To quote Martin Scorsese's introduction, "It deserves a place on the bookshelves of all serious film lovers." Tim Lucas' MARIO BAVA ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK is available through Video Watchdog (which is always linked to the right).

The Best 11 Minutes Of The Weekend

Tim Lucas has posted a fascinating eleven minute video of him and Donna opening the first ever copies of his Mario Bava book over at his Bava book blog. For people, like myself, who have been eagerly anticipating this book for years this footage is incredible and really very moving to see.
As I was watching this, I was struck by how rare it is to glimpse an artist seeing their work in its final form for the first time. What a privilege the Lucas' have given us.
The book looks astonishing and I can't wait to be holding my actual copy myself. A great big congratulations to Tim and Donna and thank you for a peak into a moment that typically wouldn't be captured.

There is a direct link over to the video at Tim's Video Watchblog which is linked over to the right.

Louisville's Wonderfest 2007

Today I got to make a quick stop at Louisville's always great Wonderfest. Despite my current limited budget and tight time schedule, I had a great time. The biggest highlight was meeting Tim and Donna Lucas in person. Both were very warm and friendly and it was nice getting to spend a few minutes talking to them. My nervousness caused me to not get a photo which I am kicking myself about now...I did get a few pictures of the event which I will hopefully post at a later date.
Besides meeting Tim and Donna, I did score a couple of pocketbook friendly purchases including a great condition original one-sheet for the 1971 shocker THE MEPHISTO WALTZ (probably a case of a poster being better than the film but I was still pleased to have come across it) and a copy of Enzo Casellari's GREAT WHITE (LAST SHARK). I was particularly happy to come across a copy of this rare film because I can still remember seeing this with my mom in Henderson, Kentucky way back in 1982. I was 9 years old and it stands as the first Italian genre film I ever saw, although I definitely wasn't aware of it at the time. I look forward to revisiting the film after so many years.
Wonderfest happens every year and it is a great event for Louisville and the surrounding area. The website for it is linked below and anyone who hasn't attended before should mark their calenders for next year.

www.wonderfest.com