Disclaimer: the contributor of this and his wife run Movies on a Big Screen, Sacramento’s weekly screening series of documentaries, general independent film, classics and cult titles. The following is blatant self-promotion of a MOBS event.

On Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 7:30 PM, Movies on a Big Screen will be presenting the documentary, Independents: A Guide to the Creative Spirit and director Chris Brandt will be in attendance for a Q&A. Additionally, local comic book artists, along with local artist, Skinner (who’s short film will also be shown) are scheduled to be there. See the end of this "article" for the full line-up of who's currently scheduled. This will all take place at The Guild Theater, 2828 35th St, Sacramento, and admission is $5.00.

About the documentary, Independents:

Why does one choose to become an "artist?" What makes an artist "independent?" Where do they get their ideas? Twenty-four respected creators unveil the secrets of the artistic mind, by talking about their favorite medium, the lowest of the low-brow arts: comic books.

From cave paintings dating back 35,000 years to the graphic novels of today, sequential images have been used to tell magically influential stories. In examining an art form that has, until recently, not been accepted as "art", and discovering what it is these passionate creators find appealing about comic books, a bright light is shed on ALL independent creators, whether they work in graphic novels, film, music, or basket weaving.

And look at this list of who's featured in the film: Jessica Abel (ArtBabe; Life Sucks); Trevor Alixopulos (Quagga); Scott Allie (Sr Managing Editor, Dark Horse Comics); Kevin Eastman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Heavy Metal); Gary Groth (co-founder, Fantagraphics; Editor-in-Chief, Comics Journal); Eric Jones (Super Scary Monster Stories); Keith Knight (K Chronicles; (Th)ink); Erik Larsen (co-founder, Image Comics; Savage Dragon); Batton Lash (Supernatural Law); Scott McCloud (Zot!; Understanding Comics); Carla Speed McNeil (Finder); Linda Medley (Castle Waiting); Tony Millionaire (Maakies); Scott Mills (Space Devil); Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise; Echo); Wendy Pini (ElfQuest); Eric Powell (The Goon); Johnny Ryan (Angry Youth Comics); James Sime (Isotope Comics in San Francisco); Craig Thompson (Blankets); Dan Vado (Slave Labor Graphics); Landry Walker (Super Scary Monster Stories; Batman: Brave and the Bold); Brett Warnock (Top Shelf Productions); Mike Wellman (Z-Blade; Gone South; Mac Afro); Shannon Wheeler (Too Much Coffee Man); Robert Williams (Zap!; Juxtapoz); and Jim Woodring (Jim; Frank). Whew!

We also are planning on showing the short music video, Hell Dream, featuring the art of local artist Skinner, whose work has been shown in galleries around the US.

Here's who's currently scheduled to be there, in addition to filmmaker Chris Brandt:

Skinner: Take fantasies of pop culture, cartoon & comic book land, twist them into a subconscious horror-surrealism of lurking wizards, evil unicorns, horror films, Dungeons & Dragons and other wild and hallucinatory visions and you get the art of Skinner. http://www.theartofskinner.com

Ben Schwartz - Founder of ECV press, a Sacramento based comic book company who produces the comic books The Continuum, The Hunters, Relic & Ego, Triad, and Little Kori in Komaland. http://www.ecvpress.com

Paul Allen - Artist & Co-Writer of the horror/comedy comic book BrAiNs. He's also available for commissions of disturbing images. http://www.myspace.com/brainscomic

Anthony Leano - Co-writer of BrAiNs and founder of the From The Land Beyond, Horror & Sci Fi Show and Indy Euphoria- Indy Comix, DIY & Vinyl Toy Convention. http://www.sacramentocomics.com/indy

Stephen R. Buell - Buell is currently working on the sci-fi thriller comic titled Alien Echo, a punk rock homage to They Live, a comic titled American Juice and a comic about a virus that effects super-humans titled Elephant Cage. He previously illustrated the graphic novel, Fragile Prophet, which was named Best Independent Comic of 2006 by Ain't It Cool News. http://www.stephenrbuell.com

Mike Hampton - Artist/writer of Hot Zombie Chicks, Captain A-Hole, and Zodiac Killers. Mike is known to draw caricatures of attendees as zombies for commission. http://www.916halo.com

Sunday, February 21, 2010
7:30 PM
Admission: $5.00
Movies on a Big Screen at The Guild
2828 35th St, Sacramento, CA

http://www.moviesonabigscreen.com
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