Leaning To Spin My Own Interweb

I'm taking a class on website design at a local community college--the same one I happen to be currently employed at (convenient, no?). I figured it would be good for me to get a portfolio online, because honestly I have no idea what I have turned this blog into...

It's more of an abandoned orphan than anything else, seeing how little attention it gets from me.

Here is one of my latest endeavors into the realm of HTML:

Clearly it's dedicated to everyone's favorite pizza loving party animal...

Cowabunga, dudes!

Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na SpiiiiiiderMaaaan!

In an effort to avoid clichés, I will not be mentioning anything in regards to not posting in over a year.

But seeing as I have already broken that personal goal by the previous sentence alone... Allow the following explanation to my whereabouts:

I was swallowed by a whale. I still currently reside in said whale.

His kidneys have free WiFi available (hence the internet access).
So you know, not all is lost.

Birthday Wishes

So I am doing more of those doodles of my friends (I'm pretty sure this one is self-explanatory). But these are quick and kind of fun. Although my tablet and sketching programs have been getting on my nerves lately...

AFI's #94

Pulp Fiction

(1994)

Last Friday a friend invited me to see Quentin Tarantino's classic over in Beverly Hills at a revival movie theater. It was a bit of an interesting experience. I, like most, if not all, people in that theater had seen the movie several times, yet we were all there to enjoy it again on the big screen--it kind of gave a different vibe to the room.

There is nothing I can say other then this is just a cool movie. I could talk about the non-linear story structure or speculate on what was in the briefcase. But I would much rather just call it a cool movie and move on.

However, I did take note at many of the shot decisions that were being made. Tarantino's movies are always rich with long scenes of dialogue and they are always handled so nicely with much variety.

This gave me the idea to start a swipe file:










I sifted through over 8,000 images and swiped over 100. And I feel like I really learned something from it (like how Tarantino really likes upshots). It's a little easier to understand the decisions be made for every shot when you look at everything as a still.

This may help me become a good story artist yet!

AFI's #35

Annie Hall

(1977)

Choosing my movies based on availability and whatever the hell I feel like, I am kicking off the list with Woody Allen's Annie Hall.

Within the first few minutes of the movie, I had the feeling that I wasn't going to enjoy the movie very much. I think it had to do with the fact that it started with an introductory monologue by Woody Allen--and quite frankly there is something about his person that I find disturbing to watch. But once the movie really got started with its wonderful 4th-wall-breaking asides, long unabridged shots, and quirky meandering story telling, I found myself drawn into it much more.

The main characters are awkward, cynical, distraught, and confused--and they feel far more real because of it. For a movie that is mostly comprised of long scenes of dialogue, there is plenty of variety to keep interested.

It's also pretty neat to see actors when they were much younger. Including the likes of Jeff Golblum, Christopher Walken, and I guess Sigourney Weaver (though I seemed to missed her entirely when I watched the movie).

("What's my mantra?)

All in all I liked it. And I can see why many people regard it as their favorite Woody Allen movie. I dunno if I could pass a judgment like that--he has so many freakin' movies and I have seen so few of them. But of the ones I have seen, I can say this is one my favorites. Vicky Cristina Barcelona may have something to say about it, but I'm pretty sure it's just my hots for Penelope Cruz talking....

(Aren't Al Hirschfeld caricatures wonderful? I sure think so)

American Film Institute's Top 100

I have decided to up my movie education. And I could read some books on cinema, watch documentaries on directors, or listen to podcasts on Hollywood...

...or....

Just watch a bunch of freakin' movies! I am starting with this list:

AFI's top 100
(the updated 2007 list)

The plan is to watch every movie on that list--and I guess I could write about them as I do. I have seen several on this list already, but I guess I could watch them again (even though I know don't like a few of them).

It's too bad it doesn't have foreign films, but I figured this was a good place to start.

Whatev. I have the rest of my life for movie watching.

Soooo....

...I doodled this one like I did the last for a friend. He asked me too, but now that I think of it, it may have been just a set up for the rest of his comment--where he insults me. The moral of the story is: I'll find any excuse not to work on my portfolio.

And that my tablet needs proper calibration.