A Work in Progress

An Exclusive Interview with the Late Dan DeCarlo - Part 2 (Conducted Fourteen Years Ago)

2008-11-16T12:37:00.009-05:00

Thanks for your patience, here is the second and final part of my interview with Dan DeCarlo…

Me: How long do you think you will continue to draw for ARCHIE?
Dan DeCarlo: As long as I can. I really like to draw. It all depends on how my health holds out. Right now I have a clean bill, but you never know. God might tap me on the shoulder one day, and everything would change.

Me: There is a new generation of writers and artists at Archie Comics; do you see them making the same mistakes that you did when you began in the business?

DD: Dan Parent and I work a lot together. I rough the art out, and he finishes them. Then I send it to my inker (Alison Flood) to finish it. Dan, and the other younger artists at ARCHIE will succeed in this business, if they continue to be motivated. If they are motivated enough they certainly can make it easily.

Me: Stan Goldberg, among others have worked at ARCHIE for about the same length of time as you, do you have a friendly relationship with them?

DD: Yes. Stan and I are good friends. As a matter of fact, we’re going out tomorrow. Stan, Henry Scarpelli and I are all great friends.
Me: Many artists enjoy drawing for certain writers, because they know that they are going to be dealing with quality work. Do you have any favorite writers?

DD: I like Frank Doyle. When I first started to work on Archie, I got his stories. I think he’s the best. He has a way of writing that I’m able to illustrate humorously. He’s got a nice pacing that’s never boring. He’s an old pro, and knows how to handle the situations.

Me: There are many famous settings in the comics, such as Pop’s Chock’lil Shoppe, Riverdale High, Archie’s living room, the Lodge mansion, Riverdale beach, etc. Which is your favorite?

DD: (laughs) I enjoy the beach stories. Everything flows easy, and there’s very little perspective. The summer stories are my absolute favorite, even dressing the kids is a lot of fun. As for the other settings, I like the soda shop. We change them constantly. If you follow the books, you’ll notice that the Ice Cream shop is never the same twice. I think it’s important, because it’s inclined to get boring otherwise. Years ago, they wanted us to have the same living room with the same furniture in the same place, but they dropped it. It gets too dull. Now, if you look at the furniture in one story, and if they are in the living room for a few panels, you’ll start to see that the furniture moves. (laughs)

Me: You are well known for your work on the Betty and Veronica books, and commonly referred to as the cover artist at ARCHIE. Is it gratifying for you to view your work on the cover of a comic even though you have done so many of them?

DD: Oh yes. There are some covers that I really like. I sell most of the original art, but there are a few that I hang on to. I like covers, because in one piece of art it sums up a story. I spend much more time working on the cover art. In the grocery store, when my granddaughter sees any of my artwork she yells, “my Poppy did that!”

Me: I’m sure everyone knows that Betty is your favorite character, but why?

DD: Many people say that they can see it in my artwork. I really like Betty more than Veronica. I can relate to Betty – middle class, etc. I don’t know any girls as rich as Veronica. It takes me much longer to draw Veronica. That just proves that Betty can flow off my pencil easily. (laughs)

Me: As well as having teenagers in Riverdale, there are many adults too. Who are your favorite adult characters?
DD: I like to draw Weatherbee, Grundy and I guess Pop too. I get a big kick out of Mr. Lodge, but only when Archie’s driving him nuts.

Me: What do you remember that you can share with us, about The Archies when they reached the top of the Billboard charts with their hit “Sugar, Sugar?”

DD: Oh wow. There were all kinds of excitement around that time. Things were just sizzling for the characters at that time. The heads of the company were considering many ways to market the characters. Books were selling like crazy. They also tried to do a couple of themed restaurants around that time.
Me: How do you research the clothes our beloved gang wears, do you go through magazines, visit high schools…?

DD: I subscribe to all the teen magazines. It’s hard to use a lot of it, because it’s too stylish. The best thing to do is observe. Look at what the teenagers are wearing, and go with that. If don’t see them wearing what’s in the magazines don’t bother drawing it.

Me: Do you get a lot of fan mail?

DD: Quite a bit. I see ten to twelve letters a week. I try to respond to as many as I can. I really need a secretary. (laughs) I get a lot of mail for autographs, and requests for specific sketches of the characters.

Me: Occasionally, I have seen stories that you had a hand in writing. Do you plan to write more stories in the future?

DD: When I started to work at ARCHIE, I was writing my own stories. Then when I wanted to expand, I dropped the writing. Nowadays, I do some covers when I think I have a good idea. I find writing much harder than drawing.

Me: Have you ever based a story on a major experience in your life?

DD: I try to get some incidents that happened to me which are funny into the stories. In covers, I will try to put in situations.
Me: Do you have any tips for fans that want to become a comic book artist?

DD: If you like to draw, and you have to draw a lot, just go for it. My instructor at arts school said, “draw every time you have an opportunity, even if it’s of a tea cup.” I always drew a lot when I was starting. I would take out a pad and pencil and draw on the train at the end of the day, regardless of being too tired to do so. I really love it.

Me: Do you feel that you are still learning on how to improve your artwork?

DD: Yes. It’s very interesting; a lot of my fans say that I’m getting better and better. Sometimes getting better is really getting worse. You might become inclined to lose the feeling.

Me: What’s your opinions on the infamous love triangle between Archie, Betty and Veronica?

DD: Bob Montana’s version of it was: Archie loves Veronica, Veronica had him on a string, and Betty loves Archie. Now it seems like there isn’t a triangle anymore. Better is dating Archie, and Veronica feels that she could take Archie away anytime she likes. The real triangle isn’t there anymore. Betty is considered Archie’s girl, and Veronica will date Reggie.

Related Posts:

Who Is Your Dan DeCarlo?

An Exclusive Interview with the Late Dan DeCarlo - Part 1

Getting back on the horse

2008-10-03T23:55:00.001-04:00

Today I made an effort to follow up on a couple of leads regarding Metro-Burbs. It's been quite hectic during my day gig so I haven't had much time to spend on it. Will keep you posted...

The Art of the Title

2008-07-02T20:35:00.003-04:00

This is Alan checking in for the Finn Factory. A friend of mine sent me a link to a website showcasing the title sequences of various movies, television shows, and anime. These sequences are works of art in themselves. Music, animation, and camera work are blended together to make an important and intense part of any broadcast or film. While many films have yet to be added to the list, there are a still some quality pieces of work linked to the site. Make sure to check out the Introduction to Lemony Snicket, easily one of the best intros showcased.

The Art of the Title

Spy on the Rest of the World

2008-06-26T17:10:00.005-04:00

I came across this site recently. It shows off images as they are being posted on flickr within the last minute, either in a flat image of the world, or a 3D version of the globe. It's pretty wild - give it a try.

How To Deal with Procrastination

2008-06-22T18:38:00.002-04:00

Remind me, I'll tell you later.

Are You Willing to Fail?

2008-06-19T12:50:00.003-04:00

It’s a question I ask myself all the time. Am I willing to go backwards to go forward? Many times giving up a few comforts have propelled me ahead, but not all the time. For some reason, everything that is worth having usually requires you to lay all your chips down.

We have been building Metro-Burbs, our concept for a children’s show, brick by brick. It has been a very exhilarating, yet intricate process. There isn’t financing or backing of any sort to help prop us up, so we are learning by rolling up our sleeves and often times seeking out great talent to get involved purely because they like the concepts. Luckily, it has worked.

Since it isn't our day job, it can get a little difficult to find the time to focus on it. For me, this has been a great aspect of it, albeit at times a less productive one. I never felt that I should work on Metro-Burbs because I had to. So I would leave it alone for months at a time. We are at the point where we are confident that we can roll this thing off the assembly line with great success. We have everything we need to make it happen, and I'm very proud of all our efforts. It also helped my optimism recently to have gone to a few meetings, where the project held up very nicely to outside evaluation (aka not my family).

I do have to say that we have been lucky enough to get a few enormously talented folks involved with our idea; they have done an amazing job in helping to bring Metro-Burbs to life.

We didn’t want to make this program just to get into this area of the business; it is too difficult for that. There is a legitimate hole that we are attempting to fill in children’s television. Many of today’s shows are either geared toward the aggressive young boy, or set up for the cheap laugh, at the expense of our kid’s development. Our kids are absorbing actions on the tube that we would never tolerate in real life. Why would we want them to see someone else doing it?

We have the ability to bring a show with a fresh vibe, lots of enthusiasm and with educational value. There is no question that kids are going to watch more than one hour of TV a day, so why not stimulate their noggin during that time? We can let them discover elements about themselves that can be utilized when they are not sitting in front of the television. I’m not saying that all TV for kids has a negative consequence, just enough for us to do something about it.

I’d like to acknowledge a few of those artists that joined in to elevate Metro-Burbs to another level. They are all very passionate, creative, funny and bright individuals. I see them as the ideal people to make up what I want Finn Factory to be in the future. Take a bow guys ---- Alan Camuto, Bianca Siercke, Sal Denaro and Ted Nunes.

It continues to be exciting for me to pitch the show, and to get great feedback. It's not a matter of IF it will happen, but when. So to answer my own question, I am ready to fail in the short term, knowing that it will make everything I do in the long run even better. All the efforts thus far have paid off in spades. I look forward to walking everyone through Metro-Burbs one day....soon.

An Exclusive Interview with the Late Dan DeCarlo - Part 1 (Conducted Fourteen Years Ago )

2008-06-18T11:39:00.006-04:00

I’ll start at the beginning...

When I was in High School, I contributed to an Archie Comics Fanzine called Riverdale Ramblings. One of my goals was to meet some of my favorite artists, writers and creators. I went to the top of the mountain right off the bat...I decided to seek out a man that is considered to be the most respected talent to ever work for Archie Comics, Dan DeCarlo. I thought I could accomplish two things by doing so:

1. Create content for the fanzine

2. Hang out with Dan, The Man

I recently wrote about Dan, and it peeked my curiosity to re-read the Q&A I did on him in early 1994. I did some searching, and came across a copy of the issue in my parent’s very hot attic.

While reading it, a flood of memories came back to me. I had placed a cold call to the DeCarlo residence (yep, the number was listed) and his wife picked up the phone. Her name is Josie, a lovely woman. (Side note: Josie was the inspiration for Josie from Josie and the Pussycats). I waited patiently, yet nervously, for Dan to pick up. I could hear his wife yell up the stairs to him, and finally the sounds of him scrambling to pick up the receiver in his home art studio. He was probably hard at work getting the latest comic strip done. I’ll never forget his raspy voice or his distinct laugh. A laugh that would show up time and time again when he felt that the attention on him was a bit embarrassing. I think I awkwardly blurted out something about talking with him for a fan magazine. He seemed to understand my murmurs and immediately said yes. We had a date set for the following weekend.

I just happened to live in White Plains, NY at the time, and Dan resided in Scarsdale, the next town over. Wow, this is easy stuff. My subject lives fifteen minutes away, and he invited me over to his house. Now, the tough part -- I had never conducted an interview before, was very, very nervous and wasn’t a journalism major. Actually I didn’t have a major anything – I was in High School!

I went out and dropped a pretty decent amount of coin on a Dictaphone, and recall wondering why the device had such a weird name. When I was transcribing the interview, I had to go back and listen to his answers many, many times because of his low voice.

When I arrived at his house, Josie and Dan both welcomed me warmly. Dan was the definition of a gentleman. He served me lunch, we had tea and I felt like the luckiest kid around. After that afternoon, I feel like our conversations changed from a fan admiring an artist, to a guy talking to his friend.

I hope you enjoy Part 1 of my interview with Dan, and I look forward to hearing your comments!

Daniel DeCarlo was born on December 12, 1919 in New Rochelle, New York. He attended New Rochelle High School, and Art Students’ League in New York City.

Me: When did you start working at Archie Comics, and why there?

Dan DeCarlo: It was difficult to get a job after the war. I did all sorts of odd jobs to make ends meet. One day I answered an ad by Timely Comics (Later changed to Marvel) looking for cartoonists. I ended up drawing Millie the Model, My Friend Irma, and various other teenage titles while there. After about two years, the company let go most of the staff. They kept only the men that had books that were selling, and then only as freelancers. After I realized the type of business I was in, I decided to try to expand by seeking work from other companies too. It was at that point that I got some work with Archie. I was also working on a comic strip called Willie Lumpkin with Stan Lee. Often times, I would think that this was going to be it for me. I better do the work, because I might not get it tomorrow. I don’t feel that way now, but then I did. I was paranoid about the whole thing, and worked like crazy. I hired an inker. I really wanted to expand more, but couldn’t get any cooperation from the inkers.

Me: How does it make you feel to know that many fans continue to buy Archie Comics because of your art work?

DD: I am really flattered, and honestly a bit surprised. I get letters from readers that will really take me back. I can’t believe that they are that interested. It’s an awkward feeling. It never went to my head, if that’s what you mean (laughs). I don’t think that I’m that good, where people have to adore me. It’s really something.

Me: Do you notice any significant differences in the story lines from the time you started working on the comics compared to the ones that are on stands today?

DD: Yes. Earlier on, stories were sexier, and with a lot more slapstick humor, the school scenes especially. The teachers were all toothless, or had one tooth in the front. (laughs) Now the stories are more relevant.

Me: There is a distinct difference with the slang, clothing and look of the “Gang” in each decade. Which is your favorite time period, and why?

DD: I loved the 60s. The Revolution was happening. The kids were all looking for change. They weren’t sure what kind of change, but they were going against authority and their clothes went with it. I thought that it was the best years for clothing in the books. All the psychedelic stuff was a lot of fun. Now, it seems like the kids are going back in that direction with the fashion.

Thanks for checking out the first part of my Dan DeCarlo interview. Keep an eye out for Part two!! We will hear Dan's thoughts on: writing, adult characters in Riverdale and the time period when Sugar, Sugar hit the Billboard charts as a popular song by The Archies.

Related Posts:

Who Is Your Dan DeCarlo?

An Exclusive Interview with the Late Dan DeCarlo - Part 2

Subway from HELL

2008-06-16T07:32:00.000-04:00

I take the New York Subway every day to work, sometimes it's fine...most times it SUCKS. This makes me feel better...

How Sex and Violence Made Jim Henson a Star

2008-06-15T00:12:00.013-04:00

Jim Henson grew up, like many teenagers in America, as an outcast. He suffered from bad acne, which later in life led him to grow a beard to conceal the scars. The “facial hair mask” also worked for two other famous nerds, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Like Mickey Mouse’s white gloves and red pants, the beard became part of Henson’s trademark look.

In 1969, Joan Ganz Cooney of Children’s Television Workshop (CTW) began working on a new television project that seemed tailor made for Jim’s talents. She wanted to explore the use of his talents with puppetry as a key element to the show. At first, this could look like an ideal situation. Not from Jim’s perspective. He wasn’t thrilled, to say the least.

Cooney’s project was to be called SESAME STREET, and it was meant to revolve around a strict curriculum in each episode. Jim spent years developing his career and talents, to show that puppetry wasn’t just for the young to enjoy. He felt that if he teamed up with CTW he would forever be associated with children’s programming. After much deliberation, he did decide to join her on the project. It later turned out, he was right to be concerned.

In the mid 1970’s, he felt it was time to pursue his dream of creating a variety show with puppets. Jim was met with a lot of resistance from network television. He had created some of the most beloved characters on the small screen through his work with Sesame Street, but it didn’t make it any easier for him to get backing for his new project. As soon as he pitched the show as a prime time program for adults and kids, the cynical look from the Executives across the table followed.

He decided to create a pilot (one of two) that aired as a television special. It was called “The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence.” If that didn’t get attention, what would? Well, even with the scandalous title it didn’t get enough notice. There was almost a deal completed with CBS TV but the restrictions on the contract weren’t going to work for Jim.

Jim’s saving grace was from a heavy set, cigar chomping gentleman named Lew Grade. Grade was the head of a British television station, and came to the table with money and studio space in England. Jim signed on, and The Muppet Show was born. The episodes were sold to various stations in the UK, around the world and via syndication in the US.

Obviously, it became a huge hit and I’m sure some suits at the networks wish they realized that Sex and Violence from Jim Henson sounded like a pretty good deal.

Who the Heck Are You?

2008-06-13T15:08:00.005-04:00

I always post my ooohs and aaahhs for the Who Are You? posts but this time I want to hear what you think of this piece of work (David Fuhrer's site is accessible here). Post your thoughts in the comments and here are the first and second Who the Heck posts...

Purple, really? ok.

2008-06-13T11:00:00.001-04:00

This is just a slap in the face --- a good slap.

Best Bed Sheets ever?

2008-06-11T16:40:00.000-04:00

Flashback to 1970-something, having these bed sheets would automatically make you the Hugh Hefner of your High School. Flash forward to 2008...not so much.

the box

2008-06-11T15:26:00.002-04:00

W h a t ' s
I n
I t
?

Who the Heck Are You?

2008-06-11T11:56:00.005-04:00

Fruit + Technology = Banana Bot Boy

This is another edition of WHO THE HECK ARE YOU? I like to write about artists that I come across on the net who I feel are really going down interesting roads with their work.

This is just one inspiring example from a jam packed innovative portfolio by Daniel LuVisi.

Mary Poppins - Like You've Never Seen Her

2008-06-10T16:05:00.008-04:00

it's all in the editing...

APPLE vs. PC

2008-06-10T12:27:00.001-04:00

I have always been a PC guy, a couple of my brothers worked for IBM at various points in their careers, always had IBM pads, pens, hats, etc around the house. Never ever saw the Apple logo at Bursley Place when growing up. I've also never been tempted to own an apple computer, always had this visual in my head of one:

Does the screen still look like that?

Well, I guess the only time I got close to an Apple Computer, was when I visited apple.com to download music from my Itunes...for my Dell Computer. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I decided to download Steve Jobs' 2008 MacWorld/Black turtleneck/blue jeans dealio. It was interesting, not because he was doing things in a different way but because i was fascinated-- if I tuned in at 2am to watch an infomercial with some guy giving the same speech, i would said Bull --- for some reason I believed this dude. Why? I have no clue. He showed off very cool toys, and this is the guy that saved Pixar from the clutches of Lucas. He is responsible for hiring folks to create that IPhone and now the new I Phone...you know, the one that my IT dept said I can't get because it is not necessary. DAMN.

Anyway, not in the market for a new computer yet but for the first time I might consider going to the "other side." Oh, and this is the first Apple Computer...gotta start somewhere...

What the Heck is Electronic Mail?

2008-06-09T13:33:00.002-04:00

It's scary because it's new. Personally, I like the following explanation - -

"Need to notify people immediately of a fast-breaking development? Have your messages delivered to their terminal mailboxes electronically, across the hall or around the world."

At times my terminal mailbox can have just too much fast-breaking news, if you know what I mean. When I think technology advancement, I think Honeywell.

The best part is not only does this dude not have a computer on his desk, he has something really outdated called, what is it?? - a Rolodex, sounds creepy.

Company Logo

2008-06-08T16:19:00.000-04:00

Here's our logo, skillfully designed by Alan Camuto.

Finn Factory will focus on developing noteworthy and engaging programming for children. We are establishing new ways of looking at television for young viewers, as well as embracing elements that we feel have been missing in recently history. The Factory is as interactive as it comes. We welcome all your opinions and questions.

Mr. Fred Rogers

2008-06-06T16:27:00.007-04:00

The best part of YouTube for me is when I can use it the same way I use Google searches — find little nuggets of what I see as historical video. Saw some great Bob Dylan interviews from the 60s the other day, really cool. Occasionally, someone will throw something up with Jim Henson and Frank Oz – always on board to check those out.

This video is from 1969. It features a young Fred Rogers appearing in front of the United States Senate Subcommittee on Communications, but mainly the chairman – John O. Pastore. The video seems too perfect to be real, while you can see that Mr. Rogers is a bit nervous, he has a will to push through and get his message across. Chairman Pastore comes off as a cranky stodgy old villain, and you almost expect him to exclaim “Bah Humbug” at some point. Mr. Rogers must not have been established on a National level yet, because Pastore didn’t know anything about him. Mr. Rogers was there to plead to the committee to not cut funding for educational programming on PBS. I’ll leave it at that, hope you find it as inspiring as I did.

Explore

2008-06-06T13:56:00.007-04:00

There’s an infinite amount of things to love and hate about the internet. On top of the love list has to be "discovering" something or someone that is hilarious, moving or just simply stunning, if stunning could be simple. I bookmark tons of stuff on delicious, and comb through sites, blogs, portfolios and find an enormous amount of creative original projects. The net is an endless piece of paper to show off your work for compliments or advice. Which leads me to a young lady named Olena.

Her work is quite diverse and intensely executed with colors, shapes and a style that is so arresting. She doesn’t appear to want to shock or be submissive in her work. Here are two pieces that I think show off her talents. Enjoy….

Happy Friday!!!

2008-06-06T13:28:00.003-04:00

Yummy - - Pooh! When I think of food, cooking, eating -- i think of POOh TOO.

Internet Killed the Music Video Star...

2008-06-05T13:47:00.000-04:00

Who watches music videos anymore? I know I don't...not unless someone shoots me a link from YouTube or a friend directed one. This is one that I came across that is just fantastic. It does what a music video is supposed to - complement the work of the song, without overshadowing it. The band is Nizlopi, the song is called “JCB” and the experience is wonderful.

dirty art

2008-06-04T15:00:00.004-04:00

I came across a guy named Scott Wade recently. This dude could be putting art stores (and car wash places) out of business by writing his own rules, and getting a lot of mainstream attention for doing so. Doesn't he realize that he is supposed to draw on the paper!! (as I would say to my daughter). He doesn't need a little recognition from me, but I thought it was cool enough to share anyway. Scott uses dirt, yep DIRT, to create art. And not dirty art either, really amazing stuff.

Love What You Do, Whatever It is

2008-06-04T11:30:00.002-04:00

Break the Mold

2008-06-03T19:05:00.000-04:00

Pretty cool design for a business card...

GREMLINS: The Re-Birth

2008-06-03T13:13:00.009-04:00

I don't know why, but I have been thinking about GREMLINS lately. Not the things that hang on airplane wings, but of the film from the early 80s. It was the second film I saw in a movie theater (ET being the first), and I just loved it. It was rated PG, but got a lot of heat soon after its release because of the violence. Lucky for me, I got to see it before all that went down. What was distinctive about it, was not only the technology with the characters, but the humor that it had throughout - - and it was scary (at least for me, it was).

I usually hate the idea of a remake or re-imagining of a film concept, (this wouldn't even be a Gremlins sequel) BUT in this case I thought it would be fun to have a new Gremlins film. Start over. It should have a few winks to the original film, but it should take a page from the BATMAN and BOND films and start anew. That would leave us with...GREMLINS: The Re-Birth.

It should take place in present day, with a descendant of Gizmo as the cute mogwai. This time around, the "Gizmo" character is a bit more advanced - - evolution, my friends. Along with his advancements and new abilities comes greater power for the you-know-who Gremlins/mogwais.

The Re-Birth would note a duel meaning - - bringing back the film and of the gremlins within the movie hatching from an egg but then able to use the information they get while here, to create another egg and re-hatch, hence the re-birth. The new version will have what they saw as part of their new being. Maybe they are watching TERMINATOR, and when re-hatched, have a gun instead of a left hand.

Hmm..could be fun.

5 Fun Ideas to a Creative Work Environment

2008-06-03T08:58:00.001-04:00

Looking back at my previous list, I think it was fairly lame. I hope this makes up for it:

1. Spend the first fifteen minutes of your work day with the computer off, and that doesn't mean you should check your voicemails either. Use those non-tech minutes to your advantage. Plan out your day, write down on a pad your goals and don't forget to reference that list during your day. Often, we dive right in, and we should really allow a little time to get ready.

2. You spend more time in your work place than anywhere else. Decorate it with things you want to see, not crappy office pencils and mouse pads but stuff you want to play with when you are on the phone, like this strange and wonderful green thing - -

3. Buy an IHome for your space, so you can plop your ipod in and listen to the music you want to listen to, not the crap that's on the radio.

4. Bring some of your cool stuff from home, so others want to come by your area for a visit. Such as your lego collection of community workers. WARNING: If this attracts people you don't want to come visit, remove Lego community workers immediately.

5. After those first fifteen minutes are up, don't forget to turn your computer on. This will lead to more creative ideas in a work environment, guaranteed.

Have fun.

Obsession is not a bad thing - sometimes

2008-06-02T13:40:00.003-04:00

My new obsession is everything. Sorry, I can't help it. I think I have to switch from a venti to a grande at Starbucks. I have been devouring the internet, including blogs, podcasts - both video and audio ones, community sites like digg and popurls --- amazing.

I've been emailing friends as I discover new stuff that I think they will enjoy. I've also tried to post things here that I feel like are appropriate too.

For example, I watch at least three TED Talks a day. What is a TED, well -- become obsessed and find out yourself http://www.ted.com/

Here is a recent favorite of mine, I think this guy (Anand Agarawala) is inspiring -- believe me 99.9% of the Ted talks are very inspiring. At the very least, they will each make you look at everything you know upside down. Question everything and instead of complaining about what you hate - fix it, reinvent it - - Ok, Give it a look. His creation is called BumpTop…

"Go Fly a Kite?"

2008-06-02T05:10:00.007-04:00

My daughter asks the above question on a regular basis now. It is our own fault though.

It all started one day when we put MARY POPPINS on for her - - her first film. We assumed that at the most, she may like a few key parts but thought it wouldn't be possible for her to sit through the the entire thing. WRONG. She watched the film from start to finish - over and over and over and over again.

I bought the collector's edition of the DVD, so at least I could read the Pop Up Fun Facts on the screen during the four thousandth sitting of the film. It's extraordinary how well the film has held up over the years. The music, the storyline, the actors - - all still great to witness today.

SESAME STREET - Hitting it out of the Park

2008-06-01T09:19:00.001-04:00

There are few things that have as lasting an impression on me as Sesame Street. I still remember specific storylines, and special moments that took place. Thinking back to it, I see the companionship between Bert & Ernie as one of the most unforgettable aspects of the show.

For me, the finest achievement of the show was the relationships that were created between the Muppets and the regular kids. These are moments that couldn't have been tightly scripted, nor should have they been. I know they used kids from the neighborhood, not "actors." It worked, and continues to stick with me - to the point of inspiring the work I'm doing with the development of Metro-Burbs. There are even a few examples where the kid will look at the Muppet as it is talking, and then look at the ground where the puppeteer is – very cute.

This is pure Hollywood Gold.

One of my favorites is of John John and Bert (Frank Oz). This kid just steals your heart.

BPA Baby Bottles

2008-05-31T10:38:00.001-04:00

...and here we are worried about BPA baby bottles, are we going backwards? Maybe we should just give them a nice cold glass bottle of Seven-Up, and let them live, man.

Jim Henson Memorial Service

2008-05-30T08:18:00.011-04:00

Jim Henson played a very special role in many of our lives, especially if you are reading this blog. If you are, you probably are a creator, puppeteer, artist, writer, designer or are in the entertainment industry in some regards. A young Frank Oz came from a family of puppeteers, and immediately bonded with Jim. He was Bert to Jim's Ernie. Here is Frank's tribute to Jim at New York's Memorial Service, that was held with very strict rules from Jim that it be fun (no black clothing, lots of music and many friends).

Related Posts:

How Sex and Violence Made Jim Henson a Star

Tribute to Jim Henson (Video)

How Muppets Are Brought To Life...

RIPPLES - short film by Jim Henson (Video)

Jim Henson - Original Video Pitch for THE MUPPET SHOW

6 Ideas for a more Productive Working Environment

2008-05-30T03:11:00.000-04:00

I've already written a blog on office space, but this one is more to do with everything, rather than just the design of the space you work in. Like many others, I always think what I would do to create the best possible working environment for a staff of people - so they can be creative, free, have fun and obviously get their work done. Traditionally we know working environments to look like the environment seen to the left -- basically HELL. So, here's my first attempt at a blog list, come on - - everyone's doing it! And please feel free to add yours to the comments section, I want this to grow and grow!

1. Music - Obviously there has to be some kind of common ground, but not too lame or too crazy - - tunes usually gets everyone in a better mood. Set up the office with a mini speaker at every workstation, each day someone gets to connect their ipod at the mainbase for all to have the option of hearing that one's taste in music - - by turning their speaker on/off. Also, it's a fun way to get to know your co-workers better.

2. Computers - um, yeah - everyone has one...but is it a dinosaur? If you have one of these (see image on right) on your computer, call IT immediately. There is nothing like a slow computer to be a productive buzz kill.

3. Themed Days! maybe a day where everyone wears orange head to toe, or come as your favorite historical figure. Leave the themes up to...everyone. It's not guaranteed to increase work performance, but will be a fun activity.

4. Lunch Breaks - Encourage staff to go for a walk, go eat lunch in a park and don't pester them to come back in 30 minutes. And make sure you take your break too, you deserve it.

5. Allow everyone to share their ideas. Have true brainstorming sessions. Brainstorming means you don't knock down ideas during the process, let everyone speak their mind. At another juncture, you can cut back on the ideas that don't seem feasible.
6. Free Starbucks day! Buy your staff each a venti, you cheap jerk.

Who The Heck Are You?

2008-05-29T23:39:00.008-04:00

I remember reading an interview that Walt Disney did, and he was telling the interviewer about a girl that came up to him one day at Disneyland. She said, "Are you Walt Disney?" He nodded. She quietly asked, "do you draw Mickey Mouse?" He replied, "no." She asked if he wrote the stories, directed the movies - - answer was still a no. "What do you do, sir?" was the final question from this little lady. Apparently, he laughed (lucky for the kid). He said he saw himself kind of like a bumble bee, going from one beautiful flower to the next.

Well, I may not be Walt Disney, but I also know that I am not a director, artist, etc. (I do consider myself a writer - that's another post). I'd like to see myself as someone that can spot talent. I've been lucky enough to do so with the development of Metro-Burbs, and had folks at Nickelodeon tell me so - - gotta believe them, right?

Anyway, while doing my usual looking around on web, I am across this dude's work, his name? Bryan Ballinger. I don't know much about him, but I do know that guy has it. He has a wonderful site with his very creative, quite amazing pieces of work. I hope you check it out.

The two images on this post are just a tease, you really have to check out more on his site.

The Excruciating Demise of the American Comic Strip

2008-05-29T12:58:00.007-04:00

When I was growing up, it was a tradition that every Sunday morning my siblings and I would fight for the Sunday Comics that wrapped around Dad's newspaper. It had its own section, like the Business or Metro section - - so we must be getting smarter by reading them, right? Sort of like getting a fake lawn mower to use when Mom was cutting the lawn, or a fake baby to pretend like we were a parent too. Although this section was special, it was filled with color - not like the daily strips that usually got lost on a bland black and white page in the paper from Monday thru Saturday. The characters really popped in this setting. Some of our favorites even hogged up lots more space, like everyone's fav - Calvin and Hobbes.

We all had our favorite strips, and some of us had strips that we NEVER would read. Most of my favorites don't exist anymore, or have been taken over by other artists/writers. I haven't read a Sunday Comic Strip section in YEARS. There is something very sad about that, less about the medium of the current state of newspapers, and more about the current line up of talent and strips that are out there.

Am I in the minority when I say that the newspaper strips just aren't funny anymore? I know that many artists had issues with the space getting smaller, and smaller but I have seen artists fill up tiny boxes in brilliant ways before, so I don't think that is it.

We haven't figured out the best way to utilize the "comic strip" in the internet medium yet. There are links to classic strips, and even current strips on the net but we haven't really incorporated the traditional strips into the news sites. Wouldn't be great to read your news for the day, with sprinklings of comic strip humor that you could click on for relief?

Anyway, good bye American Comic Strip, may something emerge that can shine as bright as you did.

Workplace Envy

2008-05-29T12:16:00.008-04:00

Most of us spend the majority of our waking hours in an office setting, whether it is in a cubicle, an actual office, on the floor in your house, etc - that is where we create, work and live most of our lives. So why do we spend so much money on our Living Room in our homes - a room that is rarely used on a regular basis?

Visiting others in their "work space" can be a bit deflating to a person (me). Just last week I visited a couple of very cool offices in NYC - - toys on display in cabinets, candy everywhere, great music playing, cool sofas, lots of creative visuals - fun, fun, fun. How cool is your workspace? If it is very cool, I guess you can comment below with visuals so I can be jealous of you too.

Here are a few pics from the GOOGLE offices - lucky jerks - -

IRON MAN - pint size

2008-05-28T16:58:00.008-04:00

I was always going to see IRON MAN, but what made me rush to see it was a piece that director Jon Favreau did on NPR's THE TREATMENT. I highly recommend the podcast. He takes away the bells and whistles, and really focuses on the essence of his vision for the project. He does it in a very careful way to not sound too cerebral to the non-comic book nerd moviegoer.

Here's a very sweet depiction of artist Steve Leeper's vision of IRON MAN - - Here's to hoping that kids this Halloween are just as creative...

The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!

2008-05-28T12:33:00.012-04:00

I came across this crazy cool image from a Russian artist, not sure who did it because when I tracked down its origins, the site was in...Russian. Shocking, huh? Out of respect, here is the site. How cute is that fluffy elephant thingy?

Passion Project

2008-05-28T07:27:00.013-04:00

Passion project has a nice, warm sounding feel to it. Now refer to it as a project that you are doing for zero dollars – not so warm.

Metro-Burbs continues to be our passion project and our zero dollars project too. We have gotten great feedback from various folks, companies and networks but haven't found the right team to take our baby to the next level…yet. I wanted to develop the show as much as possible while we were at the stage of working alone. I developed character traits, storylines, specific details about each character from their birthday to their favorite ice cream flavor – all this helped to form the world we wanted. We ended up putting in a lot of these details into a media kit, and it has been a great tool to show off the show.Inspiration came from everywhere, including the street I lived on in Brooklyn. I modeled the main street in Metro-Burbs after it.

The Incredible Hulk Lives in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood?

2008-05-27T15:30:00.002-04:00

I'm bummed. There was a link to this episode on YouTube but it was recently taken down. It was interesting that a show that was very concerned about educating and entertaining actually got to put it to practice in this example. I wonder if PBS was hesitant to align its self with a program that might be considered counter to the mission and direction of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, Sesame Street, etc. The Hulk scared the hell out of my baby sister, but this really put it in the proper context. All I can do is tease you with the notion that it was pretty great. Sorry kids.

UPDATE: I found a different link - enjoy!

For The Nerd In You

2008-05-27T14:18:00.003-04:00

Holy Crappy connection, bat dude. There is a company that actually makes the batman phone, and it works - -

I WANT THIS, SUMMER SANTA!!!

Your Dad Was NOT a Metrosexual

2008-05-25T23:15:00.003-04:00

I saw the below ad recently in a magazine, and thought it was just brilliant-

Who is your Dan DeCarlo?

2008-05-25T11:26:00.004-04:00

I grew up reading Archie Comics, I was nuts for them. I could identify which artist and sometimes which inker drew stories -- and at times spot the writer by the title of the story or type of jokes that were written. I was a real devotee.

My favorite artist was Dan DeCarlo, hands down. He was the best, when I thought of the look of the characters, it was Dan's work I saw (seen here to the left). I was lucky enough to spend some time with Dan and his wife, and I learned a bit about him through an interview I did for a fanzine ages ago -- I’ll have to find the tape of the interview. I remember at one point he asked me to turn off the recorder, and with his raspy voice asked if I remembered the times that Archie would fall asleep with Betty or Veronica in the car with them, or the times that they spent the whole night out, and the next scene would be the following morning. I said, of course. He said, every time that happened, they...you know... and then he laughed hysterically. I was amazed...i need to go back and re-read my comics, I thought.

At the time I knew him personally, he was in a lot of legal battles with the owners of Archie Comics, regarding what elements of Archie Comics he should have been given more recognition to help create. Such as, Josie and The Pussycats (Josie was named for his wife). Over lunch one day, he told me that he felt like a failure - - he worked his whole life and didn't have anything to show for it. I, of course, reassured him that his work touched many, many people. I was very surprised to hear him say that. In my eyes, he was a huge success. While I am not an artist, I looked up to him. While he claimed to think he was a failure that day, he indirectly taught me to not compromise my vision, protect it and fight for my efforts.

So, who is your Dan DeCarlo?

How Muppets Are Brought to Life...

2008-05-23T17:13:00.005-04:00

Check out this site, & learn how Sesame Street brings Muppets to life.

ok? now you do it.

Pixar 101

2008-05-21T17:34:00.001-04:00

I've read a ton of Hollywood studio type books, not the cheesy tell-all biographies but the ones that focus on an era, on a studio, on a filmmaker or just a point of view. Such as:

DisneyWar, Down and Dirty Pictures, The Devil's Candy, The Mailroom, Who The Devil Made It, The Studio, Boffo!, Hitchcock on Hitchcock, What Just Happened?, Rebel Without a Crew, Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Hello, He Lied, Eyes Wide Open, A Pound of Flesh...

Also heard great things about The Making of Star Wars - - not even a nut about SW, but just ordered that from Amazon. I just got The Pixar Touch in the mail, am very excited to start that 300 page bad boy.

Happy Tuesday

2008-05-20T17:39:00.000-04:00

Summer...is...coming...

Stay...off...the...carbs...

Classic Peanuts is where it's at

2008-05-19T17:41:00.000-04:00

I recently bought the Charles Schulz biography (RIP), and can't wait to dive into it. I have to say that the later strips of PEANUTS didn't do it for me. I really liked the unrefined look and stories of the very early strips. The characters were raw looking, as was the humor. Here is a real "classic."

Tribute to Jim Henson

2008-05-11T17:42:00.003-04:00

I came across this video while doing a random Sunday afternoon search. It's a short student film called Over Time that was done in 2004 by three from the French animation school Supinfocom. It's a wonderful tribute to Jim Henson, and as many have commented on various sites - it shows how the creations or puppets react once they realize their creator has died. After viewing many of Jim's early experimental short films, I think he would be quite touched and impressed with this. It is a bit sad, be forewarned.

Directed By: Oury Atlan, Thibaut Berland, Damien Ferrie
Music: Inconsolable by the Silberman Orchestra

Related Posts:

How Sex and Violence Made Jim Henson a Star

Jim Henson Memorial Service (Video)

How Muppets Are Brought To Life...

RIPPLES - short film by Jim Henson (Video)

Jim Henson - Original Video Pitch for THE MUPPET SHOW

RIPPLES - short film by Jim Henson

2008-05-09T18:03:00.004-04:00

This short film by Jim in 1967 stars Jon Stone. Jon introduced the folks at Children's Television Workshop to Henson. Stone worked closely on Sesame Street until the time he died. In his New York Times obituary, Joan Ganz Cooney describes Stone as "probably the most brilliant writer of children's television material in America."

Jim Henson - Original Video Pitch for THE MUPPET SHOW

2008-04-25T11:41:00.003-04:00

When in doubt, go back to see how the masters did it. Jim Henson and his crew put together a video pitch for various networks about The Muppet Show. Here is the version they showed CBS. It's quite clever, as only Jim and the crew could be. As I'm sure you know, every network passed on the show. I'm sure someone lost their corner office for that mistake.

Related Posts:

How Sex and Violence Made Jim Henson a Star

Jim Henson Memorial Service (Video)

How Muppets Are Brought To Life...

RIPPLES - short film by Jim Henson (Video)

Tribute to Jim Henson (Video)

A Quick Hello from the Sidekick

2008-04-24T11:39:00.000-04:00

My name is Alan, and I guess I've been sitting on the sidelines for a bit, but it's time for me to finally introduce myself. For the past 4 and a half years I've been James' sidekick on this wild ride from the conception of our wonderful little children's television project. While James has handled the writing and business side of things, I've provided the art direction for our little project. Working alongside our famed artist illustrator, I've managed to put together the visuals that are Finn Factory and Metro-Burbs.

I greatly thank James for making me a part of this project . I don't think I could ever conceive working along side anyone else the way I've collaborated with James. He's been a good friend in the years I've known him, as well as a trustworthy partner in all this hoopla. Things are looking up for Metro-Burbs these days and we've begun to see a light at the end of the tunnel. The next few months, god willing, should be newsworthy, so stay tuned to our little blog for more info. I'll be popping in and out from time to time. In my next blog, I fully plan on responding to a question James had previously posed on here, so keep an eye out for it.

Why I'm Here...

2008-04-23T13:38:00.000-04:00

I recently moved my blog from WordPress to Blogger, finding it a lot easier to set it up - not a pro by any means. Anyway, I'm slowly moving over some of my old posts and will start a new shortly. One that I felt was due for an update rather than a cut/paste was the one about Metro-Burbs.

I am developing a children's television program by that name, and the intention of a blog was to share its progress, and other random things that I was checking out on the net or found fun - much like many other blogs.

Things are going GREAT. I had a couple of very promising meetings in the last week, and have a couple more this week. Hope you enjoy your stay - more soon.