I recently acquired the entire catalogue of The Raccoons. Personally, it’s my favourite cartoon every created. I’ve loved it since I was a kid, and I love it now. All 5 seasons, and all the specials. So a lot of my time has been spent viewing this 80′s gem. Talking of 80′s gems, Back to the Future was re-released at the cinema, and Caroline had never seen it (yes, I understand the travesty in that statement), so we experienced the classic “When this baby hits 88mph, you’re gonna see some serious shit!”, in full 35mm print glory.

Aside from getting everything in place for RedScar projects, working tirelessly in the entertainment biz, storyboarding freelance, and trying to stop myself from entering a cryogenic state (this house is freezing during these winter times – single glazing FTW), there’s not much else to tell. I have started painting again, a long lost love of mine. I’ll try and keep this more regular now, because I know the millions (2 or 3) of you in cyberspace following me can’t wait ’til next time.

Ciao for now,
JR

23rd May, 2010, NEC Birmingham. This is where the first public screening of Andy Gibney: Straight Talking Guy’ will be shown, at The Martial Arts Show (www.themartialartsshow.com). Every year martial arts practitioners, enthusiasts, masters, and an array of guests and exhibitions conjoin at the NEC for a martial arts extravanganza. Andy has a 40 minute slot with which we have to premiere the film. Suffice to say, I am full of excite. NEC FTW.

The event is on FaceBook – click here.

In other news, I…oh, wait. Actually, I have no other news. I’m still working, still filming, and still managing to stay alive. Ah, I did lose my passport actually, which really pissed me off. New one on it’s way for a wallet-lightening £87.

Read the RedScar blog instead. Much more interesting to be fair. Take care now, bye bye then.

JR

The 3rd of March saw the first of many film shoots for RedScar’s first promotional-docu ‘Andy Gibney: Much More Than A Motivational Speaker’. We shot at the Best Western Hotel in Corby, with Martin on Steadicam, Russ on Crane, Dan on handheld, and me on Boom Mic. The shoot went extremely well until 20 minutes in when I thought my arms were going to literally rip at the seams. Anyone who has held a microphone on a fully extended boom pole before, will know that 15-20 minutes is more than enough. So I dropped it to a more manageable level, and continued sweating like a dyslexic on Countdown. 10th March was another date we shot Andy (with a Canon XH1 – that’s a camera, not a gun).

On the 11th I saw ‘Alice in Wonderland’ in 3D. My friends and I agreed that, although it was good, and the performances were great – the plot kind of ambled along; there was no definite story arc. Yeah, the climax was she had to accept her fate to destroy the dragon, but up until that point, Alice aimlessly skulked around not doing much. On a visual note, in 3D, it was fantastic. Rich in colour and detail, Burtons idea of Wonderland is perhaps the most extravagant and outrageous you could imagine. Although if it was reality, and a big blue Cheshire cat appeared in front of me that had a smile from his ears to his arsehole, I would run for my life.

My Mum came over from Leicester on the Friday before Mother’s Day. Being the ever loving and appreciative son, I decided I would save my money this year, and buy her something awesome next year. Honest. So to tide her over until then, I bought a 12p fake flower from Wilkinsons as a good will gesture. She loved it of course, and I cannot wait to see her reaction next year when she sees what I have bought her (….). I joke, I am not that much of a bastard, I have bought her a belated gift. For last year.

The following week saw more filming. This time it was shot at Andy’s martial arts club, shooting the students sweating their sins on each other, punchbags, focus mitts, and some weaponry and shoot-fighting thrown in. This will be the more crunchy side of the promo-docu, showcasing more of where Andy came from, to get to where he is today. Andy’s a funny bloke. He is very sharp and quick witted, and has no qualms about telling you what he thinks about something. His style of speaking at events is considered by many to be off the wall and controversial – but this is why I believe he is getting hired more and more – he speaks what other people only think. One or two more shoots left and Dan and I will have around 8 hours of footage to be sifting through when we start editing.

On other film related things – the US film ‘The Summoning’ is moving along really well. I’ve been putting together a new showreel, and editing all of my storyboards for the production into more presentable artworks. I’m also midway through storyboarding short film ‘Spring Rolls’ for a production company in London. It feels brilliant to be back in the creative mould again, writing, drawing, and editing. Hopefully soon, I can add directing to that list when Dan and I begin shooting the short films we have penned under RedScar, this Summer.

This week I caught up with Eddie Izzard Marathon Man on BBC iPlayer. And jeez, what a bloke. If you haven’t seen it, I urge you to go to iPlayer now and watch all 3 episodes. For Sport Relief, Izzard ran 44 marathons in as many days. What a fucking achievement, for a bloke who has barely run in his entire 47 years of existence, and who had only 6 weeks of training. I find it inspiring that someone who has had to endure snide remarks over the years for being a transvestite, now finds it within himself to run 26.2 miles a day, with1 day rest out of 7, for 44 days, for charity. An outstanding achievement and it certainly makes me think of what I do to push myself, and in comparison, at the moment, nowhere near that level. Perhaps a change is in order…

So, as well as working my regular job, this has been my last few weeks. Massively interesting of course. The best thing though, and I’m sure you’ll agree, is the fact we now have the PS3 connected to the internet, so I can now whip some little gobshite in China on Guitar Hero. BING.

‘Til next time…

So, I get the bread. I get the peanut butter. And the jelly, I mean jam. Blackcurrant jam. And off to work I go. Masses amounts of PB and a luxurious spread of J. I feel the video below represents my feelings towards this new found phenomenon rather well.

Since eating the first PBJ sandwich I have not partaken in any further nutty/fruity/bready activities. But – I absolutely will be for the rest of my life. Every day. For breakfast. And for lunch. For dinner. For supper, and a drip will feed me the liquidised remnants throughout my sleep. I shall dream but not of fluffy rabbits and all things wise and wonderful, but of nuts. And jam.

Fuck the workout routine – PBJ is here to stay.

1. Hold the bottom third of the egg with thumb, index, and middle finger – firm but gentle.

2. Bite the very top off the egg, leaving an entry hole approximately the size of a 1p coin.

3. Suck out whatever innards you can, before biting the right half of the egg off whole.

4. Chew.

5. Using your tongue, remove all traces of yolk leaving half a chocolate shell.

6. Place the remainder in your mouth and in approximately 6-7 chews, it will be gone.

This is my guide. Follow it, and you will have the most brilliantest eggsperience of your entire life.

First paid corporate job – check.
Promotional film complete – check.
Ace Ventura boxset – check.
Started playing guitar again – check.
Girlfriend – check.

“A girlfriend?!” I hear you shout. Yes, surprising as it is that someone could put up with my constant comedy and annoying habits, one brave girl has stepped up to the mark. But seriously, she is wonderful and I took her out to an Italian restaurant the Friday before V-Day, and it was the best Calzone I have ever sumptuously seduced. I thought about running off with it when Caroline wasn’t looking, but aptly decided against it. We then proceeded to spend the entire weekend on the sofa drinking alcohol; generally living life to the full. Oh, we did go out Saturday night in the respectable party town of Kettering and mashed up the dance floor, and then continued the sofaboozedvd trend. I think sofaboozedvding is one of my favourite sports of late.
I like her. And she likes me. Usually, this is a good sign.

So, a good start to a great week. Dan and I quoted our first corporate film gig for March; we got the job – so RedScar is onwards and upwards. The promotional film for www.AndyGibney.com was also finished this week. It feels great to be editing again and releasing those creative juices. The 2 minute film will be live on Andy’s site very soon. Another storyboard job in the pipeline too. In the words of DelBoy, this time next year we’ll be millionaires. In our case, perhaps not millionaires, but hundredaires would be nice.

Btw, Ace Ventura ftw.

In other news, I found out what ftw meant this week. Yay!

That is all.

So far, 2010 has probably the been the best start to a year I’ve had for a few years. Much has progressed with RedScar, and I feel a new lease of creative life, with writing, storyboarding, and the prospect of getting behind the camera again. If you follow the RedScar blog, you’ll have seen some developments on the corporate side as well which Dan and I are very excited about.

On the personal side, my training is going well. Some friends started training with me too which is awesome, and I’m training twice a week instead of once, with martial arts. I also do 2 days a week at home, so I’m counting on the way I eat to help me. Which, knowing me, I will fail at miserably. Someone needs to tell me that training and then eating loads of Malted Milks is not the way to go, as my brain fails at understanding this. Also, I am dating now! A few weeks in, and we are getting along really well. That is all I will say for now.

I hope come June I am at least halfway through my goal list I set myself in January.

JR

P.S. This is my YouTube video of the month.

I URGE you to watch thoroughly and if you do not laugh, then you must go to the doctors right away.