And am back from the first installment of DARK FEST 2012, as part of The 16th Annual Kamloops Canadian and International Film Festival. It went swell in my book. How do I gauge the success of a Festival appearance? Easy.

1- Did people enjoy my films? Yes. Deaden in particular seemed to have hit the spot (nobody left the screening, everybody stayed for the QNA, heard only good things).
2- Was there a drunken arm wrestling match? Oh yeah! “see below”
3- Did I make new friends? Shawn and Jason, aka  the Basement boys, Skew director Sevé Schelenz and Fest chairman Mark Wallin (long live Twin Peaks and Kubrick) are all on my class-act list; so a winner here. PS: Special shout-out to Matt for enduring my badgering. You’re a champ!
4- Did I wind up in jail? No! That’s a good thing!
5- Did I meet AITH fans? Yes, and thanks to everybody that showed up, bought me beers and drove for like 3 hours to be there!

Other highlights were: doing a live TV interview (was great to see the Dead Shadows teaser play on TV), Habs winning over the Canucks (he he he) and finding my ugly mug in the morning paper. So all in all it went well and I was happy to give the genre section of the Fest a healthy kick in the ass for its debut! Hope Dark Fest continues for years to come. Again a big thank you for having me!  Here are a couple of pics from my trip for those who care (Mom?)

by