AVGN Interview is Live!

Hey folks! My ANGRY VIDEO GAME NERD interview with Kevin Finn and James Rolfe (The "Nerd") is up and live! Check out the audio right HERE - and check out the write up at Bigfanboy.com right HERE - Thanks to Kevin and James for the interview, thanks to Jasmine the PR Rep for setting it all up and mega-thanks to Mark Walters of Bigfanboy.com for letting me do it. It was a great thrill to talk to those guys. I am a massive AVGN fan and have been for years. It was a nice thing for me to do.

I've seen the flick and gave a review on my IDIOTHEAD MORNING SHOW PODCAST. Overall, I'd say for a fan funded film, it was really a treat. The boys have definitely grown as filmmakers and they should be damn proud. If I had any criticism, I'd say that the flick could have been trimmed by about 20-25 minutes and the flow woulda been a bit smoother. Some scenes coulda done with maybe another take or two. But I know the shoot itself was a plagued one and I'm sure they recognize some of the things they wish they coulda had time to get to. The effects are Troma-style with a modern flair and done with loving care. The film looks professionally shot and its filled with all sorts of AVGN world related cameos and fun bits. There's tons to take in. Overall, I'd give the film a solid B, but an astounding A+++++ for the guys' herculean efforts to take a completely fan-funded script and delivering a great looking product. A lot of history and love went into this flick and everyone should see it. You can rent or buy it on VOD right HERE

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In other news, a couple days before football season begins, my beloved 42" TV shit the bed. Here's a pic of the day we got it:

From this blog - Dec. 2007

It was an INSIGNIA, so a generic Best Buy brand. I'm actually surprised it lasted this long! We got a 25" we moved from the bedroom to the Living room so I won't miss a game. But still, kinda sucks. We'll get a new one for Xmas I am sure. Just gotta get some bills out of the way. Just sucks cause last week we had a surprise $600 car repair too. We're strapped as it is! UGH! Oh well. 2014 has been a shitty year for us, why not add to the pile eh? I'm afraid to go around the corner. Jesus whats next! HA! Ya gotta laugh after a while, I swear.

(EDIT -- Its funny, and to tie it into AVGN a bit... it died in the middle of my son and I playing NES "JAWS" on the Retron 3 with it! Like the game was so shitty, it broke my damn TV!)

It ain't all bad right now. The wife starts orientation for her new job today. We budgeted her new job's income and we got a financial plan to get back to where we were at the beginning of the year before all these medical bills and unfortunate set backs nailed us down a bit. By January or so, we'll be back to normal somewhat. My night job helps too. I haven't taken on any commissions really, due to my self-imposed break, but thats fine. I've accepted minor gigs here and there, but nothing big. I'm not really out there looking like I used to.

Scott started Kindergarten yesterday and seems to be enjoying it. I gotta go out today and get him some new jeans. He's grown out of the ones we bought this year already! Growth spurt I guess. James is talking up a lot! Its great to see his progress! During his nap time today, I plan to get back to work now that I will get a daily rhythm. I cleaned up my office last night and recorded a ton of new podcasts I've been writing material for. I'm crossing minor things off my TO DO list, and thats great!! So its hard to get down about things like a car repair or a broken TV when so much else seems to be going right. I'm damn lucky! I don't have to worry about things like finding clean drinking water or anything, so my "problems" seem real goddamn minor in perspective.

Anyway, we're rockin' and rollin.' Check out the AVGN interviews I posted above and buy the movie VOD or on Blu-ray when it comes out. Support indie talent! Believe me, and I can relate, indie folks appreciate the support!

Have a good week, Peace and Love!! --- T

Stuff and Nonsense

Hey all. Been a bit since a blog update so here ya go.

 Been busy for the most part. Working the night job, catching sleep when I can and doing things around the house. Seems I am cleaning this place top to bottom daily! The kids go all Dr. Destructo on the place and I struggle to keep things rolling and clean around here. But I do enjoy it. It would help if I wasn't so out of it most of the time. Adjusting to day, then night, then back to day sleep really does a number on me. The wife is starting a new job this week for a bit more pay and way more opportunity. But she will be out of town for six weeks for training! Only home on the weekends. Also Scotty starts school on Tuesday. It is definitely going to be lonely around here. But I honestly could use a bit of quiet. I'll still have James here to keep me company. I plan to use this quiet time to catch up on my loooooooong TO DO list. Anxious to get started on it.

I had my last appearance (I think) for the year today. I did a quick signing at a new comic shop in Lansing called RED FOX COMICS. Its by the Outback Steakhouse and Kohls in West Lansing, off of Saginaw Rd. A good location. Good folks in there and they are running a new, modern titles clean family friendly shop. No games, all comics. I was happy to go in there and show support. I'm sure I'll be back in. They mentioned doing things with some local artists so we'll see what comes up!

Am I sad its my last appearance for the year? Not really. I'm sorta still drained from the shit this year has done to me. Its still going on too. This week I had a surprise $600 car repair. I was overdue for it anyway I guess. But I am equally overdue for some GOOD LUCK TO HAPPEN!!!!!! Heh. I can dream on I suppose, right?

But things are okay. I'm writing more. The night job is going well. Stress is dwindling. Bills are getting caught up. Its only a matter of time before I get into actual production again. I do things here and there, like I am on this card set for Marvel right now. But other than that, everything I have done is real sorta "once a week" type of production stuff. My office misses me. Scotty monopolizes the time in here. But soon I will have it back. Soon.

I'm scared about his starting kindergarten. All sorts of questions arise. How is he going to handle it? What is his teacher going to do for him? He is behind on some things and seems really unwilling to learn here at home. I hope he cooperates at school and gets better. Potty training is still a bitch and he only wants to watch videos and eat all the time. He's getting a bit chubby and that scares me too. He won't eat healthy things. He won't even try them. If we take him to the park, it has to be followed up with a trip to get french fries. Its really a problem. I'm hoping daily school activity will help him. But he will be limited to only eating what we pack for his lunch, instead of munching and eating all day at home like he does. I guess we'll see if he can do well at adjusting. Most of the time, not so much. Its his way or its crazy time. We'll see.

In other news, I did an interview with James Rolfe and Kevin Finn who did the ANGRY VIDEO GAME NERD MOVIE and also the AVGN videos online.

I've been a fan for a long time. And it was an awesome opportunity to interview them! It will be up at Bigfanboy.com in a couple days. I'm sure I will post links when its up. There's an audio and written interview with them. Great fun to talk to some current heroes of mine!

I think the first thing out the gate when this new schedule begins is finishing my novels. First the porn store one and then the short story one. Then finishing comics. I got all of STARSLAM scanned. Just needs coloring and lettering. Then Kickstarter. Maybe around Christmas? I don't want to hold myself to anything. Then Anna plans. We'll see what all I can do. For now, just taking it as it feels right. I got nothing in my head as far as 2015 plans or anything yet. There's things I am kicking around but its too early to commit to anything.  We shall see.

The title to this blog should just be "We'll see!"

However, I am keeping up with IDIOTHEAD MORNING SHOW PODCAST! Are you caught up with it? I got tons of new episodes up. Listen HERE or subscribe via ITUNES. Also if you do that, please give a rating and feedback at Itunes. It helps the ratings and gives me the chance to earn some sponsors. I do all this for free, so some help is always great!

Haven't bought much music lately but I've been on a big STOOGES kick. Also the RAMONES and ROLLINS BAND. Been catching up with other types of podcasts too. As far as reading I've dug into some Harlan Ellison and I am finally getting around to this book called Basajaun by Rosemary Van Deuren. I got it from her last year and its been on the TO READ pile for a while. So far, I like both books. Done a lot more reading this year than I have in a long time. I'm enjoying it!

On the diet front, no news but I am doing good. Wife is down over 70 pounds. She's gone from a size 22 to a size 12. I'm proud of her. I'm slow going but in this for the long haul. Been on a big water kick lately, which is what I should be on anyway. Coffee too. Yup.

Anyway, thats about enough of an update from me. A bunch of nothingness. I hope you were entertained. But I am glad you stopped by again! Its for you I keep in this whole thing. Better days are not too far ahead. I'm looking forward to it. I need it!!!! Thanks to you all for your continued support.

Cheers, T

Project Updates

Since clearing my plate of commissions and declining all offers on more undesirable projects and commission work, I have fully focused on myself, my health and my creative health. It is not an overnight process, and it continues to roll on as I update you today. I start a new dayjob this week, as the first one wasn't the most ideal. This new one is a better overall choice and will work quite well as far as working on a nightly schedule of getting things done. I'm looking forward to getting back to a routine that I so severely need to be a part of. It has been severely lacking.

To be assured, it will be a massive adjustment in sleep schedule and a juggle with family life. But I stay on the path and keep rocking, not letting up or the temptations in, once the smoke clears I will be where I need to be. Health-wise, financially, creatively, emotionally and so much more. I have grand plans in my head but I am not holding myself down with them. Just chasing the mere whimsy in my mind as I just keep doing what I do and re-learning why I chose to do it. Also re-finding the joy in doing it too. Again, not going to happen overnight.

Overall, I am still at it. I am happy to say I wrote a great outline for a future project. I edited and added 10 pages of stuff to the porn store book. I have been cleaning up little things here and there around the house. I've done some writing. I spent time watching things I keep putting off, and reading authors I keep hearing about. I've been listening to albums long ignored. And I pencilled the last STARSLAM page. It is only a matter of time for these seeds to bear fruit.

But I am driven by the creativity of those around me and those I look up to. I am driven by the dreams of travelling next year to some shows to see some old friends again. I am driven to be able to better myself and to end the various worries in my head.

Rest assured, I will emerge triumphant. It is inevitable. Even now, unstoppable.

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This week: I am interviewing a couple guys I look up to for a future podcast/website post for bigfanboy.com - I am giddy with nervousness about how cool it is to talk to these dudes.

I have also accepted an invite to work on another sketch card set for a big company on a big project. Seems like the less I try, the more I am getting asked! Feels good for a change and I appreciate it.

I am thinking ahead to Anna Pocalypse 2 art and rethinking a few scenes I have already drawn out. Refining. Reinventing. I got some new reference and I am going to be using it. Thats up next and down the road. I'm feeling the drive again to finish it. Thats fucking awesome!

Wheels are turning.  Be warned. When I emerge finally, I'm going to blow all of you away.

T