2010: Time to Catch Up

It's been over two months already?

Oops.

I've never claimed to be a punctual (or good) blogger, but I'll always keep coming back and updating. The main problem for me with blogging is that when nothing's happening, there's nothing to write, but when things are happening, there's no time to sit and collect my thoughts into a semi-decent entry.

I'm pretty busy these days, but I want to get an update out before it gets too out of control.

Let's do this.

Christmas was a great time. Lots of long-running traditions failed to come together, which was a bummer, but Christmas Day made up for that. Kris, Jessi, Hanna, and Matthew came over on Christmas morning and we did presents here. I loved watching Matthew have the whole experience, that was the highlight for me.

Keeping with tradition, the afternoon and evening were spent over Grandma's, just hanging out with the family.

Matthew spent the night on New Year's Eve, so I hung out with him and Mom all night. Ate some cheese and crackers, had a little drinky drink, it was nice.

The highlight of that night was the pudding episode. Matthew was sitting next to me as I putzed around on my laptop. He was eating pudding, so I asked "Is that good?"

He looked at me, gave it some thought, and said "Have some."

He then grabbed his spoon and stretched, trying to get it to my mouth. Half of it smeared across my cheek, the rest across my teeth. He said "uh oh", grabbed his napkin, climbed up, and started wiping my face. I was laughing too hard to make a sound. When he started wiping my teeth, I closed my mouth to avoid getting a mouthful of paper napkin. He then proceeded to grab my beard and pull down, trying to open my mouth.

The kid's a trip.

2009 got off to a rough start and never really seemed to recover. There were highlights and bright spots, but the overall tone of the year wasn't all that great, so I was happy to see '09 go so 2010 could get a shot at not sucking.

So far? I suppose it's been okay. The winter weather's been pretty rough, so I haven't been able to get out much. Honestly, I've pretty much gone stir-crazy at this point.

I've been using my indoor-time to catch up on some of the movies I missed last year. I've recently watched The Hangover, 9, District 9, and Zombieland. All were good, but my favorite movie I've seen recently was easily Moon. Blew me away. See it.

I also saw Avatar in 3D. I can't say I fell in love with it, but I definitely liked it.

I've mostly been spending my time working to finish animating The Girl and the Ghost. It's been a big test, trying to push myself without burning out on the process more than I already am. But I'm moving forward. I wouldn't say I'm in the home stretch just yet, but it is in sight. This movie's almost done.

Want something to watch now? Dolly Oxem's Traveling Video Circus premiered a few weeks ago! Check it out!

DOLLY OXEM'S TRAVELING VIDEO CIRCUS!
Uploaded by Bullcrank. - See more comedy videos.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbvvtu_dolly-oxem-s-traveling-video-circus_fun

Production for Four Tanks and a Healer begins next month. Craziness, I tell ye.

I better get back to work.

A Picture, Some Video, and a Ghost Update

Haven't been blogging much lately, since I finally jumped back into animating The Girl and the Ghost again. Animation resumed on August 5th and I've been going full force ever since. Until last Thursday, that is.

I sent the MacBook in to get checked out before the warranty ran out. So, I've been on my old iBook ever since. It's been killing me to not be able to animate (or watch YouTube videos, or play games, or do anything entertaining) for the past week. It should be back soon though, then it's back to work.

Animation-wise, I recently passed the 500 hour mark and have just over six minutes of completed footage. I'm usually extremely critical of my own work, but I honestly love how this is looking. It's finally coming together and actually feels like a movie. Can't wait to finish it and get it out there. For now, here's a still shot.

While we're in sneak peek mode, here's the trailer for Dolly Oxem's Traveling Video Circus!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpftKra7PUk

The computer downtime, though annoying, was timed well, as this past weekend was my birthday weekend. I was busy hanging with Corey, Eric, Mikey, Brendan, and Jake. Even got to see Aaron for the first time in ages on Sunday.
Much Rock Band was played and much fun was had. Thanks, guys.

I saw Our Lady Peace in concert on August 20th and had an amazing time. There's a detailed blog entry about that on its way as soon as I'm back on a computer better suited to handle pictures and video. For now, though, here's their latest music video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nK4MwL5p_o

Now, I better go get some rest. I'm in the middle of my usual change-of-season sickness.

Bleh.

More soon.

Full Plate. Here, Have a Bite.

It's getting busy again, kiddies. The projects are a-stackin', so I'm gettin' crackin'.

Currently, I'm finishing up work on an animated intro for Larry and the gang's upcoming comedy sketch show, Dolly Oxem's Traveling Video Circus. From what I've seen, I can tell you it's going to be bizarre, ridiculous, and hilarious. They're sort of going back to a style similar to their classic Eyeball Papercuts days, but applying all the things they've learned about filmmaking in the years since. I can't wait to see the finished product.

As soon as I'm done with the intro (within the next couple of days), I'm finally going back to dust the cobwebs off of The Girl and the Ghost. It's been about two years since I put it on hold to focus on The Greatest Fan Film of All Time.
I haven't resumed animating it yet, but I have spent the last few weeks slowly dipping my toes back into that world. Two years is a long time, creativity-wise. Ideas change, situations change, and the production of The Girl and the Ghost is definitely reflecting that. I've rewritten the climax of the story and the cast has some new blood in it.
Marisa Tomasic, who you'll remember as Cheyenne in The Wimp Whose Woman Was a Werewolf, is now on board as the female lead. I spent the past two Fridays with her, recording all the lines for her parts. Yes, I typed "parts", she's pulling double duty on this one and doing an amazing job. Can't thank her enough.

Recording with Marisa

And there's more lined up once that's finished. Remember my big dramatic announcement that I wouldn't be working on Larry's next animated project? Scratch that, I'm on board now. It's still a little ways off and the details are still being figured out, so there's not too much to say about it just yet. But yes, it's called Four Tanks and a Healer, I'm working on it, it will rock, and the Longstreth/Drake magic will continue. Or is it Drake/Longstreth? Drakestreth? Longdrake?
Whatever. It's continuing.

And somewhere in there, there's the new story idea I want to get moving on. I recently put together some concept art for it and I'm completely in love with it. It has me beyond excited, I've even had moments of temptation where all I wanted to do was push everything else aside so I could focus solely on this new idea.
I'll get to it though, hopefully sooner than later. Right now, it's the carrot dangling in front of me.
No, I don't like carrots, make it a soft pretzel. With cheese.

Here's something visual for this entry. I needed a break after animating a few nights ago and thought I'd have some editing fun.
During the editing process for Nintendo: OldSchool Revolution, there was a bit of quality loss in the picture. It bugged me. So, I went back to the original Flash files and re-rendered them in high definition, then edited the footage exactly as Larry did originally. The colors are vibrant, the lines are clear, and the lip-syncing is fixed.
Now, nearly four years after I began animation for it, you can finally see Nintendo: OldSchool Revolution in full quality, flaws and all. HD, baby.

Check it out and tell me what you think!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV1a_1ubJuo

So, that's what I've been up to and will be up to for the next little while. Who knows what other projects might sneak their way in there too?

Right. Gettin' crackin' now.