Frank Reynoso

Are you being lied to...?

2011-08-25T10:27:00.001-07:00

"Truth-tellers, Pennebaker explains, tend to use more words, bigger words, more complex sentences, more exclusive words (except, but, without, as in the sentence "I think this but not that"), and more I-words (I, me, my, etc.). Liars, apparently, trade in simple, straightforward statements lacking in specificity because—Pennebaker posits—it's actually pretty difficult to make stuff up. " Read more on The Secret Life of Pronouns.

Phineas Gage or Sometimes I love doing research

2011-08-19T08:21:00.000-07:00

While doing research for a comic project, I came across the strange case of one Phineas Gage.

"On 13th September, 1848, 25-year-old Gage and his crew were working on the Rutland and Burlington Railroad near Cavendish in Vermont. Gage was preparing for an explosion by compacting a bore with explosive powder using a tamping iron. While he was doing this, a spark from the tamping iron ignited the powder, causing the iron to be propelled at high speed straight through Gage’s skull. It entered under the left cheek bone and exited through the top of the head, and was later recovered some 30 yards from the site of the accident."

Mr. Gage became an important and controversial figure in the field of neurology and particularly brain trauma. Read more.

Liefeld and Mignola

2011-08-14T08:01:00.000-07:00

Following a series of links, I came upon this post on Rob Liefeld's site.

"... way back in 1991 while I was writing and drawing X-Force and the schedule was getting heavy and after the initial 7 issues I needed a break. X-Men editor Bob Harras had some potential fill-in artists in mind, one of which was Mike Mignola whose work I loved. Bob wanted me to stay on as layout artist for the issue as well as provide a framing sequence to keep the flow of the book."

As usual, Mignola did a stellar job creating dense atmosphere and an evocative story. What I find most interesting about this is where Mignola departed from Liefeld's ideas: rather than going with dramatic angles that Liefeld suggested, Mignola used simple designs and focused more on composition, spot blacks and shadows. It's not often that we get a look at how two radically different artists approach the same material.

"Funny note, afterwards Mike told me he never, ever draws downshots, or anything from a bird’s eye view. You’ll see that he adjusts anytime I call for a downshot."

I highly recommend checking out the other pages Liefeld posted.

Lonely Night, Black Christmas

2011-08-13T07:50:00.000-07:00

Whenever my girlfriend leaves town to visit her family - like she did yesterday - I take the opportunity to watch movies that she'd never stomach, like Robert "Bob" Clark's Black Christmas.

With little expectations, I watched this 1970's Canadian horror gem - also known as Silent Night, Evil Night and Stranger in the House - late last night alone in my apartment, which is the best way to watch many horror movies. The methodical cinematography and slow narrative structure create a truly suspenseful experience that produces genuine horror. The enjoyable female characters and general lack of gore, which plagued a lot of horror and especially slasher movies that came after, bolsters this film.

All in all, a near solid horror movie that established a lot of the elements that are now cliche in slasher movies.

Distraction and Inspiration

2011-08-12T10:13:00.001-07:00

I often look at Warren Ellis' site for equal parts distraction and inspiration

One of his latest posts - "Research Gem of the Day" - did both in spades. Here's the full story behind this picture.

Cartoons with a punch

2011-01-25T08:09:00.000-08:00

Cartoon by Zunar.

A buddy sent me this link. Cartoon Movement is a really cool site that collects political cartoons and is open for submission.

On the horizon...

2011-01-24T19:35:00.000-08:00

Some trailers that piqued my interest:

Shinya Tsukamoto's Tetsuo: The Bullet Man. I'm a huge fan of the first installment Tetsuo: The Iron Man but didn't care much for the second Tetsuo: Body Hammer. (Maybe I need to rewatch the second.) Either way, I'm give this one a shot.

The Brothers Quay's latest stop-motion animation Maska is an adaptation of a Stanislaw Lem story. It looks to be a winner.

Johnny Tabor's horror movie Folklore looks promising.

Corpse Pusher by Gustavo Franco is definitely going to be a trippy treat.

Write it down

2011-01-24T10:02:00.000-08:00

Interesting article on why writing by hand is more effective than typing.

Recently Read

2011-01-19T10:03:00.001-08:00

Laymon's disturbing and horrific novel The Woods are Dark charges with exciting twists and turns but there was - I never I'd ever say this - too much needless sex and nudity. A decent read for those with strong stomachs.

Dick's The Cosmic Puppets is a far-reaching novel that begins with an odd mystery and leads to a startling look at our place in the cosmos. He spins this yarn without losing the reader. A definite recommendation.

Mo' Money, Mo' Money!

2010-01-28T10:17:00.000-08:00

Who is this man and why is he on my blog? This is Jack Abramoff and he may be the future of lobbying.

In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling that would allow corporations and unions to give more money to political candidates, this interview with documentarian Alex Gibney will surely strike a chord.

Different Stories from Haiti

2010-01-21T18:02:00.001-08:00

In light of all the charity work and news coverage of the Haitian crisis, I thought it would be refreshing to see different angles on the story.

The first is from Democracy Now and explores how the US government's policy in the Caribbean country exacerbated the crisis.

Ashely Smith's article on Counter Punch is an enlightening read on Haiti before and after the quake.

Lastly, The Nation's article sheds some light on IMF's solution for the crisis, which includes more debt and freezing wages.

Thieves and Liars

2010-01-18T09:38:00.001-08:00

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Day, I felt it was appropriate to post up a link to this fascinating yet unsurprising article on the connection between power and hypocrisy.

Open Up and Say...

2010-01-14T18:55:00.000-08:00

Often, I'm bored and disappointed by contemporary horror movies. I doubt I need to name them because horror fans will know which ones I'm talking about. (Hint: Each time they come out with a sequel we roll our eyes and groan "another one?")

One lazy afternoon, I cued up Netflix on my girlfriend's computer and saw Mitchell Lichtenstein's Teeth. Like horror master Richard Matheson (I Am Legend), Lichtenstein mixes the everyday (a girl comes-of-age) with the horrific (she has vagina-dentata) to create an insightful and entertaining story. Funny, witty, original and tasteful with judicious gore, this movie is a welcome relief from the tried and tired horror flick.

© Frank Reynoso, Jan. 13, 2010

The Art of the Scream

2010-01-13T20:18:00.001-08:00

There are some sounds that just cut through everything, through all the distractions and thoughts and hits your very core. A baby's crying is one of them. A crash is another. These are sounds that highlight our very existence.

As a disenchanted, morose and morbid high-schooler, I listened to a lot of metal, punk and watched what some might say "too many horror movies." Needless to say, I was well acquainted with yelling, grunts, screams and wails of every sort. Then I listened to "Another Body Murdered" by Faith No More and the Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E off the Judgement Night soundtrack. The Boo-Yaa Tribe's rhymes were alright and the music was haunting and dynamic. Faith No More frontman Mike Patton's quasi-chanting bolstered the overall feel of impending doom.

(Mike Patton in the middle wearing a red shirt.)

But it was Patton's screams that cut through everything and made me feel for my very life. I literally felt shivers and goosebumps as Patton unleashed his vocal fury into the microphone. Not an easy feat. Give it a listen and let me know what you think. (Ignore the sound bites from the movie.)

© Frank Reynoso, Jan. 13, 2010.

Sharks and Digital Death

2010-01-12T20:59:00.000-08:00

Very much like the way sharks need to continuously move in order to breathe and therefore survive, having a constant web presence means continued virtual existence. So rather than suffer digital death, I'm reviving my writing blog. (Moreover, I've been writing a lot more lately and not drawing as much.)

Came across this while doing a search for a podcast interview with one of my favorite writers, Warren Ellis. It's a rare audio interview with the English writer. He talks about his novel Crooked Little Vein. If you haven't read any of his works and want to jump right in, I'd suggest starting with his seminal comics series Transmetropolitan. Imagine notorious journalist Hunter S. Thompson in a dystopian future and you have only a kernel of an idea of what the series is about.

For those of you who want just a taste of his writing - though considering his versatility that might be difficult - then you can't go wrong with NextWave: Agents of Hate (a wild, action-packed, subversive take on super hero teams) and Ocean (an excellent blend of action/adventure with science fiction).

Transmetropolitan cover courtesy of Vertigo Comics.

© Frank Reynoso, Jan. 12, 2010

RIP JG Ballard

2009-04-29T18:56:00.001-07:00

The other day, I learned from my roommate and sci-fi fan Keizo that the great JG Ballard died earlier this month.

I can't explain how much of a loss this is to readers and fans. Grab any of his books and you'll see what I mean.

Learn Journalism

2009-04-29T18:51:00.000-07:00

Great and talented folks from various radical and alternative media are doing the annual Grassroots Media Conference in NYC. Learn 'Journalism 101' from the editors of The Indypendent.

Where the Action is

2008-10-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

Visit my other blog to see what I've been up to.

More pictures from this year's MoCCA Fest

2008-06-19T18:35:00.000-07:00

Here's another batch of picts from this year's MoCCA Fest.

(Liz Tillotson and I sharing a moment.)

(Check out the spread. Toy octopus courtesy of Nik Moore and Liz Tillotson.)

(The always-in-demand Nik Moore and Liz Tillotson on the frist day of the fest.)

(A couple of tired pups after a weekend of comix fun. Moi and James Spruill.)

SPX anyone...?

Re: MoCCA Fest 2008

2008-06-09T07:10:00.000-07:00

(James Spruill and I. Finger-raising excitement.)

(Liz Tillotson chilling while I chat with a MoCCA Fest attendee.)

This year's MoCCA Fest inspired and reinvigorated me. Thank you to all the folks who stopped by the table and to all who I chatted with. Lots of great conversations.

Rock on!!!

© Frank Reynoso, June 2008, All Rights Reserved

Moon Boy, Lil Death, and other prints at MoCCA Fest 2008

2008-06-02T12:06:00.001-07:00

Here are some of the prints that'll be available at this year's MoCCA Arts and Comic Fest. Reserve your copy at ill.jodienda@gmail.com.

These prints along with copies of Buenas Noches and Wish will be at booth B39.

© Frank Reynoso June 2008, All Rights Reserved

Frank at MoCCA Arts and Comics Fest 2008

2008-05-30T10:04:00.000-07:00

Tis that time again: MoCCA Arts and Comics Fest. It's cool, it's inexpensive, and it's sooooo much fun.

I'll be there with copies of Buenas Noches, Wish, and high quality prints of my watercolor paintings.

You can find me at booth B39.

B39 .B39.
Such a pretty, pretty rhyme.
B39. B39.
Gotta go while I still have time.
B39. B39.
Man, I can't believe this line.
B39. B39.
Wow, these comics are so fine.

© Frank Reynoso June 2008, All Rights Reserved

The Indypendent #118: Down and Out - Your pain is Wall Street's gain

2008-04-16T20:26:00.000-07:00

The latest issue of The Indypendent is out. Below are the two main stories on the economy.

Bailing Out the Billionaires

By Max Fraad Wolff

Posted in National

House prices need to continue to fall and will. This will place increasing pressure on household balance sheets. To begin to address the situation, we need to concentrate on elevating earnings and reducing debt levels. read more »

Inflation Nation: A Guide to Your Pocketbook Blues

By A.K. Gupta

Posted in National

Unless you live in a bubble, like George Bush, who expressed total surprise in February when a reporter told him gas was nearing $4 a gallon, you've been socked hard in the pocketbook by rising prices. read more>>

The Indypendent's Arun Gupta on Democracy Now!

2008-04-15T10:05:00.000-07:00

Respected Indypendent journalist, Iraq War specialist and my good friend Arun Gupta was in a three-way debate on General Petraeus' role in the Iraq War. There are video and audio streams.

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/4/9/as_petraeus_urges_delay_of_troop

(Photos from Democracy Now!)

Funny short short by Barrett Brown

2008-03-16T09:28:00.000-07:00

Bush Writes a Novel

http://www.antimuse.org/cgi-bin/pageserver.cgi?page=04100112

Review of World War 3 Illustrated: Facts on the Ground

2008-02-23T09:12:00.000-08:00

Review of World War 3 Illustrated: Facts on the Ground

(panel from Seth Tobocman's Disaster and Resistance)

The Indypendent printed Hueso Taveras' review of the World War 3 Illustrated Collective's latest anthology.

Here's an excerpt:

While most comics anthologies like Mome and Drawn and Quarterly aim for diverse and multicultural content, World War 3 Illustrated has consistently provided a breadth unmatched even by contemporary publishers. For their latest anthology, Facts on the Ground, the collective culled stories from around the world, including Baghdad, Johannesburg and El Salvador. As the title suggests, most are first-hand accounts, featuring everyday folks up against institutionalized corruption.

The first comic, by writer and Voices in the Wilderness activist Cathy Breen with artist Edowyn Vazkez, illustrates a letter by an Iraqi woman and the daily perils she faces in occupied Baghdad. Peter Kuper captures the complicated and sordid story of last year’s Oaxaca teachers’ strike and their battle with the state’s murderous, corrupt governor — which ended with the death of numerous people, including journalist Brad Will — in his firsthand mixed-media account “Oaxaca.”

Other comics take a look at familiar locales. Standouts include Seth Tobocman’s excerpt from his new book Disaster and Resistance (AK Press), about the struggle of residents of a NOLA housing project to return home after the devastation of Katrina and authorities. Mac McGill’s “Hurricane Katrina” is a meticulously rendered expressionist pantomime about life, loss and hope of New Orleans residents. Fly’s interview with Bill DiPaola serves as the basis for her rollicking, illustrated history of radical environmentalist group Times Up! “NYC Cyclists Memorial” is Christopher Cardinale’s lyrical and poignant mixed-media comic about the bicyclists killed by motorists and the city’s inhospitability to bicyclists.

Read the full review.

Comics Great Steve Gerber, RIP

2008-02-12T11:05:00.000-08:00

(Photo from: http://www.stevegerber.com/sgblog/)

Comics creator Steve Gerber (Howard the Duck; Man-Thing; Omega the Unknown; Thundarr, The Barbarian) died earlier this week. I never read any of his comics but recently I read an interview with him and his intelligence and wit came shining through, encouraging me to look at his work.

Feeling incredibly inadequate talking about him, I'd rather let you read about him from people who knew him a hell of a lot better.

http://comiccritique.com/columns/gcolSt499.html (where I heard the news)
http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2008_02_11.html#014809 (from Steve's longtime friend Mark Evanier)
http://www.stevegerber.com/sgblog/ (Steve's blog)

Peace,
Frank

Lynne Foster showing at The Harlem School of the Arts

2008-02-05T09:52:00.000-08:00

Lynne Foster, a frequent contributor to The Indypendent, is part of an upcoming group show.

Praise for "Sentences: The Life of MF Grimm"

2008-02-04T11:08:00.000-08:00

Sentences: The Life of MF Grimm written by Percy Carey and illustrated by Ronald Wimberly came in at number 9 of Time magazine's Top Ten Graphic Novels for 2007. And CNN's Best of the Rest 2007.

See my interview with Percy Carey at Comic Critique.

© Frank Reynoso, Feb. 4, 2008, All Rights Reserved

Interview with Ayo

2008-01-20T14:36:00.001-08:00

In the midst of the 2007 MoCCA Arts and Comics Festival, I briefly spoke with Ayo, author of the irreverent and often pantomimed mini-comic Little Garden.

Where are you originally from?

I’m from Mount Vernon, New York. It’s a small town north of the Bronx. Home to such rappers as Heavy D and Pete Rock and CL Smooth. That’s right. And Rob O who I see sometimes. I live in Brooklyn now.
That’s good company to have in Mount Vernon.

(Laughs.)
What do you think is the best musical accompaniment to your comics?

I used to post track lists on my blog with the panels, the cartoons I did – stuff like Jimi Hendrix and the reggae Bad Brains. But really what I listen to mostly is Dead Kennedys and gangsta rap.
What is your comic embarrassment?

Hmmm… I put out some minis [comix] in 2005, which I didn’t like them when I made them, but for want of nothing else to do, I put them out and gave them to people blindly. So I... hopefully they’ve discarded them unread. (Laughs.)
What comic would you never publicly admit to reading?

Wouldn’t that be like publicly admit to reading it? I can think of some stuff but like at the same time…I don’t know…Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. You know what: Sizzle magazine from NBM because they publish this really gross, hardcore porn but they also publish good people like Brandon Graham from Ciero so I was “I love that guy so I’m just gonna pick up this thing no matter what the person behind the counter thinks of me.” (Laughs.)
Fill in the blank: milk is to cookie as ___ is to my comic.

As color is to my comic. You see I eat cookies without milk but at the same, you know, if I wasn’t lactose intolerant, it would be a nice thing to go along with it. I would love to combine if I could. (Laughs.)
Where can people find your comics?

Mostly people can only find my comics in New York City at the major comic stores [Jim] Hanley’s [Universe] and Rocketship and Forbidden Planet. The main thing I do is a comic called Little Garden but there’s no words on the front. Title’s on the back. Make you work for it. (Laughs.)

Thank you very much, Ayo.

Thank you.

© Frank Reynoso Jan. 2008, All Rights Reserved

LocoMotion: Jose Carmona art show Feb 3

2008-01-18T12:35:00.000-08:00

Jose Carmona, a frequent contributor to The Indypendent, is having an art show in Washington Heights on Feb 3rd.

10 Fort Washington Ave. Penhouse level btwn 159th/160thst
New York, NY 10032. Tel: 212-568-2030 Ext. 208

Did he really read and watch all this...?

2008-01-15T10:49:00.000-08:00

For the sake of brevity and lack of motivation, I'm going to use a rating system for the list of works below. Bear in mind that I normally don't like using such a thing but I think in this instance it'll be helpful.

We're all pretty familiar with the star-rating system: One star (*) is the lowest and 5 stars (*****) is the highest. The 1/2's give leniency to works that have a little more to them. :)

Best,
Frank

PS. This list is far from complete. I've read and watched more than twice what I have here since I originally began compiling this post.

Solaris by Steven Soderberg (****1/2)
Cutting Edge: Art Horror and the Horrific Avant-Garde by Joan Hawkins (***1/2)
Gremlins (****1/2)
The Exorcist directed by Martin Friedkin (*****)
House of a 1,000 Corpses directed by Rob Zombie (**)
Assscat 3000 by the Upright Citizens Brigade (*****)
Zodiac directed by David Fincher (***1/2)
The Art of the Laugh by John Sweeney (****)
Miyazaki's Spirited Away (****1/2)
Loveless Vol.1 by Brian Azzarello and various (***1/2)
Loveless Vol.2 by Brian Azzarello and various (****1/2)
Hellblazer: Rake at the Gates of Hell by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon (***1/2)
Seven Soliders Vol. 1 by Grant Morrison and various (***1/2)
X-Factor: The longest Night Vol. 1 by Peter David, Ryan Sook, and Dennis Calero (***)
It's A Bird by Steven Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen (****1/2)
Orbiter by Warren Ellis and Colleen Doran (****1/2)
Persepolis directed by Marjane Satrapi and Parannoud (*****)
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (*****) [Note: I read the first graphic novel years ago but haven't read the second.]

© Frank Reynoso Jan 15, 2008 All Rights Reserved

Interview with filmmaker Kurtis M. Speiler

2007-12-17T09:48:00.001-08:00

KURTIS M. SPIELER INTERVIEW
By Frank Reynoso

Writer, director and producer Kurtis M. Spieler trekked from Connecticut to New York’s West Village, braving the chilly October rain to attend the screening of his short film Sheepskin. A group of young suburbanites abduct a man who they claim was responsible for the murder of one of their own. Armed with chains, bats and a gun, they drive him to an abandoned drive-in where tension thickens and moral doubt creeps in. The subtle thriller was one of the many shorts that pointed to a new crop of filmmakers – at this year’s New York City Horror Film Festival – who are forging new territory, making the beloved genre their own.

After a program of shorts that included Spieler’s short along with the feature presentation of Hershell Gordon Lewis’ notorious Two Thousand Maniacs, the young filmmaker took some time out to answer some questions in the lobby of the Cantor Film School of NYU.

How did you get into filmmaking?

It’s always been something I’ve been interested in ever since I was younger. I got my hands on a video camera when I was younger. My friends and I actually started off by making mostly skate boarding videos and we sort of learned how to cut them ourselves. It was just always a passion and I kind of ran with it.

It took me a while. I didn’t originally go to school for it; I have a degree in criminal justice. When I was in the working field, I realized that that wasn’t what I really wanted to do and that filmmaking was. So I stopped what I was doing and went to film school here in NYU and that’s where it’s taken me.

How did you come up with the idea for Sheepskin?

Basically the idea behind Sheepskin sort of spawned from [asking] what if somebody killed a friend of yours or a family member? You would ultimately view them as a monster and so you would see them as not human in a way. So what I was trying to do was take the idea of this person being a monster but actually, literally making him a monster.

Why are people so interested in mythological movie monsters like the werewolves, vampires…?

I would say because it’s fear of the unknown. (Sigh) Frankly, there’s a lot of fear that we have amongst each other as people but it’s scary to admit that. People can be the scariest things. I think sometimes we create these monsters to distract us and make us be afraid of the unknown instead of what’s in front of us.
So stand-ins for our own fears and anxieties.

Right. Basically.

What social/cultural function does horror serve aside from the one you just explained right now?

For me, I think it allows people a safe environment to express how they feel, both for filmmakers and for the viewers. Movies are fake; they’re not meant to be real. You know, horror in real life is scary and it’s ugly but this allows us a safe environment for people to act out fantasies and enjoy things that in society are wrong and taboo.

I think for filmmakers it allows us a chance to just express ourselves in various ways by creating monsters that may represent other things. I think for the audience it allows them the chance to sort of indulge in those fantasies in a safe place as well as be scared and face things that maybe they are afraid to face in real life.

How would you explain particular horror films like Halloween or vampire movies that stand the test of time?

As far as what?

Well a particular film speaks of a particular fear and anxiety of that moment? So why would something like George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead still stand the test of time?

I think some of the classics have universal themes and they are expressing things that are universal throughout. Sort of what I was saying before about us being afraid of, really, each other, that’s definitely what’s in Night of the Living Dead. There’s a lot of social commentary in [that movie] but that for example is taking people, dead people but still people, and making them the monsters. So I think [in] things like that, there are themes that can go throughout. [In] Halloween, you have the nameless, faceless killer. He can represent any nameless, faceless killer that you see on the news. [In the news] they give them names, they give them faces but in the movies we don’t. Those are themes that go throughout because that’s what everybody is afraid of. It’s that guy who’s lurking behind you, lurking in the closet, looking in the alley. I think they have universal themes that stand throughout.

Any last thoughts you’d like to add?

No. It’s a great experience for me here at this film festival. I sort of upped and stopped my life and decided to pursue this career of filmmaking full force. I finished at NYU at the beginning of January and since then I’ve shot a few short films and have really put myself out there and it’s a great honor to be here at the New York Horror Film Festival.

Are you working on a film right now?

I have a couple of shorts that I have shot and now cutting and I’ve also been working on a couple feature lengths.

Thank you so much.

Thanks.

© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2007, All Rights Reserved.

OPENING PARTY AT INBORN TATTOO IN LES

2007-12-10T07:26:00.000-08:00

(left to right: Kimberly Sheridan, Nik Moore, and James Tehrani)

Inborn Tattoo, NYC hosted an opening party on Friday night for their new art show, showcasing some new works by tattooists. Above are some of the colorful and talented people who populated the Lower East Side bash.

© Frank Reynoso, Dec. 10, 2007, All Rights Reserved

TALK AT HUNTER COLLEGE

2007-12-10T07:17:00.000-08:00

On Friday Nov. 30. , some of the folks at The Indypendent gave a talk at Hunter College about the importance of alternative media - specifically the major role that our newspaper plays. With my tummy warmed by a cup of coffee and an updated Powerpoint presentation (who doesn't love slides?), I spoke about the evolution of our cover and the synthesis between visual art and journalistic activism.

I'm the small, spectacled, bearded guy with dreadlocks. :)

© Frank Reynoso, Dec. 10, 2007 All Rights Reserved

Bring on the Blood: Review of the 2007 New York City Horror Film Festival

2007-11-26T15:30:00.000-08:00

(Top: still from Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door. Bottom: still from Uwe Boll's Seed.)

This is an excerpt for a review I did on the 2007 NYC Horror Film Festival. You can read the full review on the Indypendent site.

BRING ON THE BLOOD
by Frank Reynoso

Cold, sporadic rain didn’t deter ardent fans from making the pilgrimage to NYU for the sixth annual New York City Horror Film Festival. The five-day extravaganza, like a Mexican Day of the Dead celebration in celluloid, brimmed with as many laughs as gasps. Festival directors Michael Hein and Anthony Pepe selected excellent films that showed the breadth of an often pigeonholed genre. A broad range of works from Australia, California, Germany, Indonesia and New York drew as diverse a crowd of supporters.

Despite scholarly attention and critical success, horror is viewed by many as little more than porn: sadistic and voyeuristic schlock for degenerates. This year’s fest presented a thriving genre that’s often thought stagnant and juvenile and rampant with clichés and predictable narratives. I had shared that opinion but this fest showed me that horror is alive and kicking.

Standout films included Richard Gale’s crowd-pleasing Criticized (which won the award for best short), a black comedy about an unhinged filmmaker who abducts and tortures a prominent critic who trashed his film. A period piece set in Texas, Chickenfüt is a funny and touching short about the torment of a German exchange student who gets revenge on his bullies; his fate spawns an urban legend. Matthew Byrne directed the eerie and pensive Southern gothic tale The Wake. The mostly pantomimed film follows a middle-aged woman who binds a boy, hangs a cabbage above his face, and starves him. Quiet and revealing, the story plunges into a surreal ending. The Fifth is a tightly written and acted absurd comedy about five suburban men gathering for their regular poker game, which is annoyingly interrupted by one man’s job as a serial killer. The claustrophobic short Of Darkness, by Gary Irwin, is a modern Lovecraftian tale about a group of suburban boys who unlock an incomprehensible evil contained within an ancient book.

[Read full review...]

© Frank Reynosos, Nov. 2007, All Rights Reserved

A LITTLE OF THE VACA...

2007-11-20T12:16:00.000-08:00

Now that the Young Principles Theater Company's show "Laugh Du Jour" is over - we did two shows that got lots of good feedback - I'm taking a much needed vaca. Thanks again to all who came and especially to the YPT Crew for making it happen. WE DID IT!!

I'll keep you posted on the developments of my stage short "Winning The West," directed by Thomas Slivinski. It should be up before the Christmas Craziness kicks in.

Now I'm going to take a nap on this soft, furry, white bunny...

© Frank Reynoso Nov. 2007, All Rights Reserved

Jeff Faerber art at Group Show

2007-11-06T08:52:00.000-08:00

My friend Jeff Faerber is having 12ish works in a Coney Island themed Group Show at the Object Image Gallery in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The show also has works by Joanne Pendola.

Coney Island show
Object Image Gallery
in Park Slope Brooklyn
91 Fifth Ave
Brooklyn NY 11217

Gallery Opening
Nov 10, 2-6 pm.
Jeff will be there from 4-6

more details:
http://www.jefffaerber.com/news/news.html

Young Principles Theater presents Laugh Du Jour

2007-11-03T17:48:00.001-07:00

What I read and watched...

2007-11-01T20:19:00.000-07:00

What I read and watched...

Desolation Jones by Warren Ellis and J. H. Williams III
A sordid romp of espionage, government experiments and Nazi porn. J. H. Williams III's crisp and graphic illustrations embedded in experimental layouts sometimes further entangles an already convoluted narrative.

NextWave: Agents of Hate by Warren Ellis and Stuart Immonen
High-velocity action and attitude make this mainstream comic a delight. If only it's price tag would equal it's shelf life...

Fog of War directed by Errol Morris
An opaque documentary on one of the architects behind the war in Vietnam and one of the most influential figures in world history. Morris masterfully presents a complicated and mysterious man against the backdrop of a brutal political world.

The Thin Blue Line directed by Errol Morris
Morris' critically acclaimed documentary on a heinous injustice in Texas perpetrated by the legislative authorities and its consequences on an innocent man.

Interviews: Mike Leigh (Conversations with Filmmakers Series) by Howie Movshovitz
An intelligent look at one of the world's most respected filmmakers alive right now and his confounding methods for producing his works. Leigh ultimately appears as complex and layered as his films.

Pride of Baghdad written by Brian K. Vaughn and art by Niko Henrichon
A captivating although simplistic narrative that presents some harsh realities of the war in Iraq. The anthropomorphic characters dull a potentially powerful story. Henrichon's art, although skillfully rendered, at times feels to light for a scene.

Reel Bad Arabs directed Sut Jahlly with Jack Shaheen
A good documentary and educational filmthat explores the various Hollywood stereotypes of Arabs on the silver screen. Unfortunately the narrator Jack Shaheen makes a couple sweeping statements that are simplistic, undermining some of his good intentions.

Wong Kar-wai by Peter Brunette
A thoroughly researched but often overly complicated and theoretical book on one of the world's greatest filmmakers. The collection of interviews alone, which shed some light on Wong's unconventional production process, makes this book worthwhile.

© Frank Reynoso, Nov. 2007, All Rights Reserved

Covering the NYC Horror Film Fest

2007-10-26T14:21:00.000-07:00

COVERING THE 2007 NEW YORK CITY HORROR FILM FESTIVAL

Starting with their kick-off party at Don Hill's on Wednesday night, I've been covering this year's New York City Horror Film Festival with much glee. Today's selection of cinematic terror looks to be promising, based on the films thus far and the assorted blurbs in the program. With pen, pad, tape recorder, steel nerves, and a disposition for some of darker things in life, I march off to another day's celebration of evil, death, and destruction.

© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2007, All Rights Reserved

Knight Interview on Comic Critique

2007-10-22T11:46:00.000-07:00

The folks at Comic Critique uploaded my Keith Knight e-interview on their
site:

http://www.comiccritique.com/interviews/ginterviewSt53.html

© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2007, All Rights Reserved

Emily Niewendorp's Blog

2007-10-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

My friend, actress and writer Emily Larson, aka Emily Niewendorp, started a blog wherein she'll:

post links to articles she find interesting,
write about her travels,
brag about her friends & family and their accomplishments,
post poetry,
discuss current events, and
of course, journal.

Check it out:
http://emilyniewendorp.blogspot.com/

© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2007, All Rights Reserved

Keith Knight Interview

2007-10-14T15:15:00.000-07:00

My friends Mikhaela Reid and Masheka Wood introduced me to Keith Knight at this year’s MoCCA Arts and Comic Fest. I got his email address and permission to conduct an email interview. I shopped the interview around a bit but didn’t get anywhere. Rather than letting it whither away, here’s the unedited interview.

KEITH KNIGHT INTERVIEW VIA EMAIL
By Frank Reynoso

With two fierce, weekly comic strips, (th)ink and K Chronicles, Keith Knight easily surpasses many cartoonists’ creative output. Add to this his numerous books, his band Marginal Prophets, greeting cards, and his ubiquitous presence at annual comic events like MoCCA and SPX, and you’ll get a better understanding of the word prolific. Behind Knight’s gentle demeanor and pleasant voice is a sharp mind that roars in his works, delving into a range of subjects: from everyday racism to post 9/11 America to urinary mishaps. Mr. Knight took some time to answer these email questions that reveal what makes for a good political cartoonist and how he’d physiologically describe his visual style.

FR: Where are you originally from and how did you end up in LA?

KK: I grew up in Malden, Massachusetts. Just north of Boston. Birthplace of Converse All-Stars and Jack Albertson, the old man from "Chico and the Man".

I just moved to Los Angeles four months ago after 16 years in San Francisco. I moved cuz I was getting complacent.
FR: What is one childhood experience that's defined you?

KK: When I asked my 11th grade English teacher if I could do a comic book report instead a regular book report. He allowed me to do a comic book parody of George Orwell's "Animal Farm". He gave me an A-plus, and said I should be doing a syndicated comic strip.

FR: What's a typical day for you? Talk us through your day from waking up with a coffee in your hand to passing out with a pen in your mouth.

KK: No coffee. I'm a green tea guy.
I get up. Make some cereal. Write down a list of what I'd like to accomplish for the day. Check email. Take care of any impending comic deadlines by 5pm eastern time (2pm my time). Shower. Grab my drawing stuff and head to a local cafe. Draw for a few hours. Head home. Check email. Make calls. Fill online orders. Prepare dinner. Fool around with the wifey. Mebbe go to another cafe to draw some more. Mebbe we watch a movie and go to bed.

FR: Who is the biggest non-comics/cartoon influence on your work? How did you end up being a cartoonist?

KK: George Lucas. Richard Pryor. Spike Lee. My great uncle Owen. Does it have to be just one?

I've always wanted to be a cartoonist. I didn't know how it was gonna happen. I just knew I was gonna be one.

FR: What is your biggest cartooning regret?

KK: No regrets. I ain't got time for regrets.

FR: What makes for a good political cartoonist?

KK: Taking a complex issue and distilling it down to a simple, humorous and effective image.

FR: Which of your works do you like least? Which one do you like most?

KK: There are a ton of strips that I'd like to write and draw over again. But you just move on and attempt to do better with the next one. There are a few K Chronicles that I really enjoy. The K Chronicles is my favorite strip to do.

FR: What's missing in comics and/or cartoons?

KK: Nothing and everything. You can do so much stuff with a comic. It's like your own little film where you control the dialogue, the actors, the scenery. It's a great medium.

And there are so many different people doing some many different things. Something for everyone. You just gotta search for it.

FR: What body part would you use to describe your visual style?

KK: Ass. Pure ass.

FR: Where can folks find your cartoons?

KK: Lots of places. Salon.com. Mad magazine. The Funny Times. A lot of alternative weeklies and college newspapers. Go to my website: http://www.kchronicles.com It'll tell you where you can find my stuff.

© Frank Reynoso Oct, 2007, All Rights Reserved

Excerpt from "By George" for Young Principles Theater Company comedy show

2007-10-11T20:41:00.000-07:00

This is an excerpt from "By George", a skit written and directed by me for the Young Principles Theater Company. Now we're considering titling the show Laugh Du Jour and putting up the show in the first week of November. Stay tuned for actual dates and location.

By George

In a corporate office, a young, manic businessman, MR. RICHARDS, sits at his desk, punching madly at the keyboard to his computer while looking away. His intercom buzzes.

RICHARDS (pressing intercom): Yes, Naps?
RECEPTIONIST: Mr. Andrews, your 10:30, is here.
RICHARDS: Shoot him over.

Dave straightens himself out, checks his breath and looks at his wristwatch. ENTER MR. GEORGE ANDREWS, a confident young business hopeful.

RICHARDS (all smiles): Ah. Mr. Andrews. Glad to see you’re early.
GEORGE (shaking hands): Well, I make it a virtue, Mr. Richards.

Mr. Richards and Mr. Andrews chuckle.

RICHARDS (motioning to empty chair before desk): Please.
GEORGE: Thank you.
RICHARDS (turning to computer): And please call me Dick.
GEORGE (amused): Sure, Dick.
RICHARDS (smiling): Just looking at the resume you emailed us here and it looks doable. As you know very well, this company’s in dire need of leadership at the ground level. (leaning closer to George) Let’s just say that the streets aren’t holding butter. Catch my drift?
GEORGE: Holding butter?
RICHARDS: But a man of your qualifications shouldn’t have a sandy time. The work is difficult but you’ll be trained a good whipping. (surprised at himself) Well take a goggle at me: I’m preaching to meows here. So, let’s save ourselves some time and get down to business. (turning to computer, punching madly at keyboard) Yes, sir. Time is cheddar, time is cheddar.
GEORGE: I don’t understand a thing you just said.
RICHARDS: Well, you should get out more. (laughs) In this fast-paced market you can’t expect oranges to fly just for you. You sniff? (return to files) Once you’re with Berry Jiggly. (grinning) You’ll be gagging till Denmark, Mr. Andrews.

George smiles and folds his hands over his lap.

GEORGE: Oh… (relaxing) Well, you can call me George.

Richards glares at George and restrains himself. His fingers dig into the edge of the desk.

RICHARDS (forcing himself to speak): Excuse me?
GEORGE (confused): I beg your pardon?
RICHARDS (standing up): What did you just say? To me?
GEORGE (taken back): I said you can call me George.
RICHARDS (fuming): How dare you?
GEORGE (confused, pointing to monitor) My name’s at the top of the resume.

Richards gasps at the screen and covers it with some papers from the desktop. Repulsed, he turns it away, adjusts his tie, and turns to George.

RICHARDS: Is this some sick joke? I’ll have you know my mother’s a saint.

George looks around.

GEORGE: Is this some prank? (smiling) Alright, come on out! You got me!
RICHARDS: The only prank, Mr. Andrews, is Berry Jiggly’s serious consideration of your employment.
GEORGE (stands outraged): I want to speak to Mr. Jiggly immediately.
RICHARDS (stands and reaching for intercom): It’ll be my buffet.

© Frank Reynoso, Oct. 2007, All Rights Reserved

Tribeca's "Other" Film Festival

2007-10-08T14:21:00.001-07:00

Tribeca’s ‘Other’ Film Festival

This is an excerpt from my review, with Irina Ivanova, of VisionFest 2007. You can read the full review at The Indypendent.

- Frank

VisionFest 2007
Tribeca Cinemas

VisionFest, founded in 2001 as The Guerrilla Film and Video Festival, aims to elevate domestic filmmaking to the status of foreign films. Dubbed “the other festival,” the Tribeca-based annual event occasionally unearths films that go on to success at Sundance and elsewhere.

Participating films are mostly unrestricted in length and subject matter, and everything from three-minute horror shorts to full-length features are shown side-by-side, loosely organized by theme and genre. This year’s VisionFest, which ran from Sept. 19-23 at Tribeca Cinemas, was a mixed bag with a few gems.

Several films caught our eye. Patrick Smith’s Puppet is a humorous and existential treat in traditional hand-drawn animation.

Roland Becerra’s Dear Beautiful, a 30-minute animated horror feature, blends rich textures and a single-narrative voice to portray an apocalyptic story set behind a Connecticut couple’s deteriorating relationship. In the House of the Sin Eater, by Paul Kloss and Mathew Acheson, animates puppets and found objects to create a lush blend of anthropology and fairy-tale.

Stills from "Intolerable" rehearsals by Young Principles Theater Company

2007-09-28T18:13:00.001-07:00

Here are some still from the Young Principles Theater Company's rehearsal of my skit "Intolerable" at 440 Studios, NYC. This skit was also directed by me.

Art snob Charles (Jared Scheinberg) mocks introverted web-head Ernie (Emily Larson).

Charles (Scheinberg) toasts while the ambivalent Ernie stands aside (Larson).

© Frank Reynoso, Sept. 2007, All Rights Reserved

Stills from "By George" rehearsals with Young Principles Theater Company

2007-09-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

Here are some stills from the Young Principle Theater Company's rehearsals of "By George" - written and directed by me - at 440 Studios, NYC.

Mr. Richards (Jared Scheinberg) and George Andrews (Dennis Giovanni Pimentel) begin the absurd interview. "You sniff?"

George (Pimentel) is confounded by Richard's (Scheinberg) jargon.

Receptionist (Jessica Duclos) does her nails as Richards (Scheinberg) looks over George's promising resume.

"Time is cheddar. Time is cheddar!" Richards (Scheinberg) and George (Pimentel).

© Frank Reynoso, Sept. 2007, All Rights Reserved

Why Write? Dispatch from Daniel McGowan

2007-09-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

Daniel McGowan's story is sorted and entrenched in the political climate we're in now. Below is an excerpt from a feature on him that ran in The Indypendent. Farther down is a dispatch sent by Daniel McGowan to his friends, family and activists.

For updates on Daniel's situation click here.

- Frank

Enemy of the State
by Jessica Lee

Growing up in New York City, Daniel McGowan saw first-hand how pollution fogged the air and fouled the beaches in some of the city’s poorest communities, setting him on a lifelong path of environmental and social justice. But how he ended up drenched in gasoline and setting fire to Oregon’s Jefferson Poplar Farms in 2001 and was later targeted as a “domestic terrorist” is the story of someone who cared too much and didn’t know what else to do.

Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens’ Rockaway Beach, Daniel McGowan grew up sandwiched between asphalt and the sky, in a forest of buildings and buzzing streets. Until Dec. 7, 2005, the 33-year-old with a round face and a chipmunk smile was mostly known in local circles for his involvement in a variety of activist projects. Today, after a nearly two-year legal battle that saw him labeled an “eco-terrorist” by the U.S. government, McGowan is serving a seven-year sentence at a federal prison in Minnesota on 15 counts of arson, attempted arson and conspiracy to commit arson against two private companies in Oregon in 2001.

(for the full story and interview with Daniel go to Enemy of the State)

Why Write?
by Daniel McGowan

It's a question I have been pondering the last two months since I reported to prison and the clock started ticking. Why, indeed? What do I have to say that is new or fresh? Will I bore people with repetitive tomes about my case or the Green Scare? Do people want to read what I write? All these questions haunt me as I put pen to paper attempting to deal with a ton of unexpressed thoughts and emotions made worse by a self-imposed silence during my legal proceedings. Where do I even begin? I doubt at times whether I can handle the release of these emotions-- anger, frustration, betrayal, profound sadness. . . I fear that there won't be a lesson or a neat and clean conclusion to what I write about that you'll get to the end and ask. So yeah, that sucked-- what am I supposed to do? The idea that anyone might think I know also freaks me out.

As in all things though, you learn by doing. You start the journey with that first step, you are that much closer to leaving prison after the first day or month or year. I'm in prison so what sense is there in not trying to make sense of it all, to not risk failing or looking stupid or being wrong. So, I've decided to write, to not wring my hands endlessly, scared to release my writings. I've even figured out some damn good reasons to write too-- I'm going to write because we need to be more flexible in our approach and if I can't be on the streets fighting my ass off for a better world, well, at least I can speak my truth on these pages. Because we live in a world where people who abuse women rarely go to prison and when they do, go in for a few years while people who destroy the inanimate property of multi-national corporations go in for longer. Because silence is complicity and I won't be bullied or silenced by prosecutors who brag that I was forced to self-report early because of my website and speaking on Democracy Now. Because I've lost some friends and comrades these past years and they can't. Because I will never for a second accept the label of terrorist for trying to call attention to what our species is doing to our planet, and because maybe we can all learn from mistakes I have made.

See, there really are some good reasons to write despite my fears after all. I don't know what this path of exploration will look like but I'll do my best to keep digging and fighting.

© Daniel McGowan, Aug 2007, All rights reserved

What is he reading now...?

2007-09-18T09:21:00.000-07:00

The Improvised Play: The Work of Mike Leigh by Paul Clements

An unnecessarily complicated but insightful look into the methods of a brilliant playwrite and filmmaker. You can own this out-of-print book at the low half.com price of $145.

Art by Committee by Charna Halpern

Although targeted to comedy, an invaluable resource for improv and performance arts based on the teachings and theories of the late Del Close.

Apparat: The Singles Collection Vol. 1 by Warren Ellis, Jacen Burrows, Laureen McCubbin, Carla Speed McNeil, Juan Jose Ryp

A collection of fantastic and weird tales - inspired by old time pulps - from a master comics writer with great art by some of the best artists around. A kick in the head to a medium with so much potential.

© Frank Reynoso, Sept. 2007, All rights reserved

Something I'd love to forget but damn this new technology...

2007-09-11T20:53:00.000-07:00

Some years ago I considered myself a poet. I went as far as doing open mics and making a couple of chap books. I devoured ArthurRimbaud, Charles Beaudelaire, and Le Comte de Lautreamont along with whiskey and proceeded to make an ass of myself before a live audience. I loved every minute of it. I felt alive and free. In the moment, if you will. Small wonder that I'm so into the performing arts now. Hehehe. Below is a remnant of those times.

http://www.poetz.com/2000/reynoso.htm

Technology is the bastard medium that constantly, clinically reminds us who the hell we were, are and can be.

© Frank Reynoso, Sept. 2007, All rights reserved

A Sip of Texas Tea

2007-09-11T20:52:00.000-07:00

A while back James Spruill and I made a comic that we submitted to a publisher for consideration. "Texas Tea", written by James and illustrated by me, is a metaphor for the Iraq War. We were rejected. James and I turned it into a zine called "Lung Juice" - along with some other comix - that we gave away at MoCCA Art and Comic Fest 2006.

Ahh...memories... :)

© Frank Reynoso Aug. 2007, All rights reserved

A Touch of the Cinema

2007-09-11T18:37:00.000-07:00

It's been a little while since my last post. I've been kind of busy with Young Principles rehearsals, The Indypendent and some other side projects that I'll post when we've developed material.

The haggard looking guy in this blurry picture is Aldo Mora-Blanco, filmmaker, co-worker, and best bro. We used the slate he's holding for our production of his feature film Mongoose, which we made last year. I co-wrote - whatever that means - the mostly improvised film and was production manager.

Sorry about the poor quality of the picture. I took it as I sat on his bed and shivering slightly from his fan blasting right on me.

Shortly after taking this picture we watched Children of Men by Cuaron. Great, great film.

Interview with Percy Carey aka MF Grimm

2007-09-03T17:44:00.002-07:00

A FEW SENTENCES WITH PERCY CAREY

Here's an excerpt from my interview with the multi-talented artist Percy Carey, best known as MF Grimm. For the full interview, go to Comic Critique.

["One man's trash is another man's treasure." Percy Carey outside the Puck building.]

Percy Carey has embarked on a new venture, which is to be expected of an artist like him. With enough street cred to choke a stable of horses, he’s trained his energy to music under names like Grand Master, Jet Jaguar, Grimm Reaper, and MF Grimm, and founded Day by Day Entertainment. Even if we were to dismiss all of his previous musical output, his latest release American Hunger, an imaginative and versatile triple-disc album, is enough to make him a force within Hip-Hop.

And it’s his former street life and artistic aspirations that’s the subject of Vertigo’s upcoming, autobiographical graphic novel Sentences: The Life and Times of MF Grimm illustrated by Ronald Wimberly. Sidestepping the well-publicized rivalry he had with one-time friend and partner at the mic, MF Doom, Mr. Carey discussed his latest creative endeavor as a writer of comics. Sitting between smokers and dumpsters on a warm Sunday afternoon on the infamous Mulberry Street outside the Puck Building — and with Mr. Carey’s blessings — we spoke about craft, comics, and Krypton.

FR: So how did this project come about?

PC: It came about with a good friend of mine, Casey Seijas. He’s an editor at Vertigo, DC comics. He approached [me] with the idea of doing a story on my life. [He asked me to do] a couple of pages on my life. It was something that I didn’t really – I thought my life was boring to write about. But he showed me that everyone has a story so I [sat] down and [wrote] it out. [I] did it and [editor in chief] Karen Berger and [publisher] Mr. Levitz, Paul Levitz approved it. And here we are today. It was a beautiful experience. And Ron Wimberly I can’t forget him. Ron Wimberly did the artwork for Sentences.

FR: Yeah. Looks like he did an awesome job from the looks of the sampler.

PC: Thank you so much.

FR: What’s it like to transition from being an artist, a rapper, [and] a musician to being a writer of comic books?

PC: I would have to say it’s the equivalent of a writer of comic books coming into the realm of hip-hop. You have to be looked at. You have to be watched. For instance, I don’t want it to be seen as a gimmick or just a commodity. I really have comics in my heart and I’m a creator so I want to be viewed in the same way and held to the same standards as someone coming into my medium. I want to be watched [and] critiqued and also if need be, and appropriately, praised. So, I’m just thankful. I don’t want it to be viewed as something to be taken advantage of, you know. It’s a sacred art and it should be held at a higher esteem and I look forward to the people telling me if I’m appropriate for the medium.

Current readings

2007-09-02T18:51:00.000-07:00

City of Tomorrow by Howard Chaykin (Graphic Novel)
A dystopian-noir graphic novel with amazing visuals. I wish the characters and setting were more than elements to move the plot. The action moved too quickly for me to understand, let alone care, about what was going on.

Doom Patrol: Down Paradise Way by Grant Morrison, Richard Case, Kelley Jones,
Mark McKenna and others (Graphic Novel)
A mad romp throughout the inner and outer universes with a team of absurd heroes. Ideas, history, and imagination abound, creating an unforgettable read.

Reunion & Dark Pony by David Mamet (Plays)
With eccentric dialogue and haunting characters, Mamet pens visceral stories
not intended for casual readers.

Excerpt from another skit "That's Not Cool" for Young Principles Theater Company

2007-08-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

This is an excerpt from my skit "That's Not Cool" for the Young Principles Theater Company showcase.

The tentative date for the showcase is Oct. 26th - 28th at 8pm. Some titles for the show that we're considering are Gumbo and Oxy Moron.

THAT’S NOT COOL

by Frank Reynoso

Characters:

Kim
Steph
Dan

Two gals, KIM and STEPH are hanging out outside their building. Both are long time friends as well as hip, ubran twenty-something year olds who love to hang out. Kim paces about while puffing her cigarette. Steph is filing her fingernails.

KIM: The hell was Dan thinking?
STEPH: Obviously a delusional moron.
KIM: Somebody needs to shoot that head of his down before it burns up in the stratosphere. Does he seriously believe we laugh at his stupid little antics?

STEPH: You have to make retards feel good about themselves. It’s an unwritten law.
KIM: And his hairy chest? (gags)

Kim pauses, takes a pull from her smoke, grunts and continues to pace around.

STEPH: Write him an anonymous letter. (pulling out a notepad and scribbling) Dear Shit licker, you SUCK, your ass SUCKS, and I hate your stupid, suck-ass FACE. You ASS! Signed, a secret admirer.

Kim snatches the notepad and pen.

KIM (shaking the pad in Steph’s face): Uh Hello! Don’t you think he’ll figure out who sent it?
STEPH (annoyed): Uh Hello! You can type it and print it out. (reclining) It was just an idea.
KIM (snatching notepad and pen): Leave the thinking to the professionals, alright?

Pause.

STEPH: Do an intervention!
KIM: What?
STEPH: My cousin had one the other day because she couldn’t stop smothering her chihuaha. Everyday it was new pictures, new toys, new dresses.
KIM (approaching Steph): Eew. Psycho.
STEPH: Grade A psycho.

Kim listens intently.

STEPH: Anyway, we’ll get a bunch of people together, you know, people who know Dan sucks and we’ll lock in a room and we’ll tell him the truth.
KIM: Can we bring snacks?
STEPH (glaring): Can I finish?

Kim scowls.

Still from rehearsal of Global Warning

2007-08-27T22:00:00.001-07:00

Here are some stills from the Young Principles Theater Company's rehearsal of my skit "Global Warning" at 440 Studios last night, Aug. 27. This skit is also directed by me.

Left to right: Tom (Dennis Pimentel), Jerry (Jared Scheinberg), Karl (Emily Powers), and Graham (Connie Xanthopoulos) - four religious leaders - meet to discuss a grave matter that's threatening America: global warming.

Graham (Connie Xanthopoulos) gets riled up about those "feminazis."

The four men brainstorm on the religious cause for global warming.

Karl (Emily Powers) berates Graham (Connie Xanthopoulos).

Jerry (Jared Scheinberg) listens intently as Karl (Emily Powers) puts his foot down.

© Frank Reynoso, Aug 2007, All Rights Reserved

Fly in Your Eye: excerpt from my interview with LES cartoonist Fly

2007-08-26T11:58:00.000-07:00

FLY IN YOUR EYE: An interview with LES cartoonist and activist Fly

Here's an excerpt from my interview with radical cartoonist and awesome person, Fly. You can find the full interview at Comic Critique or the Indypendent. Thanks to Louis Vitela at Comic Critique, and John Tarleton and Irina Ivanova at The Indypendent for punching this material up.

- Frank

Fly’s distinctive style and message came to my attention some years ago on a flyer for a political event at ABC No Rio. Her actions and works speak volumes of the enigmatic person: a consistent presence in New York City radical circles, a member of the World War 3 Illustrated collective (founded by Seth Tobocman and Peter Kuper), and an adamant supporter and teacher of DIY zines and comics. From the cover of the first issue of $pread, a magazine by and for sex workers, and PEOPS, her zine-turned-book by Soft Skull, which chronicles the lives of many downtown Manhattan residents, artists and activists, Fly hardly shies away from the controversial and the commonplace. The prolific cartoonist and illustrator took some time out to talk about the laborious task of making zines, her artistic growth inspired years ago by Sue Coe’s powerful work and Fiona Smyth’s techniques, and the transformation of the Lower East Side in Manhattan.

FR: What she makes of the transformation of the Lower East Side?

FLY: That’s a big question. The LES has been transforming for so long! It’s sort of the nature of the place. People have been fighting [the latest wave of gentrification] since way before I arrived here in the late 80s. There was of course the real estate boom of the 80s that sort of went bust. Anyway, when I got here it was still pretty rundown and crazy in good ways and bad ways. I have to say that I do not miss the drug dealers or the people shooting up on the street but I do miss all the insanely talented artists and performers and just general characters that used to populate the area and I also think it is very unfair that so many people who were born in the Lower East Side now cannot afford to live here. It used to feel a bit like a small town around here but with all the options of a big city. Now if I am out in the evening, especially on the weekend, I am horrified walking along the sidewalks — even on avenue C! — to see the multitudes of loud drunken idiots making so much noise and making a big mess. I don’t know what the hell they are doing but its just so boring! I think a big problem with the Lower East Side is that it used to be a neighborhood and it had real character — and you can still find that here but it is seriously threatened by the dorm mentality of some idiot developers and the fancy restaurants and hair salons that no one living here can afford to go to. With the whole clean-up of the area of course it became safer and so suddenly since it’s considered so “edgey and hip” everybody wants to live here and the rents have become ridiculous. So what happens in the long run is that the real neighborhood gets displaced because people can’t afford to live here and they are slowly being replaced by a very transient population, NYU students and other high priced renters who are not interested in working on a connection to the real soul and history of the place. The LES is just a stepping stone for them, a place to sleep and to use as a background for pictures — oh — I could rant for hours about this. I know I am generalizing but hopefully you get the idea. There are some books I could recommend for your further edification like the recently published Resistance, edited by Clayton Patterson and published by Seven Stories

FR: What would be your dream collaboration? Living or dead.

FLY: Hmmm…. That’s a really hard one because there are so many people that I’d love to collaborate with… and lately I have been collaborating more… But I’m such a control freak. I think my dream collaboration would probably be not with another visual artist but with a writer. There’s so many writers that I really love so it’s hard to… I know: Kathy Acker. She died a while ago but I would love to have been able to work with her on a comic. (excited) Oh man, yeah. Kathy Acker. Definitely Kathy Acker. I first read her stuff in the 80s when my life was really chaotic and transient. I felt like the way she wrote was like the way I was thinking; it was like the voices in my head mixed with what was happening in the moment mixed with what already happened. It was like deconstruction or something… sorry I’m not much of a literary critic. Her writing to me was just really authentic — she wasn’t afraid to just put everything out there. I could feel it in my bones and the thing about it was that when ever I read any of her stuff I would get so inspired that I would end up doing a lot of writing and drawing myself and I would also have the craziest dreams — I used to do a lot of comics based on dreams too. I just think I could have done some amazing comics in collaboration with Kathy Acker! Hmmm maybe I should try to do a piece on her.

Global Warning: A skit for The Young Principles Theater Group

2007-08-26T11:18:00.000-07:00

This is the opening of 'GLOBAL WARNING', a skit I wrote for The Young Principles Theater Group. The group is planning to put on a showcase of sketch comedy in either October or November. As soon as I know the actual dates, I'll let you know.

We haven't rehearsed this yet but I can't wait to see it come to life. I'll try to get some pictures - and maybe video - of the rehearsals.

The idea's been in my head for some time - maybe a month or so. It pretty much wrote itself in one train ride from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Bob Odenkirk and David Cross' Mr. Show came to mind as I scribbled the first draft of this in my notepad.

- Frank

GLOBAL WARNING
by Frank Reynoso

Characters:
Tom
Graham
Jerry
Karl

In the middle of the room is a simple, round table that looked like it was bought in Ikea. A pitcher of water and a couple of empty glasses sit in the middle of the table. Beside the pitcher is a tray with freshly backed cookies. The room is hot. Three men, in the middle of a tumultuous debate, sit around the table. Behind them are a couple of similar looking, empty tables. JERRY is a clean-shaven, thin, lanky dandy with a slouch. His body seems to get lost in his suit. Whenever he walks, he drags his feet. Jerry uses a handkerchief to wipe his brow. TOM is a thick-mustached, middle-aged, husky guy who looks like he played a lot of high school football and remained in that mentality. His movements are heavy and grave. His blazer is unbuttoned, revealing a barrel chest. He exhales often and heavily, using some papers to fan himself. GRAHAM is a slender, proud fifty-year-old man. His movements are grand; he strides whenever he walks. His silver hair caps his intense eyes and pronounce chin. Graham sits with his legs crossed and his blazer unbuttoned, cordially sipping his glass of water.

KARL enters. He’s a thirty-plus year-old, balding man, with thin-rimmed glasses and a heavy second chin. His pasty skin contrasts with his dark suit. He waddles to the excited men. The three rush to greet Karl. He smiles, hugs, pats shoulders and shakes hands with each. He motions them to sit down.

KARL: Please, continue your conversation while I settle in here. (chuckling and dabbing his brow with a kerchief): Tad warm in here.

The men take a seat and chuckle at Karl’s joke.

KARL (cont’d): My, my. The Lord is glad, as am I, to see four pillars of American spirituality gather like this. But please, go on.

Karl removes his blazer, drinks some water and sits at the head of the table.

JERRY (snickering): How about them homos and queers and lesbos? I always liked them.
TOM: We can’t. We’re still using them for New Orleans.

Karl opens his briefcase and pulls out folders filled with papers, which he places on the table before him. Graham turns to Tom.

GRAHAM (waving papers in Tom’s face as if about to slap him): C’mon, Tom. You’re hogging all the good ones. Well what about feminism? We haven’t had a good angry-bitch-feminazi campaign in a while. They’ll never see it coming.
(amused) It’ll spread like a California forest fire in the summer.
TOM: Jesus Christ, Graham. Feminazis? Cliché.
JERRY (tossing his file across the table): Out of season. Unless we can come up with a new spin on it, I’ll block your proposal.

Karl clears his throat and raises his hand as if he were about to do the laying-on-of-hands.

© Frank Reynoso Aug. 2007, All Rights Reserved

Microphone check, one, two, what is this...

2007-08-26T11:05:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Many of you know me as an illustrator and a cartoonist whose works have appeared in numerous publications like the Indypendent and $pread magazine. Some have come to know me as a writer of fiction and non-fiction. I've decided to collapse these two personas with this blog, thus presenting a more current and complete face.

Due to circumstances within and beyond my control, and the feedback I've gotten on my writing, I've worked more fervently as a writer mostly for the stage and print.

I could ramble on and on about the myriad of reasons behind this transition - and how it's not a transition but rather an extension - but I'd like to save this topic for casual evening over a beer in a cozy hole in the wall of your liking.

So, on to the writing.

Later,
Frank

PS. The title of this post comes from A Tribe Called Quest song. The line is an opening, rapped by Phife Dawg. :)