Jack Dagger

As most of you know, Anthony De Longis coached Harrison Ford for the latest Indiana Jones film.  They couldn’t have picked a better teacher.  Not only is Anthony masterfully versatile with the whip as a tool and/or weapon, he wrote the book on making it look good on camera. 

A French tv crew was recently up at Rancho Indalo interviewing Anthony for the Indy4 release.  If you look closely, you might see WHIPBOY(tm), John Leonetti or me in the background.

Take a look!

Hollywood Live presente par Ramzi Malouki

Anthony was also on ABC’s Good Morning America, demonstrating his skills (in a very confined space).  Can’t figure out how to embed the video from ABC’s website, so here’s the link instead.

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=4900861

The following day (the morning of the Indy4 release, May 22nd), Harrison Ford was also on Good Morning America demonstrating his own whip skills, and praised Anthony more than once.  Check that out here.

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4908785

For more information about Maestro Anthony De Longis and Rancho Indalo (“where action stars aren’t born… they’re made”), check out his website:

http://www.delongis.com

-JD:TKoF

I’ve just gotten a few more pics from the Beltane party in Idyllwild.  Good times, good pics.

Lindsay and Joe chillin’.

The doggie watches on.

Adam Crack starts a-croonin’.

Silliness in the kitchen.

Berri is not a little scared.

Super-K goes into an interpretive dance.

Which apparently makes her ill.

And shake her booty.

But when she hear’s Adam’s siren song…

She can’t control herself.

The doggie tires of all these drinking humans.

And then I discover the little bendy-guy.  Can’t explain what happens next.

Then I join Adam Crack for some blues music…

After which, he decides to get acquainted with a wine bottle.

And the food looked like this.

This has been an update by the Abrams Photographic Nostalgia Machine.

Thank you.

-JD:TKoF

And so it is, as Robert Frost once said, “Nothing gold can stay.”  The 2008 season of the Southern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire comes to a close.

Be we didn’t end with a whimper, oh no.  There was some bangin’ fo’ sho’.  Well, I’m sure there must have been, but I didn’t hear any of it.  I passed out some time in the middle of the night to wake up the next morning backstage, confused, and on my deathbed.  Not too smart to drink that much after a long day of performing in 107 degree weather.

But before that happened, we had a good ole time.  Commence the pics.

First off, in the morning, before Shelby and I went out for our daily jog to the front gate, yes, in our wooden shoes, to pimp our show to the early patrons, we were visited by none other than the Five Foot Mama herself.  She’s quite lovely.

And then, the obligatory tongue photo, this time showing off what’s left of the Pop Rocks Chocolate Bar that F.F.Mama gave me.  That’s right, pop rocks in a chocolate bar.  Crackly crackly good times.

At some point in the day, Adam Crack experiences Sword Envy.

Then Bubbles, or Chiclets, or whatever her name is, shows us that indeed, she’d do anything for Dethklok.  Notice the metal fingers.  ..m/

And immediately she succumbs to her extreme a.d.d.  “What’s that over there?!”

At the end of the day, as on all Sundays, the Washing Well Wenches get all dressed up to go chase the beer truck.  This weekend, it was Cowboy Theme, so Owain Phife and I decided to join in the Cowboy Fun.

Truly my finest moment.  Ride ‘em, Cowboy.

Scary group pic, with Owain “Hombre de los Muertos” on the left.

My barn door was open, dangit.

The Wenches motivate the beer truck boys.

Don’t know what it was, be we sure shot it dead.

And celebrated.

Sometimes you gotta shoot a filly in the ass-meat.

Hombre de los Muertos comes in for the kill.

Hombre de los Muertos offers the hand of truce.

Stop looking at me bum.

Fiddin’ to regulate on some poor filly.

Then the girls took Moonie hostage.

And saddled up to the bar to get ourselves a drink.

It’s time for a manhunt.

A little peek-a-boo action.

The wonderful Bonnie introduces me to chocolate port.  Didn’t even know that existed.  The plastic cup brings out its true flavor.

Underage Caitlin (my photographer until now) disapproves of all the revelry.  As she should.  ‘Cause she’s underage.  For another couple of weeks anyway.

“Why, seriously, why are you taking our picture?  Seriously?”

Shelby tries to eat Bonnie.  I don’t blame him.  She has that effect on guys.

Hombre de los Muertos is revealed.  It’s Owain Phife!

Me and the merchandise gal extraordinaire, Amy!

Attacked by the Man Slave.

Attacked by the Bonnie.

It was shortly later that I apparently wandered off to a quiet place, and passed the f-word out.  No other shenanigans were documented, sadly, although I’m sure some took place.

Hope all are well,

-Jack Dagger: The King of Fling

So as this season at the Southern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire comes to a close, I thought my good pal (and fellow performer) Adam Winrich couldn’t head back home without first visiting Tony Swatton’s place, Sword and Stone.

Tony’s a fantastic guy, a mirth-ridden giant, who occasionally has to drop the hammer on somebody, or something.  And then it’s back to smiling.

However, in this particular photo, when he’s asking Adam about one of the whips he made, it kinda looks like Tony’s plannin’ on stabbin’ Adam and stealing the whip.  I don’t blame him, it’s a fine lookin’ whip (I own a Winrich Whip, and it’s the nicest whip I’ve ever seen).

Then, of course, there’s the uber-delightful Sherri, who, during her temporary hiatus from performing has been working at Tony’s shop.  She’s yet another person with a ready smile, and an underbelly of stab-you-in-the-neck-if-I-have-to-but-please-oh-please-don’t-make-me. 

I think Tony attracts those kinds of people.  People like me, for instance. 

Adam demonstrates the functionality of his hand made mini-whips (which are very reasonably priced, so go bug him about them… he’s on my top friends list).  I think Sherri’s response was something like, “Oh, hello!”

Sherri was so impressed, she had to take off her shoes and relax for a few minutes.  Here are her shoes.

This next photo depicts an image from King Leonidas’ “No Spartan Left Behind” campain trail.

Since I am an incurable dork, and a HUGE Indiana Jones fan, I’m on a mission to play with anything from Indy4 that I can get my hands on. 

When I worked on Zohan last Summer, I got to peek at some of the Indy4 sets on the Sony lot.  I’ve also cracked one of the Indy4 whips out at Rancho Indalo (courtesy of my ever-hospitable and talented good friend Anthony De Longis… http://www.delongis.com… who did the whip training with Harrison Ford for Indy4… more on that later… in a completely seperate blog).

Now, rounding out the tri-fecta.  Tony Swatton made the swords for Indy4, and here’s one of the pieces Mutt (Shia LaBeouf) uses to fight Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett). 

And here’s what it looks like in the hands of fellow nerd, Adam Winrich.

I will now assail your eyes with more examples of the beautiful things Tony gets up to at his shop.  Seriously, people, he’s made stuff for pretty much every movie and tv show I can think of.  Go to his website to see for yourself. 

http://www.swordandstone.com/

But in the meanwhile, enjoy these few pics…

Father and Son suit of armor.  What every family needs.  Screw playing catch, let’s go battle the hordes, kiddo.

This next piece looks a lot better on Sherri than it does on the mannequin.  You’ll just have to imagine it…

And just in case the tax people come knocking at Tony’s front door.

Yes, Tony did the swords for Pirates…

That’s all for now.  Thanks again, Mr. Swatton, sir, for always letting me muck around in your shop.  

-Jack Dagger: The King of Fling

People.  The Unicorns are coming.  And they’re going to kill you.  Don’t be fooled.

That being said, I don’t think the following pics and video need any captions.  I think it all speaks for itself.

Warning, the following media is not for the feint of heart.  Seriously.

World War “U” is coming.  Be prepared to do what’s necessary to stay alive.

-JD:TKoF

… which you must accept.

Send self-pics of what you think would be the work uniform for the following establishment.

I dare ya.

  

Wingnut’s doing it.  You should, too.

 

 

-JD:TKoF

Jack Dagger (that’s me) goes to the Southern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire and trains a new “Dagger Darling” so we can perform at a fund raiser for RESCU, an organization that provides assisstance (both monetary and administrative) for performers with sudden, unexpected and un-manageable medical expenses. [For more information on RESCU, don't hesitate to ask!]

After which, I get mollested in the face.  Busted!   But I kinda liked it. 

Then it’s off to the morning meeting, where I spy this delectable morsel… so cute, and sexy at the same time.  And the girl sitting next to him isn’t so bad either.

But enough about them…  let’s take another look at the wonderful, incredibly sexy and talented Myra…

And of course, me with Myra…

Myra pimps it hard for World Famous WHIPBOY.

While her partners in crime tantalize everyone with their “assets”.  Naughty vixes.  I don’t remember what they were sellin’, but I think I bought plenty.

Then there’s Berri.  Holy smokes, she’s something else…  I’d stick her in my pocket and carry her around with me always if I could.  So sweet.  And, uh, kinda really good lookin’.  Berri is the gal they would cast if they made a Fraggle Rock for adults.  A hot, R-Rated Fraggle Rock.

Fritz and Jergen agree… eat your Berri Sandwich.

Now it’s time to exploit Myra’s incalculable hotness for charity.

Still exploiting…   p.s. we raised about $680.  Recognize.

And then…

We head to Idyllwild for the Beltane party at Chateau Dupont.

They grow huge pine cones up there.  Seriously.

And here’s where they’ll be shooting Blair Witch 3.

Adam Crack: The Whip Master tries out a new fashion accessory.

Mmmmmm, foood.

Mmmmmm, food and Karen…

Meanwhile, Adam has “scope envy”.

And I get me some Berri time.

Then Adam hands me this circus book from the 60s, featuring a knife throwing act that has, totally, the exact fire knives that I use in MY show.  Crazy.

Hot couples of the world, Unite.

That’s all for now.

Pointedly yours,

Jack Dagger: The King of Fling