Crowgrrrl's Perch 01-02-05

CROWGRRL’S PERCH 01-02-05

By Athena Schaffer aka The Crowgrrl

The Crowgrrl wishes everyone a Very Happy New Year!

CROWGRRL’S SPOTLIGHT:

The Crowgrrl would like to extend Belated Happy Birthday Greetings to James O’Barr, (whose birthday was January 1), the originator of The Crow!

The Crowgrrl interviewed James for my book on worldwide crow & raven legends (more on that under the Print section) from ancient mythology up through the new mythos for a new age James created in his stellar comics and the anti-hero, Eric Draven who comes back from the grave to avenge his and his fiancee, Shelly Webster’s murders.

But I thought maybe Perch readers would like a sneak peek at that interview, and what better time than James’ birthday weekend?! This is just a small portion of that interview. The chapter (and others) in my book will be up soon where Crowgrrl’s Flock members (if you’re not already a member, join today!) can watch the work in progress. Enjoy, readers!

Did you know of any legends about crows before you developed the character Eric Draven?

Not really, no. Everyone thinks it was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Raven". Even though I generally enjoyed his work at the time, it really didn’t have anything to do with my decision to create The Crow.

Originally he was going to be a rabbit. There’s a line in Alice in Wonderland that says "Crazy as a March Hare". So, I was going to call him The March Hare. But it didn’t take me too long to realize that there was no way to do a threatening rabbit.

I live in Detroit, and there’s a lot of garbage and dead raccoons and things like that on the side of the road. Crows are basically carrion birds; they live off dead things. One day, I just came out from work (I was working at a car dealership - I did auto body work on cars for 12 years as my "real" job. I just do comics as a hobby) and there were 5 crows sitting on the hood of my car. So, I thought that was kind-of an omen. I just picked up The Crow from there.

They’re intelligent birds, and they basically live off dead things, which is kind-of a metaphor for the character in the book - his only reason for existence is to create dead things. I just thought it was a nice metaphor; I didn’t know if anyone would "get it" or not.

Obviously many people did - which is cool for an anti-hero.

I definitely kept it away from the superhero comics. It was non-specific enough to where it didn’t really point to any one genre.

How well do you think the story was translated to the big screen?

The major difference between the movie and the book is that in the film - the producers and Hollywood think that every audience member has the mentality of a four-year-old, that they need to be led along by the hand through every portion of the film, and have everything that previously happened explained to them.

In the film, The Crow has this physical elemental force that needs to go out on this quest to find these bad guys.

In the book, the crow bird (Draven’s spirit guide) doesn’t really exist. It’s just like the logical part of his fragmented personality that keeps him on the right path to go from one bad guy to the next. Otherwise, he would just spiral out of control. It’s the same part of his personality that keeps him on the right path to go from one bad guy to the next. Otherwise, he would spiral out of control and his anger just go in all directions. The bird is just the one focused part of his mentality that keeps him on the right path.

Basically, the bird was a metaphor that death is the thing that keeps crows alive, and it was what was keeping the character alive. His only reason for being is to bring death to these 5 characters. After that’s done, he basically erases his purpose for being.

Why wasn’t the Skull Cowboy from the books included in the movie?

Originally, the Skull Cowboy in the books was just for these dream segments. The skeleton in a tuxedo and hat just represented Death.

The movie’s producers thought that was another element they could use to lead the audience along - have this character appear every 15 minutes and talk to Eric and explain to him what was going on. I sat down with the director and said, "C’mon! The material is not that dense! The people will understand what’s going on - you don’t have to spoon-feed them the plotline."

Basically, I had a long talk with the director. We both agreed that the Skull Cowboy character was gratuitous. The director was kind-of in a corner at the time because he had already spent $300,000 on making the Skull Cowboy costume.

Michael Berryman was hired to play the Skull Cowboy - he was the guy from The Hills Have Eyes; he has no hair, no eyebrows. They were going to cover him from head to foot with latex. What was the point of hiring this guy with this really distinctive face?! They could have hired a janitor to do that. They did some test footage, and it basically looked like a guy with a rubber suit on. Luckily, it didn’t work on film, and there was no time nor money to fix it. So, they just decided to eliminate the whole Skull Cowboy idea, which I was very thankful for.

Michael Berryman is a great guy, a very gentle soul. He lives on a Native American reservation and raises wolves. Which goes to show you, the most evil looking people out there in the world are probably a Beauty & The Beast type thing. They’re the most gentle souls! He’s still famous for being the Skull Cowboy, even though he wasn’t even in the film. He says he’s more famous for that and "The Hills Have Eyes" than anything else he’s done, and he’s been in over 200 films. That’s pretty amazing to him to be connected to a film that he wasn’t even in.

What do you think of the tv translation, "The Crow: Stairway to Heaven"?

I usually can’t do a good critique of the tv show because it usually takes two seasons for the cast, crew, and directors to really find the direction they want to go in. It was real obvious to me that they were still stumbling around for the first half dozen episodes trying to decide what they wanted to do with this thing. Was it going to be The Fugitive? Was it going to be The X Files? Was it going to be a combination?

Mark Dacascos is an amazing actor! But I was a little put off by the fact that they were using the Eric and Shelly characters, and many fans were as well.

As far as everyone is concerned, Eric is Brandon (Lee)’s. It’s almost like a sacred thing that nobody touches that. The fans (http://www.crowfanclub.com) were glad there was a tv show, but they were put off that they would try to make it Eric & Shelly again. That story had already been told. It had an ending. There was no reason to dig it out and stretch it over X amount of episodes.

It didn’t help that Mark Dacascos resembled Brandon so much, either. They considered Mark for the movie sequel, and decided that he looked too much like Brandon. They decided when they did the movie sequel that it wasn’t going to be the same character because that role belonged to Brandon, so they went with somebody else. The tv producers just didn’t understand the 180 degree turn, to where they went back and tried to exploit Eric & Shelly.

I think the tv show had potential. It didn’t get cancelled because it wasn’t doing well. It was that Polygram, who was doing the tv show, was sold to Universal, who basically just wanted Polygram for their recording catalogs: their Led Zeppelin records and what not, and they weren’t interested in doing any tv shows. The 3 shows that Polygram was doing were dumped, and Universal let them languish.

It gets reruns on the Sci Fi Channel every couple months. People are fond of it, and I hear they’re going to release a box set of the first season.

Mark said if they ever decide to renew the tv series or if someone else decides to pick it up, he would be happy to come back and do the character again, as long as the scripts work, are of a certain standard.

I was happy with the actors in that aspect of it, but a lot of the scripts left me scratching my head wondering, "What the Hell were they thinking?! Where did that come from?!"

MUSIC:

* THOR & MICK HOFFMAN’s Beastwomen from the Center of the Earth (ThorToen Records) transports the listener to a subterranean world and an action-packed fantasy tale, an epic Heavy Metal opera! Lush lyrical landscapes paint a vivid picture of every facet of the storyline. The musical tapestry fits the different moods, punctuating the tale; yet despite the different audio moods, all the songs manage to hit as hard as an avalanche of boulders sealing a cave’s entrance.

The teamwork between Jon Thor and fantasy artist/musician Mike "Mick" Hoffman in this concept album creates a chemistry that makes the plotline seamlessly flow, with mesmerizing effects on the listener. It’s hard NOT to get completely get caught up in this story the same way one can get caught up in a white-knuckle-paced movie or book. Plus, it’s musically as fun as any thrill ride!

Writing and vocals are divided up pretty much equally between the two, giving both the music and the story rich textures. But even though the songs all weave one overall adventure, each one can stand on its own as well - independent of the story.

Break The Ice starts off the adventure as THOR enters the subterranean world - one can almost feel the chill in the air and picture a Frazetta- like theatrical scene; the song is as heavy as a massive iceberg, punctuated by a foreboding yet defiant soaring guitar riff. The Beastwomen are first encountered in the next track, which utilizes almost a melodic, Black Metal atmosphere.

The Sleeping Giant is one of the best songs on the album; it’s strong, lyrically visual, and one of those songs that one finds oneself humming even when the album isn’t playing. The rallying war cry We Are The Panthers would be equally as fitting for stadiums as it is for the storyline - it gets blood boiling and fists pumping high into the air preparing for battle. Hail, Thor indeed conjures images of Asgard itself - the Crowgrrl loves how the lyrics are laced with Nordic mythology!

Mushroom World was reminiscent of "Ziggy"-era Bowie, creating an almost otherworldly dreamscape. The Sky Land and Underground both have an ethereal quality to them. The bonus track Symphony of Steel is no-nonsense, thundering Metal, a shining track to be sure.

There is already a graphic novel to accompany this storyline/cd, "THOR vs. Beastwomen From The Center Of The Earth". And the Crowgrrl would not be surprised to see it translated as videogames or movies as well. "Beastwomen" is a timeless bit of storytelling, sure to become a legend in its own right.

* Bassist Patrick Morris has left Demonicon, and is now with Devilinside, who are getting ready to hit the road with Suffocation and then Cryptopsy.

Suffocation, Behemoth, Cattle Decapitation, Devilinside

* Dates have been announced for the Subliminal Verses Tour with headliners Slipknot being joined by Lamb of God and Shadows Fall.

* EMOK mix together a brutal dose of metal, a bit of electronic samples, and a Middle Eastern influence to create a unique musical signature, as is evidenced on their debut album, Shove Your Head Into The Ground And Feed It To The Earth (Wrong Records). This musical foundation is punctuated by lyrics that are filled with emotional messages of both fear and hope, and a world-view political perspective. This mix is as volatile as an unrelenting desert sandstorm.

This trio are originally from Israel, but are currently based in New York City. Although their lyrical content was greatly influenced by their upbringing, all of their lyrics (even when they were just performing live in their native Israel before recording a cd) are in English.

The catchy bass and hooks immediately pull the listener in from the very first notes of the opening song, People. Trust follows, and is as exotic as it is chaotic - the Middle Eastern influence is very prominent. Turn Off The Lights is indeed dark, a maelstrom of chaos. Interesting percussion is the highlight in Kasba, which borders on a jazzy side while still keeping the exotic vibe. Guilt, Dementia Praecox are full of ferocity. The almost futuristic sounding guitar steals the show in Bliss. Hatred Grows Old features stellar percussion and frantic wailing guitar in parts, but also features some surprising twists. Field of Thorns, Revival, and Harbor are darkly atmospheric.

* It’s time once again to vote for Norway’s Alarm Award, and there are two bands/albums on there that The Crowgrrl can get behind: Khold’s Mørke gravers kammer and Susperia.’s Unlimited Go here http://alarmweb.org/2005/nyheter/index-05metal.html] to vote.

* More Award News! The 2005 Grammy Nominations are in, and Roadrunner Records has five entries in the running: Cradle Of Filth, [www. Killswitch Engage, Nickelback, and Slipknot (with 2 nominations)! All are in the BEST HARD ROCK and METAL Performances categories!

* Ego Likeness and B/W news. Hey, Darklings in the Baltimore/Washington corridor! Get to Nation in DC on Jan. 6 - Club Alchemy (the club happens every Thursday). Steven from Ego Likeness will be spinning tunes in the dj booth!

* European readers, Tiamat Tour featuring openers Theatre of Tragedy, Pain, and Sirenia! IS NOW UNDERWAY!

SCREENS (Large & Small):

* Troy is coming out on dvd this week!

* Blade 3: Trinity IS NOW IN THEATRES!!! The Crowgrrl and family have already been to see it, and it ROCKS! Hopefully, I’ll have a free moment to write the review by next week’s Perch. Check back. And go see this showdown between Blade and the first of all Vampires, Dracula (called Drake in this rendition, played by Dominic Purcell).

* Steven Spielberg is remaking the classic Sci Fi movie War of the Worlds, starring Tom Cruise. It’s due to hit theaters in Summer, 2005.

PRINT:

* Oberon & Morning Glory Zell Ravenheart are hosting a special event called the Aegean Goddessey. It’s a seven-day cruise on a 4-masted clipper ship around the Greek islands, with an emphasis on these sites’ mythological connections. The cruise itself kicks off on September 3, 2005, but reservations are being taken NOW!

For more information, check http://www.pagantravel.net, or e-mail mike@pagantravel.net.

* Steve Alten has a Creature Double Feature happening in May 2005 - the hardcover release of his new book, The Loch, as well as the paperback release of MEG: Primal Waters. PLUS there’s a contest at his website to become a character in one of his novels - go to his website to enter. There will be between 50 to 60 winners in this fun opportunity.

* Chapter One of my own book, Under Her Black Wings (yes, the title is with Glenn Danzig’s permission - I never would have used that title otherwise) is available to all my readers in the "Print" section of this site.

The chapter list (the actual titles of the chapters may be renamed, but the subject matter’s the same) includes:

1. Overview (Check out the First Chapter here!)
2. The Real Thing (a look at the real birds)
3. Norse Mythology
4. Celtic Mythology
5. Other European Mythology
6. Native American Mythology
7. African Mythology
8. Oriental Mythology
9. Other Asian and Middle Eastern Mythology
10. Australian/Pacific Mythology
11. Corvids in Popular Folklore
12. Influence of Poe’s "The Raven"
13. The Dark Side
14. Influence of James O’Barr’s "The Crow"

All chapters are in progress, and as I research and as people share their stories, they’re included in the appropriate chapter. These should be available soon (to Crowgrrl's Flock Members only) to watch the work in progress.
Sign up here!

* Gothic Beauty Issue #15 is now available for pre-order from the GB website!

Gothic Beauty Magazine has revamped its website, and it’s fantastic! Go to www.gothicbeauty.com and check it out.

Anyone in the UK interested in being part of Gothic Beauty’s new UK Street Team should email street@gothicbeauty.com with your brief details and mailing address!

Ad space is available for future Gothic Beauty issues. For specifics, go to www.gothicbeauty.com/ads and "be sure to mention that Athena sent you."

* David "Avocado" Wolfe, author and foremost authority on raw food nutrition, will be making a number of live appearances, both with seminars, and performing with his band, The Healing Waters Band. For more information on any of these appearances, check his website Nature's First Law www.rawfood.com under "Events".

Some of these include:

Jan. 5, 2005 - Kahului, Maui, HI

Jan. 15, 2005 - Laguna Beach, CA

Feb. 5, 2005 - Atlanta, GA

Feb. 6, 2005 - Atlanta, GA

Feb. 8, 2005 - Wichita, KS

Feb. 10, 2005 - Kansas City, MO

Feb. 12-13, 2005 - Chicago, IL

Feb.14, 2005 - Denton, TX

Feb. 16, 2005 - Albuquerque, NM

For those of us not in the San Diego area, the Nature's First Law World Headquarters has an online superstore at www.rawfood.com where many of the items mentioned in David Wolfe’s books can be found. You can also sign up there for a great e-newsletter. This is also a great place to purchase items hard to find elsewhere (and they do mail order!) Blue Manna (wild blue-green algae), raw organic cacao (chocolate), upcoming special events, and new items available from that website.

The Crowgrrl recommends that readers order some yummy Organic Vanilla Beans!

* The Crowgrrl’s current reading stack includes:

"Mind of the Raven:Investigations & Adventures With Wolf-Birds" by Bernd Heinrich, "Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard" by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart,

"Norwegian In 10 Minutes A Day’, "Norwegian Verbs & Essentials of Grammar" by Louis Janus, am re-reading an old favorite, The Rites of Odin by Ed Fitch,

I am even re-reading Meg by Steve Alten(to write up quiz questions for my son’s home-school literature class - he requested reading this book next).

PLUS, just added! The Crowgrrl was recently introduced to the Cirque du Freak series of books by Darren Shan - which are a series intended for young adults, but can be enjoyed by adults as well, like the Harry Potter series was - only this time the subject matter deals with vampires!

This week, The Crowgrrl starts sinking her own fangs into the very first book of the series, Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare. I’ll be sure to fill readers in on all the delicious details!

OTHER NEWS:

* Baltimore area readers (or those wanting to travel here for this special event), the 196th Edgar Allan Poe Birthday Celebration is being held on January 22 & 23 at Westminster Hall (site of Poe’s grave) in Baltimore.

This year, John Astin portrays Poe in the production Requiem for a Madman, which is a new dramatic adaptation of Poe’s The Tell Tale Heart and Verdi’s Requiem. It’s NOT recommended for the faint of heart or those who scare easily. Astin will also be reciting The Raven!

For more information, go to http://poecelebration.tripod.com, or call the 24-hour hotline at 410-396-7932, or e-mail eapoe@baltimorecity.gov.

* Hey, Readers, you’ve gotta check out a product called Body Balance by Lifeforce. My family takes Body Balance every day! It’s much better than a daily multi-vitamin, that’s for sure! And another "plus", if we feel down or over-tired, a little more Body Balance does the trick to pick us up.

It’s a liquid, ionic, phytonutrient dietary supplement made from whole foods, and it contains a mix of over 120 vitamins, minerals, and phytronutrients that your body needs on a daily basis to keep healthy.

Why am I telling you about this because an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. I felt I had to share this as one thing most of my readers may not know, in July of 2003, The Crowgrrl was diagnosed with breast cancer. This is something I don't want anyone to have to go through what I did. I’ve refused the "conventional" paths of chemo/radiation/surgery, and have taken a holistic naturopathy approach instead (which I’ll go into in more detail in future Perch editions, or readers can e-mail me). I’m supposed to stay on a specific holistic protocol for two years. Withing 14 months the tumor was supposed to shrunk to half of its original size. Much to our surprise as of December, 2003, the lump (tumor) is gone! I’m fine! I firmly believe the Body Balance helped accelerate the healing.
Also Exclusively for the crowgrrl's readers you can get your own FREE quart of Body Balance. Go to this website http://www.lifeforcefamily.com Then put in this special redeption code 20485805.
Another Lifeforce International product in the online store, The Crowgrrl and family regularly use is Colloidal Silver. Silver is a natural antibacterial element that can be used both topically and/or internally.
The information provided at this site has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and is for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a diagnosis, treatment, or prescription for any disease. Please consult your physician for advice.
* For those of my readers who experience annoying computer (pc/mac/linux) problems (or those of you techies who are annoyed at friends and relatives expecting you to be their personal tech-support 24/7), go to einnovations.juvio.com for around-the-clock help. I’ve personally done so, and my computer’s working like a dream since getting help from there.

* Anyone who hasn’t already done so, check out the Gallery section here on the Crowgrrl’s site. Prints and some originals are still available. So, buy ‘em already!

You're enjoying the Perch! Keep up with the latest! The Only Way to Win Prizes! Join the Crowgrrl's Murder.
Sign up here!

# # #

Copyright © 2004 Athena Schaffer All Rights Reserved.

Welcome to Athena Schaffer's Crowgrrl.com