My character concept art test for Neversoft

Howdy again,
Thought I'd post the results of my art try out I was asked to do by Neversoft for their character concept artist position. The Halo gig and this were occurring during the same two week period and originally I was pushing for the Neversoft one due to the promise of more stability. However the deal with 343 Industries and the project itself swayed me and I chose them before Neversoft even replied. It wouldn't have mattered anyways, they turned me down. The response I got back from the recruiter was they thought the painting was "too cartoony". Well, it would have helped to have known that before I started, maybe I could have done something a little more real for them. I also found their response amusing. It's kind of like an architect builds a three-story house, turns to the client and asks, "What do you think?" Then the client replies, "I don't like the paint." Uh... okay. How'd you like the concept guys?
Whatever, the 343 deal was a much better scenario and I ended up with the sweeter job anyways.
So, here's my painting for y'all to peruse. Attack it as you may, it's up for critique. Neversoft wanted my take on a United States infantry soldier set 50 years in the future. I decided that in the future soldiers would still be wearing pants. I went from there.

I will bring Microsoft to its knees!

Good news (for me at least)! I now have gainful employment once again. I am the new cinematic storyboard artist on the next HALO game for 343 Industries! I'm very excited. AND what's even more excellent is that I get to work remotely and I don't have to move to Seattle where Rick Schmitz and Mike Christian would be sure to collect the money I owe them.

They made me a very nice deal and I start this month. Part of the package included me not having to worry about Rick knocking on my front door at any time soon. For now it's a 10 month to a year contract, but there might be a possibility of something long term (I hope). But for now it's good enough to be involved with something as big as this AND not have to worry about running into Rick at the grocery store or anything like that.

That's all, thought I'd pass this along. Hope everyone but Rick is doing well!

(i love rick)

You are going to LOVE this!

Superman fan animation of the highest quality... a true labor of love!

What was your Favorite Super Bowl Trailer?

I liked Rango. I will see that in the theatre.

This Transformer movie, with fabulous effects, you'd have to pay me to see it. I've learned my lesson on this franchise. Love that head-on- car-crash change to spinning robots. Probably this trailer shows the only 25 seconds of the movie that doesn't make you feel like you're having 6 inch nails driven into your head.
 I also liked Cowboys and Aliens and  Capt America.
I still could care less about Thor. Super 8 might be good.

Scriptmag-Characters to do without

My new passion- Jim Thompson

From The Grifters. Just an incidental character, bellhop type. That inside of one paragraph gets this kind of portrait.
Read The Getaway first. Couldn't believe how much a story could be so much like the movie and so different at the same time.

Added a sketch of Bertrand Tavernier, the director of a Jim Thompson story called Pop 1280.  French name Coup de Torchon ( Clean Slate). The DVD has a very cool, long form interview with him. Lots of discussion of Thompson's writing.

Cat Shit One-Click headline

Feb 5- link takes you to the preview. The weapon effects are great. Better than live action

Doodles-Mummy Thoughts

I did an unconscious doodle of a mummy, and wondered where did that come from. And realized it came from Al-Jazeera-English , coverage of Egypt.
That would be good TV if some of the looters accidentally open up a chamber of Kharis/Karloff-type mummies.