Archive for September, 2006
16 items.
If you came to the site this morning and were a little confused by the above message, don’t worry. I have an explaination. Since the majority of you aren’t from Central Iowa, I figure I owe it to you.
If you recall, last Friday I announced that Theater Hopper would be profiled in the Iowa publication Juice. What is Juice? Excellent question!
Juice is a weekly magazine for readers age 25-34 here in Des Moines, Iowa. It’s available at more than 800 locations in the greater Des Moines area, and 40,000 copies are distributed each week. The publication launched on June 1,2005 at 72 pages. They’ve been as big as 136 pages. They are one of 10 young reader publications in the Gannett newspaper chain. Their web site is dmJuice.com. Incidentally, Juice is a sister publication to The Des Moines Register – the largest newspaper in Iowa.
For a guy like myself who has been trying to carve out a niche online for the last 4 years, the kind of exposure Juice provides is a real coup.
Of course, it’s not just about me taking traffic from Juice. They’ve given me the opportunity to add my voice to their publication and I’m humbled by their vote of confidence. I sincerely believe that we’re helping each other out. Because I am from the Greater Des Moines area and am familiar with the issues that face young people here, I feel good being a part of something as progressive as Juice. They really do a great job highlighting exactly what young people bring to our community. For a city like Des Moines that typically overlooks this demographic while young families flee toward larger cities, it’s great to be given this voice and to prove to others that we have a lot to contribute.
If you’re curious as to a different take on Theater Hopper, I strongly encourage you to check out the Juice blogs. I will be repeating the comics posted here on their site every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday with a brand new blog to accompany them. In many respects, it’s as if I’m starting fresh since I’m bringing Theater Hopper to a brand new audience. Also, there’s a comments section with every blog. So if you ever wanted the opportunity to leave me direct feedback, this will be your chance!
Thanks again to everyone for their support during this exciting new chapter in Theater Hopper’s history!
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As you can probably imagine, this week has been nuts. So I’m going to keep this short.
Response to the article in Juice has been excellent! Lots of people sending messages of support. It feels great to know there are so many people behind me!
I posted my first comic and blog over at the Juice web site. If you’re looking for a more in-depth explaination as to how this wonderful opportunity fell into my lap, answers can be found there. I’ve already gotten some feedback from a local establishment who wants to put on an art show featuring my work in November! It would be perfect timing. By then I would have copies of "Theater Hopper: Year Two" back from the printer.
Which reminds me, I need to name the winner of the second week hand-made Truman doll give away!
Congratulations to Elaine Brady and Cary Gordon. These two won based on a random draw on orders submitted between Wednesday, September 13 and Tuesday, September 19. I’ll be sending your prizes in the mail this Saturday!
Our pre-order period is coming to a close next week – Friday, September 29. That means two things. 1). This is your last chance to win the last remaining hand-made Truman doll and 2.) our pre-order period is coming to a close. We’ve just about made it to the half-way point with our sales drive, so let’s not give up now! Remember, this is the money we need to take "Theater Hopper: Year Two" to the publisher!
If you don’t want to buy a copy of the book, you can help in other way. Take for example the excellent gaming site Digital Entertainment News. The advertising they purchased to the right of the comic (at a very reasonable rate, I might ad) goes toward the overall sales drive. Obviously they are very generous and should be rewarded with many clicks on their ad and multiple visits to their site!
Or what about Dustin Brants who already pre-ordered his copy of "Year Two" but donated extra money just for the heck of it! That’s a classy move in anyone’s book. Thank you, Dustin!
If nothing else, help to spread the word about Theater Hopper and our next book and you’ve done your part. If you tell five friends, they’ll tell five friends, and eventually we’ll end up with an overtly preachy movie starring Kevin Spacey and Halely Joel Osment! Good times for all!
You can get started with this good-will campaign by heading over to the Juice blogs and letting them know just how awesome you think Theater Hopper is!
In the meantime, I’m holding out hope that we’ll be seeing Jackass: Number Two sometime this weekend, but it looks like we have plans both Friday and Saturday night. All I know is that even though I wasn’t the biggest fan of the television show, watching the first Jackass movie in a packed theater on opening night was probably one of the most enjoyable community theater going experiences I’ve ever had. Everyone was hooting, hollering and groaning at the same time. I can only imagine the sequel will be more of the same and that’s exactly what I want!
If I’m not at the movies or hanging out with friends this weekend, you can bet I’ll be going gonzo on putting the finishing touches on "Theater Hopper: Year Two." I have a few more finishing touches before it goes off to the printer next Friday. Wish me luck and have a great weekend!
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Sep25
I know I’m a little bit early with this dig on Brett Ratner considering that X-Men 3 doesn’t come out on DVD for another week, but I wanted to take my pot-shot early since the story referenced in the comic went up late last week and I want it to be somewhat fresh.
Brett Ratner has an uncanny ability to say exactly the wrong thing at exactly the wrong time. Fans of the X-Men franchise already viewed Ratner’s involvement in the second sequel to be a bad omen. Despite the boffo box office, they’re fears came true. I don’t know anyone who sat through that movie and said they enjoyed it.
While it was prudent of previous X-Men director Bryan Signer to advise Ratner not to pay attention to what’s being said about him on the internet, his quote in the MTV article makes it sound like the only person he was out there making a movie for was himself. This isn’t Citzen Kane, Brett! For you to ignore all of the character development laid out before you was supremely foolish. Killing off characters was salt in the wound. Now VERIFYING what fandom has been saying about you all along – that you didn’t care what anyone else wanted? Good luck getting any applause at comic book conventions after your career completely stalls.
Do I think the director is completely beholden to the audiences expectations when making a movie? No. Of course not. Do I think Ratner could have shown a little more tact? Probably. I just have a serious grudge against the guy. Anyone who doesn’t take the fans seriously deserves to be smacked around a little. Because it sure as hell isn’t middle-America that’s making these movies popular. It’s the people who have had their hearts and souls invested in these characters DECADES before Hollywood came calling.
I’ve mentioned this about a dozen times already, so I’ll keep it brief today. We’re closing in on our sales drive goal. Don’t forget that "Theater Hopper: Year Two" is available for pre-order. I could really use your help on this one, guys! Be sure to spread the word!
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The events of today’s comic actually happened to us in real-life when Cami and I saw The Last Kiss a few weeks ago. There were maybe three or four teenage girls sitting behind us and they would NOT SHUT UP. Cami told me that one of them even placed a call outside of the theater with her cell phone at one point.
I think it’s understandable if you unexpectedly get a phone call when you’re in a movie theater. Sure, it’s distracting. But usually the person fumbles around for a second before switching it off. It’s slightly more rude if that person takes the call and starts gabbing away. But you’re in a completely different realm of inconsiderate behavior when you proactively take out your phone and CALL SOMEONE ELSE while other people are trying to watch the movie.
Whenever we’re at the movies and someone is talking, I tend not to notice it. Mostly because I’m so engrossed in the film, but partly because I don’t hear very well due to years of overexposure to THX sound systems. Just kidding. It’s just that I don’t notice.
In this case, however, these girls were really distracting. Every few minutes Cami would turn and look at me and then roll her eyes. Eventually – like I did in the comic – I asked her if she wanted me to do somehing about it. And – just like in the comic – she said no. She feared being embarassed by me calling these girls out on their lack of consideration.
I thought it over for a little bit and decided to ignore her protest. During a quiet part of the movie when most everyone could hear them talking loudly, I threw my arm over my chair and said, "HEY! SHUT UP!"
It worked like a charm. They didn’t make a peep the rest of the movie.
I’m not boasting. I also know exactly what that feels like. There have been times in movie theaters where strangers have told me to shut up. This was mostly during the time when I was a teenager and was really into Mystery Science Theater 3000. It’s moritifying to be publicly scolded like that. But I’ll tell you what – it really makes you think twice before acting up again.
I think that encounters like these are becoming more and more frequent. With the advent of DVD technology, larger televisions and more powerful home theater systems, people seem to be confusing the confines of their living rooms with public movie screens more and more these days. I didn’t take any great pleasure from telling these girls to shut their pie holes. Well, okay. Maybe a little. But just like in the comic, it was very rewarding when Cami acknowledged how I stood up to them – her earlier protests having since evaporated
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I have a few bits of site news that I need to mention.
First off, this was something that I completely neglected, but I want you guys to investigate. ZeStuff.com now has copies of "Theater Hopper: Year One" and you can purchase a copy here. The site also has tons of other cool merch from web comics such as 8-Bit Theater and VG Cats. They also have a TON of great geek stuff like toys, video games and stuff for your computer!
Back when I was doing pre-sales and fundraising for the first book, these guys really saved my bacon by showing faith and investing in what I had put together. It’s time to return the favor. So be sure to visit ZeStuff and pick out something cool. You won’t be dissapointed.
I’d like to take this moment and welcome our newest advertiser, Bad Hair Day. Be sure to swing by and say "Hello."
I also want to call attention to our other advertiser, Digital Entertainment News. Right now they’re having a contest and giving away 5 copies of the newly remastered A Nightmare On Elm Street that’s coming to DVD on October 17. It’s a really cool giveaway and all you have to do is e-mail them to enter. I figured it was right up your alley and would want to know about it. Read the submission rules here.
As for my own stuff to pimp… well, you know the score there. Pre-sale for Theater Hopper: Year Two ends Friday. Submit your order by September 29 to be in the running for the last hand-made Truman doll! Don’t forget that we’re also offering a specially priced bundle that collects the first two books for $25!
Also, if you’re looking to advertise with the site, we sell space based on ad views now. So that means means campaigns can overlap and you get the same amount of coverage! It’s a really good deal. Remember that all advertising paid for through the site gets first exposure – which means that it is given priority over the other generic affiliate ads you typically see on the site. If you have something you’d like to promote, visit the advertising page and place your order. Now you can submit the location of your advertisement along with the URL you’d like to link to for more convienience! All advertising profits go toward the production of "Theater Hopper: Year Two!"
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I plan on coming back and discussing Uwe Boll’s pugilistic antics later in the day. For now I want you to focus on one thing.
The artwork and layouts for "Theater Hopper: Year Two" have been sent to the printer and I have raised about half of what I need to pay for the book. The printer required that I pay one-third of the total cost upon approving the proofs. The remaining two-thirds come due when the books are delivered on the first week of November.
Right now I have a little more than half of what I need to pay the printer. I’m gambling that you guys can help me meet my goal. So I’m extending the sales drive until November 8.
If today is your payday, please consider purchasing a copy of "Theater Hopper: Year Two" now. Today is also the last day that your pre-order will qualify you for the remaining hand-made Truman doll. Orders have dipped since the first week of the pre-sale, so your odds are still good. Also, if you haven’t ordered a copy of "Theater Hopper: Year One," don’t forget our special bundle package that puts both books together for $25.00 (plus shipping and handling). You save nearly $10 as opposed to if you bought the books separately.
In the coming weeks I’m going to try and leverage all of my resources to help meet my ultimate goal. That means slashing prices on my remaining inventory of t-shirts, bundling shirts with copies of the first book at a reduced price and I’m also prepared to auction off my artistic ability on eBay. I’m planning on offering an open-ended auction where I will draw whatever you like (within the confines of good taste). A piece suitable for framing. So if you’re thinking there might be something you’d like me to draw for you, start coming up with ideas this weekend.
These are all ideas that will benefit you as much as me. But in the meantime, let’s see what we can do about racking up a few more orders for "Theater Hopper: Year Two".
As always, I appreciate your support. This has been my best year of doing Theater Hopper so far and it’s all thanks to you guys. I sincerely appreciate the opportunities you’ve afforded me. Thank you!
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