Why I hate the world

...enough with the manifest destiny already.

Many of my Canadian readers, and of course, my good friends, are probably aware of how furious I am that the Hudson's Bay Company was purchased, in 2006 by NRDC Equity Partners. A fairly meager looking American based super company. They "[acquire] operating companies in the retail, leisure, lodging, and commercial real estate sectors." So basically, they do nothing but buy the work of others.

Ok, whatever, capitalism and all that shit. But today another takeover has been rumored that brings up the issue of our Canadian companies being subversively sold out from under us. But I'll get to that in a minute.

Anyway, Let me start small. And we'll work out way to the big problem.

It begins with the company Bioware. This was (until recently) a relatively small gaming company based out of Edmonton, Alberta. They were well known for making role-playing games with excellent, engrossing stories that challenged the japanese RPGs. A few games they're known for are Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect, and of course, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.They're an excellent company. However, they're future quality is being called into question, as they were recently bought by EA. EA, or Electronic Arts, is a video game super company, which was critisized through the late 90s and early 2000s for having a somewhat exessive tendency to purchase other smaller development studios, mainly for their intellectual properties (game franchises unique to that company), and then basically shitting all over the series.

This was an intelligent business move, as it took the competition, and stapled it on to itself, making a big, scary company that could in turn buy up more competition. However, it was the end of many quality franchises over the years.

Now I could go on to talk for another three paragraphs about how not only are they buying Bioware, but are also rumored to be in talks with another Canadian-ish company, Ubisoft, but that's boring. Besides, I have to cut EA a bit of slack, they do have EA Canada - an entirely Canadian development company. Also, the company seems to be on the rise in terms of quality (read: Mirror's Edge).

The REAL reason I'm bringing all of this up, is that NOW, video game news-blog Kotaku is talking about rumors of Disney (remember them?) picking up EA in this troubled economic time.

Where is the line?

We're always reading about big company mergers, and buy-outs, but when do we say "ok, that's enough. I'd like to see something independent please."? Just for shits, let's look at just a few of the companies that Disney already owns:

Walt Disney Pictures (obviously)
Touchstone Pictures
Miramax Pictures
Buena Vista International
Pixar
ABC (here's where it starts getting fucked up)
ESPN
A&E (which in turn, owns The History Channel, Biography, and others)
HBO
The Muppets (arrgg! Jim Henson is tossing in his grave)
Hyperion Books
and fucking hundreds more that aren't as interesting.

And it's not just Disney! Or even america. That's what sucks about all this - we're just as bad here in Canada.. Take a look at CTVGlobe Media sometime, in fact, here's a link for you to check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_corporate_assets

It's a list of all the major companies and what they own. It's disgusting.

And not only do these mega companies own everything, they co-operate. Ever seen a Macdonald's in a Wal-Mart?

Companies from Disney to Pepsi have been accused of anything from censorship to human rights violations yet they continue to subvert themselves into our everyday life.

Why does it bother so few that so much of what we see and hear is controlled by a small group of americans. What gives them the right? The argument "well, even within EA, or Disney, or Fox there are human beings trying to express themselves, and these companies allow them to spread their productions" is moot because funding is thrown around in manipulative ways to subtly control information flow. Just being at a company's mercy gives me the willies.

We live in a society, gripped by oligopoly. A small number of people collectively control everything. Coca-Cola sells soda, but soda, just like News and Entertainment, is an unecessary commodity that society is telling us we need. By constantly shelling out money for these "commodities" we are ensuring that these companies continue to exist.

By selling the drink and telling us we need it, Coca-Cola is constantly in possession of some percentage of the entire wealth of the united states. Which means that Coca-Cola is constantly in possession of some percentage of the United States.

The only thing any of us spend any money on what-so-ever are things that corporations have figured out how to give to us for a smaller cost than the return. We are simply middle men in an all-encompassing distribution of weath between the hundred or so white guys in New York.

Don't scoff me away. This is a tired argument but an evervecent one.

That's why I hate the world.




"If you could be told what to see or read, then it follows that you can be told what to say or think."
-Boards of Canada

We're coming to get you...

...Barbara
As I'm writing this, there are three grown men, huddled around a pepsi bottle, a bike pump, and six rolls of duct tape. They are trying to get a home-made blood explosion special effects pressure rig to work.

I love budget filmmaking.

We've been shooting all day today. Essentially we're creating a trailer for the three films as a trilogy. It's going to be kept in-house for as long as possible, used primarily for our own purposes, but when done, it's going to be a benchmark. Something to keep us focused and on schedule.

For those looking for some sort of taste of what's to come, the above photograph is the new style that the film will be presented in. I've been describing it to people as a moving impressionist painting - which is wildly pretentious, but it gets the general idea across.

More updates on the shooting when it's complete.

Why I Love Sonic The Hedgehog

But not his annoying little friends.
Anyone who knows me, knows I have a seemingly unhealthy obsession with this little guy. Why is it? What is so appealing about a blue hedgehog with red sneakers that goes the speed of sound? The whole concept is ridiculous.

Here's why.

When I was a kid, my parents were having the hardest time getting me to read. I couldn't stand it. To me, it was an enormous wall of symbols - they meant nothing, they did nothing, they were far less interesting than my Beatles Yellow Submarine VHS tape.

Until one day, I was in my town's general store. In the back, on a magazine rack, sat a select few comic books who's colorful covers attracted my attention deficit afflicted young eyes - Spiderman, Batman, Punisher etc. I didn't understand what they were - I had never seen a comic book before, but I was intrigued. My mom decided they were too old for me, but after a bit of whining I managed to convince her to buy me Sonic the Hedgehog issue #20.

I still didn't know how to read very well - I ended up needing it to be a bed-time story - but the idea of a comic book was inspiring - a picture book that showed you exactly what was happening every second... it was like watching a movie on paper! Hardly the most sound of logic, but it got me reading, and collecting.

Sonic taught me to read. Sonic taught me about comics.

Next came the video games. Soon after, I discovered that this strange animal thing... (who looks nothing like an actual hedgehog, I soon learned) pervaded more than just the literary world, and I first got my hands on Sonic & Knuckles for the Sega Genesis. I had played video games before - my best friend had Mario - but this was very different. This was fast. The design of the gameplay was simple: you just kept pushing forward until you caught up to an obstacle, jumped over it, killed a bad guy (innocent baby animals trapped inside evil robots) and then you would push forward again to zoom on your way. I got really good (I made it to the second level on my first rental!) and from then on I was hooked.

Sonic taught me how to play video games.

Over the next few years of my childhood, I wanted to be just like Sonic. I ran in circles around the playground looking at my feet trying to get them to blur. I wore almost exclusively blue. I got my mom to make me chilli dogs (I ended up hating them...) But what I really loved about him, was that no matter what happened, Sonic the Hedgehog was always ready for adventure - always happy to save the day.

At my age, and especially for someone like me, it's easy to get bogged down in life. Money, the future, girls, all that shit - it's stressful, and worrying. I worry, you worry, everyone worries. Except Sonic. When he's got a problem, he runs at it head-first. There's no mincing words, he just does the right thing.

I'm not the best person in the world - in fact, sometimes I'm a real asshole. But when it counts, I try to remember this simple question: WWSD? And the answer is simple - just do the right thing. Just be happy.

Sonic taught me that when I'm down, all I need to do is just cheer-the-fuck-up, and keep pushing forward.

There's nothing to do...

So let's talk about video games!I got nothing to do these days. Once again I'm waiting for a piece of technology to arrive so I can continue my artistic career. While we're waiting, let's talk about another passion of mine - video games.

It's a good time for gamers. Fallout 3, an apocalyptic RPG just dropped, and when I have time, that's what I'm delving into these days. It keeps me in the zombie mood, that's for sure. Other future releases that have caught my eye include:

Fable 2, Out Now
Gears of War 2 - 11/07
Mirror's Edge (pictured above) - 11/11
Sonic Unleashed (obviously) - 11/24ish
Left 4 Dead - 11/18

What (if any) games are you looking forward to?

ADDENDUM:

Oh, I forgot...

If you read this, and are american. Vote for this guy....
Because if you do, I might consider moving to your country. God knows Obama's going to do better things for America than Harper's going to do for us.

Sometimes I'm down.

But then I play a song that reminds me of you and I'm good to go.

It's been a long time since I updated this bad boy.

But it hasn't felt like it.

My life lately has been jetting past me. Monday's come and go, and I'm so grappled by routine that I don't even really have to think to get through a day.

I suppose that after the self-indulgent year-off (let's call it a sabbatical?) I just had, I deserve a little time in the machine, even if it sucks my soul. The year I was back home in Ottawa, I spent all my time lying around doing nothing, waiting for my move to Toronto, as if once I got here, I'd pull myself together. Now I'm here, and I'm so caught in "pulling myself together" that I don't get anything done.

Does that makes sense? Probably not.

Well, the movies are going well. We're a nosehair from filming, and the script of Grim is practically complete.

I wish I had something to show you, but I don't quite yet. Maybe after this weekend.

Don't hold your breath. When do I ever deliver on a promise?

That's me off. More to come soon!

A little fight in you...

I like that.
I could go on and on about the Dark Knight, talking about it's themes, and how it's a well-orchestrated symphony of destruction et cetera. I could talk about Heath Ledger and how great he is in this film, or how sad it is that he's dead. I could mention how it's the best Comic Book movie ever, or say it sets the bar for everything after it...

It's not like you haven't heard all of this already.

Hyperbole aside, this movie is great. That said it is too long. Although the more I think about it, the more I'm sure I wouldn't really cut anything. If you want to be moved to a place you've likely never been, go watch the Dark Knight.

For those that haven't seen it yet, and think they know what's going to happen, and to those who consider themselves extreme batman fans, just be aware that the trailers for this movie play tricks, and almost completely lie to us a few times.

I would go into all the deep shit, but again, you've heard it a thousand times. What this film did for me, was encourage. Mr. Nolan was able to make something intelligent, yet entertaining to the masses - which is where the true accomplishment is. It assures me that it is possible to make a movie with something new, something meaningful, and something different to say. Just go see it. I'm going to, about a hundred more times.

Catch up: A state of the union address.

It's time to step up, or step aside.

I've been working on some projects for far too long. And my unbridled enthusiasm from months ago has dwindled.

At this point, I have decided that shit needs to start getting done, or I have no right calling myself a director, a writer, or even an artist.

Today I want to talk about the Noctuary series, and where it's going.
I want nothing more than to finish these movies. And they will be done. The time frame is just still a long ways away.

I haven't talked to Tristan (Music composer) in months, so I don't know where he stands on everything, but I hope to hear from him soon.

As for everyone else, they all seem to be on board, which means filming will start in October. Test shots are going to be done during this summer, and I'm also going to head back to Ottawa to complete the first film of the series. I've also been in talks with the talented Adam Clark again about doing a second draft of the script for Grim City.

In the time since I last talked about this project, I have grown substantially. I need to revise my work again (this includes Moz as well, BTW) to fit who I am, and what I want to say. Now more than ever I feel able to do so with consistent style. We'll see how it turns out.

I'm also working on the animation of the first film, and am going to whip up a teaser fairly soon.

I'll try to keep things up to date.

I'm speechless...

I honestly have very little to say other than the below quote from cbc.ca

"For the first time in more than 30 years automobile traffic in the U.S. is down. The federal transportation department reported that in March, Americans drove 11 billion fewer miles than in March a year ago. That's not a typo: It is billions not millions of miles fewer."

Was that a ninja?

...More like a NONja...

I feel bad for the Wachowski brothers. They're one of the best things that has happened to film in the 21st century, and people seem almost intent on hiding that fact.

Dropping films like The Matrix, V for Vendetta, and now, the recently opened Speed Racer, they're pushing the boundaries of how a movie can feel, how it can look, and how it can tell a story. In twenty years, more filmmakers will be mentioning the Wachowski Brothers as an influence than Spielberg. There is no doubt in my mind.

Why is this? I could go on and on, but let me throw a few things up in the air: Self-parody-nostalgia, Loud colours, inventive cinematography, and most of all, picture-and-picture parallel on-screen events. All these things are integral elements of Speed Racer. These things are bridging the gaps between Film, Video Games, and Comic Books (that shit up there about picture-and-picture is referring to how there'll be a close up of someone's face, but in the background something totally unrelated is happening - a narrative trick commonly used in graphic novels). And there is nothing more important than that bridge when we thing about the future.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I'm tired of normal movies. They're all the goddamn same. The Wachowski Brothers are the diamond in the rough, and the inspiration for filmmakers like myself who want to do something different with the medium.

Now, we're talking this time, specifically about Speed Racer, and in this context, I don't think anyone disagrees with the statement that Speed Racer's visual style is inventive, so why, exactly, does everyone seem to hate it?

I'm not suggesting that there's a conspiracy, but I've noticed a stark, universal hatred for the Wachowski Brothers. I think part of it was people feeling burned (or was it just "confused"?) by the Matrix sequels, but I've noticed a seemingly unanimous desire that the two brothers just disappear. Maybe it was that whole gender thing a while back.

ANYWAY - reviewers of this film seem to agree that while the style was inventive, it was either a) too much, or b) a mask for true substance. Either arguments are wrong for different reasons. Let's find out why...

A) Too much eye candy gives moviegoers diabetes. This is PURELY an opinion of close-minded, probably too-old, fuss pots who complained they couldn't tell what was going on in Lord of the Rings battles. The times they are a changin' folks, time to get with 'em. The brothers were doing something different with the medium, the same as Cloverfield, recently, and Schindler's List in the 90's (selective color etc.) and there's NOTHING wrong with it. This argument pisses me off the most as it's essentially like someone saying that the cubist movement wasn't art because it didn't have accurate depictions of the human form.

HOWEVER, if you believed the film dragged on a little long, and the style exacerbates that, then your point is slightly legitimized. Only slightly.

B) Style over substance. A few things here. Firstly, HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE SOURCE MATERIAL? It's one of the first anime's to be ported to America with mainstream success. It is for kids. It is simple. It is about racing. It's cute. You want a story about the complex relationship between Speed and his girlfriend Trixie? Why?

Seriously. Why? This movie is for kids, why would you want that?

Now, after I've said that, people will argue that "it's clearly not for kids, it's for the people who grew up with this show, who are now adults." and reference moments that included sexual tension, and the use of the middle finger.

It's partially true, but largely inaccurate. To have a kid's anime get mature for it's audience is a ridiculous idea. To have it be a grown-up re-imagining of Speed Racer would cut out it's "popcicles are nice" innocence, and rape the entire meaning of the film. It is not a movie for kids. It is a movie for adults, who still have an inner kid.

Finally, what really frustrates me about the critics about this film is that they say the movie is devoid of meaning, the characters are one dimensional, and that the whole thing is as transparent as a celebrity's dress. Bearing in mind that this movie is for the adult's inner-child, we have to compare it to other children oriented films, like it or not. So let's compare it to another racing movie - Cars.

Cars by Pixar, is a formulaic race-to-the-message film about the exact same damn thing, with equally one-dimensional characters, obvious moral messages, and an even more predictable plot than the topic film. Moreover, Speed Racer had a more interesting style, and better action sequences.

Oh yeah, and Cars was about talking cars.

Yet everyone orgasms over that film, and stomps on this one. I straight up don't get it.

Please, someone show me what I'm missing.

tl;dr, Speed Racer was excerrent.

Do you smoke grass out in space, Bowie?

Or do you smoke astro turf?

So I just got my hands on the new album by Flight of the Conchords, entitled "Flight of the Conchords".

I must say, considering I've heard every track on the album before, I am *very* impressed.

The first thing I noticed was the absolute gorgeous album artwork, pictured below. Colors etc are gorgeous, but after a moment of marveling you notice the two of them - Jemaine Clements and Bret (brit? like brittney?) McKenzie (No relation... unfortunately) are standing in the design, backs turned to us, staring off into the distance.The album starts of perfectly, with Foux de Fafa - one of my favorite tracks - in which the duo, and their two lovers speak mostly in broken, lazy french that everybody knows. I hardly have the most attentive ears, but I noticed a marked improvement over the version of the song from the television show, however, this could be because I watched the show on the internet.... I dunno.
The album definitely starts on a high note. But it doesn't really drop from there.

If you're like me, the jokes of these particular songs (all from the first season of the duo's HBO comedy series) are tired and possibly a little over-used by this point, but the thrill of hearing them remixed, and tightened up makes it all worth it.

Admittedly, though, some of the tracks suffer from the ultra-polish that this CD offers. I've heard their gangsta rap "Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenocerous performed more energetically, and energy seems to be required in the song. The pacing feels awkward and intentionally slowed down, and part of the humor of hearing Jemaine say "They call me the / Hiphopopotamus / Flows that glow like phosphorous / Poppin' off the top of this esophagus / Rockin' this metropolis" is hearing him actually *rap* it, rather than just speak it to a gangsta beat.

Also, the live version of "Most Beautiful Girl in the Room" has a more jovial spirit and the both of them really stretch the notes and put their heart into making the higher ones. On the other hand, the sound in the new recording is obviously much tighter, so I'm conflicted.It's a special treat, in the middle of the album to hear Rys Darby's song, "Leggy Blonde". In the series, their band manager, Murray, is in love with his tech repair woman, and near the end of the episode, sings a song about her as she walks out the door, and out of his life. The song has an office supplies percussion solo two thirds in that pretty much makes the album singlehandedly, so check that out.

All in all, "Flight of the Conchords" is a tight sounding collection of the band's hits, and that's a great thing to have. They hold down the humour (though I *do* hope they continue their live act) and the music is undeniably catchy.

In all honesty, it kicks ass. So fuckin' check it out.

Also, if you get it off iTunes, they add in a track - "Bret, you've got it going on", which is one of my favorites as well... :)

Later.

Vice versa.

Depressing, isn't it?

I'm in a bad mood today. I needed a distraction, so I turned on the TV. What a mistake I made.

TV is my vice. Many turn to alcohol, other turn to drugs. My oldest and most favorite form of escapism is the idiot box. It's depressing, frankly.

It had been a few weeks since I really watched TV, but when I put it on this time, it felt like I had never left. The same episodes of the same programs over and over. I had always realized this but on this day, it bothered me.

A commercial came on for a show called "According to Jim". I had seen this show a few times in the past, but the commercial reminded me of all those misspent days in front of the tube, tuned in to CFMT (now the OMNI network) as they announced their similar lineups - The Simpsons, Everybody Loves Raymond, 3rd rock from the Sun, and topping it off with the cream of the crop - Frasier.

These shows were golden. This, of course, was when they were still good, or in most cases, still on. These were the sitcoms of the nineties, and early 2000s, but the ones that have come to replace them aren't doing their job. War at Home, According to Jim, Back to you - these shows lack substance, humor, and anything redeeming whatsoever.

So let's all stand, in quiet reverence for those we've left behind - the Sitcom is truly dead. and it died with it's greatest incarnation - Frasier. I'm amazed it took me this long to realize it.

So where do we go from here? Well, Sitcoms may be dead, but television ain't. Yet.

It's up to us to save TV. We have to support the fledgling shows that are coming in, things like Flight of the Conchords, the Office (even though the british one was better) and Curb Your Enthusiasm. We have to express our desire to see more shows like Futurama, Firefly and Arrested Development.

The future of comedy rests on the shoulders of these shows. If they die. Intelligent comedy dies with it, and we're left with Jim Balushi for 5 nights a week.

Look out! It's Piccolo!

Here's something to laugh about.

So I may have mentioned already that there is plans to make a Dragonball film. I don't know if this is a continuation of the trend of making Akira Toriyama films, or maybe the dude has signed away all his copyrights or... I dunno.

Anyway, Goku's going to be played by (no surprise here) Justin Chatwin of Chumscrubber and War of the Worlds fame. The guy's canadian, so I have a bit of a soft spot for him, but still: THIS IS AN ANIME. JAPANESE. THERE SHOULD BE JAPANESE ACTORS IN IT.

It was bad enough the entire cast of 21 was replaced by white kids as opposed to the original asians. Not to mention how now Akira is taking place in Neo-New York as opposed to Neo-Tokyo. But now this?

Christ this shit makes me angry. And don't bother mentioning that in anime they draw people in a way that makes them look white. I don't care. They're asian. Done.

Oh snap. I just read that James Marsters is playing Piccolo, the main villain. That's right, Spike, from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. There's a picture of Piccolo from the anime below.I can't believe it. He's got the right face I guess, but to see Spike all green, would probably pull me right the fuck out of the movie.

Hollywood has a lot to answer for, and it only seems to be getting worse. Here's hoping that Jame's Cameron's Avatar pulls through with the needed originality to perhaps inspire the other "creative" minds of California. But I'm not holding my breath, they'll probably just rip it off.

Whatever.

Point is, this movie is going to be stupid. I've never been so sure of something in my life.

Nothing's Sacred, Nothing's Safe

So I don't know how to feel.

Today we have a few pieces of news about old things becoming new again, and possibly being ruined in the process.

Rotten Tomatoes is reporting the movie versions of two other 80s icons - G.I. Joe, and the A-Team. Apparently both have been stewing around for years, but when 20th Century Fox released their calendar for the coming year, an A-Team feature made it's way onto the grid, slated for June 12th 2009.

I didn't read much about the G.I. Joe film, because frankly, I don't give a fuck. All I know is Darth Maul's actor is in it. Likely another really physical part.

And finally, the new Sonic the Hedgehog video game has been announced. It's being penciled as "Sonic Unleashed" and has an oddly cartoonish style to it. I'm not entirely sure how to feel, but I DO know that the game has a gimmick.

And what a whopper.In this game, you play as Sonic, who has been experimented on by Dr. Eggman, and now have a "curse", which turns him into.... A werewolf.

Yeah.

Sonic the Werehog has quite a few screenshots released, but no word on the platform.

I'll keep you posted.

As for me, the payment for the site has gone through on the paypal end, but I have yet to hear from the webspace host... which is irritating me. We'll see soon. Next post I make, I'll give a preview of the final F&F website design.

Later.

Through their eyes.

So my cat died yesterday.

I'm not that torn up about it, but it's raised questions for me. About life and death.

But most of all it has reminded me about loss. People come together, and people fall apart. It's such a scary thing to lose someone you care about. And because of that I feel so sorry for my other cat, who's life was limited to his now-passed best friend. :(

However, it's inspired a project, that I'll leave till later.

IN OTHER NEWS: Here are a few things I'm excited about these days:

-First up, the New Zealand comedy duo, Flight of the Conchords is releasing their first full length album, self-titled. It'll be released sometime in April. No word on tracklistings yet, but I'm sure some classics will make their way onto the disc. If you don't know the subtle comedy of FC, check out the first season of their show "Flight of the Conchords", by HBO.

-Also, Cloverfield DVD has been confirmed for April 22nd. Apparently it contains alternate endings. Alternate Endings always piss me off ,but I guess we'll have to see.

-Finally, the website stuff is going through, I just need to wait for Paypal to get it's ass in gear. Then a Moz site will be set up, and Freefalling & Flightless will have a dotcom aswell.

Peas.

The Six, Issue 1

It's finished.

Since I'm still waiting for the full website to be set up, I have temporarily put the Six up on DrunkDuck. DrunkDuck is a reasonably competent webcomic hosting service, that I have used before in a pinch.

Anyway, here's the link to the first issue.

Make sure you're starting from the beginning.

So in the first issue, we see Reuben Page, a young boy who tries to kill himself, only to find that the doesn't feel his self-inflicted wounds. Is he invincible? What will he do with his new power? Find out! in Issue 1!

SPOILERS FOR AFTER YOU READ! (Highlight to read)

NEXT MONTH: Reuben has been put in the hospital for his wounds, but when his doctor discovers that he's going to be just fine, what is she going to think? Will Reuben's power be exposed? And what about Stacey? Has Reuben's act of heroism changed her heart?

And finally, what happens when Reuben is in the wrong place at the wrong time, yet again - when a masked woman tries to rob his local bank? Who is this girl? It seems she can't be killed either! What is her secret?

FIND OUT NEXT MONTH!

Fuck you Apple.

Fuck you.

Apple is like the gestapo of the computer world.

If windows didn't suck so much, I would totally leave your sorry ass. You're just too goddamn expensive. I mean, I get it - your stuff is better, but shit, man, why does you have to be so christ-punchingly money grubbing?

I just lost my ipod. At first I didn't mind, but then I realized. Oh - wait - in order to get another one, I'm going to have to drop like, 100 bucks! MINIMUM.

FUCK.

Oh, and why the SHIT doesn't anything work these days? Or maybe it never did. Work with me, for once.

I feel like George Lucas.

I love new technology.

Today, with Flash, I'm having fun "restoring"/"updating" the look of the old Moz pages. Here's an example:
You actually can't see the best part about this picture at this res, but Flash has allowed me to go back and crisp up all the old lines that were a little too blurry, allowing me to buff up the overall res as well, making the comic printable one day.

Stay tuned for more.

Issue One of the Six is being slowed down because of my new enthusiasm, but it's still coming within a few days.

A Dystopian Science Fiction

Today I am beaming.

I have managed to recover my files from my old computer. The expansive, detailed world of Mozhaets: A Dystopian Science Fiction had been locked therein for nearly a full, (completely wasted) year. I'm not going to release the original files just yet, but expect the first page very soon. (I know I say that a lot, but just bare with me)

There are few things in this world I am more proud of than Mozhaets: A Dystopian Science Fiction (Moz for short). The reason for that is how much time I have put into it.Pronounced Moz-(as in "gauss")-Hates, it is based on a core idea that I developed at age 13. Through high school I continued to secretly ponder the story, and the events that I experienced in high school helped shape it. It wasn't until my first year at York that I - while sitting ontop of my dresser watching the sunrise - finished the themes and script. As I age, the dialogue continues to mature, and the messages grow more meaningful (to me, at least).

Indeed, Moz has grown up alongside me. Almost like a brother. And I can't wait to unveil it to the world.

Here's hoping the world enjoys.

Stay Tuned!

-K

I guess no one's surprised.

Yeah, I'm behind.

Issue 1 of the Six will probably be out in the next few days.

I could have got it all done on time, but I would have seriously sacrificed the quality. And given the art of the comic, already, that would be incredibly unpleasant.

So yeah, it's coming...

Batman and Friends

So according to badtaste.it an entire list of characters from the coming film "The Dark Knight" has been made.

I won't spoil everything here, but it seems like the Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) is returning for what could be a minor or major role.

In other news, I read somewhere today that the final Harry Potter film will be split into two so as to not leave as much out. Same deal with the Hobbit, which is being made by Jackson still, and will be two films.
Finally - Cloverfield's DVD release is being rumored to be in April. As for a High Definition release, Cloverfield was scheduled to come out on HD-DVD. However, since that format buckled recently, the studio has been in a panic to reformat the film to Blu-Ray. The release will likely not come until the summer, but I believe it will be worth it over the DVD version.... I guess we'll see.

In F&F news, The Six is still on track, and I'll be releasing the first issue some time on Thursday.

The Six on the Sixth.

Just thought I'd tell everyone that the full first issue of the Six will be released on the Sixth of March. That's coming up!

that's all I have to say today... take it easy.

The State of Movies Address

So there's one thing I hate more than Hollywood. And that's waking up to this much news of how Hollywood is fucking up this time. Let's get to it, shall we?

First off. Remember that movie that came out this past summer? It was a modern retelilng of a classic cartoon from the 80s? Transfigurines? Changing-Robots? I forget what it was called, but the point is, now that it has garnered so much money, Hollywood is redoing ALL the 80s movies.

They followed up the fairly decent robot flick with Alvin and the Chipmunks, which I heard sucked nuts. (badumtsch)

And now they're continuing their spiraling decent into madness with... brace for it.... a SMURF movie. That's right. I've seen a picture, and the animation looks as lazy as a Veggie Tales movie. I guess we'll have to wait and see.....

Just be glad it's not live action, like that video going around the internet... right?

Next up on the trainwreck-called-hollywood ride is Alice in Wonderland. Yep, you heard me right. Disney is so desperate for new ideas that they're re-hashin old ones.

The new version of their classic (And undoubtedly better) film will be 3D (oh, novel!) and is being directed by (shudder) Tim Burton. Now, I respect their decision about directors a bit, I mean it does make sense, but close your eyes and you can visualize Tim Burton's AIW already! We don't need to see this "visionary" director's take on the story since he's pretty much just done it with all his other movies.

I would rather see Guillermo Del Toro's (the NEW Tim Burton) version, or better yet, a Michel Gondry version. My point is, if you're going to redo your own idea, do it different.

fuck.

Ok, moving on, we've got Leonardo DiCaprio, who's making the most irritating decision I've seen in a while.

Anyone remember Akira? Any slight anime fans will, but to call it an anime, imbues it with stigma that it doesn't deserve. The *movie* was epic. Completely well animated, and actually intelligent, which is usually not the case in anime (re: Dragon Ball Z). I suppose many, however, never saw it because it was an anime. A Shame.

Well, Leo seems to agree with me, so he's taking the powerhouse anime to the big screen, and changing all the details to have a white cast (including himself and Joseph Gordon Levitt - who I am a big fan of - in the main two roles, Kaneda and Tetsuo respectively). They're changing the setting from future Neo-Tokyo, to Neo-Manhattan (sigh) and will likely tweak a number of other details and in the process completely lose track of what made the anime film so great.

On the other hand, DiCaprio is a very capable man, and there could still be good in him. This, while the most irritating of the news, is also the only one that I have any hope for at all.
And here are a few other pieces of information that really grinds my shit.

So who was hoping now that Sylvester Stallon has "returned" he'd promptly "go away"? Me too. Too bad he's sticking around and making more garbage movies about his old characters that people loved.

The ones people loved are all dried up now, and instead, he's making a sequel to Cliffhanger... whatever that was.

The legendary fighting game series Street Fighter is getting made into a movie, and that'll undoubtedly suck, as the best VG adaptation we've seen so far has been Silent Hill, (also, apparently getting a sequel) and it wasn't even that great movie-wise (I was impressed with it's fidelity though).

And finally, Hasbro has teamed up with Universal to release 4 movies based on some of it's major toy series. Some of the contenders include Monopoly (already announced as being a Ridley Scott film) Battleship, Ouija, Clue, Stretch Armstrong, and Magic: The Gathering.

Most of this info I read off Rotten Tomatoes, so kudos to them putting that together, and not objecting to my silent editorializing of their content....

As I look through this stuff, I just can't help but feel how fake it all is. I'd like to point out that all of the movies I have mentioned here are rehashes of ideas. No new thought.

And while Universal and Fox and Miramax and all the others slowly suck up all their remake resources, I can't help but wonder what happens when everything has been redone....

Do we watch them again?

The Six Update

Hey all.

The uh, site's not finished yet, and I gave myself a deadline that I didn't live up to, so to at least slightly hold to my word, here's the first ten pages of the Six.
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10

I would have just put them up as images, but they were getting cut off on the side and it looked stupid, so there you go.

I hope you guys enjoyed the beginning, there's plenty more to come, and by the end of the month, the site should be set up and ready to go. I'm probably going to go with freegalling-flightless.com

Anyway, take it easy and see you in a few days!

Airwaves

So today I'm on the radio!

At 1PM on Ottawa University's student radio station I'm talking with host Laura Osman about the internet as a medium for comics - webcomics!

We'll be chatting about the different pros and cons of the medium vs. printed form as well as the rise and fall in webcomic popularity over the last little while.

It's going to be fun!

As for my stuff - I know, I'm late as usual, but Later on today I'll be posting the first ten pages of the Six, and follow up at the end of the month with the full issue.

In more personal news, I have found a house in Toronto. I'll be moving in may-ish and I'll be living with some of my close friends who attend York University.

So stick around folks, I'm picking up steam.

February

February is a big month for J. Mackenzie Graham.

man oh man.

But I'm starting to finally develop multi-tasking, which is great.

My life is finally back on track, spiritually. Here are the things I'm working on now...

-Mozhaets: A Dystopian Science Fiction (returning in February)

A science fiction comic set in a futuristic world. Sid, a loudmouthed, nineteen year old "murderer" who has been transferred to a minimum security space station gets a chance to escape captivity. Along for the ride are Malik - an old CEO-turned-fraud, Loukka - a techno-terrorist, and her sidekick Ezekiel - a quiet, trusting, weapon of intimidation.

The four travel the stars looking for a home, only to find that it might have been better in jail.

Check it out as it returns - my teenage magnum opus - in the middle of February.

-The Six (beginning in February)

A super-stylized super hero comic.

Centered around six special individuals who learn to master their given powers, and whose lives intertwine.

Each of the six characters is given six issues to tell the story from their point of view. The first being the Remarkable Zombie Boy. An emo kid teenager who tries to kill himself, only to realize that he can't die!

Is he indestructible?

Who are the other five?

Find out! (well, a little) on February 15th!

-Aim For The Head

The little movie that CAN!

I will finish this film if it takes me the rest of my life. Filming will pick up again in february, for both Aim for the Head, and it's sequel, Grim City. More on that later.

Other projects are stewing. Here are some things to look forward to in the coming months:

-A short (written, no art) story set in the Mozhaets Universe

-The return of MATTMAN, an oldie-but-a-goodie for those who are truly down with the JMG.

-A Zombie... comic?

-A Controversial Creed: an assassin with a twist. Short comic with a punch.

-After Mozhaets has finished (don't hold your breath) two follow-up projects that will match it in epicness:

The Mancer: Set in a fantasy world, two young men's lives are comandeered by a ruthless, and nightmarish leader. Where does he come from? What's his deal? And why can no one look him straight in the eye?

The Night The Lights Went Out: Not much I can talk about on this one... but I'll leave you with this question: When a society relies on technology for food, entertainment, life, and even thought, what happens when the power goes off?

All this and much much much much MUCH MUCH more, coming from your humble narrator.

And all of it will be found on my new webpage... it's not up yet, but it will be by the 15th of February. It will house all my projects, and will be called Freefalling & Flightless.

This blog is the beginning of this website, and will be embedded into the main page when it's up.