Volume 1, Issue 5 June 2026 Filmphernalia Your New Entertainment Bud From the Editor’s Desk Lines Immortal “Go ahead, make my day.” Sudden Impact (1983) Welcome to the new issue of Filmphernalia, the 5th one since starting the newsletter in January this year. Sounds like flying with time at the speed of light! May was busy beyond any words but early June brought a sudden challenge: I lost my regular writing position. In other words, I am jobless and looking for new places for writing/ editing/proofreading work. This issue has an article on AI and its increasing role in indie filmmaking. It’s so amazing and concerning at the same time. Inside this issue: Screenopticals: The Killer — Homoerotic Chemistry? FilmBuzz — Usual, Unusual, and Unheard Scripter’s Haven — Choose Our Future AI in Independent Filmmaking — Cheers and Concerns Retro Fandom — Jennifer vs Marry Anne in Perfect Strangers Film Quiz Been There, Seen It! 2 2 2 The Fabulous 3 3 3 4 May was busier than April and I had time for just a few movies— again. So counting in those I got to see in late May, but yes each one was special in its genre. So here are the golden five flicks of my past thirty days. 1. Airplane! (1980) 2. The Killer (1989) 3. 13 Tzameti (2005) 4. Island in the Sky (1953) 5. Blood on the Moon (1948) Comedy Action Thriller Adventure Western The Retro Network published another article of mine in May. This one is about the popular 80s sitcom Perfect Strangers, a show I grew up with. I can see that I’m becoming a regular contributor to that site. It’s just fun to write about my old time shows. I posted one new screenoptical since the previous issue came out. It addresses the claims of homoerotic chemistry between the two lead characters in John Woo’s classic action movie The Killer (1989). I explain why I disagree with the interpretation. For screenwriters, there is an interesting contest based in the UK that lets creators envision the future of our world in four different scenarios. This month, we also celebrate Father’s Day in honor of all the dads around us as well as those in our memories. So Happy Father’s Day everyone! Ernest Dempsey June 12, 2026 Thank you for your time and feel free to reach out via the Contact Form on https:// www.filmospheric.com.
Page 2 Filmphernalia Screenopticals: The Killer — Homoerotic Chemistry? John Woo’s world-famous The Killer had been on my “watch list” for decades, and it didn’t disappoint when I finally got a chance to see it (review posted on Filmospheric). What caught my attention were opinions, no better than speculation, that the two lead male characters (the assassin Jeff and the cop Li) shared onscreen homoerotic chemistry. Really? As someone who is somewhat familiar with the Asian culture and film, particularly the Hong Kong martial arts films, it was no shocker to me to see such interpretations of certain scenes in the movie. I don’t see homoerotic chemistry between the characters of Jeff and Li, and writing a screenoptical was due so as to explain why people in the west can get this feel while watching the two men team up in their fight against the bad guys. It’s worth mentioning that Woo learnt of these interpretations and clarified that nothing of the sort was meant to be in the movie between the characters. Read the screenoptical online at Filmospheric.com (carousel). FilmBuzz — Usual, Unusual, and Unheard Eastwood also deserves to enjoy a relaxing retirement now that he is 96. Michael reclaims the top box-office spot, tops $700 million globally. (MarketWatch, May 18) Alamo Drafthouse backlash grows as petition demands return of nophones rule. (MySA, May 28) Joan Collins turns 93. (MediaMass, May 23) Clint Eastwood officially retires after turning 96. (The Mix, June 2) Wim Wenders withdraws 1975 film featuring 13year-old Nastassja Kinski topless. (The Guardian, June 3) James Handy Dead: 'Top Gun: Maverick' Actor Killed. (Variety, June 5) Scripter’s Haven — Choose Our Future Deadline: July 19, 2026 This unique writing challenge includes 4 archetypal scenarios for scripts that envision the future of our world: 1. Market Forces, 2. Policy Reform, 3. Fortress World, and 4. Great Transition. The story begins here and now... Based out of London, UK, the contest is free to enter with a £5,000 to £10,000 prize. Entries can only be submitted in English. Films made in other languages must be subtitled or dubbed into English. Dialogue lists are not acceptable. To learn more, visit: http://chooseourfuture.org/.
Page 3 AI in Independent Filmmaking — Cheers and Concerns AI in filmmaking is increasingly becoming the tool that is tough to ignore whether one is for or against it. Recently, the Tribeca Festival featured an Iranian filmmaker’s fully AI-generated movie Dreams of Violets, a 75minute long docudrama about people’s protests against the Iranian government. The politics of the movie aside, the fact that it was generated with AI only and cost a mere $2000 is a powerful temptation to filmmakers, in particular the indie filmmakers. The movie is living proof that AI can make film production cheap, or way cheaper than it would be using cast and crew. Should humans in the indie filmmaking, other than the creator and AI guys, be worried? It’s reasonable to say that there is plenty of room for concern here for the humans, and more so for the talent pool in the indie movies world. Of course, the filmmakers have a choice to create via AI or traditional cast and crew work; but the choice of the audience is important too. Do they like to see AIgenerated characters or prefer to see real people in action? An important question here also concerns the classification of such films. Should they be called animated films if made mostly or exclusively with AI? It makes sense to call them so as that is the difference between live action and animation. And if that happens, AI could very well mean “Animation Indies.” Retro Fandom — Jennifer vs Marry Anne in Perfect Strangers Last month, The Retro Network published my second article, titled “Perfect Strangers – When Jennifer and Marry Anne Lost It.” Those who have seen the show would remember the female lead roles of Jennifer and Marry Anne as the love interest of Larry and Balki—in that order. The girls were there for 7 out of the show’s 8 seasons. For the most part they remained best friends but there were a few times when they locked horns and turned the screen into a blonde vs blonder match. My article takes readers to those moments in the show. Read the full article at: https://theretronetwork.com/ perfect-strangers-when-jenniferand-marry-anne-lost-it/. . If Larry and Balki were dumb and dumber, Jennifer and Marry Anne were blonde and blonder. Film Quiz — It’s James Bond 007! Question for last the quiz: what Hollywood A-lister, who died a year ago, made his debut lead role in a comedy movie in 1984? Answer: Val Kilmer, who made his debut in Top Secret! The movie’s review is up on the site in case you haven’t seen it yet. Now for this quiz, how about a little cruise through James Bond movies? So who became the first Oscar-winning actor to star in a James Bond movie? Send your answers to: editor@ernestdempsey.com.
The book is here! Order at LuLu.com Movie reviewer and critic Ernest Dempsey takes fans of sci-fi, horror, mystery, and thriller movies on a reading tour through his critique of 50 movies from Hollywood and international cinema. These essays offer analysis and/or assessment of movies in these genres in relation to essential elements of filmmaking and their literary, cultural, moral, and philosophical implications. ISBN: 9798896561040 Pages: 216 Paperback Perfect Bound/Black & White/US Trade (6 x 9 in) https://www.filmospheric.com Been There, Seen It! — The Liberty Bell & Independence Hall Hallmark’s recent romance To Philly with Love (2026) made news for two filming locations that are as close to each other as liberty and freedom are to the American life: the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. I was lucky to visit these two before COVID lockdowns landed on America. It was January 2020 when I found a dirt cheap same-day return flight deal from Orlando to Philadelphia. So I hopped on Spirit Airlines to see the historic icons. Getting to downtown by train was fun but then walking around and finding my way to the destination under an overcast sky and drizzling wasn’t that fun for a winter-shy me. I wasn’t the sole visitor there and people of all ages were visiting and taking pics with the bell. There is a small museum in the hall with liberty themed items and historic records on display. I took a few pics with my old phone before rushing back to the airport by the same train. The short but memorable trip to the cradle of American freedom on budget remains truly special. Read more about the Bell at: https://www.ushistory.org/ LibertyBell/index.html. Write to Us Send us your two cents on cinema/movies/TV and Filmphernalia will publish along with your name and location (city/state/country). Write to: edtor@ernestdempsey.com
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