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Ep. 86 – Orlando Arocena (Mexifunk)

We time jump to 2014 to when we first met Orlando Arocena, vector art extraordinaire and member of the Poster Posse. This episode is also available on Google Play, iTunesStitcher, iHeart Radio and Spotify. The Hall H Show is hosted by Aaron Nabus and Alex Benedicto and is the “Voice of Independent Creators.”

Show Notes:

Hey there Hall H Show listeners!

Aaron Nabus here and if you loved our time travel last episode with Poster Posse founder, Don Thompson back to San Diego Comic-Con 2014, then you are in for another treat for episode 86!

We fast forward a bit from July 2014 to November 2014 to when my co-host, Alex Benedicto and I went to Poster Posse headquarters in Orange County, CA to meet the one…the only, vector art god himself, Orlando Arocena!

Also known as Mexifunk, he was in town for an art show in Los Angeles and both he and Don had also recently met the director of Guardians of the Galaxy, James Gunn a few days prior to our conversation.

This was also before the Hall H Show podcast ever existed, so the sound isn’t the best and it was originally only going to be a written interview. Unfortunately, due to a bad hard drive, I lost the recording – or so I thought.

Two years ago, I happened to come across a copy of the recording on an external hard drive that I found after a move.

I was ecstatic when I found it because this conversation was such an epic one with one my heroes!

As a graphic designer, I know how hard working with vectors can be and what high level users of Adobe Illustrator can do in six days, Orlando can do, mixing in his signature pop deco style, in only six hours. He was also the first artist I found online that we promoted on HallH.com when we launched in 2014.

Today is Thursday, April 9, 2020 which also happens to be Orlando’s birthday, so this is the perfect time to share this lost interview with Orlando Arocena, vector artist, Poster Posse member and just an all-around good and decent human being.

Although this conversation is almost six years old, I think you’ll enjoy how Orlando talks about growing up in New York, how anime like G-Force and Robotech had an influence on him, finding art, going to Pratt Institute, talking to Mark Hamill on the phone, working for Lloyd Kaufman at Troma, meeting James Gunn, how he joined the Poster Posse and more!

Happy birthday brother!

Check out Orlando’s Work:

View this post on Instagram

#Repost Its always an honor to be acknowledged and share with my alma mater! Thank you @prattccpd / @prattinstitute for the opportunity! ⚡💪🎨⚡ • • • • • • We’re back with #FeatureFridays where we feature artwork by Pratt students or alum. This week we would like to highlight the work of the incredibly talented @mexifunk who graduated from Pratt with a BFA in Communication Design. Since so many of us are working from home these days, we asked @mexifunk to share his experience as an illustrator who has spent plenty of time working remotely: “I never really enjoyed calling what I do as ‘work’- it’s often very fun and entertaining when asked to collaborate with brands I really enjoy. But sure, there are challenging moments when being asked to collaborate from home. I just make sure to ask as many questions, do my research into the topic, understand the brand’s DNA and how the project will resonate with their target audience. The toughest part…breaking away from the fun to eat lunch!!” To see more of his incredible work give him a follow! Thanks again @mexifunk for sharing your work and insights with us. We hope to connect and inspire our Pratt community through our #FeatureFridays. Stay tuned for more!

A post shared by orlando arocena (@mexifunk) on

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Thank YOU:

Wow! Hope you enjoyed this 2014 conversation with Orlando Arocena!

He’s easily one of the most talented people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting since we launched HallH.com. I hope to have him on the show once this coronavirus pandemic settles down since he’s now living in Columbia.

Please make sure to check out his work and also the work of the other Poster Posse members.

Episode 87 will feature my conversation with the writer and creator of the comic book, The Unearthians, Omar Mora!

If you believe in our mission to be the voice of independent creators, please leave us a comment and rating (hopefully five stars) on iTunes. You can also find this podcast on Google Play, Stitcher, iHeartRadio and even Spotify!

Have a comic book or pop culture creative that you would like to hear on the show? Please let us know on any of our social media channels or our contact form.

Peace, cheers and please be safe out there! ~Aaron

Aaron Nabus

Aaron Nabus

After crash landing on Earth, Aaron Nabus grew to enjoy watching anime and Godzilla movies, reading comic books, eating kimchi, and playing 80's and 90's arcade, Nintendo and SNES games. When not roaming the galaxy, interviewing talented creators, he is a Graphic Designer, Brand Ambassador for the International Mobile Film Festival, founder and organizer of FilAm CreatorCon and a #ComicConFit motivator.

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