Miscellaneous

I have rearranged all my links on the right by categories and added quite a few. I figured as they were they were kind of hard to navigate. Thanks Cary and Jason for the idea after looking at your blogs. I like the way they look now I think. As I find other cool links I'll add those to the list.

If anyone can check to see that my column is in fact up and running (link on the sidebar under My Works) I'd appreciate it. I haven't heard from Mr. Avalanche for days and I want to make sure he got my files and posted them up.

And as you might guess from that last paragraph, I still can't access comicavalanche.com. As I stated before, we finally ruled out any problems on my PC that may cause the problem. We also ruled out my ISP and at first it seemed we had ruled out godaddy, the host of comicavalanche.com. However, once they realized I was unable to access several of their sites within a certain range of IP addresses rather than just that site through ftp (why they got that idea in the first place is a mystery to me) they finally had to knock it up to the next level of support. I'm still waiting to hear back from them. Sucks not being able to access a site I am the webmaster of!


I don't know if I ever actually stated here, but I did send Wanabez out to Image. It's been in at Platinum forever (they recently informed me they are behind, which is understandable with the holidays, so no worries there) and for a few weeks with Alias. I finally got it off to Image (had to wait until I had access to a printer that actually had ink in it!) and now the waiting game begins.


I finally heard back about a couple of lettering jobs (I can't remember if either of them are paying, but I'm thinking they're backend) and one writing gig (also backend). So hopefully those will pan out.


I forget if I mentioned it, but I did a 10 second voice acting thing for $2 last week. lol. It was fun though.

I've only gotten two small bites on my search for a collaborator to split rights with. One sent me samples, and the other I approached and is at least thinking about it. The other guy's art was decent, but it's not the style I envision for the book, so I'll have to pass on him.

If you are an artist and you're, by chance, reading this, then you can view the ads at Digital Webbing in either the Talent Search section or in the Help Wanted forum, or at Comic Foundry in the Match Ups section. [EDIT] I figured I'd just place the ad here as well:

SPLIT RIGHTS. First off, this is a non-paying job. I am looking for a collaborator to split rights and profits with on a new idea I'm working on. The split would be fair and contracts would be signed. If I am able to pay anything upfront after Christmas I'll consider that also, but the percentage of rights ownership may change in that event. Please send your samples to submittogonzo@yahoo.com with the subject "Control Submission". Links are preferred. More details will be provided to the chosen artist. Thanks.


Saw the X-Men 3 trailer finally after realizing I had to upgrade to Quicktime version 7. It looks decent. Jean Grey blasting the doors open looked cool. I'm a little disappointed with Beast, Angel and Juggernaut though. I thought they could have done a lot better with them than they did. But all in all it seems pretty cool. I'll reserve judgment until May 26, 2006 or after, when I've actually seen the movie. The coolest thing about it as of now is that it seems like there are going to be a LOT of mutants making cameos in it, which is always cool.


I came up with an idea for a Christmas movie recently. Guess it's all the Christmas spirit going around. I'm not going to go into details about it or anything, but it's a feel-good comedy. I'm not sure if I will format it as a comic and try to submit it to Platinum or if I'll take a stab at writing the screenplay myself, getting an agent or whatever and shopping it around. Right now it's a loose thought that needs to be expounded upon.

For those not aware, Platinum Studios takes on comic projects they feel have merit to translate into other forms of media, be it movies, television or animation. They are behind Showtime's hit series, Jeremiah and several movies currently in the works.


I recently read an article on Grant Morrison in Wizard Magazine. It was an enlightening piece. I'm not the biggest Grant Morrison fan, but I found a new respect for him after reading about his start and where it has brought him. He currently lives in Scotland in a 20 room home, and according to the article if he wanted, the 45 year old writer could retire and live off royalties from his successful comic runs for the rest of his life! That's quite a financial accomplishment, let alone the literary one.

It's an interesting article, and it prompted me to research a little more. So I looked up his Wikipedia entry and his bio on his site (which is now in my Writers links section to the right). Some great stuff there.

If you guys haven't noticed, I've finally got the art bug again, I just hope it stays around this time. As I was talking to my mother we determined what I honestly think is the reason I have a tremendous lack of patience for art now is. I think it's related to stress and pressure. It's no secret I'm struggling a bit financially right now, and to be honest we've never really been well to do, but we've somehow managed to barely scrape by (or at least mastered avoiding bill collectors!). When I was younger, before all the responsibilities, I could draw for hours at a time. And I would notice improvement in my art every day. There were no other options for me. I was going to be an artist, specifically a comic artist. Then a couple of things got in the way, I gave myself some bad advice based on some misconceptions (long story) and voila. Now, years later I wish every day that I had that passion I used to carry for drawing, but every time I sit down to draw I just can't relax enough or focus enough to do anything.

I think the reason is that because of finances everything I do is geared towards making money, which is stressful and it removes the creative force that fuels the passion from it all together. And for that reason I get stressed out if I can't do it as well as I would like to do it, meaning I'm nowhere near pro level at this point. With writing it's different. There's still that pressure to a point, but I'm so passionate about writing that it's somehow easier to do. I can just let things pour out in words, and it's almost effortless because it's just there. With art I try to pour it out and it doesn't translate as well because my skill isn't at the level where it could. That's frustrating.

Anyway, the past few days have been great being able to sit down and draw, even if the results are less than stellar. Maybe it's the season, I don't know, because the stress is there more than ever at the moment. But something has allowed me to enjoy it again and I just hope it lasts.


We put up the Christmas tree finally last night, and it's the tallest one we've had in a long time. A little on the skinny side, but still cool. I love the holidays and the warm feeling of it. I just enjoy this time of year so much.

Here's another Liberty Meadows Christmasy pic:

This is from Image's holiday special I believe.

Anyone that has my pager number, that number is no longer active. It was a church pager and due to financial considerations they had to disconnect them all.


And that about does it for now. I can't really think of anything else at the moment, but I'm sure I will later. Til then...

B-Out