'Cor!! 'Ello Doris!! (and everybody else)

[Timmy Lea]

Hi there fellow cult film lovers.

After much insistence from my old mate Marc Morris, I have finally caved in and joined these merry forums...would have got round to it earlier, but my computer died in June and I'm reduced to using the local library.

So...well, just to introduce myself....horror, scifi, exploitation, sexploitation, grindhouse, arthouse, crime, grime and trash fan in his mid 30s...from London, the Home Counties and the Midlands but now resident in Bonnie Scoootland....obsessed with obscure Britsploitation flicks, the more the better. Musical taste somewhat similar (60s and 70s psych, garage, glam, new wave, power pop, prog, folk, funk, soul, hard rock, metal etc)

Running out of time for a mo...but just thought I'd announce I'm here and am looking forward to much cinematic rambling.

[MarcMorris]

Good to see you here Sir!

I should point out that Timmy Lea is something of an expert on all things Brit horror - and beyond...

Which particular holiday camp are you currently residing Timmy?

[Timmy Lea]

Bugger me, that was quick, I only left the library and entered the cafe within two minutes, and already a reply!! Nice to see that Mr M recognises me behind my jocular nomenclature.

My 'holiday camp' is currently based in equatorial Paisley, not a place with a great history of horror, although those of us who are interested in 'camp' things of another kind might be interested to know that recently a director shot a documentary here about an elderly gay gentleman that lives in 'the toon' who is a former partner of Tennessee Williams, maybe the only one still alive!! It's called U, ME AND TENNESSEE and I'd love to see it distributed- even if only as an extra to BOOM!! or something.

To further elaborate...yes, I suppose I would consider myself some kind of expert on Brit horror, Britsploitation and British oddities in general- obviously I'm also a fan of the great Mr Askwith. I post on a couple of other forums too, one of which has been foolish enough to pay me money for a review or ten. My piece on I START COUNTING should be going up soon- and that's as fine an example of a film I love as any.

But I don't just love British movies..I'm into Corman, Tourneur, most giallo- themed directors (but particularly Bava, Argento and Lenzi) and Italian horror in general, plenty of Spanish chillers (Serrador's WOULD YOU KILL A CHILD is my second favourite horror film ever) , Aussie horror, German krimi, Jean Rollin, Japanese and Korean films (although most 'anime' leaves me cold) and most American/Canadian grindhouse directors ie Roberta Findlay, Larry Cohen, Bob Clark, Doris Wishman, Andy Milligan etc. And of course I like Romero, Hooper, Carpenter and the rest of the 'beard brigade'.

At the other end of the spectrum I have a deep and abiding love of Bergman, Tarkovsky, Fassbinder, Tarr, Kurosawa, and the likes of, but I don't watch that stuff as often as some people say I should, as I'm prone to fits of deep depression, and nothing cheers you up more than a slice of scantily-clad Linda Hayden tomfoolery. I also collect sitcoms for the same reason.

This depression may be linked to my inherent rainy Britishness, and it's for that reason, one supposes, that most of my fave films do tend to emanate from this country; I guess it just must be ingrained in me. Thus, my fave directors are Pete Walker, Norman J Warren (a good mate too), Peter Collinson, Sydney Lumet, Anthony Balch, Lindsay Shonteff, Derek Ford, Robert Hartford- Davies, Jose Larraz, Barney Platts-Mills...other obsessions include Hammer, Amicus, Butchers' Films, the Children's Film Foundation, Brian Clemens' THRILLER (and his TV work in general), Alan Garner, Tom Baker, Quatermass and most cult TV, the aforementioned Mr Askwith, and the great Peter Wyngarde.

I won't draw up a list of ladies here as I'd probably end up sounding an even sadder git than I already am...suffice to say, the aforementioned Linda is chief blonde, Jan Francis queen of the brunettes and Rosalyn Landor in charge of the redheads. My all time favourite actress is Anna Massey, but for her acting talent rather than any aesthetic qualities (although she was beautiful between aboot 1958 and 1974). Can I be really predictable and nominate Peter Cushing as my favourite actor? He still tends to top my list, although David Hemmings and Jon Finch are also major influences.

Most of the time I enjoy nothing more than watching odd films, listening to odd music, drinking unusual beer, and having great conversations about the same with likeminded individuals, which is why I join forums like this one!! And I've had a fair few reviews published. But my ambition would be to ideally write and direct my own movies- a dream which I've had for many years an no doubt so have lots more of us!! The trouble is, I live In Britain, where one has trouble enough funding ADVERTS, let alone feature films.

So, yes, the country that has shaped my musical and cinematic tastes is helping to erode my musical and cinematic ambitions!! I often think I'd like to emigrate tomorrow, but I simply can't afford to. So here I remain, trying to build an alternative reality to the dull one that exists today. Needless to say my pet hates are Hollywood CGIU blockbusters, Pixar, Disney, reality TV, most modern rock music, bling (whatever that is), txt spk, and chavs/ neds- the things that make the world dull. I fully intend to revive the things that once made it interesting, but I can't do it alone. The League Of Gentlemen have made a start, but they don't appear to be very active anymore, so let's continue their great work on to the next level.

Failing that, let's just go down the pub.

Anyone who wishes to join me on this quest is welcome to chat to me anytime (as is anyone who wants to offer me work, of course!!) My PC's broke, but maybe I'll have a new one by Christmas....and as for Marc M himself, don't forget matey boy, I'm 'doon Sooth' this coming week from Saturday onwards, so keep the sofa aired....

By the way, this site logs you out if you type for too long, Just thought I'd mention it.

[Vaughan]

Welcome, Timmy!

Especially the bit about the pub.

[WilsonBros]

Welcome to the forum, Timmy - love your moniker, btw...

Kev W

[Grant]

Nice one Tim I think we'll get on well mate!

[Phill]

Welcome Timmy a man after my own heart! When are Kipper going to reform?