Night Falls Logo

The primary logo for the site:



The logo for the first episode.



Your feedback and comments are appreciated.

Final Cut Express HD, Sweeny Todd and other stuff.

So...it was a good haul yesterday. Got Final Cut Express HD. It doesn't seem as intuitive as Sony Vegas was so I am open to suggestions for books or tutorials. The freaking install was almost 45 minutes.

Saw Sweeny Todd--DAMN. Beautifully shot. Johnny Depp rocked. Helen Bonham Carter can sing. Gallons of blood. And pie. What more can one ask? Go see it. Seriously, stop what you are doing and go. Now. You will like it.

And what of the Nightfalls Podcast (http://www.nightfallsproductions.com/) you may ask? Well, sir or ma'am, I have not been slacking. The script White Lady, a outright horror tale about an evil bride, is final. As is the The Replicant, a three part sci-fi script. Additionally, the first episode of a hard-crime/dark fantasy script is complete. I like the main character so I think he is going to stick around for a while. Auditions will start after the first of the year. I am torn between having a local cast or going the remote cast route. There are pluses on both sides. If anyone out there has any suggestions, I am certainly open to them.

I also discovered that my regular mini DV camera, when hooked up via firewire to The Doctor (that would be the powerbook) makes a nifty little webcam. Probably not news to you techno-geeks out there, but I was pretty darn surprised. I shot this pic of yours truly this morning. Before coffee.

Have a great day.

Happy Thanksgiving

I know, it's a repeat--but according to web stats, this has been the image most linked to on my old blog.

To my US viewers--Happy Thanksgiving.
To my non-US viewers--Happy November 22.

Viewer Favorite: Remote

From October of 2005. Viewer comments: 42. Click here to view the original posting with comments..

Busy days...

So I just got a gig for 3 5 mins toons and 1 video production. All due before November 1. The I-Friday challenge is 'juggle' I have a couple of ideas for that and will try to post them soon.

Non-work related To-Do list:
1. Get my daughter to and from AWA this weekend.
2. Create IFriday entry.
3. Update links on blog.
4. Give list of podcasts I listen to and why.
5. Vent about wait time on Adobe's customer service line.
6. Go see Resident Evil 3

Narration Demo

A short narration demo.


Click here to play my Narration Demo (MP3)

Night Falls Podcast

Ok, as some of you may or may not know, I am really caught up in this podcasting thing. So much so that I have written six episodes of a dark fantasy story that I plan on producing soon. My target date was to release the first episode on Halloween and run until Christmas, then start up with new episodes in February. However, I've been somewhat leisurely in the revision process (and finishing up the final few episodes) so I've decided to go public with the plan. I will keep an update of weekly progress here so my 2 or 3 readers will be able to watch how a the podcast progresses from just a thought to final version. My triad of readers will also be able to smack me around (in a virtual sort of way) if I don't post regular progress reports.

The podcast, working title: Night Falls, revolves around a town where unexplainable things happen quite often. Most of these are supernatural, but there is the occasional sci-fi adventure tossed in as well. Some characters are in a single episode, some in multipart of the same story, and others are links throughout the series. There may or may not be a season long arc...but that would be in addition to the self contained stories. I'm thinking a season will be between 7 to12 30-45 minute episodes released every two weeks. As such, I need to always have at least 6 episodes in the can to meet the 'air date' schedule.

I am revising two stories today: the 3 part sci-fi story 'The Replicant' and the stand alone horror 'The Bride/White Lady'. All the stories are told in OTR (old time radio format) with characters, announcers and side effects. This is as opposed to a book-on-tape format of having me read the stories to the listeners. I will be auditioning voice actors in the next few weeks as well. Since this is a labor of love for me, and I am already out a $500 dollars on equipment (mics and mixers), and will probably spend more promoting the podcast, no one gets paid. I'll handle all the legal stuff myself as well as the graphics, PR, etc. If, at some point this thing makes any money, most of that will go back into promotions. If it makes a fair amount of money, and by that I mean I get to recoup all my costs, then the talent will be paid. If it makes a lot of money, then I'll get paid also. Seems fair. If that sounds reasonable to you and you live in the Atlanta metro area, let me know if you are interested in taking part as voice talent. Talent will receive cds of their performances and well as promotional links on the Night Falls web site and promotional spots within the podcast itself.

The Nightfalls Productions website is up, albeit a little thin, but you're welcome to visit it and let me know what you think--it's here http://www.nightfallsproductions.com. If you'd like to be notified when this blog is updated, sign up in the sidebar.

As with anything else on this blog your comments are encouraged and appreciated.

Illustration Friday: Captain

This was not my first concept. Actually, I was blank on this. A lot of obvious ideas popped up and they all, in a word, sucked. So I asked my wife to help and we brainstormed through some captains. The first sketch of that session is here.

She thought that sketch might be a bit to risque for IFriday. Soooo--I suppose since we were sitting in a Starbucks I thought about a logo for a fictious coffee shop named Captain's Coffee and this weeks entry was born.

This piece was done in Abobe Illustrator CS.

As always, your comments are encouraged and welcome.

Skecth of the Captain

Or, "How the Captain Got His Name"

This was the initial sketch for Captain on IFriday. My wife and I were sitting in the Starbucks at Towne Center whilst our teens were wandering around with their friends. She was helping brainstorm for the entry and she mentioned the Captain and Tennille, an adult contemporary band from the 70s. This idea sprung to mind and I sketched in out in about 5 minutes.

After much debate I decided to go with the logo concept above, but couldn't resist sharing this as well.

IFN: Before the Internet

For Illustration Friday Night's.

IFN: All you need is meat

For Illustration Friday Night's 'All You Need is Meat' topic.

Illustration Friday: Emergency

Done completely in Corel Painter IX.

Comments encouraged.

Some more sketchbook stuff

I kind of like the 'Don't piss me off' girl.

Sketchbook

Some sketches from the last few days...

Illustration Friday: Missing

Thanks for you comments last week. This piece was created using Adobe Illustrator CS with a little help from Photoshop CS for the bullet holes.

As always, your comments are appreciated.

Illustration Friday: Moon

Hello I-Friers, long time no see. No excuses other than a mea cupla.

This piece was done completely in Adobe Photoshop CS. For those keeping score, please note the new url (http://www.creativetony.com/blog/)

As always, your comments are appreciated.

On Carrying a Sketchbook and Why You Should

There is a great series of articles written by storyboard artist Mark Kennedy about why you should be carrying a sketchbook with you. Read it; you'll like it.

Illustration Friday: Polar (Opposites)

I took a little artistic liberty with the Illustration Friday word this week because I didn’t get this piece completed in time for last week. The funny thing is, the idea for Fortune popped into my head shortly after Penelope sent out the email. I procrastinated until this weeks email. It seemed like this was the second chance for this piece; after all, what better polar opposites than Donald Trump and Mother Teresa?

Fortune/Polar was done in Illustrator CS2 using Live Trace, the rectangle tool and the paintbrush.

As always, your comments are encouraged.

Illustration Friday: Green

I can relate well with poor old Harold. The pollen count here in Atlanta was over 5000 last week. I felt like I should suit up in a deep sea diving outfit before going outside.

This was done in Adobe Illustrator CS whilst enjoying the last days of Spring Break in Florida.

Illustration Friday: Total

The wife's idea.

Created completely in Illustrator CS.

As always, your comments are encouraged.

It's only Temporary

Ok, I've gotten a few emails lately about the 'look' of my site. This is a temporary situation where my blog is doubling as my commercial site. There have been a few, oh, let's call them 'communication' issues between me and the hosting company.

At any rate, I'll be migrating more samples of my portfolio here until I can resolve the hosting issues. Think of this as the temporary housing you move into while your new house is being built.

Illustration Friday: Crash

Hello folks.

It's been awhile. I return this week with a new illustration and, a new location. For those who have linked to me in the past, please note that the old blog is no more and it now lives here at http://www.tonytoons.blogspot.com . Please update your links.

This grusome piece was done in Corel Painter 9 on my trusty G4 while watching Lost and nursing some flu-like symptoms.

As always, your comments are appreciated.

Thanks