I had a nice time on my birthday. Very relaxing. I just sat around and watched movies all day, which was how I wanted to spend it. Took well-wishing phone calls from my family and friends while watching comfortable pieces of cinematic junk food like CURSE OF THE SWAMP CREATURE and TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD. CVK gave me a great gift. In our back yard, we had a 12' x 7' movie screen set up so I could project films outdoors while I swam or sat in the hot tub. I call it Backyard Drive-In Theater. Well, CVK got me a professional screen and frame, which was a bit bigger than the old one. The new screen is fantastic, with brighter reflection and 13' x 8'. Last night I watched EQUINOX, an old film from my youth while I did laps in the pool and multi-colored fireworks exploded in the sky.

Today it's back to work on MASQUE, probably the hardest editing job I've done. This one really is a jigsaw puzzle. I'm taking the approach that you will watch the foreground action for a while then cut next to what you've seen in the background. I hope to get the picture cut by the end of the week.

The party is this weekend. So far we have around 40 people coming, and it should be fun, but there's a lot of work to do, so editing has to fight with that, as well as day-to-day chores.

I'm still having trouble with what I want to do for my next film. One idea is expensive, one is controversial and one is another horror film. What to do...what to do...?

NICK CAPRA called me last Sunday. He is finally ready to reveal the reason behind his "hiatus" from the industry. I'll be posting about it here in the future, but if you can't wait, go to NICKCAPRA.COM and read his journal. I'm very proud of him.

JBK