Cat's Outta The Bag

It is official: My comic book, All Fall Down, is going to be published. I have an artist, I have a publisher, Arcana Studios, with whom I've signed a contract. (My thanks go to Jeff for his help in that department.)

In a few weeks' time, the first issue will be hot off the presses. In the meantime, I'll continue writing the series. Already halfway through issue Four.

I didn't want to keep it to myself any longer, news this good is too good to keep quiet. Shazam.

Great Show, Bad Night

Kate had a spare ticket last night to Be, by Mayumana. It's an off-Broadway show of a dozen or so performers doing some fascinating dance work and some frankly ingenius percussion music. Juggling, contortionism, belly dancing, tap, wall-pounding, body-slappin'... anything and everything was an instrument. It was clever, innovative, engaging stuff. A fantastic show.

It's only too bad I was paid a visit by the King of Headaches. He brought his entire entourage.

I don't typically get headaches; the last time I had one this bad was a year ago. It kicked in to high gear about an hour into the show, when bright flashing lights and pounding percussion were the last thing I needed. I closed my eyes and tried to ignore everything going on for thirty minutes of sheer hell. When the show was over, I made my way out to get some fresh air.

The show really was something. If you're in the Big Apple, I highly recommend it. Just make sure to bring some Advil. You never know.

Only In New York

I've seen something interesting on the streets and/or subways of Manhattan, every time I've gone in. Every time.

I had dinner w/ Jeannie and Rob tonight (or more accurately w/ Jeannie, and Rob joined us after he finished work). On the subway, waiting for the L train, a man on the other side of the tracks was singing classic rock with his guitar. The tracks were being cleaned (do they do it every Thursday?) and I was standing there long enough to hear a few numbers, including In the Midnight Hour.

An old man on my side of the tracks, hunched over on a bench, was in rapt attention, as if he hadn't heard the song in years. Rapt. When the singer was finished, the old man called out and practically begged him to play the song again. He offered to ride the L train up one stop and back down again in order to reach the singer and give him a dollar. That is how desperate he was to hear In the Midnight Hour.

The singer agreed and began again. The old guy seemed as if he was listening to gospel.

It was wonderful.

There's Just No Justice

In Hollywood News: After less than a week, posters and billboards of the new movie Captivity were taken down after numerous complaints that the images were too graphic and disturbing. After Dark Films CEO Courtney Solomon explained that the wrong files were sent to the printer, and has agreed to pay for their removal.

Yet somehow, Norbit posters remained up for a full month.

This Is Vere Ze Plot Thickens

It's been a strange year, so far. Unlike any one preceding it. For me, anyway. I never lived in New York before. I never lived as a self-employed, independent contract guy before. I've never been so close to seeing the 'big publishing dream' realized.

I'm eternally aware of the jinx. So I refuse to report good news until I can hold the proof of it in my grubby mitts, but boy howdy I'm working on a doozy. More to follow on that.

Now it's half past one and I'm not tired in the least, indicative of whatever.

I had the latter half of my cartoon voice-over intensive tonight. I learned how to bark like a dog tonight. That's something I never knew how to convincingly do, before. Ya learn something new every day.

Be well, folks. Sweet dreams to those that can find 'em. Ciao.

An Evening With An Old Friend

I don't know a great number of people in New York. Those I do know, had plans tonight.

So I rented Sleuth.

It is my favorite script, and one of my favorite movies. I am loathe to mention that it is not currently in my collection; and copies of it are very hard to come by. The good news is that some time next year a remake of Sleuth will hit theatres (also starring Michael Caine), at which point a new release of the original can be expected. Anyway.

I love this movie. It's been over a year since I've seen it. The singular bonus of this particular edition is a 23 minute long interview w/ Anthony Shaffer. Outstanding.

Anyway. Happy St. Patrick's Day, folks. May the road rise before ye, may the wind fall behind ye, and may ye be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows you're dead.

Now That's Just *Neat*

Last year, a Brit by the name of Vadim Jean adapted and directed Terry Pratchett's Hogfather for TV, in two 90-minute installments. I only just heard.

Michelle Dockery is stiff, stern and perfect as the prim and cold Susan Sto Helit, granddaughter of Death. The Grim Reaper. The end of all things. It's delightful.

I've been a fan of the Discworld books for years. I've read most of them at least twice. (With the exception of Eric; just wasn't great.)

Anyway. It isn't Christmas (or Hogswatch), but the whole thing is on YouTube. That's just splendid.

On Taking Risks

I'm facing a decision that should be tougher than it feels right now, I think. I'm trying to get my comic book published. In order to do so, I'm going to need to pay for the artwork, which will be somewhat expensive.

I want to pay for it. That could be part of the problem. I know I've been overly eager in the past when it comes to being close to accomplishing something I want.

The stakes are significantly higher, now. I'm making less (but stand to make more if the comic's a hit, who knows) so the task of recuperating losses would be longer than if I were still in Maryland; with more income and fewer expenses. HAH.

I grew up learning that you're supposed to pursue your dreams, do everything you can to make them happen. Now that it would literally cost, I'm a bit shaken by how eager I am to throw my future on to a roulette wheel. If they even accept credit, who knows.

Who knows?

***

On a completely unrelated subject; I've been watching Six Feet Under. Having briefly met Rachel Griffiths, once, on the set of Step Up... the camera doesn't do her justice. Seriously.

Getting Ready...

Tonight is the first half of my cartoon voice intensive class. Four solid hours w/ a professional and a small class of others like myself, eager to learn. I've been looking forward to this since December.

I'm freakin' excited. Anything that can improve my range and sharpen my vocal skills is going to be very beneficial. Bwa ha ha.

Ciao for now, folks.

That Sounds About Right

Heh heh.

Appropriate Thoughts for 1:35

I'm 26. I live in New York. I'm single. I'm watching Annie Hall. Something clicked two minutes ago that made me want to smack myself upside the head. Not that it's important.

Where do our lives go? I grew up wanting to be like my brother. I followed the 'three years later' model. He started drawing, three years later, I started writing. He went to college for graphic design, something he feels passionate about. I went to college to become a better actor. Something I feel passionate about. He got a day job, I got a day job. He got married... I'm nowhere close to that.

I'm not working a nine-to-five. I'm working, just not in an office. In New York. I moved here for a few reasons.

Where do our lives go? After Theatre IV, I felt like the period of working at Lockheed Martin was going to be a 'transition period'. It lasted three years.

Now what?

I have no idea what's next; only what I'm working toward. Lord knows what'll come of it.

Be well, folks.

300... Wow.

I saw 300 tonight with Jeannie, Rob and some friends of theirs. We went to Union Square.

Um... wow. Words fail me. That was a movie. It unintentionally came off as a bit silly, from time to time. I was with the completely right crowd to see this flick.

Visually stunning. Violent as any three circles of hell. Still came off a bit silly. Any war w/ elephans will draw comparisons to Return of the King, I think. That was the consensus of our lot.

Then the crab person arrived. Tastes like crab. Talks like people. In truth it was an obese slave w/ blades for arms that the Persian Demigod Xerxes brought along for executions, but the length and cut of the weapon/limbs looked like crab claws. Jeannie completely called it. The less said about Gollum and Quasimodo's lovechild, the better.

Don't ask.

Fight choreography? Beautiful. Dialogue? Occasionally the stuff that eyes are rolled for. Good stuff, though. I just don't think I'll be seeing it again soon.

This is madness? No. THIS. IS. SPAR-TA.

Strange Thoughts, The End of a Usual Day

I had a strange dream last night. I dreamt I was dying. Or, going to die, rather. Believe it or not, it's a good thing. An indicator of positive changes in your life. At least, according to www.dreammoods.com.

Anyway. I dreamt I was about to die. Now it's quarter after midnight and I'm wishing for the first time in recorded history that there was some decaff in the house. Don't ask me why but I could go for some coffee.

My comic: All Fall Down. A publisher's interested, but the wrinkle is I'm going to have to pay for the rest of the art work. As an alternative to the comic never seeing the light of day, it's an acceptable proviso. So. Time to do a little grant digging. We'll see what comes up.

This Just In-- News That Won't Matter For Very Long

**Marvel Comics' Civil War Spoilers below. Y'all have been warned.**

Well. Turns out that the title-wide fight between Marvel Characters isn't going to be without its major casualties. Captain America is dead. Killed with mundane bullets on courthouse steps.

For about a minute and a half, I'll wager.

Superman? Died. Batman? Crippled. Green Lantern? Went batshit, then died. Jason Todd? Beaten to a pulp then blown up. Bucky, Cap's sidekick? Blown up. Spider-Man? Beaten to death. Magneto? Beheaded. Doomsday? Died, came back, thrown into the end of time. Colossus? Died. Cyclops? Died. Phoenix? Died more times than I can count.

Every single one has made at least one dramatic resurrection.

No major character in the history of comics has ever stayed dead. Certainly none of its heroes. As for the rest? Gwen Stacy died. She was later cloned. Uncle Ben got dragged over from an alternate universe. Foggy Nelson died in a prison stabbing, then showed up in witness protection a few issues later.

Given the trends, I have zero faith in the notion that Captain America will 'stay' dead. It's only a matter of time. I would bet solid money. Any takers on this?

Ups, Downs, In-Betweens

So. Yeah. WATCH Awards were last night. Felt kinda surprised that KAT didn't win a blessed thing; but that's showbiz. They like to surprise you. Everyone still looked fantastic. That's showbiz.

As for surprises, I got to the cartoon studio this evening to learn that I didn't have the part I thought I did. That was a very awkward thirty seconds (and one heck of a misunderstanding), but the good news is I did a bit part and some background filler for them, same show, that will hopefully lead to future gigs.

The somewhat bumpy road to publishing the comic continues. An unforeseen wrinkle has made the road more... interesting, not to mention taxing. Still, it's an interested publisher. We'll see.

Tonight's The Night

That's right folks, the WATCH awards are here! I'm thrilled. One big difference between this year and last, I'm in a musical number. (Assassins and Urinetown were both nominated for Best Musical, Assassins is doing a full-cast song.) I tell ya, there will be some well-dressed murderous psychopaths on that stage. Woot.

It's fun to be back. Though I've been living in New York only three months, the change is definite. I'm not 'coming home'. I'm visiting. And it's always nice to visit.

Yesterday got a bit skewed. I tried to make time and meet up with a few people, and due to things beyond their control; plans changed. Three in one day kinda blows, but seeing how none of them had any choice in the matter, I'm trying to let it roll off my back. You want to make God laugh, tell him you've "got plans."

Hopefully tonight will go off without a hitch. *knocks on wood* Heather, my arm candy for the night, is picking me up early (and being very gracious about it) because I have to be there ahead of time to rehearse. We'll have some time to kill between practice and the doors being open, but we'll find something to do, I'm sure.

Whether or not I win, it's bound to be a great evening. I'm seeing a lot of old friends and I have good news from the Big Apple. Shazam. Good food, great company, and a night of awards involving every actor I know in the tri-state area. What more could one ask for?

Well. Besides the award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. Mwu ha ha ha ha.

Be well, folks. More to report later. With pictures!!

Things To Come

The WATCH Awards are this weekend. I'm up (and the competition is tough) for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. Heather has been gracious enough to accept my invitation to be arm candy. Shazam.

Also, to be honest, I'm looking forward to a visit to MD. It's only been three months since the move, but it feels like a lot longer. It'll be good to see friends and family in person.

There are things to report on, WATCHes aside. I'm so close to being jinx-proof on both, it's a hair's breadth. But give me a few days and there will really be some news. That I promise.

The Tux is rented, the train tickets are reserved... things are good. And they're going to get even better.

It's The First Of The Month

Bunny, Bunny.