Digital Dream Machine

Hello from Vancouver, British Columbia!

2009-01-24T20:33:00.001-07:00

For any of you who are still reading this blog: a big thanks! There is certainly a lack of posting in the last few months, but lots of new opportunities have been presented to me so I'm pursuing them with an outstanding level of support from my amazing family, friends and associates.

I'm now in Vancouver, British Columbia and working with some pretty cool people on some pretty awesome projects. Hopefully, I'll get back to blogging but you'll have to excuse the lack of posts in the meantime while I settle in to my new home.

You can still contact me at the same e-mail address and phone number for now.

We'll chat soon. Cheers!

Chad

New Digital Dream Machine Blog URL

2006-11-13T08:40:00.000-07:00

You can find the new URL for the Digital Dream Machine blog at:

www.digitaldreammachine.com/blog

Please update your links and bookmarks.

I decided to make the leap and use WordPress for the new blog. I found out I have the ability for MySQL databases on the Dreamhost web hosting account we purchased and since it's required to run WordPress, I dove in and managed to set it up the new DDM blog. I'm certainly no coding guru, but WordPress support and the web searches helped guide me through setting up the database and blog.

It took me a few days, but thankfully I was able to import most of the Blogger data over into the WordPress blog without much hassle. There were a few things the import missed (Amazon.com and Amazon.ca links) and the images could still be modified to better fit the WordPress template, but overall it went relatively smooth. Over the past few days I have been cleaning up the links, adding and tweaking code, and enhancing the DDM blog with plugins. Expect more revisions in the coming months while I optimize the site.

So why the move?

1. Blogger has been having a lot of downtime recently. Many times I have tried to log into the blog to find the service down for maintenance or I can't connect to upload a new post.
2. Features. Simply put, WordPress has more. Including:

Themes - WordPress makes switching the look of one's blog relatively painless. There are numerous websites devoted to WordPress themes.
Categories - a very nice feature for organizing one's posts by just that - categories.
Plug-in capability - great since there are a lot of extras people have developed to enhance WordPress.
The WordPress-powered blog seems to load faster despite the amount of images I usually include in the site.

I'll be leaving the Blogger version up for archival purposes and just in case things go awry on the WordPress version.

The Alberta Movie Guide is also staying on Blogger for now. You can use the new URL to access it though at http://www.albertamovieguide.com.

Ken and I will also let Luxo stay up on Blogger for now, so you can find that at the same link.

I think Blogger is still a good blogging service and I've heard they'll be doing some upgrades to the service soon so it's a good choice for getting people blogging, but for more advanced features, WordPress looked too enticing to pass up.

Thanks for the support here on Blogger and I look forward to seeing and hearing from all of you over at the new URL!

P.S. I also had a nice birthday dinner (roast, potatoes, carrots, gravy, and cake courtesy of sis, mom, and dad) at my sister's place last night and visited with one of my grandmothers later that evening. I even managed to squeeze in two of my favorite films, The Iron Giant and The Incredibles, while working on the blog update and scanning paperwork last night and early this morning. Thanks for all the birthday greetings and digital cards!

I Missed The Woz

2006-11-08T11:48:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, my wife met Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak back in April.

I caught the local news here in Edmonton tonight, and imagine my surprise (and disappointment) when I found out he appeared in Edmonton this morning to speak at a tech conference. I wasn't aware of the conference so of course I missed out on his keynote conference speech. I'm guessing he's been touring around guest speaking and helping to promote his new book, iWoz.

Woz is certainly the more accessible of the two main Apple founders and it's likely I'll get to hear him speak at a later time, but it's still disappointing that he was right here in Edmonton and I didn't know until it was too late. Even if you're not an Apple or Woz fan, you can't deny his contributions and effect on the worlds of personal computing and education. Hopefully the attendees were able to realize who they were listening to.

Oh well.

Halloween Haul 2006

2006-10-28T22:02:00.000-06:00

One of the best things about Halloween is working your way through the candy and treats throughout the year. In addition to this year's haul, be sure to check out my 2005 blog post for a bunch of tasty Halloween leftovers from last year!

AUDIO GOODIES:

Characters © Mike Mignola. Art © 2006 Starz Media, LLC and Revolution Studios.

An audio interview with Hellboy and The Amazing Screw-On Head creator, Mike Mignola, can be found over at Word Balloon. Mike discusses the upcoming Hellboy Animated films, working with Tad Stones, more Abe Sapien and BPRD adventures, and the big red character's beginnings. *Contains potentially offensive language near the end. (via Hellboy Animated.)

The Nocturnals © Dan Brereton.

What's Halloween without Dan Brereton's The Nocturnals? The Gunwitch, Doc Horror, Halloween Girl, Polychrome. Great names. Great characters. Great stories. Great art. Check out another great Word Balloon audio interview...this time with the creator of the fascinating Halloween-style characters himself.

Note to movie and TV producers: Where's the Nocturnals movie or animated series we're all waiting for? These easily-translatable characters, if handled properly, could potentially be a box office tentpole film or series!

Tunes for Ghostbusting: Ghostbusters Project:Remix. Use the free Switch application to convert the WMA files to MP3 or other format. Flip4Mac (also free) is also required for conversion.

VIDEO LOOT:

The Skeleton Dance © Disney.

Tune in to Disney's classic Silly Symphony animated short, The Skeleton Dance (1929), on YouTube.

Lonesome Ghosts © Disney.

One of my all-time favorite Disney animated shorts, Lonesome Ghosts featuring Mickey, Donald, and Goofy, can also be found over on YouTube.

"Bustin' makes me feel good!" - Ghostbusters by Ray Parker, Jr.

SWEET GRAPHICS:

Art © Bruce Timm.

Arglebargle has a blog post on Bruce Timm's monster art as well as influential poster artist Reynold Brown. Some really fun images! (via The Ward-O-Matic.)

Art © Merrill Rainey.

Merrill Rainey has posted some fun icons, desktop wallpaper, and PDF coloring book at this link. (via Drawn.)

Scarloff. Art © Matt Putnam-Pouliot.

Matt Putnam-Pouliot has posted some fun wallpaper at this link. (via Drawn.) Be sure to check out his fantastic art gallery filled with fun ghouls and beasties!

Art © Mars, Incorporated.

Guess the titles of 50 Dark Movies hidden in imagery in this Hieronymus Bosch-like painting at the M&M'S Dark Chocolate website.

Art © Vera Brosgol.

"Everyone Loves Mummies" is a fun wallpaper for your desktop by Vera Brosgol. (via Boing Boing.)

TASTY TREATS:

Photo © theprojectmaker.

Hosting a Halloween gathering? Check out this fun set of instructions for creepy but consumable foods for supper! (via Boing Boing.)

Photo © Bakerama.

Mmm-mummy cupcakes.

GHOULISH CRAFTS:

Photo © Spooky Blue.

Carve your own decorative tombstones. Create fear with the wicked scarecrow!

Art © www.origami-club.com.

Use the leftover candy bags to make your own Halloween origami! (via Monsterama and Paper Forest.)

FREAKY LINKS:

The League of Robots and Monsters
BlueSky Studios Challenges - Halloween!
BlueSky Studios Challenges - Classic Movie Monsters
Smooky Ghost Story. (via Cold, Hard Flash.)
Flickr photos: Jack O' Lanterns, Halloween, Pumpkin, Pumpkins, Ghosts, Monsters, Monster, Spooky, Costume
Monstrous.com - "The largest site about monsters."

Photo: Copenhagen, Denmark. © Warren Leonhardt.

Warren Leonhardt's ''abra macabre!" Flickr photoset. Be sure to view his fun blog with other spooky postings!

Happy Halloween Boils & Ghouls!!

More Goodies For The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3-D

2006-10-21T12:21:00.000-06:00

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas © Walt Disney Pictures.

Catch a glimpse of how the wizards at Industrial Light and Magic and Disney transformed Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas into a 3-D film format in this video.

Photo: Robert Hanashiro / USA TODAY.

Tim Burton discusses the impact of the film at this USATODAY.com article:

"It makes the movie weirdly better; you just see it the way it was meant to be — completely dimensional," says Burton, 48, on a visit to his native Southern California from his adopted home in London. "It takes the story and actually deepens it. I see details in the sets that I don't remember seeing."

Burton has resisted tampering with the 1993 film that has become a cult classic. With so many current movies generating sequels or even forcing out a trilogy, Burton's Nightmare stands alone. There will not be another installment, he says. But that's not for lack of trying on the part of Disney, the studio that released Nightmare.

Burton — whose most recent films are The Corpse Bride and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and who is in pre-production on the screen adaptation of another macabre story, Sweeney Todd — fends off sequel offers from "each new regime that comes in" at Disney. "I just say no. So, there won't be a Jack Visits Thanksgiving World."

Part of his desire to keep the movie a solo offering has to do with the connection the stop-motion animated film has forged with die-hard fans.

"You can't screw around with that," says Burton. "It's not a mass-market kind of thing. It's kind of specialized."

Visit the official movie site at this link where you can watch Jack's head follow your cursor, check out the remasterd soundtrack (with tracks from Marilyn Manson, Fiona Apple, and of course, Danny Elfman), and enter a contest to create a character and win a greeting from Tim Burton for your MySpace page.

IESB has video clips and photos from the coverage of the film's premiere at the El Capitan theater in Hollywood at this link.

Thanks to Cartoon Brew for the first video link!

18" Mezco Hellboy

2006-10-10T22:11:00.000-06:00

This friendly guest arrived yesterday:

Much thanks to the friend that dropped off Hellboy!

Cat and DVD for size comparison.

Photos: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

2006-10-07T23:10:00.000-06:00

A few photos from our trip to Chicago, Illinois on Wednesday and Thursday:

Old Chicago Pumping Station.

Lake Michigan near Lake Shore Drive and Cedar Street.

Michigan Avenue Bridge and downtown Chicago.

Stones from around the world adorn Tribune Tower.

Lunar Sample display at Tribune Tower.

Nathan Hale statue at entrance to Tribune Tower.

King Tutankhamun sculpture outside of The LEGO Store.

Me with a filmmaker sculpture inside The LEGO Store.

April sits with a businessman sculpture outside of The LEGO Store.

April and I outside of the Apple Store, North Michigan Avenue.

You can check out the rest of the photos at this Flickr photoset link.

After a 6 hour drive from Creston, Iowa (filled with 4 tollway stops!), we arrived to enjoy a nice dinner at the Weber Grill Restaurant with folks from Apple and various Midwestern U.S. educational institutions. Since we weren't ready to hit the sack, April and I, guided by one of the other conference attendees, walked down North Michigan Avenue to experience the city's nightlife. Chicago is very much 'alive' at night, and you can find people from all ages and walks of life strolling around downtown.

The cab drivers drive with insane purposes, and about half of the pedestrians don't wait for walk lights. I'm surprised there's not more accidents there. But it seems to be the key method of transportation in the "windy city."

Leaving the city was no easy feat. Roads lead everyplace but where you need to be going, and the roadsigns are either not clearly marked, or not placed far enough in advance for drivers to plan their routes. We had a map from Google which proved ineffective since we took a modified route and ended up an hour North of where we needed to be! 4 more tollway stops, and 10 hours later, we arrived back home in Creston.

Next time, we'll be sure to take our Honda Civic with built-in GPS navigation!

Despite the difficulty getting out of the city, it was a short, but enjoyable journey and we both look forward to visiting Chicago again.

Interview: Mark Schultz - Part 2

2006-09-28T06:45:00.000-06:00

Here's Part 2 of the interview I conducted with author/illustrator extraordinaire Mark Schultz regarding his career, influences, and future projects. Once again, thanks to both Mark and Palaeoblog creator, Dr. Michael Ryan for making this possible.

Enjoy!

--

Mark, thanks again for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer some questions. We discussed your early career in Part 1 (at this link) and moved on to past/current projects, so let's continue there.

Q: Are there any projects that you’d change if you could or do you consider past experiences as learning and move on?

Schultz: I look at everything I’ve done as a learning experience. There are some projects I’ve done that I’m not particularly proud of, but I learned, and I think improved, from all of them.

Q: Because we can’t be working all the time, what do you do to unwind when you’re not creating heroes and monsters?

Schultz: Hike—for exercise as well as to refocus my mind and eyes. Read. Watch movies—preferably B&W classics that are generally ignored today.

Howard Hawks' 1951 sci-fi masterpiece. A fave of both Mark and myself. © Turner Home Entertainment.

Q: Is there something you do to refresh your creative spirit and get back into drawing or writing mode again?

Schultz: Hike. Travel. Visit the ocean.

Q: You recently took a trip to Spain where some of your work was exhibited. How was your trip and did you find European’s reactions to your work to be different from North Americans?

Schultz: Generally speaking, Europeans don’t seem to draw as definitive a line between the fine arts and the commercial arts as we do in North America. They are much more open to the notion that comics can be a legitimate form of expression. The Spanish people, at least, seemed to me to be much more knowledgeable about art in general—they consider an appreciation of the arts to be part of their every day existence.

Let’s move on to future projects.

Q: Do you plan on returning to Xenozoic Tales? Are there any plans for another animated series or feature film? How about a DVD box set of the animated series?

Cadillacs and Dinosaurs. © 1993 Mark Schultz and Nelvana Limited. Images from here.

Schultz: There is nothing I want more then to get back to producing new issues of Xenozoic Tales. It is just a matter of finding a way of financing the process of getting it started again. My glacial slowness makes things difficult. I'm hoping to build a savings reservoir that could give me the time to devote to getting the series up and running again. Specifically, I have a four issue arc in mind that would complete the storyline I left hanging, but would also stand on its own, and would be collected as a trade paperback. At this time there are no current plans for XT projects in other media.

Q: In addition to Xenozoic Tales, what property that you’ve been involved with in the past, would you like to return to and in what capacity?

Cover art for SubHuman Issue #1 © Mark Schultz.

Schultz: I’d love to see SubHuman up and running. We really didn’t get a chance to get our sea legs under us with the initial Dark Horse mini-series. Both Michael and I have lots of stories Krill Stromer Family stories we’d like to tell, and hopefully someday we’ll have the chance. Beyond that, I have tons of other projects percolating away that are just waiting for the right opportunity to come to a boil.

Q: Who would you most like to work with that you haven’t yet had a chance to and who would you like to work with again?

Schultz: I’m pretty happy working mostly by myself, or with my already established cohorts.

Mark Schultz's studio. Note the otherworldly visitors! Photos courtesy of Dr. Michael Ryan.

Q: What properties would you like to work on that you haven’t yet?

Schultz: I’d love a chance to illustrate Edgar Rice Burroughs, and more Robert E. Howard. Right now, a couple of years after I stopped writing Superman, I’m finally getting a chance to illustrate a Superman cover! I’m psyched!

Action Comics #836. Artwork by Mark Schultz. © DC Comics.

Q: What are you working on now and what projects have you got in the pipeline?

Schultz: I continue to write the Sunday comic strip Prince Valiant, which is beautifully illustrated by Gary Gianni. I’m working on Vol. 2 of my Various Drawings art book series, doing lots of commissions in connection with generating work for that, and picking up comic cover and illustration work here and there. It all continues to go well, I will be generating a series of books for Flesk Publications, the publisher of Various Drawings.

Mark Schultz: Various Drawings Volumes 1 and 2. © Mark Schultz and Flesk Publications.

Q: Since Xenozoic Tales features dinosaurs, I can’t forget to ask if you have a favorite one?

Schultz: Of course, Tyrannosaurus rex is an icon that would probably be my all-time number one, but the coelacanth, with its great survivor’s story, is a sentimental favorite. I love drawing both of them.

Thanks again Mark for your time and letting all of us take a peak inside your creative mind. Please keep us up to date on your new projects and we wish you the best of luck with all of them!

Schultz: My pleasure. And thanks to all the readers for the support!

Stay tuned for a possible update from Mark on even more recent projects and topics we might have forgot in our first 2 parts!

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund art for sky*dog comics. © Mark Schultz and the CBLDF.

Interview: Mark Schultz - Part 1

2006-09-21T23:55:00.000-06:00

I'm fortunate to be associated with some truly amazing people. Because of these relationships, I'm able to pick their brains for great stories, research information for projects, and fantastic ideas. I plan to share some of this insight into these creative minds by presenting multi-part interviews here on this blog. These are people I admire for their outstanding work, their creativity, their unique approach to old and new ideas, and more importantly, their friendly, engaging personality.

The first of these interviews is with the multiple award-winning (Eisner, Harvey, Spectrum, Inkpot, and Haxtur) author/illustrator Mark Schultz.

Schultz, who has been described by many to be "one of the nice guys in Comics," has managed to tackle nearly every character we comic book and movie fans only dream of working with: Aliens, Conan, The Flash, The Terminator, King Kong, Luke Skywalker, Prince Valiant, Superman, Tarzan, and Tyrannosaurus rex to name just a few. However, he's best known for the lavishly-illustrated Xenozoic Tales, an action-adventure series featuring old world mechanic Jack "Cadillac" Tenrec and the bold, beautiful Hannah Dundee. Of course, there's more than a few classic cars and dinosaurs thrown in for fun.

Mark Schultz and myself at the 2001 San Diego Comic-Con.

--

DDM: First of all, thanks for taking the time to chat. I know a lot of people are anxious to hear what you’ve been up to and what exciting projects you have on the horizon but let's start with your own creation, Xenozoic Tales. I know it means a great deal to you, and readers are anxious to find out what's going on with the series.

Q: As the creator of Xenozoic Tales, (later re-branded as Cadillacs and Dinosaurs for Epic Comics and the animated television show from Nelvana), you’ve not only written but illustrated most of the series yourself. How did the idea come about?

Schultz: Through long hours of career dissatisfaction while I was executing advertising illustrations and working as a security guard. I’d long dreamed of becoming a cartoonist and spent a good deal of time imagining what my ideal comic book would be, based on my love for Edgar Rice Burroughs, EC Comics, King Kong, and other adventure movies and stories. Those influences, mixed with my interest in man’s relationship with the natural environment gelled into what became Xenozoic Tales. Essentially, I was creating the type of comic adventure I wanted to read, but wasn’t available in the contemporary market.

Q: In reading Xenozoic Tales, we seem to discover a slyly disguised ‘message’ at its core about the Earth and the symbiotic relationships of the planet’s systems. Not many comics or graphic novels can get away with this, yet you seem to have pulled it off effortlessly. The time period inhabited by your characters is a direct result of their ancestors’ effects on the Earth. Did you start with that message and find a story or was it the reverse?

Schultz: These concerns are very important to me, but even more important is telling a good story. If I feel that I am being preached to while I am reading a story, well, the storyteller has lost me. I trust that’s the same for my readers. The message, if there is one, must be integrated and buried within the dramatic telling of the story or it will alienate any reader who isn’t already on board with the point of view being promoted. In the case of Xenozoic Tales, the environmental angle was actually one of the last ingredients that got mixed into what started as pure SF adventure, but it was the necessary element that, I think, elevated the series, and, at the very least, keeps me interested in creating new stories.

Xenozoic Tales Volume One: After the End. © Mark Schultz. Published by Dark Horse Comics.

Q: Because you are the creator of the series, you have control of what happens, and therefore no major production studio to second-guess your decisions. With the exception of the marketing and distribution help from Kitchen Sink, Marvel, Nelvana, and Dark Horse, you’ve been able to shepherd Xenozoic Tales through its different incarnations the way you want. Were there any drawbacks to overseeing everything and not just writing the story or illustrating the books?

Schultz: Actually, I always had marketing and promotional help with Xenozoic Tales, first with my publisher, Denis Kitchen, filling that role, and then with the agency of Kitchen and Hansen. I have very limited knowledge when it comes to promotion and marketing, as well as distribution, so I have always relied on others for the “business” side of the business. I’ve also been very appreciative of editorial suggestions as well—even though I’ve never had to work with an editor on XT, I feel it helps to have a sounding board—another perspective with different experiences—available. I could never do XT on my own—I’m just the guy who makes the final decisions.

Q: One of the opportunities that I’ve truly enjoyed in life, is participating in palaeontological excavations. One certainly gains deeper respect for the scientists and volunteers that work under challenging field conditions with awkward equipment (ranging from heavy-but-powerful jackhammers to light-but-exacting dental picks) all in the name of research. Have you ever had a chance to join a palaeo/archeological dig and has it helped you with your Xenozoic Tales work?

Schultz: Unfortunately I have never had the opportunity to fulfill that life-long dream. Someday, I hope. I have been lucky enough to visit some fossil-rich sites, such as the Red Deer River Valley, but I’ve yet to find the time to participate. So, in the meantime, I pick the brains of cooperative sorts like our friend Dr. Michael Ryan.

Q: What other kinds of research do you conduct for projects like Xenozoic Tales?

Schultz: Lots of reading--mostly laymen’s scientific magazines and books--visual material of any appropriate kind, travel. Asking questions of the experts. I’m not shy about asking questions.

Your early training must have helped with Xenozoic Tales, so let’s talk a bit about the beginning of your career.

Q: What career training have you received? Was it formal, informal, self-taught, or a little bit of everything?

Schultz: I graduated college with a BFA in Painting from Kutztown State University in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the fundamentals of draftsmanship were not stressed like I now believe they should be, and as a result, much of my drawing ability, as it is now, formed through comic book on-the-job training. What I DID learn in college, and what I consider indispensable, was the ability to teach myself—to research and develop on my own accord.

Q: Do you recommend one method over the other for those hoping to follow in your footsteps?

Schultz: I don’t think there is any one right way. The unifying necessity is that you be passionate about what you are doing, immensely self-critical and unafraid to change as needed to become professional, and willing to push yourself harder than everyone else vying for the career you want. Success in the arts does not come to the faint of heart.

Q: Who were your creative influences growing up and why?

Top: Art by Winslow Homer. Bottom left: Art by Howard Pyle. Bottom right: Art by NC Wyeth.

Schultz: Visually, my work is strongly influenced by a love for classic American illustration. Winslow Homer, Howard Pyle, N.C. Wyeth, Daniel Smith, Dean Cornwell, Herbert Morton Stoops, and Frank Hoban are among the illustrators I’ve closely studied. My principal influences from within the comics field include Hal Foster, Alex Raymond, Roy Crane, Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, Wally Wood, and Al Williamson.

For visuals, as well as storytelling elements, the films of Howard Hawks, Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford, Val Lewton, and many other greats who worked primarily in black and white have had a strong effect on my work. Of course, Cooper and Schoedsack’s King Kong—there will never be a more complex, more visually and thematically rich film. Film and comics are two very different mediums, but if you look past the technical divides, they do share some important storytelling properties.

King Kong cover art by Mark Schultz. Issue 2 of 6. © 1990 Mark Schultz and Monster Comics.

For pure storytelling, the writings of Edgar Rice Burrroughs, Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft and John Steinbeck have meant a lot to me.

Q: Are there any current creative influences you’re learning from or just admire for the work they’re doing?

Left: Styracosaur art by William Stout. Right: Hellboy art by Mike Mignola.

Schultz: While I don’t think there are any contemporaries who I’d call influences—Bill Stout being the exception—I admire the work of Gary Gianni, Mike Mignola, Dan Clowes—there are many others…

Left: Art by Gary Gianni. Right: Art by Daniel Clowes.

Q: Did you have any ‘big goals’ when you started into your career and do you feel you’ve been successful at achieving them?

Schultz: I had no expectations when I started my comic career. I didn’t even want to get my hopes up that I would be able to make a basic living. Everything that’s come surprises me to certain degree. What success I’ve had amazes me.

Q: You’ve spent a good part of your early career as an illustrator, yet lately you’ve built up quite the writing resume. Why the shift?

Schultz: Actually, I’m shifting back towards illustration now. I like diversity—I like to be able to go back and forth between drawing and writing. Plus, I take advantage of what the marketplace is offering me at the time. I think it's very important, and I keep telling this to students, to become adept with as many different skills as possible—to both take advantage of the marketplace and to maintain as much control over your own properties as possible.

Q: Which do you find easier: illustrating or writing?

Schultz: Nothing’s easy. But I can write faster than I can illustrate.

Q: What artwork/story/project are you most proud of and why?

Schultz: Xenozoic Tales—because it’s my own, start to finish.

Mark recently completed the above Centrosaurus brinkmani depiction and another illustration for palaeontologist Dr. Michael Ryan.
Art © Mark Schultz from the collection of Dr. Michael Ryan.

-- Continue to Part 2 of the interview! --

Weather Comparison

2006-09-17T02:30:00.000-06:00

The Nexus energy ribbon passes through here in the US...

Quite the difference in temperatures (Celsius) between here in Creston, Iowa and back home in Edmonton, Alberta.

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3-D

2006-09-03T15:41:00.000-06:00

As the 2D version is one of my all-time favorite films, I'm really looking forward to seeing this...

Image: Copyright 2006 Walt Disney Pictures.

Trailer available at this link.

Image: Copyright 2006 Joel Fletcher

For a taste of what the film might look like, be sure to grab your red and blue anaglyph 3-D glasses and check out Joel Fletcher's The Nightmare Before Christmas 3-D photo gallery. Joel was an animator at Skellington Productions and worked on the film.

Sources: Aint It Cool News and Cartoon Brew.

Photo: Dried Frog

2006-06-29T19:32:00.000-06:00

This inch-long shrivelled hopper was on the front walkway at our friends' home here in Iowa.

Photo © 2006 Chad Kerychuk.

Photos: Fun With Apple's Photo Booth

2006-06-29T14:55:00.000-06:00

Photos from goofing around with Apple's new Intel-powered iMac with built-in iSight camera and Photo Booth software.

Say "cheese!"

Photos: Peggy Sue's Good Eats

2006-06-27T23:35:00.000-06:00

My wife had to travel to Mt. Ayr, Iowa, to take care of some professional matters, so I joined her on the day trip with our friend Al. He wanted to show us a cool 50's-themed restaurant, but we arrived to find it closed for the day. Hopefully we'll get a chance to go inside some other time, because looking through the windows revealed some great retro decor.

Photos © 2006 Chad Kerychuk.

Photos: June Bug

2006-06-24T17:45:00.000-06:00

Check out this rather large June Bug on the screen of our back door here in Iowa last night.

A comparison beside the tip of my thumb....

Photos © 2006 Chad Kerychuk.

Photos: Bettendorf, Iowa Trip

2006-06-23T22:32:00.000-06:00

Here's some photos from a trip to Bettendorf, Iowa where I attended an Education Technology Conference with my wife on June 21 and June 22.

We stayed at The Lodge, a European-styled hotel with lots of fantastic wood carvings, furniture, artwork, and architecture. I didn't have a lot of time to take photos, but I was able to capture a few interesting shots. April also managed to snap a few photos of the exterior from the vehicle on our way home.

Apparently, Iowa can lay claim to the 'World's Largest Truckstop'...

Satellite dishes outside of Iowa Public Television...

Photos © 2006 Chad Kerychuk.

Photos: Bathroom Spider

2006-06-23T11:25:00.000-06:00

One of the cats saw this critter crawling into the bathroom last night. The photos make it look larger than actual size, which was about the width of a quarter. Still, I wouldn't want it creeping up on me, so I scooped it up and put it outside.

Photos © 2006 Chad Kerychuk.

Photos: Iowa State Insect Zoo

2006-06-19T21:30:00.000-06:00

My wife was asked to photograph the Iowa State Insect Zoo traveling exhibit so I tagged along and snapped a few shots of my own. There were lots of other events including craft activities, games, storytelling, a book fair, and a snack room where guests could make 'Ants on a Log.'

Colorful, creepy crawlies and snacks...what more could a kid ask for?

Photos © 2006 Chad Kerychuk.

Photos: June 19 Hail Storm

2006-06-19T12:30:00.000-06:00

Some photos from an early morning hail storm here in Creston, Iowa:

Photos © 2006 Chad Kerychuk.

Photos: Picking Mulberries

2006-06-15T22:33:00.000-06:00

We have a Mulberry tree in our backyard in Iowa, so we decided to pick some of the berries that were ready. As usual, one of the cats (Monique) decided to join us.

Photos © 2006 Chad Kerychuk.

Raiders Celebrates 25 Years

2006-06-12T12:21:00.000-06:00

25 years ago today, movie fans witnessed "the return of the great adventure" when George Lucas and Steven Spielberg brought us Raiders of the Lost Ark.

A personal all-time favorite, Raiders took viewers into the world of archeologist, Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones, Jr. and his quest for the lost Ark of the Covenant. The film, styled after old movie serials, would spawn two sequels, video games, books, comics, and other related merchadise. Currently discussions are underway to film a fouth adventure with the Fedora-wearing, whip-wielding archeologist.

As was the case with the original release, the film continues to inspire filmmakers, archeologists, scholars, artists, video game designers, special effects technicians, stunt men, sound designers, and armchair adventurers.

To celebrate the historic film and its anniversary, I've put together a few links to send you off on your own adventure...

Twenty-Five Reasons to Watch Raiders Again - The official Indiana Jones website provides 25 little-known facts about the film.

TheRaider.net - One of the finest digsites for news, facts, events, fan films, forums, and references about the Indiana Jones projects. Be sure to check out the great 25th anniversary tribute post they've put together, with wallpapers, screenshots, and references.

IndyGear - From the famous Fedora, to the rugged leather jacket, to the trusty bullwhip, IndyGear is THE Indiana Jones Equipment Resource. Spend valuable research time in the Props section and visit the forum where you can learn how other fans make their own. Make it a priority to visit Dr. David West Reynolds' The Archeology of Indiana Jones section so you can learn about the real-life inspirations behind the movies!

Indyfan.com - A website by Indy fans for Indy fans.

Indiana Jones (In Development) - Information, screenshots, and a trailer for the upcoming video game from Lucasarts.

Step into the time machine and check out the original trailer for Raiders of the Lost Ark at this link.

Images TM, © & Copyright © Lucasfilm, Ltd. and Paramount Pictures.

Photos: Venus Fly Traps

2006-06-11T23:30:00.000-06:00

I've always wanted a Venus Fly Trap and we know a few friends who might like to have one, so we picked up a few today. April and I were supervised by the cats while we transplanted the Fly Traps into larger pots.

Photos © 2006 Chad Kerychuk.

Dracorex hogwartsia

2006-05-24T12:12:00.000-06:00

A new type of dragon-like dinosaur has been named Dracorex hogwartsia in honor of the celebrated Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling.

Photo of Dracorex hogwartsia © The Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

The nearly complete skull was discovered by three friends from Sioux City, Iowa during a fossil collecting trip to South Dakota. More information can be found at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis Dinosphere website.

Be sure to check out the video interview with the donors of the fossil, the Museum President, and world-renowned paleontologist Dr. Robert Bakker.

Thanks to Atomic Surgery for the link.

Ray Harryhausen Brings New Projects to Life

2006-05-24T07:30:00.000-06:00

Ray Harryhausen tribute painting © Jim Dallmeier.

Stop-motion animation legend Ray Harryhausen will be helping to develop a series of new features, TV movies, video games, and merchandising under the Ray Harryhausen Presents banner for Mindfire Entertainment according to Reuters and the Hollywood Reporter via Yahoo! News. From the article:

Producer Mindfire Entertainment, which joined forces on the projects with the 85-year-old director, said several scripts are in development -- one set in Greek mythology and another with an alien invasion theme. Production on the first film is set to begin in the fall.

The plan is to release one movie in the $15 million range and three TV projects in the $4 million range every year, Mindfire CEO Mark Altman said. Harryhausen will oversee all visual effects, which will be done in CGI (computer-generated imagery) but will be in the spirit of his stop-motion effects, Altman said.

Harryhausen said "utilizing the incredible advances in visual effects technology" would enable him to reach an entire new generation of audiences. "These stories are universal, and I could not be more thrilled than to revisit some of my favorite worlds -- past, present and future -- in these new films," he said.

As a great admirer of Harryhausen's work, I'm thrilled to hear that he's bringing out some fresh ideas from old worlds for all of us to enjoy. Take a look at many reecent feature films (Jurassic Park, Starship Troopers, Peter Jackson's King Kong) or video games (Killer Instinct, Age of Mythology, God of War) and I guarantee you'll see the Harryhausen influence.

Even if Ray does nothing more than provide the initial concepts and inspiration, you can bet the projects will be both epic and fantastic.

Classic Muppets

2006-05-18T16:18:00.000-06:00

A Muppet classic found over on YouTube...

"Mahna Mahna:"

More Muppet goodies at YouTube.

The Wife Meets The Woz

2006-04-05T23:19:00.000-06:00

April met The Woz last night. How cool is that?!

April showing Steve a poster of himself, his son, and some PowerBooks.

Kerychuk and Wozniak. Gurus of technology and education!

Evening at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

April and one of her work associates attended an AIM Institute banquet in Omaha where Steve was the keynote speaker. After the speech, Wozniak hung around to pose for photos and graciously sign Macs, Apple II's and other historic Apple and Woz-related items. She said he was not only an entertaining speaker, but also listened attentively to guests and welcomed their own stories.

Steve Wozniak: a class act all the way.

Update: My wife has posted her recollection of the event in the comments section, while another Woz fan shares his experience at Applemacpunk.com

Pirate Radio in Miami

2006-03-20T02:09:00.000-07:00

I finished watching Miami Vice Season 2 on DVD (one of my all-time favorite shows) a few days ago and was reminded of the episode "Trust Fund Pirates" by this CNN story.

Fans of Vice will recall Richard Belzer's (Law & Order) character was a pirate radio station operator who conducted his illegal broadcasts from out in the ocean near Miami.

Watch this space.

2006-03-16T14:01:00.000-07:00

Hello all.

Between working on a film set and catching strep throat and a flu, helping out family and friends with work and projects, and trying to get other stuff finished, I haven't posted much on my personal blog here in about a month. We've also got a huge dump of snow in the last few weeks here in Alberta (not to mention most of Canada) and it generally slows one down.

So while we thought we were nearly done with winter (mild as it may have been), we knew better. Right now with all the snow, it looks as if we've been in winter for months on end when it's really near springtime. Oh well, at least the ski resorts and farmers should be happy about it!

As I've mentioned though, I'm working on the Mark Schultz interview and some other fun posts to make up for the lack of posting. I think you'll enjoy them.

Note: If any of you DDM blog readers have actually ordered anything through my Amazon links (not just clicked on them or performed searches), please drop me a line and let me know. I think I'm having some difficulties with the tracking reports generated by Amazon.

Thanks!

New Posts Coming Soon

2006-02-09T23:23:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I'm still here folks. Got some new posts coming soon, including interviews, beginning with author/illustrator and Xenozoic Tales/Cadillacs and Dinosaurs creator, Mark Schultz.

Stay friendly.

Holidays with Jedi

2006-01-22T12:21:00.000-07:00

My wife and I spent Christmas being entertained by Ewan McGregor. Sort of.

Photo © Chad Kerychuk.

Within days we watched:

Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith,

The Island,

Robots, and

on Christmas Day, we watched a few episodes of Long Way Round; a fascinating reality series about McGregor's adventure with his friend, Charley Boorman, as they travel around the world from London to New York on motorcycles.

The McGregor film fest wasn't planned but we noticed the pattern later. 2005. Year of the McGregor.

Nifty new Yoda Christmas stocking that is, hmmm. Wife to thank I have.

26 Tons of Fun

2006-01-20T22:00:00.000-07:00

I've been helping a friend of a friend who owns a local truck detailing business. Mostly the job entails washing and detailing tractor trailer units, but it also includes washing construction equipment. Thursday afternoon, Chris (the owner) offered me a chance to drive one of these to get washed:

A John Deere 950c Crawler Bulldozer. PDF file with specs and more photos can be found here.

It's actually easier to control than I had previously thought (though this one looks pretty intimidating) since the 2 main controls (speed/direction and blade) are joystick-style devices. Much like you'd find in a jetfighter cockpit or arcade game. Though I've been around them before when I worked for a construction firm, I didn't operate any. For the washing/detailing job, we had to move it into the wash bay at the equipment firm. While I didn't plough any dirt, and there wasn't much clearance between the blade and the bay walls, it sure was fun!

Unfortunately, it didn't transform into a giant robot.
Photos from here.

HD Seminar Follow-up

2006-01-16T21:12:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I was fortunate to attend the HD Production Conference here in Edmonton. I understand nearly 300 attended the 2-day conference in Calgary and around 200 packed the sessions in Edmonton. It was great to see a lot of familiar faces, meet some new ones, and learn about all the new HD productions from Albertans. And the two fantastic lunches were a bonus!

It was a little daunting to see some of the financial figures people were dealing with but since HD is a relatively new media, a higher production cost can be expected. The quality available through HD is outstanding and for those productions that want that clarity, detail, rich colors, and an immersive experience, HD is definitely the way to go.

Hopefully I will also have a production to add to the growing list.

Read more at my posting on The Alberta Movie Guide.

1933 King Kong Now on DVD

2006-01-02T12:30:00.000-07:00

As you're probably well aware, I'm a big King Kong fan. It remains one of the most engrossing variations of the Beauty and the Beast story. Almost no film today has matched the lushness of Kong's jungles, fierce Skull Island creatures, or emotion exuded by an animated lead character. King Kong is also a movie that proved to be the key inspiration to more animators, palaeontologists, archeologists, artists, and filmmakers than any other motion picture. And that inspiration continues today as each new professional inspired by Kong fires up the imaginations of the young viewing audience. Let's not forget King Kong came out during the The Great Depression, which makes its associated box office achievement and high praise even more amazing.

Over the Christmas holiday, I received a DVD Box Set of King Kong, Mighty Joe Young, and Son of Kong and finally had a chance to sit down and watch the new print of the film and included documentaries. RKO Production 601: The Making of Kong, Eighth Wonder of the World, is nothing short of outstanding. Arguably, it's easily one of the best "making of" DVD features yet and is on par with Peter Jackson's legendary behind-the-scenes material included on The Lord of the Rings trilogy and newly-issued Director's Cut DVD of The Frighteners. Despite having one of the greatest films of all time now available in a beautiful new presentation, the documentary alone was worth the long wait for Kong's arrival on DVD.

Found on the second disc of the King Kong Collector's Edition DVD set, RKO Production 601 features a running time of just over 2 and a half hours, (worthy of even Peter Jackson's new lengthy remake), and does an exemplary job of telling the story of the film's creation. Jackson, Ray Harryhausen, Phil Tippet, Alan Funke, Frank Darabont, Randall Cook, Ben Burtt, Joe Dante and others explain and analyze how the film was realized. From painstaking recreation of the King Kong armature and lost Spider Pit Sequence, to multi-plane set formation and projection, to the actual stop-motion animation process, and even the pioneering Max Steiner's score, the documentary is not to be missed by any true animation and King Kong devotee.

King Kong has become bigger than the lovable beast himself. Though he is considered one of the most recognizable silver screen characters of all time, the film proved to be the new apex of fantasy and adventure storytelling on film. So, when you head out to watch Peter Jackson's version, or the latest big-budget special effects blockbuster, think back to the incredible achievements of Willis O'Brien, Cooper and Schoedsack, and a giant ape, who was in reality, less than 20 inches tall.

King Kong artwork © 1933 RKO Pictures and 2005 Turner Entertainment Co. and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Photography: New Years Eve 2005

2006-01-01T15:30:00.000-07:00

Norma and Karen philosophize about 2006.

Bubbly. And a Pepsi.

Me and Rick mug it up for the camera. We're almost twins!

Mike and April ready for the year-end hot wing feast!

Ed gives birth during another round of "Twister." Just kidding buddy!

Norma, acts as a "human beat box" while Mike "B-Boy" Chow busts out some "dope" moves!

The fantastic hosts, John and Cathy Booker!

Happy New Year from Chad and April Kerychuk!
All photos © 2005 Chad Kerychuk

The Final Post of 2005

2005-12-31T18:30:00.000-07:00

On the last day of 2005, I hope you all look back on the previous year with good memories. It's been fun blogging, meeting new people, and reading other's thoughts as well. Hopefully I can continue bringing you enjoyable links and stories in 2006. Thanks for all the support!

As the final post for 2005, I present some unique New Year's-themed illustrations to enjoy...

More great vintage Soviet Space-themed New Year's cards can be found at this link.

Be sure to check out the other galleries too. Link via BoingBoing.

Instant Message Santa Claus

2005-12-23T16:17:00.000-07:00

If you have iChat or AIM, try adding 'SantaClaus' into your buddies list. You can chat with him, play games, and tell him what you'd like for Christmas! I keep him around all year long to add some festive cheer during my Internet wanderings.

Clay Animation Brings Audiences to Theaters

2005-12-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

Carole Horst with Variety reports on the charming effect of clay animation on movie-going audiences:

Computer generated 3D images dominate the short history of the animation Oscar. But this year, two front-runners -- DreamWorks' Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Tim Burton's Corpse Bride from Warner Bros. -- both use film's oldest animation technique: stop motion.

Wallace director Nick Park -- who has already won three Oscars for shorts, two of which starred cheese-loving Wallace and his clever dog Gromit -- fashioned a plasticine Little Britain for the film, with artists painstakingly manipulating the plastic clay figures, then photographing them frame by frame.

"Audiences love the technique. Audiences think (the characters) are real people and they respond to them," says Wallace producer and Aardman Animation principal Peter Lord, adding, "once you've seen an army of 2 million in a CGI movie, you stop being moved," and people react to the reality of claymation.

Tons of clay was used, and CGI was only used briefly -- and only for scenes in which traditional claymation methods would not work.

"The technique doesn't hold you back," says Lord. " There's nothing you couldn't try."

Corpse Bride was shot using two dozen digital cameras and five Power Mac G5 desktops. Tim Burton and animation vet Mike Johnson directed the film that used puppets covered with Latex "Skin" -- inside each puppet was a full animatronic armature that was manipulated to create frame-by-frame movement and facial expressions.

"There's something compelling about the tone and style," says Johnson. "But the most important thing is the story."

Read the full article at the link above.
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride © 2005 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Wallace and Gromit © 2005 Aardman Animations Ltd. DreamWorks Animation L.L.C.

That's interesting.

2005-12-13T20:35:00.000-07:00

I'm in Iowa right now, home to W.P. Kinsella's 'Field of Dreams,' but I haven't seen any baseball-playing ghosts. However, on the way to Urbandale and Des Moines yesterday, my wife and I witnessed:

1 dead cow on the side of the road with a gaping wound across its chest (I think it was Werewolf damage! ;-)

1 giant candy cane decoration out in the middle of a farmer's field.

3 wild turkeys strutting down a train track.
If we weren't in a hurry to get to an appointment in the city, I certainly would have taken photos. It was as if we were having one of those dreams where seemingly random images insert themselves. Only this stuff was all real.

I did snap a shot of the weather on the drive back home. Though it doesn't look like it, the large, fluffy flakes were coming down at a blizzard pace. Our usual 1 hour and 20 return trip was closer to 2 hours this time.

I also managed to fire off a quick snapshot of the giant neon mascot for Terrible's Casino near Osceola, Iowa. It's near the interstate highway so all travelers can pass by and cower at the beaming behemoth. It reminds me of an episode of The Simpsons where all the store mascots and giant signs come to life and attack Springfield. I'm not quite sure why you would name a casino 'Terrible's' but I understand there's a chain of them.

Photos © 2005 Chad Kerychuk

Rankin/Bass Santa and Rudolph Puppets Found

2005-12-02T16:37:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Cartoon Brew for bringing animation fans this news: the original puppets of Santa Claus and Rudolph (from the treasured Rankin/Bass holiday special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) have been found.

Long thought lost, the puppets were found among the holiday decor of a former Rankin/Bass employee. The puppets have been purchased by TimeandSpaceToys.com and will be restored for public display.

Check out the TimeandSpaceToys.com article for more information.

Also, be sure to read last year's lengthy but informative post on the animated holiday classic.

RUDOLPH animated program © & TM Classic Media.

New Dinosaur Species Announced

2005-11-30T15:51:00.000-07:00

Art © 2005 Mark Schultz and Dr. Michael J. Ryan.

A new dinosaur species discovered by my good friend, Dr. Michael J. Ryan, was officially announced recently.

From the press release:

"The new species of dinosaur, named Centrosaurus brinkmani, belongs to the group of dinosaurs related to the well-known Triceratops, but lived about 10 million years earlier. Remains of the dinosaur were discovered in bone beds in southern Alberta, the largest of which is in Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ceratopsian (horned) dinosaurs can be distinguished from one another by the ornamentation on their frills that extend shield-like from the back of their skulls.

Distinctive hooks and "spikelets" on the frill of Centrosaurus brinkmani allowed scientists to identify this dinosaur as a new species."

Read more about the new dinosaur, who it's named after, and feast your eyes on other beautiful illustrations of the species at Palaeoblog.

When you're done, head over to CBC's 'Quirks & Quarks' website and listen to Dr. Ryan describe the new species.

Thanks to Dean for the CBC link!

Vote Topples Canadian Government

2005-11-29T03:01:00.000-07:00

As if plucked from George Lucas's latest 'Star Wars' films, a 'no-confidence' vote has toppled our Canadian government.

Unfortunately, we don't really seem to have any solid options in our other political parties. Politics...bah, humbug!

Photography: Computer Bugs

2005-11-27T23:45:00.000-07:00

This 'little lady' decided to check out our new 17" PowerBook...

Photo © 2005 Chad Kerychuk.

There seems to be an invasion of Ladybugs and Box Elder Bugs here in the Midwest. They're not harmful, but they become annoying, sometimes flying right into one's face, laptop screen, or nearby light source.

According to the ever-resourceful wikipedia though, Ladybirds or Ladybugs can be beneficial:

"In parts of Northern Europe, tradition says you get a wish granted if a ladybug lands on you. In Italy it is said by some, that if a Ladybird or Ladybug flies into your bedroom, that it is considered good luck."

Perhaps they're not so much of a pest after all.

Photography: Raking Leaves

2005-11-23T21:30:00.000-07:00

Raking leaves on November 23, here in Creston, Iowa. I had already raked many leaves in the front yard a week before this blustery, but warm day, however a nasty snowstorm blanketed the area, covering all traces of my past efforts. After the snow melted, we finished the job. Well, the front yard at least. 13 bags of leaves in total.

April strikes an adventurous pose.

I break for a photo during the hours of raking.

April frames me...with leaves.

Photos © 2005 Chad and April Kerychuk.

Photography: The Difficult Life of Cats

2005-11-18T22:45:00.000-07:00

While working away on some video projects here in Iowa one afternoon, I observed the seemingly difficult life cats lead. Shown in chronological order of course...

Xavier takes a nap.

The camera's noise rouses the slumbering beast.

Monique enjoys her lazy solitude.

"The paparazzi won't leave me alone..."

"...so I might as well start some trouble." Boxing match followed.

"That was a tough bout. Time for a nap again."

Throw in some meal times, bathroom breaks, and play periods, and you've summed up a cat's incredibly stressful day. And when it's all over, they decide to crawl in bed with you at night, stretching out fully and taking all available extra space, relegating you to a little corner of the mattress. It would seem felines are the superior species!

All photos © 2005 Chad Kerychuk.

Own the Original 'Hollywood' Sign

2005-11-17T17:50:00.000-07:00

Supposedly, the original Hollywood sign is up for sale. Not to be confused with the current one most people see in California, but the original itself, built in 1923 for a real estate development company.

Due to termites, arson, and other damage, the sign needed to be either repaired or replaced. In 1978, 'Playboy' publisher Hugh Hefner sponsored a party to do just that. Celebrities including Gene Autry and Alice Cooper, along with other individuals, kicked in funds to restore the iconic sight.

If the whole sign is too much for your rec room, or that starting bid price is a bit shocking, how about owning a small piece instead?

NPR has a feature on the history of the famous American landmark. Check it out at this link.

Ray Harryhausen: Portrait of the Animator as Zeus

2005-11-16T23:30:00.000-07:00

There's a good interview by Mark Zimmer with stop-motion animation legend Ray Harryhausen at digitallyOBSESSED.com.

"Harryhausen: I always worked by myself, because I like to concentrate. I prefer not to have people around. So every inch of film is usually the first take. We never had time to do retakes.

dOc: How did you remember from one day to the next, 'Now, was I moving this limb this way or that way?'

Harryhausen: Sometimes if I had to stop a scene I would make notes, but you have it in your mind. When you make storyboards, you sort of think of it as though it's in action. I guess I have a Zeus complex. I like to manipulate these people as Zeus did in the early Greek concepts."

Ray also talks about his past work with Willis O'Brien, the upcoming 'King Kong' 'Mighty Joe Young' and 'Song of Kong' DVDs, and even Peter Jackson's 'King Kong.'

Hellboy Animated

2005-11-12T21:54:00.000-07:00

Hellboy Animated concept art by Sean "Cheeks" Galloway.

Like the recent motion picture, 'Hellboy', created by author/illustrator Mike Mignola, will be coming to life in animated form. IDT Entertainment and Revolution Studios will bring 'Big Red' to life in direct-to-DVD productions, and possibly an animated series, online content and video games. Ron Perlman, who acted as Hellboy in the feature film will also be providing voicework for the animated versions. Guillermo del Toro, director of the film, will serve as a creative producer along with Mignola.

Read the Variety article at this link.

I was pleased to hear that a fellow member of The Drawing Board, Sean "Cheeks" Galloway, was chosen as the lead designer and fellow Hellboy.com forum member and animation veteran, Tad Stones, is the supervising director. With all of this talent, Hellboy is certainly in good hands.

Follow the production of Hellboy Animated at the new Production Diary.

Check out more of Sean's outstanding artwork at his online gallery, where I'm sure you'll see how his dynamic style is a natural fit for animation.

There's also a great interview with Tad regarding animated television series development at Digital Media FX.

While we're talking about Hellboy, here's two great lithographs I recently received. The first comes courtesy of '...' at the Hellboy fourm, and the second arrived thanks to Jun at The Comic Bug.

Hellboy mini-lithograph produced by Dark Horse Comics.

Hellboy Hurricane Katrina Red Cross Relief lithograph by Mike Mignola.

Hellboy and all related characters © Mike Mignola and Dark Horse Comics, Inc.

Photography: From Above

2005-11-12T21:00:00.000-07:00

Photo © 2005 Chad Kerychuk.

I traveled from Edmonton, Alberta to Creston, Iowa on the 8th, and took this photo on the Calgary to Denver portion of the trip. Earlier during the flight, there was some great scenery that I didn't capture though. If my camera wasn't stowed, I would have had some photos of the badlands and mountain ranges covered by snow.

Oh well. Next time.

It's Experiment 626!

2005-11-04T02:49:00.000-07:00

Check out this great Flickr photo from Princess Shari of Stitch from Walt Disney World...

"It's Experiment 626!" - Originally uploaded by Princess Shari.

♫ Halloween Apples! ♫

2005-10-30T15:32:00.000-07:00

I love Halloween. Always have. Cool costumes, dark decorations, mysterious movies, and creepy activities make this one of the most fun times of year! So, in keeping with the Halloween 'spirit,' here's some spook-tacular treatsll!

Images © Lucasfilm 2005.

HALLOWEEN IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY...

In addition to the Star Wars paper masks I blogged about last Halloween, StarWarsKids.com has posted a new set of masks for you to print, cut out, and wear. This year's masks feature characters from 'Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith' including Kit Fisto, Yoda, Aayla Secura, Tion Medon, Chewbacca, Darth Vader, R2-D2, General Greivous, C-3PO, 3 clone troopers, Padme Amidala, The Emperor, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the Boga.

The site also features a tutorial for home-made Star Wars treat bags at this link.

For Jack O'Lantern patterns, Star Wars Kids also features fun intergalactic designs ranging from a simple Rebel Insignia to a complex Tusken Raider. Paste them on your pumpkins and start carving your galactic affiliation!

SPOOKY SONGS SURFACE AND VILE VIDEOS EVOLVE!!!

Michael Fleming has been posting an insane amount of links to obscure but fantastic Halloween-themed MP3 music files on his blog. Unfortunately, the process is slightly complex but it's definitely worth it to hear some great music! Especially noteworthy are Bing Crosby's 'The Headless Horseman,' Vaughn Monroe's '(Ghost) Riders in the Sky,' Ronnie Dawson's 'Rockin' Bones,' 'Watusi Zombie' by Jan Davis, and 'King Kong' by Tarantula Ghoul and the Cryptkickers.

A few more obscure songs that fit the Halloween mood can be found at this link on WFMU's Beware of the Blog. 'Parade of the Damned' features the cool 'Bo Meets the Monster' by Bo Diddley and Messer Chups' 'Intro Monstro Crescendo' among other hip tunes.

Image courtesy of The Scooby Doo Case Files.

Halloween without everybody's favorite canine sleuth and his gang, Mysteries, Inc.? No way! 'Scooby Doo, Where Are You!' is still considered one of the finest animated series. From spooky storylines to eerie locations with evocative background art, the show still outshines some of today's top cartoons.

The Scooby Doo Case Files website has posted links to the hip 'Scooby Doo themes,' including unreleased symphonic score tracks from the show. A real treasure, Ted Nichol's compositions are not to be missed! Delve into the site to discover episode summaries, imcompetent sheriffs, avatars for the Internet, and an index of monsters with roll-over images revealing their true identities! Be sure not to miss a section I savored, Wallpapers, which features a ton of outstanding animation background designs from the show!

Images courtesy of Ben Kane.

Some readers will probably remember 'The Hilarious House of Frightenstein,' a 1970's Canadian TV variety show featuring some of our favorite monsters. Wth the legendary Vincent Price and Billy Van, the show had some truly enjoyable moments featuring Count Frightenstein, Igor, Grizelda, the Librarian, Wolfman, the Oracle, and others. I remember being particularly fascinated by the set design, cinematography, effects, and music. 'March of the Martians,' the memorable theme from the show, (created with the famous Moog Synthesizer) can be found among the other goodies on the Frightenstein Downloads page. Be sure to snoop around the incredible tribute website for show info, music, video clips, and even a 'Return to Transylvania' documentary!

Of course, no Halloween should go without a visit from Jack Skellington or a giant robot!

EERIE IMAGES AND TERRIFYING TEXT!!

Keith Milford's blog, Old Haunts, collects "Halloween photos of long past," marketing material, greeting and trading card art, and even music and audio stories from old vinyl LPs. The bonus audio downloads 'Alfred Hitchcock presents Ghost Stories for Young People,' 'Casper the Friendly Ghost Haunted House Tales,' 'Sounds of Terror!' and others let your ears enjoy a Halloween chill! I have no doubt that you'll recognize some of the costumes and relive childhood 'trick or treat' memories.

Check out Jay Stephen's blog, Monsterama for some amazing illustrations and creative monster lore. Described as a place to see 'cute creeps from popular culture,' the new blog is already loaded with great images by Jay. Along with artwork, you'll discover brief histories of characters like Casper the Friendly Ghost, Gossamer, Fangface, and others.

Jay, a Canadian with a great sense of design, is the creator of 'Jetcat,' 'The Land of Nod,' and 'Tutenstein,' all of which I highly recommend. He's also a regular contributor to Drawn!, a blog that provides insight and links about illustrators around the globe. Some of the links in this post were found at the blog.

Project Gutenberg has online text versions of 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' by Washington Irving. Available in both HTML and Plain Text formats, this is the original tale that has spawned numerous film versions. No Halloween celebration is complete without a reading or viewing of this great story! Download 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker or 'Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley as well!

RavensBlight features a fun collection of Haunted Paper Toys including The Mechanical Bat, Coffin Gift Boxes, the Splatterbot, and more; all courtesy of artist Ray O'Bannon. With paper (preferably heavy cardstock), scissors, an X-Acto knife, glue, and tape, you'll be able put together these morbid masterpieces. To download and print the files, you'll need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

retroCRUSH, "the world's greatest Halloween website," is a must-see for any pop culture and Halloween fan. The vast archive of images, audio, and text will devour hours of your time. Check out "the world's greatest Halloween costumes" with photos of many vinyl and plastic costumes from yesterday and today. I know I've certainly worn a few! Marvel at the Top 100 Monsters of All Time! Note: Not all portions of the website are safe for younger children or work viewing.

Open your goody bag to find the MonsterParty font by Michael Gaines (use the caps lock key with it) or the many other horror fonts that await your experiments!

How about some great icon sets such as Vintage Halloween, Creeps, Boo Buddies, Macabre, Snappy Hour Halloween, and Cute Dead Icons. You may also enjoy Haunted Hard Drives, Ravenswood Revisted, World of Aqua - After Dark, and Jack Skellington.

Oh yeah...if you can't find a real pumpkin to carve...how about a digital one? Thanks Tad!

Well, that's a bowl full of treats from me! How do you like them apples?!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Amazon.com links:

One Year of Blogging

2005-10-23T15:00:00.000-06:00

Well, as of October 15th, it's been one year since I started blogging.

As most of you know, I also contribute to 3 other blogs: The Alberta Movie Guide, Luxo: A Pixar Blog, and Palaeoblog, all of which take a good deal of time.

Why do I do it? Aside from sharing things I find of interest, working on the blogs lets readers know what I'm up to, helps me meet new people, hones my writing skills, generates possible work opportunities, and provides a forum to work on my ideas 'out loud.'

The first posting on the Digital Dream Machine blog dealt with the death of Christopher Reeve and his role as Superman, so I thought it would be a fitting tribute to do something related to 'The Man of Steel.'

Looking around my archives, I found this old 'Superman' promotional poster....

Actually, this wasn't ever produced for consumers. This week, I decided to dust off my WACOM Graphics Tablet and Pen, get my illustration skills back into shape, and create an original digital image.

Between the paperwork, documentary editing, motion graphics design, and blogging, I haven't had much time to just 'sit and draw.' So I forced myself (yes, artists have to do that occasionally) to flesh out an idea I had kicking around my brain. Influenced by Jeremy Vanhoozer's fantastic 'Medusa' image (definitely check out his blog and website!), I intended to create a digital painting of Superman's Fortress of Solitude realized in the style of 1950's-era travel poster. Overall, I'm pretty happy with this image, and there's things I'd change if I continued working on it; however, for a piece that's meant as practice, I feel it's finished (for now) and ready for show.

The last illustration I remember working on was a 10th Anniversary of Hellboy tribute for the 2004 San Diego Comic-Con Souvenir Book. Like the fictional poster above, the 'Hellboy' piece took a great deal of time, and demonstrates why I don't turn out art as often as I used to. I really want to put my best effort into my work, and unless I can contribute the time to something, I won't take it on until I feel ready.

Even with all the digital technology I'm surrounded by, I really do miss the days of traditional sketching and painting for hours on end. Whether it was at high school in my art studio, or at home watching a James Cameron flick, I usually had my sketchbook or drawing board nearby. From icon roughs to logo mock-ups to character designs, my art skills were constantly being focused and my ideas became solidified on paper. All I had to do was find a page, grab a pencil, and start drawing.

The WACOM Graphics Tablet allows artists like myself to create images digitally. An input device shaped much like a traditional pen, glides along the pressure-senstive tablet, responding to our hand movements as if we were sketching with a pencil or even painting with a brush. Since the artwork is created on a computer, we have the benefit of being able to 'undo' our mistakes a little more easily and make revisions without affecting the original. The method isn't perfect, and it's not meant as a replacement for creating art 'the old fashioned way,' but it sure does let us do some pretty amazing things.

I've got some ideas for other images, so hopefully I'll find the time to create and share them with all of you. In the meantime, thanks for supporting the blogs and the effort I put into them! Here's a toast to one year of blogging, with potentially many more to come!

As a bonus, below is my Fortress of Solitude Travel Poster as if it had been printed yesterday. Enjoy!

If you're interested in seeing a larger-size version, please e-mail me.

'Superman' and 'The Fortress of Solitude' are ™ and © DC Comics.

'Sand Pirates of the Sahara'

2005-10-14T06:53:00.000-06:00

Thought I'd share this fun old movie poster image...

As some of you are probably already aware, Sand Pirates of the Sahara was not an actual feature film. It was sort of a mini-movie produced for use in Frank Darabont's underrated 2001 film, The Majestic. "Brett Armstrong" is really cult-film favorite, actor Bruce Campbell, known mostly for his role as 'Ash' in the Evil Dead movies.

The sequences that were shot for Sand Pirates of the Sahara can be seen on the bonus features section of The Majestic DVD. It's a campy, but definitely fun throwback to the adventure films of the 1900's. Though the pseudo-film was a nice homage to the George Lucas and Steven Spielberg blockbuster, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Darabont actually has ties to the whip-wielding character, having worked as a writer on 'The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.'

Careful viewers will notice that a certain golden idol from the Indiana Jones series makes an appearance in the movie. It's even illustrated in the poster near the bottom right corner.

For more information about adventure films, check out this Filmsite.org link.

Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Jim Carrey Online.

Fire Destroys 'Wallace and Gromit' Warehouse

2005-10-10T14:34:00.000-06:00

The much-loved inventor Wallace and canine companion, Gromit.

Sadly, a fire has destroyed the warehouse of Aardman Animations in Bristol, west England early this morning and claimed much of its animation past.

Thankfully nobody was in the building, but most of the company's history has been lost. Sets and props from 'Chicken Run' and the first 'Wallace and Gromit' shorts are believed to have been consumed by the fire. CNN had this to report:

"Today was supposed to be a day of celebration, with the news that 'Wallace and Gromit' had gone in at No. 1 at the U.S. box office, but instead our whole history has been wiped out," Aardman spokesman Arthur Sheriff said. "It's turned out to be a terrible day."

Sheriff said the warehouse contained sets, props and models from the company's productions, from the children's cartoon character "Morph" through the Oscar-winning, anthropomorphic "Creature Comforts" series to the Wallace and Gromit films.

Wallace and Gromit's creator, Nick Park, said the earthquake in South Asia helped put the loss into perspective.

"Even though it is a precious and nostalgic collection and valuable to the company, in light of other tragedies, today isn't a big deal," he said.

You can read more at the CNN article and Bloomberg U.K. site at this link.

Word also comes from BBC News that all is not lost...

"I'm pleased to say Nick Park's original 'A Grand Day' out rocket, that he built by hand, is safe and sound," Mr. Sproxton [company co-founder] says. "It's very close to him."

Park's three Oscars for Wallace and Gromit and Creature Comforts were also elsewhere.

The clay characters themselves are not kept after filming because they disintegrate, and the Aardman film studio is in a different part of the city and so is unscathed.

The original film and negatives are stored in a humidity-controlled vault at a different location and the sets from the current Wallace and Gromit feature film, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, were also elsewhere.

and regarding the studio's future...

Although the company's history may have gone up in smoke, its future is still looking rosy.

"The fire doesn't really affect future productions because even the Wallace and Gromit sets tend to be built almost from scratch for each film that we do," Mr. Sproxton says.

My best wishes to the entire animation studio and staff in recovering from this disaster. Now get out there and see 'Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit' at your local theater!

As a note of interest: Not only did the studio create award-winning shorts and feature films, but also the much celebrated 'Sledgehammer' video for musician Peter Gabriel. Find more of their history at the official website.

Update: December 11, 2005 - The Big Cartoon Forum has posted an article on the cause of the blaze. It's believed that the fire was started by an electrical fault with an appliance.

Image courtesy of Aardman Animation Studios.

More Tortoise Photos

2005-10-10T01:44:00.000-06:00

I've been receiving lots of kind feedback regarding the story, writing, and photography of the Franklin the Tortoise post. A big thanks for your support! Along with the comments, photos of other shelled pets have found their way into my e-mail box, so I thought I'd share them with all you tortoise fans.

3-year-olds Sam (Sulcata) and Ella (Box Turtle) enjoying some tomatoes. Photo from Lori.

Nicholas in the office. 43 lbs. 10 years old. Photo from Kerry.

Nicholas napping. Photo from Kerry.

Stanley and Nicholas. Best of friends. Photo from Kerry.

Morning Nicholas. Photo from Kerry.

Nicholas takes a bath. Photo from Kerry.

Life is about the people you meet.

2005-10-05T00:10:00.000-06:00

Thanks to friends and the post at BoingBoing.net, I've watched the hit count on this blog soar. Many thanks from me to all the linkers and readers! I hope I can continue to bring you interesting things to read and see.

One of the purposes I had in mind when I started this personal blog was to talk about subjects that interest me, including people and places near and far. I've always found that one of the most important ingredients in life is the people we meet and that any other benefit is secondary. I've based a good deal of my personal and business decisions on the people I have a chance to work with and who I feel can really bring something positive or challenging to the relationship. Sometimes it becomes a lasting friendship, other times they become excellent contacts for projects, and still other people bring that one bit of wisdom to your life that allows you to progress on a personal or professional level.

Rushing to and from work, or the shopping malls and restaurants, the little gems of stories might not surface if we don't stop to talk to some of the more interesting people around us. Tragedies in life teach us that people can be gone in an instant and we should take every opportunity to meet the souls who make up our world. You may not get that second chance to talk to that girl at the bus stop, that artist you've watched sketching at the coffee shop, or the guy walking down the street with his pet tortoise.

The story I posted on Franklin the tortoise and his caretaker Jeff has helped one more interesting individual be introduced to the rest of the world. I had seen Jeff walking Franklin previously, slowed down to look, but then drove on. So when I saw him again the day I posted the story, I wasn't about to pass up this second chance to meet him. Little did I know that others would also find the story of interest.

When people enjoy our tales, they'll want to share them with friends and family, just as they would do when gathering around a crackling, summer campfire. The Internet, and blogs specifically, offer us a way have our own 'digital campfires' and regale our readers with our own thoughts, tales, and brilliant ideas. Often the stories are driven by themes but during other moments they're completely random. Sort of like this blog, which serves a collection of my varied interests.

Of all the items I've discussed on here, I had no idea that the one of the most read postings to date would be about a man taking his tortoise for a walk. In addition to that, stop-motion animation, the Muppets, and movies have all proved popular reading material for visitors. Evidently, I've found topics that people enjoy and I'm pleased to be able to share my thoughts on them.

Through Luxo, a Pixar blog I collaborate on with my friend Ken Bautista, I was asked by a reader to contribute opinions for a magazine article about the animation studio. The Alberta Movie Guide has provided a venue for readers to inquire about the provincial film industry, and recently I received an invitiation to submit photos of the tortoise and his caretaker to the Greek edition of FHM Magazine. In the past few hours, I've also discovered that the Franklin story was featured on USATODAY.com's Tech News & Web Guide.

Even with my limited contributions to the Palaeoblog, edited by Dr. Michael Ryan, I've been fortunate enough to share my interest in dinosaurs and meet like-minded individuals. Not only has it allowed me to discuss the latest palaeontological discoveries or newest video games, films, and comics showcasing the giant beasts, but it's also directed visitors back to this site to learn about my other adorations.

Contributing to these blogs takes a tremendous amount of time but I truly enjoy all the various subjects I'm able to talk about. More importantly, and back to my initial statement, life is about the people you meet and I'm constantly fascinated by those I encounter. If these links from other blogs, websites, magazines, and papers help me meet new people and put a smile on our faces, then I believe I'm doing something right.

Thanks for all your support!

A big 'thank you' also goes to my wife who continues to indulge my many creative passions including writing for these blogs. She's easily one of the most important people I've met yet!

Live Giant Squid Photographed!

2005-09-29T16:48:00.000-06:00

Because I'm a bit of a science geek, and because they have that 'cool' mythic element to them, news regarding Giant Squids excite me. Well, on September 27th, word spread that a live one had been photographed underwater!

Photograph courtesy T. Kubodera and K. Mori.

Photograph courtesy T. Kubodera and K. Mori.

The Japanese scientists estimated the animal to be an astounding 25 feet long but the longest giant squid on record measured 59 feet (18 meters), including its two elongated tentacles. Along with photos of the exciting discovery, National Geographic posted the story:

"The scientists say they snapped more than 500 images of the massive cephalopod before it broke free after snagging itself on a hook. They also recovered one of the giant squid's two longest tentacles, which severed during its struggle.

The photo sequence, taken off Japan's Ogasawara Islands in September 2004, shows the squid homing in on the baited line and enveloping it in "a ball of tentacles."

Tsunemi Kubodera of the National Science Museum in Tokyo and Kyoichi Mori of the Ogasawara Whale Watching Association report their observations this week in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

"Architeuthis appears to be a much more active predator than previously suspected, using its elongated feeding tentacles to strike and tangle prey," the researchers write.

They add that the squid was found feeding at depths where no light penetrates even during the day."

Check out the link for the full story and more on the history of the Giant Squid!

This post seems like a fitting one to share one of my all-time favorite poster images. It was created by the great Disney Imagineers and can be seen in the book Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real.

Image courtesy of Walt Disney Imagineering.

If anybody knows where I can get a large-scale poster of the above image, please contact me. I think I see the Nautilus now!

I've made it onto Boing Boing!

2005-09-28T22:10:00.000-06:00

Yay! My blog made it onto Boing Boing! Web users consider this a big honor! No doubt it means an increase in hits as well.

Pixar artisan Ronnie del Carmen also made the site due to an unfortunate incident involving his car.

Thanks for the post Mark!

Redefined: A Cappella Nintendo Medley

2005-09-05T13:19:00.000-06:00

To lighten the mood, check out this fun QuickTime Video link where a group of University students perform 'Redefined: A Cappella Nintendo Medley.'

Fans of the original 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System games will especially get a 'kick' out of the...'Link.'

Thanks to Dean for the link!

In Memory: Kelly Ian McConnell (1968-2005)

2005-09-03T14:28:00.002-06:00

The world lost another great human being on Tuesday, August 30.

My cousin, Kelly McConnell, was one of the friendliest souls you could ever meet. Whether you were a family member, long-time friend, or just introduced, you felt genuinely comfortable around him.

I didn't see much of him the last few years, but he would e-mail me occassionally, always trying to make time for me whenever I made the trip down to Calgary. Whether it was a quick get together for a bite to eat, or to invite me to stay the night at his place and chat away into the late evening hours, Kelly would welcome you with a firm handshake, a big smile and hearty laugh, and plenty of stories to tell. Just like his dad.

Kelly and I used to have wide-ranging conversations about outdoor pursuits, technology, historical and even paranormal subjects (a particular fascination we shared), movies and TV, and life in general. There was always something the two of us could find to philosophize about.

Kelly was known to have an affinity for family and friends, all wishing we could see him more often, but he was also a free spirit, constantly roaming around trying to experience all that life has to offer. He lived life the way we all should, pursuing his passions and constantly searching for something new to explore and appreciate about this planet and its people. One could easily look up to his many admirable traits and come away a better person for having met him. I know most of us did.

Kelly, his sisters and mom.

If there's an afterlife, he's sure to be affecting others there the same way and exploring all the crags and creeks it has to offer!

Until we see you again...we'll miss you buddy!

---

The obituary:

It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our dearest Kelly on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 at the age of 36. Treasured by his mother Denise; sisters; nephew and niece (Adam and Kara Bunz), along with numerous relatives and a wealth of friends. Predeceased by father Brian (2000). Kelly had a heart like no other and loved spending time with family and friends. He is loved and admired for his devotion to always helping others and genuine interest in getting to know people. He had an affectionate smile, positive outlook and fantastic sense of humor. His enthusiasm and upbeat personality was reflected by his multitude of friends, young and old. He was the humblest guy you could ever know. Simply put, the ornaments of Kelly's life were the friends that gathered there. His awe and wonderment in God's creations was steadfast and never waivered. He had a zest for life and will be remembered for his adventurous spirit from mountain and ice climbing to photography (mountains, glaciers, sunsets, waterfalls) and most recently his passion for motorcycling. Kelly's message to each of us is clear: slow down, relax, listen and love one another without judgement. He never complained or tried to impress others, he just wanted all of us to be happy. The Lord has brought Kelly home to reward him for all his inner riches. Thank you for enriching our lives Kell. May God Bless you and keep you safe and secure in the palm of His hand. We will miss you Kell Kell. XOXOXO. I love you big brother.

Prayers will be held at HERITAGE FUNERAL HOME,
1708 - 16 Avenue N.W. (across from the North Hill Shopping Centre)
Monday, September 5 at 7:00 p.m.

A Funeral Service will be held at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church,
640 - 19 Avenue N.W.,
Calgary, Alberta
Tuesday, September 6 at 11:00 a.m.

HERITAGE FAMILY FUNERAL SERVICES
"Heritage Funeral Home"
Telephone: 299-0100.

Published in the Calgary Herald from 9/1/2005 - 9/2/2005.

Update: You can view a Kelly McConnell Flickr photoset I've created at this link.

5 Men...

2005-08-23T23:17:00.000-06:00

I don't know how long this link will be active, but I highly recommend downloading the QuickTime video at the link below...

Brilliant intro for the Hollywood Reporter Key Art Awards

As a movie buff, it had me smiling!

Thanks to Dean for the link!

Slow and steady...

2005-08-22T18:33:00.000-06:00

As I was out running errands on Saturday, I saw what I thought to be man playing with his radio-controlled toy. Sure enough he was out there again on Sunday, only this time I got a better look and it definitely wasn't a toy on the sidewalk...

A nice long sidewalk is the perfect place to stretch the ol' legs.

That's right. It's a man taking his pet tortoise for a walk. Hey, they need exercise too right? A perfect time to do so while we're having beautifully warm temperatures (finally) in Edmonton. I stopped by with my digital camera to talk to owner Jeff Billyard about the fascinating scene and learn more about his pet.

Easily mistaken for a radio-controlled car from a distance.

Jeff, who graciously took a portion of his time (the tortoise wasn't racing away anywhere), told me that 'Franklin' is a 3-year-old African Spur Tortoise (or Geochelone sulcata as it's known in scientific terminology) and that he's cared for Franklin since he was smaller than the palm of his hand. Though, he wasn't a cheap purchase, Jeff and his family consider 'Franklin' to be an excellent value for a pet, who will probably live longer than most of us. Apparently, Tortoises can live an average of 60-80 years, with some living over the ripe age of 100! Astoundingly, he already weighs in at around 25 pounds but can grow up to 200!

Purchased at a city pet store, Franklin is a treasured member of the family, attracting interest from all who see the pair. Jeff said he doesn't mind the company of strangers when he's taking Franklin for a walk, and educates the guests on the difference between a tortoise and a turtle. He finds it relaxing to take Franklin for a walk after a tough day at work.

What some of the local (and puzzled) dogs saw.

Surprisingly, Franklin moves quite fast. Not as speedy as an average dog or cat, but at the pace of a smaller canine. He had already moved forward several feet before my camera had a chance to focus on the hard-shelled creature.

It was also quite amusing to see parents walk by and say "Ohhh, you're the man with the turtle! My son/daughter told me about you!" as if they didn't believe their children.

Owner Jeff Billyard and Franklin.

The tortoise is a herbivore, meaning he eats fruits and vegetables. While Jeff had fed him lettuce and strawberries when I was there, Franklin found the grass and clover patches to his liking, rapidly devouring any tiny, white blossoms.

Stopping for snacks...

...of tasty clover...yummm!

Franklin seems pretty content. Who couldn't love a face with a smile like that?

I got a chance to experience what Franklin's legs felt like and they are quite unique. Though the 'spurs' look rough and sharp, they're actually more like cartilage and feel rigid, yet soft. He has quite a long tongue as well with which he uses to get at vegetation.

I've seen Tortoises and Terrapins before, and even went snorkeling alongside Sea Turtles in the waters of Hawai'i, but this was certainly an interesting sight you don't see in Edmonton, Alberta everyday. A welcome change from the usual four-legged friend! Ironically, I had saved 2 frogs from death by lawnmower earlier. It would seem that reptiles and amphibians were on the universe's order of events for me that day.

You can find more about African Spur Tortoises here and here.

Note: Geochelone sulcata or 'African Spur Tortoise' is often confused with 'African Spur-thigh Tortoise.' From what I've just briefly researched, it seems that using the scientific name helps to distinguish the different reptiles.

Update: I've displayed some of the tortoise photos readers have sent me at this other posting.

In Memory: Joe Ranft (1960-2005)

2005-08-17T17:07:00.000-06:00

Pixar Animation Studio's Joe Ranft passed away in a tragic car accident last night. Truly sad news. Please see my post at Luxo.

U-Haul SuperGraphics

2005-08-17T00:47:00.000-06:00

I've always been fascinated by the colorful graphics on the side of the U-Haul vehicles. From the vibrant Giant Squid of Newfoundland, to the little green alien of New Mexico, to the Happy Face Spider of Hawai'i, the graphics are an excellent way to keep the U-Haul brand name 'out there'. In my opinion, a very smart marketing move that really hasn't been matched by others. I've also wondered if there was a website with photos of the graphics and today, I finally discovered it.

The U-Haul SuperGraphics website features not only the current series of graphics, but wallpapers, coloring books, and some fun, Macromedia Flash-based subsites. For example, the New Mexico section uses a file folder theme with fairly detailed information about the alleged UFO crash in 1947. Not all states and provinces have current graphics, but you can also find press releases and photos as new ones are unveiled on the website.

The 'Classic SuperGraphics' section is devoted to older vehicle illustrations, and though more simplistic, are definitely worth viewing.

Fun stuff!

System Crash

2005-08-16T03:00:00.000-06:00

I recently suffered a nasty hard drive crash of which I'm still trying to recover from. The day I was going to backup data, I woke from my slumber and decided do the same to my Mac. However, it seemed to freeze. After a restart, the computer could not find the system. I suspect the thunderstorm the night before had something to do with the data loss even though I do use a surge protector. So I stupidly used disk recovery software that was incompatible (yes, I did know better but was too tired to remember) with the current Mac OS (10.4) and further damaged the b-tree structure of the drive. Not only did I damage the data, but damaged the majority of it to the point of unusability (as I found out after later recovering it all but not being able to open most of it), forcing me to reformat the entire 120 GB drive, reinstall the operating system, all of my applications, and personal data.

My last 'proper' backup was in March, so needless to say, I've lost a few months of calendar data, e-mails, projects, and updated contact information. This is not the first time to happen to me, and like other computer users, it's as frustrating, if not moreso when it happens again. I've got 3 other hard drives but they're all full with other project files. The last two weeks have been time I would have much rather spent on current projects instead of unsuccessfully trying to recover my files.

So if you happen to be reading this, I urge to you stop and perform a backup on your system now. At least on your most critical data. You never know when a crash can occur and it will save you weeks of fruitlessly trying to recover your precious projects and personal information.

Aside from that nasty incident, I recently completed the Set Etiquette and Protocol 1 course at Mount Royal College (a requirement for some Film and Stage unions), spent some time with my good friend, Dr. Michael Ryan of Palaeoblog during his time uncovering dinosaur bones in the great badlands of Alberta, editing/writing for the other blogs I collaborate on (see the sidebar), and filming a few weddings. I have yet to finish the wedding video editing, personal paperwork, tackle a few graphic design projects (including rebuilding one lost in the crash), re-scan images also lost, and start the research on a few new projects, but I suspect I'll get through it all.

I also just enjoyed a relaxing weekend out at some friends' lake lot where we watched the annual Perseid meteor shower. Though I've previously seen more meteors in one night, I've never witnessed streaks as bright or as long as a few of those this past weekend! It was great to get away from the technological disasters and into a more 'natural' setting. Truly amazing.

Raiders of the Lost Archive - Vol. 3

2005-07-29T05:32:00.000-06:00

My wife and I have been helping a friend renovate a house he recently purchased. In the process of demolishing the old basement setup, we took down a study wall with nautical pirate-themed wallpaper. Since I liked parts of the pattern, I decided to scan these images to share. Avast!!!

I particularly like the designs on the sails.

The ships were surrounded by ancient maps and drawings.

I also found an old Edmonton Journal newspaper stuffed into a hole in the wall. With the fondness I have for Hawai'ian/Polynesian/Tiki culture, I had to share these fun ads as well.

The Tiki really makes the ad. I understand this restaurant was very popular.

Another popular restaurant during its time.

Check out that Polynesian look! Imagine the enchanting sound!

Black and white photos of the interior of The Beachcomber are available at TikiRoom.com.

I'd like to see another Polynesian-themed restaurant/shop open up in Edmonton. Unless one already exists which I'm not aware of, but they have the potential to help you escape to tropical locales without leaving the city. And they allow for some great advertising!

Fun Harryhausen Interview

2005-07-28T06:09:00.000-06:00

I've been pretty busy lately spending time with my wife, family, and friends, editing wedding videos, and catching up on paperwork over the last few weeks. I also recently attended a Set Etiquette and Protocol course in Calgary and interviews here in Edmonton to keep the professional skills up to date. If that isn't enough, my wife and I have been helping a friend renovate his home, nearly gutting the interior completely! So there's been no shortage of things to get done.

In the next couple of days, I'll hopefully be posting some cool images (from stuff I've found in the Lost Archive), but dug up this gem for Harryhausen fans in the meantime:

Rick Trembles at the Montreal Mirror Film website conducted a fun interview with Ray Harryhausen at the recent Fantasia event hosted by fps magazine. I especially enjoyed the great characatures of Ray at work!

Thanks to Cartoon Brew for the link.

UPDATE: Photos of Ray, a skeleton model from Jason and the Argonauts, and the event can be seen at this link.

The 5th Wedding Anniversary

2005-07-04T01:00:00.000-06:00

On July 2nd, my wife and I celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary. It's hard to believe 5 years have already passed but it's been an enjoyable journey in life so far. To mark the occasion, we enjoyed a unifying music performance from Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

A few weeks back I heard that the group would be visiting Edmonton in support of their Grammy Award winning album Raise Your Spirit Higher [Wenyukela]. I've wanted to see them live for a while now, and the tour performance provided an excellent opportunity to listen to them in person. Since we couldn't be in Hawai'i, where we had our wedding and honeymoon, the Ladysmith Black Mambazo concert was a fitting way to celebrate our union and appreciation of global cultures. I had also wanted to take my grandmother as she really enjoys their soothing rhythms, but because of her age, she tires quickly and declined the invite.

My mother had secured 4 tickets earlier in the day that were nearly perfect. She had tried for a few days already to purchase tickets online but delayed in hopes of locating possibly closer seats. Even though Edmonton's Winspear Centre was designed so that every seat has an outstanding view and above-average sound reception, the ones we originally found in the Gallery section still weren't the best. After a few phone calls mom ended up with 4 amazing seats just released by the box office that afternoon. Row F (6) on the floor. Incredible.

Before the show, we stopped by a few of the Sir Winston Churchill Square food stalls to pick up a donair and some homemade french fries. We enjoyed the beautiful weather while we sat outside and ate our 'fine vendor cuisine.' Fully nourished, we headed inside the hall to enjoy the sold-out Mambazo performance. With nothing more than microphones and stage lighting, the musicians had the audience riveted to their enchanting music. At less than $40 (Canadian) per ticket, we definitely received our money's worth. Despite race, age, religion, or sexual preference, the audience was unified through the rhythms of Africa. An amazing feat and a true gift.

Most people will recognize Ladysmith Black Mambazo for their collaboration with Paul Simon on his Graceland album or the Life Savers candy commercials, but they've also provided music for The Lion King II, Coming to America, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Notably, the South African Zulu music group has performed for numerous world leaders including Nobel Peace Prize Recipient, Mr. Nelson Mandela. For more on the group led by Mr. Joeseph Shabalala, check out their biography.

In summary, the evening was a simple, but memorable way to spend our 5th Anniversary together. Happy Anniversary to my supportive wife April and a big thank you to the family for the great gift!

Lucas vs. Spielberg

2005-06-21T01:49:00.000-06:00

With Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds set to do box-office battle against George Lucas' Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith, it seems a fitting time to take a look back at their creative relationship and how the two friends have nurtured the other's career.

Tom Shone of Slate.com wrote a great article at this link exploring the history of two of the most financially-successful filmmakers of all-time. He talks about their admiration for each other's work in film school, their collaboration on the serial-based Indiana Jones franchise, getting Lucas to direct again, and even their divergent personalities. Well worth the read!

Thanks to Dr. Michael Ryan of Palaeoblog for the link!

The Arrival of Dr. Tran!

2005-06-10T14:18:00.000-06:00

Guess who arrived in the mail today?

That's right! Dr. Tran! Here! Now! Forever!

The 'Special Edition' DVD sports over 30 minutes of Bonus Features!!

Also included in this incredible DVD package:

16 pairs of 3D glasses!

A 24-piece fold-out Dr. Tran Movie Poster!!

A Dr. Tran and Friends Paper Doll Playset!!!

A coupon for 30% off of the Dr. Tran 30,000 DVD Box Set!!!!

A 'BUY ONE GET ONE FREE' coupon for the 10 kg bag of Hickory Smoked Horse Buttholes!!!!!

A Redemption Certificate good for One Complimentary Session of seriously hot dic[CENSORED]...uh, well you know...!!!!!!!

A Cowboy Hat!!!!!!

OK. I lied. It doesn't really contain any of those things, just the DVD. Unless my copy got raided at Customs...in which case I best call on...Dr. Tran!!!

If you haven't ordered your DVD yet...(all you folks hitting the blog in search of the good doctor!!) get your butt over to the official Here Comes Dr. Tran website and make the purchase!

Thanks Rick (and Breehn)!

The DreamWorks Machine

2005-06-09T16:15:00.000-06:00

Shrek © 2001 DreamWorks LLC.

This article in the June 2005 issue of Wired Magazine site is sad. It seems to provide yet more evidence that DreamWorks Animation SKG is more concerned about quantity than quality.

Though not a religious fellow, I quite enjoyed The Prince of Egypt and I thought The Road to El Dorado was a wondrous ride into adventure. Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas had a lot of the excitement of an old Ray Harryhausen film, and Shrek took the workings of the animaton industry and spoofed it well up on the silver screen. However, a lot of content in DreamWorks Animation SKG films rely on modern-day or past pop-cultural references and movie star voice narration. Yet Katzenberg seems to want to fashion the studio after Walt Disney's dream factory, where films are remembered long after they've been produced. Okay, Okay, before all the straight-to-video stuff hit the market. If you look at the Katzenberg-era produced Disney films, they too contain pop-culture references and superstar voices (Aladdin, The Lion King), yet pre-Katzenberg ones do not contain any, or very little.

What happens when a production relies on these references is that it dates the films; making it necessary for the audience to understand the time period to grasp the humor. 20 years from now, will Shrek 2 be as memorable as Pixar's Finding Nemo? Likely not. Sure it will still look great, but repeated playability won't be the same between the studio's films. Pixar Animation Studios may not turn out the quantity of films that DreamWorks does, but they focus on their story, leaving the pop-culture references to the music for trailers and end credits. DreamWorks Animation SKG would argue that the use of 'pop' helps the audience relate more, and that's certainly true for today's audiences, and in some cases, a portion of the future ones, but not for all down the road. Pixar's films are solid performers at the box office, and almost even better on DVD and home video sales. The fact that they don't need to rely on the pop-culture references demonstrates that they have taken the time to ensure a solid tale before a solid sale. Their films will still be doing well financially many years after their theatrical distribution.

From my humble opinion (as well as others around the web), I believe there needs to be less of the managerial hands-on approach to the production at DreamWorks Animation SKG. An environment needs to be created that supports the collaboration of artists, but also one that allows for growth and courting of talented storytellers, whose visions are trusted within the ranks. While this may affect short-term financial gain at the theaters, it would ensure a long shelf-life in terms of the home viewing market. It would also allow for the belief in the studio, and retention of talent, helping animators, directors, and writers solidify their decision to stay. One can glean information that there are many talented people who have left DreamWorks Animation, yet try to find the same number of departures at Pixar...the numbers don't seem to compare.

DreamWorks Animation has produced enough hits that they're not going anywhere and with the company now in the hands of shareholders who are primarily concerned about one thing, profits mean more now for DreamWorks than ever. By contrast, Pixar is a shareheld company, and they and their shareholders seem to be doing fine, with the studio producing far less films. Of course it could be argued that Pixar has a more complex marketing and distribution agreement with Disney which affects the financial bottom line and they could end up making more or less were they to do all the work themselves as DreamWorks does. The general consensus, however, is that it is The Walt Disney Company reaping the benefits from Pixar's hard work and not the other way around, so it would seem the Pixar shareholders could benefit even more if a more suitable agreement was in place.

Additionally, other animation studios haven't caught up to the 'Big Three' (Disney, Pixar, and DreamWorks) but as we progress further into digital creation and distribution, cutting production costs, it will be easier for competitors to gain footing. The animation industry has been in a transition phase between strictly 2D, to 2D combined with 3D, to full-3D production, where competitors like Warner Bros. and Fox have tried, and in some cases failed (Warner Bros. and Nickelodeon still manage to produce animated films that do well though), to capture animated box office returns the size of Pixar's. Even PDI, a smaller animation company who collaborated with DreamWorks on Antz had its remaining shares snatched up by the big studio, eliminating possible competition and talent defection. Pixar has been fortunate enough to retain its talent, continue making hit after hit, and fend off merging with Disney. They're now at the point where they can dictate the terms of a new distribution agreement instead of the other way around. Yet all of this is nothing without a good story and good storytellers.

As with anything, there will ultimately be a change within DreamWorks, as there will probably be one at Pixar someday. The difference is that Pixar's creative transition will probably be one based on proven storytelling and collaborative leadership, whereas DreamWorks Animation's evolution may be based on management structure or financial matters, and that's definitely not how it should be when it comes to creative work. I think that an external promotion for DreamWorks Animation SKG would really be a good thing, allowing Katzenberg to step back (even if he doesn't want to) and focus on the financial segment, letting a talented, creative leader focus on the stories. As animators, storytellers, and fans, we can hope that the great studio that DreamWorks Animation SKG really can become, shapes up to be one where all residents of the animation kingdom can live happily ever after.

Raiders of the Lost Archive - Vol. 2

2005-06-07T02:31:00.000-06:00

More great record covers found in the 'Lost Archive'...

The Adventures of Pinocchio needed quite a bit of image retouching. To see the original scan I did, click here.

The Adventures of Pinocchio © United Artists Records, Inc.

The Sword in the Stone © 1972 Walt Disney Productions

Winnie the Pooh and the honey tree © 1965 Walt Disney Productions

Check out more great covers at the Vol. 1 posting I did a few weeks back.

The Goonies 20th Anniversary Celebration

2005-06-04T14:11:00.000-06:00

It's hard to believe it's been 20 years since the release of the exciting film about a group of kids who seek the long-lost loot of Pirate One Eyed Willy. Produced by Steven Spielberg and Directed by Richard Donner, the movie still brings fond memories to all of us who had visions of finding buried treasure or making our way through dangerous booby-trapped caves with our buddies. Despite its age, the movie is still a blast and I pop it in the DVD player often.

This weekend (June 3-5, 2005) in Astoria, Oregon - the town which served as the film location - you can join in the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the film. With events including a movie location bus tour, a 'Truffle Shuffle Dance Contest,' daily screenings of the movie, a group wedding ceremony at the Goonies house, a chance to view and sail on The Lady Washington and Lynx tall ships, and much more, it sounds like it will be an adventure worthy of any Goonies fan. There's still time to participate if you're reading this on Saturday!

You can read more about the weekend events at The Daily Astorian and at GooniesEvent.com!

For more Goonies goodness, check out The Goonies.org where you'll find information on the fan-made documentary they're working on, location information, and a message board. Also check out Oregon/Pacific Northwest Movies for stills from the film and additional location comparisons.

There's also been rumors and rumblings of a sequel, but as is the case with many Hollywood productions, projects sometimes go into delayed development or are cancelled. A lot of fans want to see a sequel to The Goonies and Director Richard Donner is due for another hit. Nothing seems to be happening at the moment, however, as any true 'Goonie' knows, "Goonies never say die!"

---
Support me by purchasing The Goonies DVD at Amazon.com.

The Alberta Movie Guide

2005-06-01T15:35:00.000-06:00

X2: X-Men United. Partially filmed in Kananaskis, Alberta. © 2003 Twentieth Century Fox.

I've started a new blog to compliment a book I'm developing on Alberta film locations and productions. The Alberta Movie Guide will feature news, stories, photos, and locations from films and television series shot in the great province of Alberta.

The goals of the blog are to bring additional recognition for Alberta's skilled production community, present Alberta's incredibly diverse scenery, and showcase new, creative ideas from developed and emerging talent. I hope you'll enjoy the journey and I look forward to feedback, stories, and input from the readers.

Science News - May 25, 2005

2005-05-25T05:23:00.000-06:00

Some science news for you today:

In the marine archaeology field, researchers recently raised a cannon from an underwater site near North Carolina, hoping the artifact will prove the sunken wreckage it came from was once the flagship of the notorious pirate Blackbeard.

CNN.com features this report on a new planet found in the Milky Way.

Australian palaeontologists have discovered the fossils of what they believe to be a new species of long-necked dinosaur near Queensland.

Meanwhile at the American Museum of Natural History, the first ever fossil of a sleeping non-avian dinosaur has been described by Drs. Mark Norrel and Xu Xing.

Over in East Africa, a new species of Monkey has been discovered. Known as the Highland Mangabey, it was identified by two independent research teams working in separate locations in southern Tanzania.

Keep on learning about the wonderful world in which we live!

Blackbeard's flag image from Wikipedia.

Dynamic Duo Scores Big With Batman Begins

2005-05-22T00:53:00.000-06:00

Along with my love of movies comes my passion for soundtracks and film scores. From Jerry Goldsmith's moody Alien, to Max Steiner's adventurous King Kong, to John Barry's epic Zulu, easily half of my music collection is music from the movies and television shows. There's certainly a long list of composers who rank high on my list of favorites, including Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard.

Both have produced some outstanding work. Howard's Atlantis: The Lost Empire spotlights rousing adventure themes while his Peter Pan score conjures fantastic imagery to compliment P.J. Hogan's film. Unbreakable grounded super heroes in reality and Howard's music made us believe in a caped crusader named David Dunn.

Along with the great John Williams, Hans Zimmer has contributed to the rise in the popularity of film scores with the listening public. Imagine Gladiator (on which he collaborated with Lisa Gerrard) without Zimmer's waltz-inspired battle themes and the film easily loses half of its impact. African-blended music in his soundtrack to The Lion King helped the film roar worldwide and segments of Zimmer's scores for The Rock, Backdraft, and Crimson Tide have been used in nearly as many movie trailers as Enya's works.

When I saw the Batman Begins movie standee last month, the first thing I looked for was who composed the music. Seeing both Zimmer's and Howard's names as collaborators on a film featuring The Dark Knight Detective had me excited at what could become a great audio treasure.

Billboard.com features this great story about the pairing and what we have to look forward to...

Zimmer and Howard repaired to Air Studios in London, where they began work last year. They buckled down for 12 weeks of serious writing in February. The pair often would work from 10 a.m.-3 a.m. Zimmer says with a chuckle, "As soon as it was time to go home, I'd get an idea."

Zimmer says of their collaborative method, "We started pecking away on the same keyboard for a while." Howard adds, "As stuff started sticking to the movie, we intentionally started working on each other's material."

The pairing has resulted in a splendidly dramatic score in which each writer's hallmarks -- Zimmer's percussive rhythms and keyboard flourishes, Howard's ravishing strings and horns -- are immediately recognizable.

Pre-order the Batman Begins Original Motion Picture Soundtrack at Amazon.com. Thanks to SuperheroHype.com for the great link!

New Search for The Ark of the Covenant

2005-05-21T03:37:00.000-06:00

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark Photo © 1981 Lucasfilm Ltd.

I'm not a biblical scholar or member of the Jewish community, but when stories like this surface, involving archaeology and my favorite film adventurer, I'll post them to share my interests with fellow readers.

According to this article on Arutz Sheva - Israel National News, famed archeologist Dr. Vendyl Jones has been blessed by an unnamed Kabbalist to uncover the Holy Ark of the Convenant.

Most of you are probably familiar with the Ark from the Lucasfilm movie, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, however, the film artifact is based on a supposedly real object as described in the Hebrew Bible. The Ark, a sacred container built at the command of Moses which contained the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, has been rumored to rest at several different places during its history including a church in Ethiopia, Egypt, and even Ireland. Modern speculation even had the Ark operating as an ancient electrical capacitor.

The article comments on the possible finding of the sacred object:

Dr. Jones says the discovery of the lost ark will “flip the whole world right-side-up.”

“I just gotta drill a bore-hole into the chamber, drop a pin-camera in and there it is. And everything is gonna change, believe me. The Jewish people are gonna come back.”

Check out the article above for more on the real Dr. Jones and the new search for the Ark.

---
Amazon.com/.ca purchase links:

Town's Secret Star Wars History

2005-05-20T14:36:00.000-06:00

To help you celebrate the opening of the Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith movie, BBC NEWS World Edition features a fun story about a town's secret Star Wars history.

"A relatively long time ago, in a west Wales town not too far away... arguably the most famous spaceship in the universe was created."

"In the winter of 1979 word started to spread in Pembroke Dock that a flying saucer was being built in an old giant aircraft hangar in the town.

"Those involved were sworn to secrecy."

I saw the newest film during a midnight showing on Wednesday, and while there's certinaly things I'd change or add, I enjoyed it. Regardless of whether you agree with his decisions or not, it's commendable that Lucas has been able to create his worlds without interference from others. Not many filmmakers have that luxury.

If you're heading out to the see the movie this weekend, I advise you to not only pick up your tickets ahead of time, but be prepared to arrive early to wait in line to get in to see the show. From the recent news reports and estimates, it might be another record-breaking opening for a Star Wars film. Enjoy!

Beam me up, Hollywood!

2005-05-18T02:59:00.000-06:00

Ghostbusters © 1984 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.

Darren Zenko from Edmonton's Vue Weekly wrote a fun article counting off "the greatest beams, lasers, death rays, and photo streams in movie history."

"They slice us, they disintegrate us, they roast us alive, they level our greatest monuments and pinpoint our deepest fears. But they also transport us, link us, serve us, protect us and illuminate the path to fortune and glory. They are beams, the glowing lances of focused radiation that have lit up our movie screens—and our imaginations—since some unknown caveman accidentally scratched a birchbark negative and became prehistory’s first FX guy. Here at the dawn of 2005’s summer blockbuster season, it’s as good a time as any to look back and salute the Great Beams of Film!"

In addition to Darren's list, I'd like to add:

Flash Gordon's Ray Gun

The Jedi Lightsaber from Star Wars

Superman's Heat Vision

The Iron Giant's Destructo-Rays, Vaporizing Beams, and Plasma Energy Balls

Cyclops' Optic Blast from the X-Men films

Gort's Laser Beam Vision from The Day the Earth Stood Still

Han Solo's 'trusty blaster' from the Star Wars saga

The Emperor's Force Lightning from the Star Wars films - enough to stop all but Jedi Master Yoda

Martian Shrink-Ray from Mars Attacks!

The frozen blast of Iceman (X-Men), Mr. Freeze (Batman), and Frozone (The Incredibles)

"Sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads" from the Austin Powers films

Buzz Lightyear's Arm Laser from the Toy Story movies

The History of Dinosaur Comics - Parts 7, 8, and 9

2005-05-14T15:04:00.000-06:00

Steve Bissette and Dr. Michael Ryan finish up their fun series of articles on The History of Dino-Comics over at Palaeoblog. Though not current to 2005, the history is worth checking out for the diverse set of dinosaur depictions alone.

You can find Part 7 here, Part 8 here, and the conclusion, Part 9, at this link.

Michael also plans to expand on the history by featuring an upcoming interview with Steve Bissette himself and a look at his own Dinosaur book, Tyrant. Other fascinating creators and creations to be discussed over the next several weeks include Mark Schultz and a look at his Xenozoic Tales series (among his other works), and writer/illustrator Pete Von Sholly.

The adventure continues folks so head over to Palaeoblog and refresh your 'prehistoric' memory!

Note: If you haven't picked up any of the hard-to-find past issues of Schultz's Xenozoic Tales series and still want to get your hands on these beautifully crafted tales, Dark Horse Comics recently reprinted the first 14 issues in two softcover volumes. I was given a copy of each from Mark himself and in addition to containing his great artwork, they come in a comic-friendly size for easy portability. One of my highest recommendations. I've provided the purchase links below.
---
Amazon.com purchase links:

Age of Reptiles: The Hunt artwork © 1996 Dark Horse Comics, Inc. and Ricardo Delgado

Raiders of the Lost Archive - Vol. 1

2005-05-13T00:34:00.000-06:00

Occasionally, I'll venture into thrift shops, visit garage sales, and browse flea markets. Not to seek out discarded fortunes, but to discover great treasures in illustration, photography, and design. These come in many forms, but mostly materialize as books, toys, and even records.

LPs or albums, as records were also known, had a major plus over all other forms of music media, which was the size of area available for cover imagery. Even though a large majority featured lackluster photography, gaudy colors, impossible-to-read fonts, and forgettable titles, some great gems were produced during the vinyl years.

Scanned and retouched for your viewing enjoyment, I present the first 3 finds...

Produced by Peter Rabbit Records / Arc Sound Ltd.

Walt Disney's Pinocchio © 1963 Walt Disney Productions

The Music Man © 1962 Warner Bros. Records, Inc.

Science in Film, TV, and Interactive Media Summit

2005-05-12T01:38:00.000-06:00

A Jurassic Park scientist extracts dinosaur DNA from a fossilized insect trapped in amber.
Image © 1993 Universal Studios and Amblin Entertainment.

I'm currently writing a proposal for a creative summit similar to the Boarding: Stories & Snow event that I was part of in Banff recently.

I'm interested to know if any of my blog readers have recommendations for scientists or filmmakers, video game designers, concept artists, illustrators, writers, directors, producers, or animators, that have a strong interest in the sciences and would be responsive to participating in a creative summit in the beautiful province of Alberta. Honored Guests will have the chance to come share their wisdom with attendees, mingle with other science/creative types, and see some of the best natural scenery in North America. I have a lot of great contacts already, but it's always nice to have more.

In addition to films like Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, The Lord of the Rings, Titanic, and Apollo 13, documentaries and television shows such as Walking with Dinosaurs, CSI, and Star Trek all have strong bases in the sciences. Without the brilliant and inspiring research behind these shows, the believability factor would be greatly diminished.

Coming full circle, these types of films and shows have inspired bright young minds to choose professions in science, filmmaking, video games, writing, illustration, or computing. It's a continuous cycle that shows the symbiotic relationship between scientific research, discovery, and creativity.

The goal of the Science in Film, TV, and Interactive Media Summit is to provide innovative film makers, writers, video game developers, animators, and documentary producers the opportunity to interact with not only Canada’s leading scientists, but also other world-renowned specialists, helping them to create new, cutting-edge fictional projects based on tomorrow’s scientific breakthroughs.

Though this concept has been in development for a while, there is something similar in the works through the American Film Institute. However there is enough to make them both unique including taking place in two different geographic regions.

My interest in this is as a creative producer, putting my appreciation for science and entertainment and writing skills to good use, bringing like-minded people together in a fantastic setting. Being a self-employed film and video writer/director, I'm not expecting to make money from this concept, but rather to continue to meet some great people, refresh our creative souls, and enrich our minds. I had the chance to help out some great people on the Boarding Summit, and I hope to do the same here.

Tom Cruise manipulates an advanced visual display system in Minority Report.
Image © 2002 DreamWorks LLC and Twentieth Century Fox.

I don't know the specifics, but trip expenses are usually covered and speakers/instructors have an incredible opportunity to interact with receptive, creative attendees. It would be beneficial if the speakers or workshop presenters are engaging, have experience speaking in front of groups, and/or have collaborated in the Entertainment or Edutainment fields. Exact dates are unknown at this point, but it could take place anywhere within a few months from now to possibly sometime next year.

Some of the areas of interests I'm looking at are:

Archaeology

Palaeontology

Zoology / Cryptozoology

Geology

Genetics

Forensics

Cosmology

Astronomy

Aeronautics

Aquatic Sciences and Exploration

Cryogenics

Cybernetics

Medicine/Epidemics

Physics

Nanotechnology

Computer Sciences (including animation, special effects, etc.)

Robotics

Advanced Interface Design (Man/Machine/Computing)

Art/Illustration/Conceptualizing (science or science for film/tv/interactive)

Of course we have a 'dream list' of people like James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, Michael Crichton, Ray Harryhausen, and Phil Tippet but these guys are very busy creating, so we're not getting our hopes up. I do know, that with the names we've already got potential interest from, it would be quite successful.

If you would be willing to provide contact information to me, or forward my contact information to them, it would be very much appreciated.

A huge thanks to all of you for helping us out with this!

CSI Photo © 2005 CBS Broadcasting Inc.
Ghosts of the Abyss Photo © 2003 Walt Disney Pictures / Earthship Productions / Walden Media

King Tut's Face Reconstructed

2005-05-11T02:22:00.000-06:00

More exciting archaeological news for you. National Geographic features this report and photo of an amazingly life-like recreation of the young ruler of Ancient Egypt.

Photograph: Supreme Council of Antiquities, Egypt, and National Geographic Society, 2005

Based on an earlier CT Scan of the boy king's mummy, Paris-based forensic sculptor Elisabeth Daynès created a silicon-skinned bust using the previously acquired data and combined it with average traits of today's Egyptians. The CT data was then sent to a U.S. forensic team, who worked to verify the findings, without knowledge of who their subject was.

The reconstruction will be featured in the June issue of National Geographic, in the touring exhibit Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, and on the National Geographic Channel's upcoming special King Tut's Final Secrets.

You can read more about the reconstruction at scotsman.com, CNN.com, and The Washington Post Online.

Also recently in the news was a discovery that is considered to be "the most beautiful mummy ever found in Egypt," according to Dr. Zahi Hawass, the head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. The nearly 2600 year-old mummy was buried in a wooden sarcophagus beneath 20 feet of sand in the necropolis of King Teti, who ruled Egypt more than 4,300 years ago. While the mummy's identity and sex are unknown, it's certain that it dates back to the 30th Dynasty (380-343 B.C.), which lasted about 40 years and marked the end of Egyptian rule over the country.

More photos can be viewed here, with further information available this Dicovery Channel link.

Action Figurism

2005-05-08T15:36:00.000-06:00

With echoes of events in Disney/Pixar's Toy Story, Delfin Vigil shares his fun story at SFGate.com regarding the liberation of Star Wars figures from certain doom at the hands of neighborhood bullies and cleaning-frenzied parents planet-wide.

For those of you not familiar with the brave tale of General Calrissian, I present a brief synopsis for you here. "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away," one-time gambler and previous Administrator of Bespin's Cloud City, hero Lando Calrissian participated in a plan to rescue his old buddy Han Solo from Tatooine's vile gangster, Jabba the Hutt. Under Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker's plan, Lando, disguised as a Skiff Guard, infiltrated Jabba's palace and crew and began to gain the Hutt's trust. Because of Skywalker's cunning strategy and Lando's ingenious shroud, Calrissian was able to help save the Carbonite-frozen Solo from becoming Sarlaac food.

No doubt, the valiant rescue in George Lucas's Star Wars: Return of the Jedi inspired Delfin to take action and rescue not only Lando, but other members of the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire. Mr. Vigil comments on the sad events in action figure history:

"What followed was the first of many acts of racism and sexism I witnessed as a child committed against Star Wars toys. I call it action figurism. While I believe it's safe to say action figures of all colors and genders lost their plastic lives to mutilation via matches, firecrackers, hammers and microwave ovens, I noticed that a Lando or Princess Leia were often the first to go."

With more amusing anecdotes that I'm sure many of us can relate to, Vigil's quest to stop 'action figurism' is well documented. Hurry over to read his story before it's too late...many Bothans died to bring us this information.

A warning to mothers everywhere: The preceeding is a story of greed, envy, corruption, tragedy, compassion, and ultimately, redemption. Don't let your children have to go through such tragic events. Take note and 'save the toys' before it's too late. Happy Mother's Day!

Photos courtesy of Colacola.se.

May 7 - Free Comic Book Day

2005-05-06T18:09:00.000-06:00

As Michael Ryan reminds us over at Palaeoblog, Saturday, May 7 is Free Comic Book Day. So head on to your local comic shop and pick up some great specially-made freebie editions like Flight, Superior Showcase #0, Bone Sharps, Cowboys, & Thunder Lizards, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, The Batman Strikes and Walt Disney's Uncle Scrooge.

Sadly, Free Comic Book Day is not a day where you can venture into a comic book shop, pick out any book, and walk out without paying, but rather a great way to introduce new readers (and remind previous ones) to the world of comic books and graphic novels. Publishers produce special editions to give away at local comic shops to support the endeavor and there are often some great little gems distributed.

You can read more about it on the official website.

You can also use the Store Locator to find a shop near you.

Disney Theme Parks' Pixar Presence

2005-04-30T14:28:00.000-06:00

Some of you readers might be noticing my lack of Pixar content lately. This is due to the fact that I collaborate with Ken Bautista on Luxo, a Pixar blog. I try to make sure that I'm not mirroring content here and duplicating information. We usually try and do a post a day, if not one or more every few days, so there's always something new to read and fun links to check out.

Speaking of which, I just finished a rather lengthy report at Luxo dealing with the Pixar-based Attractions and Rides at the Disney theme parks. It's certainaly not 'the go-to guide' but still manages to provide a good overview on what's available and what Disney has in store for park visitors.

With lots of great links to photos and videos of construction progress and in-ride movies, it's sure to whet your appetite and have you planning your next Disney vacation. I can't wait to see some of the new attractions for myself!

All this blog stuff has me keeping my writing skills sharp and I know they're improving daily. It's also proven to be a fantastic way to discover new things on the Internet and meet some great people. Who knows, it may eventually turn in to a writing career of some sort.

Thanks to the readers here and at Luxo for allowing me to share my admiration for animation, film, Pixar, illustration, music, technology, the sciences, and other fun, informative stuff. It's been a great ride so far and only looks to get better!

M Is for MONSTER

2005-04-22T15:34:00.000-06:00

I've been busy editing a half-hour documentary for a client so my updates haven't been as frequent as I like, but hopefully I've got some neat things for readers in the next few days. In the meantime, because I'm a sucker for great illustrations, I thought I'd share this fun painting (an homage to one of my favorite filmmakers) from Monsters, Inc. M Is for MONSTER, a wonderful A to Z children's book featuring the Monsters, Inc. characters illustrated by Pixar artisan Ricky Nierva.

The book is dedicated to Maurice Noble, who trained the "Classic Style" to a whole new generation of Disney artists. It's certainly not a book that will hurt your wallet, and it's easily one of simplest, yet most beautiful children's books to be created.

A fun bit of related trivia for you: Like the creature Ray Harryhausen animated in It Came From Beneath The Sea, you'll notice that Pixar's octopus in both the Monsters, Inc. film and Ricky's illustration has only 6 arms. As any Harryhausen fan knows, the creature in It Came From Beneath The Sea featured only 6 appendages, not only to save on production costs, but also because there would be fewer of them for Ray to keep track of when animating. The viewer makes the assumption that the other two are underwater or behind structures. A clever film trick from a true master. It's great to see that Pixar not only honored Harryhausen, but the film character and technique as well.

The History of Dinosaur Comics - Part 6

2005-04-22T15:03:00.000-06:00

Head over to Palaeoblog for Part 6 of Steve R. Bissette's The Paleo Path: The History of Dino-Comics. This week's feature is the Classics Illustrated series. As usual, Steve and Michael have dug up some nice artwork to compliment the article.

The History of Dinosaur Comics - Part 5

2005-04-16T11:25:00.000-06:00

Just a reminder that the latest (Part 5) History of Dinosaur Comics has been posted at Palaeoblog. Part 5 continues the focus on the Turok: Son of Stone comics.

Steve R. Bissette and Michael Ryan are really providing us with an excellent comic book history of the beasts that once roamed the planet. Even as imaginative as the stories are, they fleshed out the amazing giants long before the readers became palaeontologists, filmmakers, writers, and illustrators. Along with their counterparts, Willis O'Brien and Ray Harryhausen, and others like Steven Spielberg, William Stout, Mark Schultz, Ricardo Delgado, and Frank Cho, they provided stories that inspired backyard bone diggers to become professionals in the field.

If you haven't been reading this informative series, head over to Part 1 now. With Steve and Michael as your guides, you'll time-travel back to a prehistoric era filled with dynamic, inviting cover art, painstakingly beautiful interior illustrations, and addictive serialized adventures.

The 8th Voyage of Sinbad

2005-04-12T17:11:00.000-06:00

Apparently, the production which is being helmed by Rob Cohen (Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, Dragonheart, and XXX) and starring Keanu Reeves, is involving special effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen after all.

Ray, who is no stranger to the character, having collaborated on 3 previous Sinbad films, is providing the creative inspiration on the new film. This is good news for us Harryhausen fans, who know that Ray, even at his age, could still produce stuff that would blow others out of the water. Harryhausen recently has also mentioned his interest in telling another story about Sinbad and while this one may not be it, he'll hopefully have some great ideas to contribute for the hero's latest adventure.

Read more at Coming Soon!

The History of Dinosaur Comics - Parts 3 and 4

2005-04-11T17:17:00.000-06:00

The History of Dinosaur Comics continues over at Palaeblog.

Read Part 3 (featuring Tarzan and The Land Unknown) here and Part 4 (featuring segment 1 of 2 on Turok: Son of Stone) here.

Storyboard Summit Report

2005-04-03T19:19:00.000-06:00

The Banff Centre - Professional Development Centre.

This past Easter long weekend, I participated in the Boarding: Stories & Snow Summit at the remarkable, artist-friendly Banff Centre in Banff, Alberta. An environment, that in agreement with the website statement, "acts as a catalyst for creative thought, lifelong learning, and the development of new work."

Not only did I have the good fortune to be among friends and associates, amazing industry talent, receptive workshop attendees, and supportive facilitation staff, but it was all held in the beauty of the majestic Canadian Rockies, an environment that breathes energy into the soul, creatively and spiritually. Even living in Alberta, it has been a few years since I've been to Banff so it was a welcome journey and one that I was very eager to begin.

View of Cascade Mountain from downtown Banff.

Though a lot of the snow had melted in Alberta weeks ago, we had another couple of heavy snowfalls since then which could have made for some nasty driving weather. Thankfully, the weather was quite good for highway driving and walking around the town of Banff. Light snow fell on one or two days mixed with a bit of wind, but you could stroll around without having to wear a ton of layers, which is nice when going into shops.

Nearly 4.5 hours of driving from Edmonton to Banff (426 kilometers / 265 miles). But well worth the journey.

I woke up early Thursday morning, and accompanied by music from my iPod, a can of Red Bull, some Power Bars, and a warm cup of Hazelnut-flavored coffee, left for Calgary around 3:00 a.m. I arrived in Calgary about 6:15 and we departed for Banff at 7:00. I decided to leave the TJ (or Wrangler as it's known in the U.S.) in Calgary and car pool with my cousin in his Volkswagen Golf, which gets a little better milage than the Jeep. Unfortunately on the way out of Calgary, Jay caught the eye of law enforcement officer keeping the city streets safe on the long weekend. After pulling over, the officer graciously gave Jay an autographed piece of paper with some kind of dollar figure on it. Despite this incident, the rest of the drive was uneventful. Arriving in Banff, we noticed the hoards of Skiers and Snowboarders waiting at the hotel shuttle stops, no doubt anxious to get out on the slopes. A few minutes later, we arrived at the Banff Centre campus, checked in, received our Artist IDs and parking pass, and headed over to the first workshop at the Max Bell Building.

The Max Bell Building where we found the meeting rooms for the Summit.

First up on that Friday morning was Peter Hansen from NAIT's (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) Digital and Interactive Media Design department and facilitator of the Summit, who gave a rundown of the Summit timeline and then proceeded to discuss storyboard uses, the formats, and their creation. Using an outtake story sequence from Ridley Scott's Blade Runner as an example, he challenged the attendees to guess which film it came from. We were then asked to participate in a group exercise and question whether or not we preferred the outtake sequence or the filmed version. We were also asked to identify what was similar in the two versions and also which version we preferred. The overall diverse group, which consisted of storyboard artists, animators, web designers, film and video directors, illustrators, and video game designers, all seemed to participate with great enthusiasm. Even, if like myself, they already had knowledge of storyboarding.

After a break where we discovered that there's always food around the Banff Centre, Character Artist Chris Tougas took over the workshop. Chris started off by talking about conceptualizing characters for books, animated films, and television shows. He described his methods, the difficulty in working with studios, the percentage of concepts actually taken past development stages, and how to put together a pitch. Tougas had us partake in an exercise where we were chose a few words from his list and illustrated some stick figures with that emotion or feeling. He stressed how important it was to keep the figures asymmetrical and to add motion, while keeping them loose and gestural. After much scribbling, Peter picked up the sketches and Chris placed some of them on the overhead projector for us to guess which emotion the characters were conveying. After much laughter, Chris went back to his presentation. He talked about how studios want properties that are 'toyetic' and have characters that can be made into toy lines, helping the studios with their profits. He referred to conceptualizing and storyboarding as 'acting with a pencil,' a very accurate description in my opinion.

The Banff Centre Dining Room Interior.

We were then treated to a scrumptious lunch in the spacious Banff Centre Dining Room, which has a breathtaking view of some of the Rockies. Imagine a large wood-finished dining room (not overly ornate) with many large round tables (which furthers the creative group feeling,) expansive windows looking out onto snow covered mountain peaks, with elk or caribou that come grazing by, and you've got a pretty idea of how a simple lunch break can turn into a truly memorable experience.

Sunset view from The Banff Centre Dining Room.

After lunch we were introduced to Woody Woodman, a Director / Animator who recently completed Tugger: The Jeep Who Wanted To Fly. Being a Jeep owner and enthusiast, I was riveted by Woody's presentation and though it's produced by a smaller studio, it has all the heart of a much larger-budgeted film. And this we picked up without seeing any actual 3D footage! We did get to witness Woody's 2D storyboard reel pitch, timed to music with Woody himself providing all the great narration. Woody had such a clear, evocative voice that he easily conveyed every major story point.

Tugger: The Jeep Who Wanted To Fly.

Woody continued his presentation by elaborating on Chris Tougas' comments on character development, driving home the importance of story, concept, theme, iconic characters, and being able to read them quickly. He cited Walt Disney's Pinocchio and Dumbo as examples of stories that make it clear what the character's motivation is. For Woody's group exercise, we received a set of story panels (one picture on a page) and were told to mix them up on the floor and then create a story from the jumble of images. As there were 5 or 6 groups, the resulting stories, when told in front of the rest of us, were similar yet different enough to evoke energetic laughter. By doing this exercise, we discovered how changing one or two story points can affect the outcome of the story. One of the many 'wow' moments of the Summit. Woody's presentation led us up to another break where more food and drink were waiting for us and we had a chance to meet other participants.

Back in Max Bell Room 252 once again, Kris Pearn of Sony Pictures Imageworks enlightened us on his career in the animation industry and followed up on the creation of characters and the art of the pitch. An important point Kris mentioned was that it is necessary to 'pick your battles,' knowing when to give in to Directors, Producers, or Supervisors, and when to fight for what you believe to be the right way or idea. Kris was again an energetic speaker who had us all listening intently to his knowledge. Kris' group exercise was to have us do rapid storyboarding, where we were given a few story points revolving around an ice cream vendor, make up and draw the story on storyboard sheets and present them to the crowd. As was evidenced before, the results met with applause and laughter. Tougas, Woodman, and Pearn then allowed the group to come up and view some of their portfolios and ask further questions. Much of the group indulged in the opportunity.

The Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Building which houses the Creative Electronic Environment.

The group then received a tour of the Creative Electronic Environment located in the Lougheed Building. A technology hub of the Banff Centre, which offers film and video editing suites, television studios, audio production booths, a 3D visualization room, and video conference facility.

At 5:30, after an enlightening introductory day (I missed Thursday's orientation meeting) it was time for dinner. Another delicious meal and dessert was followed by Kris Pearn's presentation in the Max Bell Auditorium, where he also fielded questions from the crowd. Winding down the day, a large portion of the group headed over to the 'on campus' Props Pub and discussed the finer points of creativity over a few 'special beverages.'

View of Rundle Mountain from The Banff Centre.

Saturday was an optional skiing and snowboarding day for anybody that signed up to participate. The weather at the Centre was quite windy, so I can only imagine what it was like on the ski hill. Though my cousin and I declined to go, I understand that those who went experienced the wonderful world of learning to do something for the first or second time. My understanding was that it involved lots of falling on the posterior of the human anatomy.

Downtown Banff. Though there was a lot less snow when we were there.

Jason and I decided to walk around the shops in Banff and try to locate hiking stick emblems for my father and uncle. This activity proved difficult and seemed to confirm that most people come to Banff to camp, ski, snowboard, or attend conferences. Hiking seems to be more prevalent in Jasper National Park where many shops carry the emblems. Walking down the main street, I recognized Ronnie del Carmen, (who would be the guest speaker at the evening banquet and conducting a workshop on Sunday,) Peter's wife Ruby (giving them the guided tour,) and the Woodmans. We made sure to tell them to hit the Fudge shop, which offers a plethora of hand-made chocolate sweets and is a 'must-stop' when visiting Banff. But looking at all of their bags, they had already visited the tantalizing store. Of course we made our stop there to pick up sweets for our families at home and headed back to the Banff Centre to enjoy another mouth-watering lunch with part of the Storyboarding group and special guests.

Jason Blower and me, Chad Kerychuk.

After lunch, Jay and I headed back into town and decided to go watch Robots at the Lux Cinema Centre. It held a few laughs, looked nice, but cannot compare to Pixar's films. Wandering around the shops again, we finally managed to locate some hiking stick emblems - at the last store we stopped in (where I was able to practice my Japanese greetings and thanks) - and then back to the Centre to get ready for the Banquet Dinner with Ronnie as the Keynote speaker.

Chris Tougas, Jorden Oliwa, and Ronnie Del Carmen.

While we enjoyed a delicious dinner provided by The Banff Centre, Ronnie del Carmen took to the podium in the Dining Room and began his presentation. If you haven't had a chance to listen to Ronnie speak before, he is not only engaging, but passionate, informative, and overall, immensely entertaining, letting his humorous side show and with it, capturing the audience's attention. A few days before the Summit, Rick Cortes, a friend from The Drawing Board who lives in the Los Angeles area, commented to me that when Ronnie came down to practice his presentation on them, it was nothing less than 'inspiring.' Truer words were never spoken. The Banff Centre Banquet Dinner audience were captivated by Ronnie's Keynote speech in which he talked about creating stories, collaborating with artists and studio executives, and along with his work at other animation companies, his role as Story Supervisor at Pixar Animation Studios.

Ronnie also treated us to a small short story reel he developed in which a young boy goes out in the rain to play, and rescues his little friend, an ant, from drowning in a puddle. In a technological feat of amazement, Ronnie actually used the keyboard on the PowerBook to step through the drawings in the QuickTime Story Reel, timing the transitions with music, which was playing independently in iTunes. The potential for loss of synchronization was high, but Ronnie made it look easy. The story itself was simple, and as was the case with me, I'm sure many in the audience could relate to it. Ronnie completed his Keynote speech and we were treated to a Question and Answer Panel with all of the guest speakers. It was informative and entertaining, allowing the audience to ask questions they may not have a chance to ask otherwise, and easily one of the many highlights of the Summit. The group all received individual scenic photos from The Banff Centre in appreciation for their participation.

Woody Woodman (Ravenwood Entertainment), Kris Pearn (Sony Pictures Imageworks), Ronnie del Carmen (Pixar Animation Studios), Chris Tougas (Character Designer / Story Artist), and Jorden Oliwa (Storyboard Artist / Animator).

The creative talk didn't stop there though, another gathering at Props Pub commenced, where we all engaged in further conversation, followed by a visit to a dance club called 'Aurora' in downtown Banff. Dancing ensued, mixed with further inebriation for some, and the night carried on into the early morning hours. Arriving back at Lloyd Hall, where my accommodations were, I watched a bit of James Bond in For Your Eyes Only and hit the sack.

The Banff Centre Dining Room Exterior.

Sunday began with a hearty breakfast in the Dining Room followed by the group gathering in Max Bell Room 252 again for Ronnie's workshop. Using his great sense of humor, he gave further insight into story development and we almost immediately got into our first group exercise for the day. We were asked to get together with some of the group around us and discuss how we were given our name. After the group huddles, we were then asked to nominate people to tell their stories.

It was immediately clear after only a few stories, that something so simple, as a story as to how each of us were named, could prove compelling and far more complex than most of us thought possible. It also became evident that certain 'themes' were developing in the telling of stories. For instance, several people were named after their father, or their father's father, carrying down a name through lineage, almost making it a generational requirement. We learned that stories need to resonate with the audience and the characters need to develop relationships that we can identify with.

Group Exercise Number Two from Ronnie had us huddled again, discussing a time when we were lost. Nearly every incredibly entertaining and amusing story was followed by uproarious laughter and applause. One participant by the name of Dan had such an astounding story, acted out with great enhthusiasm, it was as if he had participated in a real-life version of the Pitfall videogame. Again Ronnie had demonstrated to us how easy it can be to develop a story and how interesting the storyteller can be. He commented how most of us probably saw the shots and cuts (as if we were watching a film) in our head as the stories were being told and I'm pretty sure, most of us nodded in agreement. Ronnie remarked that along with the stories, the personality of the storytellers shone through, enhancing and broadening the tale's effect on the audience. He also recommended that attending a workshop on how to direct actors would be beneficial since it would give insight into how they approach and understand a character and their role in the story. Ronnie ended off his presentation by stating that Banff is indeed a 'vortex of creativity' and I certainly couldn't agree more.

Me, Ronnie Del Carmen, and Ken Bautista.

Another tasty lunch and we began the afternoon workshops with Jorden Oliwa, a Storyboard Artist, Animator, and Illustrator. While Jorden's specialty is using Macromedia Flash to create animation for television series, he has worked on animatics, product pitches, music videos, and fittingly, snowboard design. Because of his experience, Jorden was able to provide a broad spectrum of knowledge in conceptual design and animation and how to use the technology to implement the ideas. We were treated to examples of his work including a compilation of his work on the series Mucha Lucha and an animated music video that reminded many of us of the previous night out at the Aurora club. Having spoke with Jordan at the Pub the previous night, I can attest that he not only diverse in his skills and interests, but also very approachable about them.

The afternoon winded down with two surveys and a summary exercise from Peter and Chris Tougas. We were divided into groups and played a Pictionary -style game. Taking turns rolling dice, we picked cards that featured a story element to draw, and had our own team guess what it was. The first team to get 12 right guesses then gave the correctly-guessed story elements to the next team to construct a story from, presenting them in front of the groups. Overall, a good exercise to encompass some of the stuff we learned over the weekend.

There was a fair number of people still around, so we had some individual discussions and continued to exchange contact information, generally stating as to what a great time we had. Monday was an optional skiing and snowboarding day but since a few of the group had left the previous day due to commitments, and much of the group would be leaving that Sunday, my cousin and I decided to venture back to Calgary as well after dinner. We had a nice dinner with Peter (being his usual animated self) and his family, as well as Terry Willox, Ken Bautista, and Amy Inkster. Peter's daughter received a gift from Ronnie consisting of two Paper Biscuit books, a story that Ronnie created featuring a young woman named Nina. She beamed like kid and in a candy store and had the rest of us quite envious. We had fun chatting about her favorite comics which included the great Calvin and Hobbes and even discussed one of her own character creations.

Counter-Clockwise from left: Peter Hansen (NAIT), daughter Donna Leny, and Peter's wife Ruby, Jason Blower, Amy Inkster, Ken Bautista, and Terry Willox in the Banff Centre Dining Room.

Jay and I had a scenic drive out of Banff, seeing the Rockies fade into foothills and then into cityscape. Arriving in Calgary at 9:30 p.m., I took off for Edmonton and approached home around midnight. Settling in that late night / early morning, I was filled with a sense of creative fulfillment that wouldn't have been possible if not for all the fantastic organizers and participants that put this thing together.

Special thanks go out to: The Banff Centre and the Banff New Media Institute Accelerator Program including Lindsey Aufricht, Sherry Moir, and the rest of their helpful collaborators, Peter Hansen (who is a truly funny and down-to-Earth guy) and NAIT, Ken Bautista (who I'm privileged to call a like-minded friend and who also helped get me to the Summit in the first place) and his company, Hotrocket, the many sponsors, and especially, Ronnie del Carmen, Kris Pearn, Woody Woodman, Chris Tougas, and Jorden Oliwa for giving up their Easter weekend with some of their family to come to Banff and inspire the attendees. They've left a profound impact on their audience.

If you haven't been there already, head over to Ronnie's blog, Tirade, for more photos and rundown of the Summit.

And if I forgot to mention anyone, please accept my apologies. I met so many great people, it's hard to remember everybody's name or how to spell it!

USPS Honors Jim Henson and The Muppets

2005-03-31T23:29:00.000-07:00

The United States Postal Service is celebrating creative genius Jim Henson and his beloved Muppet characters with a series of stamps. It has been 50 years since Kermit the Frog made his television debut.

It's a well-deserved acknowledgment of his work and it will be fun to see the cartoons-come-to-life busting out of envelopes across the US.

Hit the link above and scroll down to read more about it.

The History of Dinosaur Comics - Part 2

2005-03-29T23:14:00.000-07:00

Palaeoblog recently posted Steve R. Bissette's The Paleo Path: The History of Dino-Comics - Part 2. A continuing series on Dinosaurs in Comics that's well worth the read whether your a professional palaeontologist, amateur dinosaur digger, or comic book connoisseur.

Dr. Tran's Magic Talking Card!

2005-03-29T21:21:00.000-07:00

The gang at Long Sausage Productions have brought us another great Dr. Tran collectible: a Magic Talking Card complete with virtual bubble gum! Collect all 1500!

Design: Breehn Burns, Dr. Tran: Jason Johnson, Animation: Keith Holven, Hickory Smoked: Horse Buttholes, Hot Stone Massages: Rick Cortes (Producer)

If you haven't picked up the Dr. Tran DVD, better get your butt on over there and pick up a copy!

Ninja Master Sho Kosugi Returns

2005-03-29T09:39:00.000-07:00

As a young movie nut, I loved Ninja films, and there was certainly no better Ninja actor than the great Sho Kosugi. The star of Enter the Ninja, Revenge of the Ninja, Ninja III: The Domination, Pray for Death, and TV's The Master with Lee Van Cleef, had a screen presence that sometimes outweighed his martial arts character. What young boy growing up in the 80's didn't dress up as a Ninja for Halloween, hoping to stare down candy givers with the same intensity that Sho displayed?

It's cool to hear he'll be returning to a role that made him famous and I'm hoping it's not just a cheesy low-budget production. Check out the story here at ComingSoon.net.

The History of Dinosaur Comics

2005-03-18T17:29:00.000-07:00

If you're into dinosaurs, make sure to check out Steve R. Bissette's The Paleo Path: The History of Dino-Comics - Part 1 over at PALAEOBLOG. Sure to be an informative multi-part series, it may reveal some of the illustrated adventures you've been missing!

The Future of Filmmaking

2005-03-18T08:10:00.000-07:00

Any keen observer will note the future of filmmaking has already been creeping up on us. Pretty soon, it's going to be right in our face. Literally.

A few years ago, Titanic and Terminator creator, James Cameron, stated that he was already working on projects aimed at putting people back in theater seats. Do-it-all Director Robert Rodriguez developed the third film in the Spy Kids series as a 3-D film. Last year, Robert Zemeckis turned the children's tale, The Polar Express into not only a computer graphics fantasy that was shown in IMAX, but IMAX 3D no less. Cameron has even pushed the 3D envelope with Terminator 2: 3D - Battle Across Time and his docudramas Ghosts of the Abyss and Aliens Of The Deep. Even the late master storyteller Jim Henson developed Muppet-Vision 3D for Disney-MGM Studios. Not to be left out, Star Wars creator and technology wizard, George Lucas, who made it possible for these guys to tell their stories the way they do, has been pushing to have digital cinema projection and distribution systems in place for the future. So when these filmmakers (who have changed the way visual stories are told) come together, you know you're in for something that's both innovative and exhilarating.

On Thursday, as reported in this article from Reuters, Lucas, Cameron, Zemeckis, Rodriguez, Randal Kleiser, and 'The Lord of the Rings' himself, Peter Jackson (who joined the group by a pre-taped segment) addressed the ShoWest attendees and invited theater owners to invest in digital projection systems. Not content to sit and wait for the industry to catch up with their ideas, they've already begun forging the way we're going to experience movies. One of the really big names absent, was of course, Steven Spielberg, but you can bet he's got something in mind as well.

Lucas is working on re-mastering the existing Star Wars films for enjoyment in 3-D. James Cameron is preparing the Japanese Manga Battle Angel (Alita), as his return to science-fiction blockbuster filmmaking. It's going to be in 3-D and he says he hopes all his future movies will be in the format. Robert Zemeckis has two 3-D features in development, and Robert Rodriguez is developing The Adventures of Shark Boy & Lava Girl in 3-D. According to the article, Peter Jackson has already installed a 3-D master suite in his New Zealand production facility.

Some conversion companies have already been successful in porting existing films for IMAX and 3D release. If it can be done with past favorites, imagine what the filmmakers can do with the technology that is currently being developed. It has the potential to make the stories that much more engaging for the audience. Of course, viewers don't want to wear giant headsets and existing viewing methods which include Anaglyph (red/blue) glasses, Polarized (grey/grey) glasses, and LCD Shutter glasses, are allowing the technology to get smaller in size, but it still hasn't quite caught up with filmmaker's imaginations.

Classics like The Creature From the Black Lagoon in 3-D (a personal favorite) and House of Wax began the experiment years ago, but even back then, they didn't have an exact formula. 3-D was considered a gimmick, and like today, wasn't cheap to produce. Filmmakers created scenes that could make use of the 3-D technology but it really didn't add to the story. Current and future Filmmakers will have to clear that hurdle or audiences will quickly bore and won't embrace the new methods of entertainment immersion. If the new 3D films make us feel as if we're part of the action without noticing the technology, ticket sales should go well.

Technology will never replace story as the fundamental force behind filmmaking, and the reason we go to movies in the first place, but it removes some of the limits placed upon the Writers and Directors in telling a story. The technology Lucas developed at Industrial Light and Magic for instance, allowed Barry Levinson to bring to life a stained-glass Medieval Knight in Young Sherlock Holmes, formed a water-based Alien Pseudopod in James Cameron's The Abyss and a liquid metal morphing cyborg in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, regenerated living dinosaurs in Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park, constructed time-traveling DeLorean automobiles in Zemeckis' Back to the Future Trilogy, and allowed an angry Bee named Wally to chase Andre - digital forerunners to Pixar Animation Studios' Toy Story heroes, Buzz and Woody. What about the cursed skeleton pirates who came to life in Gore Verbinski's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of The Black Pearl or a memorable character named Forrest Gump? It was thanks to the same digital technology that he was able to take part in famous events and converse with deceased political leaders.

Imagine X-Wing Fighters flying past your head, a Tyrannosaurus Rex eyeing you for a snack, possessed pirates leaping at you from a ghost ship, little green army men marching past your feet, cybernetic killers firing lasers into the audience, or you having to dodge the blow of an Orc sword during the attack at Helm's Deep. Some of these experiences exist today at theme parks or specially-equipped theaters, some of it's on the way, but these guys are bringing it to the masses. With the need to understand both storytelling and technology, I can think of no better group of talent to lead the charge. Hold on to your popcorn, because the adventure is just beginning.

Update: Joseph L. Kleiman from World Enteractive posted a report with a photo of the presentation which you can find by clicking here. 3-D clips that were shown included Disney's Lilo and Stitch, Top Gun, and two portions of the Star Wars saga. Thanks to The Digital Bits for the link.

Further Update: Harry Knowles at AintItCoolNews.com also comments on the situation. He addresses the film piracy issue with the possibility of it being reduced, though it relies on the belief that no home 3-D viewing methods (equal to the theater experience) will be available. As we know with the way technology progresses, that is only a matter of time. Pirates may still be able to isolate one half of the film image making it viewable on standard definition equipment, but only if the film relies on separate images for each eye.

G4TechTV - Feng Zhu

2005-03-16T23:34:00.000-07:00

G4TechTV.com features a text and video interview with Concept Artist Feng Zhu.

Feng recently worked on Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith for George Lucas and in the interview, he teases us with some unseen concept art from the upcoming film.

In addition to his video game development roles, he's been busy putting together a series of training videos for The Gnomon Workshop.

You can also see more of Feng's work at artbyfeng.com.

Boarding: Stories & Snow

2005-03-14T16:35:00.001-07:00

From March 24-28, 2005, The Banff Centre will hold a Storyboarding Summit featuring guest speakers from Pixar Animation Studios, Sony Imageworks, as well as other independent producers. There will be workshops on Storyboarding as well as opportunities to learn to Snowboard or Ski at nearby Sunshine Village.

The event is fast approaching but it has taken a while to finalize all details. Please pass the information on to friends, associates, relatives, and others you think might be interested.

You can download the PDF with more details right here.

Register online by clicking here.

For additional information, please contact:

Lindsey Aufricht
Special Events Coordinator, Accelerator
Program, Banff New Media Institute
Banff, Alberta, Canada
403.762.7591
lindsey_aufricht@banffcentre.ca
BanffCentre.ca

Dr. Philip Currie Joins the University of Alberta

2005-03-10T20:02:00.000-07:00

Congratulations goes out to our good friend, Dr. Philip Currie, one of the world's leading Palaeontologists. Starting October 1, Dr. Currie will become a professor with the University of Alberta's Palaeontology program, here in Edmonton.

Along with his many accolades, Currie was recently chosen as one of three Canadians to receive the 2004 Michael Smith Award for outstanding achievement in the promotion of science in Canada. The award was presented by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada on November 22 of 2004.

While this is great news for the University of Alberta and Edmonton, it is sad news for the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller. The world-class museum and research institute loses not only another world-renowned expert, but also an engaging representative of the facility.

We wish Dr. Currie the best of luck in his new role!

You can read the story in the Edmonton Journal here.

Photo courtesy of Time Magazine.

Update: CBC also has a report on Currie's new position and how it could lead to more dinosaur finds. You can read more at this link.