Bren O'Callaghan » curated

A Whore for the Gore

bren — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:25:07 +0000

Peaches Christ / image: Jose Guzman Colon

What better date than Friday 13th to reveal the details (with some surprises still withheld) of the International Premiere of All About Evil; the directorial feature debut of cult horror hostess, Gore Couture icon and director Peaches Christ / Joshua Grannell. Appearing at Cornerhouse as part of Abandon Normal Devices (1 - 7 October), tickets will very soon be on sale - and are set to disappear just as quickly! I'm looking for contributors, volunteers and flat-out fabulous audience members, so read all about it, see some advance snapshots, roll the VT and get in touch!

Digital and Creative Futures: online footage

bren — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:48:24 +0000

Steve Furber from Vision+Media on Vimeo.

Footage is now available to view online from the recent Digital and Creative Futures event, which I produced on behalf of FutureEverything in partnership with Vision + Media, including the full keynote from Professor Steve Furber. ICL Professor of Engineering at the School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, he was recently shortlisted as one of only three 2010 Millennium Technology Prize Laureates for his role as the principle designer of the now ubiquitous ARM 32-bit RSC microprocessor. Also available to view at present with further footage due shortly is Kid Carpet's kiddy punk set, complete with a supporting cast of moulded plastic assistants and a rather tipsy policewoman.

Did you do Cthulhu?

bren — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:48:08 +0000

photo: Linda Matthew

We set the bar high with Blood Tea and I wasn't sure we could match it - at least not in volume of free-flowing alcoholic juju - but by crikey almighty, we did! The first pictures are back from our talented snapper Linda and they capture what was a brilliant group effort during Arkham Sanitarium's open evening for our expanded screening of The Call of Cthulhu. From Kev's extraterrestrial idol (actually modelling clay and spray paint rolled in dirt) to the moans and insane mutterings of The Dungeonettes, we sipped orange vodka from urine pots and scoffed enough Jelly Belly prescription beans to entice a sugar coma. But at least medical assistance was on hand!

photo: Linda Matthew

: photo: Linda Matthew

photo: Linda Matthew

Digital and Creative Futures

bren — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:55:21 +0000

Kid Carpet

I've been producing an event on behalf of FutureEverything in partnership with Vision+Media as a follow-up to the extremely popular City Debate. Taking place on Thursday 1st July, the final few tickets for Digital and Creative Futures can be snapped up for no cost for anyone with an interest in cross-discipline discussion and ideas relating to the future of our cities, technological advancement and alternative methods by which we assess and interpret the world around us.

FutureEverything

Featuring Professor Steve Furber, Millennium Technology Prize Laureate and principal designer of the ubiquitous ARM 32-bit RISC microprocessor discussing 'The Relentless March of the Microchip', plus the political fist-of-thistles that is commentator and writer Gerry Hassan, addressing the dismal failure of ideologies: 'After the Century of Isms: What is the Future of the Future?' Kid Carpet will be providing an injection of kiddy punk upon poundshop instruments finishing off with a rapid-fire Unconference intended to tap into themes raised upon the day.

Installations on site will include the jaw-dropping beauty of Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir, Sosolimited's Prime Numerics mash-up of the final televised general election debate and Aaron Koblin's hand picked selection of the best in data visualisation. And all in the shadow of Salford's answer to Dubai, the emerging creative hub of Media City. Don't say I didn't tell you about it.

Arkham Sanitarium

bren — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:43:45 +0000

Thank you to everyone, both cast and audience, who made last night's expanded cinema screening for The Call of Cthulhu such a massive success. Some of those who came along were even heard to say that it was their favourite event of the entire festival! A special bow of ground-grazing gratitude to Mark Daniels of Inspace for support beyond the call of duty (including acting duties), Rebecca Guest (pictured) for filling the flat shoes of our crazed pharmacist, The Dungeonettes, Jelly Belly Gourmet Jelly Beans and MacCorns Popcorn. A review and full gallery to follow, but I need a couple of hours kip before I climb into a flight suit for this evening's performance of Moon, including an introduction from an honest-to-goodness astronaut!

Sinkhole

bren — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 05:46:56 +0000

Sinkhole: Director Eric Scherbarth

Prospective patients attending tonight's open evening at Arkham Sanitarium are in for a treat. In addition to the feature screening of the The Call of Cthulhu from the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society, we are also thrilled to announce the European Premiere of Sinkhole by director/writer/editor Eric Scherbarth. A salesman approaches a mysterious landowner with an offer to buy the man's smouldering abandoned coal mines but finds that there is more at stake than the land. Winner of Best Short Film at the NYC Horror Film Festival 2009, it should prove a deliriously terrifying side dish alongside the likes of Eel Girl (Dir. Paul Campion) and Elder Sign (Dir. Joseph Nanni). I do so hope no one is of a nervous disposition. You may wish to bring a pillow to bite upon.

Eel Girl: Dir. Paul Campion

Candy striped

bren — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:40:22 +0000

Jak Morgan and Bren O'Callaghan / photo: Judy Cabbages

The first batch of photos are back from our ace photographer Judy Cabbages of Blood Tea And Red String at Inspace, Edinburgh. The colour palette suggested by the film and imposed to an extent by the location worked incredibly well as we cranked up the red, white and black for our cupcake table, make-up booth and hanging bough from The Tree of Unrequited Love (loaded with handmade anatomical hearts for raffle prizes). I'll write up greater detail and create a gallery for the event soon, but for now I have my head down on tomorrow's oddball activity - H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu, with a late confirmation and star turn from The Dungeonettes as inmates of Arkham Sanitarium!

photo: Mark Daniels

Lizzie's Tea Party / photo: Judy Cabbages

photo: Judy Cabbages

Lizzie's Tea Party / illustrations: Emma Rios / photo: Judy Cabbages

Lucy / photo: Judy Cabbages

photo: Mark Daniels

photo: Judy Cabbages

Lizzie's Tea Party / photo: Judy Cabbages

Jak Morgan / photo: Judy Cabbages

Just what the doctor ordered

bren — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:38:22 +0000

Peter Adlington

More graphics for the forthcoming Cthulhu screening - now sold out - this time from designer Peter Adlington who has created a brand identity around the fictional Arkham Sanitarium, said to be inspired by the legendary Danvers State Hospital (rumoured birthplace of the pre-frontal lobotomy). And before you think, 'They nicked that name from Batman', NO, Batman nicked it from Lovecraft! So there. Pete has created medical packaging imagery around the Outer Gods, dire warning eye charts and a little paper souvenir for those attending on the night. Bravo Pete! You did say you would work for beans, right? Prescription medication for everyone!

More tea, vicar?

bren — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:50:47 +0000

Emma Rios

A mere glimpse of the super-fantastico illustration that Emma Rios has provided to adorn our doll's tea party at Inspace for Blood Tea And Red String. Finnish artist Sara Bjarland will also be contributing a piece to the projection screens: Blossom (2008) features brightly coloured carrier bags crumpled into balls which slowly unfurl to mimic flowers in time-lapse documentation, providing a complementary backdrop to our homemade soiree. Officially-cannot-wait.

Cosmic horrors

bren — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:18:23 +0000

Simon Misra: The Sleeping God

With less than a week until my residency at Inspace begins I have spent far, far too long searching online for chocolate-dipped insects and clockwork bluebirds. Fortunately my call for artistic support didn't fall on deaf ears and I have an amazing line-up of contributors for both events. Wait until you see 'em! Blood Tea And Red String is now sold out, although it's still possible to sign up to the waiting list, while I suggest pleading with the gallery if you are truly desperate to attend.

Simon Misra: The Destroying Eye

Edinburgh-based prop maker Kevin Thornton, cupcake specialists Lizzie's Tea Party, make-up artist Jak Morgan, illustrator Emma Rios and the truly wonderful Magpie Market are on board for this one. Some of you will even be walking away with a handmade gruesome souvenir of the evening courtesy of our free raffle. Everyone loves a little flutter! Just be careful it's not still alive and flying in a kamikaze moth-like fashion toward your screaming maw.

Simon Misra: The Spider God

The images featured here are a preview of a Rorschach-inspired series of projection visuals by artist Simon Misra for our screening of The Call of Cthulhu. He'll be joined by artist Peter Adlington, winner of The Penguin Design Award 2009, as they help us turn Inspace into Arkham Asylum for the evening, blending medical efficiency with a sense of creeping unease. In a twist of serendipity, we're on the night after EIFF special event The Dunwich Horror, billed as the world's first audio horror movie if you fancy a Lovecraft double-bill!