'Zero Charisma': The RPG Movie You Have All Been Waiting For (Well, At Least I Have Been Waiting For...)

I love... or should I say "LOVED"... the era of role playing games. I caught the tail end of the RPG craze in the late 80s and loved every second of it. Not only Dungeons & Dragons, but games like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel Superheroes, and Talisman. I spent many hours using my imagination to become a warrior, a thief or a wizard... so many great memories. I also feel like I ended up pretty well adjusted... but that was not always the case. RPG players have often been characterized as chubby nerd who drink a lot of soda and are socially awkward. While that is not always the case (I for one and quite handsome and very socially accepted by my peers...lol), it certainly fits the mold. Zero Charisma is a wonderful look in on the life of one of these adult RPG players and what it is like in your life when "The Game" is the most important aspect of your life. Scott is a metal loving geek who lives with his elderly grandma and works a shit job. But one day a week he is the man, a 'Dungeon Master' in charge of running the RPG for a group of fellow nerds he plays with. But when they add a new member to the group, things start spiraling out of control for Scott. Changes in his personal and fantasy life push him to the edge, and he is on the verge of a breakdown. How will he respond? This movie looks great, and will be screening at this years South By SouthWest so will probably begin receiving some major attention soon. That is where distribution and future release plans will be secured. Check out the trailer after the jump...

Bellflower Is The Indie Movie You HAVE To See This Summer!!!!

One of the perks of running this wonderful blog is that I occasionally get invited to advanced screenings for certain films. This could mean seeing a movie 2-3 months before the film gets a wide release. A few months back Jeff and I got a chance to see a little indie movie called 'Bellflower' (thanks Tolley!!!). The movie was generating lots of buzz on the 'net do to a warm reception it received at the SXSW festival. I am not going to get into a review of the movie right now (I'll be posting that closer to the release date... don't want to spoil it for ya!!!), but I will say that this is one wild ass movie that will have you on the edge of your seat. A full length trailer has finally been released, and i thought you all should see it ASAP. Here you go!



I know... its a lot to take in. Two guys who are building Mad Max style weapons and cars just IN CASE the apocalypse comes? Yeah, the movies even cooler then it sounds. The relationship issues, crazy car scenes, and flamethrower/gun-play in this one will definitely make you smile... at least if you have a sick world perspective like me!!! The film opens August 5h in NY and LA with a National roll-out to follow. Take a break from the mainstream summer fare and give this one a shot. You will be entertained... trust me.

'Mario': An 'Indie' Short From SXSW

Problems with Peach, Goombas, his brother Luigi and a possible mushroom addiction have left our favorite pudgy plumbing paisan looking fairly downtrodden.



This little nugget from SXSW cleverly weaves a plethora of game references into a standard indie drama. The filmmaker Joe Nicolosi has had several shorts at this years festival that are all worth a look.

There have been a number of Mario inspired films the last couple of years, but with good production and tight editing and a tone blends the fantasy and reality well, this is the best I've seen yet.

Of course no interpretation of Mario will ever come close to the celebrated classic...

Boris Vallejo Creates A Movie Poster For The Upcoming Cult Sensation 'Rubber'

Boris Vallejo is one of my all time favorite artists... ever! I love his fantasy themed art that has graced countless book covers and movie posters. He's immortalized Tarzan, Conan, Doc Savage, and every other pulp icon in the paperback copies of their adventures. He also did the art for George A Romero's 'Knightriders', 'Q the Winged Serpent' (one of my 80's faves!), Barbarella, and he even did the awesome posters for Chevy Chase's 'National Lampoon's Vacation' & 'National Lamppoon's European Vacation'. He also contributed to the 'Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie For Theaters' with his wife, and painting partner, Julie Bell. He rarely does movie poster work... and he has come out of his cave to produce a new poster for the upcoming killer tire movie 'Rubber'.

This movie is the buzz of the net right now, and is sure to benefit from the upcoming buzz that it's screening at SXSW is sure to bring. This awesome poster from an unreal artist is definitely going to help the cause:

Nice... the dude's still got it!!! You can click Read more below to see more of the classic movie posters from Boris Vallejo that I mentioned above... these are amazing! I hope you enjoy.

Is 'Blacktino' The Next 'Superbad'???

I got hit up with a ton of emails asking me if I had seen this trailer, and then I saw that my boy Cal posted about it at The Cave of Cool. As soon as I got in, I had to give it a gander. Here it is...


blacktino SXSW Trailer from Aaron Burns on Vimeo.


Wow... I am in. I love the teenage era comedies that are in the vein of 'Juno', 'Napoleon Dynamite' & 'Superbad', and this looks like one of those types of films. A half black, half Spanish theater geek that is going through the awkward years of High School? Yes please!!! Count me in.

The young man that stars in the film as 'Stefan Daily', Austin Marshall, is a newcomer that bears a striking resemblance to first time director Aaron Burns. Burns was a visual effects artist on the 'Grindhouse' double feature, so he comes from good film making stock (Tarantino & Rodriguez are OK... lol). That also explains why 'Blacktino' is the talk of the upcoming SXSW Film Festival, given Robert Rodriguez's connection to the Austin festival. I am really looking forward to this one. I might even have to check the torrent sites after the March 11th premiere at SXSW to get this one early (what... you want me to lie?). 

Here is the official synopsis, according to the movies website:

'Blacktino' is a dark teen comedy about an overweight half-black, half-latino nerd named Stefan Daily. He was raised by his black grandmother in a medium sized suburb of Austin, TX. Struggling to find his place in a mostly white high school, Stefan finds sanctuary among the eclectic mix of social outcasts in the school's Theatre Department. In the tradition of the great teen comedies of the last thirty years 'Blacktino' will ensure that the torch of teen angst continues to burn bright.

What do you guys think? Do you want to see this movie? Do you think it holds a candle to films like 'Superbad', 'Juno' or 'Napoleon Dynamite'? Tell us in the comment section below.

***Bonus***

Check out this great second movie poster that draws its meaning from Stefan's half black, half Hispanic heritage... very funny stuff. Enjoy!!!