Monthly Archives: October 2016

Happy Halloween!!!

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I know it’s a day early, but I just wanted to take a very special moment to wish you all a Happy Halloween! As I’ve said before, this is my absolute fave time of year. The temperatures become cooler, warm Autumn smells fill the air and holiday baked goodies tend to be at their yummiest!

Carving pumpkins has always been a huge tradition with my family. The creativity involved just adds to the excitement. And then… there’s the baking of the pumpkin seeds! Right before putting them in the oven, I like to add some sea salt to give them a little extra bit of deliciousness. Oh, and did I mention that as we carved pumpkins yesterday, we baked nearly three dozen peanut butter cookies. Yes, we did and I would love to share them with you! 🙂

There’s also the marathon of fave horror movies to make this haunted holiday all the scarier. Earlier in the week I recorded Masque of the Red Death (a short story by Edgar Allan Poe) starring the late, great Vincent Price. A true classic in my opinion, another fave. Since my childhood, I’ve always loved the works of Poe and his creative ingenious as he brought out an eerie darkness that has resonated amongst his fans.

With so many different fun things going on this time of year, I decided to explore the stores to see what I could find to add to this season’s decorations. A couple of weeks ago I went shopping and found an adorable, yet simple, witch’s hat. (An image of this sweet addition is even included at the end of this post.)

When I got to the register, the cashier asked, “Are you gonna be a witch for Halloween?” I casually laughed and answered, “I already am one.”

She jokingly replied, “I thought you were kidding.” I grinned while shaking my head and told her, “Actually, I’m Wiccan.”

Then, we had a brief conversation about spirituality. The young lady was very cool and extremely open-minded.

The encounter made me giggle because of its innocence, which made me want to share it with you. As I always say, “Be Original. Be True. Be YOU!” 😉 )O(

 

Alright, everyone, I’ve shared with you a few of mine and my family’s Halloween traditions, would love to hear what are some of your favorite things that you like to do? Don’t be shy, this is an open-minded site where everyone is welcome to share!

 

Blessed Samhain! )O(

Love & Light,                                                                                                                         Sheila

 

 

 

Get a copy of my novel, The Spirit Within on Amazon!

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Twitter: @sheilarparker.

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Facebook: Sheila Renee Parker – Author

 

 

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Pumpkins my son and I carved yesterday. 🙂

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Interview with film director, Michael G. Kehoe

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Today I’m welcoming back director, Michael G. Kehoe to discuss his new horror film, Alice. Thank you, Michael for stopping by!

 

 

Tell everyone a little about yourself.

I was born in Brooklyn, New York and grew up going to a Catholic school. My mother was a theater director in the local parish. One of the first films that caught my attention when I was very young was a film by an Australian director Nicolas Roeg titled “Walkabout”. Roeg was a Cinematographer on such films like “Fahrehheit 451”, Second Unit on “Lawrence of Arabia” just to name a few. So his attention to detail as far as composition and light was something that caught my attention for some reason.
My family moved to Ithaca and while I attended high school I became interested in drama and started acting. I wanted to direct so I approached the school and a sports booster club to produce the play “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. I produced it, directed it and played the leading role of R. P. McMurphy. The play was a success for the sports booster club and I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was then approached by my high school English teacher to apply to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. I then waited for word, and was finally accepted.
After completing my studies there I left for California and took a job as a bartender. There is a longer story, but it would end up being a book!

 

 

Your latest horror film is titled, Alice. Prior to it becoming a feature film, it was the short film called Hush which received more than 30 phenomenal awards. Share with us Hush’s success and how it became Alice.

I had been developing an idea that would take place in one location with female leads. I happen to have 4 sisters, they’re independent and their personalities are very strong. I have a great relationship with all of them. My mother, was a huge fan of Alfred Hitchcock, and she was a very positive inspiration for me to pursue a career as a filmmaker. All of this is what lit the fuse of inspiration. I began writing a screenplay and did not have a title. The screenplay was written quickly and I knew that every screenplay I write will have a follow up journey of a rewrite and another rewrite and another and a polish and a touch up, this is the life of a writer! Within the untitled screenplay I pulled a scene that although was less than 5 minutes long, it had somewhat of a three act structure. I then decided to take that scene and shoot it as a short film. The scene itself is the catalyst of the third act in the feature script.

I had several ideas on how I wanted to shoot the film and then contacted cinematographer and long time friend John Connor. We met and discussed the approach to the film for several months. We created story boards, developed movement of the shots and composition. John suggested we shoot the film with anamorphic lenses and that was the scope I wanted for the film giving it a grand look. We then discussed lighting. Lighting for this genre is extremely important and the right lighting can give the film a style that remains in peoples minds after they’ve left the theater. I must give credit to John Connor for the style and the lighting. At first he was reluctant when I said I did not want to use any lights at all. We looked at dozens of films that inspired us over the years and John came up with an idea that created the style of the film. It has his mark on it. I then brought on a talented editor Michael Trent. Michael and I had a friendship already through our sons, he loves filmmaking as much as I do and I felt as if we were old friends when we began discussing the short film HUSH. Michael talked about the science of the horror genre. I loved those discussions we had over coffee. Each and every moment was touched upon and I knew Michael Trent was the right choice. I not only consider him a friend, but he is my editor!

We shot the short film in one day, less than 11 hours. We came prepared and the cast and crew were spot on! At the time, I fooled around with different titles such as “Dark Rain”, “The Night It Came” and several others. Then, a friend of mine read the short script and in the script there was dialogue that the baby sitter had: “Hush, I’m coming”. So, we decided to use “HUSH”. The short film went on to win 34 awards, including a Wes Craven award. The buzz for the short was extremely rewarding and it gave us faith to continue with the feature.

I then received a call from producer Malek Akkad (producer of the HALLOWEEN franchise), he had screened the short film and read the script. We met, solidified a deal and went over the ideas for the story. Malek is a passionate producer with attention to story. He and I worked diligently on the script and spent hours going over the approach of the cast. We both agreed to avoid the cliche’ of nudity and blood and worked the relationships out that would be relatable to the female audience. We moved on and scheduled the film to shoot with an 18 day schedule that ended out being shorter than that. Believe me, if I had more time we would have used it! But we accomplished what we set out to do and I am very proud of this film.

 

 

What makes Alice the “must see” film for all horror fans?

I think the element of “what’s behind the door?” is always something that horror fans love. I learned quickly that horror fans are loyal and sharp. You can’t cheat a horror fan, if you do, you’ll never hear the end of it. The genre itself has many flavors, there’s ghosts, vampires, monsters, killers, demons and the list goes on. Each of these flavors has a following that is dedicated to the history, the tone and the style. I hope we can give the fans a ride that will open the doors to a sequel! I think they’ll enjoy this as the fans enjoyed the short film. We want to scare the crap out of the audience!

 

 

What are some things people are saying about this exciting film so far?

During post, the technicians have stated that “ALICE” is creepy with great jump scares. They’ve said “you took us on one path and then jolted us to another”. No one on the outside has even seen the film, not the crew, not the cast. Only the small circle that pulled this all together. The word has been very positive.

 

 

Is there a teaser trailer available?

We’re working on a trailer right now. In fact, we will be announcing a contest on social network very soon!

 

 

When will Alice be released for all to see?

At the present time “ALICE” is due to be released in February.

 

 

Where can horror fans find updates about Alice?

Right now people should log on to Facebook and “Like” the “ALICE The Movie” page: https://www.facebook.com/alicemovie2017/?fref=ts
There will be updates and information being released. Be sure to keep an eye out for the big event we will be announcing.
People can follow me on social network: Instagram; @mikehoe11 Twitter: @MikeyKehoe https://twitter.com/MikeyKehoe

 

 

I want to thank you Sheila Renee Parker for your support and your dedication to the paranormal. Your voice should be heard all across the country. I hope you will continue to support the films I make in the future! I would also like to thank the people you inspired to follow me. I hope I can bring the film to a theater near you!

Thank you,
Michael G. Kehoe

 

 

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Breast Cancer Awareness

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Hello all you gents and ladies out there! Just wanted to talk briefly about something serious for a moment. As we all know, October is the month for Breast Cancer Awareness. Recently, I went for my very first mammogram. Something I’m going to continue from here on out. Now that I’m 40, I’ve decided to take another step towards better health. One can never be too safe.

When I went for my mammogram, I initially was a little apprehensive to be honest with you. Why? Because it was something that I had never done before and I always heard they were quite uncomfortable. Depending on the situation, I guess anything could be. However, my experience wasn’t frightening at all. Everything was extremely professional and not painful in the least bit. Also, the clinic staff were all very kind.

A few days later I received my results that came back with a clean bill of health. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for a very dear friend of mine. A few short years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent treatment and came out with flying colors. Then, as some time passed, the cancer had returned…. spreading to other parts of her body. She continued with the fight, as strong and beautifully spirited as she was, but sadly the cancer eventually won. It’s been nearly two years since her passing and losing her is still as painful now as it was then. Even though I watched her health decline, I’m still very grateful for every moment that I was blessed to have with her. She was a great mentor to me, a radiant beacon who shared her light not only with me, but with everyone else as well.

Breast cancer is very serious and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Early detection is the best prevention!

 

 

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A Unique Vision

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Here is my latest watercolor creation. I finished painting it last night. Hope you all enjoy!!

Much Love & Light!

~ Sheila

 

Get a copy of my novel, The Spirit Within on Amazon!

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Twitter: @sheilarparker.

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Facebook: Sheila Renee Parker – Author

 

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Interview with Mike

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Today I’m welcoming a gentleman named Mike who has had a life changing experience. Was it a Near Death Experience or something more? Here is Mike to tell us his story.

 

 

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am just an ordinary guy that had an extraordinary experience. Just a regular guy, like you might see at the store, or at the game. I enjoy doing landscaping and try to make a living at it. I am a fairly creative person and enjoy art and music very much. Something very profound did happen to me however, and I thought I would share that with you.

One night, at the beginning of last year I experienced a heart attack. In typical stubborn male fashion, I excused the symptoms. I figured I would get better, and everything would be ok. After sweating a river for about 3 hours, I became overwhelmed by a feeling of eminent doom and decided that a trip to the ER was probably going to have to go ahead and happen. The good doctors told me I was in a bad way and needed some minor cath surgery and maybe more. So they prepped me and went in. I was about tuckered out by then. Half my heart hadn’t had oxygen for hours and the other half had about done all it could do to get me that far. They lost me. I went away. I left the hospital. I came back. I left again. My body was on that table the whole time, but I wasn’t there the whole time.

Both times when I left, I experienced things. I was shown things. I believe I was shown things in a way I could interpret and understand them. I’m not sure how long I was away either time, but the first time seemed rather brief. I immediately passed through a barrier. The overwhelming sense of permanency was very evident. It had happened. What was done was done, and I could not change anything. I found myself at a fork in a trail, in a beautiful wooded area. One trail went up and to the left. It was blue and white up there and very pretty. There were beautiful flowers and birds. The other fork went down and to the right. It was red and black. There were no flowers, or anything else growing there, only dead snags. It was gnarly and harsh and looked very uninviting. Something, I was not allowed to see, blocked my path at that fork. I could go down neither trail. I found myself suddenly back in the hospital. I was happy I was back.

I didn’t even have time to gain my bearings, or try to comprehend what was going on. I knew I was in surgery, and I just died. Then It happened again. I passed again through that boundary and thought the worst, surely this was it. I was gone much longer this time. Very intense things happened. Some are very personal and touch on some very emotional subjects, so I won’t go into great detail, but I went for one heck of a ride. I was shown many things. I was shown things from the past, the present and what I believe was the future. They were things that pertained to me and my life. I was then uploaded, if you will, with a lot of knowledge and switched on. It is very difficult to describe with words, but it was extremely intense. I walked by many loved ones that had passed. I arrived at a beach. It was a beautiful place. It was surreal. A lady stood on the beach. It looked like my mom, from a long time ago, when she was younger and healthier. I walked over to her and she turned to me. It was my mom, who had passed just about 6 months prior. She looked at me, and shook her head no, and smiled the biggest smile I have ever seen. Then I was back on the table, once again.

There was much more to it than that, but that is what happened to me that night, and early morning. I do not refer to my experience(s) that night as an NDE. In my mind, there was no “near” in the equation. I was dead. I don’t mean kind of dead, but dead. I was allowed to come back, twice. I am lucky. I may never understand everything I was shown that night, but it was life altering, to say the least.

 

What was your life like prior to your experience?

Life, for the most part, was fairly average. I love the outdoors, so I have always been outside doing something. I enjoy amateur astronomy, camping, hiking, etc. I worked in the nuclear industry for many years. I have always been fairly intelligent, but rather average. I was married for many years, and I have a wonderful son that I have always spent a lot of time with. I have had a fairly normal life, in most respects.

 

How has this changed your life? Have you undergone an awakening, perhaps with an emergence of abilities?

Dramatic change occurred in my life. I have always been rather intuitive, but I experienced a type of awakening, to use your word. That’s a good word for it. I am switched on now. Everything is different. I just know certain things now, and I don’t know how. I don’t even really know how to explain it in a way that makes sense, but I just know stuff. I am more religious to a degree, but I am much more spiritual. I feel a very clear connection with the universe that I could not recognize before. I feel very tuned in. I feel an overwhelming sense of empathy. I sense things.

A few of the things that have changed for me include, now having very intense dreams, now believing in past lives, believing in angels and now having the ability to sense the aura of some people. I can’t really see the aura with my eyes, but sense is a good word for it. Not with everyone, but yet even sometimes, just from a picture. The dreams are sometimes varied, but often of a recurring theme. They often portray or present what would seem to be things from past lives, in vivid detail. I am still absorbing all this and trying to comprehend it all.

 

What would you say to anyone who may be skeptical?

Skepticism is healthy. I might not believe someone if they said they experienced the things I experienced, if I hadn’t experienced it myself. I understand skepticism, especially when the experience is incredible. One day they will know also. It will come to pass for them too, when their time comes. It makes no difference to me, on a personal level, if someone believes my experience, or not. That choice is up to each person.

 

Any words of wisdom you’d care to share?

In a word, love. Love is the only thing that matters, because it is the only thing that can truly transcend the boundary between life and death. Love is the only thing that has any true value, in this great universe we live in. Live hard and love hard. Tomorrow is not promised.

 

 

 

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