Jamie Grefe's Blog, page 26

Possession (Zulawski) Velvet Box Blu-Ray from Mondo Vision: An Admiration

Yesterday I pulled a banal box from my mailbox, a cardboard box with heft and love, for I knew what lied inside this mysterious banality. It was the velvet-boxed POSSESSION Blu-Ray from Mondo Vision. I trembled open the package on the kitchen counter with a pair of cheap scissors and dared to examine the contents. But who can resist? I tore it open. It held gorgeous film prints, illustrations, a mini-poster (in Japanese), a slick book of essays, and not one, but two discs: one, the film, the second, its soundtrack. The velvet I held in my hands was numbered. Only 2000 in existence. Thank God for an afternoon with no appointments.

The Blu-Ray transfer is magnificent. As is often the case with Blu-Ray, one is able to experience things on screen that DVDs somehow managed to make mute. In this case, the difference is tremendous. The dark shade of blue in a doorway in the background. Adjani’s skin. The blood and the milk. Meat. A Berlin starkness. Yes, this is what I had been waiting so eagerly for, this submersion into the pristine. It is as if someone had taken the original transfer of the film and intensified it (or was this clarity always the reality?). Rarely am I so happy to experience cinema in the comfort of my home. I, dear reader, was possessed by the care taken in the presentation and execution of this package.

The disc with the film contains an insightful audio commentary track by Zulawski and Daniel Bird, as well as, among other tiny gems including the trailer: a “Making Of” documentary that, alone, is worth the price of admission. I learned of the history of the film, the political world in which it was created, the extent of its personal/autobiographical angle, and met some key players (Zulawski included–extensively) who helped bring the film to life. A separate Zulawski-only interview is also on the disc and, needless to say, is incredible.

And I have not even talked about the essays. This is the definitive collection for those of us in awe with this baffling, yet magical film. It will become a bit of an obsession with me as I re-watch and learn to re-explore POSSESSION through the frames of how the various thinkers involved attempt to wrap their minds around the film.

If you are “on the fence” about whether or not to purchase this product, and are moved by the film, by all means, I would say, by all means, dear reader, leap up and over the fence, for the view on the other side is perfect.

David Ohle on a Cinematic Narrative Approach

David Ohle, in conversation with J.A. Tyler, says, ” My approach is not that different from a film director’s. I call for live action and my characters enter the set, a set already designed and waiting for them to play out their roles. I often cut, rethink, or re-see a given scene many times, until I’m satisfied with it.”

It is this cinematic mode of composition that I, as author, am drawn to–compelled toward–in my own writing. While I never quite envisioned it in exactly the way Ohle states, I have found myself, especially in the composition of my novellas as opposed to my short stories and poetry, wholly, at times, immersed in the spectacle of the visual-cinematic, in being able to actually see the events as action-movements and, much like a screenwriter or director, relaying those events–in the present tense, in the realm of the “we”–to the reader’s imagination.

Moreover, it should come as no secret that Ohle’s work and mode of narrative approach is vastly inspirational to my own aspirations, not in terms of actual thematic content, but in terms of stylistic choice: the immediate, the tension-release, the oddness, the attention to a kind of cinematic movement.

His Boons/The Camp remains a pivotal work in my own development, a work that, years ago, allowed me to imagine myself as the creator of a somewhat similar (stylistically) world and a work that I imagine I will be continually trying to move toward throughout my creative development. It is something to strive for, yeah. We all must have our heroes. Thank you, David Ohle, for your work and for sharing with us your imagination.

David Ohle’s new book, The Blast is currently available through Calamari Press.

 

 

Goodreads Giveaway (USA/Canada): THE MONDO VIXEN MASSACRE

“An oddly written odd book.” – Wol-vriey, author of CHAINSAW COP CORPSE

I am running another Goodreads Giveaway for THE MONDO VIXEN MASSACRE. I have purposefully made this a shorter Giveaway and restricted the number of countries to two–Canada and the USA. The giveaway ends on July 11th at midnight.

One copy.

Autographed.

With love, my friends.

With prompt love.

Mutagon II is Now Available in Paperback through Dynatox Ministries

MUTAGON II by: Jamie Grefe (Holy Mountain Outreach imprint of Dynatox Ministries): $7.00

Ned came to me in Michigan. Ned’s hands were made of blenders, but that shifted to a suit full of knives and slugs. He got himself in a debacle in the desert and things were not set to turn out right. Yes, old Ned got himself into a bug-scuttle with the wrong folks, and no one, not even Ned, could have foreseen the all too messy end embodied in the weight of the Mutagon II.

And yes, as of today, July the sixth, of this year of our Lord, two thousand and fourteen, I am pleased to announce that MUTAGON II in its beautiful paperback form is available as a pre-order through the Holy Mountain Outreach imprint of Dynatox Ministries.

Note: If you are not familiar with the Dynatox Ministries press way of doing things, listen up. Dynatox offers their books as pre-order only, and when they are gone, they are gone. As physical books, they are limited, so order now, place that pre-order and know that your seven dollars, your seven hard earned dollars, are going to get you a limited paperback by a valiant small press out of New Jersey. And know this, dear reader, that those words, this story of MUTAGON II have been crafted for me and you, for us to enjoy through the years–a kind of literary collaboration, if you will. And things will get sticky in this heat. It’s a good time to read.

 

 

Cannibal Fatales (Limited Hardcover): 20% Off

My cannibalsploitation novella, Cannibal Fatales is twenty percent off through the Dynatox Ministries Storenvy site with the coupon code “thanks.” Happy Fourth of July, everyone. May your holiday be filled with a hearty dose of cannibal-tastic joy.

 

 

Sean Kilpatrick on Zulawski’s Possession

 

Sean Kilpatrick, in this Hobart interview, makes grand mention of one of the most inspirational films I’ve ever seen, Zulawski’s masterpiece, “Possession.” He says, “Possession’s probably the only statement about love ever made. It’s two people in full seizure with each other.”

Well said. Well said.

An Interview with Peter Markus

I owe a lot to the wise instruction of Peter Markus, a man who knows how to give words weight and space, and how to help students discover (or rediscover) their language, their voice. Also, he’s one heck of a great writer and this video is worth watching.

Jamie Grefe

Jamie Grefe:

Jamie Grefe is an author and educator working within the realms of the bizarre, the darkly comic, the surreal, and the cinematic. His first book, The Mondo Vixen Massacre, was published in 2013 by Eraserhead Press. It has been described by Stephen Graham Jones as, “…the beating heart of the action movie always playing in…

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The Mondo Vixen Massacre Goodreads Giveaway (Ends July 4th)

The Mondo Vixen Massacre Goodreads Giveaway (Ends July 4th)

There are only a few days left to enter to win one of two autographed copies of The Mondo Vixen Massacre. Given the limited fan base of the book, I’m surprised to have gained almost five hundred requests thus far. Also, I’m flattered that a number of folks added the book to their “want-to-read” list. It’s an intense book, but given the cover artwork, the blurbs, and the description, I think that’s fairly explicit. It’s a fair warning of what you’re getting yourself into. That said, if you’re interested in entering, click the link (I believe WordPress links the title, but I can’t be sure) and good luck.

Goodreads Giveaway of THE MONDO VIXEN MASSACRE

My first Goodreads Giveaway is, as of today, underway. I have two autographed paperback copies of THE MONDO VIXEN MASSACRE available and look forward to sending them to the winners. If you are interested in entering to win a copy, and happen to have a Goodreads account, please consider signing up for the giveaway.

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/97198?utm_medium=api&utm_source=giveaway_widget

Thank you, dear readers.