| Incomplete |
[Dec. 16th, 2008|01:55 am] |
I don't usually post things like this. That's why I'm posting it to this barren journal.
Incomplete works. Always bugs me to show off stuff before its nice and ready.
But I decided to torture myself tonight because I felt exposing myself in that way might make me be a little more open with my art...I dunno.
First off...and this one looks like its complete, right? Don't be fooled. These are the smallest characters in the giant drawing. It's a Christmas Carol, and the three spirts of Christmas tower overhead these guys...currently only in sketch. Decided to show all the layers so I could get a sense for where the color is heading.
This is a WoW commission. Two undead lovers. I decided to really make the line work clean, so it's taking a long time. The detail is crazy. Crazier than anything I've done in a long time.
While we're talking about WoW, here's a drawing I may never complete. This is one of my eccentric characters in game. And uh...I cropped it down just to give you an idea. But this is way too out there I think. So it's dead. Still, it's an interesting character design...even if it is for a blood elf.
Another dead piece. At least I'm not sure how I want to go about finishing it. Looks a little too rigid, a little akward. And yes, you see a heart don't you. Guess what. This is Gothic Romance III, and I think I failed. It's way too cheery for the goths to like it. Definetely has a social class commentary in it too. Meaningful! But I is not happy with it.
More dead art. Interesting characters here...they're variants of Slayers for that Steampunk/Horror universe I've been working on. Just a little flat for me. Not elegant enough.
And the most painful one for me to show. The next BLOODMAN comic. I'm still doing linework, and I've only finished the lines on panel 1, and maybe the final panel. The rest are what I consider sketches. A lot can change...and a lot still irks me in the drawings. That last panel needs some love. It's a little clumsy. Hopefully I can figure it out...
I need to finish the ones that have hope for life. |
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| Lone |
[Jan. 4th, 2007|12:02 am] |
I haven't posted here for over a year. But if you look at my deadjournal, you'll see I haven't really been using it. It sounds cooler, but I guess Myspace is my new blog.
I just need to vent. Blah. I ain't unhappy or anything though. I'm very happy...I'm just, thinking too much. About the past.
A week ago I drew two floating dinosaurs in space. I just started doodling on my tablet and it came out. I guess I wanted to see how well I could draw dinosaurs these days. I ended up drawing Dein and Bary. Two forgotten characters who haven't had life for years.
They were old Roleplaying Characters from my AOL days. Bary was mine and Dein was a friend's. I never really thought about them at all these past...four/five years of not roleplaying them. I was finishing up highschool and all that jazz.
But having drawn them I'm suddenly at their mercy. I vaguely remember their story, and it's hard for me to not want to revisit them and remember. Problem is my old friend is hardly ever on AIM so we can't reminisce together. :P
I guess its normal for me to finally start thinking about that time in my life. It has been quite a while since then, the divorce, and now. A lot of growing...a lot of knowledge. I miss drawing those characters...playing with them...different stories, seeing new artwork from Dein's creator (btw, she's a damn good artist who doesn't draw enough anymore in her busy life)....le-sigh. It's all so long ago.
We used to role play dinosaurs in an AOL chatroom known as Raptor Rain Forest (RRF) and then we branched off and did our own thing. Seems dorky thinking about it now, but we were kids. :P Besides, I am a dork.
Well at least I don't play Dungeon Master or masturbate to Star Wars like some of you. :/
I masterbate to floating dinosaurs. :D |
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| Alf's Dream |
[Sep. 10th, 2005|07:10 pm] |
Ever have an idea you can't get out of your head? I've been hit with inspiration and I'm trying to shake it off before I get myself into something. I recently read a short story by W.W. Jacobs...the author of the infamous horror story "The Monkey's Paw." It's called Alf's Dream...and while it's not a scary story, it is witty and has an interesting twist.
After reading it I knew I had to make a movie about the story. It was a small cast of characters...and it all takes place in one house. I couldn't help but wonder how far I could take the idea of the story and modernize it. No, I'd want it to take place around the time it was written...the early 1900's...in a sort of timeless dreary setting. But the plot could be twisted more and pushed further.
The basic premise of the original short story is that Alf's parents are dead and he lives with his kindly old uncle who keeps going through too many housetakers he hires. The last having died of old age. While away at sea Alf comes back to see his uncle has hired a new housekeeper who seems to have taken up the household as her very own. His uncle explains that he sort of agreed to marry her even though he didn't want to. The distraught Alf thinks up a plan to free his uncle from the constraints of this old maid. Using the fact that her husband was said to have died aboard a sunken ship, he concocted the intricate idea of convincing her that her husband survived the disaster and was living away. (he told his uncle it was a "dream" he had at night--hence the name of the story) The twist is that after they go through all this...getting witnesses at the supper table, and hiring a friend to come in with the news...they find out that the old maid knew her husband was dead, because she lied about him dieing at sea. In reality he stole a valuable diamond and ended up in jail where he eventually died. That's the story. But it gives light to some colorful characters and some strong imagery in my mind.
I want to stretch the plot far and add to it to make a sort of macabre story. I'll evolve the characters based on what traits they are said to have in the book. I picture the uncle as a withered old man with a cane, wearing a black coat, black tinted glasses, and a wide brimmed Padre-type hat. The old maid...his wife to be, is equally withered, and devious. She has a phobia of warts, pimples, and other suck bulbous blemishes.
Alf (Alfred) has continually had strange dreams since his parent's deaths. And he tells these horrible visions to his uncle. Death seems to be the main focus of his dreams as people he knows as dead appear and talk to him at night...including a series of dead maids from the house. And upon the arrival of the "wife to be" for his uncle...they only get worst.
The point behind this is that the dead characters in his dreams give him the idea of the plan, so he litterally did get the idea from a dream. It's only later in the story as the plot unravels that everything comes together in a similar ending I won't disclose. All I can say is that it'll be sweet.
Dark. Artistic. And Fun.
I'm going to write a rough story up of this version and turn it into a script. Who knows where I'll take it from there. There's a lot of vivid images I'd like to conceptualize, including the grizzly appearances of the dead characters...Like the dead sailor from the sunken ship who constantly burbles up water when he talks.
Or the deceased maid whose face is scarred with still-piercing glass shards from the broken bottle she was retrieving upon her demise.
I think I want his parents to come up as characters in a dream as well...but maybe only as severed heads or skulls...some sort of horrible death having become them. Though Alf doesn't talk much about them because the dead have advised him that telling his uncle he talks to his dead parents in dreams at night might be a little too much. So he keeps them "covered" with a sheet most of the time in his dreamland world. Which is a metaphor for him not accepting their fate...and they basically end up telling him he has to go on with his life and accept that they're gone. All that emotional stuff coming from a couple of broken severed heads.
I've said too much already. I'm going to write this down soon.
But I think if I want to start making movies, this is a good low-budget project to start with. Since it essentially takes place in one or two rooms...the most expensive part would be costuming...but it could be done. |
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| A Bloated Corpse, Buttons, Mr. Lincoln's Automated Robot City, and The End of All Reason |
[Sep. 2nd, 2005|09:29 am] |
Movie ideas. I think I want to write them as novels. Anyway, they're mine. You can tell me what you think, but they're all pretty crazy.
Bloated Corpse
In the swampy bogs of the South, a small boat crew accidentally fish up the strikingly well-preserved corpse of man who died over 100 years ago. When the body starts spawning hordes of vicious insects and members of the crew are infected by some sort of organic poison gas, the small town they return to becomes an isolated horrorfest of zombies, undead monsters, and three blocks of writhing intestine. It's one of those isolated survival stories that hopefully won't have that campy teen horror flick feel. But very gory and disturbing. I'm actually scared of some of the things I've thought up while laying in bed at night.
The Buttons
Mr. and Mrs. Buttons are a young couple who are part of a homey secluded city full of easy-to-use, user-friendly giant red buttons to do various tasks. They both work day to day jobs at the same office building wearing the same black and orange checkered ties, putting big red button caps on pressable buttons that are used worldwide. The grotesquely strange Coordinators working throughout the city take care of the city's upper-class jobs, while all the normal people work production. Then there's the sinister horrible monsters that are locked up behind bars in the east of the city.
What is suppose to be a great easygoing life becomes intollerably boring for the two as they start to slowly drift into insanity and inadvertly start discovering the secrets of their isolated city.
It's a gothic/rock musical motion picture idea. Though a book is a good idea too. It's strange and artistic, That's generally small on dialogue and heavy on visuals.
Of course it involves murder, blood, and freakish-looking characters. There's a big twist too. But I won't expose that...
Mr. Lincoln's Automated Robot City
An entrepanuer in the 1960's has constructed the first fully automated robot-filled theme park featuring (among other things), a fantastical robot zoo that quickly becomes popular with the public for the attraction's amazing artificial intelligence.
There's sinister work at hand though when a woman who applies for a job ends up seeing something he was never suppose to see with the company of her young child. Mr. Lincoln's robots, specifically the animals, are driven by human brains from captured and murdered victims. The two are split from eachother and put into mechanical animal bodies. (Specifically the child ends up as an armadillo, the mom an elephant)
There's a lot of various robot animals the child meets and befriends while in captivity and as all things must come to an end...the cyborgs realize their actual intended purpose. There's a reason it's robots that repair all the other robots and the only human employees are the ticket salespersons. The animal robots are deviously constructed weapons intended to be used for warfare to overthrow the world (of course)...well Mr. Lincoln is a bit crazy in addition to having a fetish for animals and artificial beings, even though he's a scientific genius.
The End of All Reason
Taking place mainly in the 1890's, this is a unique take on the classic plot of love, betrayal, and revenge. It spans hundreds of years and is more of a viewer/reader interpretated fairy tale then something with heavy explanation of science and magic...though those both are portrayed, it's left a mystery as blood-powered robots, a spider queen, and faceless assassins make the main character's unsually long life terribly hard.
So many ideas...blah. |
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| (no subject) |
[Aug. 29th, 2005|09:05 am] |
So much crap goin' on. But at the same time I never hear any of it anymore. It's nice that school has started and I'm busy with classes and rehearsal for the plays. But now we have to move 'cause it's not working out between Stacey and Chere...all because they couldn't come to an agreement about Chere paying for rent. Chere doesn't want to. Stacey wants her to. And so it's been back and forth on the Livejournals for weeks now.
But I know now I'm not alone in thinking it's all rediculous. After talking to David about it I feel better knowing I'm not the only one who really doesn't care.
Poor Mandy though. She's so upset by this and neither of her friends will put it to rest. Of course by now I've no idea who's actually someone's friend and who's not and who's just pretending to or pretending not to be because the other one is pretending not to know that the other is pretending to be a friend that thought about it and isn't pretending to be a friend or what have you. It's all quite confusing. But Mandy's still a good person and she does get taken advantage of a lot. But she's not someone who lets things like that bother her. So she's better than a lot of her friends in that respect. Go Mandy.
Cest La Vie...or however you spell French. All I can say is that since I have to move out, the next place we get isn't going to have muted rainbow towels, tablecloth, and a short window-drape thing. In a perfect world the bathroom would be black, white, and maybe red...but somewhere I'm going to admit that I really don't care and go with bright pink and purple towels with flowers on them just for the sake of it being much easier not to argue. At least I have Halloween. That's important.
It's strange though. Everyone tells me I should 'stick' up for myself and voice my opinions, but noone's ever happy with what I say when it comes to my preference on certain things. I can't tell you how much I want to paint my truck black and have a crimson blood splatter design so it looks like I just hit a Red Cross Vehicle. I know...I know. It's tasteless. But I also want to weld metal spikes to the hood. I'd also like a hearse...but those things are akwardly big and suck up a lot of gas. But ANYWAY, my point is...I'm one of those people who really would like to be surrounded and live in my interests. Y'got my dark art and all that gothic horror-like stuff, and yet I also could settle for an 1890's Victorian look with gaslights and curly-q's...bronze and shit. And then there's theater and movies. If I was a millionaire I'd have a giant castle built to live in with lots of different rooms reflecting different movies...and of course have a giant dungeon below it all with puzzles and secret doors scattered throughout the house. I'd also have a custom Haunted House somewhere too for the sake of being cool. I dare say my garage could be the Bat Cave, but we'll see when I get that 70 bazillion dollars.
Well, I've got class shortly and tonight's the first night of rehearsal with blocking. I watched Much Ado About Nothing (The one with Keanu Reeves as Don John) with Mandy and Chere. So I got some inspiration from that. The play seems like it's going to be cool. After seeing the concept art for the costumes and the model of the set, should be fun. Hopefully to watch as well. :)
I hear the Summer Show at ECVHS is going to start very soon. Maybe Stacey and I can go this weekend. Have to do it soon because my rehearsal times get longer and take up more days after this week. So I look forward to seeing Sam and Tony play those parts... and see how the show comes together after having the inconvenience of time and other restraints. But at least it's not as bad as a few other times with people dropping out left and right and fiascos of that nature. Break a leg guys!
Adieu |
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| (no subject) |
[Aug. 16th, 2005|11:04 am] |
Well I think I caught a bug that's going around. I did my best yesterday to wash my hands and keep germ free from David when he started getting sick. Now I'm afraid I'm coming down with the symptoms.
I got my hair cut. It's short. I look weird. But it's litterally a lot cooler because I don't have all that weight on my head.
Oh. Right. College starts next week. And I'm heading to Grossmont. I got some interesting classes. All "elective" and "career based," but that's because I never found the time to show the school my general ed transcripts. So next semester I'll have that done so I can take the more exciting classes like...Math and English. FUN.
Right now I've got Intro to Theater, Beginning Acting, Studio Production (lights, camera, and all that jazz), and...if there's enough free spots, I also have Motion Picture Film Analysis.
And tomorrow I have my first tryouts for a play at Grossmont. You can imagine I'm nervous as hell. But I'm prepared. I've been practicing my monologue every day, listing to recordings of it at work on my mp3 player (the crappy one with no back using unmatching ipod headphones...that's right. ipod headphones no ipod)...and I've been getting a lot of help from Stacey. Last night we went to the Grossmont campus and did exercises and stuff to get me loosened up. Sure we got a couple strange looks, but we were told we were "Dedicated" by some campus guards...and they looked forward to seeing us at the shows.
Stacey is going to make a good theater teacher if that's what she does go after. She has (among a great speaking voice) the social skills and the passion for theater that makes her capable of explaining the practice clearly. Of course she wants to be a college professor/director on this route, which is better in the fact that...y'know, a lot of Highschool and Middleschool kids do it just so they don't have to play with clay or draw...and screaming prepubescent brats are stupid.
I don't care what part I get in the plays. I just want to get...anything. Just to get warmed up and comfortable. And even if I don't get a part, that's okay. I have at least 2 or so years to get one.
All I can do is be ready and have confidence...do my best. So we'll see.
Darkwatch the videogame came out today. It's a Dark Western Horror game that looks pretty sweet. I spoke about it a while back on this journal. It's from a game company here in San Diego. Rent it if you have an X Box or PS2. |
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| Hrm. |
[Aug. 3rd, 2005|09:00 pm] |
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Figured I'd update this thing since it's time for my bicentenial update. Well lets see...as everyone probably knows by now I've moved in with Stacey, Chere, and David into our own apartment in Santee. It's been stressful...but not particularly because of bills (They're a given)- it's more of the added stress of my roommates arguing and getting into fights.
Unfortunetly not everyone is as passive as me here. So instead of my own problems I get everyone elses problems with everyone else. Sure, we're all in this together. But when the problems aren't necessarily concerning me then there's not much I can do except nothing. Confusing and tiring. But that should have been expected too. It's a given when you move four opinionated young persons into the same house that they're going to cause drama. That's how they made all those crappy MTV shows.
I just like to be happy. Watch a movie, Family Guy, play a video game here and there...I'm content...but I am a little bored. Alright, cross that out.
FUCK I'm bored.
All I do is go to work early in the morn'. Come home around five, then wonder why I'm sitting at the computer at home when that's all I do at work. Never have enough energy when I get home, so I sit around and don't do anything productive.
Of course things will get better when I go back to college this month. I'm most sane when occupied and busy. Soon my boredum will fade away like dissapearing ink...or...something more...witty. Boredum is my bane. I turn into an awfully lame and grouchy person when I don't do anything.
Well anyway. I know what you're thinking (Raul, Eugene, Donny, Roger...maybe others) -WTF is Chris going to about a Halloween party this year? Is he gonna hold one at his new apartment and it'll consequently be lamer than the last two?
Yes I am. But have faith. It's smaller, but I figure it'll be fun anyway to dress in costume, hand out prizes, eat food, and then maybe go see a Halloween movie in a large costumed group or something. Y'know Saw 2 is suppose to be out by Halloween. And we all loved the first one because Indie films rock because Hollywood seems to think what we all like is movies based on things from the writer of Ring 5: The Girl is Still Fuckin' Alive and Dark Water.
I don't care if you're interested. But I do wish you'll come and celebrate All Hallows Eve with me even if you're more of a Christmas or Turkeygiving kinda person. Chances are you'll show up because you can't trick-or-treat, or you'll go to another party and I'll happen to be there 'cause I love Halloween and asked you about the party and you told me I couldn't go because the party host doesn't know me and I slyly make best buds with the host and get invited and when I see you I point my fingers at you and say, "HEY! You made it. That's GREAT!" And we party all night long and I get drunk and drive my truck into the ocean.
What's my costume gonna be? Well as you know I've been thinking for a long time now (Like 2 minutes after my last Halloween party was over).
I'm thinking maybe either The Invisible Man (No, not a pun where I don't show up. I'll be wrapped in bandages and have that cool "criminal" pointy spy hat and big circular goggles), A Wicked Witch, or possibly The Joker or Penguin from the Batman movies. Who knows. Who cares.
I'm starting college with two classes. Intro to Theater and Beginning Acting. Need to lighten the load for the first rounds until I get into the swing of things. Plus, I need my college bonds from my uncle to come in October so I can continue going to said college and such.
HEY. I'm always free if anyone wants to hang out. Usually I'm home by 5:00 or 4:30 and on the weekends I'm bored. Sure most have my cell. If not. Ask. If I have money I'll buy you something relatively cheap to let you know we're still friends and then say I'll call you and then forget until the cycle repeats and I get so bored I remember I was suppose to call you.
Well I'm rambling. Hey! Check this out: http://www.crowdedvoid.com/screamsofpain.wav
I'm doin' voice work for a zombie game some people online are making. Basically I have to scream and say catchy one-liners like "You're dead, Undead!" or "I'll make you wish you never became dead!" -Y'know...zombie cliches.
Have a great remaining summer!
Oh shit. Wait. Don't go. Have you seen War of the Worlds or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory yet?
The best two summer movies. Haaaands down. Okay, maybe Batman was okay. Fantastic Four was crap.
But War of the Worlds is exciting and fun even though the ending is short. Still a great movie considering the garbage Hollywood has shoveled to us this year.
Charlie is great. It's a musical and Danny Elfman does the music. Really funny. And though we all have thought the new Wonka look for Depp is creepy at one point or another...it sort of makes sense once you see the movie.
Kung Fu Hustle comes out on DVD very soon. If you didn't catch the movie in theaters a while back, this movie is GREAT! Action-packed, great effects. Fun to watch. Even Stacey liked it.
Okay. Go away now. I'm going to play "Attack of the green puddles" with my army men. Note: Joke will sink in later. |
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| Nekroverse |
[Jun. 19th, 2005|04:50 pm] |
"Finally. A Virtual Pet Game that isn't Gay."
Since man first learned that he could die, he has feared monsters. Beasts, Ghouls, Ghosts, Goblins, Witches, Vampires, and Werewolves are just a few of the horrendous creatures of lore.
Unfortunetly they're all real.
Welcome to The Nekroverse, an isolated center in modern time where monsters have been leaking into our plane of existance for a year. Inside you can adopt a monster, raise it, train it, and battle it with other monsters to grow it bigger and stronger.
     
     
-Color Customized Pet Monsters that grow and sprout into a variety of horrendous creatures.
-Customizable player Avatar with hundreds of combinations
-Neiborhood residence and online community
-Player vs. Player Online battles via the Nekroverse forum
Website Opens in a Week...
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| Wow. Summer. |
[May. 30th, 2005|10:32 am] |
I haven't updated in well...a long time. Not that it's terribly amazing.
So what's new. Well, I dropped out of my Art School. I realized I didn't want to sit in a dark room making video games my whole life. I really want to be an art director or something for movies...and that's what I liked about the possibilities of making games...designing the art style and story. But I figured out that'd be a rare shot to actually become something like that. I'm going to major in Musical Theater/Film. Be an actor and who knows what else...Director? Art Director? Script Writer? Time'll tell. But I do want to start out in theater and then perhaps go off into film.
I'm also going to move out of my house fairly soon, and that means I'll be closer to school/work/and my friends. No more Alpine. Yippee. But more on that later. It's probably going to happen before the new school year, and I'll be saving all summer long. |
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| Guild Wars Rocks |
[May. 6th, 2005|02:19 pm] |
In case you haven’t heard…Guild Wars rocks! What the Fuggin’Waggles is Guild Wars you may ask?
Only the coolest 3rd Person/FPS fantasy Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game ever…and guess what. YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY A MONTHLY FEE! After you buy the game, it’s free to play.
This is because the game is sort of like Diablo, in which you party together to complete missions and fight hordes of baddies…except it’s mixed with an online world.
When you’re in any town/city in the game, you’re connected to the US server where dozens of players can be seen running through the streets. You can equip yourself and purchase armor/weapons/other crap and then meet up and join teams. Once you’ve banned together and leave the town’s gates you’re loaded (very quickly I might add) into your team’s own personal version of the surrounding lands. It feels seamless even though you know it’s not. This means you don’t have to worry about finding bad guys other groups aren’t attacking, along with other advantages.
The character creation is great. There are not a whole lot of options as far as appearance, but there’s enough to create a good looking character- and all the models are well rendered and look awesome and unique.
You get to choose a profession…out of being a
Warrior (close combat),
Ranger (Long ranged arrows-like Aragorn + they can control wildlife animals),
Monk (Religious healer),
Necromancer (Dark magic like raising the dead),
Elementalist (Control fire, wind, water, air)
Mesmier (Masters of Illusion. They’re basically actors that wear theater masks and pray to the twin sister Goddesses Tragedy and Comedy. Kinda cool)
And later in the game you can choose a second profession. Which means you can have over 60 combinations, and that really spices the characters up.
Right now I have a Necromancer Elementalist. So in addition to raising horrendous bone and flesh beasts from corpses, I can rain fire storms and shoot lightning.
Guild Wars is also about making Guilds (obviously). You can register one in town for 100 coins, and then for 2,000 you can wear a cool personalized cloak with your emblem on it to look cool. There’s PvP battles, but it’s all with consent and done with teams, and dieing in the game isn’t horrible either. You don’t lose much except temporary health, and you’re brought back to life by Monks at the closest Ressurection…Idol place…
I’m still early in the game to experience a lot of PvP. But boy are they intense. Supposedly massive wars can be fought with many players in “arenas” and with magic and arrows flying through the air…monsters being summoned…it’s bound to be crazy. I can’t wait.
The game doesn’t reward by how many hours you play. But how skillful. Really, you’ve got to think about what skills you equip for missions and such. I’m level four and I’ve taken on six ice golems at once. It’s just about using your skills wisely, (and for me making the enemies I kill turn into bone horrors so my band ends up outnumbering the living)
Fun stuff. Fun game. It’s totally worth the money, and it’s one of those games that makes time fly by. I lost an hour just getting so involved in it. The graphics are great, and it’s also smooth running. The only bad part I see…Is that enemies don’t bleed. Hehheh.
Get the game and join me online! |
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| Emptiness... |
[May. 4th, 2005|11:17 am] |
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I ended up going to Six Flags. It sure was fun. That was about two weeks ago I believe...
But now I'm feeling different. And it's a feeling I can't really explain.
Emptiness. It's like I'm not sad or depressed. It's like I'm not anything. Like I have no point to exist. What am I waiting for? What is my purpose? Usually I live day to day looking forward to things. Halloween, vacations, movies, etc. And every so often there's nothing. Like now. But I've never felt so...empty inside like this.
Like a void or gap in me. I don't really want to do anything, and that's the only thing that bothers me.
Maybe I've gotten over my problems and or just accepted them, and so there's a void where the usual problems are. But I'm not happy.
Maybe this is how old men feel at the end of their lives. Though I hope they feel more fufilled than me. I've barely lived and I feel incomplete. Bah. What's wrong with me. Y'can't get too caught up in life sometimes, but really...what th' hell am I doing?
I go to college and I go to work and then there's free time to play video games, see movies, hang out with people, etc. Shouldn't that be all that there is to life? But I feel like I could be doing more. Like in Highschool I felt complete acting and thus entertaining a bunch of people who probably were only there to support their kids. Or in September and October when I was preparing for my party.
I guess the ultimate goal for me is a college degree and an education...but seriously. My mind wants to eat itself.
I wanted to do that WOTW movie with Raul. But how could I get so many people interested in it? Now Stacey and Mandy are writing a script for an idea of theirs for a movie, and that's amazing, since it's usually the other way around with the guys having the idea and wanting to do it. I don't know why they want to do it. I've never seen Stacey be so caught up in making something like that. I always thought she'd see the impracticality and pointlessness of making a low-budget movie if you're not trying to become a director. Then again she is majoring in theater. So it does help with directoral skills and acting, and she can show it off in the future. I guess it's really not that amazing she wants to do it. Just that she now has the motivation and Mandy as well, who always seems to be up for these kinds of projects. If they see this out that'd be great. There is hope and others who understand the personal gratification of making a cinematic piece of art. I'm suppose to help, but I don't know doing what. I'm a character, but so is everyone else. And my character sounds a bit cliche and boring and Kevin Kline keeps coming to mind. Of course I haven't read anything, so I'll learn more when the girls show me something in the future, and since I'd always like to get away from normal parts after Mr. Barnes casting me as all these weak characters, that doesn't help me either.
I can't do costumes (girls know what they want), I can't do makeup, (girls don't want excessive amounts of gore)...so...uuuh. I guess I might be able to edit and support Stacey. Which is fine by me for now. I hope I can get more involved in the future. But right now it's best that Stacey and Mandy realize their idea without anyone else trying to rationalize their fantasies and such. That'll come when we try to actually make the movie. Plus, with such a "big idea" script, it'll be easier for the actors and crew involved to understand and see the point they want to make by doing the movie. Whatever the theme might be.
Anyway. Yes. I'm feeling empty. The only time I really feel great anymore is when I'm drawing and creating characters in certain classes. I guess I feed off of making shit up. I gotta create to be happy...whether it's a performance, a party, or art...
Well. I should probably head off to work so I can get paid. I hope this feeling passes. |
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| (no subject) |
[Apr. 14th, 2005|02:58 pm] |
Well, I'm not going to Six Flags. Gotta have an even amount of people or else it sorta sucks. I've been trying to find someone to go with me since I wanted to go sometime with David and Chere (and Mandy/Sarah). But I can't find anyone who wants to go to Six Flags expense free.
Not that I'm that dissapointed. It's just that I haven't taken a break from work or school in a long time. I get a bit flustered doing the same routine for weeks and weeks. Stace is scared of Rollercoasters. I don't blame her. They are scary. But there are scarier things, and riding a coaster is as exciting and fun as it is scary. I can't convince her to go with me. Maybe Mandy can someday. Luckily if I ever want to go river rafting she's all up for that. I don't see how it's safer. Sure. You can control where you're going to some extent. But I always thought Nature was more dangerous than an engineered piece of machinery designed to cater to hundreds of people a day. Still, I trust Rollercoasters over airplanes any day.
So I told Stacey that I saw her point of view on moving in with me. Basically all I really wanted was to see her. Have her spend the night. I was going crazy with all this curfew crap. She's 18. Now that I finally can see her so much, I realize I don't really need her to move in. It wouldn't help her situation that much and isn't really in her interest. Gas is going to be expensive for her no matter what, but living in Alpine just adds to it. If she moved in with Mandy she gets to be with one of her best friends a lot and she is still closer to her school.
Being a collegey student is a great time in a young person's life to strive for that first big leap in independence. With a female roommate she gets cleaner living quarters, and a same-sex friend to talk to, rather than spending all this time with a boyfriend that can't provide her with either. Though I can talk, I'm male, and that perspective isn't what a lot of straight women probably want all the time. Of course there's a balance. She can still see me. It might be more of an effort...maybe less. She won't get as tired of me as she would if she lived with me, and that makes each visit worth looking forward too and more exciting.
I want to move out. Eventually. Right now I can't. And Stacey can't either. She actually has to move out in about a year or so due to her parent's wishes. I'm lucky that I have three years of a guaranteed living space. Though my parents have told me even if I got out there and couldn't support myself with my income and somehow went broke I could always come back. Which is nice, but that's not something I want to happen. I want to be independent too! We're trying to get on our feet. One of the biggest problems is the lack of a salary for us since we're part time working college students...fun. I make pretty good money, but nowhere near as good as I could make if I worked all week. But I need to go to school so I can make better money and do what I love.
If I had my own place it'd be exactly as you'd expect from me. There'd be weird things on the walls. Dali paintings, victorian furniture...swirlies and curly-q's...not to mention all the creepy stuff that currently lines my room...movie posters...it'd be pretty sweet. Of course at this point I would just like a place to live outside this house. Roommates are a must I think. If David and Chere decide to stick around El Cajon for a while in the future they'd be good candidates for roommates. David makes about what I make and he's almost living on his own. Of course I really would prefer roommates I could stand. Hence, my brother and his girlfriend are great, and that's why friends are great too.
Mandy, Chere, David...Even Sean. Though I'm sure Sean would share my unkemptness of a room. We are guys after all. Our place would be a great big pile of sweat, computers, video games, pie, movies, and posters of Angelina Jolee. (haha)
Roger and Donny are great too. Of course I can't say for sure if I could stand any of these people...maybe we'd get annoyed with eachother. But as friends I've always liked all of them.
Eugene, Richard, and Raul aren't likely roommates though.
Eugene doesn't seem like he'll want to move out of his house soon. But I can't speak for him.
Richard is probably moving up to Santa Barbra or something like that...
And Raul'll probably want to stay at his house for a while after highschool, and I'm sure he won't waist time moving to LA or Orange County for Film School. Unless you're getting your GE over at a community college or something, Raul?
Wish I could live up at my school. That means finding roommates around. I've met people...But I don't know them that well. It's expensive I think. Either 400 or 700 dollars every month. Of course I believe that includes electricity and food as well...so it's not so bad.
Three years is a long time for me to go on living here. I'd say at the most 2 years. It's just...money of course. Don't think I'd have to pay for Health Insurance right away though...and my car insurance isn't bad...About $113 or so I think. The car's all paid for too. Man. If I worked fulltime I could make over $300 a week. I'm not even sure if it's possible though. There might not be that much work for me. I'd have to start taking over other peoples jobs. But I've got to stay in school. I'll regret it if I quit now. Besides, it's really fun and I get to play videogames a lot in class.
Anyway...
The money I've been saving in case I ended up going to Six Flags now has another use. It's about $380 dollars for a PSP with everything including 3 games...so I'm aiming for that. I'm like 270 dollars away from my goal. In three weeks I could buy one. Boy that's sad. My Gameboy Advanced is cool...but not as cool as a PSP I think a lot of people will agree.
The Nintendo DS rocks too. Not as powerful...but need I say more about the dual screens and the touch screen? It even has wireless internet access built in for multiplayer support and in the future...well...an online browser I hear...and an AIM service. It also has a microphone built in which comes in handy for the new Warioware. That game kicks ass!
The minigames are even better with the touch screen, and with the microphone you now have "blowing" games that require air.
Of course the PSP has a wireless network thing too...and it has internet capabilities...and it's an mp3 player and can play those movies...it has a bigger screen. It looks better...but the downfall is that it's expensive!
Oh. Anyone wondering about War of the Worlds?
I know you're not. I haven't done a thing with it! No time! |
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| A semi-crappy day gets worse |
[Apr. 11th, 2005|07:55 pm] |
I cut myself up quite a bit today just handling a bag of sculpting tools. Fun. Accident...and it kinda sucked.
So my day was okay for the most part...up until the time my truck ran out of gas going 8 east.
My dad had to come and fill me up with a gas can...It sucked as well. But it wasn't too bad or day ruining I guess. It just...and I repeat...sucked.
I'm tired now after this Monday. And Stacey's journal got a rude comment. Which...is...well...lame as well.
Sure I was pretty steamed reading it. I calmed and looked at it from a...well..more logical standpoint after talking to Sarah. She said she didn't really mean it...but so did Chere. And that bites. I can't imagine how hurt Stacey will initially feel reading it...and the anger that will soon replace the hurt.
It sucks. It's not fair. Why do people have to do things like this? It not only affects Stacey...it hurts me too. Sure, I forgive her. But why do people keep judging Stace?
I think everyone looks into her too much sometimes. She's one of the most truthful persons I know. Everyday she shows her true self...and she doesn't hide behind some phony facade like most of us. What? She's short? Blonde? She does have a very challenging presence. Especially on stage. But that's just her. She's not out to backstab anyone who hasn't done anything..She's not decietful (except when she's on stage of course...acting is lying basically), or some she-devil wanting to outdo you. She has a realistic view on the world and knows what it takes to make her dreams come true. This makes people upset for whatever reason. They don't like her dominant presence. And while you might argue, "dominant? I could easily kick her ass. She's not better than me." -I have one thing to say to you. Get your head out of your ass! What? So she's a challenge? Big deal. I go to school with all of my future competetors in my industry, and they're good pals! We all know we're competing for the same thing, but right now we're helping eachother and developing our skills. Stacey is above a lot of the Barnesian drama persons' years. You won't have to compete with her if you decide to stay in acting...that's a very widespread industry. The chances of you fighting over the lead female role for Rocky 15 is doubtful, since one...Stace wants to do live theater, and two, I don't think Rocky 15 is a Broadway Musical. However, there's over 100 people enrolled in the Game Art program at my school...and the game industry resides mainly in LA and San Diego! Good luck me!
Stacey is a good person. And I'm not just saying that 'cause I'm her boyfriend. But yes, I am saying that because I am her boyfriend. ;) I know her better than most.
Phew. I got that off my chest. I feel better. I'm not mad at Sarah. I hope no one is mad at me either. I'm just protecting my baby. It really really sucks to have someone hate you as I've said before. If they don't become an enemy, your self esteem goes down. And the last thing Stacey needs in an enemy. She's a nice gal. Nice people don't have to be backstabbing. But they're not perfect. I think it's great she appears happy more than I do even if she's not feeling it. What an attitute. What a person to employ. She doesn't let her emotions get in the way of her job (or at least let on that they are)...and well...enough about that.
I love her.
Now I have to do homework before tomorrow...so I can hopefully make video games in the future. |
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| Please Help Me! |
[Apr. 6th, 2005|04:19 pm] |
In addition to my last post, I’m trying to decide on a story for my project. I decided to dig deep and get all my “game” ideas fleshed out in summary. Help me decide! What is appealing? What would make a cool game? What has a cool story? Which one do you like more basically? I know the concepts can be similar, but each one is unique in its own way me thinks.
All comments appreciated!
The Jackal: Slaying Hell
A semi-humorous stylish steampunk story. In a family line of monster hunters, the last remaining is an Englishman with an amputated arm. It was replaced by a mechanical gear-driven arm, which is capable of loading a multitude of ammo and shooting it, and also expelling saw blades and other useful devices. While he resides in the dusty old family mansion, a young woman approaches him seeking refuge and revenge. Hesitant at first, the Englishman soon realizes that a secret war is being waged by the undead, and the coordinator seems to be a man known as “The Governor.” Fueled by the imperial creations of his father’s design, the man and woman set out to get help and stop this conspiracy which will result in an unholy war of devastating proportions. The inherited monster hunter discovers his female companion is more than meets his eye, as she appears to have modifications to her body similar to the man’s mechanical arm. Players take control of both characters, each with different styles of play, as they fight through hordes of vampires, ghouls, and steam powered robots…using of course a grand arsenal of 19th century technology and weapons.
Pesadilla
A man who is having difficulty sleeping because of nightmares is the test subject of a new drug which will allow him to face them in his dream world. Consequently his nightmares become all too real one night and consume him, regressing him to a vulnerable child-like form. He must fight through his dream world to regain his confidence, using objects and weapons he finds throughout the world, all relating to past memories and childhood play things. At the start of a new game, players would be asked a series of questions to determine their fears, and thus what enemies and obstacles would appear in the game (i.e., if you’re afraid of spiders, you’d get some spider-like enemies.)
Joe Won’t Die
Set in the mid 1930’s, the story revolves around the criminal underworld with gangsters and a mafia family. A loophole plot to steal a valuable jewel from a museum turns out to be a set up. The main mafia family hit boys are killed in an explosion, and Joe is the only one who survives. By getting his blood on a sacred Indian artifact, Joe is possessed by the undying spirit of an ancient Aztec priestess, which basically makes him immortal. Though he is riddled with bullets and cut up repeatedly, his wounds miraculously dissolve and heal him fully. What follows is a tale of deceit, double-crossing, love, and revenge, as Joe watches his family become victim to an even darker criminal underground force, leading him into insanity as the constant pain of being killed over and over again and never truly dieing desensitizes him. The once fragile kid becomes more of a monster than a man. Since Joe can’t die, players are challenged by scoring well in killing enemies in unique ways, overcoming obstacles, protecting certain characters, and unfolding the story. New abilities become available depending on how much pain Joe tolerates; like using his stomach as an acid bomb, or using his intestines to get to an unreachable area.
Rapture
A world built on music, Rapture is a cyberpunk world divided into different “continents” based on different genres of music. When a young boy with nothing more than a guitar gets involved with an FBI agent tracking a team of assassins, the two discover a complex plot by a mysterious figure to take over the world with an orbiting space station housing the universe’s music. The game would have a varied rock and roll soundtrack, with intense music-driven battles. Players use a customizable electric guitar weapon to smash, hack, and electrify enemies, through various stores, an arsenal of gizmos are loaded into the instrument. The different levels would have different variations of music combined with rock. (i.e., the western realm would have a country-rock mix and carry an overall neo-western look and feel)
After Life: A Ghost Story
A suburban man who becomes victim to a crazed man’s terrorist attack realizes he’s dead, but fails to cross over to the other side. He lingers as a ghost on the mortal plane, where ethereal bounty hunters try to capture him to force him over to the other side. He stubbornly stays based on unfinished business with his widow, and won’t accept his termination. The course of his “life” after death is determined by the player in this Grand Theft Auto-like game where one can freely do what they want as a ghost, traveling over the mortal plane, limbo, hell, and even heaven…and also battling paranormal entities, reapers, demons, and angels with learned ghostly abilities and otherworldly weapons. The character can become a poltergeist, an apparition, or even a demon based on what actions are taken. The world is vast with an underlying story filled with twists and turns.
A Christmas Tale
Every over marketed Christmas tale is based on actual history from a Christmas realm intertwined in the nooks of our own. A man gets a price on his head as the evil creatures that have taken over the Christmas world find who they believe is the heir to an Ice King within the realm. With the help of an autonomous robot elf, the man travels to the Christmas realm in search of the recently discovered felt top hat in which an evil magic prince is imprisoned. The hat of course is what gave life to “Frosty the Snowman” so many years ago…except the story was tweaked a bit, since the children were actually trying to escape the ice golem which terrorized them. They finally melted him with a blow torch, and buried the hat vowing to never speak of it again. Players assume the role of the heir to the realm’s throne, and fight against Christmas-based enemies across memorable landscapes such as Santa’s abandoned workshops; and new ones…such as the robotic reindeer graveyard. They also meet equally memorable characters and forward a dark Christmas tale of horrific and twisted content. |
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| School school school |
[Apr. 5th, 2005|05:15 pm] |
Back in school now. Hurray. I've got some great classes.
I have a sculpture class now (working with oil based clay) which is pretty neat. Though working with the clay really tears at your fingers and can be frustrating. I'm sculpting a decomposing vampire skull for the first project. looks cool.
I also have a Character and Object design class which is really cool! Instructed by a guy who actually worked in the business, we get to create storylines and characters to go along with them...refine their styles and looks...it's great.
I also have a survey of the game industry class, gesture drawing, and sociology. Whoopie. Still, interesting classes (what I've had so far).
No 3d classes. Darn. Apparently that comes in later years. Which means I would only have eight months to teach myself how to make convincing 3D tripods. Sure looks doubtful.
I'm tired and poor. I'm really thirsty and I forgot to bring some liquid from home. The water fountains work...but the flow's not good.
I'm here at school until ten tonight. I'll be tired when I get home, but I should sleep well until I have to get up early for my last class this week and then go to work.
So anyway, for my character and object design class...we have to come up with a story with characters that includes a hero, a villain, a sidekick, a creature, a vehicle, and a weapon.
I'm having difficulty decided what direction I should go in...
Either:
A post-apocalyptic world where demons are coming onto earth and "the demon slayer" kills them...
or
A Victorian world where a inherited monster hunter with a steam-punk like mechanical arm teams up with a woman with a robotic lower half to fight vampires and monsters.
Not original ideas, but interesting enough. Sounds sort of lame when I explain them...oh well. |
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| Making Martians... |
[Mar. 29th, 2005|03:49 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  anxious | ] |
There's going to be aliens in this film. Not saying where or when. But be assured they're not bipedal green men from mars.
To create these horrific, bloodsucking monsters, Raul and I have routed for an on-screen effect rather than CG. Lets face it...our CG will be fake at best, but hopefully we can hide most of it with atmospheric lighting and smoke.
This means a latex creature. I've sent some e-mails to various custom latex monster prop companies on the internet explaining what we want to do, and I'm awaiting a price quote. I figure since it's about 2,500 to make 500 stuffed animals, one semi-small latex prop will be much cheaper. If it is too costly, I'm going to have to buy some prefabricated masks and do some creative "cut and paste."
But I definetly think this prop is worth an investment. Mostly because I can see my concept turn into something. :D Mwuahahahaha.
Want to be a part of the film and I haven't mentioned you? Well then tell me. ;P I'm not going to turn anyone down. The more the merrier. But of course you're not getting paid. Maybe in sandwiches or lunch...or Munchies as is the case with Sean, but not money.
Now on some more personal notes:
My Spring Break is this week, but I have to work Wednesday-Friday. It's short, yes...but there's a small possibility I won't be able to continue school this next semester if my loan doesn't arrive in time.
So I'll be working every day for a whole quarter if I can't get that money. Fun...But I guess that's more money to update my computer, get gas, and invest in the movie.
I miss Stacey. She said she wants to see me today. And of course I want to see her too. Looking forward to that. I was suppose to talk with the school about the loan today...secretly I made up an excuse not to drive Heather down to El Cajon (cause I didn't want to) -so I didn't end up going. Besides, I spent 40 dollars filling up my tank today. I ran that puppy down past empty before I filled it up. It usually costs 23 dollars. Either prices have gone up horrendously, or my gas meter lies and my Truck isn't just 12 gallons.
I've been reading this great book called "Acting for the Camera" by Tony Barr. Great great pointers. It's really making me see acting differently. It also has excellent advice for the theater actor making the conversion to film. There are a lot of tactics I'd like to share with our actors for the new movie. We're thinking of a "Casting/Acting 101" day. To brush up on everyone's skills and let the actors get to know their characters more. Food, acting games...and pointing out the good and bad in Axe Man (great example)-good idea. Fun. And it's constructive!
I have an assignment for any actors actually wanting to be in this movie.
Watch a drama/intense flick and study those acting techniques the actors use. Maybe you're not "acting" savy, but notice the subtlties and emotion. If there's any advice for the camera that can be easily explained, is that the camera magnifies every subtlty, making overacting as in Theater seem very phony.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy that movie...whatever it may be. Dude Where's My Car? isn't a drama. |
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| First Script Details! |
[Mar. 25th, 2005|03:28 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  crazy | ] |
Script underway! Woo.
The War of the Worlds movie is getting a script written. Once again we need everyone we can get involved for acting and a crew. A …few people have expressed their interest in doing a movie, but aren’t so big on the sci-fi aspect of this one. *cough* But the script is not a lame low budget action sci-fi movie. It’s more depressing, dark, creepy, dramatic, romantic, sad, and at some points a little funny; it’s that type of movie that happens to have a science fiction aspect to it. Hybrid movies are not unheard of: Romantic Comedies, Action Thrillers, Drama Comedies (usually satirical). The whole Martian invasion is a side story that runs parallel with the main story, which is of the main character “Joe” and the turmoil and despair he experiences prior and at the time of the alien’s arrival. A stylish film incorporating sadistic ideas, horrific images, strong emotion, and comedic relief.
In the script Joe encounters a few refugees after the aliens arrive, including an oddball trio from the traveling show “Cirque Venetian Spectacular!” Their costumes don’t help them not stick out, but neither do their personalities. What would you expect from a gypsy Swede, a spastic Irish Frenchman, and a German who goes by “Man-Boy Steve the Grand.”
Rest assured there are Martians in the film. But the focus is on characters and survival. I’m pleased with it so far, and I think when it’s done…you’ll all be too.
I really do need some specific actors.
Mandy
Chere
Stacey
Donovan
Sean
And Roger
Not only are you guys all great actors and I’ve enjoyed working with most of you in other Bennett/Bennett (Troy/Arthur) or Bennett/Urreola films. (Axeman) –(well except for Donovan. Heh. He hasn't been in any movie yet! But that can change.)
-BUT you also all have great unique physiques. Different heights and voices…it’s just a perfect cast to make this film distinctive and as fun as it is depressing.
I miss Stacey. :D Can’t wait to see her tonight. |
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| Movie Madness |
[Mar. 23rd, 2005|05:00 pm] |
Boy making a movie is hard. But what an enjoyable experience. Nothing better than showing someone something and them liking it…Well, Arthur and Troy were hilarious. They worked great.
Amateur films are well…Amateur. There’s no way to get near Hollywood level unless it is a blockbuster movie.
Raul and I have talked about it. Axeman 2 is losing our interest.
So what about this War of the Worlds movie?
I’m coming up with concepts. Raul and I are trying to get together to discuss it. The main problem is interest. Why are we doing this? To amuse ourselves? To amuse our friends? To make a piece of art? –Hopefully the later more than anything…
Raul and I have ideas…big grand ideas that can’t be done. We’re thinking on a low budget scale, but where most people would give up after thinking about the idea, we want to take it to the next level.
We need actors and we need our friends to become involved. Yes, a few people makes things easier. The artwork and design that would go into this movie would be extensive. It’d be too much work to do it all and not do the movie. There are a few live action “alien” shots that won’t be added in later, and they require miniature work and on-screen models (“puppets” which I’ll have to fabricate out of plastic tubes, hoses, latex, rubber and paint…a la Giger’s work on the first Alien model)
That means they have to be created before we can shoot. I’m taking 3d rendering classes, and I plan on incorporating creatively used CG work to make a lot of the other-worldy things work. We also have a program called Alam DV which beautifully integrates special effects (explosions, steam, lighting, fire, blood, sparks…you name it) and our precious Adobe Premiere which we use to edit film.
Those that have a copy…watch Arthur, watch Troy…even Axeman. Look at what can be done with crappy footage! Believe the unbelievable!
We need people’s interest. We want to be serious and dedicated to this. But it can be hard with school and work…to devote time to something that in the end might look good, but it sure as hell won’t go anywhere.
We want to premiere the movie at a Halloween get together (it never stops does it?)
Let me ask you this. What personally can you do to help us with the movie? ;) Acting is great, but a lot of you have so much…more talents and abilities |
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