The Alchemy of Art: David Mack DVD

[tdaniel]

I know there are several threads already. I only wanted another so that other boarders will see this and then GET THIS DVD. If you create, if you have aspirations to create, if you know someone that creates, if you love comics, if you enjoy Kabuki or DD, or any other title MACK has contributed to, then you must GET THIS DVD.

It is refreshing to see that the person is as every bit as true as their expression suggests.

Inspiring.

GET THIS DVD.

[MACK!]

So....


You liked it?

[tdaniel]

So....


You liked it?

a little. I mean there were parts where I was merely enthralled as opposed to totally agog. Then there was the fact that as soon as you started talking about the creative nature of your childhood, it broke my daughter's pouty funk and she joined my wife and I. I mean - it caused family time...ugh. Then my wife was still talking about it at nearly midnight, we had c-o-n-v-e-r-s-a-t-i-o-n because of it. it was okay. i'd like to see everyone give it another go.

and man the house erupted when the credits rolled! thanks for that David.

[MACK!]

a little. I mean there were parts where I was merely enthralled as opposed to totally agog. Then there was the fact that as soon as you started talking about the creative nature of your childhood, it broke my daughter's pouty funk and she joined my wife and I. I mean - it caused family time...ugh. Then my wife was still talking about it at nearly midnight, we had c-o-n-v-e-r-s-a-t-i-o-n because of it. it was okay. i'd like to see everyone give it another go.

and man the house erupted when the credits rolled! thanks for that David.


It is good for me to hear how people react to this because I know I can't really be objective about it.

I've seen several cuts of it, and each time I asked the director to show less and less of me, and cut to shots of my art while I'm talking instead of me showing me talking. I know I'm not objective about it, and thougth I was seeing too much of myself.

They were very patient and accomodating with me about those things while still being passionate about showing a kind of drama that the director felt was inherent in the face time of the interview and for him was part of the magic of what he wanted in the film.

I've heard myself talk before, so I can't tell if it is interesting to others.
So it is interesting to get the feedback.


And very glad you liked the credits :)
I tried to include people that have been helpful or influential with my work etc. I knew I would forget some names, and I realized after I sent the list and the DVD was made that I forgot to include Ryan Graff who was very helpful in desiging some logos (Scarab, etc) that were used in sculpture packaging and the Scarab series.

And thanks again for the daily work on the Daily Kabuki pages at Newsarama. It seems to be working for people and generating new Kabuki readers as a port of entry to the story.


Looking forward to saying hi in Seatle

[tdaniel]

And of course, to be perfectly clear all the above came with heavy sarcasm! It was just perfect - perfect. Terry Moore's quotes were some of the kindest and articulate things that one person could ever say about another, and particular to you...and the mystery of the eraser must be solved!

My wife just wrote me email and thanked me again for exposing her to the film and your work. And she is shipping images from davidmackguide.com through email to her friends all day today. She's a bit of an art historian and painter and it was greatly moving for her to see all of your influences and hear your thoughts on creating.

I appreciated seeing and hearing you. Literally the only "voice" we as readers get sometimes is through the creator's book and I think knowing the individual responsible for the dialogue we've been engaged in enforces and enriches the relationship to the particular title.

I will stop now. Again, what a great experience The Alchemy of Art is!

It is good for me to hear how people react to this because I know I can't really be objective about it.

I've seen several cuts of it, and each time I asked the director to show less and less of me, and cut to shots of my art while I'm talking instead of me showing me talking. I know I'm not objective about it, and thougth I was seeing too much of myself.

They were very patient and accomodating with me about those things while still being passionate about showing a kind of drama that the director felt was inherent in the face time of the interview and for him was part of the magic of what he wanted in the film.

I've heard myself talk before, so I can't tell if it is interesting to others.
So it is interesting to get the feedback.


And very glad you liked the credits :)
I tried to include people that have been helpful or influential with my work etc. I knew I would forget some names, and I realized after I sent the list and the DVD was made that I forgot to include Ryan Graff who was very helpful in desiging some logos (Scarab, etc) that were used in sculpture packaging and the Scarab series.

And thanks again for the daily work on the Daily Kabuki pages at Newsarama. It seems to be working for people and generating new Kabuki readers as a port of entry to the story.


Looking forward to saying hi in Seatle

[Jurls]

Thanks so much! It is truly gratifying to get the response we're getting after all the work and love we put into it. David was so open and really made this movie as good as it is.

Greg Jurls
www.herovideoproductions.com

[tdaniel]

Thanks so much! It is truly gratifying to get the response we're getting after all the work and love we put into it. David was so open and really made this movie as good as it is.

Greg Jurls
www.herovideoproductions.com

This was exceptional JURLS. Thank you for presenting the opportunity to learn so much more about David and his work. I look foward to any future presentations as well.

[Jamie S. Rich]

I enjoyed the movie quite a bit. Thanks to Hero Video for sending it to me for review. I've put up a complete reaction at DVD Talk:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=26246

I hope we continue to see more movies like this from the Jurls family.

[Foggy's Pal]

This video is inspiring. My wife and I teach at the same high school. I teach English and she teaches all forms of art. We are both going to use this video. We may even be able to team teach a cross curriculum project with the video as a focus. I will let you know if this comes to fruition. Thanks David.

[Foggy's Pal]

David, do you do any appearances outside of the usual comic circuit? I know it is a longshot to ask a talent such as yourself to visit a high school, but I have to ask. We have such a strong art department and a group of very creative kids that meeting someone of your caliber and enthusiasm could really light the fires. We are a rather poor school and don't have much to offer you, but my wife and I would somehow make it work, even dipping into our own pockets, if you would be willing or available. I don't know if this is the right forum to ask this question, but we are big fans of yours and dedicated to our kids at school. ( and let's be honest, you are probably the most approachable big name talent there is- and it is not unappreciated) Anyway, thanks for all of your work and DVD.

[MACK!]

This video is inspiring. My wife and I teach at the same high school. I teach English and she teaches all forms of art. We are both going to use this video. We may even be able to team teach a cross curriculum project with the video as a focus. I will let you know if this comes to fruition. Thanks David.


That sounds great!
Please keep me updated on it.

[MACK!]

David, do you do any appearances outside of the usual comic circuit? I know it is a longshot to ask a talent such as yourself to visit a high school, but I have to ask. We have such a strong art department and a group of very creative kids that meeting someone of your caliber and enthusiasm could really light the fires. We are a rather poor school and don't have much to offer you, but my wife and I would somehow make it work, even dipping into our own pockets, if you would be willing or available. I don't know if this is the right forum to ask this question, but we are big fans of yours and dedicated to our kids at school. ( and let's be honest, you are probably the most approachable big name talent there is- and it is not unappreciated) Anyway, thanks for all of your work and DVD.

It is nice to hear that you and your wife are such dedicated teachers.
I do speak at Universities, and high schools fairly regularly. I have talks at 2 universities in the next week.
Keep me updated on if your shool wants to, and maybe we can work something out for the future.

[Foggy's Pal]

David, I don't think we would have any trouble convincing our adminstration that your visit would be beyond positive for our students. Just a few questions: When you visit schools, do you have a preference for the type of visit? Do you prefer to speak to large groups or would you rather speak with an intimate group and get serious about art and writing? Knowing this would help with my "pitch" to the administration. At some point, we will have to discuss a fee, but obviously this is not the forum in which to do this. We are very serious about making this happen; thanks so much for your consideration. Steve

[Eric Williams]

Agh! It's killing me that I haven't picked this up yet. Hopefully it'll be available at some upcoming cons.

[Shannon Chenoweth]

Went to my shop today and had a welcome surprise. I got my copy of the dvd! This is really great timing after everything that I've been going through lately. I'll post my thoughts once I watch it all the way through.

[Shannon Chenoweth]

Watched the main documentary.... I really liked it a lot. I really love the way David talks about his mom. It's obvious that she was not only a huge inspiration on his life, but that he loved her very very much. That could really be felt just as much as David's love for his craft.
I'm looking forward to sharing the dvd with my friends and family. I know that some of them will enjoy it as much as I did. Good stuff David! To the folks who made it, great work! :)

[MACK!]

Watched the main documentary.... I really liked it a lot. I really love the way David talks about his mom. It's obvious that she was not only a huge inspiration on his life, but that he loved her very very much. That could really be felt just as much as David's love for his craft.
I'm looking forward to sharing the dvd with my friends and family. I know that some of them will enjoy it as much as I did. Good stuff David! To the folks who made it, great work! :)

Glad you liked it, Shannon.
Like you said, props to the filmmakers.

I hope your friends and family like it. Let us know how they react.
best,
david

[MACK!]

David, I don't think we would have any trouble convincing our adminstration that your visit would be beyond positive for our students. Just a few questions: When you visit schools, do you have a preference for the type of visit? Do you prefer to speak to large groups or would you rather speak with an intimate group and get serious about art and writing? Knowing this would help with my "pitch" to the administration. At some point, we will have to discuss a fee, but obviously this is not the forum in which to do this. We are very serious about making this happen; thanks so much for your consideration. Steve

I've done it several ways.
I spoke to two universities last month.
One was just to a specific class (a Sequential Art class actually) at NKU.

The other one was The Art Academy of CINCI and I first spoke with all the seniors that were very serious about their work for a long full class. In a class room roundtable discussion.

And then after that, there was a presentation to the rest of the classes all in one larger room. I spread out my art on tables for them to look at, and I pass around books.
I give a basic sense of what I do, but I want to talk specifically about what they are interested in, so I take questions, and keep it very interactive to let their interests drive the focus of the presentation.
That way I can keep a dialogue going with everyone the entire time and get to precisely what everyone wants to know about.

Also, they can see the printed media, and get a first hand look at the originals to see what goes into it and what the final is.

Keep me updated!

Has the DVD been helpful to the students in your school?