Here you'll find a variety of samples of my artwork, from illustrations and posters to set designs and production designs over the years. You'll also find information on some writing projects, as well as miscellaneous interviews and any other nonsensical tidbits of curiosity.

2008

November 25, 2008
Photoshop is fun.

And while I'm at it, I should point out this interesting article about Shepard Fairey, the man behind the now famous poster art of Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

_

November 10, 2008
Yet another reason why Keith Olbermann kicks ass.

November 7, 2008
Free at last.

Even if the winner of the election seemed to be predictable (if not a foregone conclusion) during the final stretch of the race, I was overcome with emotion when Senator Barack Obama's victory was announced. His speech in Chicago last Tuesday night -- indeed, the mere sight of him standing at the podium, gazing out into a hopeful, excited crowd -- brought tears to my eyes. That a black man was elected filled me with joy, not by the virtue of his race, but by the ultimate proof that my country and countrymen had, at long last, the ability to shed their predjudices and possess the wisdom to elect the best person for the job.

I'm still angry over the crimes, deception, and mistakes our government made these past eight years, and I have a hard time trying to let it go. I thought about writing something profound about such feelings, but then I read this blog, which did a much better job than I ever could. (Who knew the actor who was Wesley on Star Trek could write something so eloquent and heartfelt? Bravo, Wil...)

I regret that my mother, who shared my hatred of George W. Bush with a passion, never lived to see Obama standing at that podium. I regret that Proposition 8, an ugly thing of blind intolerance and misguided logic, somehow managed to get passed in California (albeit by a narrow margin).

Still...for the first time in many, many years...I am hopeful for what the future may bring.

October 30, 2008
DEADLINE EXTENDED!
Artwork available for a limited time. (And it's for a good cause!)

Now through October 31st November 30th I'm making prints of my artwork available for purchase through the Imagekind website. These include some of my INDIANA JONES pieces, which I've gotten numerous requests for. Take a look if interested.

100% of the proceeds I receive will be donated to the Humane Society!

SEPT. 29 NOTE: Special thanks to the INDYCAST for helping me promote this and my Richard Amsel tribute... I'm also donating some artwork to an Indiana Jones fan-related contest they're sponsoring. Listen to their 9/22/08 postcast or visit their official "shownotes" section for more info.

October 29, 2008
Site statistics.

October hasn't quite finished yet, but already a new record has been set for the number of hits my site's received! (Over 150,000 hits since October 1st, and a total of 1,010,102 hits so far this year.)

Thanks for visiting, guys!

October 26, 2008
What I've been up to...

So much has been happening these last few months, it's hard to sum it all up in just a few loglines.

First: The website redesign. I'm in the process of giving it all a more uniform (and professional) look, so if you happen to miss the old green and yellow pages, trust me, I feel your pain. But who knows? I'm always tinkering with this site, so who's to say the inevidable next redesign won't be something even more tacky or outrageous?

Second: Chasing Echoes Through the Dark WILL be coming out in 2009. The reasons behind its delay are too complicated and overwhelming to explain right here and now...but it is going to happen, and we're very, very proud of it.

Third: I'm sorry to say that the musical adaptation of How to Succeed in Heaven Without Really Dying has been placed on indefinite hold, while the composers/producers iron out another long-gestating musical project. In short, my show won't happen until (unless?) their show happens first...so I'm not holding my breath. It's been a pretty disappointing experience at times, but we're trying to remain optimistic and keep things in perspective.

Fourth: Check out INDYFANS! Though I was sorry to see so much of my material cut (a typical attitude of any interviewee, right?), my artwork did get at least a little mention. Be sure to go through the DVD's bonus features, too...as you might find a thing or two from yours truly.

Fifth: Speaking of DVDs...these past few months I was on assignment at Disney Worldwide Technical Services, and had an incredible time working with their DVD designers. They're a great team -- patient, knowledgeable, generous, not to mention a lot of fun to be around -- and I had the good fortune of playing with tools & software that were pretty state-of-the-art. (My computer stuff at home absolutely sucks in comparison.) You can see some examples of my work at Disney WTS within the DVD section of my art gallery.

Among the digital "toys" I played with were some film transfer and editing equipment...so, during a few hours of free time just last week, I was able to make a new digital remaster of my old student film, 8:00 a.m. Though by no means does it look perfect, the picture quality is light years ahead of both the original Vassar and FotoKem transfers. You can see a pretty good version of it on YouTube here.

Finally: After watching 8:00 a.m., be sure to watch this commercial and ask yourself if one of the actors looks rather familiar...

(P.S.: Way to go, Alex! I hope you're doing well...)

October 4, 2008
"Remember...hope is a good thing."

What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label "Liberal?" If by "Liberal" they mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer's dollar, then the record of this party and its members demonstrate that we are not that kind of "Liberal." But if by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties -- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal."

--John F. Kennedy, September 14, 1960

A confession: I'm a bleeding liberal.

I don't march in step with every issue of the Democratic Party, but on most views I have attitudes that can fairly be described as liberal, progressive, and/or leftist. I love this country, but hate some many of the bastards currently running it.

That's not to say I don't respect Republicans. Some of them I can actually like. My late grandfather, William Glaccum, was a staunch conservative; he was also one of the best men I ever knew. (I joked in his eulogy that he'd need only the company of three people in order to be happy in heaven : his late wife, God, and Ronald Reagan...and not necessarily in that order.) However different our political beliefs, we always loved and respected each other, and, as firm as he was in his convictions, he never preached or looked down on anyone who had a difference of opinion. I think many people on both sides of the political spectrum could learn from such example.

So much is at stake in the upcoming election. Back in 2004, everyone was chanting "VOTE OR DIE" -- and considering the way the world is now, that slogan almost proved to be prophetic. But it's not enough to simply vote. Rather, vote informed.

I can't understand "The Undecideds" -- people who, for whatever impossible-to-imagine reasons, don't yet know the candidates, their political stances, or their agendas. Worse, voters who simply just can't make up their minds. Don't they pay attention? Watch the news? Care about issues? This country? The world?

Maybe it's laziness, or complacency, or brain damage, or brainwashing. But for the love of God, if you don't know the stakes of this election, if you don't grasp the consequences, or base your decisions on purely trivial reasoning ("That Palin girl's kinda cute..."), then I don't care how much you pay in taxes, you don't DESERVE the right to vote.

September 13, 2008
A rare breed: movie poster artists.

Last February I posted an online tribute to the late artist/illustrator Richard Amsel. The response and enthusiasm it received was wonderful... Whereas before I had to search high and low for any shred of information on the artist, over these past few months I've had people who personally knew Amsel actually contacting me!

I've just updated the article to include these new remembrances, including a heartfelt interview I had last week with Richard's brother, Michael Amsel.

Yesterday I received an envelope from Michael, with an undated sketch of Marilyn Monroe that Richard had made. I always dreamed of one day having a Richard Amsel original, but never thought it'd ever come to pass. Michael proved me wrong. Dreams, it seems, can indeed come true!

Also of note: after a wildly successful career spanning nearly four decades, artist Drew Struzan recently announced his retirement. This is sad news to many movie lovers, myself included.

Best of luck to ya, Drew! Now I'm left wondering who else's work will I be able to plagiarize?

August 31, 2008
Art Gallery makeover.

Over the years my ART GALLERY has gone through one design after another, but never fully complete in a single cohesive way. This weekend I finally got my butt in gear and gave the whole thing a makeover -- something that looks a little more professional. There's also a new ANIMATION section showing some recent 2D/After Effects work.

Hope you all enjoy it, and let me know your thoughts!

August 6, 2008
One of the nicest compliments...

This charming young fellow reportedly liked my Indiana Jones artwork so much that his dad made him a T-shirt out of it. I'd ask for my cut in residuals if I wasn't smiling so broadly and flattered so much.

August 6, 2008
Don't just vote "REPUBLICAN"...

...take REPUBLICAN!!!

Just got back this morning from a five-day trip to San Diego. Comic-Con was a lot of fun, albeit a bit lonely; last year I had friends come out with me, but this year I went all by myself. (Though happily I learned an old friend, whom I hadn't seen in ages, was also in town, and he let me crash at his place Sunday night when he saw how tired I was from the festivities.)

Hands down, my favorite moment of the convention was finally meeting animators Don Bluth and Gary Goldman in person. Not only did they honor my request for a photo op -- even offering to come out from behind their booth to stand by my side -- but when my camera's batteries had unexpectedly died (oh, the embarassment!), an assistant was kind enough to take a picture with his camera and email it to me. So, after all these years, at last I have a signed SECRET OF NIMH poster, a photo with two of my creative heroes, and a great, goofy little memory to smile back on.

Also cool news: Brandon Kleyla's documentary INDYFANS AND THE QUEST FOR FORTUNE AND GLORY, which features a small segment on yours truly, has now secured a distribution deal and will be available for purchase on DVD come October 7th! (For the anxious, it should be available for preorder on August 26th.) Bravo, Brandon!

As with last year, I participated with Brandon's "Indyfans" panel at Comic-Con, though this time I finally mustered up the courage to show up in costume. (As if I didn't already have the hat and whip to begin with.) Now that INDY IV is said and done, I'm rather sad that it's all come to an end...or has it?

July 13, 2008
Color me Kubrick...

It's hard for me to believe that it's been almost a decade since Stanley Kubrick's passing. The director would have turned 80 this year, and had he lived, surely could have made at least one more film for us to ponder. (His definitive A.I.? His once abandoned, always beloved dream NAPOLEON project?) I never knew or met the man personally, but when the news broke of his death I found myself driving aimlessly in my car down the Pacific Coast Highway, feeling a strange sense of personal loss and sadness. I was right outside of San Diego, near the US-Mexican border, when I finally turned around for home.

England's Channel 4 has this extraordinary commercial up, which recreates, in stunning detail, the film set of THE SHINING -- including recognizable props, 70's period costumes, fashion...even the color balance of the film stock looks authentic.

Also of note is this Daily Telegraph article about Kubrick's personal archives and collection of props used within his films. Kubrick's family has donated them to the University of the Arts London, where they will be available for viewing by the public! This alone gives me reason enough to renew my passport and fly over.

2008 also marks the 40th (!) anniversary of the filmmaker's seminal 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, and I was fortunate enough to attend a special lecture at the AMPAS with VFX wizard Douglas Trumbull about the movie's groundbreaking special effects. It was hosted by Tom Hanks -- himself a lifelong devoted fan of the film -- and Trumbull shared many behind-the-scenes images from his own personal collection, most of which had never been made previously available to the public.

While I was in college I'd met Trumbull at his Ridefilm company in Massachusetts, and later (albeit briefly) after moving out to Los Angeles. His lecture was extraordinary, and the material warrants, at the very least, an in-depth book or documentary of its own. 2001 is a film that has stood the test of time, both thematically and visually, and the achievement is all the more mind-boggling when you consider the technical limitations the production faced. (NO CGI! NO BLUESCREENS!) There has never been (nor, I suspect, ever will be) a film quite like it.

I booked my trip and tickets some time ago, so now it all depends on my schedule. God, I love Comic-Con. I'm not much of a comic book enthusiast, but there's enough movie-related goodies there to satisfy all kinds of tastes, including mine.

If you're planning on going, by all means shoot me an email. I'll be participating in the Indyfans event, set for Sunday 7/27 2-3pm. (See the gratuitous "Indy girls" photo at right for more info.)

I'm also planning to have some prints of my work on sale within the artists' auction, and this time I hope it will be more successful. I made the mistake of trying to sell originals last year, which just aren't affordable to casual buyers. (I also learned the hard and painful way that framed canvases are damn difficult to carry around whilst waiting in a three-hour line.)

The convention itself is quite an event, but seeing San Diego alone makes the trip worthwhile. It really is a beautiful city, and should I ever have the finances and opportunities, I'd seriously consider moving there someday.

June 23, 2008
R.I.P. George Carlin: 1937-2008

One of my favorite American voices fell silent yesterday. I was lucky enough to have seen George Carlin perform in late 2006, though somehow in the back of my mind, I was fully expecting to see him in concert again at some point.

Much has been said about Carlin's use of extensive profanity in his comedy routines, but this clearly overlooks the often deeply thoughtful and profound, always brilliantly witty meanings behind his words. This piece, written shortly after his wife's passing, is a strong case in point. (Footnote: Carlin's last interview, another thing of poetic beauty, can be read here.)

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all, mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets keepsakes, music, plants, and hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

 

New legislation is being developed that could have far-reaching effects for artists and illustrators over the authorship and royalties of their work. Even if you can't draw a straight line, anyone and everyone who respects creative copyright should have extreme cause for concern.

The essence of the proposed "orphan works" legislation is that any creative work you do -- be it for published commercial work or for your own private use (even a home video!) -- must be registered under a commercial registry in order to be protected by copyright law. In theory, this proposal would require an artist to digitize, register, and publish each and every work of art in order to have them copyright protected -- an extraordinarily difficult investment for anyone to make, in both time and money. Those works that are not registered would be considered "orphaned", and would be more easily susceptible to infringement.

The alleged motive behind this bill is to more easily allow for the commercial use of creative work by an artist or author who is hard to find or identify. But the scope of the bill is so great that it would affect everyone -- even those artists who are alive and well...and working!!!

So...who would actually benefit from this bill? It's surely not the artists, but all those profiting from the "registries" artists would be forced to go to -- and pay for! -- in order to protect their work. Under the conditions of the bill, any creative work not listed within such a registry could more easily be used without the artist's knowledge or consent. (In other words, stolen.) Worse still, this legislation would also make it considerably more difficult for artists to pursue legal action should their work be infringed.

From the Illustrators Partnership of America: "If the Orphan Works legislation passes, you and I and all creatives will lose virtually all the rights to not only our future work but to everything we've created over the past 34 years, unless we register it with the new, untested and privately run (by the friends and cronies of the U.S. government) registries. Even then, there is no guarantee that someone wishing to steal your personal creations won't successfully call your work an orphan work, and then legally use it for free. In short, if Congress passes this law, YOU WILL LOSE THE RIGHT TO MAKE MONEY FROM YOUR OWN CREATIONS!"

This audio clip offers an in-depth discussion of the matter. There is also an online petition to fight the bill at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/no-to-orphan-works-act.html.

Authorship protection and copyright are fundamental issues under American law, and this proposed bill could irrevocably damage the very notion of creative ownership.

By now I think I'm finally recovering from the Indy fever of 2008, so if you're sick of seeing yet another Indiana Jones themed post, rest assured that this should be one of my last on the subject for some time to come.

If you like the poster I did (right), I've donated a large 33 x 48" print to Indiana Jones Collectors for their June prize giveaway. Check our their site for more info. No need to thank me -- I'm a giver!

To the thirty thousand or so people who've asked for my thoughts on Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, I found much to like in the film but was also disappointed. The first 40 minutes are on par with the best moments of the series (even if the nuked refridgerator scene was a bit much), but the story gets bogged down once the action moves to Peru, and the finale feels tired and by-the-numbers. The minor characters (Ray Winstone, John Hurt) seemed silly, as did much of the action, and Karen Allen's return as Marion Ravenwood was a wasted opportunity -- a far cry from the strong-willed, Howard Hawksian heroine who held her own in the original Raiders. Her relationship with Indy could have been the heart and soul of Crystal Skull (at least it was in the Frank Darabont draft), but instead it's criminally reduced to little more than a mere plot point.

On its own terms, Crystal Skull is a fun, entertaining movie to watch, but it never really captures the magic, awe, or grand sense of adventure that Raiders had -- and in spades

June 14, 2008
David Edward Byrd.

One of the biggest joys I've had these past few months is meeting a lot of people whose work I admire -- artists like James Gurney, William Stout, producer Frank Marshall (even if the latter was by accident!) among them.

It's seldom that you get to really know such an individual on a personal level, so when it does happen it becomes a geniune privilege. This was the case with illustrator David Edward Byrd, with whom I talked a great deal while researching my Richard Amsel article.

David is one of those American rarities -- an artist with a superior talent, a personality with more than a little eccentricity. He is always warm and gracious, and is often happy to share tall tales of Hollywood royalty, and his own personal stories of Broadway and showbiz personalities.

Recently David and his partner Jolino Beserra (a formidable artist in his own right) invited me to their home in the Hollywood Hills, and it was amazing to see their work firsthand. Their house itself is a work of art, which Beserra filled with elaborate mosaic tile patterns. We also had dinner while watching the premiere of HBO's RECOUNT, which didn't make us feel any better about the last seven years.

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David's work includes such iconic posters as GODSPELL, FOLLIES, WOODSTOCK, and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. Take a look at his website; you'll be glad you did.

June 5, 2008

June 4, 2008
It's amazing what we can overlook...

May 29, 2008
INDIANA JONES charity art show.

I'll be among the artists donating work for an Indiana Jones tribute charity show this Saturday, May 31st, at 7-10pm, at Capsole. Proceeds go to the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles. If you decide to visit, be sure to say hello!

--		OPENING RECEPTION May 31, 2008 7-10pm Capsole 7320 1/2 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046

MAY 31st UPDATE: The event was a lot of fun, for a good cause, and I was grateful for all the compliments my artwork received. Here are photos of me and the young woman who won the poster:

--

I never tire of watching this.

May 16, 2008
Movie Geeks United!

Tonight director Brandon Kleyla and I were among those interviewed by online radio broadcast Movie Geeks United to talk about the Indiana Jones films and Brandon's upcoming documentary INDYFANS AND THE QUEST FOR FORTUNE AND GLORY. Watch for it at www. blogtalkradio. com/moviegeeksunited.

May 6, 2008
"INDYFANS" poster, redux.

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in! After the premiere of INDYFANS AND THE QUEST FOR FORTUNE AND GLORY at the Lido a little over a week ago, the Newport Beach Film Festival has now scheduled an encore screening, this time on its BIG Edwards' screen on Wednesday, May 21st -- immediately preceeding the midnight showing of INDY IV!

To mark the new venue, director Brandon Kleyla asked me to do a new variation on the poster, with a different background and additional characters. Two days later I finished the revisions, including the cartoon jackals you see at right.

I'm told that by the end of the week, Edwards Cinemas will be distributing these new posters to all their theaters in Newport and surrounding areas in Orange County. Let me know if you see them!

I WON'T be able to attend, as come the 21st I've already got my INDY IV tickets at the Arclight in Hollywood; its assigned seating spares me the trouble of having to camp outside the theater hours in advance. Dear God, I hope the movie's good.

Go to bignewport.com for more info on the Newport screening!

The magic of an animated film depends on the ability to bring to life not only animated characters, but the worlds they inhabit. Encompassing all stages of the filmmaking process, this exhibition showcases artwork from the 1950s through the 1990s and features such animated classics as Alice In Wonderland, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians, Gay Purr-ee, The Secret of NIMH, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Iron Giant as well as from Oscar®-winning shorts starring such timeless characters as Mr. Magoo, Winnie the Pooh and the Pink Panther.

The exhibit opens May 16th at the Academy's Grand Lobby Gallery in Beverly Hills.

April 8, 2008
Hero worship.

How wonderful it is to receive compliments from those whose work has inspired you. Such was the case with Don Bluth and Gary Goldman, the animators behind The Secret of NIMH, who recently received a glicee print of some artwork I had sent them.

I was told that when Mr. Bluth saw it, he said, "Ah, very nice!" Mr. Goldman also just informed me that they are having the artwork framed, and plan on hanging it in a prominent place! This particularly touches me, as I have a small collection of original NIMH cells prominently displayed in my living room!

April 3, 2008
INDYFANS debut at Newport Beach Film Fest.

They've finally announced it, so I'll pass the news along: What The Force Among Us did for Star Wars, and Trekkies did for Star Trek, Indyfans does for... well, take a lucky guess!

The World Premiere for INDYFANS AND THE QUEST FOR FORTUNE AND GLORY will be taking place on April 27th, 2008 at 2:00pm, as part of the Newport Beach Film Festival. Tickets go on sale at 12 noon (Pacific Time) on Thursday, April 3rd. The documentary features an impressive list of interviews, including Raiders' costume designer Deborah Nadoolman-Landis, Tony Baxter, Tim Kirk, along with legendary stuntmen Vic Armstrong and Wendy Leech...and, of course, a bunch of self-professed "Indyfans". (Including a profile of yours truly.) Visit www.indyfansfilm.com for more info.

The film is written and directed by Brandon Kleyla (above right), an extremely enterprising and talented young man. Though he wasn't even alive when RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK came out, he's been working in the industry for a number of years now, most notably as an actor in such films as FREE ENTERPRISE and GODS AND MONSTERS. (In the latter he played a young James Whale, the Frankenstein director who, I just remembered, I wrote a thesis about back in college. Cute little trivia fact.) When I first met Brandon about the INDYFANS project, he told me that while he was in high school he had printed some Indiana Jones artwork I'd done and stuck it on the cover of one of his notebooks! One could say it's a small world we live in, but I still feel very lucky and grateful to have been a part of Brandon's project. (Hey Brandon: Thanks, man.)

Dig the poster, but can't get to Newport Beach? I'll be making a special limited run of signed posters after the festival's over. Click here for more info.

March 19 , 2008
R.I.P. Arthur C. Clarke.

Oh! I completely forgot... I promised a charming lady named Kelly that I'd give her another print of my artwork. Unfortunately I didn't get Kelly's last name, and don't know how/where to reach her...so on the off chance that an INDY IV crew member reads this and can put us in touch, I'd sincerely appreciate it. (Kelly helped coordinate all the 50's period cars for the production.)

Today I watched an old student film I worked on, way back in 1996: "VINCE GERMAIN IN DIVINE INTERVENTION". Revisiting it after all these years is a surreal, bittersweet experience (largely due to personal reasons), and while I still can't make head nor tail of its plot, I found myself laughing out loud at a lot of it...and in a good way, too. It's fun and was a lot of fun to make. I served as the cinematographer, and had a blast playing with pseudo-film-noirish shadows and camera angles. (The producer handled some of the obvious, inconsistant insert shots, either because I wasn't available or because he not-so-secretly wanted to take over the camera duties.) It's a big, silly, goofy detective film, whose titular character has quite an illustrious history. Here's hoping more of Mr. Germain's adventures may at some point see the light of day.

February 13, 2008
A tribute to artist Richard Amsel

Just in time for the release of the new INDY IV trailer, I'm finally able to post my tribute to the late Richard Amsel. Amsel was the illustrator behind the movie posters for RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, as well as over 40 covers for TV Guide.

Little has been written about the artist's life and career thus far, so I took it upon myself to create a fitting tribute. This includes an extensive gallery of Amsel's work (several of which have rarely been seen), along with revealing interviews with two of his best friends -- Dorian Hannaway, the director of late night programming at CBS, and David Edward Byrd, the legendary artist behind the posters for GODSPELL, TOMMY, and WOODSTOCK.

February 11, 2008
Matte painting exhibit at the Academy!

Matte painters' visionary works and amazing powers of illusion have enabled filmmakers to transport audiences to places and times impossible to travel to, too costly to re-create or open only to the imagination. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has a new exhibition focussing on the life and work of matte painting masters such as Peter Ellenshaw, Albert Whitlock, Matthew Yuricich, and others. Admission is free!

The Linwood Dunn Theater
1313 Vine Street
Hollywood, CA
(310) 247-3600
Hours: Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m., and whenever Academy public programs are hosted at the Dunn. The exhibit ends May 31st!

February 9, 2008
Ah, San Diego...

Last week I treated myself to a little vacation by visiting San Diego. I was there last summer, but wanted to go back to visit a friend and see some of the things I'd missed the first time around. It's such a glorious city, with a strong appreciation for the arts and wonderful cultural flavor.

At long, long last I managed to go to the Coronado Hotel, and tried recreating some moments from SOME LIKE IT HOT. (My Cary Grant impression doesn't come close to Tony Curtis', but at least I got a cool pic of their pretty chandelier, and got stared down by this creepy looking bird.) We also visited a lighthouse overlooking the bay (pic 1, pic 2), and Balboa Park, with its beautiful botanical gardens and expensive restaurants. (What else are credit cards good for?)

A lifelong fan of artist William Stout's dinosaur illustrations, I was especially interested in seeing his new prehistoric murals at the Natural History Museum; they're quite a thing to see up close. (Take a look: pic 1, pic 2, pic 3, plus the thumbnail below.) While I was there, I was also happily surprized to run into the artist himself, who by coincidence was making his own trip to the museum.

January 14, 2008
Positive review of "HEAVEN SPENT"

I've been so busy I kinda forgot about this... Though I'd like to say I'm simply trying not to gloat.

Around this time last year, Hollywood blogger "THE UNSUNG CRITIC" wrote some kind words about an animated feature script I wrote called IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THADDEUS THACKERAY. Now he has a few things to say about HEAVEN SPENT, a script I actually wrote years before (and was the basis for HOW TO SUCCEED IN HEAVEN WITHOUT REALLY DYING).

You can read the full review by clicking here. And I hope you will. I need some positive and happy thoughts this year. A script sale would be nice, too.

January 1, 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I returned to my apartment in California right before midnight chimed in, and it feels odd that I'd been in New York City just the night before. As much as I loved visiting family again, seeing NYC after a six year absence was very, very special to me. Places like this, where I once partied, and this, inside my favorite building in the world, and especially this and this, the best place in NYC during the holidays...though this place comes in a close second...and this was a nice surprize.

Another really fun highlight was NYC's F.A.O. Schwartz toy store, where a certain movie character was sculpted, life size, in Lego. (pic1, pic2, pic3, pic4) Yeah. I know. I'm pathetic...but it's a good segue into another topic, this one concerning my art work.

I've been trying, albeit slowly, to get my foot in the door in the art world. Until now I've had a few sporadic commissions here and there, and while I get compliments, I never really thought of myself as being good enough for a "professional" career. I'm happy to say, then, that one of my INDIANA JONES pieces is going to be used for an upcoming magazine article about the fourth "Indy" film!

The good news is that the publication is expected to have a print run of just under 100,000 copies -- the widest audience my artwork has ever had beyond the web. The bad news is that you'll have to visit Brazil to get a copy.

So...keep your eyes peeled... (or, as they say in Spanish, "estar pendiente de"...or, as they say in Portuguese -- crap, I can't find an English-to-Portuguese translator.) ...for the end of the year special issue of “Revista da Semana”, your source for all things Brazil, save Terry Gilliam's film of the same name. (You should check that one out, too. It's one of my favorites.)

JANUARY 9th UPDATE: With more and more events piling up in preparation for the next Indiana Jones film, I'm delighted to have my art help promote two different festivals in the months to come. And hours ago I was interviewed -- and in the process not-so-deliberately made a complete dork of myself -- for a small feature about my artwork for inclusion in a new "Indyfans" documentary due out later this year. (I'm no good in front of a camera, nervously babbling and stumbling over my words. Triumph the insult comic dog would have had a field day with me to poop on!)

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All original content (c) 2012 Adam McDaniel