I’ve been working on a new web project called Horror Stories with Julie Gill, a programmer who is also a ballet dancer. Here’s a sneak peek at the visuals. I am hoping to launch it soon.

Two recent TV series which, despite my low expectations, I have been watching, for “research purposes” are The Walking Dead and Being Human (UK version only).

The Walking Dead, on AMC, is based on a weekly comic series begun in 2003. It’s a zombie apocalypse tale set in the American South (Georgia), and better than a lot of zombie movies. The worst part is the first season had only 6 episodes and it’s been off now for many months. It shares a problem with a lot of high production TV: namely, suspense fades fast. I already forgot the characters’ names. I may have missed the undead for a while, but I got over it.

Being Human, decidedly more light-hearted, has a ridiculous premise: a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost shack up and try to pass as human in a working class Bristol neighbourhood. As embarrassing as this may sound, it is both funny and dramatic. Refreshingly, Mitchell the vampire, despite being abstinent and devastatingly handsome like his fellow male vampire stars Bill (True Blood) and Edward (Twilight) which I’ve mentioned before here and here, has no human ingénue to protect with his powers, and torture with his immortality. The worst thing about this series is the terrible and completely charmless American remake, hot on its heels and eager to capitalize on its success.

Vampire Diaries set in small town Virginia and currently in it’s second season on CW, is equally charmless. No amount of beautiful pouts can drag the teenaged characters from their dull lines and generic prettiness, and I lost interest long before the first diary entry (yes, the vampire does keep a diary, as does his human ingénue love interest).

RedRum, my show at Hallwalls is up and running now through late February. It features a new video, also titled RedRum that features young ghosts and houses that drip with blood.

Dear Buffalo,
Thanks to Hallwalls for everything and curator John Massier for the fabulous production assistance; the students at Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts and Jam Vafai for being my crew and actors; Joan Linder and Paul Vanouse, Julian and Colette Montague, Sandy Ludwig and Mark Kerwood, and Dennis Maher for lending their homes; The Buffalo Soundpainting Ensemble for creating uber-creepy sounds and introducing me to the ocean harp; Gerry Mead and Cori Wolff for lending paintings from their collections; and Debbie and Gary Hill for hosting me. Buffalo, I miss you already!
~love, Jillian

These are stills from my video, RedRum, currently in post-production. It will premiere at Hallwalls in Buffalo, opening Jan 15th!

I’ve been filming a new video in Buffalo, New York called Red Rum. It features a group of teenagers and me, as ghostly apparitions, in Victorian homes. And a decent amount of fake blood. Stay tuned.

…production still, above…