Friday, December 30, 2016

Mike Vosburg Interview: Comics, Art & Los Angeles Life!

 Mike Vosburg is a legendary artist. He's one of our favorite customers, for good reason! He's been innovating & elevating artistically for 50+ years. We sat down with the penciling & inking icon for a few exclusive questions that goes deeper than comics.





Do you remember the first piece of art you made?

I remember as a youngster I was always doodling…but it wasn’t until I was
in sixth grade that I met a friend who go me into drawing my own home made
comics. We’d trade them back and forth and had our own little company.
It taught me the basis of storytelling and was great fun.


Favorite comic book art you've ever done?


My Lori Lovecraft series was certainly my favorite; I’ve always preferred
doing my own creator owned projects. There really isn’t much of
anything I was overly fond of in commercial comics that I did.




Tell us about your role in the Chronicles of Narnia Movies.


It was a very low time in my career as  all my regular avenues of work had seemed
to have dried up. I met another friend  serendipitously and he suggest I drop
a portfolio off at the film he was working on. A couple months later I was working
on The Lion,Witch and Wardrobe, and my connection to the series kept me
working for years. It was the first time I worked storyboarding on a live action film.
They were very happy with me, and I was ecstatic working for Walden and their
folks. 


Favorite place to eat in Los Angeles?


A local place on Foothill called Everest. When I walk in everyone calls me Mikey.


Comics is very low on my list of favorite things. Much prefer film, sports, movies,  books,etc.


Best moment of 2016?

Traveling in Arizona and stopping in Jerome and visiting Taliesan in Phoenix.


What are your plans and goals for 2017?


Keeping enjoying life and doing what I do as well as I can.

Anything else you'd like to add?


I am really thankful that I live in sunny Southern Calif. and that I’m in a vibrant
city surrounded by lots of super creative folks. What a fun and exciting life.


Check out more updates from Mike at his blog!

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Burbank's Convergence of Aerospace & Entertainment: The Story of Lockheed

 A big part of Burbank history was the presence of Lockheed as a major aerospace manufacturer. From before WWII and in to the 1980’s, the company had a large presence in Burbank. At its peak, in 1943, Lockheed employed around 94,000 people. Part of the property occupied by Lockheed is the current home of the Empire Center, a retail hub. The large signs locating that center have various airplanes gracing their tops. Younger people may not know why that theme for the signs came about. Consider it an acknowledgment of the Lockheed history.  





Today, Burbank is home to major entertainment studios and hundreds of other businesses that are part of the media industry. While there are still some smaller aerospace companies here, that industry is largely gone.    


During WWII, the then "relatively new” entertainment industry and Lockheed were connected by a very vital project.   


Lockheed and other companies in the area were a big part of the wartime effort to supply the planes needed to fight the war. In February of 1942, a Japanese submarine fired upon an oil facility in nearby Santa Barbara. Concerned that the enemy could enact further attacks on the West Coast and endanger the manufacturing of military hardware, the Army Corps of Engineers took action.



The goal was to protect Lockheed from being located and attacked. The “bright idea” was to camouflage the facility so it would not be visible from the air and subject to attack. To accomplish this, set dressers, painters and artists from the local studios were hired to create coverings that would show a rural landscape of trees, fields, farm houses and other imagery.


Imagine a massive manufacturing facility covered by canopies with rural scenery painted on top, complete with the placement of small farm buildings and trees to create a full three dimensional appearance.   That is exactly what occurred. From the air, there was no visible evidence of a wartime manufacturing facility. Someone in a plane flying a few thousand feet above would essentially see rural farmland, of no interest to an enemy wanted to attack production facilities. 




So, we have the economic engine of Burbank from decades ago being assisted by the world of entertainment, which is of course a major part of the business base in the Burbank of today. Interesting convergence, isn’t it?


For more of this history, you can check this link:
www.militarystory.org/how-the-military-hid-the-lockheed-burbank.html

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Roger Black & Waco O'Guin Talk Brickleberry, The Damn Show & Yucko The Clown - December 2016 Interview!

 We caught up with the legendary Waco O'Guin and Roger Black for a rare, exclusive interview! Creators of The Damn Show, Brickleberry & Yucko The Clown; Roger & Waco are busy working on new television projects to end out 2016. This hilarious duo let us in on a few secrets about their characters, personal life & shows. It's a must see!





What is your favorite show that you've created or worked on?

Between our show Stankervision on MTV and Brickleberry on Comedy Central, we would have to say Brickleberry. We had a lot more creative freedom on Brickleberry and loved the characters. Roger and I got to do a lot of voices.

Which social media has been the biggest outlet for Damn Show?

Probably Youtube for The Damn Show. We have had over 60 million views on there! Facebook has been a great social media outlet for Brickleberry. We have over 500,000 likes now.


What is it like being Yucko The Clown? 

Roger: The costume is really smelly. BUT it's pretty cathartic to say anything to someone and people not take it too serious. That's why I decided to dress up as a clown. 

Favorite spot to eat in Los Angeles?

Waco : Tallyrand in Burbank. It's the best breakfast joint in Los Angeles.

Roger: Katsuya in Studio City. Love their Crab Hand rolls! 


What is something that fans don't know about you that they probably should?

Waco : I use baby wipes.

Roger: I collect comic books, and cried at the end of the Notebook.


What was the best moment of 2016?
The Brickleberry comic books came out this year! We were super excited to tell more Brickleberry stories! 
 
What are some goals & plans for 2017?
Waco and Roger: To get another kickass show on the air!


   


Make sure to check out The Damn Show Youtube ChannelBrickleberry's Facebook page & stay tuned for Roger & Waco's newest endeavors!

Friday, December 2, 2016

The Art of Jov Interview! December 2016 Exclusive

 One of our favorite customers is Los Angeles freelance artist Jov. He's had a busy 2016 with bookings & online sales. "The Art of Jov" has garnered an online & in-person following using his Instagram as a digital portfolio for the world to see.




Who are your biggest inspirations?

Oh, man... too many to name but right off the bat: Jim Lee, Joe Madureira (Joe Mad!), Kim Jung Gi, James Jean and Jeremy Fish
 

Do you remember the first time you created art as a kid? When was it?

Besides at school... I remember when I first saw a sketchbook. I was 6 or 7 years old. It was my Uncle's sketchbook and when he would leave the house, I'd sneak in his room and check out his work. He would tag, come up with characters and from then on... I was mind blown. I would constantly check out that sketchbook and even trace whatever he drew. I would even draw really light like him, so you won't see any previous lines after erasing. I would also use any pocket change my parents would give me and buy Bazooka Joe gum. Rip them open, throw away the gum, read the mini comics that came in them and copy each panel.


What's your favorite piece that you've done?

I have a few that when I look back... I tell myself, "I can't believe I did that." To name a few, it would be: Link from The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past, Voltron and any piece that I used just INK. Those are special because finishing it without any smears is an achievement in my book. 
 


Favorite spot to eat in Los Angeles?

LEO'S TACOS in Eagle Rock! It's a taco truck that posts up Tuesday - Sunday. I've been going there since 2000. Even my daughter and dog dig it. 
 

Favorite spot to have fun or relax in Los Angeles?
Nothing beats home. I'm a homebody. Movie or music playing in the background while drawing or hanging out with my daughter and dog. But outside of home? I'd say you'd find me at a bookstore (Skylight Books), Wacko, Little Tokyo in L.A., Amoeba Music, Comic Book shops: Secret Headquarters or House of Secrets and at the movies; preferably where you can choose your seats. 
 

What was your favorite moment of 2016?

A lot of memorable moments happened in 2016... but to choose one and to sum it all up... my event bookings doubled! Which means more business and each of them were successful. I am truly blessed and grateful.
 

What are your goals in 2017?

To be in more conventions selling my artwork. Starting 2017 with my first convention at Silicon Valley Con. I'm super stoked about that. 



Click here to visit Jov's online shop!

 

Anything else you'd like to add?
I would like to thank you for giving me your time, thank you for the people what will be reading this. Also, many thanks to my constant supporters. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for them. Live, Love, Be Happy, Stay Positive and Kill It everyday! Lastly, please check out all my artwork and where I'll post up... here:

www.instagram.com/the_art_of_jov
www.facebook.com/theartofjov
www.theartofjov.bigcartel.com

Monday, July 25, 2016

THE 80/20 RULE: A FEW ANGLES

The 80/20 rule says that 80 percent of your business probably comes from 20% of your customers, give or take.     Upon analysis, many find that 80% of their sales and marketing results come from maybe 20% of the actions they take.

No matter what your profession or business, it is always valuable to “take a step back” to see what is getting the most results.    In the absence of doing this, one can inadvertently spend time, staff resources and energy pursuing “low yield” activities.

In our printing business, we try to regularly take that step back to assess what is working and what is not, both in terms of sales and marketing and operations.

Have you ever looked to see what actions led to your biggest clients, projects, and sales? Here are some ways to review and analyze this:

Did a particular type of promotion cause the results?

Were referrals from other customers responsible?

Did one or more particular employees deliver exceptional service that caused clients to trust you more and open up new opportunities?

Some other new way your business became visible? New signage? Updated website?

If you can’t get the answer from your analysis, you can also survey those customers and ask them.

One way or another, if you find out what caused an improvement, you are in the best position to expand on that, reinforce it, and continue it.

Can you identify any other questions you can ask or ways you can analyze your business to identify sources of success?  Write back with any experience you have with ways of doing this type of analysis and your successes in this area.

HELPING OUT

One of our clients is a large organization that held a special night for its staff recently.   The client requested contributions from its vendors to help provide prizes for drawings during the night.

I donated a few prizes from our printing company.   My contact was very appreciative of what we did.

Much to my surprise, she offered to help make our business more well known in her particular part of the organization.    I was not really expecting that, as I wanted to give something to this group as an acknowledgment, since they trust us with a lot of their printing.

However, it did remind me again, as I have been reminded many times before, that when you give, you often get something in return, even if you don’t expect it.

Besides, helping is most often gratifying for the one who helps as well as benefiting those who are assisted.

FOLLOWING UP WITH YOUR CLIENTS

In the high pace of business, when we receive a service or product from a vendor and everything is “as expected”, we tend to move on to the next project or deadline.

If there is some kind of problem with the product or service, we may contact that vendor. Thus, the vendor or service provider may “hear about it”. (As the vendor, you hope the client contacts you, as you then have the chance to fix the issue!)

While product and service deficiencies are hopefully very infrequent in your business, being able to address them when they happen is critical. You otherwise run the risk of losing a client.

How often do you receive a personal follow up call or email from a service provider, to check on your level of satisfaction? Chances are, not very often. I know that if I receive such a communication, infrequent as it is, I consider it a point of exceptional service and care.

Having a follow up plan and program in place is a great way to differentiate your company. It accomplishes:

•Catching problems that may otherwise go unaddressed and leave the client with a lowered trust factor

•More often, it simply gives you a chance to thank the client for trusting you

How often you reach out like this to regular/repeat customers is a matter of judgment. You don’t want to “bug” them with too many calls, but you don’t want to take them for granted either. Consider putting a follow up program in place in your business. It can be a great tool for customer retention.

Paper Stocks

Deluxe Superthick Business Cards
If you really want to stand out with a card they’ll want to keep, have a look at our Superthick business cards. We laminate multiple layers of paper and other materials to produce cards that impress everyone who sees them.  These cards will convey your message with style they won’t soon forget. Options include full-color [...]


Prints and Copies
The best quality prints in black & white or full color on the latest digital equipment, from any file or hard copy. Friendly service, fast turnarounds and great prices. Just let us know what you need and we’ll get right on it. We offer great discounts on larger orders, so please ask us for a custom [...]


Postcards and Flyers
Hand out something they’ll notice and remember. High-quality postcards, flyers and brochures get you noticed. Aqueous Matte or Hi-gloss UV finish on a variety of FSC Certified paper stocks. Printed on one side or both, it’s up to you. Our 14pt Express Digital products can be ready on very quick turnarounds, even same day. Offset [...]

File set up tips for books and booklets

Creating a book can be a little more complicated than other projects. We see a lot of the same set-up mistakes on many book printing jobs, so here are some helpful tips to review when you’re preparing your materials:

USE ADOBE ACROBAT
We strongly recommend submitting your files as PDF’s. If you can prepare a print-ready PDF with the right specs not only will you save a lot of time and cost, you will have a lot more control over the final result. Variables like margins, bleeds, spreads, pageflow and other common challenges can all be addressed ahead of submitting your files for printing, so we can get the results you are looking for the very first time.

You can make PDF’s from just about any software you might be using.  We are happy to answer questions about how to do this, and if you need more guidance we can set up a personal consultation to help you get on the right track.

WORKING WITH BLEEDS
Be sure to understand how bleeds work. This is essential for professional results. We’ll need 1/8″ of extra background for trimming and content must be at least 1/8″ in from the edge. The gutter or spine of the book needs to be considered as well, since each binding method has it’s own requirements for margins.











BOOK LAYOUT
Know how your book is actually going to be put together. Some production methods will require printer spreads and some will work with flat sheets. If you are making a saddle-stitched booklet or magazine, you will need pages in multiples of 4.











ADOBE INDESIGN
InDesign is the tool of choice for creating files to print a book. It’s worth learning to use if you want the ultimate creative and technical control over your project. You can download a free trial at Adobe’s website.

To avoid any confusion between reader spreads and printer spreads, please provide SINGLE PAGES with full bleeds, not reader spreads. This way we have the margins needed to properly order the pages into printer spreads. To learn more about page imposition click here.


ADOBE PHOTOSHOP
If you’re making a portfolio, zine, or graphic novel and content is already in a group of Photoshop Images, it may be easiest just to work with those. Organize them by naming the files with their respective page numbers so that they automatically stay in order through the prep and printing.

Make sure the images are at least 300dpi. We make beautiful prints but we can’t print what isn’t there. Also avoid using compression for the best results with digital printing. PSD’s, TIFF’s, and JPEG’s are all fine to work with but be sure to save them at maximum quality. Even hi-res photos print poorly from a low quality JPEG. You can also save them as PDF’s right from Photoshop and combine them into one file which has a lot of advantages as noted above.


MICROSOFT WORD
Although other options are becoming more popular, many of our clients rely on Word for writing and editing text. While there are some important limitations, we can usually get good results from your Word files.

The best workflow is to make a PDF right from your native file on the computer you are using to create the piece in Word. Word files often have text reflow and other formatting issues when moving them from one computer to another. This is caused mostly by inconsistencies in fonts and page specs. Producing a PDF is the best way to avoid that frustrating situation and have a portable, properly-formatted file that will give you the results you are expecting. Once you know how to make good PDF’s you’ll never have to worry about it again.