Monday, December 25, 2006

Stanley Park Wind Damage

Click here to see some photos of the recent wind damage in Stanley Park caused by the winter storms we have had roll through the Vancouver area. I have to say that aside from the real obvious danger to people I absolutely love it when Mother Nature gets her knickers in a twist and fires some old fashioned turmoil our way. The wind storm that caused this damage was probably the worst I can remember. One of the more outrageous stories that came out of the wind storms was of a homeless man living in the brush of Stanley Park who was literally "trapped" by fallen debris. He somehow survived the limbs and branches, etc. that fell all around him only to find that once they fell... He was surrounded and couldn't get out! He had been caged!

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

New Ralph McQuarrie Book

Click here to read about a huge new volume highlighting the work of visionary artist and Star Wars conceptual designer Ralph McQuarrie. The singular impact on pop-culture of this one artist can not be understated. He is undoubtedly responsible directly or indirectly for inspiring many of Hollywood's top film makers and visual effects practitioners. I can certainly remember as a kid basically accepting his work as "real." I could never quite figure out the bit about how there was a guy who was not the director but who somehow was "the man" in terms of how everything looked in the film. And then I thought about how cool it would be to be that dude. Well, that hasn't exactly happened... But at least I am involved in making movies!