THOR

Every once in a while I dust off the old comics skills and have a chance to work on something for myself. This time it's a Thor piece. Fun stuff. I need to do more. I will in the next few weeks.
Hope ya' like it!

I've also updated my portfolio site with a bunch of new work: production illustration, storyboards etc. Go over and check it out when you have time.

http://www.filmshotsstudio.com/Portfolio/main.php.

Craig

HOME!

We'll I'm back in NC! Man it's nice to be home. Of course I'm sure I'll be going somewhere else on projects but hopefully not for a little bit so I can just enjoy the fall and winter here. But work is work and we will see what happens.

That's is all......

Craig

October update

Hi all,

Well a lot has been going on lately personally and professionally. I think the biggest news for the moment is that I'm finally heading back home (for now) after almost 8 months of being on the west coast. We've been out here where I've been working on projects in San Diego and Los Angeles and my wife and I taking care of her father in Arizona while going through kemotherapy treatments. He's now doing much better and we have the all clear to leave. Boy, is it going to be nice sleeping in my own bed and not living like gypsies!! You really learn to appreciate the small things in life!

I've been very busy lately with various storyboarding and concept illustration projects for tv commercials and am getting set to start a new video game project in the coming weeks doing some storyboarding. I'm really excited about this upcoming project and working with old friends again!

Just worked with my buddies over at the "One Tree Hill" tv show on some illustration work. I did some boards, concept and prop illustration this round.. A great show and a great crew. Now in it's 6th season I think?? Pretty amazing.

My last movie "The secret life of bees" was released a few weeks ago. Make sure to check it out in your local theater! It's a great movie.

We (the collective entertainment industry) are *still* watching the SAG/AMPTP contract negotiations very closely. This is just my little rant on it but c'mon people, please settle this. It's hurting everyone and the ability to provide for our families in movie and tv industry. SAG, I know fair is fair and you have to negotiate the best contract possible. However, eveyone else (AFTRA, Writers, etc) that has recently negotiated a fair contract with AMPTP is now working and moving on and has put it all behind them. You have been offered the same contract, please let's just all just get along and work. We have to make a living and compensation for our talents is warranted, however, shouldn't we be happy making a better than average living doing what we love to do?

Well, that wraps it up for this episode. I'll write more later on east coast time! Woo hoo! HAPPY HALLOWEEN everybody!! Watch out for the little ghouls and goblins in your neighborhood tonight. Have fun and be safe.

Craigula

"The Secret life of bees" trailer and movie poster

Hi all!

I just found out that the trailer to my next movie "The Secret life of bees" is up over at http://www.firstshowing.net/. Click on the link to go to the site and view the trailer - http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/08/19/worth-watching-aug-19-the-secret-life-of-bees-trailer/. It looks great! Make sure to check it out when it opens in theaters. It's a great story and I really enjoyed working on it!

More later!

Craig

New portfolio site!

Hi!

Well, it was a long time in the making and something that had to be done. I finally got around to producing a site that not only is clean and simple in it's format, but is also meant to be the 1 CLEAR AND ALL INCLUSIVE site to see my work! I even decided to show some animation this time (even though I'm not looking for any animation work so please don't call me for that). I tried different sites and multiple sites, and all sites in between and it was just clogging up my email signature and confusing people as to where to go to get updates on my work. I'm still trying to clean up a lot of things and there are a ton of things I WANT to show that I CAN'T show as yet. Please keep checking back on the site for new work. So without further craziness I give you....

http://www.filmshotsstudio.com/Portfolio/main.php

Enjoy!
Craig Gilmore
(From LA)

San Diego Comic Con afterwords

Well, once again the San Diego Comic Con again proves it's the big daddy of the shows. Whew I am beat after the 4 day (and 1 preview night) jaunt. This was my wife's first show ever and I think her brain was blown from the sheer amount of craziness and stimulus in the air. At first she was wierded out but then I couldn't get her to leave! I'm glad she got to experience it all and I think I have the 'all clear' sign to go again. I wasn't in artists' alley this year (will be next year) but did a lot of walking around networking and meeting friends and fans. I made a lot of great new connections and have a lot of interest in my work in the Marvel Comics/DC Comics/Wildstorm camp going back into comics after what...12-13 years now since I did "Morbius, the living vampire" for Marvel. Seems like not a day has passed but it indeed has (grey hairs prove), and comics seems to be getting it's act togeather again like a place I would finally like to be creating again. I'm adding a few pics here of some initial new pages I worked up for the show. As I'm more of a horror artist it was kind of a cool change to do some superhero work to pass around. I'm going to be doing some "Swamp Thing" samples next per request from the editors. So I planted the seeds of interest at the show and now it's a waiting game to see what comes to fruition with clients and work. I'm very excited. I also traded cards with hollywood production designers Richard Hudolin (Battlestar Galactica) Alex McDowell (Watchmen, Corpse Bride), J. Michael Riva (Iron Man, Spiderman 3), Barry Robinson (Wolverine), and John Muto (Terminator 2 3d, Species) and hope to be working with them in the future on some movies coming to a theater near you. Call me guys. Hopefully the SAG/AMPTP crap will all get settled soon and we can all get back to makin' movies. Curiously enough I ran into the agent for IATSE 790 and hopefully I can finally get my union card for their local (LA/Hollywood) and can get on some major project and finally acheive what I am out here on the west coast to do! I met up with some old comic buddies like Jeff Parker, Chuck Wojtkiewicz (from the old Artamus studios days) and Steve Leiber. Jeff and Steve are now in a huge studio in Oregon. I ran into Andrew Robinson and he showed me some of the killer work he's doing over at DC and on his own "Dusty Star". You have to check it out. It's fantastic art as ususal from Andrew. I ran into my old studio mate Scott Hampton and some of my other North Carolina comic buds John Van Fleet and Tommy Lee Edwards. It was good to see those guys and reminded me that NC is still there and how much I miss being in NC. Make sure to pick up Tommy Lee's "1985" series over at your local comics shop. It's awesome. I ran into a crazy little character named "Tofu, the vegan zombie" and his creator(s). My wife and I loved loved him and I may be working on some stuff with the creators in the future. We bought a couple of action figures at the show. I caught up with Jay Beard and Erik Medina from BottleRocket Studios after many years and hope to work with them on some of the exciting video game stuff they are doing. I worked with those guys on "The Mark of Kri" at SCEA and always like working with them. Also on the video game front I met with Microsoft and have a lot of interest from them to do some work coming up. I have some more interest from other agents to handle my illustration. I'm weighing options. An interesting note on San Diego Comic Con that I read in a local San Diego buisness paper. There is mention of moving the con to Las Vegas in 4 years when their contract expires to a larger facility. I hope not and I know the revenue lost in San Diego would be a big blow to the city. Let's keep our fingers crossed that it stays as is. Vegas for the most part sucks. My mind is reeling from the show and I am trying to prioritize all the things I need to do this week so I will write more another time. All in all, it was a great time at the show and as usual Comic Con was bigger and better than ever! We hope to be back in North Carolina in September. We will see how things go. That's it for now! Stay tuned for more. Same bat time, same bat channel.

Craig

June update

Hi all!

Well it's always interesting isnt it? I have been super busy and havent had a chance to breathe lately. I'm still living and working in the San Diego/LA area for the forseeable future. Really missing my old North Carolina though fer sure (except the heat and humidity of the summers).

Firstly I am really excited that "The Strangers" movie finally came out....and it came togeather fantastically! I boarded and did some concept work for that so I am stoked. I'm posting some boards from the film just for fun. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did working on them. They were a combination of traditional drawing, digital drawing, and Google Sketch Up for sets. We worked so fast that I just ended up drawing over Sketch Up screenshots of the sets a lot of times to save production time. It was an interesting way to work. One of the pics is a board to movie still comparison. They used a lot of my work really faithfully and I was happy to see that.

I have been working with some great directors lately on pitch boards and concept illustration for some movies in the works. I'm having a blast on those and am looking forward to working on them further as the real movies go into production. Right now most major production is slow in Hollwood because of the pending SAG strike so hopefully that will get resolved soon and everyone can finally get back to work!

I'm currently working on a super high profile commercial project that I can't talk about yet but can't wait to let loose. Keep watching the blog for more information on this project.

They say 'you can always go back home' right? Well look like I'll be doing that if all goes as I (and some friends) would like. Not literally going home but work wise. I may be going back into comics doing some high profile comic book illustration again in the future over at one of the major publishers. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this and will definitely pass info along as things unfold. They are excited, I am excited and that togeather makes for a fun time for all! Needless to say I am stoked and it seems like a good way to keep working if a SAG strike happens.

Well that's it for now! I'll post more later!

From Hollywood,
Craigula

May update and "Indiana Jones" sketch

Hi everyone!

Well it's been interesting out here in Hollywood. With the potential pending SAG strike looming, a lot of work is shut down until the dust clears. So, I've been keeping busy with ad work and other odd assignments. I may be going back to the east coast and work there until things get back to normal but nothing is for sure. Just weighing my options.

One a lighter note, I am posting a new piece of art. It's rare these days that I get to do anything for myself or for the fun of it. Today I saw the commercial for the new Indiana Jones movie and got motivated. So here's a sketch of "Indy" just for fun. Hope you enjoy it! I hope to do more 'for fun' and I'll post it as I do it.

Here's a link to my portfolio on my agents' site which is now live. Check it out when you can. http://www.famousframes.com/website/portfolio.php?user_id=178

More to follow later....

Craig

New stuff.......still from LA

Hi everybody!

Just thought I'd pop on and let ya know the new what' up'.

1- I'm working wrapping up storyboards this week for a video game project for THQ in San Diego which has been a lot of fun over the last few weeks. I'll tell ya more about it at a later point because of non-disclosures but I have to say it's really cool and should be a fun game. Plus I'm gettign to work with some old buddies and that's always fun.

2- I just finished some concept sketches for my buddies at Design Reactor and I always look forward to working with them. Thanks guys!

3- Next up, it's back up the 5 from San Diego to LA to do a new live action feature film. I should be on that for the 5 weeks or so.

Things are going well and keep our fingers crossed that the SAG negotiations go well coming up, and let's hope thay don't strike like the writer's did. Let all keep working shall we??

Lastly I'm adding another illustration and I hope you like it. It's from a Volvo trucks ad campaign.

Signing off for now but I'll write more later!

Craig

Writing from LA

Hi all!

I'm writing this from LA and things are going very well. I have a number of major projects that I'm involved in and all is going well.

I just finished this piece for a client and thought I'd share it with viewers. It's a "Hellboy" sketch and was finished today. Hope you like!

Ill be updating with news as it transpires! Hello from southern Cali!

Craig Gilmore

Headin' (back) to Hollywood for a little bit!

Hi all! An update on my latest projects and news:

I'm going out to Hollywood for a few months to attach myself to some motion picture projects now that the writer's strike is over. I've been planning a trip for a while now and the time is right. I love going to visit California and it should be a fun time both work related and non work related. I'm looking forward to riding some ATV and dirt bikes in the desert! I'll be back in North Carolina soon if all goes as planned and am keeping it as my home base.

1- I just finished "The Secret Life of bees" for Fox Searchlight Pictures. I'll post art from it as I get clearances.
2- I just finished some concept illustration for my friends at Design Reactor. They are great guys and I had fun on that project. I look forward to doing more with them in the future!
3- I'm starting a new indy horror film in March called "Depravity" with my good friends at Waterline Entertainment and Dripping Dead Films. Can't wait to get started!

I'm posting a new piece of artwork. This one a concept illustration of "Poison Ivy" from Batman and Robin. Hope you enjoy!

I'll post more later from the road!

See ya!
Craig

First update of 2008!

Hi everyone,

Hope you are all well and thanks for continuing to check into my blog even though I don't post as often as I should!

I'll dive right in.....

I just completed storyboards and concept illustration for "The Secret Life of Bees" For FOX Searchlight Pictures. I had a blast and worked with lot of old friends and made some new ones. Special thanks go to Warren who through all the chaos of film production kept it real and fun. I hope to be working with you again soon. If projects keep happening in Wilmington then I may be relocating there to avoid the dreaded twice a week 2 1/2 hour commute from here. It gets old....

Up next is another horror motion picture called "Depravity". I'll be producing storyboards and concept on that one as well for 5 or so weeks from my studio this time and not on location unless needed.

I'm staying busy in the between time with sleeping, odd advertising jobs as well as working on project around the house that get neglected when I'm on a project. I've recently reorganized my office which was badly needing a makeover so I'm jazzed about that. I hate working in clutter and disorganization.

I'll be posting new art soon so the meantime keep checking in!

Later, and Happy New Year!

Craig