The Comfy Chair Cinema

2010-08-29T19:02:00.000-07:00

Dance Party

Well, hello, cinemaphiles. It's time for another offering at the Comfy Chair.

Sometimes you have to get silly. We Here at the Comfy Chair have had this idea rolling around in our head for some time, and finally set about getting out of our head and into computerland.

It goes back to one of our techniques from the old days.

And that's about all there is to say, except get a cookie and a beverage, relax, and enjoy "Dance Party."

(BTW, WHATCC are going to have to do something about embedding from You Tube. It seems to cut off one end of the picture. Or did on the last two movies.)

2010-07-09T08:57:00.000-07:00

World Cup Soccer

Hello, moviegoers! Welcome to the latest offering at the Comfy Chair Cinema.

We Here At The Comfy Chair got a request last week from our friend Marla (MarlaMarla). After being told WHATCC had a few ideas stewing for movies, Marla suggested having some toys playing soccer. After all, it is World Cup Time.

Now, We Here At The Comfy Chair had a little soccer ball around the house somewhere, and unearthed it, and set about the task of fulfilling Marla's request.

A few problems arose. The first is that WHATCC don't really know anything about soccer. But what the hey, movies are for fun, right?

All the problems that came later were logistical, but with some cheesy music editing and a lot of trial and error, we muddled through.

Something WHATCC would like to mention about this evening's offering - it features our favorite movie set we've ever made. Lots of fun watching that come together.

So, sit back, get a beer, your team jersey, and a vuvuzela and enjoy "World Cup Soccer."

2010-06-02T20:48:00.000-07:00

Milo Howls the Classics

Hello, there, Comfy Chairers! This is the last of four, yes, count them, I know you won't, uploads to the old Comfy Chair Cinema.

You know, old Milo (well, he's not old, maybe WHATCC should say ol' Milo) has been itching to get into a Comfy Chair movie. He can't act, he can't dance, he takes direction badly, and he only knows a couple of tricks.

However - he can sing!

In fact, he can sing so beautifully that the Record Offers On TV People came to us and asked if they could work in conjunction with We Here at the Comfy Chair to put together a special record offer for the public at large.

And we said yes.

So sit back, grab a handful of Hot Tamales from Ethel at the concession stand, and enjoy my little fella Milo showing off his musical ability in "Milo Howls the Classics."

2010-06-02T20:39:00.001-07:00

Live Music!

Hello again, music lovers. OK, OK, now sit back down and put away your beers. This is not the kind of music you heard in the clip below.

This is culture, dammit!

The day after that great Hackensaw Boys concert, We Here at the Comfy Chair were to play our big-ass clarinet solo/duet with the mighty and feared Blacksburg Community Band. The band's spring concert was Sunday, May 4.

My clarinetting partner Mary and I practiced, together and with the band, for many a month bringing this together. Here are the fruits of our labor.

By the way, speaking of fruits, some nice Lemonheads would go great with such a performance. Be sure to visit Ethel at the concession stand and buy a pack.

2010-06-02T20:09:00.000-07:00

Live Music!

Hello, music lovers! We at the Comfy Chair have a special treat for you.

As you know, We Here at the Comfy Chair are particularly fond of the Hackensaw Boys. WHATCC went to see them in the lovely town of Floyd, VA in May. A great day, great music, lots of dogs and hippies.

Below is a little song from The Boys as they strolled out into the crowd. It's a personal favorite, "We Are Many." (The line from Ward about "confiscating the camera" was a little joke to us, the Comfy Chair.)

Grab a beer, get it from your kitchen, the Comfy Chair doesn't have its liquor license yet, and dance around, please!

2010-06-02T19:29:00.000-07:00

We're Back!

Peep Opp Ork Ah-Ah

Well, hello, cinemaniacs! Bet you thought we'd closed down the Comfy Chair Cinema for good, didn't you?

You were almost right.

See, something amazing happened here at the old cinema. We Here at the Comfy Chair adopted a dog. And sure, we could board him and go on trips and make movies of the giant rubber stamp, but as far as getting out a bunch of crap and actually making a movie? Forget it. And so our moviemaking has suffered.

But strangely enough, on the Easter Weekend, a weekend in which We Here at the Comfy Chair had an extra day off our day jobs, we sat down and made an actual movie. The doggie (Milo, for those of you keeping score at home), was surprisingly good throughout the entire process, which bodes well for later movies.

Last year WHATCC made a little short movie starring Peeps, the Easter Candy. It was called "Bollypeep!" Well, this Easter we decided to continue on a theme. And so we bring you this year's Easter offering, "Peep Opp Ork Ah-Ah."

Anyone familiar with the Jet Screamer episode of "The Jetsons" will know the song in question. It's our (here at the Comfy Chair) favorite Jetsons episode. It features the singing of no less a person himself than the wonderful Howard Morris.

So please, sit down, relax - we bet you haven't relaxed in ages! - grab some popcorn from Ethel there at her post, and watch "Peep Opp Ork Ah-Ah."

2009-10-12T20:09:00.000-07:00

The Giant Rubber Stamp!

Hello, cineophiles. Welcome to a new opening at the Comfy Chair.

And yes, we at the Comfy Chair have yet another travelogue movie for you tonight. It came about during another trip to Cleveland, one we took last weekend with Mr M. Oh, but this isn't snappy car banter - this is something else!

See, back in 2005 we at the Comfy Chair had the chance to see the Giant Rubber Stamp in Cleveland. Of course we were awed, but we didn't have the Comfy Chair Cinema at that time, and couldn't give it its due. So we did just that this time around.

And in a stunning twist of events, this movie ends with a bang - a surprise none of us was expecting. So be sure to stay tuned until the end!

As with anyone's home movies, pop some popcorn (or buy some from Ethel at the popcorn stand - remember, she didn't get a raise in Social Security this year) and get a cold drink. Then sit back and enjoy "The Giant Rubber Stamp!"

2009-09-08T20:12:00.000-07:00

Triple Feature!

Hello, movie lovers, and welcome back to the Comfy Chair Cinema.

We here at the Comfy Chair know we've been gone a while. It's easy to explain. We at the Comfy Chair got a doggie.

It's very hard to make movies when there's a puppy bounding all over the sets, and we've been trying to get some footage together to turn the puppy into the movie, but so far when we've pointed the camera at him, he simply looks at us and goes, "Huh?"

But never fear!

We've made up for the lack of movies with a triple feature. The Cleveland Trilogy, it is, and it's a travelogue of Bet & Mr M's weekend trip to Cleveland to see the Big Air Show. And with three installments all over six minutes, there's enough to here to keep you occupied for some time, hopefully until the doggie stops looking at us and gonig, "Huh?"

So sit back, relax, get a snack and a drink (sold in the lobby for a nominal fee), and enjoy "The Road To Cleveland." Parts One, Two, and Three.

2009-06-14T19:56:00.000-07:00

Ciao!

Hello, movie lovers, and welcome to the opening of another offering at the Comfy Chair cinema.

Talk about happy accidents. The latest film, "Ciao!" is just that.

See, the movie started out as nothing more than an experiment. We at the Comfy Chair have seen a thousand times old movies where a character is driving, and it's quite obvious that the "driving" is simply the character sitting in a stationary car and has a screen behind them containing the road and background.

And we here at the Comfy Chair wanted to see if we could do that for ourselves.

Last week WATCC got invaluable technical assistance from friend the DeepFatFriar (who will be appearing in the credits as "boa"). He came up with the camera placement idea and made it work. Afterward we had 25 minutes of car trip around B'burg that was beautiful - all that remained was editing it to a suitable length, putting a car and driver in front of it, and letting the good times roll.

However, the good times, which consisted of Comfy Chair favorite Sherman in his convertible, did not roll. Filming the finished product was fairly miserable, but was completed, edited, given titles, and wrapped up. The Comfy Chair was left with a finished movie that was over seven minutes long and not making us happy.

But sometimes things take a turn, movie lovers, and on Saturday while in B'burg, that turn came. See, we here at the Comfy Chair had gone to B'burg with more toys in tow, for we had the idea of a little "extra" to have as a companion piece to the original driving video. It would be about a minute of Sherman on his Vespa toodling through town.

WATTCC took a few minutes to film that, brought it back to the Comfy Chair Labs, and started playing with it. And realized that our seven minute original was not the newest Comfy Chair movie - this was. And so the Comfy Chair went all out and played with it some more and here is your new Comfy Chair offering.

So sit back, relax, get a snack (sold in the lobby at a nominal fee - please, we need the revenue, and after attending the real cinema last week, we at the Comfy Chair realize we're underpricing our snacks), and enjoy Sherman in "Ciao!"

2009-05-01T16:05:00.000-07:00

What's on TV?

Hello, Comfy Chair friends, and welcome to a new feature at the cinema.

This movie, "What's on TV," was a long time in the making. It also features some new things for me. It's certainly the most stop-motion I've ever done at a stretch. It's the first time I've built scenery. It's also the first time I've tried to time the action to the music. And the first time I've tried to link scenes together instead of doing one long continuous scene.

It features my toys, most of them are the toys I have around my office at work, a couple are from home.

And now that it's done, I'm going to go rest.

So get a snack from the lobby (sold at a nominal fee), relax, and check out "What's on TV?"

2009-04-14T19:33:00.000-07:00

Bollypeep!

Hello, Comfy Chairers, and welcome to a new movie at the cinema.

We at the Comfy Chair have been away for way too long. Life calls, we answer. But hopefully things are slowing down a bit and we can keep the cinema going, thus giving Pops the usher and Ethel the popcorn lady a job. I'd hate to let them go, what with Pops and his gout and Ethel and her trick hip and all.

Well. Tonight's feature, "Bollypeep!" is brought to you by the Claymation Studio program we were given for our birthday (thanks, Stennie) and the new webcam we bought this weekend with the last of our Christmas bonus.

It's a rollicking dance number featuring everyone's favorite Easter marshmallowy snack. It's short, but really, would you want it to go on any longer than this?

So sit back, relax, get a snack, and tap your toes to the sounds of Mohammed Rafi for "Bollypeep!"

2009-02-23T08:46:00.000-08:00

Live Music!

Hello, Comfy Chairers, and welcome to another week at the cinema.

We here at the Comfy Chair spent this past weekend enjoying the love that is The Hackensaw Boys. And in an effort for you to get out of your shells and go out and enjoy the love that is The Hackensaw Boys yourselves, we're posting some videos we took of Saturday's show.

This one features Shawn, known to the fold as Plang Tang Hackensaw, singing an old number called "Hope I'll Be Lucky Some Old Day." (And if one clip isn't enough for you - and really, it's not, you know it - head over to Betland to see another.)

So grab a snack (sold in the lobby, etc etc), and don't sit back as usual - we're clearing the aisles for this one so you can get up and dance.

2009-02-10T20:59:00.000-08:00

Kitchen Dance

Greetings, movie lovers, and welcome to another new feature at the Comfy Chair.

We at the Comfy Chair had an interesting weekend. We spent Sunday making this week's movie, "Kitchen Dance." We had an idea, a piece of music, and we prepared to let the good times roll. And we did, but things came to a dead halt when we saw our finished product. The Comfy Chair Still Camera was on the wrong setting, the lighting was bad, and the Comfy Chair's finger made several cameo appearances in the film.

And so we scrapped it. But were we at the Comfy Chair upset? Well, yeah, a little. But not so upset that we gave up. For we liked the idea and knew we could do better. And so after a very long day today, we tried again. And we think we got it.

"Kitchen Dance" is just that. It's Dance Night at The Egg, which is the name of the kitchen at the Comfy Chair's humble home, the Poderosa. And the lovely Ms Leopardskin Flask is looking to dance. And dance she does!

So sit back, grab the snack of your choice from the lobby (Lemonheads are half off this week), and enjoy this week's offering, "Kitchen Dance."

2009-02-02T16:29:00.000-08:00

Another Parade, More Wind-Ups

Well, hello, movie lovers, and welcome to a new week at the Comfy Chair Cinema.

It's been an odd weekend. It culminated in two important things. The first was we at the Comfy Chair admitting to our benefactor the nice new camera he gave us just doesn't work for certain things. Comfy Chair movies among them. (The benefactor was very nice about it.) And while that left us filming with the beloved Flip camera, it also left us with no program that recognized it.

However, that all-important second thing. Somewhere around midnight last night, WATCC did yet more research and may have found an answer to our problem. And we were so excited about that we just started putting together a movie then and there, which kept us up till about 2:30 am, which isn't so good as the Comfy Chair has to go to work at 9:00.

But there is a new movie, and so, well, screw work.

This week's movie is a sequel to our earlier "Wind-Ups on Parade." This time the wind-ups are from Mr M, friend and patron of the Comfy Chair. Not much to explain here, just wind them up and let them go.

So sit back, get a nice snack in the lobby (sold at a nominal fee, of course), and enjoy "Another Parade, More Wind-Ups."

2009-01-12T20:48:00.000-08:00

Girl

Hello, movie lovers, and welcome back to the Comfy Chair Cinema.

We here at the Comfy Chair are still learning about our new camera, and in fact had a rather frustrating weekend trying to get things the way we wanted them. But we've soldiered ahead and are opening this week with a new movie, "Girl."

Our last film featured the dynamic Barnyard Singers. The Barnyard Singers are good boys. Nice boys. This film features - well, just like Pat Boone had his Elvis and the Beatles had their Rolling Stones, this film features the scruffy, scary rivals of the Barnyard Singers, the Guds.

The Guds are a video away from taking America by storm, and this just may be the video.

So sit back, have a snack (Ethel's popcorn is extra good this week), and enjoy the Guds in "Girl."

2009-01-01T20:04:00.000-08:00

Another Grand Re-Opening!

The Barnyard Boys

Whew, it's been a while, hasn't it?

Well, we here at the Comfy Chair Cinema were starting to wonder if we'd ever open our doors again. Windows Vista didn't like the Flip camera, other video editing software didn't like the mental capacities of we at the Comfy Chair - it seemed hopeless.

And then we were benefacted with a new camera.

Which we still haven't learned all the ins and outs of.

However!

Has that stopped us before? Of course not. And so the Comfy Chair has opened its doors here on the first day of 2009 with a new movie.

"The Barnyard Boys" features a dynamic new act, The Barnyard Singers, that we at the Comfy Chair discovered on the shelf of a local Barnes and Noble. I'm sure you'll enjoy their immense vocal talents and stage presence.

Is it the best movie-making you've ever seen? Noooooo Waaaaay. But it's a start till we at the Comfy Chair can read our camera directions more and play around with the equipment in our spare time.

But please, give "The Barnyard Boys" a little of your time. 4 minutes, to be exact.

2008-09-30T21:30:00.000-07:00

(Not So) Grand Re-opening!

Googly Eyes

Well, that wasn't much of a vacation.

Yes, we here at the Comfy Chair Cinema are back, video problems solved, at least in the short term. We're back with a new movie-editing program, and we'll see how that goes. But welcome back.

We're re-opening the cinema tonight with possibly our silliest feature since "It's a Wonderful Pickle." It's called "Googly Eyes," and the premise is simple. What would some of our old familiar Comfy Chair stars look like - with googly eyes?

Well, you'll find out. Why googly eyes? I found them in a bin at Wal-Mart for 97 cents. When you find a shitload of googly eyes for 97 cents, you just can't pass them up.

So come back on in, grab some snacks in lobby (sold at a nominal fee), wave hello to Ethel at the popcorn machine, and settle in for "Googly Eyes."

2008-09-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

Comfy Chair Temporarily Closed

Sure, I could say it's Ethel and her hip again (sitting at that popcorn machine must be torture), or we're polishing the floors and mending the curtains, but the truth of the matter is that we here at the Comfy Chair Cinema are having a hell of a hard time making movies.

Apparently, the Comfy Chair's beloved Flip digital camera is roundly hated by Vista's version of Movie Maker. We here at the Comfy Chair have sweated, worked, cursed (well, we curse in good times and in bad), and tried everything we know to rectify the situation. It remains unrectified.

So we here at the Comfy Chair are exploring other movie-making options. Something will work, we will hit upon that magic solution, and all will be well again. We know this to be true.

So please, keep checking back, this closing is only temporary. We promise.

In the meantime, please check out our sidewalk sale of treats formerly sold in the lobby at a nominal fee, now sold on the street in front of the Comfy Chair Cinema. And hurry. The Goobers and Raisinettes are melting.

In the meantime, a trivia quiz - who spotted the blaring gaffe in our last movie, and what was it? (We here at the Comfy Chair [WHATCC] only spotted it a few days ago, and hung our head in shame.)

2008-09-16T18:53:00.000-07:00

A Moveable Feast

Hello, movie lovers!

Well, we here at the Comfy Chair have taken quite the break, haven't we? To be quite honest, "2001 (Sort Of)" just wore our asses out, and we were out of ideas.

Then we were flush with ideas, well, an idea, and lost our internet for a while.

But never fear, cineophiles. We are now back with Ethel at the popcorn stand, Pops taking tickets, and lots of new (sold at a nominal fee) snacks in the lobby.

Oh, and a new movie. This one's called "A Moveable Feast," and, well, if ever there was a literal title to a movie, here it is. It's the Comfy Chair's most ambitious try yet at stop-motion photography. (Attempt #5, if we're not mistaken.) Somewhere around 500 pictures for the 2:30 minutes of action. And it is action, it's some serious action.

So please, make yourself comfortable (after all, it is the Comfy Chair Cinema) and enjoy "A Moveable Feast."

2008-08-17T19:52:00.001-07:00

2001 (Sort Of)

Hello, friends and moviegoers, and welcome back to another week at the Comfy Chair Cinema.

We here at the Comfy Chair have been mulling over this week's feature, "2001 (Sort Of)," for quite a while. For a couple of reasons. First, we've been wanting to do a sort of movie parody, something not from our own minds, and second, because the film "2001: A Space Odyssey" has been a film that has perplexed the Comfy Chair for a long time. The Comfy Chair saw this film in the theater when it was released, when the Comfy Chair was just a small girl.

No offense meant, or maybe a little, but we here at the Cinema have never understood this film, never liked it, and never seen its greatness. But that's just us. If someone asked us to describe the movie, here's what we'd say:

"Well, it starts with some apes, a bone turns into a spaceship, a computer sings 'Bicycle Built for Two' and kills a man, there's a light show, and an old man turns into a baby."

If, many years from now, someone asks you what "2001 (Sort Of)" is about, you can answer the same way.

This week's movie features more stop-motion photography (our longest segment yet), and something completely new for us - location shooting. What the people in our little town must have thought of the Comfy Chair.

So sit back, get a nice snack in the lobby, and join us for "2001 (Sort Of)."

2008-08-10T16:05:00.000-07:00

Double Feature!

The Script Ohio

Hello, cinema fans, and welcome back to another week at the Comfy Chair Cinema.

Ahh, marching bands. As you all know, we here at the Comfy Chair Cinema love our marching bands. And where marching bands are concerned, nothing has ever or will ever beat the grand tradition of Ohio State University's "Script Ohio." For the uninitiated, the band spells out "Ohio" not by all heading to their assigned spots on the field, but by banding together to actually write it out in cursive. I can't imagine there's anyone out there who hasn't seen it, but just in case, here you go.

We at the Comfy Chair have toyed with the idea of the Script Ohio more than once. When we made "Kisses Regiment" lo those many months ago, we wanted to incorporate script into the mix. It was quickly realized that with our small knowledge of stop-motion that would take upwards of 15 years, and so we just doffed our caps to the OSU band in the dotting of the i.

Then it was Mr M's idea to forge ahead with a stop-motion Script Ohio using pennies, he was keen to help, then he too realized it was just too big an undertaking.

But Mr M had a contingency plan!

He himself volunteered to star in this week's movie, which is a rendering of the Script Ohio like you've never seen before.

So sit back, grab a snack and a drink (sold in the lobby at a nominal fee), and enjoy "The Script Ohio." And please, I beseech you. You will not want to miss the entry below this one, the second part of our double feature - "The Script Ohio: The Outtakes." You'll be sorry if you do.

2008-08-10T15:50:00.000-07:00

Bonus Feature: Script Ohio - The Outtakes

Ah, the fun we here at the Comfy Chair Cinema have making movies. This week was no exception. Have a peek at three outtakes from the above "Script Ohio" movie.

2008-08-03T20:31:00.000-07:00

Rubber Stamp Fun

Hello, cinophiles, and welcome to yet another week at the Comfy Chair Cinema.

This week's feature was a lot of fun to make. It was hard, and messy (upon the Comfy Chair Cinema home and upon our actual person), and made us learn a new technique. Double speeding. Only double speeding still made "Rubber Stamp Fun" over 10 minutes long and pretty draggy in spots, and so we here at the Comfy Chair learned double double speeding.

It also gave us a chance to use the groovy new tripod given to us by Mr M for playing in his clarinet recital. And it is for that purpose you will hear clarinet music as the soundtrack.

The letters and all the rubber stamps used in the first segment are homemade. The rest are store bought, years and years ago, back when we here at the Comfy Chair actually had time to do things like play with rubber stamps.

Sit back, grab a snack and a drink (sold in the lobby at a nominal fee, please try the popcorn), and enjoy "Rubber Stamp Fun."

2008-07-27T17:32:00.000-07:00

Sock Puppet Theatre!

Hello old friends and movie chums, and welcome back to the Comfy Chair Cinema. The cinema's been closed for a week because we at the Comfy Chair had other pressing matters. Those are all solved now, we're back, Ethel's back at her post at the popcorn machine, the concession stand's stocked with Lemonheads and Raisinettes (all sold at a nominal fee), and we're ready to serve the movie-going public again.

We here at the Comfy Chair Cinema saw a book in a bookstore (my, how revolutionary) this past week all about sock puppets. We picked it up and thumbed through it, then put it down and left it on the table. But we still had sock puppets on our mind. The Comfy Chair Cinema Chest of Drawers is filled with socks, unmatched and unused.

We figured it was about time we put those socks to good use.

And so that brings us to this week's feature, "Sock Puppet Theatre!" It's not a musical, so there's not really a reason there should be an exclamation point ending the title, but we put one there, and so you'll just have to live with it. The idea behind "Sock Puppet Theatre!" was taking a piece of dialogue (a Bob & Ray sketch is the first thing that came to mind, but since we at the Comfy Chair have already been wrist-slapped once for using someone's music, we nixed that) and having it reenacted by a couple of sock puppets. Well, we here at the Chair just happen to know another two-person dialogue - the Hucklebug Podcast. And so the idea was set.

All that was left was to slap together a couple of sock puppets and let the good times roll.

So please settle in, get your snack at hand (sold in the lobby, etc), and enjoy "Sock Puppet Theatre!" And for a special added treat, keep looking below to see the Special Bonus Outtake!

(By the by, for the first time ever we have here at the Comfy Chair Cinema a movie rated R for profanity. So if there are children present, you may want to send them outside to play.)

2008-07-27T17:07:00.000-07:00

Special Bonus Outtake!

Yes, it's only those rarest of occasions when you get a special bonus for your Comfy Chair admission fee. You get one this week. And here's how it happened.

See, in making the above "Sock Puppet Theatre!" we had to make it logistically simple for the puppets to have time to get situated and in place and ready for the dialogue. To do this, we at the Comfy Chair made playlists in iTunes for each of the pieces of dialogue. However, to give us time to get ready and in place when the dialogue started, we needed a short piece of something to play while we were getting situated. There in iTunes, fresh from being used in the "Yodel of Love" movie, was "The Wedding March," 42 seconds long.

Perfect. In each playlist, right before the piece of Hucklebug dialogue, we inserted the 42-second "Wedding March." Lots of takes and that song, which, let's face it, ain't that great to begin with, really starts to grate on the nerves.

And so that explains this 23 seconds of fun.

2008-07-13T20:43:00.000-07:00

Two Men, Two Clarinets

Hello, Comfy Chairers. Welcome to another week at the cinema.

This week, for the first time, we have a documentary! Filmed at the famed and now possibly annual Mr M Recital, it features Mr M and his friend David N playing a seriously difficult clarinet duet.

We'd been asked by Mr M to mention that the sound quality is quite poor, but we here at the Comfy Chair don't have to do that, because we're not using his recorded version of the piece, we're using ours. And we think our audio is just fine, thanks very much.

By the way, this piece has an added bonus - listen for a chorus of "When the Saints Go Marching In."

So get a musical snack in the lobby, some Bugles, perhaps, and enjoy the music.

2008-07-08T19:39:00.000-07:00

Game Night!

Hello, movie goers, and welcome to a delayed opening at the Comfy Chair Cinema. We took an extra day for the long weekend. Ours was a very long weekend.

Have you ever thought about some of your favorite idols playing a game? Like, say Scrabble? Wonder how they'd do? Who would win? Well, this week's feature, "Game Night!" gives you an insight into what happens when The Biggies play.

So sit back, enjoy a box of Lemonheads (sold in the lobby at a nominal fee), and enjoy "Game Night!" (It has an exclamation point, but is not a musical, sadly.)

2008-06-29T20:29:00.000-07:00

The Great Houndini

Hello, movie fans, welcome to another week at the Comfy Chair Cinema.

This week's movie was a lot of fun to make. It incorporates our largest cast ever, the idea came to us Friday around 11 pm, and moviemaking lasted all night long. We at the Comfy Chair finally went to bed at 6:30 Saturday morning.

Ahhh, nothing like a night shoot.

Our feature stars the one and only, the kind, the genteel, the handsome - Huckleberry Hound.

Please, have a snack from the lobby (sold at a nominal fee, and please don't think we at the Comfy Chair Cinema are not aware that some of you are bringing in your own food from home), grab your comfiest seat, and enjoy "The Great Houndini."

2008-06-22T18:57:00.000-07:00

Sherman's Garden

Greetings, moviegoers, and welcome to a new week at the Comfy Chair Cinema.

Sherman's such a happy boy. That's why he's a joy to cast in film roles. He's also an expert gardener, so what better way to spend a summer afternoon than romping around the yard with Sherman.

In "Sherman's Garden," our boy takes us through the growing process, helped along by, well, by a voice you might not expect.

Grab your refreshments (sold in the lobby at a nominal fee), get comfy (after all, that's a requirement at the Comfy Chair Cinema), and watch "Sherman's Garden."

2008-06-15T20:13:00.000-07:00

Dog and Boy Stomp

Hello, movie people, welcome to another week's feature at the Comfy Chair Cinema.

They've each starred separately in movies, but today is Father's Day, and what could be more appropriate here at the cinema than to feature everyone's favorite father and son team, Mr Peabody and his boy Sherman, together in a film? Nothing could be more appropriate, and that's why this week's feature is "Dog and Boy Stomp," in which our dynamic duo dance their pants off. Actually, that's a bit of a lie. Peabody never had pants, and Sherman's will stay attached the whole time.

Enjoy, nevertheless.

2008-06-08T20:07:00.000-07:00

The New Boarder

Hello, film fanatics, and welcome to yet another week at the Comfy Chair Cinema.

We here at the Comfy Chair Cinema aren't trying to toot our own horn, but we would like to announce that this week we have produced a Big Fat Fucking Epic. Six hours in the making and coming in at a whopping four minutes-plus long. And under budget, which turned out to be $4.00.

For those of you who checked tonight's Betland blog, you realize there is yet another new boarder at the Poderosa. And he was kind enough to make light of his rather lofty reputation and star in a movie. Which, you know, is a pretty mean feat seeing as how he's only been at the Poderosa a few days and is still getting settled in.

That's the kind of can-do spirit that fills the Poderosa, and thus the Comfy Chair Cinema as well. Everyone wants to get into the act!

By the way, the "narration" in this week's film is in fact a little nod of appreciation to the video for the song used in the movie.

So please, everyone pick up a refreshment in the lobby (sold at a nominal fee) and get comfy for "The New Boarder."

As a disclaimer, we here at the Comfy Chair would like to stress that our floors aren't nearly as filthy as they appear on film. They just don't photograph well. Really. I mean it. OK?

2008-06-01T20:48:00.000-07:00

Special Double Feature!!

Kisses Regiment (the prototype)

Hello, movie folks. And welcome to another week at the Comfy Chair Cinema.

Tonight we have a special double feature for you. See, a few weeks ago, heady with my "Whooosh" attempt at stop-motion photography, I attempted my second feature which I called "Kisses Regiment." See, I don't think it's a secret to any of you I'm a big fan of marching bands, and I wanted to do something of a marching formation. I decided to go with the bane of every soul who's ever marched in a band, the Parade Turn.

Turned out to be the bane of a beginning stop-motioner, too.

So I chalked it up to Try #2, and left it in the file. But since it was the fetus of an idea that became this week's bouncing baby feature, I thought as a little treat, I'd give you a look at the original Kisses Regiment

2008-06-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

Kisses Regiment (the feature)

It's my third-ever attempt at stop-motion photography. And it might have been really good if I hadn't had to stop midway through to change camera batteries. Dammit.

Anyway, this is what grew from the above germ of an idea, and it contains a little nod of appreciation to the Ohio State Marching Band.

Enjoy

2008-05-26T22:41:00.000-07:00

Good Luck Baby Lily Dances!

Hello, friends, and welcome back to the Comfy Chair Cinema.

If you read Betland, you know that this week's moviemaking was a little bit of an odd experience. I made a little movie Friday night, I made a bigger movie Monday morning. Neither of them really grabbed me. And let's face it, a movie has to grab me first before I unleash to it grab you all.

But later this eve I came up with a little something, and my dear friend and good luck charm Good Luck Baby Lily offered to help. She may be just a baby, but she can dance, and since her Poderosa buddies were getting into the Movie Biz, she wanted to join in on the fun.

So please, grab some popcorn, a nice cold drink, and a candy bar (all sold in the lobby at a nominal fee) and enjoy "Good Luck Baby Lily Dances!"

2008-05-18T18:55:00.000-07:00

Special Double Feature Week!

Behind the Scenes of "Whooosh"

Hello, movie fans. Welcome back to yet another week at the Comfy Chair Cinema.

Tonight we have a special treat for you. Not only do we have our main feature, "Whooosh!" but we have a documentary about the making of "Whooosh." Actually, that's a bit of a lie, but you will get to see a little behind-the-scenes action, starring the movie's director, who just happens to be Yours Truly. Yours V Truly, esq.

It's not much, there's not a lot of reasoning behind it, and to be honest, we at the Comfy Chair Cinema don't really know why we made it. Other than the still camera has a moving pictures feature, and, well, it was raining and we were bored.

Please enjoy a short film behind the scenes of "Whooosh."

2008-05-18T18:43:00.000-07:00

Whooosh!

Hello, cinephiles. Welcome to the Comfy Chair Cinema's main feature.

Ethel's back at her post at the popcorn machine, Goobers are back to their regular price (sorry, peanut lovers) - and I left my Flip camera at Mr M's yesterday.

So now we improvise!

Ever since playing around with the idea in the "Marshmallow Castle" blog recipe du jour movie, we here at the Comfy Chair Cinema have been toying with the idea of trying some stop-action photography. And what better time to try than when a still camera's the only game in town.

If ever you've had the urge to diss an animator, claymationist, or stop-action photographer, try it for yourself sometime. I promise the diss will turn to admiration.

Sherman has graciously accepted our invitation to star in another film. He's a joy to work with, unlike some other actors we've encountered. (Are you listening, Yodeling Lederhosen?)

And so now, without further ado, sit back and enjoy "Whooosh!"

2008-05-11T19:56:00.000-07:00

The Typewriter

Hello, movie fans, and welcome back to the Comfy Chair Cinema.

Isn't the 21st century great? Even with no flying cars, no trasnporter pods, no... well, no return carriages.

This week's movie was actually inspired by the mighty and feared Blacksburg Community Band. See, this season one of our numbers on the Spring concert program was that old Leroy Anderson nugget, "The Typewriter." For those of you not familiar, it's a short novelty tune that uses the typewriter - and its keys, bell, and return carriage - as an instrument.

The story goes that the band had a rather difficult time finding a manual portable typewriter for the concert.

So grab your Goobers and Raisinettes (also sold in the lobby at a nominal fee, Goobers 10% off this week), and enjoy "The Typewriter."

2008-05-04T20:45:00.000-07:00

Morris Dancing With Mr Peabody

Greetings, movie lovers. Welcome to another week at the Comfy Chair Cinema.

Last week's feature, "Sherman's Footlight Parade," spotlighted our boy Sherman and his twinkling toes.

Well, not one to be left out, Mr Peabody graciously agreed to appear in this week's fare. I'll bet few of you out there knew that Mr Peabody was a Morris Dancer. He's very keen on it as a hobby, and after some coaxing, he agreed to do one of his favorite dances for us. Only if I'd let him wear his Morris Dancing hat and carry his staff, because, well, you know, if you're going to Morris Dance, there's no reason to do it halfway.

Now, get your popcorn (sold in the lobby at a nominal fee) and enjoy "Morris Dancing With Mr Peabody."

2008-04-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

Sherman's Footlight Parade

Hello, all, and welcome back to the Comfy Chair Cinema.

You know, it's wonderful to see a great actor. Or a great singer. Or a great dancer. It's very seldom to see such a force of talent that is all three.

But then again, there are few Shermans in the world.

In this week's feature, "Sherman's Footlight Parade," our boy Sherman shows off his dancing skills. And I think you'll be amazed.

Sit back and enjoy "Sherman's Footlight Parade."

2008-04-20T20:47:00.000-07:00

The Yodel of Love, Pt 2, or It's A Wonderful Pickle

Hello, friends, and welcome back to the Comfy Chair Cinema.

Yes, our first sequel. It was bound to happen. When last you left the Yodeling Pickle, it was calling out and had found true love in the Yodeling Lederhosen. There was a wedding.

"But what happened afterwards?" I know you're all wondering.

Well, wonder no more! Enjoy a cinematic look at the happy life of our your favorite couple.

(By the way, may this be the last time I ever work with the Yodeling Lederhosen. A worse actor I've never encountered. Unruly, that's what he is! This must be what it's like working with Russell Crowe.)

2008-04-13T18:51:00.001-07:00

Comfy Chair Retrospective: Two Feet of Music

Yes, we've only been existence (at the new building) for a month, and we're already having a retrospective. So sue us.

However, I did say at the very beginning that one of my fondest wishes for the Cinema was to unearth some of the movies Mr M and I made in the old days. So far I've found two. This is the one I chose.

"Two Feet of Music" was made for a reason. Since I've known Mr M, he's always been amused at the fact that whether we're listening to music or watching TV and movies with music in the background, I, without even thinking, begin to direct that music with my feet. He said we needed to document that. And so we did, and it became "Two Feet of Music."

And so, for the refurbished Comfy Chair Cinema, I give you the remastered* "Two Feet of Music." Enjoy.

(* In this case, "remastered" means I added some titles and a small explanation. It does not mean the footage is any better. Because, if you've seen any of these films, you know that I know nothing about the making or remaking of film.)

2008-04-04T22:47:00.000-07:00

Wind-Ups on Parade

Welcome back to the Comfy Chair Cinema. This week, for you - a veritable epic.

Yes, "Wind-Ups on Parade" comes in at a whopping 3 minutes 14 seconds. It's the "Berlin Alexanderplatz" of the Comfy Chair Cinema.

I'm happy this movie is over. Now all my wind-ups can go back to my desk at work. Sadly, however, I learned a cruel fact in the making of this movie. I've been way too kind in letting kids play with my work toys. My very favorite wind-up, the "Skittish Mechanical Thingie," has been wound too tight too many times by too many kids. He died in the making of this film.

So as you enjoy "Wind-Ups on Parade," say a prayer in sending "Skittish Mechanical Thingie" off to Toy Heaven.

2008-03-29T17:43:00.000-07:00

The Yodel of Love

Hello, friends, and welcome back to The Comfy Chair Cinema. We have a fine new feature playing for you this week.

You know, when we do the "Bergvagabunden," or yodeling song, at Oktoberfest, it is explained how yodeling came to be. See, the woman, who was looking for her true love, would stand at the bottom of the mountain and yodel to her man as she walked up the mountain. The man, upon hearing the yodel, would yodel back and head down the mountain. Through the yodeling the two would find each other, where they would then do the Yodel of Love.

Our latest movie stars an old favorite, the Yodeling Pickle, and a fresh new force to be reckoned with, the Yodeling Lederhosen.

Watch "The Yodel of Love," but please, grab a hankie because I have a feeling you might mist up.

2008-03-22T11:44:00.000-07:00

The Sound of Pickles

Hello, and welcome to the Comfy Chair Cinema. Or, "You Get A Digital Camcorder For Your Birthday And You Just Go Wild." But I thought this might be a good way to archive things.

And speaking of archives, well, try not to get too excited, but those of you who've been around Betland a while know that there was once a Comfy Chair Cinema on my old website, which is so neglected now I should be reported to the authorities. Mr M and I are trying to find our copies of those old nuggets, and hopefully they'll show up here as well.

It was suggested to me that I use youtube for uploading movies. And so I will. And I'll leave links here.

The movie that opens the Comfy Chair Cinema? Made last weekend and edited this weekend, it's "The Sound Of Pickles," a heartwarming romp through the living room of my humble home, the Poderosa.

Enjoy!