Getting Unstuck (Hopefully)

Well, would you look at that?  It's been forever since I last sat down and really wrote anything in this blog.  I'm well aware that it's not the first time this has happened and I always say I mean to write more.  And I do.  I really mean to write, I want to.  The thing is, life has been crazy for a while now.  Honestly, it's been a very extended stressful period and personally, I haven't felt like writing about all the chaos going on.  When you're living in craziness, living it is enough, you don't necessarily want to write about it too.  At least that's how it is for me.  I know a lot of people are able to take turmoil and shape it into their creative outlets and create something good from it, but that hasn't been the case for me. I tend to get overwhelmed and it creates a creative block.  Frustratingly, this applies to both my blog and my other creative outlets.  I've done a few small art projects here and there, but the animation front has been extremely slow for a while.  It's not for lack of desire, I've been wanting to make something, but the spark just hasn't been there.  I've been aware of it and trying to overcome it, but it's easier said than done.

Even though I haven't really done any animation in quite some time, something I worked on was recently released and I can't say enough how proud I am to be part of the project.  A few years ago, America Young asked me to do a tiny bit of animation for a movie she was making.  America is one of those people who is so fantastic on every level, I'll jump at the chance to help her out in any way I can, so of course I did just that.
A couple months ago, The Concessionaires Must Die! was finally released into the world.  It's currently available pretty much anywhere you might find yourself digitally purchasing a movie.  ITunes, Amazon, Xbox...  Have a look and you should be able to find it!
It's good, heartfelt, nerdy fun and I'm so happy I got to have even the tiniest hand in bringing it to life.  Seek it out, take a look, enjoy, and when you see those dancing snacks, well, you'll know that that was my little contribution.

While things have been slow and difficult on the creative front for a while now, I feel like the tide is beginning to turn in unexpected and potentially exciting ways.  Over the past few months, ideas have been beginning to spark.  New ideas that range across several different, tones, intended audiences, and types of media.  It feels strange that after spending so many years primarily focusing on animated projects, nothing I'm doing right now has anything to do with animation whatsoever.  Though strange, the change is nice.  I feel like I'm suddenly working with a much broader canvas.

I don't want to prematurely go into too much detail regarding the things I'm working on, but I will say this- while one of the projects is still heavily centered on me creating visual art, the others, so far, have had me focused on writing.  I haven't actively written a story since I wrote The Girl and the Ghost.  The shift has been a bit bizarre, but honestly, I've been loving it.  I don't think I've ever experienced something like this where the story has just been pouring out of me and all I can do is try to keep up with the words.  I really feel like something special might be happening right now and I can't wait to share it.

So, yes, that's where things stand right now.  It's a short blog post and I don't have much to show at the moment, but after a long drought, I feel like new, hopefully good things should be coming to light in the not too distant future.

Fingers crossed.

A Boring May Update

I wish I could blog more often.

Correction- I wish good, exciting, blogworthy things occurred more often. Truth is, everything I'm involved with seems to have a long and involved process with not many exciting updates until the very end. So, looking at my blog may give the impression that I'm lazy and not doing anything at all, that's not the case.

For the most part.

Most recently, I've been working on editing The Girl and the Ghost. I'm happy (and relieved) to say it's nearly finished. The next step, which I'm very pumped about, will be adding sound effects and music. After that, it should finally be finished. Then comes the task of figuring out what to do with the finished film...

I've been doing a little bit of plotting and outlining for a new script that I really think has the potential to be unique and special, but it's too soon to get into details on that, so consider yourself teased.

Besides that, I've got a new animated short written and ready to go whenever I am, plus Larry and I are talking about coming up with something new to work on. So, when it comes to what's next, I've got options aplenty.

As for Four Tanks and a Healer, I've got no real news to share as of yet. Hopefully I'll have something exciting to share soon.

Other than that, I've pretty much just been laying low and hanging out with my constantly growing and ridiculously smart nephew. I brag, but it's true.

Movie-wise, I've only gotten to the theater to see Paul and Thor, both of which I loved.

I'm looking forward to all the movies you'd expect me to, like Green Lantern, Captain America, and Super 8, and I'm surprised to say I'm (cautiously) looking forward to the new X-Men and Transformers movies, even though their previous installments left me cold.

So, cartoons, writing, and movies...yep, I'm boring. I will be having a much anticipated adventure next month, so I know I'll at least have some excitement to write about then, if not before.

Until then, stay snazzy.

June Updates

Just thought it was high time I posted updates on some things, so here goes.

It's been pretty slow going on new projects lately. The main reason is basically that I've just been stressed out with life these days and pretty much stuck in a bad mood since I got sick a couple months back. I honestly just haven't been in a frame of mind where I'd be able to work on these without feeling like I'm just going through the motions. I don't want that to happen and I'm working on powering through it. Things ARE moving forward. It may be slow, but it's happening.

I've been doing some fun stuff lately, but nothing has been able to snap me out of this funk I'm in. I'm hoping something comes along soon and does the trick.

I'm looking forward to the Canada trip at the end of the month. The Chantal concert at the winery might be just what I need.
Grandma and Maude are tagging along with Mom and I for this one. It'll be the first time the four of us have gone on a trip together since the Corrs adventure of 2004. If that trip is any indication, this one ought to be a blast.
The hotel room is booked, our passport cards (what a rip) have arrived, I'm ready to go. Everything's ready.
Now we wait.
Sixteen days to go.

I've been hanging with Bridget a bit lately, which has been fun. Things got hectic and we didn't get to see each other for a long time, so it's been cool to be able to catch up, vent, and swap music with her again.

I saw Terminator Salvation after much waiting and anticipating. It was alright. I'll admit, I had pretty high expectations, and while it didn't quite live up to those expectations, I didn't dislike it.
Up, on the other hand, I thought was amazing. Heartbreaking, funny, just a beautiful movie. I thought the 3D was fantastic was incredible too. Just an all around great experience at the movies. I'd love to go see it again.
Currently at the top of my "to see" list is The Hangover.

On the Fan Film front, word is that Stan Lee traveling, but the DVD is on his desk waiting for him. This waiting to hear something is torture.

There's really not much else to update on at the moment. I'm feeling pretty boring story-wise. Hopefully some summer adventures will change that.
Now go outside and get some sun, you. There's only three months until The Beatles: Rock Band comes out, so I better get outside before that addiction hits.

Updating Again

Blogger recently upgraded their layouts and all, so I'll be revamping the blog a bit over the next few days. Bear with me and don't mind the rough look it currently has.