Below are the 9 most recent journal entries recorded in lswong's LiveJournal:

Wednesday, September 6th, 2006
9:02 pm	The Word on the Street This year’s THE WORD ON THE STREET festival takes place on Sunday, September 24, at Library Square (Homer and Hamilton Streets, between Georgia and Robson). I’ll be set up downstairs in the library, in the Word Under The Street room, selling funnybooks, handing out free comics to kids, and moderating a few panels. Program books for the festival are available at public libraries, bookstores and Starbucks, but here are the panels I’m involved with: 12:00 Self-Publishing Comics Want to find out how to create and market your own comic? Kevin Leeson and Todd Ireland of Critical Hit Comics, and Owen Plummer and Jo Cook from Perro Verlag Books, discuss the joys and perils of self-publishing comics and how to get your book into the public’s hands. 2:00 Webcomics Comics delivered to your house via computer! Local webcomic artists Ed Brisson, Jason Pultz and Jordan Nuefeld talk about their online efforts and give tips on what it takes to create a webcomic that people will want to keep coming back to. 4:30 Comics and the Classroom Educators and comic creators Ken Boesem, Sarah Haxby, Julian Lawrence and Leonard Wong share ideas on how to use comics as a cross-curricular learning tool and a resource for promoting reading and literacy. Each panel will run for 45-55 minutes. The plan is for me to moderate the first two panels and participate as a panelist in the third. Hope to see you there. (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, August 31st, 2006
10:48 am	Vancouver Comicon Sept. details Sunday, September 10, 2006 11 AM to 5 PM Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street (Main & 15th Ave.), Vancouver, BC. Special Guests: * Michael T. Gilbert, comics historian, creator of Mr Monster; artist on Elric, American Splendor; writer on Donald Duck * Janet Gilbert, Walt Disney Treasures: 75 Years of Innovation, Happy Hustle High * Kelly Everaert, creator of Jungle Tales, Trilogy of Terror * Robin Thompson, creator of Champions of Hell, Li'l Natas * Ken Boesem, creator of The Village * Jason Pultz, creator of scarybear & Friends * Verne Andru, creator of 420; artist on Rock and Rule * Jordan Neufeld (Sticks and Stones) * Sean Esty (Marooned) * Don King * Critical Hit Comics * The Radar Friends * The Sonar Gang Admission: $3.00 (kids under 14 get in free) Dealer Tables: $50/wall; $40/centre (Comment on this)
Sunday, August 20th, 2006
6:39 pm	Hollywood (North) Bullshit For the second time this summer, I’ve had some Hollywood North tv schmuck wanting me to do his job for him. This time it was some guy –let’s call him “Walter” because that’s his name—from some new tv show. (This vague stuff seems to be part of their strategy to make it seem like they’re just getting off the ground, and I should do whatever I can to help out these plucky little productions; the previous show made themselves out to be a potential startup, in order to save $6 in admissions at the June Comicon...) On Friday night, Walter left a message on my machine saying he was the Art Director for this new unnamed show and he wanted to talk with me about finding a local cartoonist to provide artwork and decorate a character’s house. “Some dough and international exposure” were the stated carrots for the creator. Being the type of person who’ll return a phone call if the caller’s name and number are clearly enunciated in the message, I called back yesterday afternoon. Walter wouldn’t tell me the name of his show, but explained that the (a?) main character is a vampire who creates graphic novels and the show needed to find a local cartoonist to provide them with the pages of art that the vampire is working on and big posters/images to decorate the vampire’s studio. Ideally someone with an art style like SIN CITY, but horror. The artist would get a couple hundred bucks and “international exposure” and did I know anyone who might fit the bill. Well, I told ol’ Walter that I could think of a few people who might be what he’s looking for, but after my previous dealings with Hollywood North tv folk, I expected to be compensated somehow for my efforts/knowledge. Walter then apologized for whatever the previous show had done to make me distrustful of his ilk, and said he’s not like them. However, there’s no money in the Art Director’s budget for me because he’s a little tv show, not a Hollywood movie and if I was a guy and did this for him, I’d be giving a local artist “international exposure.” I told him there was no reason for him to apologize for the way PSYCH’s (oops) people behaved, but the way I saw it, finding an artist was his job and if I’m doing his job for him, it’s not going to be for free or as a favour to someone I don’t even know. I think I might have confused him a bit when I explained that I’m an English teacher and I wouldn’t dream of asking him to mark a class set of thirty essays for me as a favour. Walter then started apologizing for the other show’s actions again, repeating more forcefully that he’s not going to pay me for helping him find a creator. I ask him why he expects me to do this for him for free and he goes onto the “helping a local creator” line. We restate our respective positions a few more times, then he finally asks me what store I’m calling from, so he can cross me off his list. I tell him I’m not a store, that I put on the comic shows and if he wants to speak to local creators, he can come to Comix & Stories next Sunday, pay his $3 admission and pitch his deal directly to the artists. He’s talking over me, something about the convention being on his list but he needs an artist before Sunday and am I sure I can’t help him out? I tell him no and he says that maybe if he doesn’t find an artist this week, he’ll come to the show. I tell him that’s great, say goodbye and hang up. Listen, Hollywood North people – in the future, please don’t waste my time trying to get me to do work for you for free (well, unless you want to mark a set of essays). You’re not a non-profit or a charity. I’m a pretty simple guy at times, but I’m not going to get blinded or giddy by the fact that a tv show is calling me. If you want me to do something for you, offer to do something for me in return. Doesn’t have to be money; give me some free promotional stuff to give away at the shows, or signed photos or memorabilia to use as prizes, or one of your actors as a guest. We can make this win-win if you stop spouting the bullshit line. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, August 10th, 2006
4:57 pm	$76.61 Finally got the press kits for Comix & Stories in the mail. Padded most of them out with overstock shiny funnybooks by participating creators (If you get calls about MEK, that's why, Mr. Rolston. If it wasn't a long weekend, I could have tossed in copies of THE ESCAPISTS 2; oh well...). Only sent out 17 packages this year to local media. Used to be 20+ when I started doing these shows, but radio stations change format and print go tits up. A few more creators have signed up for the show. Updated listing: * James Jean (Fables, Process Recess) * Corey Lewis (Peng, Sharknife) * Brandon Graham (Escalator) * Steve Rolston (One Bad Day, The Escapists) * Marc Bell (Nog a Dod, The Stacks, Worn Tuff Elbow) * Josue Menjivar (Way Off Main, Everyday Things) * Robin Bougie (Cinema Sewer) * Fred Grisolm (Hate Song) * David Lasky (Urban Hipster) * Scott Faulkner (Moxie, My Sweet) * Camilla d'Errico (Burn, Zevon-7) * Robin Thompson and Ira Hunter (Champions of Hell) * Kelly Everaert, (Eyes of the Zombie, Jungle Tales) * Susan Ferguson (Antic Comics) * James Lloyd (Other Stuff, The Trip) * Jason Pultz (Comic Strip (scarybear & Friends)) * Laura Eveleigh (Little Illustrated Books) * Ken Boesem (The Village, 1918) * Miriam Libicki (Jobnik!) * Sarah Haxby (Peargirl) * Verne Andru (420, Rock and Rule) * Mike Myhre, (Space Jet Comics) * Jordan Neufeld (Sticks and Stones) * Trevor Metz (Crossfire Comics) * RC Johnson (Eraser Dust Comics) * Mary Kim * Don King * The Radar Friends * Critical Hit Comics * The Sonar Gang * Perro Verlag Books * Skeleton Key Press (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, July 15th, 2006
6:26 pm	Comix & Stories 2006 information Comix & Stories a day of alternative & small-press comics, zines, artwork & culture Sunday, Auust 27, 2006 11 AM to 5 PM Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street (Main & 15th Ave.), Vancouver, BC. Creators and publishers appearing (as of 9/7/06): * James Jean (Fables, Process Recess) * Corey Lewis (Peng, Sharkknife) * Brandon Graham (Escalator) * Steve Rolston (One Bad Day, The Escapists) * Marc Bell (Nog a Dod, The Stacks, Worn Tuff Elbow) * Robin Bougie (Cinema Sewer) * Fred Grisolm (Hate Song) * Camilla d'Errico (Burn, Zevon-7) * Robin Thompson and Ira Hunter (Champions of Hell) * Kelly Everaert, (Eyes of the Zombie, Jungle Tales) * Susan Ferguson (Antic Comics) * James Lloyd (Other Stuff, The Trip) * Jason Pultz (Comic Strip (scarybear & Friends)) * Laura Eveleigh (Little Illustrated Books) * Ken Boesem (The Village, 1918) * Jason Pultz (Comic Strip (scarybear & Friends)) * Verne Andru (420, Rock and Rule) * Mike Myhre, (Space Jet Comics) * Jordan Neufeld (Sticks and Stones) * Trevor Metz (Crossfire Comics) * Justin Pasieka (1989) * RC Johnson (Eraser Dust Comics) * Mary Kim * Don King * The Radar Friends * Critical Hit Comics * Perro Verlag Books * Skeleton Key Press Creator Tables: $30 Publisher Tables: $60 Dealer Tables: $60 Admission: $3.00 per person Please note that some of the material at this show may not be suitable for all ages (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Tuesday, January 24th, 2006
4:47 pm	Trifecta of Scum With last night's federal election, all three levels of government (municipal, provincial, federal) are now controlled by parties I would never vote for. Dark times ahead. I voted, so I can complain. Current Mood: annoyed (Comment on this)
Friday, October 14th, 2005
10:44 am	Strike! (Day 5) The first week's over. CBC was at the school at 6:00am to interview people and a tv reporter came by once it was light. I got pushed before the camera and hopefully said something articulate. Still getting used to waking up at 5:00am. The website for the tv is: http://www.workingtv.com/next.html The link that says "Student report on BCTF Strike @ Templeton Secondary in East Vancouver" is a report from our school last week. More later, after a little sleep. (Comment on this)
Friday, October 7th, 2005
4:42 pm	Strike! (Day 1) This was in today's tabloid. I'll try and find the photo of the banner. 'They deserve fair treatment' John Colebourn The Province Friday, October 07, 2005 As word of today's teacher walkout made its way around the halls of Templeton Secondary School in East Vancouver yesterday, some Grade 12 students went to work with their own message. They made two large "We Support Teachers" banners and hung them from windows at the school's main entrance. "I definitely support the teachers," said Sam Wilson, 17, a Grade 12 student."I think they have to do whatever it takes to show they are serious about our education." Wilson said there's "way too many students. You get no one-on-one help with the teachers." Angus Bell-Irving, 16, said while "class size is a huge issue" students have watched many of their extra-curricular activities go by the wayside. "We have a pool right next to our school but the swim team has been cut," he said. Gina D'Amico, 17, a Grade 12 student at Templeton, is concerned her academic standing will fall if there is a long strike. "If it's a day or two it doesn't mess things up but, if it goes longer, we'll pay for it," she said. "We'll have to try and cram a lot more work into the classes when we go back." At Windsor Secondary in North Vancouver, Grade 12 student Chris Clogg, 17, was concerned about getting into university. "If the strike continues for a number of days, it will be a problem," he said. "I want to go to university, so I want to make sure I have good grades -- I need to be in the classroom. A lot of the academic-minded students are quite concerned." Many parents said they back the teachers. "I support the teachers," said Debbie Krull, 32, who has a daughter in Grade 2 at East Vancouver's Sir William Macdonald Community School. "The government is definitely being bullies toward the teachers," she said. "Families will be impacted and hopefully the government acts quickly to meet the teachers' needs." Remona Charlie is co-chair of the Parent Advisory Committee at Macdonald and said both parents and students plan to join the teachers on the picket line today. "We believe the teachers deserve fair treatment," she said. "The government has found a quick out with the legislation and we don't think it's fair." Many of the working parents with children at Macdonald will struggle because they use the daycare that is on school property, said Charlie. "These parents now have no daycare because it is on the school site," she said. "It's unbelievable the way the government is treating the teachers," added Charlie. jcolebourn@png.canwest.com © The Vancouver Province 2005 (Comment on this)
Sunday, September 11th, 2005
7:45 pm	Original Comic Art Auction for Hurricane Katrina's victims Some amazing pieces of art available, and it's all for a good cause. Auctions start tomorrow on Ebay (seller: inkwell2005). Following link takes you to the auction's home page and images of everything for sale! http://www.inkwellrelief.com (Comment on this)