So yesterday we dropped this kickstarter to fund this short film called, Bangarang, which will tell the story of the character I’m know for, Rufio. It’s been crazy with all the attention it’s been getting online. I mean, I know it’s he a beloved character, but it’s cool how it’s captured the imagination of so many.
People are asking me a lot of questions about the project… and really, it pretty simple. This young, promising director, Jonah Feingold approached me about the project. He loved Hook, matter a fact, I met him at an LA bar called, Delilah, not too long ago, he tapped me on the shoulder and showed me his iPhone and the screensaver is the Hook poster. I kinda of chuckled and proceeded to walk towards my table. He exclaimed, “No! I have to talk to you, let me buy you a drink!” Anyhow, we ended up having a few drinks… tequila, I think it was and told me about him going to USC film school, being a big Spielberg fan and about another film he’s setting up called, Wendy. From there we became friends and awhile later he drops on me this short he wrote about the origin story of the rebel rousing kid we all love, Rufio.
Being it’s the 25th anniversary of the film and the character, I figure, now’s a great time to revisit Neverland, but this time, let’s see how this new generation does it. I simply signed on to produce, talked some other partners of mine into joining me, Rawn Ericson, and dropped the Kickstarter… I simply thought, we’ll see what happens.
To everyone one’s surprise, people are loving the idea. I love bringing Rufio to a new generation, not just because he’s a character I played in the past, also bringing a Filipino hero to today’s kids is important to me. It’s essentially a fanfic, crazy because I’m involved. Can’t wait the cast the kid actors to play the new and of Lost Boys & Girls.
You can support on Kickstarter and follow my social media be apart of the adveture… Bangarang!!!
I spent the first day of the year jumping on a plane and heading out to Portland to my first con of the year. Although I did a vlog about the experience which you can watch above, I love to write, so I want to write about it also here on my blog. First off, I love Portland, it’s really a charming town with a cool vibe and it’s very hip without trying to be. It seems like I meet so many great people and I love shopping up there, so many cool boutiques, especially for men, with that outdoorsy mountain man look plus there’s no sales tax!
Now as I’ve been doing cons for a little over a year now here in the US, I’ve been learning so much from all the fans and the scene. I didn’t grow up going to cons and was never apart of this amazing community. Through my work I’ve been welcomed in and somehow been made a celebrity, believe me, I feel fortunate and humbled by all those I meet that have seemed to enjoy my work over the years. The fandom world has inspired me to go back and find all the things in my life that I geek out about, especially the great films and shows in my youth like Star Wars and Thundercats and the list goes on. It somehow helped me re-spark and remember exactly what we’re really doing in this Hollywood business, the magic of it all, telling stories. And it just helps me remember, even though I’ve been here making film and television for years, it’s really all for the fans… and I too am a fan. And it’s truly great to reconnect to that. Also, the more I’m around this scene, I’m always reminded, from the panels to the artist alley, to all the amazing cosplayers, that when you come to these events, you’re surrounded by the most creative people in the world! Now I’m in an industry that is made of creatives, but we can sometimes get jaded because it becomes so much about commerce, to get away for a weekend and surround yourself by creatives that create for the love of it all is refreshing. Going to panels and hearing the passion of people talk and share ideas is incredible. I introduced a friend to her first Homestuck panel and she was amazed to see the engagement of all these folks that comes from a free web comic online. It’s really a testament to the power of artists and their impact on the world. (shout out to Andrew Hussie)
So as the first work week of 2015 began yesterday and I’m set to tackle another year in this town, I thank everyone who I got to meet, at the panels, conversations in the lobby, drinks at the bar… y’all help remind me exactly why I do what I do, I wish you all a prosperous 2015… Cheers.
So this last weekend I dropped a video on my YouTube channel (thedantebasco) dedicated to, and all about the world of Homestuck! First off, the support and love from the community has been amazing and I would like to personally thank you all for the digging the video. Secondly, for the rest of the world that are not Homestucks (that’s what we we call ourselves in this fandom), I got a bunch of messages of, what the heck was that?!?!?!
Well, a brief overview of what it is can be summed up like this (an excerpt from my tumblr rufiozuko):
Furthermore, you can read it yourself at mspaintadventures.com, its a web comic created by Andrew Hussie and it’s a story about friends, kids really, essentially trying to save the world, but in a very non-sensical, non-linear way, with these alien trolls and different dimensions and to be quite honest, it’s pretty confusing, as I’m sure this explanation is right now. Nonetheless, read it for yourself. It’s art and pop culture mashed up with the drama of all these crazy characters and sub characters in an adventure of a lifetime… or several lifetimes… I know, confusing again.
I got wrapped up into it all a year a so back because fans urged me to read it and how I said, it has pop culture nuggets spread throughout the story, they told me I happen to pop up in there as my iconic teenage character, Rufio. As I was somewhat new in the whole online world of social media and engagement, I always took the approach of, if enough people tell me to check something out, I do and try to decide for myself. And that being said, I jumped into the world and so far it’s been quite a journey. I read literally thousands of pages and still am not caught up, as the author Andrew Hussie does updates periodically, sometimes I feel like this is a never ending story, though rumors in the Homestuck world say he’s going to wrap up the whole thing soon. Matter a fact, I totally forgot that I even made a cameo in the story, but the night I read it is quite hilarious and can be followed as I live blogged my reading of it on my tumblr. (I actually live blog most of the time when I’m reading Homestuck)
Now, the story and the web comic is actually just half the story. As I began doing comic conventions about a year or so ago, I started seeing a bunch of Homestuck fans around the world, and how can I tell they’re Homestucks? Well, they’re dressed up as the characters of course! It’s called cosplay, like costume and play… I guess. Now, it’s not just for Homestuck, but anyone who’s a fan of any franchise or comic book character or superhero or cartoon. It a sense, it feels like it’s been around forever, like we all dress up for Halloween, yet it a lot of ways it’s this new art form, like wardrobe and design and pop culture, a live living figure of fictional characters with unique personal twists sometimes, depending on the artist creating them. Although, most of the cosplayers I’ve met, aren’t always thinking of the artistic endeavors of their cosplay, they’re just having fun.
I love the web comic, but also through my travels, I just fell in love with the scene, the Homestucks themselves. It’s cool to see kids and all kinds of people, into something and find a common ground, this web comic and find this unique way to communicate and hang out and get inspired and be massively creative. And the fact that it’s so unknown to the world at large, makes it this cool subculture, not unlike punk rockers in the early days, or even hip hop kids in my generation. The fact that you know something other people don’t know about and even though it might be looked down upon by other as something nerdy or geeky, that actually makes it cooler. I write this for the Homestucks, but not just for the Homestucks, in which I am proud call myself one. But I write this blog to all the subcultures who found their friends and the people like them in these super niche worlds.
You never know where you’re going to find yourself and you might be surprised, when you get there to find a bunch of people there just like you…
So here’s my “Geekin’ Out” video… a love letter of sorts to the Homestucks… and to everyone out there who totally a fan of some amazing story or film or anime or character… represent your frandom y’all!
So as it is the 8th of the month and I’ve been talking and blogging about this #the8th movement of us, as Asian Americans taking over the 8th of the month creating and releasing new content… Here’s is what I have to offer. A web series written and produced by myself and friends, Cheryl Tsai-Perez, Angelo Perez & Frieda Jane, called “30 something…else”, about us being in our thirties and realizing it’s not exactly how we thought it would be. Check out these fun episodes and to get on the list of #the8th, go to: WeOwnThe8th.com and spread the word about my project and any new Asian content you come across today by reposting with #the8th!
So here’s the complete little season of the The Rufio Show we did… all in one place. It was fun putting this together with my brother and friends. It all started with me going up to Victor Yerrid, who does all the amazing puppet work, at me and my brother Derek’s birthday. (We share the same bday… Aug29th! Shout to all my Virgos) And asking him what he thought about doing something for my youtube page. I was originally thinking I would just be talking to a puppet in a funny sketch… He came up with the whole idea to actually make a Rufio puppet and that blew my mind! My brother and manager, Emily got involved to produce and this is what we came up with! Thanks for everyone who has enjoyed it so far… Hopefully we’ll do more soon!
So here’s the latest episode of the “Rufio Show,” I got my buddy AJ Rafael to make a cameo and I got to lip sync one of my favorite songs off his album, “Red Roses.” It was a great time shooting this series. We’ll be dropping a new episode every Tuesday for the next few week. Go to my YouTube, check it out and subscribe… Little hint of what’s to come… Some Lost Boys grown up… Rufio up in a club… & maybe more music!
Dante Basco: My take on life... 