Above is a picture of me in character for "Scarlet Moon" inside Spellbound, a Metaphysical Shop in North Jersey. Vinnie, the owner of the shop, was an important part of the "Scarlet Moon" / "Dark Beginnings" saga. He ended up acting in the film after he agreed to let us use his location for some scenes. Filmmaker Warren F. Disbrow and I were introduced to the Belleville shop by two of the actresses in the film, who were also wiccans. At one point, Warren decided that he wanted to introduce different religions and practices into the film. Our first visit to the shop was quite an experience!
Warren and I arrived at the location while Vinnie was in the middle of helping a customer, which we understood came first. When he was finished with his client, Vinnie yelled, "okay, next victim." Then for some reason, he asked if we were homosexual? I told him we weren't, but Warren felt intimidated enough to say, "we can learn." I had already spoken to Vinnie by phone, so he knew why we were there. He then stated that he would have to ask the nganga for approval and to see what this entity would want from us. He practices Santeria. I am now thinking, here it comes, the great payment.
So, he takes us into his basement where there are some flies and a cauldron in the corner with objects like sticks and knives in it next to a flame. He asked me to feel the spirit by putting my hand over the flame. Not sure if what I felt was a spirit or the heat from the flame, I obliged him while Warren hung out in the back with his eyes on the staircase to exit the basement. I was floored when Vinnie came back to us, after talking in a foreign language and rolling some stones in his hand, that all the nganga wanted was coffee.
Warren promised Vinnie that he would be respectful to Santeria and would refer to him in some specific instances. We got the okay and went back to the shop with a crew in 80 degree weather while I sweated my balls off in a long leather coat!