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This is truly a museum for the casual and creative Austinite. With two locations and loads of interesting exhibits and programs, AMOA is a great cultural destination for students, adults, and even parents and caregivers of young children.

The downtown location is a sleek and modern space, while the Laguna Gloria campus, AMOA’s original home, is housed within a 1916 Italiante villa. The primary home of the AMOA Art School, Laguna Gloria is located on property once owned by Stephen F. Austin, and was the residence of the legendary Clara Driscoll. Overlooking Lake Austin, and with 12 acres of beautiful grounds and gardens, Laguna Gloria is worth a visit purely on historical merit. Both locations have permanent and changing exhibits, and both have space available for private functions.

One of the hallmarks of both AMOA locations is the informal structure and feel. No stuffy, hallowed grounds here instead you find welcoming, easy to navigate floor plans full of surprising and interesting exhibits. You can tour at your own speed, reading the descriptions that are mounted next to each exhibit, or you can book a gallery tour, which are available with different age groups in mind. The compact size of the exhibit space adds to the experience the visitor can spend time with each exhibit, getting more from the experience than one where you rush through to make sure you see it all. The exhibits are right out there something to keep in mind when you bring kids there are no barriers between fast little critters and the actual exhibit.

Still, the AMOA makes a point to be accessible and interesting to children as well. In addition to offering a number of free events for families, the museum has a permanent FamilyLab. The FamilyLab is a fantastic experience for kids of all ages. It is a hands-on, interactive place to make art with creative and colorful items supplied by the museum. They also have children’s books on hand, along with bean bag chairs, in case your little one just needs a cuddle. The mirror tunnel is endlessly fascinating, and all activities in the FamilyLab are offered at no additional cost to museum admission. The second Saturday of every month AMOA offers a reduced admission for families, with art instructors leading families in creating art projects to take home.

AMOA offers art classes for children and adults, with a limited number of scholarships available. Class themes include ArtPlay, ArtABCs, Life Drawing, Watercolor, Children’s Book Illustration, and many, many more. They have for the Art School. They offer periodical education programs for teachers, docents, adults, children, and groups. They offer a myriad of interesting events, sometimes pairing visual arts with music, both for their valued members and for the public. Events include their annual fundraisers, the Art Ball in June, and their fantastically popular international food and wine tasting event, La Dolce Vita. Their museum store offers cups, shirts and other items with their distinctive logo, as well as art-inspired gifts.

Ki works as a realtor in the Austin real estate market. He keeps visitors updated on current mortgage rates along with providing a graphical Austin MLS search.

The darkening financial climate is pretty much unavoidable at the minute. If you’re not queuing up at the supermarket spending 15% more for half a dozen eggs than you would have done five minutes ago, then 150 journalists and financial advisors are lined up round the block to tell you about it.

Fuel costs are rocketing to record new heights and the price of a barrel of crude oil, if you really wanted to buy one, is nearing the astronomical sum of $200.

That, of course, is not nearly the half of it. The slump in house prices and the rise of inflation mean that families with standard mortgages do not have anywhere near the amount of disposable income than they did two years ago. Match this to tightening credit crunch and the future looks depressingly frugal.

With times being so distinctly tight at the minute, surely families are less likely to indulge in expensive little trips to the West End. Or are they? The Sun, amongst others, are calling 2008 the best year for British tourism in years. With this dodgy financial situation looming, growing worries about carbon emissions and a heroically strong euro, many holidaymakers are choosing their vacations a little closer to home. City breaks and long weekends are on the up which means that, despite what you may think about luxuries like West End theatre trips, they may be a lot more economically sound than taking far flung foreign holidays. A night out at the theatre in London as part of a city break may be just the tonic for the bubbling inflation costs.

This, of course, is if the West End continues to offer the same package as they do now. Great glittering epics like the Lord of the Rings or Gone With the Wind use state of the art stagecraft to recreate their vast dramatic landscapes. Expensive hydraulic systems twist, turn and contort the sets to change from one scene to next. Meanwhile, Hollywood A-listers currently grace the cast lists of anything from Mamet to Chekhov and hoist inflated gate prices as they go. In short, some of the more indulgent shows in the West End can afford to ’shed a few pounds’ so to speak.
The morbid financial climate will mean that families have to cut back on certain extravagant expenses, naturally, but it might be fairer to say that adjusting how we use our money will help us out a lot more. With more people choosing to side step foreign holidays in favour of shorter, city breaks then our love affair with institutions like the West End may not be a one night thing after all, but instead be with us well into the long term.

Samantha is a London theatre fanatic and regular West End theatregoer. She writes and researches some of the biggest London shows you can view examples of her work here London Shows, Dirty Dancing and Joseph.

There are so many different genres of dance that one can feel overwhelmed when he or she thinks of learning to dance. However it is not as complicated as it seems.

Firstly, to excel at a certain style it may take years of practice, to be able to cope with several types of dancing is not quite as hard. For many people who enjoy a range of activities, it is much more beneficial to learn a little about each style and not a lot about just one. This is because the usual person in today’s world will be exposed and often “pressured” into dancing at a variety of events. Therefore someone may encounter hip-hop, ballroom, and break dancing styles all in a very short period of time.

The purpose of this article is to give an overview of the main types of dance and some of the moves needed for each.

Hip-hop is a great dance style to be familiar with as it can be used whenever there is a faster beat. Also, don’t think that hip-hop is just for those with baggy pants and lots of neck chains, anyone can benefit from acquiring this skill.

The most basic element of this genre is time-steps, a name also used for ballet moves. These require that you step in certain directions in time with the beat that is playing. “Step-tap” is one of these moves where you step to one side and then follow with your other foot and tapping it as it lands, continue this left and right.

A variation of this is “tap-step” where you tap with your first foot. You can experiment with many variations of these time-steps and maybe even create some of your own.

Another basic movement which looks great with a fast beat is isolations, where you separate movement in the upper body from the lower body. This can mean moving your shoulders back and forward while the rest of your body is still or swiveling your ankles creating movement while the rest of your body is still. These moves are the basics of hip-hop dance and should help in any club or dance party.

Ballroom dances can be some of the most difficult to perform perfectly due to the high levels of coordination required. However with some very handy tips, you should be able to impress, even if it’s only at your next wedding.

Firstly, always move in a counterclockwise direction and the closer you are to the middle of the dance floor, the slower you should go. This is a helpful tip to remember as it gives direction and purpose which will affect the rest of your dancing. Another easy tip is that if you are a woman, you should start with your right foot as opposed to a man, who should lead with his left.

If you want to impress your dancing partner, try this one technique. Just before you launch off, lean into the direction you will go and lean according to how far you will step. This tells your partner you are ready to go and does not jerk them roughly. These tips will hopefully save you from embarrassment on the slower dance floors where everything is under scrutiny.

Although break dancing may sound like something you would never want to do let alone try doing, break dancing for beginners can give you a few simple moves that will help keep you in time with the beat while helping you relax and enjoy your time spent dancing.

These moves are for the club or disco although you are free to show them off at the next ball or wedding you attend. The first move is the hand glide and just requires you to put one hand on the floor and tuck the other into your chest, then use your free hand to push yourself around until you are spinning on your hand. You can go as fast as you can manage. A head spin is a great looking move which isn’t as hard as it seems, place your head and hands on the floor and spin around. Much practice may be needed!

Not only are these moves fun, but they are great at building muscle strength.

So don’t worry if you can’t master all of these techniques, as long as you got some handy tips then you are already much better off. You are probably now a much better dancer than the average person. If you were very intrigued by one or more of these styles then maybe you should take up a course in your local town or city in order to really improve your skills. You may not have seen yourself as a dancer but it is something that with a little practice, anyone can impress with.

Ant Onaf is a content producer in association with LearnClubDance.com (http://www.learnclubdance.com), an online retailer which sell videos to those who want to learn how to dance.

The musical Young Frankenstein open on Broadway in November of 2007, and it was a hit right from the beginning. The musical is an adaptation of the 1974 film by Mel Brooks, starring Gene Wilder.

Based on Mary Shelley’s horror novel published in 1818, the Gothic story was first made into a science fiction film in 1910. It has since been made into motion pictures, comics, theatrical performances and even a mini series. There have been sequels of the movie, including Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, a story about the original Dr. Frankenstein’s grandson.

Young Frankenstein is a tongue and cheek look at the original Dr. Frankenstein’s grandson attempt at the “family business” after he discovers he’s inherited the original Frankenstein castle in Transylvania.

After arriving at the castle, Dr. Frankenstein’s grandson begins crazy experiments, among them transplanting a live brain in a cadaver. The experiment works, but the brain in defective. The story then follows the newly created monster as he rampages throughout the village, but also find himself in many crazy situations.

The majority of the plot of this musical is largely adapted from Mel Brooks’ 1974 film with the same name. There are just a few minor variations. The movie depicts the young Dr. Frankenstein as a lecturer at a medical school. In the musical, he is a brain surgeon. Although these are different careers, they do offer him equal qualifications to fulfill the task laid before him.

There is a brief scene in the movie version where the monster encounters a young girl. But you won’t find this scene in the play. However, the creature still meets the blind hermit. These scenes were similar to scenes in the original Frankenstein movie.

In the movie, Elizabeth and the monster get married as do Frederick Frankenstein and Inga. In the musical version, although these four do pair up as already mentioned, the play ends before any nuptials take place. The musical has been expanded and has more scenes and longer scenes due to the musical numbers added to the Broadway production. More humor was also added, making the play a comical experience, indeed.

One of the things that makes it so funny is that Mel Brooks was involved with the musical as much as he was with his 70’s movie. Brooks saw how popular The Producers was, he wanted to duplicate its success with Young Frankenstein. Brooks teamed up with Thomas Meehan and together they created the parody of Brooks’ earlier film.

Both Young Frankenstein the movie and Young Frankenstein the musical have received awards and nominations for awards for their performances in this crazy comical adaptation of what was originally a very serious horror film that left no room for humor.

The Broadway musical production of Young Frankenstein is largely adapted from the hysterical movie version starring Gene Wilder. If you liked the movie, you ought to love this musical. Young Frankenstein is certainly a humorous look at the classic horror novel, Frankenstein.

Although Young Frankenstein performed a pre-Broadway engagement in Seattle August 7 through September 1, 2007, there has been no indication that the humorous musical will be showing at any other venues outside New York City. In New York City, however, the play is performing both on and off Broadway.

Jason OConnor writes for http://www.ClickitTicket.com where you can buy Young Frankenstein Tickets and other Broadway Tickets

Up for some music? Want to see your favorite music performer in action? Love the live experience of a concert? Detroit’s capacity for handling big crowds and drawing the biggest names in music makes it a prime destination for concert-goers. This is Motown after all - the city where the likes of Stevie Wonder and the Supremes launched their careers. Rising stars and local bands still find an enthusiastic welcome for music of all kinds in Detroit City.

Fox Theatre
The preservation of the Fox Theatre is one of Detroit’s proudest achievements. The 5,000-seat palace of the arts, arguably the most opulent in the nation when it opened in 1928, was designated a national landmark in 1989 after an $11 million renovation. The Fox is now busy with concerts, family-oriented shows and a wide variety of other offerings. It’s the anchor of the Theatre District and perhaps Detroit’s greatest civic treasure. In 2008, the Fox welcomes American pop band The Jonas Brothers; Grammy award-winning R&B, soul and jazz singer Jill Scott; and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, recipients of the 2007 Grammy award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, for the track Gone Gone Gone. Audiences can also catch big-name entertainers like comedians Chris Rock and Frank Caliendo.

Joe Louis Arena
Home of the 10-time Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings, Joe Louis Arena proudly stands along the banks of the Detroit River. The 20,058-seat arena is Detroit City’s largest indoor venue and regularly hosts exciting attractions, including professional sports, college hockey, concerts, circuses, and even Disney on Ice shows. The People Mover stops at its door, so concert goers can park elsewhere downtown and reach the arena quickly. The Foo Fighters are set to rock Joe Louis Arena in 2008. Def Leppard with REO Speedwagon and Styx will also make an appearance here and later in the year, Rush makes a stop at Joe Louis during their extended Snakes & Arrows World Tour.

Cobo Arena
Situated near the Detroit River, the Cobo Arena is one of Michigan’s finest event sites, entertaining national and international audiences for over four decades. While the Detroit Basketball Championships are held here, so are some of the greatest rock and roll concerts in the world - Slipknot, Madonna and KISS, to name a few. Contemporary bands such as Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, Bush, Oasis, Blink 182, and the Goo Goo Dolls, as well as seasoned veterans like Bob Dylan play here. Cobo hosts several sporting and civic events, rallies, gatherings, and location shoots.

DTE Energy Music Theatre
Originally known as the Pine Knob Music Theatre, due to its proximity to the nearby Pine Knob ski area and golf course, the DTE Energy Music Theatre was renamed in 2001 when DTE Energy purchased the area’s premiere outdoor amphitheater. Despite this change, many people still continue to call the venue “Pine Knob” or “the knob.” Many of music’s greatest stars have performed at the theater, including Chicago and Eddie Money. The Detroit venue is also on some of the biggest tours of the summer concert season, including Ozzfest, Gigantour, and Reggae Sunsplash. Canadian power-trio Rush have regarded the DTE as their favorite venue to play in the United States. The blockbuster Police tour makes its stop at the DTE in the summer of 2008. Tim McGraw and Gingantour with Megadeath are also scheduled to appear during the May to September concert season.

Meadow Brook Music Festival
Located at Oakland University, the Meadow Brook Music Festival accommodates up to 8,000 in the expansive outdoor pavilion and lawn seating area. The Meadow Brook Music Festival is the official summer home of the renowned Detroit Symphony Orchestra, in addition to being one of the top concert venues in Michigan, showcasing the musical talents of James Taylor and His Band of Legends in 2008.

Palace of Auburn Hills
Detroit’s premier auditorium-style concert venue is often referred to simply as the Palace, and is home of the Detroit Pistons and hosts numerous concerts and special events throughout the year. Some of the venue’s past big-name entertainers include Sting, David Lee Roth, and Crosby, Stills and Nash. In early 2008, the Spice Girls performed at the Palace as part of their reunion tour The Return of the Spice Girls to a sold-out crowd. The 2008 season also includes Avril Lavigne, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Santana, Kanye West, Tom Petty, and Celine Dion.

Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1914, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra is one of the United States’ most prestigious and accessible orchestras. In 2003, it launched the Max M. Fisher Music Center, a performing arts complex, which has become a popular venue for musical concerts of various genres, including some of the most popular jazz concerts in town. The Max houses the famous Orchestra Hall, the Music Box, Atrium, and Allesee Hall. Excellent acoustics and state-of-the-art facilities make every performance memorable. The Max also has facilities to host conferences, private concerts, banquets and weddings. The Chieftans, Ireland’s musical ambassadors, make their appearance at the Fisher in 2008, as well as five-time Academy award-winner John Williams, followed by New Orleans Jazz and the Mambo Kings.

Checker Sedan provides limousine Detroit service from the Detroit Metro Airport servicing the Detroit Metro region. Detroit travel has never been easier with limousine Detroit service.

Detroit City in the early 1900s was a pulsing industrial center, surrounded by sprawling steel and automotive plants. Jobs were plentiful and workers were needed. During that labor wave, thousands of African Americans from the south flocked to Detroit, seeking work and a better life. With them, they brought the Blues.

The music spoke of the struggles, trials and travesties of African Americans in this land. Detroit embraced the music and soon became a hot spot for the Blues, fostering the careers of such artists as John Lee Hooker, Sippie Wallace and Son House.

In addition, Detroit also had a significant impact on the development of Jazz in this nation. Home to the Mckinney’s Cotton Pickers, one of the most influential bands in jazz history, Detroit was and continues to be an epicenter of Jazz expression.

Not surprisingly, Detroit continues to generate a prestigious roster of jazz and blues musicians today. Their music is offered up at both new and historic venues on a nightly basis.

The Firefly Club in Ann Arbor is Metro Detroit’s premier jazz and blues club. The environs are nostalgic with a touch of casual sophistication. It’s the only venue showcasing both top national and regional talents - from top saxophonists and pianists to local Big Band and Dixieland.

Offering superb live jazz and delicious food in an intimate setting, the Harlequin Cafe in Detroit serves up an authentic decor and even more authentic jazz. The jazz shouldn’t be missed here during Detroit’s famous International Jazz Festival.

A Detroit staple for nearly 80 years, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge has hosted most every important and infamous Jazz musician in the country including Dave Bruebeck, John Coltrane, Oscar Peterson, Cab Calloway, and Betty Carter, to name a few. Equally exciting were the unexpected jam sessions - like the night Nat King Cole came to the club and sat in on the piano or Ella Fitzgerald stopped and stayed to sing. Though those golden years are gone by, audiences are still treated to traditional jazz, delicious soul food, and an amazing historic atmosphere.

When the likes of Wynton Marsalis or Detroit-born saxophonist James Carter come to town, they’re known to hang out at Bert’s Marketplace for an impromptu session. Open since the 1980s, the club has infused down-home jazz and soul food. Here, musicians and the audience are known to jam into the wee hours of the morning.

For an evening on the town, pull out the dress clothes and head to Flood’s Bar and Grille. The sleek and eloquent decor draw Detroit’s elite crowd. A sumptuous bar serves up killer cocktails - made only better by the sound of nightly live jazz and R&B. No jeans, sneakers or flip flops - the dress code is strictly enforced.

While it might be Royal Oak, the Blues and food at Memphis Smoke are straight from the South. This premier venue brings in some of the best Blues and Rock talent around and serves up barbecued pork ribs or spicy jambalaya. Acts take the stage nightly, making the restaurant a lively destination any night of the week.

One of Detroit’s best kept Blues secrets is found at Nancy Whiskey’s, a hole in the wall tavern visited weekly by Detroit’s best Blues artists. The food and drink are mildly priced and there’s no cover charge. Try the Nancy Whiskey Burger with a side of the “Live Acoustic” Jazz and Jam every Sunday.

Say supper club and most Detroiters will point to Seldom Blues. Named 2006 Free Press Restaurant of the Year, the high-end restaurant is located in the GM Renaissance Center and features a unique downtown entertainment and dining experience.

Diners enjoy inspired continental cuisine and a breathtaking view of the Detroit River and Canadian skyline. The Lobby Bar welcomes guests to the smooth sound of jazz while in the Main Bar, premium cocktails are served. No longer is it necessary to travel to New York or Chicago to hear the most talented national and regional artists. Seldom Blues’ own renowned recording artist and partner, Alexander Zonjic, performs regularly with his legendary friends.

Checker Sedan provides limousine Detroit service from the Detroit Metro Airport servicing the Detroit Metro region. Detroit travel has never been easier with limousine Detroit service.

We normally associate Disney Land with fun and frolic and kids. Apart from entertainment, Disney land has contributed its bit to education of the young in one way or the other. One such program, Disneyland Magic Music Days program, is an educational program for students of music, vocal arts, or dance.

Your group has the chance to demonstrate its natural endowment and to better it in a background that elevates learning and also have fun doing it. The program is available all year, and is open to schools, studios, and other organizations worldwide after auditioning for the program.

Workshops are held by professional maestros in the fields of acting, choreography, comedy, dancing, composing, singing, arranging, music, and conducting, who focus on ameliorating the specific talent of each member of the group. It is hard to find in one place a combination of such a gifted faculty which has made its name in Hollywood and New York amongst other places in the world.

Different type of groups and individuals can audition on different platforms. For example instrumental and vocal groups and dancers can audition to perform on one of Disneyland stages and marching bands for the famous Disneyland parades.
Disneyland Magic Music Days is an experience by it self wherein along with performing at the happiest and most lovable place on earth you get the benefits of world class workshops to add to your talent.

Soundtrack/instrumental workshop, the soundtrack jazz workshop, the tune in seminar, and the percussion workshop for instrumental groups and marching bands: the industry show choir workshop, academy show choir workshop, the academy vocal workshop, the industry vocal workshop, and the express yourself workshop for vocalists the industry dance workshop, academy dance workshop, and the express yourself workshop for dancers: Disneyland Magic Music Days has it all and for all performers. Special workshops are arranged for vocalists and vocalists groups.

Being at Disneyland Magic Music Days in once in a life time opportunity for your group. The performance alone will be an event to remember whereas the information and breeding that the young performers will acquire is priceless.

Each member of each group receives an 8 x 10 glossy picture of their entire group, in full performance attire, in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle. Although you will not need any help remembering your time at Disneyland Magic Music Days, this photo is an excellent souvenir to share with your friends and loved ones on return from the most unforgettable performance and talent enhancement that you will ever have.

To find more information about music workshops visit http://music-advice.com

Performing magic is great way to meet people or to simply impress your friends. There are some magic tricks that look great to other people but are actually easy to perform. 3 easy magic tricks that you can perform are the Water to Ice trick, the Disappearing Coin trick, and the Magically Burned String trick.

The first trick is very easy to do. It’s called Water to Ice. What you will do is pour water into a cup and then dump out a couple ice cubes and no water. People will wonder how the water turned into ice.

For this trick you need a cup that isn’t see-through. When no one is looking, you will stuff a sponge in the bottom of the cup. Then put a couple ice cubes on top of the sponge inside the cup. While everyone is watching, pour water into the cup. The sponge will absorb the water so when you turn the cup over all that will pour out will be the ice cubes.

The Disappearing Coin is another easy magic trick. For this trick you will sit at a table and place a coin in front of everyone and say something like I wonder if this will work. Then you will take one of your hands and place it over the coin. With three fingers (don’t use your pinky) you will drag the coin across the table making sure you keep your hand and arm parallel to the table. Drag the coin to the edge of the table and let it drop into your lap. Then make it look like you picked it up with your three fingers. As you pick your hand up, rub your fingers together and look surprised like the coin is vanishing. Then turn your hand to the on-lookers and show them your hand is empty.

Magically Burned String is another easy magic trick to perform but it takes a little more time. You have to prepare for this trick by soaking a string in a thick solution of salt water. Make sure there is a lot of salt. Put the string in the salt water and then let it sit for an hour. Take the string out and let it dry. Once the string is dry ask someone to borrow their ring. Tie the string to the ring and then dangle the ring. Take a lighter and burn the string down at the bottom near the ring. The string will burn away but the ring will still be dangling (the salt will stay and it’s strong enough to hold the ring). People will be amazed to see the ring still suspended.

Magic tricks are a lot of fun to watch and they’re even better to perform. Most people believe magic tricks are too hard to learn but this isn’t always true. There are some very easy magic tricks anyone can learn and use. 3 such magic tricks are Water to Ice, Disappearing Coin, and Magically Burned String.

Magic and mentalism guru Ryan Even reveals magic tricks, illusions and mentalism like what you see done on TV by pros like Criss Angel and David Blaine at Master Mentalism Visit him now at http://www.MasterMentalism.com

When hiring a magician for a birthday party or corporate event, you will want an entertainer who offers a fun show and makes your event memorable. However, there are many so-called illusionists who haven’t taken the time to perfect their art form.

If you want your audience to be transported to a magical world, you must choose a performer wisely. In this article, we’ll uncover the tricks of the magic trade to help you spend your money wisely.

A good place to start your search, with regard to hiring a magician for your function, is with references from trusted friends and family. As well, don’t be afraid to hold auditions. Anyone can call themselves a magician, so be sure you know exactly what a performance will encompass before you sign a contract.

Most trustworthy professionals nowadays have a web site that offers a biography and a detailed description of their show. The top professionals feature videos on their web pages that let you see the types of routines that they perform and their presentation and interaction with audiences. Comparing videos is an excellent way to evaluate a performer and decide if they are right for your event.

Magicians perform two types of magic shows: stand-up/stage and close-up/strolling. In a stand-up/stage performance, he puts on a show that’s appropriate for small to large audiences that can include birthday parties and school functions.

In close-up/strolling performances, he walks around at an event and performs “close-up” tricks using cards, coins and other objects. Strolling magic works well at open houses, cocktail parties and company picnics. A professional magician usually will customize a show for a particular audience to ensure a great performance.

The Yellow Pages is a good resource to find a magician for hire but be wary of party planners and bookers. Many have clients who perform as magicians on a part time basis and the agent may not be clear on what their act entails. On the other hand, a high-end booker will evaluate your needs and match you with a magician that best suits your audience. Even then, insist on references and a video or live demonstration.

Hiring a magician for a kids’ party doesn’t have to be all smoke and mirrors. Do your research carefully and know what to expect. A performer dressed as a clown who also offers games probably isn’t the right choice if you’re hoping for sophisticated magic tricks. The same applies to other entertainers who dress up in costumes.

There are some accomplished magicians who dress as wizards and sorcerers but still check their credentials. After all, you want the party to be something your child will always remember as a magical experience.

Would you like to magically fool someone ? Learn more about finding a good magician for hire at Mike Selvon portal. While you are there leave is a comment at our magic tricks blog, and receive your FREE gift.

The ligne claire illustrations of the original comic books were very central to the whole ethos of the Tintin world created by Remi. The whole ligne claire look was such a classic that it’s inspiration went beyond comics with both Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein both stating it’s influence on the pop art scene.

Ligne claire (French for “clear line”) was created by Remi and found a home in the Tintin adventure comics. The style is very recognisable and can be described as drawing that uses clear lines which have the same thickness and importance, rather than being used to emphasize certain objects or be used for shading. This style of drawing incorporates strong colours and a will often show a combination of cartoonish characters against a realistic background. The use of shadow is rare and all elements of a panel are delineated with clear black lines.

Remi ligne Claire style evolved over time to the look we recognise today. Remi started out in a looser and rougher style that was evident in the American comic strips of the 1920’s and 1930’s. It was after World War II that Remi ligne calire style developed that not only accounted for the drawings but also the Tintin plot lines. The plots as a result were very straightforward and easy to understand.

Steven Spielberg has gone on record saying that the reason that he has not made a Tintin movie up until this point was due to the fact that he couldn’t faithfully recreate the look of the comics. It is now only today that this is possible.

Peter Jackson of Lord of the Rings Fame has joined the project and the work he does at his Weta Workshop is at the core of how the eventual Tintin movie trilogy will look and feel. The look of the film will be similar to the work done to create Gollum in the Lord of the Ring trilogy. The Weta effects people used motion capture techniques on actor Andy Serkis then using key frame animation and subsurface scattering rendering techniques enabled the first completely convincing portrayal of an animated humanoid in a feature film.

Weta was able to do this using very fast super computers and the brains of some of the best digital special effects people in the industry. They spent a year putting together a 20 minute demo for the Tintin movie. This demo was reported to of wowed the backers. Jackson said “We’re making the character look photo realistic; the fibers of their clothing, the pores of their skin and each individual hair. It is possible that the work, certainly the first one will start next year”.

The look of the film can only be guessed at but the information given would suggest using real actors then digitising them as with Gollum in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and then using them on actual live world backgrounds.

This would make for a very exciting Tintin trilogy with Jackson and Spielberg being able to truly capture the essence of Tintin and relate that onto a big screen. It truly is something to anticipate with relish.

ligne claire style is going to be very popular search topic as the Tintin movie draws near. Holly Franklin has been a big Tintin fan for a number of years. She is very much looking forward to the new Tintin movie trilogy due for release in 2009.