Muppet movies

Fark.com has a great contest going on - photoshopping muppets into movie posters. Go check it out because some of them defy description (beware of the Kermit/Ron Jeremy one because that will just mess up your childhood memories baaaadddd). A couple of my favorites below. (Larger and higher res versions on the Fark.com site.)

Best use of Statler and Waldorf (although the Trading Places poster comes close)...



The one that had to be done....



And my favorite....


Which was followed by the comment...
"It's 106 miles to Sesame Street, we've got a full tank of gas, half a box of Tollhouse, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses... Hit It."

Equality

The California Supreme Court ruled that the state must allow same sex couples the same rights of marriage as opposite sex couples. Glenn Greenwald at Salon has some great commentary on the decision (short ad before you get to the article).

Thank God. I will never understand those who think allowing homosexuals to marry somehow weakens or cheapens their own marriage or somehow weakens their family. My own marriage is a constant source of strength and joy and frustration and passion and love. How gay marriage effects that is beyond me.

Besides that, this is America, damnit. Everyone is created equal, remember? Denying a basic right to one segment of the population is fundamentally un-American. Yes, yes, I know it has happened constantly throughout American history. Doesn't make it right. Thrilled to see this one injustice start to change.

Good luck to all the couples who are going to get hitched in 30 days.

New Project

I have been working with Todd Downing on a short film (him directing, me producing), written, starring and financed by an actress out of LA by way of Australia. She was wanting us to keep it under wraps until we had more details set. We met for the first time face to face on Saturday and started hammering details. I guess she felt comfortable with the details and with me producing (she had already met Todd and had an instant connection) as later that day at the Emerald City Comic Convention, she outed the project.

So, I can now officially say I am producing a short film written by and starring Gigi Edgley, from the late 90's t.v. show, Farscape (Sci-Fi Channel's first big hit). It is called Nobody Knows and it, as Gigi describes it, captures "a really odd moment in time." It ties in loosely with Blue Shift the comic she co-created with Brian Meredith, local artist and co-organizer of ECCC.

One more project does not help reduce the overall stress levels, but it is pretty tough tough to say no when a project like this falls in your lap.

Happy Birthday, Todd!

Yet another friend strides mightily into his 40's. Today is Todd Downing. Todd is a local writer/director/musician/designer/geek that we met after he cast Trish in his short film, Ordinary Angels. That was about a year and half ago. After filming was done, Trish introduced the two of us and something just clicked. Since then, we have become close friends... to the point where it is hard to remember just how short a time we have actually known each other. A similar taste in all things geek helps. A far too similar sense of humor helps, too (and drives Trish a little nuts, but that's ok). Mostly though I think it is how our artistic goals line up. And that has led to a very rewarding collaboration for several projects. (How good the end result is remains to be seen, but I would not bet against us.) He has a big talent and a big heart and while he protests a little too loudly about how lame Aquaman is (compensating, perhaps?) I am thrilled we became friends. Happy Birthday, Todd.

...and to think, I had to talk Trish into keeping that audition appointment.....

Law & Order STIFFY

We just got the schedule for the 2008 Seattle True Independent Film Festival. (The schedule is not online yet.) The Acting Syndicate's first short, Behind Closed Doors, is screening on Wednesday, June 11th at 6:15 at the Jewel Box Theater in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle. (Along with the schedule comes the list of STIFFY awards - every film gets one - and BCD received the Law & Order Award.)

Other movies of note at the festival include Ordinary Angels (Jewel Box, 6/8 @ 1:30), The Addict and Rectify (Jewel Box, 6/7 @ 6:15) and one I have not seen yet but includes BCD Alum and top notch actor Sarah Mac Aaron, Miss Shellagh's Miniskirt (Central Cinema, 6/10 @ 7). Check 'em out.

Oh and if you need the reminder, The Acting Syndicate's second short, Serial Reconciler, is online for your viewing pleasure.

Yeah, it's that good

Just adding my voice to the increasingly loud chorus in praise of Iron Man. Director John Favreau really strikes the perfect pitch for a comic book movie - the playboy bit is played for the right amount of laughs; the switch to righteous indignation is smooth and not hammered home; the action sequences are exciting with great effects that do not take over the film; and the cast (for the most part) does not overplay their parts. Fun film. Worth the extra bucks to see it on the big screen. Just stay all the way through the closing credits.

That was Swell

Went out last night with Trish and Jessie and Jenni to see The Swell Season in concert. Good show all in all. He is a natural performer with wonderful, long, rambling, funny tales before many of the songs. She has a great voice but not yet the stage presence he has (I would guess the difference is the many years of busking under his belt). They could have tightened up the running time, especially since many of their songs are slow, thoughtful pieces. Would have loved to have seen them in a more intimate venue... with more comfortable seats... that weren't packed in cheek to jowl... and better ventilation.... But it really was a fun night and I would highly recommend catching them if you have the chance.