• July 2007

I realize that updates have been few and far between this year. So many things have happened in this last 6 months that I've barely had time to focus on the site itself. but that doesn't mean the research has stopped.

Once this amazing first summer in Toronto is out of the way I intend to work on some huge updates in the winter months.

Some amazing contacts and discoveries have been made in the past few months including ..

Finding and meeting Roy Moore's best friends here in my hometown, Sadly Roy died in the late 80s but I hope to provide a fantastic tribute page to him here on the site soon.

I've met up with Art Hindle a few times also, and Hope to gain a few images and quotes for the site soon.

Over at Critical Mass I found some old session tapes from the original Black Christmas recording sessions, and on one of them was a song that was never used featuring the McHenry sisters in a Vaudeville sing along. If I can get permission I'd love to get it on the site someday.

I also have plans to try and put out a limited edition DVD featuring all new feature length materials and documentaries. It would probably be a seriously limited edition of around 500 copies not in stores etc.... but its a long way off.

Anyway - I've not forgotten or abandoned Black Christmas, but Bob Clarks death did kind of throw me out for a while back there and I wasn't sure which direction to go in.....

Meanwhile here in Toronto, the new owners of the Black Christmas House have gutted the building and decided the dig the entire garden up. The place is a mess. One day I'll buy it and restore it to 1974 glory -- until that day .........

• April 2007.

When I interviewed Art Hindle last year we spoke of Bob Clark and his status in the industry at that time (September 2006) and Art recalled a few incidents from the set of Black Christmas with great affection and admiration for Bob. Although this is on the recent DVD, I thought now might be the best time to post one of my personal favourite clips from the day.

Please note : this was shot sept 2006.

ART HINDLE CLIP

• April 2007.
  
  
• It is with extreme sadness that my first real update in sometime is to report the tragic death of Director Bob Clark in a road traffic accident in California on Wednesday 4th April at around 2.30 am. Bob Clark and his Son were apparently hit by a drunk driver in the early hours of the morning and died at the scene.
  
  I will write a more in depth article about Bob and the thoughts of Itsmebilly.com in the coming days. Right now im simply in shock at the loss of a man I thought of as my hero, a man who always took the time to indulge my questions about Black Christmas and always had a smile on his face.
  
  I will miss you Bob and my thoughts are wiith your family and friends. - Dan Duffin April 2007
  
  
  
  I am also posting the following statement on behalf of William Alexander - Critical Mass, Toronto.
  
  Bob Clark was a great man!
  I was blessed to meet Bob Clark in Toronto on the set of The Breaking Point
  in 1975. At that time he had already finished and released Black Christmas.
  On the set of Breaking Point, he indulged my childhood quest to find out who
  the killer really was in Black Christmas. He warmly answered all that I
  naively threw at him. And even ensured that I had a driver to take me to the
  GO transit station for the last bus back to Hamilton. When I retold the
  encounter to Bob many years later, his response was "Jeez I was nice back
  then, that's good to know!"
  
  Through the years, because of our releases of Black Christmas world wide, I
  have asked Bob to do many things to help promote the film. Never once did
  Bob disappoint me or the fans. He was an individual that made you feel at
  ease when ever you met him and underplayed all that he achieved with his
  self depreciating sense of humour.
  
  He will be warmly remembered for some wonderful films from A Christmas Story
  to Porky's but he will always be remembered as the man who introduced the
  world to "Billy"
  
  May his journey be peaceful and that his family accept our heart felt
  condolences from everyone here at CRiTiCAL MASS.
  
  William Alexander - President
  CRiTiCAL MASS

• November 21st 2006.

A complete update of what's happening.

I have to do this update today as my computer is being packed and shipped first thing in the morning. My wife and I after 2.5 years of waiting are finally leaving England and heading out to live in Toronto, Canada on December 5th.

My Wife Catherine already has a nursing position in Oakville, and I will be looking to continue to get more involved with movie making and Black Christmas related projects.

Many of you will notice I have closed down the message boards, this was due to repeated spoilers being posted and constant private messages asking me for spoilers, scripts, cast information or contact info. I may re-open them after the remake fuss has died down.

It may be a month or two before I'm next able to update the site, but rest assured. yesterday I renewed the Itsmebilly.com domain name for the next 5 years, and intend to give this site a complete overhaul at some point when i'm settled in Canada and have the opportunity to do an in-depth location piece.

The new DVD will be in Stores in the coming weeks both in USA and Canada and so far early reviews that I have received have been very favorable. I will try and post links to them if I'm able to shortly. If you have bought previous versions, you will find plenty here to make it worth double dipping and rebuying, not least the correct aspect ratio and new 5.1 track. (Don't forget to keep your old disc for the excellent commentaries)

I still have some excellent Black Christmas projects in mind, and you've certainly not seen or heard the last from me on the subject. I know many of you out there have a lot of respect for this classic film, and whatever happens with this remake, nothing can stop a 30 year old classic from being the true piece of art that it is.

Hope you all have a great Christmas while I'm settling in 3500 miles away in Canada, and I hope to start meeting more BC fans out there in North America in the coming years. Keep the emails coming by the way, I always enjoy reading them.

• November 13th 2006.
• Black Christmas fan Paul Voorhees at the house with an original Snipe.
• 

• October 18th 2006

Black Christmas Fan Todd Garbarini sent in this picture of him meeting with the legendary John Saxon who also kindly narrated the 12 days of Black Christmas on the upcoming DVD.

• October 16th 2006

You can now place your pre-order for the Brand New Black Christmas DVD at the following links.

The disc is being released by KOCH Entertainment in USA

Alliance Atlantis in Canada.

Amazon

DeepDiscount DVD

List will be updated as more stockists come online.

Please note the two different covers that this movie will have. One is for the USA Market through KOCH and the other is for Canada under Alliance Atlantis. The disc content is IDENTICAL.

1. COVER FOR USA MARKETS BELOW

2. COVER FOR CANADIAN MARKETS.

• September 25th 2006

Back in Toronto Last week working on the new DVD, I had the great pleasure of meeting and interviewing soome of the big names from BLACK CHRISTMAS.

Art Hindle, Lynne Griffin, Doug McGrath, Bert Dunk and Karen Bromley.

Thank you all for a very memorable day !

Bert Dunk.

Art Hindle.

Doug Mcgrath.

Lynne Griffin.

Karen Bromley.

ITSMEBILLY.COM WALLPAPER FOR DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE

• September 21st 2006

Itsmebilly.com has decided to go back to its roots, and focus solely on the 1974 Black Christmas. I will be redesigningthe layout around the original in the coming weeks.

In the meantime watch out for DVD news here on the 74 classic !

• September 18th 2006

GREAT NEWS FOR ALL BLACK CHRISTMAS FANS.

On December 5th Critical Mass releases the brand new SPECIAL EDITION DVD of Black Christmas.

Featuring a brand new Anamorphic HD digital transfer and 5.1 Sound.

Stand Alone Interviews with Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder. ( 2o mins each)

Art Hindle Stand Alone Interview (20 Mins)

Midnight Q and A with Bob Clark, John Saxon and Carl Zittrer.

Brand New Documentary 12 Days of Black Christmas
(This is a 20-25 minute documentary written and directed by Danyuld, narrated by John Saxon
And featuring the recollections of Art Hindle, Lynne Griffin,
Bert Dunk, Doug Mcgrath, Karen Bromley and Carl Zittrer.)

2 New never head before sound scenes

Animated menus

Heres the brand New USA Cover art.

• May 2006

I was going though some of the website archives, and found a few things from the past websites that I`ll start to put back in place, like old flash trailers etc.

Starting with these two - I made to introduce the CRITICAL MASS DVD Website relaunch in 2002.

• May 2006

Nicole Frangos -a.k.a.- Togirl from the board has sent me some images of the Black Christmas House she took recently.

Spooky as ever. Many thanks !!

• 1st May 2006
• Back in 2002 when I visited the Black Christmas House, I took this image out of the attic window to show how much has changed since the place was renovated. Every single wall inside the house was taken down and rebuilt due to damp, the huge tree on the main lawn cut down as it blocked the light into the main rooms, and all of the white stucco removed from the outside walls and painted different colors. Sadly the place Doesn't look the same any more, but these picture help keep fond Black Christmas memories alive.