I saw a final cut of THE GATEWAY MEAT, filmed in Massachusetts. I appear in the film, I get brutally murdered and got to write my own death scene. Unfortunately my face is bound up with duct tape and we shot for 8 or 10 hours and I couldn't see and was covered in cold fake blood all day. The DVD will be out soon. The film is AMAZING- oh my god- so gory! I was only in a small part and did not see the script so knew nothing about the plot of the film or anything about it except my scenes.
Also out soon on DVD:
Countess Bathoria's Graveyard Picture Show, which debuted at the Fantasia Film Fest, and which I co-wrote.
I am writing for The Independent Magazine website and will be interviewing Jeremy Kasten, director of the upcoming remake of The Wizard of Gore.
I have an interview in the next Girls and Corpses magazine with Erik Ruhling, author of Infernal Device, an illustrated book of torture devices.
Although I put it aside months and months ago it looks like my script A Fistful of Anger may be optioned.
Your truly demented Reporter and X-Hollywood reject, Craig Amabello, reporting in from the trenches of life.
Buried deep in my bunker I have been for so long, fending off shells from a constant barrage of friendly fire, one sometimes forgets, that there are humans up above. Humans that are flesh & blood. Kind, decent, thoughtful humans that are buried way down deep, beneath this fleshy, faulty, weak exterior of ours.
It can be so easy to constantly feel lost, distracted, in this never ending battle over the day to day madness of life, that we all don't just go insane & want to jump off a building at times. That sometimes... On very rare occasions, one can actually bump into great human beings that walk this earth, unencumbered by the normal morass of day to day bullshit like so many others have gotten so used to.
When one meets humans such as this, it takes a moment to recognize them for what they are... THE REAL McCOY... THE REAL DEAL... NO FAKES... NO FRAUDS... NO BULLSHIT ARTISTS... No Morons MASQUERADING as humans.... But an actual flesh & blood soulful person. A person with a Heart. A person with a Soul. A human with a Belief system that doesn't always match up with what we have all been told and taught should match. But a human, with Integrity that goes out there, to LIVE THEIR DREAMS.
These rare humans, are a joy to behold when one takes the time, to climb out of the hole that we all sometimes throw ourselves into..... To open our eyes for a while & see that Humankind isn't all in the Gutter.
These people are not always rich, famous, & loved by all. Nor have they done great deeds for mankind....
But they are simply: Human Beings with a deep commitment to not DISHONOR LIFE!
To live it on their own terms... To do what they Truly believe in, No matter what the cost... No matter what others say... They are ready to stand up & be counted. To do Battle with the day to day Gods & Demons of life that help to keep us all down. To live life, in such a manner as to Not be Disrespectful to other Humans. To still treat others with kindness, dignity & respect, while still attaining their goals. This is what makes a GREAT HUMAN.
To witness a decent human being in action is a wonder to behold. A true JOY that makes life... That much more bearable......
I had the pleasure to work with such stellar human beings as that today.
What the hell does all this crap have to do with film making?
Well.... I was hired today to do camera work for a film that is going to air on PBS. I spent the day at Lowell General Hospital in the ER room shooting some scenes for a documentary that has been in production for well over 6 months. The brainchild of a Doctor Ryan. And his producer Nancy. With the help of a bright young Screenwriter, ( who worked today as a PA ) named Nicole.
This project is the baby of this young Doctor, who after spending most of his natural life, chasing after a dream of becoming a doctor, has finally reached his goal & realizes...... ITS ALL WRONG!... It is not what he thought it would be..... & now, He's made the Insane, But thoroughly brilliant & soulful move...... TO QUIT...... To obliterate a career that can virtually guarantee him success in this great country of ours. But at what cost does that success come? What part of your soul are "YOU" willing to give up, to LIVE "YOUR" dreams?
To me, That a person could do that... To reach their goal after almost 15 years of hard work & struggle... & then to just walk away from all that life could hold for you.... As far as Prestige, wealth, Power, respectability, etc.... Is absolutely Astounding.
This Doctor has become a Director & put his professional life on hold to do a documentary on "Doctor Burn out & how it affects patient care". I think a very important subject, with a very sensitive subject matter.
My long winded, convoluted point is this....... This crew was a breeze to work with.... Calm.... Confident... Coordinated... Respectful... with an exact knowledge of what it is they are trying to show in their documentary. What they are trying to achieve by doing something so potentially unpopular as this... & they pulled it off with such professionalism, that it helped.... For a tiny bit... To reaffirm my waning belief... That some humans.... Are actually Cool!.... Some people actually say what they think... & think what they say... with no bullshit factor in between.
Bravo.. Hooray.. My hats off to REAL HUMANS... That ever so precious, rare breed, that actually lives life by their OWN standards... THEIR own beliefs.
Thank you America... Thank you world... I had a good, productive day today....
Makes me feel like I'm back in Hollywood again..... Doing what it is that I am meant to do..... "MAKE ART". Have Fun... Be Creative!
Its days like this, that sometimes makes me believe, That ALL HUMANS don't Suck!
What are "YOU" people going to be in life? A Phony, Shallow money chaser? Or the real McCoy, being a decent human being & still living life.... On your own terms.
For I am the Real McCoy.... Your truly Demented reporter of life & X-Hollywood Reject, Craig Amabello
