Meanwhile...

Podcast!

2013-03-03T19:24:00.000+00:00

With my film making troup we've decided to start a podcast. It's movie based with a few games and the odd competition. Give it a listen on itunes or soundcloud. In this first wondrous episode we cover Wreck it Ralph, Hitchcock and a Good Day to Die Hard. We also have a Game of Thrones came to play and some movie news. Wrapped in a nice bow in about half an hour. Enjoy my pretties!

Some facts about Batman for y'all

2012-09-03T00:27:00.000+01:00

Commissions Closed! But heed dear faithful ones...

2012-08-31T14:07:00.000+01:00

Hi all,

I'm afraid I'm going to be well out of office for the next couple of months. As University and summer have rapped I'm moving out and finding a job. This means I'll have no internet or time for all your delicious ideas. However come late October/Early November I should be back in full swing, just in time for Christmas!

I'll be having an offer of free delivery for UK commissions, overseas will have to cover charges I'm afraid. All commissions will receive a high-quality digital file to do with what you wish.

So if a loved one or pet wants a full colour Baloo the Bear riding a Mech into battle, keep us in mind.

Hope all is well your sides of the fence.

SmudgeDredd

Deadpool and Freakazoid are BFF's

2012-08-30T22:53:00.000+01:00

I really think they'd be the best of friends. This will be painted/coloured at some point in the future but I'm currently 'out of office' as it were. Originally this was going to have captions but in the end I felt it wasn't needed.

My favourite Freakazoid clip.

The Dark Knight Rises

2012-08-24T11:40:00.001+01:00

The Dark Knight Rises Baby Batman has been running for about two weeks now. I you haven't already give it a whirl!

Under Dooms Mask...

2012-08-22T23:44:00.000+01:00

Found out about this earlier. Haven't stopped laughing since! So naturally this had to be done.

Baby Batman Webcomic

2012-08-13T18:33:00.001+01:00

Bane's Punishment

After doodling 'Baby Batman' with my Sister I decided to turn it into a webcomic. You can check it out here. I'll be updating about twice a week.

Baby Batman, Batman, Webcomic, Joke a day, Gag, funny, Parody, Silly, Batcave, stick drawings, Bane, Bane's punishment, Dark Knight

Hey Ladies

2012-08-13T18:28:00.000+01:00

Dedicated to all the pretty girls, all the pretty girls in world and the ugly girls too. 'Cause to me your pretty anyway baby.

So I had a bosh at doing that survey that's been doing the rounds. For some reason I kept on saying antagonist instead of protagonist. Don't worry regulars, I have recorded a normal video but uploading takes all day at the moment. One will arrive soon!

The original by Rosianna.

QUESTIONS:
1. Who are your favourite female YouTubers?
2. Who are your favourite female athletes?
3. What is your favourite book written by a female with a female protagonist?
4. What is your favourite film written by a female with a female protagonist?
5. Who is your favourite female fictional character?
6. What is the biggest problem facing female creators today (and any solutions)?
7. Do you think youtube and online video in general are better or worse suited than
television for tackling the problems and prejudices women face in the workplace?
8. What do you pledge to do to make the internet a better environment for all creators?
9. Tell us a story/secret whatever featuring women!
10. TAG PEOPLE!

Tagged: http://www.youtube.com/user/sarcaschicks?feature=results_main
http://www.youtube.com/user/PressHeartToContinue
http://www.youtube.com/user/communitychannel
http://www.youtube.com/user/LizzieBennet

survey ladies female creators feminist 'Waitress film' 'His Dark Materials' Lyra 'Kate Or Die' 'meredith gran' 'emmy cicierega' webcomics sarcaschicks presshearttocontinue communitychannel lizziebennet questions hip hop' comic books youtube DexterityBonus

Free Pussy Riot! Dark Knight Rises (Spoilers?) & JJ DOOM Hip Hop Hooks & Comic Books vlog

2012-08-13T18:21:00.000+01:00

Free Pussy Riot!

I missed a bits off my Dark Knight review I wanted to touch on, mainly Catwoman and how Nolan plays with audiences expectations and our collective knowledge. I might talk about it next week or write about it.

My crap

JJ DOOM Tracks

"Free Pussy Riot" "Dark Night Rises Review" "JJ DOOM" "MF DOOM" "Jneiro Jarel" "KEY TO THE KUFFS" Bane "bane's voice" "The Dark Knight Rises (Film)" "hip hop news" "comic books news" "Bane (comics)" Batman "Comics (Literary Genre)" "christopher Nolan" Hip Hop Rap "Hip Hop (Exhibition Subject)" Joker Level "Riot (Disaster Type)" Game Book Heath Trailer Books Tournament Ledger Reading Map Asylum alfred analysis imax digi

Why must we fall Bruce?

2012-08-02T13:34:00.000+01:00

I assume these are real.

Why must we fall Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up? So we can use these AWESOME BAT-PLASTERS! Batman funny picture comic band-aid

Dark Knight Rises, Adventure Time, Pip vs Grist and Free Mixtape! Hip Hop Hooks & Comic Books

2012-08-02T13:29:00.000+01:00

After a slight hiatus I return covering the new Marceline And The Scream Queens comic, the Scroobius Pip vs Mark Grist battle tease, the Rock The Bells Mixtape and basically tell you I know that Dark Knight Rises is out.

Rock The Bells Mixtape.

Pip calls out Grist.

DON'T FLOP - Rap Battle - ‬Blizzard Vs Mark Grist.

Mark Grist on Girls who read.

If you've read this far I'll let you in on a secret...I might run a competition soon. So stay tuned for some wack prizes!

"Adventure Time (TV Program)" "Hip Hop (Literature Subject)" "Hip hop hooks & Comic books" "Mark Grist" "Scroobius Pip" "rap battle" "marceline" "Scream Queens" "rock the bells" "free mixtape" "vlog" "hip hop news" "comic book news" "Meredith Gran" "all i want for christmas is you" Book "Comic Book (Literary Genre)" "batman meme" "meme"

My Friend Mingus: Bonus Pictures

2012-07-07T18:00:00.001+01:00

So I was taking a little look through my fliptop the other day and came accross these. I'm doing a sterling job acting like a film maker. Talking with a camera qualifies you more than a degree I think. It was a fun evening filming, but if you'd seen the bloopers you'd know that already. trivia for you: James (Mingus) was asleep whenever the camera wasn't on him because he was drunk. Pics were taken by the man responsible for this.

My Friend Mingus Bloopers Reel

2012-06-23T21:04:00.000+01:00

Blooper Reel for My Friend Mingus. With all my work in it made sense to trawl through the footage and create a little bonus round as a thanks for everyone involved. Thank you and enjoy! If anyone is interested in seeing the film it is being entered into a number of short film festivals, you can find out when and which by following us. Trailer Soundtrack

Canibus vs Dizaster, The Oatmeal & Ninja Turtles : Hip Hop Hooks & Comic Books Vlog

2012-06-18T00:56:00.000+01:00

Once again I have a bit of a sync problem, my apologies! Hopefully I'll have it sorted by the next vid.

Canibus vs. Dizaster

The Oatmeal's splendid campaign

Ninja Turtles Pie Chart

The Motherfucking Pterodactyl

"Hip Hop Vlog" "The Oatmeal Funnyjunk" "Comic Book Vlog" "KOTD" "Rap Battle" "Canibus vs Dizaster" "DJ Skee" "Ninja Turtles Movie" "The Oatmeal" "Canibus Notepad" "Rapper's Delight Lyrics" "Bearlove Good Cancer Bad" "Webcomics" "Hip Hop News" "Comic Book News" "Slack Space "Hip Hop Hooks & Comic Books" "Canibus Diss"

Green Lantern is Gay, Rock The Bells 2012, ComMission & Mixtapes: Hip Hop Hooks & Comic Books Vlog

2012-06-05T12:59:00.001+01:00

Madlib Mix

Chopped Herring Mix

In this episode I cover the Rock The Bells Lineup, some mixtapes, El-P's new album, The news that DC Superhero Green Lantern is Gay and the Russian comic festival ComMission. Apologies for sync issues my computer was playing up.

Dennis Hopper has described film noir as “every director’s favourite genre”. Discussing the importance of intertextuality to the style, structure and themes of two Neo-Noirs Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Sin City: Presentation Notes

2012-05-27T21:28:00.000+01:00

In this presentation I’m going to cover these aspects, first looking at Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), before moving onto Sin City (2005). I’ll occasionally be referencing other films and works as I progress.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a film that’s part live action part animated. It’s as much a tribute to the golden age of animation as it is to the 40’s film noirs. It is a testament to the versatility of the genre that these two elements can blend together well. The screenshot of Dumbo behind the Venetian blinds, is a personal favourite of mine to illustrates this point. The entire premise of this movie is based on intertextuality, the joy of seeing classic cartoon characters interacting with a ‘real’ world. But as this is a Noir based presentation and I’m prone to digressing I shall attempt to keep the focus away from the Tex Avery inspired madness and more on the Noir aspects.

In discussing the style we’ll take a look at the scene where Eddie enters the Ink & Paint Club. From the first frame it reads as pure noir, the dark alleyways, night time Los Angeles and the classic Detective get up. And that is one fine looking coat he’s got there. We instantly have an idea of what type of character/personality Eddie Valiant is going to be. Eddie is seen drinking from a bottle he keeps in his gun holster. Symbolising his focus has changed from solving crimes to alcoholism. We have shadows abound, reminiscent of the classic Era noirs which were themselves harking back to the German Expressionist films of the 20’s. We get a look at Eddies personality: His temper gets the better of him, much like Jake in Chinatown (1974) a parallel I‘ll get into further later. He is also similar to Philip Marlowe in the sense that he is wise and weary to the world of Toons, able to predict the gag when he orders Scotch on the Rocks. We are greeted with a black and white Betty Boop reduced to a barmaid since times have moved on and we get the first glimpse of Valiant’s humanity. Then Jessica Rabbit enters the scene.

One could argue she is the ultimate femme fatale, incorporating elements of others into her design: her hair is an exaggerated version of the style made famous by Veronica Lake, her outfit is much like Rita Hayworth’s in Gilda (1946) while her face and expressions are similar to Lauren Bacall‘s. The performance itself is a reference to Red Hot Riding Hood, the cartoon character she’s based on in the novel. An element in some Noirs is to have two women in the protagonists life. Firstly, the safe, reliable woman who cares for him, he could settle down with her and live happily ever after (represented by Deloris in this case). The second is normally able to manipulate the lead exploiting his lust and desire, filling his head with the fantasy of escape. With Jessica being a cartoon she is able to blend all of the elements of her predecessors to embody this idea in an almost Plato-esque pure form.

Before moving on to the structure of the film I’m going to look at clips from the scene in Eddie’s office that doubles as his apartment. We have a classic Noir shot of the private eyes shadow framed in the clear glass of his door. Valiant then places is hat upon a Maltease Falcon referencing one of the most famous Noir tales. The mise en scene in this scene is important. On his brothers desk covered in dust we see a number of items. A Bettie Boop doll, illustrating his brothers affection for the cartoons as well as Eddie’s old passion for working with them. A magnifying glass and glasses, which can symbolise Eddie’s brother looking at things with a different perspective, paying attention to the smaller details (reinforced with the pens and notebook). Lastly, a pipe similar to that made famous by popular images of Sherlock Holmes, a detective of a different era. These items combine to create an image of a much more reserved and collected detective a stark contrast to the brash, heavy drinking detective that Valiant has become. In fact, it is only when he finishes a drink and his glass is clear that he is able to see his first clue. Something he previously overlooked. He then reaches for a magnifying glass and starts the process of quitting his drink and becoming a better Detective. It is these intertextual references and symbols that we already recognise that serve to reinforce the narrative.

This film owes a lot to Chinatown. Eddies first job is what seems to be a simple snoop job, much like Jake. The Patty-Cake joke is one example of how this film subverts expectations. Similar to the scene with the notepad at Jackie Treehorn‘s house in The Big Lebowski (1998). Eddie does not want to return to Toontown yet is self aware that he’s tied to it, as evident by his line ‘I always knew I’d get it in Toontown.’ He his similar to Jake in the way the entire case is right under his nose but he just cant put it together. His anger is also a distraction and frequently hinders him from realising where the Will is. Like the California Water Wars in Roman Polanski’s film, the villains goal is also from the history books, this time the Great American Streetcar Scandal. In fact this plot was originally going to feature in the third of the Chinatown trilogy. Another parallel is the Femme Fatale. Both aren’t these manipulative fiends we are led them to be. With Jessica the stereotype is subverted so she is absolutely devoted to her husband. Though god knows why with a body like that she could have any man she wants. The use of reincorporation is also important here, Judge Doom telling the weasels off for laughing and forewarns their eventual fates. Eddie even hints towards the twist at the end remarking to Roger ‘I don’t know who’s toonier you or Doom.’ Similar to the Dude in The Big Lebowski solving the case with a passing comment.

In terms of themes this film is as rich in subtext as any of the classic era Noirs. For instance the aforementioned Ink and Paint club appears to be based upon the Cotton Club. A place where Black people were able to perform and work but not enter as customers. It is not surprising then to see the crows from Dumbo, a close to the knuckle portrayal of Afro-Americans performing as Jessica’s backing band. Eddie seems to host a racial hatred for Toons frequently using the word like a racial slur. He hates people believing he works for them. However when he encounters one in need he still upholds a sense of justice and takes action. The Toons can represent a number of minorities, or under classes. With the Cloverleaf subplot you see the authority figures as corrupt. Eddie has a level of genre savvy which helps him on a number of occasions. This self awareness of your world aiding your survival appears to be quite common in a lot of post-modern texts. A sentence certainly relevant when talking about Sin City (2005).

Based upon Frank Miller’s graphic novels Sin City is a world dominated by Noir. Things that were stylistic elements or common themes of other Noirs are gospel here. In this world it is always night, All the authority figures are corrupt and nearly everyone is dangerous one way or another. You only need to look at the opening scene to get a feel of the tone. Everything that has defined this genre in the past is there but pushed into the extremes, it’s hyper real. The film is stylised by it’s stark contrast of black and white. During the Italian renaissance era a term called ‘Chiaroscuro’ was used to describe art that utilised strong dynamics between light and dark to reinforce depth and tone. While in part influenced by the pulp comics that were mainly printed in black and white I feel it is this technique that makes the film stand out.

While at first glance characters like Marv might not seem to be the typical Noir protagonist underneath his brute exterior he displays a number of the archetypal features. He his smart, evident by his line regarding the polices arrival, his ability to solve Goldie‘s murder and by preventing Kevin from hopping around. A heavy drinker, displayed by his heavy drinking. He aims to protect and avenge the innocent, while happy to kill a man as a rule but he wont hit ‘Dames’. Even though Marv is mentally unstable he still upholds a level of honour. The choice of Mickey Rourke for the role is also crucial, as an actor with a troubled past we get a sense of that through the performance much like Downey Jr. in Iron Man (2008). This is something the 40’s noirs did, by casting old gangster actors they were able to carry the audiences perceptions of them adding depth to the new characters being performed. Marv finds a level of comfort in Lucille. She takes care of him in her own way while his interactions with Goldie start him on a path that ultimately leads to his death. I wouldn’t say she’s a femme fatale though, she seeks Marv out more out of desperation than anything else. The name of Marv’s tale ‘The Hard Goodbye’ is of course a reference to the Chandler novel The Long Goodbye (1953). His bandages have all the connotations wounding does in film language and possibly serves as a tribute to Chinatown, with a cross over his eye representing Roark and the church. The church here is shown to be twisted and wicked, Marv shooting at the statue reminds me of the scene where bandits shoot the church bell in For a Few Dollars More (1965) and brings to mind the same connotations. Salvation isn’t there, those morals and ideals don’t hold up in this world. His conversation with Lucille reveals that he knows his time is limited, that this might be the last thing he does. Illustrating that self awareness of his fate. All the citizens of Basin City are doomed, trapped in this exaggerated criminal underworld.

The film uses a number of narrative elements that are often associated with Noir. The voiceover is prevalent in all of the tales. The events aren’t in chronological order. All of the main stories in the film feature a number of similar themes. The main characters are all men who driven by a woman leading to a corrupt element of the authorities, the ones supposedly in control, keeping the peace to be revealed. The men’s drive to protect women is mocked explicitly in The Big Fat Kill section of the film when Gail refers to the Old town girls as ’Helpless’ and ’Little’ However, the girls of Sin City tend not to be bad but merely drawn that way. Clichés and plot devices we have seen in other movies and texts before run rampant here, this worlds consumed by them. They are pushed to the limits with characters surviving by the skin of their teeth. Police Badges stop bullets, guns jam and a villains poorly timed monologue aid our heroes in their plight, allowing them to wade on committed to their goals. Wearing its influences firmly on its shoulders it relishes wading through its post modern environment and like Who Framed it would be impossible to exist without the history of the medium behind it.

Film noirs very makeup is intertextual. The look of the genre was aided by Chiaroscuro a Renaissance approach to light and a heavy influence of German Expressionist cinema. Depression Era America led to a rise in crime and gangsters. The Legion of Decency were not happy with these people playing the role of hero. As a result the same styles and performances were switched to the side of good. This combined with more grittier crime novels that was emerging gave us the tone. By it’s very nature film Noir is built on what came before it, it is these foundations we understand and interpret that allow film makers to toy with our expectations. The subversion and play with these established themes and styles allow scope to continually stretch and push the genre. In summary I’m inclined to agree with Dennis Hopper it very well could be.

Bibliography

Books

Chandler, R. (Re-issue 2008) The Long Good-Bye, Penguin. Originally published in 1953 by Hamish Hamilton
Duncan, P (2007) Bogart, Italy: TASCHEN
Duncan, P. (2000) Film Noir, Films of Trust and Betrayal, Great Britain: Pocket Essentials
Powell, J. (1998) Postmodernism For Beginners. New York: Writers and Readers Publishing, Inc.
Silver, A & Ursini, J. (1996) Film Noir Reader. Limelight Editions

Films

Altman, R (1973) The Long Goodbye
Coen, J. (1998) The Big Lebowski
Hawks, H (1946) The Big Sleep
Huston, J. (1941) The Maltease Falcon
Leone, S. (1965) A Few Dollars More
Miller, F. Rodriquez, R. (2005) Sin City
Polanski, R (1974) Chinatown
Vidor, Charles (1946) Gilda
Zemeckis, R. (1988) Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Images

http://jake-weird.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/jessica-biel-is-jessica-rabbit.html
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hv_NvAY7B0Y/0.jpg
http://welcomebluevalkyrie.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/tag/sin-city

Film Soundtrack

2012-05-26T14:14:00.001+01:00

Evenin' All. So Shorts is now over, and it was a grand ol' night. My Friend Mingus will hopefully doing a small run of festivals so it wont be available online for a little while. Until then you can listen/download the soundtrack should you wish. Enjoy! My Friend Mingus (soundtrack) by Carl Denham's Giant Monster If you want to use any of this stuff in your own films just give us a shout (I'll probably be more than happy to) And mad props to JakePDiGregorio who was kind enough to let me use his Dr. McNinja music in the film.

Hip Hop Hooks & Comic Books: The Avengers & MCA

2012-05-25T00:53:00.000+01:00

In this thrilling episode I talk mainly about that little movie you may of heard of the Avengers. I also talk about the great MCA passing away.

Like a pinch on the neck of Mr. Spock
The Avengers Sexy Poster
The Avengers Abridged Script

Music: Return of the Boom Bit by Carl Denham
Contains elements of Da Rockwilder by Meth and Red, Tears by Giorgio Moroder & The Place I'll Return to Someday by Nobuo Uematsu

Teaser Trailer: My Friend Mingus (HD 2012)

2012-05-17T01:24:00.000+01:00

Play it HD kids! The Teaser Trailer for My Friend Mingus, the short film I've been ratting about for an age now. If your in Wales on Sunday you can catch its premiere at the Shorts Fast Film Festival. Big thanks to Jake for giving us permission to use his stuff in the movie, you should check out his channel

Hip Hop Instrumental: The King Louis Loop

2012-05-04T01:15:00.001+01:00

Another track from my film soundtrack. Originally I was going to remix the theme I did for the Last Call for Louis Tarentella's scene in the club but it ended up going down this kind of askew slightly east-coast Jazz style beat. Enjoy!
Last Call
The Film
Written and performed by Carl Denham All content copyright © ICHITRIGGERFINGER productions

Hip Hop Hooks & Comic Books: MF DOOM, Beastie Boys, Axe Cop and Saga

2012-05-03T01:25:00.000+01:00

My first bosh at a little series where I prattle in your ears about two of my favourite things.
Links I mention (turns out you can't link out from annotations):
DOOM
Beastieboo
Beastie Boy mixtape

TITANIC PLOT ATTEMPT: Putting the Diamond in the Coat

2012-04-26T23:20:00.000+01:00

I have never seen Titanic, this is what I think happens based on what I have picked up here and there. Our hallway just happened to be filled with balloons, we decided to film in them because they are nicer to look at than my face.

Last Call (Main Theme) Film Noir Music

2012-04-18T20:26:00.000+01:00

My friend asked me to write some Film Noir style music for his 3rd year film. I messed about and came up with this. Big thanks to Will Jarmin for helping us out with the drums. If any of you want to download it you can from here from the 20th May

See the film.

Written and performed by Carl Denham
Drums by Will Jarmin

copyright © ICHITRIGGERFINGER productions

My Friend Mingus: Update!

2012-04-09T23:10:00.000+01:00

Principal filming is done! I have still have a couple of pickups to do but for the most part it's done. Big thanks to all the actors and crew that have helped lug equipment around and look stupid in the cold.

Sadly, I'm behind on the editing stage as someone named Jesus(?) came back(?) and the events called Easter(?). This is news to me but apparently it's why people pay a bomb for a hollow egg and keep the Lab at my uni locked up. Hopefully it'll be open tomorrow and I can get back to tanning myself from the screens.

The aftermath of the final scene:

Adios I'm Ghost

Coming Soon: More Mingus music + FREE STUFF!

A shlock Bioshock

2012-04-09T01:00:00.000+01:00

It's been awhile since I did some bargain bucket costumes, this was for Neil as he was off to a computer game themed fancy dress party. He opted for Jack from Bioshock. I'm yet to play through it myself so at present I don't know my EVE Hypo from a Pipe Mania mini game, but he assures me it weren't a bad idea. I'm pretty sure this costume cost us nothing as we already had the goods kicking around.

Lurch went as the sexy Crazy Dave from Plants vs. Zombies:

Speaking of which, if you Bloglets haven't checked out Laura Shigihara's soundtrack for it yet, I highly recommend you do. Her melodies and style are quirky and delightful. 'Watery Graves' is dope.