Hurry!

All right, a few preliminary crits are in for the tests below. They are great, and I have to agree with what is being said so far. The good and the bad.

There is hope for the two character bit, the slap needs some work, which I am doing, and people seem to like it. I like it, all around.

The dialogue piece is getting a less favorable response, on the grounds of "what the hell am I watching?" I'm sticking to it, because I like the audio, and, non sequitur, fits with some of my sensibilities. This test is fun, and thats what I need right now. HOW EVER. It does need some context. As in, some emotion change/thought, before/after the bit, to give believable justification to his out burst. Which I think is a compelty valid request.

I shall rant about how sick I am of doing long tests, and my failed efforts to do some under 100 frames. But its very frustrating! (and the spell-check for this blog keeps underlining "sequitur," even though its spelled right)

Blocking Updates

The two character bit has been evolving since I wanted to play around with how a character with the proportions of the Blue guy, might move. Just been making it up as I went along. Which is quite fun, and there are a lot of bits that I like in it, but its not as well staged, organized, or clear, as a piece thats well planned from the beginning, with a purpose, and good idea of who the characters are, and how the shot might be part of a larger story.



This dialogue piece is self explanatory. Both of these, I'm feeling i've done about as much as I can with them, with out wasting time, before I start splining. I'll add in some chair stuff, still in blocking, before I go to splines.




And if you got crits, lemme have em.

Fun times.

Important stuff

Close freinds and family matter.

Striving for excellence in one's work is necessary, but can be awfully lonely, and unrewardingly frustating some times; emotionally, spiritually, and monetarily, so chose your delusions carefully. Never settle.

Fault is one of the Wild Sound's "best animated films," of 2007. Here, is the screening schedule. Feels pretty good to be included on the same roster as the other big players up there. Pat Smith, who was a formative force in my undertaking of animation is screening, as well as fellow NYU alum, David Pagano.

Another school friend, Steve Neary, will be spending some time up at Blue Sky this summer, so kudos to him.

Aussies like "Fault" ...

It seems the fine film going fellows from down-under, have, for a second time, honored me with the enjoyment of my movie



It kind of makes the hours, and money, of submitting to festivals worth it. I'm glad some people are getting a kick out of it.

Short on Youtube

My short film is open again for viewing on youtube. Did about 6 months of festival stuff, and burned out. Not my bag of tea at the moment, so I let that train sail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-_8WgVavqw

http://eflath.com/iphone/man/

The approved

Here is the pencil test of the shot I've been working on for a while now. Many ideas tried, and versions experimented with, to the frame. Its for the film my Professor back in colege is making. Its ridiculous in what it tackles in craftsmanship, beautiful, and really a work of art. I'm honored I was trusted enough to contribute to it. This will later be cleaned up onto frosted cell, colored with colored pencil, then shot on a bolex.

I'm trying to get some of the versions we went through up on my training log, but blogger is being uncooperative.

APPROVED!

Yes, ladies and gentleman, shot 01_03_028, has been approved. Goal of finishing the chimp shot by end of next Sunday, and then we are back on the zone!

New training log. For my animation. Check the links.

update

Here is an update with another 8 hours or so. Lip synch is getting better, hands still need a lot of polish. Tear it apart please.

animation update

all right, finally found some time to get some more work on this test from months ago. I need to loosen up the hands, get some pressure in to them, and the arm reach, I don't like the movement, need to smooth that out a bit.

Evidently some one likes it. Might get a few more submissions out the door then.

Also the discussion for my film at Wild Sound up in toronto is on their site.

http://www.wildsound-filmmaking-feedback-events.com/audience_comments_fault.html

Sorry for the lack of art work up here, work has been insanity, plus, I just moved appts, thanksgiving, freelance, personal projects, ect.

In the mean time go check out the newest film at www.fortaxreasons.com. I went to school with Matt and Ben, and have the pleasure of working with Matt at the moment. Probably will be "working for Matt and Ben," in the future.

VIFF - Victoria Independent Film Festival in Australia. Fault is Screening Sat, November 24th.

Festival

New festivals to see Fault:

WildSound Film Festival in Toronto, Canada. At the National Film Board of Canada Theater, Noveber 20th.

Veneration Film Festival, in Newport News, VA, on November 3.

Name of the game is conquering fear. Does not matter of what.

Thoughts

I've been doing some traditional animation on the film of a past professor for a month now. And very often, it has re-awoken that flame that started me down this path.

As I was mulling along on my way home, I happened accross the thought of how animation connects to guitar. For guitar was my first love, and how I spent my time in highschool (but I'm not a performer). And for some reason, things clicked in my head, as to what exactly that feeling was, that I rediscovered flipping pages these past few weeks.

It felt like I had been practicing, and finally, was just playing, and all the scales, and finger excercises had paid off, and I was watching mysel do something, I was not aware I could do. My next film will be pencil, and rough. I want you to see the feeling of letting your fingers play what they know, and want. Like you are watching the birth, and frollicking of my drawings. Like my pencil on the paper is like the fingers on the fretboard of a guitar.

I have given myself until 26 to get onto feature film animation. As of now, that is a year and a half. By 25 I will have a solid reel. I will finish my dialogue test with the chimps, and will have one reel-worthy new test every month, there after. I will have an updated reel by my birthday, and send it out. If opportunities present themselves before that, I will send what I have. I need to get some place where I can really grow. And be rewarded for the effort.

Lets hear it for Lou!

My friend Lou just earned a permanent position, at a very cool studio. Congradulations. I say earned, cause he worked harder then any one I know. He's quite smart and talented, yes, but he has a work ethic, that no one can match. He works smart, and works hard. This was not given away by any means.

Festival Ho

My film Fault has now been accepted into festival number one. 2D or not 2D. http://www.2dornot2d.org/index.html. For all you readers in my home town of Everett, go check it out. Yay.

trains

Thank ...

who ever you want to thank, for vacations. To all those who humor me, put up with me, and take care of me, I thank you.