Thursday, December 20, 2012

ZODIAC ENTERTAINMENT

Sunday, June 10, 2012

SIX PACK OF BLOOD

SIX PACK OF BLOOD


Six-pack of blood is a collaboration of six horrifying tales by author's, Betty Dravis and Barbara Watkins. Journey into the unknown where nothing is as it seems - where the macabre, murder, terror, and the paranormal happily invite pure evil to celebrate the dance of death. Sit back and relax - pop that can of 'Blood' uh, I mean beverage of choice and prepare to get your FRIGHT on...!





What others say about:

Six-Pack of Blood

"I know Betty Dravis as a multi-genre writer, but no matter what genre she writes in, make no mistake, Betty’s a treasure, far as I'm concerned. This collection is special because it offers you a glimpse into the 'other' mind and character of this author." - John Locke, famous creator of the fictional character Donovan Creed and the first self-published author to sell a million e-books
***** 
"Paranormal thriller writer Barbara Watkins is the Queen of Terror of the Creepy and Supernatural. If you want spine-tingling stories, read her work and keep the lights on! - Lia Scott Price, Book/Screenwriter and Horror Film Producer
 *****
"I always think of Betty Dravis as a celebrity interviewer and a fine writer, but have never read her darker writing...until now. Both she and Barbara Watkins have a true grip on this genre. Six-Pack of Blood is a page turner. Hold onto your seats, you're in for another Fright Night!" William Lashbrook and Katherin Kovin-Pacino, Actress/Producer
 *****
“Gritty, fast-paced and exciting, SIX-PACK OF BLOOD is a unique, in-your-face anthology that rises above the pack. Betty Dravis and Barbara Watkins make a great team in the horror genre.” - Jeani Rector, Editor of The Horror Zine
 *****
"Betty Dravis is a fantastic mix of Shirley Jackson, Edna Buchanan and Janis Joplin. Don't ask me how I came up with that unlikely comparison--I just feel it, and I haven't been drinking much tonight...." - Mark LaFlamme, author ofBox of Lies, Dirt: An American Campaign and other novels.
***** 
"Compulsively addictive, Six-Pack of Blood leads you from the apprehensive to the foreboding and to sheer terror... Each of these six stories is as horrifying as a nightmare roller-coaster leading straight to the fiery pits of Hell." - Paul Payer, web designer/promoter
 *****
"Six-Pack of Blood is a compilation of horrifying shorts...no, not the ugly kind you wear... I'm talking shorts as in short stories that will raise the hair on your neck, make you gasp, and even break a sweat at times. This little gem is a nail-biting, blood-filled, recommended read that is well worth the frightening experience." - Janet Beasley, author ofHidden Earth Volume 1 Maycly
 *****
"Seems I've been reading works by Betty Dravis for years now, starting with her novels and continuing through herDream Reachers and Star Struck (interviews with famous people). And now she's teamed up with renowned horror writer Barbara Watkins to give us blood-curdling nightmares! Six-Pack of Blood had me gripping the arms of my chair from start to finish. An exhilarating book that should have a disclaimer: NOT TO BE READ WHEN ALONE IN THE DARK." - Grady Harp, Amazon Reviewers Hall of Fan, author of War Songs
 *****
"Barbara Watkins is an amazing writer and such a great person and so down to earth. I have no words... I will work with her in the future and would like to make many of her books into films." - Dimi Nakov, Producer/Director/Filmmaker of Zodiac Entertainment
 *****
“Betty is the queen of the social network boards, make no mistake about that!" - Dr. Niamh Clune, author of Orange Petals in a Storm, founder of Plum Tree Books

Betty Dravis Website:








Barbara Watkins Website:


Monday, May 28, 2012

ROTATING BACK HOME

ROTATING BACK HOME 
From Cannes Film Festival 2012
27th-29th May 2012

First i wanted to say to my Granny that we all love you and will never forget you.My mom/your daughter is exactly like you strong and awesome person and the best mom ever.She has it all of that from you and i am happy that she managed to be with you when you needed her.
Thank you for all gifts you send us every year few times a year to be exact and for thinking of us all the time.

In memory of my dear granny who passed away on 26th May 2012.Love you Grandma.

It wasn't easy start of the day in the hotel when i found out that my granny passed away and I am thankful that my mom and my uncle with other family members were there to be with her.My mom had to fly 40 hours from Perth Australia to Bulgaria and get to my Granny's village in South Bulgaria so she can make it in time before my granny passed away. My granny was the strongest woman i have ever known just like my mom.She managed to beat cancer.My granny was told that she has two years to live only about 15 years ago and she managed to beat the cruel desease without doctors and chemo therapy and medication.Just natural medicine and strong will to live and believe in her self that its not her time yet and that she will fight it.And she did.
It is a sad day and we all wish we could be there with my mom to send away granny.Our thoughts and Love are with the whole family back home.

NICE AIRPORT

Well bellow are some shots from Nice Airport and that are exhibited Engine and some parts i dont know the names from the F1 Race Car Renault and so it happens just as Cannes Film Festival ended,Monaco Grand Prix Race started.So if you are looking for a great time during this part of the year you got it.Pack the bags with money and fun expectations and you will get it all.


I wish i could go to Monaco and see all those awesome cars and absorb the atmosphere in full for a few weeks.Probably will make some doco while i am there or a music video of some sort.I love mixing it up and on the end of the day filming is my holiday and my holiday involved filming of some sort.


It was interesting how unlucky we all were with the weather for this year of Cannes Film Festival.Usually is sunny and hot all the time but hey weather changes all the time so i guess i feel special that i saw something which doesn't happen every year and thats bad weather during this awesome event.



There was another special thing happening while i was waiting for my flight from Nice to Amsterdam.
I was watching the clock and the deal is that once i arrive in Amsterdam i have 30-45min to board the other aircraft and because of the rain the boarding in Nice kept delaying and delaying.So i was think Shit,I will miss my other flight and so on..Big trouble.More sleeping and getting stuck on airport and who knows how i would be dealing with this if i had to.



I was concerned a bit.haha
Well we boarded 30min later and we were late 30min at AMsterdam Airport.So i had to do a bit of running as you see on the tv show The Amazing Race.To be honest it is hard work and i am not competing with anyone except the lost time so far.
It took me 15min walk and slight jogging with the luggage to get to the passport check and then i can get to the gate for my flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.


I gave my ticket and passport to the customs officer and he checks it and as i know my luck he says: "Didn't you get any stamps from the french side ?
I said: They didn't gave me any.I didn't thought of that,because i havent traveled overseas since 2002 when i arrived in New Zealand.


He said: We can have big problem here.If i give u a stamp now you will have huge problem because u dont have stamp from the other countries u have passed through.So i wont give u a stamp and hope that doesn't create more trouble down the line on ur way home.
Its not your fault its the French, we dont like when they dont do their job and that could of created big trouble for u and u wouldn't be able to get home.
I had my heart right in my left shoe and after having quite a stressful and emotional start of the day now i almost got a black out.haha
I kind of knew in the back of my mind and i have heard before.Get a stamp every time u cross borders otherwise huge problems and delays while passing the borders and it can take a while to get those issues solved.


So i passed,Thank god for that.haha.So relieved.
I mean i always have some stories to tell everywhere i go or whatever i do.Some are interesting,some are from stupidity and others are just daily clumsy or bad luck type of things happening.

AMSTERDAM AIRPORT


So i was running and stressing all the way while being at Amsterdam airport and didn't manage to take any photos given the fact that i had to get to the boarding gate fast.So i passed the passport checkpoint and then before the gate there was one of those machines that can snif you for drugs and explosives and scan ur body and all sorts of checks.That was awesome..Like in the movies.It just went zoom,zoom left to right once and then i saw myself scanned on a monitor and i was all good to go.No explosives or drugs smells or particles on any of my clothes...Well that the thing i just needed after the stamp huckle before.You can imagine how i felt going to the sniffing/scan machine.haha

KUALA LUMPUR AIRPORT


So i was happy i got that far and also i have this time plenty of time to spend at the airport before my next flight which is 6 hours later.That will be fun.I will take a nice tour of the place which is huge by the way.You have trains connecting you between the terminals and the sub-airports and there few levels and stuff.


In fact the route and the airlines i am taking from Amsterdam KLM is the same route and Airline me my mom and my brother and sister took when we arrived in New Zealand in 2002.So its kind of a reliving the same thing,but this time by myself and in different circumstances..


What i saw right in the middle of this terminal there was a garden/jungle glass house for people to go in and relax and sit around the outside and just have this green canvas for the brain and the eyes to relax.


So did sit down outside as well as went inside and took a few shots.Now will update the blog and do some more emailing to sales agents and distributors i met at Cannes and got their details.


Bloody hell those flights are long.I couldn't do that all the time unless i am in business class or have two days recover after each flight.Its very exhausting. My whole body feels like its taken the shape of a seat and everything hurts.


But being here outside this small jungle it helps and soon will take a walk and wonder around to pass some time.Can't sit any longer on my bottom.Its starting to hurts ,just like a horse just kicked me in the back.Not that i have or want to be kicked by a horse.haha




I will keep updating this post until i get home and have a nice sleep.

THANK YOU EVERYONE who mad this trip possible and to my family and friends who always supported me and keep supporting me.

THANK YOU
D



Sunday, May 27, 2012

CANNES DAY TEN & ELEVEN 2012

CANNES DAY 10 & 11
25th & 26th May 2012


Well i managed to see David Cronenberg's Cosmopolis and it was interesting.Not my cup a tea,but well shot.


Did my 30sec walk on the red carpet and then quickly into the 2300 seat Lumiere Cinema after multiple security checks and a quick scan of my ticket we were comfy in our seats.It really takes a while to seat all the people and the cinema was absolutely full.




It was a mission to get in and quite a few minutes before the screening started so all of the 2300 people can have a seat and be ready for the screening.There are quite a few cinemas within the Festival complex and some are few minutes walk outside the festival reviera.


Also i managed to see MUD Directed by Jeff Nichols starring Matthew McConaughey. I liked MUD way more then Cosmopolis and thats maybe just me but i liked it more.I like the cinematography of Cosmopolis and colors and how dark it is and how it makes u think about certain things and also gives u smile in few occasions and few surprises.MUD was brighter and more upbeat film and makes u feel good and makes u think about love and relationship between man and woman,between boy and girl and father and son.Loved it.


I had to get up at 6:30am so i can get on time and get in front of the line and when i get in to get better seat.Funny i got the same seat both time i went to see Cosmopolis and MUD.Right in the middle from all sides of the cinema.Had a good view on the screen.


I can imagine why people like the red carpet.It feels good for sure and its just a brief moment of all other awesome moments like seeing ur film on the big screen finished and taking a life on its own and being out of ur hands in the hands and minds of everyone else to enjoy or not.We cant please everyone and thank go for that otherwise everyone would like the same thing and cinema will be one big boring business not form of art.


After the screenings i walked around a bit and had something to eat.There are always some cars with people dressed to attract attention and beep the horns and create some awesome vibe around.I saw a police officer actually having slight moves the other day on the beats of Michael Jackson.That was awesome..Even his colleagues were laughing and had some fun.


Every day after 5pm there is camera crews and paparazzi setting up for the evening arrival of the Celebs and film makers to take their shots and interviews before they eneter and represent their films.


Friday 25th was another rainy day but Saturday 26th end up to be awesome and sunny day so i went and saw the short films in competition including a kiwi short directed by Zia Mandviwalla called Night Shift. 


There was one short from Australia which i liked a lot.The name was Yardbird.Really well done and had some cool CG FX and work done to it.


So its just few days before take off and this will be the last post of my journey to Cannes .Hope you enjoyed reading about what i have been doing and found it interesting whats happening at least through my eyes.I am sure everyone who is here has their own angle on whats happening in Cannes and thats why it makes it such a place that you want to come back because every time you will experience it in a slightly different way meeting more people and having more fun.



So this afternoon around 6pm Local time on Saturday 26th of May i decided to do so sight seeing.Near by is a small castle and its quite high so i will be able to see Cannes Festival area a bit better from the top.


So i took a bit of a walk up the hill helping my cholesterol levels to drop down a bit and thank god for the exercise here while being in Cannes,i have done quite a bit of walking every day for quite a few hours.


To be honest the hill is not that big.Within few minutes i was up and took few shots u will see bellow.



Bellow is the painted wall of one of the bus stops i would catch a bus to my hotel at La Boca if the shuttle is not there or its outside the shuttle working hours and then right opposite the bus stop is taxi stand which for around 15 Euro i will get to my hotel as well.


So plenty of transport and took me one day to get my head around things just by asking around at the hotel reception or just watch which busses arrive in cannes and see if the same are stopping at the bus stop outside my hotel.Reading in french is not my strength so i use just logical approach.haha



Love the painting on the wall of this building.Its just awesome.




Just before i managed to get to the top i received text from a friends i made here Julia and Leo and Cederic who live in Paris and we all leave tomorrow so we got together for some coffee and ice-cream and had some awesome chat.



After our awesome afternoon ice cream meeting i headed off towards the top of the hill to do my climb towards the small castle and take some panorama shots of Cannes.


On my way to the Castle i passed through a small art market which every saturday takes over the central part of the city near the festivals and all shops and restaurants and you can shop away for some awesome art stuff.







Then i was on my up and love passing through all those narrow streets made by stone and concrete and with architecture i am very familiar from Bulgaria.
































This red area is just small part of the festival and its the La Atelier Area. The festival area continues further for another few km along La Croisette.


This si where the festivals is happening and all 60,000 people involved with film and tv and media are gathering each year for already 65 years. Around 12,000 journalists and media people from all over the world are documenting this event this year.












Tomorrow i will be on my way back to Auckland and will touch ground at 11:45pm on 29th of May in Auckland Airport.

I just want to thank all my friends,family and everyone who made this trip possible.All of this gave me a chance to network with like minded people and promote BLINDSIDE and few other projects as well as to meet quite a few filmmakers and distributors and sales agents..

THANK YOU from the bottom of my Heart and from BLINDSIDE Team.

Cheers
D

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