Results tagged “harveypekar”

THEATER: In September 2005, theater director Peter S. Petralia embarked on the Trans-Siberian Railway, connecting with artists from around the world for as long as the train stayed in the station. He would give them an art "package" and they, in return, would send something back to him. His collection of art objects and stories have culminated in Invisible Messages, currently running at P.S. 122 through Sunday. The multimedia work uses Petralia’s art-experiment as a springboard to examine the imaginary lives of three divergent people. Martin Denton at nytheatre.com calls the multimedia work a “compelling meditation on … the invisible messages that we constantly send out to the world about ourselves as we ‘perform’ our lives." - John Del Signore

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Michael Malice, Evil Genius, Editor, Overheard in New York, Subject, Ego & Hubris: The Michael Malice Story

The beloved Douglas Adams book, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, has already been made into a BBC series (now on DVD), and will be made into a film this April. Casting thus far: Martin Freeman (The Office) as Arthur Dent, Mos Def as Ford Prefect, and Zooey Deschanel as Trillian. The role of Zaphod Beeblebrox has not be cast yet. The British directing duo, Hammer & Tongs (aka Garth Jennings and Nick Goldsmith), directs the screenplay written by the late Adams (Douglas Adams's official site on HHGG).
In other nerd movie news, Film Feed has leaked Star Wars 3 footage (MOV file). Yup, looks like it'll suck. Again. But surprising that Lucasfilm hasn't forced it off yet, which could then be an elaborate red herring hoax by George Lucas. [Via reader John]
Then there's the movies' ultimate nerd of 2003: Toby Radloff, friend of Harvey Pekar (American Splendor). Fametracker has a nice dissection of Judah Friedlander who played Radloff so well in the film, American Splendor.

You've seen the movie, now draw the protagonist. Harvey Pekar, growly Everyman whose less than perfect life is celebrated in American Splendor, is offering people the opportunity to draw him in a comic strip (joining artists like R. Crumb) based on his stories. Then, submissions will be posted and people can vote for their favorite attempts at splendorizing Harvey. Gothamist would enter, but our level of artistic aptitude is much like Harvey's - stick figures and houses with curlicues for smoke. We can draw a kittycat, but that's at a five year-old's level. However, we are sure that we must have readers who are talented enough for this challenge, so if you do decide to enter, let us know.

Gothamist saw American Splendor this past weekend and enjoyed this twist on a biopic. The film offers Paul Giamatti as underground writer/cartoonist (though he doesn't draw) Harvey Pekar, as well as the real Harvey Pekar giving narration, as well as other real-life people making appearances alongside the actors who portray them. Giamatti is so perfect as this beleagured, lonely crank, with mouth partly open, perhaps in pain, that it's almost painful to watch. And Hope Davis depretties herself for another movie to brilliantly play Pekar's wife, Joyce Brabner, pursed lips and all. James Urbaniak's Robert Crumb was pretty awesome, as was Judah Friedlander as Genuine Nerd friend Toby Radloff. If this means there is a trend to turn underground comics like Ameircan Splendor, Crumb's work and life and Daniel Clowes' Ghost World into great films, then Gothamist eagerly awaits the next adaptation.

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