In today's Inquirer, I saw a picture of a bunch of guys in spandex. Turned out to be the cast of the movie LASTIKMAN starring Vic Sotto as the elastic hero, Donita Rose as his love interest, Michael V. as his faithful sidekick, and Jeffrey Quizon as the villain. Jackielou Blanco and Michelle Bayle are also in the film. The movie is part of the line-up of this year's Metro Manila Filmfest... which should be renamed the Metro Manila Fantasy Filmfest.

As a kid, I used to watch the original, b&w LASTIKMAN movie on IBC 13 during those lazy afternoons. Of course, back then, they didn't have any hi-tech morphing effects, so you'd usually see Lastikman run off-screen and it cuts to the object he transform in, like a tire or a table and it would have that distinct diamond-pattern that's on Lastikman's costume. There was only one scene where special-effects was used. When Lastikman was buried six feet under, he was able to escape by making his hand snake out of a little hole and up the ground. It then cuts to him already above ground. Wow! That was already spectacular back then.

Vic Sotto looked the part in his blue custume and shades. Jeffrey Quizon looked like DARK LASTIKMAN in his black and silver costume.

It would be great if they promoted this movie with a comic book.

In the same article, it mentioned that FPJ's movie was called ALAMAT. Which made me wonder if he was going to portray a struggling comic book artist who receives great powers after a meteor crashes into his studio. When I made a search online for more info about the movie, it turns out the movie's full title is “Ang Alamat ng Lawin” and also stars Sharmaine Arnaiz.

Other "fantasy" films are:

“Agimat” (Bong Revilla/Ara Mina/Alma Moreno/Gina Alajar)

“Spirit Warriors 2” (Streetboys/Danilo Barrios/Vhong Navarro/Jhong Hilario/Spencer Reyes/Christopher Cruz)

Ugh! I watched the first one. It tried to tell too many stories at the same time. I'm sure it will try to do the same thing again.

There's also “Lapu-Lapu” starring Lito Lapid. Yeah, yeah... I know this isn't a fantasy film, but a story like Lapu-lapu can be portrayed as some high fantasy story like Lord of the Rings. With our luck, it would end up looking like Beastmaster and we'll see Lito Lapid jumping through the air, throwing his swords at the enemy and having them magical return to him.

Ugh! We have to survive a week of all those films before we get to watch LOTR: TWO TOWERS. Well, hopefully I get to watch some advanced screening before Christmas.

4:34am
At the office.
And I can finally go home.
But I have to be back here around 11am.
It's been awhile since we've had to stay here so late.
Bummer!
Didn't get to meet up with the guys for WarCraft3.
Maybe later.
Crazy.
Worked on several print ads, a radio commercial, and got to help out in a new TV commercial.
I hate to admit it but I get a rush out of days like these, but it definitely leaves me drained.

I have to be back here later to work on that radio commercial. I tried to applie some of the stuff I read in CUTTING EDGE RADIO, but client just didn't go for it. And because of that, we have to re-record tomorrow... actually in a couple of hours. That's what I get for trying to be "cutting edge".


Babbling at 4am
Around two years ago... (or was it a year ago?)... I was blabbing about the possible viability of the comics-magazine format. But I didn't do anything about it except blab about it. Anyway, check out what's coming out February 2003.

1. VERTIGO X
2. Kitchen Sink Magazine


Marvel Girls
Want to see my wallpaper?
Wala lang... just wanted to tell you that.

Wish we had Comix Decode sessions here. Well, I guess we can easily set it up with the local guys, but it would be fun to get foreign artists to come over and talk about their work.

COMIXDECODE is a series of readings and discussions with contemporary cartoonists. Our goal is to enlighten fans, fellow artists, and new readers alike by offering a forum for in-depth discussion of the comix medium. Our main modus operandi is to get a few outstanding cartoonists together in a room, project their work on a screen while they read it, and then have an active and open discussion about it, with the cartoonists themselves acting as the panel of experts.

DOH!

Last night at the NU107 Rock Awards, Diether Ocampo went up on stage to present one of the awards.

The crowd started to yell, "Bakla! Bakla ka naman!"

Diether took the mic and yelled back, "Hoy! Jologs din ako!"

The crowd started to throw stuff on stage. Diether didn't get hit, but his co-presentor --some new talent from ABS-CBN-- got hit on the forehead with something.

The DJs of NU had to calm down the crowd before they could continue giving the award.

Diether soon left in his Audi TT. Jologs nga siya.


p.s. Click on Mark's blog for the discussion and definition of the word JOLOG.

IndieFilipino.com is slowly developing it's KOMIKS FORUM section. You can now visit and join the following discussion sections:

1. COLORING
2. ILLUSTRATION
3. STORY DEVELOPMENT
4. GENERAL (KOMIKS) DISCUSSION

Click. Discuss. Debate.

RADIO GA-GA

Feeling better now.
Felt crappy yesterday.

I presented two radio scripts to client yesterday and they disapproved the one that I liked. I spent most of Monday writing different scripts and that was the one I liked.

One of the many books that Brandie brought home from Singapore was CUTTING EDGE RADIO by Jim Aitchison. I started reading it during the weekend and I was trying to put to practice the things that I read. So, I wrote one radio commercial where I tried to “give the flavor” of what the product does for you, instead of flat-out saying it and give you the old hard-sell routine.

Well, client didn’t like it.

They liked the other one. I guess it’s okay. I don’t think it’s too much of a hard sell. I think.

To make matters worse, out print ad barely survived. What a great way to end your day—to see your work picked apart before your very eyes.

The problem with reading books like CUTTING EDGE is you see how good ad get produced elsewhere, they tell you how to come up with good ads yourself. But that’s just part of the process. You still have to sell it to client and convince them to go for your “good ad”.


COUCH POTATO-MODE-- SWITCH ON!
So, I went home earlier than usual.

Got to see part of SIX FEET UNDER. The weirdness-Vertigo-factor in this episode was set on “low”. Not as fun as the earlier episodes.

Then tuned in to Discovery Channel’s TOP 10 SUPERHEROES. Got a text from Jay and Rachel earlier in the evening, reminding me about the show. The list was supposedly based on people’s votes. Part of the list were Tintin, Akira, Spider-man, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Hulk, Wolverine, Witchblade, and on the number one spot was Batman. I just find it weird that Witchblade got in and a classic character like Capt. America didn’t. I just find it weird that Witchblade got in and heavily-merchandised character like Spawn didn’t.

Stan Lee was one of the many comic-book creators that were interviewed for the show. He was still a happy man during the time of his interview. (Or maybe he was already thinking of suing Marvel at that point.) The show mentioned that he must be the most influential writer of the 20th century considering his contributions to pop culture. It was also mentioned how his comic book creations have already sold billions of copies worldwide.

After that show, there was nothing good left to watch on TV.

So I went to sleep.

And now I’m back at work and have to revised that ad that was picked apart and produce that radio that I kinda like.

Work. Work.


NOTHING NU?
I hope we can go to the NU107 Rock Awards later.
Quark just texted that Aubrey Miles will be there.
I think she’s good enough reason to ditch work.

The “usual suspects” aren’t going. Actually, they didn’t even go last year. Well, they are right that there are no new bands to watch anymore. I guess it was most fun during the first couple of Rock Awards, when we were somehow part of the production.

I suddenly remember the first time we went to the Rock Awards at the Music Museum, we couldn’t even get in… because we didn’t have invites. So, we said that next year we’d find a way to get in, and we did because Alamat was asked to design the stage. The cast of Batch72 was actually incorporated in the design. If I remember correctly, back then, the “hot VJ” was Regine Tolentino and Mike Kasem. Ha! Where are they now?!

Or the more important question might be, where are we now?

Well, right now I should go back to work.

Work. Work.

FROM THE FWD EMAIL DEPT.


A group of Geography students studied the Seven Wonders of the World. At the end of that section, the students were asked to list what they think were considered to be the present Seven Wonders of the World. Though there was some disagreement, the following got the most votes:

1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. Taj Mahal
3. Grand Canyon
4. Panama Canal
5. Empire State Building
6. St. Peter's Basilica
7. China's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."

The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."

The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:

1. To touch
2. To taste
3. To see
4. To hear

She hesitated a little, and then

5. To feel
6. To laugh, and
7. To love

Then the room was so full of silence it was deafening!

It is far too easy for us to look at the exploits of man and refer to them as "wonders" while we overlook all God has done for us, regarding them as merely "ordinary."

May you be reminded today of those things which are truly wondrous!