Day 6: Wordless Wednesday: Election Day

NaBloPoMo #28: Get your scare on

I want to share a short scary film with you tonight. It's not just any scary film, but one that a friend and former colleague from my university days co-stars in. I used to think Brady was pretty menacing when I'd see him stalk into his classroom the first day of school with a baseball bat slung over his shoulder. He's something like 8 feet tall, and I'm pretty sure nobody would have messed with him even if he didn't have a bat. I hear he stopped carrying it because somebody thought he was intimidating. What?

He's also a horror writer, which I suspect means whatever is inside his head is pretty scary too. (His book is Back Roads and Frontal Lobes. You should buy it.) However, in this film, which is based on an HP Lovecraft story, he's subtly terrifying. I wouldn't want to meet him in an abandoned house.

Now that you've watched the film, I'd also like to mention that I had not watched this movie before I wrote my post last night about looking up at the ceiling when a drop of blood fell on the counter. I felt an unpleasant shiver go through my entire body when I saw the end of the film, along with a slight sense of justification for having looked at the ceiling first.

Horror: other perspectives

How can a feminist make horror continued from last night's post ….

Tonight’s post contains mostly copy and paste from the Facebook discussion. It’s a lot, but I didn’t copy nearly all. (Although I mentioned Brady last night, his comments won’t be included.)

Here we go.

Tim mentions 3 themes that came up in several posts. First that the violence against women isn’t glorified; everybody knows who the bad guy is and we're not supposed to identify with him. Second, that horror films often portray kick-ass women, either as good or bad guys. And third, that some of us have emotional responses to violence (whether it’s in horror films or other genres) that are personal to us, and may exist for various reasons.

Tim: Some genres of horror films -- such as slasher movies -- and some genres of suspense films -- such as the woman in jeopardy films that often show up on Lifetime network -- are often accused of being anti-woman because women are depicted as victims. The counterargument to this is that both male and female audience members sympathize more with women in these situations than they do men. Regardless, there are many, many horror films in which women are not portrayed as victims, where there are no women in the story, or where women are depicted as strong protagonists or antagonists. As for any movie that does show extreme violence (regardless of who this violence is toward), the violence needs to fulfill an important story function. If it does, then -- like any other narrative element -- it's justified. If it doesn't. then it's just lazy storytelling. If the violence is used for obvious sadomasochistic rape fantasy (you can find dozens if not hundreds of no-budget porn flicks like this for sale on Amazon, etc.) then such productions obviously have no artistic intent or merit. Extreme violence happens in the world, and has throughout the history of the human race. It's something our species has struggled with for millennia, so of course it will be the subject of art at times. Some people mistake their individual emotional response to art (or to anything, for that matter) as indicative of something wrong with that art. Their reaction can be summed up as "How dare you make me feel this way?" It's often inconceivable to them that others will have different reactions to art and may find elements in it to appreciate. MARTYRS is a brutal film that depicts the prolonged torture of its female protagonist (who arguably ends up in a position of power at the end), but it's also in its own way a beautiful film that explores some deep and complex spiritual themes. Some people would never be able to stomach it, and some might finish it and feel traumatized by the end. But those are individual reactions. The film itself was made with and communicates artistic intent …

I have a friend who's a survivor of sexual abuse. She can't watch any violent scenes that show the emotional response of the characters to violence, esp. if the character is a woman. But she sees this as a personal trigger and not the fault of the filmmakers. Although she doesn't like violence when it's used as part of lazy storytelling, whatever the reason.

Angie: Artemis house is a fantastic cause rooted in realism and as a rape survivor I whole heartedly support its campaign. Horror movies in general are sensationalism, rooted in entertainment (not truth) and should be taken that way. I don't particularly like them but as a survivor of violence I don't even think of them as "glorifying violence against women" and in fact women tend to be the heroine in more then 50% of them . just my two cents.

Persephone: …[F]or this person to suggest that all horror movies glorify violence against women means they are unfamiliar with the genre. If you are working on a movie that is all about fucking and gutting women, then I might call that out. But horror is an incredibly diverse genre. There are many horror movies in which the hero is a heroine, and where men are victims. Only you know if what you're working on is in conflict with your values.

Chris: … I have wrestled with the idea of whether by enjoying horror films I am enjoying the glorification of violence in general, and violence toward women in particular. The first problem one runs into in trying to answer that question is how to define the word 'glorify,' because I think the denotation of that word in common thinking is unclear.

Is it a case where any depiction of violence against women can be considered a glorification? That would be an extreme view, but I can understand and appreciate how some people are so fed up with violence against women in the real world that they will take such a view.

The other extreme may be something like this: depiction of violence equals glorification if a) The person who commits violence against another is portrayed as having the moral 'high ground' b) the violence is directed specifically and intentionally toward women, and c) the person committing the violence either experiences no consequences, or is rewarded for their actions.

One also has to ask whether the measure of glorification vs. depiction is equal where the person committing violence is also a woman, and why or why not.

In my view, depiction of violence against women, or violence in general, does not necessarily equate to glorification of that violence. But if I were to indict a genre of films for glorification of violence in general, and sometimes women in particular, I would sooner blame the action genre, which often portrays violence as about as devoid of consequences as stopping by the gas station on your way home from work, or treats it as something worthy of revelry, cheers and 'rah-rahs'. So I feel that the worst thing than can be done when depicting violence in film is to trivialize it, because when you remove the consequences, the ugliness, and the tragedy of violence, that's when it becomes possible to glorify it.

In general, violence is not a trivial aspect of most horror films. It is the focus, with a slant that sparks some interest in the viewer and reflects something of the darker side of humanity. At the same time, the horror genre can be empowering, because unlike some real life terrors, a horror film is a terror you can turn off …

******

And that’s a segue into a point several people brought up. Why judge horror so harshly when other genres are just as guilty of extreme violence? And I think it’s a good point. I can barely watch Quinten Tarantino’s films. And Fight Club left me feeling disturbed for 2 weeks.

Karen: I don't see the horror genre glorifying violence against women any more or less than other genre. If we want to get really picky, I could talk about how Fried Green Tomatoes made lesbians look bad, so in essence, all movies that represent lesbians should only do so in a positive light and that's my take on the movie. See my point? Movies are made to entertain for the most part. If I think a movie is morally reprehensible to me, I won't support it, but I won't tell you I think you're an idiot for supporting Fried Green Tomatoes. Just my 2 cents. Watch and be entertained, or get up and walk out, that's my motto.

Douglas: Horror films (and literature, for that matter) have a problem with their depictions of women because almost all media has a problem with its depictions of women. Tim's distinction between violence that serves the story versus violence that is used to exploit the audience is worth noting. Take The Human Centipede (which I think is poorly made, poorly written, weirdly racist, and uses the excuse of "social commentary" to justify its highly sexualized sadism) and compare it to Dead Girl (a film that uses shocking imagery to tell a story ABOUT adolescent misogyny). Take Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum and compare it to most of the novels by Edward Lee (your mileage may vary, I know lots of people love Lee's books, but I don't understand the appeal, and I don't think he justifies the violence he uses). Is misogyny disgustingly common in horror/science fiction/fantasy/your genre of choice? Probably.

******

A few people defended their love of horror from a feminist perspective. Here’s an example.

Lola: I am a huge horror fan and a huge feminist and I have found some movies to go much too far in the violence against women, but I also think it is the genre with the most women passing the Bechdel test all around. There are very often women who have conversations with each other that do not revolve around a love interest, women who kick ass, women who fight for when they have been wronged etc. I see no in general reason why horror as a whole would be considered anti-feminist.

******

And finally, a few of us admitted we’re weenies, and we can’t watch horror movies because we’re too scared. But that doesn’t mean we think other people shouldn’t or that people who love horror in all its forms are future ax murderers. (They aren’t, right?) Be it horror movies, roller coasters, bungee jumping, or any other adrenaline-gushing trigger, some people just like to be scared in a controlled environment.

And some of us don't.

Alice: I consider myself a strong feminist. I don't do horror flicks. Not because I'm a feminist but because they are scary and predictable. (Where does Kill Bill fit in this discussion?) I also favor free speech. Educate folks about misogyny and don't go to films that portray women negatively.

Moxie: … [T]he first horror flick I ever worked on I had a nightmare...about myself.

Who's the weenie now?

******

I will also admit I’m surprised how passionate some people got over this topic. My daughter Elvira, who is usually razor sharp in her eloquence, simply said, “I just fucking love it! I don’t know what else to say. I love all horror!” Obviously I didn’t pass on my weenie-ness to her.

The discussion on Tim’s page went all kinds of interesting places, but I’m not going to post anything from there without permission, except something Tim said that I think might go to the heart of what many people fear about the effect of horror on viewers.

Tim: Some people believe that some audience members get off on seeing people (most often women) in fear and pain. And I'm sure some do. How many, it's impossible to say. There's no way to know what people are thinking and feeling when they watch a movie. The deeper argument is that watching such films lead to desensitization of the audience, so they are more willing to passively accept living in a violent world or more likely to channel feelings of frustration and anger into violence. These people don't get off on the violence but are still affected by it, probably in ways that are more damaging to the culture. At least, that’s what some would argue. I don't know if it's something that can ever be measured …

It's treating women as objects that exist solely for male pleasure (whatever form that pleasure takes) that people object to. They view some depictions of violence against women as showing the ultimate pleasure-power (almost a form of apotheosis), thereby glorifying violent acts. Less pleasure- power-based violence (like in basic action, thriller, and mystery films) probably wouldn't fit this definition. (At least, that's my best guess. Maybe someone with more knowledge will chime in.)

I guess the idea is that emotionally healthy people will see the villain as a villain. Emotional unhealthy people might get off on the villain's actions and be inspired to act them out to achieve the same level of pleasure-power.

******

There ya go. I want to express my appreciation to everyone who commented and helped me sort through the deeper answers to this question. I hadn’t given it much thought, but when I was called out on it by Ms. Borowitz, I realized I needed to.

The bottom line is that I work on Billy’s films because I like him and I like seeing it all come together. I don’t see anything that glorifies violence against women in his work. So for me personally, I’m just going to continue having fun making movies.

Thanks for your question, Ms. Borowitz. I wish you could have seen all of the comments it inspired. And I wish I could write everything I have to say about the topic; however it could become a book. But please feel free to continue the conversation in the comments section below.

As for me, I'm going to write about something I'm more familiar with tomorrow. Any guesses what that might be? Starts with a .......

Reticula, you hypocrite!

(Note: this post has been edited after publication.)

Tonight I wanted to answer Grendela Borowitz's comment on last night's post about working on a new horror film with Billy Montana. Here's the comment: "I see a real disconnect in your last two posts. First you raise funds for Artemis. A very worthy cause. Then you help produce "horror" films that glorify violence against women. Personally I find these films reprehensibly disgusting, but that's just me. How do you explain this?"

I think it's a fair question. I don't mind being called out on what Ms. Borowitz's perception of my hypocrisy. And I did want to give the question serious consideration, but the fact is, I'm not an expert on horror nor on misogyny in the genre. So I put the question to my Facebook friends. One, Tim Waggoner (Supernatural: Carved in Flesh [Dean!] and Bone Whispers: A Collection of Short Fiction), I would call an expert on horror, but others really know their shit too.
.

I've received around 40 meaty, thoughtful comments so far. Tim posted his comment on his Facebook and asked for discussion, and there are close to 80 comments there. (What can I say about that discrepancy? Tim's a popular guy with over 4600 friends. I have .... fewer.)

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed at the idea of consolidating all of those comments, and I certainly can't share them all. But I will share a few that are most relevant to Ms. B's question.

First though, I want to address the personal side of the question, which is how I can reconcile my involvement in both Artemis Center and a horror film. And I have to say, the first problem with the question is the assumption that this film, and all horror, glorifies violence against women. I won't deny that the horror genre is full of violence, but I can't agree that it "glorifies" horror against women. In other words, it's difficult for me to answer the question when I don't agree with the rhetoric.

But let me share 4 pieces of information that was left out in last night's post, mostly because I just thought it was a funny message and didn't dissect it or consider how others might do so.

1. We didn't actually do the shoot. Our young star told her mom she didn't want to do it after she realized how "bloody" it would be, and Billy shut it down. He will probably even cancel the production completely.

2. A boy could have played the part Jessica was supposed to play, and it wouldn't have changed the story a bit. The story wasn't about violence against women or girls, although it did portray that as long as a girl played that part. Billy asked Jessica's brother to participate too, but he's not comfortable performing and he declined. However, if a boy of the appropriate age stepped up to do the project, Billy would use him in the film.

3. I can't give away the story, because it belongs to Billy. But I can say that the concept has nothing to do with violence against women. The concept is about how some people love their dogs like children to a pathological degree, and being a horror flick, it takes that puppy love way over the top. Violence against women has nothing to do with it. And in fact, the only person performing violent acts is a woman, who is, I assure you, not violent in real life.

4. Medicine, the last film I worked on with Billy, also had a female antagonist, and all the violence was against men. I'm not condoning real violence, but every story has tension, and horror is a genre that demands violence. If you don't like horror, that's OK. It scares me too much to watch it (although I'm huge fan of Stephen King because the guy can really write). I'm bothered by the gore, and I have triggers from my childhood. But you won't often see horror without violence. The whole point of horror in its purest form is to examine those things the terrify us.

So how can I work on a horror movie and still abhor real-life violence? I'm not doing it for the subject matter of the movie. I'm doing it because I really like and care about the other people I'm working with, and I enjoy meeting and working with new people too. I want to do creative projects with them. So if Billy's making a horror movie, and he asks me to help out, I do it if I've got the time. He prefers to make comedies and dramas, and if he asks me to work on those, I'll do that too.

Also, seeing how various effects are produced is fascinating and often hilarious. This is an unfamiliar medium and genre for me. I'm doing it for the experience more than anything.

I do lots of things just for the experience, and I write about most of those things.

I have not worked on any films that "glorify violence against women." Nor would I. If I thought Billy was doing that, I'd be the first to call him out on it, and I probably wouldn't be the only one.

And guess what? I'm sure he would listen to me. He's not the kind of guy who would want to do that either.

I have to apologize that I can't finish this post tonight. I'll consolidate the Facebook responses tomorrow and continue then.

Ms. Borowitz, please let me know if I haven't answered your question fully.

To be continued ....... 

Snippet from a horror film

Billy Montana asked me to go to a Queens of the Stone Age concert in Cincinnati this past Friday night. I said yes, because I've never heard of them, but when I looked them up on youtube Dave Grohl was playing drums for them, and I have a huge hard-on for Dave Grohl. No offense to his wife of about a million fucking years, but he should be in my bed tonight wearing a glow-in-the-dark snorkel.

On the way to the concert, Billy told me about a couple of projects he's working on -- both in the horror genre -- and asked me if I wanted to work on them as the producer. I said I would. Then he described the story-line for the first one, and I put my hand on the door handle and left it there the rest of the trip because what kind of deranged mind comes up with this shit?!?!

It was really fucking disturbing. Of course, I can't give away any spoilers, but I will share the message from Billy Montana to the cast and crew that I found in my Facebook message box the next morning. (Some names have been changed.)

Everyone ok for starting at 3pm tomorrow? 

[address of shoot]

Okay, some notes for tomorrow's shoot:

Moxie: We will need to put duct tape on Jessica, like she's bound up. I'll double side it so it won't stick to her and it will be loose on her so she won't be actually bound. That's hands and feet, and a piece across her mouth. Also, we will be using some fake blood on her feet as Sarah is dragging her dead body out of the tub. How are you doing on ragged looking clothing and such? Also, bring some towels and extra change of clothes for Jessica since she might get messy.

Sarah: I'll need to get some meat at the store for you to cut up. Also, any word on anyone else helping out? Might just need one other person as Reticula will be at the shoot.

Reticula: I have a squirt bottle for the blood for when Sarah hits the vein.

Ramona: Are we good for the dogs tomorrow? If not, what day next week works for you?

******

Step the fuck down, Wes Craven. Billy Montana will kick your creepy ass back out into the woods and let his dogs chew on your bones. And I will squirt you, because I'm the producer and that's what producers do right before they order the pizza.

You would not believe the things I deliberately experience for my art. And for other people's art.

(photo credit: gadling.com; crystalgraphics.com)

And ..... that's a wrap

I, like many other writers, will accept any excuse for not putting my butt in this chair and bleeding all over this keyboard. Last month I found yet another reason to make my muse Dolores chew her toenails in frustration: making a movie.

I was at a birthday party along with my friend Billy Montana one night, and he asked me if I would consider working on a movie he was making.

I said I'd never worked on a movie before and what would I have to do.
He said I'd do anything the producer told me to do -- like move equipment, dress sets, that sort of thing.

I was disappointed not to be asked to keep the casting couch warm. I asked what the movie was about.

He said it was a horror film.

Oh, I said. A horror film.

I should note that I do not watch horror movies. Not ever. OK, rarely. Stephen King is an exception because he's one of the best writers in the universe.

Otherwise, no horror for me. I'm still afraid the blob is going to roll down my street like a giant evil chocolate pudding and somehow consume me as I run screaming for help in my pajamas.  I had to stop watching The Exorcist when the girl crab-walked down the stairs ... and I was watching with my daughter. She finished it and then mocked me. Friday, the 13th? Chucky? Any movie about college coeds in the woods? Fuck no.

I have to be very careful what I put inside my head, because my head is a blob and what goes in grows larger, but never comes out.

But what the hell. I'm friends with all the actors. The set was mostly at Alex's house. It was only a commitment of a few days. I said, sure. I'll help. And just like that I was working crew on a film. A horror film.

I can't tell you what the film is about, although the NSA knew before Billy did, so I'm just going to hit some high points about my experience.

Alex's stairs

1. The producer didn't show up. I was surprised that was an option, but she crapped out entirely. So I did what Billy Montana told me to do instead. I helped set up lights, carried shit up and down Alex's scary basement stairs, ran out to buy bottled water and cigarettes, covered the windows with thick black plastic, watched the book for the actors (watched the script to make sure the lines and blocking was right), ran the fog machine, rubbed the glow-in-the-dark paint off one actor's shiny bald head with a wet wipe between takes, prepared testicles covered in black goo props, sat around on the casting couch and waited to be told what to do .... I did a bunch of various shit during those days of shooting.

And then, people, I ordered lunch. And guess the fuck what! That was like getting the golden ticket in the candy bar, because none of that other shit mattered one little bit. That's shit anybody can do. That's just being on the crew.

Ordering lunch though meant that I was elevated to .... wait for it .... producer! I am not fucking kidding!

I am the producer of a horror film. Who knew calling for pizza delivery and giving them Billy Montana's credit card number was such an important job?

2. What else can I say that's as exciting as that? Well, it was exciting watching the film come together. I like meticulous, detailed work, and the filming demanded intense attention to detail and physical and mental stamina -- even though we spent significant time just standing or sitting around waiting for the next thing to happen. The makeup for one of the characters took over 3 hours to air-brush on.

Billy shot some of the scenes over and over. And then he'd shoot the same scene from two or three different perspectives .... and shoot it over and over. For one scene, two of the actors drove up and down Alex's street at least 20 times, one of them drinking from a prop bottle of beer, as Billy filmed. We got a lot of curious looks from the neighbors.

But the filming isn't by far the end of it. Billy took all those scenes and shots home and will spend weeks editing, bringing the actors back in for ADR (additional dialogue recording), and then marketing it. It's a shit-ton of work, and this is a short film.

3. The director really does say, "Rolling .... and ..... action!" And he says "cut" and even, on the last day, "That's a wrap." It was just like a real movie just like you see in the movies.

One of the sets, the pizza, and me. I'm holding down the couch.
(photo credit: Alex Carmichal)

4. Almost everything we said sounded like something overheard at a porn shoot. "Just squeeze it until all the cream squirts out." "Can you bring in a wet wipe and clean off Bob's head?" "Just let that dribble slowly out of your mouth for this shot." "I didn't know this would be so sticky." I really wish I'd had time to write down the best of these. We laughed a lot. That helped me not take it too seriously because ....

5. This is going to sound crazy, but I was creeped out just watching the filming, and even more by reviewing the raw footage. The first day was the worst. Even after I went home, I felt like someone was watching me. This is why I don't watch horror movies. I couldn't have been further behind the scenes, I personally know and love all the actors, and it was still scary. I wouldn't be honest if I didn't admit what a pussy I am.

And the worst thing is that I didn't get to help with the gooiest, most terrifying scenes. I had to leave in the middle of the first day for a few hours to attend Melvin's funeral. I did see the raw footage though, and it was horrifying.

See what I mean?
(photo credit: Alex Carmichal)

6. Would I do it again? Fuck yeah! In fact, a group of us, led by the fearless Billy Montana, are going to compete in the Producers Guild of America Weekend Shorts Challenge. We'll have 48 hours to write, shoot, and edit a short film using specific criteria that we won't receive until the beginning of the challenge. More on that in September.

7. I can't wait to see the final product. Billy Montana expects it to be done and ready for a local showing in a month or so. I'll update then.

8. Finally, I was lying up there in the first paragraph. I don't really do things like this to avoid writing. I love writing. One reason I do things like this is because it gives me something to write about. And because I like the challenge of new experiences. And because I hoped I'd be invited to the casting couch. Maybe next time.

That's a wrap.