Important to emphasize here that the White House *just* released a doctored photo of an arrest without disclosure. Harder to convincingly alter video, especially from multiple angles, but keep that in mind if/when this alleged footage is released. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

Wandered over to Threads, and it's nearly as bad as Twitter. Teeming with rabid M*GA cultists spewing disinformation and blind hatred -- and the algorithm keeps shoveling more and more of it into my feed. Hard to see how anyone who spends substantial time over there doesn't lose their marbles.

Revisited the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS movie last night. It is a crime that we don’t already have two more of these with another on the way.

Once again: This strategy is predictably not working. I’m horrified and infuriated, but I’m not surprised.

Absolute shame that THE BONE TEMPLE is dead on arrival at the box office. It’s staggeringly good. I just don’t think you can do these chapter-driven horror franchise plays with rapid theatrical releases, no matter their empirical quality. Didn’t work for THE STRANGERS, didn’t work here.

And many (most) reachable Americans have no idea because our largest media organs are diseased, compromised, and committed to keeping up an increasingly grotesque facade of normality. It’s beyond parody, and those driving it need to be removed and held accountable, too.

When it comes to moving forward & escaping this mess down the road, we talk a lot about holding those responsible & their enablers accountable. But I think the fever continues indefinitely if we don’t fix the fourth estate. Maybe a new form of the fairness doctrine. We can’t permit this sanewashing

Yeah, I don't pretend to have the answers, but this is not a winning message.

The thing they don’t tell you about the fake weed they use for film shoots is that it smells really, really bad.

Every morning I read the news and I feel sick. It's getting worse and will almost certainly continue to. I know despair and helplessness is what they want, but I can't help but concede that's where I'm at.

Our feature film shoot is going fairly well so far, but folks, I do not recommend scheduling one a month and a half before your wedding.

Tomorrow, we embark on another adventure in moviemaking. The scrappiest kind: little to no budget, a few actors, a camera, & a dream. I can't help but be moved by my collaborators who believe so much in this film & my ability to deliver something exciting & meaningful. Let's make the dream real.

What are we doing here?

A delight/fair warning: Criterion’s excellent new 4K disc release of PEE-WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE tucks an abrupt jump scare into the otherwise placid main menu if you linger too long…

Distracting myself from the latest atrocities by disassembling my apartment for the film shoot. It’s unbelievably demoralizing. What can even be said? Everything was telegraphed. None of it is a surprise, including this sustained, suffocating sense of helplessness.

Every time I get nervous about directing my second feature film (we start shooting next week), I force myself to remember I already directed and delivered a feature film. (DON'T PEEK is streaming on Tubi, Screambox, Found TV, and more!)

My first feature film was released this year. In one week, we start shooting my second. Here’s a peek from today’s test footage.

That'll certainly help the deteriorating economy!

We're shooting my second feature film in a few weeks. Right now I'm purchasing props, scouting for a key location, and finalizing casting for some of the ensemble roles. Admittedly stressful but exciting.

Do I know anyone who could whip up a fake/simulated GoFundMe-like page for a movie? I guess this is a graphic design type of thing. Doesn't have to actually be interactive or clickable, it just needs to *look* like a legitimate crowfunding site/campaign for a specific character/scenario. Paid.

So is Fast & Furious 11 never going to happen? One of Universal’s marquee film franchises just ends with an explosive whimper? Those coaster opening events could get awkward!

Of course this looks absolutely wretched and can't maintain any shot for more than three seconds, but will the average consumer care? Most seem to tolerate "good enough." Is the stink of obvious AI slop enough to put people off?

Attempting to book a Tokyo Disneyland vacation package for our honeymoon this evening. Wish me luck.

Some great theater happening in Los Angeles this week: SUFFS at the Pantages has a terrific cast, and PARANORMAL ACTIVITY at the Ahmanson delivers real scares along with a stunning dollhouse of a set. Both productions close this weekend and are offering inexpensive rush tickets!

Tammy and the T-Rex needs a Jurassic World-style reboot. Audiences won't be prepared for it, but that's even more reason to make it.

PREDATOR: BADLANDS is such a satisfying reinvention and pivot. Made up of familiar parts but wields its narrative tools with pleasing precision. Some of the finest creature effects since SKULL ISLAND, maybe. Elle Fanning delights, as usual.

Do I know anyone who I could commission to make a pig mask for a horror film? Looking specifically something that feels somewhat handmade, rough around the edges, almost thrown together with found objects. If this is your area, please reply or DM me!

Between this and “did women ruin the workplace” and a litany of other corrosive nonsense that’s contributed to our dire present moment, I’ve stopped taking the New York Times seriously, and so should you. The institution is compromised.

Epic Universe is a theme park full of cute lil guys

We gotta stop abusing the term “theme park.” The word you’re looking for is “carnival.”

You guys… I have an update. 11 months later, Universal Home Entertainment has acknowledged the error, fixed it for the forthcoming 4K disc re-release, and is sending me an updated copy! Good things can happen!!

DON'T PEEK was included as part of @fangoria.bsky.social's "10 Indie Horror Films That Are Criminally Overlooked!" Super surreal. So grateful that our film is finding its audience. www.fangoria.com/essential-in...

Saw the immortal John Carpenter and his tremendous band take us on a ride through his illustrious film career. What a gift. Happy Halloween!

IMO democracy becomes impossible in the absence of any social or political norms against lying.

Weeks later, I'm still marveling at the logistical and technical feat that is MASQUERADE, the new Phantom of the Opera immersive in NYC. A staggeringly lush, immediate, and exciting adaptation. Narrative expansions trialed in the uneven 2004 film really come to life here. Can't wait to see it again.

"AMC Decides They Could Use the Money"

Checked out Stuart Gordon's final film, STUCK, on the Criterion Channel last night. Nasty little nail-biter that demonstrates Gordon never lost his touch for tight, twisted, and frequently funny horror. You can also catch it on Tubi.

Starting to plan our Tokyo Disneyland trip as part of our honeymoon next year, and… boy do they make this needlessly complex!

I was a project manager and later a creative producer on this project. Real sink or swim moment, had to cut my teeth on a million things at once. Sadly never got to visit, but proud of the final product given the time and budget crunch.

Listening to the just-released live recording of the late Gavin Creel's brilliant musical, WALK ON THROUGH. It's about his experience visiting The Met for the first time (yes, really). It's a shattering, life-affirming, joyous piece. What a gift he gave us. I encourage you to give it a listen.

I got the Panasonic DP-UB820, regarded by many as the best available 4K player under $1,000, for my birthday. Paired with my Sony OLED TV and sound system, the Dolby Vision presentation for many of my discs has been astounding. THE WILD ROBOT, IN THE HEIGHTS, and CHILD'S PLAY 2 all look fabulous.

That Starbucks restructure/layoff is probably going to be felt by anyone who goes there. At least two popular locations near my place are shuttering.

I am 13th Floored to report that LA Haunted Hay Ride stepped it up this year. Our expectations were basically zero after a disastrous run a few seasons ago, but we were pleasantly surprised. The nickel and diming is still atrocious and leaves a bad taste in the mouth, but there's good stuff here.

Between a one free general admission ticket and a 50%-off-any-ticket coupon -- both from Midsummer Scream -- I paid $33 for two tickets to the LA Haunted Hayride this evening. Reader, I was prompted to spend more money for perks and add-ons *five times* before I was permitted to actually check out.

I was initially baffled why they chose to delay this again when the series has been screened for press with the review embargo lifted... ...and then I realized Stardust Racers is probably prominently featured.

Pretty stunned they went ahead with this. I know it's EOQ, but... like... read the room? Maybe?

How I'm feeling these days

It doesn't feel good to rip on a haunt that's delivered quite a few excellent, boundary-pushing shows, but people deserve to know what they're getting with this year's DELUSION. Start to finish, the actual show is 25 minutes long. Historically, their shows are about 65 minutes or so.

I won the TRON // TRON: LEGACY 4K release lottery. Thanks, Barnes & Noble!