Wednesday, Aug. 20th, 2008 -- Clap your hands if you want some!
If the last entry didn't blow your mind. I think this one is about to knock your socks off. You ready? Here we go!
As usual, I apologize for not posting lately, but at least this time it's only been a month and not (checks) slightly over three like last time! Woo hoo! Progress! Anyway, I have a lot of very good news so let me give you the run down.
For starters, I am on a brand new Harold team known as "Payphone Wedding" and just last Wednesday we debuted at Crashbar Improv in Hollywood and we received some very positive reviews after the show. For a debut, I thought we did really well! Here's the poster:
In other Payphone Wedding news (Pee-DUB!), this past Saturday we were coached by Allan McLeod of UCB's house Harold team Galleria and McGuffin. Allan is awesome and I'm really glad that he has decided to take us on for at least a couple of practices. His coaching this week, really got me in the mood for my 301 show this past Sunday!
That's right, I said 301! I'm actually almost done with my improv training at UCB (crazy considering how recently I began), but I plan to continue my training there through coaching and other work. I still love that place and I'm still amazed every week at the level of performance that you can see for a measely five bucks. If you're ever in the area, check that shit out!
In any case, lately I had been feeling that my improv had become slightly lacklaster, but this Sunday I felt really good about the work that I put up on stage. There was actually a single moment in the show where I actually put everything that I had learned up to this point to practice... and I didn't even realize it until someone brought it up later. That was fun.
Moving on ever so slightly, my two person improv team Not It! (featuring myself and Rene Gube) has found itself a coach. Mike Leffingwell of UCB's very own "Hey, Uncle Gary" will begin coaching Rene and I sometime in the coming weeks, I think. We're both pretty stoked about finally having a coach since up until now we've mostly been performing for... well, a camera. Check it out!
The two of us have put a lot of time and effort into this team and hopefully we'll be able to start having shows soon. When we do, you better believe I'm going to be posting them here, and you better believe I'm going to be looking for anyone who reads this site to be in the audience. So all seven of you (that's being generous) had better show up! This of course applies to Payphone Wedding as well, so get ready to do double duty, friends! That's right, because Payphone Wedding is currently looking at doing a show at the WestSide Eclectic sometime in the next few weeks, followed by a show at UCB's very own Tuesday Night Thunder! in late September! BE THERE!!!
Finally, and somewhat completely off topic, my contract with Square-Enix was not only upheld, but extended. As of right now, I am scheduled to stick around for another couple of months to work on... yeah, right. You'll see it when it comes out! Suffice it to say, I love the company and thus far, I think they like me, too.
Well that's all for now. I'm starting to get more and more involved in sketch work and I may even be doing some things for Those Aren't Muskets soon enough! If I do I'll let you know, but for now, I'm OUTTA HEEEEEEERE!
Keywords: Not It!, Payphone Wedding, Pee-Dub, Improv, Comedy, UCB, Upright Citizens Brigade, Theater, Shows, Crashbar Improv, WestSide Eclectic, Tuesday Night Thunder, TNT, and Square Enix.- Shadow "Clap your hands if you can't wait!" 64
Tuesday, Jul. 1st, 2008 -- Where the Hell did I go???
So, wow, I've been gone for a really long time on this one. My sincerest apologies, folks, but I'll have you know, I can explain!
For starters I've finally started working again! Working for Square-Enix, even as a temp, might just be the most appropriate job I've ever had. Is it still a grind? Sure - any job is, but I don't hate myself at the end of the day - in fact, I feel awesome! The people are great, the title is fun, and the hours seem to work well for my sleeping pattern - in short, I hope to stay with them for a long time.
But THAT's not all! I mentioned in my last post that I've been training with the Upright Citizens Brigade, and I still am. I'm now in their third level of improv classes and I just finished their first level of sketch writing classes. I'm at the theater at least three times a week, and I've also been interning for one of their monthly sketch shows. I've even started jamming with a couple of groups, and it seems like one of them might turn into a real team soon. Basically, when I'm not at Square, I'm at improv, and when I'm not doing that stuff, I'm writing, drawing, coding, or studying (yes, I study just about everything for improv now - gotta fill that tank!)... and when I'm not doing that, I'm passed out from exhaustion!
Even though my life is busier than ever, I've been working on what I hope will be the best redesign for shadow64.net ever! It will include content for all sections, and look as good (if not better!) than airplanekittybasketball.com. Hey, I said that it would be done by August, I've still got time!
Well, that's all the news for now, but trust me, I'm not just sitting around. For once, I'm working my ass off around the clock - and it's AWESOME!
Keywords: Upright Citizens Brigade, UCB, Improv, and Square Enix.- Shadow "Big Booty, Number Ten!" 64
Saturday, Mar. 22nd, 2008 -- Danny's Right, Upright Citizens, and Square Enix!
So it's been well over a month since my last entry, but I have a good excuse - I've been busy doing awesome things!
First, I'll start off by saying that I know that there are certain parts of this site that have never had any content. My goal over the months of March through August is to change that. I want this site to be fully loaded! No, not that Fully Loaded... NO, NOT that Fully Loaded! Yes, THAT fully loaded!
Over the past month or so, I've returned to my roots - videogames. I started gaming heavily again and even went so far as to go back to VERGE and start making a Phoenix Wright clone game called "Danny's Right - Ace This Guy." Thus, the gaming section finally has (minimal) content. I will post screenshots and demos all too soon, but for the moment all that stands is a simple look at the title screen that I made. PLEASE refrain from judging me for the lens flare. I know, I know. I will make my own pixel lens flare later, but it was like 4AM at that point and lens flares are stupid anyway. Deal with it. In case you didn't get this, all of the art, music, story, code are done by me - it's fun, but taxing. I spent something like 4 hours doing a single frame of a sprite yesterday - I think my brain fell out. In any case, I'm proud of the work that I'm doing on it, and hopefully it will be a fun game to play (even if the majority of the first case is heavily shrouded in inside jokes from when I worked at Sony).
Next on the list! I'm not only rooted in videogames, but I've been a fan/performer of improv comedy for years and finally I'm getting the chance to follow a lifelong dream and study at The Upright Citizens Brigade theater in Los Angeles. My time there so far has been amazing. I'm currently studying under Johnny Meeks which couldn't have been a better choice for me. The classes move at a solid pace and I find myself really getting something out of class each week. One of the coolest things about taking classes there is the free shows for students and the people you meet. I have met so many of the performers now, people that I've seen on television hundreds of times, and they have all for the most part been the nicest people you could ever meet - and they're hysterical to watch on stage! You always think that when you meet your heroes (or at least people you respect) that they're going to turn out to be selfish, arrogant jerks, but these people couldn't be cooler. It's fantastic!
As if this wasn't enough, I've written a pilot for a sitcom and I'm hoping to get some people together to film it soon. I can't say what it's about, but I can say that I'm pleased with the way the script turned out and I've been given really good feedback from those who have read it. If/when it is finally filmed, you will definitely see it appear in the film section. (It shouldn't be too long before that happens - I hope)
Top ALL of this off with the unbelievable fact that I've been hired at Square Enix as a tester. I'm so excited! I've wanted to work for Square since I was probably nine years old and now the dream is finally coming true. They unfortunately don't have a project for me to work on right now, so I'm sitting tight until June or July, but I DO have the job. Thanks to all of you who wished me luck in this endeavor it really paid off!
That's all for now, I think. I don't want to run on forever. I should mention that Clyde's been updating airplanekittybasketball.com (the site has been completely redesigned!) and there should be a few new reviews in the coming days. I know he's been meaning to post his review of Juno for a while and he may even be dropping a couple of game reviews finally. Check it out!
Keywords: Danny's Right, Videogames, Upright Citizens Brigade, UCB, Improv, Square Enix, airplanekittybasketball.com, and akb.- Shadow "Life's a game! I DRINK IT UP!" 64
Sunday, Feb. 3rd, 2008 -- Those Aren't Muskets Goes Huge - Meanwhile You Still Suck.
Hey everyone!
Remember way back in September(!!!) when I told you about that awesome online Sketch Comedy Group "Those Aren't Muskets"? Remember how I told you they were "a young group" who was "just starting", but you should watch their shit?
Well what do you know?
It turns out that recently TAM has hit it huge! It started just a couple weeks ago when Cracked.com featured one of their videos ("Internet Party") on their website. The video hit it big with the YouTube community and quickly climbed to the coveted #1 spot! The video which currently boasts the most hits for any TAM-made video (over 500,000) can be seen here or at The Official Those Aren't Muskets website.
If you missed "Internet Party" you may have caught another of their popular videos on G4. Recently G4 (the prime gamer/technology-oriented network) did a story on "Clitter!" (a faux commercial created by TAM) during their news program. If you don't have G4 or didn't catch the report, you can check it out here.
The fact of the matter is that these guys are only going to get bigger. The videos just keep getting better, the comedy tighter, and the vaginas brighter. So get on board, TAM is waiting for you! Subscribe and get constant updates!
And if that's not enough, you can still friend them on MySpace or become one of their facebook fans!
Keywords: Those Arent Muskets, Sketch Comedy, Video, YouTube, Awesome, and Funny.- Shadow "WATCH ALREADY!" 64
Thursday, Jan. 31st, 2008 -- Still Alive
Hello! Yes it's true. I'm still alive. After a small hiatus, I'm back and trying to be more on point as usual. Lately, I've been trying to get work in the acting world and with the WGA strike seemingly coming to a close, that may just happen yet.
I would also like to mention that I've signed up for classes at the Upright Citizen's Brigade theater in LA. I'll definitely be posting about my work there as time goes by and keep an eye out for my final class. Hopefully some of you can come check it out.
In other news I've been writing a lot more, and I've been getting some good feedback so hopefully I'll have some stuff for you to read soon.
When I haven't been writing I've been enjoying the new season of The Wire and playing The Orange Box on my PS3. Portal is amazing and if you haven't played it yet, you should. If you have played it, here's a little treat for you. It's not cake, but it just might do for now.
Okay! I'm off to create some more stimulating content! Oh, and if you haven't seen it already, there's an article I wrote about Guitar Hero 3, Rock Band, and this whole Harmonix/Activision fiasco in the thoughts section! Bye!
Keywords: Shadow64.net, and Portal.- Shadow "So Delicious and Moist" 64