Graffiti bridge

A dark and gloomy place

To me, the newly restored City movie theatre seems to be a dark and gloomy place. When you pass by it, from the front, it doesn't look inviting at all. There are no posters on the wall, so to find out what they are showing, you have to actually enter the lion's den.

The Joker's little sister?

Elisabeth Taylor died last week. I came across these portraits in downtown Amsterdam somewhere. I doubt if these are genuine Warhol reproductions. Taylor looks like the Joker's little sister with that thick smile on her face. And that's not how I like to remember this diva of the silver screen. Rest in peace, Elisabeth.

Video: Turn turn turn

I shot this little video with my old mobile phone. The resolution is terrible, I know. Still, I didn't want to deprive you of this little turning balloon. Made me laugh anyway. (I am a man of simple pleasures I'm sure.)

Liselotte @ the Filmmuseum

Yesterday morning I spent a couple of hours with Liselotte at Vertigo, the café at the Filmmuseum. Okay, so they call it the Eye institute now. I don't care: I don't like the name. It's been Filmmuseum for centuries, so to me it stays that way. Damn those marketing bureaus thinking up stupid names just because they might have international appeal.

But that's not what I wanted to talk about actually. Liselotte wrote a book on television design, 'Vorm van Vermaak' its called. The book comes out mid April. She wrote it with Roy van Vilsteren, the vice-editor in chief of the VARAgids. (A TV guide). I interviewed Roy last week for an article in the VPRO Gids (another broadcasting magazine I work for as a freelancer). Liselotte also runs a blog about the subject, which you can check out here.

After my coffee date with Liselotte I wrote an article about a new television programme about comic books, that's being taped at the moment and will be broadcasted in the fall. I phoned up Gert Jan Pos who wrote the scripts for the show. He appeared to be in Budapest of all places. He was nice enough to answer some questions while standing in the middle of the street somewhere.

I've known about the show for a couple of months now, and with news like this, it's always the question when to publish. Since a couple of comic book makers reported on their blog that they had been interviewed for the show, I felt the time was now to write up a short post on the subject. But lesson learned: next time I learn something I will write about it immediately.

At night, I planned to read a collection of Iron Man comics I've been anxious to get to in ages. But cabaret artist Lebbis was on the telly. Although I hadn't planned on watching the dude, what he said about modern life struck a cord and I laughed from the whole show. Lebbis talked about the fact that we are over-consuming and angrily yelled at all the bankers that caused the economical crisis but got away with it. The bastards are even getting bonuses again like nothing happened. He also had some funny stuff to say about horoscopes and frauds like Uri Geller, on which I couldn't agree more.

Merel @ de Balie

Friday was a day well spent. In the morning I had a coffee date with the illustrious Merel Barends, comic book artist working on a large project, namely her first graphic novel. Recently she has written an interesting blogpost about the covers of the many copies of 'Lolita'. We drank coffee a plenty and I went home with a nice buzz of caffeine injected in my bloodstream.

Next I wrote a review on the biographical comic about Fokke & Sukke, which got picked up almost immediately on twitter and facebook.

After a simple but still somewhat eatable meal – I cooked it myself and I am still around the next morning to tell the tale! – I managed to edit three short video interviews with bloggers. The first one was recorded in December last year, so yeah, they've been waiting for a good video trim for a while now.

Finally I crashed on the couch to read the origin story of the Marvel comic book hero Daredevil. It's great that there are so many old comics being reprinted in trade paperbacks nowadays.

Whatever floats your boat

I like to walk home from work. It clears my head. I shot this picture heading home. I've never really been a boat-person to be honest. When I was in my teens my parents had a small boat made of polyester. They went on vacations on it. Travelling on the canals and rivers of Holland. This seems like freedom to most people. It's never really been my thing though. I'd rather spend time in a city when it comes to holidays. Today is my first day off from the VARA. I am looking forward to my little holiday. Especially since I've got a couple of projects waiting for me I finally have the time for now. I've got to get some writing done, edit some videos and have a pile of comics to review. But first, and foremost, I got to drink some coffee.

Hirsch & cie

Leidseplein, 8:45

While I am waiting for the tram to arrive I take this picture of the majestic Hirsch & Cie building. Next to the Stadsschouwburg and The Americain hotel, this building gives the square the grandeur it needs.

This will be the last time going to work for over a week: I am taking some time off from the VARA to work on some writing projects and meet up with a couple of friends. And, since spring started, I think I am going to enjoy a few walks in the sun as well.

Happy Feet

Weekend

This morning I prolonged the weekend by a couple of hours. That's the nice thing about being a freelancer, that once in a while you can chose to have a cup of coffee with your girlfriend, enjoying the early spring sun and relax for a while.


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But now it's back to business. There's an article I need to finish a.s.a.p.

Video: Vuvuzelajazz

Daily Webhead: Vuvuzelajazz from Michael Minneboo on Vimeo.
I visited Blog bal (ball of the blogs) this week. During the evening, there were a number of performances on the stage. The Vuvuzelajazz by Dause von Kippfest was certainly the weirdest one.

Harry was here

As I told you in the last post, I went to the ball of the blogs on Tuesday. In the corner of the venue, there was standing a dressed up tailor's dummy with a Harry Mulisch-mask on. The famous Dutch writer who died of cancer last year. It was kind of spooky to have the author present.

Ball of the books

Tuesday it was time for the ball of the books (Boekenbal) at the Stadsschouwburg. I wasn't invited, since I am not a famous Dutch writer. I went to the Blogbal (ball of the blogs) instead.

SDDV

Utrecht, Same Day, Different View.

Neude

Utrecht is one of my favourite cities. Last week I went there to have dinner with my friend Hester. While waiting for her I took these shots of the Neude, a square in the center of town. You can hardly see it on the first picture, since they were constructing something for a festival or rather. Too bad though, it looks rather ugly this way. I wonder what they were organising on the Neude.

By the way, check out Hester's blog.

Crocodile

When I walked out of the building of the VARA I passed by this crocodile. Don't know who left her there, but she seemed to have a good time on the couch all by herself.

Two heads on a wall

Two heads on the wall. One is Gaddafi and the other one is unknown to me, but next to Gaddafi I think it's a face of innocence.

Muiderpoort

Almost home and ready for my half hour walk.

Keep on joggin'!

Raadhuisstraat

Walking home from work...

Dutch landscape in the year 2011

I took this shot from the train, somewhere between Naarden-Bussum and Weesp, heading home. The train windows are a bit dirty – but that's nothing new. Luckily some asshole didn't spray any graffiti on them so there is still a view to be seen. To me this is a typical Dutch landscape.