Sorry to overload the Obscuro Appreciato shout outs this month, but when one of our well respected peeps dies we do more than one Obscuro in a month. There is one more obit coming after this for policital activist and actor Ossie Davis who also died recently.

"There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die."

Gonzo Journalist Hunter S. Thompson took his own life yesterday morning, he was 67.

Known most famously for Johnny Depp's 1998 portrayal of him in the big screen adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Thompson also gave the world political and cultural criticism through his writing.

Fired from Time magazine as well as other small New York periodicals. He eventually ends up in San Francisco and history is made. He wrote a book on Hells Angels published in 1967. He takes on Nixon... Chicago cops... you name it.

Then in 1971 Rolling Stone publishes his Fear and Loathing... stories. His place in cultural history is forever solidified. They've even got a spot for him at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Bill Murray portrays him in "Where the Buffalo Roam" in 1981, he continues to write more books and Rolling Stone even got him to cover the 1992 Presidential race.

He was a man with sharp wit, stinging commentary and an amazing abilty to put words on paper.

So let's all remember Hunter today by telling everyone we run into today "We can't stop here.. THIS IS BAT COUNTRY!!" or whatever your favorite quote is.

"Few people understand the psychology of dealing with a highway traffic cop. Your normal speeder will panic and immediately pull over to the side. This is wrong. It arouses contempt in the cop-heart. Make the bastard chase you. He will follow. "

"Ah, devil ether. It makes you behave like the village drunkard in some early Irish novel. Total loss of all basic motor function. Blurred vision, no balance, numb tongue. The mind recoils in horror, unable to communicate with the spinal column. Which is interesting because you can actually watch yourself behaving in this terrible way, but you can't control it. "

"Strange memories on this nervous night in Las Vegas. Five years later? Six? It seems like a lifetime, or at least a main era - -the kind of peak that never comes again. San Francisco in the middle sixties was a very special time and place to be a part of. Maybe it meant something. Maybe not, in the long run, but no explanation, no mix of words or music or memories can touch that sense of knowing that you were there and alive in that corner of time and the world. Whatever it meant. "

"You better take care of me Lord, if you don't you're gonna have me on your hands."

:: Dan B. 2:47 AM [+] ::
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::RIP John Vernon : Friday, February 04, 2005 ::

This month we have a second shout out on Obscuro Appreciato.

John Vernon, a stage-trained character actor who played cunning villains in film and TV has died. He was 72.

Most fans may know him best for his role in "Animal House" as Dean Wormer as well as the role of Mr. Big in "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka."

After appearing on Broadway in "Royal Hunt of the Sun" he became a steady player in U.S. films, making his debut in director John Boorman's "Point Blank" (1967) as a turncoat tossed to his death by Lee Marvin.

Vernon went on to work with other celebrated filmmakers including Alfred Hitchcock ("Topaz," 1969); Don Siegel ("Dirty Harry," 1971), and Clint Eastwood ("The Outlaw Josey Wales," 1976).

His deep, menacing voice was custom-made for the many bad guys he played.

He reprised his role in "National Lampoon's Animal House" in the TV spinoff "Delta House" (1979). Other comedy roles followed, including the part of Mr. Big in the film "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" in 1988.

Vernon appeared in a DVD edition of "Animal House" as part of a satiric update on the characters. Wormer was portrayed as a curmudgeonly old man in a wheelchair.

1984 (1956)
Captain America / The Incredible Hulk / Iron Man / The Sub-Mariner / Marvel Super Heroes (1966)
Dirty Harry (1971)
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
Animal House (1978)
Herbie Goes Bananas (1980)
Heavy Metal (1981)
Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)
Earnest Goes To Camp (1987)
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)
Batman TV Series (1992)
Pinky And The Brain TV Series (1995)
The Incredible Hulk TV Series (1996)
Command and Conquer Video Game (2001)
Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003)


See IMDb for more info

:: Dan B. 9:20 AM [+] ::
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::Ernest Borgnine - The Legend Lives On : Wednesday, February 02, 2005 ::

This month's Obscuro Appreciato goes out to dependable character actor Ernest Borgnine. Borgnine has been appearing in films since the 50s, breaking into the big time with his Oscar-winning turn as the title character in Marty. He's played roles big and small since then, standouts including The Dirty Dozen, The Vikings, The Wild Bunch, The Poseidon Adventure, The Devil's Rain, Emperor of the North Pole, Baseketball, plus memorable guest apprearances on The Simpsons and Spongebob Squarepants (as Mermaid Man!) At age 88, Borgnine continues to act in all manner of films and tv shows and is writing an autobiography tentatively titled "I Don't Wanna Start a Fire, I Just Wanna Keep My Nuts Warm." (He also appears in Angry Chair in animated form, check it!) Bravo Borgnine!

:: Jason 11:05 PM [+] ::
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::The Genius of Zach Braff : Wednesday, January 05, 2005 ::

OBSCURO APPRECIATO!!!!

This month we salute Zach Braff, upon the DVD release of his feature film directorial debut, Garden State. Zach is best known for being in the cast of the TV show Scrubs, but he's showing the world he is much more than on-screen talent.

Garden State is the best romantic comedy I've seen since Annie Hall. It's exactly the kind of movie I've always wanted to make myself. It's funny, charming, romantic, insightful and fresh. The on-screen talent work amazingly well together. The small details take it a step further.

If I had read the script to this film I would have quit my job for the chance to help make it happen.

This movie said so many things I've been thinking in recent years but could never quite put into words or realize to the extent that they were verbalized in the movie. Zach Braff is a genius. I am seriously going to watch this movie every day for the next month.

When I first saw it, I hated the ending... but now I think it fits... If you've seen it i'll tell you why but I won't ruin it for everyone else.

If I could change anything I would add one more shot at the end... but that's it.

The rest is a masterpiece.

Don't rent it... just go buy it... I'll cover your expense if you don't like it, but you have to give the DVD to someone who's never seen it. *

-Dan

More info:

http://www2.foxsearchlight.com/gardenstate/


* Void where prohibited. Offer not available in all areas. Not applicable to people that didn't like Annie Hall. Limited time offer. Not all who apply for re-imbursement will be accepted.

:: Dan B. 10:38 PM [+] ::
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::Jean-Pierre Jeunet : Friday, November 26, 2004 ::

VisualNoiz salutes French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet.

A man with the passion to pull off beautiful, captivating, original, timeless works.

His latest film reminds me that I love Jeunet almost as much as I love the lead actress, my girlfriend, Audrey Tautou. The best thing to happen to film since Veronica Lake.

Website - Un Long Dimanche de Fiancailles (Very Long Engagement)

Watch the two videos. Yes the website is in French, but you can tell the part that says VIDEOS even with a funny looking accent over the E.

I get more blown away by Jeunet with every passing film.

November 26,2004 is the US Release of Un Long Dimanche de Fiancailles

Partial Filmography
1992 - Delicatessen
1997 - Alien Resurrection
2002 Le fabuleux destin d'Amelie Poulain

complete Filmography @ IMDb

:: Dan B. 2:39 AM [+] ::
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::RIP Old Dirty Bastard : Saturday, November 13, 2004 ::

VisualNoiz salutes the late whacky hip hop musician ODB, founding member of the Wu Tang Clan.

Ol' Dirty Bastard AKA Dirt McGirt AKA Russell Jones complained of chest pains before collapsing at the Manhattan studio today.

He was just days away from his 36th birthday on Monday.

Partial Discography

Wu-Tang
Enter The Wu-Tang - 36 Chambers (1993)
Disciples of the 36 Chambers (2004)

Ol' Dirty Bastard
Return to 36 Chambers (1995)
Nigga Please (1999)

His shining moment was of course the 1998 Grammy awards, where he stormed the stage and stole the microphone from Shawn Colvin. He has spent a lot of money on new clothes to show off when accepting his award and was upset about losing the best rap album award to Puff Daddy. He apologized later.

Recording with Wu Tang whenever he wasn't incarcerated, ODB gave his all on every track. His unmistakable character will be missed by Wu Tang friends everywhere.

We tip our hat to you, ODB. For keeping your style real and being who you wanted to be... even when that meant legally changing your name every few years to reflect who you are at THAT moment.

The press release of the 1999 compilation disc Wu Tang Forever states:
Like a giant sponge, each track absorbs your brain cells into the groupÕs complex, multi-layered world of edgy Wu-Tang ghetto-speak. Once inside, shocking scenarios, inspired revelations, tragic truths and even wall-to-wall Wu-Tang insanity take over. ItÕs all delivered in WuÕs infamous, totally unpredictable, wild verbal combat style. "WeÕre cominÕ off with the crazy nigga shit that canÕt nobody touch," says OlÕ Dirty Bastard, whose confusing, effectively surreal 1996 "Fantasy" duet with mega-pop star Mariah Carey, is an example of how far Wu-TangÕs tentacles reach into musicÕs mainstream. Yet, they still maintain respect and support from real hard-core hip-hop heads, and do so without selling-out. If anything, the mainstream bought in.

:: Dan B. 10:57 PM [+] ::
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::RIP Christopher Reeve : Monday, October 11, 2004 ::

Not an obscure celebrity, but this month we salute Christopher Reeve.

Of course, best known for his role as Superman, in his later years Reeve became the biggest advocate of stem cell research the world has seen.

Stem cell research could be capable of curing some of the worst of the worst our medical world has seen. From fighting cancer cells, replacing pacemakers with biological versions, vision loss, Parkinson's disease, creating insulin producing cells, joint replacement and more.

Reeve fell into a coma Saturday after going into cardiac arrest. He later died of heart failure.

Thanks for everything Christopher, you were a hero to the end.

Filmography:
Superman I-IV (1978-1987)
Rear Window (1998) Hitchcock remake
The Muppets Go Hollywood (1979)

More @ IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001659

:: Dan B. 3:33 AM [+] ::
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::RIP Jerry Goldsmith : Thursday, July 22, 2004 ::

This month's Obscuro isn't all that obscure, but he is worthy of note.  Jerry Goldsmith died in his sleep after a long battle with the Big C.  In his 75 years he scored over 200 films, including Visualnoiz faves like Planet of the Apes( the original, of course!) Alien, Poltergeist, Gremlins (big props!),  the Twilight Zone, Man From U.N.C.L.E., and his Oscar winning score for The Omen.  Check http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000025/ for more info on Jerry Goldsmith.  I think I'll go watch Gremlins.... 

:: Jason 11:57 PM [+] ::
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::Bruce Campbell : Tuesday, June 22, 2004 ::

This month's ridiculously late Obscuro goes out to Bruce Campbell. Today (June 22) is the birthday of the man who defines Michigan cult actor coolness. Anyone out there who hasn't seen the Evil Dead trilogy or Bubba Ho-Tep by now needs to turn in their Cool Kid Klub Pass and report to Administrator Boujoulian for swift and immediate discipline. Happy birthday to Bruce Campbell, the biggest little actor! Check out Bruce's website at http://www.bruce-campbell.com

Archive Bruce Campbell quote regarding Time Guy (no really, he watched it!)
Circa December 1997:
Hey Jason,

I saw your epic today. Hey, it was a lot of fun!

If I stay in the business for another twenty years, I might be as good as you
guys! Har!

Keep at it,

Bruce "Time Guy Watcher" Campbell

:: Jason 8:11 PM [+] ::
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::Greg Colton - GVSU Alumni : Wednesday, May 12, 2004 ::

i sure do like that Greg Colton.

this fine man has done a lot for himself in the last few months and we are totally super proud of our GVSU alumni brother.

If anyone deserves a jumping "Woot Woot!" it's him so get your tennis shoes on.

Greg we salute you. Obscuro appreciato!! Individuo di famiglia direttore assistente.

Bravo!

Greg will be directing some episodes of the Family Guy, so watch for them soon.

:: Dan B. 11:27 PM [+] ::
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::Rob Schrab : Thursday, April 15, 2004 ::

VisualNoiz salutes multimedia wunderkind Rob Schrab.

Schrab is the twisted genius behind the infamous comic series SCUD: The Disposable Assassin. Scud was a beacon of light in those dark high school years. The series followed the adventures of a robot assassin born of a vending machine. It was John Woo, Star Trek, Army of Darkness, and god knows what else thrown into a blender to create something fresh and hilarious. Back issues are difficult to find, but well worth the hunt! Ebay is the answer...

In recent years, Schrab has moved on to short films. ROBOT BASTARD, Rob's first venture into moviemaking, is a great romp though all that is cool. Check it out at http://www.robotbastard.com
After ROBOT BASTARD came the Adventures of Ringwald and Molly, a miracle of "drawless animation" (AKA puppets).
Ringwald the pompus alligator and Molly the silly spider muddle their way through a ramshackle universe full of danger, excitement, and pornography. Episodes can be viewed at http://www.channel101.com
A DVD-R of the collected episodes is available for sale at the Robot Bastard link. It's well worth the money. Trust me.

Rob's current venture is Twigger's Holiday, which can also be viewed at Channel101 site. This creator is on the rise, keep your eye on him!

Also, visit the musicians of Irritating Rainbow at

http://www.irritatingrainbow.com

Good tunes to blast space mummies by.

:: Jason 11:32 PM [+] ::
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::Nick Valenti /RIP Jim O'Dea / Chris Wirth / Justin Miller / Robert Rodriguez / Deanna Morse / Ray & Jean Boujoulian : Tuesday, November 25, 2003 ::

VisualNoiz salutes Photographer extraordinaire Nick Valenti.

Nick was my photos professor at OCC. It was in those final days of obtaining an Associates Degree that I realized what I really wanted to with my life. (i.e. what I would study at a university.)

True, the seed of my love for visual entertainment was first planted when I saw Back To The Future at the age of 9, but it was Nick that gave that seed the water of knowledge to grow into a passion that would lead to my love for the long hours of staring at film as celluloid or digitally represented on a computer screen.

Nicks page about the OCC Orchard Ridge - Fine and Performing Arts Department

Honorable Mention - I would not be where I am today, nor get to where I will be tomorrow without these folks who shared the knowledge of light reacting with lenses and celluloid, tricking the human eye into thinking a sequence of still images is moving. Here is a shout out to the future Obscuro Appreciato peeps who also shaped my film career:

Jim O'Dea (RIP)- Directing each shot as its own masterpiece

Chris Wirth - Animating, remaining positive in unpositive experiences & t-crossing, i-dotting.

Justin Miller - Video Editing lessons circa 1993

Robert Rodriguez - Budget Filmmaking for the real world

Deanna Morse - Using film as an expressable Artform

Ray & Jean Boujoulian - Supporting me during the study of the ever-flaky Liberal Arts.

:: Dan B. 2:40 PM [+] ::
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::RIP Jack Elam : Friday, October 24, 2003 ::

R.I.P Jack Elam (November 13, 1916 - October 20, 2003)

Made an infamous career with his eerie, immobile eye, which was caused by a fight with another kid at the age of 12. It happened during a Boy Scout meeting when another boy took a pencil, threw it, and it jabbed his eyeball.

Working for Samuel Goldwyn Studios as a bookkeeper for their accounting department, he progressed to Office Controller for cowboy star William Boyd at Hopalong Cassidy Productions before breaking into films.

Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1994.

High Noon, Rancho Notorious (both 1952)
Kiss Me Deadly (1955)

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)
Baby Face Nelson (1958)
The Comancheros (1961)
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969)
Rio Lobo (1970)
Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971)
Aurora Encounter (1986)
The Giant of Thunder Mountain (1991)
Suburban Commando (1991)
Struck by Lightning (1979)
Easy Street (1986-87).

(from IMdb.com)
Colorful American character actor equally adept at vicious killers or grizzled sidekicks. As a child he worked in the cotton fields. He attended Santa Monica Junior College in California and subsequently became an accountant and, at one time, manager of the Bel Air Hotel. Elam got his first movie job by trading his accounting services for a role. In short time he became one of the most memorable supporting players in Hollywood, thanks not only to his near-demented screen persona but also to an out-of-kilter left eye, sightless from a childhood fight. He appeared with great aplomb in Westerns and gangster films alike, and in later years played to wonderful effect in comedic roles.

:: Dan B. 10:45 PM [+] ::
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::Jason Roths of the World : Wednesday, October 01, 2003 ::

This Obscuro Appreciato is a strange one. We honor Jason Roth.
Not OUR Jason Roth, different Jason Roth's.

#1 - This Jason Roth is from California, but don't hold that against him. He animated "My Pinkie" in 3D and it turned out very cool. We all know our Jason Roth is a drawn character animator would never do 3D, so its a good thing that this Jason Roth works in 3D so no one will ever confuse the two. He now runs a tech company.

Watch Jason Roth's "My Pinkie" Here

#2 - This Jason Roth hails from Oswego. I don't know where that is but I think Phish plays concerts there. Jason does Flash animation and creates artwork. See his bio here Jason is a high school honor student, so you gotta give him props for that!

#3 - This Jason Roth is a writer and is the editor of SaveTheHumans.com you can read The Right Not To Vote at Capitalism Magazine SaveTheHumans.com is like a competitor of ItWillFail.com but we won't hold a grudge, I promise.

:: Dan B. 9:19 AM [+] ::
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::Adrian Lamo : Wednesday, September 10, 2003 ::

This Obscuro Appreciato is not film/video related but with the Hacker Love Story "Ones and Zeroes" coming from Visual Noiz in the future, it does seem fitting.

Adrian Lamo

We salute you!

Adrian is a hacker extrodinaire who's "victims" have included the NY Times and Yahoo. he gets in, he gets out, he doesn't really mess with your stuff too bad. I love the fact that he added himself as a contact for the NYTimes with expertise in "computer hacking, national security, communications intelligence"

Now that is the way to get some freelance work!!! add yourself to contact lists...

Adrian, if you ever read this, hit me up, and you can add 'film consultant' to your resume.

:: Dan B. 1:30 PM [+] ::
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::Sho Yano : Wednesday, August 27, 2003 ::

this month we go beyond the realm of film. a figure that may on day change the world.

12 year old med school student, Sho Yano, we tip our hats to you, young man.

:: Dan B. 1:14 AM [+] ::
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::Fisher Stevens : Friday, August 01, 2003 ::

Fisher Stevens, we salute you for your work in:

Short Circuit 1 / 2 - Ben Jahrvi
Hackers - Eugene Belford "The Plague"
and countless others.



Quotes:
Short Circuit
"I am standing here beside myself!!!"

"With excitement like this, who is needing enemas? "

"Goodbye crazy lady, I enjoyed repeatedly throwing you to the ground. "

Howard Marner: Suppose he goes out there and melts down a busload of nuns! How would you write the head line on that one?
Ben: Nun soup?

Hackers
"There is no right and wrong. There's only fun and boring. "

:: Dan B. 1:17 PM [+] ::
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::Justin Woiwode : Wednesday, July 09, 2003 ::

Justin Woiwode

We salute you my friend, because you have the vision, and the talent to create beautiful things.

You casual websurfers will probably not know who Justin is but you all should. See CosmicYak.com for more details.

L.A.M. (Live Action)
A Void (Animation)

-- more to come --

:: Dan B. 5:54 PM [+] ::
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::Elias Korteas : Thursday, March 13, 2003 ::

Elias Koteas

We salute you.

Partly because I just saw Novocaine, and partly because of the wonderous entertainment you've given us with:

Gattaca
Apt Pupil
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Annie Hall
City Slickers
Ararat - The film of the Armenian Genocide

Elias Koteas, the passion you give your craft doesn't go unnoticed!

:: Dan B. 1:32 AM [+] ::
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::Tracey Walter : Saturday, February 08, 2003 ::

First, we must salute Tracey Walter.
You may remember the illustrious Mr. Walter as Bob the Goon in Tim Burton's Batman, Conan's wacky thief sidekick in
Conan the Destroyer, or most famously as the trash-burning sage Miller in the seminal classic Repo Man.
TW never fails to amuse with his scuzzy antics.

City Slickers
Silence of the Lambs
Death To Smoochy
Annie Hall


Tracey Walter-character actor of steel!

:: Jason 1:45 AM [+] ::
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