Digital Dream Machine » TV

A Hero’s Journey: Masi Oka

chad — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 04:33:18 +0000

Did you know that Heroes‘ Masi Oka (Hiro Nakamura) used to be a digital effects artist at Industrial Light and Magic?

Photo: NBC Universal, Inc.

NBC’s Heroes

chad — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 08:02:14 +0000

Hiro Nakamura. Art: Tim Sale. Colors: Dave Stewart.

Some of you are already enjoying the NBC show Heroes. If you’re already watching it, then it doesn’t require further explanation. However, if you’re not familiar with the show, you can think of it as a weekly version of M. Night Shyamalan’s feature film Unbreakable or Marvel’s X-Men. It’s also been described as being a lot like ABC’s Lost since there are diverse characters in mysterious circumstances. The show’s creator, Tim Kring, is friends with Damon Lindelof, the co-creator of ABC’s Lost and theories suggest that these two universes interact. However, as the hit shows are on different networks, the creators have dismissed the idea, perhaps only to satisfy the legal deparments. Most likely they’re not linked, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we notice a few nods to each other as both shows progress.

The show does have that ‘clean, well-lit’ NBC look to it, which can sometimes take away from the character of the show, but for the most part the production has used this effectively. This is demonstrated in colorful scenes with the Japanese character, Hiro Nakamura, and the vivid neon backdrops of Tokyo and Las Vegas. Perhaps more atmospheric lighting (similar to the The X-Files) would give the show a less polished and equally stylized look, but it works as it is. The show’s characters are generally great choices, but some (including the stereotypical suit and tie bad guy) could be reworked. I’d also like a more memorable musical score, but the constraints of weekly production can limit the scoring choices. Overall, the story and heroes – though somewhat predictable at times – are proving to be compelling enough to keep me watching.

One of my favorite parts of the show is seeing the work of comic book artist, Tim Sale. His work is featured as the paintings of the character, Isaac Mendez. I like his stuff because it’s a seems like a combination of Frank Miller and Bruce Timm‘s art, yet distinctive enough to be his own. Tim’s done some amazing work, and his many collaborations with writer Jeph Loeb are some of the most widely acclaimed graphic novels and comic book series to date. His work is used very effectively throughout the show and you can see more of it on the official website and at 9thWonders.com, the official/unoffical fan site for Heroes. He’s one of the few artists that have the ability to tell a story with the art alone if need be.

There’s some real potential in the show, and I would enjoy seeing a few different styles from other storytellers. Despite its current high ratings, anything can happen in TV production. Let’s hope it doesn’t get cancelled before it really gets interesting.

I recommend the following books as example’s of some of Tim’s (and Jeph’s) best work. If you don’t want to order them through my Amazon links, at least do yourself a favor and head to your local comic shop, bookstore, library, or other online retailer and read these fantastically illustrated stories of other popular comic book heroes.

Canadian residents can also purchase the books through my aStore link in the upper right corner of this blog.

Interview: Mark Schultz – Part 2

chad — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 14:45:00 +0000

Here’s Part 2 of the interview I conducted with author/illustrator extraordinaire Mark Schultz regarding his career, influences, and future projects. Once again, thanks to both Mark and Palaeoblog creator, Dr. Michael Ryan for making this possible.

Enjoy!

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Mark, thanks again for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer some questions. We discussed your early career in Part 1 (at this link) and moved on to past/current projects, so let’s continue there.

Q: Are there any projects that you’d change if you could or do you consider past experiences as learning and move on?

Schultz: I look at everything I’ve done as a learning experience. There are some projects I’ve done that I’m not particularly proud of, but I learned, and I think improved, from all of them.

Q: Because we can’t be working all the time, what do you do to unwind when you’re not creating heroes and monsters?

Schultz: Hike—for exercise as well as to refocus my mind and eyes. Read. Watch movies—preferably B&W classics that are generally ignored today.

Howard Hawks’ 1951 sci-fi masterpiece. A fave of both Mark and myself. © Turner Home Entertainment.

Q: Is there something you do to refresh your creative spirit and get back into drawing or writing mode again?

Schultz: Hike. Travel. Visit the ocean.

Q: You recently took a trip to Spain where some of your work was exhibited. How was your trip and did you find European’s reactions to your work to be different from North Americans?

Schultz: Generally speaking, Europeans don’t seem to draw as definitive a line between the fine arts and the commercial arts as we do in North America. They are much more open to the notion that comics can be a legitimate form of expression. The Spanish people, at least, seemed to me to be much more knowledgeable about art in general—they consider an appreciation of the arts to be part of their every day existence.

Let’s move on to future projects.

Q: Do you plan on returning to Xenozoic Tales? Are there any plans for another animated series or feature film? How about a DVD box set of the animated series?

Schultz: There is nothing I want more then to get back to producing new issues of Xenozoic Tales. It is just a matter of finding a way of financing the process of getting it started again. My glacial slowness makes things difficult. I’m hoping to build a savings reservoir that could give me the time to devote to getting the series up and running again. Specifically, I have a four issue arc in mind that would complete the storyline I left hanging, but would also stand on its own, and would be collected as a trade paperback. At this time there are no current plans for XT projects in other media.

Q: In addition to Xenozoic Tales, what property that you’ve been involved with in the past, would you like to return to and in what capacity?

Cover art for SubHuman Issue #1 © Mark Schultz.

Schultz: I’d love to see SubHuman up and running. We really didn’t get a chance to get our sea legs under us with the initial Dark Horse mini-series. Both Michael and I have lots of stories Krill Stromer Family stories we’d like to tell, and hopefully someday we’ll have the chance. Beyond that, I have tons of other projects percolating away that are just waiting for the right opportunity to come to a boil.

Q: Who would you most like to work with that you haven’t yet had a chance to and who would you like to work with again?

Schultz: I’m pretty happy working mostly by myself, or with my already established cohorts.

Mark Schultz’s studio. Note the otherworldly visitors! Photos courtesy of Dr. Michael Ryan.

Q: What properties would you like to work on that you haven’t yet?

Schultz: I’d love a chance to illustrate Edgar Rice Burroughs, and more Robert E. Howard. Right now, a couple of years after I stopped writing Superman, I’m finally getting a chance to illustrate a Superman cover! I’m psyched!

Action Comics #836. Artwork by Mark Schultz. © DC Comics.

Q: What are you working on now and what projects have you got in the pipeline?

Schultz: I continue to write the Sunday comic strip Prince Valiant, which is beautifully illustrated by Gary Gianni. I’m working on Vol. 2 of my Various Drawings art book series, doing lots of commissions in connection with generating work for that, and picking up comic cover and illustration work here and there. It all continues to go well, I will be generating a series of books for Flesk Publications, the publisher of Various Drawings.

Mark Schultz: Various Drawings Volumes 1 and 2. © Mark Schultz and Flesk Publications.

Q: Since Xenozoic Tales features dinosaurs, I can’t forget to ask if you have a favorite one?

Schultz: Of course, Tyrannosaurus rex is an icon that would probably be my all-time number one, but the coelacanth, with its great survivor’s story, is a sentimental favorite. I love drawing both of them.

Thanks again Mark for your time and letting all of us take a peak inside your creative mind. Please keep us up to date on your new projects and we wish you the best of luck with all of them!

Schultz: My pleasure. And thanks to all the readers for the support!

Stay tuned for a possible update from Mark on even more recent projects and topics we might have forgot in our first 2 parts!

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund art for sky*dog comics. © Mark Schultz and the CBLDF.

Ray Harryhausen Brings New Projects to Life

chad — Wed, 24 May 2006 15:30:00 +0000

Ray Harryhausen tribute painting © Jim Dallmeier.

Stop-motion animation legend Ray Harryhausen will be helping to develop a series of new features, TV movies, video games, and merchandising under the Ray Harryhausen Presents banner for Mindfire Entertainment according to Reuters and the Hollywood Reporter via Yahoo! News. From the article:

Producer Mindfire Entertainment, which joined forces on the projects with the 85-year-old director, said several scripts are in development — one set in Greek mythology and another with an alien invasion theme. Production on the first film is set to begin in the fall.

The plan is to release one movie in the $15 million range and three TV projects in the $4 million range every year, Mindfire CEO Mark Altman said. Harryhausen will oversee all visual effects, which will be done in CGI (computer-generated imagery) but will be in the spirit of his stop-motion effects, Altman said.

Harryhausen said “utilizing the incredible advances in visual effects technology” would enable him to reach an entire new generation of audiences. “These stories are universal, and I could not be more thrilled than to revisit some of my favorite worlds — past, present and future — in these new films,” he said.

As a great admirer of Harryhausen’s work, I’m thrilled to hear that he’s bringing out some fresh ideas from old worlds for all of us to enjoy. Take a look at many reecent feature films (Jurassic Park, Starship Troopers, Peter Jackson’s King Kong) or video games (Killer Instinct, Age of Mythology, God of War) and I guarantee you’ll see the Harryhausen influence.

Even if Ray does nothing more than provide the initial concepts and inspiration, you can bet the projects will be both epic and fantastic.

Classic Muppets

chad — Fri, 19 May 2006 00:18:00 +0000

A Muppet classic found over on YouTube…

“Mahna Mahna:”

More Muppet goodies at YouTube.

Pirate Radio in Miami

chad — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 10:09:00 +0000

I finished watching Miami Vice Season 2 on DVD (one of my all-time favorite shows) a few days ago and was reminded of the episode “Trust Fund Pirates” by this CNN story.

Fans of Vice will recall Richard Belzer‘s (Law & Order) character was a pirate radio station operator who conducted his illegal broadcasts from out in the ocean near Miami.

Holidays with Jedi

chad — Sun, 22 Jan 2006 20:21:00 +0000

My wife and I spent Christmas being entertained by Ewan McGregor. Sort of.

Photo © Chad Kerychuk.

Within days we watched:

Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith,

The Island,

Robots, and

on Christmas Day, we watched a few episodes of Long Way Round; a fascinating reality series about McGregor’s adventure with his friend, Charley Boorman, as they travel around the world from London to New York on motorcycles.

The McGregor film fest wasn’t planned but we noticed the pattern later. 2005. Year of the McGregor.

Nifty new Yoda Christmas stocking that is, hmmm. Wife to thank I have.

HD Seminar Follow-up

chad — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 05:12:00 +0000

This weekend, I was fortunate to attend the HD Production Conference here in Edmonton. I understand nearly 300 attended the 2-day conference in Calgary and around 200 packed the sessions in Edmonton. It was great to see a lot of familiar faces, meet some new ones, and learn about all the new HD productions from Albertans. And the two fantastic lunches were a bonus!

It was a little daunting to see some of the financial figures people were dealing with but since HD is a relatively new media, a higher production cost can be expected. The quality available through HD is outstanding and for those productions that want that clarity, detail, rich colors, and an immersive experience, HD is definitely the way to go.

Hopefully I will also have a production to add to the growing list.

Rankin/Bass Santa and Rudolph Puppets Found

chad — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 00:37:00 +0000

Thanks to Cartoon Brew for bringing animation fans this news: the original puppets of Santa Claus and Rudolph (from the treasured Rankin/Bass holiday special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) have been found.

Long thought lost, the puppets were found among the holiday decor of a former Rankin/Bass employee. The puppets have been purchased by TimeandSpaceToys.com and will be restored for public display.

Check out the TimeandSpaceToys.com article for more information.

Also, be sure to read last year’s lengthy but informative post on the animated holiday classic.

Hellboy Animated

chad — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 05:54:00 +0000

Hellboy Animated concept art by Sean “Cheeks” Galloway.

Like the recent motion picture, ‘Hellboy‘, created by author/illustrator Mike Mignola, will be coming to life in animated form. IDT Entertainment and Revolution Studios will bring ‘Big Red’ to life in direct-to-DVD productions, and possibly an animated series, online content and video games. Ron Perlman, who acted as Hellboy in the feature film will also be providing voicework for the animated versions. Guillermo del Toro, director of the film, will serve as a creative producer along with Mignola.

Read the Variety article at this link.

I was pleased to hear that a fellow member of The Drawing Board, Sean “Cheeks” Galloway, was chosen as the lead designer and fellow Hellboy.com forum member and animation veteran, Tad Stones, is the supervising director. With all of this talent, Hellboy is certainly in good hands.

Follow the production of Hellboy Animated at the new Production Diary.

Check out more of Sean’s outstanding artwork at his online gallery, where I’m sure you’ll see how his dynamic style is a natural fit for animation.

There’s also a great interview with Tad regarding animated television series development at Digital Media FX.

While we’re talking about Hellboy, here’s two great lithographs I recently received. The first comes courtesy of ‘…’ at the Hellboy fourm, and the second arrived thanks to Jun at The Comic Bug.

Hellboy mini-lithograph produced by Dark Horse Comics.

Hellboy Hurricane Katrina Red Cross Relief lithograph by Mike Mignola.