Raise the Forcefeld

a small selection of Max Kellenberger's photos of Dr Strangelove: LIVE!!

2011-12-14T17:42:00.000-08:00

Buck Turgidson (aka Damien Chacona) and Miss Scott (aka Becky Hirschfeld)

Miss Scott and Mrs Huggles (aka Maggie del Darkroom)

Jason watches movies and plays and then writes about them.

2011-12-06T18:15:00.000-08:00

Jason watches Dr Strangelove: Live!

At the Dark Room. Yeah, they do stuff other than Bad Movie Night there. In fact, they do bad movies and good plays, often (as in this case) based on good movies.

DR STRANGELOVE is, of course, a classic. And this play reminded me why it's one of my favorite movies ever. They do a pretty straightforward take on this, not a lot of jokes that aren't in the film. Often such pop culture plays are parodies of the original, but this is more accurately an homage by people who love the film (it was written and directed by Dark Room owner/operator Jim Fourniadis, who not only claims this as his favorite movie, but met his wife at their first production of DR STRANGELOVE: LIVE! some number of years ago).

The stage is pretty bare and simple, but the energy is excellent, and the cast is spot on. Particularly high marks for Sean Kelly as the titular Dr. Strangelove, Damien Chacona as General Buck Tergidson, and Tim Kay as Group Captain Lionel Mandrake. Even more than the rest of the cast, they became Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, and...um...Peter Sellers.

The only thing I missed from the original was the closing song of "We'll Meet Again." Jim told me they had tried it in earlier productions but it was too somber and he prefers ending on an upbeat note. So instead they played "Dr. Love"

It plays Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays until the 17th. Tickets here.

Oh yeah, and see pics of the performance from my friend Ira here.

Halloween

2011-10-31T17:19:00.000-07:00

The cast of Star Trek Live were allowed to keep our costumes. Guess what I will be wearing every single Halloween until the end of time. GUESS.

The ears are the same ones Tim Kay/Spock wore in the play. I couldn't get the spirit gum out of my real ears for days.

Cue "One big Dark Room" jokes

2011-10-21T16:53:00.000-07:00

Beetlejuice LIVE!
The Dark Room Theater
San Francisco, CA
Oct 21 through Oct 30

Ralph Hoy presents 'Beetlejuice LIVE!', an adapted parody for stage of the cult film classic Beetlejuice. Sandworms, a dog causing a tragic death scene, possession of a dinner party to a song about stacking bananas? Yup, this has all that, plus the famous, one and only Beetlejuice being set loose onto a dysfunctional family where nervous breakdowns, snappy retorts, and photographs are always being taken. Treat yourself to something special this October, and remember, don't say his name three times unless you're sure you know what you're doing.

Megan Palagi, who played Lydia Deetz, did all of our makeup. She also took real photos with her Lydia camera.

taking a break with Maggie

rehearsing with Sean Wigglesworth

with Ralph Hoy, Director/Producer/Bioexorcist

dinner party guests

captivated audience

Herbert Is as Herbert Does: A Theater Review by Sam Hurwitt

2011-09-17T11:56:00.000-07:00

The Dark Room in the Mission hosts a variety of comedy events, solo shows and Bad Movie Nights, but it really seems to have a yen for pop culture homages. The last time I was there a few years back was to see a stage version of The Blob, the place often hosts live Twilight Zone episodes, and upcoming events include Beetlejuice: Live, Breakfast Fight Club, and Dr. Strangelove.

Rarely is there a show with such an avid preexisting audience as Star Trek: Live! The Way to Eden, because lord knows people who love Star Trek really, really love Star Trek. The live version uses an existing episode of the original ’60s series, keeping true to the basic plot but taking considerable comic liberties with the details.

“The Way to Eden” is a perfect episode to use for this campy treatment, because it’s pretty camp-friendly to begin with. (Not that there aren’t plenty of other installments to choose from in that respect, such as any time that Abraham Lincoln shows up.) The original 1969 story by Arthur Heinemann involves the Enterprise being taken over by an annoying group of singing, zoned-out space hippies who want the ship to take them to a mythical paradise planet called Eden. They have their own hippie lingo, saying “we reach” when someone’s on their wavelength (most notably, Spock) and calling all squares “Herbert.”

There’s no set to speak of on the tiny black-box stage, just a few metal folding chairs and a boxy homemade captain’s chair. The preshow music is an amusing mix of Trek-related novelty tunes, selections from William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy’s respective pop album and other space-related songs.

The cast doesn’t look or sound much like their prototypes, but they capture the essence of what people think of when they think of the original Enterprise crew and then exaggerate it tenfold. Jay Huston is a delightfully larger than life Kirk, obnoxious in all the right ways, with a preening swagger and staccato delivery. Justin Gomes dials Dr. McCoy’s irascibility up to near-psychotic rage at any setback, and Mikl-Em (a nice Kryptonian name) plays Scotty with a bizarre grimace and broad-as-a-barn accent.

Misha Trubs’s hangdog Chekov has almost as much Ed Sullivan as Walter Koenig, with hunched shoulders, a permanent scowl and near-inscrutable mumble. Tim Kay is an appropriately deadpan Mr. Spock, and Jepoy Ramos is a subdued Sulu, always adjusting invisible consoles. Becky Hirschfeld comes on strong as libidinous Yeoman Janice Rand, who wasn’t in the actual episode. (The dialogue addresses this by asking where Uhura is, although she actually wasn’t in the episode either.) Adam Curry has a funny cameo as a succession of redshirt security guards in silly wigs (series-accurate Starfleet uniforms by Ralph Hoy).

It would be hard for the space hippies to be any more obnoxious that they were on the original episode, and in the stage version they seem a nice enough bunch of freaks. Andrew Moore has a happy-go-lucky surfer-dude quality as Adam, the group’s musician, and Sean Wigglesworth is especially zoned-out as Jesus-haired ambassador’s son Tongo Rad. Katelyn Danger Sharp works the cute-girl angle and a cursory Russian accent as Irina, Chekov’s old flame from Starfleet Academy, now dropped out, tuned in and turned on. With an oversize bald cap, Ash Clayton maintains an air of grim blankness as the hippies’ mysterious leader Dr. Severin.

The songs the hippies sing (“Eat all the fruit and throw away the rind—yeah, brother”) are changed from meandering space folk to rock numbers with electric guitar played offstage by director (and Dark Room co-owner) Jim Fourniadis.

It’s definitely lightweight entertainment, but there are enough added gags sprinkled throughout to keep the basic shtick from getting old: a tender moment between Kirk and Spock, Sulu checking out the hippie guys, Spock pleading not to let Kirk sing. Some of the Herberts out there may not reach, but you don’t want to be Herbert, do you? I think we reach. Yeah, brother.

Star Trek: Live! The Way to Eden runs through September 24 at the Dark Room, 2263 Mission St., San Francisco. http://darkroomsf.com

Star Trek Live: The Way to Eden

2011-09-03T11:51:00.000-07:00

photos by by Max Kellenberger.

2011-08-11T13:32:00.001-07:00

I've just been cast as Yeoman Rand in the Dark Room's adaptation of The Way to Eden (ST:TOS). Yaaaaay!!!!

2011-05-04T23:39:00.000-07:00

I recently did a photoshoot with Charles Casela. He takes old paintings and mixes them all up with new photography. I think I might end up being a zombie in this one, but I'm not sure yet.

Ann

2011-03-01T22:07:00.001-08:00

Karen and Doug, a young professional couple, acquire the latest modern convenience in housekeeping. Unfortunately, they are soon disappointed with the gadget's performance.

The Crushing Darkness presents ANN, a science-fiction tragicomedy about the future of Humanity and Artificial Intelligence.

By Kelly Daugherty, with the Rolleiflex 2.8c

2011-03-01T22:06:00.000-08:00

a different kind of paper picture

2010-12-03T22:30:00.000-08:00

Hearts and Cut Paper by Kelly Daugherty

New photos, all by Kelly Daugherty

2010-11-30T11:40:00.000-08:00

http://www.kellydaughertyphotography.com/

Vintage Furniture Photo Shoot with R Becca

2010-09-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

Photography by Dustin Safranek

This is how I act.

2010-06-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

A Real Fancy Lady

2010-05-25T09:04:00.000-07:00

Before the Siege

2010-04-06T17:33:00.000-07:00

I made this for my friend's birthday, based on the Black Queen from Dark Horse's Conan the Barbarian comics. I liked it so much that I made two.

This one is for sale.

Spaceflowers

2010-03-17T21:07:00.000-07:00

I made this picture for a little girl who turned 7 on Pi Day.

Oasis for Sale!

2010-02-21T16:21:00.000-08:00

Look, I also made three more Oases. Please email me for details.

They're much bigger in real life.

Unicorns frolic into your heart

2010-02-21T16:01:00.000-08:00

I have THREE unicorns for sale!! Please email me for pricing details.

The Sea Sale!

2010-02-15T20:44:00.000-08:00

I have two new versions of The Sea available for sale!

The Large Sea (sold out! allow an extra week for me to make a new one)

The Small Sea

Please see my flickr page for images with much more detail.

Email me if you're interested, please! forcefeld@gmail.com

Imagine yourself in two dimensions.

2010-01-30T18:51:00.000-08:00

My work is now available for commission! That's right, world, I'll make you your very own Becky Hirschfeld original Paper Picture. I can totally make you whatever you want.

Ideally, you'd first send me a photo you'd like used as a guide.

Like this...

Then I'll make either a drawing...

...or a full on PAPER PICTURE:

I could also put you in a total fantastical situation, like having coffee in the sky with your favorite industrial rock artist:

Rates depend on the level of detail and types of material used in the picture.

Send me an email at forcefeld@gmail.com to share your idea!

birthday babies

2010-01-21T19:53:00.000-08:00

I made these for a brother and sister duo whose birthdays are this month.

Based on a True Story

2010-01-17T11:45:00.001-08:00

Danny's Lighthouse

2010-01-16T11:47:00.000-08:00

My first commissioned piece!! It was a Christmas present.

Love in the Early 70s

2009-12-27T12:56:00.000-08:00

For my mom's birthday (by request!)
based on my parents' wedding, June 27, 1970

Twilight in the Isle of Mimbsy

2009-12-14T12:42:00.000-08:00

For Jenny's birthday.

Rendezvous at Outpost Alpha

2009-12-08T11:17:00.000-08:00

My third and final project for my cinema class.

The song was written and performed by The Crushing Darkness. Lynette Duran shot the video.

Conan and the Spider

2009-11-08T15:15:00.000-08:00

Based on the stories of Robert E. Howard

A Short Movie in Which Sally Cohen Discusses Music

2009-11-03T17:18:00.000-08:00

My second project for my first cinema class.

Derek Gentry and I wrote it, I directed it, and Steve Pandola cinematographer'd it.

Chili's web promo

2009-10-13T14:51:00.000-07:00

This one is tricky. Watch the first commercial, then watch the cooking show for about 15 seconds, then click on the embedded link.

The Ghost Lady of Stow Lake

2009-09-25T14:49:00.000-07:00

Made for Brian on his birthday.

Currently Engaged

2009-09-09T14:00:00.000-07:00

Based on my parents' engagement photo, circa 1970

Twatif? - "The Twitter Bar"

2009-08-31T14:49:00.000-07:00

That's my shoulder!

Twatif the real world followed the same rules as Twitter? Speaking in 140 characters would be tough enough. But following Trending Topics and keeping up on the latest Twitter lingo could drive anyone to drink. Check out The Twitter Bar, the latest video shenanigans sent to you From Bogota With Love.

www.frombogotawithlove

Oasis

2009-07-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

Made for Carla, Chris, and new baby Rhys.

Pretty Hate Coffee Machine

2009-07-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

Carla and Trent, for Carla's birthday.

Fathers' Day 2009

2009-06-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

Based on a 1984 photo

Portrait of Georgia & Elvis

2009-06-10T16:50:00.000-07:00

For Georgia's birthday, based on "Portrait of a Lady" by Lean Léone Gérôme.

Lorby Shower

2009-06-08T14:46:00.000-07:00

For Lori and Colby, and their baby.

Las Vegas Giraffe Party

2009-05-20T15:46:00.000-07:00

For Megan's birthday.

Mothers' Day 2009

2009-05-10T14:53:00.000-07:00

Based on a 1990 (or somewhere around there) photograph.

Rock Band

2009-02-08T15:02:00.000-08:00

Created for a work project, sometime in early 2009.

Axis of Comedy Promo

2008-09-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

Break a Leg was selected to join the elite comedy channels at axisofcomedy.tv. Their clause included a quick promo for the network which must include a group sex scene. We obliged, the only way we at Break a Leg know how. Enjoy! Distributed by Tubemogul.

Space Wasters - Episode 4 -"F*ck Haircuts"

2007-12-03T15:45:00.000-08:00

Long time roommates Chris Peterson and Brian Pandola live in San Francisco's scenic Presidio neighborhood and waste space (...and time...and energy...and their lives) with the help of their upstairs neighbor Becky, Chris' crazy buddy Scott, and Brian's mooch brother Tony.

Waste some time with Space Wasters!

The fourth episode of the San Francisco comedy series (and internet sitcom). Starring Brian Pandola, Christopher Peters, and Rebecca Hirschfeld. Directed by Steve Pandola

See high quality version at:
WWW.SPACEWASTERS.COM

Space Wasters - Pilot Episode (F*ck Work)

2007-07-15T15:01:00.000-07:00

The first episode of the San Francisco comedy series. Starring Brian Pandola, Christopher Peters, and Rebecca Hirschfeld. Directed by Steve Pandola

Here's the trailer if you're busy, or something...

Photography by Jon Snyder

2007-04-03T14:42:00.000-07:00

Medical Alumni Magazine cover

2006-04-15T15:53:00.000-07:00

Medical Alumni Magazine, Vol 47.1, photography by Monica Lee

from the set of Spotting

2005-10-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

from the set of Rent!

2005-04-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

Photos by Corey Rosen, who also somehow magically appears in the second photo with yours truly and Wilson Jermaine Heredia. I played a waitress in the Life Cafe. You can actually see me in the movie without pausing (but it helps to have a really big TV).