Bullets and Daisies Character Profile: Nicole K. Ellis

Here she is folks. One of many you will meet in this story but definitely this one here is no small 'taters. NOPE.

She's the main character, and performed by Mindy Howard.

Hope you enjoy this frame as much as I did working on it. YEAH!!

Bullets and Daisies: Issue 1 "Brave Little Girl"

Hello Folks,

This here is probably my proudest moment of blogging: I'm introducing to the world the two main characters of this story:

Meet Mindy Howard cast as the Female Assassin "Nicole K. Ellis". For those who have followed my posts from before, yes this does change things a bit. First, let's get a great look at a woman who, next to my wife, could kick anyone's ass....

Mindy Howard

Mrs. Howard has been part of my family's life for almost ten years. She has been an inspiration for postive spirit and for creative expression.

I have yet to find a person with a more infectious smile versus my wife's or my daughter's. And she's a great photographer in her own right.

She also happens to be the Godmother of our beautiful daughter.

She is fully capable of scowling the fear of death into even the hardest of hearts.

When my wife suggested casting her as the part, the story went completely platinum in my mind. She is the perfect face and heart for this story and I am honored to get to work with her in it.

Look out Hollywood: Here is

Marissa Rice cast as "Tina Stevenson". This little girl has the potential of being a massive star in/on the big screen.

I am honored and blessed to be working with such an amazing little girl. She is a totally awesome kid with a great attitude and a guru's patience. She came to the photoshoot ready and completley set to go. Another great infectious smile I hope everybody gets to see, (although her character rarely smiles in this story, I will do my best get some smiles in there).

But here she is, and I hope you enjoy how she looks....

These are actual shots to be used in the first issue where "Nicole" finds "Tina" in the most uncomfortable of places.

Here, Nicole removes the duct tape that had Tina bound at her feet.

This little girl (Marissa) can act. And she's not even 13. I better get my scenes done with her soon before some bigtime Director scoops her up and puts her in a multi-award winning movie.

I'm working diligently to get as much of those photos done for the first issue. We still have some scenes to shoot to finish the issue, but I assure you, this will not be difficult with the talent I get to work with.

VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO: Munpe Q for the most exquisite photography, Bird for the assisting with the
Meticulous job of shot tracking with the shot list, My wife for giving me the best support for doing this project and My Bro in Law: Realmnate for helping with the best location we could ask for to do this thing.

Anyway, enough of the mushy stuff....

Dang I can't wait.

"To Hell with my instincts...."

Bullets & Daisies: One Shot "Hole In The Wall"

Finally, a finished arc, about a character named "Deese" and his raving about a local joint he frequents. Some story set up and some background on some characters.

Enjoy. (please click on the image to see the larger version)

Special thanks to Carl and the Cricket on the Hill, (all those Sunday nights with guns and guitars, and a little camera), Nick Butler, Stan (The Sundog), and buds Brian and Damon, who this issue would not have been possible.

Created using a 7.1 Megapixel Samsung point and shoot camera, Photoshop 7, Comic Book Creator (whew, without it I'd still be wishing about doing comics) and my sick, artistic fricken creativity. ( oh, and my wife putting up with me whilst doing it.)

Planning is moving along for next photo shoot...

So, I spoke with my main photographer Nuzzy Futz, and he gave some great ideas for the next shoot.

Planning is already underway with new locations and even lighting strategies... I can't wait.

I am still very excited to do this thang. He even spoke with a prospective new Actor/Actress who can fill in on the main role for the little girl "Tina" in this story..

If all goes well, we may even see the first 3 issues of this story finished by end of summer/early Fall.

I will get my poop in a group to see that happen.

Ooh. Pics!!! (click on the images to see a larger version)

These are Test Shots of one "Nick" who is no stranger to comic. Having written some scripts and worked with local artists, He is familiar with ideas and the process. He has even been part of some local independent films and movies, and last but not least, in Music with the Band:BARSTOOL MESSIAH. He had on a killer look one night and I asked to take some shots..

As if he was a Gang leader deciding: "Do I drink this shot, or shoot YOU first?

After all, I DO love my whiskey...

.. Eh.. Nah.. **BLAM!**

Hope you dig these pics as much as I dug doin' em..

See you all again soon...

First Photo Shoot 5/06 for Bullets and Daisies Issue #3 (MODIFIED 11/27/07)

Notes for this session have been modified. A special thanks to everyone who particitpated. I couldn't have done it with out you. Enjoy some pics, you hounds!

New Pics Testing Lighting and Muzzle Flash

Thought I'd share some new pics I worked on using a new shipment of "fire-arms" and some source lighting. Like this pic---> using a "room lamp" for a light source and faking the rest in PS. I was pretty pleased with this, except for the fact that I'm a fatso. And I forgot to PS some shells flying from the guns....
Same thing here except I just did a flat, over all ink effect to the original photo, I didn't get too detailed with specifics like the face detail... just let the software do most of the work... except for the muzzle flash.. I did that.

Ok.. THIS pic I like... well of course not JUST because it's ME, but because the overall comp is good. The detail for the face and hands and arms was hand worked, I like the muzzle flash.. was a little different from the others but overall the same process. Plus, I got brass shells going "CHING!"








Ok, gotta put some of the BORING stuff, but only because it's relevant to the Comic Story process..


See, for those who are totally unfamiliar with the Comic book making process, EVERY detail in every frame is drawn by hand.. Even the boring stuff in the back ground. But sometimes the actions occuring in the background, or BG as I refer to it, are just as important as the forground (or FG). Check out "Watchmen" from Alan Moore, there are details you might otherwise miss that happen in the BG. (see if you can pick out the "more detail that I added".. )




Now this shot was for nothing more than getting tight and getting the light... I wanted to see how much detail of the pool cue and the cue ball I could get... it's great for a set up shot.. I have to rember to use this in the future. Using extreme, alternative perspectives has always been a fave of mine, especially in DC VERTIGO's "100 Bullets." Great story if you've not read it.
This shot had more color in it than I had orginally expected. When I went to PS with it, I was pleasantly surprised, especially with the Juke Box, Not much more than a set up shot...
More with the City, This building just looked cool, and looked even cooler after PS processing. Looks like a Darth Vader Corporate Headquarters. This pic also proved to me that changing a "daylight" photo into a "nighttime" photo....





My favorite bar... ever. And no.. I have yet to drink every bottle on the shelves... I love the natural lighting of the bar.. no enhancements made here other than color saturation. More pics of the bar will be made. Hope you all enjoyed these pics.. I know I have fun makin 'em.

Evil Evil Men that are not even very nice...

I am proud to present the first pic of one of our own in the story,,,

Introducing STAN as "Stanley Adolfo Martello", the primary antagonist in the story...

Stan has been a very good friend and companion in music with me, and I saw his potential for being a character in this story very early on...

Our schedules couldn't permit getting any shots.. but not this time.. I spent a whopping 20 seconds with him setting up and taking this shot.. and I can't wait to do more... ( I forsee some serious Bad Guy incidents with him )..

_________________________________________-

I the author, have decided to incorporate a character into this story called "Nameless". As of this post, I don't know how it will work, but I feel like having some fun with creating a completely insane and terrifying character who doesn't even have a name...

Why?

Because when we associate fear of an experience, like movies, video games, often times what we DON'T see, hear, or understand can strike the utter most terror.

I feel like creating a character that is unknown, somewhat unseen, and even if he is....
witnesses don't live for very long. The other aspect of this terrifying character, is his unpredictability.
Now, you can assume if he's a killer, then anyone he meets is gonna die in some horrorfiying way...
that's predictable.. what isn't is logic or even his stability....

I figure this may take some developement, but at least it will be a gas to do...

Here's some pics to give you some nightmares... :D

New Pic as of 01/26/07

Some New Comic Scenes from some old Pics... Syd and even myself...