It’s no mystery to the people that know me, but I sometimes speak in a manner that isn’t necessarily common. In essence, I have a tendency to switch up my vocabulary so I use uncommon words, all in the name of keeping myself entertained. So, for example, I’m the type that would say “I’m gonna go consume some pizza, I’ll talk to you later.” Naturally, the word “consume” is rarely used in these types of phrases, but I enjoy going there. “Eat” is far more boring in my mind, as it’s been said a billion times before in such a context. Now, normally, this is all fine and good – people understand my phrases anyway, and sometimes, they get a kick out of it too. But not always, it seems.
While working towards the full completion of my Dragon Con 2013 video editing, I found myself watching one particular interview that featured a GameBoy-type character, a game console known as BMO (from the Adventure Time TV show). See, while doing this interview, a little girl of about 5 or 6 entered the frame with her mother in tow, randomly, and wanted to take a photo of my guest, the colorful BMO. Now, from experience, me and my friend knew to keep the camera rolling to see how it played out. Being a genuinely friendly creature, when this little girl started walking up to my guest, I encouraged her by saying “feel free to approach.” In the moment, it was a 100% Matt Refghi utterance with the utmost respect and friendliness applied. However, when re-watching it during the editing phase, I realized that no child of her age would ever understand that phrase.
In effect, I had recorded irrefutable evidence of my cluelessness when it came to communicating with children – and I found that immensely amusing.
Of course, communication isn’t all about the words, so I understood fully that my tone and general body language were very supportive of the little girl, and she probably understood the overall sentiment. But I really enjoyed the unintentional humor of my wording, and decided that I was destined to make fun of myself for it – because yeah, I really did word that in an awkward way. So, all that said, I am pleased to announce my upcoming book:
Many thanks to my friend Daniel for whipping together a quick book cover example in Photoshop, and sending it over. I took that, messed around for an hour or so, and got the above result. Will I actually create a book, or is this just a joke? That remains to be seen, people of the Internet, but either way, I have the credentials to back it up. No one can question my skill at using Wikipedia.
Matt Refghi: Hi everyone, Im here with what appears to be a Gameboy. Its not a Gameboy, I know, but it looks like a Gameboy, so I wanna know yeah, exactly BMO, exactly, I dont know the reference but I would like to know. So what is this?
Danny: BMOs a character from Adventure Time its one of the more obscure, little-known characters, but it has a strong fanbase, though.
Matt: Its from what, sorry?
Danny: Its from Adventure Time.
Matt: Oh, from Adventure Time! Okay, yeah, youre right, it kind of fits the animation style.
Danny: Yeah.
Matt: I should have just guessed that, yeah. Im tempted to kinda hit start here, but theres no start button. Is it, it s supposed to look like a Gameboy, I guess.
Danny: Basically, yeah, its a game console.
Matt: Okay, thats cool. But this is also a character, a character that speaks I would guess.
Danny: Yes.
Matt: Does it have a robotic-type voice, computer voice?
Danny: More of an effeminate voice it has no real gender, but since I was born a male, its kind of negative for me, but I try to make do as best I can.
Matt: Okay, yeah. Is he always happy? Or is it always happy?
Danny: Always happy, but there are episodes where you question BMOs sanity for a game console. Theres some things where youre like oh, somethings mentally wrong but that adds to the charm, though.
Matt: Okay, but is he still smiling during that? Or does the face change?
Danny: The face changes, though, yeah. It always shows different things they play games on the screen.
Matt: Thats cool alright, so youre a gaming fan.
Danny: Hecks, yeah.
Matt: Yeah? Alright, so what lead you here? To Dragon Con? Is it
Danny: My friend asked me hey, want to go out of state to a con? I said sure, why not, lets do that.
Matt: First time?
Danny: First time.
Matt: Yeah, nice. Alright and is it, like, your interest, is it more in the gaming side of things? Maybe, like, sci-fi? TV, movies, or anything like that?
Danny: Id say pop culture.
Matt: Pop culture in general, yeah. You enjoy seeing references and kind of like knowing what they are?
Danny: I enjoy people making demolition man references, so yeah, very much so.
Matt: Thats cool. So whats your favorite costume you saw this year?
Danny: Let me think I know someone made Diablo out of milk jugs, stuff like that.
Matt: Somewhat made what, sorry?
Danny: Someone made Diablo armor, I think of a Barbarian, out of milk jugs.
Matt: Wow, nice, nice.
Danny: Stuff like that was pretty sweet.
Matt: Nice, I didnt see that one. Another question, Gameboy-related, or button-related, I noticed you have a light here anybody trying to push your buttons throughout the day?
Danny: I have a different version inside my room, too, which is BMO Noir, an updated version of this one.
Matt: Alright.
Danny: I have had some kids cop a bit too much of a feel, it gets a bit awkward, because you cant say hey, kids, please stop this. Its really weird.
Matt: So youre saying you have an updated version of this?
Danny: Yeah, this is like the inferior one, but yeah. Another too because Im going to be here for four days, figured Id make more than one costume.
Matt: Cool. Did you use the updated one yesterday?
Danny: Yes.
Matt: Okay, cool. Why are you with this one right now? Just for nostalgias sake?
Danny: This one right now just because I can switch it up a bit.
Matt: Switch it up a bit, yeah, I get it, keep it original. And this one you cant press the buttons, right? Does the other one have tactile feedback?
Danny: Actually, do it, you can press the buttons on these ones, though. Only the red one doesnt work.
Matt: Nice.
Danny: The other ones are spring loaded, though.
Matt: Thats pretty cool! Okay, Ill be careful with this one. Alright, so, Im a fan of gaming, I approve of this, very cool, and its good to learn that its from Adventure Time. Now I know its one of these costumes again. And you are from where?
Danny: Denver.
Matt: Denver. Denver, Colorado, alright. You a fan of South Park by any chance?
Danny: Of course.
Matt: Alright, South Parks great. So anyway, pleasure speaking to you. Have a great time! And your name, by the way?
Danny: Danny.
Matt: Alright, Danny it seems you have an admirer over here. Feel free to approach.
Woman: She wants to take a picture.
Matt: Thats okay take a picture. Go ahead.
Matt: Alright, so what do you do for a living?
Danny: Im actually still a student Im in graphic design right now, but still studying.
Matt: Much respect for graphic design its something I think a lot of people think is simple its not simple.
Danny: Grids, ?, its just ridiculous. Oh, its just drawing pictures nope.
Matt: Yeah! So, Im from Computer Science myself.
Danny: Oh, nice.
Matt: Im a programmer and all that, and I do a bunch of stuff like that, so graphic design I leave it to the experts. I think I can do it, but you guys can do it faster. So, anyway, best of luck and enjoy the con.
Danny: Thank you.
Matt: And thanks for interviewing with me I will just shake your hand by pressing a few buttons.
Hi, all! This week’s updates have mainly been about improving my website as a platform, rather than introducing new content. The original plan was to finalize at least one of the two remaining Dragon Con interviews, but my schedule ended up busier than I anticipated. This is partially because, as I hinted previously, I’m working towards something big on the side, and am still figuring out how transparent I want to be throughout the process. Also, the interview in question requires more editing than most, and thus, I will need more time to get it right. So, the updates:
Added a new visual style to the top-level interview pages, one which lists all individual interviews in a visual fashion, rather than with a simple bullet list. This new style was applied to all pages, including: Dragon Con 2012, Dragon Con 2013, and Hal-Con 2013.
Changed all individual interview pages so that credits are listed using a new graphical style.
Corrected cases where certain interviews weren’t showing up in the menus.
Added a few videos that were previously only viewable through YouTube.
Transcribed one Dragon Con 2013 interview: Devon D’amo
In an effort to be more transparent in my work, I thought it’d be a good idea to start posting weekly updates. Over time, these updates will be mixed in with regular, creative posts, but for now, I’m thinking extra information is better than total silence. So, without further delay, here’s what’s new:
Modified font styles throughout the website to improve readability. Further improvements coming soon.
Added descriptions to many of the Dragon Con 2013 interview pages. More coming soon.
There you have it. My focus for next week will involve publishing the final two Dragon Con videos that are in my queue. I also have two “Making Of”s that I’d like to create, but I’m not sure whether I’ll do them now, or later – I rather not keep my Hal-Con guests waiting.
So I ran into a McDonalds crew at the Con, and my will as a vegetarian was put to the test. I successfully resisted their efforts to bring me over to their side, in the end, but the experience raised a question in my mind: how could someone POSSIBLY say no to a meal that is HAPPY? HOW. Its HAPPY. Madness. Jokes aside, these guests were a pleasure to interact with.
This was an interesting interview to do, especially considering the nature of Devons line of work: wrestling (she owns her own company and even wrestles herself). Believe it or not, its not often that I encounter wrestlers in every day life. Dont get me wrong Im not implying that Dragon Con is anything like everyday life, it isnt its operating on a whole other level of awesome. But anyway, in addition to being a particularly unique guest, Devon was also cool enough to participate in another one of my videos, Jay and Silent Bobs Rap.
Transcript
Matt Refghi: Im here at Dragon Con and I just encountered someone whos dressed as both a mix of Bane as the mask, as a well a Punisher shirt, so I want to know, whats the story here? I see a lot of blood has a war gone on? Whats going on?
Devon Damo: Yes. I am Bane junior, and I have beaten the Punisher.
Matt: You have beaten the Punisher!
Devon: I have beaten the Punisher.
Matt: Alright, well thats like the first course of
Devon: So, thats the story, Im the first female Bane, Ive not seen one of them here yet. So Im the official first one at Dragon Con.
Matt: Nice, thats good good achievement. Have you seen a female Punisher? Maybe youre a combo.
Devon: No.
Matt: No? Well, there you go, youre the first female Punisher and Bane.
Devon: Yes.
Matt: And what Im wondering is if the first course of the meal is to terminate Punisher, which youve done.
Devon: Yes. So Im at the second course!
Matt: Whos next? Who will it be? Will it be the elusive Batman?
Devon: Batman, of course.
Matt: Batmans next? I see a few around you might end up with quite a few bat-heads in your bank.
Devon: Yeah.
Matt: Alright, so thats cool. Your name, by the way?
Devon: Devon.
Matt: Devon?
Devon: Devon.
Matt: Alright, cool, cool. So, this is Dragon Con, Ive been here four times personally. Have you been here before?
Devon: Five.
Matt: Five! Great. Yeah, so earlier you were talking to me about having a wrestling company, or working within wrestling.
Devon: Yes.
Matt: And wrestlings something, always something that fascinated me. I used to watch it as a kid, there was a lot of drama there, a lot of interesting storylines to follow. I always questioned: is it real, or is it not real, and does it matter? Because its entertainment.
Devon: It is both.
Matt: It is both.
Devon: Its according to what you like. We do both.
Matt: You do both?
Devon: I started out with this site, it was more like WWE, and I do more real stuff with my site, and we started out in Atlanta, so yeah, we do more real but we do a little bit of both.
Matt: Okay, cool would you like to mention your website?
Devon: Yeah, its fwagrappling.com. Female wrestlers of Atlanta.
Matt: Is it just female wrestlers?
Devon: Uh, no. We do mix, but we just smash the guys, so, you know
Matt: Okay, well thats always fun. I mean, theres a lot of, you can maybe take some anger out.
Devon: Yes, take some anger out.
Matt: Thats probably part of the appeal.
Devon: I have a ring in my living room, so .
Matt: The rings in your living room?
Devon: I have a wrestling ring in my living room.
Matt: So you take a break when youre watching TV and just go fight someone?
Devon: Yea, when Im watching TV, Im like boom, lets go to the living room.
Matt: I think youve got a potential product here.
Devon: Right?
Matt: Buy a ring stick it in your living room. Thats great.
Devon: Little Banes pissed off, and ?
Matt: Thats right. You have a problem with your maybe, you know, your significant other, go to the right. Perfect.
Devon: Right.
Matt: Thats great. Do you, yourself, wrestle, or is it a company.
Devon: I do. I wrestle and I produce.
Matt: Do you have like whats your wrestling name, because theyre often very strong.
Devon: Devon. Devon Damo is my wrestling name.
Matt: Oh, so thats the actual okay, cool, thats great. And I guess theres footage from you perhaps available on the website?
Devon: Oh, yeah.
Matt: Alright, kicking the crap out of people, great. So Dragon Con, what attracts you to Dragon Con?
Devon: You know what? Its like Toys R Us, a kid can be a kid.
Matt: Thats right.
Devon: You get to dress up as your favorite character, and just have fun with it.
Matt: Thats cool.
Devon: Its like a moment out of reality.
Matt: Yeah, personally, I agree, and theres so many references you can really appreciate the effort people put into it.
Devon: Very, very much.
Matt: And you come from where, exactly? Where do you live?
Devon: Im actually from Atlanta.
Matt: Oh, yea, you mentioned, because its the Atlanta league for women, right? The wrestling league.
Devon: Yep.
Matt: Yea, we fly down from Canada.
Devon: But a lot of people I talk to today are from all over the world.
Matt: Yea.
Devon: Its amazing how Dragon Con was very small five, six years ago, and now its huge.
Matt: Right. The cameraman, actually, hes a friend of mine, he came to Atlanta two years ago this is his second visit. The first one is infectious, he himself admitted this.
Devon: (laughs)
Matt: You get there and youre like: oh, theres something here.
Devon: Right.
Matt: We fly down from Canada, so
Devon: Canada, eh?
Matt: we cant help it. Weve got the bug. Ive got four consecutive attended years gotta keep it up. Anyway, its a pleasure talking to you. I hope you get the Batman.
Devon: Pleasure talking to you too.
Matt: I hope you do, because thats a goal.
Devon: Im working on it, tonight, tonight. It will happen.
Matt: Especially given the combo status you have here. Female Punisher, female Bane you gotta get the Batman. So thank you very much for talking to me.
Hi all! I’ve been less active, as of late, and I wanted to give you all some insight into what’s been going on. The main piece of news is that I attended three conventions this year, and I hosted interviews at two: Dragon Con 2013, and Hal-Con 2013. At the moment, I’m still working hard on getting all those interviews edited and published. If you interviewed with me, and you have yet to see your footage, rest assured that I have not forgotten – I’m just heavily backlogged. One reason behind these delays is that I’m working on something big on the side, and that project relates to everything that I do in a really exciting way. Another reason is work, but that’s a constant factor in everyone’s life – the main cause for my delay is primarily the big project I have yet to reveal, in combination with typical life challenges that everyone faces.
Now, there’s more to this than just the delay itself, and the reasons behind it. I realized that I wasn’t being very transparent when it came to the interviews and my progress towards publishing them. I told people to check out my Twitter for news, but, by nature, Twitter can be a really noisy place – it’s not always easy to see what people are up to. So, to address this, and to better align myself with the end goal of the big, exciting project stated above, I decided to re-design my website. Previously, I had two sites: my personal website, and my blog. My personal website was a more professionally-aligned site, one that showcased my portfolio, freelance offerings, resume, all that stuff. It had its own visual style to it, separate from my blog. Now, they’re combined into one site, with one style, and over time, the features from both my personal website and the blog will be fully offered in one place. This will allow me to better focus on improving the quality of a single offering, rather than splitting my efforts between multiple.
So, now that you know what’s up, here’s specifically where I’m at with the interviews:
8-12 interviews have yet to be edited. (I have yet to fully review these videos, so I can’t judge how many there will be in the end.)
You can look forward to having more posts from me in the future (I plan on posting news entries more often, like this one, rather than leaving you all to plunge into the complicated depths of my Twitter feed). Beyond that, the big project that I spoke of will soon start showing more of its influence.
