Leisure: Issue One Update

I finally finished this 16-page Joe Matt-y comic I keep talking about; I finalized it just over a month ago. I made an online submission to Drawn and Quarterly and I also applied for a Xeric Grant.

The Xeric Foundation was established by Peter Laird, co-creator of the Ninja Turtles, and it gives grants to people to self-publish comic books. I may get the grant and I may not; I find out June 15. If I do get it I'll print about 500 copies as nicely as I can and sell it for $5 or $6. If I don't get it I'll print less copies on less expensive paper and charge $4. Either way you'll be able to buy the comic this summer on this blog or from me in person.

Here's the finished cover:

I met a cartoonist named Jason Bradshaw who happens to live quite close to me and he self-publishes regularly. He's been pretty helpful and inspiring to me. He writes a series called Boredom Pays and for its third issue he wrote and drew 4-panel daily diary strips for several months. He was nominated for a Schuster Award for the second issue.

Here's his blog:

http://boredompays.blogspot.com/

Email from Ryan Ward

Hi Everybody,

One last mass email to let you all know that...

Due to popular demand SON OF THE SUNSHINE has been EXTENDED until APRIL 21st!

So if you didn't get a chance to see it, or if you have friends you want to send out you still have one more week! Thanks so much to all who went and got us a second week in theaters, your support means the world!

Extended April 15 - 21st @ 9PM ONLY at Carlton Cinemas! Please comes see us! Send friends...

*SON OF THE SUNSHINE EXTENDED until APRIL 21st!*...

"...A gem of filmmaking genius"

3 and a half stars out of 4

-Chris Knight, National Post

"...Sublime, heart-wrenching magic"

3 and a half stars out of 4

-Bruce Demara, Toronto Star

A note to let you know that

SON OF THE SUNSHINE

Due to popular demand, has been extended until APRIL 21st!

Please come out and see us! Let's make a home town indy success story!

*Check out our Great Reviews:

Click the links below to read the full National Post and Toronto Star articles :

http://arts.nationalpost.com/2011/04/08/film-review-son-of-the-sunshine-3-5-stars/

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/971140--son-of-the-sunshine-the-bend-can-con-cage-match

Heart Shaped Movies in association with Industry Works Pictures

Presents :

SON OF THE SUNSHINE

*Toronto Theatrical Release

APRIL 8 - 21st @ Carlton Cinemas

*Starting Friday, APRIL 15 - 21st

@ 9PM Only!!!

(One Showing Daily)

(Tickets available in person only at Carlton Cinemas - 20 Carlton St.)

Directed by: Ryan Ward

Screenplay by: Matthew Heiti and Ryan Ward

Producer: Paul Fler, Executive Producer: Mike Masters

Director of Photography: Chayse Irvin, Editor: Sam Hall,

Original Music: Matthew Montour,

Production Design: Deirdra Morris, Sound Design: Sean Karp

Casting by Crystal Kramer

Starring: Ryan Ward, Rebecca McMahon, Shantelle Canzanese, Jo Ann Nordstrom,

Craig Porritt, Steven L. Bird, Robert Skeates, Jordan Duarte.

Running now until Thursday, APRIL 21st!

After playing to audiences worldwide SON OF THE SUNSHINE the little indy film that could,

finally touches down in Toronto for one week only APRIL 8 - 21st @ Carlton Cinemas!

WINNER of 13 Awards Internationally including:

*Rising Star Award for Best Actor - Edmonton Int'l Film Fest

*Best Actor & Best Director - Wild Rose Indy Film Fest

*Audience Award for Best Feature - Malibu Int'l Film Fest

*People's Choice Award - Thunder Bay Film Fest

*Best Feature - Film North

What the critics are saying:

"Intense... Superb Performances and haunting images..."
-Liz Braun, Toronto Sun

"A shockingly visceral portrayal..."

-Kiva Reardon, Torontoist

"A gorgeous, ambitious undertaking..."
-Jessica Almon, NY Movies Examiner

“A moving performance... An assured and poetic debut”
-Michael Kissinger, Vancouver Courier

“A filmmaking tour-de-force… Marks the arrival of a distinctive new voice in Canadian cinema”
-Suzanne Ballantyne, Raindance Film Festival

"I was blown off the couch, out the door and down the street"
-John Griffin, Montreal Gazette

Link to Trailer :

http://www.sonofthesunshine.com/trailer.php

Please come see us!

POV: How does politics influence or impact your work in comics (or not)? Has it had a lesser or greater effect over the years?

Seth: I am really not much of a political person. I have political beliefs, but they don't occupy a large part of my daily life. I am so utterly self-obsessed that my main artistic concerns are generally informed more by my inner world than the political realities of the outer world. Clearly I am a typical product of this pampered North American affluence in that I can afford to be complacent and contemplate my own navel. When the end of the world hits (any day now) I am sure I will suddenly find out what a sheltered cry-baby I was. But it will be too late then to have made any effort to prevent what I am currently ignoring.

SOTS Premiere

I went to see Son of the Sunshine's Toronto premiere yesterday and it impressed me. My dad and my girlfriend both enjoyed it too. The editing, cinematography, and acting were all good and I was happy to have contributed to the project.

There's a lot of insecurity in Canada about our ability to produce films on par with American and international films and I've felt it in myself too. This film took away some of that from me.

recent review:

http://arts.nationalpost.com/2011/04/08/film-review-son-of-the-sunshine-3-5-stars/

showtimes:

http://www.google.ca/movies?hl=en&dq=son+of+the+sunshine+showtimes&tid=36f834448fef0bd9&sa=X&ei=K7OgTb6yNeyD0QGZnNWYBQ&ved=0CBQQwwMoAA