Happy New Year 2008!

To all three of you who read this blog - Happy New Year!


My much better half, Julienne, and moi.

2007 was quite a treat in Burning City's life:
- San Diego Comic-Con
- The Devil's Candy Store
- Los Angeles Movie Studio Trip
- My father's 90th birthday
- My 50th birthday (and Sputnik!)
- Many family visits!!!
- My sister's wedding!
- Sue's wedding!
- WildClaw Theatre company
- Many, many great new friends
- My new Electra bike
- Working out with a freakin' trainer
- Regular pickup basketball games in the park with the Comix Revolution guys
- The official start of The First Fear comic book production
- And much more... all worthwhile.

2008 should be quite the rollercoaster. I'm starting it off with a bang at the Conceptart.org Revelations Symposium in Seattle this week. And to help start your year off right, I'm going to remind you of the one-day Comicraft Font sale that only happens on January 1.

Blade Runner

Wow. I have just watched all the DVD extras on the super-duper 5 DVD collector's edition of Blade Runner and I am blown away. It took a couple of nights to do it, but it was worth it. Blade Runner was pivotal in my life as an artist, a movie fanatic, a science fiction fiend, amateur futurist, and cultural outsider. You either loved Blade Runner or you didn't. I did.

I think I'm going to watch it all again.

Samira Said

Thank You For Your Support

WildClaw Theatre: Charley Sherman; Paul Foster; Catie Foster; Anne Adams; Aly Greaves; Brian Amidei; Charlie Athanas; and Aaron Christensen (kneeling)

The shot above was taken at 4AM immediately after our blowout Wicked Winter Carnival Benefit. A tired, but hardworking and grateful crew.

Thank you to everyone who came and had fun, gave us money, performed or just said, "Go kick some horror ass, WildClaw." I would like to thank some of them here. Please support them, too. You won't be disappointed.

The Friends of Arthur Machen Society
We appreciate the tremendous support and encouragement we have gotten from the Arthur Machen Society for this adaptation of The Great God Pan and for providing materials on Arthur Machen for the benefit.

The Bands:
Ingenious Whittler featuring Jeff Christian
The Pat Smillie Band
The Jujubes
The Hormones (Ramones Tribute)

The Performers:
James Anthony Zoccoli
Steve Pickering of Shanghai Low Theatricals
Andy Lawfer, Esteban Cruz, and the Game Show Show Girls of the Game Show Show

The Venue:
Strawdog Theatre of Chicago

The Food:
Chalkboard (Mac and Cheese with smoked gouda...mmm...)
Cy's Steak and Chop House

Silent Auction Donors:
Clive Barker
Kevin Anderson
Dave Dorman
Stuart Gordon
Comix Revolution
Maia Rosenfeld Photography
Improv Olympic, otherwise known as IO

Raffle Prize Donors:
Cinequest
Comix Revolution
Sourcebooks

Publicity:
Denise Dorman of WriteBrain Media

And to the beautiful Maria Bortell and our friends who helped us all night long!!!

For those unable to attend who would like to make a donation, a check or money order can be made out to WildClaw Theatre, 312 N. May #3L, Chicago, Il 60607, or send via PayPal at http://www.wildclawtheatre.com.

Pat Smillie Band - Free Chicago Blues

A big thank you to all of the entertainment at WildClaw's Wicked Winter Carnival this past Saturday night (and Sunday morning, we stopped at 3AM!)

The Pat Smillie Band did a kickass acoustic blues set that rocked the house. Pat is going to be with same lineup in Wrigleyville this Friday night for FREE. Check them out for a great blues night:

PAT SMILLIE BAND (Acoustic set)
Friday (12/14) - 10pm
BRODY'S ON CLARK - 3369 N Clark - corner of Clark & Roscoe

FREE ADMISSION

Sketch Porn

Gizmodo has a review - "Simply Amazing"