The Heroes Paradox February 3, 2009
Posted by tonywgoodwyn in Geekery, General Incoherency.add a comment
Less than a year ago, I could honestly say that I’d never seen Heroes.
This has been a source of much shock among my friends. One of my fraternity brothers, after picking his jaw up off the floor, actually said, “How can you not have seen this show?! You $&#*ing write comic books!” A coworker, instead of standing slack-jawed at my perceived heresy, once exclaimed, “You’ve never seen Heroes?! Why not? It’s the kind of show you’d love!” She later left a magazine article on my desk, encouraging me to take up viewing the show just before the second season.
These kinds of episodes have taught me a couple of things. First, I must be damn easy to predict, in terms of my viewing habits. People spend ten minutes with me, and they’ll know that I’d love Heroes, or Supernatural (of which I’ve seen a mere one episode, and which I think is pretty good), or just about anything related to Star Wars or Star Trek. I get that, and I’m actually pretty cool with it. I’ve also learned that, despite the best of intentions, I have the uncanny ability to really miss out on things I know I’d love.
Take Batman Begins. Any idiot in 2005 could have told you that I’d LOVE that movie–and believe me, I did. It did the Batman origin almost exactly the way I would have written it, and told an amazing initiation story to boot. I consider it, along with Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, among the kinds of Batman stories that I’d want to write.
When did I see Batman Begins? About a year after it left the theaters, when it came out on DVD. My girlfriend at the time learned I hadn’t seen it, and immediately grabbed it from her collection, sat me down, and made me watch it.
Needless to say, I did not make the same mistake with The Dark Knight (midnight show, baby!).
I’ve done this with a lot of shows and movies. Smallville looked interesting, but I skipped out on watching it. Supernatural, the same. Heck, I’m even excited about some of the new cartoons like Spectacular Spider-Man and Wolverine and the X-Men, but I have yet to see a single episode of either one.
Which brings me back to Heroes.
Now, I want to go on record as saying that I was as excited as–hell, more excited than–anyone who saw the commercials advertising the show ahead of its premier. Who wasn’t? Comic book super-heroes come to the live-action screen every week, with a pulse-pounding story, mesmerizing special effects, and a prime spot on a top network? It was like Christmas in your television!
But, come the premier, where was I?
Truth be told, I don’t remember. I was probably at work, since I was having to work 2 jobs at the time in order to pay my bills. Or maybe I was sleeping to have energy for the jobs I needed to work. Or maybe I just forgot. Honest to destiny, I just don’t recall. All I know is, that I missed the show, and the episodes that came after.
People say you can’t watch a show like Heroes without seeing it from the beginning, and I tend to agree. It’s like 24 in that respect, and even if it weren’t, I wouldn’t want to see it out of order. So now, I’m stuck in a paradox: halfway through the 3rd season, Heroes calls to me, like a scantily clad siren singing sultrily into my ear. I don’t want to see the episodes out of order–and therefore haven’t seen any of the ones on TV so far.
As of now, I’ve finally seen the first 5 or 6 episodes, in the company of my last girlfriend, who also couldn’t believe I’d never seen it. Since we split, borrowing her DVDs is kind of out of the question. I’m not going to buy them right now (because this economy thing is affecting me too), and I’m not big into the pirating thing.
Which, at this point, seems to suggest I’ll be waiting a while. I’ll just have to live with the knowledge that Heroes is going on all around me, and that it’s one of those shows that a story-lovin’, comic-readin’, escapist-fanboyin’ nerd like me would love and will just have to wait for more conducive times. Which is pretty cool when you consider that, in a year, or a few years, when I’m finally able to get around to doing this thing right, I’ll be experiencing that “Wow, this is awesome!” first-time-ness genuinely, and after the fact. I kind of like that.
And besides, it’s not like I don’t have plenty of stuff to keep me busy in the mean time… 
A Few Things I’m Excitedly Anticipating September 1, 2008
Posted by tonywgoodwyn in Geekery, Movies, video games.add a comment
Okay, so we all know I’m a big geek, particularly when it comes to escapist pursuits such as comic books, video games, Star Wars, and many other related pursuits. Well, lately I’ve been keeping track of the number of upcoming releases that look exciting, interesting, or at the very least, mildly capable of arousing my curiosity. So, with all this in mind, here’s a list of upcoming video game or movie titles I’m either GOING to purchase, will strongly consider purchasing, or am at least willing to consider for purchase.
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. LucasArts doesn’t generally make a bad Star Wars game, and while I haven’t played one in a LONG time (since KOTOR), I’m really excited about this game, which looks like the Jedi Knight series of games, only with newer technology and a storyline that occurs between the 3rd and 4th installments of the movies, during the Jedi Purge. I’m looking forward to completing my training as Vader’s apprentice in THIS game. September 16, 2008.
- Legendary. I just saw this recently, and am generally not a fan of first-person shooter games, but the concept behind it is pretty cool. You open up Pandora’s Box, releasing a horde of legendary creatures upon the planet. Now you’ve gotta stop them. I think I’ll make an exception to my FPS rule to check this one out. September 30, 2008.
- Iron Man on DVD. I saw this movie about 5 or 6 times in the theater. It was seriously that entertaining for me. While The Dark Knight was definitely the best comic movie this year, this was more fun, light-hearted, and what you’d expect from the genre. Sept. 30, 2008.
- Spider-Man: Web of Shadows. I picked my jaw up off the floor after seeing the first trailer for this game, and now that it’s almost here, I’m even more excited about it! There’s a whole lot to like about this game: an orginal Spider-Man story, the re-vamped combat/swinging system, guest characters… and on, and on, and on. Needless to say, this is one of my must-have purchases when it’s released. (There are several movies on the above link. Check them out, they’re cool!) October 21, 2008.
- Ghostbusters: The Video Game. I’ve been excited about this one for almost a year now, and it’s apparently due out soon, either next year sometime or (less likely), Halloween of this year. It’s written by HAROLD RAMIS and DAN AYKROYD and features the voice talents of just about all of the actors who portrayed the characters in the movies! I can’t wait to play this on the Wii! Halloween 2008 or sometime in 2009.
- Castlevania Judgment. Okay, this is the weakest link on the list. Anyone who knows the Castlevania series is going to be shocked and probably disappointed that the first release on the Wii is going to be a fighting game. With that said, being a fan of both the series and Nintendo, I’m willing to wait a little longer before passing judgment. Still… an action game would have been nice… November 18, 2008.
- The Dark Knight on DVD. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, then please go and do so. It is seriously one of the best films of the year. Yes, it’s based on a comic book, and yes, it’s actually VERY dark and disturbing in places. With that said, it’s one of those movies you’ll either really love or really hate, and so far the haters number few and far between. This gem of a movie is definitely going into my collection, but so far there are only whispers about when the release date is, the most popular being in early December, 2008.
- Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2: Fusion. This one’s a ways off, but I’m still really excited about it. I’ve played the X-Men Legends games and MUA on my Playstation 2, but I can’t wait to get this game on the Wii, where I’m hopeful that they’ll take the motion sensitive play to a new level so you can control Marvel’s greatest heroes in new and awesome ways. Seriously, though. Any game where you can play Spider-Man, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four, Wolverine AND Venom and the Green Goblin is worth taking a look at. 2009.
Crap I Drew on MY Lunch Break* September 1, 2008
Posted by tonywgoodwyn in Comics and Graphic Novels, Geekery, Writing.Tags: drawing, Rand, webcomic
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This represents a first for me, and I’m (probably overly) proud to share it here.
See, I’ve talked about doing a webcomic for a couple years now, and I think I’m getting to the point where I have enough material to write something that’s at least sustainable. Now, most of you who know me have heard me say that I think of myself as a much better writer than illustrator, and believe me, it’s true. But I have been honing my skills, on and off, for the last few months, enough that during a lunch break last week, I started an illustration of a cartoon face that seemed to grow right into the strip below right before my eyes. Seriously, I couldn’t stop drawing and writing.
Now, keep in mind, this is literally the first strip I have started and completed EVER. I can tell I’ll need to work on a few things (like lettering, backgrounds, etc.) before I could take this to a regular level, but I hope by sharing it you’ll see that I have reason to be as giddy and excited that I just got something done and up! Please enjoy.
No Inks, No Tablets, No Talent... But ALL Finished!
*Entry title used with all due props to Jin Wicked. And NO, the webcomic would not ever be called that.
I Wish I’d Gone to NYCC… April 24, 2008
Posted by tonywgoodwyn in Avatar: the Last Airbender, Geekery.add a comment
… cuz I would have wanted to see this firsthand.
The journey ends in July. Don’t miss it!
SCRIPT IS FINISHED!!!! :-D March 18, 2008
Posted by tonywgoodwyn in Geekery, Writing.Tags: Nighthunter, Writing
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Well, at least the first draft is.
At 86 pages, this sucker belongs squarely in the graphic novel camp–way too long for a comic book. This story is the first of the Nighthunter saga, entitled Dead Reckoning. I’ve been working on the series concept, off and on, for about 2 years now, and have been developing this script for about a full year.
Now that this portion is finished, I’ll have to start searching in earnest for an illustrator and start finding a way to assemble a creative team for this project somewhere down the line. This ought to prove an interesting challenge for me, as I certainly don’t have the illustrating chops to create a product worthy of the comic book/graphic novel market.
In the mean time, I’M DONE WITH IT!!! **does happy dance** It really feels good to work on something of this scale and actually finish it. I’ve never sustained a writing project this ambitious to this point, so the fact that I’ve finished a full script at all (and have more on the way, storywise) represents a big step forward for me!
Stick a fork in me, I’m done for the day. G’night!
182,500 So Far January 13, 2008
Posted by tonywgoodwyn in Geekery, Weblogs, Writing.Tags: 182500, new year, Nighthunter, resolutions, script
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So at this point, I’m slightly behind on the 500 words-a-day thing. As of just before this post (which counts), I’m at about 480 words a day, and hoping to break myself back up into the 500-level within the next day or two. So far my eligible writing has consisted of blog posts, continued work on the Nighthunter script, and various writings of prose, poetry, etc. that will likely never see the light of day.
Ineligible writing has included letters of recommendation for people, proposals for work related items and programs, and some online “assignments” that I do for continuing education. All things considered, I’ve been doing a lot of this stuff.
Still, I’m very pleased with my progress so far. When you consider the following, my 480-word-per-day streak is pretty remarkable:
- The amount of ineligible material I’ve also written;
- That I’ve been sick (and I mean seriously ill) for a good portion of the last week;
- That I’ve made about 10 pages worth of progress on the script since the New Year; and
- I’ve also been in the process of trying to locate housing for the near future.
Once I’m actually able to barrel down and get my life in some semblance of order, I should be able to maintain some healthy writing levels in no time!
Ah, the little things that make me happy…
AMPTP May Have Money and Power, But No Public Sympathy January 5, 2008
Posted by tonywgoodwyn in Geekery, Television, Writing.Tags: AMPTP, DGA, SAG, Scrubs, WGA, writers strike
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What I’m about to say may sound ludicrous, considering that I’m desperate to see more of the final season of Scrubs, but…
I hope the writers’ strike continues. Or that the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers breaks because of it.
Take whatever side you want in this debate, it’s plain as day that the writers have pretty much won the public relations side of the conflict. Not only are they utilizing their talents to produce plenty of amusing and informative (and, of course, biased) videos explaining their side of things; not only are the picket lines of striking writers (and often, famous actors beside them) drawing plenty of sympathy from the general public struggling to understand why their favorite shows aren’t on TV right now; not only have the Directors Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild already made implicit gestures of support to Writers Guild America; but most importantly, the writers as a whole have actually made an effort to communicate their side of the story themselves, and not through the spokespersons, negotiators, and lawyers that we typically expect to come from gigantic, faceless corporations.
It’s just not possible to feel much sympathy when a spokesman for a multi-million-dollar conglomerate (or consortium of them) essentially tells everyone that they have to protect their bottom line for the future good of the industry. I mean, talk about an answer that says absolutely nothing! “We have a greater insight to the future of this industry than the people who work in it, and you just have to trust us,” is what they may as well say, along with, “We will be here FOREVER, and we’re just going to wait you out.”
Such a lazy stock answer also conjures visions of rich old white men sitting in a board room somewhere, drinking their wine and telling their board chairmen to protect their money and lifestyle no matter what the cost to the little folk. And of course, the chairmen don’t want to deal with the public scrutiny. The answer? Send a lawyer with a stock answer; it’s not like people don’t already dislike lawyers.
I’m no professional writer, and in this climate I’m not sure I’d want to be one in this industry. But I do sympathize with creative professionals who need work as well as the capability to protect the rights to their intellectual property down the road. So my stance on the strike isn’t difficult to figure out. But I doubt even the most rabid supporter of the AMPTP can make a convincing argument that they’ve done everything they could to reach out and make themselves look good, or at least sympathetic, to the public, the writers, and the rest of the industry.
And I think that’s a big part of why the writer’s have held out so long and done as well as they have against the money-laden machines they oppose.
Alright, MP3 Player NOT Going Back… January 2, 2008
Posted by tonywgoodwyn in Geekery, Librarianship, Web/Tech.Tags: Chip, ebooks, mp3 players
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A big hearty thank-you to Chip, who showed me how to change the settings on the player itself to a mode that would accept e-audiobook files. This arms me with another important piece of knowledge in terms of helping out patrons who want their e-audiobooks to be truly mobile. And, of course, now I can start listening to The Gunslinger!
Help With 182,500 January 1, 2008
Posted by tonywgoodwyn in Geekery, General Incoherency, Web/Tech, Writing.Tags: 182500, spreadsheet
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I’m wondering if there’s a more efficient way of keeping track of my word counts for this year. When I last failed attempted this feat, I tried keeping notes on an Excel spreadsheet, which wasn’t terribly difficult, but a little cumbersome. I’d like to see if there’s a way I can better automate the task and still keep accurate tabs on my progress.
Any suggestions?
MP3 Player Going Back January 1, 2008
Posted by tonywgoodwyn in Geekery, Librarianship, Web/Tech.Tags: DRM, ebooks, iPod, mp3 players
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One thing I can’t stand, as an information professional, is a surprise brought on by a lack of information that I should have had from the get-go.
I’ve been wanting to get an mp3 player for quite some time, and I knew pretty much from the start that I wouldn’t be going with an iPod of any type. Main reason: they work with iTunes files only, they have a well-known lack of battery life after a certain point, and the digital media providers that my library contracts with have stated that iPods will NOT play their files.
Seeing as I planned to use my mp3 player to download and listen to e-audiobooks through these services, I made sure I got a player that was: 1. not beholden to any one proprietary playback format; and 2. equipped with a file converter of its own. That way I had a good deal of flexibility in dealing with the formats issue.
After downloading an e-audiobook from one of the services, acquiring the license, and transferring it to my mp3 player, I encountered a most unpleasant surprise. It wouldn’t play the audiobook. My COMPUTER could play it just fine, but somehow the license didn’t make the jump to my mp3 player when I synched them up. Windows Media Player informed me that it was because my device was “unable to play subscription files.”
What?
It turns out this was a firsthand introduction to the issue of digital rights management (DRM) that I’ve read about so many times. Don’t get me wrong, I figured it would come into play eventually, given that I was downloading freely and legally a copy of material that, ostensibly, is made to profit the publisher creator. What I wasn’t figuring on was having to confront it from the point of purchase.
Apparently, neither were the salespeople. I went back to the store and asked them about the issue after explaining what happened, and while they could point me to at least one player that could allegedly play subscription media, it clearly wasn’t an issue that came to their attention very often. After listening to my story, I was very sympathetically told that I should probably return the player and look for another one.
I guess what I don’t understand is why this isn’t a bigger issue for consumers. Based on what I’ve discovered so far, the more popular players won’t play these kinds of files. And yet, they’re the best kind I would think the public would be interested in: free (with a library card, of course). I looked up mp3 players in Consumer Reports, and couldn’t find anything that really dealt with the issue of DRM capabilities in their findings.
Many patrons who have mp3 players that come to my library want to know how to download these titles, and I, as a big fan of portable information technology, am always the first one out of my seat to show them how it works. But without a readable, current, and easy-to-find list of players that support the services, it could become a headache trying to put the ‘portable’ into that phrase (“Well, ma’am, at least you can listen to it on your computer at home!” 
).
If anyone knows where I can find information that would help me stay on top of this issue, please feel free to let me know.
