Sketch: Students' Mess

University and college students will be returning very soon to start a new school year. For some this will be their first time away from home.

The above I sketched just weeks after arriving here in Toronto to start film school. No, it's not my mess but my roommate's. No doubt my own personalized mess is safely behind my sketchbook.

A Forever Question: Dang!

“Since before your sun burned hot in space and before your race was born, I have awaited a question."

Sir. What if the wrong way is the right way?

Two Little Boys Liked One Big Monster

The combination of Godzilla and Toho film studios makes for a formidable tag team. The famous Japanese production complex is so synonymous with the rubber-made monster that it's hard to believe that it actually has produced non monster movies.

However, the purpose of this piece is to go for the studio's biggest star: Godzilla.

In the late summer of 1988 I became friends with a chap who had been living in the same building as me for four years. We hit it off right away once we decided to converse with one another. He, Richard, was in the midst of his physics master's degree program at the University of Toronto, and I, a recent film-school graduate, was working very occassionally as a designer on films and television commercials.

How tickled I was when he told me that he was a big fan of the Godzilla pictures.

A pot of tea, a bowl of unhealthy potato chips, two geeks in front of a VCR-powered television set: Godzilla; Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster; Godzilla vs. Mothra; King Kong vs. Godzilla; Destroy All Monsters; Godzilla, 1985; you get the picture.

Richard earned his PhD, and I stomped around in the film and television business.

A Forever Question: Destination Earth

“Since before your sun burned hot in space and before your race was born, I have awaited a question."

Sir. It's not of this Sol-3?

Back to School Gadgetry

Something I heard minutes ago: "Back to school gadgets."

Back to school gadgets? When I was in elementary school the only thing that might have qualified as a back to school gadget was a pencil case (there was a zipper that moved), or, even better, the compass inside it (I could adjust the instrument's spread).

Actually, there was, and still is, the combination padlock for the school locker. It was cool: after closing the lock you could open it again just by spinning the center spinny thingy in the right directions and in the right increments.

Some things stay the same. Even with great advancements in technology.


Next: My Texas Instruments T-1250 pocket electronic calculator. (Just $25.00 ― in 1975 currency.)

A Forever Question: Again?

“Since before your sun burned hot in space and before your race was born, I have awaited a question."

Sir. What's the best question one can ask without asking a question?

Flyer: Advanced Cinematography Workshop (Toronto)

On Thursday, August 4th, I wrote about an Advanced Cinematography Workshop to be held here in Toronto this coming weekend. Yesterday, course instructor Francois Aubry sent me the latest flyer....

Click to enlarge

Advanced Cinematography Workshop

Location:

The Redwood Theatre

1300 Gerrard Street East, Toronto, ON  M4L 1Y7

When:

August 20, 21

Where:

Saturday (studio space)

Sunday (main stage)

Time:

9am to 6pm

Other:

Lunch, coffee and snacks provided

Info: 416-844-5331

Coffee Break By Bloor Street United Church (Toronto)

Further to my posting from this morning: Bloor Street United Church (Toronto)

Bloor Street United Church (Toronto)

As atheistic as I am I love churches. Last week I walked by Toronto's Bloor Street United Church, as I do on many days of the week, and could not help but notice some industrial action. I snapped a few pictures. As I walked to the Bloor Street side of the church a blue-helmeted workman was standing behind the necessary barrier.

"Is this church being razed?", I asked with some incredulity even if I had seen notifications earlier stating that something bad might happen to this beautiful building.

The gent nodded with the kind of nod used to say "hi" more than to say "yes'". He approached me to make for a more comfortable conversation.

"Part of it is. Part of it will be preserved." He twisted a little to his left and pointed up at about a forty-five degree angle and added, "Those guys up there are pulling down some of the stones."

Somewhat ignorantly I asked what newfangled structure was going to take its place. The helpful worker answered, appearing to be somewhat embarrassed with the information he was about to impart, perhaps because he'd been asked many times the same question:

"A condo building."

Great, another junky-crappy crackerbox condo tower... just what Toronto needs even more of. No doubt the first occupants will quickly complain of poor workmanship ― something not seen in Bloor Street United Church.

Wikipedia entry on Bloor Street United Church.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloor_Street_United_Church

Jon Abbott on Irwin Allen's 1960s TV Programs

"Allen's Shows come from an age when science-fiction and fantasy TV shows were watched by everyone, not just an elite clique of enthusiasts."

While it may be an exaggeration to say "everyone" ― perhaps "anyone" would be a better word here ― the author is correct in that such television fare today has what I call a "boutique audience". (Look at the viewer numbers for any SF/fantasy TV show from the last two decades.)

Ten Things Cats Have Been Known to Say

"Humans? What about them?"

"Sounds like a complete waste of time."

"That's a big mouse!"

"Sleep replenishes the soul."

"Those curtains had to go."

"No! Don't clean up the garage. Bad idea!"

"Can openers? That's putting it politely."

"Even I don't like all cats."

"Why mice and rats? Human infants are too easy to catch."

"Ah, piss on it."

Those Darn: Katzen, Chats, Gatos, γάτες, Catti, Koty, коты, Cathod, Cats....

Subject: Those soft and furry things that you can't get mad at

While I grew up with both a cat and a dog as family pets, I much prefer the feline due to that type's lower maintenance requirements in addition to its rudimentary affection characteristics. (Notice I did not mention veterinary costs.)

Many years ago I came up with two little and hardly original bits to sum up my admiration for Felis silvestris catus.

* I do not trust any man who doesn't like cats.

* There cannot be a more blissful existence than that of the pet cat of a loving owner.

You were saying?....

A Forever Question: Shut up?

“Since before your sun burned hot in space and before your race was born, I have awaited a question."

Sir. What's the best question one can ask without asking a question?

2-Day Course: Advanced Cinematography Workshop

Francois Aubry, a friend, peer, and former coworker (at Film Opticals of Canada), will be teaching an "Advanced Cinematography Workshop". With Ernie Kestler, CSC, Francois will get into the practical application of the latest lighting and imaging tools when shooting 'film'. Digital imaging technology is wonderful, especially to those of us who've shot miles of 16mm and 35mm film emulsion and experienced the costs involved in utilizing those so-called "analogue" technologies. Anyone can make a film now, but knowing and understanding the latest, and ever-evolving associated technologies, gives one an essential edge.

To be fair, I could take this workshop, but I have a prior commitment that weekend; plus, by not attending, I'll free up one of the eight available seats....

Advanced Cinematography Workshop

― Elements of Lighting in Cinema & TV ―

The New Lightstream Technology

Exclusive Ultra-violet Green-screen

Parallel Beam Technology

Projection Imaging

Gobos

The Art of Masking

Motivated & Interpretive Lighting

Script Interpretation & Blocking

Table-top Commercial Imaging

In Toronto

August 20, 21, 2022

with Francois Aubry

and Ernie Kestler, CSC

for more info:

francois.dop (at) gmail.com

A Forever Question: Scene 1, Take 327

“Since before your sun burned hot in space and before your race was born, I have awaited a question."

Sir. Is there a motion picture camera obscura?

Nichelle Nichols and Uhura

Yesterday afternoon I read the sad news of Nichelle Nichols' passing. She was a vital part of Star Trek's brilliant cast of characters. While she joked that Uhura's line too often was "hailing frequencies open", it must be said that Ms Nichols was allowed to shine from time to time. The chemistry onscreen among the series cast was obvious to even the casual viewer, and no matter who she paired up with, the magic was there.

Picturing: A Doll on the Curb

A curbside scene here in Toronto's "Annex" neighbourhood.

Sunday Fun: Major Spider

"There's a spider in your bathroom the size of a Buick."

George Lucas on Directing Star Wars (On Directing)

"When you're directing, you have to get up at four thirty [a.m.], have breakfast at five, leave the hotel at six, drive an hour to location, start shooting at eight, and finish shooting around six. Then you wrap, go to your office, and set up the next day's work. You get back to the hotel about eight or nine, hopefully get a bite to eat, then you go to your room and figure out your homework, how you're going to shoot the next day's scenes, and then you go to sleep. The next morning it starts all over again."

Yep, those of you who've directed know how intense it is. On one shoot I did, as I set up a shot, I had someone hold a piece of pizza in front of my face so I could eat something.

A Forever Question: Two Fangs Too

“Since before your sun burned hot in space and before your race was born, I have awaited a question."

Sir. Have you noticed that cats are just furry snakes, with a plumpy midsection sporting four walking sticks?