Showing posts with label Reel Stuff Film Festival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reel Stuff Film Festival. Show all posts

Thursday, March 19, 2009

So Much Is Happening!

There's so much going on today that I probably shouldn't take the time to post this, but there's so much to tell.

John is starting to get the photos from his trip to Reel Stuff back. Here's one of them:


There's also a friend of his, Matt Tauber, who put up a post with more photos in it, and you can see it here. The post has some great photos in it and an eyewitness account of his experience. Since I couldn't be there, it's much better than I could do. So, check it out.

From what I understand, there will be more photos here about it soon, but don't forget to check out his blog at Steve Canyon on DVD!

And here's a photo I stole from his blog.


What I should be doing right now is one last round of changes on the inside cover for the Steve Canyon on DVD Volume 2. It's the one page that John hasn't shown anybody, and he has one last option he wants to look at before he makes the final decision. I'm at that stage in the proceedings where I can't wait for it to be finalized and done with. Once that's over, I'll be waiting to get my copy in the mail. After that, it'll be waiting to get the information for the third volume. I'm sure you're getting the drift now. I'm always wanting the next thing.

It's so close to being done that I'm really excited! John is anxious to get it done, too!

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Stephanie Pearl McPhee was interviewed (via phone) on the Graham Norton show. 

Greg Kinnear was on the show and they talked about the word that Steph invented with his name. You can see that section of the show on YouTube. They showed Steph's blog on the show, too. You can catch the announcement of the show on Twitter, too.

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Vicki Howell is having another contest for a copy of her new book over on her blog. There is also a photo up of one of the designs in the book, and I have to say that even though I'm not big on crochet, I really love this one! If you're a crocheter, don't miss this one!

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Well, I entertained myself yesterday (and wore myself out) by going over to the new JoAnn Fabrics here. When Holly and I were at AC Moore last weekend, there was some really pretty yarn that I liked a lot and I've been regretting not buying it ever since. I love the sock yarn that I bought instead, but I wish I had also bought the sparkly, shiny, blue sport yarn, too. The stuff I keep picturing in lace with blue, dark plum and/or white iridescent beads scattered around the bottom.

The first sock, by the way, is nearly done. I have less than an inch before I start the toe shaping. Photos soon.

Somehow, I thought that there might be a good chance that JoAnn would have it, too. I was sadly mistaken. I did find more of the yarn that I liked so much for the Mobius hood, which I really need to get back to knitting. I bought it, hoping that there will be enough to make a poncho with. Then I can wear the poncho with the hood over it. Of course, I can wear the poncho or hood separately should I wish to, always assuming that the hood actually turns out to be wearable. This is all very experimental.

But the hood has to be done by the end of this month for the Harry Potter House Cup KAL/CAL I'm involved in. Getting stuff done works better for me when I have a deadline.

If it does turn out well, you can expect a hood/poncho pattern for sale soon. And another pair of patterns for the book I haven't been working hard enough on.

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There's a new Supernatural on tonight, and not much more in science fiction (or, in this case, fantasy) TV news.

I caught Galaxy Quest and They Live right before they came on in the last couple of days and recorded them, but haven't watched them yet. They're both movies I've watched multiple times and still love.

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I just finished reading Twilight and enjoyed it immensely. There were a lot of strange reviews of this on Amazon, and some of the reviews are grossly misleading. 

One thing a lot of people went on about was the way it's written. The consensus seems to be that it's badly written, which wasn't what I found at all. Accusations were made that there are misspelling, grammatical errors, and more in this book. I found two typos, and that's all. And I was really looking for this after all the reviews. The writing is very clear and allows the story to move at a brisk, easy pace. It's a quick, easy read, and hard to put down. It portrays a teenagers first love very well, so if you'd like to go along for that rollercoaster ride again, here's your chance. 

One thing most of the reviewers missed is that this told as a first person narrative. That's why it's submerged in self-doubt, and dripping with nauseous detail about how beautiful/wonderful/smart/funny/you get the picture the object of her affection is. That's the perspective of this hormone bombarded teen, not necessarily the truth that someone else would see.

The book exaggerates the whole teen love experience by making the heroine's boyfriend a vampire. Making vampirism a metaphor for lust is something that's been done over and over, so there's nothing new in that, but it's done well here. And yes, it's very mellow dramatic! So is first love. Get over it! If you don't want to read gooey trash, skip this. But I found it fun and definitely worth a read.

I have the next two sequels for this on request at the library, but in the meantime, I'm getting back to The Dresden Files series by rereading my favorite from the series, Blood Rites. It's my favorite because Harry gets involved in making a movie. It's only when he shows up for work that he discovers the movie is porn. This leads to more humor than most of the Dresden books. Well, it may have something to do with the fact that I've worked on some low-budget films (science fiction, not porn) myself. I love all the Dresden books, but this is my favorite so far.

I have to get busy and finish the alternate view of the inside front cover for Steve Canyon, Volume 2. Before John has a meltdown. He's not pushing me or giving me a hard time, but I know he wants to.

Have a great day!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Happy Friday the Thirteenth!

Wow! I just got a case of deja vu. It seems like only 28 days since I last said this.

I hope you're enjoying the second of two Fridays the thirteenth in two months.

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Vicki Howell has a new book coming out, Pop Goes Crochet, and she's got a contest going on over on her blog to win a signed copy of her new book. Check it out!

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I saw this note on FaceBook: "John Ellis is glad things went well last nite..the reception & screening was a BIG hit & John Ellis even interviewed Milton Caniff (!) via some hocus-pocus & razzle-dazzle."

I'm so glad it's going well, and I'm dying to find out how he interviewed Milton!

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Holly called last night. We're going out tomorrow! It'll be so nice to see her again. Ever since the headlights on her car died just before Christmas, I saw her at Christmas and one other time. That's twice in two and a half months. I miss her!

Have a great evening, and don't miss the brand new episode of Dollhouse!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Blitzed by Knit Picks!

Today, I got an email from Knit Picks telling me that they have new knitting tools available.

Wow, do they ever!

Check this out! There's a fabulous ball winder, and it's half the price of the nice ball winder that just went off the market! And interlocking foam boards that you can use for blocking or as a background for photos. All the best stitch markers are available much cheaper, and without those ugly colors like lime green and orange. The cheapest sock blockers I've seen anywhere, and they're still good quality. A device to hold your DP needles while you're knitting a sock to keep you from losing them and/or impaling yourself on them.

And the best gadget of all, a set of double ended crochet hooks! These are great because you can fix a stitch several rows below, even if you were doing seed stitch. Unravel to the mistake, use the hook from the knit side to latch up a knit stitch, and when the next row demands a purl, just slide the hook through the work to the other side and make a knit stitch on that side! You don't have to drop the stitch off the hook and try to pick it up on the other side!

I love Knit Picks and want to marry them!

One of the things I like about them is their shopping cart. You can just throw anything in which you're interested into the cart and then sort out what you can afford to actually get. The stuff you don't get will be in the "save for later" portion of the cart, ready for when you have a bit more money. It's great, because you don't realize the day after an order that you really wanted to order something that you forgot. You don't forget because it's already in your cart.

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I'm also excited about John being at the "Reel Stuff Film Festival!" I doubt whether I'll hear too much from him until he's back, but I'm really excited for him. He has been putting notices up on Facebook. If you are on Facebook, you can read about Steve Canyon here. And If you'd like to find out more about John, check him out here. I was lucky enough to be his friend and work alongside of him for a lot of that, the medical illustration, and some other work. He's made nothing but wonderful changes in my life.

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There's some great TV on tonight!

There's a brand new Supernatural, and a brand new Eleventh Hour, too! 

For those of you who aren't SF fans, there's also brand new episodes of Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, and Private Practice.

Have a great evening!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Saint Paddy's Day is Coming

As you all know, St. Patrick's Day is less than a week away.

To celebrate this wonderful event, Vicki Howell has a wonderful, quick pattern up on her blog for shamrocks, and I thought you should know about it.

It's called Knitted & BeJewelled Shamrocks!

Now I have to say that I cringed when I read the word bejewelled, because people use this word (and embellished) as an excuse to overdo things and create something hideous. But Vicki, in her usually impeccable style, has managed to make something wonderful out of it all.

And, in case it's escaped your attention, you could use individual shamrock leaves from this pattern to make beautiful hearts for Valentine's Day, or for anyone that you care about.

Do check it out!

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John and I spent a busy day yesterday putting the final touch on the covers for Steve Canyon, Volume 2. Not that there was much to do on that. Most of yesterday's time was spent on converting the cover of Volume 1 to a 20x30 poster size. This will be made up as a one-off poster, signed by John and raffled (or auctioned) off at the event he's at this week. He'll be in Dayton, Ohio (he's probably arrived by now) for the "Reel Stuff Film Festival." I'm really excited and happy for him. It should be a wonderful experience.

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There's a Lost rerun on tonight. This is actually worthwhile, because there's usually so much packed into each episode of Lost that I usually don't catch it all on the first go-round, and the second time it's shown, each episode has subtext that explains the allusions, and points out back story. Definitely worth a second go.

Have a great evening!