| Author | Message | ||
     Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
I thought there was a thread on this here somewhere, but I can't find it now.  http://www.britishfantasysociety.co.uk/news/halifax-ghost-story-festival-2/ Anyway, who's going to the Halifax Ghost Story Festival this Saturday? I know Ray will be there with Tartarus Press. Anyone else from here I should look out for? | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.156.210.82 |
I'll be there, with my mate Mark Morris. | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
Ah, great! I'll look out for you both. I might even get the chance to speak to you properly at this event, Zed. I didn't at the last one (Ilkley) of course, as I was a bit tied up on the night (no rude comments please - I wasn't *literally* tied up  ) | ||
| Weber (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.66.23.11 |
You use handcuffs not rope? | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
 Anyway, are you going to make it over the Pennines for this event, Weber? | ||
| Weber (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.66.23.11 |
can't find the keys to these handcuffs you used on me. Been chained to my bed for a month so sorry no. | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.142.242.104 |
Caroline - Kate and I will be there, if we survive the drive up North. I believe I'm chairing a panel! | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
Of course, John - I realised you were chairing a panel after I posted this! Look forward to seeing you and Kate. Have a safe journey. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.156.210.82 |
See you all there! | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
Well, the Halifax Ghost Story Festival this year was a strange one. On the one hand it wasn't as good as last year's and there was one BIG negative (more on that below), but on the other hand I really enjoyed it again! I'll explain ... The first highlight was the excellent company I found myself in again this year. Not only did I spend most of the event with Mr and Mrs David Riley, but there was also Di Lewis too. Thanks for your great company and I hope you all got back home safely today (it's been really foggy up here again today). Also I must apologise yet again to Zed - I didn't get the chance to give you and Mark more than a quick wave from a distance! And Lord and Lady P - well, I didn't even manage to wave to you two. And then Ray - we didn't manage more than a few words. Sorry, guys. Anyway, it started well with Reggie Oliver's reading of Machen's "The Ritual" followed by a Machen panel discussion. Add to that the fact that I was able to grab Reggie to get him to sign my copy of "The Masques of Satan" and also purchase a signed "Mrs Midnight and Other Stories" and I was well on my way to having an excellent day out. Next up was Lord P chairing a great panel on "pushing the boundaries of the ghost story" with Stephen Volk et al. And John's impersonation of the dodgy medium in "From Beyond the Grave" ("there's an elemental on your shoulder") is definitely one to remember! Oh and then (or was that before the panel? My memory is poor nowadays) there was an interesting short (non-commercial) film based on Machen's "The Happy Children" - very atmospheric. But next, after a very short break, they took us off to the Viaduct Theatre - aptly named as it's in a covered viaduct and you have to go through a dripping wet, cold, cobble stoned walkway to get to it. The first film was good - based on (quite loosely, I think) EJ Howard's "Three Miles Up". Douglas "Primeval" Henshall played a good part. But we were all freezing, sitting on uncomfortable seats in this theatre! Not only that but they didn't even give us a loo break before launching straight into the next film. The next film did, however, make the discomfort worthwhile for me. It was a very rare screening of Aickman's "The Hospice" with one of my favourite actors in the starring role - Jack Shepherd. Now, I first fell for him when I saw him way back in 1979 playing the lunatic Renfield in "Dracula" (the John Mills version), and I absolutely adored his Cornish detective "Wycliffe". So it was a rare treat to see him in this wonderful little film too - I quite forgot how cold and uncomfortable I was for 55 minutes! There followed (again, with no comfort break) a short modern film "The Hairy Hands" which was OK, but not brilliant, followed by a quick dash for the loo and the chance to warm your hands on a cup of latte once they finally gave us a break. It was such a shame at that point as most people seemed to have given up and gone home by then. There was much debate about whether to stay for the final film - "Urban Ghost Story" - which we knew nothing about. In the end, I watched it. It was an interesting film, about a troubled teen in a Glasgow tower block and the ensuing poltergeist activity which surrounded her, but I don't think I'd rush to watch it again. By this time, we'd spoken to the organiser and they'd put some heating on in the theatre and ushered us up to the top, where it was warmer (nearer the electric heaters in the ceiling). But it was such a shame that the event didn't really end on a high note like last year, and I guess many people's memory of it will be the cold uncomfortable theatre which sent them scurrying home early. However, for me it was worth it, especially the "high points" of: - the great company - the wonderful film "The Hospice" - my haul of signed Reggie Oliver books What about Zed, and Lord and Lady P? Did you folks enjoy yourselves? Believe me, last year's festival was much better so I hope it doesn't put you off coming to the next one. And Ray - what did you think of it this year? Would love to hear what you all thought of it - and sorry, once again, for not speaking (much) to any of you. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.253.77 |
Caroline - we all had a terrific time. I thought the event itself was excellent - loved the showing of Three Miles Up and particularly The Hospice (which was incredible), Reggie's reading was terrific, and I could have JLP's panel all day. The theatre was brilliant: really strange and atmospheric: the perfect place to watch ghost stories. The setting really added to the viewings. We never planned to stay for Urban Ghost story - we'd planned a nice Thai meal at a nearby restaurant. But, yes, a great day: some first-rate entertainment and I got to spend time with some of my favourite people. It's a shame I didn't get to chat to you proerly (again!), but these things are always like that...  | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
Ah, you DID enjoy it - great! I thought you folks might have gone home early because of the freezing theatre. Maybe it was just us older folk who had problems with it?  But "The Hospice" - wow! I hope that petition to get those TV stories released to DVD does the trick. I'll certainly be buying a copy of they do. Anyway, one day I'm going to talk to you properly - and that's a threat .. er, I mean, a promise. | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
Oh and yes, you're not the first person I've heard say they could have listened to Lord P's panel all day! | ||
| R.B. Russell (Tartarusrussell) Username: Tartarusrussell Registered: 02-2010 Posted From: 81.157.248.97 |
Hi Caroline, I enjoyed the day, and the feedback I've had has all been very positive. The Viaduct theatre was a little chilly, though, I agree. However, I'm glad the films were shown on the big screen, because they had much more impact than they would have done upstairs in the gallery. "The Hospice" was one of the highlights for me, too. It should have been the finale, really :-) The previous three-day event just isn’t going to happen in the present economic climate, I’m afraid. Hire of all the facilities, payment of the gallery staff, equipment, costs of obtaining the films, etc, is high and there is no longer the outside funding available. The festival was only possible this year (and I suspect in the future) because so many people gave their time, effort and enthusiasm for free. Perhaps we tried packing a little too much into the time we had available this year. It would have been good to spend more time chatting with people. If it goes ahead next year we’ll do some fine-tuning... All the best Ray | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
Hi Ray - yes, Dee (is that her name?) explained to us why they chose the theatre for the film screenings - better projector, better acoustics, etc. I can understand that. And I definitely agree that the films were probably all the better for being shown in there - I just wish I'd brought a woolly jumper with me if I'd have known! I really do hope you guys do manage to do something again next year. Even a one day event is better than nothing. What with FCon being all the way down south again, we really do need something of this calibre up here in the chilly north. How about maybe some kind of tie-in with the Fantastic Films Weekend at the National Media Museum in Bradford (May/June I think)? I know Tony Earnshaw has been involved with Halifax too - I'm sure he'd advise on this possibility. Just a thought anyway ... | ||
| R.B. Russell (Tartarusrussell) Username: Tartarusrussell Registered: 02-2010 Posted From: 81.157.248.97 |
Dee is the brains behind the whole thing, yes, and puts in 99% of the real work :-) Without her, the festival wouldn't happen. I promise that we didn't leave before the final film because of the venue! Like Gary, I think the theatre has a great atmosphere (the water running across the cobbled floor is a great touch.) A lot of people, like us, weren't staying in Halifax that night, and had long journeys to make back home. Yes, Tony Earnshaw is involved with Halifax, and is in contact with Dee... Next year will be woolly jumpers, thick socks, and more Lord Probert! | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
"Next year will be woolly jumpers, thick socks, and more Lord Probert!" Then, that'll keep me warm for sure!  | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
Oh, and here's a link to a blogpost David Riley has done on the festival, with some nice pics he took there: http://davidandrewriley.blogspot.com/2011/11/halifax-ghost-story-festival-dean_1 3.html (he also has a better recollection of the order of events than I have!) | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 80.192.128.145 |
We had a really great time at the Halifax Ghost Story Festival. Thanks to all for the kind comments about the panel I chaired. I really enjoyed it and I wish it could have gone on longer myself! I certainly don't mind being involved in something similar next year. The lady who involved in organising it asked me afterwards if I'd like to talk about The Stone Tape which I'd be delighted to do (at length!) if it was possible. | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 80.192.128.145 |
Oh, but My God it was a trek to get up there (and back!), and the weather once we hit the North was more terrifying than any ghost! Maybe we could have it in Bath next time? ;-> | ||
| R.B. Russell (Tartarusrussell) Username: Tartarusrussell Registered: 02-2010 Posted From: 81.157.248.97 |
We've just put an account of the Halifax alt.Ghost Story Festival on our blog, including a video of Reggie Oliver reading "Ritual" by Arthur Machen. http://tartaruspress.blogspot.com/2011/11/halifax-altghost-story-festival-dean.h tml | ||
| Weber (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.66.23.11 |
Well on saturday I was in Oldham providing first aid cover for a Reindeer parade and it was peachy and warm for most of the day (especially for the time of year). I'd never seen a reindeer up close before. They're smaller than I thought and didn't have red noses. Cuteness overload incident of the day was when I asked a little girl who'd just been brought in to us how old she was and she said "Big". (she was 3 and cute as a cute button that had just won an degree in cuteness from cute college cambridge). | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
>>.. and the weather once we hit the North was more terrifying than any ghost!<< You southern softies, you! Saturday was actually the best day weather-wise we've had for a while - it's just been wall-to-wall fog either side of that where I live. Which reminds me of my journey back from Halifax at 10pm on Saturday ... I did my usual trick of getting lost trying to find my way out of the place! I don't know why I can't seem to find my way out of any places I visit nowadays. Anyway, I ended up on a road I didn't know but which I knew was going in vaguely the right direction, and I needed to keep my eyes open for signs towards places I knew. At one point, I stopped at road work traffic lights, in the middle of nowhere, no other car on the road, and a row of boarded up terraced houses next to me on the roadside. It was darned creepy! I did wish at that point that I was a horror writer like you guys - it would make a lovely setting for some spooky stories. Weber - I didn't know you were such a big softy! Reindeers? Cute little girls? Awwwwww. Ray - I'll pop over to your blog shortly ... | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
Just spotted this in your blogpost, Ray: "Dee Grijak hopes to be able to unearth further Aickman TV adaptations, and details will follow shortly of her petition which she hopes will help get them released (under the campaign name “The Attempted Rescue”)." I sincerely hope she does! These are from the "Night Voices" series, aren't they - which I seem to recall has been mentioned here on this board previously by someone? I hope I'm on Dee's email list and will get to hear about her efforts here (and also to post relevant news on the BFS site in my role as online news editor if she wishes). | ||
| Weber (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.66.23.11 |
They were offering a pair of the reindeer for sale and I was tempted - until I saw the price... Then I had to tell myself "No, they're two deer." | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
Ah, that's the old Weber we know and love - bad jokes! | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 80.192.128.145 |
Caroline - we are indeed big Southern softies! We were also very sorry not to have the chance to say hello to you but it was good to see you there! | ||
| Weber (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.66.23.11 |
Did you see her and Zed in the same room? I think there's a Mrs Doubtfire thing going on... | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
Ah, you spotted me across the room then John? I was the one with the beard, sitting with Mark Morris. (just humouring Weber - that was Zed, not me) |