CORALINE press junket part 3

another day of hotel rooms and people packed in to roundtables, all clamoring for the attention of the creatives.
lots of tape recorders thrown across the table to sit right under the speaking gentleman.
let’s not forget the banks of microphones!



this time I sat on the plushy chair provided (no bathtubs available?)
and watched, listened, learned as thoughts were verbally batted around in the air.

Neil was asked many questions on the themes of what he felt stop-motion lent to a story like CORALINE and why he chose Henry as director. He explained that when he saw NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS he noticed (like so many others might not have) that while it said "Tim Burton’s NBC", it was directed by Henry Selick. After he finished writing CORALINE, years and years ago, he asked his agent to get it to Henry first because he believed that he had the vision to bring it to the screen.

When the option ran out, Neil even did the unspeakable in HOllywood, which was to extend Henry’s option for free based on NEil's faith in him. (the Holywood reporters practically stood up and cheered on that one, it really was a beautiful thing to do, rather than yank it away because by that time, there was plenty of big studio interest in it)

The allure of stop-motion versus the machinery of CGI was that it was real, Neil went on to outline a perfectly charming story of a conversation with a set carpenter, who had been involved in building the pirate ship for STARDUST for two months that was slated to be scrapped after filming, and Neil was apologetic. The carp then replied to the effect of “No, man! If it weren’t for you, we’d be building shelves.”

Another reporter asked if Neil was considering any other of his stories for animated film versions, he said that ODD AND THE FROST GIANTS (one of my personal favorites)
would be a good candidate. Also, he was very clear about GRAVEYARD BOOK being live action. When I heard announced (on the Today show, no less) that Neil “THE COMPANY OF WOLVES” Jordan was slated to helm it, I cried a wee Irish tear of joy.
I remember going to see WOLVES in the theatre on a date, and I couldn’t talk after, was so moved, most especially by the little doll crying in the birds’ nest... and a naked Danielle Dax! (needless to say, the date went south)

Of course, talk moved over to the Sandman-as-movie subject, many of the reporters wanted to talk about
what may happen in this film climate of graphic novel mania. Neil said (and wisely so)
the way he saw it, things may happen if a director came along that had the mad passion for the project like Peter Jackson had for LORD OF THE RINGS.

Afer each roundtable, the reporters whipped out their books etc to have Neil sign, which he graciously did.



and he even signed for non-reporters as well:





we watched as the sun went down over the city of Los Angeles and finally everyone went home and our poor hero got some food and sleep.



Next up is his Canada run,
one I am not going to be there for, sadly, as the schedule looks like a serious nightmare.
I will put a super-duper shield on him before his plane whisks him away.

Next stop for me, Portland. I will post a little youtube movie shortly, but for now, I have a batch of fan mail for him to sign (yes REALLY!)

Words to end this, Neil did say that CORALINE was a story about bravery and a lesson that children may follow the rest of their lives in that it shows that you CAN fight big things and win. We can all stand by that.

CORALINE press junket part 2

sitting on the floor of a swanky Beverly hills hotel,
listening to the soothing sounds of Neil speaking to various and sundry reporters
on the domestic part of his Coraline junket.







Last night was the big industry screening at the Graumann’s Chinese, that venerable old Hollywood landmark. Publicist Maggie won me over with the free popcorn and the clever use of a deck (or ten) of Bicycle playing cards as tokens to get in to the afterparty. (i drew the nine of diamonds, Boss got the eight of hearts) It was Almost as clever as the Fabulous Lorraine using buttons as passes......



The 3-D so well done, it nearly overwhelmed me, in the way that I was feeling dizzily disoriented at even the Real D logo in the very beginning.

about the movie--

A shout-out toTeri Hatcher, girl, you were truly impressive with that buttery honeydripper of a voice for all the incarnations of Coraline’s mother.

also lovely was the fact that there was a cat character (devilishly voiced by Keith David)
that wasn’t a stereo-typical mean kitty. finally!
I could listen to Ian McShane’s Mister Bobinsky’s accent forever. I have been saving the whole of Deadwood for a snowed-in someday, but now I may just get that out of the way to spend more time with Mister Ian.

FRENCH AND SAUNDERS as SPINK AND FORCIBLE. I want to be them for Halloween, both of them, and have jewelled eye glasses on stems, with big glittery ocean colored gems on as a costume. I was literally drop-jawed in all their scenes.
Those ladies, worth their weight in gold.

I was moved and frightened at different turns. Without giving anything away, I had to be reminded by the videos playing at the afterparty of the animators moving the little gorgeous puppets, that silicone puppets moved by human hands evoked those emotions in me. I gave a big love-punch to the shoulder of director Henry Selick for fooling me so perfectly. His sense of put-this-here and place-that-there, his is a true director’s heart.




Neil had Fairuza Balk accompany him to the screening, and she was a sparkler, a starlet-y firecracker. My Drew, who years ago told me she was his ultimate Hollywood crush, was a bit gaga. Neil asked him at one point in the evening if he could sort of stay with her, while he got whisked away on a wave of well wishers---the look of love and gratitude on Drew’s face towards Neil, priceless. Here they are together :



Drew left this morning for the Elton John tour, here he is on Captain Fantastic’s star, last night in front of the Chinese Theatre with Mr. Selick in the background. {Bye honey}



Neil has to move on to another location to do more press. So I wrap this up.
Will say this, that man is terrifyingly smart, with one hell of a spicy charming bite. The press is getting their best quotes out of him, as he valiantly strives to give each one a bit of a different story.

I always learn so much, perched in the corner, ticky tapping on my MacBook.

(not sure if this is a junket leak, but Boss just made me laugh with saying to some reporter that he could now relate to the Jonas Brothers, because of the tweener age group girls coming and asking for his autograph)

beautiful/delicious

something very beautiful:

JOUNI & NEIL SAUCERS PRINT on INFINITE CANVAS

something very delicious:

CORALINE press junket part 1

for all you sun-starved wintery people, a view from the hotel where the CORALINE press junket kicked off. I can hear the waves crash on the shore...it is gorgeous, just a bit breezy and 68* F.




before the rounds began, our hero got what is called a bit of "grooming". It has long been my personal opinion that if NG hadn't hit the genius lottery and he was just, say, a punk rock record store owner, juggling his rent check and getting his cell phone turned off intermittently, he still doesn't need very much grooming. Looking good, boss. And our stylist guy Tyson really agreed, calling him very low-maintenance, in that tone, where you know, maybe this isn't normally the case in Hollywood. Cathy, who is having a bit of coffee in the background, was the Universal rep, who didn't drop the ball once. Thanks, girl. She's off next to Toyko---





In spite of what the term "press junket" might conjure for you--- for me, vaguely covert operations, with a bunch of steno pads thrown in---the word "junket" just has the whiff of illegal danger, maybe a lost weekend.
Not so. It is iPhone/Blackberry-toting good-natured reporters coming from all points on the globe, to meet in hotel rooms and fire questions at the principals involved in the film.



we began with France and headed south to Brazil and north to Finland etc.
lots of Australians roaming around.
As always, I learn so much while sitting and waiting (this time perched on the edge of a hotel bathtub, with big Pelican cases for the video gear stowed in by my knees).
Neil was telling the Brazilian lady that 20 years ago, her countrymen were the first to put SANDMAN into reprint. He likened Brazil his first favorite girlfriend, which delighted the lady.



of course, the crew filming and doing the coordinating were a little loud as these things happen, so i got posted outside on "shhhhh" duty, and was very librarian-esque with my stern glances. Felt like my little librarian Mom-- ahah...

here Immanuel from France gets a little scribble in his book.




the hotel got a few black marks for bad behavior this morning, which I shall not detail here, but I gave it a gold star on the cute rooms and the good carpeting.
Here is a little Coraline promo poster, I am so ready to see the finished film---
Wednesday night!

among other things, swedish vampires

The SAUCER prints are now all shipped, we have sold about 500 of the 750 and we at Neverwear would love to hear your feedback on them.
Dave, one of our customers new to my old hometown of Baltimore, reports that his print arrived and he loves it--he also sends wishes that we weather the Economic End of days, which made me laugh. It is so good to hear from the world. We got a beautiful message from Benita from Anchorage, Alaska: "May Amun Ra walk between you and all darkness in your path." My personal favorite was a thank you from one of our customers Brandon in Utah, who got the gemstone bracelet bonus, he tells me that it is now one of his favorite possessions. That means so much to me.

In fact, I did send some of you jewelry IOUs since we got so many orders, I was a bit swamped and didn't want to delay the shipments. So there are many who will have the bracelets coming under separate cover. A new year surprise... I put myself through college without student loans with my gemstone jewels, so it is a return to my roots...I made the necklaces for Tori's Beekeeper tour, here is a photo of her modelling one of the three designs we sold on that tour.



To celebrate getting all the prints shipped, Drew took me to see the movie I have been hearing so much about, a film from Sweden, "Låt den rätte komma in" or "Let the right one in" in English. A little trivia, the title refers to a Morrisey song... If it is playing near you, go see it. I can't stop thinking about it. It is haunting and gorgeous....take a look....

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN

post office elf

The prints have arrived and they are beautiful. Jouni and Neil, you are supermen.

We Neverwear elves are very busy filling orders and challenging the lines of the post office.
My local post office here in Los Angeles is never quiet and at Christmastime, it is a madhouse. When I was little, I told my dad I wanted to be a postman. I love all things stamp-y and mail-y. Now I am an honorary postal worker. I was at the automatic postage machine in the lobby at 6 am this morning
and left hours later--- Jun, my favorite USPS worker helped me. I told him I wouldn't blow his cover, but I wanted to show him processing some of the many international orders.

We are have sent prints to Japan, Ireland, Scandinavia, Italy, Spain, Philippines, the mighty United Kingdom, and countless points in between. Drew, Ethan, Red and I have been fulfilling orders to try to get as many as these out as quickly as possibly. It has been a whirlwind. A lovely madness.







even little Selina Kyle, our new crimefighting kitten, lent a paw.



Thank you all for your support. We are having a great time in the treehouse, trying to get these out to their new homes as quickly as possible.
Happy holidays all.

SAUCER madness

I got the funniest email from Jouni yesterday, wondering if we sold any of the Saucers prints.
Happily, I was able to give him great news, this thing blew up---like fireworks.
Neil's dead clever words
matched with Jouni's truly gorgeous artwork made for a grand marriage.
A cyber home run!
I was down to 17 prints this morning when Neil called me with even more generous good news.
As he said on his blog, we printed 1,000 of these and split them, he kept his to use for his holiday greetings.
He decided to release 250 back into the wild---so this will be an edition of 750. Neil's present to you all.
isn't he magic?
We even got a mention on Gillian Anderson's website, anyone who knows me knows THIS makes my inner X-Files fan very happy---thanks Skully and Mari!

some other reviews and mentions:

IO9 the "strung out on Science Fiction" site

kaboodle.com reviews SAUCERS

I am getting lots of emails from people who are spreading the news about The Graveyard Book,
next blog will have some of the lucky winners.
Thanks so much all!

NEW Neil Gaiman print: The Day the Saucers Came

all the way from Finland, the smokin' hot Jouni Koponen illustrates Neil's poem:
"The Day the Saucers Came"---a personal favorite of ours here at NEVERWEAR



This full-color print will be arriving any day now, hot off the presses.

It is a high-stakes take on obsession. This print is filled with magical imagery: zombies and geniis, UFOs, giants, fairies...even killer bees. Sized at 10" x 28", you can practically fall into this wonderland. I will have 500 prints, each hand-numbered---I expect them to arrive in hand on the 16th Dec.

They will not be guaranteed for a holiday delivery, while they illustrate magic, I am only one kid in cahoots with the United States Postal Service. go figure...They should arrive--- if ordered now--- by the 27th December. They will be shipped in a practically bullet-proof shield made of recycled cardboard. For preorders, I will send out a little Neil postcard saying it is coming, if you want to give it as a gift.

We are donating 20% of the poster price to CBLDF
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is out fighting crimes against our important Constitutional rights, so to support them is our pleasure.
thanks all! they are available here:

NEVERWEAR thanks you....with some specials...

We are running a little holiday spirit special...

When you buy any NEVERWEAR teeshirt:

(like this GRAVEYARD BOOK babydoll being modeled by
the amazing Amanda Palmer )





you will receive a FREE handmade gemstone
bracelet, made by me, Kitty...our gift to you.

it is made with glass sead beads from Japan, Svarowski Austrian crystals, garnets from India,
woven with love & magic. I then "clear" the gems by burning sage and whispers, so that it is ready for your own personal imprint.
Garnet has long been thought the stone of passion, worn to stir the blood.

I call this the "phone-ringing-off-the-hook" stone, get ready for some attention!
They are sized to fit the average size wrist (7-7.5") but feel free to drop me a note with special
size needs, I make them-- not robots--- so you can get what you want...




you CAN also purchase them, if you like. They are under "Kitty's Treasures" in the NEVERWEAR store.
I will be putting more things up, like treasures from past tours,
other jewels, one-of-a-kind specials, my glass comic-book magnets....check back often...

ALSO!
a FREE Beowulf promo hat (officially licensed promo-not for sale)
with purchases of fifty dollars of Neverwear..while supplies last...

so... here I am at Neil's....

...and he gets all these great ideas, i don't know how, or from where,
but he always seems to be brewing up one thing or another--
maybe because he's British and living here in the United States,
or maybe it is because his IQ is exponentially off the charts,
who can say.
Maybe during his childhood, he shook hands with a demon on a highway
or perhaps saved an angel from drowning, not certain.
There are legends...certainly he was born under some kind of lucky stars...

Anyway, last night, Neil came up with a plan which he posted on his well-read blog
a blog which brings people from every undusted corner of
this planet, people who love to witness his ideas, to watch over his shoulder
as his stories spill like gems from his pen...
this plan of his was simple.
He put me in charge of fifty precious GRAVEYARD BOOK posters,
fifty which I watched him sign, to give to the bright stars out among you...

here is Neil's plan and i quote:

So what I'm going to do is this:

First I'm going to sign a bunch of posters -- probably about 50. Then I'm going to give them and the BPAL Graveyard Book scents to the wonderful Cat Mihos. And I'm going to tell her that we're running something that isn't exactly a competition, but is sort of smaller and more informal and a bit more easy-going. It's this:

From here until the end of the year (and further out than that, if the stuff holds out), if you do something effective to help get other people reading The Graveyard Book, tell Cat, and she'll send you a signed poster.

(Something effective in this case would include persuading your bookshop or library to do a Graveyard Book display, and taking a photo of it and sending it to Cat, teaching it in your school, reviewing it for your local paper or doing something equally as imaginative.)

If you do something Awesome and Amazing to get other people reading The Graveyard Book (for example, talking your whole town or city into having one of those months where everyone in the town reads the same book, and it's The Book In Question...) then you get a signed Graveyard Book poster and you get one of the BPAL Graveyard Book scent collections. And she'll probably throw in one of the Graveyard Book Neverwear tee shirts as well.



(Like this one.)

Possibly even give you a Kendra Stout Graveyard Mousepad.



(Like this one)

Send email, photos, cuttings from your local paper, proof that it was you and you alone who talked Oprah or Richard-and-Judy into doing The Graveyard Book on their TV book clubs, etc., to Cat Mihos, Furrytiger@Gmail.com . Do not send them to me. I will not have the swag. I will not be handing it out. I'm merely going to set this thing in motion and sign fifty posters -- twenty five on the McKean side, the other twenty five on the Riddell side.

Cat's decision is final. She'll blog the things she gets in as she goes along at the Neverwear Blog (http://kittysneverwear.blogspot.com/). And then every now and then I'll do a round up here.

How does that sound?

It is Kitty here again,
I have already started to receive some emails with big claims, so I will be evaluating them,
and in the meantime, will be doing some specials here at Neverwear.net.
Thanks go out to all of you readers, with each book you read, you earn an angel some wings...

ps it is snowing here at the Gaiman Mansion. Thank you, Quiche!

moonlit planets and new kittens

Look up to the southwestern sky around twilight....

Last evening (Thanksgiving) Jupiter and Venus began moving closer so that by Sunday/Monday, they will appear right next to eachother. On Monday night, they will be joined by the crescent moon...

The three celestial objects come together from time to time, but often they are too close to the sun. The next time the three will be as close and visible as they are this week will be in 2052. Venus and the moon will be rejoined on New Year's eve this year, though.

I am out at Neil's Addam's family mansion for a week, with hopes for a snow storm while I visit, just a little winter to take me through to the new year. In LA, an east coast girl can get bit tired of sunny & 70*. Last night at Quiche's Spooky House, we had a punk rock Thanksgiving. Vegetable soup from the big garden with oven-toasted crusty bread. Dessert was an oddly perfect tombstone cake, which Q calls "The Death Cake". I loved this Thanksgiving, even though I wasn't with my cute little parents.



I am bringing Batman home a fellow crime fighter, miss Selina Kyle:
(she looks as if she is part screech owl in this photo)



This week we have a to-do list a mile long, but it will include a drive to Chicago to see Miss Amanda Palmer play a show and to pick up Q's newest Bengal cat additions. I will also attempt to get over my age-old fear of horses, whether I was kicked to death or rode one into battle to the end, I am not sure. More in the next report from the magic midwest. FIngers crossed for snow...and now we are going for just a quantum of solace, no more, no less...a little sad about a connery-less bond, but needs must....

a Chi update

This is a video posted by the Deftones filmed here in Silver Lake at Spaceland, I thought I would put it forward.
Chi is making some progress, and can still use as much healing love possible.
His Mom has been giving out homework for his fans to do,
simple things such as forgiving someone or bringing blankets to the homeless.
I never met Chi's mom, but she is surely where his lovely energy comes from.
On the Deftones blogspot, they report that Chi moved his lip on his Dad's request,
so he is in there, will come up to the surface when the time is right for him.

Check out this video: For Chi...

my little Mom

Someone with very blue eyes is having a birthday,
and it is a milestone.
SInce we ladies stick together, I won't say how old she is turning
but let's just leave it at: my Mom is amazing.

here she is at my brother's wedding:



and here she is with my sister on the boat she won (luck o' the Irish) :



at the old Ninth Life location:



No wonder my Dad married her, *wolf whistle!





Happy birthday, Aliki!
your #3 kid

a week of shows....

Watching the build for the Madonna rig was an educational experience for me,
it grew and grew.



Spent 5 days at DOdger Stadium looking after the touring and local crews that were constructing
the stage. At one point, I saw a crowd of guys fast-walking away from the ball field,
and all i could think "there's a fight in the parking lot"...Not a fight, the stage roof had
some faulty hardware, and they were cleared from the area but the show went on.



Hodgey was there doing his stage managing duty, i love this photo of him.



He was out with Drew for the year of Timberlake, who also was there, JT making coffee in the big tent.
Spinky and Abby on the tour as well, so it was a good dose of old friends. I worked the VIP tents, and there was a glittery crowd of supermodels, actresses, etc. My favorite sighting though out of all the beautiful people, Donald Sutherland. He is a very commanding performer, same in real life. (thanks Red for the heads up)



my old boss Britney was there as well, looking good and ready for her comeback. Madonna handed her back the crown...



then on to the Who. Just hearing Pete Townsend's voice in regular conversation, it really got me. i am a huge Who fan.
i mean, a sight like this gives me a real chill:



Beck opened the Nokia Club right next door to the Nokia Theatre. I was working the Who, but then went to the show the next night with Red & Lily (thanks Rabbit!) The club is quietly beautiful, with a clever layout, you can view the band from above or level. They are really turning downtown around in that Staples LA Live area. We are watching the map unfold.








I have seen Beck several times, always a master, but this time, he was positively lit up, the crowd was responding in kind.
It felt like the start of something new.

Almost forgot Halloween in all the shuffle. Miles and Malena invited us to the Magic Castle, and we had a spooky night of it.
I dressed up as a Wish Granter (cross between a genii and a fortune teller) and gave out over three hundred wishes. Red was a sort of alien bondage fairy queen, Malena a red-eyed geisha, Sylvain...a religious leader and we had a Mr Hyde in Bob. But the Dude! Miles was not only the most outrageous Dude, he also won first prize in the costume contest. A feisty Dude, indeed.









The Magic Castle was full of little nooks and levers and bits and passageways. I only took a few photos, out of respect. You must go there. You must.





I walked over to the Marilyn Manson party at the Roosevelt, to see my friend Tori in town for AFI, and we found ourselves up on top of the hotel (this is the back view of the huge neon sign):


then went down and hung out by the pool.



It made up for my last Halloween, in which i did nothing....thanks, friends!