Forward

This is going to sound strange, but it often feels like years have passed since I have written in this blog. I know that I do it once a week, but so much seems to happen (or at least feels like it happens in my mind) between postings that I really seem to be a different person each time I sit down to write. Mind you I am a different person - we are never ever the same, simply because of the movements of subatomic particles and the universe in general - but, still...

Anyway, moving forward, I'm starting to get into the more serious bits of animating for this film. The movements of the character are becoming more complex, and as I look back, I feel that I need more inbetweens. That is one of my great downfalls, I fear. I often think I can get away with "x" number of drawings, but when I finally put things together in After Effects, I find that I really needed "y" number of drawings. Because of this two of my supposedly completely shots are not complete. My fervent wish is to work on them this weekend. We'll see how that pans out, as every time I make plans to do anything, they completely fall apart. We'll see if this weekend is different.

On the other hand, the clock seems to be finally coming together. I'll be working on it more today and I'll be starting a test animation. I also need to upload the latest version of the animatic to the web and contact Elliott so that he can get started on the soundtrack. That will be interesting - I'm going to be really intrigued to see what his take on this will be. Especially since the sound for this piece will probably make or break it. Of course, that points up the fact that I need to find new/create new sound effects for the film.

Ah, things to do, things to do, things to do. Hopefully I'll get through all of them. Anyway, stay tuned.

Crossing the Rubicon

Julius Caesar spoke the immortal words, "alea iacta est" before leading his rebellious legion across the river Rubicon to overthrow the Roman Senate. That phrase translates into, "the die is cast." Since then, the term "crossing the Rubicon" has come to mean passing the point of no return, or making a fateful decision. In fact NASA uses it as a code for the go or no go decision point in any space mission. I have crossed that point - in terms of this project - today.

More specificially, I was doing some laborious paperwork (a new master list of shots based on the revised animatic) and realized that I have made the final decisions about this piece that will allow me to finish it. The number of shots is now set in stone, the look of the piece is finished - or near to be finished once I finalize the look of the clock. I'm getting ready to do color tests, the rough animation is literally half complete, and I'm getting ready to actually write the final credits for the film.

Honestly, to be at this point is rather astonishing. I'm very pleased.

But, this is just a moment's respite. There is still half the animation to do - and these will be longer, tougher shots to complete. So, back to the grindstone I go. But, at least I feel like I've accomplished something.

Maybe I am finally getting out from behind the eight ball. We'll see...

When it rains...

My mom quotes Hee-Haw when she speaks about life, to wit: "If I didn't have bad luck, I'd have not luck at all." It really does seem that as soon as things begin to clear up for me, I have an immediate reversal of fortune. Everything was on track, I was all set to finish up my animation roughs for last week when suddenly my mother-in-law was in the hospital with breathing problems. Panic. Manic action. Run around helter-skelter. Sleep deprivation. And then, everything turns out okay (she had a drug interaction the her pharmacist and doctor did not catch). But, once again, it puts me behind the eight ball.

Which is a place that I'm beginning to get used to. Unfortunately.

So, in playing catch up, I have animated my brains out over the weekend, culminating in getting six shots of rough animation out. I'm glad I'm working in limited hand drawn animation - no, honestly, I am. That's not a snyde remark, because I am really beginning to dig the rough hewn look of the animation. I am just hopeful it will translate well once the cels are properly cleaned up and colored. I'm going to need to do a test for that fairly soon, but I think it will turn out okay.

Speaking of testing, I'm giving serious consideration to building the set for the gray warehouse scene in Maya and then taking still shots for use as backgrounds. Why? I'm discovering that the biggest skill I lack in animating (2D) is draftsmanship. I am a terrible draftsman, and although that might not be a problem with figure animation (I'm looking at you Bill Plymton), it is when that backgrounds look crappy. At least doing it this way I will be able to get the camera angles right. Again, need to test and figure it out.

So, what's next? More animating. Lots and lots of animating - because I saved all the big, long, difficult shots for the very end. And everything else of course.

Until next time. Stay tuned...

Then and Now

Indulge me for a moment, because I want to quote a few lines from a movie that seems very appropriate at this point.

Philip Henslowe: Mr. Fennyman, allow me to explain about the theatre business. The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster.

Hugh Fennyman: So what do we do?

Philip Henslowe: Nothing. Strangely enough, it all turns out well.

Hugh Fennyman: How?

Philip Henslowe: I don't know. It's a mystery.

And that, for a lack of a better explanation, has been how my life - and this film - have been going lately. I have been so very close to breaking during the course of this production, suffering through everything from simple computer glitches, to horrible drawing skills (I'm a terrible draftsman), to financial disaster, to family illness, and the dissolution of my marriage. Had you asked me where I was three days ago in terms of production, I would have responded: in hell.

But that was three days ago.

Now, the animation looks good. I'm nearly half way through animating the roughs for the film and it is truly beginning to feel solid. Furthermore, I'm actually looking forward to working on the finishing/polishing the cels and perfecting the shots. Beyond that, I'm realizing just how good it feels to be out from under the yoke of the company I've slaved under for the past six year. It has opened up possibilities, which is always a good thing. And in terms of money, there is a severence package, my 401K, and lately I'm becoming successful on ebay (selling items for more than twice the asking price). But the best part - the VERY best part - is that last night my wife told me she was sticking with me.

So, strangely enough, it all turns out well. But I have no idea how. It's a mystery.

Oh course, it's not over yet...

Hey buddy, can you help a fellow animator who is down on his luck?

So, last week I had a really great week and was all prepared to write an entry about how things were looking up and I was all set to really start animating. Then I came home and got a taste of just how really depressed my wife is - so I shelved that one. Then, because of my reaction to my wife, I was going to write a piece filling in the back story of what happened to both of us over the Summer. I was going to use it to explain why I'm so screwed up (and why she is so screwed up). Then my wife got very sick and I had to nurse her along over the weekend - no doctor visit of course since we don't have health insurance. So I got so steam back up, started animating again an was all set to write a piece about getting back into the saddle.

Then today happened.

On Mondays I go into work. Where I work is a newspaper - a tired, old, local paper that is sliding into oblivion because its readers are dying off and it has little to no relevance to anyone in the community. It is owned by a faceless corporation out of Alabama that doesn't like the fact that the paper actually makes a profit, because it doesn't make enough profit. The building is sick, waterlogged, and probably filled with asbestos (it's that old). On this particular Monday I was summoned down the hall to the conference room. If that sounds like a "Dead Man's Walk," you are correct. Corporate had called the publisher over the weekend and told him to chop four jobs in the art department. I, and four of my coworkers were given our two weeks notice (which seems strange, usually it's the other way around). So, on October 12th I will be unemployed.

Strangely, I'm okay with that.

It's probably because I never enjoyed the job - it was a serious grind, and the salespeople I worked with were more concerned about their bonus checks than pleasing customers. It's also because that place was killing my creativity. So I'm off into the great unknown. Maybe I'll find someplace cool to work...or maybe I'll end up at Wegmans. Either way, I have a film to produce and I need to get back at it.

Until next time.