tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61756764159042230872024-03-18T08:50:24.682-07:00Brian TashimaMusic, writing, parenthood, and other random thoughtsBrian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.comBlogger639125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-39486417876499478312024-03-14T07:10:00.000-07:002024-03-14T07:10:47.669-07:00Exclusive Sneak Peek: Props For Hold My Beer<div style="text-align: left;">That's right, dear readers - as followers of this blog, you are being treated to an exclusive sneak peek at props for <i>Hold My Beer</i> (props as in objects for use in a film, not props as in "respect," or whatever the kids say. Do kids still use "props" in that way? I'm guessing not, but who knows, I'm old).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFgynEY9RGnXks6rDlYe4fxRf18rX76n-DRYoQplfVFTL3C4ZACscmBYY1zlY_TVe6Irta-t2e5Pc2Htol_S9S4_vdAMZqmk4tb6tz_QJD-kfteYqtXx2KnG7KGbXB-Ke-eOsouKJMG5C2MsdgYogPuWJ_GwuoCVghvGjzJtbMlDcDYc4lJ-YUgXX3ts/s1920/beer%20book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFgynEY9RGnXks6rDlYe4fxRf18rX76n-DRYoQplfVFTL3C4ZACscmBYY1zlY_TVe6Irta-t2e5Pc2Htol_S9S4_vdAMZqmk4tb6tz_QJD-kfteYqtXx2KnG7KGbXB-Ke-eOsouKJMG5C2MsdgYogPuWJ_GwuoCVghvGjzJtbMlDcDYc4lJ-YUgXX3ts/s320/beer%20book.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Here is a book titled "So You Want to Brew Beer?" by the esteemed and award-winning homebrewing expert Elyk Treblig. Unusual name; I think he's from somewhere in Eastern Europe? Actually, no, this is not a "real" book. It's a fake jacket over a hardcover book that, while real, has nothing whatsoever to do with beer.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybo4CRnOdrMFwQukCplxBJB7iKClNhhKlvZz5SEzMaEsjKlpmemzG6kt9BwxggEjCXtTh2HksOkcQhSjLz6fumAPinIZFKdZVwUzNE17f1aRCFkOYjD3_JhOrUMCdJhhyphenhyphenIRI4FoHIqNvZWLrkGxBspMt38brzCwVCaLHB57czTfyYpAhfvN7vFhl8fY8/s1920/homebrew%20kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybo4CRnOdrMFwQukCplxBJB7iKClNhhKlvZz5SEzMaEsjKlpmemzG6kt9BwxggEjCXtTh2HksOkcQhSjLz6fumAPinIZFKdZVwUzNE17f1aRCFkOYjD3_JhOrUMCdJhhyphenhyphenIRI4FoHIqNvZWLrkGxBspMt38brzCwVCaLHB57czTfyYpAhfvN7vFhl8fY8/s320/homebrew%20kit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And here is a fake homebrewing kit that is basically a poster made from a picture of my stovetop slapped on to the front of a random cardboard box. Show business!<div><br /></div><div>These props will be used in a few scenes of <i>Hold My Beer</i> that we're going to start shooting... this weekend?! Anyway, when the film comes out, you can say that you saw these here first!</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-66380590180746099112024-03-07T07:11:00.000-08:002024-03-07T07:11:43.499-08:00TV Roundup, Episode Seven<div style="text-align: left;">Holy recaps, it's been about twenty months since <a href="https://briantashima.blogspot.com/2022/07/tv-roundup-episode-six.html" target="_blank">the last episode of TV Roundup</a>! Volumes <a href="https://www.joelsuzuki.com/vi.html" target="_blank">Six</a> and <a href="https://www.joelsuzuki.com/vii.html" target="_blank">Seven</a> of the Joel Suzuki series hadn't even come out yet. But don't worry, I've been watching lots of TV shows during that time. Here are some of the most recent (beware mild spoilers):</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>Resident Alien</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie08ZTL0fbYeR9sPAd_5bfH4qyUNVxDWTAiXAb3sEQylLMHLV5srF9wtqJohQkc_TBULYlC8l1TaIiErUHbqIujFWmdl-WXBBgy6V2V7nMaAuNow9yaM1exrmH7yoc7xBUO1MnKqVdvrl7enDugSvjVTwF5LcwtzsmkUnmtxPBZDaA5Ht2JWPMLbFD_yU/s320/resident%20alien.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie08ZTL0fbYeR9sPAd_5bfH4qyUNVxDWTAiXAb3sEQylLMHLV5srF9wtqJohQkc_TBULYlC8l1TaIiErUHbqIujFWmdl-WXBBgy6V2V7nMaAuNow9yaM1exrmH7yoc7xBUO1MnKqVdvrl7enDugSvjVTwF5LcwtzsmkUnmtxPBZDaA5Ht2JWPMLbFD_yU/s1600/resident%20alien.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Show,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Where have you been all my life?* Now that we've met, I can't imagine being without you. You're witty and funny and you do a masterful job of balancing your wacky sci-fi plot with heartfelt human interest morals and side-stories. Your writing is sharp, your acting is impeccable, and your cameos are to die for ("Oh, my!"). Your title card gags are on par with the Simpsons couch gags and always make me laugh out loud. Even your occasional continuity errors are adorable. Also, I am super impressed by how you're able to juggle and intertwine so many different themes and threads - it's an alien invasion! it's a murder mystery! it's a family drama! - in such an effortless and engaging manner. Sometimes I imagine your writers playing a game where the writer of one episode will introduce a storyline and then hand it off to the writer of the next episode while saying "try to resolve <i>this</i>!" and the other writer says "challenge accepted!" Anyway, I hope you go on for a long, long, long time. Just, please, don't jump the shark.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Love,</div><div style="text-align: left;">A Guy Who Writes Love Letters to TV Shows</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">* The bass player in my band recommended this show to me when it first came out back in 2021, but due to silliness/laziness on my part, I never got around to checking it out until the first two seasons recently dropped on Netflix. And thank the Alpha Draconians they did.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>Avatar: The Last Airbender (Netflix Live-Action Version)</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeCL2WCeSYA_zrEJu-h8awMiOa6iHg2HOp10_aLi5Do8Dah-PkAGebhnS0qFSHxSBkCCpch35inlJHag1p4t4lRI79JeiGatQfh5Q9c4R4hmlegPohVJa1y8Kb5oTek_hX5EuP0QPb_RuLUS1MnYVITXOGqIxahELY99iUyCKw9YDJTEImH6HYhW33SA/s1200/avatar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeCL2WCeSYA_zrEJu-h8awMiOa6iHg2HOp10_aLi5Do8Dah-PkAGebhnS0qFSHxSBkCCpch35inlJHag1p4t4lRI79JeiGatQfh5Q9c4R4hmlegPohVJa1y8Kb5oTek_hX5EuP0QPb_RuLUS1MnYVITXOGqIxahELY99iUyCKw9YDJTEImH6HYhW33SA/s320/avatar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Look, I understand why some people didn't like it. But that's not a debate I'm going to get into here; there are plenty of other places on the internet for that. Suffice it to say that <i>I</i>, as a huge fan of the original animated show (watching this adaptation reminded me of just how huge an influence the original show was on the Joel Suzuki series), really enjoyed it. And thank you, Show, for the "my cabbages!" and "Pipinpadaloxicopolis" references. Looking forward to Seasons 2 and 3, which are <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mat6Gr4sgAw" target="_blank">apparently going to happen</a>. Yay, Toph!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>Mr. & Mrs. Smith</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVJM2KCeZu34fFJVuE5SWuexc3x7QyPi8HQDXshVEcCbazNs_i3QMApF38shK-S96uPE2TsCMbZn_mLN5U1Fo6ny0S94WrTbh2NOy8oe0nXwqMub7AdwRX4To05jSYnVjbHG71HKgooBIjEJ1F1qjF6tW1ToKvKNXV0FU53QFX-N4V-salfLtLlfzcU0/s1500/mrandmrssmith.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVJM2KCeZu34fFJVuE5SWuexc3x7QyPi8HQDXshVEcCbazNs_i3QMApF38shK-S96uPE2TsCMbZn_mLN5U1Fo6ny0S94WrTbh2NOy8oe0nXwqMub7AdwRX4To05jSYnVjbHG71HKgooBIjEJ1F1qjF6tW1ToKvKNXV0FU53QFX-N4V-salfLtLlfzcU0/s320/mrandmrssmith.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm a fan of romantic comedies. And James Bond movies (mostly the Daniel Craig era). So I figured I would like this show. And I did. Even though I haven't seen the original 2005 movie. Maybe I should. Also, Maya Erskine is hilarious and amazing.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>Hazbin Hotel</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWF4IgAePtXXJxOrpxEj02p1tMRHdfjgTXwsoxnENbASi4qSQaXmNTe-XngNc8SmGPiRvl3SKHznbzHqcFF_p70Tlh_hEf7sZ7ATvo5wCPO-UVOQHKZGuyNHkqMe3JXzNcOzVnJZEvSpLxg4s2yhg7p-9eNclLDNimABWyuKiQYuxwkkrbNDVspXAD3w/s1920/hazbinhotel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWF4IgAePtXXJxOrpxEj02p1tMRHdfjgTXwsoxnENbASi4qSQaXmNTe-XngNc8SmGPiRvl3SKHznbzHqcFF_p70Tlh_hEf7sZ7ATvo5wCPO-UVOQHKZGuyNHkqMe3JXzNcOzVnJZEvSpLxg4s2yhg7p-9eNclLDNimABWyuKiQYuxwkkrbNDVspXAD3w/s320/hazbinhotel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">An animated show about the princess of Hell running a rehab hotel for sinners that started as an indie production and is now on Amazon Prime? <i>And</i> it's a musical? Yes, please! Every time the characters broke out into song (with lyrics that usually included a fair amount of swear words), I always said out loud to my TV, "this show is delightful."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>Star Trek: Prodigy</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNRGH0R-gW7GEc8K-aY0qcsO1d_3RLfhpjnDgNr2q3XH-0BfmNaWqeUPL8MEUNnlnEetPkLRINHlO5N7djto6fKlct4Exut924HdVuYPRRLyqIsEk7Xk6ETljZR0PTAyfoS2Eflj8NBKZLa0C11qo-E17Rp8PUEMUTt2zQ9YAAbcUGV5RI7wyNq56j6I/s1200/prodigy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNRGH0R-gW7GEc8K-aY0qcsO1d_3RLfhpjnDgNr2q3XH-0BfmNaWqeUPL8MEUNnlnEetPkLRINHlO5N7djto6fKlct4Exut924HdVuYPRRLyqIsEk7Xk6ETljZR0PTAyfoS2Eflj8NBKZLa0C11qo-E17Rp8PUEMUTt2zQ9YAAbcUGV5RI7wyNq56j6I/s320/prodigy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">To me, this show started out more <i>Star Wars</i> than <i>Star Trek</i>, but then eventually became much more "trekky" as it went along - maybe even sometimes <i>too</i> much, with generous helpings of fan-service-y references to previous Trek series and a sense that it's almost a continuation of <i>Voyager</i>. But I still liked it anyway.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Until next time!</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-8814460306826135912024-02-29T07:10:00.000-08:002024-02-29T07:10:49.152-08:00Hold My Beer Crew Meeting<div style="text-align: left;">In preparation for the start of filming next month (!), we held a <i>Hold My Beer</i> crew-only meeting this past Sunday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5sExuTY1rLbiA4YbrYvwEAcxbY0eqArYQTWZb1FUpyRbrVHVCfodsGVTVaQFaT5_iU7tmylvAEsrHcAMaiO7ZNk8UdF5tJjsUyViMi_6OwJTnJaB1XLuf2JYaZYyojeme1At6CdKkw60XiTl7C2jbNIQU8GL-ftLwlDU3x-PFbg01o1_7KEwkucAC7bA/s1920/Crew%20Meeting.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5sExuTY1rLbiA4YbrYvwEAcxbY0eqArYQTWZb1FUpyRbrVHVCfodsGVTVaQFaT5_iU7tmylvAEsrHcAMaiO7ZNk8UdF5tJjsUyViMi_6OwJTnJaB1XLuf2JYaZYyojeme1At6CdKkw60XiTl7C2jbNIQU8GL-ftLwlDU3x-PFbg01o1_7KEwkucAC7bA/s320/Crew%20Meeting.png" width="320" /></a></div>When <a href="https://briantashima.blogspot.com/2023/09/i-was-production-assistant-on-film-set.html" target="_blank">I was a production assistant on another film set last September</a>, one thing I noticed was how seamlessly the crew there worked together. That was due in part to their experience, not only individually, but with each other. While our crew does have a few people with extensive filming experience, we've never worked together before, so the main purpose of the meeting was to go over our methodology and get on the same page.<div><br /></div><div>One of the items we had to decide on was how we're going to, in filmmaking parlance, "call the roll," which is when people say cool things like "roll camera" and "scene one, take one," and "action." There are different ways to do this, but we settled on what is a pretty standard approach according to the research I did (which involved reading numerous websites as well as watching the movie <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XMuHHdUkJw" target="_blank">Living In Oblivion</a></i>).</div><div><br /></div><div>We also went over the fact that, this being a low-budget production with limited resources, we're just going to have to do the very best we can with what we have. This means focusing on stuff that really matters, like sound, lighting, and performance, while possibly letting go of other things that would be nice to have but aren't completely crucial, like airtight continuity (after all, thanks to this experience, I now catch continuity errors in big-budget productions <i>all the time</i>).</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, while we won't really be sure of how things are going to go until we actually get on set, I feel a little more prepared, and I'm really grateful for everyone's participation and support.</div><div><br /></div><div>More updates to come!</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-9950355354567759402024-02-22T07:39:00.000-08:002024-02-22T07:39:31.367-08:00February Nostalgia Post<div style="text-align: left;">"Natsukashii" in Japanese means nostalgia, mostly of the positive sort. Now, I'm not normally one for living in the past*, but every so often, when <strike>I have nothing else to blog about</strike> I'm feeling wistful during the waning days of winter**, I like to look back at what I was doing during the same time in prior years. Join me for the journey, won't you?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xm0vjmqpQ5uyoncOV4186RzL_UtYJyA_CuhyphenhyphenY_Ncvtma_xBnGEPcetwCeUin3I_uhA5ZjKtMqoorVwzpQrjSj7_f1Jol1oCVoiGot8O5fndk6BudZ2WAxdZnFC7B869WGDKqv0CwM4Vz-qTCjwVnz4VC5cSU2Jhq9AfZx3lGXhwilNWjkkaVOR5ZeME/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_3371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xm0vjmqpQ5uyoncOV4186RzL_UtYJyA_CuhyphenhyphenY_Ncvtma_xBnGEPcetwCeUin3I_uhA5ZjKtMqoorVwzpQrjSj7_f1Jol1oCVoiGot8O5fndk6BudZ2WAxdZnFC7B869WGDKqv0CwM4Vz-qTCjwVnz4VC5cSU2Jhq9AfZx3lGXhwilNWjkkaVOR5ZeME/w240-h320/thumbnail_IMG_3371.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>(pictured above: lucky penny from February 2022)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">February 23, 2023</div><div style="text-align: left;">"<a href="https://briantashima.blogspot.com/2023/02/volume-seven-status-update-cant-blog.html" target="_blank">Volume Seven Status Update: Can't Blog, Reading</a>"</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wow, I was still working on Volume Seven? Feels like that book has already been out for a long time now. Maybe that's what happens when you switch from writing to filmmaking? Or, you know, time warp. Yeah, probably time warp.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">February 24, 2022</div><div style="text-align: left;">"<a href="https://briantashima.blogspot.com/2022/02/tv-roundup-episode-five.html" target="_blank">TV Roundup, Episode Five</a>"</div><div style="text-align: left;">I guess <i>Brews Brothers</i> and <i>As We See It</i> weren't picked up for additional seasons? That's too bad, I liked those shows.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">February 25, 2021</div><div style="text-align: left;">"<a href="https://briantashima.blogspot.com/2021/02/anime-roundup-big-name-edition.html" target="_blank">Anime Roundup: Big Name Edition</a>"</div><div style="text-align: left;">You know, I tried, but I just couldn't get into <i>One Piece</i>. Gasp, I know, right?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">February 20, 2020</div><div style="text-align: left;">"<a href="https://briantashima.blogspot.com/2020/02/quickie-status-updates.html" target="_blank">Quickie Status Updates</a>"</div><div style="text-align: left;">I love this part: "the band and I are making plans to start livestreaming portions of our Sunday afternoon practices on Facebook." Ha! Ha ha ha!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Okay, that's good enough.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">* <i>The past, present, and future are all the same, anyway. Time is an illusion</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">** <i>Alliteration score: 7/10</i></div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-76303093746949355462024-02-15T07:11:00.000-08:002024-02-15T07:11:06.327-08:00Random Cat Picture Placeholder Post<div style="text-align: left;">This is a cat hiding under a sweater jacket.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGdyCejH9AU5mIgKRPfiqUJ6DQmuBXPIFCu8D9nGfRF10SGKB5Kz6MNgeBmkFhisW0nMtEn4PD3kdSt9O41WzWeC80Db2TqNgc0fs0YXeiE2U0M6BL6CJ1bZ2iWuHibS2HUKK-APKLdlrlDhCu_BveCxUmXdQDp3tLC4QhjJcwWzwDJsPfAjHA1BKZp24/s1920/cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGdyCejH9AU5mIgKRPfiqUJ6DQmuBXPIFCu8D9nGfRF10SGKB5Kz6MNgeBmkFhisW0nMtEn4PD3kdSt9O41WzWeC80Db2TqNgc0fs0YXeiE2U0M6BL6CJ1bZ2iWuHibS2HUKK-APKLdlrlDhCu_BveCxUmXdQDp3tLC4QhjJcwWzwDJsPfAjHA1BKZp24/s320/cat.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>"Heh, heh! They'll never find me under here!"Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-31634979264411415572024-02-08T07:07:00.000-08:002024-02-08T07:07:59.594-08:00Hold My Beer Update<div style="text-align: left;">Time for another Hold My Beer update!<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CdgtIEiX0wgjDy9A6ddlGa4z21CygBzkyiGDlBkoj9n5cXNWwN-kgX3bDAehIbrC30lgY0l4js7tVH-fSyrEQX5aP8O0HWfWfpNlcrK5ILxe4SsQmlRXPJNWicN7dmzdQ1QPRT-jTAAL3Oa57TAu6MsQHPDTFlkukYTvn1W1RB_LDmu0THI9nzHELSA/s4768/IMG_0014.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="4768" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CdgtIEiX0wgjDy9A6ddlGa4z21CygBzkyiGDlBkoj9n5cXNWwN-kgX3bDAehIbrC30lgY0l4js7tVH-fSyrEQX5aP8O0HWfWfpNlcrK5ILxe4SsQmlRXPJNWicN7dmzdQ1QPRT-jTAAL3Oa57TAu6MsQHPDTFlkukYTvn1W1RB_LDmu0THI9nzHELSA/s320/IMG_0014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The latest news is that our workprint (basically, a rough draft of the film) is just about complete. All the raw footage has been shot, and post-production (editing, etc.) should be done by next week. It's not great, mind you, and no one but our cast and crew will ever see it (unless we decide to include snippets of it in the eventual "making of" video), but it was a great rehearsal for the real deal, and we learned a lot by doing it (brief moments here and there are actually, believe it or not, pretty darn good).<div><br /></div><div>Next up: a crew-only meeting to help us get on the same page, and then <i>*gasp*</i> actual filming begins in March!</div><div><br /></div><div>Stay tuned for more updates...</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-27902925926556857392024-02-01T07:24:00.000-08:002024-02-01T07:24:47.023-08:00Most Exclusive Restaurants in Science Fiction<div style="text-align: left;">I recently finished watching <i>Fermat's Cuisine</i> on Netflix, the latest in a long line of Japanese live-action dramedies that I've been consuming (mostly all from TBS; keep them coming, Netflix). It was about a young math prodigy who, upon discovering that he isn't the best mathematician in the country, makes an unintended pivot to becoming a chef, where his math skills come in handy in the kitchen, like with creating recipes and such.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8K3yOXFYLNQs_qKyPq_JrxMAFlpwOrvk8h7a56ZtmQU3OtOTqPcMKilFE2-2iXclVDBnmuHZa83J7jl6NbZvhmA7XfOZBxohgZ8asV_LxwnCpJM58DmInoq_wZqaYeDEGyi37ddNp9LbeUcwxKQiE8PMPwACWcfjixTknQVr9KowSCvBUvfCM93ozB1U/s300/darillium.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8K3yOXFYLNQs_qKyPq_JrxMAFlpwOrvk8h7a56ZtmQU3OtOTqPcMKilFE2-2iXclVDBnmuHZa83J7jl6NbZvhmA7XfOZBxohgZ8asV_LxwnCpJM58DmInoq_wZqaYeDEGyi37ddNp9LbeUcwxKQiE8PMPwACWcfjixTknQVr9KowSCvBUvfCM93ozB1U/s1600/darillium.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">He's discovered by the head chef at an exclusive French-Asian cuisine restaurant, who then begins grooming him to become his eventual successor. Now, I'm no hardcore foodie, but I am a fan of these kinds of story settings, as I've always had a sort of fascination with food service culture, despite never having worked in the industry myself (I have watched <i>Food Wars</i> and <i>Iron Chef</i>, however. I've also tried to get into <i>The Bear</i>, but for some reason Hulu kicks me out of the show every few minutes or so, so I got frustrated and gave up after grinding my way through the first episode, which I really liked despite the interruptions. It's weird, because I can watch other Hulu programming with no issues. What, Hulu, is your award-winning crown jewel too exclusive for me?) (see what I did there)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, this got me thinking about other fictional exclusive restaurants, mainly in science fiction. Here are the top three that came to mind (warning: mild spoilers):</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">1. Milliways</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Or, as it's otherwise known, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, from Douglas Adams' <i>The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, </i>the second book in the <i>Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy</i> "trilogy." Despite being a popular five-star eatery, you can actually get a table quite easily via time travel.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">2. Unnamed Restaurant on Darillium</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">From the <i>Doctor Who</i> episode <i>The Husbands of River Song, </i>this place has a four-year waiting list that the Doctor circumvented by using - what else - time travel. I'm guessing it was inspired by Milliways. The balcony seating has a great view of the Singing Towers of Darillium (pictured above), where one night lasts 24 years. That's a lot of desserts.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">3. Trilligan's</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">From <i><a href="https://www.joelsuzuki.com/vii.html" target="_blank">Joel Suzuki, Volume Seven: Vision of the Virtuoso</a></i>, this is a restaurant so exclusive, the wife of the most powerful being in the multiverse still has to make a reservation. I swear the use of double-Ls in the name (like "Milliways" or "Darillium") is a coincidence. Or maybe something subliminal. Anyway, their specialty is sauteed space slug. Delicious.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Are there any that I missed? Let me know in the comments!</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-28537389927677423102024-01-25T07:28:00.000-08:002024-01-25T07:28:46.397-08:00Table Read For Hold My Beer<div style="text-align: left;">The table read for Hold My Beer was a great success!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisraNdOzBHSdWhfTklDK-nD14_HlZ1Va2hMRf37IM-Ga1mM-S86nbo9RCwMNKraouEacMEOM07oipTDe07jF9HkeFSXybmeuKJia5kHl0nvcvbsQT0fUZzvDCrV7qSecTaddfqAgXDHQCBScNq2zQqvPnYpVZUxv9irENmmO6Kto01o3ls-_4kYGQo3qI/s2048/table%20read.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisraNdOzBHSdWhfTklDK-nD14_HlZ1Va2hMRf37IM-Ga1mM-S86nbo9RCwMNKraouEacMEOM07oipTDe07jF9HkeFSXybmeuKJia5kHl0nvcvbsQT0fUZzvDCrV7qSecTaddfqAgXDHQCBScNq2zQqvPnYpVZUxv9irENmmO6Kto01o3ls-_4kYGQo3qI/s320/table%20read.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Huge thanks and shout-outs go to our amazing cast and crew: Andrew York, Ian Engelsman, Ethan Blackwelder, Lydia Pearl Pentz, Rich Ray, Karen Krejcha, Kevin Coy, Eric Holmes, Anne McEnerny-Ogle, Jennie Greb (in absentia), Karen York, Heidi Blackwelder, John Krejcha, Torin Tashima, Ryan Krejcha, Justine Krejcha, Elizabeth Holmes, Andy Lockhart, and Beth Harrington. The guys in SPS and I are so happy and grateful to be working with such a talented bunch of people.<div><br /></div><div>Thanks also to <a href="https://www.stephensplace.org/" target="_blank">Stephen's Place</a> for hosting us, <a href="https://www.autismempowerment.org/" target="_blank">Autism Empowerment</a> for the food and co-production, and, of course, the <a href="https://www.cityofvancouver.us/government/department/parks-recreation-and-cultural-services/culture-arts-and-heritage/" target="_blank">Vancouver Culture, Arts, and Heritage Commission</a> for the generous grant that is helping to make this project possible.</div><div><br /></div><div>More to come!</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-78975583688226882012024-01-18T07:05:00.000-08:002024-01-18T07:05:39.331-08:00Find Princess Zelda: CompleteAfter <a href="https://briantashima.blogspot.com/2023/05/tears-of-kingdom-is-out-tomorrow.html" target="_blank">eight months</a> and what were probably hundreds of gameplay hours, I finally finished <i>Tears of the Kingdom</i>. Or, at least, the main story quest part of it (along with a whole bunch of side quests and adventures that I completed along the way).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIxSqvfbYgZLjRpfT7DJLnxpui0Pz-eCpUL3Z3ZcBEfhCeJ62BP0xg_nALkQxKNG8aBgdHHKi3TRfN-aHQRb9KlNOykaEeJNHjofc41WxtyHX-xjPp6D4lHX4LqKNgn4DYZaoWbBZZqEhXnyFdD6EiOWTbjW1lTs5WO-ueR7v2tAhUQ3VzLTe9E4oY1Y/s1200/totk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIxSqvfbYgZLjRpfT7DJLnxpui0Pz-eCpUL3Z3ZcBEfhCeJ62BP0xg_nALkQxKNG8aBgdHHKi3TRfN-aHQRb9KlNOykaEeJNHjofc41WxtyHX-xjPp6D4lHX4LqKNgn4DYZaoWbBZZqEhXnyFdD6EiOWTbjW1lTs5WO-ueR7v2tAhUQ3VzLTe9E4oY1Y/s320/totk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>The funny part is that, while I feel the usual sense of accomplishment, I also feel a little lost, like my purpose in life is now gone. Over the past eight months, I'd reserved a couple of hours here and there on weekend afternoons to play the game, and those hours felt like a welcome and relaxing escape (even though fighting Lynels or puzzling through difficult shrines were anything but relaxing). Yes, I have <i>Hogwarts: Legacy</i> now, having received it as a welcome Christmas present, but while it's fun, there's simply nothing - to me, anyway - like a Zelda game.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>WARNING: Major spoilers for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to follow after the jump</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>And yes, I know that I can just go back and continue playing the game - there are TONS of things I haven't done, including reuniting most of those lost Koroks - but really, it just wouldn't feel the same. As much as I enjoy side quests, in my mind everything I do tends to have an undercurrent of purpose to it, that purpose being to eventually defeat Ganondorf and finish the main story. Like, for example, after completing a minor side quest where the only reward is, say, 100 rupees, I would think, "okay, well, those rupees will help me pay for armor upgrades, or more arrows or healing items."</div><div><br /></div><div>See, the thing is, if you go back and continue the game, you go back to a point before you entered the final boss stage. You do have some additional perks (your save file has a star on it and you now have a game completion percentage meter), but it would feel weird to me to be running around doing stuff when I know I already beat the boss but for some reason he's still there. What I really would like is a new gameplay mode where Ganon and all the gloom is gone and Link can just cruise around Hyrule doing fun things content in the knowledge that the day has been saved. He won't be able to Ultrahand or Ascend or anything anymore, and Mineru won't be there, but that's okay. He can take his time exploring, getting his paraglider dyed in different colors, and maybe visiting Zelda while she oversees the rebuilding of Hyrule castle (which would be done with the help of Zonai devices powered by Zonaite from the now-restored underground mines). Or, heck, maybe you can even play <i>as</i> Zelda and visit the different towns and stables to talk to citizens and restore morale. Nintendo, maybe think about doing that for the next game, huh?</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, at least I have a fun and exciting event lined up for this weekend to fill the Zelda-shaped hole in my life - namely, a table read for <i>Hold My Beer</i>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-ONTGo8ehBB335UXpg9qmnOl5cNgfTVcvFkWCwL6X26sn8fM0I670zey4GOH1ECL7iRR8bBsSWzojuP_zB_Fv0GsZ-OwtN_jdyK_tEiVD_I5icUpDOML7j-O76ySNhZZOqoiSha2rVnDC_fj3GP9I_U-Bk0kK-f6u0uwgiKolPmSB1bSJSUUKgzdsvs/s1920/scripts.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-ONTGo8ehBB335UXpg9qmnOl5cNgfTVcvFkWCwL6X26sn8fM0I670zey4GOH1ECL7iRR8bBsSWzojuP_zB_Fv0GsZ-OwtN_jdyK_tEiVD_I5icUpDOML7j-O76ySNhZZOqoiSha2rVnDC_fj3GP9I_U-Bk0kK-f6u0uwgiKolPmSB1bSJSUUKgzdsvs/s320/scripts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>(Yes, I was kidding about losing my purpose.)Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-72232040526902871612024-01-11T08:07:00.000-08:002024-01-11T08:07:28.373-08:00Anime-Ish Roundup: Blue Eye Samurai<div style="text-align: left;">As you know if you've been following this blog, when it comes to Anime Roundup posts, I typically don't devote an entire post to a single show (unless that show is <i><a href="https://briantashima.blogspot.com/2023/01/anime-roundup-attack-on-titan-edition.html" target="_blank">Attack on Titan</a></i>). And I especially don't devote an entire post to a show that is animated and Asian-inspired but is <i>technically</i> not anime (a separate and extensive discussion that I may have touched on before but is not the subject of this post)*.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But then, I watched Netflix's <i>Blue Eye Samurai</i>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOrWe6ay3-pH2jZt6Jq5eTsfc0FFRYQgxEk6dvga_8aegGDHf7UOIYyIxHtDTAC-JyyeTR5tKhPb8yrThSLBuLe7Q0hgxsC1Asb4bBKI_Tb59mm1lr1CMJWgt84B-5W8O9DtRy1J2NIerEenwHdVPFL18fkYvfV6oSWTWueVMApGggxKJXMkQM2a10Wo/s1200/blueyesamurai.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="1200" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOrWe6ay3-pH2jZt6Jq5eTsfc0FFRYQgxEk6dvga_8aegGDHf7UOIYyIxHtDTAC-JyyeTR5tKhPb8yrThSLBuLe7Q0hgxsC1Asb4bBKI_Tb59mm1lr1CMJWgt84B-5W8O9DtRy1J2NIerEenwHdVPFL18fkYvfV6oSWTWueVMApGggxKJXMkQM2a10Wo/s320/blueyesamurai.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Holy cow.<div><br /></div><div>Netflix recommended it to me (with a "98% match") when it first came out in November, but at the time, I was heavily into light-hearted, live-action Japanese dramedies and not really in the mood for what looked like a pretty serious and potentially downbeat period drama. But as the weeks progressed, I began to see more and more recommendations for it pop up here and there, until finally I decided to give it a try.</div><div><br /></div><div>And boy, am I glad I did.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you haven't already watched it (go ahead and do that now, I'll wait), its basic story premise centers on a half-Japanese woman samurai in Edo-period Japan in search of revenge. But, like the aforementioned <i>Attack on Titan</i>, it is sooo much more than that. I won't get too deep into details or review-type comments (although some spoilers will follow) as you can find plenty of that elsewhere on the internet, but instead I will just bullet-point list a few things I wanted to express:</div><div><br /></div><div>- I noticed a lot of similarities between this show and <i><a href="https://www.indyplanet.com/glorified-1" target="_blank">Glorified</a></i>, the manga-style comic book series written and published by me and the guys in <a href="https://www.secondplayerscore.com/" target="_blank">Second Player Score</a>. They both feature a strong female protagonist, who is an excellent fighter capable of killing multiple opponents at once, on a single-minded quest; a sidekick-type character who wants to join up with the protagonist but is initially rebuffed, only to be reluctantly welcomed later; plot twists and questions about the protagonist's history; the protagonist slowly learning to let people in and accept help; themes of revenge and redemption; "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_br1BtMLZI" target="_blank">daddy issues</a>"; and more. The story and setting of <i>Glorified</i> is, of course, much different, and the strong-woman-warrior-bent-on-revenge trope is nothing new (see: Beatrix Kiddo, Furiosa, Ryuko from <i>Kill la Kill</i>, etc.), so while at first I thought, "Oh man, with this excellent show now out in the world, do we still even need <i>Glorified</i>?" I eventually figured that there can be room for both.</div><div><br /></div><div>- I love how the show came up with a reason behind how the real-life <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Fire_of_Meireki" target="_blank">Great Fire of Meireki</a> in 1657 Japan started, which nobody actually really knows (there is a legend about it, but it's probably just as fictional as this show). <i>Doctor Who</i> does this a lot.</div><div><br /></div><div>- The artwork, animation, and action sequences are absolutely stunning. Wait, I guess that's a review-type comment.</div><div><br /></div><div>- A few nitpicky things: a couple of episodes contained a confusing edit, like when Mizu started fighting Boss Hamata's men outside of Madame Kaji's brothel, but the the next thing you know, she's inside, shepherding everyone into the cellar. And then there's the trope of the protagonist sustaining severe wounds and either being hobbled by them or healing right back up in practically no time at all, depending on what the plot calls for. Also, in the season finale, why were the soldiers with guns just standing around and not shooting after Mizu broke in? Anyway, I just point out these minor details because I care, and otherwise love this show so much.</div><div><br /></div><div>- I am so glad that the flashbacks in episode 5 were real and not a dream (as confirmed by a behind-the-scenes video interview with the creators). It just makes Mizu's story that much darker.</div><div><br /></div><div>- Can't wait for Season 2!</div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>* Not that there's anything wrong with such shows; the non-James Cameron </i>Avatar<i> franchise (</i>The Last Airbender, Legend of Korra<i>) is one of my all-time favorites</i></div></div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-27071905169098459102024-01-04T08:22:00.000-08:002024-01-04T08:22:55.406-08:00New Year, New Logos!<div style="text-align: left;">As we move into 2024 and the production of Hold My Beer kicks into high gear, I and the guys in Second Player Score decided to commission the creation of new logos for our "film production division," aka Second Player Scenes. Check 'em out!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrup9LUNpqIrgzeO9VL33xlMpXXzO5ZuDBrfLLlOlAPXN8dUg7AK5I7FCmBLfV6ybFsxH_m3fhs-XrtWi6IYNaFSqbqDc7WWpraNbedw30D_qgDerUKzZBq12Kk5S_AZHlmXrdY2rHGjMqCmERGS0IyoWzhTgDLiIaB1AYsi4pHEjqaIBzkz04K2JmkIg/s12500/2C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="12500" data-original-width="12500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrup9LUNpqIrgzeO9VL33xlMpXXzO5ZuDBrfLLlOlAPXN8dUg7AK5I7FCmBLfV6ybFsxH_m3fhs-XrtWi6IYNaFSqbqDc7WWpraNbedw30D_qgDerUKzZBq12Kk5S_AZHlmXrdY2rHGjMqCmERGS0IyoWzhTgDLiIaB1AYsi4pHEjqaIBzkz04K2JmkIg/s320/2C.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This is the "main" logo, based on our standard SPS logo. See what we did with the filmstrip and reel?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGqdloicYh0kvwlqMoWkZkm6ebcrQLXGKuD-CykqtW3w63IOCnmRw38u4RaSIH0rOUujzCUbNbmybhpHpIpEGDO1KVFfm9wl8gmoB6a-Tlyr2IPPjcZcTl5jWuzAXsaROqmYNWvLeZOl0mt5-iK0g2FLWGu6UwVf_CJgKa-Degciz783wz3BwZ2NSj6M/s12500/1J%20Grey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="12500" data-original-width="12500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGqdloicYh0kvwlqMoWkZkm6ebcrQLXGKuD-CykqtW3w63IOCnmRw38u4RaSIH0rOUujzCUbNbmybhpHpIpEGDO1KVFfm9wl8gmoB6a-Tlyr2IPPjcZcTl5jWuzAXsaROqmYNWvLeZOl0mt5-iK0g2FLWGu6UwVf_CJgKa-Degciz783wz3BwZ2NSj6M/s320/1J%20Grey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And this is the "alternate" logo, again riffing on the whole camera image thing.<div><br /></div><div>More exciting developments to come soon. Happy New Year! Akemashite Omedetou! Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-15076556077516513582023-12-28T07:34:00.000-08:002023-12-28T07:34:18.607-08:00Holiday Filler Post<div style="text-align: left;">This is a week in which not much is happening <a href="https://www.secondplayerscore.com/sps-verse.html" target="_blank">SPS-Verse-wise</a> due to it being the holiday season. Also, I'm too lazy to write anything of any substance. So instead, I present you with this random picture of cheap pasta:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJPtsA46hQwW1sYARhL6cPSCl9LHYXaSv-eDDf-UglmnVlzGu6U8pjZk2rG3_82WziHsFl7ByUg9pqUN8SHb2J1nZymRHXg6tLiHOEdcQ7KfotEIO-A0xb3Kz8-EeMH6Jy1F8gkiC_o73z7u_ixczhMZrbxmMvqwDGlwJfFhLO953lEHYhBKjkkvol0A/s1920/pasta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJPtsA46hQwW1sYARhL6cPSCl9LHYXaSv-eDDf-UglmnVlzGu6U8pjZk2rG3_82WziHsFl7ByUg9pqUN8SHb2J1nZymRHXg6tLiHOEdcQ7KfotEIO-A0xb3Kz8-EeMH6Jy1F8gkiC_o73z7u_ixczhMZrbxmMvqwDGlwJfFhLO953lEHYhBKjkkvol0A/s320/pasta.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Things will ramp back up next week, I promise. In the meantime, Happy Holidays!Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-62058327861657726622023-12-21T07:05:00.000-08:002023-12-21T07:05:00.803-08:00More Hold My Beer Updates<div style="text-align: left;">The Hold My Beer production train keeps rolling along!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On December 10th, we shot test footage at <a href="https://www.baderbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Bader Beer & Wine Supply</a>, a brewing supply shop here in Vancouver where one of the scenes will take place. Big thanks to owner Quintin Murchison and the Bader staff for their support! (we'll be back...)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1MT1iT5Ex2LcnB5yT5PyO_JFJoNHyjTzJOg_WE2rRYTNCXMFtizGIjHr3-ocD6khxYw-vW2l8PPL_GNAe4wiRxevvN6EBSUU_wR2KiphYYlGqSCO2de_yHKCZMsh8C9Z2THg_fzTKgLBDl1dZbd-yGAdFoS4EGJkXoIJZ0PVjIkJzB9jloxqEkaibz4/s1920/bader1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1MT1iT5Ex2LcnB5yT5PyO_JFJoNHyjTzJOg_WE2rRYTNCXMFtizGIjHr3-ocD6khxYw-vW2l8PPL_GNAe4wiRxevvN6EBSUU_wR2KiphYYlGqSCO2de_yHKCZMsh8C9Z2THg_fzTKgLBDl1dZbd-yGAdFoS4EGJkXoIJZ0PVjIkJzB9jloxqEkaibz4/s320/bader1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Then on December 17th, we had our first meeting with film industry veteran and all-around cool person Jennie Greb (at <a href="https://loowitbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Loowit</a>, naturally), who will be the sound mixer on set and will also help with post-production. We're so grateful to have her as part of our crew!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwKvW-S-t0WGM29BsXScIIr7VXh-YNZvL9MwgyNsJwTYYVa07gY5ROYpCnPsjTv7TcCpVymasDIcRUiMR1RYDnQjMaOW1hninY_2-1OPIO3eG8_Zk25At1yPJz06fF_-rHnXJCef63-hCYAQZeMCMjfw0YVlUEWDIqMPmgtlofcu84119EqRoDwZ4-VA/s1280/jenniegreb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwKvW-S-t0WGM29BsXScIIr7VXh-YNZvL9MwgyNsJwTYYVa07gY5ROYpCnPsjTv7TcCpVymasDIcRUiMR1RYDnQjMaOW1hninY_2-1OPIO3eG8_Zk25At1yPJz06fF_-rHnXJCef63-hCYAQZeMCMjfw0YVlUEWDIqMPmgtlofcu84119EqRoDwZ4-VA/s320/jenniegreb.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Lastly (for now), we made our first official purchase with our grant funds from Vancouver's Culture, Arts, and Heritage Commission: a clapperboard (aka slate).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRmI82UFwNYVa9xqhxCzGBoLhbrRSH098Qiy5dTuUE8BwcascLYv1UMUCWAn74Kh-D4eDioeiyEEs0pHFGUSSIKNfLkGa-Su-0sYF06y49YL9at259gNNei9pV_C2G1IjYh1LQPmSGw-tKNeRoPcOR4pn3RiiPTu6EnmAls2RY7aIS4fmVlFfj2RO-1Q/s1920/slate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRmI82UFwNYVa9xqhxCzGBoLhbrRSH098Qiy5dTuUE8BwcascLYv1UMUCWAn74Kh-D4eDioeiyEEs0pHFGUSSIKNfLkGa-Su-0sYF06y49YL9at259gNNei9pV_C2G1IjYh1LQPmSGw-tKNeRoPcOR4pn3RiiPTu6EnmAls2RY7aIS4fmVlFfj2RO-1Q/s320/slate.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div>That's right, things are getting real. Stay tuned for more updates!</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-78183684395200413822023-12-14T06:46:00.000-08:002023-12-14T06:46:58.081-08:00Hold My Beer Casting Announcement!<div style="text-align: left;">In my <a href="https://briantashima.blogspot.com/2023/11/thanksgiving-gratitude-post-kumoricon.html" target="_blank">recent Thanksgiving post</a>, I mentioned in passing that the cast for <i>Hold My Beer</i> was complete. But unless you follow <a href="https://www.facebook.com/secondplayerscore" target="_blank">Second Player Score</a> and/or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/autismempowerment/" target="_blank">Autism Empowerment</a> on Facebook (or are on my personal friends list), that is all you would have known! So, I'm rectifying that this week...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWShhjsn1yMXVyay2BCtoJg-_-92ms_Y7P8rtIbdG9waF84JjqO0YdeQQbB_UjU_fAjrrDpFXx3ErGIRlzXxPu33Q8ZyF2OgybVDqrdZ57-NK3mSY58kvJNvMR7QCdKIfrOe6sUOBp3lkwVSTSQVI0yIXpryU3xpHrsu-5K4sZIKAa4gW7Uo3HeUnw3S8/s2000/Casting%20Announcement%20Pic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWShhjsn1yMXVyay2BCtoJg-_-92ms_Y7P8rtIbdG9waF84JjqO0YdeQQbB_UjU_fAjrrDpFXx3ErGIRlzXxPu33Q8ZyF2OgybVDqrdZ57-NK3mSY58kvJNvMR7QCdKIfrOe6sUOBp3lkwVSTSQVI0yIXpryU3xpHrsu-5K4sZIKAa4gW7Uo3HeUnw3S8/s320/Casting%20Announcement%20Pic.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">There are nine primary speaking roles, filled by the awesome and talented people listed in the picture. Here are more details:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Andrew York - Val (the lead character)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ian Engelsman - Jess (Val's friend)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ethan Blackwelder - Sky (Val's friend)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Lydia Pearl Pentz - Shannon (a commercial loan officer)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Rich Ray - Doug (Val's biological father)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Karen Krejcha - Ellen (Val's biological mother)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Kevin Coy - Carl (Val's stepdad)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Eric Holmes - Roger (owner of a brewing supply shop)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Anne McEnerny-Ogle - Amber (an investment banker and Shannon's mother)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also, in case you didn't know, Anne McEnerny-Ogle is the mayor of Vancouver, and Eric Holmes is the city manager! All of us in the production team are so grateful to have them and everyone else on board.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">More to come!</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-36051480584842521782023-12-07T07:32:00.000-08:002023-12-07T07:32:46.636-08:00Author TalkMy recent mini-resurgence in doing live <a href="https://www.joelsuzuki.com/" target="_blank">Joel Suzuki</a>-related events came to a close this past Tuesday with a <a href="https://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/event/author-talk-brian-tashima" target="_blank">presentation for the Washington State University Vancouver Creative Writing Club</a>. As I was walking to the room where the event was to take place, I witnessed this awesome bit of signage:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRx_OD7eWNsIGpfV_moD1QSFnnx9NbVYW4G_eaQemWf8O1BaCZycxO-W_KqkxmMBD7SolZ8CG5HSWGMNgrPCxh183vtN-S3_XSagtJQxsXkTM9zTd73IQANKkeHvCrz4ya62tXuKXzUP0UhXwzFpbsKFgHLEnvnnnrArZ_GV5wDFp8G6khdiQEqPVENoE/s1920/wsuv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRx_OD7eWNsIGpfV_moD1QSFnnx9NbVYW4G_eaQemWf8O1BaCZycxO-W_KqkxmMBD7SolZ8CG5HSWGMNgrPCxh183vtN-S3_XSagtJQxsXkTM9zTd73IQANKkeHvCrz4ya62tXuKXzUP0UhXwzFpbsKFgHLEnvnnnrArZ_GV5wDFp8G6khdiQEqPVENoE/s320/wsuv.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>And not once, but twice! (I didn't take a picture of the second sign because I was too busy admiring the beautiful WSU-V campus.)<div><br /></div><div>Anyway, I had a great time meeting and speaking with the club members, passing on what I've learned from my twelve-ish years of being involved in the publishing industry. Big thanks to Andrew York (the lead actor of <i>Hold My Beer</i>) for setting it all up!</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-32047471047401493252023-11-30T07:28:00.000-08:002023-11-30T07:30:32.554-08:00Neighborhood Toy Store Month<div style="text-align: left;">November is <a href="https://kazoodlestoys.com/blogs/news/title-astras-neighborhood-toy-store-month-celebrating-local-toy-shops" target="_blank">Neighborhood Toy Store Month</a>! And yes, while today is the last day of November, our wonderful neighborhood toy store <a href="https://kazoodlestoys.com/" target="_blank">Kazoodles Toys</a> is holding a bonus event this Saturday, December 2nd, called "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1099163767743031" target="_blank">Celebrate Local</a>."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUH-5wakFrdmBd_J3LJz1blYIjNZo7NxMGrYpkmid6ZlPE2NpVDDkFYDmfcuyAVNSVCHXZD0cA4cO7EIR9VsSXyqT4t-3w3p0M6H8mkSKOlwHnvHJJA72pAtyA98ZBBBBSlEq_GzfEBKViBLIaRzmvX4E8wtAsgFX1n66AK5xIFFkEp9hRytznpdOjPRc/s540/Kazoodles.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUH-5wakFrdmBd_J3LJz1blYIjNZo7NxMGrYpkmid6ZlPE2NpVDDkFYDmfcuyAVNSVCHXZD0cA4cO7EIR9VsSXyqT4t-3w3p0M6H8mkSKOlwHnvHJJA72pAtyA98ZBBBBSlEq_GzfEBKViBLIaRzmvX4E8wtAsgFX1n66AK5xIFFkEp9hRytznpdOjPRc/s320/Kazoodles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The day - or, more accurately, the five hours between 11am and 4pm - will feature brands with local (the Vancouver, WA area) ties, including <a href="https://www.marmals.com/" target="_blank">Marmals</a>, <a href="https://earthgrownkiddoughs.com/" target="_blank">Earth Grown KidDoughs</a>, <a href="https://mukikim.com/" target="_blank">Mukikim</a>, <a href="https://www.mirustoys.com/" target="_blank">Mirus Toys</a>, <a href="https://eeboo.com/" target="_blank">eeBoo</a>, <a href="https://us.tonies.com/" target="_blank">Tonies</a>, and yours truly, the author of the <a href="https://www.joelsuzuki.com/" target="_blank">Joel Suzuki</a> series.<div><br /></div><div>So if you're in the area, stop on by and get your holiday shopping done!</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-9890694345493036932023-11-23T07:52:00.000-08:002023-11-23T07:52:57.052-08:00Thanksgiving Gratitude Post, Kumoricon Edition<div style="text-align: left;">I'm grateful for so many things (including the now-complete cast and crew of <i>Hold My Beer</i>), but I figured that just to be different, I'll list a bunch of stuff related to my attendance this past Saturday of <a href="https://www.kumoricon.org/" target="_blank">Kumoricon 2023</a>, the massive anime convention held in Portland, OR.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWbAGOXzQAG5-dgjo79XMtEJG276MU4R9AJUrQ14rlrttMfXQBc4p9jqxXNBuRw2J1LYgSbcFtoHNtrdOnKgcxdFJGdCgwQDJe_xyzXwtEtcrHGCndcwENULKRBgqVs6zbpJ00a2ZtLdf2ftazX-iEnorvyxfVqjEDvqU_iPH51jhoK2hK8zFZhp5B9c/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_3653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWbAGOXzQAG5-dgjo79XMtEJG276MU4R9AJUrQ14rlrttMfXQBc4p9jqxXNBuRw2J1LYgSbcFtoHNtrdOnKgcxdFJGdCgwQDJe_xyzXwtEtcrHGCndcwENULKRBgqVs6zbpJ00a2ZtLdf2ftazX-iEnorvyxfVqjEDvqU_iPH51jhoK2hK8zFZhp5B9c/s320/thumbnail_IMG_3653.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>- The fact that Kumoricon is back and I was able to attend. The last time I went was in the before-times, <a href="https://briantashima.blogspot.com/2019/12/my-japanese-language-learning.html" target="_blank">in 2019</a>.<div><br /></div><div>- Even though the registration line took almost three hours to navigate (I really don't remember it being quite as long four years ago), I was still able to make it in time to get a couple of autographs that my son really wanted.</div><div><br /></div><div>- I made it all the way to the "late night dance party" (pictured above) without needing a nap.</div><div><br /></div><div>- The grilled chicken sandwich from one of the vendors, despite being naturally overpriced, was actually pretty good.</div><div><br /></div><div>- The couple of panels I attended (Q&A with Anime Animators; Manga vs. Comics) were entertaining and informative.</div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">- Even though the parking lot in the convention center was full (of course), I was able to find an alternate parking location that had lots of open stalls, was reasonably priced (yes, $20 is reasonable under the circumstances), had friendly attendants, and was good until midnight (handy, since I stayed for the aforementioned late night dance party).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Looking forward to next year!</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-81508099355976311782023-11-16T06:42:00.000-08:002023-11-16T06:42:19.343-08:00Words & Pictures Festival 2023By the way, I forgot to mention (actually, I didn't really forget, it's just that I had a bunch of stuff all happening at around the same time and I only do these blog posts every Thursday for reasons that I can't even explain myself) that I, once again, took part in Vancouver's very own annual <a href="https://www.fvrl.org/words-pictures" target="_blank">Words & Pictures Festival</a>!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy3ZIxrSQUDp9Pi1B2aDBkf8MfPYGCp8_cPC8WDS6oUpK5TIvMqIdD8aghMJmvckTMCbvSFif8up4opaaJwn4NoVwAya2yZkGtH8qxBtS8oUZbZqNxZ2Rrb0-fgNE_LWWPpWNo39N1rKG7-TuxUDuozwy1fNMJbFifNLFciSmeJqNa7KPnWGR88eCf_Y/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_3642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy3ZIxrSQUDp9Pi1B2aDBkf8MfPYGCp8_cPC8WDS6oUpK5TIvMqIdD8aghMJmvckTMCbvSFif8up4opaaJwn4NoVwAya2yZkGtH8qxBtS8oUZbZqNxZ2Rrb0-fgNE_LWWPpWNo39N1rKG7-TuxUDuozwy1fNMJbFifNLFciSmeJqNa7KPnWGR88eCf_Y/s320/thumbnail_IMG_3642.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>(Thanks to fellow author <a href="https://gretchenmclellan.com/" target="_blank">Gretchen McClellan</a> for the photo. Check out her books. Seriously.)<div><br /></div><div>As always, it was a lot of fun, and in addition to selling books (thanks to everyone who bought one!) I also got to do a presentation called "Song & Story Structure," where I talked about how songs and melodies that are catchy (like the "Happy Birthday" song, for example) are structured like stories, and also why anime theme songs are SOOO GOOD. Big thanks to library branch manager Rachael Ries and the staff at the <a href="https://www.fvrl.org/loc/cascade-park" target="_blank">Cascade Park Community Library</a> for having me and for being such awesome hosts.</div><div><br /></div><div>Looking forward to next year!</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-62284409246089010142023-11-09T07:29:00.000-08:002023-11-09T07:29:34.711-08:00Exciting Hold My Beer Update!<div>Happy and excited to introduce the young adult cast of Hold My Beer!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsWqI2Oa-0Y9x78VYMzfRmNEKHkmoPpEizOziemECcE81rs4YgQsXsuhVbRjY6GXp7scRoHciaJYb4jP3sbJfAheLD5xbuAK0gaQQMkiUv4f8I2jxcQf27fxczZH4HSYLQMI5iC5ynSbcV4wg89ECDeaL_Pkze4VWa21RiLOxxdZxFIOBxJ0cCGjA_Mc/s1920/thumbnail_HMB-YA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsWqI2Oa-0Y9x78VYMzfRmNEKHkmoPpEizOziemECcE81rs4YgQsXsuhVbRjY6GXp7scRoHciaJYb4jP3sbJfAheLD5xbuAK0gaQQMkiUv4f8I2jxcQf27fxczZH4HSYLQMI5iC5ynSbcV4wg89ECDeaL_Pkze4VWa21RiLOxxdZxFIOBxJ0cCGjA_Mc/s320/thumbnail_HMB-YA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>From left to right: <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13887421/" target="_blank">Lydia Pearl Pentz</a>, Ethan Blackwelder, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5721466/" target="_blank">Andrew York</a>, and Ian Engelsman (the old guy on the far right in the Blazers shirt is the writer/director/producer). All four have extensive acting experience and we're very grateful to have them on board.</div><div><br /></div><div>More updates to come!</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-47380220192294628302023-11-02T08:32:00.000-07:002023-11-02T08:32:44.332-07:00Southwest Washington Autism Conference<div style="text-align: left;">Yesterday I had the pleasure and privilege of attending the <a href="https://www.lcautism.org/autismconference/" target="_blank">13th Annual Southwest Washington Autism Conference</a> in Centralia, WA (about 90 miles north of Vancouver) presented by the <a href="https://www.lcautism.org/" target="_blank">Lewis County Autism Coalition</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkulpnktqAL4-D69LcOyxf-jo3EImp6XSk2WE-QtYps2jNN-mdfLU2_b9GF6R_IWV2YKMUhsgjmyxMFOsQlMxgaGqAXfRl0e5kTjd9j9DXONMPdZXbtKvKrBUoiBGoQbvfoCd7MSVlq2wQyNyInS2EtGUhenaYDfIAITOCqs2keL5lRbbYUKeN6sT7lQ4/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_3630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkulpnktqAL4-D69LcOyxf-jo3EImp6XSk2WE-QtYps2jNN-mdfLU2_b9GF6R_IWV2YKMUhsgjmyxMFOsQlMxgaGqAXfRl0e5kTjd9j9DXONMPdZXbtKvKrBUoiBGoQbvfoCd7MSVlq2wQyNyInS2EtGUhenaYDfIAITOCqs2keL5lRbbYUKeN6sT7lQ4/s320/thumbnail_IMG_3630.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>It was a one-day conference packed with informative panels, terrific vendors, and an amazing keynote speaker (more on that below). I was there as both a board member of <a href="https://autismempowerment.org/" target="_blank">Autism Empowerment</a> as well as the author of <a href="https://www.joelsuzuki.com/" target="_blank">the Joel Suzuki series</a>, of which we donated a full seven-book set as a raffle prize.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCK_KF4Ng1aMUzUNtOXN5OYHtUnwYHtCTzRO0l2Hv4bR318GBP9qbMZM5KL2Xevllgbnu8Xg7rtHfwJbdL3VmOHhp9AUvuYNJB1an_7xNAvMGKnE6xVbI3HLoJcHA5CENF-yD1iXboS8KKH13HjyEvYmkvLRfn5P1CYGeEcP7y_2TD_GQA82cMmI32D1Q/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_3626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCK_KF4Ng1aMUzUNtOXN5OYHtUnwYHtCTzRO0l2Hv4bR318GBP9qbMZM5KL2Xevllgbnu8Xg7rtHfwJbdL3VmOHhp9AUvuYNJB1an_7xNAvMGKnE6xVbI3HLoJcHA5CENF-yD1iXboS8KKH13HjyEvYmkvLRfn5P1CYGeEcP7y_2TD_GQA82cMmI32D1Q/s320/thumbnail_IMG_3626.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Even after so many years of being involved in the autism community, I still find it awesome that almost wherever you go, you can find groups like the Lewis County Autism Coalition who are working to help make the world a more inclusive and accepting place for people of all abilities.<div><br /></div><div>Oh, and the keynote speaker? None other than Autism Empowerment's own Karen Krejcha.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpCGVaT40UlgNXd2RukgUYdi_ErMj30iEPPtSCTwvK1HMmPw-F1xp4po3uibDDE2zyvJAL6j0M5VElqTIhHryL1PECka6cJaDDb1PIa6N3pOhyphenhyphenbZ_rP5PbdJ9KQEzMpHaNXAegXWhA84q6FoeGkHy8MpK-YFeLAhPcU8yMmKBl0xd-P2Q8CMt93bjkWE/s1920/thumbnail_IMG_3633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpCGVaT40UlgNXd2RukgUYdi_ErMj30iEPPtSCTwvK1HMmPw-F1xp4po3uibDDE2zyvJAL6j0M5VElqTIhHryL1PECka6cJaDDb1PIa6N3pOhyphenhyphenbZ_rP5PbdJ9KQEzMpHaNXAegXWhA84q6FoeGkHy8MpK-YFeLAhPcU8yMmKBl0xd-P2Q8CMt93bjkWE/s320/thumbnail_IMG_3633.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Karen did a fantastic job with a speech that was emotional, heartfelt, passionate, inspiring, educational, and, yes, empowering.<div><br /></div><div>Big thanks to Karen and her husband John for allowing me to opportunity to attend the conference, and to Nicole Miller and the Lewis County Autism Coalition for putting on an awesome event.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next, this coming Saturday I will be once again participating in the annual <a href="https://www.fvrl.org/words-pictures" target="_blank">Words & Pictures Festival</a> at the Cascade Park Community Library! This year, I'll be presenting a mini-workshop for young people called "Song and Story Structure," with tips on how to craft catchy tunes and captivating novels using examples from popular culture (anime theme songs, anyone?) as well as my own stuff. My workshop runs from 2:00-2:45pm, but the festival itself is from 10am-4:30pm, with lots of other great panels and presentations by local authors. There's also a virtual track for those who want to participate remotely. Hope to see you there!</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-43699501283026496482023-10-26T07:45:00.001-07:002023-10-26T07:45:31.494-07:00Hold My Beer Status Update<div style="text-align: left;">The film project known as <i>Hold My Beer</i> is coming along!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2tFg1LlZsoernWsz6vileLAChYdxe5x5ET8w4xAEfPiEJNGYOsB7cSVwJChgm8hhelBdiwXRxv4jBkWg9JFt4Bl2OyCWOakThoJJWmbXeJYEOAIjePpljLb88WKXTJzPczt3dGtNKqCYLvrECeS_Kp98OxXObGbTLT6WdENlUH_bof9VMDlBP_65RSs/s1440/seizethebageltestshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2tFg1LlZsoernWsz6vileLAChYdxe5x5ET8w4xAEfPiEJNGYOsB7cSVwJChgm8hhelBdiwXRxv4jBkWg9JFt4Bl2OyCWOakThoJJWmbXeJYEOAIjePpljLb88WKXTJzPczt3dGtNKqCYLvrECeS_Kp98OxXObGbTLT6WdENlUH_bof9VMDlBP_65RSs/s320/seizethebageltestshot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Since the <a href="https://briantashima.blogspot.com/2023/09/hold-my-beer-in-progress.html" target="_blank">last update post</a> five weeks ago, we have:<div><br /></div><div>- Increased the number of filled speaking roles to seven out of ten, with leads on a few more;</div><div>- Shot test footage at two of our locations, <a href="https://loowitbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Loowit Brewing</a> and <a href="https://www.seizethebagel.com/" target="_blank">Seize the Bagel</a>;</div><div>- Cut together the first scene of our workprint (basically, a rough draft of the film with the <a href="https://www.secondplayerscore.com/" target="_blank">Second Player Score</a> guys filling in for the actual actors);</div><div>- Completed some grant administration work; and</div><div>- Made progress on securing another (big) location</div><div><br /></div><div>So far it's been a fun and exciting process (despite a few <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_in_Oblivion" target="_blank">Living in Oblivion</a></i>-worthy moments), which is good because I need something to keep me busy now that <i><a href="https://www.joelsuzuki.com/" target="_blank">Joel Suzuki</a></i> and <i><a href="https://kunaki.com/sales.asp?PID=PX00Z1S008&pp=1" target="_blank">4-D</a></i> are both basically done.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stay tuned for more updates!</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-18136895728352063332023-10-19T09:29:00.000-07:002023-10-19T09:29:15.725-07:00Woolly Bear<div style="text-align: left;">Appropriately for this Halloween-ish time of year, I recently discovered a black-and-orange fuzzy caterpillar in my backyard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_bP6cMsmPNaNEI8FBZydcn4KR0zLCQ0ef1d5aJjSkfXCWp6cdjt_9TDWoRmd9QOVtf9CuZEakg4y-CgneeKPPlOKsuYclOX0CUJSItRyDFXsZuxYHEsdo2U3gCEq4dr-M9BApikZamvG_3yClA26C1rJX4RABdvk9W_-VBvU1v8PaNPssqRVzyQ-ICE/s1920/woollybear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_bP6cMsmPNaNEI8FBZydcn4KR0zLCQ0ef1d5aJjSkfXCWp6cdjt_9TDWoRmd9QOVtf9CuZEakg4y-CgneeKPPlOKsuYclOX0CUJSItRyDFXsZuxYHEsdo2U3gCEq4dr-M9BApikZamvG_3yClA26C1rJX4RABdvk9W_-VBvU1v8PaNPssqRVzyQ-ICE/s320/woollybear.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Being from Hawaii, I had no idea what it was (even though I've been living here in Vancouver, WA for over 23 years now, this is the first time I've seen one of these). So I looked it up, and apparently it is called, in very adorable fashion, a "woolly bear." According to Wikipedia, it eventually turns into something called an Isabella Tiger Moth, which has to be one of the most epic moth names ever. Legend has it that the orange section of the caterpillar predicts the severity of the coming winter - a wide band indicates a mild season, while a narrow band portends the next Snowpocalypse. I don't know what this particular one was trying to say; its orange band contracted and widened as it crawled along. So maybe a little of both? I wouldn't be surprised.<div><br /></div><div>If you've read <i><a href="https://www.joelsuzuki.com/i.html" target="_blank">Joel Suzuki, Volume One: Secret of the Songshell</a></i>, you may recall that there was a creature called a ratworm, which was described as a "thin, foot-long, furry snake" that reminded Joel of "pictures of furry caterpillars (that he'd seen) in science class." When I wrote that part, was I foretelling my eventual discovery, many years later, of a furry caterpillar in my backyard?</div><div><br /></div><div>Eh, probably not.</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-63877665968726535022023-10-12T07:05:00.000-07:002023-10-12T07:05:08.312-07:00Stuck In The Daily Grind<div style="text-align: left;">Hey, so remember <a href="https://briantashima.blogspot.com/2023/08/things-are-happening.html" target="_blank">this post from six weeks ago</a> where I mentioned that my band was making a video for our song "Daily Grind?" And I posted a picture from the set where there was a green screen behind a desk? Well, whether you remember or not, here is the completed video!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w_onWuqILvQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="w_onWuqILvQ"></iframe></div>In preparation for our work on <i>Hold My Beer</i>, we scripted, storyboarded, directed, and edited this all on our own (with an assist from my son Torin). It was a lot of fun to make. Here is some behind-the-scenes trivia about it:<div><br /></div><div>- The opening wake-up shot of me was filmed in my bedroom with my actual alarm clock that I don't use, because I'm usually woken up by cats. Kyle's shot was filmed on my couch, while Dan filmed his shot in his room at home.</div><div><br /></div><div>- All the "getting dressed" shots were filmed in my house. Yes, that's my 20-sided die mug (a present from Dan) and my Portland Trail Blazers miniature basket.</div><div><br /></div><div>- We considered several different options for the "sitting in traffic" shots, like actually sitting in traffic, or filming in a garage somewhere with giant screens behind our cars, but when we realized a tight shot of us in the driver's seats would be sufficient, we just did it in my driveway.</div><div><br /></div><div>- The offices are all green screen images, in case you haven't already guessed.</div><div><br /></div><div>- Torin shot most of the "playing in the garage" scene.</div><div><br /></div><div>Check it out!</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-74505715173278356952023-10-05T07:14:00.000-07:002023-10-05T07:14:12.563-07:00Anime Roundup<div style="text-align: left;">Yes, it's finally time for another Anime Roundup! <i>Hisashiburi</i> ("it's been a while"). But even though the last roundup was back in January (and was just for one show, <i>Attack on Titan</i>), I have been mostly keeping up with my requisite viewing of anime, in between all the Ahsoka and Ladybug stuff. Besides the new seasons of <i>Ultraman,</i> <i>Mushoku Tensei</i>, and <i>Demon Slayer</i>, here are some of the other shows I have consumed/am consuming:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PscOS71aanudzTUeGjKv7m_uflvDMD42SApPBpIb_LhlEhe19SON7a9Usd6dVjHYb0OWycchpQa3hRX_gL6PdlFtwsTo6mkBasb6aQq8PZZGvJtR1r0uOAV2aiRh9jvhMBBqwWJYzjJfQpCEqNly3uuJPqADzDwP4tZvfBVhAXWHd99GEAYxzBrw9dk/s1920/slimerimuru.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PscOS71aanudzTUeGjKv7m_uflvDMD42SApPBpIb_LhlEhe19SON7a9Usd6dVjHYb0OWycchpQa3hRX_gL6PdlFtwsTo6mkBasb6aQq8PZZGvJtR1r0uOAV2aiRh9jvhMBBqwWJYzjJfQpCEqNly3uuJPqADzDwP4tZvfBVhAXWHd99GEAYxzBrw9dk/s320/slimerimuru.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This is another entry in the subgenre of "middle-aged guy dies and then wakes up as someone or something else in a parallel, D&D-type universe" type of portal fantasy, along the lines of the aforementioned <i>Mushoku Tensei</i> and <i>Uncle From Another World</i> (both of which I talked about in <a href="https://briantashima.blogspot.com/2022/12/anime-roundup.html" target="_blank">an Anime Roundup post from last December</a>). In this one, our hero is reincarnated as a small, gelatinous blob that would ordinarily be at the bottom of the totem pole of creatures in his new home, but instead he's able, through a combination of lucky breaks and his own wits, to accumulate so many skills and abilities that he eventually turns into a borderline-overpowered entity who oversees an entire country. It starts off a little slow but eventually picks up speed and, like other similar shows, has all the things I enjoy (action, magic, drama, comedy, romance).<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>Kimi No Todoke</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEYLgpwHopwg7OYXkc7wK7SZbMLA8Ccb8dFErpU30S4I1pGA_p2LjjVbpV-RpzU2lqN3Yp4WS4YrYHwtR2VUE9i_831zneylZrDqEx6H8Fku93PUD05JbznGW_kRSTmyT_vcYrkGCGlJzq4PuMMu5jOGKaqOgrJ68BDDCE2ldy7RQ90h-zoCuYJ7j5J8/s300/kiminotodoke.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEYLgpwHopwg7OYXkc7wK7SZbMLA8Ccb8dFErpU30S4I1pGA_p2LjjVbpV-RpzU2lqN3Yp4WS4YrYHwtR2VUE9i_831zneylZrDqEx6H8Fku93PUD05JbznGW_kRSTmyT_vcYrkGCGlJzq4PuMMu5jOGKaqOgrJ68BDDCE2ldy7RQ90h-zoCuYJ7j5J8/s1600/kiminotodoke.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>This is a gentle and wistful coming-of-age romantic comedy about a shy teenage girl who is teased and shunned by classmates - because she looks like the character from the Japanese horror film <i>The Ring</i> - until one day a popular <i>ikemen</i> ("hot guy") classmate talks to and befriends her, causing her life to change. There's also a live-action adaptation that I watched more-or-less concurrently (always a fun experience) and, despite the fact that it ended up in a place that you could - spoiler alert - basically expect, I've heard there will be a new season coming in 2024. I will be there.<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhac-teHTL73rXpFi7kmzLY6Rs3cRj97DeLUHe867dClNvGxbH7TG4MsTVn1Wjsm0m13QXLxfR01TY5ZrKAbUU3z-0f0_2w9EQEPT1qJsZNmcnHOrcd1jX-t-l2tV5Bfz5tIkNIozRWChySp1TKCtjByyuiOkUUOVAUmzQTnk-QpkuRSjd0c4l1FUSMwq0/s687/konosuba.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="458" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhac-teHTL73rXpFi7kmzLY6Rs3cRj97DeLUHe867dClNvGxbH7TG4MsTVn1Wjsm0m13QXLxfR01TY5ZrKAbUU3z-0f0_2w9EQEPT1qJsZNmcnHOrcd1jX-t-l2tV5Bfz5tIkNIozRWChySp1TKCtjByyuiOkUUOVAUmzQTnk-QpkuRSjd0c4l1FUSMwq0/s320/konosuba.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Yet another "main character dies and is revived in another world" portal fantasy! But this one puts its own twists on it, like making the protagonist a teenager rather than middle-aged, and instead of gaining new powers, he takes the entity (in this case, an absent-minded goddess) who was responsible for his reincarnation along with him into the new world. I had been wanting to check it out for a while, but for some strange reason all the places I could find it in only had it in dub, and as you know if you've been keeping up with these roundup posts, I am a subtitle-only snob. Then it finally showed up on Hulu with subs, and I was like, <i>yatta</i> (yay)! But then to my dismay, I soon discovered that after the first couple of minutes of each episode, the subtitles started to lag behind the actual dialogue, making for a very disorienting viewing experience (my tourist-level Japanese-language skills were of little help). At first I thought this might be a one-episode issue, but no, it's ALL OF THEM. <i>Naze</i> ("why"), Hulu, <i>naze</i>??<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>My Happy Marriage</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJu0opAGiQp7Mh921hQo0l0qFrXGLoeu8IiiZGtlsPZLwFLTBrmcES5GS2E3PIqxXej7sPVaQbPOI2JfuYP6fEx0-RXddg9PnpFMOBKkWqJ7CZMuNSnYWLMfyorujVsWSqRqNhLXUUqTp_zZElkoHBI60jFJGokjUZtKrb6Hgyr3lER98qE-KRf5qDe0/s300/myhappymarriage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJu0opAGiQp7Mh921hQo0l0qFrXGLoeu8IiiZGtlsPZLwFLTBrmcES5GS2E3PIqxXej7sPVaQbPOI2JfuYP6fEx0-RXddg9PnpFMOBKkWqJ7CZMuNSnYWLMfyorujVsWSqRqNhLXUUqTp_zZElkoHBI60jFJGokjUZtKrb6Hgyr3lER98qE-KRf5qDe0/s1600/myhappymarriage.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>A romantic drama where people have supernatural abilities in an otherwise realistic 19th-century setting? Yes, please. It's about a young woman who, because she was born without powers, is treated with contempt and forced to be a servant in her own house by her abusive stepmother. Things seem to get worse when she's arranged to be married off to a military commander who is rumored to be basically a jerk. Turns out, though, that he's actually a pretty cool dude (not to mention an <i>ikemen</i>), and her life starts to look up...until more stuff goes down, as it tends to do. Full of satisfying emotional beats, this was one of those shows that made me say "man, this is SO GOOD" aloud several times to my TV over the course of its twelve episodes.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ja6MKRpoYXXfodIjh1P-CiYDGZs1HSFffsEs0JSYxfEbCvCome2V_o263FEm4TXiAwZK8-a73WGgOmgOkztI3Db1LyZeZkQlS8wOdEp8jXpvVEqMkwq_gS5u3oFAHb3l3-LR-QyZtvzdlVatpb2hXZiCP2vMTFxuJEsqYes34Gjup6SkeaU8cLRw5fE/s1024/zom100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ja6MKRpoYXXfodIjh1P-CiYDGZs1HSFffsEs0JSYxfEbCvCome2V_o263FEm4TXiAwZK8-a73WGgOmgOkztI3Db1LyZeZkQlS8wOdEp8jXpvVEqMkwq_gS5u3oFAHb3l3-LR-QyZtvzdlVatpb2hXZiCP2vMTFxuJEsqYes34Gjup6SkeaU8cLRw5fE/s320/zom100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I swear, manga and anime creators are geniuses at coming up with fun and interesting premises. Like this one. Yes, it's about a zombie apocalypse, but instead of mourning the loss of civilization, the young adult main character welcomes it with cheerful enthusiasm, as it frees him from the drudgery of his boring office job and allows him the opportunity to enjoy life and do the (wholesome) things he's always wanted to do (hence, "Bucket List of the Dead"). As you might imagine, this idea practically writes itself. There is a live-action movie adaptation that Netflix dropped around the same time, but since the anime episodes are being released weekly (biweekly? randomly?) I haven't watched the movie yet, since I don't want to know how the story ends. Manga readers, don't tell me what happens!Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6175676415904223087.post-78105816806304015332023-09-28T07:18:00.000-07:002023-09-28T07:18:20.907-07:004-D Is Here!<div style="text-align: left;">Now that every track on <a href="https://www.secondplayerscore.com/" target="_blank">Second Player Score</a>'s latest release <i>4-D</i> has been launched, it's time to reveal the official entire album, complete with cover art!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHsE0krCmIxmOrR7DRtdOmlwpDmByX4jLD3_UKNswaw0H1kLw05thmBrRk9GckJ-qamBvoyzjPNtzDqZ1iPc96UOM1XH2oI0rdr1WLd7blIuSdh8h6zv2arCNzdZHQeiZnNiDDw-zIUVyIgm13NMWdOy3i9iiDv9pFx1e7n3GAeZTjToPvSMYOgNcx9A/s1423/4-D%20Front%20Cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1423" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHsE0krCmIxmOrR7DRtdOmlwpDmByX4jLD3_UKNswaw0H1kLw05thmBrRk9GckJ-qamBvoyzjPNtzDqZ1iPc96UOM1XH2oI0rdr1WLd7blIuSdh8h6zv2arCNzdZHQeiZnNiDDw-zIUVyIgm13NMWdOy3i9iiDv9pFx1e7n3GAeZTjToPvSMYOgNcx9A/s320/4-D%20Front%20Cover.png" width="320" /></a></div>It features the main characters of the underlying story, Wynn and their fourth-dimensional companion Gogo. As for the story itself, some of the details have changed over time, but the main plot (inspired by things like <i>Pokemon</i> and <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender) </i>is essentially the same: four kids become involved in a high-stakes scavenger hunt to retrieve powerful objects from the fourth spatial dimension in order to make their dreams come true... but, of course, nothing is as it seems.<div><br /></div><div>The tie-in novella that was originally planned has been put on the shelf for now, but the associated <a href="https://briantashima.blogspot.com/2021/08/four-d-status-update.html" target="_blank">card game</a> is still in production. And we also have concepts and ideas for a possible TV show adaptation. In the meantime, you can check out the rest of the album's artwork and order a CD copy of it (do people still listen to CDs? Of course they do!) at <a href="https://kunaki.com/sales.asp?PID=PX00Z1S008&pp=1&fbclid=IwAR23yq7n5nx_gjCP4f0s5EJSDdE9JEfDdoZAbZwnO---iG86zKWJO5GggPU" target="_blank">this link</a>.</div>Brian Tashimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04647745062928497514noreply@blogger.com0