And We're Back

Long time no chat! Sorry for disappearing. Truth be told, I was feeling a little discouraged. I lost steam or interest or something. Certainly lost some sanity. BUT, last week I received an email from Ruth Bandford, a film editor. As luck would have it, she has a For Your Consideration copy of Eggs in Space. I’m flying out tomorrow. I’ve been down this road before. It could lead nowhere. But I feel good about this one. I’ll update with what I find.

False Idols

So close folks. Fellow hunter John B and I ostensibly struck gold at a yard sale in Deptford. We found a bootleg copy of Eggs in Space. Unfortunately, it’s not a great copy of the movie (serious water damage). The tape head is pretty warped and the sound cuts out.

I was really hoping I would be inundated with nostalgia, but it didn’t resonate. The pieces felt out of order. It felt like a simulacrum. It feels like someone made their own Eggs in Space. John disagrees. It was exactly how he remembered. He was basically sobbing by the end. Maybe it was enough to take him back to childhood.

I keep watching it. Over and over. Hoping something will change. Hoping I’ll feel different.

A sacred relic?

Got an email from a guy in Boston who said he has something I need to see. He wouldn’t tell me what, I had to go in person. Frankly, it was quite stupid of me to trust a web stranger, but I know I would live to regret not investigating.

Turns out, it was kind of cool, but not what I was expecting or hoping for (non-bootleg copy of the film). It was a prop. The Headphones. Or headphones made to look like the ones in the movie. Said his father bought it off the studio. He showed me a certificate of authenticity. Could be a forgery. I have no frame of reference.

Anyway he tried to sell them to me. I declined.

Nothing against Boston, but it would be so nice if one of you had me traveling to Paris. That way I can offset my disappointment by seeing where Day for Night was shot.

O Beautiful Rock

Been thinking about the asteroid. Seemingly inconsequential. Story dressing. A prop. But when you really pick it apart, there is something tender about it. A rock, indifferent and desolate, can harbor something prophetic and beautiful. Something intrinsically unnurturing can foster beauty. Looks are deceiving. No matter how down you feel about yourself, you carry something important within you. Is this anything?

Critical Dialogs

Thank you to everyone who attended our in person Egg Club meetup. Lots of great discussion. Loved Jen’s theory that The Egg and Ovalina are one in the same (transference of psyche via the stories it was fed). Of course, my favorite, our fiery debate on auteur theory vs studio model. Eggs in Space feels more aligned with Truffaut’s camp but please keep shouting at me through email, I genuinely love it.

If you missed the meetup, shoot me an email and I’ll get you a synopsis of what we discussed! NOTE: A few of you seemed less interested in dialog and more interested in your personal reactions. Which is cool, but the meetups are for analysis. Also, please don’t bring friends who don’t take this seriously. I don’t need another smug guy mocking us. Referring to dude in Dinosaur Jr shirt who kept calling Eggs "a western"

Roadtrip to Ann Arbor

Last week I received an email from Gregory in Michigan (Ol’ Michigan Greg as I call him) who told me about an annual A Rare Film expo. It was a Tapehead’s Valhallah; tables and tables of rare and out of print reels and VHS. Lots of great stuff (snagged Argento’s “Demoni”) but no Eggs. Garnered some excitement though. Turns out, Eggs in Space is both bigger and rarer than I realized. Had some great discussions with real fans and now we have even more eyes on the ground now. Hopefully it’s only a matter of time before we secure a copy. Trust in the collectors.