Wes Anderson's 9th film. His 8th collaboration with Bill Murray. The second stop-motion animation film he's directed. The first time I've seen a dog cry tears like a person.
Illustration
The Office
Finally, I got around to seeing The (US) Office. The trick, I guess, was finding the time for all 9 seasons. Like a great sitcom, it applies the comic-strip "variations on a theme" to perfection. Doesn't hurt that Steve Carrell is reliably goofy.
A Pattern Language
Ever wonder how to build a city? Or a town? A Pattern Language written by Christopher Alexander and Murray Silverstein shows a way. Apparently this tome also influenced early computer programing. I found the book a useful guide to arranging an efficient office space.
Techovation Award
The above, from the 2017 archives, is a fun example of how illustration and comics can be utilized in a promotional campaign. Abe Studios needed a single graphic to explain the complex process of applying for the Techovation Awards. The awards were so successful, they continued to use the art again this year.
Autoptic Applications Are Open!
Minneapolis’s Premier Comic and Independent Print Festival
Sunday, August 19th, 2018
11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The Shape Of Water
The big winner at the academy awards this year was Guillermo del Toro's The Shape Of Water. While I'm not normally a big fan of storybook horror, it's easy to enjoy this film. The best description I've heard of the of the plot describes it as an "R rated Splash, with a woman in the Tom Hanks roll."
It's also one of the few movies I can think of with an illustrator as the main character. I'm a sucker for a B-plot about 1960's practical illustration techniques.
I, Tonya
I was 13 years old when Tonya Harding made figure skating dangerous.
Read MoreSocial Media House
The above is an illustration I created for Foote-Print Marketing. It's used to help clients think of their social media strategy as an integrated whole.
Read MoreBrigsby Bear
Brigsby Bear (2017) is written and directed by Dave Mcary, who spent the last six years as a writer for Saturday Night Live.
What can I say about the plot of this movie? Not much without revealing some of the more surprising and dark plot twists. Ostensibly, it's about a man with a seemingly unhealthy obsession with a children's TV show. It reminded me of a mix between Death to Smoochy and Be Kind Rewind.
Also, you get to see Mark Hamill utilize his voice acting chops.
Absolutely on Music
"Absolutely on Music: Conversations with Seiji Ozawa." by Haruki Murakami is a transcription of conversations Murakami had with Ozawa while the Japanese conductor recovered from an illness.
Having read, and enjoyed previous Murakami novels, I was curious how he would handle non-fiction. I had no idea reading about classical music would be so interesting. As a bonus, I came across an uncorrected proof of the book, and would punch the air each time I caught a typo.
I like it when novels recommend you read another novel. Listening to these two men dissect the finer qualities of classical music inspired me to listen to Gustav Mahler's 5th symphony. Parts of it sounded like Star Wars.
Also, there is a section in the book where Murakami describes his extended visit to the music camp that Ozawa started. It's equal parts: school for up and coming musicians / second chance for accomplished amateurs.
In both cases, all involved were honored to have the unique privileged to perform with a symphony.
Buy the real, corrected copy at Powell's.