Film Strips #11
“So… it’s been a while. Of course I would like to say that filmstrips is back on track but who knows? Without the motivation of a paycheck my focus has been on surviving day to day in this harsh environment known as Hollywoodland. But I promise I will try. -zero.”
Film Strips #10
I say it’s a fad. He says 3D is here to stay, and, according to zero, it has cemented itself in the common lexicon of our time because of that ol’ fail safe….porn. It’s why we have cable, the internet. and pretty soon, 3D television. Only time will tell.-Nick
Film Strips #9
As I currently work in distribution now, It often occurs to me that territories like Southeast Asia, China, and even parts of Western Europe are dying out when it comes to theatrical distribution. Piracy is so rampant in Italy that many indie distribution companies have given up all together trying to sell there.
That notion, coupled with the fact that anyone with an iphone and half way decent lights/sound and can shoot a movie, edit that movie, and self distribute that movie- all relatively cheap and easy-is the basis for this week’s comic. Enjoy!-Nick
i would like to make clear that i do not download movies or music. This is an industry i care about and it feels like i would be shooting myself in the foot to do so. If you care about something you should support it. Which brings me to my next point. You may have noticed the help japan poster behind Ax. i didn’t actually mean to cover it up with word balloons but that’s how it turned out. As some of you may know, i only recently returned from living in Japan and it is a place i consider my second home. They are still having issues and are in dire need of all the help, support, and prayers you can muster. i personally think Red Cross is a great organization to donate to, mostly because of their immediate presence there. There are other places you can go if you prefer, Doctors without borders, Save the Children, and Salvation Army just to name a few. It doesn’t matter how much or how little you give, it only matters that you help. Support what you care about. red cross-http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.1a019a978f421296e81ec89e43181aa0/?vgnextoid=f9efd2a1ac6ae210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD -zero.
Film Strips #8
Ax (the one with orange spiky hair) is a thinly veiled avatar for my own rants as Max is to Nick. But that doesn’t always mean that we are always eye to eye (myself and Ax). In today’s comic he is vehement abut the drastic and gaudy changes to a comic and feminist hero. While i agree that the fashion designer should be charged for crimes against humanity, I’m not really sure how i feel about Wonder Woman, let alone whether or not i would really want to so drastically defend any changes, no matter how absurd, they make to her. Yeah, she’s an icon, but part of me feels like the only reason she is, is because she represents a non-threatening female character in a male’s world. Sure she came to ‘man’s world” to do whatever feminist stuff shes supposed to do, but lets break it down. She throws a TIARA (if you’ve ever seen a Disney movie, you get where I’m coming from), she uses a lasso (fetish), and runs around in high heels and star spangled underwear (oh i know she got the costume reboot in the comics, with a much more subdued and practical costume, but that wont last). Oh, and she flies an invisible jet. But you can still see her. And she can fly without it. So… yeah. Lot going on there. However, i would like to take this opportunity to mention that Mike Allred (one of my all time favorite artists) is doing an add campaign for MAC (one of my all time favorite makeup makers. Yeah i like makeup. Do something) starring the iconic Wonder Woman. Yep. So not all tragedy in the WW world. That is all. Carry on. ” -zero.
Film Strips #7
“Nick did not want this one done, and I didn’t just want to write an easy Charlie Sheen joke to be topical, but when he came out and told the world he was Jewish (what? Gibson should have thought of that) I wondered if it would be anti-Semitic to make jokes about him. And I still hold fond memories of characters Mel G. played so I sort of (sort of) feel bad about the last bit. -zero (who is not one who “twits”)
Film Strips #6
“Nick was a bigger fan of Inception than I was, but I think I’m also jaded. I will admit, however, that it was a great movie that wasn’t at one time a book, TV show, or other movie. it just didn’t grab me. I would love it if the success of the originality opened the door to more …original ideas. I know that the mentality of the studio exec. is pretty par for course, they will never stop being afraid of taking what they see as giant leaps away from the money pit. And I am unapologetic for the Adjustment Bureau jab, as it seemed like every review kept asking if it was this years Inception. And to be fair, Adjustment Bureau isn’t all that original, its based on a Philip K. Dick story. Apparently the P.K. Dick theory is to take a short story of his and add a love interest. Bam. Instant jackpot. Thank God Inception tested the water’s and let the heads know we were ready for more reality -questioning paranoia. (not really.)- zero. (seriously jaded)”
Film Strips #5
We love movies. We love talking about them and dissecting them down to their itty bitty parts. When we’re out on the town, movies invariably become the topic of choice, and the discussions that ensue always bring out some pretty interesting ideas. This week’s comic is about one of our favorite films, Back To The Future! -Nick
Film Strips #4
i would like to first off say that this strip is in no way a dig at William Morris. Although Max might seem less than happy with the outcome of the rigorous obstacle course interview sessions, there are many people who would kill for that same job. We have heard the tales of people with doctorate degrees competing for the chance to get someone’s coffee at institutions on par with an institution such as WME. The bottom line is show business is hard. There are many times when speaking to those who have chased their silver-screen dreams here, that at the present, i myself have little film aspirations. This, of course, does not mean that i am disinterested in film- just that i am not wanting to be part of the machine that makes. Yet. As I type this, Nick, on the other hand, is hard at work paying his dues. -zero.
Film Strips #3
Hollywood is a mysterious and weird land to try to live in. It’s even more difficult if you are without means and even more difficult if you take yourself seriously. Nick’s fiance works at a reputable bookstore (will our children know that word?) and very often helps people with ideas for movies and little working knowledge on how to make them come to fruition find a certain book which they will then go on to quote and manhandle as they haunt the Hollywood scene. And sometimes they actually use these books to produce a script. And sometimes Adam Sandler and Jennifer Anniston star in it and it becomes number one at the box office. Film Strips is full of truth. It is only shortened to fit into three or four panels, but I swear to you what you read here is not exaggerated at all. I hope you are enjoying these stories. Let us know what you think. We have thick skins and big shoulders, and we don’t try to take ourselves too seriously. And if you just want to talk us about movies or comic books, or anything else you find interesting for that matter, please do. We get lonely. -zero
Film Strips #2
Contrary to popular opinion, this town does have good and honest people. Concordant to popular opinion, though, is the notion that Hollywood is bloated with its placid multitude. Everybody wants to be in the pictures, and they’ll use you up and spit you out to get there. -Nick
Film Strips #1
Welcome to FILM STRIPS, a weekly comic strip by Nick and zero. This strip will explore this magical land we call Hollywood. Our two characters, Max and Axe, have just moved to LA, Max to be a producer, and Axe to be an artist. Max and Axe are baffled by this new world in which they live as they come into contact with all kinds of characters. -Nick
