#[from some halloween special... creator drew them like that...]

[southconfessionpark]

Had a vivid nightmare where the South Park fandom made a Hetalia SP AU that got popular and an episode ended up being made on it. The scary part was that the Hetalia episode got so popular that a spinoff series was made on it.

[boxfullaturtles]

Now that we're entering into 2024, I'm asking some artists and writers that I follow:

1) What is the one piece you're most proud of from this past year?

2) What are some pieces that you would have liked more people to see? If you can include links, I'd love to go check them out!

3) What were your top three favorite pieces (art, comics, fics, etc) that someone else has made this past year?

(As always, no pressure to respond! Feel free to just ignore, or let me know if you'd rather I not send you these kinds of asks in the future.)

Oh man, let's see...

1) I think my fave turtle art I've done is this Residuum fan art. I mean, it's my banner haha. But the art overall that I am most proud of that I did this year, is this art of one of my friend's Splatoon OCs. I drew WATER and it turned out so friggin awesome! When it comes to writing, I'm just really happy with Mortal Shell! Really honored to work with two super awesome artists and I had a blast working on it!

2) Well I'd always love more attention on Adagio in Green heh,,, It's my post-movie recovery fic and I've put so much love into it. These boys are basically getting everything except a space arc lol

3) Only THREE!? Dang. Okay. Uh. Hm. Okay, first three that came to mind, in no particular order: Of course there's Residuum. Residuum, my beloved. Residuum, whom I dream about. Residuum, whose hand I ask for in marriage. Residuum that delights me so much, I cannot explain to you how much I absolutely LOVE Residuum. I am gay for Residuum. In the same vein, The Lemonade Leak occupies my mind so much, the terror of it consumes me. The storytelling and the twists are phenomenal and it drives me insane. Drives me absolutely mad, it's so damn good. Shit. Just picking three is too hard. I can't just pick three. There's so much I love that this fandom has created... Fuck it. We ball. Here's a handful of creators that make some REALLY awesome stuff that I love!

dandylovesturtles - writes awesome fics and has spectacular ideas! intotheelliwoods - delightful art style and 2 Arms Left has left me with severe emotional damage abbeyofcyn - the art the aaaarrrtttt oh my god, the expressions and use of color! and Krang Infection is phenomenal, I love it so much venelona-turtle-den - made the wonderful Ghost Leonardo, which ended with me having to explain Rise TMNT to my therapist lmao turtlesoupswimmer - The Lemonade Leak. I don't need to say anything else. I am inspired and I am wrecked. thedawningofthehour - The Dawning of the Hour series is slow burn torture and is one of the few things that have made me shout "FUCK YOU" and slam my laptop closed. sassatello - gorgeous art, love the style, love the colors, love the line art! I'm saving for a commission :3

And a special shout out to tmnt-event-blog for the Halloween event and the Window Decorating event! Looking forward to what other fun stuff they host!

anyway, i've definitely forgotten to mention some stuff but! this is the stuff that i thought of off the top of my head lol

happy new year everyone!

[sepublic]

Happy Birthday to The Owl House!

           Honestly, I’m… REALLY shocked to think back on how it’s been a year? It’s been a full, actual year, since that first episode?

           I remember when The Owl House was first announced around early 2018. Something about it, the premise, the characters from that one poster we got; It really drew me in, and I kept track of the show’s progress in eager anticipation. Whenever Dana released art of Luz, Eda, and King, I was ecstatic- And when the show was delayed to 2020, I was dismayed.

           Then we got our teaser trailer; The opening them, the end credits, even a little sneak peek! I remember speculating a lot about Luz and all of the other new characters we were introduced to, such as Willow, Amity, and Gus- And then we got more and more trailers in the days leading up to the show. I wondered about Luz’s home back on Earth and where her family was, I listened intently to the Hooty and the Parliament music video, finding an almost melancholic, weirdly nostalgic (despite having never watched the show yet) vibe to it- Whilst also avoiding looking at the screen and seeing all of the various clips it offered, because I wanted to be surprised! It was two years of anticipation, two years of wait for this show- I’d never looked forward to a series before like this, last I can recall… So having this content FINALLY come out, seeing these characters in animation, hearing their wonderful voices! My soul was vibing, it was time, it was coming after all this time…!

          Eventually I finished Infinity Train Book 2, the same day that The Owl House premiered… I was blindsided when I woke up to the first episode’s release online, in full- I was already planning to wait until later to watch it on television, so having it permanently accessible from the internet was such a pleasant surprise! And the show… The show, man- That premiere caught me off-guard with how much I enjoyed it! I knew I was looking forward to this show, but still…! It blew away my expectations, and even now, has continued to; It was like my personal investment and attention had paid off so patiently well! I even got a DisneyNOW subscription so I could watch each new episode ASAP, the day it premiered, hours before it aired on television!

           I remember scouring Tumblr before the show officially premiered, and there was understandably very little- A few pieces of fanart here or there. And when the show DID premiere, for a while there wasn’t really much of a fandom- There was barely anyone, in fact! But I can remember a few notable blogs who have been around since the beginning… Me, I got invested into this show. I found myself really enjoying Lumity as a ship, especially since I resonated with both characters in it; Luz was such a ball of sunshine that brightened my day, and Amity really spoke to me with her more introverted, top-scoring personality. When the show hit its mid-season hiatus, I remember not handling it too well, as I got impatient and frantic in my speculations- I wanted so badly to learn more about these characters, see what happened- Get a look at Emperor Belos (then known as Bellows by the fandom), etc.

          I wrote my Bile Coven piece in preparation for Halloween, even got to know a mutual or two over shared theorizing! I kept track of Dana’s updates, and even had people come to my blog, of all places, to send asks! It was and still has been such an engaging part of fandom for me… I recall impatiently waiting for the Owl Pellet shorts and freaking out over them- And when Adventures in the Elements leaked early? I LOST MY MIND, I remember postponing something I was supposed to go to, just so I could watch the episode- And it was so good! Then I started wondering and hoping the rest of Season 1 would come out, and well- It took a while…

          And when Season 1B’s trailer came out, I was all over it; Scouring every possible frame, freaking out over the Grom screenshot, and appreciating the influx of new fans! It was amazing to watch The Owl House go from a relatively minor and obscure fandom, to becoming so much more mainstream and populous! I got into Rebecca Rose’s channel, I began writing more meta and posts about the show, as well as little recaps for each new episode. I feel like my blog really took off from here, as I got to interact with more and more people who shared this mutual love of The Owl House, and I was so ecstatic to see more content and buzz about it!

           My mind was solely focused on The Owl House, it was one of my huge hyperfixations, even moreso than during Season 1A’s run- I remember being anxious about Enchanting Grom Fright, wondering if we’d get queerbaited… But NO, Amity was in love with Luz! She canonically had a crush on her, a girl in love with another girl- And I loved it because Lumity was a special comfort ship of mine! Then Amity was confirmed lesbian… It was amazing! And I found myself SO invested, so inspired by the show and its characters, and all of the little allusions to things, the foreshadowing, the moments here or there that made so much more sense after a new episode.

           This show inspired me creatively- It got me to write some of my personal favorite fanfics, and I was and still am so touched by whatever feedback I get from them! The Owl House really got me to write, to obsess over characters and analyze them, to look at motifs, to think about worldbuilding… It’s been such an artistically enriching experience, both the show and the fandom! I remember despairing so terribly when Agony of a Witch came out, the genuine betrayal I had when Lilith revealed the truth- Because I’d been legitimately endeared to her character beforehand, even formed a sort of ‘trust’ in a sense… And like many others, I agonizingly anticipated the season finale, the much-needed emotional reconciliation!

           I remember how the episode titles were revealed, bit by bit, and how I and others speculated on what they’d spell out! I remember when the fandom obsessed over the Witch’s Apprentice game and its relics, for clues and new lore after each episode, the little hints here or there! I was freaked out by characters like Belos, who lived up to my hopes and expectations- First being alluded to by name, then his amazing appearance… And then his voice and mannerisms and everything about him! And when the Season Finale came out…

           Well, there was relief. But there was a bittersweet emptiness- That it was over! The first season was over! There was a celebratory triumph, of course- We finally wrapped up the first, major arc of the show, the first batch of episodes that had been worked upon, the whole thing now unveiled and appreciated! But I was a little dismayed because a part of me KNEW a hiatus much longer than the previous one was ahead of me, and I did not handle the mid-season hiatus well. Of course, then Dana had her Reddit AMA, and the charity livestream; Both of which NOURISHED me creatively, and have helped to fill out the wait! To carry out my momentum, to not flounder about in hiatus; I invested myself into more meta, into various posts, etc. I read fanfiction that genuinely floored me, obsessed over fanart, etc.

           I supported the show’s release on Disney Plus, ecstatic to get this kind of ready access. I revisited past episodes and characters, looking at them in a new light, appreciating things; Like Luz’s relationship with fantasy… King’s surprising development, all of Eda’s little hints and clues. There’s been an emotional catharsis with these characters for me- And I genuinely feel like I’ve been a lot happier lately because of this show! I’ve met so many other blogs and gotten to know them, seen their ideas and displayed mine as we appreciated one another… I even remember doing another blog’s fanart prompt prior to the show’s release, in preparation!

           I feel like The Owl House has genuinely given me a new appreciation for meta, for fandom and analysis… For headcanons, for writing my own stories and contributing my own ideas and speculations, etc.! It’s contributed SO much joy to me as a hyperfixation, and rapidly risen through my blog as my most frequent tag! And even as I explore other fandoms and hyperfixations, both then and now, especially to pass on this crippling hiatus… This show holds a VERY special place in my heart for me. It’s really made me feel for these characters, the love and sadness, the excitement and sense of comfort… Its love and emotions, angst and found family, lore and speculation, it hits so hard to me in a way that other media hasn’t!

           It’s provided representation- Such as canonically queer characters, or protagonists who speak so well to the neurodivergent experience for many people! I’ve had delight in seeing people suggest Amity as autistic, when before Season 1B, I lowkey headcanoned and saw her as such- So seeing more evidence for this resonated deeply in my heart! I remember all of the discussion about King as a character, the confusion and talk about whether or not he WAS a King of Demons, when that first announcement in 2018 had made a similar claim… I looked forward to Eda and Lilith’s relationship, speculated on who cursed Eda, and remembered when I’d considered the Blights as a potential culprit! I remember thinking about Hooty, wondering what his deal is- And thinking then and now about that Owl Deity mural in the Owl House! Watching Luz’s development as a character and as a witch, seeing her become more proficient with magic until it finally pays off with her squaring up against Belos, and wounding him- I’d never felt so proud of a character and their progress before!

           There’s still so many more questions and mystery, lore… as well as just genuine character interactions, to look forward to! I think The Owl House is one of my favorite shows of all time… It’s deeply touched me as a person and creator, and I genuinely strive to create something even close to this one day. This show has inspired me, made me laugh and cry, compelled me to creatively make content; It’s introduced me to a wider fandom that I genuinely feel like a part of, had me meet other mutuals… It really is something special to me. And while I am eager for Season 2, I also want to appreciate what Dana Terrace and her crew have already established. I love this show’s art style and animation, the designs and overall weirdness of its characters- I love speculating and thinking about them, getting more and more details, and so forth.

           If it’s for a better product, I’m fine waiting for Season 2. And honestly, I love what we already have, and I’ve done a lot with so many people. I’ve even looked over supplementary materials and stuff posted by the crew or news articles, in my need for content… And I love every bit of update, art, and/or acknowledgement of the show’s hiatus, and Season 2’s development! There’s so much to look forward to… And there’s so much that I’ve enjoyed, after plenty of anticipation!

           Thank you @danaterrace, and everyone who worked on this- For everything. It really is crazy to reflect on this entire year, to realize it’s been a full year since that first episode, since that first premiere that lit up my world like Luz’s light spells; And it feels like such a milestone that we’ve reached! I look forward to what comes next, and I also intend to keep appreciating and cherishing what we’ve already gotten. Here’s to this show’s second year, people- It’s been such a journey to look back on and remember each step, each phase, each particular moment and stage… And I can only imagine what will come next! This show has SUCH a special place in my heart, and has made me feel in so many ways I haven’t before!

           Happy Birthday, The Owl House! You’ve earned it!

[flaggermousseart]

creator tag meme

@knifeears said anyone could snatch it up, so here I am, snatching

rules: it’s time to love yourselves! choose your 5 (ish) favorite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020. tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works!

#1 The Kiss in the Shrieking Shack

It’s almost a year since I made this, but I’m still very satisfied with it. I managed to make a lot of background with several layers of shadows. This was a very simple idea: just make one change to the canon scene. I added the canon dialogue from the scene in the tumblr post, and I didn’t need to change a single word, and that still makes me grin. My favourite panel is one of the last ones, where they just stare at each other, I’m very satisfied with that picture in particular, especially Sirius’ expression. This comic exploded in popularity more than I could have imagined. I am thrilled so many people enjoy it.

#2 November 1st 1993

Sticking to the Prisoner of Azkaban-timeline, making a scene with just the teachers. I just like what I managed to show with the dialogue and the art here. In canon, Snape seems to think Remus Lupin isn’t trustworthy because of his past history with Sirius Black, as we can see from his talk with Dumbledore at Halloween, and the things he says in the Shrieking Shack. I just took that, and made it a romantic/sexual history. Snape’s not outing him as a werewolf, instead it’s another painful secret he pokes at.

Also satisfied with Minerva and Remus’ short conversation; he didn’t help his ex into Hogwarts, and she believes him, but at the same time … Remus IS hiding one BIG secret (the fact that Sirius became an Animagus to help Remus through hard times) that quite IS possibly at least part of how he got onto the school grounds. Ah. Guilt.

The last picture took me ages. I made the poster, and then copied and tweaked and drew tears and holes in them, piecing it all together in a ton of layers. I kept the file of the posters, and ended up reusing it in a different comic later.

#3 Nightmare

Still in the Prisoner of Azkaban-timeline, when everyone thought Sirius was a murderous traitor. Parts of this comic are a bit uneven. I spot some issues with the size of people’s eyes in certain frames. But it’s mostly about the atmosphere and emotions, and I think that worked well here.

I always like drawing Sirius’ ‘straight outta Azkaban’-look; dressed in rags and long messy hair. Here I had a lot of fun working on making him creepy, both with dialogue and the way he acts. As if he really was a loyal servant of Voldemort, not giving a damn about the deaths he’s responsible for … and any romantic tones are messed up and possessive, as if he had intended to keep Remus like a pet once Voldemort took over.

This is basically all about creepy atmosphere and how Remus never got the therapy he needed after the war.

#4 Picking up the Pieces

This was the year I started writing fanfiction. I love reading it, but never dared to write and put it out there before. I worried I wasn’t good enough, that I didn’t understand characters well enough … but once I dipped back into my obsession with HP (this is one of the fandoms that is always in the back of my mind, even if others things take the front seat), I ended up trying. I feel comfortable with this world; I feel I know it well enough to try and make something within it, even without my art as a crutch.

Picking up the Pieces is an AU where Sirius gets a trial and ends up raising Harry together with Remus. I love this type of AU, because there’s the happiness of a better childhood for Harry, contrasted with the war they came out of, and the people they lost.

The Trial took a lot of work, but I wanted to try and do it justice. I love working in details of the world, and reread and reread the canon we know to try and piece it all together, and drag in just about all I could think of that could be used as proof for and against Sirius.

Both that part, and Wolfsbane are Outsider POV from minor canon characters, and I absolutely love Outsider POV. I liked fleshing out Damocles Belby, and make his research into the Wolfsbane potion more emotional.

We need to talk about the snakes is basically a slice of life episode focusing on Harry’s magical powers starting to appear, and with some special skills his godparents never suspected he had. I enjoyed peppering background about their life together into this, and it is one of those stories where the audience that knows canon understands what’s happening, but the characters don’t; and I enjoy that.

I still have ideas for Picking up the Pieces, so hopefully, there will be some more in this series.

#5 Rumours

Aaand right back to Prisoner of Azkaban-timeline! (yes it is my favourite HP-book, why are you asking?) This little fic has much in common with #1 and #2. It is basically a canon scene that I did a little bit of tweaking to. It deals with the rumours that have started to spread around the school about how professor Lupin used to date Sirius Black years back.

It’s short, but I liked writing Harry in this; his thoughts on those rumours, both at the beginning and end of the fic. It sticks to Harry’s POV like how the book canon is presented, and again there’s how we the readers know things the characters does not.

#bonus 

I just think this unicorn is rad.

I tag @kattlupin, @engie-ivy and anyone else that wants to do it. Show us what you’ve made this year!

[silent-silver-slip]

List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the ask box of the last 10 people who reblogged something from you. Spread some happiness in the world :P 💕💕

I wrote a long answer to this and it all deleted. I am devastated, just quietly. I had written so much for it and I was so proud of it. So, I'm going to take a moment and then try to come back to it. It won't be as good. Won't be the same. But, well. It'll be something. Attempt 2 of this is a go! If this deletes, I may end up crying. Or just writing it all up tomorrow. The good news of this is that I already know what I'm about to write.

(More under the line since this got quite long in the end!)

Five things that make me happy in no particular order:

Music!! This is definitely a massive point for me. I’ll fully admit to having playlists that often serve as general mood boosters when I’m having a bad day or a bad week and so on. Maybe they don’t fix things, but I usually feel better for at least a moment. Like... Things just seem better. I can take a positive outlook for a little bit. Music’s just fantastic.

My friends!!! Both those I’m close to in real life and the amazing ones I’ve met online. Having people I can turn to and talk to about anything? Trusting them that they won’t hurt me. They definitely make me happy. Spending time with them and remembering hanging out with them. Here are a few select memories that I often find myself turning to when I’m struggling (and really showcase how happy they make me):

One of my friends was going away for a year at least and we knew it was going to be months before we saw her again (so far, it’s turned out to be even longer but thankfully we all message either and we video call and, honestly, we’ve kept in better touch than I’ve managed with some of my other friends). We planned to see her about four days before she left I think. She was spending the final day with her mum and brother. And then it’s 9.30pm at night right and she messages us like “hey, it’s a bit late, but who’s up to meet up?” And I’m in my pyjamas and a hoody and they’re also ready for bed. And we’re hanging out at one friend’s house playing Rummikub. We have no time and this could be the last time we see each other for months. But we’re smiling and laughing and grinning and god, I love them so much y’know? They’re amazing people and last minute plans are fantastic. But more than that, friends are amazing. 

Another story that I love (with the same group of friends funnily enough) is one that occurred prior. We’d just seen a movie at the cinemas - I’m not sure what movie, it doesn’t seem important anymore - and we were having lunch. And I don’t remember how we got onto the topic or what we were really talking about, but it had something to do with romance? And romantic partners. I think. Anyway, one of them turns to me - and I don’t think I’d had much to say for the topic - and was like, “You don’t feel that way right?” And. It still chokes me up, even now. They don’t know the words aromantic or asexual, and yet they knew. And they accepted me straight away. I just agreed and- and it was easy. I hadn’t come out to them and it was so simply and they didn’t care. They just continued on because they knew me. And that’s amazing. And I will always be grateful to them for that. 

One of my friendships always makes me have a good laugh when I think about it, so I’d definitely say it makes me happy. This friend from high school and me, we’re not really close. I don’t meet up with her regularly or have conversation often. But our friendship is something I greatly appreciate. It’s pretty much entirely made up of me sending her things on Instagram about bees (can’t remember why anymore, I just know that I do) and quite a few things about French as a language (usually making fun of it for something or another - or French puns). And it’s not just one-sided and it’s so easy and it’s just lovely. Like. It’s something special to be able to have that friendship.

Alright! That’s two things down, so let’s move onto the third - nature, I think. Days when the sun is shining and its warm? Those often make me so happy!! Like it’s just so beautiful and the weather makes me feel good, if that makes sense. And the sky!!!!! The sky can look so amazing whether it’s sunset or sunrise or just during the day normally! The stars are so pretty and the moon can be so bright and it’s all so amazing!!! (I’ve put some pictures just below that attempt to portray how cool everything is.) And flowers can be so beautiful and so can the sea and lakes! And just- The world around us is so amazing and sometimes it’s so simple and it all just makes me so happy. 

The fourth thing is writing. Not my writing, but other people’s writing. I have fics tagged on AO3 for a bad day. They’re things that are usually short and I can turn to for when I just want comfort, for happy things and soft things and cute things. I’m so grateful to all the content creators who make these things. I can’t quite explain why it makes me feel the way I do, but I adore it. It makes me feel better about things. Like maybe there’s hope? I’m not sure. 

So a lot of the things I’ve spoken about thus far have been like massive topics, not simple easy things. The last one is probably the biggest group but it’s also one of the best things that make me happy. Or maybe it just inspires hope within me. Or maybe it’s both. It’s probably both. And that’s humanity - specifically, it’s people. I love people so much. I love the man who played the guitar on my bus one time, I love that people clapped when he got off. I love how bus drivers wave at one another when they drive past each other! I don’t know why they do it and I can’t quite say why I love it, but I do. And I love when one of the buses drops me off at a no-longer-active bus stop! They don’t have to do that at all, but they did, and it made my life easier and I was so grateful for that. I love how I walked past a physio on Halloween last year and they had a skeleton out the front with a tinsel scarf. They didn’t have to do that, but they did!! I love the guy at the park who’s dog laid down, so they sat down next to it and just petted it. I love the fact someone posted a picture of a spider seen in the overstock section in the work group chat and named it Jerry. I love the fact that someone posted a message saying ‘Jerry spotted buying swimwear’  as well! I love people singing in groups whether they know each other well or not or if they’re total strangers! I love people reaching out randomly and saying, hey, are you okay. I love strangers saying, if you need to talk I’m here. I love the fact we can lean on each other. I love the fact we can tell so many stories of little things that have helped so much. And I love the stories of big things to. I love seeing people doing dumb things and falling in love with that. People being people are amazing. I love that people can be kind, even when the world seems to try and beat it out of us. I love that it reminds me that people can be good. There’s a reason I have stories saved about people doing nice things and people saving lives. It’s the small things and the big things. It’s just people being people. It’s humanity. And it makes me so happy that I can’t even convey it all. 

I’ve spoken about the five things and whilst it’s nowhere near as good as it was originally, it’ll do. Since there doesn’t seem to be a limit on what I can write, I’m going to add a few other things (and memories) that make me happy and I thought of as I was doing this:

My pets! And animals in general! Funny animal videos! Cool animal videos!!! 

How many things people can create and come up with! Art! Writing! Poems! The list goes on. Content creators are amazing and they can weave magic into the air. People can so easily see magic and find it and I love that. We don’t have to see it the way we do, but we choose to. I love that fact.

In my final year of high school, we did this thing. We each had a piece of paper taped to our backs and we each had a pen. All of us went around and did our best to write something on everyone’s piece of paper. We didn’t stick to friends only or people we knew well. We wrong something on anyone who came near us. We wrong in corners, on the back, scribbled slanted messages and wrote in capitals and drew smiley faces. I remember someone missing that session and everyone working together to write messages out on a piece of paper the morning before they came in. But more than that. More importantly, I remember seeing those pieces of paper hanging up in lockers. I remember seeing them hung up like a reminder. A reminder that we were good, that we were kind, that people liked us, that we mattered. I know I still have mine, carefully placed in a folder. I look at it sometimes, when things aren’t great. There are so many messages there. From people I was friends with and from people I wasn’t friends with. People I’d spoken with at length and people I’d only had a few conversations with. I love that we used our words on kindness so easily. I love the fact that so many of us depended on those pieces of paper. I love how it makes me happy, even now, a few years later. 

You know what else made me happy? This ask. I initially started writing it (the first time) feeling... not great. But I’m happy now. Things feel better. So thank you, anon, for sending this in and making my day better. This is definitely spreading happiness around and I’m gladly going to pass on the message to anyone who’s willing to receive it. 

[ask-the-friendly-ink-demon]

About The Characters

((saw @ask-spider-bendy do one of these on their page and i was bored and plus most people don’t know an whole lot about the gang here actually, half the art mainly the first, second and third one belongs to @anawizachu585 the brittany clapping icon belongs to @licoriceblackaliceangel )) Bendy/Mod, Zetocarnious, (Toon Form)

an very strange yet interesting being indeed, the demon here is named zetocarnious which is bendy’s dead demon name, zeto here was an hellhound demon and rumored to have lived since the beginning of earth making him very very old, how he died and had his soul reverted to an baby hellhound’s soul remains an mystery but why he died is quite simple, he was framed for murdering his father. either way his soul drifted and searched for an new host as it was slowly withering away, one day however it was lured by smelling various unknown materials that were being used in the ink machine, when the soul showed up it merged with whatever it was that was forming into the ink as thus created and turned into the beloved cartoon devil you all see before you, despite the ink chosing henry’s design over joey’s design. bendy here is an cunning and charming demon but despite him not knowing about his own past he doesn’t remember an thing about being zetocarnious only an deep part that is locked deeped inside remembers zeto, after being merged with alpha and having his seventh form back bendy here is regaining some memories he does know that he is a real demon but he still doesn’t know what kind or who he really was. Henry Jefferson Jarvis (Creator Of Bendy)

the creator of bendy and the head animator in joey drew’s studios and now an retired war veteran henry is a kind and caring people who helps anyone in need. due to his time at war he has changed he’s gained an more calm and not easily startled personality, he misses the toons and his fellow co-workers greatly during his time at war when he got the letter he was thrilled but also curious, during his time at the hellhole of the studio henry here formed an bond stronger than any other with bendy the two overcoming anything, as of now he started working on a warehouse not too far from both the studio and the lodge, usually he and bendy go there to haul or load stuff there, the demon has no clue why they always do this but henry just prefers to keep an secret, there was an time where he became an near perfect version of a bendy and had some time to get used to it, despite the powers he had he was glad to be rid of it as he did’int want to spend the rest of his life as an toon  Alice Allison Angel 

the third toon made from the ink machine, alice is a little gift sent from above. she was meant to be at first bendy’s rival due to her being an angel and him being an demon but later on she is now the love interest of bendy in the show. even outside the show both of them had a crush on eachother, she loves to make people happy and smile and won’t hesitate to help anyone in need, but she is a tough angel and looks can get someone an stab in the head for that, during the events at the hellhole of the studio allison here was very alarmed and curious to most things but head on strong when it came to fighting she can hold her own very well in a fight against an horde of various ink like creatures. as of now she happily takes care of their daughter brittany who she cherises her and bendy close to her heart, unlike joey’s design, henry’s design has her wearing an blue dress and having hair covering her eye along with wings and red gloves along with a pink bowtie along with red heels, and her halo also shows what emotion she is feeling. Boris The Wolf (Toon Form)

the second toon made from the ink machine and the best friend and brother of bendy, boris aint one for talking that much and mostly just sits around either playing his clarinet or eating, he is very friendly and kind to those who are kind back and believes there is good in everyone, like bendy he too has a monster form but he only uses it as a last resort, unlike joey’s design, henry’s design here has him wearing an shirt under his overalls and fingerless gloves, along with a tail and boots. Alpha, BeNdY (The Ink Demon)

the ink demon, the most feared and powerful creature and the mistake of joey drew’s studio, alpha here was once an part of bendy, during an certain extent of time joey seperated the two from their bodies thus bendy became bendy and the other slowly became alpha, when the studio’s curse first fell upon everyone alpha was the first and the most to suffer it all, he was controlled to being joey’s lapdog for a certain amount of time until he finally gained control overhimself but still played the part making joey think he still had full control over him, he was sadistic and cunning and murderous, hellbent of killing henry and bendy, as of now he has an more sassy and grumpy like personality and simply jokes around at times with the others, he unlike bendy is not a lust nor a romantic demon, he is part ghost and asexual after all, besides that he would build an more sibling like relationship with those that are friends to bendy. like the other demon alpha too has the burden of an monster form as well as his true form which he gained when bendy offered him his soul. Sammy Lawrence (Non-corrupted by the ink)

an false prophet and now an retired musican, sammy here is a big ol grumps and prefers others to let him work in peace, the only people he would talk to were henry, jack, and susie, despite knowing of the other two’s deaths he still retained his own personality just more bitter, he tends to snap an lot when people make fun of him for how he looks with his hair and appearance. he doesn’t give an fuck when people ask him or make fun of him for his height. as of now sammy just prefers not to bothered with everything and just simply does whatever he can around the lodge. Norman Polk (The Projectionist)

the projectionist, once known as norman polk now turned into an freak of nature, but despite that he is a really nice guy once people get to know him, he was from an african american like family hence his accent, and he has an wise and kind like personality vibe to him despite being the oldest of the group (in his early 60′s) he has moments of going ‘feral’ in the studio but they were shortlived, as of now he has better control overhimself and tends to speak an lot more than before, he helps out around the lodge by acting like an sort of guard patrolling the lodge at night. his screeches scare off tresspassers, he enjoys doing this during halloween as tons of people and kids come to the lodge thanks to henry. Brittany The Angelic Demon (toon form)

the daughter of bendy and alice, brittany here is a little princess and a gift to the two, she enjoys making people happy and smile and will feel bad seeing those who are upset, she like alice won’t hesitate to help those in need despite her size and age she sometimes acts more childish than bendy. she is very go-lucky and cheerful and whenever people see her they can’t help but smile at her. Susan The Toon Tyrannosaurus Rex (Toon Form)

the only surviving toon like dinosaur besides the snake raptors, susan here was made during an crossover like special between jurassic park and bendy in the show, she along with two other larger trexes were meant to break out and cause chaos around sillyvision town (name of the village the toons lived in during the show) when brought to life during henry’s absence from the studio susan relied on her parents for help and survival, when they fell to the hands of her enemies the ink snake raptors she mourned their deaths for hours. she is usually very quiet and very timid only making herself known when hungry, or being playful or wanting to take an walk, she protected bendy and the others an few times during their time at the studio, she like boris and bendy also has an monster form but she hasn’t gotten full control over it yet.

[absolhunter251-main]

Here’s the long waited story!! Part 1:

INTO THE REELS

THE INKY ADVENTURE

Disclaimer: I do not own the bendy characters or its universe, they belong to themeatly. Marisa and NS belong to me, Absolhunter251. Jayden belongs to INKJAYDEN. Cake belongs to cake on the nose.

This story is based on an adventure for a game I will be creating, hope you enjoy!

Warning: this might contain some dark psychological elements.

Chapter 1: Can’t see the next corridor

OPENING NARRATION BY MARISA AND NS:

Strange whispers are heard within the walls of my anxiety and pain I’ve endured, in my mind. This is what my anxiety of a creature had to say to me as I slept:

<i>

“I Can’t be erased...”

“you think you can run, forget about this monster you created...”

“You think he will save you...think you will be happy with him...”

“I know what’s best for you...you are my friend, my first love, my mother, my creator...”

“You’re making me lose myself to this sanity of loathing you to the point of insanity!”

“I will come find you and have you in my grasp... I will have the chance of seeing you again... for I have missed you!”

“Can’t you see that I want to protect you from love, fears of being broken by people you consider as friends or even as a love one? You can’t see beyond the future nor the past or present... but I only do this because I’m going to the falling point!”

“Run all you want, I still will see you again, every time you meltdown!”

“You’ll be running back to me, your creations to be. Shielded by my name, my dark soul, my cold heart, my insane mind that fuels your soul with sadness, confusion, envy, and rage...!”

“Can’t you see what a wonderful world you created for me? Now I can’t be erased from you, you and I are the same, monster and creator, son and mother, first lover and first mistake...!”

- NS (Nightmare Soraxess) </i>

-0-

One day in a school like setting, young children, and young adults alike were attending various events happening within this very school of Mesa High on October 18th, days before Halloween. Planning on a huge event for this year’s Halloween or other social events.

Three young people stood beyond the crowds of others. The three stuck out like anybody else who made themselves stand out.

The first person to be noticed was a young woman by the name of Marisa. Marisa herself was different from most young adult teen girls and preferred to be into different things, such as video games and creative art she showed off that most people would find strange or interesting, but she mainly enjoyed it because it was what she liked and she thought she attended this event to see what it’s like being in a group of creative school like activity and to help get her mind ready for new games for when she meets her special lover when he arrives on Halloween.

Next to her was a young boy, who goes by the name of Jayden. Jayden was a simple minded boy who had a fondness for video games as well. He was really into the game series that most young people known about, Bendy and the ink machine. He attended the event to see if he could have ideas or even draw for the fun of it. But he heard rumors about a rumor that the place or the people were real. But it all could be a prank, pulled by all the rumors that are going around said word of there actually being a Joey or even bendy himself...

lastly there was another young boy with Jayden and Marisa. He simply wanted to be called cake. Based on his username known as cake on the nose on the internet.

“Well, funny running into you here guys.” Marisa said with a greeting smile to both Jayden and cake.

“Yep, I didn’t know you be here out of all places, buddy.” Jayden said straightening his bendy hoodie jacket’s loose strings.

“Hey, I think we all just happened to show up here at the right time!” Exclaims cake, tipping his white fedora hat.

Marisa nods to that and looks to Jayden. “Hey I like your bendy jacket, it suits you!”

Jayden smiled at the comment. “Well, I’m a huge bendy fan, what can you expect from someone like me who is into it than anyone else I know!”

“Joey drew, or Sammy?” Laughed cake, at the thought.

“True, but they aren’t even real...” Marisa said.

“Uhh... about that, you guys really need to hear this rumor that’s been going around the internet, and maybe this school too.” Jayden then said, leaning in to just keep it between the three.

Marisa and cake leaned in, waiting for what Jayden had to say. “Rumors are going around that bendy and the rest are—-“ before he could finish, he was then nudged behind his back, being pushed forward.

“Hey marshmallow!” Said a boy that nudged him.

Jayden groaned. “Damn it Mega! Why now?”

Mega laughed. “Well, I like to do that while you chat non stop to our friends here about that Bernie or whatever it’s called 24/7!”

Jayden stood up straight and huffed. “ITS BENDY!” He said giving a glare.

“Yeah, anyway, let’s go see what this whole event thing is about!” Mega said and walked away towards the booths everyone was gathering to. Cake followed behind mega mumbling something and Jayden turned away in frustration.

Marisa frowned and placed her hand on his shoulder. “You Okay Jayden?” She asked.

Jayden nodded. “Come on, let’s go see what’s going on in the school, it looks like something is going on.”

Jayden didn’t look at her, but the ground. “Yeah... okay.” He said low, as he saw her walking towards the school.

Jayden then raised his head, his face showing confusion and awe.

He then squinted his eyes a bit, trying to get a good look at the mysterious figure that stood in the far distance. The figure was a tall man, wearing glasses. The man was in complete shadow, only the shine from his glasses could be seen and his shape.

“Jayden!” Cried out his friends, trying to call him over. Jayden snapped out of the trance and turned his head, he then looked back and saw that the man had vanished when he turned back.

Jayden looked puzzled and walked in after his friends.

-0-

As Jayden met up, with mega and cake they noticed a blank expression on Jayden’s face.

“Hey! Come on zombie, what do you want to eat at this event?” Asked mega.

“Hey, where’s Absol?” Cake then asked, seeing that Marisa wasn’t with Jayden. Cake and the others liked calling Marisa by her username on the internet as a cute nickname.

“She went to the school I think...” Jayden said, trying to remember. He was distracted by the strange man covered in shadow that appeared standing there as if watching them.

“We should maybe go get her, but there’s a lot of people here.” Cake said.

It looked like Mega loved teasing his cousin, Jayden a lot and he loved calling him names too.

“You both go, I’ll get the food. I’ll see if there is anything left for benne here.” Mega said, looking at Jayden.

Continued in part 2 of chapter 1!

[sherlockholmesandhisinability]

Sherlock Holmes and His Inability to Go Trick-or-Treating. (One Part Halloween Special)

"Rosie, come here, honey,"

"Yes Daddy-" she grinned as she toddled over to me, "What's wrong, Daddy?"

"Oh, nothing, honey- I just think you look like the prettiest witch I've ever laid eyes on, that's all."

I pulled her close and she squirmed and giggled in the breadth of my goliath Frankenstein costume.

"Careful, Daddy, don't elec- don't eltrec- ezzec-"

"Electrocute." Corrected Sherlock. "Say it phonetically Rosamund: ee-lec-tro-cute. Go on."

"Ee-ee-eelectrocoo?"

"Not quite there, my dear Watson."

Sherlock twirled around magnificently, his cape flouncing decadantly in the sweet exilhiration of youth, scooped Rosie up with two outstretched arms and held her from underneath her arms.

"Electrocuted. A difficult word to say. Especially for a two-and-three-quarters year-old child." He teased, "Now, don't you look magnificent!"

He gasped sharply in mock awe and cried, "But doesn't Daddy over there look terrifying?!"

"Scary Daddy!" She laughed.

He gently put her down, went to walk away, but was stopped in his tracks by a little witch's broomstick being jabbed in his shins.

"Hubble, bubble, toil and rubble!"

"Trouble, Rosie, trouble is the word."

"You're teaching her Shakespeare now?" I huffed in a disgruntled moan, "Come on Sherlock, she's only three for Christ sake."

"Wrong. She is not yet three. For a Frankenstein, your brain is very slow. You'd think your creator would have plucked a better one from the earth. Of all graves, he picked John Watson's. He could have taken your arm," he pulled my arm upwards, "Your leg", he kicked my leg to the side, "Your fantastic, incredible pelvis", he slid his hand from the bolts on my neck, down my tingling spine, to my lower back and gently pulled it forward- ever closer to his frontage.

"Perhaps your neck?" He leaned down to my painted countenance and stroked my cheek with his bladed face, fangs and all touching my jaw seductively.

He grazed my shaven face with his deathly pale undead smirk and looked into my eyes. My heart raced.

"Your lips..." I drew in my breath as he came nearer to my unquivering mouth.

"But no!" He spouted, causing me to be plucked from my dreamlike trance and thrust into grim reality. Or Grimm's reality. I wasn't really sure. All I new was that Count Dracula was staring me in the face, holding me tight, and that I had nowhere to run.

"He neglected all of your wonderful physical features and took your ordinary brain."

"Is that an insult or dirty talk?!" I chuckled, "You're not too good at these things, you know!"

"Oh, but I am. You see- you hadn't allowed me to speak of your fantastic optimism. The benevolence and passion which resides in that relatively ordinary mind of yours."

"Relatively?"

"Mmm. Yes indeed. For a mind such as yours is commonplace and ignored in the nonchalance of the social majority. The public. But here, in my vampire lair," he joked, "It is a trophy. A gift. And I want to spend every single day with it in my keep. In my keep. In... my... keep. Rosie, that's your cue!"

"Sorry Daddy!" She bounced across the floor and clicked a button on the millennium era stereo which I'd never bothered to upgrade. Upon which, a beautiful serenade began to play and the flat was filled with the pungent shrillness of a violin masterfully played.

Still in possession of my faculties, Sherlock raised my arms and lurched my hips deep into the depth of his. He lead and I followed his sensitive sway. We were dancing.

I embedded myself into his shoulder and inhaled the intoxicating fumes of the world's only Consulting Detective. He smelt clean and sharp. The world's only. One of a kind. I was locked into his posture and our two movements became one singular structure of motion.

As I sunk further into his breast, I felt my shoulders be pushed back, then my chest, my front and then my...

"Erm, Sherlock, you're awfully close to my-"

"No words."

He kept lowering himself down the straight of my body. Slowly, methodically, studying my every dimension, before slumping at the floor and unfurling from his leathery shawl.

He pulled something from the plumage of his collar.

"Sherlock..."

"No words!" He scolded. "Ah, erm, where was I?" He composed himself and took a full set of lungs. So full of oxygen, I thought he might combust.

"John Hamish Watson. We have known eachother for some time now. Throughout thick and thin, life and death, you have stood by me. You- ha, you- ahaha, you-"

He convulsed into a fenzy of uncontrollable laughter. Shaking with humour, he tried to stand, but then failed disgracefully. At this moment, I siezed with guffaws and clutched my stomach.

"Sherlock, you're not meant to be laughing right now!" I giggled.

I helped him up and we leaned together, each stance entirely depending on the other's.

I looked up and smiled- now at his dislodged fang- "I never thought I'd say 'yes' to Count Dracula himself."

His grin dissolved and his brows closed together. His nostrils flared like a beast and his lips were pursed and bitten.

"You're... saying... yes?"

I smiled at the idiot trying to propose to me and took the ring from his sweaty palm and placed it firmly on my finger.

"There, look- now we're engaged."

"We're... engaged. We're engaged!" He pulled me back in and spun me around innumerable times before planting me back on the floor and staring at my misty eyes with glee.

"We're engaged!" He gasped, "We are engaged."

"Yay! Daddy and Dad are en... enga... enrag?"

"Engaged, honey," I corrected, "Daddy and Dad are engaged."

"So... can we go trick-or-treating now?!" She bounded up and down with pure excitement.

"Yes!" Sherlock and I chanted in unison.

We marched downstairs, hand-in-hand, clad in our monstrous battlesuits and opened the door of 221b and stepped into London as an engaged couple.

There, to my suprise, stood a greeting party!

Fairy Molly Hooper! Werewolf Lestrade! Poorly-wrapped-toilet-roll-mummy Mrs Hudson, and last but not least... er... Mycroft?

He wasn't dressed up.

He whipped his umbrella from behind him and put it up.

"I'm Mary Poppins." He mocked.

"HAPPY ENGAGEMENT!" Roared our friends.

"You told them?!"

"Oh, deary, you couldn't possibly think Sherlock Holmes could have made that beautiful proposal without consulting actual humans, do you?" Spoke a teary Mrs Hudson. "I'm just glad you finally realised-"

"I'm not gay!" I yelled,

"Oh, yes dear, we know. You're... bi-sex-ual." She stammered, marvelling at this newfangled concept.

"I just meant that we're glad you finally realised that you two were simply meant to be, that's all." She whimpered, before she and Molly hugged a very tearful embrace.

"Congratulations, boys. I do really hope you two will be happy together." Said Mycroft with just a tinge of genuine happiness on his face.

"Lads!" Cried Lestrade as he rushed us with a brutush cuddle, "Lads I gotta tell ya, I am so happy for you. So happy!" He reiterated with a second hug.

"But," questioned Molly, "Where are the balloons?"

"Balloons?" All but Sherlock queried in chorus-

"Yeah," nodded Greg, "Or the race cars?"

"Race cars?!"

"Or the fireworks?" Asked Mrs Hudson.

We all turned to Sherlock.

"Although those ideas were... marvellous, I felt that I was really obligated to manifest my own proposal. I do hope you all understand."

The group nodded sheepishly.

"However, I hope you are all ready for a fast paced, helium filled, dazzlingly bright wedding!"

We all rejoiced together. Our wedding was to be a ridiculous, high-octane, childish and extremely loud family affair. Mummy Holmes wasn't going to be happy!

Rosie interjected; "Sweeties!"

"All right love, let's go." I said. Rosie slipped her hand into mine and Sherlock was hesitant, but did the same with her little talons.

"I want sugar!" She ran off and laughed with the girls. The lads hung at the back of the ghoulish procession,

"Tell her not to worry, John. Her father will be getting enough sugar for the both of them tonight, eh brother mine?" Taunted Mycroft.

"You bet." He turned to me.

"I'm thinking we stay in costume?" He whispered to me sensually, "In character even? After all, vampires have incredible sucking powers don't they?"

[aion-rsa]

Behind the Scenes on Inside No. 9’s Most Terrifying Episode

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Warning: contains spoilers for Inside No. 9 ‘The Harrowing’

“It was ‘WTF!? Oh my God! I’m not going to sleep! Why did you do that to me?!’” The moment the credits rolled on Inside No. 9’s series one finale ‘The Harrowing’, director David Kerr was deluged with messages. “People were very responsive,” he laughs. “We’d gone for something bold that was properly horrible and would haunt them. There’s not much out there that scares a horror fan because they’ve seen it all so many times. That’s the challenge. You want to hit people with a visceral, palpable gut punch that they didn’t see coming.”

Job done. The final shot of 2014’s ‘The Harrowing’ is truly deserving of the episode’s title. A schoolgirl, stripped, bound to a chair, gagged and anesthetised, whimpers in terror as the filthy curtains surrounding a four-poster bed begin to part. One necrotised cloven foot touches the floor, followed by another. A contorted, emaciated figure emerges, naked but for a soiled nappy, with curling fingernails and clouded eyes in a grey pock-marked face. It staggers towards the helpless girl, hissing a single world with demonic glee: “Mischief”

Kerr describes the image as “pretty strong meat” and few would disagree, especially considering that the meat in question was paid for by a comedy budget. Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton’s anthology Inside No. 9 has never fitted neatly inside either the stall of comedy or drama. It’s one, the other and both at the same time. “Unfortunately, there isn’t a channel that has a horror department in the same way as comedy,” says Kerr. “That’s what we need to get going!”

Helen McCrory and Reece Shearsmith (BBC)

Kerr directed every episode of Inside No. 9’s first series: six half-hour films, each with a different setting, cast of characters, and tone. ‘The Harrowing’ is Shearsmith and Pemberton’s tribute to horror cinema classics, a specialist subject. Before starting work on the series, Kerr anticipated being schooled by the pair in obscure 1970s horror and rare Giallo movies they wanted to reference, but that wasn’t how it went. “’The Harrowing’ was very much a full-on genre film, and indebted to the Hammer tradition and the Amicus tradition of portmanteau horror, and though they have a tremendously deep knowledge of all that material – more so than me – Reece and Steve were actually very non-prescriptive.”

The script came to Kerr in a perfect state with plenty of detail, he remembers, but aside from some specific Vincent Price nods in costume and make-up, the creators were open to visual ideas – as far as the cash would stretch. “Always with Inside No. 9, budgetary challenges rear their head. You’re trying to make something that feels like a film, but you’re trying to do that on the budget of an episode of Mrs Brown’s Boys”.

It was clear there wouldn’t be the money for a full-body VFX transformation for the demonically possessed Andras who makes such an impression in the final scene. Like most limitations in Inside No. 9 though, it turned out to be a creative blessing, says Kerr. 

Andras is the eldest of the three Moloch siblings, brother to the vampiric-looking Tabitha (Helen McCrory) and Hector (Reece Shearsmith). He lives in an upstairs room of their freezing Gothic mansion, kept tied to the bed and fed like a baby on milk formula and Rusks. Fifty years earlier, we’re told, Andras was possessed by mischief demon Castiel, an infernal spirit now in search of a new home – hence the anesthetised babysitter, Katy (Aimee-Ffion Edwards). 

“You’re always wary of showing the monster, but we knew that we did want people to see Andras. A lot of the conversations ahead of the shoot were about what we could do with our limited pocket of money to make him properly scary, but in a way that you could still feel that he’s human. He’s right on the border between a poor, neglected sibling who’s just been left to stagnate in this room with a dirty nappy and untrimmed toenails. We wanted him to be just at the outer limit of the neglected human, but not to push him into a totally risible demon caricature state.”

Director David Kerr and actor Sean Buckley (David Kerr)

Casting Sean Buckley in the role was key to keeping a grip on the character’s pathos, says Kerr. He describes Buckley, who sadly passed away in 2016, as a hugely gifted physical performer. “He had a great physique and an amazing face, and he really understood the kind of contortions that would be useful for Andras when he was writhing and for his walk. The main thing was the physical tautness that he was going to be feeling when he’s writhing in the bed in chains. Sean just got it.”

As reference material for Andras’ look, Kerr and the team went to a range of sources: The Pale Man from Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, Dickensian ghosts and the Pee Pee Demon from Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt’s Angel. The character’s make-up was the work of Lisa Cavalli-Green, who brought in skilled prosthetics designer Kristyan Mallett to create Andras’ horrific set of teeth. “We went for details,” says Kerr. “Planning a shot, it was very much about half seeing him through that veil. As ever with horror and comedy, you’re just holding back the reveal. Again – testament to Reece and Steve – they didn’t give Andras tons of dialogue. Less was definitely more.” 

The opposite applied to the episode’s Gothic location; in that case, more was definitely more. Kerr remembers his first look at the 19th century Highgate mansion that served as the Moloch house exterior (16 Broadlands Road, N6, if you’re planning a visit). “It was a real ‘we’ve got to use this’ moment. Reece would like to live there, incidentally, that’s going to be his home one day.”

For the interiors, it all came down to the staircase. Inspired by the grand staircases in films like The Others, The Orphanage and The Woman in Black, Kerr’s team went looking for similar. Another reference was more comic-horror. “For Reece and Steve, the characters of Tabitha and Hector felt a little bit like Addams Family characters. I found one of the original Charles Addams cartoons with a staircase in it and then found Langleybury and the staircase was almost identical. That was a real Eureka moment.” 

Charles Addams cartoon and Langleybury (David Kerr)

The interiors were filmed in Langleybury, near Watford, which has also been used in the filming of Harlots, a 2011 Great Expectations and feature film The Little Stranger. The atmospheric, dilapidated interior with a galleried area and a series of ante-rooms was perfect for Shearsmith and Pemberton’s script. “You just felt – what could be behind those closed doors?”

Taking viewers up to those closed doors were Steadicam shots by specialist operator Alf Tramontin, whose previous work includes the Harry Potter films and Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity. Kerr aimed to achieve “a prowling point of view” and designed shots very specifically to draw the eye through the house and give the impression there were whole rooms and wings that were rarely used. John Carpenter’s Halloween was an inspiration for the choreography of those shots. “It’s all about the girls, Katy and Shell (Poppy Rush) creeping up the stairs and just not being able to quite see past the corner, putting the audience in their point of view in terms of what might be behind a door, or a covered piece of furniture beneath a dust sheet.” The dusts sheets covering the furniture fed into the unsettling idea that you’re not quite sure what lurks beneath, says Kerr, before adding with a laugh, “that was also so that we could just put any old crap underneath without having to rent a lot of expensive props!” 

Custom props were made for the hellish pictures on display in the Moloch hall. Production designer Brian Sykes had reproductions made of 15th and 16th century paintings depicting the Harrowing of Hell. “That was tricky, because really you wanted a whole gallery of these things, just to feel they were everywhere, but the flip side of that is if Tabitha and Hector had this stunning art collection, maybe they wouldn’t live in such a ratty house. The fact they only have a few of those paintings makes you think ‘are they for real? Is this all a bit of a con?’ And that’s what you want the audience to be asking themselves.”

A crucial part of directing the audience’s feelings in the episode is the work of Inside No. 9 composer Christian Henson. “He’s so inventive and brilliant,” says Kerr. “None of those films sound alike from a score point of view.” For ‘The Harrowing,’ Henson drew inspiration from the Giallo vintage synthesizer used in the Goblin score for Dario Argento’s Suspiria, and once again, from Carpenter’s famous Halloween theme.

Poppy Rush and Aimee Ffion-Edwards (BBC)

That’s a lot of horror talk for 30 minutes of television commissioned under a comedy banner. The comedy though, is very much there in ‘The Harrowing’, which begins as a fond pastiche of the kind of lurid characters found in Hammer Horror films such as Roger Corman’s Vincent Price-starring House of Usher. Kerr knew that guest star Helen McCrory had the colours to make Tabitha something special. “Helen just took to it and had that voice and poise. The character’s this sort of grande dame, larger than life.” McCrory and Shearsmith’s performances are expertly pitched to riff on the theatricality of those stars of vintage horror. 

“So much of the film plays in a fairly camp register. You meet Hector and he’s Vincent Price-ish, a slightly campy eccentric. Tabitha is almost like a sort of Norma Desmond from Sunset Boulevard, shuttered in the chateau. They’re oddballs, and they’re funny and bicker like an old couple. By the time Hector pulls out the guitar and is singing Lord of the Dance, you’re thinking ‘this is bordering on ludicrous!’, and then it’s about how far can we push that comedy and turn the corner to something properly dark. The Lord of the Dance silliness takes your guard down, I hope, so that by the time Aimee-Ffion Edwards’ character is sitting there and Castiel in Andras’ body is advancing towards her, it’s properly horrifying, and you’re thinking ‘I didn’t see this coming’.

“They are twins, comedy and horror. They’re both the cinema of sensation, you’re trying to create a visceral reaction from people. Fear and laughter are proper physical reactions in people, rather than intellectual ponderings. You want to incite those reactions and you do that by getting ahead of the audience and not letting them get ahead of you. And that’s always been the genius of a script by Reece and Steve. That’s what they do.”

David Kerr’s festive film Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse will air this Christmas on Sky One and NOWTV.

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Inside No. 9 is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.

The post Behind the Scenes on Inside No. 9’s Most Terrifying Episode appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/348PazZ

[iesorno]

As promised, we’ve got part two of our two-fer from the team bringing Department of the Peculiar – Goes Pop to Kickstarter RIGHT NOW. This time artist Robert Wells. Part one of the two-fer featured Rol Hirst, writer of DotP.

Rob’s been on zine love before, so this makes him our first returning interviewee for the site (stealing the position at the last moment from someone else that I was slow to respond to!!).

DotP 2 page – pencils

DotP 2 page – inked

He seems to be constantly busy drawing something and collaborating with creators whose work I enjoy, which is how I came across his work in the first place. He has really strong chops when it comes to drawing and designing characters and a lovely turn in understated snipe, so that’s been a bonus – as well as being lovely to chat to.

You can buy from him here, check out some free downloads of DotP here and back it here, and socially follow him on    twitter     instagram     or facebook

DotP 2 Heroes? stretch goal!!

  Over to you Rob – tell us a bit about yourself and your tastes

Can you tell us a bit about the first creator whose work you recognised?

The first comic creator was John Byrne. I remember thinking that the art in X-Men, which he was still drawing at the time, looked similar to the art in a Marvel Premiere two-parter featuring Ant-Man (#47 and #48), then I noticed the credits in a comic for the first time and realised that people actually drew these things.

Marvel Premiere-47-48

Outside of comics, I was about to give the same answer as Rol (Hirst – writer of Department of the Peculiar – see interview here) and say Stephen King, as I’ve read quite a lot of his books (probably less than half of them but that’s still a lot). Then I remembered that when I was a kid, I really liked James Bond films and that I read a lot of Ian Fleming’s James Bond books (and some written by other people) when I was at secondary school. That was probably the first time I ever saw a film or TV series and then went and on to discover the source material, which was often quite different. (I have no interest in James Bond at all now.)

James Bond covers

Which creators do you remember first copying?

Maybe John Byrne but I probably copied things out of comics before that not knowing the names of the artists I was copying.

  More generally I’d say Charles Bukowski, whose work I probably wouldn’t enjoy much at all now and may even find quite offensive, but I liked it a lot when I was in my early-20s. ‘Copied’ may be an exaggeration but around the time I was reading a lot of his stuff I started going to a writers’ workshop to improve my writing and in the couple of years I was going there I wrote a lot of semi-autobiographical short stories that often involved a lot of drinking.

Charles Bukowski covers

Who was the creator that you first thought ‘I’m going to be as good as you!’?

I don’t know how to answer that really. I’ve hoped to be as good as a lot of creators, but I don’t know that I’ve ever thought that I would be as good as someone, not even artists whose work I dislike. I’ve certainly seen a lot of art that’s made me think ‘I could do better than that’ but that’s generally the work of amateurs who I wouldn’t be able to name. Art I tend to dislike in professional comics I usually dislike because it’s bland or conforms to some dull house style (I’m thinking of a lot of DC comics from a decade or more ago) but even then the artists involved probably have a better grasp of anatomy and better basic drawing skills than me, they are just working to tough deadlines and drawing characters who have to be drawn in a certain way.

  Which creator or creators do you currently find most inspiring?

Cult of Luna – Mariner with Julie Christmas

Sean Phillips, who I still can’t believe I was cheeky enough to ask to do a pin-up for DOTP Goes POP! #1 after he told me he liked my book. Not only did he agree, he even posted me the original art.

Other than that, I can’t think of one particular example right now but like Rol I love Better Call Saul and watch a lot of TV in general, particularly US TV, and I’m sure that influences my storytelling. I also listen to a lot of music – particularly metal – while I’m drawing and that really helps me to switch off and lose myself in my work.

  Which creators do you most often think about?

Jaime Hernandez = Love and Rockets

For comics it’s Jaime Hernandez. He was already great when I discovered Love and Rockets in 1986/1987 but he has somehow kept getting better. I often go for long periods without engaging with his work at all (I haven’t bought any issues of the current Love and Rockets series yet and because I rarely get to visit good comic shops, I haven’t even seen them) but I always pick up the collections and come back to it eventually.

More generally? Now I will say Stephen King, even if what I’m usually thinking is just: ‘Bloody hell, he’s somehow written three more huge books since the last one I read, and I still haven’t read at least 20 of the ones I picked up in charity shops a decade or more ago!’

  Can you name the first three creative peers that come into your head and tell a little bit about why?

Rol, Paul Rainey (who encouraged me to start drawing comics again at a time when I had almost given up on it), and Martin Eden (who I exchange long emails with very regularly).

Paul Rainey – Thunder Brother Special -cover

Martin Eden – Zeros

                      Finally, can you tell us a bit about your recent work and yourself?

I’m 51, married, no kids, two dogs. I live in Kent. I self-published my first comic in 1991, when I was 22, published a handful of other comics in the ‘90s, didn’t do much at all in the 2000s, but got back into it big-time in the 2010s, when I was in my early-40s. It’s only since I did my graphic novel (which even I didn’t think I’d actually finish when I started it) that I feel like I’ve developed any confidence and really got going. I’d be happy for everything I did before that point, along with the years I wasted doing things other than drawing, to be stricken from the record. I write and draw but now I seem to be mostly drawing and I’m quite enjoying collaborating with other people on comics for a change.

  I’m currently working on Department of the Peculiar Goes POP! #2 (just finishing off a 3-page back-up strip but the rest is done)

  About to start drawing a 6-page sci-fi strip, written by Paul Duncan, for The ’77 #3

  Malty Heave #2 (with Phil Elliott). I have written most of my story for this horror-themed issue, which will probably be out for Halloween now, but Phil and I have both been distracted by other things and haven’t really got going with drawing it yet (although Phil has drawn at least two pages of his strip).

  Thank you very much for taking the time to fill this out and let us into your mind.

  all art copyright and trademark it’s respective owners.

content copyright iestyn pettigrew 2020

    as promised - we have @RobertDWells as 2 of the two-fer with @rolhirst up now on https://zinelove.wordpress.com/ he seems to know people - so there's a lot of links took ages, so please click them all #comics #minicomics #music #funny As promised, we’ve got part two of our two-fer from the team bringing Department of the Peculiar – Goes Pop to Kickstarter RIGHT NOW…

[gokinjeespot]

off the rack #1241

Monday, December 17, 2018

 I got sucked into the vortex that happens this time of year for social events that I couldn't avoid. We went out to dinner on Friday at Grow Your Roots Café in Kanata with our vegetarian friends to celebrate my and Brian's birthdays, which are two weeks apart in December. I actually enjoyed my beyond meat burger platter. Way better than A&W's, although to be fair I haven't had the fast food version yet, but Brian has. And their fries were excellent too. Saturday was date night with dinner at the Yangtze Restaurant on Somerset Street and then crossing Arthur Street to Bar Robo to see the Tony D Trio. I've always wanted to see Tony D play live and this was a great chance to do that. It was intimate and we got a great table. We stayed for both sets and got home just before midnight. Not bad for an old fogey. The rocking music helped me stay awake. Sunday morning found us at the Carleton Tavern having breakfast at 9 AM. We try to see Sam the chef before Christmas and wish him and his family all the best for the holidays. Sam spoils us. You can tell he piles a lot more food on our plates than for other diners. You get that when you've patronized a place for 40 years. And finally, I venture out tonight to go see the Aquaman movie with my Jee-Riz partner Chris. I hear Amber Heard is in it.

 X-23 #7 - Mariko Tamaki (writer) Diego Olortegui (pencils) Walden Wong (inks) Chris O'Halloran (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). X-Assassin part 1. You can safely jump onto this book right here with this new story. Laura and Gabby help out the NYPD with a serial murder case and the killer is something brand new. I like the connection between the assassin, X-23 and Honey Badger and the new art team did a great job so I'm going to keep reading.

 Doctor Strange: The Best Defense #1 - Gerry Duggan (writer) Greg Smallwood (art) VC's Cory Petit (letters). By the Vishanti was this ever good. These Defender one-shots are thoroughly worth reading if you're a big Marvel Fan. Greg did a wonderful tribute to Steve Ditko in a two page spread and I loved his Clea. The stabby guy in the bed sheet is still killing aliens too.

 The Silver Surfer: The Best Defense #1 - Jason Latour (writer & art) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). My hopes for all of the Defenders one-shots to be stellar were dashed with this one. Norrin Radd doesn't even appear until way later in the story. It starts off incomprehensibly with a bunch of aliens and ends with a lot of new age gobbledy goop that the Surfer spouts while floating in space. The crazy knife wielding Halloween ghost only shows up in two panels so that was disappointing as well. The only thing I liked was when the Surfer's board takes off eh.

 Magic Order #5 - Mark Millar (writer) Olivier Coipel (art) Dave Stewart (colours) Peter Doherty (letters). This is the penultimate issue with many shocking revelations. It sets up next issue's conclusion beautifully. I can hardly wait to find out what happens.

 Miles Morales: Spider-Man #1/LGY #241 - Saladin Ahmed (writer) Javier Garron (art) David Curiel (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). Yay! This did not suck. I was so afraid that the new Miles book would not stand up to the high standard that I put on it when Brian Michael Bendis was writing his adventures. Saladin Ahmed did an excellent job here and it helped that Javier Garron's art rocked the whole issue. You get all you need to know to enjoy this Spider-Man even if you didn't read the 240 issues leading up to this. I admit I did a little eye roll when the super villain showed up but then there's a twist that made me give a cheer. I can't wait for the next issue, and that's the magic that Brian used to make that kept me reading.

 The Batman Who Laughs #1 - Scott Snyder (writer) Jock (art) David Baron (colours) Sal Cipriano (letters). I was going to give this 6-issue mini a pass because I didn't like the whole Dark Nights Metal storyline but I thought I'd give Scott Snyder another chance. He presents a very different kind of dark knight that I still do not like so I won't finish reading this story either, but that's just me. If you want to see what happens when Batman gets turned into the Joker (WTF?) then you'll want to read this.

 Goddess Mode #1 - Zoe Quinn (writer) Robbi Rodriguez (art) Rico Renzi (colours) Simon Bowland (letters). This new Vertigo book takes place in a very colourful future where folks live in a virtual reality because the real world sucks. Cassandra Price is a coder who works for the corporation that controls the VR. A glitch sends her into another reality and there she meets three other women and I think they go fight evil forces. This book is very bright and very tech and text heavy. I felt like I didn't get to know Cassandra very well before she gets transformed into a goddess and her situation is very confusing. This book is not to my taste unfortunately.

 The Unstoppable Wasp #3/LGY #11 - Jeremy Whitley (writer) Gurihiru (art) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). A.I.M. has broken into Pym Labs to steal tech and Nadia must save her friends and keep the bad guys from getting away. These foes are quite formidable and even with the help of the original Wasp and Mockingbird, the bad guys win. I like the new A.I.M. villains and want to learn more about them.

 Avengers #11/LGY #701 - Jason Aaron (writer) Ed McGuinness & Cory Smith (pencils) Mark Morales, Scott Hanna & Karl Kesel (inks/finishers) Erick Arciniega (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). It's the calm before the next storm. According to the cover Jason's other story in Thor, "The War of the Realms", will cross over into this book in 4 months. Meanwhile, T'Challa meets with some international super heroes to try and form an alliance to keep the world safe. Thor and She-Hulk go on a date and Phil Coulson explains why there's a Squadron Supreme of America. See, it's not always massive alien invasions and war with Namor.

 Fantastic Four Wedding Special #1 - This lead in one-shot to Fantastic Four #650 has 3 stories.

"(Invisible) Girls Gone Wild" by Gail Simone (writer) Laura Braga (art) Jesus Aburtov (colours) & VC's Joe Caramagna (letters) is a silly bachelorette party at a strip joint with Alicia's friends and some of Sue's super powered buddies. I expected better from Gail.

"Father Figure" by Dan Slott (writer) Mark Buckingham (pencils) Mark Farmer (inks) Matt Yackey (colours) & VC's Joe Caramagna (letters) reminded me of who Alicia's step-father is. I was touched as I remembered asking Mr. Fowler for Penny's hand in marriage. I loved the job the two Marks did. I would have sworn Jack Kirby drew this.

"The Puppet Master's Lament" by Fred Hembeck (writer & art) & Megan Wilson (colours) was a monologue recap of Ben and Alicia's relationship. It was typical Fred Hembeck humour.

You really don't have to read this since there's nothing here that impacts the wedding much but it's a nice accompaniment to the big day.

 Sasquatch Detective #1 - Brandee Stilwell (creator & writer). This $7.99 US 64-page special continues the beloved tradition of silly funny animal comic books that used to rule the racks. Too bad it doesn't cost 25 cents like back in the fifties. You get the origin story by Ron Randall (art) Ross Campbell (colours) & Dave Sharpe (letters). This will tell you how Tonya Mae Lightfoot from the Appalachian Mountains leaves her Sasquatch family to go to Los Angeles and join the LAPD. What follows are five short stories where Tonya solves crimes. I would not have wanted to read this big book normally, but the art throughout is really good. Thanks to Gustavo Vazques (art) & Chris Sotomayor (colours) in "Sasquatch Anniversary"; Gustavo Vazques (art) & Ross Campbell (colours) in "Unsolved Mysteries", "Neighbourhood Watch", "Arrest and Relaxation" & "Smoke and Mirrors". There are even some cameos by some DC heroes as a bonus.

 Batman Annual #3 - Tom Taylor (writer) Otto Schmidt (art) A Larger World's Troy Peteri (letters). If Tom King ever leaves Batman I hope that Tom Taylor takes over the writing chores. I love when Alfred is featured but only if it's very well written and this story is very well written indeed. The relationship between Alfred and Batman/Bruce is special and this story proves just how special. If you're a Batman fan but don't normally get the annual, you have to get this one.

[theretroperspective-blog]

Let It B

Ah, the B-movie. It had been a source of entertainment for many a stood-up date or theater talk-back participant about as long as the genre has existed. But what IS a B-movie? We've all seen 'em ( and know almost instantly when we have), but what makes a film "B"? What does a movie need in order to be "B"? And what of the iconic B actor? Who chooses to have a career that, in its basest form, means 'sub-par'? B-ACK STORY B-movies (the term) first came about during Hollywood's Golden Age. The name was for movies meant for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom-half of a double feature. In the later '20's (27-28), during the final days of the silent era, the production cost of feature films from major studios averaged between $190'000 to $275'000. During the time when bigger budgeted films weren't being made, studios still had to pay for sound stages, actors they had on retainer, and hired crew. These studios would make low-budget (i.e. lower quality) flicks in order to make extra cash as well as continue to use their people (mostly to keep them from fleeing to other studios), and would sell these lower films alongside their major productions. In laymens' terms, a B-movie is much like the B-side of an album. (For my youngun's, albums are what music USED to come on. Questions at the bottom, please.) Basically these smaller, cheaper flicks got put into theaters to cover run times between bigger pictures. This then led to micro-budgeted studios creating their own B-movies to sell to the studios at cost (usually producing them at around $30'000 and recouping cost plus). All of this comes about, again, due to the end of the silent era. During that time films were preceded by live acts and a variety of short films and news reels. Once sound became law, those were mostly dropped, and in came cartoons and serials, which were followed by a double feature, the first being the B-film, mainly to draw more money from the viewer. But the major studios soon caught on, developing B-units to produce those less expensive films on-site, nearly killing the indie studios (until the indie-wave of the 70's, but that's another blog). With this came the game of BLOCK BOOKING; or, to get access to a studios' more profitable features, theaters would HAVE to also buy their B-movie in a double-feature set. Along with this insidious scheme came BLIND BOOKING, where theaters would have to take the B-movie sight-unseen. In this way studios were assured a good profit on the lower-grade flick, no matter how awful it might be. The innocent years of Hollywood folks! However, many B-movies were serials, with an actor continuing to play the same character in each, such as the 'Andy Hardy' films staring Mickey Rooney. MOVING ON While the original meaning of the term B-movie ended with the double-feature production ceasing in the 50's, the term is still used for films that don't quite meet A-level criteria. "B-movie" now brings connotations of lower-quality films - which isn't ALWAYS true... To quote Wiki: "In it's current usage, the term has somewhat contradictory connotations; it may signal an opinion that a certain movie is (a) a genre film with minimal artistic ambitions ("Sharknado"), or (b) a lively, energetic film uninhibited by the constraints imposed on more expensive projects and unburdened by the conventions of putatively 'serious' independent film ("Turbo Kid"). Or, in more basic terms: A B-movie is a low-budget commercial film that's NOT art house. The term is now also used for high-budgeted flicks with exploitation-style content (such as much of Tarantino's work). But much good has come from the B-movie genre! Some high profile directors like Jonathan Demme began with B-movies. And it's where many A-level actors got their starts. Recent Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio got his start in "Critters 3". "June Bug" star Amy Adams got through in "Cruel Intentions 2". And Charlize Theron didn't even have a line in "Children of the Corn 3 : Urban Harvest". And one of the more well known is Jennifer Aniston's turn in the cult classic (and where's my blog on those?) "Leprechaun". And neat-o, there's my segway! BACTORS Both John Wayne and Jack Nicholsen got their start in B-movies, too. As well as our former president Ronald Reagan, who was a B-movie star before he ran our country. But there are MANY actors who are known simply for their B-movie work alone. Here's a list of them (in no order other than as I remember them). PJ SOLES: I know her from the 1979 "Rock 'n' Roll Highschool", about a young girl who idolized one of the world's greatest bands, the Ramones; but she also played the tomboy menace Norma in "Carrie", and doomed-to-die friend Lynda in "Halloween". CRISPIN GLOVER: He became a Hollywood staple, and Lorraine's 'density' in "Back to the Future" as George McFly, and recently was the Red Knave in Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland", but Glover got his start way back in 81 in a TV movie called "Best of Times", and as the star of the cult hit "Willard". MEG FOSTER: She was a woman looking for love - round 2 - in "The Step Father 2", and played 'Holly' in "They Live" alongside Rowdy Piper, but is most recognized portraying Evil-Lyn in the live-action He-Man movie, "Masters of the Universe". CLINT HOWARD: The brother of director Ron Howard, Clint began as a child actor, but has continued with films like "The Ice-Scream Man", "The Fun House Massacre", and "Nobody Gets Out Alive". TOM SAVINI: Tom was originally a SFX creator for "Friday the 13th", but he's also had quite the acting career in films like "Creep Show 2", "From Dusk 'till Dawn", and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower". BRAD DOURIF: He's now a part of the "Lord of the Rings" legacy since playing Wormtongue in "The Two Towers", but he's always been well known by voice, if not face, as Chuckey in every single "Child's Play" film in the franchise. He also stared alongside Jack Nicholsen in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". MICHAEL IRONSIDE: Most recently he portrayed the zealot Zeus in the fantastic "Turbo Kid", but Ironside's been working since the 70's, including "Scanners", "The Hitchhiker", and a personal favorite, the TV show "Sea Quest". CHRISTOPHER LAMBERT: The one and only true 'Highlander', Lambert's also known for playing Lord Rayden in the live-action version of "Mortal Kombat". CLANCY BROWN: I first spotted him in "Highlander" as well, playing psychopath Victor Kruger, but Brown's gone on to have a formidable career on-screen as well as with voice work, playing Lex Luthor in the animated "Superman" series. But I also knew him as Drew's step-dad Gus from "Pet Semetary 2". BRUCE CAMPBELL: Probably the most recognized B-movie actor of all time, Campbell started in the "Evil Dead" series, and has continued being our hero in shows like "Burn Notice" and "Ash VS. the Evil Dead". This might be where I'd say "All hail the king, baby!", but you get what I'm saying. Moving on. BUT THEY'RE A TO US 'We all have different opinions' blah-blah, 'they're like assholes' yadda-yadda. But there have been B-movies that have, through that grand test of time, been elevated to A-level status by their fans. Usually they're referred to as 'Cult Classics', but we all know we'd watch them in leu of some of the newer, block-busting behemoths of today, given the choice. Maybe it's because of previously stated stars, maybe it's the special effects, or maybe they're just so off the beaten path that we just can't help but fall in love with their weirdness. So here are some of the best - no real order, and nowhere close to the total list. THE EVIL DEAD SERIES There's lots of arguments over whether the original film "Evil Dead" should be included, but Sam Rami's occult trilogy is deeply beloved. From the supreme low-budget gore to Bruce Campbell's chin, this series holds one of the highest Rotten Tomatoes scores on the site, even beating out it's recent remake. Eat it, Dead-its! IRON SKY What IS it with Nazi's?? Why do we like watching them die so damn much? Think it was the genocide? Pretty sure it was the genocide. What-ever, this film's premise is enough. Nazi's waiting on the dark side of the moon to launch a final attack on Earth. Wow. I'm pretty certain I know THAT'S how the funding came through. DEATH BED: THE BED THAT EATS I don't know a film fan that hasn't seen this movie. Its premise is its title. It's a bed. It eats people. SHARKNADO There's FOUR of these fucking movies. No wait, FIVE. I don't get it, but it hit a large enough portion of viewers. Welcome back, Tara Reid. THE BLOB Classic (in general and actual terms) B-movie fare. A gigantic blob that consumes everything in its way. First appearing in the 50's with a young Steve McQueen, it got remade in the 80's and is supposedly being remade again. ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES So, mutant tomatoes decide to start eating us. Vegetarians in the 70's were shaking in their faux suede shoes, I'm sure. BASKET CASE Oh man, do I love this one. A man is born with a homicidal deformed Siamese twin that gets detached via surgery, so the two brothers decide to go after those that separated them. And the deformed one gets carried around in a basket. GET IT?!?! POULTRYGEIST:NIGHT OF THE CHICKEN DEAD Full disclosure - I know one of the SFX guys who worked on this Troma feature. Just look for the talking shit sandwich. BEASTMASTER A guy who can talk to animals goes after a power hungry war lord who sacrifices children. And man-bats. TROLL 2 The best- worst movie ever made. But sadly, no trolls. Just goblins. Please go check some of these films out. PLEASE. You're just hating yourself if you don't. So B-movies live on, as they should. Because we all need to be reminded of what a mediocre world we really live in.

[livefreeshop]

Being an artist is often associated with being broke, as seen from the trope “Starving Artist.” While this stereotype is an unfair assessment about artists in general, it only means that they are focused on the final product. The quality of their creation is of highest priority. Anything else, including monetary value placed on it, are secondary.

At the same time, our reality requires us to be practical and find a way to make a living. Whether or not artists will resist this idea, the fact remains that they need to survive and pay the bills if they want to make more art.

Balancing money and art has always been a tenuous exercise at best when it comes to artists. However, with a platform like Etsy, artists and others can now make a living out of their artistic expression.

Etsy is an online marketplace where artists in different media can sell their work locally and globally. The platform empowers artists and creators to continue doing what they love without compromising their value and make a good fortune.

What to sell on Etsy

Whether you are creating jewelry, painting, and other handcrafted products and services, you have a place to sell on Etsy.

Ideally, you should sell arts and crafts you are passionate in creating. Make sure that they are set to high standards and are unique enough to make buyers notice them.

If you specialize in services like carpentry and pottery services, your concern is your inability to create products off your skills. Fortunately, Etsy allows you to sell patterns and tutorials that will help aspiring artists to improve their craft.

If you’re still unsure what product to sell, you need to consider these factors:

Lightweight – Lighter products cost less to store and ship to the buyer, which means more profit for you.

“Niche” product – Have a specific product to sell in mind. If you want to sell jewelry, think of a particular type like rings, brooches, or anklets. Once you have decided on a type, you can narrow it down to an even much more specific design. For rings, you can choose from silver thumb rings or custom name rings, to name a few.

Competitive pricing – Do a quick search on Etsy and look for products similar to what plan on selling. Check the prices of each and see if you can come up with a similarly priced product with a high-profit margin.

Evergreen – Avoid selling seasonal products like Halloween costumes and Christmas decors. To maximize your earnings, you need to sell a product that people will buy regardless of the month and year.

LeiLei Secor changed her Etsy product from macramé bracelets to wire-wrap jewelry because the former didn’t sell. By determining her product, she was able to make $100,000 on Etsy, which she used to pay for her college tuition.

How about selling private label products on Etsy?

Etsy prides itself in providing artists a platform to showcase their handmade arts and craft for sale. However, the idea of selling premade products and branding them your own is a much profitable venture. Instead of meticulously crafting the items with love, you can buy wholesale items from a cheaper manufacturer and mark up the prices.

This process is standard on Amazon through Fulfillment by Amazon. I have discussed this topic in depth in an article I wrote that you could read by clicking here.

However, private label selling is a red flag on Etsy.

Three Bird Nest did exactly this to reach the million dollar mark a year on the platform. Stay at home mom and Three Bird Nest owner Alicia Shaffer purchased wholesale products from Alibaba.com and resold them on Etsy at a higher price. While her tactic was pure savvy marketing, she drew the ire of Etsy sellers who think that her practice violated Etsy’s philosophy, which is about selling handcrafted boutique.

Third Bird Nest left Etsy in 2015 because Alicia claims that the platform is no longer supportive of their cause. Ultimately, Etsy sided with artists and hobbyists who focused on turning their efforts into profit.

For those thinking of selling wholesale products from Alibaba.com and passing them off as “handmade,” think again. Etsy states that this practice is a clear violation of their policy and they will suspend your account if they find out about you.

How to sell on Etsy

You must create an account to set up your online shop at Etsy. You will need to fill out your store information with images and description to provide users details about what you are selling.

Unfortunately, it comes at a cost – $0.2 listing fee to be exact. You also need to part with 3.5% of every sale you make on the platform. In addition to that, you need to shoulder the expenses if you accept credit card payments, as well as PayPal and conversion fees.

Given the cost you will incur in registering and making a sale on the site, it seems like building your site is much more feasible from a financial perspective.

However, you are not directly paying to set up a shop on Etsy. You are paying for the thousands of proven buyers who have shopped multiple times on the platform. Getting your products listed down on Etsy will help make your products more visible to your target audience.

Also, customers tend to buy from platforms that they can trust. If you plan on building a site from scratch, then you have zero leverage in your market. To develop a relationship with your audience, you need to market and promote your site like mad to gain the recognition you deserve. This process may take months, or longer, to accomplish.

With Etsy, the hard work is already done for you. Etsy is a proven brand that drives lots of traffic (it currently ranks at 188 on Alexa Global). People who want to buy handcrafted arts and craft head on to Etsy. Using these facts to your advantage, you can potentially make a killing selling your products on the platform!

Having two separate shops

Nonetheless, it is possible for you to run an Etsy shop and have a website like Urban Wood Goods does. Owner Erin True started her Etsy shop in 2014 that she used as a springboard to launch her furniture company that is independent of the platform. Her sales exceeded $1 million in the same year, a quarter of which came from her Etsy shop.

An argument can be made that having a site separate from Etsy is potentially more profitable. However, setting up an Etsy shop was important for her as she used the platform as leverage to promote her company. Without Etsy, who knows if her company would have existed by now.

Therefore, it is highly advised that you still sign up for an Etsy shop to get hold of your captive market before transitioning to building a brand outside Etsy.

How to create a good listing on Etsy

Just like how businesses constantly work their way up on Google Search, you must find a way to appear on top of Etsy search results. Appearing on the top, if not at the top, should yield your shop more clicks and visitors, which could give way to more buyers.

The process of getting listed on Etsy follows the same basic formula as with most search-driven platform. Below are some of the practices you need to consider using to boost your Etsy list ranking.

Keyword research

The keyword you plan on optimizing for your Etsy list will make or break your earnings potential on the site.

Unlike Google and Amazon in which you have multiple tools for keyword and competitive research to choose from, Etsy only has Marmalead for all your research needs.

The tool makes research easier for you. Upon entering a keyword, you will see the engagement, competition, and category page levels to help you decide if you need to optimize the keyword on your listing. You can also see keyword suggestions, trending tags, and word cloud to help you come up with keyword ideas.

For a better explanation on how this tool works, read this article by Tara L. Jacobson about increasing her Etsy shop ranking from #376 to #39 within 24 hours.

Competitor research

Once you have chosen your keyword, you can use it to show your competitors ranking high for it. Marmalead will show you the shop grades and details on how to increase the score for each shop. As a shop owner yourself, you need to take the common denominators for all shops.

For additional help with competitor research, use the Listing in Search feature on Etsy Gadgets. Find at least three shops on Etsy that you feel are direct competitors for your keyword. Get their store names and enter them one by one on Listing in Search with your keyword. The tool will show all the tags that the shop uses and the items that appear on top of search results for the keyword.

Use the information to populate your shop with the ones competitors are using so you can take a piece of their traffic.

Listing optimization

While it’s great to have potential buyers click on your shop high on the search result, you need to close the deal with them by making your listing look attractive to them.

Etsy provides a basic overview on how to optimize your shops for search, but below are additional advice that you need to consider:

Do not obsess on image optimization – Just make sure that the images are hi-res and do not exceed 100kb before uploading them. You do not have to name them using your target keyword. Etsy will change the filename using their naming convention which is in numbers.

Keep listing fresh – Keep shuffling your listing by promoting your most popular products consistently. Etsy prioritizes shops that are updated on a regular basis, so you need to take advantage of that.

Keep up with the updates – Just like Google, Etsy improves its algorithm over time. What was once working on its search feature may no longer work in the future. Therefore, you need to be on your toes when it comes to observing the best Etsy SEO practices.

Optimize on Google

Etsy shops also appear in Google search results, so you get the extra traffic from the world’s biggest search engine.

When optimizing your Etsy shop on Google, you need to worry about your shop’s meta tags, in particular, your title and description.

Both will appear in search results as your rich snippets. Therefore, aside from mentioning your keywords, you need to make them as descriptive as possible to make people click on them.

Limit your product page title to 55 characters and your description to 120 characters. For your description, provide a detailed explanation of the product.

To increase your ranking on search results, you may need to do some link building. Etsy even mentions it as one of SEO’s most important practices you need to do for your shop. However, building links is a time-consuming takes time. Unless you have a stable relationship with website owners, it would be difficult to get a link from their sites.

Therefore, it’s important to network with site owners, especially influencers, and build organic relationships with them. This Quicksprout post should give you a better understanding of how getting to know influencers on a personal level correlates with building links to your Etsy shop.

It is important to note that the purpose of building relationships is not just purely for link building. In fact, getting a backlink from them should only be a byproduct of your efforts in developing a symbiotic partnership. They can easily tell if you are only after getting backlinks to their site.

Wrapping it up

Etsy is a good starting place to sell your handiwork. It focuses on supporting craftspeople and hobbyists by giving them a platform to showcase their work and make a living. However, the competition is fierce, and it will be difficult to make money on Etsy if you are not aware of the best practices on how to get your shop found by your target market.

With the tips and advice mentioned above on how to make money on Etsy, you should come prepared once you decide on selling your products on the sites. It’s high time that you monetize your passion so you can earn money from the blood, sweat, and tears poured from creating your masterpiece.

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The post The Art on How to Make Money on Etsy appeared first on Niche Pursuits.

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