If a body count doth make a horror movie, then let us review the wake we have left:

Since 2006 “Of Darkness” has been taking the horror film festival circuit by storm. Having been accepted as an ‘Official Selection’ by twenty one festivals, “Of Darkness” was nominated ten times for Best Short Film and won more than half of those nods, bringing home SIX BEST SHORT FILM awards. The little film with the heart of a feature didn’t stop there – it also took home awards for most “Most Promising Filmmaker”, “Best Cinematography”, and “Audience Award for Best Short Film”!

Shortly, an official announcement of everything Eventide will be out, but as of today we have begun offering preorders for the DVD “Of Darkness” the way it was meant to be viewed! The official release date is October 31st.

This stand alone DVD (priced at $9.99) includes special features such as:

• “The Other Side of Darkness” Behind-the-Scenes Featurette

• Storyboard Comparisons

• Filmmaker’s Commentary

• Trailers

• Photo Gallery

There are also some value packs including the DVD, Official poster of the film, as well as a new “Of Darkness” tee-shirt which includes an original Steve Cleff illustration straight out of the ‘Book of Darkness’ itself.

All proceeds are to help to offset the cost of Eventide’s upcoming feature film known only as the Indigo Falls Project. Please help support independent filmmakers.

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Originally published on IHWC.NET in 2001

By Lucas Aykroyd

Not many NHL lines reflect the expanding international diversity of hockey better than the Dallas Stars combo of Jere Lehtinen, Mike Modano and Brett Hull. You’ve got two amazing Americans and a fine Finn. Three NHL goal-scoring titles for Hull, two Selke Trophies for Lehtinen and one 1999 Stanley Cup championship for all of them.

But while none of them are likely to make an appearance in Germany this year, each member of that line is connected in his own way to the IIHF World Championships.

For Brett Hull, the 1986 World Championships in Moscow provided his first opportunity to participate in international hockey. The “Golden Brett” pumped in seven goals in ten games as the USA finished sixth.

Spurned by Canada, where he was born, the 21-year-old Hull vowed to keep playing for the Americans in international competition, and ten years later, he was a huge part of the USA’s winning team at the World Cup, where he led the tournament in scoring (7-4-11).

Lehtinen, meanwhile, teamed up with Saku Koivu and Ville Peltonen on Finland’s top line as the small nation won its first-ever gold at the World Championships in 1995.

“We didn’t start well in our first couple of games, but after that we played awesome every game,” said Lehtinen. “It was a great feeling to win the first gold medal ever for Finland.”

And the celebrations didn’t end at the Globen Arena in Stockholm.

“We had a parade with a lot of people in Helsinki downtown,” said Lehtinen. “We went to different parties for days afterwards. Everybody wanted a piece of us! It was worth it. What a great feeling. People still remember that tournament even though it was six years ago.”

The Espoo native emphasizes the important role of the IIHF World Championships in today’s hockey world.

“It’s not been so popular over here in North America. When I came over, nobody really knew what the World Championships were and they weren’t watching much. But now, with more and more European players over here, people have to realize that they’re coming from somewhere! Usually it’s the World Championships where those guys play first.”

Mike Modano, who led the NHL playoffs in assists in 1999 and 2000, represented the USA in 1993, the last time the World Championships were held in Germany.

“God, I can’t even remember how it was!” said the all-star center from Minnesota. “It’s tough. It’s such a long season. The problem with the Americans has been that they’ve had a lot of college guys and guys who haven’t played together before, while the Europeans are really into that tournament and they’ve trained all winter for it. They have a little better feel for it. Usually Team USA is trying to develop a little bit of chemistry early on, and by the time you do, it’s too late. The tournament’s already over by then.”

Even though he struggled in 1993, going pointless in six games, Modano is a big fan of playing on the big international ice surface.

“I think it’s great. The game’s a lot different on that surface, a lot more patient. The plays develop a little slower, but then you try to hit your speed and it’s all about puck possession. The Europeans are very good at that, and it’s something we have a hard time adjusting to.”

He’s learned about the importance of discipline, a trait his Dallas club is known for.

“Defense is critical,” said Modano. “You saw how the Czechs played in Nagano. They won a lot of 2-1, 1-0 games. You have to be patient on the big ice surface. You can’t start running around, because there’s a lot of ice to cover. You just have to be well-positioned.”

ROSEMONT, IL

By A.B. Dada
—

Look like things are heating up in Texas as more U.S. companies work for oil extraction rights within the continental states. Morgan Creek Energy Corp has initiated the process of permitting a twin well for drilling on a key lease in central Texas, according to an article at OilOnline. Upon execution, this well would be the first to be drilled on the Company’s newly acquired leases in the region, which it has targeted as part of the Ouachita (Wash-A-Taw) gas trend. The company has another well dating back to pre-1923 on the same property, which drilled over 200 feet of natural gas. The new well will drill down to 3,600 feet where Morgan Creek Energy believes there are significant gas resources. Natural gas prices have more than doubled, leading more companies to try to discover more supply in the Texas region.

Also in Texas in the Midland region, we see more shale research going on. Robert Cluff of spoke at the Barnett Shale Symposium and talked about the opportunity to discover 800 trillion cubic feet of gas supply. Cluff said That’s enough gas to support thousands of wells to the crowd of 200 at the symposium.

Again in Texas, Knight Energy completed wells in Stephens County, also part of the Barnett Shale region.

Finishing off the Texas oil news is a report from Saxon Oil covering its October operations. Saxon is using a new completion technique called Radial Jet Drilling, which creates a larger drainage area for the flow of oil and gas. Saxon has leased 2000 acres in the Hudson Hills region in Central Texas.

Discuss this article at the oil report forum.