I’ve co-written a new book: SECONDS

FINALLY, I can share the news that Jez Conolly and I are in the final stages of a book for Auteur Publishing’s Constellations science fiction imprint on John Frankenheimer’s much-underrated masterpiece, SECONDS, from 1966.

We’ve been at it across the past 12 months, working away quietly under wraps. But, the manuscript has now been sent to our publisher, John Atkinson. This thing is real!

I can’t thank Jez enough for (a) asking me to be his co-author and (b) providing such beautiful writing to encourage me (hopefully) to be better. I would dare to even call the experience ‘transformative’.

I’m so looking forward to giving SECONDS the attention this magnificent film deserves. It is really something very, very special, which our book is attempting to fully capture for the first time in long-form print.

Thank you, too, to Salome Jens, who is resplendent in the role of Nora Marcus, and who kindly agreed to be interviewed as part of our research.

Hunting THE BRIDE in Los Angeles

POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19 TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

I’m heading to LA in the first two weeks of May! Why?

Because I am researching my book on BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN and, like Indiana Jones, I’m on a hunt for the Ark and whatever else I can uncover about this beautiful, important film.

Given this is a business trip, I’m open to any other cinema/film opportunities that might come my way. Stories? Interviews? Other potential jobs? Martinis at Musso & Frank’s? Hit me up with your requests.

I’m already looking forward to catching up with Mark Shostrom, Scott Essman, Tom Blunt, Sam Irvin, my LA housemate Louise Heseltine and the ghost of Ms Elsa Lanchester…

Email emma@emmawestwood.net

Matrimonially yours,
Emma 💋

Primal Screen and satanic cinema

Over the holiday break, while Plato’s Cave was on hiatus, I was asked by my good friend, Sally Christie, to join her and another good friend, Lee Gambin, (and his stunning dog, Buddy) on her special summer show on Triple R, Caught in a Celluloid Jam.

Sally used Caught in a Celluloid Jam as a forum to present some of her favourite topics/genres of cinema. The episode in which Lee and I participated focused specifically on satanic cinema. And what a hoot it was! I strongly suggest you take a listen and hear us rabbit on about approximately 20 films of the devilish kind.

But something else happened over summer… Plato’s Cave has changed!

Now under the name Primal Screen at 7pm Mondays on Triple R, Plato’s Cave gets a same-same-but-different reworking, which includes a new lineup of weekly co-hosts: Paul Anthony Nelson, Sally Christie and Flick Ford.

Old faithfuls, Cerise Howard and myself, will be making the occasional appearance as guests but, in 2020, everything’s getting a makeover, including the show intro, which sounds something like this…

17th Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards

I have super exciting news – I’ve been nominated for a Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for Best Commentary with my creative brother, Lee Gambin, for our DVD commentary on William Castle’s STRAIT-JACKET, which appears on Indicator’s Vol. 2 release of William Castle films. Such news deserves an exclamation mark!

This is my first time being nominated, and a huge honour, especially given the esteemed competition in the same category (Kim Newman, Tim Lucas, Bill Ackerman, Samm Deighan, Kat Ellinger, Amanda Reyes, etc). My head is spinning like Linda Blair’s, to say the least.

Given these awards are decided on popular vote, I’d love it if you’d support me with yours. All you have to do is send an email to taraco@aol.com before 20th April 2019, and specify your Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards votes:

BEST COMMENTARY:
Lee Gambin, Emma Westwood: STRAIT-JACKET (Indicator)

If you feel like providing even further support, please also vote for the box set in which our STRAIT-JACKET commentary appears:

BEST BOX SET:
WILLIAM CASTLE AT COLUMBIA: Volume One, Two: Tingler, 13 Ghosts, Homicidal, Mr. Sardonicus; Zotz!; 13 Frightened Girls; Old Dark House; Strait-Jacket (Indicator)

And Cinemaniacs’ glorious book on Scarecrows in which I have written two pieces on JEEPERS CREEPERS:

BOOK OF THE YEAR:
IF I ONLY HAD A BRAIN: Scarecrows in Film and TV, edited by Lee Gambin (Cinemaniacs, softcover, 242 pages, $21.50). Essays that go far beyond Oz.

~ Thanking you, Emma

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