Trying some new material
Current mood: sleepy
Category: Art and Photography

   I thought I would step outta my realm for a little while and try something new, as we all have to do. So I went out, bought some new self-hardening clay and tried some new subject matter. Plus Kermit the Frog kicks ass and it was an excuse for me to do this stuff.

     3 of my teachers found out what I do on the side, and asked if I could make them a couple of items: Dexter from Dexter's Lab, a Tweety Bird, and Kermit the Frog. This was a switch from the normal stuff I do to the cartoonish. Its good to switch it up every so often. I was hoping someone would've asked for Woody Woodpecker, but oh well. I said sure, no problem. BOY, was I wrong. I laid down some ground rules for myself: 1- Work with new material and methods 2- Go off of memory only, no reference. Easier said than done. With total hours combined, from start to finish (sculpting, dry time, paint and priming) it took my 50 hours to complete 3 figures. I tried some stuff called Marble-X, which is a self hardening clay. It worked okay, its good for small jobs, and the stuff really isn't very sturdy, and it seems to take forever for the shit to dry. I think I'll stick with the clay that needs either kelm firing or an oven.

       Now sculpting the figures, I had to try and remember what some of the characteristics were, since its the little attention to details that brings stuff out. But the heres the final products

The wife took the camera so I had to take these shots with webcam. Oh well. Overall they're okay I guess. All the pics I took are up in my workshop album. My teachers loved the statues, so if they were happy with them, then that's all that matters. Unfotunately, or fortunately, however you want to look at it, now everyone is coming up to me with stuff they want me to make them. I'm gonna start charging people, cause materials ain't cheap. I don't even know what I'm typing anymore. Need bed. Sleep. Now. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

-Chris

2:47 AM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

The Dark Knight Movie Review
Current mood: shocked
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

Two words: Indescribably amazing! Go see it! Now! RIGHT NOW!!!

4:09 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

I feel like I’m squatting
Current mood: tired

    Right now all I have is an inflatable mattress and my computer sitting on some empty boxes in my apartment right now. That's it. I have approximately 5 more days here and then I am gone from this place.

Currently listening : Koffin Kats By Koffin Kats Release date: 29 June, 2004

7:31 AM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Paper-thin relationships
Current mood: thoughtful

          This has probably come up in one way shape or form, but has anyone honestly thought about "friendship" really means on myspace? We have accounts, we get in touch with people that we haven't seen in a long time, we add people just on the basis of a picture, blah blah blah. But ponder this; out of all the people we meet and run into on this website, how many of us can truly call under the friends' list "friends"? Some have 25 friends, some have 2 million friends. Can we really say that we keep in touch with those friends? How many of those friends do you call on the phone or email? Text message? A lot of us are constantly busy between work, home, going out, careers, that kinda thing. Myself, when I first started Myspace, I would be on it everyday, checking emails, updating profile info, thinking it was the coolest. Now I may go on once a week. I'm constantly busy between work, home, my projects, keeping in touch with people, I think you just get worn out.

         There's a lot of celebrities on myspace who have accounts (yes, I know I have a few under my friends list, 1 was nice enough to respond back to a fan letter I actaully wrote. Thanks Eric Bloom!). Do they have time to respond to each and every fan email? I dread to see some of the whacked out obsessed fan shit that some of them probably get. There some crazies out there. 

         So when I do go on, its basically cleaning out spam mail, little things here and there and that about it. The ones I do keep in contact with I've been friends with for a long time before myspace. I tried at one time sending out massive holiday greetings to everyone under their comments boxes. It took nearly 3 hours to do it all. I think my max at one time for "friends" was 120. Realistically, I consider 10 close contacts. Now I've just stopped adding people altogether. When people delete, I don't ask them back. Yes it's fun for awhile, but like any other thing, it fades.

           Is it a popularity contest? Yea, probably.  The more I look at people's profiles, its almost like high school all over again: who gets the most votes, which in turn shows how popular you are, which then gets you more friends. Kinda depressing if you think about it. But is there anything real about it? Do you genuinely want to get to know that person? Do you care they think? If you were to call all 100 people off the friends page, how many would respond without looking at you like you're some kinda lunatic? I was in a conversation with some people at work the other day, and we got on the subject of friends. Well one said she had over 3000 friends. I looked at her really oddly, and jokingly askes where, on myspace? she said yea, they were all of her friends. I stopped and asked if she kept in touch with all of them. Again, she said yes. I thought wow, maybe it is possible to keep in contact with 3000 people at one time. Then I asked her how did she keep in contact with all of them, and this is where I saw the dilemma: through the emails and leaving comments. I thought this was how Tila Tequila got famous: by sending out massive addme ons or just pic comments profiles. I then asked if she's hung out with all 3000 or new all 3000 names. She hadn't and she didn't.

            This was the first time in a while that I've been able to something to think about up. Most of my blogs are about useless crap that no one (let's face it) really to give two shits about.  So looking at random crap on myspace, I decided to write about something I'd been thinking about for awhile. We as humans needs to be around social structures since we crave it as a species. But the paper-thin relationships that we devlope on myspace or messenger or whetever might acutally be detrimental to us in the long run. Over the ten years, most our conversations, our interactions, now take place online in someway shape or form. Yes, its easier to keep in contact with loved ones, friends, family, and all the like. But notice how our social skills seem to be eroding quite fast. In my younger brother's generation, every kid at his high school has a cell phone. It was unheard of when I was in high school. People looked at me when I told them I don't have a cell phone. I recently got one within the last month, and I hardly use it. I don't know why. Maybe I just prefer face to face contact with someone, making it a lot easier to be more expressive and hold a conversation with as oppose to typing back and forth on a phone or messenger. Texting just doesn't do it for me.

           Without sounding overly cynical and pessimistic, I'll leave this to think about. Wanting to stay in touch is great. Talking to someone you haven't seen in years is great too. Meeting old classmates, family member, you get the idea. But seeing a myspace page with 6 billion "friends"?

Currently listening : Violator By Depeche Mode Release date: 22 February, 1990

3:37 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

My Halloween dayz
Current mood: exhausted
Category: Jobs, Work, Careers

       So finally after a couple of weeks being away, I've finally had the chance to do some updates. Halloween has come and gone (unfortunately) and working at the Haunted Forest was a blast. This year I was the make-up artist for the whole crew as well as one of the participants. Luckily I didn't have to spend very much money since all I had to do was tell them what I need and they got it. The only drawback is the crummy town I live in right now on doesn't have the best stores for make-up and supplies. Oh well. Adapt.Improvise.And Overcome. Yes, I know, I DID learn something from my job after all :)

         Anyways, I had a crew of about 12 (give or take). Now from the time I got off work to the time the others got off work and from the time that the place opened up, I generally had about 1 hr to get 6 people (including myself) into make-up and appliances. So the last week had been very stressful trying to complete everyones make-up right on time for opening the doors. Good grief.

      I had made a couple of pieces for the Haunted Forest.  I sculpted a full Freddy Head and a zombie head piece, as well as a Michael Myers mask (more on that later). I started out the very beginning of October worked everyday on these pieces with running into the bumps and problems of having only 2 weeks to complete everything I needed. The biggest problem I encountered was ordering supplies and patiently waiting on them to arrive since 90% of it I had to order out of state. Yeah, I suck. But overall, it was a really good run this year. Anyways, let me show you some of the work I did as well as a couple of characters that I thought just awesome.

Here is the full head Freddy sculpt. By far the heaviest thing I've casted. I'm gonna see if I can cast something bigger next time.

The clown make switched up every night for something different. What was great about clowns was just basic color make-up playing around with shapes. Unfortunately the dude sweated so much that it ran all over the place and was off of his face within the first hour.

This is one of my favorites, the redneck zombie. I don't know why I like it, I just do. The guy was an older gentlemen who was a good sport about the whole deal.

Swamp zombie bride. She was the first make-up job I did opening night. Most important thing I learned throughout the whole make-up stage? Add blood. Lots and lots of blood.

Basic burn make-up. Probably a little too bright color for a burn piece. Next time I add a darker red.

Basic zombie piece. Initially it was just one appliance piece but more make-up got added on for for the rotting effect. More blood was added around the mouth after this shot was taken. The zombie appliance was made about 6-8 times, with different colors added, varying from greens to grays on different people.

 Two victims got their eyes plucked out. I'm halfway done gluing the appliance on the first one. Second one is the "hostel" piece

This one was basic grudge make-up. She actually made someone pass out after crawling towards them.

And finally, this is the Freddy piece in full-head make-up. Fully functional appliances.I can't tell you how much gelatin I went through, but it was alot, and ultimately, it really was worth it.

Stage 1 of make-up

Stage 2

Stage 3

The house this year was really worth it. I loved the whole set up, especially in my area of the house where I kept hitting that fog machine and flooded the room. It was a great crew, and they were pretty good sports about me using them as "experiments." Unfortunately, time was short, and I wasn't able to finish Michael Myers until AFTER the Halloween. Oh well. There's only 363 days left 'till next Halloween. Tell me what you guys think. I'd love some feedback. I hope everyone enjoyed their Halloween. Through all the stress and headaches, it was well worth it.

Happy belated Halloween! Now time for me to go back to sleep.

6:51 AM - 5 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

My New Jersey Adventure part 1
Current mood: blah

   Let me just go on record before I start up and get a lot of comments and people saying their opinions: there is only one Comic-Con. One, and ONLY one. It rules, and nothing will ever top it. With that in mind, lets move onto the nitty gritty.But the Monster Con is a close second.

      Friday, August 24. The day it all began. Jason and Rachele were on their way out to see us, driving from San Diego to meet us in North Carolina. Or so I thought. They had run into some complications. To read about their roadtrip in their blog spaces, just click here and here. I get the call at about 1 in the morning saying just to meet them in Jersey. It bummed me out since I was hoping at least a couple more days than I had thought. That morning we took off on what Lucy and I thought would be eight and a half hours to get to New Jersey. Boooyyy was I wrong.

        We were doing fine for the first six hours. Stopped for gas and food and we were good to go. Until we got outside of Bethesda, MD. It took nearly two hrs just to make 10 miles in stop and go traffic. I had Lucy right next to me with a puke bag since her stomach was acting up, and let me tell you something: listen to someone with the dry heeving action going on is not fun at all. Finally we start to reach Batimore MD, and in my infinite ignorance, I knew nothing of toll bridges and having to pay to get to one state to another. I was Jack's raging bile duct. From Baltmore to the Delaware Memorial Bridge all the way to Philadelphia were four toll bridges. Delaware is NOT a tax free state. What a crock of shit.

          After getting lost three times around Trenton and Newark, we made it to Cherry Hill, NJ at about 9 at night. I was hungry, tired, and pissed at traffic since we should have there 4 hrs earlier. Monster Mania was in the Crowne Plaza hotel, which is right outside Philadelphia on the New Jersey border. We decide to call it a night after hearing Jason and Rachele are lost somewhere in the backhills of West Virginia. Off to the Econolodge, or so I thought.  What should have been a 12 minute drive turned into 2 1/2 more hours of mayhem. After taking a wrong turn onto the Walt Whitman bridge (since New Jersey doesn't allow U-turns or left turns), we crossed the Jersey river and landed right in the center of downtown Philadelphia at 11:30 a night. After nearly getting into two accidents, No map, no sense of direction, and not a fucking clue as to where I was going, I ended up around 33rd ST and Lexingtone Ave. which is the 'hood. We pulled into a gas station where the cops after a bust, and I get up and go talk to an a police officer and told him our sob story and for some directions. After he laughed and we got some directions, we were off...again....

          Somehow, we ended up right back downtown, and from there ended up at the Philadelphia airport. Finally, I pull over to the side of the road. Lucy calls some friends in North Carolina to try and get us directions from the internet. We end up at the roach motel at about 1 in the morning. I was fried. Just thinking about it gives me a headache. I'll tell you about the convention  the next blog update.

-Chris

2:47 PM - 2 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment

Monster Mania
Current mood: drained

      We got back from New Jersey last night at about 2:30 in the morning. Map Quest is a friggin liar, thats for sure. But found out a couple of thing about New Jersey: they don't like U-turns or left turns on their roads, and it'll cost you about 20 bucks just to enter the damn place. Oh, and one more thing: there are certain parts in Philadelphia that are just plain scary driving alone at 2 am in the morning, and then finding out that your motel is just 8 minutes away from Cherry Hill.

      But anyways, Monster Mania Con fucking rocked. Jason (one of my best friends) and another good friend Rachele took a whole road trip from San Diego to Cherry Hill, New Jersey to come hang out with us. I'll give the story a little later. I'm going back to bed since I think I woke up too early.

-Chris   

7:34 AM - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Cartoons of the 80s-The Big Screen Approaching
Current mood: nerdy
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

   Some will get it right, some will be so so, and others you'll want to go and creat a lynch mob to hang the movie makers by the very dollar bills that made the dreadful movie in the first place. The Transformers and The Simpsons (they've been around since the Tracy Ullman Show since 1987) right around the corner, it seems Hollywood is taking cue to turn our cartoon into full length motion pictures. The hot property right now for movie rights are comics, and now it looks like this wave will be backed up by 80s cartoons. For me, its a mixed reaction. If they can get it right, then it will be very successful. Here is the latest list for the cartoons that will make it to the screen :

The Simpsons (traditional animation, this summer)

Transformers (CGI-live action, this summer)

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (CGI, live action 2008-09)

ThunderCats (completely computer animated, pre-production)

The Smurfs (CGI-animated, 2008)

and the list is growing. This is even counting the list of comic book movies in production. Don't get me wrong. I'll see these, but if the Transformers is initially spearheading is grand nostalgic trip, hey, I guess we'll have to see.

Currently watching : He-man and She-ra: the Secret of the Sword Limited Edition Variant

9:25 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Spider-man 3 review
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

 Well, since my last blog didn't get posted up, that just puts me in a real foul mood right now. So if I'm brutal with my review, oh well.

The film begins with Peter Parker basking in his success as Spider-Man, while Mary Jane begins her Broadway career.Peter has begun to feel secure in his life. One night in a park, while Peter and Mary Jane are on a date, a small meteorite crashes nearby. An alien symbiote oozes out and follows him home. Meanwhile, Harry Osborn still seeks vengeance for his father's death, and, knowing Spider-Man's true identity, he plans to take it. A battle between the two leaves Harry with short-term amnesia, forgetting his vendetta against Spider-Man.

    At the same time, Escaped convict Flint Marko falls into a particle accelerator and is transformed into a shapshifting sand monster. During a festival honoring Spider-Man for saving Gwen Stacy's life, Marko attempts to rob an armored car. Spider-Man shows up, but is overpowered. Later, Captain Stacy informs Peter and Aunt May that Marko is the one who killed Ben Parker. Peter vengefully waits for Marko to strike again, and while asleep, the symbiote bonds with his costume. Peter discovers that not only has his costume changed, but that his powers have been enhanced as well.

The black suit also alters Peter's personality, making him more violent, as he makes a near lethal attack on Marko during a battle underground. This shift in his personality alienates Mary Jane, and she finds solace in Harry. When Peter's behavior becomes evident that he has changed personally and heroically, he frantcially tried to remove the symbiote, but its too late: symbiote refuses to be ripped from its host. Peter, atop a bell tower, feels the symbiotes pain as the loud sound waves from the bel cause the symbiote great pain, eventually able to separate himself from it.When the symbiote is abandoned, it finds refuge in Eddie Brock, a rival photographer, causing Peter to face his greatest challenge.

Its seemed all well and good, but unfortunately the movie suffers from too many characters and plotpoints done half-hazardly: some parts really drag out and are unnecessary (like one particular kitchen scene between Mary Jane and Harry, what a waist of screen time). What my read well on paper, may not look good on screen. While other characters are barely touched on which had so much potential really grab the viewer, are waisted on the screen for such short screen time (ie. Venom and Gwen Stacy). Venom was absolutely amazing in the movie, and he only got less than twenty minute of screen time. Gwen Stacy, Peter's true love who tragically dies in the comic, had a story behind her just begging to be told on the screen, is initally used as a tool; as just "the OTHER girl" who is there really as just a ploy. The character never really is able to go anywhere or develop as the potential new love interest for Peter. What a waste. Spider-man 3 definately had the "Hulk movie" syndrome (too much overdevelopment, not enough super-hero screen time)

The acting is top notch, the special effects are great, but for every action sequence, there is about 3-4 scenes that drag out, and I mean they DRAG OUT. When I see it again (yes, I am. It may not sound like it, but I am), or when you see it, see it for the 18 minutes of screen time for Venom, if anything else.  I think putting up with Kirtsen Dunst singing dancing sequences for awhile just to see Venom is worth the torture.

-Chris

1:34 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

The Zombie Survival Guide
Category: Writing and Poetry

        Yes, the old cliche' and certainly a strong staple in the horror genre. Zombies and the walking undead have been something that mankind has feared for centuries, going back to a Hindu proverb circa 1000 BCE. Sure, we have all seen a zombie movie at least once or twice, but if you were honest with yourself, you have to ask yourself...are you prepared? I mean, truly prepared for the day of the impossible and improbable, when the dead would rise seeking you out as a hot lunch? Would you be able to stand against the odds and survive? And I don't mean play Mr. Hero of the day, but actually survive?

   The reason why I bring this up is because after watching Dawn of the Dead for the upteenth time, and asking myself the very same question for the upteenth time, I decided to seek out the answer myself. And found it in a book for $13.95 (9.95 if your smart and go to amazon.com). It called The Zombie Suirvival Guide. Without giving it a second thought, I slapped down my cash and took the book home just to see what this book has to offer. Some of the results that it had gave me some mixed results, but overall stays true to zombie-lore.

    The book itself is like any other survival manual, albeit without actual treatment of wounds or any first-aid (it is made very clearly in the beginning of the book that any injury that results in exposure to zombie blood or saliva into your bloodstream is 100 % fatal.)  It breaks an infestation on a global level, 1 being the lowest (1-20 zombies) and 4 being the highest (you're screwed). Two chapters are completely dedicated to avoiding your undead enemies when the odds are against you, and another chapter is dedicated to direct combat when you have no other choice in the matter. I t even goes over the best way to reinforce your house to make it a safehold from zombies.

      As far as weapons go, it cover all the basics; fire, bladed weapons, and firearms. It has an entire list and well as personal preferences on which are the best for close combat, long range, and so on. Making your way through a zone were the undead outnumber isn't probably the smartest thing you can do, however, there maybe times when you have no choice. The book goes over escape routes, methods of travel, pretty much the works.

Overall, I'd say I got my money's worth. I've finished most of it up to the World War Z chapter, which there is another book about that I'me gonna haft to pick up. So I'll leave you with this without spoiling all of the details: If you want to survive the zombie apocolypse, read this book! If anyone has read it, leave some feedback and give your honest opinion. Other than that, watch for the dead the next door.

-Chris

Currently watching : George A. Romero's Land of the Dead (Unrated Director's Cut) Release date: 18 October, 2005

11:34 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment