2014: Year of the Films

Well, there's the first month of 2014 gone, and I finally got Moonlight Art Magazine #2 out and available for free download. Click here so you can download it, too. 

Wonderful. So, as soon as I finish fighting off this cold, I'll be back to work on my film projects, which I actually have a fair few of. After having to recover from the theft of one of my computers and some sound equipment, I am now ready to resume the task of completing my short documentary When Hollywood Green-Lit Comic Con, which is about the impact that major movie studios have had on the comic book industry and its conventions. It will be available on You Tube as soon as it's done. I actually shot most of my footage for it in 2012, so I'll be happy to wrap that up.

I'm also glad to be starting work in earnest on another feature length documentary about the artists who bring you many of movies "in camera" special effects, called The Practical People, so stay tuned for more on that, soon.

Last (not really) but not least, I must confess that I'm still very heavily entrenched in the post production work on my all green screen, sci-fi, short film, Girl In The Window. It keeps taking a back seat to paying work, and I'm pretty much handling all aspects of this phase of the film by my self, much in the same was Ray Harryhause did, using miniature models, puppets, stop motion, and photo matte paintings, to create an entire futuristic world. Below, is a concept design peace, that I recently did, to better help me grasp how I'm going to handle the robotic aspects of the story. Special thanks to my daughter, who modeled for the pic. We had fun. Click the image if you'd like to buy a print...

Keep checking back, for more news on these projects and more, in 2014. Please, feel free to contact me at this link, if you'd like to hire me to add some magic to your project, too.

The Sandman: 25th Anniversary Painting

Some of my earliest desires to take part in the world of comic books, were because of my time spent anticipating the next issues of The Sandman, written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by (for that run) Jill Thompson, and with beautiful cover artwork by one of my very favorite artists, Dave McKean. I related to these comic books, not because of the magical beings inside their pages, but because of the misfits, whom from my point of view, were much like me. There I was, 16 years old, with Robert Smith/Edward Scissorhands hair (much like Dream, I was happy to see) reading stories where the "freaks" acted like real people, with thoughts, feelings, humor, and souls, that I knew I and my outcast friends had inside us, just like everyone else. It was very refreshing to my young mind. So, when the opportunity came along to submit artwork for this year's San Diego Comic Con 2013 souvenir book, for the 25th anniversary of the first Sandman comic, I felt it was only natural to do this piece. I owned it to that young reader who is the foundation for the man I am today.

...and I thought an animated GIF might be fun to throw in, too.

When Hollywood Greenlit Comic-Con: First Trailer

First Still from LIVE FOREVER (and my Comic Con documentary)

Just released is this still from my work on Live Forever: A Ray Bradbury Odyssey, with Malcolm McDowell as Ray Bradbury's childhood idol, Mr. Electico.

This is a moment where the two characters are flying through space (I won't give everything away) and go in front of the sun. I'm only one visual effects artist and I had about four weeks to do what should have had four months, but that's Hollywood, and I think it turned out well for the deathly deadline I had. The two actors were shot on HDV tape in front of a green screen, the bucket they're sitting in is a model, the books were also shot DV on green screen, and I had to do the rest. Can't wait to see how it looks on the big screen.

Below are some stills from my upcoming mini-documentary

WHEN HOLLYWOOD GREEN-LIT COMIC-CON

(it's going directly to You Tube, where you can watch it for free)

Here's David Mack, in his interview for the movie. 

Since this was all shot with two very cheep little consumer style video cameras, with no additional sound equipment, I knew I had to do something to really liven up the footage I shot. I decided to go black and white, with dashes of color, and do what I could to make the footage look like it was shot on something like 8 milometer film.

Here is Camilla d'Errico at her Comic-Con booth.

For more stills from the movie, go to my Facebook page.

Birds of  Play at their modeling shoot.

The spectacular Billy Martinez of Neko Press Comics, and one hell of a live painter. Check out how the light catches his necklace.

Realistic? No, but I didn't want this to be another boring old You Tube video from Comic-Con. I wanted this stuff to look hot.

Batton Lash at his booth for Exhibit A Press. Another case in point. The light above him looked pretty average, so I decided to rev it up a little, as if JJ Abrams was directing.

Here's Constance Hall from Monsterman, as I work on her interview footage. I interviewed her for another project, which is not a part of this documentary, but I just loved this shot. 

The movie should be out soon. Stay tuned.

On one last note, I have two Girl In The Window T-shirts available for order. Just click the image and get yours today.