Teenage Dreams (Twin Mortal Kombat)

Growing up, Jen and I always had an interest in performance and entertainment. When we had the opportunity to take acting and directing classes, it was on. We would take classes and finish all the work in advance so we could just go to the theater and take over the class. I remember certain teachers seeing this in us, and being really supportive. Today, I remember Mr. Gregory Hockley - our law teacher.


I think he knew we would go into film making before we even did. There were times that we thought about other occupations - arachnologist, lawyer, etc. - but the arts was always where our passions laid.

One day, Mr. Hockley took us aside and told us that he wanted to teach the class about witnessing a crime and how perceptions can incorrect during hectic times. He asked us if we would fake a fight, start bickering in class, then going to a make-believe assembly (yup, the scheme went to the higher ups - even the vice principal was involved), then at the assembly we would scrap. Jen was to initiate the faked fight. It was amazing. We were honored to have been picked.


So, next class, we come in and start bitching under our breath at each other. Some students took notice, but siblings argue sometimes and it happens. We got called to the assembly and walked with the class. Our bitching had gotten louder and a couple friends tried to help the situation, we started falling behind to the end of the line. Once we took our place in the bleachers, it was on. I scream at Jen for being such a 'bitch' (lol) and she whacks me good. We engage in Mortal Twin Kombat.


The vice principal, Mr. Molenski, pulls Jen off me. She retorts with a 'get the fuck off me' - and because it was all part of the role, she got to cuss freely - it was fucking spectacular. The class had lost their mind. It was a strange piece of insanity that they had just witnessed. Jen and I were 'taken to the principal's office'. The class was taken back and asked to write a detailed report of what they saw happen, so they had a witness account. After they finished, they were told that they had been tricked into learning and the entire thing had been staged. We were with Mr. Molenski in the hall. He was such a cool guy. It was one of those moments were you start to see adults as cool people, everyone was in on the gag and we were pleased at how well it paid off.

Wherever you are, Mr. Hockley, I hope that you are doing well. You were a fucking hip teacher and I will never forget what a rad class my LAW12 was. Thank you for letting Jen and me be a part of that tom foolery, who knew we would grow up and do this for a living. Actually, maybe you did.

~Sylv

RUNNING AND SCREAMING

I remember once, when we were younger, our mom took us to go see 'The House on Haunted Hill'. I love seeing movies in the theaters. When the lights go dark and the music gets loud, anything can happen. You never know if you're going to see something that leaves a mark on you.

There was another similar movie out at the same time (both were remakes of the still creepy today, 1959 House on Haunted Hill) called 'The Haunting' and it was pretty dull. Too many obvious effects, predictable story, you all know what a bad horror is like.

Well, maybe that's the movie the girls' birthday party that sat two rows ahead of us had meant to see because they really made this trip to the theater memorable.

So, the lights go out, the trailers play, the movie starts. It begins with a flashback to the old insane asylum that the 'house' was originally used as. Doctors are operating on patients without anesthesia, experimental surgeries that birth evil in horror stories, the crazies seem to be especially excitable tonight. A man in an office is sharpening pencils. There is a birthday party of about twelve girls sitting in front of us. They are giggling and talking. Their moms are also chatting.

Jen and I both know that shit is about to go down. Those crazies are just a little extra crazy tonight. They start to break free. A patient grabs the pile of newly sharpened pencils and uses them to stab a man through the throat. Screams.



CHECK THE 4:52 MARK ;)

One girl starts screaming, they all start screaming. Some get up and run out of the theater. The head mom stands and starts acting like a traffic director, she motions for the rest of the girls to run out of the theater with a scared chant of, 'Go, go, go, go, go!'

My sister, my mom, and I all exchange looks and giggles. We love horror movies. Jen and I grew up on them. Sometimes, you get lucky, and get to witness people actually getting scared at one of them. The rest of the film was pretty rad, a CG monster towards the end soured it for me, but overall it was a cool flick. I heard that during the throat slit scene of 'Interview With The Vampire' that many people walked out of the theater.

I haven't witnessed a walkout/ runout in a long time but it just adds to the charm of horror. Sure, people might walk out of a truly crap movie. But only horror makes them run out screaming.

Jen and I are writing a new project. It's coming together quickly. My mind is wandering to all sorts of happy horror memories and I felt like sharing. Thanks for reading, boys and girls.

Talk soon,

xo
Sylv