Phil attends the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3 Downtown San Jose-April 6, 2013

So for the fifth and final movie on Saturday, I participated in a midnight tradition that has been going on since 1975. Over at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose, I once again attended the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. And as always, my friends from Barely Legal Productions were there to bring the film to life! Plus, this was the special Easter Show! Joining me on my trip were my good friends Krista and her boyfriend Joe. The show is presented by The Camera 3 Cinemas and by Psycho Donuts and it features the cast of Barely Legal Productions!!

The Camera 3 lobby was packed full of people, mostly young teenagers and college students, and some of them have never been to a midnight ROCKY screening before! Mmmmm.......I smell virgins! To my surprise, Krista and Joe were also a virgins! OK I knew that tonight was going to be a lot fun!

After the theater was filled, the show began! As always, our host Nate McHavoc was our emcee (and Riff Raff) for this special Easter show. He had all the virgins come up and do the butt dance (there were A LOT of virgins), and then sent everyone under 18 years old back to their seats. Those who remained had to answer a his traditional contest which involves taking a basket, "And putting it between your legs." Now remember, this was the special Easter show, so the games involved Easter eggs and baskets. And of course, Krista was part of it all! I was so proud of her!

Since this was Easter show, some of the cast members wore Easter costumes during the show. But the best costume was Nate's GIGANTIC EASTER BUNNY costume that he wore during the grand finale of the film! It was hilarious! OK here's a little SPOILER. So for those who haven't seen the film yet (and shame on you if you haven't!), skip this part and go to the end. So in the final scene of the film were Riff Raff and Magenta confront Dr. Frank-N-Furter, there dressed in their alien garb. So naturally, the shadowcast does the same thing. But when Nate instead came out in the bunny costume, I almost died laughing! And what made it even funnier was that Nate just popped his head up and down to make it look like he was talking along with the movie! The whole audience was just laughing and cheering! Yes folks, fun was had by all!

After the screening, my friends and I kept the party going by heading over to IHOP down on N. First Street. Both Krista and Joe had a blast at the show, and both wanted to attend the next month's show. I gotta say, tonight was an awesome night!

So another great midnight screening has come and gone. The next Barely Legal will be Saturday, May 4th so come on out and join in on all the fun! To learn more about future shows, and how you can become a cast member, visit their website at barelylegal.rhps.org.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show! 

Phil attends the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3 Downtown San Jose-Feb. 2, 2013

This past Saturday night my good friend Leslie and I did the Time Warp again over at the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose! The film was presented by the Camera Cinemas, the Barley Legal production crew, and Psycho Donuts, home of the maniacal named snacks! Now what made this screening even more exciting was that this was Lingerie Night because of Valentine's Day being this month! Yup, 'twas going to be a very fun night!

The Camera 3's lobby was packed full of people, mostly young teenagers and college students, and some of them have never been to a midnight ROCKY screening before! Mmmmm.......I smell virgins! My only real complaint was that their wasn't enough ladies in lingerie! Well, besides the cast and Leslie! Tee-hee!!

After the theater was filled, the show began! As always, our host Nate McHavoc was our emcee (and Riff Raff) for this special Lingerie Night show. He had all the virgins come up and do the butt dance (there were A LOT of virgins), and then sent everyone under 18 years old back to their seats. After picking out six victims....uh.....virgins....Nate subjected them to his embarrassing games and we all had a big laugh at their expense! It was awesome!

Theatrical Movie Poster (1975)

There isn't anything that I can say that hasn't already been said. The film is talked about in books and periodicals, referenced in movies and TV shows, and I dare you to find anyone who doesn't know how to do the Time Warp dance. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE has become part of the American Lexicon of cult films, a film that to this day, is the longest running theatrical released film in Hollywood history. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is the alpha and omega of midnight movie; a cult classic that has no real equal. The film is in a class all by itself, far ahead of its time. The film was a bomb when it was first released. Now, it is part of the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. The film's message of "Don't dream it. Be it." has had a major influence on those who are different, the outcasts if you will. It resonates and has inspired many who felt that they didn't belong. Artists, punks, gays, lesbians, movie maniacs, college students, and everyone in between. It speaks to us all to not give up on hope and to not give up on ourselves and to keep following our passions in life! Also the film is just one of the best films ever made! After 36 years, the film continues to play in theaters, and it is playing every month at the Camera 3!

So another great midnight screening has come and gone. But don't fret, the Barely Legal crew will be back in San Jose next month. They put on shows all over Northern California, so no matter where you live, there will be a show near you. So what are you waiting for? Come out next Saturday and join in on all this ROCKY HORROR fun! You'll be glad you did! To learn more about future shows, and how you can become a cast member, visit their website at barelylegal.rhps.org.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the first midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW of 2013 at the Camera 3-January 5, 2013

This past Saturday night I one again did the Time Warp again over at the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose! The show is presented by the Camera Cinemas and by Psycho Donuts and it features the cast of Barely Legal Productions, who have been carrying the ROCKY torch here in the Bay Area for the past 17 years! What made this show even more fun was that my best friend Dave along with his girlfriend Christine and her daughter Katelyn came out to join in on the fun!

What better way to ring in the new year with a midnight screening of ROCKY, which was Barely Legal's first show for 2013. The cast and crew once again did a wonderful job! Every time I attend these shows, the crowds get bigger and bigger, plus more and more "virgins" are attending these shows, which means the ROCKY virus is spreading to a whole new generation of kids. This makes me very happy, because it means that this midnight tradition, and the film, will be entertaining people for years to come. This is their mission: to keep the legacy of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW alive and well, and to make sure audiences have the best time of their lives at their shows. I always have a blast, and all my friends that I've been taking have all had fun and all have come back several times over.

Theatrical Movie Poster (1975)

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is the alpha and omega of midnight movie; a cult classic that has no real equal. The film is in a class all by itself, far ahead of its time. The film was a bomb when it was first released. Now, it is part of the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. The film's message of "Don't dream it. Be it." has had a major influence on those who are different, the outcasts if you will. It resonates and has inspired many who felt that they didn't belong. Artists, punks, gays, lesbians, movie maniacs, college students, and everyone in between. The reason we love this film for more than just its obvious and fabulous over-the-top outrageousness. It speaks to us all to not give up on hope. To not give up on ourselves and to keep following our passions in life! Also the film is just one of the best films ever made!

So another great midnight screening has come and gone. But don't fret, the Barely Legal crew will be back in San Jose next month. They put on shows all over Northern California, so no matter where you live, there will be a show near you. To learn more about future shows, and how you can become a cast member, visit their website at barelylegal.rhps.org.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Albany Twin Theater-December 8, 2012

So I have been attending Barely Legal's midnight screenings of THE ROCK HORROR PICTURE SHOW for well over a year now. However, I've only attended the screening at the Camera 3 here in Downtown San Jose. They've also been having shows at the Albany Twin Theater in Albany for a while now as well. So while having breakfast with Barely Legal co-founder Bridgid McHavoc at our Post-ROCKY  hangout (the IHOP on First Street in San Jose) last week, she informed be that I had to go to the show in Albany on December 8th for several reasons. The first being was that this was the last show at the Albany Twin for 2012. Second; it was a holiday themed show. And third, Bridgid was playing none other than the infamous Dr. Frank-N-Furter. So I told my good friend Leslie about the show and she invited her whole family to join in! Plus as an added bonus; her oldest daughter Oceanna's birthday was this month. What better way to spend her Bday, right? So we all traveled up to Albany to check out the show!

The Albany Twin Cinema Theater

The Albany Twin Theater was built in the 1970's and it's a really big theater. It had a good size screen and an impressive, real life stage! I mean it was a legit stage, used for performances and shows! It was really cool to see! Now being that we were in the East Bay, there were some differences between this show and the one put on in San Jose. The most obvious was that the crowd was much more louder, livelier, and way more vocal. Plus their commentary and the jokes are just slightly different than San Jose's but it was interesting to hear them.

The night started off with a sexy, Burlesque type number with the luscious ladies of Barely Legal seducing Santa Claus to Eartha Kitt's rendition of "Santa Baby." Yup, I knew that this was going to be fun-filled, holiday show!!

Inside the Albany Twin Theater

Afterwards our emcee Nate McHavoc (aka Riff Raff) whipping the audience into a frenzy! After his introductions he then handed the mic over to Bernie Bregman, a former member of the shadowcast called Sins of the Flesh. He was in charge of humiliating out group of "virgins" which was HUGE!! There must have been over 50 virgins up on the stage! So after he eliminated everyone that was under 18 years-old, he then picked out five girls and boys to participate in what he called, "Bernie's Embarrassing Pre-Show Game." Basically he had all the girls spread their legs like a porno star and he had the guys present their junk through their boxers. This was a riot! Now back in my day, the shadowcast use to embarrass the hell out of the virgins and had them do really fucked up shit, which was done in the good name of fun!! So this was a fun flashback for me.

BL's Bridgid McHavoc after the show

After the games were over, Nate got back up stage to introduce the cast for the show. Again, being in the East Bay, there were a lot more crew members, on both the technical side as well as actors and actresses. So most of the cast were people I have never seen before, and with Bridgid as Frank, it was a totally new show and I loved it! The "new" cast members were awesome, the audience was so into it, and Bridgid was fantastic as Dr. Frank-N-Furter!

As with the Fourth of July, everyone was sporting holiday costumes, which included Santa hats, bells, red and green outfits, X-mas lights, and a certain someone dressed up in a snowman costume! Yes Virgina, there really is a talking snowman!! Also, since it was Oceanna's Bday, she was picked to play Betty Munroe Hapschatt!! Our little girl has grown up into a beautiful bride!!

What an amazing night! This was by far one of my favorite Barely Legal shows ever! And I've seen a year's worth already! So in case you missed out on all this midnight fun, fret not my friends! There is still one more show left and it will be their last show for 2012. The next show will be on Saturday 29th at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose. It will also be a holiday themed show so I know you all want to come check it out now after reading this article! And as a reminder, Barely Legal are looking for new members so if you've ever wanted to be a star, now's your chance! To learn more about Barely Legal, their schedule, and how to become a member, visit their website at barelylegal.rhps.org. Also look for them on Facebook as well! Also visit the Camera Cinemas website at www.cameracinemas.com. So what are you waiting for? Come out on the 29th and join in on all this ROCKY HORROR fun! You'll be glad you did!

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil's Halloween Horrors Marathon, Day 27: Phil attends the special Halloween screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW with the Barely Legal cast at the Camera 3-October 27, 2012

Welcome my cinematic thrill seekers to Day Twenty-Seven of my horror movie marathon! This past Saturday night I along my best friend Leslie, her daughter Oceanna, and three of her friends attended the special Halloween screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3 Cinemas in scenic Downtown San Jose! Now usually these midnight rituals are always packed, filled with long time veterans and nubile virgins. But since it's Halloween season, there was a massive line of people, ready to do the Time Warp again! Once again my friends at Barely Legal Productions were there to bring this cult classic to life before our eyes!

I arrived at the Camera 3 around 11pm, and had some very yummy donuts to snack on, courtesy of our good friends at Psycho Donuts located in the theater lobby. About a half hour later Leslie and the gang showed up with their tickets. Now the show had been sold out for weeks, so we were all excited to attend the show! Oceanna also was kind enough to bring along three of her friends, who also just happened to be virgins! Awwww.....we love our virgins here at ROCKY!! I was able to get a hold of a member of the BL cast and branded her friends with the infamous "V" on their cheeks as well as other tasteful words like "Slut" and "Asshole." Yup, these kids had no clue what the night awaited them!

Theatrical Movie Poster (1975)

The tradition of our emcee Nate McHavoc (Riff Raff) calling up all the virgins from audience was taken to a whole new level with this show. Now in my Day Six review, I mentioned that when the virgins were called to the stage, half of the audience went up. Now this was a sold out crowd, and there was even more virgins in the audience. So when Nate called them up, over 75% of the audience came up on stage! It was unbelievable! I have never seen anything like that before! It was an amazing sight to see!

The Barely Legal cast turned in another fantastic performance once again, and the crowd had a blast! I along with my friends continued the party over at the local IHOP down on First Street. There's nothing like having a big plate of French Toast at 4am! This is what makes life worth living for! Also having breakfast were some of the members of Barely Legal. Yup, this IHOP is now the official post-ROCKY hangout spot!

This was such fun-filled night! The cast, the crowd, the film, everything about the night was just perfect! I had the best time and so did my friends! Now if you wish join in on this midnight tradition of fun, you are in luck! Their next show is this coming Saturday, November 3 at midnight. And to make this show even more special, it is Barely Legal's 17th Birthday show! So make sure you come out and attend this momentous event! To learn more about future shows, and how you can become a cast member, visit their website at http://barelylegal.rhps.org/.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the screaming! 

Phil's Halloween Horrors Marathon, Day 18: Phil hosts the Cult Movie Screening of EVIL DEAD II at the Camera 3 Downtown San Jose-October 18, 2012

Welcome to Day Eighteen of Phil's Halloween Horrors Marathon and welcome to Month Nine of the Cult Movie Series here at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose! So for tonight's cult film we screened Sam Raimi's 1987 cult classic EVIL DEAD II. Once again yours truly was the host for tonight's screening. Prizes were donated by Streetlight Records and by Time Tunnel Toys, both located here in San Jose. There were also yummy donuts to eat, courtesy of Psycho Donuts located in the lobby.

Theatrical Move Poster (1987)

Directed by Sam Raimi, the film's about a young man named Ash (cult movie icon Bruce Campbell) who takes his girlfriend Linda (Denise Bixler) to a remote cabin in the woods for a romantic getaway. Once there, Ash finds and plays back a professor's tape recorded recitation of passages from the Book of the Dead, which gives the evil spirits in the woods the power to posses the living. Linda becomes possessed and Ash is forced to "kill" her. Soon the professor's daughter Annie (Sarah Berry), his assistant Ed Gentley (Richard Domeier), and two locals named Jake (Dan Hicks) and Bobby Jo (Kassie Wesley) shows up and they, along with Ash, must survive the night or else they will all be "Dead by Dawn!"

The film was made in Wadesboro, North Carolina in the summer of 1986. Most of the film was shot in the woods near that farmhouse, or J.R. Faison Junior High School, which is where the interior cabin set was located. Most of the film was shot in the woods near that farmhouse, or at J.R. Faison Junior High School, which is where the interior cabin set was located. Producer Dino De Laurentiis and his production company DEG (De Laurentiis Entertainment Group) financed the film.

The film's beginning was a recap of the first film; actually more of a reimagining. The reason they did this was because Raimi and his crew couldn't get the rights to use screnes from the first film. The original EVIL DEAD was released by New Line Cinema and they used a scene from the film in Wes Craven's A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. Look for it towards the end of the film; it's in the scene with Nancy trying to stay awake. In response to this and not being able to use footage of the first film, in the scene when Ash first walks into the toolshed to remove Linda's head from his hand, if you look above the door, you'll see Freddy Kruger's infamous glove.

There are numerous stories that are now folklore. From Sam breaking Bruce's jaw when he crashed into him with a bicycle to Ted Raimi sweating in his Possessed Henrietta, the Linda Chainsaw sequence, to Bruce getting his teeth punched out by Dan Hicks, the stories are endless. Also known as EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN, the film was released to theaters on March 13, 1987 and within its first month it grossed over $5 million dollars and earned a cult status among horror fans.

What a great crowd we had! Over 50 people came out to see the film! Now there is still one more showing of EVIL DEAD II this Saturday, October 20th at midnight. Then next moth's cult film will be the Sam Raimi's 1993 film ARMY OF DARKNESS (the final chapter of the EVIL DEAD Trilogy) on Thursday, December 15th at 9:30pm and again on Saturday, November 17th at midnight! So mark these days on your calender and come out and have some cult movie fun! To view the rest of the Cult Movie Series schedule, visit the Camera Cinemas website at www.cameracinemas.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the screaming! 

Phil's Halloween Horrors Marathon, Day 6: Phil attends the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3-October 6, 2012

Hello and welcome to Day Six of my Halloween Horrors Marathon! This past Saturday night my good friend and fellow film buddy Jennifer and I did the Time Warp again over at the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose! As I mentioned many times before, if you have never been to a midnight showing of ROCKY, then you just suck eggs! The show is presented by The Camera 3 Cinemas and by Psycho Donuts and it features the cast of Barely Legal Productions, who have been carrying the ROCKY torch here in the Bay Area for the past 17 years! That's a lot of Time Warping people!!

Once again the cast and crew did a wonderful job! Every time I attend these shows, the crowds get bigger and bigger, plus more and more "virgins" are attending these shows, which means the ROCKY virus is spreading to a whole new generation of kids. This makes me very happy, because it means that this midnight tradition, and the film, will be entertaining people for years to come. But for some strange reason, there were a lot more "virgins" than ever! In fact, when Nate McHavoc aka Riff Raff called all the "virgins" to come up on stage, literally half of the audience came up! I couldn't believe it! There was a lot of booty shaking at this show! And it was all in good fun!

Theatrical Movie Poster (1975)

There isn't anything that I can say that hasn't already been said. The film is talked about in books and periodicals, referenced in movies and TV shows, and I dare you to find anyone who doesn't know how to do the Time Warp dance. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE has become part of the American Lexicon of cult films, a film that to this day, is the longest running theatrical released film in Hollywood history. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is the alpha and omega of midnight movie; a cult classic that has no real equal. The film is in a class all by itself, far ahead of its time. The film was a bomb when it was first released. Now, it is part of the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. The film's message of "Don't dream it. Be it." has had a major influence on those who are different, the outcasts if you will. It resonates and has inspired many who felt that they didn't belong. Artists, punks, gays, lesbians, movie maniacs, college students, and everyone in between. It speaks to us all to not give up on hope and to not give up on ourselves and to keep following our passions in life! Also the film is just one of the best films ever made! After 36 years, the film continues to play in theaters, and it is playing every month at the Camera 3!

Now usually my friends and I have a post-Rocky tradition: eating breakfast at our favorite Denny's on Alma and First Street. But for some reason the place was packed! So Jennifer and I headed over to the IHOP down on First Street and had breakfast there with Bridgid McHavoc, Nate's wife and all around ROCKY pro. She has played everybody, from Magenta to Columbia and even Dr. Frank-N-Furter. We all stayed up late and chatted and had a grand 'ol time!

And so another great midnight screening has come and gone. However the Barely Legal crew will be back in San Jose later on this month for their BIG ROCKY HORROR HALLOWEEN PARTY! So make sure you come out on Saturday, October 27th for this awesome event! I promise you it will be a night you will never forget! To learn more about future shows, and how you can become a cast member, visit their website at http://barelylegal.rhps.org/.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the screaming! 

Phil attends the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICUTRE SHOW at the Camera 3-August 4, 2012

When the clock strikes midnight, that's when the crazy, freaking, scary people come out! And where are these ill-mannered, foul mouthed hooligans go to hang out? At the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE show at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose of course! To bring this cult classic to life, my good friends from Barely Legal Productions were there to act out along with the film! And once again my friends Jennifer, Leslie, her daughter Oceanna and her new boyfriend Caleb were there with me to join in on this 37 year old midnight tradition!

This past Saturday night's show was a special event indeed. First off, the Camera 3 now has a stage!! Now we can see all the action! Hellsyeah!! Second, it was Mrs. Bridgid McHavoc's birthday! And our emcee Nate (aka Riff Raff aka Bridgid's better half) had everybody in the audience sing Happy Birthday to her....in the ROCKY HORROR way! Unfortunately I cannot repeat exactly what we all sang, but it went along the lines of "Happy Birthday, F*** You!" This how we do it at midnight people! But when we sing it, it's really touching. Nate also called up to the stage anyone who was celebrating a birthday this month, and yours truly is celebrating his birthday on the 22nd. Bridgid and I hugged and enjoyed the spotlight while the others looked terrified. So the few of us got onstage and we were all serenaded. To have my friends from Barely Legal (Christy Robinson Mila, Sandra Dee, Travis Venturi-Tackett, Lizzie Bernard, Drea Storey, Tina Rupnik, and Nate) singing and flipping all of us the bird was a wet dream come true!

Now as usual, Nate had all the virgins come up on stage, do the infamous Butt Dance, and had the lucky chosen ones participate in an embarrassing game! One of these virgins was Oceanna's boyfriend Caleb! And just as she did months earlier, his team won the challenge! Their prize: Jack shit! You gotta love virgins!!

Again, the Barely Legal crew did an awesome show! Afterwards, Jennifer, Leslie and I wished Bridgid a Happy Birthday and told her that she played a kick ass Magenta, even though she disagreed. So if a certain Bridgid McHavoc is reading this, I want to say that you did a great job that night! And I'm so glad that I get to share my birthday month with a really fantastic, talented, far out, groovy chick, who just happens to be a good friend! Happy Birthday again Bridgid!!

After the show, myself and the rest of my friends headed to our favorite post-ROCKY hangout: the Denny's off of Monterey Road and Alma. There is nothing like stuffing your face with French Toast at three in the morning! Oh man it was so good! It's the little things in life that make it all worth living!

So another great midnight screening has come and gone. But don't fret, the Barely Legal crew will be back in San Jose on September 1st. Also they are looking for actors, especially men! To learn more about future shows, and how you can become a cast member, visit their website athttp://barelylegal.rhps.org.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show

Phil attends the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3-July 7, 2012

Good evening ladies and gentlemen! Last night I participated in a midnight tradition that has been going on since 1975. Over at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose, I once again attended the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. And as always, my friends from Barely Legal Productions were there to bring the film to life! Joining me on my trip were my good friends Jennifer, her friend Kristin, Leslie, her younger sister Lori, and Leslie's daughter Ocean. However there two new ingredients to the mix: One) This was the special 4th of July presentation screening! And 2) It was my friend Jennifer's birthday!

The Camera 3's lobby was packed full of people, mostly young teenagers and college students, and some of them have never been to a midnight ROCKY screening before! Mmmmm.......I smell virgins! To my surprise, Leslie's sister Lori was also a virgin! OK I knew that tonight was going to be a lot fun!

After the theater was filled, the show began! As always, our host Nate McHavoc was our emcee (and Riff Raff) for this special 4th of July show. He had all the virgins come up and do the butt dance (there were A LOT of virgins), and then sent everyone under 18 years old back to their seats. Those who remained had to answer a series of extremely easy America related questions, with their mouths filled with marshmallows! Yup, nothing says America quite like a mouthful of marshmallows.

Theatrical Movie Poster (1975)

As I previously stated, tonight's theme was America, so some of the cast members wore patriotic costumes during the show. But the best costume was Nate's Bald Eagle costume that he wore during the grand finale of the film! It was hilarious! OK here's a little SPOILER. So for those who haven't seen the film yet (and shame on you if you haven't!), skip this part and go to the end. So in the final scene of the film were Riff Raff and Magenta confront Dr. Frank-N-Furter, there dressed in their alien garb. So naturally, the shadowcast does the same thing. But when Nate instead came out in the eagle costume, I almost died laughing! And what made it even funnier was that Nate just popped his head up and down to make it look like he was talking along with the movie! The whole audience was just laughing and cheering! The lovely Lizzy Bernard looked gorgeous in her Miss America gown, as well did the rest of the crew! Yes folks, fun was had by all!

After the screening, my friends and I kept the party going by heading over to Denny's off of Monterey Road and Alma.Yeah it looked pretty damn hot with yours truly strolling in the restaurant flocked by five women. But this was Jennifer's night, seeing it was her birthday. And I gotta say, tonight was the best present we could've gave her.

So another great midnight screening has come and gone. But don't fret, the Barely Legal crew will be back in San Jose next month. They put on shows all over Northern California, so no matter where you live, there will be a show near you. To learn more about future shows, and how you can become a cast member, visit their website at http://barelylegal.rhps.org/.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3-June 2, 2012

The Camera 3 Marquee.

So during the Charlie Chaplin Days at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, I attended a midnight movie tradition here in San Jose. So after I finished my duties at the museum on Saturday (I was there from 11am to 10:30pm), I headed on over to the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose for the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. As always, my friends from Barely Legal Productions were there to bring the film to life! It had been a long time since I attended one of these midnight shows, and I was long overdue for one! In fact I haven't attended a ROCKY show since January and I really wanted to see and support my friends!

The line for the show.

Upon my arrival, I met the lovely Bridgid McHavoc in the Psycho Donuts dining area in the theater's lobby. Bridgid, who's been with Barely Legal for several years, has portrayed several characters from the film; from Columbia to Magenta to the infamous Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Soon other Barely Legal cast members were arriving: Lizzie Bernard, Sandra Dee, and Drea Storey. The lobby was buzzing with excitement and a very long line began to form. Bridgid's husband Nate McHavoc was setting up the theater along with the BLP crew. Props were unloaded, built, and displayed. It all looked amazing! Each prop was extremely detailed that it all looked like the real props from the actual film! And let me just say that the costumes were all just simply amazing! I have been fortunate to see the BL crew in action at several of their shows and they always put 110% into each one. If you have never attended one of their shows, shame on you! Seeing a ROCKY show is required and is on everybody's cinematic bucket list!

Barely Legal's Bridgid McHavoc.

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW is the alpha and omega of midnight movie; a cult classic that has no real equal. The film is in a class all by itself, far ahead of its time. The film was a bomb when it was first released. Now, it is part of the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. The film's message of "Don't dream it. Be it." has had a major influence on those who are different, the outcasts if you will. It resonates and has inspired many who felt that they didn't belong. Artists, punks, gays, lesbians, movie maniacs, college students, and everyone in between. The reason we love this film for more than just its obvious and fabulous over-the-top outrageousness. It speaks to us all to not give up on hope. To not give up on ourselves and to keep following our passions in life! Also the film is just one of the best films ever made!

So another great midnight screening has come and gone. But don't fret, the Barely Legal crew will be back in San Jose next month. They put on shows all over Northern California, so no matter where you live, there will be a show near you. To learn more about future shows, and how you can become a cast member, visit their website at http://barelylegal.rhps.org/.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the Cult Movie screening of FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS at the Camera 3-May 17, 2011

Hello my fellow cult fanatics and welcome to Month Four of the Cult Movie Series here at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose! So for tonight's cult film they screened Terry Gilliam 1998's FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS. Yours truly was the host for tonight's screening. Another great addition for tonight's show was that this was a 35mm print that was being screened! This print came from the vaults of Universal Studios! Prizes were donated by Streetlight Records and by Time Tunnel Toys, both located here in San Jose. There were also yummy donuts to eat, courtesy of Psycho Donuts located in the lobby. If you have never seen the film, here's a brief synapse for you:

Theatrical Movie Poster (1998)

Based on the autobiographical novel of the same name by acclaimed and eccentric author Hunter S. Thompson, the film stars Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro as the crazed duo of Raoul Duke and his attorney, Dr. Gonzo respectively. Traveling in their red convertible called The Red Shark, they set out on a road trip to Las Vegas in search of "The American Dream," while taking huge amount of drugs and alcohol!

Gilliam got his start making the bizarre and hilarious animation sequences for the British television show MONTY PYHON'S FLYING CIRCUS. He has gone on to direct several other cult films such as MONTY PYHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (1975), TIME BANDITS (1981), BRAZIL (1985), and 12 MONKEYS (1995). His last film THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS was the last that actor Heath Ledger appeared in. He died during the making of the film, so Gilliam had other actors fill in for him such as Colin Farrel, Jude Law, and Johnny Depp.

Both Depp and Del Toro really got into their respective roles for this film. Del Toro gained 40 pounds on purpose for his portrayal of  Dr. Gonzo and Depp even shaved his head. Also there were a number of cameos of big name actors in the film, including Tobey Maguire, Ellen Barkin, Gary Busey, Mark Harmon, Penn Jillette, Lyle Lovett, Christina Ricci, and Flea from the rock/funk band Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The film it self was a total bomb at the boxoffice. It grossed only 10.6 million, well below its $18.5 million budget. Since then it has become a true cult film due in large part to its release on VHS first, then on DVD and now Blu-Ray, including a Special Edition released by The Criterion Collection. On it, Thompson showed his approval of the Gilliam version by recording a full-length audio commentary for the film and participating in several DVD special features.

Another great crowd for the Cult Movie series show! Next month's cult film is director Ivan Reitman's 1984 comedy GHOSTBUSTER, which will be shown on Thursday, June 14th at 9:30pm and again on Saturday, June 16th at midnight, so mark these days on your calender and come out and have some cult movie fun! To view the rest of the Cult Movie Series schedule, visit the Camera Cinemas website at www.cameracinemas.com.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil gets an exclusive interview while attending the midnight sceening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3-January 7, 2012

This past Saturday night I did the Time Warp again over at the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose! As I mentioned in my October review, if you have never been to a midnight show of ROCKY, then my friends you are missing out on a lot of fun! The show is presented by The Camera 3 Cinemas and by Psycho Donuts and it features the cast of Barely Legal Productions, who have been carrying the ROCKY torch here in the Bay Area for the past 16 years. These events have been so popular that they are now having shows twice a month: the first and third Saturday!

What a way to ring in the new year with a midnight screening of ROCKY, which was Barely Legal's first show for 2012. The cast and crew once again did a wonderful job! Every time I attend these shows, the crowds get bigger and bigger, plus more and more "virgins" are attending these shows, which means the ROCKY virus is spreading to a whole new generation of kids. This makes me very happy, because it means that this midnight tradition, and the film, will be entertaining people for years to come. This is their mission: to keep the legacy of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW alive and well, and to make sure audiences have the best time of their lives at their shows. I always have a blast, and all my friends that I've been taking have all had fun and all have come back several times over.

The Barely Legal Cast before Saturday's show

I had the honor and privileged to conduct an interview with two of the main actors of the Barely Legal show. Nate and Bridgid McHavoc (who just got married late last year) are what I like to call the "power couple" behind the BLP. They have been part of Barley Legal since its inception. But for Bridgid, who portrayed the infamous sweet transvestite Dr, Frank-N-Furter at Saturday's show, her involvement with the film started years earlier. "When I was dating Nate years ago, he would have ROCKY HORROR parties at his place. That's when I saw the film for the first time really." However while they were dating, "We would go out to dinner or whatever and he would leave at 10:30pm to go with his friends to see ROCKY at midnight, and I got tired of being left behind. So I told him that next time he was going that he had to take me too," Bridgid said laughingly.

Nate & Bridgid McHavoc as Riff Raff & Columbia

The first shows that Barely Legal held were at the famous UC Theater in Bekerley every Saturday night until the theater closed its doors in 1997 "After the theater closed we began to put on shows at the Parkway Theater in Oakland, " said Nate, still in his Riff Raff costume, minus the bald cap. "The crowds at those shows were incredible." The Barely Legal cast performed at the Parkway Theater for well over a decade until, like the UC Theater, it closed in 2008. "That was a real shame because we had so much fun there," said Bridgid.

With the closing of the Parkway Theater, the BL crew went on the road, having shows in San Francisco, Peteluma, and other cities before settling in at the Albany Theater in Albany and at the Camera 3 here in San Jose. It had been a long time since San Jose had midnight ROCKY screenings due to the closing of the Camera One back in 1995. For this movie fanatic, I was so happy to see it return to San Jose and back at the Camera Cinemas once again.

Nate and Bridgid live all the way up in Tracy, which by itself is a long commute. Add to the fact that both have full time jobs. Bridgid is an executive assistant at American Pacific Mortgage and Nate, "works a lot." But despite their hectic schedules, they are committed to their ROCKY fans and their passion in keeping the film alive and making sure their audiences have the best time of the lives at their shows. So to Nate, Bridgid, and to the rest of the Barely Legal crew, I would like to say "thank you" for bringing ROCKY back to San Jose, to the Camera Cinemas, and for making me forget my troubles for a while and letting me do the Time Warp once again. You guys are the best!

As I stated earlier, Barely Legal will be having two shows now every month. The next show will be on Saturday, January 28th so mark that date on your calender! If you would like to learn more about them and are interested in joining their cast, visit their cool website at http://barelylegal.rhps.org/. Also look for them on Facebook as well and to see showtimes, visit the Camera Cinemas website at www.cameracinemas.com. So what are you waiting for? Come out next Saturday and join in on all this ROCKY HORROR fun! You'll be glad you did!

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil's Horror Watch, Day 1: Phil attends the midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at the Camera 3-October 1, 2011

Welcome my friends to the Halloween edition of Phil's Film Adventures! Starting today and going all the way until Halloween, I will be watching one horror film per day to celebrate this most wonderful time of the year! So to start off this annual event, I took my good friend Michele with me as I made my way to the Camera 3 in Downtown San Jose to partake in a cinematic ritual: attending a midnight screening of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW! The film was presented by the Camera Cinemas, the Barley Legal production crew, and Psycho Donuts, home of the maniacal named snacks!

Like most of the other screenings that I have attended, the people in line are the best people to hang out with. So when you attend one of these midnight screenings, make sure to say hi to the person in front of you, as well a behind you, because you'll be seeing them every month. They will become your family, and what an awesome family to have! I seriously doubt that your folks will be dressed from head to toe in tight, black clothing, or your mom having her breasts pop out of a mid-evil corset. Your younger siblings parading around in black, punk/goth attire, your wacky uncle in a tight, pink, neon dress with his beard properly groomed. Here at ROCKY, this is normal. So how cool is that?

Another cool aspect of attending the screening is that inside the Camera 3 lies the awesomely delicious nirvana of Psycho Donuts, where you will find the best tasting and weirdly named donuts in town! Try the Cereal Killer; a donut covered with Cap'n Crunchberries! Or maybe the Headbanger; a raspberry jelly filled treat. My personal favorite is the Jekyll & Hyde; one side has chocolate sprinkles and the other side is covered with drizzle! To wash down your donuts, try their latest liquid refreshment; Beer shake!! Can you say yum!! Now on to the main attraction folks!!

Theatrical Movie Poster (1975)

ROCKY is the king of all cult films. What makes experiencing the film at a midnight screening so unique is the LIVE cast the acts along with it! The Barely Legal Production has been associated with the film here in the South Bay since 1995. With the retiring of the Indecent Exposure Production that same year (they had been performing with the film for over 20 years here), Barely Legal took over the reigns had have never looked back. Going on 16 years, they are now the keepers of the ROCKY flame, and this cast and crew puts on an amazing show. Hosted by Nathan McHavoc (Riff Raff), he's the man that makes the pre-show so much fun. He has the "virgins" (people who have never been to one of the shows before) come up on stage and make them participate in funny and degrading games for our amusement. He whips the crowd up and gets them ready for the show, and what a show it is! Fantastic props and sets, great acting from the cast, fun audience participation, and hilarious hijinks makes this a must on anyone's bucket list. Before you die, you MUST attend one of these screenings. After that then you can die happily. Now about the film...

...The film is freaking awesome!! There, that's all you need to know! OK, here's a little bit of trivia about the film. The film was released to theaters on September 26, 1975, and was DOA at the boxoffice. However, a little theater in New York called the Waverly Theater played it at midnight on April 1, 1976. The rest, as they say, is history.

There isn't anything that I can say that hasn't already been said. The film is talked about in books and periodicals, referenced in movies and TV shows, and I dare you to find anyone who doesn't know how to do the Time Warp dance. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE has become part of the American Lexicon of cult films, a film that to this day, is the longest running theatrical released film in Hollywood history. After 36 years, the film continues to play in theaters, and it is playing every month at the Camera 3! To be part of film history, you can attend the next ROCKY screening on October 29th, so begin to make plans for this special Halloween event!

To view the film schedule of future screenings of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, or any of the fine films screening at the Camera Cinemas, visit their website at http://www.cameracinemas.com

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the Cult Movie Series screening of AKIRA at the Camera 3-June 11, 2011

For years I was a big fan and supporter of the Camera Cinemas' Midnight Movie series. From May til the end of September, they would show popular, cult and horror films at midnight every week at two locations: The Camera 7 Pruneyard on Friday night and the Camera 12 on Saturday night. For over six years I would be there, winning prizes and watching some true film classics such as EVIL DEAD 2, THE PRINCESS BRIDE, THE PROFESSIONAL, and REPO:THE GENETIC OPERA. This past February it was reformatted and rechristened as the Cult Movie series. Now they show the same film twice a month (Thursday nights at 9:30 and Saturday nights at 11:30) at the Camera 3 in downtown San Jose, and it now continues until November. For month number five, the series screened one of the most important anime films all time. With the exception of SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, no other animated film has changed the landscape of cinema and has had a huge influence on pop culture. Make no mistake, AKIRA was and still is the standard that to which all other anime films are measured by.

Original Movie Poster (1988)

Based off the manga graphic novel by Katsuhiro Otomo (who also directed the film) of the same name, AKIRA is set in the futuristic world of Neo-Tokyo in the year 2019. The city has risen out of the ashes of World War III and now has become dark and dangerous megalopolis, infested with gangs and terrorists. The film's main character is biker gang member Shotaro Kaneda, who tries to prevent his best friend Tetsuo Shima from releasing Akira, a little boy with immense mental abilities who destroyed Tokyo decades before. Along the way, Kaneda befriends a young named Kei, a member of the terrorist Resistance. Soon it's up to them to stop his unstable and insane friend from unleashing mass destruction on Neo-Tokyo.

 The film was originally released in Japan on July 16, 1988 by distributor Toho. Soon the film was setting attendance records for an animated film all across the country. Shortly thereafter, a fledgling US film distribution company named Streamline Pictures picked up the rights to release the film here after both George Lucas and Steven Spielberg passed on the film, stating that it was unmarketable. The film had a limited release in theaters from late 1988 throughout 1989. But once it was released on VHS in 1991, the film found a new audience, and became a bona fide cult film.

In the beginning of the new millennium, the film was once brought into the spotlight. On July 24, 2001, the film was once again released to theaters, sporting a new digitally remastered picture and a brand new English dub. In 2002, distributor Manga released a two-disc DVD featuring the new Pioneer English dub version. In February of 2009, the film was finally released on Blu-Ray.

AKIRA is widely considered to be a landmark in Japanese animation as well as filmmaking in general. After the film's release, anime films became hugely popular, finding new audiences here in America. Films such as GHOST IN THE SHELL, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, PRINCESS MONONOKE, and BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE have all become huge hits. Anime television shows like ROBOTECH series, VOLTRON,  DRAGON BALL-Z, and POKEMON have all penetrated the youth pop culture like no other fad has done before. There are now anime conventions all across the country. Anime fashion has become popular as well. But in the end, none of these would be here if not for AKIRA. A couple of years ago, a film critic once said, "There was before AKIRA, and there was after AKIRA. AKIRA changed the world forever." I whole-heatedly concur with that statement.

To purchase your copy of AKIRA on Blu-Ray and DVD, visit http://www.amazon.com/

To learn more about Camera Cinemas' Cult Movie series, upcoming films, showtimes, etc, visit http://www.cameracinemas.com/midnight.shtml

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the Cult Movie Series screening of BATTLE ROYALE at the Camera 3-May 14, 2011

For years I was a big fan and supporter of the Camera Cinemas' Midnight Movie series. From May til the end of September, they would show popular, cult and horror films at midnight every week at two locations: The Camera 7 Pruneyard on Friday night and the Camera 12 on Saturday night. For over six years I would be there, winning prizes and watching some true film classics such as EVIL DEAD 2, THE PRINCESS BRIDE, THE PROFESSIONAL, and REPO:THE GENETIC OPERA. This past February it was reformatted and rechristened as the Cult Movie series. Now they show films once a month at the Camera 3 in downtown San Jose, and it now continues until November. For month number four, they screened the most controversial film ever made. A film that still, to this day, has not been released theatrically here in this country. That film is none other than the Japanese cult classic BATORO ROWAIARU, better known here as BATTLE ROYALE.

Original Japanese Movie Poster (2000)

The film (based on the novel by Koushun Takami) was directed by Kinji Kukasaku and released in Japan on December 16, 2000. However upon its release, the film immediately caused an avalanche of controversy. Now I don't want to explain the whole movie to you all, so I will just state the synopsis: In the future, the Japanese government captures a class of ninth-grade students and forces them to kill each other under the revolutionary "Battle Royale" act.

Yes, you read that right. And no, I am not kidding.

The film's graphic depiction of students killing off one another hit a little to close to home here in the states. Just a little over a year and a half prior to the film's release, on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, the Columbine Massacre accured. This tragic event left 12 students and one teacher dead, and 21 others injured. The massacre lead to debates about stricter gun control laws, the availability of fire arms (especially in the Wal-Mart superstores), and gun violence involving students. Of course, there was no way that BATTLE ROYALE would get to be imported here, especially in the Post Columbine United States. But over the years, the film has been available for the DVD consumers, in numerous versions and variations. Most recently, the UK based Arrow Video made it available on both Blu-Ray and DVD as a Special Edition 3-Disc set, but only as an import. From the American fans' point of view, they believed that they would never see the film released here in theatres. However, that might be changing very, very soon.

Despite the rumors, the film was never officially banned here in the states. Rather there's never been a distribution deal for the film to be shown theatrically. On November 20, 2010, the film was re-released to theaters in Japan in 3D!! Unbelieable as it may seem, but it's this version that will be released here in America sometime this year, thanks in large part to the film's disrtibutor Anchor Bay Entertainment!!

Some saw the film as a violent abomination; a vile and disturbing piece of celliloid that should have never been made in the first place. Some saw it as work of genius; commenting on the social and politcal climate of that time and forshadowing future events. Either way, BATTLE ROYALE still ignites debate, even 11 years after the film's initial release. Soon, American movie goers will finally be able to see it theaters, however, it'll be interesting to see if it will be played at the local mall's googleplex theater. It probably wont, but it would be interesting to see the look on the faces of the masses after they've seen it. Now I'd buy that for a dollar!

To learn more about Camera Cinemas' Cult Movie series, upcoming films, showtimes, etc, visit http://www.cameracinemas.com/midnight.shtml

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the Cult Movie Series midnight screening of GHOST WORLD at the Camera 3-April 16, 2011

For years I was a big fan and supporter of the Camera Cinemas' Midnight Movie series. From May til the end of September, they would show popular, cult and horror films at midnight every week at two locations: The Camera 7 Pruneyard on Friday night and the Camera 12 on Saturday night. For over six years I would be there, winning prizes and watching some true film classics such as EVIL DEAD 2, THE PRINCESS BRIDE, THE PROFESSIONAL, and REPO:THE GENETIC OPERA. This past February it was reformatted and rechristened as the Cult Movie series. Now they show films once a month at the Camera 3 in downtown San Jose, and it now continues until November. For month three of the series, they showed one of my favorite films of all time. I'm talking about the 2001 indie cult classic film GHOST WORLD.

Directed by Terry Zwigoff, and based on the comic book by Daniel Clowes (who also wrote the screenplay along with Zwigoff), the film's about Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson), two social outsiders who, after graduating high school, embark on playing practical jokes on their friend Josh (Brad Renfro) and on their new subject Seymour (Steve Buscemi), who is also a social outsider, just a lot older. Eventually Enid's world is turned up side, as her friendship with Seymour evolves and Rebecca's deteriorates.

I saw this film when it first came out back in August of 2001. It played for a couple of weeks at the now defunct Camera One on First Street in downtown San Jose. Fast forward to 2011 and the film still holds up to its depiction of that moment in time right after you graduate. The world is wide open, as well as your future. There are so many decisions to make and they're all wrong. How I miss the naivety of my youth.

Of course I never had this much fun as Enid and Rebecca do though. Both Birch and Johansson's performances were spot on. Casting did an amazing job snagging these two actresses. They really did look like their comic book counterparts. However I, and many other critics did as well, thought that Birch was going to become the biggest star of all time. I don't think anybody saw Johansson breaking out like she did. Hard to believe that just two years later, she would star, along with Bill Murray, in director Sophia Coppola's indie smash LOST IN TRANSLATION. Now Johansson is starring in major movies, while Birch starred in a number of TV movies like 2003's HOMELESS TO HARVARD, and small indie films such as DARK CORNERS and DEADLINE. In my opinion, I think Birch was robbed of her stardom.

The film's dark humor is just hilarious, and Zwigoff's directing brought the comic book to the big screen perfectly. It also helped that Zwigoff was already a fan of Clowes. This was, and still is, one of my favorite films that he has directed.

It was fun taking a stroll down memory lane. And that's what so great about movies. It takes you back to a time when life was simpler, and all the good times that you had. When you watch a movie, you can remeber where you were the first time you saw it, how old you were, where you were in your life, and what was going on in the world. There are not too many mediums that have that kind of power to take you back in time. And with GHOST WORLD, I'll always have those memories.

To learn more about Camera Cinemas' Cult Movie series, upcoming films, showtimes, etc, visit http://www.cameracinemas.com/midnight.shtml

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!