Things I seen that pleases:

DIG: Last week I took a break from work in the afternoon. Sat on the couch with a cup of tea and turned the tv on.
Flicking over to the ABC I catch the very end of some show. Then the next little cartoon starts. The opening title sequence was very familiar to me, but it took a little while to work out why.
It was an episode of Blue Rocket's TIME CRACKS!


I was Production Designer, StoryBoard Artist and 2D animator on all of the 24 episodes (actually there was another 'boarder aswell).

I know these cartoons inside and out, so it was weird to have that moment of "where do I know these from....".
Being the first time I've seen them on actual broadcast air was kinda weird but cool aswell. My character designs, my drawings, being beamed all round the country!!
Was cool!

DIG: The soon-2-b Mrs Monkey Mattay made me laugh my guts out this morning! Funniest thing I've seen in awhile!! Go check her out in all her raddness!!

DIG: I saw Batman Begins on thursday night..... and i LOVED IT!!

GAH!!

Me, actually really enjoying a superhero-2-film film???
YES!
I genuinely haven't been on the edge of my seat in a movie in a long time! I honestly went in with NO expectations. I'd heard good things about it, but that was the same things I'd heard about Spiderman and X-Men. While I did quite enjoy both those films, they didn't do much for me.
But I really, really dug Batman Begins.
The cast was sublime, and they actually, you know.... ACTED! The whole film looked great, flowed nicely and was just kick-arse! It wasn't cool because it was Batman in a film. It was cool because it was a good film about Batman!
I probally have two tiny quibbles with it.
Katie Holmes is too cute and Batman's mask made his head look mongoloid. Just two tiny things that stuck with me but did nothing to ruin my enjoyment of the film.
I may even go and see it AGAIN!!

(Whats the world coming too when I spend my last 3 entries discussing comic-things??)

GAH!

Current Music: Miles Davis- Kinda Blue

24 Hour ARTY People

DIG: Last weekend I took part in the 24HR comic Competition. From 11am saturday till 11am sunday the goal was to do 24 pages of comics in 24 hours. Cartoonists all around the country and some from overseas took part. I think there were over 100 entries.

I got to about midnight and got bored so went out. Came back home at about 6am and went back to it.. sort of.

I'm in 2 minds about the whole thing. Actually before I start sounding too whiney, I should congratulate Mark Selan on a really top notch organising job. It ran smoothly, got some really good media attention and a really fun atmosphere was created.

Ok, so I think this type of event is good in that it creates a real sense of community and camaraderie on the day. People are posting their work online and getting immediate support and encouragement. It helps bolster confidence and keeps people going.
If you enjoy creating STUFF, then this is a really fun thing to do. Go straight thru the night creating STUFF. I've down plenty of all nighters getting work down and it's quite a rush to push through the barriers and keep on plowing through.
Personally taking part in this thing has got my comic-making juices flowing again. It's inspired me.
So thats all cool, yeah?

But the bad thing is it makes for really clumsy comics.

Comics DO take time to get done. The plotting, the scriptwriting, the thumbnail layouts, the penciling, the inking, the lettering, the colouring. It all takes time to get a good job done.

So to try and do a whole comic in such conditions is a detriment to the end product. Sure you can bash out any scribbly chain-of-thought piece, but the end result will usually be something not worth peoples time to read. Thats unless you hit gold on the day and get a real groove on. Then you can come up aces.(which happened in a few cases last weekend).
There ARE short cuts you can make in terms of the art, and I guess the script aswell. But the problem I see is that initital idea is the most important. You don't have the time to mull it over, chop it up and see how it plays out.
Its- BAM! GO!........... oh, well that was actually a pretty weak idea.

Speaking to an old veteran of these things, The Beard says he uses these events as a layout stage only. He doesn't try and get the whole finished comic done in the 24hrs. He spends the right time on his thumbnails, then does loose solid pencils, and gets as much done as he can. Then in the days after, he reflects and re-considers what works and what doesn't. And BANG, he gets a really solid comic out of the process. Something that EVERY year has gone on and down really good things for him.

Where as I see the majority of people bang out clumsy comics on the day and just leave it at that.

And me?


Well I got 12 pages down. Really messy pencil work thats all construction and no finesse. Some nice witty dialogue. (I'm in a bad habit of doing lazy draftmanship these days. That whole "Fix it in post" attitude. But dialogue comes easy.)
Some nice moments. Some good pacing. I worked on it for about 11 hrs with lots of interruptions. So I guess thats a normal working day. I could've kept with it thru the night and either added more rough pages, or cleaned up the pages I'd done. Instead I went out.

My real detriment was my initial idea. Like I said in a previous post I DO have 2 stories I want to get down, but they were projects I want to get right. So on the day I did an auto-bio story. About me on the day. So I was writing as I was going...

I haven't really done much auto-bio stuff before, but it was quite fun. Although if you write about your life, then you'd better have DONE something worth telling... so thats part of the reason why I went out at midnite and didn't get home till the early hours. I was out RESEARCHING!!

Anway CHECK OUT THE ENTRIES HERE!

And HERE for mine.

I add more pages and ink it up, but I want to get to these other comic projects first.

The problem with comics..

I know I said I wasn't ever going to get angry about comics, but.....
This morning I went to my local comic shop to pick up whatever I had waiting for me.

I got 3 books.

100 BULLETS. A political conspiracy story in the crime genre.


DAREDEVIL. While taking it's roots in the superhero world, it's recently become much more of a crime/pulp real-life feel with very gritty and realistic art.


WALKING DEAD. A zombie-world survival story that focuses more on the human relationships of a bunch of people and how they deal with love, family and morality issues under extreme pressure and circumstances.


I remarked to the guy behind the counter that I wasn't buying as much as I used to, and he then tried to push the new GREEN LANTERN onto me.



That's whats wrong with Western comics today on so many levels.

Straight, no chaser.

If I can be serious for a moment..

Despite the debaucherous and sinful nature of my last two posts, my recent trip to Melbourne was mostly all above board fun.
I arrived on the thursday afternoon and proceeded to THE Holgate/Hook Tower. After seeing to some matters such as paying some bills, posting some packages and reaquanting myself with the Love Kitten, I headed out to Fitzroy via tram. By myself!
(actually as i was waiting for the tram doors to open, an old friend from way back when happened to hop out of the very same door! )
Anyway, i took the 112 tram instead of the 96 and I took a right instead of a left and got a tad off track. After a brief phonecall i got myself sorted and arrived at The Best Mexican restaurant this side of mexico. There i dined with Sam, Dave and Crinnie!
After that we hit CBD for some lindy hop!
Good music was spun in the old skool vein. Good and mighty fun dances were danced! After that closed I was asked if I wanted to go get a drink. Being the fish that I am (they like to drink), I accepted.
The drink however wasn't at a bar, but the 7-11.
Never mind. Under the intense neon lights I got better acquainted with Sammy's crew. The really nice Big Scott, DJ Doris and Crinnie.
It turns out that BOTH Doris and Crinnie are scorpios!!
Add to that the fact that Sammy was one, and i was in Scorpio triple heaven!
(See I dig Scorpio women! Im too afraid to ever go THERE, but man, are they great to have as friends!)
Two of my good female friends in Hobart are also scorpios. And I've also made friends recently with ANOTHER Melbourne scorpio chick!
Then on friday Douglas and I made plans concrete for THE World Tour and then I went to the British consulate to have a chat. You know. Chit-chat and discuss the state of the Empire over a cuppa!
Friday night we hit a gallery opening at a noisy venue. Very interesting venue, crappy dj's. Doug and Jen went home, leaving Garth and myself to scoff much pizza and await Shawnie! Then we went a funky bar (Melbourne is FULL of them!). Fleischer Superman and Felix The Cat cartoons were played. Got back to Holgate/Hook tower at a reasonable hour.
Saturday Monkey and Mattay arrived. Then we did the usual rounds. Minatour, JB HiFi. Proud to say I spent NOTHING!
Then we hooked up with Sammy again. After scribblernerds met dancernerds we went our separate ways. Sam and I went to see a band, Virus, in Fitzroy.
We weren't going to dance at all, but after only a few songs from the excellent Dixie-ISO band, she turned to me and said "If you ask me to dance now, I won't be able to say no."
So more really fun dancing was had!
Then I hopped a tram (all by myself again!) back to THE Holgate/Hook tower and The Party Proper began! (see previous post for details!)

So that was Melbourne!

And in other wrap up news:

DIG: A source from Canberra tells me there is a rumor going around the ACT that Schepell may INFACT be guilty!! This rumour (which was leaked from a Federal Department) says that she was under surveillance for sometime before her BUST!
So there you go. Not that I particularly care one way or another.

DIG: Von Helgate made The Melbourne Age. Much Diggsville ink has been devoted to him already over this year, so we won't say too much more.

Except i've been NAKED in that very room!

DIG: The above mentioned Sam and I have some exciting interweb stuff happening. It's spunky glory will be unleashed any day now!

DIG:
Would you trust this guy to roam the world???

DIG: This saturday is the 3rd Annual 24 Hr Comics Challenge!. It's something I've never participated in before. I've always had something more interesting or exciting to do on a long weekend.(When you spend the week drawing, it's usually the last thing you want to be doing for 24 hrs straight. In the past I've either been away for the weekend, out having dinner with friends or just happy to hang with the girl.)
But this year maybe differant!
I've got a few ideas that'll benefit for time.
Theres the Toon Buggy story (although i don't want that to be so much of a loose, quick deal). There's the El Scorchio story. Art wise, it'd suit the time frame and state of mind, but the story needs some proper planning and research.
There are some other things going on in my head.
Every hour, do a page and have a drink. Watch it degrade?
Dunno.
Any writer-types out there want to jam? I'm looking at YOU Monkey/Jen/C-Man.


(Picture by the Uber talented Jase Harper)

DIG: I think I'm allergic to cats! Having the Love Kitten wake me every morning at 7am by rubbing and linking my face may or may not have contributed to my puffy, black eyes and sniffles. More reason why the species should ALL BE DESTROYED!

Current music: Jimmy Smith "Home Cooking"

Objective

Objective to add to the World Tour.

(Do you know about the World Tour? Well i'll explain it soon)

C-man, Holgate and I will dress like The 3 Amigos when we go to Tijuana.



Ned Niederlander: You shot the invisible swordsman!

Wheres the respect??

OK.
Vikings, Mead, Cigars and sluts! And my little Douglas became a man. "Where were the sluts??!!" Douglas exclaimed at 5.30am. "we were promised SLUTS(in a Conan voice).
"Don't you lose repsect for ME!!"
(If i had a dollar for everytime I heard THAT!!)
While Shanny, Douglas and i were being SECRET VIKINGS, Dr Garth was patting his pussy, like the commo/pinko he was. It turns out his socialist leanings preventing him from drinking the sweet, sweet mead.
He was SO not a viking!!
Screen printing Bouncher!
Douglas maintained TOTAL composure until the very end when he SMASHED a glass defending Schepllep's innocents!
Cute dj played 2 johny Cash and then a pixies song. HOT!
I paid taxi fair twice out of two!

Well Pleased!

It's been awhile since there's been a drunk ramble here, and in lew of anything really dirty, newsworthy and SIN-tilating to report I thought I'd better get on the booze and get a ramble happening!Infact the interweb in general has been a bit quiet of late. (Many, MANY things seem to be afoot though. So thats The Frase tip. Keep your ear to the ground. Things be illin' and stealin' on a WORLD-wide scale in the coming weeks!!!)

I've come down with a cold the last week so have refrained from the debaucherous party lifestyle of which I was accustomed too. And the week before that, for some crazy, puritian need, i gave myself the challenge of having a "dry" week.
So it's been a tad quiet in the Casa Del Frase.
Just been plotting a hell of a lot.

Oh yes!

But today I had a good day. Too para-phrase Ice-cube (anybody seen XXX2 yet?), "I didn't have to pop a nobody today!")
I instead had a very great lunch with one of my favourite babes. We had a great cafe lunch and coffee in a record store where we spent a few hours talking, gossiping and laying our Machivillian plans for Hobart. If we were a movie, we'd be Glenn Close and John Malkovich in Dangerous Liaisons. Lust. Seduction. Revenge. The Game As You've Never Seen It Played Before.
Rich and bored aristocrats in Rococo France (Hobart, Tasmania) play high-stakes games of passion and betrayal.
I had a nice Chicken Burger. She had a nice chicken salad. Then we browsed the cds.
I want to buy the new Nine Inch Nails album, the new Gorilazz, the new White Stripes and the 2nd Black Grape album!!
Then I hit home where i think I did some more drawing and some housework. Then I cooked dinner, watched Home and Away, and called my mum!

THEN I went to my favourite bar with my mate where we had manly chats about life, music, art and chicks. Over gin martini's.
Our regular barman, Joe wasn't working so it was an expirement to see if these other barstaff had the goods. Pleased to say they did.
Some mighty fine beverages were had!!

Anyway, I'm off to Melbourne in a few days.
For THIS:


I think it'll be like a bar mitzvah. Or a Bris. But hopefully Holgate won't get his La Laa out. I've had enough of THAT for a lifetime!!

Man!

RAD radio

Saturday 28th March
2-4pm.(East Australia time)
Edge Radio 99.3 fm
www.edgeradio.org.au.

I'll be getting jiggy. Non jazz.

Draw you little Monkey! DRAW!

This time last week I was over drawing. Was even contemplating a career change/redirection.
But I'm digging drawing again. That rush of energy and exhilaration that comes with creating a cool image. The anticipation of waking up the next morning to jump back into an artwork!

It's been awhile.

Here are some more sketches:

Another Mexican Wrestler. Cos Tonia told me too!!
I will ink him up soon. Not sure if I'll use a brush or the dip pen.

This is an A3 drawing (it's kinda cropped here). I was intending just black and white, with ink washes and letra-toning on the jacket, but I may go COLOUR (Water colours that is!)

El Scorchio, version 2.

Who Dogpossum says she'd HAVE, (if the mexican wrestler was taken.)

More sketches for my Toon Buggy story.
Doodling with super-space models.

And another crack at the boss.

Current Music: General Patton vs The X-ecutioners

Hit me UP!

The Dog & Cat News website scored 64,000 hits in the first 2 weeks!

Take THAT to the bank!

1-2, 1-2. This is JUST a test!

Madness at Casa del Frase.
I've been DRAWING!
But get this- I've been inking! Like with REAL ink! Not digitally!
But, but.... I used a BRUSH!! A BRUSH!!!

Madness?

It gets worse....

I used PHOTOSHOP to colour!!
MADNESS!

For those keeping score at home, i usually just do a quick pencil sketch then either import it or trace it (with my wacom tablet) into Flash. Then i do a spiffy, clean, crisp vector artwork.
(Back in the old skool days I used a dip-pen for my inking.)
But not the last few days!

Ths is my first ever Mexican wrestler:

I was meant to be sketching something else, but this big-guy took control of my pencil.)

Notice the shoddy, shaky line work?
This is a lesson in what NOT to do:
1. Don't use an old, busted up bristle.
2. Don't rush it.
Oh yeah, i drew and inked him on tracing paper.
If i was doing this in Flash, i could've fixed up the shonky line work. As we say in the broadcast industry, "we'll fix it in Post".



These are JUST my first sketches for the Toon Buggy anthology. My story is about a young up and coming fashion designer. IN SPACE! The bald dude is her stressed out, fruity boss. (I've got to make him more fruity). He's based on my neighbour.
This is NOT the style I intend to use to colour it. I was just playing around.

And finally:

El Scorchio. Euro-trash sex god.
The boss wants some changes on him tho. A thicker moustache. Maybe longer hair.

So all in all, I liked using the old ink and brush. May break out the dip pen instead.
Photoshop- mehh.
Kinda fun, but the file sizes are soooo big and clunky.

Star Wars

So the next Star Wars starts tomorrow night. I honestly, for the life of me, can't even remember what its called!! Return of the Sith???? Shit, I dunno.
I've got friends who're going to the midnite session in Hobart and Sydney. I've numbed myself into a state of not caring. I will go see it, and the bit in the trailer where Obi-one screams pleadingly at Anakin "YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE??!!" Gets me excited. But thats all.
As an adult, and rewatching the original 3 and then the prequels, I've come to the conclussion that the Star Wars movies are shit! Really, they are crap! Not HOT!
Except for Empire Strikes Back, which is quite a brilliant film.

Masters Of The Universe

I've really never told anyone this before, but when I was younger my first gig was to do a toy design for the Masters Of The Universe line of toys. I was asked to come up with a new character. A good guy.
This was my finished concept:



"Fitso".
He was into fitness and health. He was the one who helped He-man and his mates train and exercise. THATS how they got so buff!

But as these gigs turn out, after it left my hands the Big-Wigs of Mattel wanted to alter the concept to fit their marketed target audience. I know there're a few commercial artists etc who read this, so you know where I'm coming from. Creative changes by people who aren't creative go with the gig.

And with a small tweak of the name, they released "FISTO"!


Purple-sword weilding, trendy-sleevless stripey top, Bear-beard, iron-clad quantlet of man-love! A gay icon was born!

Not my original intention with the character. But you know what? I don't mind it too much.

Read VS Frase

Read VS Frase
1)The perfect date with a womanly type person. What does it be?
2) Name the musical instrument you would most like to play
3) What are three people, living or dead, you could take in a fight.
4) I've asked this question before but I liked it. If you could do it again, and you couldn't draw a line, what would your career be?
5) Midgets, eh? What's with bloody midgets?

Frase VS Read.
1. Have you read the Marvel "What if- Wolverine vs Conan"? If so who won? (I forget)
2. If you have read it, do you agree with the result? If you haven't, who do YOU think would win?
3. Why don't you vote?
4. Name 3 people, living or dead, who you think would beat you in a fight, but still you'd like a shot at the title?
5. What kind of gun are you getting?

Guest star in The Simpsons

There was something of a challenge at the Pulp Faction (Australian Comic website) boards the other week to draw yourself in the Simpsons style.

Well I FINALLY had a night at home by myself so i was able to finish off mine.



Uncanny, no?

It seems that I am for ever going to be Christian Read's red right hand, so I've got one of him aswell.



Now I can cross those off my list and get to the Graduation painting for the Scoobs, the comic for KK, the DudeCoat ladies panties for C-man (and his, er, ladezzz), the character designs for the smut/not-smut comic for Miss Jellybean, the Toon Buggy comic, the MSN Holgate/Fraser Hoe-down (either comic or short animation) AND prepare for the 24 Hour Comic Challenge (more on this later) (and probally other stuff that I've promised but have forgotten in my current beer-addled state!)

"Destryoer is pretty good, "

Never give out your password or credit card number in an instant message conversation.

douglas says:
ask me why i'm crying?
scott fraser says:
why are you crying?
douglas says:
Conan...he is Cimmerian. He does not cry....so i cry for him!!
scott fraser says:
Stout Fellow!
scott fraser says:
great line, isn't it?
douglas says:
great film!!
douglas says:
there is a lot of grunting
scott fraser says:
yes. the first half of the movie is all grunts
douglas says:
and flesh. I'd forgotten how much boob was in it
scott fraser says:
they got their boobs out all over the place back in the 80's.
douglas says:
i know. I watched Revenge of The Nerds the other night too.
douglas says:
BOOB FEST!!
scott fraser says:
thats a great film. I rewatched it recently. Pretty funny!
douglas says:
it still oddly enough...slightly holds up
scott fraser says:
i thought it held up well.
scott fraser says:
Teenwolf holds up VERY well aswell (I think there maybe even boobs in that aswell)
scott fraser says:
Teenwolf 2 does not hold up.
scott fraser says:
I laughed crazily in Revenge of the Nerds when they did the panty raid and they're running thru the halls!
douglas says:
hahahah
douglas says:
yes that was great
douglas says:
Teen wolf 2 BAD
douglas says:
Ferris holds up
scott fraser says:
YEP, watched it again the other night
douglas says:
Flying High holds up VERY well
scott fraser says:
Haven't seen Flying High in ages.
douglas says:
and airport. Which from memory was like the sequel to flying high
scott fraser says:
Saw a bit of Ghostbuster recently- GREAT!
douglas says:
Ghostbusters is fantastic!!
scott fraser says:
it is.
douglas says:
so many great Bill murray one liners
scott fraser says:
he was in is PRIME
scott fraser says:
Caddyshack is great. Awesome Bill Murray and Chevy Chase!
douglas says:
Ah yes. National Lampoon!! Vacation and Euro Vacation HOT!!
douglas says:
AND BOOBS!!
douglas says:
the first Police Academy not so bad. The sequels were dumb back then.
scott fraser says:
i was wondering how Police Accademy would hold up.
scott fraser says:
What i found with Teenwolf 2 was that it was just trying to replicate the first, but, y'know, with Jason bateman. Trying to hit the same beats, but it just fell flat.
douglas says:
yeah. I haven't seen 2 in years.
douglas says:
i didn't really like it back then
scott fraser says:
I think thats what most sequels do. They aren't made to tell a new story, they're made to cash in.
douglas says:
yeah.
douglas says:
except the good ones.
scott fraser says:
Name them- aside from Empire and Godfather2.
douglas says:
Terminator 2
douglas says:
Aliens
scott fraser says:
ok. Pass and pass.
douglas says:
Blade II
scott fraser says:
Pass.
douglas says:
Toy Story II
scott fraser says:
pass- just.
scott fraser says:
Breakdance 2- Electric Boogaloo.
douglas says:
um....Conan The Destroyer?
scott fraser says:
nope.
douglas says:
i'm reaching
scott fraser says:
Destryoer is pretty good, but it just dosen't have the emotional depth of the first.
douglas says:
is destroyer the one with Grace Jones and Red Sonja?
scott fraser says:
Grace Jones is in Destroyer, but Red Sonja is another seperate movie that Arnie is in aswell (but not as Conan)
douglas says:
oh okay. Red Sonja.
douglas says:
they all bleed into each other after a while
scott fraser says:
haven't seent that in years. Can't remember what it's like.
scott fraser says:
I always felt the premise of Red Sonja was a bit dodge.
douglas says:
yeah i think it was a barbarian cash in
scott fraser says:
Red sonja was from the Conan books. I think. She was definatly a Robert E Howard character.
douglas says:
yeah. But the film i think was pretty weak. It came out around the same time conan was HOT
douglas says:
are you coming to my PARTY!?!?!?!?!
douglas says:
i might try and have films running on a big screen as it goes.
douglas says:
Conan on our mighty WALL
scott fraser says:
I want to and will endeavour to get there. You need me. The Party needs me.
douglas says:
it's true. you are the party MAKER
scott fraser says:
do i have to fight Matty and Monkey for the couch bed?
douglas says:
they may or may not be coming.
douglas says:
if they are...i think they will stay at Shanny and garths new place
douglas says:
so it's ALL YOURS!
scott fraser says:
Wahoo!
scott fraser says:
poor little kids. They'll miss my bedtime stories. How will they get to sleep?
douglas says:
they'll have drunken smackies next door to lull them
scott fraser says:
garth and Shan?
douglas says:
actually i'm not sure about the new place. No they're actual neighbours were smackies
scott fraser says:
Ahhh how I love Melbs. So cultured and cosmopolitian!
douglas says:
there will be LOTS Of people for you to impress too
douglas says:
so DON'T EMBARRESS ME
scott fraser says:
Oh, like whom?
scott fraser says:
clients, professional peers?
douglas says:
*__* might be coming
douglas says:
*___* my friend from *__*
douglas says:
*___*...a CLIENT
douglas says:
the list goes ON AND ON!! B grade celebrity
scott fraser says:
Oh- point him out to me. I'll go and talk you up to him. HONEST!
douglas says:
hahahaha
douglas says:
oh i will
scott fraser says:
no you won't.
douglas says:
"*___*? This is the gimp" i'll say
scott fraser says:
you're afraid I'll EMBARESS YOU!
scott fraser says:
....and justified.
douglas says:
i have no fear.
scott fraser says:
I may smear dip on his face and LAUGH!
douglas says:
hahahaha
scott fraser says:
then jump on the kitchen bench and dance like a fish!!!
scott fraser says:
trust me. You NEED me at your party!
douglas says:
actually i'd pay a small amount of money to see that
scott fraser says:
Nope. Free.
douglas says:
FREE!!
scott fraser says:
All i need is some booze!
douglas says:
nudie runs?
scott fraser says:
nope. I don't do that.
scott fraser says:
you SICkO!
douglas says:
TOGA TOGA TOGA
scott fraser says:
LOUIE-LOUIE. OH YEAH!
scott fraser says:
For the right party vibe you need to play Animal House and bachelor Party.
douglas says:
YES!!
douglas says:
Animal House is a great movie
douglas says:
i might have to go to JB and do some 80's movie purchasing
scott fraser says:
hahaha! Any excuse!
scott fraser says:
hey, btw, I'm using this as a post on diggsville. I'll cut out peoples names.
scott fraser says:
what else do you want me to edit. You talking about boobs?
douglas says:
no i love boobs.
douglas says:
it's my schtick
douglas says:
did you ever get to the end of the dwarf story?
scott fraser says:
nope.
scott fraser says:
I don't think i will.
douglas says:
suspence!
scott fraser says:
leave em hanging. Play the mystery card.

So there I was.....

So there I was, in a biker bar called "Joe's Garage" at 1.30am on friday night.

I was smoking an average cigar, eating a pretty good hotdog and enjoying a beer when my lady friend tapped me on my knee and pointed excitedly behind my back.


More to come.

The Greatest Moment in My Life!

douglas says:
"this is the greatest moment in your life"

Last night i witnessed something that will affect the way I look at myself and the world.

It was all so surreal I keep on forgeting about it, so I've written it on my hand.

It says "THE MIDGET".

More to come.

I've Been called!

Ok. For JONES! Cos he wanted to know and he be my bitch!

1. Total number of films I own on DVD/video: 90 dvds/45 vhs

2. The last film I bought: Family Guy season 2. But thats not a FILM, it's a tv series. So Count Basie: Swingin' The Blues. But THATS a doco, so Beastie Boys: The Criterion Collection.But again, thats NOT a film. But I seriously can't remember what the last "Film" I bought was.

3.The last film I watched: 24 Hour Party People. Watched it with a classy lady who was also THERE back in the day! (actually she WAS there, over in Europe. I came in a few years after.) We polished off a bottle of gin while watching!

4.Five films that I watch a lot or that mean a lot to me (just five?):

I. Conan The Barbarian: I could and probally should go on about why this movie is the BEST! The Oliver Stone script? The CLASSIC James Earl Jones performance? the gut shaking soundtrack? The Wenching? The sword fighting? The deep philosophical commentry? The Riddle of Steel?
But I am Cimmerian and I do not have the words. So READ writes for me!

II. Ferris Bueller's Day Off: I've written elsewhere here about this movie. Perfectly made, very funny John Hughes movie. They just DON'T make teen movies like this anymore! Wayne Newton song and dance number at the end. This film reminds me that sometimes you HAVE to play hookie and just get as much FUN out of a day as you can! ANd that friendships are important, but, like life, they move on. Sometimes so fast that you NEED to stop and look around!

III. Big Trouble in Little China: Another faultless film from the 80's. Probally the first and best Chinese-American culture crossover. Contians EVERY Chinese-American bit actor!Kurt Russel OWNS his role as Yanky tough guy Jack Burton, who despite his never-ending tough guy outlook finds himself in a world he just can't understand!! John Carpenter MASTERPIECE! (also my youngest brother would watch this film EVERY MORNING without fail at 7am for 2 months solid when he was but 4 years old!)

IV. Out Of Sight: based on my favourite Elmore Leonard book and a great filmic adaption my style master Steven Soderbergh! Stars George Clooney (who i have a man-crush on) and Jennifer Lopez (who actually ACTS! No, really!). Great soundtrack. just awesomely acted and directed. Sly, sexy, stylish and funny! Perfect Elmore Leonard on celuloid!

V. High Fidelity: Not my most favourite film, but i find myself constantly going back to watch it. It's about music and chicks and music geeks and making mixed tapes etc. And I can watch Jack Black non-stop. And John Cusack's character IS the C-Man!

5. Which five people am I passing the baton onto? And why?
Don't know if I can come up with 5 people. BUT:
1. Dogpossum! Cos she's full of feist and opinons and great taste!
2. Bob. But he don't blog or lj. So Boz, feel free to use my comments section.
3. Duncs. Likewise. Use my comments. But he don't check interweb till next week.

I don't care what you say..

I DON'T care what you say, C!

Brit-pop is GREAT!

Went to a (very HOT!) friends party on the weekend. She's off to the UK, so we had fun playing lots and lots of brit-pop.

Could it be possibly the 3rd BEST type of music??

Here is my supporting evidence:

1. STEP ON- HAPPY MONDAYS
2. NO OTHER WAY- BLUR
4.SHE BANGS THE DRUMS- STONE ROSES
5.GLAM ROCK COPS- CARTER U.S.M
6.THIS CHARMING MAN- THE SMITHS
7.WHAT THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR- STONE ROSES
8.LIVE FOREVER- OASIS
9.HALLELUJAH- HAPPY MONDAYS
10.BLOODSPORT FOR ALL- CARTER U.S.M
11.FAMILUS HORRIBILUS- POP WILL EAT ITSELF
12.BIG MAN & THE SCREAM TEAM MEET THE BARMY ARMY UPTOWN- PRIMAL SCREAM & IRVIN WELSH
13.MAGICAL AMERICA- BLUR
14.UNBELIEVABLE- EMF
15.INFO FREAKO- JESUS JONES
16.BULLETPROOF- POP WILL EAT ITSELF
17.LONDON LOVES- BLUR

Oh wha...?

You need MORE evidence??

Ok. Check it-

1. LEAVE THEM ALL BEHIND- RIDE
2. REVEREND BLACK GRAPE- BLACK GRAPE
2. SUPERSONIC- OASIS
3. AFTER THE WATERSHED- CARTER U.S.M
4. KINKY AFRO- HAPPY MONDAYS
5. MAKING JUDY SMILE- RIDE
6. HUSH- KULA SHAKER
7. HOW SOON IS NOW?- THE SMITHS
8. SIZE OF A COW- THE WONDER STUFF
9. FOOLS GOLD- STONE ROSES
10. LOVE MISSILE- POP WILL EAT ITSELF
11. TATTVA- KULA SHAKER
12. JAILBIRD- PRIMAL SCREAM/CHEMICAL BROTHERS
13. DEF CON ONE- POP WILL EAT ITSELF
14. 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE- HAPPY MONDAYS
15. SHERIFF FATMAN- CARTER U.S.M
16. HALF THE WORLD AWAY- OASIS
17. LITTLE BOB- BLACK GRAPE

Word!

Super-hero DREAM-CREAM-TEAM!

If I was given free reign over popular culture and asked to put together the BEST and HOTTEST superhero team of all time- THIS IS IT!!!!



(from the "SIN-tilating Scandelous Scott" file!)
1.Murdock
2.B.A
3. Face
4. Hannibal
5. Super man
6. Batman
7. Robin
8. Wonderwoman
9. Robot Train
10. Birdie
11. Hulk
12. Spaggetti Man

HOTNESS 2 the LIMIT!!!????

Traveling door2door

I've started a new contract with a film/media company.

The most exciting thing about it is that I discoverd that if I walk briskly, The Pixies "Debaser" gets me EXACTLY from my door to their door!
If I walk at a normal pace, "C-Jam Blues" by Wynston Marsalis & The Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra gets me there EXACTLY!!

The magic of pop music!

At it AGAIN!

Okay, thats enough about HOLGATE and his DEVIL JUMPER!!

Got more material from my files that I'll release at some point in the not too distant future. (you hear that HOLGATE??? Anything happens to me, and the WORLD will see EVERYTHING!!!)

In this line of business, you have to have some insurance!

And to show you that I'm not such a bad guy, I've got some embarrassing things about ME to share. From my files.

But here is a little taster:

Was scanning some things the other day, and before I knew it- BAM! My face was on the scanner. Again.

This time I was wearing eye-protection! My next door neighbour works for an omptomotrist, and he found these original 1970's ELVIS sunglasses. Steel frames. Polarised lenses. He gave them too me.

I was after a new avatar. (if you don't know what this means- be thankful. It's a geeky-nerdy thing).
I have been using this one:

But felt the need for a change.

So I did this:


Wasn't really the desired look. I wanted something goofy. Instead I got Tough.

Is tough HOT??

The Holgate Files: UN-classified!

There is this guy I know.
Just some guy.
Draws or some kind of lame-arse moocher job.
Goes by the name of HOLGATE.

Lately he has gotten some great runs on the board. Become quite the media darling.
Got an interview up HERE. It's not too bad. Some kind of titanic struggle of the planets conducted by some other writer-dude I know called READ.


This "Holgate" has work in this American book that's meant to be "something truly original and pretty groundbreaking." It's called FLIGHT.
I think he may have some other things that may or may not be "Hot" coming out.

Like I said before, he's become quite the media darling. Even got an interview coming out soon in the Melbourne Age.

So when I heard all this hub-bub about this beard-o, the name rang a bell. I then realized I had a whole file devoted to him in one of my secret stashes of SIN-tilating dirt mongering.
I jumped a plane and headed up to Sydney to dig thru my files.

Knowing that the so-called "mainstream" media would only gloss over the hideous truth behind this man, I felt compelled to give you dear readers the god-AWFUL truth!

In the interests of TRUE journalism, tall poppy-syndrome and riding the coat-tails, I give you: THE HOLGATE FILE: UNCLASSIFIED.

Or: "I knew him when...."


Young, pure of heart?

NO!


It was all a SHAM! Really he was a boiling pot of RAGE ready to spew forth!




Those that new him back then have disappeared under what can only be called SIN-ister circumstances. So there are no other first hand witnesses to the bottomless FILTH of this man. Except me.

Oh yeah, I also dug this juicy bit of documentation up! This comes from our 1st year Student accommodation Year Book.


Debaucherous, no?



And finally, I must leave you with this.
(Those with a weak heart should be advised to look no further).








Oh yeah.... Holgate also LOVES Vern!



He wants to share a cell with him!

All my Christmas's at once!

Just recieved my copies of DeeVee: Flange in the mail ASWELL as a whole stack of cd's.


RAD!!

Stay tuned in the next day or 2 for THE most SIN-tilating journolistic expose EVER!
(I know, I know. My last one was hard to top!)

This is the REAL inside dirt!!!


HOT!!

Sydney Stories

In a few hours I'll be hopping on a plane for a 2 hour flight back to Hobart. Been up here for the last 10 days.

So see you later Sydney. Thanks for fucking nothing!

Nah- just kidding. Actually had a really nice time. Experienced a whole myriad of things- from the joyous to the heart breaking. Got back to my roots, got perspective, got a kick in the pants and got inspiration.

The original reason I flew back to my home town was for a friends wedding. A really special girl who would not have let me get away with out being there. That was saturday just past.
I was tossing up on which week to fly up, but my descion was sealed by an engagement party of 2 of my good friends early in the week. 2 sundays ago. So on 4 hours sleep, i flew up and went straight to this engagement party from the airport. Despite my extreme tiredness i was able to function socially and caught up with the old crew. Lovely friends (who i do consider family-like). Some of these guys I haven't seen in YEARS! I also made new friends!

My being in Sydney at this particular time enabled me to represent the studio at a launch. The bosses were in Europe at "the markets" so I filled the role of meet and great. Thank the sponsors and politicians and check out the competition.
Ok, so the launch was for the ABC (Australian Broadcasters Corporation) and the AFC (Australian Film commission) BROADBAND PRODUCTION INITIATIVE. Basically these two groups getting together (with some other funding groups- Telstra, TECC, SAFC, AFF etc) to throw money at multimedia/filmmaking types.

Our project was accepted in the first round of funding that included 3 other projects, with 3 more to be completed in the 2nd round.

The launch was ok. It was a mid morning thing- so NO FREE BOOZE! And no real celebrities. The producer of Japanese Story was there. Thats about all for the 'famous' people. Dunno. I think it went alright. I met a few people. Introduced and thanked the appropiate people. Made some contacts. Didn't embarrass the studio. Much. (I fell asleep on a couch in the corner).


LINKAGE:
Our product:
Dog And Cat News

The others:
The Life, Times and Travels of the Extaordinary Vice-Admiral William Bligh
(Actually this may be of interest to you comikers. This is "an interactive graphic novel charting the astonishing life of William Bligh". I haven't really looked at it proper, but i think the art is pretty shit. Maybe. I'll have to have a proper look.)

UsMob
(This looks pretty interesting. Interactive short film type of thing about and with Aboriginal youths in Central Australia)

Dust On My Shoes
(Some travel/journey thing. Actually produced by a studio I'm about to do some work for. Probally should have a proper look at some stage)

And the other ones still in development:
(as of writing this, these links weren't active.)
Chiko Space Cadet
( this maybe the only real competitor for our site. Artwork by Nathan Jurecicius aka Nathan J. He's shit hot and the art world darling. I want to be the art world darling.)

A Stowaway's Guide to the Pacific
("A history of the greatest ocean on earth through the eyes of two curious children" Lame?)

The Pure Drop
(Interactive online doco of world music).

I filled in the week by catching up with various friends. Old ones from when I was in Sydney, and mates whom escaped Tasmania. Hit a few swing dances. Saw a shit band. Saw a few movies. Hung with Los Fras Bros. Spent money on cd's. Bought PANTS! Dealt with various relationship and work crisis in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart.

It's funny. EVERYTIME i get back to Sydney this happens. See my parents live in the burbs. My friends live in innercity. The first few nights i take public transport into the city because I know I'll be having a few drinks. But after the first few nights of taking trains (anywhere from 40mins to 1.5 hrs)and walking the 20 mins from the train station to my parents house, i give up on that idea. I end up spenign the rest of my time driving in and drinking lite beer!
This time round the first night took me about 2 hrs due to track work. Train, then bus then back on the train, then the walk. Wasn't too bad as I traveled with a classical violinist who is living and working in a small coastal town in Spain.
The secound night took me about an hour and a half because this time I got a los fras bros to pick me up from the station.
My traveling companion this time was some crazy old italian guy who was telling me how some person was mugged and killed for 20 cents recently and that back in Italy they'd only do that sort of thing for a million dollars- or perhaps a grand. I think HE may have been in the East Coast Mafia.

Waking up in the mornings is always interesting at my parents. I'm either woken by the numerous native birds around (there're flocks of sulphar crested cockatoos, magpies, lorikeets, gallahs etc) or airplanes. Or lawnmowers. Or my dogs barking. Our my parents yelling. Or my mum yelling at my brothers to get out of bed.
This morning I was woken by BOTH parents yelling at the dogs at 7am. I'd gotten to bed at 2am. I couldn't get back to sleep. It can all get too much for someone who lives by himself!

Speaking of sleeping. My one and only whinge about my parents. My mum and dad are doing pretty well for themselves. Dad is looking at buying himself a Porche to race. They've just got a new computer system for home. A new big-arse tv. Shiny new bbq. Repainted the house. All in the last few months. Throwing money around.
But not my way.
Don't get me wrong- I'm not and never ask for hand outs.
All i'm asking is for them to buy a sofa-bed for the spare room! They continually ask me if it's good to be "back home". Well sure, except I don't really consider this to be my home. Because at MY home I don't have to sleep on a fucking dog hair-riddled single blow up lilo on the floor!!!
They've been promising to get one for ages- but "they're expensive" or "you need to order it in". Unlike, say, a 1972 Porche 911 specifically built for racing.

But I whinge about this here not because I'm particular dark about it. It's just kind of funny. And all things considered there are people out there with FAR worse things to whine about.


but my fucking back kills from this thing!!

ANYWAY! I've gotto pack and catch a flight.

I'll consider finishing off my Sydney Tale at a later date. There is much more to tell. The wedding whereupon I got stuck in a lift for 20 mins at the afterparty. I was incapacitated, lost and confussed due to thie horribly devasting 5 yr old "export" Thai whiskey.

But the next day, hungover, i drove to the Blue Mountians. To visit a family. More about these guys later. Perhaps. Quite sobering yet fun.
I also went to a funeral yesterday.
On secound thought I wrote write about this stuff. Instead I'll be pulling out photo's and drawings I dug up here.
HIGHLY EMBARRASSING and educational!

Will be particular amusing for fans of that wunderkid- Doug Holgate!!!!

Current music: Swingin' at the Daisy Chain- Count Basie.

TUNES Part 3

Because i've been a good boy lately and felt the need to be a bad boy, I went and spent money I do not have on new tunes.
When in Sydney I love to visit my parents local Borders. They have a large selection of jazz and what not.
From Borders I got:
.

The Proper label are highly sort after releases of old skool swing of great quality. Gene Krupa- Modern musics first ROCK star! $15! (if you are interested in dabbling into this era of swing- then the Proper collections are all highly rated.)

.

Dan The Automator. The man behind Gorillaz, Deltron 3030, Lovage, Kool Kieth (Dr Octogon) and many other albums. This is a trip into his music collection! Really great! A hefty $30!

.

The Incredible Jimmy Smith! Funky-arse blues/jazz hamond organ player! Fantastic music that makes one shake their arse. Feel very fortunate that every saturday night in Hobart I can shake my booty to a band that sound very much along these lines!
$21- 12 tracks!

.
This is an interesting cd. A three piece vocal group scatting and soloing in place of the instruments. Doing Basie! Backed by the best rythum group in history- None other then the Basie rythum group-Freddie Green (guitar), Eddie Jones (bass) & Sonny Payne(drums). From the one listen I've had, I quite dig it, but I think it could get a bit annoying. One of the vocalists (haven't worked out which one) sounds like Louis Prima. $29.

The other cd I was specifically after was the new Handsome Boy Modeling School, but Borders had it for $30 and I knew I'd seen it for cheaper else where. So I went to HMV.
They had it for $33, so I didn't buy it there. HOWEVER- as I was walking past their sale table this neat Count Basie album caught my eye and screamed- "YOU NEED ME!"
Well, for some of the best early basie recordings for just $10- how could I say no?
I also picked up a Boogie Woogie album for just $3! Turned out to be really cool. Stuff from 1938-1940. 20 tracks! A prize buy!
Also got an HMV Jimmy Smith collection for 5 bucks.

(as I was making my purchase, the guy serving me complimented me on the Jimmy Smith album. I recognized the voice (it was an amercian accent) and took a good look at him. Then I recognized him. I went to school with him! A cool guy who I used to talk comics and music with. He now managers the HMV).

Any other mere mortal may have had their music thirst sated.

But NOT me!

I still had to get the Handsome Boy album. I went to Myers where, after checking all of the relevant "catergories" (Rap, dance etc) I found it in the "Rock" section.


For $24.99!
.

HOT!

---------------------------------------------------
WHILE I THINK OF IT:

Those crew who were at the Sherlock in Melbs earlier on this year? Remember that conversation about the Fraser/Holgate version of Sin City film? I'm minutes AWAY from getting my hands on it.

OH YES!!!

XXX

I didn't particulary like XXX the movie. You know the one. Action, spy, Vin Diesel.
I don't really like Vin Diesel. Pitch Black was a good movie, but Vin hardly said anything in it.
Infact, XXX was pretty shit!

I saw the preview for XXX2 last night. And I WANT to see it!
Why?
Well, Vin diesel isn't in it.

Playing the part of main action hero is none other then: ICE CUBE!!

Ice Cube!

NWA/solo rapper turned actor in such great films as Boys In The Hood, Higher Learning and 3 Kings! Ice Cube is, in my mind, a far better actor then fellow hardcore gangsta rapper- turned actor Ice T.

And in the trailer he looked HOT!
He's done some serious training! Must've been laying off the leaf and the 8-Balls!!

RAGE is sooooo 2004!

To those of you who have arrived here via some comic-related site. I hope you're not going to be disapointed.
I don't discuss comics here. Not much. There are so many other things more important to me to get all spazzed up about comics. Especially Australian comics.
Comics are HOT!
There are some HOT australian comics.
I will discuss them on occasion.

But you will not get any RAGE here. RAGE was sooooo 2004.

2005- THE YEAR OF HOT!

You heard it HERE first!

DeeVee: Flange

Is out THIS weekend at the Supernova Popculture extravagansa in Brisbane.

It's probally the first print comics I've done in quite some time! (so it's THE BEST!)
It be available this weekend at the con and thereafter in SanDiego or via mailorder from admin@deeveepress.com. $10.00 for 60 pages of Flange.

A tease:
PAGE 1

PAGE 2




GAH!

CLASH OF THE TITANS

In this corner we have:

THE LACE MONITOR, Varanus varius



The Lace monitor is Australias 2nd largest lizard. The desert Perintine beats it in size. But an adult lace monitor grows to between 1.5 and 2 metres in length,with very powerful limbs and strong claws for scaling large tree in the hunt for birds. The Monitor also has very powerful jaws for hunting on the ground.

They're distributed throughout Eastern Australia.

FACT: When startled, a lace monitor will run towards the nearest tree climbing up the trunk to safety. If a particularly tall human is standing nearby, the monitor may mistake them for a tree, causing major slashing from the talon-like claws as it ascends.
FACT: Lace Monitors have incredibly acidic urine. If they whiz from above and hits you, it burns like acid.
FACT: Lace monitors have incredibly sharp teeth that they use to slash rotting carrion. Their teeth are hollow and are filled with poison-like bacteria and rotting bits of flesh. Like the Komodo Dragons (the worlds largest lizard), after been bitten, the prey will often die shortly after from infection. All the monitor has to do is follow the scent of death to it's feed.


In the other corner we have:

MY DAD, Bob "Bashem" Fraser



Bob is the 59 year old father of 4 sons and husband to the Susan. Bob is 6ft tall, and grey of hair.
He makes his home in Sydney, can also be found at various times of the year around the world on various business and grand prix yachting regattas.
On weekends he likes to spend his time on his country house north of Sydney nestled in the bush, or out on his boat either on the Sydney Harbour or the Hawkesbury River/Pitwater river system.

FACT: Bob has a tendency for adventure and showing off.
FACT: Bob is not afraid of fast machines or wild animals.
FACT: Bob has been known to jump bareback on strange horses in order to ride them in the hope of impressing those around him. He has been known to break his leg TWICE in his lifetime in this endeavor.

The BATTLEGROUND for this epic battle was Hallots Beach, Hawkesbury River last sunday, where Bob thought the two monstrous lace monitors who make the beach their home might like some sausages from his bbq.

Perhaps, fight-fans, Bob had read the Australian Reptile Park's website description of the lace monitor where it says "In certain areas lace monitors have learned to find food around picnic areas, scavenging around tables and in rubbish bins. Some have even become so tame they can be hand fed."

But perhaps he should've read the Wires website before trying to impress his friends. "It will defend itself against humans by inflicting serious wounds."

Maybe.

Or maybe this particular lace monitor simply couldn't tell where the sausage ended and Bob's hand began?

Before Bob knew what happened, the large lizard lockjawed his hand and began to thrash and roll, causing massive tissue slashing to the "hand that fed it". The only way the behemoth reptile was going to release Bob was by slicing through the flesh.

"It felt like razorblades", Bob later said as he retold the story to his son over the phone.

Although there was no nerve damage and no apparent infection, the judges declared: ROUND ONE VICTORY TO THE GOANNA!

Website Update

Just updated my "professional website".
www.sdfraser.com

Nothing huge. But has been a bit neglected of late. Some news, some illustrations and some links to stuff that I've worked on recently.

ALSO, I have an INCREDIBLE article to write here. The MOST sin-tilating, brash, uncompromising expose EVER!
Was hoping to get to it today, but the website update took longer then I thought.

Join me here tomorrow for a story that the other media outlets are too afraid to touch.
It's an EPIC Clash of the Titans story!!!

Check it!

Stuff

ROCK THE HOUSE:
The party was a roaring success!
I started playing at 8pm as people were arriving. Just spinning some nice 1930's swing. To be honest I was a tad skeptical about how long could do it for and how much the crowd could stand. I found out later, that the crowd were also intitally dubious about how much swing they could tolerate.
And I should mention how classy the crowd were! All dressed up in their glad rags in a fantastic beach party house!
But as the music and cocktails started to take it's effects on the party vibe, I was able to pick up and run with it.
People were going crazy on the dancefloor and applauding for the songs I'd just played.
I had strangers and non-jazzers alike come up and tell me how much they were enjoying the music.
I didn't stop playing until after 3am! (I probally could've gone for longer but by that stage I was pretty tuckered out).

Started at 8pm. Finished at 3am.

Thats 7 hours non-stop! Nothing but swing! To a crowd that were not swing dancers, or listeners of jazz!

I had a very fun night, indeed!


COMICS:
I was just perusing the internet and came across this old interview I did back in 2001. If you're interested at all about comics, the Australian comics scene, the creative process or simply about what was occupying my thoughts back then, then have a squeeze. Probally one of the better interviews I did.
Needless to say I was alot younger back then.

I've been lent Paul Popes "THB" series and am digesting that. Very nice stuff. Quite inspiring actually.

MOVIES:
ROBOTS- See Douglas review of it. My thoughts are quite similar.
ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD- Brilliantly witty! Hamlet is my all time favourite Shakepeare. Been meaning to see this film for ages. It's got Tim Roth & Gary Oldman in it! Tim Roth & Gary Oldman! Did I mention the wit?
DIE HARD 3: DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE! - (saw it at the movies years ago, but rewatched it)I really like Die Hard (the first). It ranks up there in my favourite action movies. No.3, while riffing on the same refrain is an enjoyable action flick. The ending dragged out a little to much tho.

TV:
THE OFFICE: THE XMAS SPECIALS (watched on dvd).
The unfulfilled relationship between Dawn & Tim has got to be every bit as painful to watch as any cringe worthy act from "the boss", David Brent! I was genuinely moved at the happy ending of these episodes where they finally get together.

OZ- My favourite tv show at the moment! This HBO Amercian prison drama is the only tv I watch (aside from Home & Away). Hard core, gritty drama that scares the shit out of me. Monday nights on SBS.

MUSIC:
Trying to be good so I haven't bought anything new for awhile. (except the Lucky Millander cd the other week).
Been listening to some old stuff lately. Stuff that I used to really be into but haven't given a spin for ages. Blur & Ministry (Psalm 69= fucking awesome album!) really stand out.

JOHNNY CASH: AMERICAN IV: THE MAN COMES AROUND. I can't find this disc!!! It would be aural heaven for me right now, and I cannot locate the disc!!!
Don't suppose I lent it to anyone reading this, did I? If so, can I please have it back? Tah!

House and Crowded

Have I mentioned this before?
This saturday I've been asked to dj at this party:



I get paid in gin.

I have a limited selection of 20's stuff. Most of my collection is 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 90's jazz. But I figure they won't know the difference, or care when I play most of the 30's/40's hot swinging material.

I may be able to get an Illustration Friday picture out this week. I've gotto go meet a friend for lunch. We go to this pub down at Salamanca semi-regulary. They have THE best rib-eye steak sandwiches on THE PLANET! Hmmmmnnn! AND it's a balmy 27 degree day! What better way to be spending a day like this???

Getting back to Illustration Friday, this weeks theme was CROWDED. Got a bunch of ideas for it, but time is running out. So far my favourite has been Steve Macks! His put a smile right on my face and made me chuckle repeatedly!

Beardless and Painterly

This morning I shaved my beard off.
It's been about 6 months or so. I liked having it because it made me look tough. Like a Mountain Man, which is handy when you live in Tasmania.

It was also good, because shaving is boring. No-wait. I actually enjoy shaving. It just takes time and patience to do a good job. But I'm not such a big fan of the blood. And trying to get the sideburns to symmetrically match.

Anyway,now that I am beardless, I look younger. We'll see if I get asked for I.D tonight.
Douglas (holder of the greatest beard since God) tells me I have now lost my powers. We will also see about that tonight.

Samantha wanted photographical evidence. I don't have a digital camera and my Polaroid camera is out of film. So I put my face on the scanner. Again.

BEHOLD:


I've also gotten back to my painting. Acrylic on canvas is hard! But it's sorta coming together.

My next piece will be back to watercolours on paper. Something I'm more (well I used to be) comfortable with. And it's quicker.

Douglas wanted to see what I was painting.

BEHOLD:



The area between the sax and the trumpet player annoys me. If I was doing this digitally I would simply nudge the figures closer together. Anyone got any ideas to how I can fix it?

The Agenda of Finding Joy!

"Shout Sister, Shout!
....tell the whole world whats it all about!"

If a part of your mind tells you to stop, and your body gives you some pretty strong hints to slow it down, do you listen to it? Or do you dear reader, do as I, and listen to the heart?

It's way easier to listen to the heart when you're surrounded by totally cool friends, good music all around and the Agenda of Finding Joy!

Awhile ago I claimed that I was indestructible. That turning 30 somehow bestowed upon me invunerability. I still lay claim that I'm pretty tough. But I concede I may not be totally Godlike. Not THE God, but perhaps a god. Or a demi-god. (The temptation to use my Masters of the Universe gag here is almost to strong, but it must wait for the proper moment).
It's getting colder down here. Snow on the mountain the other day. Was 6 degree's the other night. So maybe thats why I'm feeling the pain. I woke up yesterday with a black bruise on the arch of my foot the width of a coffee mug. And I have NO idea how it got there!! My body is also racked with knots and stiffness. I was also sneezing a bit yesterday.

It's been a crazy week.
It started off big.

So big I've forgotten what I did last friday night. I THINK it started off with a bbq and breakdancing at my house. Then we saw a rock/ska band, then maybe some hippity-hop dancing. I know I got to bed at 6am.
Saturday night was a hens night which was excellant fun! What happens on a hens night, stays on the hens night. So I can't divulge what happened there. Lots of dancing I recall.

(NOTE- Dancing is the easiest and possibly your greatest tool in the Agenda of Finding Joy!)

SunDAY was house work. SundayNITE was swingdancing that turned into breakdancing.
Monday. Okay, so it seems my hypocrisy seems to know no limits and I've found myself in a "teaching" role. I'm "teaching" swing dancing on monday nights at Glenorchy. (for those who may not know, Glenorchy is considered "the wrong side of the tracks". I haven't been out there since I was helping street kids do animation films. But I am, after all, a man of the world and I go where I'm needed. We've got a good group of people out there.)
TuesDAY I got called into the studio as they had a press conference with tv crews and politicians at the last minute. The poli's where there, but the press decided not to turn up. Supposedly something more newsworthy happened else where. I think a dog got run over.
I then met up with Miss Jellybean for some dance practice. In particular a form of swing called "Shag". I kid you not. And no, the joke never gets old!
TuesdayNITE I went to swing classes. (I'm going back to beginners and beginner plus, as it's fun and important to go back to the basics and tidy it up. And it's good exercise).
WensDAY- I forget.
WensdayNITE- Lindyhopping. But I think I was in a mood, so I spent most of the night catching up with my mate Matty Miller.
ThurdayMORNING. As part of the bucks party we went and played Laser Skirmish. Actually THATS probally why my body is feeling stiff. 5 hours of throwing yourself into trees, tumbling over logs and using your rifle butt to beat your enemies into submission to save on ammo.
I then had a big steak for lunch and a couple of bevies at the Cascade Hotel (under Mt Wellington).
ThursdayNITE- We started the nocturnal Bucks celebration with dinner. But What happens on a bucks party, stays on the bucks party. So thats all I CAN say about that night.

FriDAY I went for a nice walk thru town to the waterfront and the fish punts. Mmmmmmmm..... Tassie seafood!

FridayNITE, 2 of my absolute favourite Melbournites who're in town plus the other crew came over. Somehow Breakdance was put on AGAIN. And we somehow started breakdancing again. Lots of spins, flips and what-not. Lots of laughs until Samual actually kicked himself in the face and split his tongue. Lots of blood. So I'm banning Breakdance from visitors. Luckily we've still got Breakdance 2: The Electric Boogaloo. (btw did you know the Jean Claude Van Damme was IN Breakdance???)
We left my pad and went out in search of hippty-hop dancing. Not much was open, so we ended up at a club I'm not too fond of. BUT they had walls that were padded.
Padded Walls = Wall slamming fun!!

SaturDAY my houseguest arrived. The VERY lovely Helen. We all dig Helen! Then we hit the wedding of good friends Dave & Shan. It was a fantastic occasion. I ALMOST cried during the service. (I nice mix of traditional Chinese and Anglo customs). I managed to keep back the tears and proceed to drink.
Lovely meal & good company! (caught up with some interstate friends).
SaturdayNITE- the wedding shin-an-igans continued.
Here is a nice photo taken by MelbsDave of Julianne and myself as we gave the wedding guests a quick beginners class in dancing. See, it's a nice photo cos Julianne looks gorgeous, as does the Lovely Helen in the background, and I don't look sloshed. Needless to say i'd been drinking up to that point. Although I stopped about then.

After the wedding ceased, we hit one of my favourite gigs A really funky,groovy, swinging band who play late on saturday nights. Hammond Organ, xylophone, gee-tar & drums. Then WE hit the hippity-hop club, which was more beats then hippity-hop.

Sunday the Lovely Helen and I went for brunch, then read the paper in the park. We THEN checked out a jazz band in the early evening, had a nice Chinese meal, then hit another pub where a great band, The Cake Walking Babbies played their swinging/dixie-esque stuff! Lots of crazy dancing.
With the lack of any late night cafe action, we were not able to have coffee and cake so we called it a night.

This morning I woke to the sad news that Split Enz/Crowded House drummer Paul Hestor passed away at the age of 46. Crowded House were the first live band I ever saw. It was 1987 and I was about to turn 13. My older brother took me with his friends. While I don't dig hugely on Crowded House these days, I still have an immense fondness and appreciation for them. I recall being blown away by the gig, and especially impressed by Paul hestors on stage charisma, energy and showmanship. When they came back on stage for their encore, Paul flipped and cartwheeled his way to the drums.
A sad passing.


So, anyways, I do intend to take it a little easy on myself this week. Just enough to regroup. But not enough to miss any opportunities in my Agenda of Finding Joy!

Current Music: Franz Ferdinand. Also: Lucky Millinder.

The Cosmic Ballet continues...

At the whims and mercies of .... Merciless children.
Come see what they think and say of the games I did for the magnificent Hoota and Snoz website.

Currently The Pudding Game is number 1 on the ABC Rollercoaster site. But for how long??

Just 2 weeks ago (my favourite) The Boogie Picker was # 1, but has now been knocked out of the top 5. You'd never know it from the harse, harse comments left. Children can be so cruel.
"Jack Aston Says....
It was ok but very bad graphics.
... and rates it 1.5 out of 5"

Jack, you're NOT HELPING!

But The Dress Up Game seems to be an underground smash hit!
"it is da bome."

Other games for edumacation:
Hoota's Music Factory
Hungry Hoota. (Jessica rates it 3.5 out of 5)
Pudding Race
SnozBall

We be up against stiff competition from likes of The Saddle Club & The Ferals.

In a slightly related news flash, The other BIG project I was apart of last year, which involved the ABC and the AFI will be launched shortly. The big shin-dig opening will be in Sydney, early April.
Since I was going to be up there for a wedding & an engagement party and perhaps a bucks party (all 3 events are for 3 seperate couples!!) I kinda put my hand up to represent the studio. What I thought was going to be free drinks and the opportunity to hit on more celebs may turn out to be a meeting the politicians and giving a speech!

Certainly an opportunity for another sin-tilating Diggsville expose!!!!

Head arrangements

Does it seem like things have been going a little crazy in your neck of the woods lately? Couples breaking up? Strange people hooking up? Weird stuff happening at work? People getting hitched? Cars rolling off the road for no apparent reason? Dogs and cats living together? Mass hysteria?

I was told the other day that there is an astrological reason behind it all. Something about Uranus (heheheheheh) being somewhere it shouldn't.

But things should be settling down in April. Which would make sense for me anyway. I'm due to hear some big important news that'll dictate how and where I'll be spending the rest of this year.

But in the meantime heres something quite nice and potent I read last week. Something for those of you in some sort of romantic bind.
"Love doesn't conquer all, but it's because love is so fragile and fleeting that it's so precious and important."

I used to think that love was forever but I'm thinking now that often it's not. Sometimes you have to say goodbye. Goodbyes are always sad, but, like the great prophet Conan The Barbarian (the movie) says "What doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger".

And you won't find any words truer then that.

That is why Conan was king.
And he wore his crown upon a troubled brow.



....and he ended philosphical arguements by chopping peoples heads off and burning their temples to the ground.





.....and lots of other cool stuff!

Wheels

This be the car I want!


1973 MERCEDES 450 SLC. 4.5 litre. V8.

I've seen nicer models around, but this one is more in my price range. And it very well could be mine!! Just gotto get my arse into gear and do a thing. Paperwork/finance stuff that I've been putting off.

Then, OH YES, I will no longer have to mooch rides of people!

Illustration Friday: FRAGILE

It's early, but I figure, if I don't do it now, I won't do it at all. Just something I scribbled out in about an hour and a half.
It's me. I'm not a morning person and feel "fragile" until i have a cup of tea.
Illustration Friday.

Tunes Part 2

douglas says:
is your brain okay?
scott fraser says:
yeah, I slurped most of it up from the floor.
douglas says:
good. Can't have you sitting around like a brain dead mental retard now can we?
scott fraser says:
hey, thats what I do BEST!
douglas says:
hmm...good point
scott fraser says:
..... and I haven't finished my first cup of tea for the morning, so I'm kinda looking like a dead mental retard...
douglas says:
AWESOME!! The Zombie plague begins at home
scott fraser says:
slowly.......wak...ing......... up...
douglas says:
heheh. wake UP MAN!! SLAP....SNAP OUT OF IT SOLDIER!! SLAP!!
scott fraser says:
The bachelor lifestyle is a hard taskmaster.
scott fraser says:
We had a public holiday yesterday.
douglas says:
yeah so did we
scott fraser says:
oh, cool.
douglas says:
i drank red wine and painted while jen sewed and sewed
scott fraser says:
cool. I seemed to drink alot of beer. Actually I had a jammed packed weekend.
scott fraser says:
Saw the Violent Femmes on friday night. Do you like them?
douglas says:
Yeah...i saw them years ago...seriously like Year 12 ages ago
scott fraser says:
I've never seen them, or owned any of their stuff.
scott fraser says:
But I know the singles.
scott fraser says:
It was a good gig. Lots of old people..
douglas says:
yeah. I've got one album...
scott fraser says:
Really good musco's.
douglas says:
yeah they were good fun...the drummer broke his kit when we saw them and started playing on a cardboard box
scott fraser says:
yeah, the drummer was fantastic, as was the bass player. And the lead singer (Gordon?) has a great voice.
douglas says:
yeah. Did they sing blister in the sun?
scott fraser says:
of course.
scott fraser says:
I was actually surprised at how many songs I knew, or had heard before.
douglas says:
yeah. They're one of those bands i think. You kinda know they're back catalogue if you have been around the indie traps long enough
scott fraser says:
I went with my friend Duncan. They're one of his all time favourites from back in the day, so he really dug them. They're the type of band that make alot of peoples top 3 list.
scott fraser says:
I'm thinking about writing about it on my next expose on diggsville.
douglas says:
heh. yeah...they're alright...i had mates at high school who really dug them. They're fun...but i don't think they would make my top 3
scott fraser says:
nah. I've borrowed a cd from duncan. It's good stuff, but I think unless they were there for you back in High School, they won't mean as much to you.
douglas says:
yeah pretty much...you should blog about this FOR SURE!!
scott fraser says:
I might just copy and past this conversation. I still haven't woken up yet and I've got lots of errands to run today.
scott fraser says:
and then I'll go into the Pixies...
douglas says:
hehe. I don't like the Pixies
scott fraser says:
See, I know atleast 4 people who have them as their all time favourite. And these people all have great taste.
scott fraser says:
I bought a Best Of recently to try and see what it was all about.
douglas says:
i like 2 pixies songs...and one of them they released just last year after they got back together.
douglas says:
the other is Debaser...but the rest...meh. I don't get it. A bit like Sonic Youth...don't GET IT PHRASE!!
scott fraser says:
Don't get me started on Sonic Youth. Man, I tried to see what was good about them. They have 2 songs I really dig, but the rest.... nah.
scott fraser says:
Debaser is a great song tho!
douglas says:
yeah Debaser is great...so is the one they released last year...but i don't get the rest. Sonic Youth are New York indie art rock bollocks
scott fraser says:
Monkey Gone to Heaven is a fantastic song also.
scott fraser says:
Kool Thing by Sonic Youth is a brain-oozing good song.
douglas says:
Bull in the heather? IS that the song? I like that one
scott fraser says:
Yeah, thats the other one. I've even SEEN Sonic Youth live. And i don't like 'em.
scott fraser says:
It's not that I don't like them, I just don't dig them.
douglas says:
so you don't like them.
douglas says:
you hate them personally
scott fraser says:
I don't hate them.
scott fraser says:
Whats the guitarist's name?
douglas says:
They said something about your mum i thought
scott fraser says:
Him, I hate.
scott fraser says:
I mean, after that whole throwing the church pew at his head incident...
douglas says:
you threw a church pew at his head?!
scott fraser says:
After he dissed my mum.
douglas says:
oh yeah...thats right...the power of christ compelled you
scott fraser says:
I'm listening to the Pixies now.
douglas says:
...and for what?!
douglas says:
(I'm listening to the Mars Volta)
scott fraser says:
I'm actually digging the Pixies. I can ......almost..... see... the light...
douglas says:
don't go to it Phraser...it's just sleep deprivation
scott fraser says:
But no goosebumps. Thats what Pixie fans tell you. They get goosebumps when they hear the Pixies.
douglas says:
bah. Thats the heroin
scott fraser says:
They're all smack addicts??
douglas says:
yeah...ALL of them
douglas says:
All pixies fans are smack addicts
douglas says:
pinko art student commie tree hugging fascist
douglas says:
...clucking they're tongues and saying "Oh the Pixies...they so GOOD...puff puff puff....Smack me HOMBRE!!"
douglas says:
sigh...well...i SUPPOSE...i should get to work or something
scott fraser says:
yeah, me to. Hey, I think I will cut and past the above conversation into the blog. It says pretty much what I wanted to, and it's funny.
scott fraser says:
Is that cool?
douglas says:
yeah...do i say anything stupid and controversial?
scott fraser says:
thats when you're at your best!
douglas says:
I grossly generalise all pixies fans as smack addicts...thats pretty cool

Bones Heal. Chicks Dig ...Swing!

Just a little heads up.
This saturday, 12th, 2-4pm (East Australia time), point your internet radio to www.edgeradio.org.au
I used to co-host a radio show for the above community station. We called it Well Swung and we played everything swing, lounge, jazz & rock-a-billy and we did it for over a year. We're currently on a "hiatus".
But our friend has asked us to jump in on his "Bones heal, chicks dig.. stuff" show while he's away.
My comrade Duncan and I will be joined by the shows regular spunky co-host Jordan. Our aim is to educate and win her over to the swing side of the street.

Saturday 12th March
2-4pm.
Edge Radio 99.3 fm
www.edgeradio.org.au.

ALSO, another quick housekeeping- check out http://www.blue-rocket.com.au/. I do a lot of work for these guys and they've just updated the website. Lots of cool stuff. Most of the interface alien animations were done by some spunky dude you may know.

Dude Can't Chat Nuthin'

In the 6 years that Doug Holgate and I have been working with Christian Read the longest running (and probally the funniest) gag is the "Chicks dig artists" bit.
This FACT always gets C-mans goat. He's a sucker for it!
Thinking about this, you'd find it hard to believe that the fairer sex finds the pencil-pushers more attractive then the wordsmith. I mean, do you think Shakespear ever had problems picking up?
But it's true! Sooooo many times and soooo many stories that illustrate this FACT.
Maybe it's the C-mans material. Perhaps girls don't really dig stories about guys in tights punching each other and shooting laser beams from their mouths, or stories about squid animals and hill-billies?

What ever the reasoning, it's funny to poke fun of him. We disrespect him cos we respect him!

But C-man is actually a very talented writer and a good sport. As can be seen in the story he wrote for me to illustrate. It's called "DUDE IN THE COAT CAN'T CHAT UP NUTHIN" and it continues the semi-autobiographical adventures of C-mans Dudecoat.
It's like..... fuck, it's like Senfield with swearing and booze and punk rock and smoking and chicks and stuff.....

I honestly think he writes his best when he does this stuff! (although his Eldritch Kid was pretty fantastic!)
The story is being published in and anthology called Dee Vee. Dee Vee has been around for awhile and is a pretty special book. Internationally distributed, highly acclaimed, great talent contributers, heaps of indie-comix cred.
So it's a bit of a privelage to be doing something for them.
This panel from said story nicely illustrates the FACT:



Here are some details from Dee Vee publisher about the book:
"Sixty four pages of monochromatic lurve for $10 from:
Eddie Campbell;
James Kochalka;
Mandy Ord;
Daren White;
Michael Evans;
Christian Read;
Scott Fraser;
Daniel Best;
Andrew Finlayson; and
Lee Slattery.

This book will be exclusively available from our table at the Brisbane Supanova, on 9th and 10th April, and from the Top Shelf table at the San Diego Comicon in mid July. Myself, Eddie and Dan will be present at both conventions to sign, deface or give legal and financial advice (the latter two services attracting prevailing hourly rates).

The book is also available by mail-order from www.deeveepress.com , where there should be preview pages shortly. "


ON another related note, C-man left Australia yesterday to go and make it big in New York! He plans to hit that town and get into many adventures! All of which is tax deductible as it's research for future Dudecoat stories!

All the best Big Daddy. Hope you have an enjoyable year. Get yourself a comfy couch and we'll see about me popping over to mooch for awhile!!

Current Song: "There Goes The Neighbourhood": Ice T/Bodycount

New Scanner

I got a new printer/scanner.
Thought I'd test it out. By scanning my face.


It's not the first time I've done this. I don't know if the technology has changed, but the bright light hurt less on my new scanner.


There are some nice tones and colours.




Does anyone know if this will give me cancer?

Tunes

There's a nice stack of cd's gathering next to my desk while I've been working today. Warts and all it goes a little something like this:

DANDY WARHOLS: COME DOWN
DANDY WARHOLS: 13 TALES FROM URBAN BOHEMIA
JAMES BROWN: SEX MACHINE/THE VERY BEST OF..
COUNT BASIE: JUMPIN' AT THE WOODSIDE (LIVE)
BIG TOWN PLAYBOYS: NOW APPEARING
PRODIGY: THE FAT OF THE LAND
PORTISHEAD: DUMMY
THELONIOUS MONK: KEN BURNS' DEFINITIVE
GEORGE WASHINGTON: THE TWANG DYNASTY
OSCAR PETERSON TRIO: NIGHT TRAIN
COUNT BASIE: JAZZ MOODS/HOT
DINAH WASHINGTON: THE SWINGIN' MISS D
WYNTON MARSALIS: BIG TRAIN
BENNY GOODMAN & HIS ORCHESTRA: RIDIN' HIGH
LEE PRESS-ON & THE NAILS: SWING IS DEAD
STONE ROSES: SECOND COMING
LOUIS ARMSTRONG MEETS OSCAR PETERSON
RAY BEADLE: THE GOOD LIFE
CRY BABY- SOUNDTRACK
PRODIGY PRESENTS: THE DIRTCHAMBER SESSIONS VOLUME ONE
PUBLIC ENEMY: IT TAKES A NATION OF MILLIONS TO HOLD US BACK
ROYAL CROWN REVUE: KINGS OF GANGSTER BOP
ICE-T: GREATEST HITS: EVIDENCE
FRANK SINATRA: SONGS FOR SWINGIN' LOVERS!

(on reflection no big surprises. Swing, bebop and hippity-hop with a splatter of indie-pop just for old skool value).

The worlds fucked.

So I have these 2 old friends. They were high school sweethearts,and got married at the age of 22. They were my best friends for awhile. A few years back, my life was pretty shitty, and they were always there for me. I practically lived at their house.
In the past few years we drifted apart. They moved to the Blue Mountains, I moved to an island at the bottom of the world.

At xmas I received a letter from them care of my parents. They'd given birth to a 2nd child. A boy, Hugo Maximus.

A few weeks after his birth, they found out he was suffering from a mega rare disease that affects one in a million. Only 4 other kids in Australia have this condition. They know next to nothing about it. It's a genetic disorder that affects the brain. I don't really know too much about it, but it fucks you up. Big time.
Poor little Hugo will have a very limited live span. We're talking months. While he's mind is firing on all cylinders, nothing else is. He is 7 months old and only weighs 4.5kgs.
The mothers younger brother had the same condition and died from it.

So anyway, I spoke to them today. They said today was a good day for them. I could hear him in the background. The father told me this is the hardest thing in the world he's ever had to go through. My heart broke for them.

About an hour later I got a call from another old, old mate. Some of you may know him. Daniel Ip. One of Sydneys premier playboys and party guy.
When he was in Europe over the Christmas period he called my mobile at 5am so I could hear him shoot a berreta pistol into the hotel toilet bowl.

Anyway, hearts are breaking all around the world as he is now engaged to the only woman who can keep up with him and keep in line. The totally hot chick Anna!

Tonight at the pub I'll be quietly raising the glass to my friends in celebration and commiseration.

Oh yeah- almost forgot. Somehow I stumbled across the website for my 10 year High School reunion. Class of 92. So these photos were from 2002. I wasn't in the right city to attend, and I'm kinda glad I didn't.

North Sydney prats. They all have a hollowed look to their faces. Thats what you get for selling your souls. (Actually there were about 3 people there who I'd love to catch up with.)


Current song: "10 Storey Love Song", Stone Roses