So as I take a break from packing a box to sent to Peter Palmiotti for the Wizard Chicago (http://www.wizarduniverse.com/conventions/chicago.cfm). I decided to let everyone know about any updates to "The Comic Book Novice" (and MFC Studios) world.
First off, the website is updated. We have added our "Official" theme song. It was composed and recorded by Brian Ferrera ("The New Gal" Jess' husband) from Terminal Press (www.terminalpress.com). I had always wanted a theme song, but it wasn't ready when we first started the radio show. so while the radio show will always have the "Spider-man" song, everything else will have the "Official" song.
All the archives are updated so you can hear all of our most recent shows that you may have missed (and shame on you if you did!).
We Have some contests. The folks at Wizard have given us 4 3-day passes. I'm going to give them away (Live) on the shows leading up to the con (2 this week, 2 the next).
"The Novice" Belkis has started posting in this very blog! (Hopefully) she will be updating every Monday while I will continue to post on Tuesday and Thursday.
The TV show (well, web-tv show...I know there is an official name for it....) is coming along nicely. I am working on the subject topics for the shows and everyone else seems psyched. The way I see it we "should" have the shows ready to put up on the site late September. Fingers crossed!
Lastly, Pete has put up some more of his pics on the "Pete's Pics" section of the website. Drop him, or us a line and let us know what you think!
10/21/08 update: Wow, it's funny how things were going nicely just before they weren't. I guess that is true with everything ("He was always alive until he wasn't", or "I always tell the truth 'cept when I am not"). Belkis didn't do much blogging, she (like Hassan and even Pete with his Pics.) just had too much a their "real" jobs to deal with. Maybe that is the problem there. I shouldn't be calling it a "real" job, I should be calling it a "paying" job.... Even better, I'm going to call it their "main" job. So their "main" jobs were taking alot of time away from this job (which part of it was blogging). Hell, this is my main job and I only posted once a week (mostly because I don't have much to say quite so often).
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
The Dark Knight
Hello everyone. I'm Belkis and this is my first blog posting...weeeee!! So my good friend, James Rodriguez, totally send me a link to the movie trailer for the THE DARK KNIGHT which is a sequel to BATMAN BEGINS. I wasn't particularly impressed with BB. I guest I was too in love with Tim Burton's style to picture anyone else working on this series (considering the fact that Joel Schumacher did not live up to my expectations as Burton's successor). However, I did see the trailer for THE DARK KNIGHT and I must say...it looks good. Even though the trailer doesn't give you much visual, here are my reasons as to why this particular BATMAN movie will be a box office hit. First, let's thank Christopher Nolan for putting the dark back into Batman and coming back to direct the second installation of this reprised franchise. Secondly, Christian Bale is back playing the title role. Nothing beats having the main actor coming back for the sequel especially when he did a good job in the first place. Sorry Val Kilmer and George Clooney. Also, he's still young and could definitely appeal to the next generation. Again, sorry Val Kilmer and George Clooney. Next, our favorite villian is back and this time he will be played by Heath Ledger. This will be something to look forward to considering the fact that I would never picture Heath Ledger to be the next Joker. However, he is a good actor and Jerry Robinson who co-created the basic concept of the Joker was his consultant. This means that they wouldn't expect anything less from Ledger. Don't want to give too much away. It will only make me more eager to see it knowing that it opens NEXT summer! Here is the link for those of you who want to watch.... http://youtube.com/watch?v=5lPz9qFZ8EI or go to www.whysoserious.com. ENJOY!
-Posted by "Just" Belkis
-Posted by "Just" Belkis
Thursday, July 26, 2007
7/26 show
Tonight (Live!) on "The Comic Book Novice" radio show Hassan (finally back in the studio), Belkis, Peter Palmiotti (calling in from The San Diego Comic con), and yours truly will be interviewing journalist Bill Baker (http://www.pmkane.com/bb/bios.htm) 9pm EST @www.am1240wgbb.com. Afterwards leave your comments here
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
rejuvinated!
A long time ago I had planned to make a TV show to go along with the radio show. there are so many reasons (that i won't go into right now) which stopped that from happening. But recently "The Novice" Belkis brought new information which now makes it possible to record and have our TV show as a web cast.
The show will be broken into 5 parts with a small animation as a bumper between segments. the first part will be just like the radio show where the four of us (Peter Palmotti, Hassan, Belkis and myself) will have a round table discussion. The second part will have Belkis on the "street" interviewing comic book fans. the third part will have "The Masked Ranter" where he will just rant about anything and everything comic book novice related. The fourth part will have Peter Palmiotti going behind the scenes at either Marvel, DC, or maybe even Wizard entertainment. The fifth part will have me doing hypnosis. I plan to do some type of hypnosis demonstration with Belkis as my lovely assistant.
Filming will be happening soon, but I figure the finished product will be done maybe sometime late September. Keep and eye out for updates on the site!
10/21/08 update: While trying not to sound like a broken record, the TV show just couldn't happen. I got as far as actually recording a few bits of hypnosis with Belkis, but one of the cameras had no sound, so even that footage was useless. While I think the TV show would have been a great thing, it is just too much to put together with people working for free. Maybe if I was still in high school, it would be easier. Tech has caught up with today's youth and it looks like everyone is making something. Just look at Youtube.
The show will be broken into 5 parts with a small animation as a bumper between segments. the first part will be just like the radio show where the four of us (Peter Palmotti, Hassan, Belkis and myself) will have a round table discussion. The second part will have Belkis on the "street" interviewing comic book fans. the third part will have "The Masked Ranter" where he will just rant about anything and everything comic book novice related. The fourth part will have Peter Palmiotti going behind the scenes at either Marvel, DC, or maybe even Wizard entertainment. The fifth part will have me doing hypnosis. I plan to do some type of hypnosis demonstration with Belkis as my lovely assistant.
Filming will be happening soon, but I figure the finished product will be done maybe sometime late September. Keep and eye out for updates on the site!
10/21/08 update: While trying not to sound like a broken record, the TV show just couldn't happen. I got as far as actually recording a few bits of hypnosis with Belkis, but one of the cameras had no sound, so even that footage was useless. While I think the TV show would have been a great thing, it is just too much to put together with people working for free. Maybe if I was still in high school, it would be easier. Tech has caught up with today's youth and it looks like everyone is making something. Just look at Youtube.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
7/19 show
Tonight (Live!) on "The Comic Book Novice" radio show Belkis, Hassan, Peter Palmiotti, and yours truly will be discussing the movie "1408". As with all of our "movie" shows, this will be a free flowing discussion, so spoilers may occur. 9pm EST (www.am1240wgbb.com)
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Helping others while helping myself
I always wanted to have my own comic book published. Never wanted anything else. Well, more specifically, I wanted to work in comics, but after years of orbiting the outside I now see that your own book is the way to go (not that I wouldn't jump at a chance to work on the big 2) .
Next year is my shot. Not only is my book going to come out ("The Chosen Few") but one of my characters (Sunburst) is going to be featured in the Multi-company crossover called "War of The Independents". To top it all off, I'm supposed to co-write a one shot lead-in to that aforementioned crossover using 3 characters (Ezra, Talon, Bright Eyes) none of which is mine!
But before any of that happens, One of those characters (Talon) has a shot at her very own series. Her creator (Scottie Ray Watson) is involved in "Small Press Idol" a contest from Dimestore productions (www.dimestoreproductions.com).
The Prize? A 4 issue run. Not a bad gig. All the rounds (there have been four) were all based on voting. This round is the same but you have to pre-order a copy of the book as your vote. I haven't voted (but that's because I'm not really into voting as a process), but I am going to order a copy of "Talon". "Why?" you may ask. "What about the others?", "Don't they deserve a chance also?" may be your follow questions. Well, If "Talon" wins, not only can Scott achieve his dream, but it helps me in my dream. So why not?
10/21/08 update: Swat won! Dimestore is waiting on him to publish the book an I'm still waiting on the collaboration with him and Peter Palmiotti. Funny thing is that the runner up "Sky Pirates" has already published and are constantly promoting their book.
Next year is my shot. Not only is my book going to come out ("The Chosen Few") but one of my characters (Sunburst) is going to be featured in the Multi-company crossover called "War of The Independents". To top it all off, I'm supposed to co-write a one shot lead-in to that aforementioned crossover using 3 characters (Ezra, Talon, Bright Eyes) none of which is mine!
But before any of that happens, One of those characters (Talon) has a shot at her very own series. Her creator (Scottie Ray Watson) is involved in "Small Press Idol" a contest from Dimestore productions (www.dimestoreproductions.com).
The Prize? A 4 issue run. Not a bad gig. All the rounds (there have been four) were all based on voting. This round is the same but you have to pre-order a copy of the book as your vote. I haven't voted (but that's because I'm not really into voting as a process), but I am going to order a copy of "Talon". "Why?" you may ask. "What about the others?", "Don't they deserve a chance also?" may be your follow questions. Well, If "Talon" wins, not only can Scott achieve his dream, but it helps me in my dream. So why not?
10/21/08 update: Swat won! Dimestore is waiting on him to publish the book an I'm still waiting on the collaboration with him and Peter Palmiotti. Funny thing is that the runner up "Sky Pirates" has already published and are constantly promoting their book.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
7/12 show
Tonight (live!) on "The Comic Book Novice" radio show Join Hassan, Jennifer Smith (back from Cap watch '07), Peter Palmiotti, and yours truly as we discuss the new Transformers movie. This will be a free flowing conversation so spoliers will flow freely. 9pm est www.am1240wgbb.com . Afterwards leave your comments here!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Transformers
SPOILERS
There are a few things I have to say before I talk about this movie. First, Michael Bay LOVES to blow up stuff. He LOVES car chases, and action. Second, Michael Bay has been quoted to say "Originally when I was contacted to do the Transformers I was going to pass, but then I thought I could make this into the next superhero franchise". And third, I was a HUGE Transformer fan. I still love the original movie and can (almost) recite the whole movie word for word (with music cues). Oh, Fourth, sometimes I tend to ramble...
So I felt it's only fair that I review this movie two ways. First as a "Transformers movie" and then as a "movie". Think of it as the American Godzilla. It just HAD TO be reviewed two ways. But this movie is different. it's its own thing.....
I was negative going into the movie. But just a few days before I saw it, I went to see Fantastic Four 2. One of the trailers was for Transfomrers. I heard the sound. the sound effect of the Transforming. It was only Prime, but it was there. Then I had heard that they got the original voice actor to do Prime's voice (Peter Cullen). Then I talked to this one guy who is a projectionist and he said he saw it on Saturday. He said he was a Trasnformer fan and he liked it. So last night I had my hopes up. The movie opens and the first thing I hear is Peter Cullen's voice. I was very happy. The beginning started off prety good. I was thinking maybe I'm gonna like this after all.
I was wrong.
The movie was inconsistant. They didn't know what kind of moive they wanted to be. A love story? An action flick? A Serious invasion movie? A comedy? It was like 6 different guys wrote this movie. And you can tell which guy wrote which parts. There were some parts that were a tip of the hat to the original series and yet at the same time it was insulting to the original fans. If they got Peter, why not Frank Welker for Megatron? He's still alive and still does voices for movies and TV all the time. Hell, he's doing the voice for Megatron in the freakin' video game! As a Transformer fan, I was (almost) eating up any nugget of old Transformers that they gave to me. When Prime said "One shall stand! One shall fall!" I was so happy (It's a quote taken from the original movie). I know that most of it came from Peter's voice, but they had a little robot Transform into a radio (like Soundwave) or when they had Bumblebee right next to an old (yellow) Volswagen Beetle. So if it was a better overall movie the Transformer stuff would have keep me going.
But it was crap.
As a movie itself, a lot of things didn't make sense. There was no explainiation as to why the events started as they did. Spike (although they didn't call him that) buys Bumblebee. Coincidence? it's not supposed to be. But they make it seem like it. Then halfway through, they decided that it's not. The Transformers were looking for the "all spark" a thing that supposed to give life to the Transformers (for you fans, it's like a mix of the Matrix and an Energon cube). Megatron came to Earth looking for it and got frozen in the artic. Then like 80 (or something like that) years later the Decepticons seem to find out that Spike has the location of the "all spark" because he has some glasses that has the location imprinted on it. Yet at the climax of the movie, we find that the "all spak" has been moved so the glasses are moot. A few times throughout the movie Prime lets everyone know that if he places the "all spark" in his chest he will die and destroy the "all spark" with him. So when they get the "all spark" they decided to have Spike run away with it while the Autobots and some military guys (who were stationed in Iraq) protect him. Megatron was way powerful and the Decepticons were overall stronger that the Autobots. So how do they win? Well, Prime yells to spike to place the spark inside if him (while getting his bumper handed to him by Megatron) and Spike magages to place the "all spark" inside Megatron's chest!. If a freakin' human could do that how difficult would it have been for a Transformer to do it? And why try to keep it away from Megatron to begin with? why not be like "here you go" then slip it right into the chest? Even the killing was inconsistant. Some deaths were overy tramatic, and some were like "oh well, he's dead, let's move and with this crappy movie". Oh, one last thing (well, I really could go on and on about it) I think Michael Bay is a Democrat. He takes an (obvious) political stand in the movie and manages to even poke fun at the President...
It's never a good thing when I get bored in an action flick. And that was exactly what I was. sure the visuals were nice, but it was nothing new, and a the story just wasn't there to keep me interested. Some people will like it. Those people have way lower standards than I have (not that that is a bad thing. cause if I did, then I would have enjoyed the movie!).
10/21/08 update: I hate this movie more and more every time I think about it. Now Shia Lebouf is on my short list of arch enemies. Oh, they are going to make 2 sequels next up is Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. Seriously. Part 3 will be called "Transformers 3: The search for more money"!
There are a few things I have to say before I talk about this movie. First, Michael Bay LOVES to blow up stuff. He LOVES car chases, and action. Second, Michael Bay has been quoted to say "Originally when I was contacted to do the Transformers I was going to pass, but then I thought I could make this into the next superhero franchise". And third, I was a HUGE Transformer fan. I still love the original movie and can (almost) recite the whole movie word for word (with music cues). Oh, Fourth, sometimes I tend to ramble...
So I felt it's only fair that I review this movie two ways. First as a "Transformers movie" and then as a "movie". Think of it as the American Godzilla. It just HAD TO be reviewed two ways. But this movie is different. it's its own thing.....
I was negative going into the movie. But just a few days before I saw it, I went to see Fantastic Four 2. One of the trailers was for Transfomrers. I heard the sound. the sound effect of the Transforming. It was only Prime, but it was there. Then I had heard that they got the original voice actor to do Prime's voice (Peter Cullen). Then I talked to this one guy who is a projectionist and he said he saw it on Saturday. He said he was a Trasnformer fan and he liked it. So last night I had my hopes up. The movie opens and the first thing I hear is Peter Cullen's voice. I was very happy. The beginning started off prety good. I was thinking maybe I'm gonna like this after all.
I was wrong.
The movie was inconsistant. They didn't know what kind of moive they wanted to be. A love story? An action flick? A Serious invasion movie? A comedy? It was like 6 different guys wrote this movie. And you can tell which guy wrote which parts. There were some parts that were a tip of the hat to the original series and yet at the same time it was insulting to the original fans. If they got Peter, why not Frank Welker for Megatron? He's still alive and still does voices for movies and TV all the time. Hell, he's doing the voice for Megatron in the freakin' video game! As a Transformer fan, I was (almost) eating up any nugget of old Transformers that they gave to me. When Prime said "One shall stand! One shall fall!" I was so happy (It's a quote taken from the original movie). I know that most of it came from Peter's voice, but they had a little robot Transform into a radio (like Soundwave) or when they had Bumblebee right next to an old (yellow) Volswagen Beetle. So if it was a better overall movie the Transformer stuff would have keep me going.
But it was crap.
As a movie itself, a lot of things didn't make sense. There was no explainiation as to why the events started as they did. Spike (although they didn't call him that) buys Bumblebee. Coincidence? it's not supposed to be. But they make it seem like it. Then halfway through, they decided that it's not. The Transformers were looking for the "all spark" a thing that supposed to give life to the Transformers (for you fans, it's like a mix of the Matrix and an Energon cube). Megatron came to Earth looking for it and got frozen in the artic. Then like 80 (or something like that) years later the Decepticons seem to find out that Spike has the location of the "all spark" because he has some glasses that has the location imprinted on it. Yet at the climax of the movie, we find that the "all spak" has been moved so the glasses are moot. A few times throughout the movie Prime lets everyone know that if he places the "all spark" in his chest he will die and destroy the "all spark" with him. So when they get the "all spark" they decided to have Spike run away with it while the Autobots and some military guys (who were stationed in Iraq) protect him. Megatron was way powerful and the Decepticons were overall stronger that the Autobots. So how do they win? Well, Prime yells to spike to place the spark inside if him (while getting his bumper handed to him by Megatron) and Spike magages to place the "all spark" inside Megatron's chest!. If a freakin' human could do that how difficult would it have been for a Transformer to do it? And why try to keep it away from Megatron to begin with? why not be like "here you go" then slip it right into the chest? Even the killing was inconsistant. Some deaths were overy tramatic, and some were like "oh well, he's dead, let's move and with this crappy movie". Oh, one last thing (well, I really could go on and on about it) I think Michael Bay is a Democrat. He takes an (obvious) political stand in the movie and manages to even poke fun at the President...
It's never a good thing when I get bored in an action flick. And that was exactly what I was. sure the visuals were nice, but it was nothing new, and a the story just wasn't there to keep me interested. Some people will like it. Those people have way lower standards than I have (not that that is a bad thing. cause if I did, then I would have enjoyed the movie!).
10/21/08 update: I hate this movie more and more every time I think about it. Now Shia Lebouf is on my short list of arch enemies. Oh, they are going to make 2 sequels next up is Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. Seriously. Part 3 will be called "Transformers 3: The search for more money"!
Thursday, July 5, 2007
7/5 show
Tonight (Live!) on "The Comic Book Novice" radio show, Peter Palmiotti, Hassan, Belkis, and yours truly discuss the Fantastic Four sequel. As usual, if you plan on seeing the movie and DO NOT want to know anything about it, wait 'till after you see it, then download the show. The will be a free-flowing discussion, so potential spoilers tend to flow. 9pm EST www.am1240wgbb.com. After you hear the show, leave your comments here.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
2 different things..
I like structure. That is why I post once a week. Sometimes I'm like "hey this (enter subject) might be a good thing to blog about. But it's not Tuesday. Sometimes I'm like "aw crap it's Tuesday and I have nothing to blog about".
So If I were to expand the frequency of my blogs I may run out of things to say or worse I won't keep my schedule. It has occurred to me that I can save my blogs and then post them later. So now I can write my thoughts down at any time and then publish them on Tuesday. If I start to get a back log of blogs only then will I start to increase my postings.
But that isnt what this blog is about (well, actually it is given the title)
This past Saturday, I took Peter Palmiotti and Jennifer down to the Crazee Comic guy's podcasting area to do their show. It had been months in the making, but scheduling was always a problem. Anyways after getting there 2 hours late (they wanted to eat and be late) we did the show.
It was a bit different than I am used to on my show. there was really no warrning to start (like a music cue) and we just went. At the station, we all (well, 4 of us at least) get head sets and here only Sam (the show's host) had one. There really was no structure in the fact that we just talked. It was more like a really good conversation with friends at a social event than doing an actual show.
so much so in fact that although we were scheduled for 1 hour we lasted 3! It was fun and a nice change of pace. Take a listen to it here: http://www.catchdacraze.com/episode86.html
10/21/08 update: They finally got Hassan to do the show. You can listen to it here:
So If I were to expand the frequency of my blogs I may run out of things to say or worse I won't keep my schedule. It has occurred to me that I can save my blogs and then post them later. So now I can write my thoughts down at any time and then publish them on Tuesday. If I start to get a back log of blogs only then will I start to increase my postings.
But that isnt what this blog is about (well, actually it is given the title)
This past Saturday, I took Peter Palmiotti and Jennifer down to the Crazee Comic guy's podcasting area to do their show. It had been months in the making, but scheduling was always a problem. Anyways after getting there 2 hours late (they wanted to eat and be late) we did the show.
It was a bit different than I am used to on my show. there was really no warrning to start (like a music cue) and we just went. At the station, we all (well, 4 of us at least) get head sets and here only Sam (the show's host) had one. There really was no structure in the fact that we just talked. It was more like a really good conversation with friends at a social event than doing an actual show.
so much so in fact that although we were scheduled for 1 hour we lasted 3! It was fun and a nice change of pace. Take a listen to it here: http://www.catchdacraze.com/episode86.html
10/21/08 update: They finally got Hassan to do the show. You can listen to it here:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
