Podcast Smodcast - What I'm Listening to!

I have finally thrown off the shackles of having a 32kb download limit and moved all the way up to a 4GIG one. Yes I know this ain't great but it does allow me to get back to my Smodcast ways and so much more. Since I've been gone Smodcast has grown up. There's a whole new community for Smods and my brother who is now a part of a writers podcast on iTunes (I couldn't be prouder). Anyway here is a smattering of the gear that has been passing through my generation II ipod.

SMODCAST

Nothings changed here, and that's not a bad thing. Kevin Smith and Uber Producer Scott Mosier shoot the breeze over any topic and usually in a humorous way. I'd love to just sit down and see where our conversation went!


HOLLYWOOD BABBLE-ON - SMODCAST

This was recommended by Stinkbrown and I cut my teeth on the very enjoyable 43rd instalment reading of Cacophony (A Batman comic written by Kevin Smith). Smith is his usual self but he is accompanied by man with many voices Ralph Garman. They have a look at what is happening in Hollywood as well as sharing their own stories.

RED STATE OF THE UNION - SMODCAST

This is a masterclass of the up coming Kevin Smith horror movie Red State. I knew this was out there but with my insipid download limit was unable to access it. Well 'm catching up baby!! As an aspiring filmmaker this is awesome. Smith with lead a discussion with a member of the movie. This has included the A.D. (Assistant Director), the casting lady/actor and one of the stars of the show so far. I am very intrigued by the whole process and it's delivered in an entertaining way too. As will all things Smod those who are offended by bad language be warned! It's just a shame there are only  casts. Very much looking out for this movie on it's release in Australia.

THE PROCESS - IMAGE ADDICTION

I was aways going to listen to this. At least the first few. It revolve around 3 writer on the verge of making it big in the comic industry. Lead vocal Kurtis J. Wiebe already has some award winning comics out there and Jeremy Holt and Ryan K. Lindsay have a few projects in the fire also. They discuss their process and look at other work out there. It's interesting, informative and a well produced cast. Very enjoyable for any writer who is interested in hearing the thoughts and opinions of people who know what they are talking about!

These have kept me pretty busy so far but I'm sure I can unearth some more hidden gold dust in my travels.

Until then have a week!

The Process - Podcast

I listened to Episode 1 of The Process (free on iTunes) because my brother is one of the three voices but I listened to Episode 2 because it was interesting and enjoyable. The voices I speak of are Kurtis J. Wiebe, Jeremy Holt and Ryan K.Lindsay. Kurtis is the writer for the award winning comics Green Wake and The Intrepids. While Jeremy and Ryan haven't enjoyed the same success at Kurtis yet, they have been chosen for this podcast because they are clearly on the cusp and have their fingers in several pies. Jeremy writes for Joy Hog and Ryan CBR among others. On a side note does anyone else think Jeremy Holt sounds like Walt Flanagan?

As a non comic lover I was worried it'd be all talk of characters I don't know and issues I've never read. I was pleasantly surprised that The Process does exactly what it says on the box. It talks about a variety of topics, like what they listen too when writing, what works they have in the pipeline and some of the great work that is currently out there. So in a word, the process of writing.

I enjoyed the first episode as a get to know you exercise but I really dug the more planned out format that has different sections in episode 2. These are those sections!

Wow Factor – Interesting look at current comic moments of the week/month.

Progress Report – This would be one of my favourite sections where the boys chat about the current victories their having and where their work is at. I'm looking forward to hearing as each one progresses through the production process. Ryan's story about a dude who wants to penetrate a building needs to be heard.

Grill ‘Em! – This is where audience participation is invited. Anyone can post a question on Facebook or twitter. This week’s question from Danial Carroll was about the pro and cons of using real-world locales.

The Process – This looks at the creative development of each of their projects - this week looking at the effect of music and what they listen to and why during the writing process.

The Roundtable – An open talk about a random comic related topics, this week an interesting look at Kurtis' artwork vs writing using a behind the scenes example from Green Wake #1.

Wrap it – Here Ryan Lindsay closes out the show with a quote that manages to take 3 minutes after he adds his little spin on it.

Can't wait for Episode 3.

Until then hail to Cryptological Zoos!

Yearly Booklist est. 1994

My Obsessive Compulsive tendencies have been well documented and this post will just enhance these claims.

I'm a sucker for stats and although I usually stick to those of the sporting kind. These however are of my reading kind and range from number of books read to average pages for book. My brother and I would spend quite a lot of time reading and it just seemed natural that we would enter our books read including page totals as a sort of competition. Now it's just a habit and I can look back on certain years and remember the types of books I was reading.

They probably won't be of immediate interest to a stranger but I must admit when I first visit a house the first thing I look for is the bookcase and I give it a pretty good study. The eclectic range of books say a lot about the owner and are often a great conversation starter. It's funny because a few times I asked about books and the owner hadn't read any of the 'good' ones. It got me thinking would someone buy a book to have on their shelves for the aesthetic of looking smart?

The only stats that stands out to me is the fact that I've read at least one Stephen King book every year since 1994 (the year I started recording the books read.) except 2004, my first year teaching when I read 3 books in total.

Anyway here is a look at the books I have read so far this year and an overall look at my yearly stats.

Until then hail to the 37!

The Waiting game

My brother and I have officially submitted a short film script for a pair of producers to decide whether they want to raise money to make it. I find the wiating part the hardest. I find myself constantly checking my emails and wondering if someone else will find the musings of a pair of Lindsays worthy of a full scale production. My first (and only thus far) script to be made into a legitimate film happened so quickly and easily I could be forgiven for believe it's that easy with every script. Admittedly it has opened door for producers to read my work, one of the hardest parts of the process. If we get the go ahead for our lastest you are sure to read about it here!!!

On another note it's half time in the Kangaroos V Lions game and I'm wondering why a struggling club (Kangaroos) persists with players who are consistently not performing. Yes I'll name names. David Hale is our full forward and when he manages to actually be lucky enough have a kick for goal, he needs to be even luckier manage a score. Sam Power's kicking seems to be getting worse and Lindsay Thomas throws himself around like he's Jake the Muss' wife. Thomas cook the man some fu$%ing (sorry trying to keep it clean!) eggs. Plus dropping Grima is a travesty when we (read Kangaroos) need to see where the future is and he's playing quite well.

Bub is due around Grand Final day so at least I don't have to worry about missing my team in September action. Yes that's right as of tomorrow it's only 9 week til till my brood swells.

Until then hail to the youth policy!

Top Ten - The Fives

I'm staring down the barrel of a 4 day weekend! Gotta love teaching!! I get the usual two days off plus Monday for Labor Day and Tuesday is our 18 week scan including a 3D picture of my little bambino. We're also having a 15 month old girl staying with us (including parents) so that will definately go some way to preparing us for what is ahead. But for now we'll have to settle for the top 5!

Top Ten - The Fives

Movies

Good Will Hunting – Gotta Go See About a girl

This is the script I wish I had written. There’s very little I question about this movie. At one point this my #1 on my list but fortunately I’m a much happier person.

Although Ben and Matt probably peaked at the start they have both continued to have quality careers.

This movie is built around an amazing script and layered with an eminent cast and director. And sprinkled with quotes and one-liners like double burger and step forth silent rogue and receive thy prize, not to mention a couple of stirring monologues.

Songs

Angel – Jack Johnson

I've got an angel
She doesn't wear any wings
She wears a heart that can melt my own
She wears a smile that can make me wanna sing
She gives me presents
With her presence alone
She gives me everything I could wish for
She gives me kisses on the lips just for coming home
She could make angels
I've seen it with my own eyes
You gotta be careful when you've got good love
Cause the angels will just keep on multiplying
But you're so busy changing the world
Just one smile and you can change all of mine
We share the same soul Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh
We Share the same soul Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh

We Share the same soul Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh
Oh oh oh oh oh ohhh Umm umm umm uhhhhhhmm

Obviously at this minute I’m very aware of my place in world and what is important to me. This is why this song is in my #5. I knew I would have a Jack Johnson song and there were a few options, Banana Pancakes, Better Together but this earned the right to be here! Just a lovely song to listen to alone and close my eyes. Soft maybe, but I don’t care!

T.V. Series

Arrested development - Never Nude

I know I said the true test of a great series was longevity but 3 seasons of this is better than 50 seasons of Will and Grace. There are heaps of textured characters and tasty scenarios. Between Tobias and all his foibles and George the Magician I can’t pick my favourites. Although I’m looking forward to the movie it’s only if they do it right, otherwise leave it to be the cult it already is! Every episode is tighter than an Eli Manning spiral. Blueman! haha

Books

I am Legend – Richard Mathieson

I grew up as a Lindsay boy and that meant a few things. One of them is an eerily similar taste in movies. Omega Man was one of them. Charlton Heston rocked the shit in it, he even was the first to hook up in an interracial ‘love’ scene on celluloid. Then I found out about 15-20 years ago it was based on a novel. I tracked the novel down and this is it!

I bought it, read it and loved it. I dug the atmosphere and loved the shit out of the ending. It was one of the few times when I read the last line and went ‘oh’. It really made me think!! And NO it did not have the syrupy, Hollywood ending of the Will Smith 3star ending. I am Legend means much more in the book as it should. I have a feeling my venerated brother will write a tome one day that has the same reaction. At least I hope so!



Well I hope that didn't disappoint!

Until then I AM going to see about my girl!

Top Ten - The Nines

Alrighty then, I sense the Nines coming up. Before I start however I would like to issue a disclaimer. MY top ten is based on my tastes and preferences not what high flying literati deem worthy. My books WON’T include the complete collection of Shakespeare and the bible. My movies WON’T include Citizen Kane (although it’s an awesome movie) or Blue Velvet (another good movie). My songs WON’T include Beethoven’s 9th or Celine Dion. My T.V. series WON’T include documentaries about Hitler or Alzheimer’s Disease. They WILL include entries that have touched and inspired me. Anyway here we go!

Top Ten – The Nines

Movie
El Mariachi - Bucho

This is almost the single biggest force in inspiring me to write for the screen. Robert Rodriguez is a film making tour du force and epitomizes everything I love about the film creation process. Technically El is not Rodriguez’s best outing but for ME watching this (particularly with the audio commentary on) makes me want to grab a camera and shoot!

Song
Killer Queen – Queen - Caviar and cigarettes Well versed in etiquette Extraordinarily nice

Queen had to be in my top ten. The only question was where. As a little boy I would hold a figurine of my mothers and mouth the words as Freddie belted out the words. My dad was a huge fan, my brothers are huge fans and damn it so am I!!! Forget Harvey Milk I’d be more interested in seeing a Mercury movie extravaganza. While living in England when my lovely wife game me the chace to pick a ‘show’to see, we saw We Will Rock You. Front Row centre seat and I was in Queen heaven. Tell me you don't read the above lyrics you don’t start singing the song. Sure there are many other songs by Queen that could have made this list but I had to stick by one and although it changed 5 times, this is it, just finished listening to the Live Killers version and it ROCKS!!!!

T.V. Series
The Twilght Zone - This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone.

I’m talking about the Rod Serling series that started in ’59 and lasted 5 seasons. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the ‘80’s series and the movie. Rod Serling’s opening monologue precludes to strange happenings about to be fed into my Gulliver. One of the great things to come out of doing my own top tens (and I recommend you all try for yourself) is the soul searching and surprises that come out of it. This was one of those surprises, I knew I liked The Twilight Zone but how much wasn’t prevalent until I had to place it within a hierarchy.

Book
The Great and Secret Show – Clive Barker – Seth and Owen.

My esteemed brother would be proud that the Liverpoolian homosexual is included here. Ryan got me onto this author and overall I am impressed. TGSS is the epic of epics. So many subplots spin and revolve on a pin head in this strange story, too many for me to blog on about but I will say the characters are rich, plot think and prose silky smooth.

That’s all for the Nines!

Hope you’ve enjoyed it. If not comment! If so comment!

Until then hail to the king baby!

First Blog!! Who am I?

I would like to say welcome and sorry. Welcome because this is my first attempt at blogging. Sorry because if you are used to reading Ryan’s blog on www.stinkbrown.org then I might not meet his overly high standards.

I’ll start with a little about me and finish with a more comprehensive picture of the enigma wrapped in a riddle RKL (Notice how his initials sound like Urkel from Family Matters?)

I’m a primary school teacher in North QLD and hobbyist writer. I found my love and confidence in writing in 2000 when I started university by co-writing a feature length script with our older brother Marc. It’s amateurish but it’s a start and since then I have written more and more. This has resulted in Lav Bodnaruk and Michael Mier taking a short film idea I’d written and making it a reality. I received a copy of The Pessimist today in fact and it’s amazing what they have accomplished with such a simple idea of mine. I will always be grateful to the boys from www.lavproductions.com for being my opening into the film business, whether I do anything with it is my own fault/choice. While I’m praising the/my movie I’d like to mention Bille Brown. This cat has contacts with Monty Python and is an amazing character actor. Check out Ascension on youtube and be blown away! I don’t know who I didn’t sleep with to make so happy but I’m happy to not do it again.

Ryan was also correct when he stated I will discuss the mighty North Melbourne Kangaroos and the New York Football Giants but for today I’ve covered me/The Pessimist and now here’s my over view of Ryan.

Ryan has always been a conundrum within our family. Growing up with two older brother reading Stephen King Ryan was reading Stephen King in primary school. He was following me to the movies with my friends and probably understanding the movie more than my friends.

Any who I’ll be talking all stuff top ten in the next couple of weks so please stay tuned!!!!

Until then have a week Jame$

James Lindsay - My Brother

To kick this brand new blog off, let me introduce you to James Lindsay, my brother.
He's the one on the left, I'm the goon with the cereal halfway to the mouth and the brain halfway kicked in.

He's a writer of great note; his short film, The Pessimist, was shot, cut and produced within the last few months. James came up with the idea (which made me laugh my ass off in parts) and partnered with a man he trusted, Lav Bodnaruk, to get this film made.

In other times James works on a lot of different writing. Eclecticism (is that a word?) and genius always have gone hand in hand, James is no exception.

James' reading is varied and erudite, too, but I will let him come up with his own lists of top tens to regale you all with.

James is also a wicked sports fan, and player, and I have no doubt this blog will discuss the North Melbourne Kangaroos and New York Giants over the course of time.

Overall, being my older brother, James is my hero. He does it all right and all of the time. An exceptional quality and one that I try to emulate every day.

And, who am I? I'm just some kid who still reads comics, and www.stinkbrown.org is proof of that. Yeah, bro, I got a plug in, sorry.