Your guide to the region's top events, mixed with some commentary about life, media, gossip and politics in Washington, DC.
|
Washingtonian Favorites: Carl Cephas of the Washington Psychotronic Film Society
This week’s Favorites focuses on Carl Cephas, head of one of our favorite DC film organizations.
By
Alejandro Salinas
Carl Cephas of the Washington Psychotronic Film Society. Photo by Chris Leaman
Washingtonians who enjoy cheesy, campy, and just plain crazy films were dealt a blow last month when the Washington Psychotronic Film Society lost its screening space at the Meeting Place.
For the unfamiliar, the term “psychotronic” was coined by Michael Weldon, author of the Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film, to encompass films on the fringe of mainstream cinema, including horror flicks, spaghetti westerns, science-fiction schlock, and more.
“People seem to think that a psychotronic movie is just bad or unmentionable,” says Carl Cephas, president of the Washington Psychotronic Film Society. “But in reality, a psychotronic movie is a movie of peculiar interest—a movie that has a little extra something but you can’t explain what it is.”
Cephas has been involved with the organization since it launched in 1988 and is known among friends and psychotronic film fanatics by his moniker, Dr. Schlock.
“I’ve always loved the names of television creature-feature hosts,” he says. “There were always captains and counts but no doctors, so I decided to become Dr. Schlock.”
When not busy rewatching a movie from his 1,000-plus collection or catching the latest flick at the Uptown Theatre (“To me, it’s the fullest experience”), Cephas can be found DJing at Lucky Bar on Fridays during happy hour.
“I used to be in the band Tony Perkins and the Psychotics. But now I’m just a couch musician,” he says. “I tried standup comedy, but I wasn’t ethnic enough and too bizarre.”
We spoke to Cephas about his movie collection, some of his favorite films—psychotronic and otherwise—and the future of the organization.
Name: Carl Cephas.
Age: 48.
Occupation: Lead library technician at the Library of Congress, club DJ, and movie programmer.
Hometown: DC.
Must-have item at all times:
“My humor.”
Signature drink:
“Bourbon (don’t tell my doctor).”
Finish this sentence: “When not working, you can find me . . .”
“. . . playing an RPG game, trolling news groups online, watching movies, or getting my bizarre on.”
Washingtonians you admire:
“Any surviving record-store or local movie-house owners. Samuel L. Jackson.”
Favorite neighborhood in Washington:
“Adams Morgan.”
Washington insider tips:
“Support your local movie theater by buying refreshments. Don’t buy crappy bootleg movies off the street.”
Finish this sentence: “Thinking about the Metro makes me. . .”
“. . . wish I had a magic red balloon to carry me away.”
Favorite movie plot line:
“When the truth hurts so bad it kills you: The Vanishing (the original one) or The Shout.”
What would you change about Washington?
“We need more indie-movie houses or a second-run movie house.”
As you answer these questions, what Web sites are open in your browser?
“The Internet Movie Database, Metafilter, and Digg.”
What’s the first psychotronic film you remember watching?
“Our black-and-white television had the worst reception in the world. At times, you couldn’t even figure out what you were watching. I remember watching the movie Tarantula, and the reception was so bad that I thought Leo G. Carroll was soul singer James Brown. I think the first psychotronic film I really remember watching was a short film. It was based on Shirley Jackson’s story ‘The Lottery,’ and it was at school. I was totally freaked out but I loved it.”
What are some recent examples of films that fall under the psychotronic category?
“Snakes on a Plane, The Day the Earth Stood Still (with the miscasting of Keanu Reeves), Cloverfield, Tropic Thunder.”
What’s the film-selection process like, and how easy or difficult is it to get copies of these films?
“The process for our film selections depends on availability, whether or not our license covers it, if the filmmakers themselves let us screen it, and if it’s psychotronic enough. I try to find the rarer films or out-of-print copies—the rarer the better. We get a lot of suggestions for movies. I then do some research on it to see if it falls under the psychotronic field. I buy stuff on the Net from different film dealers, or my pal Ken Van Wey picks them up at a dealer’s table at film conventions.
“We’re always adding films. It’s never going to end. The database is run by our Web guru, Todd Yoder, who does a great job of keeping it running. Ken, like me, is a volunteer. As a matter of fact, we’re truly nonprofit because practically all of the money we get from donations goes straight to paying the bill for our motion-picture license, mailbox, telephone service, door prizes, VCR and DVD players, the films, and other expenses. After all that, we just dig into our own pockets and fill in the rest. We’ve never had sponsors, but the way things are going today, we may have to. For 20 years, we’ve always suggested a $2 donation. We may have to up the ante. Our license costs more than $1,000, and if you do the math, we’re just plumb crazy. We do it out of sheer love to expose people to the world of psychotronic films.”
Of all the unconventional films you’ve watched, is there one that stands out as the most outlandish of them all?
“Singapore Sling. It’s a very clever, disturbing film about two gorgeous women doing some very awfully bad, decadent things to a man who wanders into their house, and he lets them. It’s all done to theme of Otto Preminger’s film Laura.”
The WPFS recently lost its home. What’s next for you? Have you found a new location yet?
“We’ve had several club managers and owners contact us about letting us use their establishment for a screening room. I’m looking for a separate screening place, far away from film-hating idiots who scream at us about watching movies in a club. We’ve had people show up at our screenings, plop themselves right smack-dab in front of the screen, and then start talking as if the 40 people sitting in chairs weren’t even there. That’s been our main problem, getting the people in the club to respect us enough to let us watch our movies in peace. They can join us, but some prefer not to. So far, I’ve got three good leads for a new location in DC and one in Virginia. We prefer to stay in DC because most of our fans have told us that they have trouble commuting to Virginia after work. That’s the reason why we left the Arlington Cinema ’n’ Drafthouse.”
|
Comments
7 At the end of the air filled with the desire to shop, windows everywhere Sale, the people involved in purchasing again and again the tide. As long as you look accurate, it is cheaper to buy a variety of favorite long can the good goods. can be concentrated in such raids without reckoning wanton procurement, but also easy to lose, so their reduced to "junk woman".
shopping, celebrities have always charge the former, experience is particularly rich . The stars of the shopping in Hong Kong after discount on large numbers of summer vacation in Hong Kong were more strongly into China. But the star, after all, not a fashion designer, was at a higher level, the reason gold, this issue also invite more place the most active designers and fashion people, personally surgeon, to help you sort out the change of the fashion pulse of new and old, peeling silkworm spinning, out of season rush to buy discount focus and dedication from their losses and gains experience.
Cecilia
raids Location: Times Square, Causeway Bay shopping
focus: the rebate, is cost-effective to buy cosmetics. In addition, Times Square, selling all kinds of girls clothing all year round, it is suitable for Cecilia’s style.
link Beijing: China Friendship Department Store < br> bag bargains key: even if a discount, the top big things, or very expensive. Therefore, learning to Cecilia, a down to meet their own tastes, purchasing power of local girls shopping for their installed it.
Vision Xuan
1. Fast shipping ,Best quaity products,
2. Payment Method : Accept Paypal,Western Union ,Money Gram,
3. and give free shipping, Accept the smallest order,
4. EMS,DHL,TNT,FEDEX etc.
Welcome into our WEB: http://www.cheapsneakercn.com
or http://www.newsneakerswholesale.com
raids Location: Pacific Place shopping
focus: Jessica, said: "buying things, the mood is most important, a discount is still followed. discount when the mind to keep the wrong reason will not buy a shirt. "seasonal, the Pacific Place and other brands such as D & G will hit 5 discount, shoppers are crazy. Jessica shopping frenzy does not belong to the girl, she likes to enjoy a leisurely way to try on clothes in the environment.
Link Beijing: Palace Hotel
bag bargains focus: a world-class brand of seasonal goods, but also enjoy five-star shopping environment. discount store dressing room to be some period of long lines, very annoying.
Carina Lau
mop Location: Central, The Landmark
shopping points: famous discount, the Carina is often the first time in the Landmark in Central to buy some clothes. waiting there almost every day, paparazzi photographed celebrities visiting the shop shapes and sizes. If there were paparazzi be exposed Shu Qi in the Landmark bought the former boyfriend Dawn LV purse.
link Beijing: International Trade
bag bargains focus: mature women have the economic strength of the F1 layer of the LV,cheap jordan shoes, Max & Mara and other big discount, absolutely immense interest.
Shirley
1. Fast shipping ,Best quaity products,
2. Payment Method : Accept Paypal,Western Union ,Money Gram,
3. and give free shipping, Accept the smallest order,
4. EMS,DHL,TNT,FEDEX etc.
Welcome into our WEB: http://www.cheapsneakercn.com
or http://www.newsneakerswholesale.com
raids Location: City Plaza shopping
points: Shirley admitted that discount when buying more for the family, prefer the design of flu in some famous small jewelry, see the chic, will be more to buy some souvenirs. Shirley that time to the mid-range priced discount shopping, more affordable, cost-effective.
link Beijing: Oriental Plaza
bag bargains focus :louis vuitton handbags There are many new jewelry store in particular is worth watching.nike shoes
Tsang
raids Location: Causeway Bay shopping Crawford
key: Do not look to see Eric Tsang, in fact, but his authentic "human fashion . "discount in August each year seven seasons, Crawford boutique often as low as 6 fold, Eric Tsang usually discounted selection of men’s time,replica IWC, including attending events to wear suits, usually wear casual clothes when shopping and so on.
Link Beijing: Lufthansa
bag bargains focus: Lufthansa Men do not fancy, but definitely has the quality of content, clothing brands such as BOSS, Xenia class brand, should be the successful man not to be missed Taobao focus.
Anthony Wong
raids Location: Causeway Bay SOGO SOGO shopping
focus: shopping is clearly not just a small girl’s patent, even if it rough as Anthony Wong’s "character man" is also keen to Shopping, I once SOGO SOGO Department Store in Causeway Bay and saw Anthony Wong, accompanied by the Assistant buy clothes. He admitted that from time to time the discount SOGO activities is to attract one of the reasons he went. Anthony Wong preference with punk-style clothing, hand-painted T-shirts and with nail jeans will let Anthony Wong put it down.
link Beijing: SOGO, Parkson
bag bargains key: do not discount timing activities,mbt shoes give you a lot of value for money windfall.
Ekin Cheng
mop Location: Sai Yee Street, (Shoes Street)
shopping focus: not so in love with actress and cosmetics to buy pretty dresses everywhere, like the movement of Ekin Cheng usually buy more emphasis on sports and leisure shoes, so Sneaker Street in Mong Kok he must be free to visit the place. Shoes Street stores selling NIKE, ADIDAS and so on of the newest sports and leisure shoes are usually sold at prices of seven Bazhe it off for the birth does not know how frugal is Ekin Cheng It is a very economical choice, so he does not shoot as long as it will go to buy a few pairs of sneakers Street favorite shoes home.
link Beijing: SOGO Oriental Plaza Sports 100
bag bargains Focus: Sports class clothing. Movement like you, discount,mbt shoes be sure to buy some more.
She Poetry Man
raids Location: Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui shopping
points: Poetry Man She always busy filming, not so ordinary girl visit this store a lot of time, so she likes to Harbour City, you can also see the works of famous fashion designers and international famous brand stores, discount focus when, against a lot of things to be able to Amoy.
Link Beijing: World all Stores
bag bargains focus: people who do not have much time, the best brands on all of this high place,replica Rolex, one will be able to scrape together almost.
1. Fast shipping ,Best quaity products,
2. Payment Method : Accept Paypal,Western Union ,Money Gram,
3. and give free shipping, Accept the smallest order,
4. EMS,DHL,TNT,FEDEX etc.
Welcome into our WEB: http://www.cheapsneakercn.com
or http://www.newsneakerswholesale.com
Posted by: sneakercn, Jun 29, 2011 04:06:54 AM
Nice to see Carl and the WPFS getting some love. Best of luck with the new venue!
http://committedtofilm.wordpress.com/2009/02/06/support-your-local-celebrity/
Posted by: Jason, Feb 06, 2009 12:56:49 PM
|
Post a comment
Feel free to leave a comment or ask a question. Because of the prevalence of spam, we ask that you fill out the code in the image below to help us eliminate spam comments. By posting here, you affirm that you are 13 years of age or older. Washingtonian.com reserves the right to remove or edit content once posted.
|
|
|
