Directorblog #3

Keepin' it brief...story still proceeds ahead; we have had a minor screening of Act 1 and part of Act 2 recently; just threw it up there really quickly to see what we got. There were a lot of notes (including a lot from me), but overall they were helpful - we have learned a lot about what kind of film it ultimately needs to become. On to the next phase! Also, my studio - might as well say it, it's Imagi Studios - will have a big booth at the Anime Expo in Los Angeles in a couple of weeks. I've never been to this one; even though they are featuring our OTHER movie at the moment I still will probably wander by to check it out. Besides, Cosplayers are insanely fun to gawk at. :D

Directorblog #2

So, I feel a bit stupid. As I gaze at the exciting view of the apartment building from my office window.

I think I started these blog entries a little too soon - I thought that, by now, the studio would have made certain announcements regarding myself and the producer. I admit, I jumped the gun a little. But notice, I still haven't said what I am working on or even what studio I am at...some people have 'claimed to have found out some things', but nothing's official until it's official, eh? ;)

In any case, work proceeds apace, even though I can't share any real details yet. I have a great story crew and we are rapidly getting the story reels up in editorial.

For those of you unfamiliar with this process - animated films are edited in pre-production rather than in post-production....why? Because they are so dang expensive. You don't want to have very much "extra footage" in animation and there is no such thing as coverage. So the story crew in animation is essential in pre-visualizing the film - they are much more important than in live action, because they do more than just block out the shots and camera work - they add to the writing, they add to the acting. Their drawings have to evoke emotion, because their work is the first version of the film that we see, that the execs see, etc.

Unfortunately not a single piece of story artwork ever makes it to the final film, as it's all just a blueprint of rough sketches - and sometimes some of those casual sketches are much more appealing than the finished rendered frames! However, their real work - their ideas - are what get translated over and remain for all time. All hail the story crew! :) When things are more official I hope to be posting some story art from the film. Until then, apologies and patience, please!

Playing a bunch more gigs

I have been playing a lot of shows recently; I didn't bother to mention many of them here on the ol' SFP blog as I've never seen any SFP fans show up to any of my gigs, :P. Just for the record, here's a list of where I'll be playing at and who I'll be playing with for the next month or so. I'll be playing my new axe (pictured) that I'd been waiting ages for - I ordered it in November and they sent the wrong one in Feb - finally I got it yesterday. Finally. FINALLY....

date/time: April 30, 11:45 pm
band: MERCY LOVE
venue: The Derby
venue info link: LINK

date/time: May 15, 8:30 pm
band: ZEN BOY AND KARMA GIRL
venue: The Liquid Lounge
venue info link: LINK

date/time: May 31, 7 pm
band: ZEN BOY AND KARMA GIRL
venue: The Talking Stick
venue info: 1630 Ocean Park blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405

date/time: June 3, 8 pm
band: BETTY DYLAN
venue: Ronnie Mack’s Barn Dance (El Cid)
venue info link: LINK

Films Button

Recently the Divx Stage 6 site shut down, and unfortunately I had linked all my film streams to that site. Please bear with me while I readjust my film's webpages. I might have to resort to YouTube, bah. In any case, the download buttons should all still work. When I'll get around to this, I have no idea.

Directorblog #1

So now it's been about three months that I've been at the helm of the as-yet-to-be-announced because I-am-waiting-for-the-official-press-release film. Believe you me, I really want to mention it, but that will have to wait lest I get in trouble. In any case, I thought it might be nice to start some blog entries about the experience. Hopefully, along the way, you and I will both gain some insight. These first few entries will have to be fairly cryptic, for above stated reason.

Here's a picture of me now, pretty close to the start of pre-production, fresh-faced, enthusiastic. Let's watch as I become more haggard, cynical, and beaten down over the next 2 years of production! OK, just kidding.....well, kind of.

One of the things that's bothering me a little bit right now is that fact that the film I am working on has a fan following (of the source material). No, the fans aren't what's bothering me - in fact, that part's pretty cool. What's bothering me is, I know that the minute they announce me as director, all these fans will run over to my IMDB page, look me up, and see that pretty much the biggest directing credit I have is 'The Tigger Movie' - and then they will freak out, because how dare I direct their beloved (INSERT FILM TITLE HERE LATER) when "all I have done" is this rated G film for little kids. Oh yes, they will freak out. And you know what, I can't say that I will blame them.

So with that in mind, I started these 'journal entries' to not only document the process of directing an animated feature for those interested, but also to attempt to convince worried fans that I'm actually a pretty big geek and fan of the genre - and that I have no intention of softening down the film when the source material is so kick-ass.

And so ends this first entry. Kind of uneventful, really. But hey! More to come, and, in the future when I am allowed to post them, perhaps some official images and artwork. Sorry for the cryptic-ness - soon all will become clear.

A machinima documentary I was in

Gametrotting Eps #3 - Machiniwaaa?

So last summer, it was really friggin hot and I was 10 pounds heavier. Nevertheless, I insanely agreed to be in this video that we shot in the 100 degree heat. I think I was suffering from heatstroke. Plus I HATE looking at myself on camera so I was totally self-conscious. Whine, whine, yada yada.

Anyway, here's a machinima documentary I was in. I think I say a few intelligent things in it. We were told to answer the questions as if the person watching had no idea what machinima was. Oh well, watch if you dare.

Snacky 4 teaser