Let the Sunshine In (Again)

I think we all need a little sunshine right now, and I’ve been racking up a couple more Sunshine Awards over the past few months. My friend Gill at Realweegiemidget Reviews just nominated me for one a couple of days ago, and I had an inkling there were other Awards I didn’t really do anything with. Lo and behold, Andrew and Michael at Maniacs and Monsters also nominated me…back in November.

*ducks sheepishly behind laptop*

Yeah, so this is the part of the show when I play catch-up. Get ready, folks, because there’s a lot to cover here.

First things first, though, it’s my responsibility to lay out the Sunshine Blogger Award ground rules:

• Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
• Display the award’s official logo somewhere on your blog.
• Thank the person who nominated you.
• Provide a link to your nominator’s blog.
• Answer the eleven questions from the blogger who nominated you.
• Nominate eleven bloggers.
• Create eleven new questions for your nominees to answer.

Thanks heaps to Gill, Andrew, and Michael for thinking of me–always nice to get a shout-out. Now on to the questions:

Maniacs and Monsters’ Questions

1. Do you consider yourself a fan of horror, adverse to horror, or a patron of any genre including horror if it is entertaining? I’m not big on the slasher type of horror film, even if it looks fake, but I’ll watch horror if there’s a good story. I like the classic chillers from Universal best. And dark house films are fun. My husband will watch all kinds of horror–he loves it.
2. What is the first horror film you remember watching and what was your reaction? I don’t know if it could be considered a horror film per se, but in the 80s I watched a TV movie called Curse of  King Tut’s Tomb, and for some reason it scared the jeepers out of me. Last year I watched it on YouTube (Internet Archive has it as well), and it’s still a bit disturbing. Very interesting movie, though.
3. What is your opinion of real world paranormal activities such as ghosts, spiritualism, UFOs, cryptozoology, or extrasensory perception? Well, I wouldn’t rule it out. I’m not a fan of Ouija boards or anything like that–I think they’re creepy. I do like watching Ghost Adventures now and then, but other than that I don’t generally seek out paranormal stuff.
4. Have you ever had what you believe to be a paranormal experience or at least an experience you could not explain? Yes. There’s a Victorian house museum I volunteer at in my hometown called the Bernhard Museum, and several of us docents have seen ghostly activity in there from time to time. Some docents have said they’ve seen Mrs. Bernhard, and others have said lights have gone on in the house at odd times. Me, I was in the bathroom when Mr. Bernhard apparently decided to pick up after me–a piece of straw from my hat ended up in the trash. I know it was him because a lady who was visiting the house that day said she saw a man in the sitting room, and she described Mr. Bernhard. What was creepy about it was that she gave details that she couldn’t have known because none of us docents had told her what he looked like, and her description was on point right down to Mr. Bernhard’s height. So now whenever I work the house I say hi to Mr. and Mrs. Bernhard just in case they’re somewhere about.
5. If you were cast in a horror movie, which of the following roles would you want and why:
   • last girl/guy
   • killer/monster
   • fodder for the slaughter
   • evil genius/mad scientist/cult leader
   • tortured soul
   • kick-ass hero/military leader
   • creepy caretaker/gas station attendant/neighbour/sea captain
   • member of the faceless zombie/demon/alien horde
   • wise stranger that warned those reckless kids

I’d probably be the wise stranger warning the reckless kids. Nobody believes the wise stranger, which is literally the story of my life. Not to brag or anything, but people have a habit of chalking up what I say to imagination.

6. Horror films, much like comedies, have been historically ignored by the Oscars. What horror film or horror performance do you feel deserved, but did not receive, recognition by the Academy? The Changeling with George C. Scott. Got lots of awards in Canada, but no Oscars for some reason.
7. Which subgenre of horror is most appealing to you (noting that these subgenres often overlap):
   • action horror
   • ‘B’ movies/camp
   • body horror
   • comedy horror
   • disaster/natural horror
   • giallo
   • gothic horror
   • horror thriller
   • kaiju
   • psychological horror
   • science fiction horror
   • slasher
   • splatter
   • supernatural horror

It’s a toss-up between disaster movies, comedy, and kaiju. Psychological horror can be fun, too, as long as it isn’t Darren Aronofsky. Too much disturbing imagery there.

8. Assuming you observe Halloween, describe a favourite costume (scary or otherwise) that you have worn. I dressed up as Galadriel one year, although my dress was green instead of white. Still had the right look, though.
9. What is your greatest fear/phobia? I really don’t like heights. I also don’t like lighting matches–they wig me out for some reason. Especially those flimsy paper ones they have at drugstores. Butane lighters are fine with me, thanks.
10. You die only to awaken as a ghost, vampire, or zombie. What do you do? Well, if I were a ghost I’d go haunt all those secret rooms in Washington, D.C. that we’re not supposed to know about.
11. Darkness falls across the land. The alien invasion has begun.  Civilization is collapsing.  The dead are returning from the grave.  Cthulhu is rising from his eternal slumber.  The Horsemen of the Apocalypse are on the ride.  It’s the end of the world.  You are among a small group boarding an experimental starship to escape to another galaxy.  You are allowed to bring any three items of your choosing.  What do you bring (and no fair bringing something ‘useful’)? Does my laptop count as useful? I’d bring it so I could play The Sims. Other than that, I’d bring photo albums and music.

Next up…

Realweegiemidget Reviews’ Questions

1. If you could be in lockdown – and stuck in a house with them for 24 hours a day – with someone famous who would you pick and why…? I’d have to say Chef Jacques Pépin. It would be fun to hang out and maybe do some cooking. Although I’d have to sharpen my knives first–a chef would find them embarrassingly dull.
2. A certain streaming service asks you which film franchise to add for lockdown viewing worldwide, which would you pick? Harry Potter, including the Fantastic Beasts movies. I own the DVDs, but it’s fun to watch them on a streaming service too.
3. If you could add all films with one particular actor or actress on this same streaming service, who would you pick and why? Johnny Depp. The sheer variety of films would keep everyone busy for a long time.
4. If you could delete all films with one particular actor or actress on this same streaming service, who would you pick and why? John Travolta. Except for Phenomenon (which was filmed in my hometown, by the way) I have no desire to watch him, ever. I don’t know why.
5. If you could pick 5 actors and actresses to be put on TV Live, to live in lockdown together for a month who would you choose? I’d lock up five people who have played Star Trek captains–Patrick Stewart, William Shatner, Chris Pine, Scott Bakula, and Kate Mulgrew. It’s intriguing to think of those folks in the same room. Will they clash? Will they share war stories? Who knows.
6. What film do you think deserves more recognition? Time Bandits. I think it’s very much an underrated film.
7. What’s your favourite so bad it’s good movie? Oh, golly, I guess that’s part of muh brand, so it’s a hard choice. Right now Sharknado, Titanic II and Birdemic are my top three.
8. If you could give an Oscar to any actor or actress for a lifetime achievement award who  would you pick (don’t answer the same person from your no 3 answer)? I don’t think he’s at the Lifetime Achievement Award stage yet, but I would definitely say Christian Bale. That guy has had an amazing career, and he learned it all in front of the camera.
9. What’s your favourite film find since going into lockdown? When Knighthood Was In Flower was a nice surprise. I expected it to be a period piece with all kinds of gravity, but Marion Davies is hilarious.
10. What’s your favourite TV find since going into lockdown? Treehouse Masters. It’s on Hulu and it’s a dream show, because who hasn’t fantisized about having a super-duper treehouse? We’re not talking rope ladders and telescopes in these treehouses, either. More like wet bars, poker tables, and day-beds, for starters.
11. Have you binged on any series or franchise since going into lockdown? Which ones? Yes–my son and I went through all three Hobbit films and then the Lord of the Rings trilogy. We’re rereading the books right now too, and it’s fun to remember how the original story stacks up against the films.

Okeydokey, the nominees are…

• Up On the Shelf
• The Flapper Dame
• MovieMovie BlogBlog II
• 18 Cinema Lane
• Crítica Retrô
• The Classic Movie Muse
• The Midnite Drive-In
• Pure Entertainment Preservation Society
• Silver Screenings
• MovieRob
• Phyllis Loves Classic Movies

Congrats, everyone! And now for the questions.

1. Have you picked up any new skills since being in lockdown?
2. What kinds of unique experiences have you had in lockdown, if any?
3. You can do a podcast with anyone, living or dead. Who would it be, and what would it be about?
4. Is there a movie or a TV show you feel should never be remade ever?
5. Which historic site would you most like to visit?
6. Which song describes you best at this moment in time? Don’t overthink it–just whatever pops into your head.
7. What film genre do you think we need to see more of?
8. Do you have a YouTube channel? Do you think you’d ever start one?
9. Finish this sentence: “Never have I ever…”
10. Do you have any favorite film critics?
11. You can have your own version of Mary Poppins’ carpetbag. What are you going to stuff in it?

All righty, there we go, people. Congrats again to all my nominees, and I hope you have fun with these questions. Thanks again, Gill, Michael, and Andrew!

The Broadway Bound Blogathon is on the morrow. Hope to see you then…