The cover World Stuff
Where did your nickname come from?
No special meaning behind it; it's just the first original (as in not based on a song, movie, character, etc.) user name I've used. One day I just thought of something I hadn't used before and probably no one else had either, hence, Shok Xone Studios was born (because poor grammar is KEWL).
What part of the world do you come from?
Milwaukee, WI, born and raised.
What got you into designing covers in the first place?
I had a double-feature disc of El Mariachi and Desperado that had this terrible cover, and I thought, "I could make a better cover." And so I did. Shortly after that, I discovered DVDCoverArt.com (oh, nostalgia) via an article on Joblo.com, and the rest is history.
Is there anyone on the cover making scene that has inspired you?
Gotta tip my hat to some the big guns; BunnyDojo, Arkflip, Irrob, syxx0rz, Ruso gkn, ubl6612, DarthVong, Scaramanga…guys who consistently makes me go "Damn!" I'm sure there are a few others I'm neglecting to mention.
What would be your best advice to any up and coming designer?
Go for what looks good TO YOU. As much as I like sharing artwork for everyone and making something everybody likes, I make covers primarily for my own use, so I start a project by asking myself what I want on my shelf. That said, never be afraid to take advice, try not to adamantly shrug off advice if it doesn't fit to your standards, and don't feel you have to stick to the first thing you come up with, 'cause oftentimes your first bright idea can dim significantly after you've looked at it long enough.
What’s your favourite cover you have made?
I'm particularly happy with The Fifth Element, The Da Vinci Code, the Firefly/Serenity combo, and of course Avatar. Picking one though, I'd probably say Fifth Element.
What’s your least favourite cover you have made?
A lot of my earliest work I just can't stand to look at anymore. Back in the day I made a Tarantino Collection and a series of Matrix covers that just stink compared to my later stuff.
What’s your favourite cover that someone else has made?
In no particular order: Irrob's Heat, Bunny Dojo's Children of Men, DarthVong's Terminator series.
The Personal Stuff
What is your real name?
Josh Gilbert.
What do you do for a living?
I'm currently a cage cashier at a casino in Milwaukee. I've formerly been a graphic designer for a West Allis marketing agency.
Any kids (that you know of)?
I apologize for nothing! Look, it was one night, we were drunk in Vegas, and…oh, um………..no.
Any brothers/sisters?
I have an older sister who's a tattoo artist in Portland, OR.
What was your childhood like? Share an interesting "growing up" story.
I've lived in Milwaukee most of my life; there was period when I was very young that we lived in Iowa, but no one talks about it much (after all, it's freaking Iowa). I showed interest in art very early and plugged away at it in one form or another throughout my school years; it was solely my artwork that made me an acceptable human being to my classmates, who otherwise teased the shit out of me and got me into fights. Parents divorced, dad remarried, sister lives out of state, my best friend from high school is in the Navy, and that's really all I have.
What is your favourite food?
I'm quite partial to Chinese and Mexican food.
Tell us about your best vacation.
My Dad took me to Las Vegas when I turned 21. My first night there, I spent 10 minutes on the slots and won $600.
What is your favourite type of music/band?
Way into classic rock; Eagles, Aerosmith, Queen, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, CCR…I also LOOOOVE the soundtrack of Cowboy Bebop.
What is your favourite movie of all time?
Gun to my head, had to pick one, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.
What one place would you like to visit?
Hollywood. I'd hold out large prints of my artwork and shout, "This is how it's done, you twits!"
What other hobbies do you have besides movies & graphics?
I read a good deal; The Dark Tower and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy are two of my favorites. I also write creatively from time to time. TV takes up a good chunk of my time too, although I've no idea what I'll do with myself now that LOST is over.
What is the best thing that ever happened to you?
I sang with a live band and rocked the house with "Hard to Handle".
What is your favourite colour?
Blue….no wait--AAAAARGH!! *cast into the Pit of Eternal Peril*
What is your favourite animal?
Cats. I live with three of them; I'm kind of their tenant.
Who is your favourite actor?
Angelina Jolie.
If you could meet one person, who would it be, and why?
Angelina Jolie, so I could make sweet love to her.
If you could be one person, who would it be and why?
Brad Pitt. He gets to make sweet love to Angelina Jolie on a regular basis.
What super power would you have, and why?
Super strength, because having it usually means you have a suitably pumped body.
What is your favourite car or motorcycle?
I'm quite fond of my Volkswagen Beetle.
Are you a night-owl or an early-bird?
Night-owl, definitely. I'm such a non-morning person I once told my alarm clock to go f*ck itself.
If you knew you had 24 hours to live, how would you spend that time?
I'd make sweet love to Angelina Jolie as many times as possible. (I'm sensing a theme, aren't you?)
Some strange stuff
Have you ever been shot?
I had it coming.
Have you ever shot someone?
I asked the punk if he felt lucky. He said yes. He was wrong.
What size feet do you have?
The ladies do like me, if that's what you're getting at.
Do you like Spam?
That's like asking if I like evil.
Do you like Spam mail?
That's like asking if I like evil's annoying ADD-stricken cousin.
Did you go out last night?
I go out every night. To work.
What’s your worst nightmare?
Waking up in a parallel world where I never existed and none of my friends and family know me.
If you won a million dollars, what is the first thing you would do with the money?
Pay every bill I owe and my mom, dad, and sister owe.
Pick three people of your preferred sex, and decide if you would marry, sleep with, or throw them off a cliff.
Marry Summer Glau, sleep with Scarlett Johanssen (Ha! Thought I'd say Angelina again, din'ja?), throw Sarah Palin off a cliff.
Anything else you feel like sharing with the community?
Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice: pull down your pants and slide on the ice.
Thanks for sharing SXS!
