Miguel Cima

Infobox journalist
name = Miguel Cima


birthname = Miguel Roman Cima
birth_date = birth date and age|1968|04|18
birth_place = Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina

Miguel Roman Cima is a filmmaker and comic book writer based in Los Angeles, California.

Early Years

Cima spent his formative years in North Bellmore, a suburb of New York, that lists Lenny Bruce, Rudy Giuliani and Mike Deitz as former residents. While attending Newbridge Road Elementary school, Cima's talent for public speaking became apparent from an early age, when he was usually the loudest voice heard in the classroom. Cima later attended Jerusalem Avenue Junior High School, and later Mepham High School. A good student, Cima nevertheless found most of his educational inspiration outside of the classroom, cultivating his love of literature, comic art and movies.

Films

Cima has worked as a production assistant on John Turturro's 1992 film "Mac" and horror-comedy "The Cook" [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1733747/ IMDb profile] ] . In 2004, he wrote and directed "Difficult Places" in conjunction with his self-published comic "The Binder" [The Binder #1] . "Difficult Places" featured music from the band Earlimart [ [http://www.earlimartmusic.com/ Earlimart website] ]

During 2007-2008, Cima has been working with Dirk Van Fleet [ [http://imdb.com/name/nm0886883/ Dirk Van Fleet IMDB Profile] ] and Corey Blake [ [http://www.myspace.com/corey_blake Corey Blake myspace page] ] to produce a darkly humorous documentary that reflects the somewhat ominous state of the comics industry yet also addresses his own (and other artists') struggle to make a living within the seemingly shrinking opportunities that exist within the community.

Comic Books

In 2004, Cima self-published his first comic book, "The Binder" #1, fully illustrated by Ron Chan [ [http://ronchan.net/webportfolio/resume.htm Ron Chan's resume] ] . The comic was released under his Dig Comics banner. You can find a few page shots here [ [http://greaterlosangeles.net/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=166 The Binder page shots] ] . In 2006, the two made a rare public appearance at the annual Comic-Con International convention [ [http://www.comic-con.org/cci2006/cci_pros.shtml Comic-Con 2006 :: Professionals ] ] .

Soon after, Cima signed a deal with Speakeasy Comics to continue the series with former Incredible Hulk artist Jeff Purves [ [http://www.jeffpurves.com Jeff Purves website] ] .

Cima and Purves are now in talks to publish their completed first edition of The Binder series this year. [ [http://www.brokenfrontier.com/lowdown/details.php?id=391 Interview with Jeff Purves Broken Frontier] ] [ [http://www.silverbulletcomics.com/news/story.php?a=2888 Interview with Jeff Purves Silver Bullet Comics] ]

Cima has worked with an array of artists on the "The Binder" and many other side projects; including the incomparable and timeless artist, musician and general fairyland ambassador Dame Darcy [ [http://damedarcy.com. Dame Darcy website] ] , who is also featured in the documentary that Cima is producing in 2008. Avery Butterworth [ [http://www.myspace.com/merger Avery Butterworth/Merger Studios myspace page] ] collaborated on a Dracula/Frankenstein/Freemasonry-based mythological storybook yet to be printed, as well as drawing the back cover for a "Binder" issue. Edmundo Sanchez, whose colorful artwork graced yet another "Binder" short story is a fixture in the contemporary comic/cartoon/video game industry.

Experimental Art

In 2007, the burgeoning art collective known as Penny Kids collaborated with the German artist Peter of Kreuzberg to produce the mixed media piece entitled 'bugEyes'. The work created a major stir when it was unveiled at the Park Avenue School Spring Arts Show. A striking piece, it utilizes Cima's infamous image to chilling effect. His oft misunderstood yet piercing gaze was once again a cause of major controversy.

Music

During his career at Warner Bros Records from 1999 to 2001, Cima worked closely with the artists Wilco, Neil Young and Stevie Nicks. Prior to his time at Warner Bros, he was employed at the now defunct Dreamworks Records where he was responsible for finding suitable bathroom accommodation for musician George Michael and other well known artists. Cima is a fan of Built to Spill and Modest Mouse, as well as the rock band Ween. He is rumored to own the largest known collection of Gene Ween nose hairs in existence.

He is currently working on a musical project called Jah’s Addiction (a reggae tribute to Jane’s Addiction).

Eating Habits and Hobbies

Although a vegetarian activist, Cima has been known to try an occasional sausage washed down with potato vodka and topped off with a dollop of bear fat (a Russian delicacy). Ordinarily, however, he can be found in the kitchen of his Burbank home preparing humous or making tomato, cheese and mayonnaise sandwiches. Cima has an acquired appreciation for Star Trek and has an extraordinary talent for recalling many historic moments from the classical television series, such as the first inter-racial kiss, Spock's mind meld with a rock, or the infamous duel between Captain Kirk and Spock. He has been known to ask people if they are 'out of their vulcan minds' and is always ready to choose an episode that will suit your mood.

Local Community Activism

Cima is a long time activist and supporter of the Silverlake neighborhood in Los Angeles. His efforts to restore the commercial district along Sunset Boulevard have been critical to the area's current success. His difficult but sadly unsuccessful battle to save local bar Cuffs from closing nevertheless raised his standing amongst residents of the closely knit east side neighborhood.

Puerto Rico Controversy

A little known chapter in Cima's life, but one that has been well documented by those present, is his involvement in a secretive and shifting group of mendicant misfits centered in and around the town of Boqueron, Puerto Rico. Said group, known popularly as 'Patos', were held responsible in some circles for the 'Chupacabra' animal mutilations of the late 1980's and early 1990's, and were repeatedly sighted in and around the Villa Taina condominium resort.

There have been consistent but nevertheless unconfirmed rumors of an attempted suicide by drowning, solication of men with large moustaches for something known as 'green', floatable and blender smuggling, and clandestine all-night all-male arm-wrestling matches, along with uncorroborated but persistent reports of individual acts of perversion with equally amorphous groups from Spanish-speaking sections of the New York metropolitan area.

Due to massive outbreaks of chiggers, sand fleas, and an unprecedented undercover enforcement effort by girlfriends and spouses, the Patos became a spent force by the mid-1990's, although its sinister activities continue to cast a long, dark shadow over Cima and his alleged cohorts.

References

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1733747/ IMDb profile]
* [http://www.myspace.com/digcomics MySpace page for Dig Comics]
* [http://www.comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=34147 ComicbookDB entry on The Binder #1]