Happy Halloween!

Good week...

This week turned out to be pretty great. Few minor bumps in the road aside.


Monday had a good read through and heard from some people in regards to assistance with the film. Very important things. Woo.

Tuesday found out something super spectacuLAR, but can't say what it is at this time.

Wednesday went to the movies.

Thursday went to the Queen Mary's Halloween deal. It was pretty fun. Always fun watching some of the people we go with...

Friday... took it easy for the most part.

Now for Halloween...

Gamer tag, ZOMG.

Get your Portable ID!

Them Crooked Vultures...

The super group featuring John Paul Jones on bass (Led Zeppelin), Dave Grohl on drums (Foo Fighters, Nirvana), and Josh Homme on guitar & vocals (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss) finally have a studio single.

New Fang off their forthcoming album...

Insomniac Games community day...

So, yesterday (Friday) was Insomniac Games' community day celebrating the launch of the new Rachet & Clank game. I have long respected Insomniac Games, but have never been a huge follower of theirs. Knowing that they created the Spyro series (did the first 3 games on PS before the rights went away), the Ratchet & Clank series on PS2 and PS3 (these games ALWAYS rate extremely high), and the Resistance series on PS3 shows that this is a developer that knows their stuff.

They join a small group of elite developers that are very close to Sony (the other two being Naughty Dog and SuckerPunch) who put out fantastic Sony exclusives. These studios are amazing. Sony has made some boneheaded business decisions this generation, but these guys never miss a beat. I had the good fortune to be able to test Uncharted 2 prior to release and all those guys at Naughty Dog were fantastic. Having just visited Insomniac, that group joins the ranks of fantastic people on top of stellar game makers.

When I found out about community day I decided I would try to get in, as I love game developers and their studios (seriously, you have not seen a cool work environment until you have been in a good game studio). The biggest problem is I am not overly familiar with their work. I know it.. but I haven't played much. I played a bit of Resistance and that is about it. I hastily d/l the first Rachet & Clank demo for PS3 (which turned out to be amazing. amazing gameplay, art, graphics, writing... epic fail on my end for missing out until now).

So, I get to the studio (or the Marriott next door as that is where the event starts) and there is already a huge line. They said space was limited so I am a bit worried. Luckily, after a slight delay, everyone is admitted with no turn aways. We get inside and Adam Sessler from G4TV is hanging out. He is very polite and fun. Turns out he was part of a panel that included some programmers, voice actors, and the president of Insomniac. It was a fun panel that discussed all aspects of production and other company philosophies.

After that was free lunch where they announced everyone there would be getting a copy of the new game (woo! and not yet released!) upon entering the studio. They gave everyone limited edition posters (and shirts and things earlier). We got to go and check out some of the studio which was a really nice environment with a great view of Burbank. Parts of the studio were shrouded with black curtains so we could not see what they were working on... good to know they are deep into working on whatever comes next even before this one is released.

After the studio/signing session we (I had by then formed a group with 3 other guys) head back to the Marriott and get to play some games and they raffle off some prizes. I didn't win, but with the free game and great swag already received, I felt like I made out like a bandit.

All in all it was a really fun time. Being so into a lot of media, for whatever reason I am the most awe struck by games. So much work goes into them.. so many arts (music, animation, character/world designs, writing, acting) coupled with perfected sciences of gameplay and game engines... all just amaze me. The most WOWSA moments for me in LA have come from being around game studios. Perhaps I just know too much about my #1 love, movies. I know all the magic... I want to make my own magic. But with games, I don't know the tricks. I just get to sit back and be amazed at the final product.

So, yeah... game developers are probably my "rock stars"... one guy while signing posters said "I should just do this for a living"... Funny. The developers enjoyed the day as well... they are huddled away for years making one product. To see fan appreciation and to have people give them a pat on the back is a big deal and a great gratification.

Support good game studios. Insomniac now joins the select few developers who I will support no matter what. I am immediately picking up the last Rachet & Clank to play through before I start this newest one. After that, I will be grabbing the Resistance games.

To end... here is a new PS3 ad featuring Ratchet & Clank. It is pretty funny...

Weird Science...

Tinkered with script a bit earlier this week.

Am going to do some overhauling of the final act tomorrow or later this week.

Have tons I want to do, but am at a bit of a road block. Real life road block that will be cleared soon enough. But in the mean time it is taking a lot of attention.

Will be in contact with more people soon. Feel like I have a solid enough core group at the moment.

Have a Saul Williams show on the map. Want to see Wild Things again. Maybe even Zombieland, it's very funny. Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Men Who Stare At Goats on deck.. both with Clooney. Go figure.

Halloween next week... no idea what is going on. Prolly will do Knott's Scary Farm again before then if everyone has decent health.

For some reason I just found out that Atlanta has the Museum of Puppetry. They have a long standing Jim Henson exhibit. Going to that for sure when I am out in that direction. Any takers?

I took a trip on a gemini spacecraft... it took me on a space odyssey... to a world of fashion and rebels... who were all starmen... from the outside... and they spoke of their golden years... and how you can put out fire with gasoline... to impress scary monsters. I'm deranged, they said... yet we could be heroes... I grunted my reply in a garrulous croak... I am an Earthling... a young American... and Aladdin Sane... take me to your disco king... it's time for some changes.

Wild Things... they indeed made my heart sang.

I saw Where the Wild Things Are just about an hour ago. First and with understatement, the movie was good. I hate to bust into hyperbole or what not, so if that sort of thing bugs you stop reading.

Still reading? OK, I warned you.

Where the Wild Things is the best movie I have seen this year. It's not even close. That is a nice honor with very nice films such as Up, Drag Me to Hell, Inglourious Basterds, District 9, Moon, Observe & Report and several other winners.

The film is about the pains and joys of childhood. I'm sure that has been said before. But it is important to note, the film does not shy away from the pain. This film is painful and full of melancholy. That right there will derail many a viewer. People who expect a movie that is clearcut and just about an imaginationland adventure of a child are in for a shock. They are getting a true work of art full of true, garish emotion.

Max is a child in a world that is changing all around him. He feels all sorts of things that he cannot fully articulate and this confuses him. It hurts him. It angers him. Max's real world tumbles into his imagination. This is his articulation of it all, after all.

So, yeah. That is just a cursory glance of what is in store. The performances are all great. That kid is perfect and does such a brilliant job. The voice actors for the Wild Things all nail it. Spike Jonze kills the direction. It is pitch perfect. Karen O and Co deliver a very fitting and emotional soundtrack.

Back to the Wild Things themselves... absolutely astounding. The best creations I have probably ever seen. Lots of practical work by the Jim Henson Company enhanced with CGI to present fully realized characters that are wholly believable... both physically and emotionally. Jim Henson would cry if he could see these wonders (I did, both from their technical stand point and from the film's emotional punch).

So, some people won't like it because it is a true portrait of growing up and not some nostalgic trip to when you may actually have had an imagination. If you remember what it was to grow up and still have an imagination, you are in for a treat. Albeit one that may punch you in the stomach and leave you reeling.

As for kids, I say let them see it. It may not be right for kids 6 and under (there is some "scary images"). But anything above that I feel they need to grow up with this movie. The book was hated on by adults when it came out as it was not deemed right for kids. Who was correct there? This film will present new things for them and strong imagery and meaning that they can latch onto even more as they grow up. Family films that don't talk down to anyone and grow as the viewer does are the ones that are around forever (largely).

This film is just as challenging as... the Wizard of Oz. The Princess Bride. Both films have some intense scenes... who doesn't want their kid to see those? (If you said me, then I feel sorry that your child is THAT kid.) Speaking of those two films, this one is just as perfect. I feel it is one that may have some misinterpretation and not runaway love immediately (like those two), but will more than stand the test of time and be there forever.

Yes. This film is that good. It surpasses almost all others and joins a very select group. It is a true reminder of the ultimate force of cinema and what it can accomplish and convey. Moving.

ACTION... we got action here...

I haven't really been updating like I want to... to much other stuff going on. Will try to update more this coming week.

On the plus, I reaffirmed my music man. I am working on a few other things.

Saw Law Abiding Citizen, lots of good ideas wasted. Pass on it.

Tinkering...

I have been mostly mulling over the script. Sometimes I get these "bright" ideas or desires for major overhauls. These are usually bad. So, it is at the point where I fear I will over tinker with it. I have to keep in mind the essence and not stray too far from it's base. Awesome ideas in the wrong place are wrong ideas. ::But it's awesome...:: says the little voice... go away voice.

Seems a bit lull like too... still working, but have lots of other things going on. Also, there are lots of things I want to do and it just isn't time. Soon enough.

Went to Motorhead last night. It was a good time. Rough show even though we were far away and on the raised section. Go figure. It was my first old man show, as I wore ear plugs.

And... this makes me laugh. The titles says it all... Zombie Kid Likes Turtles.

Jamming...

So, Thursday night brought Pearl Jam. One day after seeing Alice in Chains we got to go see Pearl Jam, both born out of the late 80s/early 90s Seattle scene. Both my favorite bands to come out of that explosion.

Mayra got tickets through Ten Club (the fan club). This means we don't know our seats. They are distributed by seniority save the front two rows, which are random. We get there and the guy at the ticket booth informs us our seats are FRONT ROW. Which was crazy (see that pic at the top? Yeah that was taken with a terrible cell phone camera, that's how close). The venue was really nice and had no bad seats... but that's still not front row. So, that was an awesome surprise.

Ben Harper and the Relentless 7 open up. He did a good job and you can do loads worse for an opener 98% of the time.

Pearl Jam take the stage and start off with Corduroy (for the most part, actually played some Pink Floyd Interstellar Overdrive first). Awesome. They sounded awesome. Being so close was awesome. We were posted directly in front of lead guitarist Mike McCready and I was glad. He played with the most energy and was all over the place.

I learned that Eddie Vedder is a lot better guitar player than I thought. He played 3 songs with a string quartet backing him up. Ben Harper came back on to play on Red Mosquito. The set list was satisfying to me. I got to see Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town.

All in all it was good to see a band that tight that has never really missed a beat in their entire career. I've felt for a long time that Pearl Jam is in the same category as Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young. The kind of artist that is in it for the long haul for all the right reasons. A band that tours until it can't and loves bringing live music to all.

Keep it up, PJ!

Videos and Set list below...

Eddie Vedder puts the string quartet on the spot to play Lukin'... which they have not rehearsed.


Part of new song Amongst the Waves... in this one... down on the front row left just in front of security in yellow... in white... is me being all big. You can see M dancing on my right.


Jeremy... M is dancing in this one too...



Set List: (Interstellar Overdrive)/Corduroy, Severed Hand, Got Some, Do The Evolution, Dissident, Given To Fly, Johnny Guitar, Amongst The Waves, I Got Shit, Daughter, Jeremy, Unthought Known, Small Town, Driven To Tears (Police), The Fixer, Rearviewmirror

1st encore: Just Breathe w/string quartet, The End w/string quartet, Lukin w/string quartet, Red Mosquito w/Ben Harper, Jazz Odyssey, Better Man/(Save It For Later)

2nd encore: Gonna See My Friend, I Believe In Miracles (Ramones), Once, Alive, Yellow Ledbetter/(Star Spangled Banner)

Somebody check my brain...

Tuesday marked the first new Alice in Chains album in 15 years (it's excellent, btw). First of new material anyways. Lead singer hooked on heroin a large portion of his life and eventually dying of a drug overdose in 2002 can do that to a band. The band never complained publicly and always stood by poor Layne Staley. But a handful of years after his death the band decided to test the waters with a new singer, William Duvall. Response was overwhelmingly positive and the band soldiered on eventually leading up to Tuesday's release of new material. And why not. They always did the right thing, never made a scene, and the surviving three members deserved to move on. And to be fair, Jerry Cantrell sang on most of the songs and wrote the vast majority of them as it was.

Alice in Chains is a band I wrote off seeing live years ago. Having gotten to see them last night was a great treat.

When we got to the venue it took forever to get inside. Doors at 7? I don't think so. Show starts at 8? Yeah right, show started at 9:15. Crowd was starting to get a little restless. There was no opener.

They took the stage and immediately broke into Rain When I Die and all was forgiven. Duvall slayed it. He was awesome. Band was awesome. They sounded great. They had an acoustic break down which should be par for the course. The new songs stood up great next to the old ones. It was a flat out fantastic show. Not to mention I was 4 or 5 people back from the stage. It wasn't the longest set list ever, but that is easily forgivable when every song is a monster. I also loved that they didn't stay in "position," every member made a point to stand at different spots for different songs.

The crowd loved it and was one of the loudest crowds I have been around, despite the venue's tiny size. The guys were very appreciative and looked incredibly happy to be where they were... finally playing a show after releasing some new material. It was said several times that it was the end of the beginning, but that it was still a beginning. I think without a doubt we will be seeing a lot more of these guys and a lot of new albums down the road. Congrats to them and thanks for the great show. Set list and some videos of various things below. Tonight brings one of their Seattle brethren, Pearl Jam!

No Excuses, Old song performed this week on Kimmel


Check My Brain, first single off of new album


And most of Rain When I Die... last night from the Avalon.


Set List

Rain When I Die
Again
Check My Brain
Them Bones
Dam That River
A Looking In View
We Die Young
Nutshell
Love, Hate, Love
Black Gives Way To Blue
Your Decision
No Excuses
God Am
Acid Bubble
Angry Chair
Man in the Box

Encore:
Sludge Factory
Would?
Rooster