The Carver's House

Did I ever post this drawing before? I don't remember... One of the methods I use to develop stories is imagining what the poster would look like, even the "trailer," as if the story were a movie. These products of brain matter provide me with clues as to the kind of mood I want to carry throughout whatever story I have in mind. They also help me pin down key scenes and dialog. The Zaturnnah sequel is no exempt. This poster concept was drawn and rendered over two years ago, when I was writing the first directionless draft of the sequel. Since then, so many changes have taken place. For one thing, Didi won't be in the sequel. The official sidekick will be Gwyneth, the designer of the Zaturnnah costume. Also, a number of the characters depicted in the hypothetical poster won't be in the sequel. They seemed like good ideas at the time, but turned out to be useless or cumbersome when the new script came along. Yes, world, it's true. Even if you've written half...

In an earlier post, I asked why there hasn't been a lot of output in the local comics scene in the past few years, and I'd like to thank those who have offered their insights. It seems that many creators are concerned about creative control, as they have had sad experiences. This can account for, instead, the crop of indie releases which many may not have heard of, largely due to limited exposure and distribution. Over at the Multiply version of that previous blog entry , an interesting proposal came up. Why not hear the publishers' take on it? There are companies that have produced graphic novels and serialized anthologies, so is it possible to create a special forum in the next Komikon wherein these companies can meet comics creators to discuss the sensitive issue of creative control and author rights? It won't boil down to a debate--the point of the forum will be to see both sides of the issue, to see where the publishers and the creators are coming from. Creators ca...

If there are people who splurge on fashion, or video games, or car accessories, I splurge on books. Well, used to splurge on books. I'm keeping a tight rein on spending on more volumes until I've read each of my purchases. To help me with my therapy, I visited the book sale currently happening at Bestsellers, on the top floor of Galleria. I stepped in and ogled at the large signs that screamed "Up to 75% off!" Nuh-uh...you're not going to get me this time. Here are some of the books I've previously purchased from the bargain bins. I've gone through about about a fourth of each. All satisfying reads so far. Over the Edge of The World: Magellan's Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe by Laurence Bergreen So it wasn't just Lapu-lapu who killed Magellan. In this book, Bergreen takes his extensive research and gives us an inside look at what really happened to Magellan, from his roots in Portugal to his demise in the hands of hack-happy villagers in ...

I placed a nifty button in the sidebar that'll allow you to get my blogposts in your email inbox. That is, of course, if you want to find my ramblings in your inbox. If you don't want me rambling in your inbox, then that's okay, too. (When you subscribe, you'll readily know when I've made an update.) To those who regularly visit, thanks again! If there's anything you want to know, if there's any strange or personal question you want to ask me, ask away through the comments link. :-)

The first time I saw Paula Abdul was in 1988, through the video, (It's Just) The Way That You Love Me . Tapdancing and Top40 weren't exactly a prizewinning combo in the late-80s, but she definitely stood out. Though that single didn't even break into the Top 40, it would be re-released the following year after the mega-success of the singles Straight Up, Forever Your Girl and Cold-Hearted . I bought all her studio albums (on cassettes) except the remix compilation. As she continued to bag one hit after another, my friend and I would joke about her voice. ("Kung mananalo siya ng award, magpapasalamat siya sa Macintosh computers for her voice.") Note that when her hit Rush, Rush came out, Mariah Carey had just hit the scene, Madonna was vogueing as Breathless Mahoney, Janet Jackson was ruling Rhythm Nation, and Whitney Houston was raking in the moolah with I'm Your Baby Tonight . Paula seemed to be the odd-girl out among the powerhouse divas, the light-footed...

Last Saturday, I sacrificed sleep time in favor of filling up the day with three plays. The first was PETA's Skin Deep , a satiric romp on the ups and downs of cosmetic surgery written by Vince de Jesus. (I was late for this one--the show was 10 in the morning.) Mid-afternoon found me at the University of The Philippines for Dulaang UP's Orosman at Zafira , penned in verse by Francisco Balagtas, but reworked with music and stunning choreography, complemented by delicious production design. After dinner, it was intimate theater with Last Order sa Penguin , the Palanca award-winning play of Chris Martinez. I'm not the best at providing critique for shows like these, but suffice to say I liked them all at varying levels. Then again, it was a bit tough keeping my mind 100% open throughout the day because of the sleep deprivation, but it wasn't enough to stop me from being entertained. Thanks to those who offered complimentary tickets. You know who you are. I really would li...

Last July 2007, the New Seven Wonders of the World were determined and declared by popular vote, a campaign spearheaded by The New7Wonders Foundation established by Canadian Bernard Weber. The new Seven Wonders are all man-made structures. Now the foundation is calling for votes for the New Seven Wonders of Nature, putting the spotlight on natural formations. As things stand as of this writing, the Philippines' Tubbataha Reef (in the Sulu Sea) sits in the Top 30. Our other nominees are the Chocolate Hills (in Bohol) and Mayon Volcano (in Albay). Let's do a "Miss Universe" and vote like crazy for our natural wonders. Register and vote here. And do pass the word around.