Updates, Recaps and Links

Kristina Driskill, Jason Goeres and myself at SkyDive PA (May 2007).


Hola. Slowly but surely I've started to become active again here in my own little space. I almost said "my space". Almost. I'll be revamping the whole blog here shortly but in the meantime, my Images link is finally live. Click on it in the header and you'll be whisked away to my Facebook photo album. Yes, Facebook. Almost as bad as MySpace. I also changed the Filmography link to route to my IMDb page instead of the crappy, oddly-formatted "Microsoft Word-in-a-browser" one I had at Tripod.

I added a few new links, too. I replaced the Clinton '08 link with a link to Barack Obama's site. I added links to my Facebook and YouTube pages, the latter I will be utilizing for devious purposes very soon... and I also added Joe Barlow's Cinemaslave and Tim Shrum's Lost in Schlock blogs. Check 'em out.

Also, a quick update on Erika Smith of SPLATTER BEACH fame. She's staying busy in the NYC as she's appearing opposite Marisa Tomei in the new Mickey Rourke feature THE WRESTLER, directed by Darren Aronofsky (THE FOUNTAIN, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM). She's also involved in a couple of features alongside both Billy Dee Williams and Gilbert Gottfried. Lando Calrissian AND the USA UP ALL NIGHT guy. Does it get any cooler? I am openly jealous. You can check her out here. Good luck, Erika!

So it's March and I'm still getting over 2007. I left WDTV, had a phenomenal New Year's Eve (2006 that is, don't ask about 2007), got a $1 state tax refund, started working in radio, stopped working in radio, founded my own video production business, folded my own video production business, jumped out of an airplane, moved back to Morgantown, bought The Smashing Pumpkins comeback (sort of) album Zeitgeist, met a new cousin and welcomed my friend Sam back from self-imposed exile in Germany. I should've used the DVX100 to shoot my own reality show. Money.

John Joseph Polonia (1968-2008)

John Polonia on the set of "Splatter Beach" (2006).



John Polonia and I at the NYC Subway (2002).


I still really don't know what to say about my good friend John's passing. I'm 32 years old and have never said goodbye to a friend before. It’s always been the older ones, the grandmothers and distant uncles you hadn’t seen in twenty years. So when my friend Jon McBride called me to let me know the news, I was just floored.

John Polonia was the most caring, courteous guy with one of THE most twisted senses of humor, I'd ever had the privilege of knowing. Always the first to say "be careful" when you've got a long road ahead, John was such a warm guy that when you saw him smile or heard his addictive laughter, you were almost helpless in doing the same. From being my director back in 2000 to becoming a dear friend of mine with whom I'd shared many late night conversations about movies, the challenges of life or anything else under the sun... John Polonia was truly one of the most original, wonderful people I’ve known.

It's a bit daunting to try and summarize a person's life in a few paragraphs. I suppose the last thing I want to say about John is how incredibly inspiring he was, is and will continue to be. This is the thing everyone seems to be saying about him and there's a reason. It's not just about film making. It's about pursuing your dreams and John knew that better than most. I said this at his funeral a couple of weeks back. Those who grow up knowing what they want to do and end up doing it... those are often considered the lucky ones. Well, those who grow up DOING what they want to do and never stopping... those are the really lucky ones. John Polonia was one of those. He did things on his terms and lived his dream. Very few people can actually say that. Here's to you, Johnny John, my friend...


Just a few of the tributes to John:
Joe Barlow's Cinemascape tribute
A very moving fan tribute
The Don and Murph Show's Video tribute
The Cult of Polonia
Buckheit Funeral Home's Obituary Page
John Dalton's blog
Tim Shrum's Lost in Schlock tribute
Fangoria's site
Brett Kelly's collaborative tribute
Dr. Squid's page
Fear Zone
KGB Productions
Divine Exploitation's page
Camp Motion Pictures
John’s IMDb Filmography