Jeannie Novak
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indiejeannie.com
Jeannie Novak
@indiejeannie.com
singer-songwriter/musician/composer, game series author/publisher, podcaster, photographer – and horror/sci-fi fan!
Reposted by Jeannie Novak
Taking some time out to give thanks for the boundless inspiration our creative community brings to the world. May you enjoy a restful and abundant Thanksgiving!

#thanksgiving #happythanksgiving #happythursday #thankyou #thankful #thanksgivingday #happythoughts #grateful
November 27, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Happy Bday, Natasha Bedingfield! “Backyard” wasn't released as a single but was on her second album (N.B.) + North American version (Pocketful of Sunshine). #Acoustic #cover recorded live at Village Studios 🎹

Music Visualizer:
bit.ly/backyard-song

@novyunlimited.com
#song #music #pop #piano
November 26, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Live theatre jump scares? I’ll take it! Horror enthusiasts should check out Paranormal Activity.

BTW: The last time @atmanrising.bsky.social and I saw a live horror performance was in 2011; we were seated in the "splash zone" for Re-Animator: The Musical (produced by Stuart Gordon & Dean Schramm)!
Currently running at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, the stage adaptation of Paranormal Activity relies heavily on sophisticated sound, lighting, and stage illusions to create a communal jump-scare-filled experience.
@theatermania.bsky.social
#horror #theatre #horrorfamily #horrorfam #stage
Review: Paranormal Activity Stage Play Will Keep You Up All Night - TheaterMania.com
The new horror drama, based on the film series, makes its Los Angeles debut.
www.theatermania.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Deviation Games boasted such a massive amount of talent – but a “perfect storm” of factors in what is already a volatile industry can kill projects … and sometimes the studios themselves. Hoping to see members of this team put out some innovative titles in the near future.
According to former SVP Louis Castle, Deviation Games closed last year due to a confluence of external and internal factors—including burn rate, co-founder departure, and pulling of PlayStation funding.

– 80 Level's Dave Tach

#gamedev #gamedeveloper #gameindustry #gamenews

80.lv/articles/why...
How a Studio With Call of Duty Veterans Closed Before Releasing a Game
Deviation Games’ Louis Castle details lessons learned from the studio closure.
80.lv
November 25, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Meredith Gran has carved out a niche for herself in pop culture. Not only does she use a low-res style in Perfect Tides, but she incorporates puzzle mechanics focused on collecting ideas rather than physical items. If you want to check out Octopus Pie, start here:
www.octopuspie.com/comic/001-pe...
Meredith Gran, creator of webcomic Octopus Pie, developed indie game Perfect Tides: Station to Station – which stands out for its story of navigating college life and a low-res 2D style reminiscent of MS Paint.

@damisanthrope.bsky.social on Creative Bloq

#game #gamedev #gamedeveloper #indiegame
This indie game feels like a playable time capsule from 2003
Why the lo-fi art of Perfect Tides: Station to Station hits hard.
www.creativebloq.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Isa Willinger’s No Mercy moves the conversation surrounding women in film into agency – and even confrontation. Looking forward to seeing it – along with the work of Kira Muratova, who is regarded by some as the master of Ukrainian cinema and who faced censorship throughout the Soviet era.
November 21, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Bypassing festivals and distributors—and not waiting for “permission” to be seen—is just what indie filmmaking is all about. I can’t imagine how many filmmakers have been rejected before getting a chance to publicly show their work. (If that describes you, put your films up on YT for all to see!)
On @indiewire.com, Courtney Marsh talks about releasing Where Did the Adults Go? for free on YouTube after 40+ film festival and distributor rejections – also ensuring that it reached the communities it represents by partnering with @ehlersdanlos.bsky.social.
#indie #indiefilm #indiefilmmaker #film
Why My Oscar Follow-Up Is Premiering on YouTube
After an Oscar nom for short "Chau, Beyond the Lines," filmmaker Courtney Marsh aimed for feature debut. But what about getting it in front of people?
www.indiewire.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Congratulations to José-Alain Sahel, Daniel Palanker, and Mahi Muqit – who led this international trial and have pioneered a new era of artificial vision by merging microsurgery, AR, and AI. Truly fascinating – and proof that innovation can solve seemingly insurmountable problems.
In a clinical trial led by University of Pittsburgh, Stanford University & University College London, an electronic retinal implant has successfully restored “clinically meaningful" vision improvement to 80% of 38 elderly participants suffering from AMD. – @smithsonianmag.bsky.social #sciencenews
Electronic Eye Implant Restored Vision in Patients With Age-Related Macular Degeneration
The device could be a boon for millions with vision loss from advancing age
www.smithsonianmag.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:16 PM
I remember the 1st MTV video—the apt “Video Killed the Radio Star"—and all the original VJs. Intermingling music & video was an obvious evolution for the industry, but MTV took us by surprise. A dedicated music channel is no longer viable today—with social media & DIY distribution for indie artists.
Due to changing #music consumption habits, Paramount Skydance is pulling the plug on most of MTV’s music presence – beginning by closing 5 dedicated UK channels by the end of 2025. Only the #MTV HD channel will remain – focusing almost entirely on reality programming. – @salon.com #musicbusiness
MTV pulls the plug on key music channels after 40 years
Paramount Skydance is cutting back on MTV's global music programming, leaving reality TV as the main focus.
www.salon.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Speedrun a walking simulator? Don't be surprised if you hit a roadblock. I can walk, but not wait – so I'm a good target for cutscene purgatory. Will check it out & feel guilty for 30 min 😉 Effective-extreme commentary on value of narrative & player-developer cxn. Note to discuss in @gdeseries.com!
As part of a design philosophy of frustrating players w/extreme mechanics, @babystepsgame.bsky.social forces those who skip cutscenes to watch an unskippable 28-min "cutscene purgatory" ft. characters who are annoyed by skipped cutscenes. – @nerdist.bsky.social

#gamedev #indie #indiegame #indiedevs
This Indie Game Sends Impatient Players to Cutscene Purgatory
Bennett Foddy's latest game trolls players who skip through cutscenes too quickly. Their punishment? The goliath of all cutscenes.
nerdist.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Goodbye My Friend: an honest look at the pain of a friend #breakup. Whether the #friendship has fractured or faded away, this #song explores betrayal, drifting apart, and the realization that it’s over. If you’ve ever had to say #goodbye, this one’s for you 💔

#sadsong #indiemusic #piano #singer
“Goodbye My Friend” | #sadsong for Unfriend Day 💔
“Goodbye My Friend” is an honest look at the pain of a friend breakup. Whether the friendship has fractured or just faded away, this song explores moments of betrayal, the silent drifting apart, and the difficult realization that it’s over. If you’ve ever had to say goodbye, this one’s for you. Piano/vocal recording from SHELTER 🎹 Music & Lyrics © ℗ 2020 Jeannie Novak Recording ℗ 2021 Jeannie Novak Engineered by Sejo Navajas (4th Street Recording Studio, Santa Monica, CA) Mixing by Bobby Vickery & Matt Bishop #musicvideo #indiemusic #breakupsong #friendship // GOODBYE MY FRIEND © 2020 Jeannie Novak Goodbye my friend I guess this is the end Looking at you I should have seen through No need to depend Goodbye my friend I think this is the end Our moments were few It wasn’t just you No need to defend The tears we cried The sleepless nights The dreams that didn’t survive They were all kept alive I’ve been screaming inside So you couldn’t hear me It made no difference at all Now you’re not near me You’re far away, and it’s time to say Goodbye my friend Yes, this is the end Those pictures we drew Were all we could view No need to pretend I guess that we’re through But it doesn’t ring true My friend
bit.ly
November 17, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Mendonça Filho & Moura have turned their experience with govt censorship into fuel for their art. @atmanrising.bsky.social & I are big fans of Wagner Moura – from Elite Squad to Narcos. He received a Golden Globe nom for Narcos & won Best Actor at Cannes for The Secret Agent. Can’t wait to see it!
November 15, 2025 at 6:16 PM
It’s great to see HORANG branch out into gamedev – & it looks like the 2D pixel <=> 3D voxel art transition is working. For a different experience, check out his horror webtoons. Bongcheon-Dong Ghost will give you the chills – before landing the perfect jump scare!

www.webtoons.com/en/thriller/...
November 14, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Lament could have been a viable successor to the original Barker mythology. Unfortunately, the series has been devalued with short-sighted strategies for years. IMO, the orig film is a masterpiece that is far superior to its many successors – and it’s on my list of the best horror films of all time!
November 14, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Silent Hill f seems to elevate the franchise beyond psychological trauma into historical commentary through the horror of forced domesticity. The pressure on 1960s Japanese women combined with the “faceless bride” as erasure of identity with the spider lily as a symbol of death is a daring move.
Silent HIll f explores womanhood in 1960s Japanese society. The protagonist's (Hinako) journey through the Otherworld depicts her rage against forced marriage as a loss of identity and endless suffering.

@gamingbible.bsky.social

#game #games #womeninhistory
Silent Hill f Is About the Beauty and Horror of Womanhood
Konami's latest Silent Hill entry explores the complexities of womanhood
www.gamingbible.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Based on a poem by @atmanrising.bsky.social, "Undying" contains themes of sacrifice and courage – so I decided to release a new #musicvideo to commemorate #VeteransDay. Footage features cadets #flying planes at a military academy in the #70s ✈️

#veteran #veterans #pilot #piano #indie #song #music
"Undying" | New music video honoring #veterans 🎖️ (piano/vocal from MOONRISE)
Piano/vocal recording of "Undying" from my album, MOONRISE. This song features themes of sacrifice and courage – so I decided to release a new "Undying" music video to commemorate #VeteransDay. Footage: Cadets at a military academy learning to fly planes during the 1970s – courtesy of retrofootage ✈️ Music & Sound Recording ℗ © 2012 Jeannie Novak Lyrics © 2012 Luis Levy & Jeannie Novak Engineered by Chris Mullings at 4th Street Recording Studio (Santa Monica, CA) #NationalHeroesDay #MilitaryAppreciationMonth #MemorialDay •••••••••• UNDYING © 2012 Luis Levy & Jeannie Novak If I thought I could let go I would be illogical If I thought I could get by I would make those bullies cry Maybe we’re all dying souls Out of luck, lost our way We would never fight again We could never be the same Undying, unkind Ungodly, Unwise Undying, Unlike Unlimited, Unspry Undying, unkind Ungodly, Unwise Undying, Unlike Unlimited Trudging through the sand and mud Feet are swollen, pick them up Flying over plains and pride Spotting targets, swatting lies Maybe we’re all fallen foes Out of time, lost our will We would never fight again We could be better still Undying, unkind Ungodly, Unwise Undying, Unlike Unlimited, Unspry Undying, unkind Ungodly, Unwise Undying, Unlike Unlimited Gone is the lonesome night Gone like the sun and moon Out for a glimpse of light Shining not a moment too soon Undying, unkind Ungodly, Unwise Undying, Unlike Unlimited, Unspry Undying, unkind Ungodly, Unwise Undying, Unlike Unlimited
bit.ly
November 11, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Reposted by Jeannie Novak
Happy Veterans Day! We believe in the power of art as a form of expression and a way to share the human experience – recognizing that the freedom to create is only possible through sacrifice.

#veterans #veteran #veteransday #veteransday2025 #veteransupport
November 11, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Reposted by Jeannie Novak
Bad Liar: Released 7 yrs ago today – primarily written by Imagine Dragons lead vocalist Dan Reynolds & his then wife Aja Volkman before they separated. #Piano #vocal cover recorded live at Village Studios 🎹

Music Visualizer:
bit.ly/bad-liar-song

#music #song #indie #acoustic

@novyunlimited.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Frozen grins are still aglow on the haunted carousel 🎠

Original piano/vocal song recorded live in studio for AFTERGLOW – released by Novy Music (a division of @novyunlimited.com) 🎹

#piano #indiemusic #musicvideo #indie #singer #songwriter #song #music #halloween #horror #haunted
"Haunted Carousel" | New piano vocal horror song for Halloween weekend 🎃
"Haunted Carousel" – a song based on a chilling instrumental in the HORRORSHOW collection. Since the piece had a strong refrain to begin with, I modified the original melody slightly and wrote lyrics to it. Piano/vocal recording from AFTERGLOW 🎹 Music & Lyrics ℗ © 2019 Jeannie Novak Music based on “Carousel” (HORRORSHOW © 2013 Jeannie Novak) Engineered by Sejo Navajas at 4th Street Recording (Santa Monica, CA) Mixing & Post-Production by Bobby Vickery Enhanced vocals performed by Jeannie Novak #piano #vocal #horror #song #halloween // HAUNTED CAROUSEL © 2019 Jeannie Novak Somewhere, far from here Each step you take will be filled with fear Careful, you might disappear On the haunted carousel Sometime, long ago Clowns and creatures put on a show Frozen grins are still aglow On the haunted carousel The carnival barker took the ticket from my hand And sent me away For another day While the carousel ponies kept on moving up and down In the final hour They will steal your power Some way, you never win And the circus seems to be closing in Run away from what might have been On the haunted carousel The carnival barker took the ticket from my hand And sent me away For another day While the carousel ponies kept on moving up and down In the final hour They will steal your power Somehow, yesterday Everyone had a price to pay You’ve already made your way To the haunted carousel //
bit.ly
November 1, 2025 at 9:26 PM
October 31, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Can you get “clapped” to death? Loved watching OVATION. (@atmanrising.bsky.social & I laugh about how the no. of standing O mins clocked at Cannes is now a running joke.) Barnett & Kroll didn't screen their short at festivals – avoiding the possibility of getting the very standing O that they fear 😱
October 29, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Motion Twin’s unique workers’ cooperative structure gives the studio freedom to prioritize creative vision over releasing a guaranteed hit (Dead Cells 2). At the same time, @atmanrising.bsky.social & I have witnessed similar decisions being made by past @novyunlimited.com clients – w/mixed results.
October 29, 2025 at 6:31 PM