IT IS TIME FOR BOOYA COMICS

 The growth of both The Astropath series JOURNEYS OF THE ASTROPATHS, WORLD OF THE DEATHSTICK and recently introducing MOONBOW OF THE EVIL EMPIRE,  it's time to create a unifying force. Booya Comics is in association with Booya Bkk Dramatic, but is a separate entity.  Our long term goal is to offer comic development for artists and writers looking to publish their work across a wide variety of publishing platforms. As Booya Comics is based in Bangkok Thailand we will also be working to develop translation for comics across multiple languages. 

Women's Shelter BANGKOK THAILAND

THEY NEED YOUR HELP

     Please consider helping these amazing workers and lovely children. My student asked me to help with the video element of her project to raise money for this wonderful facility. I wasn't looking forward to the visit, I was busy, and a bit nervous about being around children suffering from such harsh circumstances. But what was amazing is how happy these children were, how generous they were with their smiles and how excited they were to be filmed.
     I was mobbed with infants and children desperate to be held and anxious to share anything they had with me. It was extremely hot in the center and the students were enjoy some ice with some syrup as their afternoon snack. One boy insisted on bringing me a spoon full of ice telling me I looked hot and he could cool me down.
     When the day winded down and my good friend James was putting up the camera, it was really hard to leave. I am looking forward to returning and hope people can find a way to help us help them.

HOW DO YOU READ COMICS?

COMICS IN MULTIPLE FORMATS

The modern comic / anime / manga / graphic novel reader has many options for enjoying their visual story. When I was growing up I had stacks and stacks of comic books. These ink on dead tree comics were wonderful to experience; the smell of these pulp pages and ink still fill me with a sense of nostalgia for my childhood non-academic indulgences.

So now writing two comics I am curious, how do you enjoy our comics? Simply put are you scrolling them on your phone or pad, are you still holding the paper or are you reading them on your lap top or desktop?

PLEASE TAKE OUR SURVEY. HOW DO YOU READ COMICS?

ASK A COOL QUESTION AND GET A COOL ANSWER

While working on a rather fun Science Fiction story with my illustrator, something popped into my head. How many people are living in outer space right now and where are they from? I mean when I was a kid someone being in space was monumental news, but before I offer you the link and answer, take a guess. I was surprised by the number and even more surprised by the nations represented. It might as well be the 80's. 

Number of people in SPACE

AN ARTISTS LIFE IS FAR FROM FREE

We all make decisions in our life. Working as a teacher for nearly 20 years now, I get so inspired by my students having a creative drive and a sense of accomplishment from projects purely endeavored for their own self growth; however, the reality of our world today is one of financial need. As the cost of living continues to rise, even here in Thailand, how much income do we need to survive? Artists, like myself, can find it tough going when financial troubles come. So I try to explain to my students, who feel great doing their particular art form, that very few writers, painters, film makers, sculptors, musicians, actors, etc. ever truly stand on their own feet from their art. This can be disheartening for a young person to hear, but as the saying goes, "it's not the way I made it, but it is the way it is."

My suggestion to all those who need a creative outlet is this: 1. Join a group of like minded people who are also crazy about whatever it is that you are. This is easy in some neighborhoods but probably your best bet to find these people will be on internet chat sites. 2. Find a career that allows you to be creative, even if its is only occasionally. 3. Share your creativity with others, because I've found creative people who are ready to explode with the poke of a dull ink pen because they haven't gotten this god-given gift out to the world around them. i.e. fan fiction, fan art, blogging, karaoke night, open mic. etc. In other words stop feeling sorry for your underexposed creative growth and thrust yourself out into the sunlight and DO SOMETHING!

So if you have a really COOL ARTISTIC HOBBY what are you doing?
Send me siminoe@gmail..com a picture or sample of your work and I'll toss it up on my little blog.
I would love to feature your stuff, so BRING IT ON.  

Patreon CROWD FUNDING

. SIMINOE https://www.patreon.com/siminoe?alert=1

SO THIS IS THE ART FOR MY PATREON PAGE

CHECK IT OUT IF YOU CAN LEND A HAND

NEW SHORT FILM UNDERWAY

BOOYA and MUFASA at it again

new short film underway

With a collaboration on the script with James Iles and Myself we decided the best way to work is to also co-direct. James is of course in charge of the camera and lighting and I do my best to prepare the actors and the script.

Most exciting about this project is we have brought in a team of new producers who are serious about set and assisting us with pre-production.  

 With our team growing, it's allowing us the chance to really develop a film the right way. Stay tuned, I'll be putting up some behind the scenes images and thoughts from team members.

VISITING MOM NOT SO EASY

A JOURNEY OF 8510 MILES BEGINS WITH A 3 A.M. TAXI RIDE.

Traveling from my home in Bangkok to my mother's home in Kearney Nebraska is extremely daunting, but for me it is always the first leg that stresses me the most. April 7th at 3 A.M. a taxi driver arrives in front of my home. He's wired from a long night of some kind of chemical blend of energy drinks, cigarettes, and youth. Its the rare time of day when there is NO traffic in the city and so he revels in the freedom of revving his modified Toyota and racing us to the airport in just under 30 minutes, a journey I had estimated would take closer to an hour. He helped me out with my bags and raced off and I stepped into the cavernous Suvarnabhumi International Airport. At this time of the evening the attendants and ground workers outnumber the passengers and in fact, I was the only one there when I found the Delta counters. I chatted with them asking if I was the only one flying today, which at 3:30 in the morning is not funny. 

So with check in completed, my bag checked, and a realization that basically the next 24 hours of my life will be spent in a state of half-conscious confinement, I found a kind of comfortably numb, zombie like energy, that moves me from security to passport check to duty free to lounge to gate to seat and to infinity and beyond.

My first flight was Bangkok to Tokyo: 5 hours 25 minutes. A pretty nice little warm up. Next flight, after a 2 hour layover, was Tokyo to Minneapolis: 10 hours 40 minutes. I had 1 hour to switch planes for the final leg from Minneapolis to Omaha: 1 hour and 40 minutes. All total just under 18 hours of flight time and about 6 hours of airport time for THE LOST DAY.

THAI FOOD is an ATTITUDE

THAI FOOD is an attitude

It's hotter than FIRE in Bangkok (95% yesterday) and when I duck into a local street food joint to grab some food the food is even hotter. Anytime I travel away from Thailand it only takes a few days for me to begin missing Thai food. I know every country in the world has Thai food now, but come on, I'm yet to taste any of it that maintains that ATTITUDE. 

It's fun to watch Thai folks eat, no matter how spicy or seasoned the food looks when it arrives at the table, their first question is and I am translating into English, "Spices please." And out comes a basket full of sweet, spicy, sour, salty or surprise enhancements. They add sauces and spices to everything and even to every bite if need be. They are patient, not gobbling down their food for it's sustenance, but rather delighting in the plethora of flavors swirled upon their spoons. 

The photos are my lunch, spicy noodle soup with pork and  an egg, and my dinner Sum Tum (papaya salad) and nom toke (onions pork chives).  

CHANGE OF FOCUS

                          Kaew and I work on her scene while Pookie prepares behind us. 

So many years ago I began this blog with the idea of writing about the unusual life I decided on by leaving the United States for a life in Thailand. Many years have passed and all the crazy things about Thailand and it's amazing culture have sort of become everyday to me. I notice my early blogs are really about this country, it's people and culture and that has fallen off to a point where my blog kind of dried up.

I think in general blogs have been hit hard by the Facebook timelines and LINE timeline kind of stuff and perhaps as I have been focused on promoting my comics and film team on FB and Instagram and thus my blog has fallen into attic dust and cobwebs.

So a change of FOCUS is absolutely required. I still will write, on occasion, about the unique life I lead here as an expat; however, I intend to focus more on the creative projects I'm involved in, my teaching/students, my interests, and whatever the hell else pops into my head IT'S MY BLOG so eclectic should be expected.

World of the Deathstick has joined WEB TOON

WEBTOONS presents DEATHSTICK

BEST SEEN ON YOUR PHONE! Web Toon is a BEAUTIFUL format for looking at comics and I'm excited to offer chapter 1 of WORLD OF THE DEATHSTICK on there now. Please go read chapter one on your iPad, iPhone or Android phone and give us some high rankings.

ENJOY!

The Astropath SHORT FILM

The short explores the guilt faced by Setthapong a character in THE JOURNEYS OF THE ASTROPATHS series. Setthapong has gone through the trials of the astropath wars and just wants to be left alone, but when you have special abilities life is not always so easy.

Please enjoy this short film. We enjoyed making it.

BOOYA BKK ACTING TEAM

BOOYA BKK ACTING TEAM is a wonderful group of people learning together about drama, film making and the elements of storytelling. We focus on having a good time, but are attempting to develop better and better short films and hopefully coming soon a feature film to showcase our talents. Here are some glimpses of our workshops and some of our hard working talent. 

INTERESTED IN JOINING? Contact me and you are welcome to come by a workshop.