Happy Halloween. Celebrate w/ House on Haunted Hill mini-script from my blog (e-book) Whose Role Is It Anyway? and Film

FADE IN:

FREDERICK LOREN, and his wife, ANNABELLE, have invited several GUESTS to spend the night in their old mansion situated atop a hill.

EXT. OLD MANSION - NIGHT

Each guest arrives at the desolate mansion in a limousine provided by Mr. Loren and are attended to by his BUTLER.

INT. FOYER. MANSION - NIGHT

BUTLER
Good evening, Sir. Mr. Loren will be with you shortly.

FRANKENSTEIN passes him, GRUNTING.

BUTLER
Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Addams.

INT. SITTING ROOM. MANSION - NIGHT

MORTICIA and GOMEZ ADDAMS join Frankenstein who bends over to kiss Morticia's extended hand, then shakes Gomez's hand and offers a cigar.

GOMEZ
What's the old boy up to?

Frankenstein GRUNTS, shaking his head as he lights Gomez's cigar.

MORTICIA
It's all very mysterious, cherie.

As Gomez is about to smother her arm in kisses, the doorbell HOLLERS, distracting him. The threesome's glances follow the butler as he opens the door.

BUTLER
Good evening, Count.

As Gomez steps towards Dracula,

GOMEZ
You're looking well, Count.

DRACULA
Thank you. Where is your beautiful wife?

Gracefully walking towards him,

MORTICIA
Dear Count.

As she extends her hand, Dracula eyes her neck. All are once again distracted by the doorbell.

BUTLER
Good evening, Madam.

ELVIRA embraces Morticia as each air kiss one another.

ELVIRA
Whatever Frederick is up to, it's fabulous to see you all.

DRACULA
You're looking more lovely than ever, my dear.

Dracula salivates as he glances between Elvira's and Morticia's necks.

Looking dashing and stunning, Frederick and Annabelle suddenly appear.

FREDERICK
How gracious of you for coming tonight.

GOMEZ
Don't give it a thought, my friend. But what is the occasion?
You're famous for your tricks, old chap.

FREDERICK
I'm happy to announce Annabelle's birthday.

The group offer her hugs, kisses, and best wishes. As they do, Frederick steps towards the light switch unnoticed, and shuts off the lights.

In the darkness, a SCREAM and a THUMP are heard. Frederick switches the lights on. Dracula's fangs drip with blood.

FREDERICK
What have you done, Count?

He rushes to Annabelle squirming on the floor, her hand covered with blood trying to soothe the bite on her neck.

DRACULA
What you told me to do. To bite Annabelle.

Everyone turns to Frederick questioningly. As he assists Annabelle to her feet and tends to her wound,

FREDERICK
No, no, no, dear Count. I told you to sing to Annabelle.

DRACULA
I do not sing. I bite.

ANNABELLE
(crying)
I am a lady of darkness now.

ELVIRA
I beg your pardon, Annabelle, but I am the lady of darkness.

MORTICIA
Mon ami, you are mistaken for it is I, the lady of darkness.

Once again, the lights go out. A spotlight flashes on Frederick.

FREDERICK
For you, my darling. Happy birthday.

Frankenstein appears on a makeshift stage in a yellow, sequined jacket and black sequined pants holding a cane. As he clumsily dances, he belts out "Puttin on the Ritz." Annabelle thoroughly enjoys his performance, blowing him a kiss.

He nearly stumbles offstage as Morticia and Elvira, dressed as Flappers, sing "All That Jazz," dancing on and around their chair props. Annabelle CLAPS enthusiastically.

Gomez then appears and recites quite eloquently, Edgar Allan Poe's poem, "Annabel Lee."

Last, Dracula appears adorned in a red and black cape.

DRACULA
For this act, I will need your assistance, dearest Annabelle.

Annabelle joins him exuberantly.

DRACULA
With one swoop of my cape, I will make Annabelle disappear.
On the count of three...one, two, three.

Dracula covers Annabelle with his cape and to everyone's delight, Annabelle disappears.

FREDERICK
Bravo, Count!

MORTICIA
But where did she go?

As everyone surrounds Dracula in curious search of Annabelle, he disappears in a ball of smoke. The stunned group blinks at the stain on the floor and exchange concerned glances.

FREDERICK
He has abducted her!

As he rushes to the door,

FREDERICK
I will search high and low. Use all of my resources.
Do anything to find her. If it takes forever!

INT. DINING QUARTERS. SHIP TO TRANSYLVANIA - NIGHT

DRACULA
Are you comfortable, dearest Annabelle?

ANNABELLE
Yes, I am, Count. But where are we going?

DRACULA
Home.

ANNABELLE
(sighs)
There's no place like home.

DIRECTOR
Cut! This is not the Wizard of Oz!

To the director,

ANNABELLE
And this is House on Haunted Hill?

FADE TO BLACK

**written by petra michelle**

http://whoseroleisitanyway.blogspot.com

Bob Dylan Receives the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature

 

Bob Dylan receives the Nobel Prize in Literature “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” Interview with Sara Danius Permanent Secretary of Nobel Prize.

 

 

The following are comments made by the Nobel Prize morning of October 13, 2016:

• 2009 Nobel Laureate Barack Obama considers Blood on the Tracks to be Dylan’s best album: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/inside-barack-obamas-ipod-20080625 …
• "If I was a poet and could write a fine hand, I'd write my love a letter that she'd understand" Bob Dylan from the song "Thunder on the Mountain" from his 32nd studio album, Modern Times.
• Bob Dylan is the first Nobel Laureate since Bernhard Shaw to have been awarded both a Nobel Prize and an Oscar.
• ”I see myself as a song and dance man” The Life and Career of Bob Dylan documentary captures Bob Dylan’s career:
• Photo collection Rolling Stone Magazine "Bob Dylan Hanging With Joan Baez, Allen Ginsberg and More"  http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/early-bob-dylan-20100301/bob-dylan-80984495http://ww/early-bob-dylan-20100301/bob-
• When Martin Luther King gave his legendary "I have a dream" speech Dylan was on stage. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/70-reasons-why-bob-dylan-is-the-most-important-figure-in-pop-culture-history-2286368.html
• Bob Dylan shakes 2009 Nobel Laureate Barack Obama's hand at the White House Celebration Of Music From The Civil Rights Movement (2010)

• ”…he is a wonderful sampler, a very original sampler. He embodies the tradition & for 54 yrs now he has been at it” Sara Danius, Permanent Secretary Nobel Prize, on Bob Dylan.
• "He can be read and should be read, and is a great poet in the English tradition" Sara Danius, Permanent Secretary Nobel Prize, on Bob Dylan.
• 70% of the visitors at http://Nobelprize.org  have heard or read Bob Dylan's lyrics.
• 2016 Literature Laureate Bob Dylan, age 75, born on May 24, 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA.
• Nobel Prize motivation for Bob Dylan in Swedish: ”som skapat nya poetiska uttryck inom den stora amerikanska sångtraditionen”.

 



• Press release from the Swedish Academy Bob Dylan awarded 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature: http://goo.gl/am7EcK

 

 

 

Congratulations, Bob Dylan. Well deserved!

 

 

• 0 replies61 retweets97 likes

Happy Birthday, John Lennon!

Happy Birthday, John Lennon

 

Wishing for peace.

Looking forward to Stevie Nicks' w/ The Pretenders 24 Karat Gold Tour, reminiscing back to my first, The Beatles at Shea, & all in between

Have never seen Stevie Nicks, nor Chrissie Hynde. Am so excited to watch these formidable, iconic female artists perform in early December.





It hit me, though. While thinking ahead, I thought of the first band I ever saw -- The Beatles at Shea Stadium. Although sounds of young women screaming were dominant, to be in the same venue was for a 14 year old who adored them since their debut album, Please Please Me, I (and my friends) died and went to heaven. I'd never seen or heard anything like it since, or so I thought.

...until I saw Ziggy Stardust with my then boyfriend/ex-husband at Madison Square Garden. While we were dating, Terry kept saying, "we've got to see Ziggy! we've got to see Ziggy!" So a few of his friends and I did. I was 22 in 2003. It was love at first hearing/sight until his passing.

Ziggy Stardust

 

  

 

My goal was to see three more of my heroes: Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and The

Moody Blues. I wouldn't see The Moody Blues until 1981, but until then blessed to see:

Bruce Springsteen and his E-Street band invaded Rutgers University in 1970 while I attended Douglass College/Rutgers U. I was born to follow since. They performed at Max's Kansas City (an intimate venue) in Manhattan in 1973. But would you believe who opened for them? Bob Marley & The Wailers, they're first ever New York appearance! Tom, a dear college friend & friend to this day, sat in the second row of this small, intimate venue. Met them all after the show. Unforgettable! Again, have become lifetime followers of these greats.

 

 

 

 

Bob Marley, Max's Kansas City, 1973

 

When I saw Bob Dylan whom I adored since my father's introduction to him & his song, Blowin In The Wind (1962/63), I got to see two greats for the price of one at Madison Square Garden early 1974 -- Bob Dylan and The Band. Another highlight of my live musical experiences. I was still 22. Incredible!



Have also seen Bob Dylan 2x more at the NJPAC. His Masters of War blows me away, but live? Nothing like it, and him! And as of 10/13/16 a recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Ole!

  

After such immemorable moments, my life had focused on getting married, marriage, home, career but always hoped to see The Moody Blues which would happen on their Long Distance Voyager Tour at the end of 1981 at the Brendan Byrne Arena/Meadowlands. I heard them first in my sophomore year at college. After hearing On a Threshold of a Dream, again, it was love at first hearing. Their music had an ethereal quality. It was the time of the Viet Nam War, and like us, they too asked "The Question"s.

 

 

 

It was around this time, my husband and I bought our property and moved to the Catskills New York. Thoroughly enjoyed the location, every weekend traveled to Woodstock, a locale I idolized since the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969 I always wished I'd been able to attend.

 

It was around 1985, my husband and I separated. I lived in Edinburgh, Scotland for the year. During that time of reflection, I made some incredible friendships with whom I was blessed to share moments which helped me to sort things out. Music was always a part of my life during the good and the bad times. While in Great Britain, traveled to Liverpool and saw The Beatles' Museum, visited Penny Lane, and traveled all over Scotland and much of Ireland.

 

But as I mentioned, music was always there to calm me, to sate me. Two musical acts, now very famous, I saw in their infancy were R.E.M. and Sade. I think one knows when a new musician is great & will become a force to reckon with.  Another two incredible moments.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

When I returned, I asked my husband for a divorce. It was heartbreaking, but our relationship had been deteriorating for a long while. So, it's at this time, those music acts I had seen afterward become a little muddled and will add them as I remember them.

 

Many metal bands were seen at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey such as, Motorhead.

 

Also, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Iris Dement. Will include when/where as I remember.

 

 

Another incredible night of music, Jerry Garcia while he was on his own from The Grateful Dead, on my birthday! So sooo good!

 

 

 

In 2002, at Lincoln Center/Avery Fisher Hall, another incredible experience. Prince! On his One Nite Alone tour. Amazing! His presence! He was shorter than I'd imagined but oh so tall when it came to performing!

 

 

 

 

However, of all the musicians I've seen, The Moody Blues I've seen most often; at the New Jersey Garden State Arts Center (now PNC Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ), Radio City Music Hall (Manhattan), NJPAC (Newark, NJ) 2x, MPAC (Mayo Performing Arts Center) in Morristown, NJ 2x, and a couple Justin Hayward solo appearances. Quite a few for my beloved Moody Blues.

 

 

My last live concert was to see Leonard Cohen at Radio City Music Hall, Manhattan in 2009. Another musical hero am so blessed to have seen live. It was magic to experience Canada's Poet Laureate's genius set to music. Pure magic!

 

 

 

 Oh my goodness, do live streams count?

 

Mountain Jam at Hunter Mountain, New York June 2016

Michael Franti, The Record Company, Courtney Barnett, Houndmouth, Gov't Mule, The Marcus King Band, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Beck, The Avett Brothers, Umphrey's McGee, Train plays Led Zeppelin II, Thievery Corporation, Jason Isbell, Warren Hayes, Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, Nahko and Medicine for the People, The New Mastersounds, Third World, Marco Benevento & Superhuman Happiness, Turkuaz, Donna The Buffalo, The London Souls, The Ballroom Thieves with Main Youth Orchestra, And The Kids, Love Canon, Con Brio, Quilt, Darlingside, Elijah Wolf, Wild Adriatic, Jane Lee Hooker, Copious Jones, Madaila, The Suitcase Junket, Scott Sharrard, The Movement, Upstate Rubdown, Mikaela Davis, Yogarama with Bari Koral, Ratboy Jr.

 

PHISH Live from Red Rocks Ampitheatre Colorado, July 2016 

 

Mountain Jam at Hunter Mountain, New York  June 2015

Robert Plant, Michael Franti, The Black Keys, Alabama Shakes, Gov't Mule performed Dark Side of the Mule, Grace Potter, Moe., Big Gigantic, Rebelution, Joe Russo's Almost Dead, Railroad Earth, Lake Street Dive, Trigger Hippy, Shakey Graves, Benjamin Booker, Nikki Bluhm & The Gramblers, The Wailers, Dopapod, Rusted Root, Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, The Budos Band, Amy Helm & The Handsome Strangers, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, Bill Payne, Marco Benevento, Planet of the Abts, Simone Felice, The Mother Hips, Arc Iris, Spirit Family Reunion, Nikki Lane, Zepparella, Sons of Bill, The Mike & Ruthy Band, EMEFE, Simi Stone, Burnell Pines, Matt Andersen, The Compact, Jocelyn Arndt, Lions on the Moon Ft. Eric McFadden, Ratboy Jr., The Dharma Burns

 

Grateful Dead's Fare Thee Well Concert, Chicago, July 2015





 

What do you think, a blessed gal?!

 

On to the Stevie Nicks' 24 Karat Gold Tour!

 

p.s. a few still on my wish list. Neil Young, Joni Mitchell,Tom Petty & the Hearthreakers, Dido, Rolling Stones, The Allman Brothers, The Talking Heads, The Lumineers, oh so many more. Hope so! :))

 

 



 

This is the Reason I Won’t Talk Politics on Social Media Anymore by RachelintheOC/Mogul

https://onmogul.com/stories/this-is-the-reason-i-won-t-talk-politics-on-social-media-anymore

Don’t discuss politics. I broke one of my own cardinal rules of branding.

I know! I did it. I shouldn’t have, but I suppose, after all, I’m human. I gave into the temptation to discuss politics for the past few weeks on social media. It’s been bloody, and frustrating, and glorious.

And now, I’m done.

Let’s deconstruct.

Polite Discourse: Is It Possible? 

I used to think so. Lately, though, no. I frequent mostly Twitter and Facebook. Twitter moves faster, so I’d hop on a trending topic between working on clients and see some comment Trump made, or another misogynistic comment about women regarding Clinton by the media, and I’d retweet or share an article, often without commentary. Occasionally, I’d add my own take. As a fierce defender of women and children’s rights, that is my right. Right?

Wrong. The simple act of sharing an article I did not write, just shared, would bring about a barrage of hate and trolling. It’s not possible in this current political climate for people to have calm discussions without immature tantrums, mud-slinging and name-calling, which is sad. The assumptions people make about others is egregious. It’s as if having our own thoughts and opinions that differ from theirs is a crime and we must, therefore, be punished! Don’t even get me started on the guys who obsessively started stalking my various streams for daring to have a differing viewpoint.

Sure, there have been some amazing instances where people from both sides have come together to agree in some of our discussions, and that’s great and one of the wonderful, organic benefits I love about being on social media. Does it happen often enough to justify the barrage of trolling and racist hate? No.

I don’t take it personally because it’s not about me — after all, the perceptions we espouse are indicative of how we perceive the world — so when someone curses at me for disagreeing with them (and they do), it’s not about me, it’s about them. But do I need someone cursing at me? Times ten? No.

This mob mentality is something I’ve never seen before. I’ve voted in elections since 1984, and I’ve never witnessed anything like this. My parents, born in 1937 and 1940, say the same thing. It’s unprecedented.

Worse, the negativity was bringing out the worst in me. I wasn’t being the best person I’m capable of being, and I take full responsibility for that, which is why I’m stopping that behavior right now.

What’s been your experience interacting with opposing parties on social media? 

Using Our Platforms For Good 

In building my platform, my author brand, on topics I’m experienced in or passionate about, I used to wrestle with this question: do we have a moral responsibility to use our platforms for good? I believe we do, which is why I go out of my way to not be a self-promotional “Buy my book!” robot; rather, I use my time on social media to share articles and blog posts about people who have survived trauma, women’s issues, feminism, equality, and other topics that address what I feel are the inequalities in this world: sexism, victim-blaming and shaming, misogyny, inequality, racism, anti-semitism, and women and children’s abuse and trauma.

Sharing what we are passionate about shows who we authentically are. 

Continuing to share articles and blog posts about these topics on social media, and here on my blog are important to me — it’s crucial to give others a voice after trauma, a practice I will absolutely continue.

Will I continue to share articles with regard to the political candidates, however? No. Arguing with trolls about why their candidate is better than mine is a ridiculous waste of my time (I especially love when they use SHOUTY CAPS). There is no winner, no changing of minds, no unicorns and rainbows — not that I expected that anyway.

The whole process left me feeling frustrated and wasteful — I could have spent that time instead on positive experiences, helping others, writing, creating. I ended up mad at myself for allowing the negativity to take hold. This isn’t me being a victim here (a foreign concept for me) — this is me being a survivor. Do I feel it’s healthy to argue with people for no good reason, where no resolution is achieved beyond name-calling (which I refused to participate in anyway)? No.

So, I’m done.

If you discuss politics on social media, how do you find it makes you feel? 

Branding and Politics 

I have written about branding before on BadRedhead Media, and usually take my own advice. This was somewhat of a social experiment, if you will, as I’m often a guinea pig for what I recommend to my clients. In the nine years I’ve been on Twitter (they recently validated my account, too!), I’ve successfully avoided politics and it’s been fairly peaceful — with the exception of discussing feminism, because you know, the word scares people who don’t quite understand that it doesn’t mean women hate men (but that’s another post).

As a woman with a strong voice, who has been recognized for my voice, I will continue to use my voice in my books, blog posts, giving others the opportunity to tell their stories, and support and fundraise to help women and children survivors of sexual abuse. That’s my thing, my branding, if you will.

Branding is really about managing people’s expectations. When people come to your social media stream or page, are you consistently discussing topics that you are passionate about? Be consistent, and people will come back for more. You know me as the chick who writes what scares her in Broken Pieces and Broken Places, and encourages others to do the same.

Politics doesn’t scare me; frankly, I find it ridiculous, staged, and what people argue about, quite surface. The issues themselves are important and deeply felt — the fact that people are arguing and trolling one another on Twitter or Facebook about it all won’t change minds at the ballot box, and that’s my point. I’ve long thought that arguing about politics is a time-waster. What else could we be doing with that time?

Come November, I’ll vote the way I want; but, make no mistake, I will vote.

And please, vote the way you want. Just stop yelling at me about it IN ALL CAPS.

Note: I can see how one can get caught up in the craziness of social media. But I've always believed that discretion on anything personal including political views can be mutilated by those who don't think before they speak.

A fascinating read.

 

Social Meda Is Here to Stay "song"  by Adam Drummond