This week's Hollywood Reporter is all about Matt Groening.
And why not?
The Simpsons is hitting it's 500th episode.
And he's getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Of course, EVERYONE wants to congratulate him, including the business manager we share. So they asked if I would come up with a full page ad to run in the magazine. And this is what I done:
Obviously it looks WAY cooler in the magazine, so you should buy 12 copies.
And I STILL catch you people sharpening your own pencils.
I TOLD YOU it should be left to the professionals over HERE.
But you don't listen. You just keep shoving your helpless pencils into those gear-grinding lead-lacerating wood-wrenching menaces instead of letting a trained artisan hand-sharpen them.
Maybe you just need convincing. Maybe you should watch how a craftsman does it. Someone who cares. Someone like David Rees.
A true master of his craft. Mr. Rees has taken time out of his busy sharpening schedule to hold a workshop in Brooklyn TONIGHT!
TONIGHT, DARN YOU!!!
Go there.
And LEARN.
(and for FREE, no less!)
Please.
7:30 Monday, Feb. 13 Pete’s Candy Store 709 Lorimer St. Brooklyn NYC (L train to Lorimer) (G to Metropolitan)
More info HERE! And thanks to the Gothamist for linking to my original recommendation.
So where can a brothuh go to find art that's JUST THE RIGHT SIZE and JUST THE RIGHT PRICE?
I'm glad you asked. Because Phineas and Ferb co-creator/executive producer/writer/voice actor/singer/dancer/sous chef Jeff "Swampy" Marsh has answered your prayers.
This Sunday and this Sunday ONLY, he and his wife will be hosting the fourth annual
ITTY BITTY
ART SHOW!
Held at the prestigious Lois Lambert Gallery of Functional Art in Santa Monica, CA, they'll be showing almost FOUR HUNDRED post card-sized works of original art by hundreds of artists.
And each piece of art will cost...
Not $1000
Not $500
But $40 US Dollars.
You heard me.
$40
I know it seems impossible. But it's true.
Now here's the fun part. Each work of art is unsigned and anonymous. You won't know who made it until you buy it and flip the card over.
For instance, was this actually drawn by Conan O'Brian?
Or was it drawn by a fan? Why dontcha buy it and find out? It's only $40!
And how about this one:
This COULDN'T have been drawn by sooper famous underground comic artist and Phineas and Ferb story artist Kaz.
Or could it?
$40 will provide the answer.
And who could have possibly made these?
There's something for EVERYONE at this show. Sketches Paintings Photography Sculpture Multi-media And MORE!
Plus, it all benefits the arts programs at PS 1 in Santa Monica.
For more information and a sneaky peek at all the pieces for sale so far, check HERE
And if you're in the Southern California area GET THERE!
Sunday, February 12, 2012 Lois Lambert Gallery of Functional Art Bergamot Station 2525 Michigan Avenue E3 Santa Monica, CA 90404
Time to dress up all fancy-like and join the LA animation community for the annual ASIFA-Hollywood Annie Awards!
And how cool is it that FISH HOOK got nominated?!
THIS cool:
Not sure if you saw our season one finale, FISH SCHOOL MUSICAL, but to be perfectly honest, it DESERVES to be nominated.
Because it's, you know, AWESOME and stuff.
So off to the show we went!
I've mentioned the differences between the ASIFA-EAST Animation Festival Awards and ASIFA-Hollywood's Annie Awards over HERE, but it still blows me away how different they are.
While ASIFA-EAST's is a much more casual affair, ASIFA Hollywood's is a black tie affair with much more pomp, circumstance and celebrity guests. Case in point, this year's host was comedian Patton Oswalt:
He was, to put in bluntly, simply brilliant.
Funny, full of personality, and razor quick. If there was an opportunity for a joke, Mr. Oswalt grabbed it and NAILED it.
Conversely, FISH HOOKS did NOT grab the Annie for Best Writing in a Television Production. It went to some new show called The Simpsons.
Regardless, I had a great time hanging out at the pre and post-show parties, eating, drinking root beers, and catching up with friends old and new.
And the goodie bag wasn't bad either since it came with this:
Yes, maam. That's a hardcover book documenting every cover of Animation Magazine ever printed. Of course, I immediately went looking for this one:
NICE!
Anyway... This was only my second time to the Annie's and it was great fun. The awards ceremony, like most award's ceremonies. is a bit looooooooooong, but it's worth it to get to hobnob with so many talented people in one place. So I'll definitely be going back next year.