Best Friends, Special Effects, and Digital Magic with Pony R. Horton (3/25/2009)

TO LISTEN TO THIS SHOW CLICK HERE

This week I am joined by my best friend on the planet, Pony R. Horton, whom I have known for more than 30 years. Pony is the most multi-talented person I have ever met: a visual effects artist, director, editor, cinematographer, painter, journalist, animator, photographer, screenwriter, IMAX projectionist, graphic designer, actor, bullwhip artist, and the list goes on. It seems there isn’t anything he can’t do. You can visit his IMDB page HERE.

Pony has worked in visual effects for some of the greats, like Van der Veer Photo Effects and Roger Corman, and recently has joined the Star Trek: Phase 2 post-production team working on the episode for "Blood and Fire." You can see his article on their site HERE His work has appeared in motion pictures such as Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Superman, Nightwing, and Spielberg’s ‘1941’ (in which I assisted!)

Since 2001, Pony has been producing a lifework under his own company banner, Gravity Arch Media, (gravityarchmedia link) a docudrama on the life of William Mulholland, titled A Test of Integrity, which stars veteran character actor Victor Izay in the role of Mulholland, the man who brought water to Los Angeles in 1913. Pony acts as both host and character, playing Mulholland's assistant, H.A. Van Norman. See a clip here at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysnq30P6OeY and his effects work on the film at http://www.stfrancisdam.blogspot.com/

Pony has also produced and directed numerous TV commercials and industrials in recent years under the Gravity Arch Media name. Pony considers it ironic that today he is fighting AIDS himself, after having created PSA's urging safe sex.

For all of you aspiring digital artists out there, Pony has a vast knowledge of the technical artistry and history of special effects work, and combining old style special effects techniques and digital CGI effects using the latest desktop software, creating some incredibly awesome looking stuff. It blows me away what he can do given a little time.

Other links: Pony’s You Tube channel and My Space Page:
http://www.youtube.com/user/PonyHorton
http://www.myspace.com/zeebya


Pony as Indiana Jones and performing at LegoLand in California

Old friends long ago...

Look at the hair and beards!

Who are those guys?

"Your Brain on Movies" with Dr. Joe Dispenza (3/4/2009)

TO LISTEN TO THIS SHOW - CLICK HERE
What does it mean to be transported by a motion picture to create a world inside one's head? How do experiences of watching films and TV alter our experience of the real world? Why is it that we feel the same excitement and suspense on repeat viewings of the same movie? What exactly is happening in our brains as we watch films?

In my chat with Dr. Joe Dispenza, he offered a unique look into how media and movies color our view of reality, create indelible patterns in our personality, influence our choices, shape our values, and even affect our dreams.

He had some pretty starting commentary on how modern technologies are impacting our consciousness, and sage advice for parents on how to be aware of the ways that movies, media and video games are shaping the inner personalities of our youth. Joe is certainly one of the most personable visionaries I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and a guy with a great sense of humor in the way he communicates his transformational message.

If you would like to watch this interview on video you can click HERE to see it for the full hour.

You can visit Dr. Joe's website at www.drjoedispenza.com to find out more about his powerful work. I hope you like it because it's one of my recent creations!