(The "Mockumentary")
Here's a funny. A few weeks ago, I did this "mockumentary" with my engineer. It's about his life and battle with death. He has a form of cancer that threatened his existence. Now somehow he ended up hooking up with a some documentary producer. They'll be shopping it to PBS. The reason why I call it a "mockumentary" is because it seems to have very odd if not funny parts to it. In this film, I was brought in with anyone else who recorded there with him into his studio. Now because I'm such a ...colorful character, He wanted me to bring all the little trinkets of doom I had at home (or at least as many as i could transport legally). We made a sort of "set" where we created this illusion of a character of Darkstar that is so off the wall that he needs these dark trinkets in the studio to make him feel at home so he could create music better. C'mon folks, music is in the heart. No amount of props can change what's in my mind.
So anyway... This guy asks me questions while I'm all done up in pseudo stage gear. I hated the camera angle. The stills make me look like I have a watermelon for a head. Reminder: Next time...look in the camera first or view pre-shots before commiting to film. There's another life lesson.
I'm actually embarrassed by the shot they have of me on the movie poster. I didn't want anyone to see it. If my mom sees it, she'll think I have elephantitis.
Yesterday I get an IM from the engineer. They want me to send stills that I would like to be placed in the movie for the segment breaks. Well at least I have a way to right SOME of the wrongs there. I plan to dress up in some new gear and take digital shots I LIKE. We may post a few if they are up to standard. So if anyone was wondering why there are no pictures in the images page...it's because there are no recent ones. I could always post 10 year old ones. I really don't LOOK that different.
About the questions:
This guy asked me who the D'Sari were and how this religion came to be. It's not a friggin' religion folks. I'm no cult leader. My music does not promote the drinking of tainted Kool-Aid®. I'm a man. I'm a man with a mission to tell the stories no one else wants to. My kind of controversy will be shrouded in palatable music that your MOM or DAD might sing if they didn't stop to review the lyrics. It's dramatic. It's exciting. It's EPIC. It will leave you in awe. It will move anyone under 45 and over 12. It will be the topic of conversation. Tipper Gore wil have my picture on the same wall with Ozzy, Twisted Sister, Marilyn Manson and Eminem. But it is NOT some cult babble. It is by the people FOR the people.
So anyway...this guy asks me where the vampires are.if they bit him in the ass he'd know. I tell him that vampires aren't real. Now think for a moment. What self respecting vampire would actually ADMIT he IS one on film? I really will not discuss the topics of Vampires or Werewolves or Occult practice or Satanism or any of my such views in some silly documentary that in my opinion was out to possibly exploit me or make a fool out of me. I filmed that movie "tongue in cheek". They wanted a character....I GAVE them one. Believe me, the REAL Darkstar is much more amusing than that depiction of the shell in that film. The real fun will be trying to decipher what it is I'm really saying in all that gobbledegook I'm spewing. Find the real message like finding Waldo. That'll be the fun. The TRUE D'Sari know what the deal is.
The part I really liked was when I had to lip sync to my song at the mic as if I was recording live.
The part I hated was this idiotic "show and tell' segment he made me do with all the props I brought. I mean...I really didn't feel like bringing them, but they thought it would add life or character to myself and the film. I think they just wanted me to be the Jerry Springer guest of the film. SEE what happens when you're misunderstood?
So...when it comes out...it comes out. If you see it... Don't take it seriously. Well...ok...maybe HALF seriously.
I decided to enter this as a comment thread, rather than a new entry since it deals with this subject, and it explains what the film is all about.
Aftermath of cancer depicted in movie of musician’s experience
By ERIKA COTTON , The Bristol Press 10/07/2003
BURLINGTON -- If you thought you saw the Easter Bunny at Lewis Mills High
School over the weekend, you weren’t mistaken. Former Burlington resident Brian
Weapon, 34, was re-enacting a dream he had a few years for a new independent
film titled "Beyond Dreamland."
"The movie starts in the Burlington area because that’s where I originally
got sick with cancer. Cancer stopped me from going ahead with my career and so
the movie is about me getting back on track, working the last 12 years and
getting over the cancer," he said.
Weapon, cast, crew and director Alex Fuller of Madison, spent the weekend
filming at Mills to capture a nightmare scene where groupies chase Weapon’s band
-- Spectre -- around the track. Weapon described the event as the "groupie
Olympics."
He added the Easter Bunny was added to the scene to depict the hallucinations
and oddity of dreams he’d had while he was undergoing chemotherapy.
Weapon described the film as a "copy of his life."
"It’s about overcoming cancer. The movie is about a well-known drummer who,
in the early ’90s, had a serious bout of cancer. It’s about following through
with and doing what you want to do with life," he said.
Weapon was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma during the two years he lived
in Burlington. He said he still has a lot of after-effects from the
chemotherapy.
"I’m still trying to get totally better. The film has been a challenge for me
because I don’t feel great yet. But it’s been a lot of fun," he said.
The crew has been filming for about 15 weeks all over the state. Weapon said
participants hope to complete the project by late next summer.
Weapon said the movie features several persons who traveled the journey with
him in real life and others who are professional actors and added the film has
a lot of comedy in it.
"The serious part is all about the cancer, but there’s also some humor in it
because we didn’t want it to be a downer," he said. "Going through cancer is
one of the most traumatic things you can go through. Looking back and laughing
at it can make you a stronger person."
The film begins with Weapon’s diagnosis and traverses the years as he
overcomes his sickness, gets back into recording music with his band and best friend,
Bob Sundgren -- who plays himself in the film -- and all the things that
happen along the way.
Weapon said he tries to express to the audience that after going through
something as traumatic as cancer, little things in life become more worthwhile.
"It’s the little things that become great things and keep you going," he
said. "You have to keep a positive attitude or you’ll never make it through
cancer."
Though Weapon does not have formal acting experience, he said he’s a natural
in the role because he’s playing himself.
"It’s easier to do things because I just have to relive them," he said.
When he’s not acting, Weapon does recording work at his recording studio in
Granby. In the works right now is a CD titled "Dreamland" he and four-member
band Spectre have been working on for three years.
©The Bristol Press 2003
Hey Merlin here.. I saw some of the footage and your points have alot of validity.I agree that parents think drugs are an easy fix for their kids problems. Our society is really messed up. I also think evil isnt so evil when it is pure reality. I found you to be entertaining but yet real at the same time .I really think a lot of your points were very truthful and just plain made common sense. I dont think any of the show and tell stuff was used in the film .I got to see the edits thus far and was honored to have you in the film because you covered many points nobody wants to discuss in the real world. I also think you made the director see that vampires and such lore arent taken so seriously.I myself had a
lot of misconceptions on the whole vamp thing until you explained it. My step son after seeing a clip of the film wants to purchase your cd and someday meet you. I think when your faction sees the film you will look not as hurmorous as you think. To me you really took a lot of the misconceptions out of the goth and vamp world for those of us who dont get it.I could see you having a great following. I wish you well with your new faction and Epica themed music. Merlin