Ladies and gentlemen... the Genetic Opera! (image-heavy is an understatement)
If you've talked to me at all in the past couple weeks, then I've probably at least mentioned Repo! The Genetic Opera - a movie I rented on a whim and ended up falling in love with. There was a screening at Chandler Cinemas last night (and another tonight), featuring a shadow cast a la Rocky Horror and a few special guests (Terrance Zdunich and Darren Smith, co-creators, and Alexa Vega, actress). I decided that I could not miss out on this.
So, this was the plan:
-straighten hair, dye it black (temporarily), and go dressed as opera-outfit Shilo Wallace
- go to the theater with Duyen ( wwwwowiewww) and Christine, and meet my cousin Jasmine at the theater at about 6:30 p.m. (the Repo! festivities kicked off at seven)
-be back to the dorms by around midnight
As usual with me, very little actually went according to plan. It was stil probably one of the most fun things I've ever done.
The rest of this is going to be under cuts, because I have a feeling this is going to get lengthy...
First, a few things about the outfit I wore.
I love that the whole thing was really inexpensive - I actually had most of it (dress, boots, necklace, watch) already, so I only needed to get the stockings and gloves (both $6 at Hot Topic). It came together really well. I did have to fix the chain to the necklace, though, since it got caught in my hair and snapped. So yes, there were pliers involved in the making of this costume.
I swear, one of these days I'm just going to go into a salon and have them chop off all my hair. (Okay, most of my hair.) Because it is not right at all that it takes me four hours to straighten that all out with a flat-iron. It's also not right that my hair instantly goes curly again when it gets wet - including when it touches hair dye - and I have to go back and straighten in again.
Also. If you want to get some good temporary hair-dye for cheap... then for the love of all that is good and holy, never ever use Color Fiends. The stuff just does not dry - every time I went to brush a strand of hair out of my face, my fingers came away with this black film on them, and I didn't want anyone to see my hands the whole night because they looked gross. Ugh.
Here's how everything came together:
Ta-daa! Opera Shilo is ready to go to the opera.
Before we could enjoy Repo!, we actually had to get there.
Duyen confirmed that she could come with us ar around five p.m. - I tried to go online and grab her a ticket, but onlines sales had closed and "tickets may be available at the door". Duyen didn't want to risk it being sold out (we're in downtown Phoenix, and if she went with us but couldn't come in, then she'd be stranded in Chandler for hours), and opted to stay behind.
So Christine and I, two girls armed with a Google Maps printout and no sense of direction otherwise, struck out on our own. We missed the turn-off we were supposed to take and ended up going about a third of the way to Tucson before realizing this. We stopped to get directions, and once we got where we were supposed to be, we had trouble finding Chandler Cinemas. We ended up getting there at about 7:15, long after we had intended to. Jasmine, who was supposed to meet us at the theater, was nowhere in sight.
Christine and I spent some time looking for Jasmine; after looking through the crowd, I pointed out to Christine that she was the most normally-dressed person there, and probably the only one wearing pink (later amended to the only one wearing something pink that isn't a corset). She pointed to a pigtailed girl over at the box-office in a black corset, green-and-purple tutu, and purple feather boa, and said, "She's wearing purple. Close enough."
The girl turned around, for a second, and lo and behold, it was my friend Dice from high school. Another friend, Sabrina, was with her. I ran over, there was a happy reunion and much gushing over each other's outfits.
Christine and I went back outside to continue our search for Jasmine - we figured that if we had gotten lost, maybe she had too, and she hadn't shown up yet. We did, however, run right into Alexa and Terrance and got to speak with them briefly. Alexa was really sweet; she really liked my outfit and was really excited that two Repo noobs like me and Christine (we first saw the movie two weeks ago and three days ago, respectively) came to the event. Terrance was awesome too, and offered hugs and pictures.
First picture at the event. And a mighty fine first picture, if I may say so myself. *squee*
We started getting called into the theater. One last look around for Jasmine, and still nothing. I felt bad about it if she showed up later, but we went inside. (Turns out she just couldn't find the place and went back home.)
Inside, things started off with an introduction of our Very Special Guests. The director, Darren Lynn Bousman, couldn't be there since he was in Canada, but he called in and said hello via a speaker-phone/mic combo. Bill Moseley was with him, and not only said hi to us all but sang us a bit of "Mark It Up" as well.
Terrance, Alexa, and Darren.
Then the auction started - first up was a coin touched by Paris Hilton ("the closest you'll ever get to Paris, people!"), second was a jacket worn by Dead Marni ("Has it been cleaned?" / "Absolutely not!")...
Rotti Largo would like to start the bidding at one million dollars.
...and a date with Terrance. Neither I nor anyone I was with had near enough money to afford what that cost. I ended up asking Dice, "D'you think they'd accept currency in the form of souls?"
"Three hundred? Do I hear three hundred dollars? Three hundred and we'll make Terrance say 'GRAAAAAAAVES!'" And he did.
The auction lots went for $100, $125, and $600. Three guesses as to how much Terrence went for. Also, the party that got him? Made up of a group of three ladies. Cue lewd jokes about how much fun that particular date would get.
I said it in the cut, and I'll say it again here. Spoilers. For pretty much the entire film.
...also, I know you're reading this, mother. Before you freak out, the cut was quoting the title of a song.
Opening shots of the movie - the Largos, the Repo Man, and some GENterns.
Family time with the head of GeneCo.
"It's quick. It's clean. It's pure. It could change your life, rest assured. It's the twenty-first century cure."
"We will always be here for you in your time of need. Shilo, you're the world to me."
"I'm the Repo - legal assassin!"
"Mark It Up"
"I'll inherit all Dad's stuff - take Dad's will and write you out!"
"In denial, Nathan blamed himself for Marni's sudden death, but never once thought to suspect the man who wrote his checks!"
"It's a thankless job, but somebody's got to do it!"
Sanitarium Square. And yes, that's Jack Sparrow on the end.
Pavi, having the GENterns give him... a new face. That's totally all, I swear.
Another crowd shot, with Jack Sparrow still attempting to steal the spotlight.
"Please don't go. Don't say no. Technically, you belong to GeneCo."
"Mr. Largo, how are you? The folks at home would like to know your thoughts and views about Zydrate use, and its abuses. Wouldja care to comment, sir?"
"I had my first surgery at thirteen. Thanks to Z, I couldn't feel or remember a thing."
"Zydrate comes in a little glass vial." / "A little glass vial?" / "A LITTLE GLASS VIAL!"
"Well, who ordered pizza? I could sure go for a SLICE!"
"Dear Marni, I am so sorry. Can you forgive me for this?"
"Remember who you are." / "Remember what you did to Marni."
"I'm the masked horror on your street corner - make your mama mourn you - I'm a night surgeon!"
"All these years have come and gone. How do I put this? I'm your godmom."
"Please, Mag! Shilo's very ill. I need to give her her medication."
"Read it, Dad! A Repo Man will come and take Mag's eyes!"
"Foolish dreams can destroy a grown man. What chance has a seventeen-year-old girl?"
"I've always longed for true affection, but you compare me to a corpse! Stay with the dead, I'm joining the living!"
"Tonight, we set the stage!"
"You know you want it, baby - GeneCo's got it!"
"Blame not my cheeks, though pale with love they be..."
"Chromaggia, come take these eyes... I would rather be blind!"
Sawman's Lament
"All I have to do is sign the paper. All you have to do is pull the trigger."
"Remember my mistakes. Remember you can change. Remember that I love you."
"You disgust me. You're not men, you're creatures."
"When I'm gone, GeneCo will crumble. And the world will remember how lucky they were to have Rotti Largo."
"I didn't know I'd love you so much, but I do."
"Goth opera - blood saga - sometimes I wonder how we ever got here."
"GeneCo will live on, under new management."
The shadow cast, taking a bow as the credits roll.
There was a brief question-and-answer session with Terrance, Darren, and Alexa, and then things moved to the lobby. Lines formed for autograph signings and photo opportunities. I got some pictures with members of the shadow cast, and with/of my friends...
Pavi Largo, Blind Mag, me, Rotti Largo, and the Genetic Opera Bandleader.
The way the Pavi's eyeing my face is sliiiiightly unnerving. Also, please disregard the panties sticking out of my top. I have no idea how those got there. Really. (Oh, Paviche...)
Me, Sabrina, and Dice.
Dice, the fabulous Zydrate addict.
Sabrina, not dressed as anyone in particular but still lookin' good. And rather bored of the long wait.
Some entertainment provided for those of us waiting in line. And hey, look! It's Sanguin B from Gaia on the left there!
Luigi, please don't stab me for asking this, but can I get a picture with you?
Finally, after a good two hours, we made it to the front of the line.
My Repo! DVD, now with autographs.
Alexa Vega, me, and Darren Smith.
And another one with Terrance. Just after this was taken I got hugged and smooched. Twice. ^w^
Definitely an awesome night.