Twilight.

So, last week I was convinced/tricked into going to see Twilight because of my friend's unhealthy obsession with werewolves. I thankfully, didn't pay for the atrociousness that was about to be put before me.

Although, my friends have figured out ways to trick me into doing things.

As I turned the corner, I saw a line up that put a 1999 Britney Spears/Spice Girls crossover concert to shame.

Waiting in line was an ordeal that my friends and I were not very appreciative of. There was a lot of squealing coming from the various Twitards*.

*Twitards: Fans of Twilight, obsessive and usually under the age of 16

I had somehow managed to bypass the Twilight phenomena from the last movie and the books, so I went into this one knowing nothing.

That's right, in the magical world of Twilight, not only can vampires GO OUTSIDE DURING DAYLIGHT (because they live in 'the cloudiest city in the states' called FORKS) but instead of BURNING TO DEATH INSTANTLY, the Twilight vampires SPARKLE. That's all.

They sparkle, you guys.

There was a moment in the "film" where the head vampire douche, Edward Cullen was asked by a teacher to repeat a passage of "iambic pentameter" from Romeo & Juliet, as the camera slowly trucked in on him looking distraught and slightly off to the side trying to act badass, I gazed out into the audience, and saw girls swooning, smiling and clutching their jackets as if they'd just seen the most wonderful display of romance ever put on screen.

Makes you wonder, if you had lived hundreds of years, were immortal, and could basically do anything, would going back to HIGH SCHOOL really be at the top of the priority list?

Girls apparently think stalking is sexy, as in this scene when Edward shows up in Bella's room while she's at school and just sort of ...stands there gazing at her things. Nope, not creepy AT ALL.

Then came the stupid werewolf boy. Every chance he got, it was off with the shirt. He also wore jean cutoffs...reminded me of Tobias from Arrested Development.

Edward would do anything to protect his beloved, especially knocking her around every chance he got.

Edward then decides to leave Bella forever because he loves her or something. To which Bella shows just about as much emotion as she would to a piece of toast coming out of a toaster. Edward then leaves her stranded in the woods to fend for herself during rumoured werewolf attacks (because he loves her). Swoon.
The movie ends at some point thereafter, it's kind of a blur.

"The many faces of Robert Pattinson, Professional Knob." or "Acting with Eyebrows"

"Look Girls!! Now you can buy Twilight inspired makeup and read about how to 'snag your Edward'!" (pictures taken at a local pharmacy)

Never have I seen a movie where the lead actors, supposedly real-life lovers (which I'm sure was the brainchild of a brilliant publicist) have so little chemistry and barely even tried moving their mouths to talk. Perhaps it's because there isn't enough teen angst in me, perhaps it's because I'm slightly upset at the complete vampire overhaul that Stephenie Meyer has done, or even how they managed to make even werewolves slightly uncool (I say slightly, because let's face it, werewolves are pretty awesome); but this movie set a new standard in terrible - it went from being bad, to hilarious back around to being bad again, to me wanting to gouge my eyes out. Here's the best review I've ever read of it told entirely through LOLcats (thanks, Lissa) Also, here's why Breaking Dawn must be made into a movie (warning: profanity and major offensiveness.)

In short, I can't wait for the next one - apparently it will have 50% more sparkles. Maybe Joss Whedon will direct it :)

Team Werewolf (is that a thing?) all the way.
R.

Sketches!

City sketch study.

#2

Compositional Studies @ Grange Park (it was cold)

This woman was so bundled up, it was awesome.

Starting a new sketchbook.

Randoms

Some little random sketches I liked.

Some very recent sketches from traveling around downtown Toronto, I switched to pencil for the time being to try something different. See how long this lasts til I begin pining for a pen again. If you're in Toronto, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is this week! Definitely heading down there for some sketching sometime, it's always a blast! Thanks to everyone who's been commenting - it's really much appreciated! While I've been looking for a job and amongst doing a few other side projects on my own, Matt and I have started on a short film, and set up a production blog! Check it out!

Also, if you haven't had a chance yet, I'd definitely recommend going and checking out Where the Wild Things Are. Spike Jonze has made, in my opinion, an absolutely amazing, stunning and poignant film - some tend to disagree, and I've really only found two opposing opinions of the film (love or hate) with very few fence-sitters. Definitely one to catch.

Some fantastic stuff is being posted to James', Nick's and Jenny's blogs. I can't say enough nice things about these guys but definitely give them a look if you get a chance.

Princess and the Frog is being released VERY soon in NY and LA, and on December 11th everywhere! Check it out! And, a really cool Disney TV special from 1981 has been posted on youtube in conjunction with the Illusion of Life. Thanks to Cat Hicks for that one.

Winter's a-comin'.

Circuit Paris

(Slightly cut off - click through to play proper ratio)

In keeping with the trend, I realized I hadn't uploaded my film that I completed in my final year at Sheridan College, so here it is. Roughly about 4 months doing storyboards, a month doing layout, design and art direction/color styling and 3 months animating. The voices were done by Vadim as the cab driver, and Matt as the Old Woman. I've posted some process work in the past from it, which you can check out here about halfway down the page to the bottom. It was an enormous education (there are a ton of things I'd do differently) and an amazing experience - one I ended up wishing we'd had more of a chance to do during our time at school and I can't wait to make another.
100% Hand drawn - colored in Photoshop and composited in After Effects and Premiere.
Also, My buddies Vlad and Matt just uploaded their kickass films, so I'd definitely recommend watching theirs as well and checking out their awesome blogs. Also, Matt's been posting some pretty hilarious comics of him and myself - we're working on a little project together that's brought out some...material.

And here's a couple of quick little sketches:



Comments and crits appreciated! Til next time.
R.

Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving!

This weekend in Canadaland, it's thanksgiving! We celebrate it much like the Americans, what with the delicious, delicious turkey and other such fine foods.
Why do we celebrate it in October?
Because we're awesome.

Or, it could have began by the explorer, Martin Frobisher marking his homecoming from safely finding a northern passage to the Pacific Ocean, avoiding death which had befallen his predecessors. After which, the french settlers, having crossed the ocean and made it safely to Canada, held huge feasts of thanks from 1604 onwards.


(depictions of the french may be grossly exaggerated)

So that's how Thanksgiving in Canada began!
A Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Here are also some sketches I've been doing in the last little while:







Til next time!
R.

Intermission.

Back!

It's been a while, and a busy month or so, but I'm back now! I have a rule to not post videos on here ever, but I had to make an exception for this since it's personal work. If the player/embedding gets annoying or gives anyone issues, let me know and I'll just make it into a link.
Anyway, the video is my last assignment from the Disney internship, where by we had to storyboard out a musical sequence. The music was chosen by our mentors, mine being the AWESOME Aurian Redson who chose the Green Hornet theme.

Also, AURIAN REDSON FINALLY HAS A BLOG. Go visit it NOW. Aurian is one of the nicest guys around and can draw like no one's business. Check him out!

I also went to a few films at the Toronto International Film Fest, which I'll post about soon - they were Jean-Pierre Jeunet's "Micmacs", Don Hahn's "Waking Sleeping Beauty", and Jason Reitman's "Up in the Air". All I'll say for now is if the opportunity presents itself, go check any of those out.

I've also posted a ridiculous doodle, and some drawings done around the city and at the zoo, and unfortunately I've had to enable the spam security on the comments, been bombarded lately. Hopefully it's not too much trouble.

That's all for now!

R.

"Four Times the Awesomeness!"

Black Bull Tavern

Aroma Cafe

Zoo

Downtown Toronto - Queen/John

Journal Page from Florida trip