Bullet Point Review: Turbo

On April 3, 2014April 2, 2014 By James CastroIn Movies, ReviewsLeave a comment

This is a new feature I thought up to give reviews of things I just feel like reviewing in a short, sweet way. I started with a great little animated feature I caught on Netflix that seemed to get lost among the big-budget, sequel-happy world of modern cinema.

Bullet Point Review: Turbo (2013)

Title: Turbo
Premise: A snail name Theo (aka Turbo) is addicted to speed and racing despite his being, ya know, a snail and wants to enter the Indy 500.
Protagonist(s):

o   Theo (Turbo): Main character/Racing Snail (Neverending Story shout out)

o   Chet: Theo’s disapproving Brother

o   Tito: Snail-racing taco vender at Van Nuys, CA mini-mall “Starlight Plaza” who finds Turbo. They work together to achieve their dreams.

o   Whiplash, Smoove Groove, Skid Mark, Burn, and White Shadow: Starlight Plaza racing snails. Whiplash is voice by Samuel L. Jackson and Smoove Groove Snoop Dogg, which means this movie has both a Samuel L. Snail and a Snoop Snail)

o   Paz, Kim Ly, Bobby: Starlight Plaza venders who sponsor Turbo in the Indy 500.

Antagonist(s):

o   Evil Mower: Turbo’s first racing opponent.

o   Guy Gagne: Turbo’s REAL racing opponent and Indy 500 Champ.

o   Crows: They eat snails…a lot…

o   Mother Nature: Made Turbo a snail and thus…not very fast…

Conflict: Turbo’s addiction to racing affects his job, his relationship with his brother, and dominates his life.
Twist: Turbo accidentally Bruce Banners himself with NO2 and gains super-speed! Stan Lee would’ve been proud.
Moment I was Hooked: Somewhere around the line “You’re trashtalk is needlessly complicated!” delivered as only Sam Jackson can…
Journey: Turbo finds his speed; finds his dreams; and finds that, maybe like Dorothy, he had what he needed all along.
Surprisingly…: This movie has a kick ass soundtrack. Good licensed and original music.
Most Relatable When…: Turbo becomes popular by going “viral” from a kid’s random video, including a catchy remix version. It felt like it could happen because it’s happened oh so many times in the past with oh so many cats…
Final Thoughts: I’ve been on a bit of an animated feature kick. Mostly because they are a lot of them on Netflix. I’ve always liked snails so this one called to me. I didn’t have high hopes due to some of the kids’ movies of recent vintage (i.e. Kung Fu Panda…) but was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Ryan Reynolds, though I’m not usually a fan of his live acting, turns out to be a great voice actor, the supporting cast is also excellent, the story is solid (though cartoonishly fantastical), and the message truly inspiring. Very creative, great fun, and better than most “serious” movies I’ve seen recently.
Rating: Four and a half snail shells outta five.

Turbo Artist — Portrait of the Artist as a Young Snail

Artist Spotlight: Ron Knight

On April 1, 2014March 31, 2014 By R. PettyIn ArtLeave a comment

We are very excited to post our first Artist Spotlight! Once a month, we will feature an artist who creates amazing, original art and inspires those around them.

This month, we bring you Ron Knight, and we thank him for his time and work! Don’t forget to like Ron Knight Art on Facebook!

Artist Ron Knight — Painter Ron Knight, Smyrna, TN and “Stay Strong”. Photo: ©Ron Knight Art

Basics: I use mainly stretched canvas and acrylic paints. From time to time I will stray; for instance, I just did a painting on a saw blade for a friend, and I’ve done a few oil paintings in the past couple of years as well.

RevPub: When did you realize you wanted to paint? Do you remember your first piece?

I first noticed I had a knack for painting at the age of 14. We did a few painting projects in art class, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. My mom actually posted my first real painting I did on Facebook not long ago. Yellow and red skyline with silhouettes of trees with no leaves painted on a table leaf. The trees with no leaves has become one of my signature works. I have quite a few of them now, and typically if someone requests a tree painting, that’s what they want.

RonKnight first piece — Ron’s first real painting, which led to his signature tree-with-no-leaves works. Photo: ©Ron Knight Art

RevPub: What is your favorite piece so far?

My personal favorite of my pieces is one of my oil paintings titled “The Dream”. This piece is 5ft wide and 4ft tall, so it’s rather large to begin with. This is the only piece I’ve ever done that took longer than 5 hours. It was on my easel for two weeks. There was quite a bit of thought behind the piece which you probably wouldn’t think just by looking at it. It’s one of only a few completely abstract pieces I’ve done.

I have to say one of my newer pieces “Stay Strong” is a very close second favorite. It’s a personal reflection piece for me.

Ron knight the dream — “The Dream” by Ron Knight. Photo: ©Ron Knight Art

RevPub: What inspires you?

Music more than anything. Sure, I’ll see a painting I like the color scheme of and mimic it from time to time, but music is what drives my paintings. All of my works have a “flow” to them as I like to say. I am very textured with a lot of my work, and they tend to have rhythm in the paint itself. I often will make playlists for paintings if I know the person well enough. I don’t typically dance, but when I’m painting all bets are off. Not exactly doing ballet, but I can become very fluid myself while painting. It’s something I truly enjoy and become lost in.

RevPub: Do you ever have creative droughts? If so, how do you fight through them?

ABSOLUTELY! There are times I just wait it out. There are times I force it and just grab a brush and start painting. Those tend to be very interesting pieces!

RevPub: What advice do you have for those just getting started or considering painting?

Don’t get frustrated. Not everyone will like what you have to offer, but for every one that doesn’t, there are 5 that will love it! Try many different techniques and styles; it keeps it fresh (at least for me it does). Confide in other artists! They will inspire your creativity more than almost anything. HAVE FUN! Not every stroke of your brush will make a masterpiece. It takes practice. Find a place (like for me Jerry’s Artarama) that sells a wide range of supplies. You do not want your first paintings to be with high-end materials. Mainly just because you’re still figuring what works for you. You wouldn’t buy a Nissan GT-R for a 16-yr-old who just got their license. Same idea here, this way if you waste the paint, it’s not too big of a loss in your wallet.

Good vs. Well

On March 30, 2014March 29, 2014 By R. PettyIn Grammar and PunctuationLeave a comment

How are you? I usually answer one of two ways: I’m good or I’m doing well. Many people teach that either is acceptable when asked how you are, but I disagree. The more we blur the lines between the rules, the more exceptions are made, and the more confusing the language becomes.

But how do you know which one to use and why? The rules are pretty basic, but I find ‘well’ too formal in casual conversations with those I’m close to. In professional settings, I use ‘well’ and always use them correctly and know the difference.

Common Terms:

Adjective: a word that describes a noun or pronoun (good)
Adverb: a word that modifies everything else: adjectives, verbs, etc. (well)

Here are some quick guides to help you know when to use good or well:

1. Good describes people, places, things, ideas.
— That was a good show.
— We ate some good Chinese food.
— He smells good.

2. Well works as a state of being. It doesn’t have relate to just humans either. It can be a project, a work day, etc.
— I’m well. I’m doing well.
— The project is going well.
— He doesn’t look well today. (implies he is sick)

The best way to learn how to use these correctly is to do so. The more you practice and break bad habits, the more natural it becomes.

Try this quick test to practice, and if you have any other tips, feel free to share!

(Source: Bluebook of Grammar, my brain)

The End of the World (of Battle) as We Know It

On March 26, 2014March 25, 2014 By James CastroIn Games, OpinionsLeave a comment

As a Warhammer fan living in Tennessee I’ve always been relatively lucky. My orders ship very quickly, shops are usually well-stocked, and there are a lot of hobbyists to create a pretty good community. Part of this is because the Games Workshop North American Headquarters was located in my state; Memphis to be exact.
I live a fair drive from Memphis but not too far. Not so far that it’s excusable that I’d never before visited the Memphis HQ and gaming site “World of Battle” over the last couple of years. I was suddenly motivated to do so when they broke the news on their Facebook page they would be effected by the Games Workshop restructuring (they are centralizing their operations back in Nottingham rather than maintaining multi-employee shops and several international HQs) and would be converting the epic World of Battle gaming hall into a single-person store on the day this post goes out, March 26th 2014. With that news I knew I’d be heading to Memphis before that occurred so I could see the World of Battle while still in its epic-scale format.
A couple of non-Warhammer folks came along for the ride, and even they were impressed and became interested in the hobby just being in the environment.

The outside of the building itself was impressive, the huge imperial eagle and the wicked space marine statue standing guard.

The full-sized Blood Angel still stands in the shop and he’s just as intimidating as a 7-foot tall bloke in red armor would be. Especially since he carried a gun the size of my torso.

There’s a nice case with Eldar Striking Scorpion gear in it. It is stylized to look like it’s been collected and tagged by an Ordo Xenos agent.

Loved this Ork Waaagh-Bannah!

This city table was amazing. We kept wandering around it looking at all the details.

This fantasy castle was equally incredible.

One of my favorite sections was the back hall that contained “historical artifacts” from Games Workshop’s history. And a GREAT Dark Angels banner.

I’m not a Games Workshop hater. They are a publicly traded company, they are beholden to make a profit for their shareholders, they do things for business reasons certainly, etc. They have also create a GREAT gaming system, painting systems, and as I said in my Kharn post, one of the best “worlds” I’ve seen in fiction. Some of their decisions, however, I can’t see as being positive. I had a ton of fun in the Woodfield Mall store while I was in Chicago. I went two nights in five days and just swapped war stories (“The Little Commissar who Could” one of the clerks told me was terrific) the same was true for World of Battle. I got a chance to chat with Price there about Imperial Knights tactics, the benefits of the new Crimson Slaughter Supplement, and creative use of bits to make unique terrain. He never tried to sell me anything. Just discussed it. I just wanted to BUY everything.

Even my two friends came away interested, just being in the environment and watching the massive Last Stand battle going on.

I think this is the kind of place GW needs to retain. It brings people in. Gets them started. Just being in the presence of this kind of World of Battle sparks fascination in everyone, Warhammer fanatics, neophytes, and outsiders.

I’m hopeful that as Games Workshop completes its restructuring and rebuilds itself as in a modern economic environment World of Battle will rise from the ashes and opens its epic gaming hall tables for North American Hobbyists.

World of Battle’s FB Page!

If You Want to Write: 5 Ways to Clear Your Mind

On March 23, 2014March 22, 2014 By R. PettyIn Writing for Web and TipsLeave a comment

“Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what he loves.” – Blaise Pascal

Throughout the book If You Want to Write, Ueland emphasizes the importance of letting your imagination flow freely. However, with work, family, friends, and everyday stress, it’s not always easy to clear your mind to let thoughts run free.

Our minds are restricted by a number of things, like fear and fatigue, so it’s important to find ways to relax and gain clarity in what we do. Once you have clarity, then your mind is free to express your deepest thoughts and produce your best work.

Here are five ways to gain clarity:

1. Meditation. I know, I know. You can’t meditate. You can’t sit still long enough or focus your thoughts. Whatever. My brain runs a million miles a minute all day and night. It runs so fast I trip over my words and say some epically stupid things sometimes. But I can meditate. It may only be for two minutes, but it helps, and the more you practice it, the longer you can focus. You have to train your mind, and I’m living proof it can be done.

2. Avoid procrastination. Many of us love the rush of an impending deadline, but it kills our clarity. We focus on meeting the deadline more than we do the final product. It becomes more about I HAVE to get this done, instead of I’m going to take my time and make this awesome. Starting early gives you more time to think and work, and you’re free to tweak as needed instead of producing something that’s not your best.

3. Break often. If you don’t procrastinate, you can break guilt-free. Take 10 minute breaks and one day off a week. I’ve started taking one night a week when I turn off my phone and do something I want to do. Removing myself from the world (even Facebook) allows me to focus on what I need instead of everyone else. It also helps me deal with stress and emotions that I push down, forcing me to address any concerns or problems.

4. Listen. If you’re lucky, you have a couple of people who give good advice and listen. The advice isn’t always easy to hear, but if it’s honest and pure, you’ll appreciate it. Listen to those who care about you. Oftentimes, they can offer a clearer perspective because they are not so close to the situation. Don’t be dismissive – you know when they’re right and when they’re not. Listen to your gut, heart, and mind, too.

5. Find inspiration. We all get stuck and go through creative ruts. It’s frustrating to want to create something but not “feel” it and risk forcing it. This is where inspiration comes in. If you read or listen to something else, it may distract your thoughts, inspire you, then refocus your attention to your own work. I find inspiration in everyday things such as conversations, movies, music, and people. If you open up, inspiration is all around you.

If you have any tips for clearing your mind, feel free to share them below!

The Chosen of Khorne: Creating the Blood God’s Best

On March 20, 2014March 20, 2014 By James CastroIn Art, ProjectsLeave a comment

Chosen of Khorne: Illustration Process

Though I consider myself an illustrator, I haven’t done a large, finished piece (foreground, mid-ground, background) in years…maybe a decade or more. So it was interesting to capture the process on digital camera, which I don’t think existed in a decent consumer form the last time I did one!

This is the earliest design; I sketched it on a piece of printer paper while waiting for something at work to finish. The design is very rudimentary. The dais looks more “chair” like, and the axe is on the wrong side (I picture Malvin entering left and seeing Kharn on the right for some reason) so Gorechild should be left rather than right in the frame as he sees the weapon before he sees The Betrayer. I was also drawing from memory and messed up Kharn’s helmet design.

The original pencils just for putting in placement. His helmet in the story is said to be in the sand at his feet, so the one thing I consciously altered from the terrific narrative description was to put it on a level of the stone dais, purely for composition purposes.

I stood on the shoulders of Black Library giants to design Kharn’s armor and wargear for this piece. It was fun to put my own touches, like the way the skulls are attached to his armor backpack.

I added some extra battle damage to Kharn’s helmet, just because it was interesting to draw.

The skulls appear as mentioned in the drama: two on the left, four on the right; one with shrapnel in the cheek, one with chain weapon damage on the forehead.

I added the manacles described in the story as being large enough to restrain a large beast or being of great strength. I put in dark tunnels behind Kharn based on the dungeons beneath the Flavian Amphitheater.

Before I started shading I thought it would be easy, just walls and stones. But then I decided to shade every stone essentially individually and it took much longer than I intended…

For so many reasons I’m lucky to have Raven. One of the lesser reasons is she inks for me in our comics! I had to darken the graphite before shading (I drew in 4H). I hate this process because it’s essentially drawing the same image TWICE but worth it to get the desired result.

I accidentally over-shaded the left tunnel and made it seem too short. It took some correcting to get it closer to right. I added the close foreground of silhouetted scattered remains based on the description in the drama. I left it vague but clear enough to be picked out if closely analyzed.

It’s actually at this phase I start to get excited about a composition. The background is essentially one, which means I can start the character!

See the Original Kharn Post Here Featuring the Finished Piece!

As a bonus: I’m also working on a version of the Fleshtearer as described in the story. It may be a single character piece, but here’s the face design I’ve been toying with.