Welcome to BEHIND THE SCENES AT STUART NG BOOKS. New reader? Click on sidebar post "Your Guide.." Stuart does NOT write this blog. All the posts and opinions here are Amy's alone. This is SNB from the POV of the Bride of Bookseller. I'm here to advocate for indie artist creative rights and share resources. Aloha and thanks for visiting!
Stuart kindly gave some prime SNB booth real estate to feature this first picture book by artist Dominque Ramsey.
At last year's LightBox Expo online Artists Alley, I found this artist's booth and fell in love with her work. "Solitary Animals" has just been published.
Regret I'm not able to attend the in-person WonderCon this year. But I urge you to check out Dominique's book at the SNB booth 1509. Your source for the best in Art Books.
Stuart will be at the booth all 3 days of WonderCon.
UPDATE 4.3.22
Stuart sent me these photos of the booth..
Update 4.7.22
The SNB Facebook page shared a "Thank you" for the support of artists and attendees who stopped by the booth. It included more photos...
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And check out other creators friends of mine hightlighted in Small Press..(map photo from Russell Nohelty/Wannabe Press)
Boston Metaphyscal Society (UPDATE -- in space SP-105)
There were many good news stories at this year's Academy Awards --- sadly overshadowed by a regrettable flash of anger.
Best Picture CODA was a sweet surprise.
And congrats to DUNE!!! The cinema experience that brought many of us back to the theatres. I donned HAZMAT level gear to see it in IMAX back in early November. And I've been chronically re-watching it on HBO Max since.
Congrats to its Oscar winners!
Cinematography -- Greig Fraser
Editing -- Joe Walker
Score -- Hans Zimmer
Visual Effects -- Paul Lambert; Gerd Nefzer, Tristan Myles, Brian Conner
Production Design --Patrice Vermette and Zsuzsanna Sipt
Sound -- Mark Mangini, Theo Green, Doug Hemphill, Ron Bartlett and Mac Ruth.
The sleeper has awakened! After Covid-releated release date postponements, this cinema experience finally arrived... in theatres and on HBO Max on Oct 22nd.
Here's the trailer for the film..
Denis Villeneuve's take on this sci-fi classic has exceeded expectations. Yes, you can view it on HBO Max streaming (and I have been.. repeatedly)... but Dune is an immersive film-going experience. Why miss out on jaw-dropping vistas, the contrast of the massive scale of some shot with the glittering details in others, and OMG the sound design and score --- all best realized on the biggest screen you can access. Now that Dune Part 2 has been given the greenlight... let's hope there will be an extensive re-release of Dune Part 1 in theatres prior to the release of the sequel.
For now, enjoy the dazzling art on display in Dune Part 1.
Here's hoping the costumes get an Oscar nomination. That will bring a selection of them to the annual FREE exhibition of Oscar-nominate costumes held at the FIDM in downtown Los Angeles (usually early in year, around the time of the Academy Awards).
used their Instagram account to share some concept art designs, along with credits and contact info for the artists. So many highly skilled professionals at the top of the game came together to make this film magical.
Harkonnen Desert Parka concept by Keith Christensen
Check out these silhouettes, and more detailed renderings.. both by WETA artist Adam Middleton
On You Tube you'll find oodles of Dune resources.
Here are two favorites I've found ... this one featuring Villeneuve on how Lawrence of Arabia influenced him:
and Villeneuve and Chalamet giving an interview... it's all in French. I knew Villenueve was Canadian and spoke French... but only recently learned that Chalamet has dual French-US citizenship and is bi-lingual.
I've also enjoyed this You Tube channel "Quinn's Ideas" for deep dives into Dune lore..
The sound design and score contribute to the epic scale of this film. This link explores these elements.
Villeneuve's Dune is a visual celebration.... built on a strong foundation. The cast is superb, from these leads through the supporting roles. (some spoilers below ....)
Did you know Dr. Liet Kynes is a man in the book?? Will the film sequel keep this book character's connection to Chani???
And if you're a fan of Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho... you have to wonder.... There are Dune saga fan theories that consider Duncan Idaho the true protagonist of the story (the character comes back as a clone and Duncan Idaho is the only character to appear in all 6 books in the series).
UPDATE 11.22.21
Momoa has been posting links like this from his video diary during the making of Dune...
Action is character. This video shares insights into the fight training and choreography
Here he explores his own contributions to Dune... inspired by his "go play so you can be inspired" philosphy...
On working with Villeneuve
I'll add additional Dune links here....
A science consultant (and former Cassini project research scientist) Dr. Kevin Grazier is interviewed on the science in Dune:
