The Viva Voce Virus (VVV) is a 2007 British film that is part mystery, part fantasy, part buddy movie and all glamorous. VVV is a deft satire on the hypocrisy that surrounds sexuality in the film industry. The supporting cast includes drag queens, diabolical flim directors, a faded starlet and a voodoo doll. The film has a 50s B-movie atmosphere and polari subtitles.
Festival Screenings
Plot synopsis
At Gay Andy's Resort and Hotel, the only drinks served are tall, blue and multi-fruit encrusted. The only appropriate morningwear is a pastel-coloured terrycloth bathrobe. All the men cross their legs at the knee. The only tunes are showtunes. This is a 1970s B-movie, complete with lo-fi special effects. Crash! Into this world tumble manly hunks Burt and Buddy, survivors of a car smash-up that has left them stranded, to their horror, in these all-gay environs. There's only one solution: these straight-as-a-die men are going to have to pass until they can escape.
Meanwhile, light years away in the vast reaches of turquoise space, a parallel universe exists - our own, year 2005. Ronnie is an actress who has just got her first big break - a leading role in a lesbian vampire B-movie. But Ronnie holds a secret close to her heart: she dates girls in real life, too. Despite her good luck in nabbing the role, Ronnie's life in general sucks: things aren't too enlightened on set; the assistant director Clark is a homophobic asshole; Ronnie's girlfriend Madeleine is exasperated with Ronnie's semi-closeted behaviour and, worst of all, bits of another disturbing world - Gay Andy's - are starting to leak into Ronnie's real life. Ronnie gets spooked, and in a frustrated moment constructs a voodoo doll in order to enact a petty revenge on Clark. Things go very, very wrong - Clark remains healthy, but her own life crumbles even further.
A latter-day Nancy Drew, Ronnie tracks down the magic shop where she bought her voodoo doll and complains that it never worked properly, and that very odd things are occurring in both her working and personal life. The creepy shop workers deny all knowledge of ever selling her a voodoo doll, and refer her to a mysterious temp agency that provided the worker who sold her the doll in the first place. When Ronnie finally arrives at the location for the recently liquidated Swizzlestick Temp Agency, she discovers an abandoned laboratory, and evidence that an ageing 1950s B-movie actress - Gloria LaFonche, also director of infamous 1970s camp classic Gay Andy’s 2 - was involved in manufacturing the malevolent blue Viva Voce Virus, a disease that seems to have its roots in Hollywood's yesteryear, a disease spread by the heterosexual screen kiss, a disease that makes screen actors shut up about their same-sex love affairs while trumpeting their heterosexual romances. When Ronnie starts to investigate why, the search leads her back to the mysterious Gloria LaFonche again - and possibly even to Ronnie’s current acting role in her own modern film. By now the parallel worlds are freely blending, and Ronnie's sense of reality is truly threatened when she finds herself in the übercamp world of Gay Andy's! preparing for a showdown between herself and Gloria LaFonche; between herself and Buddy and Burt; between herself and the Hollywood practice of closeting gay and lesbian actors; between herself and the malevolent blue Viva Voce Virus; between herself and camp stereotypes and between herself and... herself.
Quotes
Festival Screenings
Plot synopsis
At Gay Andy's Resort and Hotel, the only drinks served are tall, blue and multi-fruit encrusted. The only appropriate morningwear is a pastel-coloured terrycloth bathrobe. All the men cross their legs at the knee. The only tunes are showtunes. This is a 1970s B-movie, complete with lo-fi special effects. Crash! Into this world tumble manly hunks Burt and Buddy, survivors of a car smash-up that has left them stranded, to their horror, in these all-gay environs. There's only one solution: these straight-as-a-die men are going to have to pass until they can escape.
Meanwhile, light years away in the vast reaches of turquoise space, a parallel universe exists - our own, year 2005. Ronnie is an actress who has just got her first big break - a leading role in a lesbian vampire B-movie. But Ronnie holds a secret close to her heart: she dates girls in real life, too. Despite her good luck in nabbing the role, Ronnie's life in general sucks: things aren't too enlightened on set; the assistant director Clark is a homophobic asshole; Ronnie's girlfriend Madeleine is exasperated with Ronnie's semi-closeted behaviour and, worst of all, bits of another disturbing world - Gay Andy's - are starting to leak into Ronnie's real life. Ronnie gets spooked, and in a frustrated moment constructs a voodoo doll in order to enact a petty revenge on Clark. Things go very, very wrong - Clark remains healthy, but her own life crumbles even further.
A latter-day Nancy Drew, Ronnie tracks down the magic shop where she bought her voodoo doll and complains that it never worked properly, and that very odd things are occurring in both her working and personal life. The creepy shop workers deny all knowledge of ever selling her a voodoo doll, and refer her to a mysterious temp agency that provided the worker who sold her the doll in the first place. When Ronnie finally arrives at the location for the recently liquidated Swizzlestick Temp Agency, she discovers an abandoned laboratory, and evidence that an ageing 1950s B-movie actress - Gloria LaFonche, also director of infamous 1970s camp classic Gay Andy’s 2 - was involved in manufacturing the malevolent blue Viva Voce Virus, a disease that seems to have its roots in Hollywood's yesteryear, a disease spread by the heterosexual screen kiss, a disease that makes screen actors shut up about their same-sex love affairs while trumpeting their heterosexual romances. When Ronnie starts to investigate why, the search leads her back to the mysterious Gloria LaFonche again - and possibly even to Ronnie’s current acting role in her own modern film. By now the parallel worlds are freely blending, and Ronnie's sense of reality is truly threatened when she finds herself in the übercamp world of Gay Andy's! preparing for a showdown between herself and Gloria LaFonche; between herself and Buddy and Burt; between herself and the Hollywood practice of closeting gay and lesbian actors; between herself and the malevolent blue Viva Voce Virus; between herself and camp stereotypes and between herself and... herself.
Quotes
The Benghazi Six is the proposed title of a film to be made covering the events of the HIV trial in Libya. In early August, 2007 the six defendants signed with Sixth Sense Productions (makers of Hotel Rwanda) to produce the film. Negotiations were reportedly in progress with screenwriter Ann Peacock.
Overview
Brant Secunda is a shaman, healer and ceremonial leader in the Huichol Indian tradition of Mexico. He completed a 12-year apprenticeship with Don Jose Matsuwa, the renowned shaman, who died in 1990 at the age of 110. Since 1979 Brant Secunda has been the Director of the The Dance of the Deer Foundation, Center for Shamanic Studies. Having worked with the World Health Organization and the American Holistic Medical Association, Brant is integrating shamanism into the world of modern medicine. He is an internationally recognized shaman and healer. Brant Secunda leads seminars and retreats worldwide. His work has been documented on television, radio, and in articles and books throughout the United States and Europe.
Brant has dedicated his life towards preserving the Huichol tradition as a living culture by working to integrate the ancient tools of shamanism into the modern world. Members of the international medical, religious and educational communities have recognized Brant’s commitment -- as well as his knowledge -- by inviting him to be a featured speaker, workshop leader, and participant at various conferences worldwide. Moreover, Brant Secunda has created and maintains a working model for preserving Huichol culture through the auspices of the Dance of the Deer Foundation Center for Shamanic Studies.
The Apprenticeship
Brant Secunda completed a twelve year apprenticeship with the late Don José Matsuwa in 1978 to become a shaman and ceremonial leader in the Huichol Indian tradition. Living in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico, the Huichols are considered to be one of the last tribes in North America to have preserved their pre-Columbian traditions. Don José was a renowned Huichol Indian tribal elder and shaman who died at the age of 110
Together, Brant and Don José made pilgrimages to numerous holy sites throughout the Huichol Sierras, Europe, and the United States. For over two decades, they made the annual pilgrimage to the Huichol holy land, Wirikuta. This high desert region, according to Huichol cosmology, is the home of the mountain where the sun was born. Brant’s apprenticeship culminated in a village ceremony in 1978. During this ceremony, Don José honored Brant with the gift of his ceremonial belt, which was given to don José by his teacher. He then publicly announced that Brant would take his place in the world and certified him as a Huichol shaman and lineage holder.
The Dance of the Deer Foundation - Center for Shamanic Studies
Don José emphasized to Brant that the cultural survival of the Huichol people depended upon external awareness of the Huichol way of life. In 1979, Brant Secunda established the The Dance of the Deer Foundation, Center for Shamanic Studies to disseminate and preserve Huichol culture, practices, and traditions and to provide direct assistance with the goal of promoting self-sufficiency and economic independence. As executive director of the Dance of the Deer Foundation, Brant Secunda instituted and maintains the functions of the foundation and conducts seminars, pilgrimages, and retreats on Huichol shamanism worldwide. For the last 17 years, Brant Secunda has taught ongoing study groups in the United States and Europe at places such as Crete, Greece, Alaska, Mt. Shasta, CA, Big Sur, CA, Mt. Rainier, WA, and Teton National Park in Wyoming, among many other places.
The Projects of the Foundation
The Dance of the Deer Foundation works with several villages to provide economic solutions which help the Huichol people to return to their land, their traditional way of life, and their ceremonies. The foundation's efforts have made it possible for the Huichols to move further away from town, to live more traditionally, to preserve their corn farming and sacred art traditions so that they are not forced to work on tobacco or coffee plantations or in other industrial areas. For this reason, proceeds from all the foundation's activities go directly to the Huichols, to don José's village and extended family. The Dance of the Deer Foundation is helping the Huichol Indians to maintain both their rich cultural heritage and their spiritual and healing traditions.
In the early 1990’s when a road encroached upon doña Josefa’s family village, Brant arranged for the village members to make the unprecedented return back into the Sierra Madre Mountains. Here, the Huichols are able to preserve their traditional lifestyle and sacred art traditions. The Dance of the Deer Foundation purchased boats, rented trucks, and provided the supplies necessary for the move. Through these and other efforts by Brant Secunda, families are not separated by work on tobacco and coffee plantations and industrial chemical exposure problems are eliminated.
Today and into the Future
Brant Secunda shares Huichol traditions with people worldwide and initiates projects to preserve Huichol culture. For over two decades, the Dance of the Deer Foundation has documented Huichol culture on film, video, and audiotape in an ongoing effort to archive the material in books and in a Huichol museum for future generations. With one video already completed and released, Brant plans to edit footage for a second video and to complete various CD’s of Huichol folk music. Brant would also like to further develop an infrastructure within the Huichol villages to establish economic autonomy while producing the materials for their artwork.
Further Reading
*Brant Secunda - biography of Brant Secunda.
* The Dance of the Deer Foundation, Center for Shamanic Studies
*Shamanism
*Huichol Indians
Brant Secunda is a shaman, healer and ceremonial leader in the Huichol Indian tradition of Mexico. He completed a 12-year apprenticeship with Don Jose Matsuwa, the renowned shaman, who died in 1990 at the age of 110. Since 1979 Brant Secunda has been the Director of the The Dance of the Deer Foundation, Center for Shamanic Studies. Having worked with the World Health Organization and the American Holistic Medical Association, Brant is integrating shamanism into the world of modern medicine. He is an internationally recognized shaman and healer. Brant Secunda leads seminars and retreats worldwide. His work has been documented on television, radio, and in articles and books throughout the United States and Europe.
Brant has dedicated his life towards preserving the Huichol tradition as a living culture by working to integrate the ancient tools of shamanism into the modern world. Members of the international medical, religious and educational communities have recognized Brant’s commitment -- as well as his knowledge -- by inviting him to be a featured speaker, workshop leader, and participant at various conferences worldwide. Moreover, Brant Secunda has created and maintains a working model for preserving Huichol culture through the auspices of the Dance of the Deer Foundation Center for Shamanic Studies.
The Apprenticeship
Brant Secunda completed a twelve year apprenticeship with the late Don José Matsuwa in 1978 to become a shaman and ceremonial leader in the Huichol Indian tradition. Living in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico, the Huichols are considered to be one of the last tribes in North America to have preserved their pre-Columbian traditions. Don José was a renowned Huichol Indian tribal elder and shaman who died at the age of 110
Together, Brant and Don José made pilgrimages to numerous holy sites throughout the Huichol Sierras, Europe, and the United States. For over two decades, they made the annual pilgrimage to the Huichol holy land, Wirikuta. This high desert region, according to Huichol cosmology, is the home of the mountain where the sun was born. Brant’s apprenticeship culminated in a village ceremony in 1978. During this ceremony, Don José honored Brant with the gift of his ceremonial belt, which was given to don José by his teacher. He then publicly announced that Brant would take his place in the world and certified him as a Huichol shaman and lineage holder.
The Dance of the Deer Foundation - Center for Shamanic Studies
Don José emphasized to Brant that the cultural survival of the Huichol people depended upon external awareness of the Huichol way of life. In 1979, Brant Secunda established the The Dance of the Deer Foundation, Center for Shamanic Studies to disseminate and preserve Huichol culture, practices, and traditions and to provide direct assistance with the goal of promoting self-sufficiency and economic independence. As executive director of the Dance of the Deer Foundation, Brant Secunda instituted and maintains the functions of the foundation and conducts seminars, pilgrimages, and retreats on Huichol shamanism worldwide. For the last 17 years, Brant Secunda has taught ongoing study groups in the United States and Europe at places such as Crete, Greece, Alaska, Mt. Shasta, CA, Big Sur, CA, Mt. Rainier, WA, and Teton National Park in Wyoming, among many other places.
The Projects of the Foundation
The Dance of the Deer Foundation works with several villages to provide economic solutions which help the Huichol people to return to their land, their traditional way of life, and their ceremonies. The foundation's efforts have made it possible for the Huichols to move further away from town, to live more traditionally, to preserve their corn farming and sacred art traditions so that they are not forced to work on tobacco or coffee plantations or in other industrial areas. For this reason, proceeds from all the foundation's activities go directly to the Huichols, to don José's village and extended family. The Dance of the Deer Foundation is helping the Huichol Indians to maintain both their rich cultural heritage and their spiritual and healing traditions.
In the early 1990’s when a road encroached upon doña Josefa’s family village, Brant arranged for the village members to make the unprecedented return back into the Sierra Madre Mountains. Here, the Huichols are able to preserve their traditional lifestyle and sacred art traditions. The Dance of the Deer Foundation purchased boats, rented trucks, and provided the supplies necessary for the move. Through these and other efforts by Brant Secunda, families are not separated by work on tobacco and coffee plantations and industrial chemical exposure problems are eliminated.
Today and into the Future
Brant Secunda shares Huichol traditions with people worldwide and initiates projects to preserve Huichol culture. For over two decades, the Dance of the Deer Foundation has documented Huichol culture on film, video, and audiotape in an ongoing effort to archive the material in books and in a Huichol museum for future generations. With one video already completed and released, Brant plans to edit footage for a second video and to complete various CD’s of Huichol folk music. Brant would also like to further develop an infrastructure within the Huichol villages to establish economic autonomy while producing the materials for their artwork.
Further Reading
*Brant Secunda - biography of Brant Secunda.
* The Dance of the Deer Foundation, Center for Shamanic Studies
*Shamanism
*Huichol Indians
Warren Redlich of Guilderland, New York was the 2006 and 2004 Republican candidate for Congress in New York's 21st congressional district.
Family
Redlich is married to Heather J. Redlich, an attorney, and together they have two daughters. Redlich's father, Allen Redlich, was a professor at Albany Law School.
Education
Born in Long Island, Redlich grew up in Guilderland and graduated from Guilderland Central High School in 1984. He went to Rice University in Houston, Texas, graduating in 1988 with a Bachelor's Degree in mathematical economics. He holds a Master's Degree in Political Science from Stanford University, and a J.D. from Albany Law School.
Career
Redlich taught English in Hiroshima, Japan for a year after law school. He began his legal career as a trial lawyer for the Allstate Insurance Company. He then worked as a law clerk for a judge of the New York Supreme Court (New York's trial court) in Fulton County, New York. In May of 2003 he opened his own law firm.
Redlich works on a fairly narrow range of legal matters, including criminal defense and personal injury cases.
Due to the success of the Redlich Law Firm website, Warren began developing other law-related websites with his brother Steve, forming SpinJ Corporation in the process. Their most prominent site to date is town-court.com, a directory of traffic courts, that is growing rapidly and is one of the top 250,000 websites in the US (per Alexa as of 7/31/2007).
Political Campaigns
In 2007, Warren was elected to the Guilderland Town Board. He was nominated by the GOP after the original candidate declined. In the past, he ran for US Congress:
Redlich ran in the race of 2004, gaining 30% of the vote; 5 points better than the last 7 challengers to Democratic incumbent Michael R. McNulty. His petitions for the 2006 race were filed on July 13th, containing nearly 6000 signatures (1250 required).
2004
In 2004, Redlich advertised that the US should "Stop wasting money overseas defending rich countries like France." This was directed at the US military presence in Europe, Japan and South Korea. In their two debates, Redlich challenged the incumbent to explain his exit strategy for these countries. The incumbent countered that it would not be appropriate to remove our troops from Europe while we were at war in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the military presence in Europe supported these wars and provided quicker medical care for soldiers coming back.
2006
For 2006, Redlich simplified his campaign message to "Stop wasting money," which is also the name of his blog. In so doing, Redlich addressed various issues with this theme, attempting to connect this with the McNulty's 2003 rating as the 2nd biggest spender in Congress with an 18% rating from the National Taxpayers Union.
2007
Redlich was elected to the Guilderland Town Board on November 6th. Along with his running mate, Mark Grimm, Redlich will take office on January 1, 2008 for a four-year term.
Family
Redlich is married to Heather J. Redlich, an attorney, and together they have two daughters. Redlich's father, Allen Redlich, was a professor at Albany Law School.
Education
Born in Long Island, Redlich grew up in Guilderland and graduated from Guilderland Central High School in 1984. He went to Rice University in Houston, Texas, graduating in 1988 with a Bachelor's Degree in mathematical economics. He holds a Master's Degree in Political Science from Stanford University, and a J.D. from Albany Law School.
Career
Redlich taught English in Hiroshima, Japan for a year after law school. He began his legal career as a trial lawyer for the Allstate Insurance Company. He then worked as a law clerk for a judge of the New York Supreme Court (New York's trial court) in Fulton County, New York. In May of 2003 he opened his own law firm.
Redlich works on a fairly narrow range of legal matters, including criminal defense and personal injury cases.
Due to the success of the Redlich Law Firm website, Warren began developing other law-related websites with his brother Steve, forming SpinJ Corporation in the process. Their most prominent site to date is town-court.com, a directory of traffic courts, that is growing rapidly and is one of the top 250,000 websites in the US (per Alexa as of 7/31/2007).
Political Campaigns
In 2007, Warren was elected to the Guilderland Town Board. He was nominated by the GOP after the original candidate declined. In the past, he ran for US Congress:
Redlich ran in the race of 2004, gaining 30% of the vote; 5 points better than the last 7 challengers to Democratic incumbent Michael R. McNulty. His petitions for the 2006 race were filed on July 13th, containing nearly 6000 signatures (1250 required).
2004
In 2004, Redlich advertised that the US should "Stop wasting money overseas defending rich countries like France." This was directed at the US military presence in Europe, Japan and South Korea. In their two debates, Redlich challenged the incumbent to explain his exit strategy for these countries. The incumbent countered that it would not be appropriate to remove our troops from Europe while we were at war in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the military presence in Europe supported these wars and provided quicker medical care for soldiers coming back.
2006
For 2006, Redlich simplified his campaign message to "Stop wasting money," which is also the name of his blog. In so doing, Redlich addressed various issues with this theme, attempting to connect this with the McNulty's 2003 rating as the 2nd biggest spender in Congress with an 18% rating from the National Taxpayers Union.
2007
Redlich was elected to the Guilderland Town Board on November 6th. Along with his running mate, Mark Grimm, Redlich will take office on January 1, 2008 for a four-year term.