The Midnight Movie Mamacita [Interview]

She consistently puts on crazy movie events, which I mention on here all the time.

She loves bad movies even more than I do.

She’s the Midnight Movie Mamacita!

(Imagine that part in a fun B-movie font.)

The International Horror & SciFi Film Festival is coming up this weekend. I know, it feels like it was just here. That’s because last year it was it’s own deal, and this year it’s part of the Phoenix Film Festival.

I figured this was the perfect time to spotlight Arizona’s own master of cult cinema, Andrea Brown, so I did!

—

So tell us what you do as the Midnight Movie Mamacita.

Essentially I’m an Independent Film Programmer. So, I take movies that I think people would want to experience in a Theater and on the Big Screen (new and old) and I coordinate with the distributors and venue to book the film.

I then Promote and advertise the screening and run the actual 35mm or Digital film when the big night arrives. So it’s the full process from start to finish, a lot of work but a lot of fun!

When did you know you were a cult movie junkie?

Ohhh, that’s a tough one!

Well I think it was at a sleepover in my teens when my girlfriends and I would watch Horror movies. I hadn’t been exposed to them before and I was utterly fascinated by flicks like Childs Play, Swamp Thing & Hellraiser. So those definitely whet my appetite as did a late night television airing (also at a sleepover) of a Boy and His Dog.

So I think the fascination started in my teens and blossomed when my friends and I were old enough to attend the yearly shlock-fest, the Incredibly Strange Film Festival (in Auckland, New Zealand), which was the film highlight of every year.

What do you think it is about these films that gives them their crazy charm?

I think it’s their independent spirit. Especially the exploitation films from the 60s and 70s.  They were so renegade, just filming whenever or wherever they could.  So you have this really amazing time capsule of America that is so raw and real, which arose essentially due to lack of money (to afford expensive locations, sets, costumes etc).

I’m a complete retro-freak, I am fascinated with those eras, so being able to see them on film in such an uncompromising way is a total treat.

How did you find your place in the film world?

Film Programming is such an elusive thing to get in to. First off, it’s like an old boys club in a lot of ways. There are few Woman Film Programmers out there.

I slowly began networking and connecting with people that were doing Repertory screenings and graciously I was allowed to enter the club.

Buying 35mm film prints was a great way to meet other collectors and learn a lot about what is available the correct way to go about licensing films for the events.

So it was all through hard work and determination, I know that sounds super cheesy, but it’s definitely not something you really go to school for.

How is going to an MMM screening different than just “going to the movies?”

Well, first off we try to program films that aren’t playing theatrically in the Valley, so we like to provide that service to people.

Then we try to make it more about the experience. You know that you will be seeing a film with like-minded folks that are as passionate about the films as you are.

We have a preshow/intermission loop of trailers and quirky videos to keep you entertained and giveaways from our awesome sponsor, Bookmans.

Bringing out talent with cast and crew is also a big part of what we do. Giving people a chance to interact with their idols is one of my favorite parts of the job.

Tell us about some projects you’re excited about.

Right now I’m super excited about the new venue.

This year the Midnite Movie Mamacita celebrates 5 years of Independent Film Programming. Ever since I started doing this the goal has been to cultivate enough of a following to one day be able to sustain a venue. So within the next few months we should have some exciting news to announce on a new permanent home within the Valley.

Also we have the International Horror & Sci Fi Film Festival this week! Really excited with the awesome Competition and Showcase selections we have to offer this year, I think people will be really satisfied with the films and shorts.

Plus I direct the Horror Track for the Phoenix Comicon, so we have some really fun panels and guests lined up for the Zombie Walk, Beauty Pageant, plus Elvira!

So, I have a lot of stuff that I’m really excited to see come to fruition in 2011!

And when you’re not MMM-ing, what are you enjoying?

I love to travel and explore.  I love the desert and small towns and roadside attractions.  I also love spending time with my friends and family, day drinking and going to Film Festivals.

—

Catch Andrea at the Horror SciFi Film Fest this weekend, Phoenix Comicon in May, and Lightning Octocon in June!

And be sure to check out her gorgeous website, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

Eternal Adventure At The Gamers’ Inn [Spotlight]

Weary from your adventures through the Eastern Desert Kingdom of Mesa, you find yourselves standing in front of the Gamers’ Inn.

Its sign hangs above you, giving off a dim but magical blue glow.

As you enter The Inn, the sound of the evening’s patrons, huddled over many tables, fills your ears. Some lift their heads briefly to eye you newcomers, but quickly return to their many games. To your right, an Innkeeper stands behind a bar, busying himself with tasks and customers.

As you look around, you find the Inn to be divided into four areas, each with a different focus. The first is the main area of business, where many of the expected wares are available for sale. Board games, card games, miniatures, RPG rule books, and dice.

Lots of dice.

To your left you find a wall of the fine food and nerd-fuel the Inn has to offer. What it appears to lack in nutritional value, it promises to make up in instant gratification and quick energy, for those longer running gaming sessions.

You peek around an opening into a long and dark hallway, there are many figures hunched over glowing devices, but they are hard to make out.

You attempt a Light spell, but it sputters and fades instantly. It seems no light can penetrate this area. Also, time seems to pass without meaning here.

The Inn only charges 1 gold per hour to use these machines, and as you heft your purse you realize you could spend very long time indeed in this cave of wonders.

The next area is the main gathering area, and tables are spaced along the walls. Several patrons of the Inn are heavily involved in campaigns and adventures of their own, rolling dice, navigating maps, and pulling cards.

You see many goatees, ponytails, and black t-shirts.

Some people appear to have been here for some time. Perhaps this is because the Inn never closes, and welcomes adventurers day or night.

As you search for traps, you find the entire area capable of luring in gamers and keeping them for long and memorable DnD sessions.

Finally, you inspect the last area. It’s quite large and filled with very large, custom tables. Around these tables stand generals and strategists. Upon their war-tables, scaled down battles are being played out using miniature armies, monsters, tanks, castles, rivers, and mountains.

For getting to the end of this post, you earn 1500 exp points!

Congratulations, you leveled up! Distribute your newest stat points.

Thanks to Stephen of The Gamers’ Inn for having us over and showing us around.

Swing by any time, or follow them of Facebook & Twitter.

Space Boy Robot – Retro Robots & Rayguns [Artist Spotlight]

The past and the future seem to be colliding quite a bit in fiction these days. I’m not complaining, I think its pretty fun.

Space Boy Robot (or Jordan-Alexander, to you Earthicans) is a local artist who uses his unique take on this theme to make some really (really) great robot creations.

He not only handcrafts some of the best little bots I’ve ever seen, he also knows how to take great photos of them. With one exception, the pics in this post are all him, and they look amazing. Which exception? Why the freaking Steampunk Octopus Robot he made me!!

This guy is awesome.

—

Tell us about your bots.

I’ve been making robots for the last couple of years and it started when my love of indie handmade and my love of robots collided. I began building little robots out of wooden blocks and found/recycled items that I was lucky enough to scrounge up. Today, I still follow the same process.

I personally hand build, and hand paint each robot. Each robot is a guaranteed ‘one of a kind’.  About a year ago I began centering my work on steam power pseudo-Victorian era styled robots and have been working on a collection of historical ray guns from the future. I’m also working on a series of time machine oddities; although, they don’t actually travel through time…yet.

What pulled you into the retro-robot world?

I grew up loving all things sci-fi and robot related, and I have devoured science fiction novels Ieft and right.  Im a huge fan of Frank Herbert’s DUNE; and of course, all the major sci fi staples in television and movies.

Also, I always check out all the geeky sci fi blogs every morning.

And I’m lucky enough to come from a family of nerds  and artists.

Any robotic octopi coming soon? (Mwahaha.)

Yes indeed!

How long does it usually take to put a complete robot together?

I usually build 15-25 robots at a time (usually a three to five day process), then it takes me about two weeks to paint and detail each robot.

How do you get that amazing space-worn look?

That’s my secret!

But I can guarantee that I use the best professional acrylics around!

Where do you get ideas for new creations?

Everywhere! I see robot faces in very random ordinary things and often try to mimic what I see.

I also get ideas from various books and movies. For example after revisiting an old favorite movie of mine,  ‘Labyrinth‘, I really wanted to make a Ludo robot. In turn, Ludo became the muse of my new series of Ogre-Bots!

Who’s your favorite famous robot?

Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo from Mystery Science Theater  3000 – I really dig how they are just random items recycled to make these really brilliant and hilarious robots.

Where can folks get their hands on your work?

I’ve always been a part of Red Hot Robot, thanks to the fantastic owner Jason Kiningham.

I also sell the robots through the popular handmade commerce website ETSY.

Starting the second week of February Space Boy Robots can be found at MADE PHX and Evermore Nevermore in Mesa.

—

Thanks again to SpaceBoyRobot and his lovable, wacky, ragtag, motley crew of bots!

Follow SBR on Twitter, his Etsy shop, and his Flickr. Fair warning, though. You might be sucked in to his Flickr for a while. Each shot begs to be viewed full size.