Down and down and down and down and down we go....

Today I went to see a play by Two Truth's Theatre Company. This small company is the FMP of some friends of mine and their friends.

The play was called 'Descent' and was inspired by 'Dante's Inferno'. To say it was a good play is to not give it it's due. It was absolutely fantastic. It was eerie, disturbing, fearful and unnerving. It was that amazing!!

My friend Kat played only what I can assume was the Devil, a long coat, high heeled, dominatrix inspired guide through the depths of hell. Jaz was a strange victim of her own sins, trapped in this world of horror, and Becky was the same.

A few elements really got to me, firstly was Rosie, or Rosy, not sure how she spells her name. I've met her once or twice, but she played a small girl, and two things with her really weirded me out. The first was when we first really met her, she was sitting on the stairwell humming to herself, like a small child, the second was the General, he shouted and gave us numbers, really removed out identities and, well, was plain scary. The poor lass who was suffering for her gluttony, she freaked me out. I don't do things with loads of food , I mean, I have a thing about buffets, too much food to look at just makes me feel ill, and she was looking ill, and I really felt for her. Another was the barman. He was quite fun and jovial (played by the same chap as the general), he told a few jokes, and then he switched, told a violent story and then shouted at us, only for us to be met again by him as The General again.

This time we were in dark room, and we were told by the General to stand and look at the wall, now previously I had picked up a toy doll, as asked by The Devil Lady. I'd carried it around and looked after it, and as I stood staring at the wall, trying not to piss of the General, who now had a victim in the room (played by Jaz) this small person peered around my left side, it was Rosie (or Rosy), then she moved across my back and then whipped the toy out of my right hand. I felt really unnerved by it. Then she, and Jaz began screaming.....real blood curdling screams.

Every member of the cast did an amazing job, all the minor characters, the background characters, it was so well thought out. You would be taken to the next character and whilst you followed the Devil Lady on your descent, there were people being tortured, some sitting alone repenting, others just staring at you. It was like an asylum, it truly was a representation of hell.

This was Theatre, but it wasn't a play, it was an experience, an adventure, something I would love to participate in again.

To my wonderful friends that were in it, and too all the other fantastic members of the cast and crew, Thank You for such an amazing experience.

An Midnight Feast

Well, thought I would give you a quick update.

This evening I have had conversations with my friend Kat and my newest friend Martin, and both have been rather enjoyable. Not only have we managed to cover the convergence of alternate realities, but also the pros of Tim Gunn reviewing Super Hero Costumes.

But, here is something more to the point. I have received some designs from my good friend Jeannie of the characters in the comic book I am writing. Jeannie has kindly offered to illustrate it for me, and I obliged because she is awesome, and it means I get to work with her.

Issue Two is going well, I am on page 17, so doing well. I am about to finish up a flashback scene for the main male character, and then I will write the one for the main female character.

It's been really hard writing this issue, dealing with experiences that I haven't dealt with before makes it really hard to make it sincere. Also, writing things that are quite personal are also quite hard, but also good to vent. It's ironic because it's not the same as a blog, but in a strange way it is.Whatever happens, I am hoping it works and that when it is done, it will be enjoyed.

I may do the covers myself, I haven't decided yet, but this doesn't mean it's open for people to offer their services. If I decide to get someone else to do it I will contact someone because I have a few ideas. I know it sounds rude, but I have a thing about people trying to get involved with things that are so personal. I have a tendency to offer my talents sometimes, so I know that is can be quite improper.

Anyway, before I get obnoxious, Issue Three!! yes, it's being noted down, the finale of "The Last Train Home". Will it be a happy ending, or a sad ending, or an open ending?? Who knows??? I do know however that I want to explore some of the other characters. A few have popped up and don't really have any time to explore them, so I may do some one-shots with them. But that is something for a later date.

But, that's enough of that one. I have several other ideas I want to get writing soon. Most of them just as notes. I am also re-working my Script Frenzy failure into a comic form, I've been reading Warren Ellis's Ocean and Orbiter and feel it;s a better medium for the story. Basically, it has more chance of getting done.

Another thing that has been playing around is a web comic, but that's still in the ideas phase with someone, so I will probably surprise you guys at some point.

So, that about wraps all this up, I am off to check out prices on The Art of Jaime Hernandez.


Good Night, I shall leave you with one of my heroes.

A Long over due entry.

Well, it has been some time hasn't it, a long perhaps.

Well, what have I been doing, I have been busy going to and from MunkyUK, helping here and there, and slowly but surely teaching myself Illustrator. I have been writing, writing like no ones business.

The current project is called "The Last Train Home". If you have read previous entries you will already know this was a short story. I have evolved the characters more and carried on with what happened before and after their meeting.

My good friend Surferartchick is illustrating it for me with various notes and description sent via e-mail. I look forward to seeing her work. I however am working on Issue Two at the moment, as well as preparing another story for another character.

This other one is my Victorian Detective, my Sherlock Holmes if you will. I know it's going to be a bit harder to write, but I do look forward to it.

When I have more on the comic I will post some of it, but for now I have none. But I will leave you with this.......





Doesn't it look amazing!!!

Holidays come to an end..soon...

Well, my 3 weeks off are about to come to an end, and I have done fuck all with it, oh well, I tried, I did some stuff, hung out with friends, so really it's been pretty good.

My latest musical obsession is this person....



I am so addicted to her album!!

I'm still working away for the Library, I have some frames in the works, so if you live in the Portsmouth area you may find them in Albert Road, if things go to plan.


Well, that's all for this brief entry..

Up Date Up Date Up Date!!

Well it's been a while, so I thought I would update.

Well, as always life is full of ups and downs. These being that I am back in CBT, I referred myself as I believe I need a little help again.

Employment sucks monkey bums, but!!!!! Yes, there is a but!!! I may have a puppeteering gig in June, but not just just as the puppeteer, but also as the designer and creator of the puppet!! My friend is hopefully doing a creature feature short, and has asked me if I want to do the creature. So I gratefully said yes...I'm not turning down a creature!!

I also dug out some of my old life-drawing from 2004-2005. I haven't photographed all of it, but here is some for your enjoyment.





More can be found in my Flickr

Tag, you're it!!

Lindsey tagged me to write four interesting facts about myself, now I have to think.

So, here it goes.

1) I have incredibly dark brown eyes and hair. When I was born my hair was jet black, and my eyes turned from blue to brown in less than an hour.

2) I am a medicated depressive with anxiety and panic disorders, as well as a self destructive personality, this is where I believe my artist side comes from.

3) My favorite composers are Danny Elfman and Elliot Goldenthal.

4) Many of my peers at some point or another have questioned my sexuality, this also, not so obviously includes my parents, and it is down to my admiration and love of this chap.



He is my all time favorite fashion designer and I would love to intern with him and design clothes with him!!


Well, there you go, four interesting facts, well, I hope they are interesting, there are probably many more interesting things I could say, but I have been limited to four. So now I nominate.......

Jeannie

and

Katie



Tomorrow I am doing a shoot with a friend, it's all experience. I am mainly reaffirming myself with my skills and refreshing myself. So it should be fun.

Today I return to training.

Well, today I return to training, and it's going to hurt, I know it will, haven't been for 6 weeks, 3 as it was Christmas break, and the others because I was iced in, and injured.

Apart from that, it should be good fun.

AVATAR was amazing, I truely cannot think of any words that can describe how amazing it was.

I am getting ready to get my new laptop, and then I will be set. I have some friends that are going to model for me, so all is going well.

Soon I can mix video/ photography/ illustration/ art and writing into something full of what Katie would call "Awesomesauce".

After hunting through Youtube, I have found the video for Gaultier's autumn/ winter 09-10 women's collection. I love Gaultier, I really do, he is such a fantastic artist, and his new collection shows this off.

A quick entry

Well, here's a quick one to keep the motions going.

I have my new camera, I have bought two lights, the next on the list is a new laptop.

I am going to start shooting some stuff soon enough, and I am also back to writing shorts again, properly. I am going back through my old Sci Fi short ideas and reworking one of them, and another one I am going to rework into a trailer. There going to take some time, but the end result should be worth it.

Tonight however I am off out with people from work and finally, my dreams ocan be fulfilled...why? WE ARE GOING TO SEE AVATAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am going to wet myself!!!!



Catch you all later, but for now, I leave you with this...

Thank you WETA!!!

Flickr is up and running!!!!

Yes, I paid for my Pro account today, so I can upload all of those photos that I have been taking lately, and there have been allot, so click here to see a new set.




It was a really glorious, yet bloody cold walk home.

Only a few more days

Yes, a few more days till I get paid, then I can upgrade my Flickr and grace you all will new pictures and such like.

Well, at this moment in time it's really cold, and the heating is on, and I am watching some dire straight to DVD thriller/ action film, why did I rent this??? Probably because it was free. BUT!!!! It does feature that gloriously underused actor Michael Biehn.

Well, here is my plan for the next two weeks, these are providing I can get out of suburbia and into town. My plan is to go and buy my new camera, and then go and look at new laptops. My intention is to be able to go out and take photos and then automatically download them to my laptop and see what they look like before I start screwing around with them. I am also thinking I will need a new laptop to help my future prospects.

I also need to go and sort out my PC and remove all the crap that is on it clogging up the hard disk, there is so much junk on there that it needs a real clean up!

Well, that's about it for this afternoon, if I can grace you with more, then I will.

Snow becomes Ice!!

Yes, the snow is now ICE!!! And as much fun as it was throwing myself down sheets of ice on the hill I am now pretty pissed off with it, it's now really hard to walk to work!!! Damn it!!

But well, I have taken shed loads of photos walking too and from work, and as soon as I update my flickr account I will post them, my free account is now full, so I need to wait till I get paid to upgrade it.

I will get my new camera soon!! I am looking at the Lumix G1, something I can take work with that has manual focus and the DSLR capabilities.

Almost finished making my journal too, it's been a while in the making, but all is well, just need to start writing in it now. It has a few bits and bobs inspired by San, so should go well.

But for now you will have to wait till I get some cash, no piccies..sorry.

SNOW DAY!!!!!

I couldn't help it..I just had to!!

Touching from a Distance

For those who aren't in the know, but I am sure you are all taken by the wonders of this band, here is the trailer for quite possibly the most honest biopic ever made.

Romantics, here we be.

Well, how was your Christmas?? Mine was good, it was the usual family affair, Mum, Dad, myself and my big sis Ruth. We all got pretty cool stuff, so all is well.

But, that's for another entry, to days entry is about my possible 2010 beginnings, if that makes any sense to you.

After meeting a lovely lass the other week at her own house party (she is a friend of one of mine) we hit it off, not sure if it was the alcohol talking in her blood or what, I don't drink so I can't have spouted rubbish, well I can, but anyways. We had a good chat about music, art and such like, and she lent me a CD, Elliot Smith and truth be told, I have fallen in love with his music. I feel a bit late because I remember reading about his death and not knowing any of his work, but now I do, so that's good.

This leads me to believe that she will want to see me again as I have her CD, so really, she'll have to as she will want it back. But like me, she writes allot, she's a bit off balance and loves Paris. I've been to Paris a few times and I do love it, and I hope to go back in 2010. I hopefully would like to go back and share the experience with someone that will appreciate it.

Anyways, I will leave you with a video, as I have no photos to post.

Christmas Cratfs

Well, I am currently waiting for my Dad's present to dry before I add the second coat.

My Dad found loads of old family medals this year, so I thought they should be displayed, so I bought a frame, and am painting it up so it looks all nice and in theme with the medals.

I have very few things left to do, mostly wrapping, I have two presents left to finish which involves me going back to Hobbycraft in half an hour to get some leather shoestring to make 2 necklaces.

The good thing of the past few days is that I have rediscovered Shoegaze, I forgot how much I love these walls of sound!

Apart from that, some interesting things have happened sociallly, but you'll have to wait, but for now, heres some Shoegaze.

Got some piccies for your enjoyment

Here is the first set I made and sold.

Doodling Mr. Daniel

Just for you guys, a quick video of Mr. Daniel being doodled.

Doodling Mr Daniel. from Daniel J Cook on Vimeo.

Mr Daniel being doodled by, well, me, Mr Daniel.



The music is by She & Him, and the track is This is Not a Test.



Hope you enjoy the ultra fast drawing!!

Them Crooked Vultures

Yes, they were amazing, they were awesome, I missed the support which was Troy Van Leeuwen's new band..bugger...Troy's amazing!!

Anyways, it was great, but hey wouldn't come out and see their fans afterwards which was a bit pants, I saw they int eh windows having a port show party, and I got to shout at Troy as he had a cigarette outside, but that was it....in the cold.

Tomorrow I have work in the morning, and afterwards a rest, then I might go out in the evening, don't know yet, could go to Albert Road and watch the pretty women as they pass me by.

I should get down and start doing things, I plan to launch in January....better get a move on!!!!

Just before bedtime

Ideas are spawning, and things being done. About to finish a logo for Manly Panda, it's the Etsy shop for my friend Emily, go check it out!!!

The more expensive ideas are slowly being formed on paper, some of which will be strictly limited as an experiment, then I'll change them a bit and re create them.

As for now, I shall reside to my quarters, I need some sleep.

Good night all.