Hop in the nun van we are going to the cinema

These past couple days of slightly warmer temperatures here in Philadelphia have been putting some pep in my step.

I am very much looking forward to SPRING as there will be numerous cinematic events (of corpse they are film related) that I have to look forward to. Here are some of the grand adventures I have on the horizon…

• Sci-Phi Film Festival at Hiway Theater, details here

• Hitchcock Till You Drop! at Mahoning Drive-In here

• 35mm Film Festival at Ambler Theater, details here 

• Salem Horror Fest, details here

• Columbus Moving Picture Show, details here 

• Nitrate Picture Show, details here 

Given this list of cinematic escapades that await my future, I don’t think there is any doubt it: I am fully transforming into a piece of celluloid. Together with Benjamin and other fellow MovieJawn staffers, we will be tabling at many of these events. This absolutely thrills me, as it will give us the opportunity to take the zine outside of the Philadelphia area. I can’t wait to meet other cinephiles across the land and visit magical movie palaces. I am also pleased as punch to have the opportunity to travel to places that I have never been. Salem has been calling me for a long time, and this trip up north is far overdue. What makes this expedition even sweeter is that I will be road trippin’ with a fellow MovieJawner, Kate Beach.

Kate joined our staff last year and I can’t wait to get to know her more. This year has been shaping up to be filled with fresh beginnings and new cinematic friendships! For some my calendar may seem overwhelming. However, for me, I welcome the hectic schedule. It keeps me on my toes and avoiding stumbling down a sinister rabbit hole, where I would be more than likely suffocated by the dark thoughts. Plus! hey, there will be plenty of time to sleep when it is coffin time. If you’ll be making it to any of the events above, let me know!

So I had this idea… is a phrase that Benjamin has grown to love (also fear). Depending on what word soup falls out of my mouth results in various reactions from Benjamin. From excitement or concern to terror. I hope the latter is less frequent… but heck, he knew what he signed up for when we walked down the aisle to the Funeral March.

The most recent dream scheme I presented to Benjamin: CINEMATIC FIELD TRIPS

Picture it! A 12-15 passenger van on a mission to carry cinephiles to motion picture destinations. With me (an angelic cinematic chauffer) behind the wheel, a basket full of snax, sweet treats and soda pop… what more could one ask for? Everything from lodging and activities to sustenance would be organized, scouted and calculated to perfection.

And of before you even ask… of corpse, I will be playing movie soundtracks. No road trip is complete without the famed 1990 Dick Tracy soundtrack!

And welllll… in line with one of my other recently revealed dreams and schemes, CINEMATIC CHURCH, my brain immediately went to describing the Cinematic Field Trip vehicle of transport as, “Ya know, a nun van!”. I know you have questions. This is expected. Will the travelers wear robes? Possibly. Will their be chanting? You best believe it. Will everyone have a grand, blessed time? Hell yea!

I am now in pursuit of finding a nun van for rental and would like to test this little Cinematic Field Trip experiment out with the upcoming Hitchcock Till You Drop! event at Mahoning Drive-in. This could even, quite possibly, be the introduction of Sunday School (read about that here). All of this is just another way to continue my pursuit in spreading the good word of the moving image. Want to join me on this venture? Drop me a line here, I am going to start building a database of travelers.

This week I am proud of… two things.

1. This interview I did with Canvas Rebel about MovieJawn. Read it here.

1. The Spring 2025 issue of MovieJawn is now available for preorder here. Available in glorious color! Silence Please! it is time to power down all devices, dim the lights and succumb to the moving image. Our Spring 2025 print issue celebrates silent films and characters.

My love of silent pictures makes this particular issue extremely close to my heart. Not only this… but the extras that accompany this issue are perfectly splendid! Each zine comes with an exclusive MovieJawn 1 1/2” merit badge designed by Hugo Marmugi and created in Phoenixville, PA. A limited edition 6” record produced & created by Consonant Collective is available as a bundle or separately. This will be the debut of MovieJawn’s first record and is made by one of our staff writers. I realize I am a bit biased when I say this, however, this record cooks! It features the music of a couple of radical independent musicians who created songs specifically in theme with our latest issue.

The Silence Please! 6” record includes two songs that pay homage to silent motion pictures. Side One: nosferatuUuUu performed by starmouthSide Two: The Cat and The Canary (Main) performed by Corey J. Brewerartwork designed by Hugo Marmugi

The MovieJawn Silence Please! issue will ship out mid-March.

This week I recommend… checking out the novel, Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel

Alfred Smettle invites a gaggle of his college friends to celebrate the first anniversary of his ownership of the Hitchcock Hotel. As an Alfred Hitchcock enthusiast, this Victorian home turned lodging quarters pays tribute to the master of suspense from top to bottom. With a decked out screening room, a dining room paying tribute to Rebecca’s Manderley estate and a carousel horse from Strangers on The Train dangling from the ceiling, one could say that Smettle is more than just a Hitch fan… he is an enthusiast. Of corpse, no Hitchcock film is complete without a cold cadaver.

I’m about halfway through and have found this to not only be a page turner, but a most excellent read… especially for those classic film fans. I picked it up at my local library. However, if you are interested in purchasing it, you can find it here.

For my fellow bookworms out there… you can find me on Storygraph here. Much like Letterboxd (where I keep a diary of all the films I watch, follow me here), I am dedicated to keeping my reading lists up to date.

Happy you are here.xx.goodbye.

Tell a friend.