Forestblend

FTP downloads and you

2009-05-05T14:11:05Z

Okay kids...   so, should you ever be in the position where you are asked to upload art files for print to an FTP site, do the world (and the prepress department that is receiving them) a big ole' favor.

Take all your files...   and I do mean ALL your files...   the mechanicals, ALLLLLLLLLL of the fonts used in the file, ALL the source files (jpgs, PSDs, etc.), and any PDFs you might have created of the art for reference...   and STUFF THEM OR ZIP THEM ALL INTO ONE GODDAMN FOLDER BEFORE YOU UPLOAD THEM!!!

Contrary to popular belief, there are many 3rd party file servers that don't allow you do drag and drop the entire folder, now will it allow the download of an unstuffed folder. So having to download each and every little font and source file is just stupid and wastes en enormous amount of time...   and bandwidth.

This has been a public service announcement from your friendly neighborhood prepress and QC guy.

It's been a while... general update.

2009-02-27T17:19:40Z

Haven't had a whole lot to report as of recent, honestly, save a few speedbumps in life stuff, but this week has been one for the record books.

On tuesday we had massive layoffs through out the company. 6 people total; 5 within our building and one in our remote Dallas, TX office. The two Financial Officers kinda saw it coming. Ever since Innerworkings acquired our company, we knew that because of how their billing and accounting system was set up, we'd have no need for in-house financial management. The others were completely out of the blue. It terrified everyone. We heard about one through the whispering grapevine at around noon... then 30 minutes later another... then another... They also have furloughed the two design ladies I share an office with currently, making it so that only one of them is in here at a given time, trading off every two weeks. Thankfully I seemed to have ducked the axe in all this, and though I am a little surprised I am so exceedingly thankful. It seems that because I wear so many hats in the company, they need my "Emergency Help OMGWTF" skills to be around all the time.

So for the next 2 weeks there will be only one designer in here with me. And technically, neither of us are officially designers. We're considered QC/Prepress/Proofing/Archiving people with design knowledge. We also have our "Design Manager" (that currently resides in Colorado... don't ask me how she pulled THAT little trick off) who will likely be reluctant to help pick up the slack. So we're going to be floundering... trying to figure out what the salespeople need, how they need it, and trying to turn it around in a reasonable amount of time... which is generally unreasonable to start with. I will be talking to one of the bigwigs today about whether they want me to be putting in overtime within the next two weeks. Since this furlough move is to save money and keep any of the art dept from being laid off, it wouldn't make sense for me to put overtime in and just cost the company time and a half. I'm the only "hourly" employee in the front offices, so it's gonna have to be a consideration. It's like seeing a hurricane on the news, knowing it's coming right at you, and not being able to get out...    you just have to ride it out and hope it doesn't wipe you off the map. I know i can keep up, at least to a certain degree, and I'm willing to do the work... but I don't know the jobs or the "processes" well enough to just fly through them like the designer does. It's gonna be some scary shit...   and I'm not looking forward to it.

The salespeople are about to revolt because of the hit the art dept took. They feel like they're getting the rug pulled out from under them. We got the "we have to find more business and increase sales numbers", but at the same time, the support staff got a major cut. They're panicking because they know they won't be able to turn around artwork and conceptuals as fast as we have in the past...   and some of the jobs coming up are pretty massive. I know the management couldn't have anticipated that business would pick up RIGHT after layoffs and furloughs. But I don't think they're gonna budge on how they set up the time off for the designers. it doesn't make much sense, honestly. I think everyone would have preferred, including the ladies in here, would have preferred half-days... one lady in during the morning, and one in during the afternoon. Just so that nothing would slip through the cracks on any given day. *sigh* But the management is holding tight on their decision, even with the torches and pitchforks being brandished outside their office doors. We'll see as the day goes on.

In less gloomy news, we have the Eclipse War day going on tomorrow. In the rain. And possibly snow. :-) Which doesn't bother me all THAT much, honestly, because I had time to prepare for it. Rain gear, nerf guns, new boffer weapons, and much less gear than I normally carry around. I think it'll be fun in the global scope of things, but it's not like this team of Imperials work all that well together. It's not like the "Bar" team, who have been larping together for years and know each other's brains. We're a bunch of misfits, and most of us don't particularly trust or like each other In-Play, so it's gonna be a bit tricky. It could go a multitude of ways, really, and all we can do is hope we catch everything visually we need to catch, fight intelligently and as a unit, and go home victorious without too many dead PCs.

On the home front, we've begun the renovations on the house, but taking baby steps at this point. We started on the guest bathroom, and finally got the final coat of base paint on the walls. Next step is rag rolling the top coat of the lighter grey color and seeing how it looks. The we move on to the computer room which will be MUCH easier than the bathroom though about being. Way too many damn things to tape and tarp off in the bathroom. So once we get the silly "child nascar" wallpaper border off the walls in the computer room, we'll get that all painted up...   that's make me happy. :-)

Also began the HUGE push to chop down all the blackberry vines and honeysuckle vines from the edge of the backyard. It's a hell'uva undertaking, but with the gift from my Dad of a 28" hedge trimmer that can cut through half-inch branches... it's like buttah'! I just need to get out there, cut it all back and down to the dirt, then have a nice burning to get rid of all the crap. I started it last night and made some serious headway... kinda fun actually, but it's far from done. That way I can get to the rain run-off ditch and make it look a little more pleasant than a muddy, root-covered ditch. Then I get to tackle the BACK of the backyard... which has more substantial overgrowth than just vines, but the hedge trimmer should make the job 200% easier. Hoping to have all that cut back and leveled before late April...   that way, if I want to start some moderate landscaping back there, then it won't be too late in the season to plant. Then I'll be pulling all the mulch from the islands and edges in the front yard, ripping up all the current crappy landscaping plants, replanting with a more intelligent landscaping eyeball, and then filling it all in with white chipped marble. Still have no idea what the marble chips are gonna cost...   probably much more that I'll be willing to pay for it, but I'm done with the mulch. Done. It fades, you can't leaf-blow the leaves out of it, it washes out of the beds and floats away, and you have to replace it pretty much every year. Screw that noise.

Well, that's a quick sum-up, I suppose. King's Gate thoughts, financial ponderings, and other ramblings will have to wait for another time.

Have a good weekend all... and to those I'll see this weekend, here's hoping we don't all catch pneumonia saving the galaxy!   :-)

Indiana Jones KotCS - critique with spoilers

2008-05-27T15:06:01Z

If you liked the most recent Indie movie, don't read this.

If you haven't seen it, and plan on seeing it sometime in the future, don't read this (HUGE spoiler alert!).

For those that felt a little disappointed or let down by the most recent of Spielberg's creations, then feel free to read on. I'm about to rip it a new one.

Alrighty, so you have chosen to clicky on the LJ cut, which means you're either curious or found the movie to be lacking many of the things we look for in an Indiana Jones movie. But, before I get down to it, I must state that the first movie of the Indiana Jones series was, IMHO, above ALL the best. The second and third paled in comparison to the first, but were both enjoyable and at least strong attempts to keep with the original concept. So any comparisons I make here will be based upon the original Lost Ark episode.

Top Ten Reasons Why This Movie Sucked and Shouldn't Be Associated With The Franchise!!

1) The beginning scene was made of pure dumb. How exactly do you work up the initial suspense for an action film by having a car full of teenagers racing a military convoy? It's not like they shot the kids in the head, ran them off the road, or even scared them off with a menacing grin. Someone apparently thought you could grip an audience with a car chase... even if it was as lame as that one. It was pointless. And since when can anyone get within visual distance of a secret military base out in the middle of the dessert? You could see the bloody thing from the front gates. Great way of hiding all the secret artifacts of the world... behind a single gate, with about 5 soldiers... TOTAL! Did anyone see a single other soldier on the entire base once the convoy arrived? On what planet does that ever happen, especially if it's a Top Secret storage facility?

2) CGI should never, ever, EVER... EEEEEEEEEEVER be used in substitute for the REAL unless there is no other feasible substitute. Especially when it comes to shooting on location. So groundhogs, magnetic effects, exotic jungles, giant waterfalls, etc. should be repp'ed by actually USING real things. It just cheapens the experience otherwise, and yes Lucas, we as an audience CAN tell the difference, no matter how good you think it is has gotten over the years.

3) Indiana ends up on a Nuclear Test range... within a few miles of a warehouse where they store priceless artifacts and relics, including the bodies of aliens and the Art of the Covenant. Fuck what? Strike one. Hides in a lead lined refrigerator at ground zero to protect himself from the explosion. Fuck what? Strike two. Steps out of said refrigerator after being flung for MILES and just watches the mushroom cloud as if it's a fucking sunrise over the prairie. Strike THREE!

4) A crystal skull... a crystal ALIEN skull... a crystal alien skull that has sentience and apparently has psionic powers... and wants to be reconnected to its body next to the OTHER 13 crystal alien skeletons buried in this South American temple. How many bottles of cheap tequila do you have to down to come up with this? How does this fit ANYWHERE in the previous trilogy... at all? Ark of the Covenent, Shankara Stones, The Holy Grail, and a bunch of crystal alien skulls. Um... one thing here is not like the others.

5) Greaser kid, who dropped out of High School and specializes in motorcycles, is now thrust into the South American jungle and proceeds to play George of the Jungle with a bunch of native monkeys like he does this on the weekends... and well enough to catch up to the two racing vehicles careening through the trees. This is where my suspension of disbelief lost its wings and came crashing to the ground... I had tried to hold up until this point. This was made of concentrated stupid to it's core.

6) Has there ever been an "Old war buddy sidekick" that has ever been as useless, unbelievable, or lacking more audience sympathy than this guy? Pointless character that brought nothing to the film whatsoever. He's a good guy, WAIT... he's a bad guy! WAIT... he's actually a good guy! WAIT... he's actually a bad guy again! Just fucking stop it already! We didn't buy it the first time!

7) When did Marion go from running a bar in Nepal, drinking GIANT Nepalese guys under the table, and hitting guys in the head with frying pans... to the annoying, whiney, "Mom" character that they decided suddenly best fit her? I realize people change, but we loved Marion for being a bad ass and talking smack in the first film, not for being the random sidekick with zero intuitiveness and having nothing to add to the film itself besides the audience going "Holy Crap, it's Marion Ravenwood!"

8) One waterfall drop is enough. Really guys. It wasn't scary the first time, certainly wasn't the second time, and simply making it BIGGER the third time didn't make it any newer or suspenseful. It was pure "action film standard insert #17" and hey... didn't we see this in the second film too? Huh. Weird.

9) Um... could we perhaps have a wee bit of slowdown on the progression of the plot ...please? In the first film we didn't see anything BUT the inside of the temple for the first 15 minutes. Hell, it took most of that just slowly and carefully getting to the frickin' idol. There was constant suspense, helped by a fantastic soundtrack, and when Indie reached for the golden idol, you were riveted to the screen as he replaced it with the bag of sand! In this film... they reach the ruins, they run through the ruins like they have a map of it carved on their foreheads, Indie seems to know EVERYTHING about the place like it's his grandmother's backyard, there is ZERO amount of careful progression, and it's so rushed you don't even have time to look at the fabulous work the scenic artists put into it. RUUUUUUUUUUUUUSH (for no reason since they have no idea the Russins are following) and then we find the final room without any sort of guide, map, North Star, compass or anything. Gah!!!

10) And lastly... the alien skeleton "counsel" room. Sooooooo why didn't the skeletons have ANY dust on them at all since they've been here for hundreds of years? And why the hell did the one headless skeleton suddenly become active and sentient when the skull got presented to it? Why did the skeletons seem to merge and combine into a living one? Was that a vision in the russian agent's head? Why did everything suddenly activate and transport the .... *sigh* buried alien saucer-ship to, oh yes, another dimension? Why did our intrepid heroes so easily find an air vent that was wide enough for them all RIGHT AS they realize the room is about to be flooded? And did you see how far they were when they popped up out of the water/air hole? They were MILES away from the center of the temple as it did the classic Scorpion King implosion... how the fuck did they get so far away and know just how far to get? How many fucking continuity questions can one ask about the last 20 minutes of the film?

So yea. Can ya tell I was a bit displeased?

Now, before anyone mentions the obvious lack of continuity and the plot holes you could drive a bus through in the first 3 films, understand that I could rip at least two of those apart just as easily. But this is about a movie we've waited 20 damn years to see... 20 years to get a script together, to streamline it, to make all the parts fit, to make characters we fear and care about, to create a spectacular soundtrack, and to make people walk away from the movie slack jawed and in awe of what will undoubtedly be the LAST of the Indiana Jones films (at least with Harrison Ford). But no... it was very obviously thrown together, not well written, and had so many shortcuts it felt like it was light years away from what it should have been.

So to Spielberg and to Lucas... once again you have shown your ability to royally screw a previously good story progression and turn it into something that appeals to the lowest common denominator.

Thanks guys. Sure do appreciate that.

And the week begins anew...

2008-04-21T13:49:59Z

So King's Gate is now complete, and for my part, I must say I was rather pleased with how things went down on on my end.

There were some speedbumps, and some COMPLETE derails, but we chugged on and most of what we needed to happen this event did so. Go us. :-) I was EXCEEDINGLY pleased with the encounters I personally arranged, especially now that I know at least one or two of the PCs there were being watchful, careful, and purposely cordial. Glee! I did a LOT of thinking on my feet and pulling out what seemed to be some pretty creative and entertaining solutions. I'm pretty sure everyone enjoyed the RP encounters I handled, or so it seemed. And last but not least, I got literally about a gallon of freezing cold, homemade fake blood poured on me. It's always a good weekend when you have to plastic-bag ALL of what you're wearing because they're dripping with red goo.

And lemme' just say I am constantly amazed at the innovation/creativity/general crazy shit some PCs can come up with in the course of an event. *laughs* I am in a constant state of "You gotta be kiddin' me? That's AWESOME... in a twisted sort of sense, I guess!"

I should shut up now, before I spill anything I would prefer to keep to myself or shouldn't be spilling to the players, but I personally had a great event. It's tough work being on plot.... you can't frickin' goob to all the people you used to be able to goob at anymore! Gah!!!! :-D

And speaking of my encounters, ... imperatrix, suibhne, blackseven and pipistrella (hopefully you'll all read this at some point), could each of you guys send me a quick email detailing "things" from your own perspectives, while it's still fresh in your heads. I'm keeping close documentation on everything thus far. ;-)

The Newbie Plotty-Person Has Survived!!

2008-03-17T01:58:28Z

Just a quick post, simply because I lack the brainpower to come up with the large list of thanks you's and comments I want to express.

Until I get much more sleep, I will say this: WHY, OH WHY, DIDN'T I PICK THE BLUE PILL???

Wait, that's not it. Oh yea... thank you everyone, both players and staff (most specifically the rest of the Plot staff), for making this one of the best and most pleasing (from behind the scenes) games I've had in a very, very long time. Every single encounter I was involved with seemed to go swimmingly and I couldn't have asked more from the players I interacted with. Holy crap, you are all awesome.

Thanks for making my first "officially on Plot" event fabulous. :-D

Now... I have a slightly broken smiths_hammer to pamper and about 12 hours of sleep to catch up on. Longer post later.

Cross-posted to the KG OOP boards (because weirdly enough, not all of the RB people read LJ. Weird, I know, but true.)

The floon has now hit ludicrous speed

2008-03-04T17:13:45Z

A strange thing has happened that I didn't think I would experience for some time...

My King's Gate floon has now exceeded my Eclipse floon, which has already buried the needle.
Plot brainstorming session last evening pushed it over the edge.

Oh my... if this year goes the way I hope, it will be spectacular. *murrow fingers* Muahahahaha!!! :-D

Yea, I'm really that bored...

2008-02-22T16:27:51Z

A meme stolen from loresinger:

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
Fortunately I payed off my MBNA card and gave them the finger, but that was really the only bill I have ever truly dreaded.

2. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
Ippolito's

3. Do you regret losing your virginity to who you lost it to?
Not really, though the circumstances (while a good attempt at romantic on my part) weren't the most favorable in the world.

4. If you could go back and change one thing what would it be?
I would have stood up to a lot more people and opinions when I was younger. I likely would have gotten my ass kicked more often than I did, but I would have at least earned a little respect for it.

5. Name of your first grade teacher?
Mrs. Dillon

6. What do you really want to be doing right now?
At home, eating muffins and sipping coffee with my wife, playing a little WOW, and know that all the house chores are already done.

7. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Either a movie-effects makeup artist or BMX racer.

8. How many universities/colleges did you attend?
Just one, Kennesaw State... for many, many years...

9. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
Didn't feel like wearing a sweater since I figured I'd be doing a lot of cutting and cropping today.

10. Gas/petrol prices?
Completely ridiculous!!!

11. If you could move anywhere and take someone with you, where would it be?
New Zealand with smiths_hammer.

12. First thought when the alarm went this morning?
"I hate that she has to get up this early and drive so far..."

13. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
"I hope Amy is doing okay. Jim never heard from her... that's not a good sign."

14. Favorite style of underwear.
Boxer briefs

15. What errand/chore do you despise?
Dishes, by far, and I'm not sure why.

16. If you didn't have to work, would you volunteer?
Possibly.

17. Get up early or sleep in?
Depends on when I went to bed, but I can never claim to be a morning person.

18. What is your favorite cartoon character(s)?
Gah... um, I have no idea.

19. Favorite thing to do at night with a girl or guy?
Are you kidding!?!?

20. Have you found real love yet?
Yes!

21. When did you first start feeling old?
When I actually had to pull myself from combat during a LARP fieldbattle, as I was about to literally pass out.

22. Favorite 80's movie?
Ferris Beuller's Day Off

23. Your favorite lunch meat?
Roast Beef

24. What do you get every time you go into Sam's Club?
I suppose that would require me having a membership.

25. Beach or lake?
Definitely beach. Lake is just a dip in the landscape filled with runoff.

26. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
To an extent. I think the "traditional" idea of the wedding is somewhat outdated, but I think marriage as a binding of two people will never go out of style, and I think you can make pretty much anything you like into a decent and respectful ritual if done right.

27. Favorite guilty pleasure?
Red meat... Fogo de Chao is my Mecca.

28. Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?

29. What's your drink?
Alcoholic would be Guiness, otherwise either coffee or sweet tea

30. Cowboys or Indians?
Indians

31. Cops or Robbers?
Robbers

32. Who from high school would you like to run into?
I've found just about everyone I would want to speak to again from High School.

33. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?
NPR 90.1

34. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?
Not breaking up with the girl I was dating my senior year, and then getting the guts to ask the cheerleader to prom instead.

35. Do you like the person who sits directly across from you at work?
*looks over* The cutting table and I get along quite well.

36. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
Senator Obama, currently.

37. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
Nope

38. Last book you read?
I honestly can't remember.

39. Do you have a teddy bear?
Nope. I got rid of all my childhood/boyfriend stuffed animals when I first moved out of my parents house.

40. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
On a cruise-ship balcony somewhere in the Caribbean.

41. Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?
Northern California, in the pacific rain forest parks.

42. Do you go to church?
Not anymore.

43. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or a new relationship?
New career. The relationship thing is pretty well set in stone and happy!

44. Just how OLD are you?
Staring 35 in the face.

Quick Holiday Recap

2007-12-26T20:38:56Z

Well, I must say that all in all, our Christmas break was quite fabulous. One of the better that I can remember, despite not being able to really capture the "holiday spirit" much throughout. We got the tree up, got the presents wrapped, got decorations and such out and tacked up... but the jolly spirit just kept eluding us. Strange. Nice and quiet, cold and rainy, mostly happy and relaxing, so while I guess the Christmas Spirit passed us up, we found most of what we look for in the holidays. :-)

We got to visit with a multitude of people we haven't seen in a long time, got to do some much needed relaxing around the house, finished shopping with only a minor level of panic on my part, and now have MOUNDS of gifties and HUGE amounts of food left to remember the occassion. Huge loot. Huge. My big present from the wifey was a GPS. Love this thing!!... considering I can get lost in a round room, this thing is really a blessing!!

One of the highlights of the weekend was having two specific friends over who are interested in LARPing with us, but haven't been hooked completely as of yet. With a little help from other dear friends of ours (some one-on-one conversation), showing off of some costuming and props, and further discussion of character concepts, we're pretty sure they're hooked. Woot! :-) There are a few other possibles which we will continue to pester throughout the year as well, so the assimilation continues.

The other really surprising highlight of the weekend was the obligatory trip to my sister's house. Normally it's a very forced occasion, it's not loving or family-esque, it's not any fun, and smiths_hammer and I try to get the hell out of there as soon as we can (just like my father does). It's not any secret that my sister and I see the world through very different eyes, and that goes along with the way she and her husband have raised my two nieces. Hardcore home schooled, very repressed, and have been very socially inept up until the past few years. It seems that now they have reached their mid-teens, their nooses have been loosened a bit and suddenly *gasp* there seems to be a pair of intelligent and unique young ladies under there after all! It was fabulous to finally be able to talk to my nieces without their parents looming or acting as if we're going to corrupt their precious little angels. Very pleasant, indeed. College is still going to blindside them like a runaway freight-train, but sometimes you just have to learn the hard way.

So yea... now I sit at work, wishing I was elsewhere. I even have work to do (ick), which is odd for the week after Christmas. But now that the first color proofs on all 4 jobs have been pulled, and the designer who needs to sign off on them left early today, I get to sit and waste time once again.

So, here's hoping everyone had a great holiday! And if you're still enjoying said holiday... I'm envious. ;-D

D&D meme

2007-12-18T14:50:03Z

Yea, that's about right... except I'd throw in a little more elvish blood. :-)

I Am A: Neutral Good Human Ranger (4th Level)

Ability Scores:

Strength-13

Dexterity-14

Constitution-12

Intelligence-13

Wisdom-12

Charisma-13

Alignment:
Neutral Good A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works with kings and magistrates but does not feel beholden to them. Neutral good is the best alignment you can be because it means doing what is good without bias for or against order. However, neutral good can be a dangerous alignment because because it advances mediocrity by limiting the actions of the truly capable.

Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.

Class:
Rangers are skilled stalkers and hunters who make their home in the woods. Their martial skill is nearly the equal of the fighter, but they lack the latter's dedication to the craft of fighting. Instead, the ranger focuses his skills and training on a specific enemy a type of creature he bears a vengeful grudge against and hunts above all others. Rangers often accept the role of protector, aiding those who live in or travel through the woods. His skills allow him to move quietly and stick to the shadows, especially in natural settings, and he also has special knowledge of certain types of creatures. Finally, an experienced ranger has such a tie to nature that he can actually draw on natural power to cast divine spells, much as a druid does, and like a druid he is often accompanied by animal companions. A ranger's Wisdom score should be high, as this determines the maximum spell level that he can cast.

Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus</a></b> (e-mail)

Secret Spaces

2007-11-21T19:45:57Z

This is by far the coolest house EVAR!!! Minus the tight spiral staircases, this is a dream come true!

Dream Home? Pretty close

2007-09-19T16:32:04Z

But... I already have a house! I guess since we haven't started renovated the basement yet, we could possibly fit the pegasus stable in there.

However, the Zombie-Proof Safe Room! Now there's a house seller if I ever heard one!!

So besides the bedroom decor... yea, I'll take it. :-D

Your home is a

Philanthropic Gamer's Mansion

Your kitchen is stocked with chips, dips, and assorted caffeinated beverages. There's a pantry with emergency backup caffeinated beverages. You also have some breakfast cereals in there, but you haven't had breakfast since last Spring. Your master bedroom has blankets printed with images of Mario and Link. Your study includes unread copies of various gamer magazines, each purchased for the free demo CDs. One of your garages holds your collection of ferraris, and is measured in acreage.

Your home also includes a guest wing and private quarters for your servants. Your guests enjoy your collection of every console and associated game ever made. Except the Intellivision -- those controllers drive them NUTS. Outside is your hedge maze and gardens, meticulously tended by a team of world-class botanists.

And, you have a pet -- a koopa named "Shelly".

Below is a snippet of the blueprints:

Find YOUR Dream Home!

"Neverwhere" remake in the works

2007-08-15T13:11:22Z

www.darkhorizons.com
Gaiman's "Neverwhere" Being Remade?
By Garth Franklin
Tuesday August 14th 2007 12:04am

Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere" originally started life as a BBC mini-series, but as production got underway he adapted his own work into a more elaborate and detailed story.

Now it seems, talk has begun of him giving it another go - this time as a major feature film. In fact, MTV News reports that David Slade ("Hard Candy," "30 Days of Night") is aboard to direct already.

Gaiman himself says producer Lisa Henson got in contact with him about the possibility and that Harvey Weinstein was interested. Gaiman says "They’re using my script from 2000, and they want me to polish it up a bit."

The Edison Bar

2007-08-13T15:51:22Z

So apparently there's a place out in LA called "The Edison Bar". Not set in the trendiest side of the town, located down an alley called "Harlem". But if I EVER visit LA, this will require a visitation, far before anything like Hollywood-star hand prints embedded in cement. The decor is done in a funky mix of steampunk/victorian and it's gorgeous!

I read about this place on a site called Brass Goggles. They're big into the whole steam-punk culture and art scene. But this club... this, my friends, is a TRUE piece of art. Check out the links below for some shots of the place (especially if you're into warm and movie-set feeling interiors).

And smiths_hammer and I were wondering "theme-wise" what to eventually do with our downstairs room... oh, this would so be worth it to try something in this style (minus the large industrial equipment, of course... though faux faces of equipment would be possible). I mean... wow. It's such a groovy style of warm elegance to me.

Yea, I'm a big ole geek.

http://thesteampunkhome.blogspot.com/2007/06/edison-bar-analyzed.html

http://flickr.com/photos/eecue/tags/edisonbar/

My inner child is crying

2007-08-10T16:06:09Z

Ya' know, just when my inner child thought it was safe to come out of hiding, and had come to grips with the fact that "The Transformers" movie didn't completely suck or destroy all the happy memories it represented... I see this.

My inner child has now crawled back into a dark hole and is crying... profusely.

*sigh*

From the same guy that gave us the award-winning "He-Man" and "Street Fighter". Yea... him.

.......Make the bad man stop.......
_____________________________________________________________

www.darkhorizons.com
New Regency Doing "Voltron" Film
By Garth Franklin
Friday August 10th 2007 12:22am

image New Regency is close to a deal with the Mark Gordon Co. to adapt popular 1980s Japanese animated TV series "Voltron: Defender of the Universe" into a live-action film reports Variety.

Justin Marks is penning the script, described as a post-apocalyptic tale set in New York City and Mexico. Five ragtag survivors of an alien attack band together and end up piloting the five lion-shaped robots that combine and form the massive sword-wielding Voltron that helps battle Earth's invaders.

Marks is also adapting "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" for Joel Silver at Warner Bros., "Street Fighter" at Fox and the Green Arrow pic "Supermax" for Warners.

How is this on TOP of my browser?

2007-08-07T14:43:16Z

Just something I thought was kinda neat for you web-designer type folks. Not sure how widely used something like this is, or should be, but I thought it was cool nonetheless.

http://www.rovion.com/

Geeky movie release dates

2007-07-27T20:52:01Z

As I kill off the last few minutes of the day, I figured I would list the movies coming up within the next year that many reading this (not necessarily all) would be interested in knowing about. Of course note this is a purely opinionated list that covers the period, fantasy, sci-fi, and comic-book movie dates. It's about all I'll drop $10.00 on these days.

I'm well aware that many of them probably aren't going to be worth the film their captured on (especially "In The Name Of The King), but hey, they at least look entertaining. And the bonus is there seems to be a decent release or two release almost every month.

I left out a few that I would have normally included (Wall-E, The Incredible Hulk, Escape From New York, Sherlock Holmes, etc.) because they were so far into 2008 that there's almost no information about them on the web, and hell... they may never reach the editing room.

So anyway, here's the list for you happy movie-goers:

Stardust
Opens: August 10th 2007

The Last Legion
Opens: August 17th 2007

The Dark is Rising
Opens: October 5th 2007

Elizabeth – The Golden Age
Opens: October 12th 2007

Beowulf
Opens: November 16th 2007

The Golden Compass
Opens: December 7th 2007

I Am Legend
Opens: December 14th 2007

In the Name of the King (Dungeon Siege)
Opens: January 18th 2008

The Spiderwick Chronicles
Opens: Feb. 15th 2008

10,000 B.C.
Opens: March 7th 2008

Iron Man
Opens: May 2nd 2008

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Opens: May 16th 2008

Indiana Jones and The City of the Gods
Opens: May 22nd 2008

The Mutant Chronicles
Opens: No specific release date yet - sometime 2008

Gaiman's Sandman news

2007-07-27T19:57:55Z

from www.darkhorizons.com

Gaiman Talks "Sandman" Film
By Garth Franklin
Friday July 27th 2007 12:02am

Neil Gaiman thinks a film version of "The Sandman" will be coming sometime in the future.

Speaking at the Paramount presentation on Thursday, Gaiman says "Death: The High Cost of Living" is very likely to come first as its cheaper and Gaiman himself gets to direct.

He adds that it's going to take someone with the passion for the material like Peter Jackson had for "The Lord of the Rings" and be able to push it through the studio system

Digital water printing

2007-07-27T15:11:36Z

Saw this in Graphic Arts Monthly. This is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time. And one of those "why didn't I ever think of that?" :-)

What does one even SAY to that?

2007-07-22T14:31:06Z

There just... just aren't any words.

Glass of wine, a hug, and an attempted robbery

2007-07-13T12:57:21Z

I've always thought that a good glass of wine, and maybe a little cheese to go with it, can cure just about anything at the end of the day. Apparently it also cures robbery... but you have to give a group hug too. :-D

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19740787/

I was amused... I mean, the guy didn't even break the crystal wine glass when he left. They found it in an alley later, empty and unbroken. How odd is that?

OH MY GOD!!! WOOHOOOO!!! :-D

2007-06-22T01:44:09Z

www.comingsoon.net
Blade Runner Final Cut is Coming
Source: Warner Home Video
May 26, 2006

Warner Home Video (WHV) announced today that it has acquired worldwide rights to Ridley Scott's Blade Runner and plans two new DVD releases of the futuristic classic. Rights had lapsed a year ago, but negotiations for a long-term license have now been completed, and the film will again be available to the public.

First, a restored and remastered DVD version of the 1992 Director's Cut will debut in September in the U.S. for a special four-month limited release, after which it will be placed on moratorium by WHV.

Later in 2007, to celebrate the film's 25th anniversary, the studio will unveil "Blade Runner: The Final Cut," Scott's definitive new version of his science-fiction masterpiece. The film will be released theatrically in select major U.S. cities, followed by a multi-disc Special Edition DVD release which will also contain three alternate versions of Blade Runner: the Original U.S. Theatrical Cut, the Expanded International Theatrical Cut and the 1992 Director's Cut. Ample, ground-breaking bonus features will also be included.

In making the announcement, Jeff Baker, WHV's Senior VP and General Manager, Theatrical Catalog, said: "This is clearly Ridley's signature film and we are thrilled to have it back. While details of the new DVDs will be announced later, we wanted to get this great news to the many serious film buffs and ardent 'Blade Runner' fans who've been so patient, despite besieging us with thousands of annual requests in recent years for new 'Blade Runner' DVDs."

Continued Baker, "A number of people have told me that in the start-up days of DVD, 'Blade Runner' was absolutely the first DVD title they wanted, so much so that they purchased it even before their first DVD player! I guarantee these fans our new DVDs will be well worth waiting for."

Blade Runner -- starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos and Daryl Hannah -- made its first appearance in U.S. theaters on June 25, 1982, dazzling audiences with its stylish, brooding look into the future. From its intelligent, provocative story line to its stunning camera work and state-of-the-art special effects, Blade Runner opened the door to a new view of tomorrow.

Set in a multi-ethnic, overcrowded, high-tech city of the future, Blade Runner was also a benchmark in production design and helped propel the "cyberpunk" look into mainstream American consciousness

Should have known...

2007-06-19T16:16:27Z

Everything is conspiring to utterly destroy me today.

Salespeople, my press (most of all), the tech support for my press, production schedules, designers, security system installers, ... even the fucking humidity in the air. You name it. Got here at 6:30am to get a jumpstart on the day and it derailed before the train even left the station.

Currently at a production standstill until I can get a tech out here ... a standstill in the middle of the biggest print project for the entire summer.

I think I'll go throw up now.

Leftover zombies? No worries!

2007-06-14T18:12:19Z

So now that the zombies are vanquished for the most part and everyone is going back to their normal lives... some are thinking, what do we do with the leftover wandering brain-eaters? Do we chop 'em up, drop them in the ocean, shoot them into the sun on some giant rocket?

Well, I have a solution for you. Actually, there's a company that has a solution for you... ZOMCON!

Don't believe me? Check this out. Because you're not keeping up with the Jones' if you don't buy from Zomcon.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/lions_gate/fido/trailer1a/

Heroes Volume 2 future and a spinoff

2007-05-23T12:33:36Z

Tim Kring talks "Heroes"
By Garth Franklin
www.darkhorizons.com
Wednesday May 23rd 2007 12:42am

After the season finale of "Heroes" on Monday night, show creator Tim Kring answered fan questions on his live blog about the upcoming six-episode spin-off "Origins" and also dropped some hints about next season:

In regards to Origins: ""The idea was to try to do about half a dozen episodes that are stand-alone episodes dealing with the origin stories of characters all around the world who are waking up with the discovery of these unique abilities. They are not connected necessarily to the show Heroes, but if you do watch or are a fan of Heroes, you'll see tiny little clues that tie into the show."

In terms of format he says that Origins will feature "cautionary tales and morality tales... they're completely stand-alone episodes that don't follow a serialized formula... one of the people on Origins may be involved on Heroes, eventually."

As for the second season? "...as you notice Volume 2 started the end of tonight's episode, but by no means does Volume 2 have to be the entire length of Season 2. In fact, don't expect it to. It will end sometime in the middle of the season, wrapping up a story with it that will allow us to launch in to a new storyline."

Talks are also underway with Christopher Eccleston, who played the invisibility-powered Claude Raines, to appear again next season.

One-word LARP meme for Clayburn

2007-05-14T19:41:01Z

1. Where is your courier pigeon?
Extinct

2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend?
Dead

3. Your hair?
Short

4. Your mother?
Traveling

5. Your father?
Traveling

6. Your favorite thing?
Research

7. Your dream last night?
Wife

8. Your favorite drink?
Whiskey

9. Your ultimate goal?
Rich

10. The room you're in?
Dark

12. Your fears?
Revenge

13. What do you want to be in 10 years?
Retired

14. Who did you hang out with last night?
Bottle

15. Muffins?
No

17. One of your wish list items?
Secret

18. Where you grew up?
Ottar

19. The last thing you did?
Scanned

20. What are you wearing?
Leather

21. Your gear?
Cybernetic

22. Your pet?
None

23. Your connections?
Varied

24. Your life?
Rebuilt

25. Your mood?
Determined

26. Missing?
Family

27. What are you thinking about right now?
Money

28. Your destination?
Asteroid

29. Your work?
Ready

30. Your summers?
Missed

31. Your relationship status?
Painful

32. Your favorite color?
Red

33. When is the last time you laughed?
Days

34. Last time you cried?
Recently

35. Training?
Always