Book Blurb & Info
Then one evening, a strange occurrence in the sky leads Colin and his best friend, Brooklyn (aka “Spoons”), to the mysterious Ice Cream Island. It’s a wonderful place with unbelievable frozen delights that stagger the imagination - some bigger than a dinosaur! That is, until they meet Brain Freeze, the evil genius who rules the land. Accompanied by a purple popsicle named P.W. Pops, Colin and Spoons discover a chilly secret Brain Freeze has been keeping for generations from children around the world. Soon, their bravery is put to the test to solve the mystery, save thousands of innocent children, and get back home.
Buy Link
http://www.icecreamisland.com/ - Click the word "buy it" in the logo
CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION and COINCIDENCE.
(How John, Derek and Robert got it together.)
The year was 1993 when John Blas and Derek Shields first encountered each other as art directors at the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group. John was from Los Angeles and Derek hailed from New York City. They started their careers working on movie posters and print ads for Disney’s animated and live-action features. Their professional relationship began with a somewhat competitive demeanor as each had a burning desire to succeed and carve out their own niche at the studio. But it didn’t take long for them to recognize that collaboration was where the real magic happened.
In the years that followed, they embraced their creative chemistry and ultimately helped launch worldwide creative advertising campaigns for some of Disney’s biggest franchises including Toy Story, Mulan, Tarzan, Monsters Inc, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Armageddon, Pirates of the Caribbean and literally dozens more.
John and Derek were in their mid-20’s when they first met, but John had met Robert Zappia even earlier in life — kindergarten, to be specific. They were good friends, if not great. But even then it was clear that each shared a passion for pictures and stories. After 8th grade, they attended different high schools but coincidentally enrolled at the same college — the University of Southern California. Of course, it’s easy to get lost in a big school and they never saw each other. But following graduation, Robert also wound up at Disney as a writer for ABC Studios where he wrote for some of television's biggest sitcoms including Home Improvement. Again, it was coincidence that John and Robert found themselves at the same place. But unfortunately, they never saw each other as it’s easy to get lost in big companies, too.
By 2007, John and Derek had left Disney. They continued to collaborate on big projects for big studios, but felt restless. After spending so many years utilizing their talent to sell other folks’ ideas, they felt it was time to create one of their own. So they agreed to dedicate at least one hour a week to collaborate on their own stuff. It didn’t take long. Magic happened yet again, and an idea called Ice Cream Island was born.
Around this time, as Robert's writing career broadened to include both feature films and television work, he also began to feel the tug of independence. Robert and John had yet to reunite. But despite LA being a big city, it’s also known for being a small town — especially when it comes to the entertainment industry. Enter coincidence yet again. In late 2010, Robert and John were called in separately to consult on an animated project for a small studio. They were both very much surprised and thrilled to reconnect — and this time, it would be for good. Over iced vanilla Americanos at the Burbank Coffee Bean, John told Robert of the idea that he and Derek hatched and urged him to ante up his considerable talent and join the fun. Thankfully, Robert agreed.
And more than five years of CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION and COINCIDENCE later, The Legend of Ice Cream Island has come to life — in the shape of this little book.
Story, Book Concept and Logo Design by John Blas and Derek Shields - Written by Robert Zappia - collectively known as J.A. D’Marco.
Teaser
Author Info
(How John, Derek and Robert got it together.)
The year was 1993 when John Blas and Derek Shields first encountered each other as art directors at the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group. John was from Los Angeles and Derek hailed from New York City. They started their careers working on movie posters and print ads for Disney’s animated and live-action features. Their professional relationship began with a somewhat competitive demeanor as each had a burning desire to succeed and carve out their own niche at the studio. But it didn’t take long for them to recognize that collaboration was where the real magic happened.
In the years that followed, they embraced their creative chemistry and ultimately helped launch worldwide creative advertising campaigns for some of Disney’s biggest franchises including Toy Story, Mulan, Tarzan, Monsters Inc, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Armageddon, Pirates of the Caribbean and literally dozens more.
John and Derek were in their mid-20’s when they first met, but John had met Robert Zappia even earlier in life — kindergarten, to be specific. They were good friends, if not great. But even then it was clear that each shared a passion for pictures and stories. After 8th grade, they attended different high schools but coincidentally enrolled at the same college — the University of Southern California. Of course, it’s easy to get lost in a big school and they never saw each other. But following graduation, Robert also wound up at Disney as a writer for ABC Studios where he wrote for some of television's biggest sitcoms including Home Improvement. Again, it was coincidence that John and Robert found themselves at the same place. But unfortunately, they never saw each other as it’s easy to get lost in big companies, too.
By 2007, John and Derek had left Disney. They continued to collaborate on big projects for big studios, but felt restless. After spending so many years utilizing their talent to sell other folks’ ideas, they felt it was time to create one of their own. So they agreed to dedicate at least one hour a week to collaborate on their own stuff. It didn’t take long. Magic happened yet again, and an idea called Ice Cream Island was born.
Around this time, as Robert's writing career broadened to include both feature films and television work, he also began to feel the tug of independence. Robert and John had yet to reunite. But despite LA being a big city, it’s also known for being a small town — especially when it comes to the entertainment industry. Enter coincidence yet again. In late 2010, Robert and John were called in separately to consult on an animated project for a small studio. They were both very much surprised and thrilled to reconnect — and this time, it would be for good. Over iced vanilla Americanos at the Burbank Coffee Bean, John told Robert of the idea that he and Derek hatched and urged him to ante up his considerable talent and join the fun. Thankfully, Robert agreed.
And more than five years of CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION and COINCIDENCE later, The Legend of Ice Cream Island has come to life — in the shape of this little book.
Story, Book Concept and Logo Design by John Blas and Derek Shields - Written by Robert Zappia - collectively known as J.A. D’Marco.
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