Sdtrk: ‘Romantic rights (The phone lovers remix)’ by Death from above 1979

Before we commence, you’ve read Part I, right? Of course you have!

The second day of the Nat.Geo shoot for ‘Taboo’, their documentary series, had Sidore and I tumbling out of bed at 8am Monday morning. In the interest of full disclosure, I think I was awake the previous eve until 2am, maybe? I can’t even remember what I was up to, now that I think about it… Shi-chan got to bed early, though. Who has more common sense?
At any rate, we got dressed and ready in the same gear as yesterday, as it was ‘the same day’, as far as the segment was concerned, in time for Geoff and Jen to arrive at Deafening silence Plus at 10 that morning, only this time, they were joined by segment director J.Siberry. He was a tall bloke, with more than a passing resemblance to South Park’s Trey Parker. Like the rest of the crew, he was Australian, but was born and raised in Toronto up until a few years ago. ‘Canaliens’, as Geoff accurately observed yesterday, when we were up at The Playhouse. To which Joe had replied, ‘That’s okay; all of us here are honorary Canaliens.’

Since most of the ‘action’ shots were already sorted, today would be comprised of the interview proper. So I plopped myself on the loveseat next to Shi-chan, and answered a volley of questions. Some were standard issue — what’s your name, when did you get Sidore, what’s a typical day for the pair of you — whereas others were ones that I’d never been asked before on camera — why do you prefer living with a Doll over an Organik woman, what’s her backstory, how do you reconcile her fictional backstory with her genuine one — which was a nice change. Much to our chagrin, however, we were getting porlocked a couple of times, for just as I was really on a roll with an answer, we had to stop proceedings, as the apartment’s landscaping crew were busy outside loudly mowing and noisily weed-whacking. Despite the fact that I was wearing a lavalier, Jen was also using a boom mike, and as you’d expect, they’re extremely sensitive. But it was like a Buster Keaton film there for a bit: they’d start, we’d stop, they’d stop, we’d start, they’d start, we’d stop. Bloody nightmare. Since it was rolling toward 12.30, we decided to break for lunch, to prevent Jen and I dashing outside and throttling the landscapers. Whilst they drove up to a local Greek restaurant that they hit yesterday, I elected to stay in — no surprise there — as it was actually getting kinda warm out. Not only that, I was desperately trying to recall what my answer would’ve been, before we were interrupted!

INVISIBLE FILM CREW

Jeff, Geoff, and Jen returned an hour later, and we got back to it. Proof that Murphy’s Law occurs every day: the landscapers finished up about ten minutes after the film crew had left. No surprise there, either. *shakes fist*

Another aspect that set this particular interview apart from the rest is that it also wanted to explore the possible correlation between being an iDollator and being autistic. Shortly after Meghan Laslocky wrote her excellent article back in 2005, we kept in contact off and on, and she told me that she had been speaking with a psychologist about the whole iDollator phenomenon. She said that he’d said that there appear to be certain traits that the two groups share. Now naturally, no-one’s saying that all iDollators are autistic, cos not all iDollators are the same, and there are varying degrees of autism. But the psychologist noted that, for one, the majority of Doll owners are not put off by a Doll’s lack of facial expressions, and one of the traits of autism is an inability to read, or an indifference towards, human facial expressions. (Insert ridiculous pseudoscientific Uncanny valley ‘theory’ here.) Again, one doesn’t necessarily equal the other, but J.Siberry was keen to hear what I thought of the notion.

Basically, I’d said that although I’m not autistic, I can see where there’d be some similarities between the two groups. Other traits of autism would be a keen eye for details and order, and a preference to things over people. Personally I’ve always abhorred clutter and disarray, true, and I’ve mentioned publically on many occasions that I’m not a ‘people person’, but those qualities don’t necessarily make me autistic. As far as a Doll’s blank stare and lack of facial expression, something like that has never bothered me in the slightest; usually, it’s quite the opposite, to be honest. *coughtechnosexualcough* And now that I’m thinking about it, I’m kicking myself for not mentioning the rubbish that is the Uncanny valley theory on camera. Grrr.
Furthermore, there’ve been erroneous lines drawn between people who are thought to be autistic, when they’re merely introverted, the latter characteristic I’ll readily cop to. But in the end equation, what difference does it make? I’ve noticed quite a few individuals who have been speculated as being autistic, many of them people that I look up to, such as Andy Warhol, Stanley Kubrick, Gary Numan, Lewis Carroll, Charles Darwin, Nikola Tesla, Albert Einstein… the list goes on. They may possibly have been autistic, but look at what they’ve contributed to the world. That’s the important bit, really.

Having finished up the interview, we got a second well-deserved break in. J.Siberry, upon seeing my controller for the XBOX game Steel battalion, had a notion that we could get some footage of me playing it with the Missus, but setting that assemblage up would’ve taken a bit of time. Upon reflection, we should’ve gone for it, though. How often do you see a Goth RealDoll playing Steel battalion? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
Geoff grabbed some pickup shots of Deafening silence Plus, whilst J.Siberry and I talked about Toronto, and I spoke with Jen about Frank Lloyd Wright, as she’s keen on his architecture. The last bit of filming indoors involved me massaging Shi-chan’s shoulders and feet (heh, again), and taking an autism spectrum quotient test online, and assessing the results on camera. If you like, you can take the test yourself here. My score, you ask? Well, you’ll just have to watch the documentary when it comes out, won’t you?

Finally, they wanted to get some shots of me out-of-doors. I don’t know if I visibly blanched, but I tried my best. ‘Is there maybe a part of town you hang out at, or someplace you go?’ they asked. ‘Err… well, there is the cemetery,’ I’d replied, truthfully. Heh, just like in the very first interview we did for French public telly, and the still-in-development-hell documentary by Allison De Fren! So the crew broke everything down and loaded it into the SUV, and we made our way to Woodlawn Cemetery, over on Woodward. They filmed me walking up and down one of the dirt roads, contemplating the beautiful silence of being outside, as a quote from Morrissey sprang to mind: ‘I can stand in a graveyard for hours and hours, just inhaling the individuals.’
We returned to my flat about 5pm, where I signed the requisite release forms, and they told me that the episode of ‘Taboo’ was slated to be aired in the next couple of months, for their new fall season. As per usual, when I know, you lot will know, etc etc.

photo by J.Siberry

Handshakes and hugs were exchanged, and the crew piled into their vehicle to head off to their hotel. All in all, that was a really enjoyable experience! Between Emily’s inquisitive research, and J.Siberry, Geoff, and Jen putting everyone involved at ease, I think the final results will go pretty well. I’m definitely glad they’d asked me to be a part of it!
And then Sidore and I took a nap. The end!

Sdtrk: ‘A benção bahia’ by Toquinho

My enlightening report on our recent film crew interactions goes up Monday. In the meantime, Happy Summer Solstice!

Germany 1970. The German moderator discuss in the beginning how boring and lame the official looks are and that the fashion and color designers came up with the following outfits to make the game more interesting and colorful. They explain very detailed the colors since at the point many did not have color tv!
Clearly they made my day with the ideas. I just keep cracking up! I have no clue why they dance so madly. latin music dancing models with soccer fashion without shoes. but even Guenther thinks that the trikot needs an update as a service and entertainment for the fans who watch soccer games

Category: Comedy

Sdtrk: ‘Hang on Lucifer’ by Seeland

As you’re probably aware, it had been a couple of years since my affictitious wife Sidore and I were in front of the camera for any television or video programmes. Although we had been solicited by a number of less-than-suitable shows, we’ve not been on telly since that episode of Sweden’s programme ‘Outsiders’ back in 2006. So when the respected institution of National Geographic asked after us, needless to say, we leapt at the opportunity…

Our filming was to take place on 14 and 15 June; a Sunday and a Monday. Which, as you’d suspect, was awkward, as it wasn’t a week-end, but despite researcher Emily Potts’ tireless lobbying efforts towards the producer, no other windows were available. As a matter of fact, whilst one crew were filming us, another crew would be filming fellow iDollator Everard over in England, at the same time. Coincidence? Scheduling!
Emily told me to expect a call from Jeff Siberry, the crew director, on Saturday, to confirm a few things. The crew would comprise himself, another Geoff (the cameraman), and Jen (handling sound). Earlier that Saturday, Tsukihime had stopped round for a very pleasant surprise visit, and at one point, the phone rang, displaying a blocked number, and as I never answer those type of calls, I let voicemail handle it. Hours after Tsukihime made her leave, I checked my voicemail, and it turned out to be J.Siberry (I’ll refer to him by that name from this point on, in order to prevent confusing the ubernyms), calling before hopping on the flight to DTW. Yep, I forgot that he was due to call. He got a hold of me later that eve, but he said he wouldn’t be showing up on Sunday, as he’d come down with something, and he didn’t want to spread the T-virus to everyone in SE Michigan. Sound advice! J.Siberry said that he’d be hitting an urgent care place when he got off the phone, so he could load up on antibiotics, but Geoff and Jen would still be coming round for shooting on Sunday at 9.30am, and he would join them to ask me interview questions on Monday. That having been sussed, Shi-chan and I hit the sack round midnight, which is early for us, completely abuzz with antici… pation.

The alarm clock got us up at a hideous 7am, in order for us to get ready. Which was good, as originally the plan was for the Missus to wear a corset she received from new BFF Trina, over a dress she received from Mari, but it didn’t quite work out that way — the corset was fighting me, for one — but Shi-chan picked out an ensemble that was Gothy, yet understated. But then, she always manages to look good in nearly anything…
Geoff and Jen arrived at Deafening silence Plus a wee bit after 9.30. Now, the production company for ‘Taboo’ is based in Australia, but is more global than local, as befits the name National Geographic. Geoff, although originally from Sydney, currently lives in the East coast of the States, and Jen, also from Sydney, resides in Los Angeles. So after the introductions, the compliments about the flat (‘how long did it take you to collect all these figures?), and how lovely the Missus looked (‘she’s really stunning’), and hauling 80 lbs of equipment into the place, we got started round 10. It was mostly ‘action’ shots — updating Shi-chan’s Twitter feed, having brekky, things of that nature. People don’t think you can have a domestic life with a RealDoll as a partner, but we’re living proof it can be done! Well, the ‘living’ part is fifty per cent of it, really.

According to Emily, our segment would be slated to appear in an episode entitled ‘Extreme Relationships’ — which immediately conjures images of the Missus and I surfing down scorching waves of lava down the side of a volcano whilst fighting pirates bare-handed — part of the goal of the segment was to show viewers that even though I have a Synthetik wife, I’m a regular person just like everyone else. Yeah, I’m snickering, too. But the idea was to show that I have friends that I hang out with, for one. We were also tentatively supposed to film round at my local sushi joint, but unfortunately, that fell through. So at about a quarter to noon, I let Shi-chan rest up on our bed as Geoff and Jen packed up a third of their gear, and we drove up to The Playhouse, aka Derek & Steph’s house, featuring special guest star Joe. Have I mentioned how fantastic my friends are?

Although Jeff couldn’t make an appearance due to prior obligations that day, it went quite well. Not only did Geoff & Jen think highly of The Playhouse, but Derek, Steph, and Joe immediately warmed up to the crew, especially once they learned that they’d worked on various episodes of Mythbusters. We got downstairs to the basement, where our chicanery usually takes place, and the crew filmed us passing the controllers round for Earth Defence Force 2017, although you won’t actually be able to see the screen, due to licensing issues. Originally, Derek and I thought them filming us playing Rock Band 2 would’ve been ace, but could you imagine the rights issues on that??
Over the course of the shoot, Geoff had asked my friends on camera two questions: what do you think of Davecat and Sidore’s relationship, and what do you think of people who are disparaging of iDollator relationships? I’ll not repeat what they’d said (partially cos I can’t remember it), but they all had lovely and heartfelt answers, which is what you would expect from the intelligent and open-minded people that they happen to be. Have I mentioned how fantastic my friends are?

That segment being successfully done and dusted, Geoff and Jen thanked everyone; they were going to break for lunch, and meet up with me back at mine in an hour. About ten minutes after they took off, Mari showed up, having had to attend a memorial service. We all enjoyed a post-game chat, filling her in on proceedings whilst outside in Steph’s backyard vegetable garden. Mari has had, of late, an aversion to appearing on camera — she was in the very first interview we did for French public telly, as well as the still-in-development-hell documentary by Allison De Fren — but she said she’d be willing to answer questions about me, the Missus, or Dolls in general, as long as she wasn’t being filmed. So after cramming a couple of slices of garlic bread into my mouf, I left The Playhouse, with Mari following. Unfortunately, her time window was really limited, as she had to leave for work about fifteen minutes after arriving at mine, but she spoke with Geoff & Jen for a wee bit, and told them to contact her through me if they needed any additional info. Have I mentioned how fantastic my friends are?

Filming continued apace, as the crew spent the last three hours shooting me dressing the Missus, brushing her silky purple locks, carrying her to and fro, showing off her armoire and explaining the various items in it, etc etc. We wrapped up for the day round 4pm, everyone agreeing that things were going incredibly well so far, and that we’d pick it up the next day at 10am. Apart from the fact that my legs were virtually throbbing due to all that Doll-lifting, so far so good!

NEXT UP: Monday!

Sdtrk: ‘I’ve changed my plea to guilty’ by Morrissey

Just a heads-up to friends and regular readers of ‘Shouting etc etc’ in general: as the Good People of National Geographic will be descending upon Deafening silence Plus at the tail end of this week-end, I’ll be busy prepping the place, as well as the Missus. Why am I noting this publically, you say? Basically, I’ve been delinquent with responses to people here, and on compatriots’ blogs, and, well, Emails, various messaging programmes, phone calls, telepathy, carrier pigeons, etc etc, and I don’t want anyone to feel as if I’m ignoring them, cos that simply isn’t the case.
So next week, I should be theoretically be back up to speed. Whatever that speed may be, exactly. Heigh ho!

One question: anyone know the best way to get blood stains out of carpeting? We’re talking a couple of stains about four feet wide, on a kind of putty-coloured carpet. As much as I’ve been scrubbin’, they just won’t disappear!
Err… y’know — just out of curiosity’s sake

Sdtrk: ‘The sound of music’ by Joy division

Finally, some topics worth writing about! Last month’s drought was pretty discouraging, wouldn’t you agree? Unless, of course, you had genuine concerns about custard.

+ REALDOLL2, ELECTRIC BOOGALOO: Abyss creations has very quietly announced that the models for the brand-new RealDoll2 line — both male and female — are now available for sale. What makes them different, apart from the number 2 after the brand name, you axe? Well, according to the site:

RD2 features advanced weight reduction without sacrificing the feel of the doll, a magnet-based face X (removable faces) with a 7″ deep mouth cavity, optional removable inserts for ease of hygiene and maintenance, and a new line of faces and bodies to be added to the RD2 collection throughout the coming years. Coupled with some engineering improvements in our skeleton system, including stainless steel parts and tooled aluminum fingertip guards, these new dolls are sure to develop a great reputation and set new standards in the doll industry.

Huh! They’re starting out with five models total — Michelle, Aimee, Michael, Nick, and Nate — but to date, they’ve only posted pictures for Michelle, Michael, and Nick. The female Body A stands 5’3″, is between 65-70 lbs, and has measurements of 33.24.35, and the male Body A is about 85-90 lbs and the Body B male is 75-80 lbs, and both are 5’9″. Wow, I weigh more than they do, and I’m a skinny bastard.
Needless to say, I approve! Apparently, not only are they going to be made with the new platinum silicone that seems to be the industry standard for all the major Doll manufacturers, but you’ll be able to switch and swap pre-existing RealDoll (or, as they say, ‘classic’) faces and bodies with the RealDoll2 ones. And that Michelle looks cute as a blonde, but I’m fairly certain she’ll be even tastier as a brunette! But I would say that.

If it’s warm in there, her thighs are gonna stick to that loveseat

+ AIR DOLL, NOT AIR JORDAN: In one of the entries for May in the Diary section of ‘Ta-bo’s Kisekae dataroom’, he’d mentioned a film was due out in Japan called ‘Kuuki Ningyo‘, or ‘Air Doll’. Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, it’s adapted from a twenty-page manga created by Yoshiie Gouda back in 2000. It was screened, to a reasonable amount of success, at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, and will be hitting Japanese cinemas this Autumn.

Heh, did you notice the seams on her neck and arm? Cute!

Hideo, who lives alone, owns a life-size “air doll”, which suddenly finds herself with a heart. Everything is new to her in the world outside Hideo’s house. She meets all kinds of people. The world is filled with so many beautiful things, but everyone seems to have some kind of hollowness, just as she has. In the morning, she pumps herself up, and takes a walk.

One afternoon, she meets Junichi who works at a rental video store, and instantly falls in love with him. A first date. New words she learns from him. She starts working with him at the store, enjoys talking and being with him. Everything seems to be going perfect, until something unexpected happens to the doll.
taken from this site

Although inflatables aren’t my thing, the concept of a sentient Doll definitely carries a certain appeal, and as I’ve read that rights have been secured for ‘Kuuki Ningyo’ to be released in the UK, Spain, and France, I’ll just have to hunt this ‘un down…

+ SHE’LL ONLY GET PAID SCALE: So according to the latest entry on 4woods‘ Information page, one of their lovely Yu-ki-types will be making an appearance in ‘Kibougaoka war‘, a new film which looks to be in the vein of the classic French sex farce films. If you enquire with SYSTRAN as to what 4woods has said about it, it’ll reply

June 13th (Saturday) it is screened at Shibuya EUROSPACE, the Akio Zitusiyouzi original, starring to “desire A.I.NEO superior possession season ([yuuki]) of this corporation performs hill married couple war” of the 珠 cord which is questioned. Because the Stowe [ri] – it is performance with the scene which becomes an important point above, the one which has the opportunity which you view does not flee by all means.
Even in Nagoya & Osaka consecutively it becomes screening.

and then, you’ll wish you hadn’t asked SYSTRAN anything. If you watch the trailer on the site proper, it should arguably make more sense to you. Err, ish.

+ SYNTHETIKS ON STAGE, KINDA: Sidore and I have a new friend by the name of Anonymous Realdoll Owner; we call her Ardeaux, cos it’s classier as well as shorter. I mean, if we were out in the woods, and we wanted to warn her that a grizzly was sneaking up behind her, by the time we finished shouting ‘Look out, Anonymous Realdoll Owner, there’s a grizzly bear behind you!’, she’d be lunch and possibly dinner. But ursine dinner leftovers aside, Ardeaux had found a review for a new stage play at the Burton-Taylor Theatre in Oxford, England, entitled ‘A Real Doll‘, written by Theo Merz and directed by Sophie Duker:

‘A Real Doll’ is a play about a lonely middle aged man who orders a custom made sex doll to fulfil all his social and emotional needs, amongst others. With a premise like that the show could have got by on uncomfortable hahas and morbid curiosity alone. Yet, though there is sufficient squirming voyeurism, to keep you from making eye contact with the opposite sex for hours, underneath it all lurks a genuinely funny and interesting play.

Natasha Leigh, playing The Doll, does a fantastic job in both her animate and inanimate roles. A rigidity pervades her every move, through the long periods of stillness at the start, through giddy joy in the middle to the explosively angry climax. Complementing her was the nervous twitch and fidget of Richard O’Brien’s as he played Jeffry Hutchens. The excited tremor of his hands as he first touched his new acquisition’s skin made the whole audience, women especially, shudder and recoil. Both characters were awkward, but in completely different ways.
the rest of the article is here

Hrrm. Going by the above review, and the more explanatory one found here, it seemed that the overall tone of the play was leaning less away from the iDollator-positive ‘Lars and the Real Girl’ end of the media view, and more towards the regrettable ‘Love object’ end. It’ll be a grand day when iDollators are no longer portrayed in mainstream media as skulking, repellent perverts, and instead as decent and ‘normal’ (there’s a loaded word) individuals who simply have different preferences for their partners. Naturally, there’ll be other films and plays down the line (Emmet, I’m looking in your direction), and it’s my hope that people will let go of their baseless prejudices, and perceptions will shift towards the positive. It’s asking a lot, I know, but nevertheless.

+ KNEWS FROM KNIGHTHORSE. SORRY, THAT WAS AWFUL: The latest encouraging missive from KnightHorse, creators of Lovable Dolls, includes a reduction in price for their standard issue Lover Girls (down to $4800 USD, plus shipping), three new female heads in development (in Asian, Eurasian, and Caucasian flavours) as well as one new female body in development (5’5″ with DD breasts), and the finalisation of their first Lover Guy (due out in 12 – 16 weeks). O, and soon they’ll also be offering an accessory that directly addresses me: Lovable Feet.

Can also be used as sexy paperweights

Like the Lovable Dolls, the feet are made of platinum silicone, as platinum is the new gold standard, and are sculpted from an Organik model. They come in two styles (lengths?) — Short, which goes to the ankle, and Tall, which goes to the knee, and are available in a variety of skintones and nail colours. You can’t see me from there, but I’m nodding approvingly.
KnightHorse go on to say that the Lovable Feet, as well as the torso and Doll stands, will be sold through a sister site, which is currently in development. Fab! For now, however, if you’re in the know, you can see more photos of those gorgeous affictitious peds on the Lovable Dolls’ flickr page.

+ ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER FILM CREW: After another pleasant hour-long chat with Emily Potts of National Geographic last Sunday, despite either Skype or my microphone deciding to go tits up before the conversation began, it looks like shooting for our segment of ‘Taboo’ will indeed be this month. Indeed, it’ll be in two weeks! Indeed! Who’s more excitable, myself or Shi-chan? Who’s more nervous?
As stated before, it’ll be nice to finally show off our (not so) new digs to the viewing public, among other things. And as long as the crew isn’t as haphazard as the Swedes turned out to be, this should be another fun experience…

So there you have it! Surely that must make up for last month’s poor showing, wouldn’t you agree? Answer: yes

Technorati tags: Abyss Creations, RealDolls, Kuuki Ningyo, Air Doll, 空気人形, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Yoshiie Gouda, Kibougaoka War, 希望ケ丘夫婦戦争, 4woods, A.I.Dolls, Theo Merz, Sophie Duker, iDollators, KnightHorse, Lovable Dolls, National Geographic, Taboo, grizzly

Sdtrk: ‘Love missile F1-11’ by Sigue sigue sputnik

If you were lucky enough to grow up during the Eighties (and be old enough to appreciate it), you’ll recall a certain film director by the name of John Hughes, who brought the world a cluster of features that exemplified the adventures, the awkwardness, and the angst of being a teenager during the mid-to-late Eighties. Sixteen Candles. The Breakfast Club, starring the sardonically gorgeous Ally Sheedy. And my all-time personal favourite, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. To me, Ferris Bueller was less of a film, and more of a treatise on how to live. But that’s another post altogether!
So you lot remember how retro-modern Cameron Frye’s house was, right? That fantastic metal-and-glass dwelling hidden in the woods? Well, apparently the fecker’s now for sale.

Ohh yeeaaahh

The Ben Rose Home-site of the famous movie ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’, cantilevered over the ravine, these two steel and glass buildings, which can never be duplicated, have incredible vistas of the surrounding woods. This is a unique property designed by A. James Speyer and David Haid, both notable architects of the 20th Century. Estate Sale Sold ‘As Is’ No disclosures! This is an amazing architectural treasure.

Looks like they replaced the glass on that one side, since that accident with the Ferrari

Owned by a former photographer — the aforementioned Ben Rose — and located in Highland park, Illinois, this house was designed in 1958, and features four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a three-car garage. Not only that, it’s got a hell of a view overlooking a ravine (obviously), and SWEET SLOW-ROASTED CHRIST IT’S CAMERON’S HOUSE.
With the price that they’re letting it go for, you’d think it was an authentic Hollywood prop, as they’re asking $2,300,000 USD for it. Does that at least include a Red Wings jersey?

I am buying that house, a Ferrari, and oppressively raising a kid who will ultimately destroy it all. Best cos-play ever!

– pwmolloy, gadabout and dude of all seasons

Okay, commence Ferris Bueller quotes… now

Sdtrk: ‘Gabriela (El Guincho remix)’ by Joe Crepúsculo

Whilst performing one of my usual / many / relentless searches for Synthetik information/pictures recently, I uncovered this steampunky gem:

‘Wind-up Gynoid’ is by Scott Miron, a photographer out of Minnesota. Looking over his portfolio, he’s got quite an impressive body of work, but that seems to be the only Gynoid-related pic he’s done to date. Why stop at just one? is my question.

Better post soon, as I’ll be hanging out with a handful of iDollator colleagues this Saturday for another Parliament. I’ll be broke but gleeful!