DADBOD: 20 Songs and Videos Make the Ultimate Ode to Fatherhood
(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE) After 25 years in the entertainment industry writing, directing, and producing video games, animations, interactive narratives, and audio projects (see: Electronic Arts, Broken Saints, The Cat’s Maw, and Buddha and the S**t — plus a win at the Sundance Film Festival), DADBOD lands as more than just a mid-life singer/songwriter flex. No, this is the legend of an incredible boy, the man who was transformed by his love, and the kind of bond that comes around once-in-a-million-lifetimes.
GAME WRITER HUSTLE: The Writing Test
Competition is fierce. Top videogame studios know there's a TON of talent out there vying for that dream game writer gig. (or, in these troubled times, ANY decent work) The solution? A little bit of controversial 'free labour' known as...the WRITING TEST. Now, I've been a game writer and interactive narrative guy since 1997. That's 23 YEARS. Let that sink in for a minute. And even with that slew of storytelling experience, heaps of professional accolades, high-level game writer recommendations, and some acclaimed self-created indie projects? I still get asked, more often than not these days, to 'audition'. Seriously. ..
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA — The Musical! (Project Reveal w/soundtrack)
This special episode of my podcast takes the first real look at something big that's been brewing the past few years; I'm talking nearly HALF a soundtrack for a no-bullshit bucket list dream — an epic rock opera meets 80's live concert meets kung fu daredevil show on wires!!! So, let's get right to it! And if, like us, you're already a fan of the 1985 action, comedy, supernatural, kung-fu, Carpenter/Russell B-movie masterpiece..?
TOP 10 TV SHOWS 2019: The Golden Age Has Arrived
I've done this annual feature list a few times before, focusing on the year's best films. But after slogging through 2019's cinematic contenders, only one really floored me. But on the small screen? The 'golden age of television' was in full goddamn swing, son. I can honestly say that the lion's share of my procrastination this year falls squarely on TV's considerable shoulders...
CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS: How a Comic Book Epic Was a Master Class in Storytelling
When I look back at the stories that had a lasting effect during my youth — those that shaped me, and inspired me, and frankly blew the roof off my poor little mind — I'd have to say that one of the defining tales was this 12-issue DC comics epic. For a hick kid with a second-rate movie theatre, a laughably small local library, and six channels on cable? My storytelling could pretty much be summed up as BC and AC: Before Crisis on Infinite Earths...and AFTER it.
SHADOWLAND: A Sequel in Progress (Book Update)
VOLUME 2 in The Shadowland Saga. The sequel to my acclaimed, award-winning debut novel: The Cat's Maw. Whispers from beyond the veil have been a long time coming...and you're just gonna have to wait a little longer. Is it out of fear? Procrastination? Laziness? Writer's block? Perfectionism? Typical 'life' distractions gumming up the gears? All of the above, I reckon. But there's an unexpected reason it's taken so long to muster the confidence to dive back into this epic story.
GAME WRITING: A Short Exercise In Suspense ('Homecoming')
A potential client recently offered an intriguing challenge — write a short story in five parts with the following limitations: three sections of prose under 200 words in 2nd person narrative style, and two sections of TEXT MESSAGE dialogue with 8 lines or less in each. Use a female protagonist, and craft the tale from one of the following genres: Romance, Urban Fantasy, Comedy, Horror, or Suspense.
COVENTRY: A World-Building and Branching Narrative Exercise (GAMES)
Building a world affords a certain creative freedom. You aren't forced to work within established boundaries or strict IP limitations. You can let the imagination run a little wild. You have a chance to throw stuff against the wall and see what sticks. And, quite often, you can incorporate factual research into the world building of a fictional space. Which means you might even learn a thing or two in the process.
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR — 10 Things That Just Didn't Work (SPOILERS!!!)
Call it clickbait. Call it bandwagoning. Call it contrarianism of the highest order. But there's simply no way I could keep my nerd cred' and stay silent on the cinematic behemoth that is AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR! Check out this bonus podcast + blog version that is sure to get tongues wagging and stir up debates...
WRITING PROMPT: Questionable 'CHOICES'
Over the past year, I've been approached more and more about writing for 'branching narrative' games. Usually it's an established property, with the team leader keen for a different take on the material (which tends to translate as 'Characters and dialogue with more edge, please.')
Hmmm...I think I can do that ;-)