The Moses Monster

I've Moved!!!

2010-12-13T01:10:00.000-05:00

Yeah Baby I like it raaaaaaaaaw.

2010-04-23T01:38:00.000-04:00

You know, I have honestly never owned a laptop. I was an old school pioneer, seizing on to old habits and parading the classic ways of computing. Upon passing, I spat on those who claimed to be "power users" or "computer savvy," toting a portable, yet abysmally spec'd, machine. I was in my time capsule and did not dare step outside the bounds of the new. You can call me the Cowboy to their Ninja.

Well, I have seen the Way of the Dragon, and it is nice.

I purchased the HP Envy15 and boy oh boy is it frakkin sweet. It's not as speedy as my desktop, nor was it easy on my pockets but I'm slowly falling for it. It's a beauty to look at, it can handle my work load and most importantly, it screams with multimedia! Games, music, videos, you name it, it does it and it does it well. Not sure if it was divine intervention or the luck of the draw but I'm glad this machine found me and I think I should rethink my outlook on the portable life.

I'm still a cowboy though. I ride off into the sunset.

The things you take for granted...

2010-03-26T07:30:00.001-04:00

Since being out here, my eyes have been opened to a world of missing elements from a past life that I took for granted. Here is a short list I compiled of said things:

Clean Air
A normal work schedule
Family
Friends.
Hot water lasting longer than 3 minutes
Hot water that won't kill your insides if consumed
Free Time
Static
A bed not slept in by 50 people prior to my presence
Free Time
~~Animals not infested with fleas~~*
Commercials
Did I mention Free time?

Some things that I appreciate more:

Music (Shared or Purchased)
Movies (Shared or Purchased)
Sexual Release (Shared or Purchased)

Back to work.

*Oh, alright. You can sit in my lap kitty cat. :)

Welcome back Cotter

2010-03-09T11:53:00.000-05:00

It's been interesting these past few months... from the job, to the relocation, to what have you. Times, they are a changing. It's good to be back here though. :)

New Look A Coming

2009-10-20T18:52:00.000-04:00

Guess who is now the proud owner of the domain: MosesMonster.com?

Me.

That means a new look is coming up. Until then. Stand by.

New You

2009-10-14T10:02:00.000-04:00

I have finally secured a job with a steady income. Already, I'm feeling the effects of 'Working for the Man' but it is nice to have a paycheck. I'm not one who works for money but today's lifestyle is rough, and sometimes
you just need some sort of cashflow.

Besides the boring aspects of life, I'm working on a few projects. I had to curb one big one earlier this year due to partner constraints, but that has just opened up the door for ideas I had floating around. I need to get a scanner so I can start showing them here. I'm working on a cartoon idea that should come to fruition soon as well as a comic idea I'm going to pitch to an old professor. Things are getting exciting now.

Other news: Doctor Offices have the worst reading material. I'm obviously not the target demographic.

I made a commercial

2009-10-13T11:14:00.001-04:00

It was for a contest I ended up not winning but all in all, it was fun to create and the people who won were pretty creative. I had fun which is the most important thing.

I should of posted this on here earlier. OH well!

Glorious Day Today

2009-09-27T23:04:00.000-04:00

Well, I've been doing a lot of things lately. New steady job, new project, freelance, and twitter can all attribute to my lackluster blogging. Another thing that can add to that is reading. I've been reading like crazy. From all the 'Fair Use' books made avaiable on Google Books to the comics a pick up from the super frakking sweet comic shop down here, Heroes Aren't Hard to Find, I've been reading like there is no tomorrow. I'm going to start posting up some books I'd like y'all to check out, some of them very thought inducing, others just hella fun. This is to be short but I just wanted to check in and show love to my beloved blog. I still love you blog. You know I do.

Back to Dexter. :O

The motivation...

2009-08-26T22:36:00.000-04:00

...it flows through me like vodka through an 18 year old girl at a birthday party.

I've got some news for y'all--soon.

Oh How I've Neglected Ye-Olde Blog...

2009-06-20T21:58:00.002-04:00

Well, I said I would put myself in a more productive situation and I followed through. Now if only I can update this blog.

I have an idea! I'll update it by informing it that I'm updating it! BRILLIANT!!! I might change the layout again as this one really doesn't reflect the way I feel about my new productive self. I now "clock in" every weekday at Nine to Five, working for the man, and by man, I mean myself, because I'm Da Man. WORD! The silliness of it all is silly. I got a new radio show, Arcade is back up (sort of) and I'm making head way on my writing project. The only thing I haven't really done is drawn in a while. But, I think I can add that to my tasks to do. Make it part of the "work day" because I can do that. I'm Da Man. A drawing a day, updated here once a day, including the weekend. I'll start on Monday.

How do you like that blog? Would that make you happy?

I've done a terrible thing.

2009-05-07T11:25:00.002-04:00

It's a short I did for a friend's birthday, of which the real present I cannot deliver to her for some time. So she gets this instead, for now. May god have mercy on my soul.

Music for your eyes

2009-04-29T21:28:00.002-04:00

This blog has the makings of a moldy blog-- neglected from time to time, dusted off and then set back up on the mantel, mold still proudly being displayed for all to see.

Here is some music I've been digging lately. Idle Warship.

Idle Warship "Black Snake Moan" from The ICU on Vimeo.

Yeesh... I got some reading to do.

2009-04-20T13:42:00.021-04:00

Well... I come to find out that writing a script for comics is harder than it sounds/looks/is if you are a procrastinator. But there are just 10 days left of Script Frenzy! I need to hurry up on this.

But that brings me to another interesting (and yet another obstacle feeding into my procrastination) point of books I need to read by years end. Here is a list of books I've been meaning to read but never got a chance to, books I've been reading and want to catch up, or books that I've been recommended and just haven't gotten around to (in no particular order).

The Walking Dead -- I currently sit on Vol. 3, just holding out on finishing because I don't want to be kept waiting til next paycheck so I can immediately follow it up with Vol. 4. This series is amazing. It's a no holds bar story and I'm loving every minute of it. I think I should just stock pile all the way up to Volume 9 just so I have a reserve bank.

Rant -- Chuck Palahniuk is a man who understand men. He somehow illustrates all the anxieties and troubles all men have. And on a deeper note, he's homosexual, which just proves that gay or straight, men are men, people are people, and we all have the same problems, feelings, emotions, etc. I have read most of his works, but none of his newer released publications. Might as well through Snuff in there too.

100 Bullets -- I always walk by 100 Bullets in the comic shop, wishing I picked it up, or wanting to real bad, only realizing I have The Walking Dead and something else in my hand. Now that's it's finished, I really, really should pick it up. No excuses. I mean it's Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso. I shouldn't of had an excuse in the first place. Comic god, please forgive me.

Crash -- I've always heard how amazing of a writer J.G. Ballard was. I've never really gave him the chance though, and he sort of disappeared from my mind for a bit. Then his death occurs and I see his stuff everywhere. I really should give it a shot, just to experience it. Better late than never I always say. Rest in Peace Mr. Ballard.

All Star Superman -- I've read the first volume after hearing amazing things about it. Come to find out, it is as amazing as everyone is making it out to be. I heard there are some pretty crazy twists in the end that are both heart wrenching and awesome. This is the first Superman book I've read that puts Superman in a more positive and sympathetic light, instead of the "Godly" light that we are all too aware of today. He's not a bad character, I just don't have any sort attachment to him, but this book changes minds I heard, gotta pick up volume 2 soon.

Atlas Shrugged -- Everyone who has read Ayn Rand tells me not to, but something about the philosophy I've heard about draws me to her. Not to mention this was the book that inspired Bioshock and carries most of the story on it's crutch. What's wrong with dabbling in different ideologies? It is what makes us more tolerable to differences. It's a long ass read though, so I might put this one off to the last second. Or maybe that means I should get it out of the way... who knows.

Y the Last Man -- I've read Volume 1 a little over two years ago and fell in love with the story. It really felt epic from page 1. Just like The Walking Dead, this story knows how to wreck with your emotions, also it's set in a post apocalyptic world with a different light. No Men, except Y and his monkey.... and his monkey with his... monkey. What could be greater than a story about a man living in a world of nothing but women?

Criminal -- Not to be confused with Criminal Macabre I've learned the hard way. I really know nothing of this series other than it's gritty, dark, and has really kick ass cover art for it's trades and floppies. Call it curiosity stroking the cat ever so gently for a little over six months and he's finally caving in. I hope it is as good as it looks.

Any Nicholas Sparks Book --So he writes for women. Big deal! Call this a guilty pleasure. After being turned on to his sappy, yet romanticism stories, I became hooked like a catholic school girl to her first boyfriend. (Thanks a lot Shelby! :D) Any book will do really, just one that hasn't been turned into a movie yet because I like to have my imagination run wild. Last thing I need is Richard Greer invading my mind. I got enough manly books to cover up for this request.

The Runaways -- I picked up volume one nearly four years ago and haven't bought another one since. Luckily, someone I know has so I can bum them off of him. The story is really keen and I've heard nothing but great things about it (minus Joss Wheadon's run which I won't speak of until I get to that point). This one should be an easy read.

Any Number of Battlestar Galactica Comics --There are so many out there that I just need to pick one and stick to it. Final Five, Season Zero, Cylon Apocalypse, Zarek (check that one off)... I should find a trade and just start it. I need my BSG fix anyway I can get it. And in high doses. I need to read them all! ALL OF THEM! SO SAY WE ALL!!!

Batman R.I.P. -- The R.I.P. story line has been sending ripples out in the Batman universe and I'm just wanting to know what it is all about. I'm late to this one as well, but oh well. It'll be there when I get around to it. It's already been spoiled for me anyway. No rush.

Now maybe I should get back to that outline/script of mine. 10 more days!

You may of fool me... but I'm still alert!

2009-04-10T16:50:00.002-04:00

This is some footage of Bioshock 2, a sequel I will forever hate regardless until it proves that it was warranted. I love the shit out of the first game, of which I'm going to refer to as the original. It mixed interesting game play with a story like no other for the medium. And it had a resolute ending. I was satisfied. I would poke my head back into Rapture every now and again because I grew fond of the place, but that was because they built a game on atmosphere and story, not on cheap thrills and overdone game types. It put a twist on an old genre, making it feel fresh and new.

The world is so bent up on sequels, I believe I have every right to remain skeptical about "second comings." Sometimes, one is enough, and as soon as you add another element to the mix, thinking you are adding depth, you come to realize you are actually just diluting the whole solution. Space Odyssey didn't need a sequel. Blade Runner didn't. Eternal Sunshine can't. Why does Bioshock need one? Why does every single thing, need a follow-up? Sometimes, good things come in just ones.

The game is looking like it can fool me... but I'll show it. Bring it on Bioshock 2. Bring it on.

Sketchbook - Woman

2009-04-07T09:55:00.003-04:00

I'm cheating a bit on my sketch a day. I did this sometime last week and really haven't done anything since (script frenzy and that frakking desk took up some time -- and my laziness). I think I'm getting back in the funk so maybe I should step my game up. Come end of the day, I hope to have one more human study and maybe a couple of random doodles...

Monsters... Boy do I love monsters. That should be my motivation.

I made me a desk

2009-04-06T19:52:00.002-04:00

Well... "made" wouldn't be the right word. How about fixed up a beat up desk to look like new!? I've been needing a desk for a while now. I've been using a dirty one we found near a dumpster at our old apartment for nearly six months now. What a better solution to replace it with a beat up AND dirty desk that I got off of craigslist? I don't know where the before pictures are, but believe you me... this desk was straight out of the 1920's. I'm not exaggerating either, it's a 1920's wooden teacher's desk. I spent the better half of two months sanding it down (really two days but I got lazy in between those days) and an entire afternoon staining it. It's still drying but now I will have some sort of a workspace. Now if only I can get myself to work (like that script I'm suppose to be writing for script frenzy).

Sunday Music

2009-04-05T22:30:00.001-04:00

End of the Week. Here is a tune for you!

Revisiting the past

2009-04-04T12:36:00.002-04:00

While cleaning out my computer files, I ran across an old digital painting that I never finished. It was a homework assignment where we were to envision ourselves as a superhero. I wasn't all too keen for the superhero idea so I took a realistic approach. If I were a superhero, I'd pretty much look like what you see there -- no special powers, just a crazy black man in his underwear and a blanket wrapped around him. Too bad I never finished it. I think I might though...

Why not?

Simple hack out sketch

2009-04-03T11:57:00.002-04:00

Due to troubles with my scanner, I re-hacked out my idea for the colab with Colin. During the process I came up with some super stellar story of how the robots came to earth on spaceships designed as stars and the moon as their mothership. I can guarantee the final product will be much better. It's what I'm working on over the weekend -- that and Script Frenzy... and finding a job. :(

Brand New Project!

2009-03-28T15:30:00.005-04:00

So... with the help of my friend Colin, we are going to make a badass robot-apocalypse poster. What's going to happen is, we are going to break the poster in half, and then into sixes (it'll be a long ass poster). Then from there, we just draw what we want on each of those pages, put them together and BAM... poster. It actually sounds really boring and dumb in retrospect but whatever. I need something to do. Actually, I only posted this so Colin can understand what I'm trying to say.

Diagram

I'm not excited for Comic-Con this year.

2009-03-26T02:07:00.002-04:00

Saturday is almost sold out already. Good God! It seems like it's going to be the biggest con (attendance wise). Last year had some pretty big things, the year before that was pretty huge... this year, I honestly can't think of anything I really want to do or see. I'll be surfing the floor this year it seems like. Maybe meet some artists and jam out with friends. Bleh.

And then the reform

2009-03-24T18:56:00.004-04:00

Well, I figured now would be a better time than any. With a new set of confidence, I went to tackle a big project of mine that has been neglected for a long while...

My Room.

I rearranged everything so I can actually work on shit now. There are just two places that rearranging couldn't fix, and probably need an upgrade.

So bare. And my "office" area looks like it was a cast-out from rejected ideas for a target advert. Progress is progress at least. Now lets see if I can commit to a drawing a day.

The End of an Era

2009-03-21T00:21:00.004-04:00

Warning: Heartfelt Nerd Eulogy Follows

Friday, March Twentieth, Two Thousand Nine was the end of an epic story about the survival of the human race. For five years, the story of a battlestar named Galactica and the fleet that she carried on her shoulders and protected with her soul came to a fitting and resolute end. A finale that tied up some conflicts, added more questions, and left you wanting more left a major imprint on my mind and heart. I was and still am in a state of mourning, deep sadness, and peace.

You read a good book and you always want to know how it ends... where is it leading to? Sometimes you forget a middle section because you are so wrapped up in what's going to happen... and not what's happening. Battlestar Galactica taught me that it's not the destination that's important, but the journey there. It's the rest stops you take to lay down your burdens. It's the crossroads you pass along the way. It's the meat that fills you, not the thought of what comes after the meat.

Battlestar has been a huge influence in my life for the past five years. It's a story that questions reality; A story that relates to reason; A story that resonates in everyone's ideologies about life and natural human nature. "It's art imitating life."

Now that the old girl is gone, and the men and women from the story have all performed their last gleaming actions... it's time for the curtain call. The show may have passed, but the legend of Galactica will live on. This hole in my heart may be big, but at least I'm left with a new sense of reality. I'm at daybreak.

Off to a slow start

2009-03-18T04:53:00.002-04:00

I figured this week would be emotion week as I'm sure to go through an assortment of emotions come the end of Friday. :[ The emotion was petrified (thanks to a friend). I had a hard time thinking of a way to display petrified in a way that didn't illustrate the emotion flat out, but had it embedded in meaning. Since I haven't drawn in a while, I guess I am going to be super rusty. Naked guy looking in a mirror, signifying that he's looking at his true self, is something I thought that a lot of people would be petrified at the thought of. Midway through the drawing, I realized that it's a subject that actually okay in today's standard (at least I think it is), so I failed on that front. I'm surprised that I retain a lot of my human figure drawing skills although I'm not where I use to be... or want to be. I think I'll start doing more nude drawings (I need models). I'll keep to simple line art for a month or so and then dig deeper into values and depth. On to the next emotion I guess.

In other news, I need to brush my teeth.

Drawing a Day

2009-03-16T01:11:00.002-04:00

New week... Doing a drawing a day. I'm going to branch out and try different mediums and forms. I need to get in the habit of drawing again, break away from my lack of creative sweep. I have that problem where you think you are going to do something.. but never going through with it. I'm going to do this junk... even if it kills me. Hopefully it kills me after March 20th, 2009 23:00.

I hate television now

2009-03-14T14:20:00.004-04:00

It's Sunday, and I'm just coming down from a natural high that I get when I watch Battlestar on Fridays. For the past six years (miniseries in 2003) I've been looking forward to whatever day Galactica fell upon, just so I get to tune into their universe for an hour... sometimes two if I'm lucky... sometimes 12 if they are in some sort of marathon. It's a good show, science fiction aside, it's amazing.

Next week is the final episode...EVER! While I look forward to watching the final chapter of Battlestar Galactica be told, and bask it's the ultimate conclusion... I can't help but feel some sort of remorse and resentment to the television gods that be. They provide us with lackluster shows, giving us a daily dose of monotonous and obviously false reality shows, cock slap us with the typical subjects that have been beaten dead for the past 20 years (yay police shows that mimic yesteryear's police shows) along with their horse counter-parts (yay DNA police shows). And just when a ray of light shines upon our distraught eyes, the ray is shut down, the source of the ray pushing daisies. How dare good television linger on the boob tube longer than it should. Good television should only exist in one manner, for fanboys to outcry that good television is hard to find these days.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation = nine seasons
Arrested Development = three seasons (each one shorter than the previous)

Where is the justice?

Hot damn! That was a close one.

2009-03-12T14:30:00.000-04:00

Got my comic con ticket today. I went to the site and noticed it was 96% sold out. Nearly shit a brick. That's just ridiculous. Now all I got to do is save up for that hotel. SHIET SON! This year is going to be off the chain. It's only March. Hmm... I wonder who else didn't buy their ticket. Oh... and turns out Charlotte has their own convention. Heroes Con. I'm going to be all conned out come end of the summer. Buddy Buddy, gotta start prepping my portfolio.

An additive...

2008-09-21T19:15:00.000-04:00

For the most part, I'm going to keep this blog to my artwork and such while I will use my tumblr account for everything else that falls in between the cracks, so check it out.
MosesMonster @ tumblr

A night with Christopher Nolan.

2008-09-06T03:36:00.000-04:00

Copied from my tumblr post:

A friend and I recently came from the LCMA, participating in a screening of Christopher Nolan’s first film endeavor entitled “Following.” Afterwards we were treated to a Q and A session with an LA Times representative (his name escapes me). Overall the experience was stellar and a great learning experience for aspiring directors, writers or movie buffs.

The movie takes place in Britain, following an aspiring writer who follows people to get character ideas, until he is ousted by one of his followee’s, turning his outlook of the world upside down. The story itself was very interesting and surreal, Nolan has a very keen eye for Suspense. It plays like his later movie, Memento where the story is told in an unorthodox fashion, difference being that this movie has no real chronological order. Instead, the story is told in different chunks and it’s up to the viewer to piece them together in order before the final reveal in the end. It was very neat to see how Nolan started out from humble beginnings, coming from an almost zero-budget film to his current blockbuster flicks. One thing I found inspiring is that this film was shot only with friends and relatives, using minimal equipment, but still coming out as a very enjoyable film you would see in an actual theater or art house.

The Q and A afterwards also shed some light onto the directors mind. He explained how he did the film, developing the concept, setting up the shots and shooting, and post production. It was a film he intentionally tried to submit to Sundance were it was denied (he wouldn’t admit it but he heavily insinuated it was). Slamdance accepted it and he was pleased with the attention it received. The outlet open the doors for him to the biz where he was able to spread his wings and eventually land flick after flick (The Dark Knight being his latest). I would go on, but I think the experience would be lost in translation.

It was a very interesting night to say the least and I am now inspired to continue work on my projects. These sort of events always help the community thrive I believe, getting to listen in on how your favourite actor or director or writer does his or her job is always an ear opener.

Back to the Future...

2008-08-30T21:03:00.000-04:00

So I decided to just post an update as to what I've been doing recently, only because it looks like it will see the light of day fairly soon.

Vantaii Studio is now Arcade Team Go. The site has been coming along nicely and I've been working on content along with a couple of friends. So, stay tuned for that. Also, I realized how stuck in the past I am in. I might of been born in the wrong era, or it could be a fad that will dwell away in due time. Anywho, I've taken a liking to a certain insturment. The Casio VL-1. Retro feel, arcade sound, cheap game metronome... How can you go wrong with that? I want one.

I ain't scared of you mother fuckers...

2008-08-09T15:25:00.000-04:00

We'll be missing you.

House Layout

2008-07-29T23:21:00.001-04:00

Re-doing downstairs, did quick sketch of what I want it to look like, trying to set it up as a home theater. I didn't put where the projector was going to be but it will probably be above the couch on a shelf. The screen will be in the opposite side, being a dual screen, ones side painting, other side the screen. I saw something on Instructables.com that inspired me to set up the place this way.

Check it out!

Let me count the ways...

2008-07-28T15:37:00.000-04:00

So it's Comic-Con 2008, a man has a dying wish, to speak to his media heroes who have re-created a world that has transcended normal television. Those heroes would be Ronald Moore and David Eick of Battlestar Galactica fame (Ron really being more so of Star Trek). Fast forward 2:15 in Ballroom 20 at the San Diego Convention Center, and out strolls genius funny man, Kevin Smith (an avid fan of Battlestar Galactica). He gets the ball rolling by inviting and introducing our favorite cast members on stage and the panel kicks off. Kevin Smith begins with a hilarious question, "When are we gonna see the "frak" equivalent to cock-sucker" (or something of that nature). The audience chuckle, the producers laugh and we continue on. At this point, our man, whom we shall now refer to as Moses, lines up at the microphone in the middle of the room, waiting for his chance to ask them his question. He is sixth in line.

I'm going to take a moment to state some things observed at other panels by Moses. Most of the panels open up with the Moderator asking a few questions to the cast/crew of whatever the panel is spotlighting. These questions usually are in depth but usually are quick as to get to the questions of the fans. When in the other panels, Moses noticed that majority of the time, if not at least half of the time was devoted to the questions asked by the fans.

Back to Ballroom 20. Its 2:45, 30 minutes into the panel, and Mr. Smith is still engaging in a conversation with the Battlestar Galactica cast and crew. In his head, Moses thinks, "Okay, I will get to ask my question, I'm sixth in line, I finally get to ask them my question, happy day." 2:50 strolls around and the cast is still talking to Kevin. 2:55, Kevin finally opens it up to the fans, only to stop them and allow himself to ask the questions of the members of SciFi.com. (Side-note: SciFi more than likely told Kevin Smith to do this as to extend the experience to those who were not so fortunate to attend this years comic convention). 3:00, the mic is finally opened to the fans.

The first two questions are asked with simple ease. They are explained in detail by the panel and we move on to the third question. After the third fan has had his delight of being addressed by the panel, Kevin Smith interjects by asking yet another question. At this point it is almost 3:10, Moses fears he will not get his chance.

Backtrack to 2:30, Moses meets a friend while waiting in line. He is in the number 5 spot. The two exchange their love for BSG and then querry what the other might ask the panel. Number 5 responds with his question, "Considering that they [the characters on BSG] have run out of fuel, ammo, and hope, and you always place them in these dire situations, how come they always have an abundance of alcohol?" Moses thought this question was clever and gave him a chuckle, but not trying to make him sound like an ass, thought his question was more thought provoking. But in all, Number 5 wanted to speak to his heroes as well, so Moses understood. Him and number 5 await thier turns.

Fastforward to 3:10, Its getting down to the wire and the third question was being asked. At this time, the assasiant room head [the person who is assistant to the person in charge of the room] began to notify people that their questions would go unanswered due to time contrants. This frightened Moses, it was his last chance to ask his heroes this because they more than likely would not return next year. He was determined. The Assistant Room head cut the line down to two people, her hand was placed on Moses's back, "You are the last question." Moses was relieved. He was relieved.

He notices that number 5 begins to ask his question, his hearts tenses up and he awaits his turn. As the crew chuckle at his question, Moses steps up to mic, only to be pushed back, number 4 hadn't asked his question since the Room Head deemed it uncomprehensible (if only you knew). Room head steps up to the mic and notifies Kevin Smith, the panel, the rest of the room and Moses, "This is our last question." Number 4 asked his question. Moses was devestated. Number 4 blurts out his unaudiable (due to his heavy dialect) to Ronald D Moore. Ronald stumbles a bit with the question at first and begins to answer. Moses takes this time to step up to the mic, he wasn't going down without a fight, even if the fight was a simple, "You told me I was the last question" "I'm sorry" "Would you like me to sit?" "Yes, please, thank you." "oh..okay...okay"

As Moses heads back to his seat, he feels the room get bigger and his pathway stretch farther. Time slows. He looks on at the panel, the last time he will see them live, in front of him, the last time he will get a chance to ask them his question. As he treks back to his seat Moses can't help but notice Kevin Smith asking one more question. Moses mutters, "That should of been my question." And indeed it should have been. It should of been Moses's Question.

Question:"Even though you get snuffed at the primetime emmy's for the big awards, golden globes, and commercially aren't as big as the top dogs on the other networks, Do you find your show [Battlestar Galactica] as successful as you had hope or more?"

Thank you Kevin Smith for stealing my time. You probably continued your conversation with them backstage.

...a world without rules...

2008-07-18T18:00:00.000-04:00

The Dark Knight is a spectacle. It's really hard to think coherently and speak about this film when it leaves you speechless and breathless. It's one for the ages. Go see it for yourself. Then we can talk.

2008-06-26T18:29:00.000-04:00

I was drawing a bunch of ideas for that monster concept I posted a little while back. This is for the main character. I was testing around with weight of the character, to size, to age, and even one instance of gender. Some were serrious ideas considering, and a few were just flat out silly. One of them is a horrible rendering of me from an old School ID card of mine. I look like a rapist.

Randombles

2008-06-25T20:57:00.000-04:00

So I have a widget that gives me quotes of the day and two of them have stood out.

1. Happiness is always a by-product. It is probably a matter of temperament, and for anything I know it may be glandular. But it is not something that can be demanded from life, and if you are not happy you had better stop worrying about it and see what treasures you can pluck from your own brand of unhappiness. -Robertson Davies

2. An intellectual is a person who has discovered something more interesting than sex. -Aldous Huxley

And todays word of the day is:

forlorn: sad and lonely because deserted, abandoned, or lost.

All of which seem quite fitting.

Go Speed Racer, Go!

2008-06-23T04:57:00.000-04:00

I never got around to posting about the movie until now. You know, the one you didn't see? Speed Racer, the latest from the Wachowskis. I enjoyed this film throughly.Now before you tar and feather me, let me give you my explanation. First off, it comes to no surprise, its visually breath-taking. I mean, I haven't seen a film this pretty since, well, since ever. Instead of going for the drudge of realism, they went with the colour-vibrant animation. It feels like a 3D version of the cartoon. It feels EXACTLY like the cartoon(as looks go). It's something fresh to the eyes. Sure, Beowulf was amazingly well done, but something about this just reconnects with the inner kid in me, and brings about a joy I haven't experienced in the theaters since the last Pixar film. And even then, their colours weren't as vibrant as in this movie. It keep your blood going.

"What about the story? It was super childish." Have any of you paid attention to the original? The show was terrible, which is why it was so great. The dubbing was off, the characters were quirky and the animation was so budget-ed that some scenes were just mirrored versions of the scene prior to it. It was overall nothing to go nuts over. So the Wachowskis did what they should of done, left the quirk, the characters, the dialogue, all of that alone. It made the movie more authentic and to me, more enjoyable. Too many times have we seen someone take a childhood memory and try to not only modernize, but deepen the story with brooding, dark elements that are both unnecessary and unwarrented. I don't want to have a backstory to why Mighty Mouse became Mighty Mouse. His mother was murdered in an awful lab experiment and he wanted to get revenge on those people, only to realize that his powers were usefull in other areas too? You shitting me? Who needs that? I don't want my cartoons to be super real sometimes. I want them to be cartoons. And if you make it live-action, leave it cartoony please. Speed Racer did just that. It wasn't an cartoon gone live action. It felt as if they took live-action and animated it. Once again, it felt like the cartoon.

My only complaint about the movie would be the posters. They look like someone whipped them up in photoshop in less than 4 seconds. They could of gone more retro or artsy with it. Serriously, look at it. It looks hidious! Where are the Red and Yellow? What happened to layout? What happen to aesthetics? I'm sorry if I'm coming off harsh because in the end, a guys got to eat, but I also had to find something wrong with the film, and this is the best thing I could come up with. I enjoyed it that much. The film is by no means perfect but it is one hell of a ride. It's got laughs, excitement, suspense, action, everything a movie goer would want. I recommend to everyone to watch it, and enjoy it. If you don't, then you could go back to watching Sex in the City or Indian Jones and the Fridge that Saves Lives. (to be discussed later)

Balls to the Walls...

2008-06-20T18:17:00.001-04:00

Simple Ball bounce, waiting on Aniboom to finish my upload. Forgot how tough it was to draw frame by frame and get weight down. Maybe next try.

EDIT:
Since the embed doesn't work click here to see what I mean.

Comic-Con Television Panel Listings!

2008-06-19T15:51:00.000-04:00

So finally, the folks who run Comic-Con have posted a listing of all the television panels that well be at the San Diego Comic-Con this year, along with times. I have bolded the ones that matter

Thursday, July 24

* 10–11 a.m.: Kings
* 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.: Knight Rider
* 5:45–6:45 p.m.: Dexter

Friday, July 25

* 10:15–11:15 a.m.: The Big Bang Theory
* 12:15–1:15 p.m.: Stargate Atlantis
* 3–4 p.m.: Ghost Hunters
* TBD: 24, Prison Break

Saturday, July 26

* 10:45–11:45 a.m.: Heroes
* 11:30–12:30 p.m.: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
* "Noonish": Lost
* 12:45–1:45 p.m.: The Office writers with Rainn Wilson
* 2:15–3:15 p.m.: Battlestar Galactica
* 3:15–4:15 p.m.: Pushing Daisies
* 3:30–4:30 p.m.: Chuck
* 4:45–5:45 p.m.: Fringe
* 4:45–5:45 p.m.: Eureka
* 6–7 p.m.: Jason Smilovic of My Own Worst Enemy and Ronald D. Moore of Virtuality, TV Guide panel
* TBD: Dollhouse

Sunday, July 27

* 10–11a.m.: Smallville
* 10:30–11:30 a.m.: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
* 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.: Supernatural
* "Early afternoon": Ghost Whisperer

Also, it looks like this year is gonna be as big as last since the four-day passes are all sold out, as well as Saturday passes. Should be a blast! Gots to gets in lines, nows!

Back to Basics

2008-06-18T14:47:00.000-04:00

So what have I been up to lately? I've been going back to the basics, using traditional media and begining from the start. I decided that since I'm in transition from one school to the next, I should get my skills honed and sharp, what a better way to do that than to review what you already know? I'm starting with shadowing and perspecitve, using acrylic paints on a normal canvas to get that out. I hope to finish this one soon so I can move on to the other projects I started such as a scuplture and animation cycles I'm doing in Flash (I don't have a light board/table nor a register to do it traditionally). It feels good to refresh the mind with old, familar things. :D I can honestly say I'm learning more outside of school and through trial and error than under the instruction of most of the teachers at that school, or maybe I'm just subconsciencely doing what they told me to do as it has become second nature by now.

Back to my drawing board.

African-Style

2008-06-04T22:55:00.000-04:00

I felt like doing a series of animals done all classic african tribe, get back into the groove of digital paintings. No.1 - The Elephant.

Hey, are those clothes on your line?

2008-05-28T23:54:00.000-04:00

I decided to try drying my clothes the old fashion way. And let me tell you, I saved $3.00 today. I see a brand new future for me. I'm going to be living cheap.

In other news, I'm finishing up a clients website soon and will begin working on that Top Secret thing I've been talking about. Wooooooo! I can't wait myself, can you?

Laughter goes a long way

2008-05-18T02:50:00.001-04:00

It truly does...

Going Green...

2008-04-23T19:51:00.000-04:00

I'm always considered myself an eco-friendly person. I use resuable dishes, I turn off all the halogen lights I have in the house, I have all my bills e-mailed instead of mailed, I keep my theromsat at 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit), I try to be eco-aware. With it being earth week this week, I'm becoming more aware of ways I can help keep my "eco-friendly card" from expireing. I've always wondered how to prevent all that junk mail I get from ever entering my mail box. A company called 41 Pounds does just that. They contact all the companies that send out the junk mail and put you on a list that prevents them from mailing you anything for up to 5 years. Sure, its $41 for five years of protection, but you techincally prevent 41 pounds of junkmail from being wasted. You are going to throw it in the trash anyway. And $15 goes to a non-profit organization of your choice.

The folks at SciFi have come up with a great list of things to do to go green. Check it out here. It's really neat and can help out the environment alot, Maybe even put a smile on other green people's faces.

Oh yeah...

2008-04-22T14:40:00.000-04:00

I forgot to mention the special addition to my collection of random geek things I recently acquired. Its something special. Super special, and for those in the know, its the to rule all . Click below to see the gallery.

Things are coming along

2008-04-21T18:05:00.000-04:00

I've buckled down and have decided on the projects I'm going to do and have actually began going through with them. I don't know how long I will keep going with them but I'm going to stay positive and say that I'm going to see them all through, or I can be realistic and say I'm going to see most of them through.

First Project: Top Secret:D

Second Project: Class of 2000 (working title). Just in treatment stages for now but its the story these kids growing up as the graduating class of 2000. Their shenanigans, their failures, their adventures and such. It's coming along great. I'm really excited about this one. It actually seems like a feasible project that could go all the way to independent production if I push myself hard enough to get it there. I had a partner help me from the start but for now, I'm taking the helms and pushing it to the direction I wanted to go.

Project Three: Monsters have been on my mind as of late so much, its scary. Pun (probably) not intended. I'm currently beating around an idea about a kid who is king of the monsters. Now before you go and say, hey, that sounds familar, let me stop you and state that I was thinking about an entirely different direction. A more mature slash almost dark comedy sort of spin to the idea. When someone pointed it out though, I began to see similarities in my ideas so I sort of crafted them around that aspect. It's still an Idea that needs to be fleshed out so I have no idea where it will end up, it if does end up somewhere. I wanted to do something dealing with multiple medias such as digital combined with digital. We will see where things go and how tests run.

In the mean time, I'm going to stop wasting time here and get back to my daily art practice.

And the orchestra assembles...

2008-04-20T18:57:00.000-04:00

I'm starring at a blank canvas. Well, its not actually a canvas, more like a plank of wood a brushed lightly with watered down white paint; but I'm going to call it my canvas. I need to find my muse, and I know just where to look.

Hello World

2008-04-07T12:42:00.001-04:00

I'm back

I've been playing the Bioshock

2007-09-07T01:41:00.000-04:00

Once every three or four years, a game comes out that not only pushes the envelope in game design, but also mentally challenges the player's moral ethics. Its the year 2007 and a small company called Irrational Games has released such a game, and has given it the name: BioShock.

What can't be said about this game that hasn't been said in countless other blogs and reviews? The game has style, the game is a spectacle, it has class, amazing narrative... I can go on for ages. There are just so many things about this game that make it so great and worth while, that its ashame that the medium its on will only attract to those who either A.) Have an Xbox360, B.)A great PC or C.) A friend that has either one. If this were made into a feature film, it would be great, but it wouldn't gather the same effect that it does when you play it, and make the choices yourself... which got me really thinking about game design.

It seems like a tough process to get a game to work the way you have it planned in your head. From gameplay, to mission types, to AI, the imagination is endless but the engine can only do so much. Graphics are not everything in a game, Sure it can look pretty, but if it doesn't play well, you don't have a good game. Lair for example is getting torn to shreds because of game mechanics. Not being able to target specific objects, controls with the sixaxis issues, fighting mechanics... all of which lead to Lair getting bad reviews. I wonder if Factor 5 really thought out their game design long and hard before attempting to create the game, or relied on their past game experience with the Rouge Squadron series in hopes that would translate to this title.

Most games are great because of their design. Half-Life wouldn't be what it is today if the team at Valve didn't implement a design that left the player in the game during sequences that normally would of appeared in a cutscene. The "scripted events" seemed epic and let the player experience what was happening first hand, giving them that sense of imagery that they were actually a part of what was happening. Would that same feeling translate well if it came in the form of a book? Or a feature film? It might look nice and read well, but that distances the person from the actual connection. If I was watching Bruce Willis jumping from a burning plane through a crack in the road to avoid an explosion, I'll sit in my chair and be excited for the moment, but after I walk away from the movie, I'm left with nothing. But if I was the one doing all the acrobatics, turning around and seeing the explosion as I navigate the character through debris, I think I would be more excited for myself and the sense of accomplishment that comes with it would carry on throughout the experience.

The hard thing is to create such a connection that is both exciting and fun to play so that the player can enjoy that death defying moment. Not only are you speculating what kind of excitement a player would want, but also how the portray it in a fun and innovative way. Gears of War by Epic Games has great mechanics and gives the player that connection between the action and their reactions. From the camera angles and movements, the gameplay to even the sound design, the game becomes more of an experience than a game. The mechanics are just great.

Back on par with BioShock, there is something about the game that makes you feel as if this place exist, Rapture, the utopia under the sea, and as if characters and economy are real. The Big Daddies look and act like paramount entities, the little sisters they protect like trapped souls in a virus infected body. The splicers react to the things you throw at them, sometimes sending you to flee for your life. The world around you seems alive, but those are just great additives to the mechanics. What makes this game great is the sense of freedom, an open wrecked world, yours for the taking. Your choices also dictate your story in a small sort of sense, whether you save the souls of the little sisters, making it difficult for you to survive, or you harvest them, worried about your own skin. Its the entire game design that work well to make this game both memorable and amazing.

I can only hope more game developers will produce such great works in the future for me to experience.

More of an effort

2007-08-18T13:24:00.000-04:00

Even though this is a small update, I'm stating that as of today, I'm making more of an effort to update this as to keep current with my portfolio. I need to start getting back to my creative roots and such, stop starting projects and start finishing them.

With that said, I leave so I can go accomplish that goal.

Monster

Eghads!

2007-06-24T18:04:00.000-04:00

Arrested Development, the funniest show on the planet, is not available for free on MSN Video. This is good so peeps who didn't catch the show and are stupid to not buy the DVD's can watch them! Now there is no excuse for not seeing this awesome comedy.

Anywho, Back to my drawing board.

testing testing... is this thing on?

2007-06-17T18:38:00.000-04:00

Never really paid attention to the blogging world, and chances of people actually reading this post are slim to none (focusing more on the none part of that) but in all news, I'm going to use this, like most artists and entertainers in the same field as me, as a development blog of the things I do, and the projects I tackle. So keeping this post short so that I may update it later, the list of projects I have undertaken are:

.Pre-production of "V"(Working title)
.Vantaii Studio webpage and portal
.Class of 2000(Working title) treatment

Monster out.