[VFF’15] Is the Food Tennis Pro Ate Big in Japan? A Review & Interview

bij_POSTERLittle known Seattle-based rock band Tennis Pro is having problems back home and in what they realize is that they are not getting the attention that they deserve. When Alex Vincent (AKA Alex Shumway) of Green River fame takes notice and offers them the chance to pursue recognition in the land of the rising sun, perhaps their fame will truly be “Big in Japan.”

This rockumentary blends actual concert moments with a fictionalized narrative to tell the story of what guitarist David Drewery, drummer Sean Lowery and bassist Philip Pearson faced while in this country. From total culture shock in not quite realizing where they are to showing off what this trio have to eat, perhaps it’s best lovers of Japanese food should not attend this film with an empty stomach. It will get some people wanting to try an ice cream hotdog or to attempt a ‘dangerous’ round of sushi roulette themselves.

Continue reading

2015 Victoria Film Festival Day One in Recap

The 2015 Victoria Film Festival (VFF) went back in time during its opening night. Crowds had a great selection of movies to choose from on day one. Some even began an hour earlier so that a total of six movies were available that ranged from matters of the heart to comedy and music.

Continue reading

One Bloke’s Quick Guide to the Victoria Film Festival 2015

PrefestCards7
Today marks the launch of Victoria Film Festival’s release of their 2015 program guide, and in what’s offered will be more documentaries than anyone can watch in a day, much less a weekend. That’s the first thing people scanning the guide from beginning to end will note. And starting this year (and most likely continuing) are screenings in Sidney, BC. People living north of Victoria (heading to BC Ferries) have a venue to see a specially selected list of movies playing at Star Cinema without having to travel too far from home.

The show runs February 6-15th, and this hungry film buff is looking forward to this year’s gala event — the movie Boychoir starring Dustin Hoffman as choirmaster who finds talent in a boy suffering from family loss. The reception that’ll follow afterwards will sport a 40’s theme with plenty of big band sounds to kick off the night. With the talents of Rita Hayworth, Veronica Lake, Cary Grant and Claude Rains blazing on background monitors, a few fans of comedy may well ask, “Well, Who’s on First?” Abbott and Costello is suspiciously missing. This event will be held at the Promis Building.

Continue reading

Evil Acres offers Delightful Frights

1607035_386482928176879_630313543971803379_nfrom 7 to 11pm daily
continues to Nov 1st
10375 Wilson Rd.
North Saanich, B.C.

Travelling down a dark and lonely road can be a terrible experience. Imagine getting lost, or finding yourself at a decrepit barn and your vehicle is low on gas. Let’s suppose everything is silent but that house you need to approach is the only place to find a phone so you can call a tow truck. You’re damning your cell phone because there’s no reception out in the countryside. Evil Acres has the potential to be just that if only …

The sad truth with some haunted attractions is that the producers are usually wanting to deliver a carnival style experience. I’d love to visit a haunted asylum aka Grave Encounters but that may not be coming for some time. To enter a haunted house when no one else is there is typically more terrifying. I can only imagine entering it with a few friends in search for something — like a treasured baseball with Miguel Cabrera‘s autograph that got tossed in there by an annoying nephew — but its labyrinthine corridors and odd reeking smells is suggesting otherwise.

Continue reading

A Ghūl’s All Hallows Eve Guide to Frights & Entertainment in Victoria & the Gulf Islands

22271_1331667404240_2567935_nThe Dead of October is here. As a paranormal and archaeology enthusiast, there’s plenty for me to do at this time of year. But trick o’ treaters and lovers of horror films can find plenty of chills, thrills and frights to choose from. When a certain craving hits, thankfully this time of year is not always about the private parties or candy. Instead, it’s about what can transpire when Hunter’s Moon arrives.

The list of activities is nicely varied and there’s plenty to choose from for the young and old to partake in. Yes, even some nerdish delights can be found in this update, but who wants to be stuck indoors? The excitement is all in what can be found outdoors or in the fringe! But for residents of the Gulf Islands, just how they want to get the inner ghoul on means deciding in what is more interesting to attend. Presented here is a guide for what’s coming up:

10580135_651998624895778_3972538185895529457_n

Oct 5, at 2:30pm – 5:00pm
Meets at Centennial Square – Victoria

Put on your best corpse, and somber on down a route to encourage the best that the plague will do upon the masses! This zombie walk will feature a few local makeup talents to help make your costume all the more gross. More information can be found on their Facebook page as to what the route will be.

Continue reading

Rifflandia 2014: A Taste of What You Missed

If you missed Rifflandia 2014, you have reason to be crying in your beer because you just missed one hell of a weekend. But now is the time to dry your eyes by planning a Gulf Island vacation around Rifflandia 2015. With Riff getting better with each festival, imagine what next year will bring.

Look for for local business SO-YA Japanese Izakaya Dining and Trounce Alley making their appearances in this Rifflandia video.


 
Betty and Kora‘s Rifflandia Highlights 2014 was shot and cut by Jim Vanderhorst of Rebel Cause Films.

Featured in the video are Head of the Herd, Serena Ryder, Death Cab for Cutie, Hilltop Hoods, Del the Funky Homosapien, Danny Brown, Kytami, and Dead Air.

The song for this video is We Could Get Together by Head of the Herd, from the album By This Time Tomorrow (2013).