#joe is very gracious with them though he plays it off pretty well

[omegalomania]

hey gang what time is it its time for another joe trohman podcast. this actually came out like a month ago but i missed it until isa linked it to me and because i like doing these heres a highlights reel

the host says he appreciates that joe opened the book with the question of whether or not satan fucked his wife to which joe replies "well you know, when you have kids, sometimes you wonder that. you truly wonder what are these demons. i love my children btw they're phenomenal."

sometimes it does get tiring playing the same songs over and over. joe says that "thnks fr th mmrs" has a really good energy and tempo that keeps it exciting to play live

he talks about playing a really short iheartradio christmas show pre-pandemic and nobody in the crowd knew "sugar we're goin down" since they were only familiar with the more recent hits like "centuries" and "uma thurman" and joe said that it made him fall in love with sugar all over again in a weird way ldjfldkfd

he laments recently getting the chance to see wu-tang, nas, and busta rhymes at the hollywood bowl but he didn't go

his love language is giving gifts! he got his brother a custom drum set (which his mom attempted to throw out)

he reiterates that when writing the book he didn't want to be mean to any of his bandmates cause he likes them and thats not what the book is about! the host makes a joke: "like how you guys had that threesome with simple plan...i understand, you don't wanna get into that!" joe is offended that he clearly doesn't know how many guys are in simple plan. "there's more than three guys in there! the orgy was far larger than you give it credit!"

he doesnt remember any other names that the band could have been called but he does think fall out boy is a pretty terrible name for a band. "i can't believe i'm in a band called fall out boy."

discussions of the band origin and how joe funded it with his bar mitzvah money ("fall out boy, funded by judaism!") but when asked about financial gains from the band he says they all split everything evenly and it's one of the things that's helped them last this long

talking about scott ian and the damned things and he talks about how managing a supergroup is like herding cats because everyone is so busy with their respective groups. he says he'd LOVE to do a third damned things record though!

he talks about how weird it was to have this boy band aspect to them when they were at their peak pre-hiatus, because they were all hardcore kids and punk kids.

he recalls that around this time patrick asked their manager, with visible concern, "are we...the nsync to panic at the disco's backstreet boys?"

he's glad that they've outgrown that and kept pushing forward and looking forward, and by now they're no longer a boy band. "we're a man band!"

he thinks it's kind of neat to see the emo movement of the aughts become nostalgic and cool now ("it was not fucking cool when we were doing it [...] we stuck around for long enough to Not Be Lame"), but it's a big thing for fall out boy that they do not want to be a nostalgia act and they want to keep making new albums.

the host semi-jokingly says "so you and panic at the disco are not gonna go out on tour, is what you're saying." joe says "no" very flatly and i lose my shit.

he denies that fall out boy is working on any specific new music. he says they're just piecing things together organically and that no real album has coalesced. (note: this episode aired 11/12, ~2 weeks before the fob8 tribune ad)

he talks a bit about working with brian posehn on the axe and how much he loved doing it! he calls the whole story a metaphor for dealing with pain and trauma and the different ways there are to confront that stuff. he said the axe is coming out as a trade "soon" so people who don't have a subscription to heavy metal can read it

his first concert was tom petty and the heartbreakers when he was 10 or 11

he says the two things that matter most for a band's live show are the drummer and the singer. he then proceeds to be extremely sweet about patrick and andy.

"patrick, he's incredible, he's so gifted, and he's worked so hard with his voice lessons and figuring out how to sing from the diaphragm properly, and he really knows how to work through when he's sick and having real issues, so he's quite a trooper."

"and andy is just a great drummer. when he thinks he's had a bad day i'm like...yeah. sure. i don't think you know what that is."

he did not get laid in high school. first time was in a shared tour bus, listening to testament (a thrash metal band), when he was 19. (they never saw each other again)

since testament was the soundtrack the host asks if he ever gets a reaction whenever joe hears chuck billy (testament's lead vocalist). joe says without missing a beat, "when i see him i do, that's for sure."

he is an avid bowler. he has a wristguard and a spare ball and he used to take lessons. he calls it great stress relief!

#fall out boy #joe trohman #*making poasts #the pros of this podcast is that joe is zooming the whole time so u can see his pretty pretty face #the cons is that the hosts make some pretty off color remarks lol #joe is very gracious with them though he plays it off pretty well #i just rly rly love joe talking about this kind of stuff like i appreciate his approach #hes very empathetic and i envy that #hes also so glib and candid and approaches everything w humor and i Relate To That #lot of talk about mental health and addiction and trauma and stuff and a lot of it was rly insightful #but this is just the cliff notes so im mostly grabbing the zingers here #ty isa for alerting me of this!!

[feelsgood-anon]

Eros - Bar AU Chapter 12

DISCLAIMER: THIS PIECE IS A MYSTIC MESSENGER AU.  IT IS HEAVILY INSPIRED BY THE AMERICAN SITCOM CHEERS, A SHOW CENTERED AROUND A BOSTON BAR CALLED CHEERS AND IT’S REGULARS.  EVEN THOUGH I HAVE TRIED TO KEEP AS MUCH OF CANON PERSONALITIES WITH ALL THE MYSTIC MESSENGER CHARACTERS JUST REMEMBER THAT IT IS AN AU AND A FEW THINGS MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN IN GAME OR YOUR HEADCANONS. THIS HAS BEEN FUN TO PLAN AND I HOPE YOU FIND A BIT OF JOY READING IT!  

PG13+ FOR SWEARIN’ AND BOOZIN’.

CH.1 PT.1 | CH. 1 PT. 2 | CH. 2 | CH. 3 | CH. 4 | CH. 5 |  CH. 6|CH. 7 | CH. 8 | CH. 9 | Ch. 10 | Ch. 11 | Ch. 12 | Epilogue

I'm coming up only to hold you under I’m coming up only to show you wrong And to know you is hard; we wonder To know you; all wrong we were.

The Funeral - Band Of Horses

A week had passed since Scarlet had walked out of the doors of Eros. The air was thick with tension any time that Zen actually made it into the bar. Eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep and reeking of booze, he was impossible to talk to as every word was met with either a fight or complete silence.

Even Sunny, whom never missed a moment to throw her two cents around, kept a low profile whenever he staggered around the establishment. Thankfully if he did end up coming he normally locked himself in the office until everyone left for the night.

Saturday came along and Red was running around behind the bar working himself ragged to keep up on his own. Zen had been there - yes. But he wasn’t any help as he could barely keep himself up in his drunken state.

“Cannon, I got table four and table ten up!” He called out as he saw his brother walk by. Cannon put all the drinks on one tray and watched as his twin scurried around, “Hey, you sure you’re going to make it? It’s only nine. You’ve got five more hours of this.”

“I’ve got no choice, can’t let the service suffer.” He placed a few drinks on a tray and called Sunny over. “Don’t worry Cannon, I’ve got this.”

Sunny grabbed a bowl of pretzels and looked at Red with concern, “You’re doing a great, Red! This place would fall apart without you!”

Red chuckled and took a moment to grab his glasses from his face to wipe along the edges of his apron, “Nah. I’m just doing my job. If I have to pick up the slack for a few days then I’ll gladly do it.”

She smiled and blew him a kiss before walking off, “I still say you’re doing wonderfully!”

Duckie, who had made his way into the bar earlier in the day, gave him a thumbs up, “I admire you, Red. You work so hard and don’t let things get to you!”

“I’ve had enough in my life try to get me down to let things get to me. All I know is that I’ll appreciate my bed a lot more tonight.”

Clicks and Joe emerged from the back as they had played a few rounds of pool. He shook his head as he sat as his seat, “Damn, Joe. One day I’ll beat you. How’d you get so good?”

“I had a lot of practice in college. It’s simple geometry, really! Red, a beer for me and Clicks when you get the chance? On me, of course. Let me treat the loser.”

“How gracious of you, my lady. I’ll certainly take the drink!”

Red laughed a bit as he passed the drinks to them, “I have never seen anyone beat Joe at pool before, why do you keep trying?”

“One person has beaten me, actually. And he only did it once.” Joe said in a bit of a spiteful tone. “I couldn’t believe it happened either.”

“What? Who beat you?” Duckie chimed in, turning to look towards her, “They must be really good!”

With a deadpan expression she answered, “Sugar.”

“What?!”

They all turned to question except Clicks who laughed, “Of course he would. He’s got some hidden talents and is pretty smart. If it’s simple geometry the man could probably win money doing it.”

“Imagine how furious Zen was, yeah? Because he beat him too.” Joe laughed a bit, remembering the night a few months back, “Sugar wouldn’t let him live it down for two weeks.”

Clicks turned to Red to address him, “Hey, how’s Zen been anyway? Is he even here?”

Red nodded towards the office, “Yup, been locked in there since we opened.”

As if he heard them talking about him, Zen came out of the office. Stumbling a bit he slowly made his way to the bar. They all fell silent when he clung to the edge of the counter, body swaying a bit, to pull himself forward to dig for a liquor bottle. Duckie perked as he noticed him, waving wildly, “Hey Zen!”

Zen stopped a moment, blinks of his eyes exaggerated as he straightened a bit to look at whoever spoke. He smiled a toothy grin and leaned his body in the boy’s direction, “Heeeeeey Duckie! How are yah this evenin’?” He slurred out, “You’re a cute kid, yah know. Goooood kid. Say, wanna have a drink with me?”

Duckie smiled back a bit nervously, “Well I guess! But you know, maybe you could help Red a bit. He’s super busy and I feel bad for him.”

“Busy?” He looked over at Red who was making a batch of drinks quickly, “Oh, yeah! The bar is open. I can help!” He grabbed a glass and with a wobble of his hand placed it on the counter. He haphazardly threw ice into it and opened the bottle of vodka that he had grabbed for himself, pouring alcohol that halfway made it into the cup and onto the counter. “Oops…”

He placed the bottle down and went to grab a towel. As he started wiping he knocked the glass back towards him causing it to fall and shatter all over the ground. “Dammit…”

Red turned at the sound, grabbing a trashcan and rushing to put it in front of Zen. He had seen the look in his boss’s face and knew that he would…

Yep, throw up.

“Hey Zen, you alright?”

Zen wretched a few times, emptying his stomach of pure liquid. He waved Red away as he staggered back, “I’m fine. I’ll be in my office.” He grabbed the vodka bottle once more and made his way back in zig-zag steps.

None of them save Clicks had ever seen him that bad and the uncomfortable silence fell steadily. Red moved the trash can out from behind and looked to Clicks, “Can i ask you for a favor?”

“Yeah, I’ll dump it.”

“Thanks man, I appreciate it.”

Clicks headed for the bathroom and poured the contents of the trash into the toilet to flush, throwing the bag away as well. Pulling at his phone he sent a text to Sugar:

[He’s really bad. You need to come talk to him.]

[When I’m done here I’ll stop by, make sure he doesn’t leave.]

He let out a sigh and left to go to the office, knocking lightly, “Hey Zen?” As he got no reply he opened the door, eyes falling on Zen who had fallen asleep sitting at his desk. Closing the door behind him Clicks went and sat on the desk.

A few minutes went by as Clicks watched the other man asleep. This wasn’t new to him, seeing his friend in this state. Part of him wanted to let Zen sleep and get some peace of mind but another part wanted to just smack some sense into him. “You’re doing this to yourself again. Why, Zen? What can we do to help you?”

Zen let out a light snore as he woke up slightly, groggy eyes landing on Clicks, “Huh? Did you need somethin’?”

Clicks sighed a bit, “Not really, I’m just worried about you.”

“Nah, don’t worry about me! I’m good!” He lurched forward and pat Click’s thigh, “You’re cute, though. Always worrying about me. I forgive you for bringing her that night. I don’t need her anyway.”

“You’re right. You don’t need her but you want her. Learn to tell the difference.”

Zen reached his hand for the vodka bottle attempting to bring it to his lips but was stopped by Clicks, “Zen, please stop. I’m begging you.”

“Leave me alone.”

Clicks closed his eyes and nodded slowly, “Fine. I’ll be out there if you want to talk.” He walked out of the office and left Zen to his devices, plopping down at his seat to stare at his glass filled half-filled with beer, “He won’t even listen to me, Red. He wasn’t even like this the first time.”

Red wandered over to use the sink near Clicks, washing a few cups as the rush had mostly died down, “Where’s Sugar? He’s our last hope to talk any sense into him.”

“He’s been very busy trying to close a business deal but he told me he was coming as soon as he could.”

Duckie cleared his throat to get their attention, “Hey, maybe we should stage an intervention? We could stay until the bar closes and once everyone leaves we could all talk to him. If he sees that he has a group of people that care it could help!”

“That’s a wonderful idea, Duckie!” Sunny beamed as she overheard him on her trip back, “It’s important that he knows he does have a firm support system and we can convince him to stop!”

“Yeah, I’ve seen it on TV! Some therapist gets all of the addict’s family together and they write letters to them that are sad and heartfelt and the addict gets convinced to go to rehab! Except we don’t have a therapist.” The blonde pouted a bit, “Darn…”

“Those shows are always fake, dumbass.” Cannon piped in as he had set himself to help his brother wash glasses, “They stage this elaborate thing to make the viewers feel sad and emotional. It’s stupid.”

Sunny shrugged, “Those are a bit over the top but interventions are a thing. I volunteer to be the mediator!”

“No.” Everyone echoed. Cannon pinched her side, “You always make things worse with your big words and technical terms. He’s not that smart sober, you think he’s going to understand you while drunk?”

She turned to him sharply and wagged a finger at him, “Hey! At least I try to help him! You guys just sit around moping! Even if it’s not a real intervention I still think it’s a good idea if we stick around and try to talk to him!”

“I still think it’s a good idea~” Cannon mocked her, “Whatever. Not like I can leave without Red.”

She clapped her hands together and squealed, “Great! Now, everyone think of nice meaningful things to say to him and we will all gather once the last customer has left. We will get him to stop drinking, who’s with me!”

“I am!” Duckie shouted excitedly as the rest groaned at her enthusiasm.

“Sunny, darling, I understand you only mean to help him but let Sugar and I take care of this one, okay? This is a very sensitive area and we have dealt with it before,” Clicks attempted to sway her, “I do appreciate everyone’s concern, it warms my heart that he has such great friends.”

Her shoulders slumped as he spoke, “I know it’s serious, but I’m just as worried as anyone!”

“Then let them handle it and come help me clean a few tables. We get a breather before the midnight drunks are out at full force.” Cannon pulled her by the arm.

“Okay okay! I’m going!”

Red finished tidying up, the first time in the night where he had the chance, and leaned on the counter by Clicks, “I bet this isn’t what Sugar had in mind when he invited Scarlet to sing here, huh?”

“He knew this could be an outcome so I’m sure he had a back up plan. Although I don’t think he figured Zen would pull this stunt again.”

Red wiped his forehead with a towel before taking a drink of water, “Let’s hope he can seal the deal with Zen, then, or we are going to have a major issue on our hands.”

*********

The night went on with no sign of Sugar but the crew got through the night without any hiccups in the service.

Red finally sat down as the last of the patrons were sent off in taxi cabs, stretching his legs out, “Shit, that was rough.”

Cannon came by and smacked him on the back, “We’ll clean things up, you just relax. You earned it.”

“Thanks, bro.” He waved a few tired fingers as he let his body sink into the seat, “Man...Sugar hasn’t shown up yet.”

“He said he was showing up, I trust him.” Clicks sat next to him and handed him a glass of water and a sandwich, “I ran to the corner store and got you some food. I don’t think I saw you eat tonight.”

Red grabbed the sandwich and began to devour it, “Thank you so much! I was starving!”

Sunny walked up and leaned against Red, “Hey, you think we should call him out here to talk to him?”

Clicks pursed his lips, “I don’t know how he’d react if he were summoned to a group of people wanting to hound him about drinking.”

The office door swung open and Zen leaned against the door frame, drinking straight from a bottle. He quirked a brow as he saw everyone still there, “Aye, closing time. You all go home.”

Duckie stood up and cleared his throat, procuring a napkin that seemed to have scribbles on it, “Dear Zen. I want you to know that I care about you as a person. You’ve always been so nice to me and gave me the best advice about girls and life! I hate seeing the road you are taking and I hope that you consider getting help. We want our old Zen back! The cheery, healthy Zen! Please consider it for your own sake.”

Zen squinted at Duckie, taking another swig, “What are you going on about?”

Clicks winced and walked over to pat the blonde on the back, “That was nice, Duckie. Ah, Zen.” He motioned to the rest of the group in the bar, “They stayed because they want you to know that they are concerned with your behaviors and they are here to support you whatever way they can. They all care about you as much as I do.”

Zen snickered, “You can support me by closing out your tabs and going home. You aren’t sticking around to give me some heart to heart, are you?” He lifted off and took a few labored steps forward, “Off with you all. I have work to do.”

Sunny stood up straight and marched right up to him with arms crossed, “Stop acting like some tough guy! You are sick and you won’t accept it! We just want to see you happy and not drinking!”

He rolled his eyes and pushed her aside, “Like I said, I don’t need lectures. I’m an adult and I can handle myself just fine!”

Cannon came up and put himself between the two, “Touch her and I will handle you like an adult.”

Zen stopped and looked at Cannon, “Oh? Is that so? Well how about this, wise guy? You are all fired. Get the fuck out of my bar.”

Clicks held his breath and started to approach them, “Zen, calm down. Lets just talk about this.”

“I’M DONE TALKING!” He threw the liquor bottle to the side, glass shattering a few feet away from them, “Is it really that hard to get it through all of your heads that I want to be left alone?”

He grabbed the nearest chair and tossed it against the wall, now in a flurry of rage, “Everyone knows what’s best for Zen, eh? He can’t handle his problems correctly? Well fuck you all, I’ll handle it in whatever way I please!” His hands gripped the edge of a table and flipped it over, breaking the side as it made hard contact with the floor.

Cannon shielded Sunny and pushed her back to the others, “Dude, what the hell? You planning on trashing this place?”

“I will do whatever I damn well please!” He began tearing picture frames off the wall to chuck them around, “What are you going to do about it?”

Jingle~!

Sugar walked in and looked at the mess. He sighed and took off his suit jacket, placing it on the nearest chair, “Could everyone please leave?”

Clicks sighed a bit in relief as he saw the man, pulling at Cannon and Sunny, “Come on, you heard Sugar.”

Zen growled as he saw Sugar, “Oh, so you listen to him but not me? So much for being friends!”

Everyone trickled out until it was only the two. Sugar began to roll his sleeves up nonchalantly, “You’ve made quite the commotion while I was off on a business trip.”

“Don’t think I won’t fight you right here, Sugar. You need to leave this place too, I’m not in the mood.”

“And neither am I.” He loosened his tie a bit and walked behind the bar to serve himself a glass of wine, “sixteen hours on a plane and I come back to this. You could at least try to make my life a bit easier.”

Zen started to laugh, “I’m so sorry, Mr. Corporate Heir! I apologize for making your life so hard! God, how will you sleep tonight?”

“I’ll sleep comfortably, don’t you worry about that. The real question is, will you?”

The white-haired male clumsily walked over towards Sugar, grabbing his shirt collar, “That’s none of your fucking business. This is your fault, you know.”

“My fault?” Sugar looked towards Zen, not phased that his shirt was being pulled at, “I brought you Scarlet on a silver platter and you managed to, once again, screw things up.”

Zen gripped harder, “Oh, is that so? She’s not worth my time, that bi-”

Sugar quickly grabbed at Zen’s neck, squeezing slightly to stop him from speaking, “You speak one ill word about her and I will end this immediately.”

They pushed off each other and Sugar took a sip of his glass, “I once thought you two were perfect for each other but now I see that she deserves much better.”

Zen laughed again as he leaned against the counter, “Is that so? Then maybe you should date her. I bet you like it when she calls you Sugar. Or is it...she calls you Daddy in bed instead?”

Sugar’s jaw clenched as he became more angry, “Drop the stupid nicknames already. It was never cute, I actually hate the idea. How long will you continue to hide behind them?”

“You think it’s stupid, do you?” He stepped away from the bar to stand amongst the tables, “You know what, Sugar? People come to this bar to forget about their problems. They go through their day at jobs they hate and lives they are unsatisfied with! When they are here they can be whoever they want! For just a few hours they can break the monotony! Forget all the mistakes they made! Me, for example! Zen the actor!” He threw another chair to knock into a few tables, “Zen the ladies man!” He flung a table towards the bar to break into the barstools, “Zen the bartender!” He picked up a tray of dirty glasses and crashed them into the floor, “Zen the...Zen the…”

“Zen the alcoholic?” Sugar called out in a melancholic tone that the other had not heard in years. He finally turned to look towards Zen with the pain of betrayal in his eyes, “You promised me you wouldn’t let it destroy you again. You looked me straight in the eye with this determination to turn things around and told me it wouldn’t happen again. I can’t let this slide. I admit that I may have been hasty to believe you back then but I won’t make the same mistake.”

“Guess you come here to forget mistakes you made too, except you have to stare yours in the face.” Zen fell to his knees suddenly as he began to sob, “What’s happened to me? Where and when did I lose myself so badly? I broke your promise...I broke the promise I made to Scarlet. I let two of the people that believed in me down. Damn, and Clicks! I saw the disappointment in his eyes tonight.”

“Zen…”

“Jumin,” He choked out Sugar’s real name, “I need help.”

Sugar sighed to himself in relief at Zen’s admittance. Even though he had anticipated every outcome for this evening, including the potential of a physical altercation, the man was glad that this breakdown was the result. It didn’t make the painful tinge in his chest caused by his friend’s suffering any less but he could at least control the entire situation now. 

He set the glass of wine down and walked over to Zen, kneeling down to put a hand on his back, “Then let’s get you help, Hyun. You deserve happiness just like everyone else. But there was nothing I could do until you realized yourself how bad it is.”

Zen reached out to grab Sugar’s arm with desperation when, in response, by his name, “I don’t want this life anymore.”

“Of course you don’t, I don’t know anyone that would.” The raven-haired man pulled him up to sit him properly in a chair, “I have contacted an excellent treatment facility that is more than happy to receive you, and a sober living facility that is also willing to bring you in after. That is, if you are willing to accept. I cannot force you to do anything.”

Zen nodded as he continued to look at the floor, “I’ll do whatever it takes. I won’t make any promises but just know that I’ll do my best.”

“That’s better than an empty promise.” Sugar frowned and flicked him on the side of the head, “Stop staring at the floor, you look defeated.”

“That’s because I feel defeated.” Zen slowly turned his head up to look at Sugar with uncertainty and fear in his gaze.

“Feel proud, Zen. This is a good choice.”

“Do I have to go now?”

Sugar raised a brow, “Up to you, but the sooner the better.”

“And the bar?”

“I’ll keep an eye on it. It will be here for you when you get back.”

Nodding Zen stood up, still a bit wobbly from his drunken stupor. Sugar clicked his tongue and slid under the other’s arm to help him walk, “If I have to carry you out of this place again, I’m throwing you in the street and giving the bar to Red.”

Zen chuckled a bit, “That’s fair. Sugar...thank you.”

“Anytime, friend.”

**********

Two weeks passed and even after being closed for a few days to clean the place up Eros was back up and running at full force.

“Two dry martinis and a beer.” Cannon called out as he stopped by the bar top, staring at the bartender, “The martini glasses are above the register, cowboy.”

Clicks bowed his head in appreciation, “Thank you, Cannon! I have a newfound respect for what Zen and Red accomplish back here. There is so much to remember!”

“You get used to it, Clicks! But honestly, you aren’t too bad. Thanks for stepping in and helping out.” Red reached to grab the glasses for him, “I wouldn’t trust anyone else from the outside, especially with Zen being gone.”

“When’s the boss coming back, anyway?” Cannon yawned as he waited, “It’s been a while. Kinda miss the guy even though I want to punch him in the face every day.”

Clicks finished the order and placed them on Cannon’s tray, “He won’t be back any time soon, I’m afraid. He not only needs time to detox but to fully heal from his emotional issues.”

Jingle~!

“Sugar!”

“Good evening everyone.”

Sugar made his way to his usual spot and sat down, Red serving him his normal glass of wine, “Thank you, Red. I just came back from seeing Zen at the hospital. He seems in good physical health and will be transferring to the sober living house tomorrow.”

Red raised his glass of water in a toast, “Good to hear! How long is he going to be there?”

“They suggest three weeks to a month but he can check himself out at any point. Let’s just hope he stays long enough to get himself together. He’ll be seeing a therapist twice a week and doing group therapies at the home.”

Clicks quickly made his way over to his friend, most excited to hear any news, “Did he talk to you? How did he seem? Was he being responsive?”

“We spoke briefly. He asked how everything was going over here and if anyone missed him. I gave him everyone’s regards. As far as how he is handling things I’m not so sure. He didn’t speak much on anything in depth, he asked me to give him some time.”

“I do hope this will be good for him. He really needs it.”

Sugar nodded as he sipped at his drink, “It’s not going to be easy but I think things are going in the right direction. I believe in him, after all.”

Clicks smiled and leaned against the counter, “Yeah, me too.”

“I do too!” Sunny popped up behind Sugar, overhearing their conversation, “Hey, can we go visit him? We all made cards and stuff to encourage him and wish him well!”

“That may be a bit difficult, he doesn’t really want to see anyone else until he feels he is ready.” Sugar shrugged, “I think that’s a good choice on his part. But I can deliver anything the next time I see him.”

She frowned but accepted the offer, “I understand and if you could give him the stuff that would be great! Even if he doesn’t want to see us he should still know that we are rooting for him!”

Sugar snapped his fingers, “Ah, that reminds me. He wrote a note to you all.” Reaching into his coat pocket he pulled out a piece of paper to read out loud:  “Dear Eros, I hope you guys are doing well. I want to apologize for all the inconveniences that I have caused you and the shame that I have brought to you as a manager. I understand if you look down on me for all the things that I’ve done because I deserve it all. I only wish that I can come back as a better manager, a better man, and a better friend. If you don’t wait for me I won’t be offended, I’m sure Sugar will take care of you if you wish to leave. Good luck to you all and if you do decide to stay please look after the place for me. I’ll be thinking of you all while I continue to my journey to recovery. Best wishes, Zen.”

Sunny pursed her lips to hold back tears, “Oh Zen…”

Cannon grabbed the letter and tore it up, “You tell that fucker to quit his shit and get back soon. We don’t need apologies, we just need our manager back.”

Sugar raised a brow and nodded, “I’ll relay the message.”

Red smirked at his twin, “So you kinda miss him or you miss him a lot?”

“Hey! I just want to have a normal work environment back! No offense, Clicks...it’s just that Zen is good at what he does.”

Clicks laughed softly, “No offense taken. We all miss him.”

Red raised his glass again, “I would say we should take a shot in his honor but I want to believe those days are long gone. So whatever you choose to drink, bring it up to a toast!”

They all raised whatever drink they had, Red nodding firmly, “Right! To Zen and getting his ass back to work!”

“Cheers!”

The glasses clinked and everyone took a drink.

As soon as the others scattered Clicks looked over to Sugar, “Hmm.”

“Hmm indeed. I think he’ll be in the best company he could be in when he gets back.”

“Agreed.”

                                                                                                                               To be continued...

taggerino: @illneverrecover @zenscrotch @suzunesays @serensama @sinfulinsecret

Also to note: This will be the last chapter for a few weeks! I have an Epilogue queued up and a post explaining how this fic will be running. There will be more, promise!

#mystic messenger #Eros Bar AU #mystic messenger AU #mystic messenger fanfiction #mm fanfiction #Zen #Hyun Ryu #Seven #Saeyoung Choi #Unknown #Saeran Choi #Yoosung Kim #Jaehee Kang #Jumin Han #V #Jihyun Kim

[diarynz]

Rugby: Andrew McCormick - The rising son with yen to spread rugby word

New Post has been published on https://diary.nz/rugby-andrew-mccormick-the-rising-son-with-yen-to-spread-rugby-word/

Rugby: Andrew McCormick - The rising son with yen to spread rugby word

In the first of a series focused on the rugby scene in Japan, Michael Burgess profiles Andrew McCormick, the son of legendary All Black Fergie and one of New Zealand’s rugby pioneers in Asia.

When Andrew McCormick first laced on his boots in Japan, he was one of a rare breed.

It was 1992. Jim Bolger was Prime Minister, Laurie Mains was the new All Blacks coach and A Few Good Men was a hit in cinemas.

And for Kiwi rugby players, Japan was a relatively unknown frontier. There were around 30 foreigners plying their trade there — now, there are close to 300 involved in Japan’s Top League, including more than 140 New Zealanders.

McCormick, son of All Blacks and Canterbury stalwart Fergie, was one of the trail blazers.

“It was an adventure, a pretty mysterious place to go back then,” McCormick tells the Herald on Sunday. “I didn’t really know what to expect.”

A strong-running centre, McCormick had played 84 times for Canterbury and represented the New Zealand Colts. He had also been involved in All Blacks trials, and was employed as a stock and station agent.

One afternoon, after a provincial match against Otago, McCormick was approached by a visiting delegation from Toshiba, who were scouting players for their team.

“It was crazy, really,” says McCormick. “Having a conversation with their head coach, who didn’t speak a word of English. Luckily there was a Kiwi guy with them who had spent time in Japan and he was translating.”

After an initial orientation visit, McCormick decided to take the plunge, moving to Tokyo.

“I needed a change, something to freshen up,” says McCormick. “There were some work opportunities and it was a good opportunity with rugby. I thought I could try something different for a while but I’ve never really left.”

Toshiba had never had a foreign player, and unlike today, there wasn’t a posse of translators on hand during training or squad meetings.

“I had to fend for myself,” says McCormick. “I’m still not really sure how I managed.”

The rugby camaraderie was similar but everything else seemed different. There were 50 players on the team, they practised on rock hard dirt grounds and training sessions could stretch beyond three hours.

“I thought ‘gee, I’ve made a bad decision’,” recalls McCormick. “It was very hot and humid, there was no grass to be seen anywhere and I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off at training. I couldn’t speak the language, didn’t really like the food and wanted to go home.”

There were also some unusual cultural differences.

“When I was first there, a lot of players didn’t wear underpants, just tight short shorts,” McCormick says with a laugh. “You would be doing power stretching as a pair — hamstrings and stuff — and look down and, ‘oh, okay’.”

On one memorable occasion, Toshiba were sent to train against sumo wrestlers.

“The younger wrestlers were 150kg but the others were much bigger,” says McCormick. “One guy was 260kg. The team had to try to drive them across the dojo using their heads. No one could move their necks the following day.”

McCormick was employed in the department making elevator parts but spent most of his time studying the language and gradually became more fluent.

Toshiba won three national championships in a row and McCormick was eventually made captain.

“That was a huge honour,” says McCormick. “There were some language concerns but I had a strong leadership group and their English was pretty good.”

There was more to come, as McCormick was selected to represent the Brave Blossoms in 1996, then appointed captain two years later, the first non-Japanese to lead the national team.

“It was a big deal and it wasn’t that popular in some circles,” says McCormick. “It was a good thing I couldn’t read the newspapers or magazines back then.”

The national team was in crisis, after the disastrous campaign at the 1995 World Cup, which included the infamous 145-17 thrashing by the All Blacks, where New Zealand scored 21 tries, with Marc Ellis crossing for six.

“They had been smashed and it wasn’t a great tournament off the field either,” says McCormick. “Self belief is huge in Japanese sports and it had been really affected.”

It also led to Japan opening the door to exiles, with Graeme Bachop, Rob Gordon, Greg Smith and Jamie Joseph also drafted into the team.

Japan enjoyed some promising results in 1998, with wins over Tonga 44-17, Samoa 37-34 and Argentina 44-29 in Tokyo.

“Grizz Wyllie was their [Pumas] coach and he was a legend for a Canterbury boy,” says McCormick. “He was very gracious about our team.”

Those results raised hopes for the 1999 World Cup, even though Japan was in the “group of death”.

They were well beaten by Wales in Cardiff 64-15 and physically overpowered by Samoa 43-9, though the Pacific team, which included Brian Lima, Va’aiga Tuigamala and Pat Lam, blew out the scoreline with two converted tries in stoppage time.

Japan saved their best performance for last, matching a dour Pumas side for most of the match before succumbing 33-12.

McCormick retired from international rugby after the tournament and became head coach at Toshiba for three years, before Kamaishi Seawaves lured him back for another playing stint.

“It was hard,” says McCormick. “I was a bit chubby. But it was a great experience.”

McCormick then filled various coaching roles at NTT Docomo, Coca-Cola Red Sparks and for a university side, where there could be up to 125 players on the team.

He returned to Christchurch for five years in 2004 but was still commuting back to Japan “every few weeks” for a specialist coaching role, before relocating back to Kobe in 2009, where he now works as an adviser with player agency Halo.

Japanese rugby has changed considerably since he played, and the standard has lifted significantly with the influx of overseas players. But McCormick retains great memories of the pioneering days.

“They used to have these big baths and there was a tradition of everyone getting in the bath together after the match, even all the opposition,” says McCormick. “There were a lot of laughs.

“And as foreigners, we used to catch up a lot, because there weren’t many of us. All us foreign boys would meet in a bar in Tokyo most Saturday nights, with Joe Stanley, John Kirwan and others.”

McCormick also remembers marking Stanley one year against NEC, then facing his son, Jeremy, in another season.

“No one really knew how old Joe was,” says McCormick. “It was all a bit of a mystery.”

McCormick expects this year’s World Cup to be a hit, especially for the visiting teams and fans.

“Japan will put on a wonderful tournament and create a great environment to play rugby in,” says McCormick. “It means teams will be able to perform to the best of their ability. It’s going to be huge, one of the best there’s been.”

• Michael Burgess travelled to Japan with the support of the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

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[buddyrabrahams]

15 NFL players with something to prove in 2018

The NFL can be notoriously fickle. The risk of injury, the lack of guaranteed money, and the ever-changing game can alter the trajectory of a career very quickly. For some players, it leaves them in a position where they have to prove themselves again in order to re-establish themselves as top-tier stars.

Here are 15 players who are looking to do just that in 2018. They may have had off-field issues, a lot of injuries, are entering a contract year, or any combination thereof. Either way, all eyes will be on them this coming season, and it’s up to them to respond.

1) Odell Beckham Jr., Giants

There’s so much good about Beckham, but we haven’t seen enough of it in the last year or so. He hasn’t stayed healthy. He’s gotten involved in off-field distractions. He hasn’t produced to the standards he’s capable of even when healthy. Now entering a contract year, he needs to prove to the Giants and everyone else that he can let his football do the talking. So far, he’s reportedly off to a good start.

2) Marcus Williams, Saints

The last time we saw Williams in an NFL game, he was committing one of the costliest blunders in NFL playoff history. It overshadowed a very good rookie season and now presents a massive test of his mentality. Can Williams put the play behind him and continue his progress toward being a very good NFL defensive back? A lot of eyes are going to be on him in 2018, fairly or not, to see whether he can overcome that mistake.

3) Andrew Luck, Colts

Luck first needs to finally play in a game. He hasn’t played since 2016 due to shoulder problems, and it’s going to be slow going in the preseason for him. Once he does that, he’ll need to prove that he’s still a franchise quarterback. The Colts are 10-12 in his last 22 starts after three straight 11-win seasons to start his career. Not all of that is down to Luck, but after so long away from the game, he has to show that the Colts can still rely on him. Luckily it sounds like he’ll be ready for the start of training camp.

4) Joe Flacco, Ravens

If Flacco wasn’t already worrying about his future in Baltimore, the team’s decision to trade into the first round to select Lamar Jackson as a quarterback probably gave him reason to. He likely has a year to prove himself before the Ravens can make the decision to cut him and save a lot of money heading into 2019. Flacco hasn’t been very good for several years now, and he dropped under 200 yards per game last season while dealing with back problems. He needs to deliver the goods or his Ravens career is probably over.

5) J.J. Watt, Texans

Health is the key issue for Watt. He’s played a total of eight games over the last two seasons, with both ending prematurely due to significant injury. The last one was a broken leg, which could very easily have long-term effects on a career even after returning to action. A lot of people will be wondering if we’ll see the same Watt in 2018. He’ll have to be out to prove that the answer is yes — and that he can stay on the field while doing it.

6) Eli Apple, Giants

It’s a surprise that Apple is still on the Giants considering what happened last season. His second NFL season ended with a veteran teammate publicly singling him out as a team cancer amid widespread reports that he’d worn out his welcome throughout the organization. Now, he’s been welcomed back and given a second chance that he can’t afford not to take. Apple has talent, but he needs to make the best of it, because it’s unlikely the Giants will tolerate more missteps.

7) Carlos Dunlap, Bengals

Dunlap looked like a breakout star after a 2015 season that saw him collect 13.5 sacks for the Bengals. His numbers since then haven’t been bad, but after seasons of eight and 7.5 sacks, he enters his contract year with his reputation slightly damaged. He’s skipped OTAs as he enters a pivotal year, but at age 29, this might be his last chance to get a big long-term payday. A huge season would go a long way toward making that happen.

8) Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys

Elliott played in only ten games in 2017 due to a domestic violence suspension that was the subject of a lot of legal wrangling between the Cowboys and the league. His numbers fell across the board, and not just because of fewer games. His 2017 was worse than his 2016 in virtually every department, even the averages, which dropped under 100 yards per game. Elliott is still very much a Cowboys cornerstone and running behind one of the NFL’s best offensive lines. It will be imperative for him to stay out of trouble and perform in 2018.

9) Jameis Winston, Buccaneers

Winston will be suspended for the first three games of the 2018 season as a result of yet another scandal in what has become a pattern of behavior. The Buccaneers are being gracious in giving him another chance to begin with, but the former No. 1 pick will probably get another opportunity. This has to be the end of off-field transgressions, and it has to be the start of rapid on-field improvement. His QBR was a career-worst 50.3 in 2017, and he’s still extremely mistake-prone. He needs to become a model citizen and a better quarterback, or the Buccaneers may well consider moving on. They’d be completely justified in doing so.

10) DeMarcus Lawrence, Cowboys

Lawrence is facing a risky 2018. After a breakout 2017 in which he collected 14.5 sacks, he was hit with the franchise tag by Dallas and has not agreed to a long-term deal with the team. That means Lawrence has to prove that 2017 was no fluke. If he puts up similar numbers, he should get the contract he wants and then some, but we’ve seen plenty of players take a step back after posting big sack totals in a season.

11) John Ross, Bengals

Ross’s 4.22 40-time made him an NFL Combine sensation. Then he got hurt, and his rookie year was such a loss that he’s still waiting to catch his first NFL pass. The hype is gone now, replaced with a second-year pro with a ton to prove. Ross still has the skills, but his coach wasn’t happy with his contributions last season, and he clearly has work to do to get back into Cincinnati’s good graces.

12) Eli Manning, Giants

Have we seen the end of Eli Manning as a top-tier quarterback? The Giants are betting not, given their decision to pass on all available quarterbacks with the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft. Manning’s 2017 was miserable by pretty much all measurables, with little offensive talent around him and a lot of mistakes to boot. Manning is 37 now, and a lot of observers think he’s done. His job is to prove that there’s still some magic left.

13) Derek Carr, Raiders

Carr went from MVP candidate to afterthought in the span of a year. His interceptions went up and his passing yards and touchdowns both went down. New head coach Jon Gruden will have a lot to evaluate now that he’s taken over. Carr is still just 27 and has shown that he has the ability to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL. The Raiders need to see it, though. Being fully healthy should help, but if he can’t find his form in 2018, the questions will begin to pile up.

14) Myles Jack, Jaguars

Will Jack stick at middle linebacker in the NFL? Paul Posluszny pushed him off the position last season, but the veteran has since retired, leaving Jack to take up his mantle. The rookie wasn’t bad on the outside last year, with 66 tackles and 24 assists and some huge plays in the postseason. Given the high hopes that the Jaguars have, a lot of responsibility will be placed on his shoulders, and Posluszny leaves big shoes for him to fill.

15) Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers

Not even the biggest optimist could have seen Garoppolo’s late-season run coming. He took over a 49ers team that looked at one point like it might go winless and promptly led them to five straight wins to close out the season, lifting expectations very high for 2018. Can he match them? He only threw seven touchdowns and five interceptions in six games, which isn’t the greatest of ratios. He also hasn’t yet quarterbacked a team over a full season. Garoppolo looks like he has the tools, but NFL defenses will adapt, and he has to adjust as well. Given how much they paid him, San Francisco have to hope that what he showed at the end of 2017 was the real thing and not a brief flash in the pan.

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[nightmareonfilmstreet]

[Exclusive Interview] Danielle Harris on INOPERABLE, Directing, and the Current State of Horror

What makes someone great at what they do? As a scrawny, bow-legged, barely 6’3″ kid from the barren wasteland of Central Illinois who had a dream of playing college basketball, I can tell you that it is absolutely not natural-born talent. Sure, you have to have some natural abilities, but that’s not what makes someone great. What makes someone great is their willingness and desire to put in the work. To arrive early and stay late, to put in the extra miles when everyone else has gone home. It doesn’t matter what gifts you were born with if you are unwilling to put in the work. Danielle Harris, the very definition of a Scream Queen, has been doing that since 1988.

For the last 30 years, Danielle has been rolling up her sleeves and working harder than anyone else in her craft. She has starred in two of the greatest slasher franchises in horror history, but she has done much more than that. She has also amassed almost 100 acting credits to her name, or in other words, put in the work to get where she is today. Because of this work ethic and drive, there are very few people that mean more to the horror genre than Danielle Harris.

Many of us were first introduced to the genre through Danielle and her work. My cousin Chad (two years my junior, but forever my senior when it comes to horror knowledge) first introduced me to Danielle Harris and her work in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers and Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers in the late 90’s. We damn near wore out those VHS tapes with all the re-watching we did. Little did I know that it would spark in me a love of the genre that has only grown with time. Therefore, I have Danielle Harris to thank for my love and passion for horror.

Danielle was gracious enough to take the time to chat with us about her new film, Inoperable, and about some of awesome things surrounding the horror genre right now.

Tyler Liston for Nightmare on Film Street: Inoperable has a pretty interesting premise going for it. It’s almost like Groundhog Day, only with ghosts. Two pretty awesome things on their own. What initially drew you to the project?

Danielle Harris: Well, I had not really done, like, a psychological thriller. So, the idea of just being trapped and having to do everything in one space was a bit difficult to map out in my mind. it would be a bit of a challenge, so that’s why I wanted to give it a shot.

NOFS: Yeah, it’s a little bit of a departure from the slasher genre.

DH: Yes! I am getting a little old to be running around in my underwear from masked men with knives, you know?

NOFS: I will say that I was worried about your ankles for most of the movie. You were running around a lot and those boots did not look comfortable at all.

DH: You know, I’m so petite that I can wear like 5 inch hooker stilettos and still haul ass. I’m so used to it that I actually picked out those boots, so no worries.

NOFS: Perfect! Running around so much really allowed the setting of the film to shine. It was actually really well done and pretty creepy. Where was Inoperable filmed?

DH: Oh, that was a real place. They really didn’t do much in regards to the art department or anything like that. It was an abandoned, dilapidated old hospital in Tampa, Florida, that had asbestos and mold and had all kinds of fun stuff in there. They dressed it to look, actually, nicer in certain areas than it actually was.

You know, sets are always a character in these movies. If it doesn’t work then the movie is pretty lame, so i thought the location was really nice.

NOFS: Well, I mean…

DH: Not nice, necessarily, but it works for the movie.

NOFS: Yeah, I wouldn’t want to hang out there or anything.

DH: No, not at all.

NOFS: Besides the setting, I enjoyed the way the film played your character’s perception of reality. This seems to be a trend in horror these days. Films like A Cure for Wellness, the new film Unsane and even Get Out deal with misinformation and makes the viewer question the nature of truth. Why do you think that is?

DH: I think that the surprise ending has always been as important as the great opening sequence. Look, it’s very hard to find an ending that the audience doesn’t see coming. Everyone kind of tries to have that, you know? Everyone wants a cliffhanger. In non-genre movies the ending needs to wrap up story and in horror movies it needs to unravel the story. I think we did a pretty good job. We shot this film in order so by the time we get to the ending i think we were all losing our minds so it was nice.

NOFS: Moving off topic a little bit, you had a son this past year, correct? My girlfriend and I recently had a child ourselves and it is by far the most terrifying thing that has ever happened to me. I wasn’t even involved with the actual birth part and it is still killing me. How has being a Mom affected your work and even how much you’re able to enjoy horror and conventions?

DH: Well it has definitely affected my willingness to go away and shoot, because there’s another little person that depends on you. I definitely pick and choose what I want to do more than before. It really has to be something good. Before, I would take something because you’re like “Well, I’m not doing anything else right now and it could be kind of fun because so-and-so is working on it. Yeah I can go shoot in butt-fuck wherever for a month and nobody will miss me while I’m gone and it’s totally fine I’ll just disappear and go make a movie”.

Now, you have to say, “Wait, where are we shooting? It shoots locally? Great! How many hours am I going to be there? So, it definitely makes a difference in the kind of roles that I take. I need to be present and my kid comes first, always. I wouldn’t do a movie if it ever interfered with anything important, like a birthday, and that’s always going to be the way it is. He will always come with me, too, even now he travels with me. I did a horror convention in October in Nashville and he was there. I wanted to do a little vacation with my Mom and my Husband because I love Nashville, and I brought him on stage with me when I had my Q & A. Now, this is a horrible analogy, but it’s like when someone brings a dog to work and all of a sudden everyone cheers up and you get out of your work funk. It’s like that when my kid is with me. It’s like everything is better.

NOFS: Well, speaking as a generally anxious man, I’m still terrified.

DH: Just know that none of us know what we are doing. You’ll figure it out.

NOFS: Thank you. I hope as Hell hope so… Getting back on track here, the Horror genre has blown up this past year, both at the box office and with freaking Oscar nominations (which is still crazy to me). Where do you see the future of the genre going? What do you hope to see moving forward?

DH: I think it just goes to show you the unpredictability of it all. Like, who knows what’s going to happen? Finally we’re getting some recognition, which I know we’ve been wanting for a long time, but it needed to be something that fits the times we live in… but, the times keep changing, so I don’t really know where we’re going to end up. I think there’s some really big, awesome changes about to come and we can only go up from here. So, I’m excited to see what happens with horror films.

On the flip-side, it’s also a very scary time because anyone can be famous right now. I mean, I’m specifically losing out on parts that I want to do to other people that are not actors or actresses. They are YouTube stars or they are “influencers”. I haven’t seen a lot of those movies come out yet in our genre, but these films are very difficult to make. It’s very difficult to act in these movies. Not just anyone can do it.

I’m curious to see if maybe at some point those famous people will go back to doing what they know how to do and leave the acting to the actors.

NOFS: Maybe leave it to the actual actors with 30 years of experience?

DH: Or maybe some of them are really good and they may have a new career. You know, back in the day you had to pay your dues. You had to go to school and you had to understand the business. I don’t think it’s that way anymore. When you’re losing out on parts to people that have more YouTube followers even though you have 30 years of experience and 100 movies under your belt, it can be a bit disheartening.

NOFS: My Grandpa always told me that “Cream rises to the top”, so let’s hope that happens quickly with this new crop of stars.

DH: It’s interesting. I always tell these producers that I know you think these are the people that are going to download or go to the theater to see these films but they’re not. These are kids that are going to pirate the shit out of your movie! These are not fans that are our age that are going to go buy a ticket or buy your DVD. So you think that 2 million people are going to go buy movie, but they’re not. They are going to steal that shit online, so good luck to you.

NOFS: They don’t have a lot of disposable income.

DH: No, they don’t… Because they’re twelve.

NOFS: So, what is next for you, Danielle?

DH: Well, I just finished a movie called Camp Cold Brook, which is a Joe Dante film that I am super stoked about that Andy Palmer directed. With Chad Michael Murray and myself…

NOFS: He’s a Certified Dreamboat.

DH: You know, it’s funny because he remembered meeting me like 20 years ago out at a club somewhere. He looks like all the guys that i dated at that time. Blonde, spiky hair actor kids like Shane West and those guys so I think I remember meeting him but it has been so long. He’s wonderful and we had great report on set and the movie is really good and fun. It’s a ghost story again only this time set in an old camp. We shot it in Oklahoma City in the middle of nowhere and it’s very throwback-80’s. Joe Dante is very proud of it so I’m pretty excited about it.

NOFS: Do you have any interest in directing again?

DH: Yes. There’s a particular story that I’ve been wanting to do for so long. I pitched it recently to quite a few different people and everybody frothed at the mouth wanting to do it it’s now just a matter of me finding the right group that I want to work with. Directing is a two-year obligation so with a kid you want to make sure that you get in bed with the right people. So, I’m just trying to put my team together and I hope that within the next year I will make it happen. If it doesn’t happen within the next year, it’s OK because I know that at some point in my career I will make this movie.

NOFS: Among Friends was something. I enjoyed it but I definitely want to see you get behind the camera again.

DH: Thank you. Now I would like to make a real movie! That movie was so quick and we had no time to do anything and I was brought on like two days before which is crazy. I definitely want this next one to be mine.

NOFS: Lastly, Danielle, I just wanted to ask you about the horror community in general. I’ve always been a fan but I have only recently joined the community as a writer and active participant. What does the horror community mean to you?

DH: Well, without them I wouldn’t have a career, that’s for sure. It’s like we’re the outcasts that find solace in one another. It’s a bond that’s unbreakable and its something that we all have in common. It’s kind of crazy, this phenomenon. You don’t see conventions for Terms of Endearment, you know? You really don’t. This fan-demonium is just in some genres. Horror, Sci-Fi and Fantasy. That’s it. It’s a way to escape and they’re forever dedicated and devoted and they may love horror, but let me tell you that there is not one horror fan of mine that hasn’t seen everything that I’ve done. Even outside of the horror industry. So once they love you, they love you forever and it’s pretty awesome.

As you probably noticed, the words “Halloween” and “New Sequel” never came up during our conversation. This was intentional on my part. We have all read the interviews where Danielle has expressed her disappointment in the direction the new sequel is taking. Specifically how it is erasing all of the sequels that have already taken place and how they are replacing Jamie Lloyd as Laurie’s daughter. I speak for all horror fans when I say that nothing anyone does moving forward with the Halloween franchise could ever negate how important she is to the series and to us fans. She is in four films in the franchise, for God’s sake! We love the work that she did in 4, 5, and in the Zombie films, and no timeline jump or reboot will ever take that away from her.

Keep your eyes locked right here on Nightmare on Film Street as I will be posting my review of Danielle Harris’ newest film Inoperable after it drops this Tuesday the 6th. In the mean time, join our official Facebook Group and let us know about the impact that Danielle and her work has had on you during the last 30 years. Hop on there and show some love and appreciation for all that she has done for the genre.

The post [Exclusive Interview] Danielle Harris on INOPERABLE, Directing, and the Current State of Horror appeared first on Nightmare on Film Street - Horror Movie Podcast, News and Reviews.

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[theadventuresofharryandlaura]

ASIA TOUR BLOG PART 2: Malaysia After an extremely long travel day from Japan, including a 7-hour layover in Taipei, we checked into our hotel in Kuala Lumpur around 2am. The next morning at 8am, we had a live performance and interview at a local radio station. We were exhausted but so excited to be in a new country! Also, the radio host was so energetic that it brought up our energy levels vicariously. After the radio, we headed straight to soundcheck and rehearsal for our concert that night. We knew we were to be collaborating with a local musician, Alena Murang, but we didn’t know much else about her other than that she played the sape (a traditional Malaysian instrument). It turns out that Alena not only plays the sape beautifully, she also sings, and is committed to preserving the traditional pagan music from her home state of Sarawak, on the island of Borneo. She taught us two songs by ear, and we filled in Break of Reality-style accompaniments around the tunes, and she also improvised beautifully with one of our songs, Star. The collaboration was smooth, natural, and fun! We were able to prepare all 3 songs together in about an hour. The concert that evening, which was preceded by a well-organized press conference, was a lovely welcome to Malaysia. It was packed with a few hundred enthusiastic people, and in greeting the crowd afterwards for signatures and selfies, we realized that many of them were young people. I’m always thrilled to perform for a younger audience—must nurture future supporters of live music! After the concert, we headed to a breathtaking spot: Helipad Lounge. It’s a real former helipad on top of an extremely tall building, that has been turned into a bar/lounge. There is no wall railing around the top, only a ribbon and a few feet of space (this would of course NEVER exist in the US), so the 360 views are uncompromised. We took a LOT of pictures. The highlight of our second and final day in KL was performing at the residence of the US Ambassador to Malaysia, Kamala Lakhdir. She had moved into her home and begun work there exactly one week prior to our concert. But she was extremely gracious, and seemed settled and comfortable as far as we could tell. We played an acoustic mini-concert, and since things had gone so well with Alena the previous night, she joined us again for two songs. It was a beautiful evening, and they set up food trucks (a true American tradition) outside. There were about 120 guests; I’m not sure who they all were but most were connected to the Embassy in some way. We had another early departure the next morning (6am) to catch a flight to Kota Kinabalu. KK is the biggest city in Sabah, a state on the island of Borneo. Borneo is a huge island, partly occupied by Malaysia and partly by Indonesia. It’s a couple of hours by plane from KL. We touched down, grabbed lunch, and headed to a University to give a class/workshop to music students. They were extremely shy to ask questions (sometimes it’s like pulling teeth), but after the class they all came up on stage and wanted selfies and to talk with us individually and ask questions. Maybe they were all afraid to ask in front of each other! We then headed to the library for another mini-concert/ Q&A session. By the time that ended, we were thoroughly exhausted and happy to get back to the hotel. One thing I know about myself, that was reinforced on this trip, was that early morning call times, and especially early morning flights, do not agree with my body, and tend to make me suffer throughout the day. But, playing music and interacting with new people is such an energizing thing that I was always able to get through it. Though it’s a big city, KK feels much more like a beach town than KL. We were staying right on the water, and every night walked along the waterfront through a massive market selling fish, produce, and countless other things day and night. We ended up eating delicious Thai food overlooking the ocean, followed by a visit to a bar that serves drinks and foot massages (really!). We frequented both these establishments more than once during our time there. Our day off in KK was one of the most memorable on the tour. We started by taking a 20-minute boat out to Sapi island through a bright blue, sunny bay. There, we all strapped on some gear and ziplined between it and another island. I had ziplined once before, probably 25 years ago at summer camp, before I was old enough to fear anything. I was a bit nervous to jump off the platform, but once I did, it was a thrilling one-minute ride above the water. We were with our whole Malaysian “team”: Spencer from American Music Abroad who accompanied us to Japan and Malaysia and then headed home, and Mike, Shannon and Hisham from the embassy. Everyone went through with the ride and loved it! In the afternoon, we got special permission to visit some animals in a wildlife reserve on the edge of the city. We met Joe, an adorable baby elephant, and played some cello for him. Joe was much more interested in eating carrots, consuming about 15 during the course of our 3-minute performance. We also played for some orangutans, and fared slightly better, at least drawing them to the front of their area where they sat and listened and regarded us quizzically. Borneo does have a lot of amazing wildlife. I’d love to explore it more if I ever get a chance to return. The next day began with an interview at KupiKupiFM radio, a name I will remember forever because it was so fun to say, followed a soundcheck and rehearsal for our big concert that night. Our collaborations in KK were wonderful: we did “Yesterday” with a guitarist named Roger Wang, which came together really quickly because he’s so amazing, and two songs with a group called Bamboo Woods. They are just incredible! It’s a group of students who play traditional bamboo instruments: flutes, percussion instruments, etc. Their energy and passion for the music is infectious. When we played with them, we didn’t add much to what they were doing because they didn’t need it. There were another couple hundred people in this audience, also young! Thn something bad happened. After the concert, it was pretty late so we went to the only restaurant that was open, a diner style place that was still bustling at 11pm. We were starving, so we were all bent over our menus for a few minutes. After we ordered, I realized my bag was missing. It was hung over the back of my chair, and must have been swiped by someone very quickly. The people at the restaurant said they saw someone running down the stairs, but couldn’t identify him on the surveillance camera. I still have no idea what happened, and was surprised at the brazenness of it. But, much to my relief, my passport was in my hotel room at the time and my phone was in my hand, so I didn’t lose either of these things, and I only lost about $70 in cash. The rest of the night was spent cancelling my credit cards and doing all the other fun things you do when you get robbed. The embassy people, Mike and Shannon, were amazing and helped me every step of the way. I did feel very light for the next few days, only carrying my phone and hotel key wherever I went! Our last day was really special; we started it with an outreach/workshop at an art institute, and then visited a hospital, where we passed out gift bags to sick children and their families, and then performed in the atrium where people could sit and listen to us or look out the window from any floor. I know it sounds cliché, but seeing what those families are going through really put my own problems, such as losing some material possessions, in perspective. It was nice to be able to brighten their days a little with music. Our final evening was spent watching the sunset and toasting a beautiful week in Malaysia.