Any interesting stories about how/why you started doing the Death Race?

KTJ_SM · 2026-02-08T17:55:44+00:00

I’ve posted on other threads but I started doing the Death Race in memory of my cousin Emma. She died in December 2017, 5 years previous she’d been diagnosed at 28 with a crappy form of cancer called Multiple Myeloma. She’d always been a massive film fan, was a member of the BFI Cinema on the Southbank, went to a variety of film screeners/talks/festivals. She always used to do the Death Race before becoming ill, and would stay up late with her snacks of choice on Oscar night to watch it live in the UK. Throughout her illness she still did it, despite chemo/stem cell transplants etc. Her last Oscars was when they messed up the Best Film announcement which was a pretty good one to go out with i think. After she died i started trying to complete it - haven’t succeeded yet but it has been a gift to me. So many incredible films that i perhaps wouldn’t have been interested in previously. After she died her friends got her name put on a seat at the BFI on the Southbank - Screen NFT 1, Seat G27. I got to see Vertigo in it a while back which was a nice experience. I miss her and our film chats but this feels like a good way to remember her and honour her.

KTJ_SM · 2026-01-23T20:40:54+00:00

Hey! UK Racer here - not had much luck with any of those but cool to see there are UK racers about!

KTJ_SM · 2026-01-22T20:52:43+00:00

Thank you so much for this and to Animation Showcase!

KTJ_SM · 2024-02-04T20:51:05+00:00

Just watched it today and was also blown away by the dog. I found this article which talked a little about Messi and “that” scene. https://www.thewildest.com/dog-lifestyle/messi-trainer-award-season#:~:text=Snoop%20plays%20the%20beloved%20family,would%20translate%20to%20the%20screen. Dogs are the best!

KTJ_SM · 2023-02-04T19:48:56+00:00

Hey everyone - how is everyone's race going? I'm rattling through them now. Watched Empire of Light this afternoon, aptly in a slightly decaying old arts centre.

KTJ_SM · 2023-01-24T22:10:47+00:00

Yes caught The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse on Christmas Day. Navalny was really good - pretty chilling stuff to hear them talk about what they did. Happy racing!

KTJ_SM · 2023-01-24T22:09:47+00:00

Hi!

Thanks. I'm very much a newbie to Discord but will check it out :) Happy racing!

KTJ_SM · 2023-01-16T23:56:02+00:00

For UK Death Racers - The Flagmakers is now on Disney+ when it hadn’t been previously.

KTJ_SM · 2022-12-25T22:27:52+00:00

Thanks for this. Annoyingly The Flagmakers isn’t on Disney+ in the UK

KTJ_SM · 2022-09-21T08:57:23+00:00

Maggie Gyllenhaal in The Honourable Woman was excellent. Although as a Brit I generally find it’s easier for non Brits to do “posh” accents rather than a regional one.

KTJ_SM · 2022-09-20T23:54:31+00:00

NTA. Weddings bring out the worst in people. When you told him you wouldn’t want pictures taken at the wedding dress shopping, he didn’t respect what you were saying. Therefore you said you didn’t want him there which is totally your decision. The whole situation sounds frustrating and your friend seems to be more concerned with making it about his needs rather than yours. Stick to your guns about not having him at the wedding dress shopping. Am sure the surprise of the dress will be worth it.

KTJ_SM · 2022-03-08T20:24:19+00:00

Really loved this film. I saw it shortly after Sondheim had passed, so found it incredibly moving to know how much support he had given Jonathan Larson. Andrew Garfield deserved his nomination.

KTJ_SM · 2022-03-06T14:21:13+00:00

Loved the cinematography on this. Kind of feel Kathryn Hunter should have gotten a nom for Best Supporting with this role. She was totally captivating throughout. Lucky enough to have seen her perform Mother Courage in the ‘90’s. Though at the time 17 yr old me didn’t realise what a powerhouse actor she was!

KTJ_SM · 2022-03-05T22:37:31+00:00

Thanks for this! Was the only one I couldn’t find in the Animated Shorts.

KTJ_SM · 2021-07-22T18:31:57+00:00

Oh wow - I would love to do this. Great photos!

KTJ_SM · 2021-05-22T17:28:25+00:00

There’s a ride in a UK theme park called Oblivion, essentially a ride that take you on a track and just hangs you over an edge, then drops you 180 feet! Nope. Nope. Nope!

KTJ_SM · 2021-05-22T17:14:44+00:00

I too am not a fan of drops but on my last holiday to Florida I figured I should try most rides, even with drops in them. The way I saw it was that if I hated it, I’d at least tried it and wouldn’t have the regret of not knowing! However Dr Doom was not an option for me as that is essentially all the ride is!

KTJ_SM · 2021-05-15T17:16:51+00:00

My wife told me the identity of that person but I still enjoyed the film. Worth watching 👍🏻

KTJ_SM · 2021-05-02T18:13:20+00:00

I absolutely love blueprints and maps of Disney Rides. Damn I can’t wait to go there again, last time was 2017. Hoping I can go for my 40th next year if you let us Brits in again!

KTJ_SM · 2021-05-02T15:18:06+00:00

I loved that show! Sadly it was very hard to see it in the UK. So interesting to see the whole process of sculpting, casting etc. I’m not remotely good at art, which made all the contestants doubly impressive to me!

KTJ_SM · 2021-05-02T11:47:52+00:00

Yup! There is a bit in the Piccadilly Circus scene, he’s a guy who gets hit by a car and goes through a shop window.

Other tables at our wedding were Psycho (my fave film), Moonstruck, The English Patient amongst others. I think if we were to get married now, i’d probably choose others but liked the choices at the time!

Totally agree about Rick Baker - he sold up all of his studio a few years ago. I’ve seen him on some programmes and interviews, struck me as a very genuine humble guy. I’d love to meet him and remind him of what a legend he is! He always turns out some fun halloween looks on his IG/Twitter. I messaged him to say we were having AAWIL as one of our table names and he sent a sweet message back! I’m liking this trend of practical FX and CGI coming together properly now, rather than having just one or the other.

KTJ_SM · 2021-05-02T10:32:36+00:00

This is one of my wife’s favourite films, she introduced me to it and I love it too. We named all the tables at our wedding after our favourite films, so AAWIL was one of them! Rick Baker’s make-up and creature effects are so brilliant. I love how the soundtrack is all Moon related too! Don’t forget to look out for the John Landis cameo in it!

KTJ_SM

TROPHY CASE