Dig Comics update: Ain’t It Cool News, Comic-Con & 2 more festivals!

I have fallen behind on posting about the progress of Dig Comics, the documentary that I’ve been working on as a producer for the last several years. There has been a lot of activity, some I can talk about it, some I can’t yet (but hopefully soon). Some highlights:

  • A great interview with director Miguel Cima was recently posted at the very popular movie news/gossip site Ain’t It Cool News.
  • The first new shooting since the completion of the 20-minute short is happening at this week’s Comic-Con International: San Diego. The event is completely sold out but if you are there and see us running around like mad men and women, yell out “I dig comics!” If you’re on Twitter, follow me Wednesday to Sunday this week to see how shooting is going at Comic-Con. Hopefully technology and time will work in my favor and I’ll be able to tweet. We’ve got some amazing people lined up to interview. Can’t wait to hear their thoughts.
  • Dig Comics will be screening at this weekend’s Action On Film International Film Festival at the Regency Academy Theater in Pasadena, California, on Sunday July 25 at 4 PM.
  • Dig Comics will also be screening at the 1 Reel Film Festival, part of Seattle’s Bumbershoot music and arts festival, on September 6 at 12 noon.

I think that’s everything. Seems like I’m missing something. Lots going on! Hopefully I’ll get to share more news soon.

The First 100

Famous Funnies #100 - Nov. 1942, Eastern Color (Image from CoverBrowser.com)

This probably merits a blog post. A couple of weeks ago, Bill Johnson and the Magic Meathands entered me into the Century Club by way of a good ol’ fashion comedy roast. According to Bill’s meticulous record-keeping, I performed 100 shows with the comedy improv group with meat for hands, as of our June 3rd show at The Spot Cafe, making me eligible for induction into the Magic Meathands Century Club.

I’m the sixth Meathand to reach 100 shows. And also according to Bill’s legendary Excel spreadsheets, I’ve broken the record for getting to 100 shows in the shortest amount of time so far – 1 year, 4 months, and a few days. My first show with the group was on January 29, 2009, although I had performed with them as a student before then.

I’ve had a complete blast performing with the Meathands, and I don’t see it ending any time soon. It’s just too much fun to give up.

Thank you to everyone that has come out to see one (or more) of our shows. It is always a huge honor when someone spends their valuable time seeing me make a fool out of myself on stage. And it’s such a kick to see our audience regulars come back again and again. It really tells me we’re doing something right. For those who haven’t made it out yet, I hope to get the chance to share this pure joy and fun with you soon.

And of course thank you to the Magic Meathands for letting me play and making me laugh.

For our show schedule, check out my last blog post here, or check in with MagicMeathands.com. You can also ‘like’ our Facebook fan page.

All-New Shows with the Magic Meathands

Improv comedy group The Magic Meathands are kicking off a brand-spanking new show schedule in July! And as always, I’ll be performing with them as often as they’ll let me.

Fridays are for Funnies! (aka: Thursdays no more)
After 2 years of Thursday Night Comedy Cafe, the Meathands are moving to Friday nights! We’ll be there to help you kick off the weekend! Here’s how it breaks down (get out your pencil, take notes carefully):

  • 1st Friday of every month, we’re at the Westside Comedy Theater in Santa Monica with The Waterbrains and Mission IMPROVable. We’ve been doing this show for several months now and it continues to get stronger and stronger. Showtime: 8 PM. Tickets: $10 for all 3 groups.
  • 2nd & 4th Friday of every month, we’re at our old stomping grounds The Spot Cafe and Lounge in Culver City. We’ll be having special guests and themes, so watch for details. Showtime: 8 PM. Tickets: $5.
  • 3rd Friday of every month, as part of our Community Outreach program, we’ll be performing at the Hope for Homeless Youth in Echo Park. We’ve been doing this show for a couple of years now and it’s always fun.

Saturdays are for Sillies!
Our Family Friendly show with improv group Jump Start keeps growing and growing! It’s also at The Spot Cafe and Lounge in Culver City. Showtime: 8 PM. Tickets: $7.

So there you have it. There will bound to be extra one-off shows here and there, too. For more, check out the Magic Meathands Facebook page.

This Thursday with the Meathands – for the last time!

This week is my FINAL Thursday Night Comedy Cafe with the Magic Meathands. The Meathands are retiring the long-running show at the end of June, so see it before it’s gone forever!

For those that have never been, it’s live improvised comedy made up completely on the fly using audience suggestions. It’s tons of fun!

Details: June 17, 8 PM, The Spot Cafe, 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA 90230. Tickets: $5.00.

See me on PBS throughout the month of June

Yes, that’s right, I’ll be on your TV! I make a special cameo appearance during the TV special Carole King/James Taylor Live at the Troubadour!*

Check your local PBS station for air dates. It airs here in Los Angeles on KCET tonight June 5 at 10:30 PM and tomorrow night June 6 at 11:00 PM. It airs in Boston on WGBH tonight June 5 at 9:00 PM.

*OK, you can see me in the audience for 5 whole seconds during the second song, “So Far Away”. So, cameo might be overstating it. Also seen in the crowd: my wife Nahleen right in front of me, and behind us the very funny Greg Benson of Mediocre Films.

Someone uploaded it to YouTube, probably through ethically and legally dubious means of which I heartily disapprove. You can see us starting at 43 seconds in.

Update: Three still pictures from the video have been posted.

World MS Day

Today, May 26, 2010, is World MS Day.

Spread the word. Awareness is a powerful weapon against this disease.

I was hoping to have a video from my day walking in a dress and heels at this year’s WalkMS, but unfortunately it just wasn’t in the cards. But you can still check out pictures here.

Also, it’s not too late to donate to help raise money for the National MS Society. Every little bit counts!

[Updated the date. March, May. Same thing.]

Jarryd’s Job Interview Part 2

I’m featured in another video from Poopdog Entertainment, this time acting opposite Jarryd Meyer, written and directed by Sam Sero.

Vote for our video to be deemed by the Internet as “funny” at Funny or Die. This will help us justify our existence to our parents.

You can also watch it right here:

WalkMS stats

Distance walked: 3.2 miles / 5 kilometers

Ensemble inspired by: Lan Yin Tsai

Height of heels: 3 inches

Size of shoes: 10 (American Eagle By Payless)

Dress donated by: Jeffrey Schoenberg’s AJS Costumes, Burbank

Bike helmet donated by: Enci of illuminateLA and Stephen Box of SoapBoxLA

Money raised: $3,331.00

Members on team: 21

Money raised by team: $12,891.18

Money raised by WalkMS event: $870,792.01

Goal of WalkMS event: $1,200,000.00

Deadline to raise more money: June 1, 2010

Days left to donate: 15

Link to donate: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/corey.blake

Link to more pictures of Corey in a dress: http://www.flickr.com/photos/coreyblake/sets/72157623754072167/

The League of Big-Heads

While looking at the recently “leaked” picture of Peter Sarsgaard as Hector Hammond for next Summer’s Green Lantern movie, it occurred to me that I find big-headed superheroes and villains kind of hilarious. Their designs, transparently based off Cold War-era radiation paranoia, somehow manage to look both creepy and goofy yet are neither all at once. And they invariably result in some kind of mind-based powers. I don’t know who came up with the idea first, but there’s something weirdly compelling about them.

In tribute, I now assemble The League of Big-Heads. Here now is a collection of characters that have no motivation or legal ability to ever be on the same team except for the superfluous commonality that they all have enlarged craniums.

Naturally, we have to start off with Hector Hammond, since he kicked this whole idea off.

(more…)

…not yet…

Sorry about that accidental early posting. You’ll have to somehow find the will power to wait until tomorrow to read the full list of my League of Big-Heads.