Uncle Ray is Coming to Town

Ray Harryhausen. That got your attention didn't it? The man is a legend. It's hard to imagine what the current state of fantasy and SF films would be like without his incredible contribution. A huge part of my childhood sense of wonder and adventure was shaped by watching his films. To this day I still get goose bumps when the 7th Voyage Cyclops or Golden Voyage Kali come on the screen. Ray's last film was "Clash of the Titans" way back in 1981. Since then he's authored a couple of books and supervised the completion of a pet project of short animated films. He has a new book coming out this year and will be on tour this spring in the USA supporting that project. He'll be the guest of honor at the James River Film Festival March 24, 25, check it out:


I'll be there and I hope to get to shake the man's hand and thank him for all the wonderful dreams and nightmares.

OK HW

WHAT I DID TODAY THAT WILL HELP ME BE A better FILMMAKER!

I like that phrase, it is a good motivator and cuts through the crap. I found it on a blog call "themudthebloodthebeer" written by John C. hailing from bean town. When I'll use that phrase (steal it I will, thank you John C), I may modify it to read "WHAT I DID TODAY THAT WILL HELP ME BE A BETTER ARTIST!" as my creative interests and endeavors reach beyond filmmaking right now. Like what? you might ask, and rightly so as I haven't seen fit to share whatever it is I'm up to with the likes of you two (or three) that stop by once a month. OK, the glove has been thrown down, so I guess it's put up or shut up time. Fine. Check this out.


What the hell is that? You might ask. Well, I'll tell you. That's a drawing (black ball point pen on paper) I recently did of an African mask from "Guere-Wobe, Liberia". It's copied from a photo in a great book called "Masks of Black Africa" by Ladislas Segy and according to the caption, "This mask was designed for the prevention of disease and for use in exorcism rituals.". It creeped me out the first time I saw it. There's something very dark about this mask, something mysterious. What compelled me to draw this piece was the fantastic textures and the bold shapes. I can noodle around losing myself in that stained fabric all day long and did.

So when I ask myself that question, "What did I do....etc", today, I have an answer.

zahdah,

OK HW