Some friends and I decided to sit around and record a random conversation. For lack of memory refreshment and no planning, I think things went well.

Have a listen!

Sailor Moon vs Wonder Woman

I didn't know I needed to see this video until I saw it:

I mean, if you've ever wanted to see Sailor Moon do a death drop (and I know I have), this is pretty much heaven.

Thanks Youtube!

Supergirl Hits the Small Screen

This week marked the arrival of Supergirl on CBS. After sitting through this much anticipated premiere, I've got to say...it wasn't that bad. Aside from the usual pilot episode illness, Supergirl proved to have the potential to match those of her other DC Comic counterparts.

Inktober Begins!...A little late.

I'm getting into this whole Inktober thing and thought I'd go ahead and draw one of my favorite scouts.

Grumpy Sailor Jupiter is not taking any nonsense from anyone today.

Hit the Wall - A Night to Remember

History is important. There's no denying that. Even more so is history told right. In the wrong hands, many lessons of the past can be lost, forgotten, or downright ignored. With all the controversy surrounding the upcoming Stonewall film, I'd like to take a moment to spotlight a most appropriate counter to the Hollywood film's take.

Hit the Wall


Residents of Los Angeles are currently being treated to a brilliant production of a much-needed subject. Hit the Wall is a play that explores the moments leading up to that infamous Stonewall riot of 1969. It explores the lives of 8 distinct LGBT characters. Tano and Mika (played by Roland Ruiz and Blake Young-Fountain) sit atop their self-proclaimed throne of a stoop, dropping insults and throwing shade to any passerby. Their comedic wit and synchronized jeers make for a light-hearted introduction to the show's narrative. The externally confident Roberta (Shoniqua Shandai) frequently shuts them down while proudly promoting her all-female, internationally diverse group (of 1); W.I.L.D.

Across the way lies the A Gay (Burt Grinstead), the oh-so-macho, straight-acting stud who occasionally propositions "lesser" gays, only to toss them to the curb once he's had his fill. Newbie (Jason Caceres), just recently arrived to town, is his latest victim.

Our stoop-top divas continue their mindless banter until coming across Carson (Matthew Hancock). This drag queen is in no mood for their self-hating bashes, and is quick to deliver a most accurate lesson in r-e-s-p-e-c-t to an unsuspecting Tano. The display of internalized homophobia here kicks off one of the many still-relevant issues of the show.

Eventually, we find all of our characters arriving at the Stonewall Inn. Carson, having met sweet-talking draft dodger Cliff (Adam Silver), agrees to take her new suitor for a night of cocktails and dancing. Tano and Mika plan on having themselves a grand ol' time, while working on becoming certified A Gays. Downtrodden Peg (Charlotte Gulezian) is in wicked need of a drink, and finds a connection with the outspoken Roberta, whom she met earlier in a humorously flirtatious encounter. Drinks flow and music fills the air as our characters enjoy a silent tryst on what feels like hallowed ground.


 All is well until the boisterous Cop (Donnie Smith) announces a raid on the club, something read from the character reactions as an all too common event. Carson and Peg find themselves detained in the bar's restroom. Their choices in clothing have garnered them extra attention from the spiteful officer and soon find themselves victim to an onslaught of homophobia in what can only be described as a breathtakingly powerful, yet disturbing scene. The vulnerability of the characters invoke a great sense of fear and heartache. After an agonizing few minutes, tensions hit the ceiling and the two can no longer stand the abuse and degradation. They rise up against their oppressors and invite their onlooking brothers and sisters to do the same. What follows is a series of events which unite our characters in a way unlike any other. No longer can they stand idly by as they are mocked and humiliated. No longer can they hide in the shadows like vermin, stricken from society as ill-fated outcasts. No longer can they just watch. It is time to act. It is time to fight back.

Overview

The cast is absolutely electric. Every emotion they express elicits a response within that pulls you right into their shoes. Their flawless delivery leaves not a single doubt about who they are and what drives them to be there on that stage. Shoniqua Shandai delivers from beginning to end. Her presence onstage is one of power and tenacity. This young woman carries an energy within her that you cannot help but be inspired by. Roland Ruiz perfectly captures the hidden fears and self-loathing still present in many of today's gay men. His wise-cracking routine takes a back seat to an important revelation of self-respect and false idolization. Matthew Hancock, in all his brilliance, brings a sense of class and dignity into this world that would see him otherwise. Amidst the insults, abuse and suffering, he holds his head high and eloquently releases words from his mouth in silk-like procession.

It's not often you find such a well-rounded and equally powerful cast, but everyone involved in Hit the Wall shows such passion and devotion to their craft, as well as this project. It's an amazing story to tell, and should have no one less than amazing to tell it. From the instant the doors opened and the cast welcomes you in with a dance, you know you are being treated to something truly special. The inventive use of the Davidson/Valentini Theatre provides an immersive experience in which the audience becomes a part of the set. The actors utilize the space meticulously, which allows for actions to take place in all directions. I sat next to the stoop Tano and Mika claimed as their own, looking across as they ogled the A Gay across the room, standing in a corner stairwell between the audience. It was a truly engaging experience that quickly made me feel as if I were part of the cast. As if I were involved in every scene and action. Ken Sawyer's direction of this production was bold and creative. He took this show to a level not many can reach, let alone dare to try. It was beautiful, intimate, and profoundly entertaining.

Hit the Wall runs every Friday-Saturday from September 18 - October 25 at the Los Angeles LGBT Center's Village at Ed Gould Plaza. 1125 N McCadden Pl. Los Angeles, CA 90028.

Tickets are available at http://www.lalgbtcenter.org/theatre.

EDIT:  Hit the Wall has been extended through December 13 due to high demand and ticket sales. Don't miss your chance to see this amazing production!

HBO's Looking: Now That It's Gone

It's been quite some time since Looking wrapped up its second season, and it's no news that the series has been canceled. The show was far from the greatest, but I can't help but feel a slight emptiness now that it is gone. There was just something so great about it. The fact that a show such as this existed was enough to keep me watching week after week, regardless of how I felt about certain plot points.

To Cosplay, or Not to Cosplay?

I've been thinking about cosplay for a while. A couple of years, in fact. I've always been fascinated by it, as it serves as one of the greatest ways to honor something you love. Cosplayers are inspiring, and the community itself is one of warmth, love, diversity, and acceptance. People from all manner of backgrounds come together to celebrate their mutual love of the art form. Whether it's comic books, sci-fi, anime, or cartoons. Cosplayers are always there to represent.

With so much love for cosplay, how could I not want to join in on the fun? And so...

I have a list of top contenders, and Korra is definitely on there. Her outfit, seen here in Book 4 of the series, was one of my absolute favorites on the show. She was always dressed as if ready for battle, which is part of what I loved about her character. Her style is comfortable and highly flexible to any situation. And those boots! I have a thing about boots. I could wear them all day, every day. Slap on those arm guards and I would look pretty damn cool, if I do say so myself.

So who knows when I'll actually finish putting this together, but I'm adding it to my list of things to do. Woot!

Throwback: Kingdoms of Amalur

Whenever I get bored of today's video games, I jump back to one of my favorites. This time, it's Kingdoms of Amalur, one of the best RPG games I've ever had the pleasure of playing. Why this game never got the recognition it deserved is a crime in itself. From the moment I started playing a few years back, I knew I had stumbled on an instant treasure.

My roommate and I had the absolute pleasure of hosting an amazing traveler named John. He's wrapping up a month-long US excursion before heading back home to Sydney. We had a great night of food, drinks, and hilarious conversation. His incredible energy and positive attitude really gave us a well-needed jolt of elation. We were together for only a short period, but the experience was one worth a lifetime.

Outfest LA 2015: Why am I not interested?

It's that time of year again. Outfest has come to LA. July 9-19 is crammed full of this year's top picks in LGBT cinema. Dozens of screenings are calling the attention of local crowds for some enlightening days at the Directors Guild of America, Redcat Theater, and Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Dozens of films have been chosen to highlight and showcase all members of our community in the best ways possible.

And yet, this year I find myself lacking the motivation to attend. The spark that ignited within me one year ago has failed to even flicker in excitement. Why that is, I do not know. It's not to say there is a shortage of quality film this time around. As expected, many of the pieces being shown sound quite good. Some dreadfully predictable, and others outright offensive. After so many years watching the progress of mainstream film, I hold niche categories to an even higher standard. Too many clichè characters, concepts and storylines continue to fill an already offensive image of the community. It becomes difficult to promote diversity when certain films resort to money-making tactics of Old Hollywood, effectively pushing back the cause a few decades for the sake of a "good laugh" or relatability factor (which is quite hypocritical in its own right). I've stopped putting up with it in mainstream entertainment, and should never of had to deal with it in LGBT cinema.

At last year's OutfestLA, I had the great honor of watching a screening of Robin Williams's final film, Boulevard. It was such an amazing experience to see him commanding such a role with great effort, as he has done masterfully throughout his career. I applauded the film and could not wait to see another. On a separate day of the festival, The Way He Looks premiered to an adoring crowd. This cinematic gem follows the story of a blind youth trying to make his own way through life and coming to terms with his budding sexuality. It was so wonderfully crafted and offered a unique perspective to the genre, as well as an incredibly simple yet powerful solution to the usual storm of dramatics.

Perhaps it was witnessing such a high caliber of film that moved me to a state in which I could no longer settle for less. We fill our minds with such dribble on a daily basis, with hardly any progress on systemic evolution. The same stories are told over and over, by the same people, with the same looks. Representation is sorely lacking, as all developing roles are filled by generic templates common of Hollywood culture, and lesser, more forgettable roles are filled by stereotypes meant to serve as a literary byproduct. And now, to see these types of films receive praise as "the best and brightest in LGBT cinema" merely because the cast or crew play for another team, serves as nothing but a severe offense to both the medium as well as the people it's meant to help. Taking "what works" in mainstream entertainment and merely making it gay is not what I call progress.

Am I overreacting? Being a bit of a bitch? Maybe, but I don't care. While tons of crap continues to get pushed out into the public eye, there are amazing programs being ignored that serve as solutions to many of these programs. Powerful women undefined by men; LGBT characters with unique personalities relevant to their lifestyles and career choices; stories not defined by inevitable "love" and relationships, but rather evolution of the self. These are the kind of productions that deserve the community's attention and praise.

Now don't misunderstand. I love a cute romance or good, cheesy comedy. Definitely a nice, raunchy film or two. There's nothing wrong with a bunch of bitchy queens delivering an onslaught of dry humor and sarcasm. But do they really deserve a top ten slot year after year? If we want mainstream entertainment to change their perception of us, shouldn't we adjust the one we have of ourselves?

WeHo Celebrates Landmark Victory for Marriage Equality

In celebration of today's Supreme Court ruling, the Los Angeles LGBT Center hosted a rally in West Hollywood Park on San Vicente Blvd. The crowd quickly gathered in cheer and celebration as members of local organizations took to the stage to share their insight on this important day in history. The Center's CEO, Lorri L. Jean spoke first, reminding us that while we need the stop and appreciate all that today means to us, we cannot lose sight of all we still have left to do. We need to take the momentum of this victory and continue the fight for true equality; a fight that will not end until all humans are treated equal. The fight isn't over, but today love won.

While we still have a long way to go, let us not get distracted by negativity. I have seen too many posts criticizing today's celebrations in favor of issues still at hand. The fight is made pointless if we do not stop and celebrate all our victories, big and small. Allow love into your heart today, and use its strength to continue fighting tomorrow.

What a great turnout!

Victory for Marriage Equality

The internet is ablaze today in what can only be described as a momentous victory in the fight for equality. The Supreme Court has ruled marriage bans unconstitutional in all 50 states and US territories. Can I get a woot woot?!

All across social media, people are expressing their joy and excitement for what this means to the LGBT community. Victories like this remind us all that we're in this fight for a reason, and all our efforts are worth it. Progress is made every day and everything up until now has led to this very moment. Now, the fight may be far from over, but it's definitely important to take a second to stop, look back, and take it all in. Pray for those we've lost and remember that no death is meaningless. Many tragedies we've suffered have sparked greater involvement from the community and inspired others to carry on even stronger. Never forget those who have come before us, and never lose sight of the path they've set us on. The road is long, but together, as time goes by, we take greater steps in much shorter amounts of time. Equality is the future. Let us take today to enjoy victory as the present.



On a less serious note, I can already hear my mother asking me four years from now why someone my age hasn't found a husband yet. Le sigh.

My Art Style

It's so hard to define one's artistic motif, but it's one of the most important parts of an artist's career. Or any career, for that matter. With the popularity of the big companies such as Disney, Cartoon Network, and Dreamworks, it becomes a common thing for artists to cater their design skills to that one big dream job. They often let go of what makes them special in favor of flocking together with the familiar. I, too, found myself falling into this pattern. During my years in art school, I tried so hard to tweak my art so that it would match the big name companies that all our teachers kept babbling on about, claiming them as the goals we should all be reaching for. I saw so many of my peers stressing themselves out because their work, although fantastic in its own right, looked nothing to the level of the animated films they ached to have been a part of. It was a very uncomfortable environment. I had always loved my drawings, but it seemed as if they would never be good enough unless they looked so much like all the things that had already been done. As if being in the business of animation was limited to five measly locations in California. The end result of this type of environment was, however, not having produced Disney quality students ready for their dream job. It instead weakened the hearts and confidence of many fantastic artists who seemed unable to view themselves as good enough for the industry, and I have had enough of that.

My art style is in no way Disney-esque or Cartoon Network quality. My work is that of Christopher Atkins and none other. If I were to give it a title, it would be 'comicky.' I am a cartoonist who absolutely loves and grew up on comic books, and my art exists in an interesting middle-ground between the two. It took me way too long to be proud and acknowledge this, but today I look at all my work with a great, big smile. My drawings make me happy. My unique style is inspired by things I personally connect with, rather than emulative of what too much of our society deems 'successful' animation. I do still have moments of doubt, though, due to experiences like the one mentioned earlier. The drawing above took me some time to accept, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I could add more details or introduce more shading, but the cartoonist in me loves a level of simplicity in each of my drawings. I love the way it turned out and am more than happy to post it here.

Be proud of your artwork. Accept who you are. If we were all meant to be the same, the world would be a very different place.

Mad Max: Fury Road

Have you not seen this movie? No? Well, you need to close your browser right now and head to your local theatre. I'm serious. Go. Right now.

For the rest of you, it's already clear. This movie is freakin' amazing! Visually, it's one of the most stunning films I've ever watched, but overall it was hands down an incredible experience from start to finish.

Tom Hardy kills it as Max, a lone traveler fighting to survive on his own in a post-apocalyptic world where most of the population has, of course, gone savage. He is captured and taken to a fortress called The Citadel, wherein he is thrown into the beginning of the story's major plot. I'm not here to give spoilers; just to give praise to this amazing film. The characters are exquisite. The design of their costumes as well as the unique vehicles they command is top notch and incredibly detailed. The action scenes are breath-taking. I literally had to gasp and take in a deep breath after the first twenty minutes. There was so much going on that all my energy went into keeping up with my eyes. The cinematography and choreography kept me glued to the screen for the film's entire duration. I was in a state of pure enjoyment.

Furiosa (Charlize Theron) takes on Max (Tom Hardy) in my favorite fight scene of the film. The choreography here incorporated six other characters in their duel and it was both exciting and amusing to watch.

There's so much more to say about this film, but I'll leave it at action-packed powerhouse. Before the film was even halfway over, I had already added it to my top ten greatest action movies of all time. Congrats to all involved.

Pla Muk Tod

If you've never had deep fried squid, you're just not living life. This dish was absolutely to die for. Perhaps now one of my favorite Thai restaurants, Old Siam in SF had my taste buds roaring in delight!

I really just wanted a reason to post this pic.

One of my life objectives is to find a rainbow everywhere I go. This one courtesy of San Francisco's Castro area.