Ninja vs Penguin

Penguin February 17th, 2011

An action short me and some friends made after getting back from Tijuana. We spent a week to get the idea, pre-production, and shot the whole thing.

Happy belated Valentine’s Day!

Writers: Chris Rosenburg, Wey Wang, Cail Hubert
Director: Wey Wang
Camera: Wey Wang, Cail Hubert, Maylin Tu, Chris Rosenburg
Editor: Chris Rosenburg
Original score and performance: Geoff Rosenburg

Starring:
Hero – Boris Volkov
Mugger – Leonel Oliva
Mugger’s girlfriend – Sylvia Santillan
Sea Monster – Destry J.W. Smith

Additional crew: Win Jones, Maylin Tu, Geoff Rosenburg

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Ninja September 11th, 2009

I’ve been meaning to post my process for the King of the Deer painting, but haven’t gotten around to it until now. I made this painting for Penguin as an inside joke. Enjoy!

Rough sketch

Transferred sketch on wood panel  and blocking in shadows with Payne’s Grey

Layers of gesso and Payne’s Grey

Building up layers of thin Burnt Sienna and Raw Umber slivers with acrylic paint

Ocher Yellow washes

All done! Yay!!

Detail

Happy painting,
Ninja

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Ninja August 28th, 2009

Hallo dear friends! I hope you’re doing very well!! Oh, the past few months have been quite busy for NvP! Please, please forgive us for our irregular posting schedule.

What have we been working on? While Penguin’s been very good about posting the progress of his projects, I’ve been keeping mum about mine. You know I don’t like to keep secrets from you, but I can’t divulge any juicy information on my current illustration project just yet.

In the meantime, let me show you a couple of the finished projects. Some of my hair illustrations will be featured in the book, Hair’em Scare’em, scheduled to drop in October. You can grab a sneak peak here.

Also, some of my photos will be in Mr. Stefan G. Bucher’s upcoming photo book, The Graphic Eye: Photographs by Graphic Designers from around the Globe, slated to hit stores in November.

I consider it a huge honor to sharing pages with some of my hair-master and design heroes—Yuko Shimizu, Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir (aka Shoplifter), Marian Bantjes, Paul Sahre, Deanne Cheuk, Debbie Millman, and Grafuck (Fiel Valdez/ Peter Vattanatham) just to name a few.

BIG, heartfelt thanks to Stefan for including me in his lovely book and to Ophelia and Jeff for posting about my work (which is how the folks at Gestalten found me).

Ta for now,
Ninja

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Penguin August 19th, 2009

On Monday, we shot the cover for the DVD and the disc of The Intern Project. I also captured some establishing shots from around the office.

This morning, when I came in to work, I was greeted with a fantastic DVD case of Grete’s design. She even went so far as to write some copy for the back of the case. I absolutely loved it!

At lunch, we showed it to some people who had no exposure to the project and the reaction was pretty positive. Most people were interested in seeing it!

I’m really excited and looking forward to cutting this thing together.

-Penguin

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Penguin August 14th, 2009

A few weeks ago, I wrapped my other project, a documentary on artist, Derek Hambly.

We spent the afternoon of Saturday 8/01 conducting interviews and taking photographs of his art.

At first, he was really nervous in front of the camera. But once he started talking, he forgot the camera was there and I got some really good sound bites.

After the interview, he took me on a tour of his gallery and talked a bit about his art. We also did some staged b-roll, for cutting’s sake. If I had more time, I would’ve tried to get it naturally.

The shoot ran a bit longer than I would’ve liked, and I felt like I was rushing towards the end, but I think it’s going to end up being a good piece.

-Penguin

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Penguin August 14th, 2009

Last night, we wrapped principle photography of The Intern Project. Production ran for 11 days over the course of 5 weeks. We shot on Weds-Fri 5:30-8:00 pm.

Some of the stressful moments:

• Having a principle actor, Kristin, drop out a few days before production because her schedule wouldn’t allow her to be a part of production. Luckily, we were able to replace her with Euojin, who was a much better choice.
• Rewriting the script over a weekend after finding out that Euojin wouldn’t be around for 2 weeks due to work commitments.
• Jamari’s and my hair changing, threatening to screw up continuity.
• Kristin dropping out, again, due to scheduling conflicts. Again, we were really fortunate to cast Leann, who had just gotten back from Texas the day before. She was also a much better choice.
• Pajkou’s grandmother passing away. We were rewrite the last 3 episodes that day and reshoot some of the scenes she was in. Our hearts are with Pajkou and her family.
• Shooting 90% of Grete’s scenes without her USB drive, a crucial plot device. Fortunately, we were able to hide it in her costume.
• Dropping my camera on the hard concrete floor. As far as I know, only the battery casing was damaged.
• Not being able to watch dailies, so I’m not sure if I got all the shots I need for the edit.

All in all, it was really fun and I look forward to editing.

-Penguin

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Ninja August 7th, 2009

Whew, what a night! It was a totally packed house—my folks came by and almost got turned away until Kaki stepped in and gave them the OK. Thanks, Kaki!

Kaki King performing Pink Noise with pink paint
Photo credit: Stephii Jou

I met some immensely talented artists, shared some laughs with new friends, and witnessed a very cool performance by Ms. King. A huge thanks to everyone who came out!!

Kaki King standing next to my guitar, I never said I love you

Night After Sidewalk
China Morbosa

I’ve been a fan of this girl’s work since I saw it on Juxtapoz’s site. My photos don’t do her guitar justice. I was totally speechless when China told me she thought my guitar was “fucking beautiful.” ^_^

So much for so little
Katherine Guillen
Katherine usually works in watercolor, ceramics, and etching—this guitar was her first attempt at using acrylic paint. You wouldn’t know just by looking at it; she executed the painting very well. The painting is even more beautiful in person.

Can Anyone Who Has Heard This Music Really Be A Bad Person?
Vincent Hui

Pull me out alive
Andrea Arceneaux

These are the armies of the tyrannized
Eric Rodriguez

Eric has the cutest giraffe hat (not pictured here).

Yellow Cake
Amanda Hoddy

Can the Gwot Save Us?
Morgan Grenier

It looks like Morgan spent quite a bit on this lap steel piece, but there’s only four dollars cut up and pasted there.

Sad American
Reni Papananias

Open Mouth
Lennie Peterson

Ahuvati
Joseph Zacker

I Need A Girl Who Knows A Map
Kate Havnevik

You don’t have to be afraid
Amanda Zackem

Jessica
Nina Ulloa

My Insect Life (currently sans live ant farm)
Brian Ponto

Brian Ponto is the art director behind Kaki’s Legs to Make Us Longer album.

Much love & hugs,
Ninja

Related links
+ Become a fan of Kaki King Guitar Art on Facebook
+ Kaki King SPIN interview

Album purchasing links
+Mexican Teenagers, $8.49
+ Dreaming of Revenge, $13.98
+ Until We Felt Red, $14.98
+ Legs to Make Us Longer, $12.98

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Ninja August 6th, 2009

Guitar goddess/song bird, Kaki King, presents The Exhibition: a one night exhibit of guitars turned into pieces of artwork inspired by a Kaki King song title. The highlight of the evening will occur around 9:00 pm when Kaki puts on a solo performance of several songs, then plays the song Playing With Pink Noise with pink paint covering her hands on her iconic blue guitar. That guitar and several others will be auctioned off to benefit VH1’s Save the Music foundation.

Where
The Littlefield
622 Degraw Street between 3rd and 4th Avenue in the Gowanus
Brooklyn, New York 11217 (map)
718) 855-3388

When
Friday, August 7, 2009
One night only!
Doors open at 7:00 PM

Cost
Free admission
All ages welcome

Here’s a sneak peak at some of the guitars on display:

Sad American
Reni Papananias

Can Anyone Who Has Heard This Music Really Be A Bad Person?
Vincent Hui

I Need A Girl Who Knows A Map
Kate Havnevik

Can the Gwot Save Us
Morgan Grenier

Here’s my contribution:

I Never Said I Love You

Detail

All my process photos and comments can be viewed here.

Come out and say hi! I’ll be the one with the pink streaks. ^___^

Big smiles,
Ninja

PS. Correction: looks like Magic Hat won’t be there after all, so no free beer. But hey, it’s a free Kaki show with some amazing art—that should be enough reason to come out and join us. ~__^

Related links
+ To see more, become a fan of Kaki King Guitar Art on Facebook
+ Kaki King SPIN interview

Album purchasing links
+Mexican Teenagers, $8.49
+ Dreaming of Revenge, $13.98
+ Until We Felt Red, $14.98
+ Legs to Make Us Longer, $12.98

• I never said I love you: Process 1 (0)
• Kaki King Guitar Art Project in Brooklyn (4)
• I never said I love you: Process 9 (2)
• I never said I love you: Process 8 (0)
• I never said I love you: Process 7 (7)

Tags: Acrylic, Brooklyn, Exhibitions, Hair, I never said I love you, Kaki King, Kaki King Guitar Project, Littlefield, Painting, Process, Tanya Dakin, The Exhibition, Wood

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Ninja July 21st, 2009

Wohoo, I’m done!

I Never Said I Love You

Detail

Thanks for giving me much love as I continue to do my art! The past few weeks have been spent burning the midnight oil to prepare for this show (it’s my first group show). I’m so excited, and I would love to see you there.

Where
The Littlefield
622 Degraw Street between 3rd and 4th Avenue in the Gowanus
Brooklyn, New York 11217 (map)
718) 855-3388

When
Friday, August 7, 2009
One night only!
Doors open at 7:00 PM

Cost
Free admission

It’s been such an honor to collaborate with one of my heroes, the talented musician, Kaki King! She invited me and 15 other artists to create visual representations of her music from some busted guitars. Here’s a glimpse into some of the artists’ creative processes:

Ahuvati by Joseph Zacker

Night After Sidewalk by China Morobosa

Open Mouth by Lennie Peterson

Pull Me Out Alive by Andrea Arceneaux

Sad American by Reni Papananias

So Much for So Little by Katherine Guillen

I can’t wait to see them all in person!

Also that night, Kaki will perform a special rendition of Pink Noise with paint on her fingers. Her resulting performance painting piece will then be auctioned off for charity.

Magic Hat Brewery is sponsoring the event so there will be plenty of free swill for those of you inclined.

Big smiles,
Ninja

PS Much thanks and love to my wonderful friend, Tony Bologna Yang, for shooting the finished piece and to my lovely model, Tanya Dakin.

Related links
+ To see more, become a fan of Kaki King Guitar Art on Facebook
+ Kaki King SPIN interview

Album purchasing links
+Mexican Teenagers, $8.49
+ Dreaming of Revenge, $13.98
+ Until We Felt Red, $14.98
+ Legs to Make Us Longer, $12.98

• I never said I love you: Process 9 (2)
• I never said I love you: Process 8 (0)
• I never said I love you: Process 7 (7)
• I never said I love you: Process 6 (0)
• I never said I love you: Process 5 (2)

Tags: Acrylic, Brooklyn, Exhibitions, Hair, I never said I love you, Kaki King, Kaki King Guitar Project, Painting, Process, Tanya Dakin, The Littlefield, Wood

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Penguin July 20th, 2009

Last night, I got a really unexpected call from Derek Hambly, a local abstract expressionism minimalist painter. I had met him at the Artsy Fair about a month ago to talk about shooting a video. When I had called him to follow up, I got the vibe that he wasn’t particularly interested. Well, he called me last night and asked if I was still interested.

I talked with his wife for a good 20 minutes about what sort of thing they were interested in. I pitched an idea off the top of my head and they were game!

He was just about to start a new piece, so I got the great fortune to watch as he mounted and primed canvas. I’m going to be able to capture a painting from genesis to completion.

We’ll see how it goes, but I’m pretty excited about the project.

You should follow me on twitter here.

-Penguin

• Video: Underground Groups – Peter & Susan (0)
• Kyrgyzstan: First Documentary (2)
• Whipped (1)
• Waltz with Bashir (1)
• Videos: Auditions (2)

Tags: Abstract, Artists, Derek Hambly, Documentaries, Expressionism, Minimalism, Projects

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