Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Doodling With Jim Henson
Last year I said I'd start posting pages from the book "Doodling With jim Henson" as I do them and photograph them... I didn't forget! My camera just died... But my awesome girlfriend gave me a new camera for my birthday! I'm going to post them in order, so here are the first few
and thanks again to Maggie for the book!!!
Monday, March 25, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
In my head...
Driving home from work my brother popped into my mind. Not for any specific reason. He just does from time to time. Sometimes it's something as small as a fleeting thought of something from when we were kids, other times it some deep thought about what is life and how to live it well...
Tonite it was just a simple some how entry into the head.
And then I couldn't really shake it. I left work around 8:15ish, and since I hit the road tip now he's still in there, over an hour later.
I wish I could make sense of why this happens, and why this time I can't shake it off with a little laugh about goofy off with him. I guess I just miss him. It happens.
Above my desk, where I am typing from right now hangs a "Steve the Vampire" poster from last year's Elmwood Productions tenth anniversary screenings that were happening this month. Steve is smiling down on me. And it makes me smile... Thanks Mike and Jody for the poster. It's one of the reminders everyday of what I really want to do in this life. And that's make people smile. And if I can do it with puppets - EVEN BETTER.
Sometimes our mind's throw us curveballs... Sometimes "my mind is a pice of shit" hahahaha... Tonite it's not though. Tonite I am grateful for the life I have and the people in it...
Tonite it was just a simple some how entry into the head.
And then I couldn't really shake it. I left work around 8:15ish, and since I hit the road tip now he's still in there, over an hour later.
I wish I could make sense of why this happens, and why this time I can't shake it off with a little laugh about goofy off with him. I guess I just miss him. It happens.
Above my desk, where I am typing from right now hangs a "Steve the Vampire" poster from last year's Elmwood Productions tenth anniversary screenings that were happening this month. Steve is smiling down on me. And it makes me smile... Thanks Mike and Jody for the poster. It's one of the reminders everyday of what I really want to do in this life. And that's make people smile. And if I can do it with puppets - EVEN BETTER.
Sometimes our mind's throw us curveballs... Sometimes "my mind is a pice of shit" hahahaha... Tonite it's not though. Tonite I am grateful for the life I have and the people in it...
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
"I Won't Crap Out"
That's a promise...
Iggy Pop; I thank you for having the words I don't at the moment.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Sunday nite thoughts...
It is better to walk away? Knowing you were a success, quietly and with grace...
Or is it better to stay on a sinking ship and scream about glory?
They say rats on ships start swimming away before it sinks. Before anyone else even sees it coming. So rats really aren't foolish when it comes to self-preservation.
As a creative person you try to have yourself on a few ships at once, sailing...
And sometimes you want to dock before you sink.
Just thinking...
Movies, movies, movies... EVIL DEAD?
As I do trey to keep this blog about my adventures in Puppetry and other art, and sharing things relating to those... Like music I love, stuff at PiP, other people's puppets, and so on and so on I sometimes veer off into something like this...
I love "Evil Dead" movies.
Love them.
My first thought when I found out a re-make a few years ago was "Why?" Why re-make a good move? Shouldn't we be re-making bad movies that could have been good? And make them good!?
Then I found out Raimi/Campbell were producing. And I got it. And I'm in on it. And I'm more than ready for April 5 to see this flick.
Kevin Smith announced a while ago his intention to make "Clerk 3". I'm excited. Love his flicks. And this week he posted the title page for the script online. Bring it on Silent Bob, bring it on.
The Muppets keep posting pics online from their next movie, "The Muppets... Again". As long as they make Pepe bigger part, I'll be a happy camper. Hell, I'll be a happy camper anyway when it comes out!
Just did a websearch of upcoming "Hollywood" movies. Not alot I'm excited for right away. "G.I. Joe 2" will be fun, I'm sure... The new Oz looks cool (Sam Raimi after all!), and I'm a sucker for all the X-Men movies, so I'll be there to see "The Wolverine" ASAP...
But over all it looks like I'll be spending a lot of my movie watching time on Netflix with the indy's and documentaries...
So back to "Evil Dead"...
It's count down time...
When I figure out what time I'm going to see it I'll even post it here if anyone wants to join us (I'm sure Elmwooders Russ and Nick and Mike and Tricky and Jim will be with me)
27 Days...
I love "Evil Dead" movies.
Love them.
My first thought when I found out a re-make a few years ago was "Why?" Why re-make a good move? Shouldn't we be re-making bad movies that could have been good? And make them good!?
Then I found out Raimi/Campbell were producing. And I got it. And I'm in on it. And I'm more than ready for April 5 to see this flick.
Kevin Smith announced a while ago his intention to make "Clerk 3". I'm excited. Love his flicks. And this week he posted the title page for the script online. Bring it on Silent Bob, bring it on.
The Muppets keep posting pics online from their next movie, "The Muppets... Again". As long as they make Pepe bigger part, I'll be a happy camper. Hell, I'll be a happy camper anyway when it comes out!
Just did a websearch of upcoming "Hollywood" movies. Not alot I'm excited for right away. "G.I. Joe 2" will be fun, I'm sure... The new Oz looks cool (Sam Raimi after all!), and I'm a sucker for all the X-Men movies, so I'll be there to see "The Wolverine" ASAP...
But over all it looks like I'll be spending a lot of my movie watching time on Netflix with the indy's and documentaries...
So back to "Evil Dead"...
It's count down time...
When I figure out what time I'm going to see it I'll even post it here if anyone wants to join us (I'm sure Elmwooders Russ and Nick and Mike and Tricky and Jim will be with me)
27 Days...
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Doodles doodles doodles..
No, no pictures of doodles today...
But I have been drawing a ton more lately. It was my first passion. It's what lead me to puppetry. If I wasn't doing puppet movies I'd be drawing comic books and strips.
This morning, while flipping through over a decades worth of old sketchbooks I've decided to do that in my down time... A comic. I have a few strips I've drawn of the past 5 years, and so on. So I'm just going to expand on it. No time, no schedule, no rush. Just doing it to do it.
As I finish a strip I'll post it, and post some of my old ones I already have done soon too, and once I finish a full comic I'll post it too.
Anyway... Here's an oldie, and a look at something in Elmwood's future...
Monday, February 25, 2013
Animal Behavior!! It's almost done!
So we (Elmwood) finished shooting "Animal Behavior" last summer on probably the hottest two days of the year.
We were sweaty, the puppets were sweaty, and everyone was smiling...
It was "done"
Now we're in post-production. We are currently dubbing the series. Normally we do all the voices live, but we were short on puppeteers. This is one time I'm glad we didn't do it live. The voices we're putting the the puppets are really pulling the show together. I'm loving it...
We probably have two or three more weeks to go before it's done, then music and sound effects.
Look for the first episode soon though!
In the meantime did you know our star - TUGGER - has a Facebook page? You should be his friend!
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Good People Still Exist
I held a door for an elderly woman yesterday...
She said; "There still are some gentlemen left out there."
I replied; "We try." with a smile and she laughed...
Yesterday, somewhere in my journeys I lost my wallet. This morning I backtracked to no avail.
I was pretty sure I left it at the grocery store, but they didn't have it.
So I called my bank and cancelled my cards, and lamented on losing a picture of my brother, and the loss of a tiny ceramic frog I've kept in every wallet I have had since I was 13.
Ten minutes ago a stranger knocked on my door.
He had my wallet. He found it in the grocery store parking lot. He checked my ID and knew the area so GPS'ed it to make sure and came over.
AND THE CASH WAS STILL IN IT.
I offered him the cash, he refused. I offered him a coffee, he refused...
I gave him a DVD of Elmwood stuff and he said; "Puppets? For adults! This is awesome!"
Good people are out there.
If we do good, it will come back to us.
She said; "There still are some gentlemen left out there."
I replied; "We try." with a smile and she laughed...
Yesterday, somewhere in my journeys I lost my wallet. This morning I backtracked to no avail.
I was pretty sure I left it at the grocery store, but they didn't have it.
So I called my bank and cancelled my cards, and lamented on losing a picture of my brother, and the loss of a tiny ceramic frog I've kept in every wallet I have had since I was 13.
Ten minutes ago a stranger knocked on my door.
He had my wallet. He found it in the grocery store parking lot. He checked my ID and knew the area so GPS'ed it to make sure and came over.
AND THE CASH WAS STILL IN IT.
I offered him the cash, he refused. I offered him a coffee, he refused...
I gave him a DVD of Elmwood stuff and he said; "Puppets? For adults! This is awesome!"
Good people are out there.
If we do good, it will come back to us.
Lollipop
So I got anew machine and I'm going through tons of footage and editing some down for special features in Elmwood movies, and then some just for fun...
Here's some just for fun stuff...
So I'm home this morning, waiting for the weather... Wallet gone, damn...
Listening to some Iggy Pop, Brick By Brick. So overall It's gonna be a good day
Friday, February 22, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
And Now for "Puppet News"
A couple things have popped up in my radar in the past few days on the puppetry on film front.
First is the announcement that WETA is going to be bringing the awesome "Thunderbirds" back on to television soon.
Gerry Anderson's "SuperMarionation" style of puppetry is instantly recognizable around the world and has been hugely influential on puppeteers, film makers, and special effects wizards since the 1960's.
SO what's the word from WETA and the 'net?
CGI
Really? CGI? No one bothered with the "Thunderbirds" movie a few years ago for a reason... The puppets were half the charm... And the movie was just simply a piece of shit (but that's my small opinion). "Team America" has gained a huge following for a reason. It's funny, and it's a tribute to Gerry Anderson's work. Taking the puppets out of "Thunderbirds" is like mixing Bugs Bunny with Michael Jordan or Brendan Fraiser, and that would never happen!
Oh... Wait... Nevermind....
The other thing is "Star Wars"
Yes I am cool with Disney in charge. I am excited about a follow up trilogy. And I love the idea of stand alone flicks in the world of "Star Wars"
So I see today that the first stand alone flick may be a Yoda story.
Yoda worked best in "Empire Strikes Back", when he was a puppet. But he also worked worst in "The Phantom Menace", when he was a puppet. So there are two sides to that coin.
I hope hope hope that Lucasfilm/Disney doesn't ignore the importance of the puppet. I hope it looks at the five films Yoda is in and steps back and says "Let's do a mix of both". Yoda is such a subtle character and so unique as a puppet and relate-able. And the things that can be done with that cannot be replaced with a CGI version. But it can be enhanced.
Odds are though it'll be all CGI. So odds are I'll just wait for Netflicks for a Yoda movie, or a Thunderbirds show...
But if there's puppets I'll be first in line.
First is the announcement that WETA is going to be bringing the awesome "Thunderbirds" back on to television soon.
Gerry Anderson's "SuperMarionation" style of puppetry is instantly recognizable around the world and has been hugely influential on puppeteers, film makers, and special effects wizards since the 1960's.
SO what's the word from WETA and the 'net?
CGI
Really? CGI? No one bothered with the "Thunderbirds" movie a few years ago for a reason... The puppets were half the charm... And the movie was just simply a piece of shit (but that's my small opinion). "Team America" has gained a huge following for a reason. It's funny, and it's a tribute to Gerry Anderson's work. Taking the puppets out of "Thunderbirds" is like mixing Bugs Bunny with Michael Jordan or Brendan Fraiser, and that would never happen!
Oh... Wait... Nevermind....
The other thing is "Star Wars"
Yes I am cool with Disney in charge. I am excited about a follow up trilogy. And I love the idea of stand alone flicks in the world of "Star Wars"
So I see today that the first stand alone flick may be a Yoda story.
Yoda worked best in "Empire Strikes Back", when he was a puppet. But he also worked worst in "The Phantom Menace", when he was a puppet. So there are two sides to that coin.
I hope hope hope that Lucasfilm/Disney doesn't ignore the importance of the puppet. I hope it looks at the five films Yoda is in and steps back and says "Let's do a mix of both". Yoda is such a subtle character and so unique as a puppet and relate-able. And the things that can be done with that cannot be replaced with a CGI version. But it can be enhanced.
Odds are though it'll be all CGI. So odds are I'll just wait for Netflicks for a Yoda movie, or a Thunderbirds show...
But if there's puppets I'll be first in line.
Here's links to more on both:
Saturday, February 2, 2013
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