Midnight Madness 2014 Playlist!

MM Interviewer Rob Mitchell has put together a playlist of all his interviews, the introductions and post-screening question and answer business for all the films that played Midnight Madness this year. Twenty-two videos and just under five hours of content!

Midnight Madness Memories: Robert A. Mitchell, Midnight Madness Junkie

 

Iko Uwais interviewed by Robert Mitchell at The Raid World Premiere.

 

A few days ago, we posted the memories of MM Photographer Ian Goring, today we're sharing the first Midnight Madness screening of another MM Blogger who you don't hear from much around here, MM Interviewer, Videographer and Man On The Scene, Robert A. Mitchell. This was originally published on the 2008 Midnight Madness blog as, "The Genesis of a Midnight Madness Junkie, (a.k.a., The Night I Met Prachya Pinkaew)." ~The Editor

 

Howdy All.

As a way of introducing myself, and also to take a little time to do a some reminiscing, I wanted to talk about my first Midnight Madness screening.

It was a Saturday, the second day of the 2003 film festival and the second year I was attending. I was set to watch two films that day. The first was Takeshi Kitano's latest film Zatoichi at the Elgin theater theater at the base of Yonge street followed by a screening of Alien with Sir Ridley Scott in attendence. That is already an amazing day of cinema. Little did I know what the night would bring. Suffice to say Zatoichi was amazing and I wasn't the only one who must've thought that because several days later the film would win the audience award.

Leaving the theater and stepping into the bright early September daylight I slowly wandered up Yonge street bopping in and out of stores looking at DVDs. My mind wandering, thinking of the amazing sword sequences I had just watched.


By five o'clock I found myself standing in what was supposed to be my second and last line up for a film that day. Perhaps because of kismet, the unifying field or just one of those things, the woman who stood directly in front of me had stood directly behind me hours earlier while I waited for Zatoichi.

We began to talk about many different films and she asked me if I would be going to Midnight Madness that night. I replied that I had heard of Midnight Madness but that I had never gone. She then informed me that there was a film playing that night entitled, Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior.

Since my teenaged years encompassed skateboarding, eating pizza and watching kung fu films every Saturday, I was always up for a good martial arts film, but, alas, I did not have a ticket. The woman informed me she was a volunteer and that she would use one of her vouchers and procure me a ticket. True to her words she came back from the box office with a ticket for Ong-Bak and what would become my first Midnight Madness film.

Oh yeah, the Alien reissue was amazing and, not only was Sir Ridley Scott in attendence, but Yaphet Kotto sat in the audience with us and watched the film ... but I digress.

Cut to INT.: The Uptown Theater Saturday night around 11PM.

 With the usual energy that comes with a warm Saturday night, this particular night had the added excitement of a world premiere. The crowd had changed, they were younger and much more enthusiastic. Although it was a long day and I was fighting exhaustion, one could not not get caught up in the moment and feed off the energy that you were surrounded with.

We were finally seated in the amazing theater that was the Uptown 1 (see above photo (R.I.P)) and a man came onto the stage and introduced himself as "Colin Geddes, the Midnight Madness programmer" to a huge amount of applause and cheering. He then went on to relate a tale of seeing Ong-Bak at the buyers market at the Cannes film festival and that Luc Besson, the director of La Femme Nikita, had already bought the film.

Colin Geddes then introduced the director of the film, Prachya Pinkaew, who had almost not made the screening due to being held up by customs and had to resort to taking a cab from the airport to the theater to make the screening on time. In fact, he had had no time to stop off at the hotel to unpack his luggage. When Prachya stepped out and onto the stage you would never have known that a mere hour or so before he had been on a plane coming from the other side of the world.

With the introductions finished the house lights dimmed and the curtains were slowly drawn and little did we know what we were about to see. You could look in a thesaurus and no amount of adjectives could ever do Ong-Bak justice. The film was completely and utterly amazing. When the final credits rolled and lights came back on, sitting in that theater - which was now in the wee hours of Sunday morning - you knew you had just witnessed the emergence of a new talent unleashed upon the world. The star of the film Tony Jaa without a doubt would become the next big action star.

As Colin and Prachya came back onto the stage the crowd rose in a standing ovation and if you had ever been in the Uptown 1 you can attest to how many people that was.

After the Q&A I stumbled out of the theater and into the night, dizzy from the amazingness I had just watched. Wandering around the local neighbourhood I popped into a store and bought a chocolate milk, when the thought crossed my mind to double back to the theater and see if I could get a picture with the director.

Outside of the box office stood Colin  and Prachya with a few other people. I approached them and asked if I could have a photo. Colin then snapped a picture at a crazy angle and the moment was captured.  I'm the dork with the red beard standing beside one of the greatest action directors to emerge in the twenty first century.

I don't speak a word of Thai and I believe Prachya didn't speak much, if any, English. But, when I said to him that Ong-Bak was the best fighting film I had seen since Drunken Master II, a flicker of recognition passed through his eyes. We had bridged the language gap through action films.

When the house lights came back on that Sunday morning I immediately thought to myself how many times are you going to be in a world premiere audience and be able to say I was there the night the world was introduced to the next big thing. In an instant I was hooked and have been attending Midnight Madness ever since. This will mark my sixth year.

I also would like to thank that volunteer for taking me to my first Midnight Madness screening.

Pics From The Premiere Of RIGOR MORTIS!

Midnight Madness fans braved a torrential Hong-Kong-esque rainstorm last night to see Juno Mak's tribute to Mr Vampire, Rigor Mortis! Ian Goring was there documenting all the action, precariously balancing a bowl of glutinous rice while holding his ever-present camera.

Rain, rain, go away, HOPPING VAMPIRES MOTHERFUCKER

Juno Mak is so dreamy we're just going to leave these two pictures here.

Juno Mak chats it up with Robert Mitchell on the red carpet.

Looming above the Ryerson like a ghost, Juno Mak watches, and waits.

Colin Geddes and Juno Mak introduce the stunning RIGOR MORTIS!

We just can't get enough of these closeups of Juno Mak *swoon*

Juno Mak and Colin Geddes chat up the audience.

Juno Mak takes a bow and is tremendously grateful to the Midnight Madness audience!

Yeah!

Double yeah!

YeAHHHHHHHHHHH!

You have the rare opportunity to catch Rigor Mortis again, on Friday the 13th! Do that!

RIGOR MORTIS Screening Times:

Friday, Sept 13th, 6:00 PM SCOTIABANK 9

Deaner from Fubar at Wrongbar!

Deaner from Fubar is going to be playing March 16th at Wrongbar in Toronto. Anyone who was at the Midnight Madness World Premiere of Fubar II in 2010 will for sure remember what a rocking night that was.



Here is the link for all the 411 on the show. http://www.songkick.com/concerts/11026473-deaner-of-fubar-at-wrongbar

Katsuhito Ishii on The Red Carpet for SMUGGLER

Here is director Katsuhito Ishii on the Midnight Madness red carpet talking about his latest film, Smuggler.

The Intro/Q&A for SMUGGLER

Here is the Introduction and Q&A for Katsuhito Ishii's latest film, Smuggler!

The Red Carpet Interviews for THE DAY

The Midnight Madness Red Carpet was rocking Thursday Sept. 16th when Doug Aarniokoski's post-apocalyptic film The Day had it's world premiere. I had the opportunity to speak with actors, Dominic Monaghan, Michael Eklund and Ashley Bell as well as director Douglas Aarniokoski and producer Guy Danella. Here is the video:

Interviews with Eduardo Sanchez and the cast of LOVELY MOLLY

Having met and talked to director Eduardo Sanchez I can say he is a man who clearly has a passion for telling stories and a genuine love for the horror genre. Here is my interview with him at the red carpet of his world premiere for Lovely Molly:



One of the standout elements of Lovely Molly is definitely the cast lead by Gretchen Lodge in her very first role in a feature film. Her performance is a very brave and compelling portrait of a woman in the midst of horrors both very much real and not so clearly explained. Johnny Lewis and Alexandra Holden also create very strong portraits of people desperately trying to help a loved one. I had the opportunity to talk with the cast mere moments before the film screen at Midnight Madness.

Intro/Q&A for LOVELY MOLLY

Eduardo Sanchez one of the co-directors of The Blair Witch Project has him returning to his first person storytelling roots in his latest film Lovely Molly with the angle of a woman suffering through a possession records her struggle.

Here is the Introduction and Q&A from the world premiere of Lovely Molly:

Red Carpet Interviews for SLEEPLESS NIGHT

Here are Robert Mitchell's interviews with director Frederic Jardin and actor Tomer Sisley at the world premiere of Sleepless Night.

Bobcat Goldthwait's Impromptu Midnight Madness Set

MM Blogger Robert Mitchell recorded Bobcat Goldthwait's impromptu stand up set last night. Bobcat saved the night and entertained the audience while the technical difficulties with Smuggler were fixed.

Smuggler screening times:

Sun., Sept. 18th, 12:00PM, SCOTIABANK THEATRE 4

Intro/Q&A for SLEEPLESS NIGHT

Here is the Introduction and Q&A for Sleepless Night with action star Tomer Sisley and director Frederic Jardin.

Sleepless Night screens one final time. Tonight!

Friday, Sept. 16th 9:45pm Scotiabank Theatre 11

Red Carpet Interview THE INCIDENT with Director Alexandre Courtes

The Incident had its world premiere Monday September 12th, 2011. I was on the red carpet to talk with director Alexandre Courtes about his feature film debut. Here is the video:

The Incident screens two more times:

Friday, Sept. 16th 3:15 pm Scotiabank Theatre 3
Sunday, Sept 18th 9:45 pm Scotiabank Theatre 2

The Intro/Q&A for THE INCIDENT

The Incident marks the directorial debut of French director Alexandre Courtes. He previously has directed numerous music videos for bands such as U2 and The White Stripes. The Incident also takes its place in Midnight Madness history as having two people faint from the horrific images that played out before them..

Here is the Introduction and Q&A from the world premiere of The Incident:



The Incident screens two more times:

Friday, Sept. 16th 3:15 pm Scotiabank Theatre 3
Sunday, Sept 18th 9:45 pm Scotiabank Theatre 2

The Red Carpet Interviews for LIVID's Alexandre Bustillo & Julien Maury.

Here are the red carpet interviews with directors Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury. (Still photos by: Ian Goring)

The Intro/Q&A for LIVID

Sunday, September 11th saw the triumphant return of Julien Maury and Alexandre the directors of the Midnight Madness sensation, A' L'interieur with their follow up film Livide--which was four years coming, with various trials and tribulations of the film making business getting in the way. To say expectations were high would be an understatement.

Here is the Introduction and Q&A of the world premiere of Livid.

Red Carpet video of YOU'RE NEXT

There is nothing like the excitement of a world premiere of film by a highly anticipated emerging director. Such was the case at the Ryerson theater Saturday night when Adam Wingard's latest film, You're Next, was about to screen.

I had the opportunity to talk to Adam, writer Simon Barrett and stars Sharni Vinson and the legendary Barbara Crampton looking amazing lovely as usual. Here is Sheleigh and my red carpet video:



You're Next screens two more times:

Monday Sept., 12th AMC 7 6:30pm
Friday, Sept., 16th TIFF Bell Lightbox 2 4:00pm

Intro/Q&A Video for YOU'RE NEXT

Saturday Sept., 10th marked the World Premiere of Adam Wingard's and Simon Barrett's latest collaboration, You're Next. Hot of the heels of their breakout film, A Horrible Way To Die, which screened in TIFF's Vanguard programme, there was a lot of anticipation for this follow-up film.

Ryerson theater had all the energy of a world premiere at midnight on the first Saturday of the festival. It also helped that the masks prominently featured in the film were being handed out to the die hard fans waiting in the lineup and that Banksy-inspired street was popping up all around the theater.


Here is Sheleigh and my video of the Introduction and Q&A of You're Next:



At the time of this posting You're Next screens two more times:

Monday Sept., 12th AMC 7 6:30pm
Friday, Sept., 16th TIFF Bell lightbox 2 4:00pm

The Red Carpet Interviews for GOD BLESS AMERICA

Here are the Midnight Madness red carpet interviews from the World Premiere of God Bless America:

God Bless America screens one more time:
Fri., Sept. 16th, 6:30PM, AMC 7

The Intro/Q&A for Bobcat Goldthwait's GOD BLESS AMERICA

Here is footage from the Introduction and the Q&A of Bobcat Goldthwait's latest film GOD BLESS AMERICA. It was one of the funniest Q&A's in the entire history of the Midnight Madness programme, as Bobcat said on stage, "The kid's still got it!"

At the time of this posting GOD BLESS AMERICA still screens two more times:

Sunday September 11 AMC 6 1:30pm

Friday September 16 AMC 7 6:30pm

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