I wish I had an XBOX 360.

I really do wish I had one. I’ve wanted one since Gears of War came out. There’s a lot of production value and support behind the system, compared to the other hi-def-generation system out there, the Playstation 3. Knowing me, I’m a sucker for amazing presentation of a product, and there’s only a handful of things on the PS3 that attract me. As for the Microsoft campaign, well…

This is by far one of the most brilliant forms of video game advertisements since, well…that crazy Japanese Legend of Zelda rap. Three commercials have come out so far, based on the idea of “The Museum of Humanity” and the “John 117 Monument” created years after the Halo game series timeline. It’s cleverly done, and like Joystiq mentions, it’s like it was taken straight off of the History Channel, consisting of interviews with veterans of the futuristic war. Ads can pull you in. Very much, they can. But at least I know I’m being pulled in by a franchise that I’ve enjoyed since the first Halo.

I really do wish I had an XBOX 360.

Well, that’s all I wanted to say for today. Let’s leave this entry on a “WTF” note.

Meaning of life.

 

After two Film/Religious Studies classes, an English novel class and a really debate-intense RS course, I’m done for the week. So far, so good. Although, I really need to get back to updating my sketchblog!

Last weekend was nothing short of enlightening, and to surprise those who know me I’m not being sarcastic about it. This Saturday, my parents went to a wedding and were heading back for the reception. Turns out my mother has the same last name as the groom, and they both met not too long ago through friends, so they were invited and my dad was able to speak at the reception. I decided to go, not knowing if I would recognize anyone at the party. But when I saw the couple, I realised that he was a senior at high school when I started. He’s done with school, and apparently his life is going as he planned it. There was a lot of positive vibe at the party; all of the groom’s and bride’s old high school friends were there, and having a great time. They got a bit drunk though, and a bit rowdy, but it was great to see such a happy vibe. The last (and only) wedding I’ve ever been to was a cousin’s of mine, and my family doesn’t always share the best of vibes with most of our relatives. :\

This morning, I went to an Ordinary Time Mass (which I haven’t done for the longest time) at St. Ann’s. I at first thought it was just going to be a straight-forward, basic service. But the priest was actually very experienced in his studies, being both a missionary and a promoter of interfaith dialogue! Surprised me shitless. It was great to hear positive speak about dialogue from a representative of the Church. Not that I’ve ever heard negative speak about dialogue; I’ve just never heard a pastor speak of it before. Made me feel really good about the day.

All positive stuff this weekend. Like it was happy endings all around this time.

Well, except for the fight that happened after the wedding between someone and the best man of the wedding. But knowing them, they’ve probably gotten over it and had a good laugh…

Reflecting on my work: Webcomic OSTs [Part 1].

Of the many things I enjoy doing, one of them is a column that I write on Imprint. I really love the fact that I can write about comics and share it with a broad public through publication. Mind you, I know I’m not the “final word” of alternative comics and webcomics and stuff. Hell, I might be only the initial word from time to time; I don’t claim to know everything.

I don’t plan to bring my column—”The Comic Motif,” as obscure and/or cheesy as the name is—to be a serious project that I may want to print and sell in the future. It’s all fun and games, this writing in the paper. I’d love to do something with it if the moment arises, but unlike my more visual orientation, I tend to treat writing as more of a hobby than a skill.

I just thought I’d bring this up, because I started thinking about something I usually think about my own comic ideas. If the comics were cartoons, what would their soundtracks be? So I’ve put together a list of certain webcomics (that are either alive, dead, or on hiatus) and what I think would be great theme songs and score genres for each of them. Of course, this is mostly my opinion, based upon my impression of the works and the themes that they seem to run off. Here are a few of these comics that I was thinking about today.

Questionable Content (Jeph Jacques)
THEME SONG: Broken Social Scene’s “Cause = Time”
SCORE: Music composed by Jeph Jacques himself, as well as some tracks from bands like Daft Punk, Menomena, the pillows and Dragonforce. Yes. I said, “Dragonforce.”

Of course, this is both the easiest and the hardest one to think about in terms of soundtracks. It’s easy because it’s a webcomic about music geeks, written by an artist who, for the most part, has already written songs for his comic. “Cause = Time” comes to mind for the theme for two reasons: the band’s one of Jeph’s favourites, and the melody and voices in the song would work really well as a neat twist for a common sitcom-like opening.

It’s the hardest to think about a soundtrack because, well…it’s a webcomic about music geeks! Ha ha! Jeph is both specific about the music he listens to and very broad in his tastes…at the same time! I’m probably just exaggerating such more than it is, but with a comic written by a Music graduate, I wouldn’t know who would be the better judge of a soundtrack for “Questionable Content: the Series.”

And somewhere in the mix, there should be a momentous scene of Hannalore running around town in a panic to the theme of Indiana Jones.

Fallen (Yuko “Aido” Ota)
THEME SONG: Toadies’ “Possum Kingdom”
SCORE: A mix of eerie baroque-like music to grunge-inspired tracks. Possibly even tracks that blend the two together. A nice mix of house and bright rock also works.

Just now, I remembered that one poster that Aido once drew up and coloured for a convention she was attending, which was influenced by the anime, Bleach. What’s funny is that I can see “Possum Kingdom” play perfectly through Gabriel’s earbuds (the Scotsman with the red hair). It’s a creepy, funky campfire-story song about a murderer, complete with lines contradicting the literal definitions of the themes. What else sounds better as a theme?

The score usually follows suit to the theme song, so there’s my reasoning for that bit. I don’t see currently licensed tracks in the background of the comic if it was a cartoon, but some great instrumentals and the occasional choir vocals in the background would do some good justice, in my mind.

A Divine Dramedy (Jim Tierney)
THEME SONG: Elliot Smith’s “Waltz #2″
SCORE: A mix of Chopin and Nocturne-inspired piano and acoustic compositions.

With a Burtonesque flavour to it, I remember reading this comic about a few months after Jim started it. I still love the premise of the story: three spirits, living in the underworld after a freak car accident, where at least one of them has compassion towards one of the others. A story like that, from my experience of listening to such music, screams out “Elliot Smith.” I’ve only heard a few songs from Mr. Smith, starting with “Needle in the Hay” from the Royal Tenenbaums soundtrack, but I love the work that he’s put forth in music.

Chopin’s my favourite classical composer, and what feels like the theme of the spiritual realm in his works, I find it to be a great match for Tierney’s comic if it became a cartoon!

Well, there you have it! I happen to like writing about webcomics; it’s easier and more efficient than me working on my own comics. Lol. But I’ll be continuing this as much as I can, so please comment on my blog with your opinions on all of this stuff. Do you see better music for these comics? How would you twist the music to the mentioned comics?

Seriously. I want to know!

[Moved] into the [new] apartment…

…this is where [I plan] to be.

Fuck, I already move in and I love it to death! My room’s huge, and I happen to be living next door to my buddy Jenn and only a block away from the school. And it’s so nice in here with the huge window. I think I might stay here for a while! And man, I can’t wait to go to school. I’ve been waiting for the holidays to end so I could get back to seeing old friends. This’ll be a year to remember.

My brother Joe’s gonna do one of the greatest field trips ever!  I’d seriously recommend checking out his site for the next few weeks, as he goes to explore today’s U.S. culture!

That’s pretty much it for today.  Just wanted to mention how good I feel today, and also to promote my brother’s AWESOME idea.  :D