Let's say it loud and say it proud: We are Deadmonton

The_Cat · 27-10-2008, 11:40 PM

Let's say it loud and say it proud: We are Deadmonton
Scott McKeen, The Edmonton Journal
Published: 12:32 am
African-Americans diluted the N-word by adopting it as their own.

Gays and lesbians did more with the Q-word, turning "queer" into something fun and hip. The Vagina Monologues taught us to say the V-word without blushing.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjourna...7-4b17f280bb2f

DebraW · 28-10-2008, 08:43 AM

"Nelson is a member of the online community Connect 2 Edmonton, or C2E, a group of mostly young, engaged and keen Edmontonians. The challenge, I believe, is for C2E members to take this on.

Create the plan and the vision for the festival. Form a small society and get a grant application into the city.

The regulars on C2E are this city's future leaders. Time to lead, ladies and gentlemen.

Put on your lab coats. Hook us up to the whirring machines. Flick the switches and kill Deadmonton, while at the same time giving it life."

^YES!

DebraW · 28-10-2008, 08:48 AM

Become a member of the Facebook group.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...id=35683118205

MJ · 28-10-2008, 09:13 AM

Very nice. Makes the Deadmonton idea public and puts the membership here on the spot to do something about it. Talking is one thing, acting is another. Good on Scott McKeen.

Zomb-Aid · 28-10-2008, 11:07 AM

My letter to the editor:

"What a surprise to see an article in the Journal on Christian Nelson's vision of "Deadmonton" a mere one day after our event, The Deadmonton Horror Festival, ended. Also, it was quite a surprise to hear that we would be incorporated into a larger festival!

We had taken back the name "Deadmonton" and set up our website and marketing campaign in June, months before Christian's presentation. And we had stated on our site what our goals were - a Halloween festival for Edmonton. Film is the primary component, but we had always planned on incorporating multiple events into Deadmonton. And we did. This very year, we had an opening night party at the Starlite Room featuring several bands. In addition, Mostly Water Theatre and Lascivious Burlesque performed for us at the Metro. We even featured street performers in the lobby. And we co-coordinated the Zombie Walk with the River City Zombie Committee, and had the support of Sonic 102.9.
In short, the idea of a Deadmonton fest - and taking back the term "Deadmonton" - does indeed have merit. And we've spent over a year of our time and money putting that into action. We've received national coverage through Space: The Imagination Station, international coverage through a bevy of film-related websites, and coverage in almost all local publications, including the Journal.

If Mr. Nelson and Mr. McKeen would like to be involved with us next year, we welcome it. But make no mistake - we are THE Deadmonton Festival. We did it first, we do it the best, and we'll continue to grow and expand year after year.

Thanks for the continued support Edmonton!
Derek Clayton
Festival Coordinator
Deadmonton Horror Fest"

Zomb-Aid · 28-10-2008, 01:04 PM

Ok! Rant over. Christian got back to me and I've had the letter removed from the Journal. He'd previously asked Mr. McKeen to contact me, but Scott decided not to for some reason, so the article came as a complete surprise to me Monday morning. Add to that the fatigue of running a festival all weekend, subsisting on popcorn, candy and adrenaline, and lack of sleep, and I wasn't a very happy camper.

Also, part of the dilemma we had this year was finding sponsors. Grant money and sponsorships were few and far between, mainly because the festival name scared most people off. So you can imagine my attitude when I read the article and heard (Scott's words I'm assuming) that you guys were going to tap into city money for a fest with the same name. My thought was, "where was Scott six months ago?"

That being said, I do welcome the idea of growing, but I really do think it needs to be taken in baby steps. If we grow a bit more each year, we can make it something special.

Cheers
Derek

Kenn · 28-10-2008, 03:41 PM

I'm really pleased this is cleared up Zomb-Aid. (And I can totally appreciate how exhausting it must have been to stage a new festival with very limited resources.)

Christian's C2E guest column made it very clear that there already was a Deadmonton Festival. (In fact, since I'm not into the horror genre, this was the first I heard of your festival.)

http://www.connect2edmonton.ca/c2eco...lumnist_id=363

Christian was simply trying to champion the notion that 'Deadmonton' could logically grow into a major, multi-day Edmonton festival with great marketing potential for the city ... and great opportunities for city businesses.

If you (and other C2E members) could identify all the diverse Halloween / horror-related events ... I would be pleased to help you and Christian, etc. get all the players together to discuss an expanded Deadmonton festival next year.

DebraW · 28-10-2008, 03:56 PM

Thanks Kenn!

Furthermore, newfangled (Christian) know that I will do all I can to help as well!

Zomb-Aid · 28-10-2008, 04:05 PM

Hi Kenn,

Yes I'm glad it's cleared up too! I look forward to expanding the Deadmonton Horror Fest next year. Film should be the primary component, as we had the potential to get quite a few major guests in this year, but due to limited resources, we couldn't. A overall event capped off with a film fest - complete with big name guests - would help draw national and even international attention to the city.

Hell, we had at least 10 major film websites alone report on us the day we announced that we were showing "My Name Is Bruce" (starring Bruce Campbell).

One thing I think might be tougher is incorporating some of the larger events like the Halloween Howler, etc. Most of these guys already have their marketing plans in place, and unless you have something to offer them, they usually don't have the time to make the effort. That said, there are ways to involve them. Sonic 102.9 came out for our Friday and gave away prizes. Also, we were almost able to get the Bear to hold part of their "really tough contest" at the fest.

My personal feeling is that a full-blown "Deadmonton" may not be in the cards in 2009, but we can certainly grow more and incorporate more next year. I've already been in contact with several arts groups about working together next year. Ideally, we could have a full week where we have live music, theatre, etc capped off by the Deadmonton Horror Fest's film schedule on the weekend.

Anyways, just the ramblings of a demented mind!

Cheers!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenn

I'm really pleased this is cleared up Zomb-Aid. (And I can totally appreciate how exhausting it must have been to stage a new festival with very limited resources.)

Christian's C2E guest column made it very clear that there already was a Deadmonton Festival. (In fact, since I'm not into the horror genre, this was the first I heard of your festival.)

http://www.connect2edmonton.ca/c2eco...lumnist_id=363

Christian was simply trying to champion the notion that 'Deadmonton' could logically grow into a major, multi-day Edmonton festival with great marketing potential for the city ... and great opportunities for city businesses.

If you (and other C2E members) could identify all the diverse Halloween / horror-related events ... I would be pleased to help you and Christian, etc. get all the players together to discuss an expanded Deadmonton festival next year.

Scott McKeen · 28-10-2008, 04:21 PM

Though the columnist is getting kicked around a bit here, I take some satisfaction in seeing the synergies growing out of a column that inspired some and ****** a few off.
I didn't get in contact with the Deadmonton Film Festival people, but I did mention it prominently in the column. I didn't get in contact because I feared that the column would turn into a turf war.
A Deadmonton Horror Festival is a great idea. I don't care who deserves credit or wants credit.
Just expand the bloody thing, OK? It is brilliant and do-able and doesn't require government involvement, outside of perhaps some grant money.
Seems to me that even if radio stations aren't involved directly, they'll love to be part of the poster or advertising for the event. Likely, they'll even pay some money or offer contra advertising to be included.'
There. I'm done.

scott

Zomb-Aid · 28-10-2008, 04:37 PM

Hey Scott,

Ok I think we sorted all this out now.

You're right about the radio stations - they'll get involved in a peripheral sort of way.

I'll be in Toronto this weekend, and I'll likely take next week to decompress, but after that I'm up for chatting further on this.

Synergy rocks.

D

Sonic Death Monkey · 28-10-2008, 10:32 PM

Get the appropriate corporate backing and I'm sure it will fly. I personally want to see a huge "Thriller" dance in Churchill Square!

peanutgnome · 29-10-2008, 10:29 PM

Derek, Thanks for directing Kenn my way. I've blogged about the article, the idea and this forum on my www.peanutgnome.com website, and will also add something to the HalloweenEdmonton.com site shortly.

I love this idea, and I'm sure that there are many more Halloween and horror fans in this city that feel the same way. I'll tell whoever I can, and help in any way that I can to see this come to the, er, light of day? Light of night? Night of day? ...to see it come to Deadmonton!

Darryl "PeanutGnome" Plunkie

DebraW · 02-11-2008, 11:09 PM

Opportunity knocks

The Edmonton Journal
Published: Friday, October 31

Scott McKeen's Oct. 27 column offers a wonderful perspective on our label of Deadmonton.

Christian Nelson's suggestion of a Deadmonton festival is a great way to turn the label in our favour.

Even with the economic success that it has enjoyed recently, our city is still insecure about the label of Deadmonton, even though time is gradually fading away this label.

<...>

Edmonton will take a huge step forward by being able to capitalize on this label and producing a Halloween festival based on its nickname.

Deadmonton will come alive in the future.

Link:
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/letters/story.html?id=aa1bb28

DebraW · 02-11-2008, 11:12 PM

Deadmonton: Give credit where due

The Edmonton Journal
Published: Friday, October 31

Last weekend, Metro Cinema hosted the Deadmonton Horror Film Festival. Deadmonton has been written about in The Journal a few times in the past week, but a few details have been incorrect, and I just wanted to set the record straight.

<...>

However, the column barely mentioned the festival that had just ended. Instead, it profiled an idea of Christian Nelson's, which McKeen summarized as, "to create a Halloween festival called Deadmonton. It would incorporate the existing Deadmonton Horror Film Festival, but add other events under the Deadmonton brand."

To be clear, the Deadmonton Horror Film Festival exists, and is part of a multi-year tradition of presenting horror cinema in Edmonton. The umbrella event that is being proposed does not exist, and the suggestion that this non-existent event should incorporate the Deadmonton Horror festival, and in fact take its name, is presumptuous, and demeans the hard work and dedication of Acosta, Clayton, and all their supporters and volunteers.

Marsh Murphy, executive director, Metro Cinema Society, Edmonton

Link:
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjourna...9-36f118fe2f9e

27-10-2008, 11:40 PM	#1
The_Cat Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sherwood Park, AB	Let's say it loud and say it proud: We are Deadmonton Let's say it loud and say it proud: We are Deadmonton Scott McKeen, The Edmonton Journal Published: 12:32 am African-Americans diluted the N-word by adopting it as their own. Gays and lesbians did more with the Q-word, turning "queer" into something fun and hip. The Vagina Monologues taught us to say the V-word without blushing. http://www.canada.com/edmontonjourna...7-4b17f280bb2f __________________ "Ideas are bulletproof." - V for Vendetta

28-10-2008, 03:41 PM	#7
Kenn C2E Co-Chair Join Date: Feb 2006	I'm really pleased this is cleared up Zomb-Aid. (And I can totally appreciate how exhausting it must have been to stage a new festival with very limited resources.) Christian's C2E guest column made it very clear that there already was a Deadmonton Festival. (In fact, since I'm not into the horror genre, this was the first I heard of your festival.) http://www.connect2edmonton.ca/c2eco...lumnist_id=363 Christian was simply trying to champion the notion that 'Deadmonton' could logically grow into a major, multi-day Edmonton festival with great marketing potential for the city ... and great opportunities for city businesses. If you (and other C2E members) could identify all the diverse Halloween / horror-related events ... I would be pleased to help you and Christian, etc. get all the players together to discuss an expanded Deadmonton festival next year. __________________ Edmonton: Capital of Canada's Bold West!

28-10-2008, 04:21 PM	#10
Scott McKeen First One is Always Free The one, the only... Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Edmonton	Though the columnist is getting kicked around a bit here, I take some satisfaction in seeing the synergies growing out of a column that inspired some and ****** a few off. I didn't get in contact with the Deadmonton Film Festival people, but I did mention it prominently in the column. I didn't get in contact because I feared that the column would turn into a turf war. A Deadmonton Horror Festival is a great idea. I don't care who deserves credit or wants credit. Just expand the bloody thing, OK? It is brilliant and do-able and doesn't require government involvement, outside of perhaps some grant money. Seems to me that even if radio stations aren't involved directly, they'll love to be part of the poster or advertising for the event. Likely, they'll even pay some money or offer contra advertising to be included.' There. I'm done. scott __________________ Journal columnist

28-10-2008, 10:32 PM	#12
Sonic Death Monkey Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006	Get the appropriate corporate backing and I'm sure it will fly. I personally want to see a huge "Thriller" dance in Churchill Square! __________________ I've lived in the downtown area for nearly 20 years. Never been assaulted. Never been mugged. Never been raped. Never been murdered.

28-10-2008, 08:43 AM	#2
DebraW Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006	"Nelson is a member of the online community Connect 2 Edmonton, or C2E, a group of mostly young, engaged and keen Edmontonians. The challenge, I believe, is for C2E members to take this on. Create the plan and the vision for the festival. Form a small society and get a grant application into the city. The regulars on C2E are this city's future leaders. Time to lead, ladies and gentlemen. Put on your lab coats. Hook us up to the whirring machines. Flick the switches and kill Deadmonton, while at the same time giving it life." ^YES!

28-10-2008, 08:48 AM	#3
DebraW Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006	Become a member of the Facebook group. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...id=35683118205

28-10-2008, 09:13 AM	#4
MJ Addicted to C2E Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Edmonton, AB	Very nice. Makes the Deadmonton idea public and puts the membership here on the spot to do something about it. Talking is one thing, acting is another. Good on Scott McKeen.

28-10-2008, 11:07 AM	#5
Zomb-Aid First One is Always Free Join Date: Sep 2008	My letter to the editor: "What a surprise to see an article in the Journal on Christian Nelson's vision of "Deadmonton" a mere one day after our event, The Deadmonton Horror Festival, ended. Also, it was quite a surprise to hear that we would be incorporated into a larger festival! We had taken back the name "Deadmonton" and set up our website and marketing campaign in June, months before Christian's presentation. And we had stated on our site what our goals were - a Halloween festival for Edmonton. Film is the primary component, but we had always planned on incorporating multiple events into Deadmonton. And we did. This very year, we had an opening night party at the Starlite Room featuring several bands. In addition, Mostly Water Theatre and Lascivious Burlesque performed for us at the Metro. We even featured street performers in the lobby. And we co-coordinated the Zombie Walk with the River City Zombie Committee, and had the support of Sonic 102.9. In short, the idea of a Deadmonton fest - and taking back the term "Deadmonton" - does indeed have merit. And we've spent over a year of our time and money putting that into action. We've received national coverage through Space: The Imagination Station, international coverage through a bevy of film-related websites, and coverage in almost all local publications, including the Journal. If Mr. Nelson and Mr. McKeen would like to be involved with us next year, we welcome it. But make no mistake - we are THE Deadmonton Festival. We did it first, we do it the best, and we'll continue to grow and expand year after year. Thanks for the continued support Edmonton! Derek Clayton Festival Coordinator Deadmonton Horror Fest"

28-10-2008, 01:04 PM	#6
Zomb-Aid First One is Always Free Join Date: Sep 2008	Ok! Rant over. Christian got back to me and I've had the letter removed from the Journal. He'd previously asked Mr. McKeen to contact me, but Scott decided not to for some reason, so the article came as a complete surprise to me Monday morning. Add to that the fatigue of running a festival all weekend, subsisting on popcorn, candy and adrenaline, and lack of sleep, and I wasn't a very happy camper. Also, part of the dilemma we had this year was finding sponsors. Grant money and sponsorships were few and far between, mainly because the festival name scared most people off. So you can imagine my attitude when I read the article and heard (Scott's words I'm assuming) that you guys were going to tap into city money for a fest with the same name. My thought was, "where was Scott six months ago?" That being said, I do welcome the idea of growing, but I really do think it needs to be taken in baby steps. If we grow a bit more each year, we can make it something special. Cheers Derek

28-10-2008, 03:56 PM	#8
DebraW Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006	Thanks Kenn! Furthermore, newfangled (Christian) know that I will do all I can to help as well!

28-10-2008, 04:37 PM	#11
Zomb-Aid First One is Always Free Join Date: Sep 2008	Hey Scott, Ok I think we sorted all this out now. You're right about the radio stations - they'll get involved in a peripheral sort of way. I'll be in Toronto this weekend, and I'll likely take next week to decompress, but after that I'm up for chatting further on this. Synergy rocks. D

29-10-2008, 10:29 PM	#13
peanutgnome First One is Always Free Join Date: Sep 2008	Derek, Thanks for directing Kenn my way. I've blogged about the article, the idea and this forum on my www.peanutgnome.com website, and will also add something to the HalloweenEdmonton.com site shortly. I love this idea, and I'm sure that there are many more Halloween and horror fans in this city that feel the same way. I'll tell whoever I can, and help in any way that I can to see this come to the, er, light of day? Light of night? Night of day? ...to see it come to Deadmonton! Darryl "PeanutGnome" Plunkie

02-11-2008, 11:09 PM	#14
DebraW Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006	Opportunity knocks The Edmonton Journal Published: Friday, October 31 Scott McKeen's Oct. 27 column offers a wonderful perspective on our label of Deadmonton. Christian Nelson's suggestion of a Deadmonton festival is a great way to turn the label in our favour. Even with the economic success that it has enjoyed recently, our city is still insecure about the label of Deadmonton, even though time is gradually fading away this label. <...> Edmonton will take a huge step forward by being able to capitalize on this label and producing a Halloween festival based on its nickname. Deadmonton will come alive in the future. Link: http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/letters/story.html?id=aa1bb28

02-11-2008, 11:12 PM	#15
DebraW Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006	Deadmonton: Give credit where due The Edmonton Journal Published: Friday, October 31 Last weekend, Metro Cinema hosted the Deadmonton Horror Film Festival. Deadmonton has been written about in The Journal a few times in the past week, but a few details have been incorrect, and I just wanted to set the record straight. <...> However, the column barely mentioned the festival that had just ended. Instead, it profiled an idea of Christian Nelson's, which McKeen summarized as, "to create a Halloween festival called Deadmonton. It would incorporate the existing Deadmonton Horror Film Festival, but add other events under the Deadmonton brand." To be clear, the Deadmonton Horror Film Festival exists, and is part of a multi-year tradition of presenting horror cinema in Edmonton. The umbrella event that is being proposed does not exist, and the suggestion that this non-existent event should incorporate the Deadmonton Horror festival, and in fact take its name, is presumptuous, and demeans the hard work and dedication of Acosta, Clayton, and all their supporters and volunteers. Marsh Murphy, executive director, Metro Cinema Society, Edmonton Link: http://www.canada.com/edmontonjourna...9-36f118fe2f9e