I've heard about this on and off over the years, but had never seen it until Kottke posted a link this morning: It's a clip from "My Best Friend's Birthday," Quentin Tarantino's first film, ca. 1987. If I didn't know better, and I'm not sure I do, I'd suspect it's an elaborate prank. The young Tarantino who appears as a motormouth DJ is a pretty good caricature of everything we associate with Tarantino the actor — all the hyperkinetic, can't-sit-still, chew-the-scenery mannerisms are there in full. Fortunately, the things we associate with Tarantino the writer are present too — the black humor, the perfect pauses, the on-a-dime conversational switches. The directing? It's a wash. The thing's pretty primitive, but most of it was apparently destroyed in a fire at the lab. Still, it's a satisfying glimpse of one of our greatest, weirdest auteurs in utero.
Where Tarantino came from
Watch Derek DelGaudio's 'In & Of Itself' on Hulu, see Derek + director Frank Oz on Stephen Colbert
'Derek DelGaudio's IN & OF ITSELF,' a film directed by Frank Oz, is streaming on Hulu starting Friday January 22. Both Derek DelGaudio and Frank Oz are on Stephen Colbert's show tonight (Thursday, January 21) talking about the making of this movie interpretation of Derek's live, interactive, one-man performance experience. We have covered the performance… READ THE REST
Chocolate Factory prequel "WONKA" greenlit
Warner Bros. is to make a prequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory titled WONKA. It will cover the rise of the young chocolate magnate, stripping mystery from wonder and spackling the scoured bones with empty pathos. Warner Bros is eyeing Tom Holland or Timothée Chalamet to play Willy Wonka in Warner Bros. 'WONKA'. If… READ THE REST
Ten hours of the Karate Kid II drumming
"Father say use drum technique only as last resort." Same with this video. Below, the classic scene from whence it came: READ THE REST
Save 20% on this surreal print from the Hidden Moves art collection
"Art is the journey of a free soul." – Alev Oguz There's probably nothing in your home that makes a more immediate statement about you and the person you are than what's hanging on your walls. And, when what's hanging on your walls is Welsh artist and designer Rhys Owens…well, that's a very particular statement… READ THE REST
It's a lamp that looks like an active thundercloud and you will be utterly transfixed
Even if you aren't usually a contemplative type, there is a power and majesty that washes over you as you watch a cloud roll across the sky. From stringy, wispy cirrus clouds, to serious, storm-bearing nimbus formations, clouds are nature in physical form – and they're deeply hypnotic. That's probably why this Interactive Cloud Lamp… READ THE REST
Half desk toy, half science experiment, the Skill Flux magnetic oddity is all fun
Anybody can use a fidget spinner, or a stress ball, or some other piece of desk silliness to occupy idle hands during the course of their day. But it isn't quite so common for a desk toy to so fully engage inherent scientific curiosity as well. Of course, keeping hands occupied while the brain stays… READ THE REST