Happy New Year 2011

Top Ten TV Show Hosts of 2010

Yesterday I had the pleasure to work with Fast Top Ten, a new social networking website that allows you to create Top Ten Lists. All you have to do is think about 10 good candidates for your favorite subject! Of course, I experienced the thrill to create a list under one of my favorite subjects: Entertainment! My nominees for Top Ten TV Show Hosts of 2010 are: Ellen Degeneres, Wendy Williams, George Lopez, Mario Lopez,  Giuliana Rancic, Conan O'Brien, Chelsea Handler, Ryan Seacrest, Oprah Winfrey, and Joy Behar. Rate them today!

Just 4 more days until Oprah's "Own" launches!

There's no question Oprah Winfrey is one of the most powerful  and admired women in this world. Her never ending efforts, generosity, and outstanding dedication, have taken Oprah to where she is at today: on every single corner of this world. And now, the world is eagerly and anxiously anticipating Own, the new Oprah Winfrey network that launches on January 1st, 2011. In my opinion, this date was perfectly picked for many  inspiring reasons. To me, Oprah is a woman that symbolizes hope, encouragement, a fresh beginning to something fruitful, and ever lasting love. She has proven to the world that it is possible to dream and to achieve. She has taught a lot of us that your dreams can transition into facts when you work hard for them. During a recent interview with Barbara Walters, Oprah discusses with Barbara several delicate topics. However, the moment I turned my tv's volume up was when Barbara introduced the subject of "having children". In summary, Oprah added that she wouldn't have done everything that she has accomplished in her life if she had any children during those years of her career development For some people, this might be sound odd. Nevertheless, to my understanding, some professionals are just very passionate and dedicated at what they do, and they just want to put their focus on their careers. Every person has their own way of being. Oprah is a very independent woman (evidently) and she just really wants to be her and help others, as we already know. She has definitely changed the world in numerous ways and we're all looking forward to see much more of what she does!

Merry Christmas

Exclusive Interview with Hal Hefner



Adria, a main character of Gates.

Hal Hefner, the writer and illustrator of Gates (a digital comic launching in January 1st, 2011 through Heavy Metal Magazine), reveals to us what happened exactly during his childhood that drove him to forever record his passion and talent into his wonderful pieces of work. He was only three years old when he began recreating on paper scenarios of  his favorite characters in action. His naturally flowing relationship with writing and art has kept Hal Hefner reflecting an  appealing and professionally elevating image throughout these years. After learning about his new project, a great curiosity drove me to ask him what  exactly took him to be able to handle all by himself this production. 

Hal took his passion with him from NY to LA.

1. You have a very impressive and solid educational background in Fine Art, Illustration, and Graphic design. However, I'm still unsure of how this passion grew into you. How did you become so attached to drawing and painting while being so young and what eventually drove you into becoming particularly a comic artist?

 HH: In all honesty I can only remember being an artist. It's all I've ever known and it definitely started to blossom when I was a child. I had great support from my family--even though they admittedly had no artistic talent or understanding of what art was. When I was three I made my first comic in blue marker on yellow lined paper—retelling the story of King Kong. Pretty soon I was writing and drawing my own Star Wars stories and this is where it all started.

When I was eight I discovered G.I.Joe and it was here that I really became obsessed with comics. Shortly thereafter I had a real artistic moment of "awareness" in 1984--when Spider-Man got his black costume. For me this was the turning point in which I became serious about learning to draw the human figure. I was so fascinated by this black costume because it was new and it had an element of rebellion to it I was beginning to identify with.

As a teen in the 90’s I became a little disillusioned and bored with comics, particularly Marvel & DC. For a few years, I abandoned comics and focused on fine art (painting/drawing), school and expanding my mind with authors like George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, HG Wells and more. In 1993 I stumbled into the French animated film Fantastic Planet and it blew my mind. Stylistically it reminded me of a comic book that utilized Terry Gilliam-like animation that had a Pink Floyd-meets-disco soundtrack. This was a defining moment, because after I saw Fantastic Planet, I knew that I was destined to tell stories with my art, some way somehow.

Then a few college professors, whom taught me at RIT in Rochester NY, took notice of my passion for the Sci-Fi genre and encouraged me to push the storytelling in my work. My creativity began to blossom subsequently as I went on a rampage of learning, drawing, painting, reading and writing. It was also at RIT during my senior year that I met indie comic legend Mat Nastos. He had just finished working on a long run of the comic Elfquest and he was a judge in an art contest I entered at a Role Playing Game convention. I took first place in the contest and afterward we talked for a bit and began a friendship that has lasted until this day. Mat has taught me a lot about making comics and he encouraged me to make Gates a comic series—and I did!

I've always been an artist drawing comics and sci-fi related themes and with Gates I'm now coming full circle.

2. Tons of people have been eagerly anticipating Gates, which will launch on January 1st, 2011. How long did it take you to complete this project and how much effort and commitment did it imply since you worked on it all by yourself?

 I originally came up with the rough idea for the story shortly after my father passed away in the late 90’s. It has been about a twelve year commitment to Gates in order for it to actually take shape. Originally I had planned to make it a hybrid comic book / role playing game book, then it evolved into a script, then I planned to make it into something like Doug Chiang's movie book Robota, but it eventually developed back into a comic again.  I had been fighting it for a while but making a comic out of the story seemed to be the most organic thing due to my design, illustration background and my passion and love for comics.

The commitment it took to bring Gates to fruition has been tough at times, but mostly extremely rewarding. The most time consuming aspect is creating the comic book itself. Every panel is painted so it takes some time to complete. I've been responsible for 100% of the production on the comic, including the writing, art, layout and lettering. I've been fortunate enough to have some great people pitch in and help out with things like marketing, video production, website production and more. Since there is a soundtrack, finding new musical talent has been a challenge as well, but also very fun. There are lots of moving parts to Gates.

Since this is an ongoing series and essentially Heavy Metal's newest franchise, the project is far from complete, rather evolving with each issue.  There is no end in sight--which is a good thing. With Gates, I've created a rich world filled with potential and loaded with unlimited options, back story and future stories to be told. I'm looking forward to a nice, long run for this comic franchise in various transmedia forms.

An image of Soloman capturing Adria.

3. What was your main inspiration in creating both characters Gates and Soloman?

Gates is a character clearly inspired by the frustration people have with society, religion, politics and the philosophy of mankind in general. It’s becoming increasingly clear that there is a dark cloud of egotism, terrorism, socialism, communism, bigotry, distorted nationalism and fear that hangs over our heads as human beings right now. Throughout human history there has been a consistent use of fear, religion and hate mongering used to generate control over the weak. Gates was born from this observation.

I imagined what if the last remnants of society were “maintained” by a corrupt government that is philosophically based in science as a religious tool to control people but create them as well? Imagine a world where there was no sexual intercourse, no love for another human, no free thinking, just love for your government—A government that provides for your every need in exchange for your blood, sweat, tears—and your soul.

From this dystopian nightmare I created a hero that was different from all the other people because he was not created from a test tube. He was born naturally. He was created to fight the system as a symbol of evolutionary perseverance and a reminder that even in the bleakest of times, hope always exists.

Soloman reflects issues facing our society.

Soloman on the other hand symbolizes the ultimate marriage of science and technology gone incredibly wrong. Without giving away too much, Soloman is also a reflection of the direction of technology in modern times. It seems that as a society we are becoming more self-centered in a world of our own technology. Smart phones have particularly played a huge part in this transformation. The next time you go into a restaurant, pay attention to the people sitting next to you not talking to each other while eating, yet texting on their smart phones. Look at how many people are in their own little technological world the next time you go to an airport and have to be subjected to some annoying girl’s loud conversation with her friend, while she plays with her iPad or portable video game system. Technology seems to be making us care less about the people and things around us by creating a world of distraction that keeps us from paying attention to the real issues facing our society.

In creating this character of Soloman I struggled mightily to create the ultimate villain, that from a certain point of view, actually was not a villain. Soloman is the sum of all of humanity’s carelessness with science and technology and the product of our culture’s laziness and constant search for an “easy way to do things”.

 4.This is something that captured my attention: Is there any particular reason or purpose that you can reveal to us as to why Soloman uses an organic plant based technology to exterminate mankind in this story?

Philosophically, the fact that Soloman is the sum of all of humanity’s carelessness with science and technology and the product of our culture’s laziness is really the motivating factor for this. I will eventually reveal the details to this question in the comic story so I’m not spilling the beans on how and why it happens.

An image of a Learnsleep lesson .

 5. According to the descriptions I've read, I'm assuming that "learnsleep" is a propaganda created by the government to control the society and is exactly the process that we see reflected on the trailer of Gates. Can you tell us more about the type of information (and its intensity) that was being integrated in the minds of the members of the society during that process?

I have been working in the advertising industry for many years and it fascinates me what an impact a commercial, jingle or catch phrase can be. Learnsleep is an example of the most penetrating and diabolical form of advertising ever created by mankind. Somewhere between sleep and consciousness a child listens as the propaganda of the ConGenement conditions him/her to become a productive and upstanding member of society. 

The messages projected in a Learnsleep lesson educate the child in various forms of science, mathematics, and other essential tools needed for the child to develop into a particular social class. Children born of higher intelligence and higher class are genetically predetermined to receive more information.  The lessons also educate the children on life, the dangers of disobeying the ConGenement and the perils of the “mythical” outside world.

Kevin Eastman - Credits: ugo.com

6.You will be pretty much leaving a footprint in the history of Heavy Metal Magazine (owned by Kevin Eastman) as you will be their first digital comic creator. How do you personally feel about achieving this milestone and how do you think it will impact your career?

It’s an honor to be working with Kevin Eastman and Heavy Metal Magazine. He is an amazing person creatively and personally.  As a long time fan of the magazine and the movie, I can honestly say this is a dream come true. Heavy Metal Magazine forged a path for many of us to be what we are today by pushing the boundaries of creativity, story and social acceptance. My favorite thing about Heavy Metal has always been the fact that it is raw, ballsy and loud and never apologizes for being real.

Gates is really just the beginning of Heavy Metal’s online presence. I am honored and very humbled by being the first comic to break the digital barrier. But without such greats as Richard Corbin, Moebius and more before me, I could not do what I’m doing today.

As for how it will impact my career, that’s something I’ll leave to the universe to decide. I’m very proud of Gates but there is a lot of work to be done and lots of story left to tell.  My long term goals are to see Gates thrive into a franchise full of transmedia options including animation, live action, video comics and more. I do however know one thing, that the day I finally hold an action figure of Soloman in my hand will be one glorious feeling.

 

Host the 83rd Academy Awards

Anne Hathaway

On November 29, 2010, it was announced that Anne Hathaway
and James Franco would host the 83rd Academy Awards.

Also, Together with actor Denzel Washington, Anne Hathaway hosted the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway on December 11, 2010.

Host the 83rd Academy Awards

Anne Hathaway

On November 29, 2010, it was announced that Anne Hathaway
and James Franco would host the 83rd Academy Awards.

Also, Together with actor Denzel Washington, Anne Hathaway hosted the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway on December 11, 2010.

Thank you Scott S. Kramer and George Lopez from Lopez Tonight!

Scott S. Kramer, the new media producer of the show of George Lopez: Lopez Tonight, made an approach to me yesterday regarding a funny tweet that I sent to George. However, he was looking for someone from LA. I just wanted to express my sincere appreciation and gratefulness to him! Thank you Scott! For the benefit of everyone, I have now labeled appropiately my Twitter bio and bookings form with my  location details.

'Starting Up' USA Trek

Rocío Dúrcal y Manolo Gracía - Luz de luna ( Una estrella en el cielo )

Exclusive Interview with Felix Ryan

Felix Ryan is not the ordinary actor you expect to see on every glimpse that you catch of him when in action. His passion for the performing arts such as dancing and acting has opened to him the doors to a world of endless opportunities that he has not taken for granted. His eternal attachment to acting is now reflected on his character: Spike in the upcoming new season of The Power Rangers Samurai, which will premiere on 2011.

Felix in the music video: Bubble Gum, by The Stunners

1.How young were you when you began acting? Also, Considering that you have successfully gone this far, did you understand back then how competitive this field really is?

Well I technically started acting when I was born because I feel that life is an act haha... I started to pursue acting and was brought into the entertainment industry when I was about 17 years young. I definitely was and still am aware of the competition in this industry. I started off doing a lot of extra work to get a better knowledge of how everything works, such as: camera work, communication, taking directions, and on lots of other important information needed before I could start auditioning for leading/supporting roles. One thing I learned is that every little aspect counts;like a cook book. You must take directions just like you do with a recipe. One must have potential, dedication, determination, and be committed/obligated in their role/work.

2.Can you tell us more about your role as "Spike" in The Power Rangers Samurai (2011)? 

 I can definitely relate to the character I play on Power Rangers. He has a very energetic, spontaneous, crazy personality; but also has a romantic and soft side, like myself. I am blessed to be in the position to be playing this character and to be part of this phenomenal franchise. From watching it as a little kid to performing for other kids is truly magical to me.

3. What inspired you to become such a big supporter of charity organizations?

I am a person who enjoys helping others. If one gives one will receive. I grew up around children and performing for many of them. One of my favorite charity organization is Save The Children. When I needed help I was fortunate enough to have that miraculous support. I do as much as I can to help others around me that need help.

4. I'm quite impressed with your performance on "The Dancing Magician". Did you work in collaboration with a choreographer to create your dancing pieces? Despite you are an actor, how impacting to you was to shoot the scene where you discover a young man who is about to commit a horrible act of terror? 
Hahahaha well thank you for finding me impressive haha... I put a whole lot of time into everything I did and continue to do. When I dance I like to feel the music, forget about everything else, and just give it my all. So in other words not a big fan of choreography, I like freestyle and just living through the music. As the years go by, more and more acts or terrorism are occurring within young men/women. There will always be terrorism, it's just extremely heartbreaking when young children, men, & women are involved. I have lost many young friends for unnecessary reasons. Just the thought has an enormous impact on me.

5. How was your experience as a dancer for Katy Perry's music video Hot N' Cold? How much time and practice did you and the rest of the dancing crew had to put into it? 

That music video was one of the first music videos I have worked on. It was an awesome experience working with Katy Perry. She has a great, fun personality. The crew had a few days of rehearsals with long hours. It was an awesome set to be on, especially with such an amazing director.

Felix Ryan on "Marlon the Nerd"

6. How do you visualize yourself in the future? Would you like to focus more into acting, or would you stil like like to execute both dancing and acting careers simultaneously? 

I definitely am going towards acting. I incorporate both dancing and magic into my acting when I can. When I get asked "Are you a dancer/magician?", my answer is always no... I am an actor who is fortunate enough to have those talents.

7. How does it feel to have your dream come true? 

My answer to that is that I have been living the dream way before I started pursuing my career as an actor. There should only be ONE "the dream" for everyone.. and that is to live happily with your family. That is the only dream I have, all other things are just goals of mine that I will work as hard as I can to pursue.