SCARY ANNIVERSAR-ARY
Posted by terrance | Filed under Happenings, Repo Shadow Casts, The Molting
It was a year ago this month that I went live with my website. A year ago that I branded myself “The Cockroach Guy”. It’s also the one-year mark of my very first blog entry.
Prior to October 2008, I didn’t really know what a blog was. I assumed it was some pretentious Internet thing that I was too old to “get”, and found the word “blog” to be comical. Blog sounds a cross between “blech!” and “log” (the kind one flushes down the toilet), as in “Last night, I left a blog on your mother’s pillow.”
Since 10/08, I’ve not only kept a blog, but have embraced it as a creative outlet. The Blog has indeed become an important aspect of my artistic life. It’s allowed me to meet and communicate with hosts of wonderful and twisted individuals all over the globe, as well as archive the highs and lows of what has been possibly the most unique year of my life.
I’ve chronicled in detail my experience traveling all over creation watching REPO! The Genetic Opera’s metamorphosis from critically-panned film and box office failure into cult phenomenon. I’ve shared the painful reception I received after reading a tale of masturbation and ass worship to a “captive” audience, the awkwardness of male-on-male massage, the shame of unknowingly threatening a retard, and the anxiety and relief experienced after a waaaay past-due dental examination.
Yep, this has been one hell of a year! And it’s been an honor—and rather therapeutic—to share my experiences with all of you through this online journal.
When traveling, I’m always amazed and humbled to encounter so many of you who follow—and many who stalk!—this blog. On the road, I’m continually showered with quips and gifts directly inspired by something that was posted here. From pairs of gloves in response to a So-Cal confession of not owning a winter wardrobe, to playful ribbing by way of a recorded reenactment of a short story that I admitted grossed me out, to scores of photos, drawings, writings, and wink-wink nod-nods about some of my…ahem…proclivities.
I’ve received rape van cakes, chests full of cockroaches and cucumbers, and scores of sexual photos, drawings, and writings. This past weekend, for example, while attending the Sacramento Horror Film Festival, I was slipped slips of paper that featured derrière doodles and an illustrated set of knockers with the words “Please sign my boobs”. To my chagrin, a dude made these drawings.
Thankfully, there were lots of lovely ladies strutting the stage of the Historic Colonial Theatre this weekend: Sacramento Horror Film Fest’s audiences were treated to a zombie beauty pageant, bloodbath burlesque, and the debut performance by Sac’s live REPO! shadowcast, “Amber’s Sweets” (which included full-frontal Single Mother breast-flashing!). REPO!’s lovely Henchgirls, Alisa Burket and Andreja Punkris, were also in attendance, as well as pro wrestler Chris Jericho, who put on a dress, got on all fours, and begged REPO! to make him its bitch.
Speaking of schooling, as part of the festival’s lineup, I conducted a seminar on my creative process and development as an artist, entitled “From the Cradle to the Grave”. In this presentation, I debuted images from chapter 2 of my 12-part graphic novel series, The Molting. Issue #2, “The Happiest Place on Earth”, will be available November 15th at www.TheMoltingComic.com.
photo by Staci Layne Wilson
In promotion of the release of the second part of the series, I will be appearing at Orlando’s Anime/Horror Event, ZonaCon, November 20-22. For tickets and info, visit: http://www.zonacon.com/
In the spirit of anniversaries and reflecting on the past, during this past weekend’s festival activities I was also presented with an unexpected blast-from-the-past: a fan asked me to autograph the DVD case for an obscure—and very bad—B-horror film entitled Chain of Souls. I was an extra on this movie some 10 odd years ago, and had forgotten entirely about the project’s existence until some of REPO!’s fans uncovered it and have since ridiculed—rightfully so!—my 10-second appearance in the movie.
The Chain of Souls encounter is indicative of how my blog works: a unique encounter presents itself, I snap a photo, post it, and describe the experience. Thanks to all of you for giving me a plethora of blog worthy material to work with this past year. I look forward to a new year of blogging and hope that you will join me on the journey.
Additional thanks to Tim Meunier for organizing Sacramento Horror Film Festival and for having me as a guest, to Mr. Lobo and The Queen of Trash for their ghoulish hosting, and to the cast and crew of Amber’s Sweets.
October 28th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
You can stay in the bowels of hell!
Fuck Yes, Mr. Zdunich. All that can be said in response to this one, really.
As interesting a journey as it’s got to have been for you, it’s been great to live vicariously by reading this blog (slog? log+blegh?).
I’m pretty sure it’s helped a lot of us fans feel like we’re just a little more connected with your work… and that’s a pretty cool feeling.
Also.. First! :>
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October 28th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
An ass-man? YOU?
Oh, never.
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October 28th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
It has been a pleasure reading about your many experiences.
Can’t wait for issue 2 and ZonaCon.
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October 28th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
‘The Chain of Souls encounter is indicative of how my blog works: a unique encounter presents itself, I snap a photo, post it, and describe the experience. ‘
…WELL?
Where’s my photo, Mr. Zabooblewibble?
Also, you need to make the picture of teenaged you readily available, so I don’t have to spend the time and money hunting down your yearbook.
Kthnx.
<3
~Peaches
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October 28th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
I concur with Peaches!
By the way, it was absolutely FANTASTIC to finally meet you! I’m curious as to how the brain is doing ^-^
<3,
Nicole Vicious
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October 28th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Thanks for making yourself so available and laughing along with us dorks as we make fools out of ourselves for your attention! Give and take like that just grows on itself.
It’s been wonderful to meet you, even if in person I am personally a little to inhibited to do the whole T&A showing off (I managed to stave it off for the five seconds it took to give you a kiss while Susan took a picture, but that’s pretty extreme for me), but it’s fun watching others get into it!
Thanks again!
Flor/nobody
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October 28th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
What an interesting journey it has been to you and all of us who were early devotees. Repo! and it’s creators will always be something extremely special and important to me. Thank you Mr. Zdunich.
And to top it all off, my anti-spam word was toast.
Toastify!
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October 28th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
To add to Peaches comment, if you don’t provide us with that picture we can always take the picture out of the video taken of the seminar. No matter what, we’ll have it Mistah Zee.
It was good seeing you there. I hope you enjoyed yourself, I know I did.
-Toast
PS. I am completely jealous of Anthony’s Anti-spam word
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October 29th, 2009 at 6:27 am
Hey there graverobber! Just wanted to say “thanks” for continuing to share your journey with us Repo!heads.
I was so surprised when you actually wrote me back when Repo was first released and I wrote telling you how amazed I was… and to see you continuing that connection w/your fans… even AFTER Repo! has become such a huge success.
well sir, you have my eternal respect!
oh and get your BUTT TO NEW MEXICO BUDDY!!! lol
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October 29th, 2009 at 7:39 am
Is it weird my anti-spam word was “van”? Ah, the rape van cakes, sweet
Anyway, as a patron of the SHFF and a lucky participant in the night that was Repo! at the Colonial theater… I just have to say it was one of the best nights of my life 
A small amount of pictures to remember it (my camera sucks, fuzzy images and dying right before I got my picture with you… still waiting for the girl who took the pic for me to e-mail it), and still it was one of the most fantastic events ever. Thank you for coming out with Darren and the henchgirls to grace us with your presence and your talent. I have GOT to do this again, so um… when are you coming back to Sacramento? 
Happy Anniversary-ary!
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October 29th, 2009 at 8:00 am
Yay! Happy Blog-versary!
It was SO great to meet you this weekend, we all hope you come back to Sacramento sometime to see the full production!
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October 29th, 2009 at 8:25 am
By the way…next time I get to meet you, I am TOTALLY going to ask you to sign my ass!
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October 29th, 2009 at 8:53 am
I’m starting to wonder if Terrance chose these Anti-Spam words himself. Except this one was WAVE and I can’t see how that pertains to anything TZ.
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October 29th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Terrance,
Thanks for being so available and such a good sport throughout the festival. With the legion of Repo fans hounding you for two straight days, you were nothing but friendly to all of them. The Repo weekend was a huge success, and we’re all very appreciative of the support of you, Darren, the Hench Women, and of course the entire Shadow Cast.
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October 29th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I first saw the movie about a month ago and fell in love immediately and absolutely. Even though I live a good three hours from Sac, I knew I had to be there for this event. I’m so fucking glad that I dragged my ass out there for the full four days.
First, I’ve gotta say that REPO! has the most awesome fans. I didn’t know what to expect at the screening. The screaming, the singing, the “TESTIFY!”, the cosplaying!? Fucking fantastic, those loud, glorious people. Such love and adoration. I feel extremely lucky to be a part of such a passionate fanbase.
The festival site gave the impression that there would be NO shadowcast performance. Well fuck me, when I saw that fog machine pump into action and Graverobber throw himself across the stage, I howled with joy. Totally unexpected, totally amazing.
When we lined up for autographs I immediately went to the back because I had zero monies and figured it would have been extremely rude to be in front of people who did (yeah, yeah, hugs are free, I know.) Hurray for my feelings of guilt! I got to spend a good hour stealing hugs from most of the shadowcasters and singing with the ever-fucking-hilarious Pavi, Luigi, the girlfriend of those fantastic, lesbian single mom boobs (to quote her, “Yes, I hit that.”), and a handful of other Amber’s Sweets.
I’m pretty sure I made an ass of myself by requesting hugs from basically every person there and stuttering out pointless bullshit because I was nervous as all hell when buying my copy of The Molting (don’t tell girls they smell good, Terrance, it fries every goddamn circuit in our brains).
Guitly Susie. Holy. Shit. I’d kept myself ignorant to basically every aspect of it because I knew I’d be buying it and didn’t want to ruin anything. I was afraid you might give too much away when you gave your lecture, but my fear was misplaced. The artwork looks SO much better in hand than it does on that screen, that’s for damn sure. After reading it, I may or may not have written five pages of braingushing. I’ll just say that the first act was extremely painful to experience (in the best way) and inspirational and just so fucking wonderfully crafted.
In closing
- Your voice could probably paralyze someone by provoking pure, violent pleasure.
- Lawl@ Jericho, drunken douche extraordinaire (…but he actually is quite a huge fucker and I’d hate to tousle with him o.o)
- Your fans = so much win
- Likewise, your art = so much win
- I’m pretty sure my leg was all up in your crotch at some point, but my mind was screaming with simultaneous horror and lecherous glee so I can’t be sure.
- You’re way too nice. Honestly, you sweet bastard, you.
- Wtb next chapter, plzkthnx, my interest has been thoroughly whet.
Newish superchatty stalker,
Kaid
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October 30th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
I just recently bought Chain of Souls! I meant to mention it earlier! We are your true lovers!
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October 31st, 2009 at 12:12 am
So, this is like a Happy Birthday, isnt it?
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October 31st, 2009 at 9:26 pm
just finished “screening” Repo as a halloween treat for a new batch of juvenile detainees….
but your single mother boob flashing reminds me of a question i wanted to ask at Fangoria but was too distracted to ask, WHY DOES THE SINGLEMOM NOT HAVE GIGANTIC FAKE TITS??? WHY ELSE WOULD SHE THANK GENECO FOR THEM????
i love your blogs terrance. so my standard line applies, “dont stop. no, no dont stop. keep going, yes. YES! YES!”
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November 8th, 2009 at 1:30 am
I love what you wrote about chris Jericho it was just Hilarious ~Thanks =)
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December 14th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
I love the picture of you on the main page of this website. So cute!
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December 21st, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Hey, my hamsters will eat your cockroach!
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