2008 Howard M. Shum Awards

Everyone can relax and the world can achieve utopia now that I have revealed the best of 2008.

Best Film - “In Bruges” Written and directed by Martin McDonagh. Great writing with clever dialogue, set in a place I’ve never seen before in cinema, brilliant acting, and stuff happening that I can’t predict, these are the elements for the best film of 2008.

Director - Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire” I like how Danny Boyle doesn’t repeat himself with the different type of movies in his oeuvre. He is great at showing energy and excitement in this film.

Actor - Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon” In most accounts of Nixon, he is portrayed as almost evil incarnate. In “Frost/Nixon,” Langella shows that Nixon was a deeply flawed man who made a bunch of bad decisions.

Supporting Actress - Vera Farmiga, “Nothing But the Truth” She’s a good actress. She doesn’t even need dialogue to convey emotion which not a lot of actors can do.

Cinematographer - Anthony Dod Mantle “Slumdog Millionaire” This movie is beautifully shot and it looks lush. More amazing is that it’s mostly on digital.

Screenwriter - Martin McDonagh, “In Bruges” I hope Martin changes his mind about waiting a few years to make his next film.

Butt-kicking - Manny Pacquiao over Oscar De La Hoya. The Golden Boy had no defense over Manny. In the seventh round, his hands were up and Manny still effortlessly went through them and repeated tagged him. Manny hurt him so bad, he wouldn’t come out of his corner in between rounds. I would have put the Joe Calzaghe - Roy Jones Jr. fight as a tie, but I must say Roy lost it a long time ago. It sad to see a guy I once looked up get whupped like that. At one point in the third round, Calzaghe dropped his arms in the middle of the ring just waiting for Roy to do something and sadly he couldn’t, except get a butt-whupping.

Television Show - “Lost” I wonder if people who work on other TV shows feel sad that their show isn’t as good or cool as “Lost.” The drawing here is of Michael Emerson as Ben.

New Musical Act - (tie) The Ting Tings. I dig their sound. Leona Lewis - There is no one in current pop music who has a lovelier voice than hers.

Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas, everyone!

Look at My Thing

I did a Thing commission not too long ago. I added these colors digitally after the fact.

Looking for a good movie to see in theaters? Go see "Nothing but the Truth" which is cleverly written and directed by Rod Lurie. It has brilliant performances by Kate Beckinsale, Vera Farmiga, and Matt Dillon. A reporter outs a CIA agent in a news story and goes to jail when she won't reveal her source. This film could have easily fallen into cliche and predictability, but thankfully does not. The writing is smart and the characters are complex. Don't miss it.

Megan Fox

Here's a drawing I did of Megan Fox. I would like to see her act in something written by me in the near future.

Scarlett Johansson

Here's a drawing I did of Scarlett based on a couple of photos.

Doutzen and Random Facts

It's a good time for another Doutzen Kroes drawing so I did one.

I’ve been tagged by Alina Chau to post seven random facts about myself and then to tag seven other friends where they have to do the same.

1. Last week while talking with my buddy Mark Morales I said that I probably have hung out and know more black people than him (outside of his immediate family). He grew up in a part of Long Island that is 75% black and I grew up in the inner city of Indianapolis that was 98% black. Mark disputes my notion.
2. I saw “Before Sunset” before I saw “Before Sunrise.” I think “Before Sunset” is not only the stronger of the two, but also highly underrated. You don't see brilliant writing and acting like this often.
3. I’m dying to use the line, “You are a stone cold whore master,” in a conversation even if it is not in context, just because I think it’s cool and funny. The line is from the great David Mamet film “Spartan.”
4. I saw Miyazaki’s “Ponyo” yesterday (it’s pretty good, though not on a Mononoke level) and John Lasseter was in the audience (I didn’t go bug him).
5. For Hollywood, I’m represented by Endeavor which make me like three degrees from President-elect Obama (my Endeavor agents - Ari Emanuel - Rahm Emanuel - Obama).
6. I ink with a Raphael 8404 #3 sable brush, even though some people think I use Illustrator.
7. It takes me forever to think up character names when I’m writing so I mostly use athletes and old cartoonists names for inspiration.

I tag:
Dan Schoening
Dustin Foust
Erwin Haya
Matteo Scalera
Regis Donsimoni
Sean Galloway
Stefanie Achtnig

Another Irina

I dig her look so I did another drawing of Irina Shayk.

Irina Shayk

Here is a drawing I did of the amazingly beautiful Irina Shayk.

Slumdog Millionaire

Danny Boyle continues his streak of making interesting films with "Slumdog Millionaire" which he directed and is written by Simon Beaufoy and based on a novel "Q&A" by Vikas Swarup. An uneducated orphan from the slums is one question away from winning the top prize in India's "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" How did he get to this position? We find out by seeing the difficult life he has led which also involves his life long pursuit of the girl he loves. Check out this flick.

Nicole Kidman

Here's a drawing I did of Nicole based on a photo.

Are you puissant?

What's that you said? I should do more drawings of Doutzen Kroes and should be writing and directing big-budget films for the major studios? I agree and will fulfill one of those request right now and the other is being worked on along with my mighty and powerful agency.

Zuzana Gregorova and Gun Fu

Here's a drawing I did of model Zuzana Gregorova.

Also if you've never seen the Gun Fu animatic that Joey Mason and I did, I uploaded it onto YouTube.

Hyperkinetic #3 Pages

Here are five pages from Hyperkinetic #3 (48 pages). Art by Matteo Scalera, colors by Oscar Celestini, written by me.

Hyperkinetic #3 covers

Here are the front and back covers to Hyperkinetic #3 which should be in stores October 15. Penciled by Matteo Scalera, colored by Oscar Celestini and inked by me. Image decided to combine the last two issues all into #3. All the story pages will be there and nothing will be missing. It was great working with Matteo and Oscar and continuing my streak of making comics for cool people which nerds avoid like kryptonite.

Agyness Deyn

Here's a drawing of model Agyness Deyn that I did based on a photo. It kind of reminds me of Milla from Hyperkinetic.

The Lucky Ones

The fall movie season is starting off well with “The Lucky Ones” directed by Neil Burger and written by Neil Burger and Dirk Wittenborn. It stars and is brilliantly acted by Rachel McAdams, Tim Robbins, and Michael Pena. It’s about three U.S. soldiers who get injured in Iraq and are back home in America on a 30-day leave. They end up on a road trip together and encounter an America that has become foreign to them. Along the way they have to resolve issues in their personal lives. Despite the way I’m describing the movie, it’s actually pretty funny, especially Rachel McAdams’ character. This is a role actresses would kill to play, but these cleverly written characters are seldom written for women to portray. McAdams steps up to the plate and delivers an Academy Award worthy performance. Being a Purdue grad, I especially like this movie continuing the filmic tradition (started by “Breaking Away”) of showing people who go to Indiana University as being stupid jerks. If you like great writing and acting, go watch this film.

Here’s a drawing I did of Rachel McAdams.

Cowgirl

Here's Bree Condon in regulation cowgirl attire.

Coco Rocha

Here's a drawing I did of model Coco Rocha.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

I did sketch cards for Topps' Star Wars: The Clone Wars set. These are the ten that I got back. If you're interested in buying one, send me an e-mail at howard_shum(at)yahoo.com.

Adriana Lima and The Ting Tings

I haven't drawn Adriana in awhile and I was inspired by a recent photo.

Lately I've been listening to a crazy amount of The Ting Tings. I think everyone else should be too.

More Bar

Here's another drawing I did of Bar Rafaeli.

Doutzen

Here's another Doutzen Kroes drawing I did based on a photo.

Bar Rafaeli

Here's a drawing I did of model Bar Rafaeli based on a photo.

Here is also a photo of Matteo Scalera, me, and Bobby Rubio at the San Diego Comic-Con a couple of weeks ago. After the photo was taken, I was in a prime position to konk Matteo's and Bobby's heads together -- which I did.

Ivanka

Here's a new Ivanka Trump drawing I did. I long for the day I can consistently do drawings I like at a high level.

Hyperkinetic #2

Hyperkinetic #2 will be in stores this Wednesday August 6, 2008. Here are the first four pages. Art by Matteo Scalera, colors by Oscar Celestini, written by me.

Behati Prinsloo

As L.A. rocked this morning, while in my boxers I briefly debated if I should put on some pants and go outside. I'm from Indiana so I don't know what you're supposed to do in an earthquake. It's not like they give you an instruction manual once you move here. I was too tired to really do anything, so I just rode it out.

Here's a drawing I did of Behati Prinsloo.

Spaced

The two seasons of the hilarious Spaced TV show is finally out on DVD today. Here are drawings I did of stars/writers Jessica Hynes and Simon Pegg and director Edgar Wright.

Remember if you are going to the San Diego Comic-Con this week, stop by the Image Comics booth and say "hi" to Matteo Scalera and me. My buddy Mark Morales (Secret Invasion inker) will be hanging out too.

Hyperkinetic in San Diego

Matteo Scalera and I will in San Diego for Comic-Con International July 23-27, 2008 at the Image Comics booth. We will have this 11x17 Hyperkinetic print for sale. Pencils and colors by Matteo, inks by me.

Breezy

Since the first one was so fun, here's another drawing I did of Bree Conden based on a photo.

Olivia Thirlby

As my fellow Americans and I celebrate the ass kicking our forefathers gave to the tyranical British, I present this drawing I did of Olivia Thirlby. Watch her new film "The Wackness."

Bree Conden

Here's a drawing I did of awesome Bree Conden based on a photo.

Hyperkinetic and The Wackness

Hyperkinetic #1 is coming out next week and I'm doing a signing at Meltdown Comics (7522 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046) Wednesday, July 2, 2008, 7-9 PM. I'm also doing a free sketch for everyone who buys a copy of Hyperkinetic.

Click here to read a review of Hyperkinetic from Secret Identity Podcast.

Here's the cover for Hyperkinetic #2, penciled by Matteo Scalera, colored by Oscar Celestini, inked by me.

Want to see a movie with some kick ass acting and writing? Check out “The Wackness” written and directed by Jonathan Levine and staring Ben Kingsley, Olivia Thirlby, and Josh Peck. The movie is about a loser pot dealer and his summer between graduating high school before going to university in 1994. Kingsley is amazing as his whacked out psychiatrist friend/buyer and Olivia Thirlby is his elusive love. Olivia will be a big time Hollywood actress very soon. She’s already a great actress.

Ivanka Trump

Here's a drawing I did of Ivanka. Smart and beautiful. My kind of girl.

Renee Zellweger

Here's a drawing of Renee that I did when she was posing in my bathtub... wait... let me think for a moment... now I remember. I did the drawing based on a photo... that I took while she was posing in my bathtub.

Angelina Jolie

Here's a drawing I did of Angelina based on a photo.

Sayid - "Lost"

Here's a drawing I did of Naveen Andrews as Sayid from "Lost."

Indiana Jones

I did sketch cards for Topps' Indiana Jones Heritage and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull sets. These are the cards that I'm getting back. If you would like to buy one, send me an e-mail.

Alice Eve and Redbelt

Here's a drawing I did of Alice Eve from the movie "Starter for 10." The performances by her and James McAvoy were good, but the writing, though not bad, was predictable. Everything you expect to happen, happens. I was at the brink of stopping watching when Alice popped up on the screen. I would like to see her in something better written. Perhaps something by me.

An example of a film that is cleverly written is Redbelt written and directed by the great David Mamet. Amazing actor Chiwetel Ejiofor plays a Brazilian jiujitsu master who attempts to live a life of honor. The evil and corruptness that is Hollywood enters his life to sabotage that. Being the egocentric that I am, I take this film to be a warning to me as I step through the archway into this devious world. It appears that in this life I must walk a path towards enlightenment. In the process I must keep the purity of my writing and art. Thank God, Mamet has taught me, "there is always an escape."