PhoenixComicon 2012- Writers Panel + giveaway

Balancing Humor and Action in your stories.

I Smell Sheep converged on PhoenixComicon 2012 in full sheepy fashion! One of the first panels we sat in on was 'Balancing Humor and Action in your stories' hosted by Gini Koch, Marsheila Rockwell, Kevin Hearne, Sam Sykes and Kris Neri.

Not only was this an educational talk for readers but also writers who came out to get the inside tips from the guys and gals who are writing some amazing hit stories out on the market today. Mixed in with a large amount of humor, amongst the panel of authors itself, this hour event floated right by with pure entertainment. And by the way this panel was completely packed, standing room only. (Yeah, the authors are THAT good!)

Some of the panel is transcribed below:

Question: Mixing humor and action is something that can add to the story or detract from a scene, how do you find the balance?

Gini: I think that part of each one of us writes in our own sense of humor. Of course all of us are funny and witty and attractive. We understand that you all think that too. [Audience laughs] But in some cases you are balancing and adding in humor which can lighten tense situations but it can also highlight that a situation is tense based on what characters are doing.

In terms of how, I'm a very linear writer so I don't put a lot of pressure on myself to be able to describe how I write otherwise it stops being organic and so forth. Something to add, I really should have prepared something cause there are a lot of people staring at me going, "So, what's your point?" [Audience laughs] My point is that it's a balance and everyone will come to that differently and if you're writing it, there's no wrong way to do it. And for readers it all depends what you like. Some like sly humor some like more overt.

Q: How do you balance the action scenes in with humor?

Kevin: I would say head down to the floor (of the convention) and buy a Spiderman comic book because honestly if you just take one of those scenes and use it as a writing exercise. That's character driven humor. He was always a wise-ass in making fun of whoever he was fighting against. And I'm actually looking forward to the new movie because of the previews I've seen, they have put a lot more of that smart-aleck tone into the guy. And that's what I fell in love with when I was a kid. Here's Spiderman going around beating up dudes more powerful then him and making jokes the whole time.

I actually think of comic books when I am writing the action scenes because I grew up reading them so much. I am not a fighter. Look at me. [Audience laughs] But I have to imagine how things are going to work. So a lot of my old X-Men comics and Spiderman help me visualize stuff. Without having any martial arts training whatsoever. I mean some authors are like (in very deep gruff voice) "I beat up bears for breakfast." And "I have 5 blackblets and you have...no belt." [Audience laughs] So, and I'm like you're right but I can write it too because I've seen other people beat each other up.

If you've yet to check out any of the mentioned above authors you can find links to their books below. Truly a fun experience.

Photographed by: Scott Daniel

***Giveaway***

I have a signed post card from both Kevin Hearne and Sam Sykes, Marsheila bookmark and Gini. Make sure to list the following below to be entered to win:

1. Your Email Address

2. What kind of humor do you enjoy?

3. Double entries if you follow the blog.

Contest is open to EVERYONE and ends June 6th at midnight!

Sheep Movie Review: Men In Black III

PG-13, 1 hr. 45 min.

Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

Directed By: Barry Sonnenfeld

Written By: Lowell Cunningham

Sony Pictures

official movie site

In Men in Black 3, Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back...in time. J has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry, reticent partner. But when K's life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things right. J discovers that there are secrets to the universe that K never told him -- secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind. -- (C) Sony

Everyone wants to know…is it worth seeing? Yes! At least I think so, but it started out a little awkward for me. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones have aged a lot since the last film. It was kind of jarring, but they didn’t try and pretend the movie happens right after the end of the second one; Agents K and J have been working together 15 years when this movie begins. I think the writers came up with a clever story angle with this one and pulled it off beautifully. Watching Josh Brolin as a younger Agent K was definitely worth the price of admission. Agent K of the past is much more lighthearted and optimistic than future K and Agent J has always wondered why K acts the way he does. The answer was touching and added a nice twist to the story.

scary dude with freaking hands

 One thing to be careful is taking younger kids if they get scared. The bad guy, Boris the Animal, is pretty bad and he kills lots of aliens and people by impaling them with spikes...in the head. I like the darker edge to the villain but small children might not. One of my favorite characters was Griffin, he is the last of his kind and can see infinite futures. He is such a lovable character and even though he dresses and acts silly, there is a deeper message there.

Here is Griffin, isn't he cute!

The film is full of snarky one liners, lots of action and a great ending that will warm your heart. I feel it was worth the matinee price. I don’t think seeing it in 3D would have enhanced my experience though so you might want to save that money.

4 “You must have come from the planet DAMN!” Sheep

Before you leave, do us a favor and look at the flashy thing....

...you will pledge loyalty to I Smell Sheep, send us moon pies and Kool Aid *Katie pokes Sharon* OUCH! Okay...and smexy men, send lots of smexy men. be nice to sheep and people, have a nice day.

Actor Thomas Jane hangs with the Sheep + giveaway

I Smell Sheep recently attended Big WOW! Comic Fest in San Jose CA. Among the many folks we had the wonderful opportunity to meet that day was the man who played Punisher in the 2004 Marvel Studios mega hit Mr. Thomas Jane! You may also remember some of his other films like: The Mist, Deep Blue Sea and Dreamcatcher.

Early Life:

Jane was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Cynthia, an antiques dealer, and Michael Elliott, a biogenetic engineer. In 1987, he graduated from Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School in Montgomery County, Maryland.

At age 18, Jane relocated to Hollywood to pursue an acting career. He was initially homeless and lived out of his car. Regarding his time as a busker, Jane has noted "I had two songs in my repertoire that I hammered to death — 'Hey Joe' and 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door'....People used to pelt me with change just to shut me up."

Career:

Jane began his acting career with the Telugu film Padamati Sandhya Ragam (1986), directed by Jandhyala, a renowned filmmaker in Telugu Cinema. His early roles included Zeph in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992). He had supporting roles in several high profile films, including The Crow: City of Angels (1996), Boogie Nights (1997), The Thin Red Line (1998), Thursday (1998) and Magnolia (1999). After receiving critical acclaim as baseball player Mickey Mantle in 61*, Jane began receiving leading roles such as that of Andre Stander in the 2003 South African film, Stander for which he gained further critical acclaim.

Jane, director Jonathan Hensleigh and Avi Arad have said in many interviews that Jane was the first and only actor to be asked to play the title role in the 2004 movie The Punisher. Jane initially turned down the role twice, as he did not have much interest in the superhero genre. Jane said that when they asked him the second time to play the Punisher it was Tim Bradstreet's artwork of the Punisher that piqued his interest. After finding out that the character was not a traditional superhero, but more of an anti-hero and a vigilante crime fighter, he accepted. He read as many Punisher comics as he could find and quickly became a fan. Jane trained for 6 or 7 months with Navy SEALs and gained more than twenty pounds of muscle for the part.

On December 18, 2008, HBO announced it was picking up the dark comedy Hung, and Jane was contracted to star in the show. He plays the character of Ray Drecker, a high school history teacher and baseball coach, who, after attending a self help class while being down on his luck, decides to market the large size of his penis as a path to success. The series was renewed for a second season which aired in the summer of 2010.

Truly an amazing actor who we're excited to continue watching in his upcoming roles!

***Giveaway***

Thomas was kind enough to sign a Punisher comic book for us to giveaway today. So, if you would like to have your very own copy make sure to list the following in the comments below:

1. Your Email Address

2. If you could have the Punisher be your BFF for a day what would you have him do? (It can be anything you can think of!)

3. Do you follow the blog? If so make sure to tell us for DOUBLE entries.

Contest is open to everyone! Ends June 9th at midnight. Good luck!