Art Dump: Think in Line

Long overdue post of this time. Have been hogging my stuff to myself. Here's mostly random doodles and sketches. Some concrete, some just because:

A dinosaur for good measure.

A goat horse I guess...

"Doc, ya gotta believe me!"

Some memory sketching waitin' for the train.

Film in Spotlight - 2001: A Space Odyssey

This is how a REAL space film starts, kids!

Every now and then I enjoy branching back off to live action film to avoid getting stuck in that cartoon film rut. Animated film is, after all, just another way of visual storytelling; why should it be much different from ideas used in live action film every time? Now, there's plenty of animation out there directed to adult or more mature audiences, but rarely are they hosted in a spotlight. It's understandable though - far too many people assume animation is of a more innocent nature (and accidentally take their children to movies like South Park-which I hope they've learned their lesson!).

So back to my topic of film, when's the last time any of you really watched 2001: A Space Odyssey? Getting the "holy shit I think my brain just imploded" feeling out of the way, how do you truly appreciate film making like this amongst the cookie-cutter bonanza of movies in the industry today? You hear all the praise people give Kubrick films, but do you really understand why they are so great? I could go on all day about the good film making lessons one can learn from 2001 alone, but there were two very remarkable things that stood out: simplistic, symmetrical composition, and the most easy pacing you've ever felt.

Far too many movies today rely on the "reassurance" that the fast-paced, get-as-much-material-you-can-pack-in, more bang-for-your-buck entertainment is the reliable way to become an excitement and a success. But while there is a market for that kind of entertainment (and I'm certainly not against it, we've got to admit that we all enjoy that kind of stuff every now and then), there's no denying that this kind of approach can and do ruin some films. There's a reason why certain films become timeless and legendary.

The pacing in 2001 would send the entertainment industry in a frenzy. You can't go this slow! You can't take that long on that shot! There's just no way all of this can work…people will hate it! But it DOES work, and it's funny hearing people talk about classic films like 2001 with admiration, when they probably don't even know what to appreciate about it. The idea behind 2001 isn't to entertain people into a fever, excitedly fist-pumping for more action. It's the idea of the alien feeling of time and space. Kubrick understood what the story was about, and filmed it accordingly - filmed it in a direction that the story fit into, which many films miss that mark entirely and get swept into cliches.

Man it sure does take a long time to land on the moon…

Why in the world would you want to hurry through this film? I tend to think people don't really want to watch movies anymore; they act pressed for time and want to be fed as much information as possible in as short amount for time. Standing in line to use the convenient ATM takes too long! My fast food at the drive through is taking too long! Writing this text message is taking too long! This two hour movie is taking too long! There was a time when patience was enjoyable and relaxing; that a two hour experience in another world or person's life actually drew people in and never wanted it to end. Even some animation suffers from the lack of good pacing as well today.

But probably the most outstanding feature of 2001 is the actual visual storytelling, which all these screen shots I've included illustrate. It was the repeated use of symmetrical composition that was the most outstanding of all.

Hi, I'm HAL. Right here. IN YOUR FACE. You cannot ignore me. I pull you into my world.

The use of such linear, striking, yet simple visuals is what really draws you into the story. It's as if they suck you into that vacuum of space the characters are in themselves. You become more engaged in their reality, which is the basis of escapism. It's eerie and frightening and yet you can't look away.

DOOOOM!

Of course, these compositions also help play with the story themes of the monolith, the computer mind, and travel. Imagine that! The visuals react to the actual story!

Definitely on a spaceship.

The fact that so many shots are so simplistic help the story to remain incredibly complex and abstract. It's not a visual migraine that leaves you grumbling and frustrated by too much action on screen (*cough*StarWars123*cough*).

Say, that computer watching us through the window is kinda creepy…I wonder why.

Less is more sometimes. If I gave you one of those small, artisan dishes with the tiny fillet in the middle sprinkled with a little bit of something, you might look at me like I'm insane, and hop over to Denny's for that mountain of steamy, greasy food (it's cheaper, too!). But some of us gag at the sight of that hospital trip on a platter, and know that that little fillet is absolutely amazing, and is just enough, and will be such a rich experience that even if you don't get to eat there again, you'll still remember how great it was.

Another great sci-fi classic like this that gets praised, and yet no one seems to actually follow it's example, is Alien. Again, it's pacing and it's "less is more" idea makes the frightening aspects more real. We don't have to see the monster to know it's there…God, we KNOW it's there! Give us our night lights already!

Dead Animals

some pieces from some sessions at the museum earlier this summer.

August Wrap-Up

Just wanted to get in a post about...well...something. Finished up my trip to beautiful San Diego and the comic con in July with a trip to Chicago, then back to NYC two weeks later. Been working away on animation for a live-action feature film, designs by Bill Plympton. Lotsa work and lotsa late nights. Never thought I could do that kind of work again since senior year burned me out, but now it just makes it all seem quite easy. Posted a drawing over at my deviantArt page...just one lonesome drawing, but it's one more than I've done in a while.

a purdy ship in the harbor in san diego.

i love old planes. i really do. i went aboard the uss midway while i had some free time to myself in san diego. the midway was decommissioned in 1994 and turned into a museum. it's not just a place where grannies and vets flock to...it's really worth going to walk around an actual aircraft carrier - below deck and up on the top deck - and a perfect place if any artists need good reference like this. worth all $10 i paid, and took away a load of sweet pictures of all the jets up top. if you ever go, don't pass up the opportunity to chat with the workers there. most of them are war vets and have great stories.

buncha the ncn guys at the con in san diego.

got to run into a lot of artists in sd too, like steve here.

and david colman (aka davidsdoodles - deviantArt). lucky bastard works designing for disney now.

marlo and kali...lol.

uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrk!

Festivities

Being freed from the confines of school, I've found myself quickly feeding an addiction of traveling. Might as well get it out of my system before "settled down" hits my agenda. Last week I attended a smash-hit of the debut Platform International Animation Festival in the lovely green city of Portland, Oregon. LOL WTF Portland!?, I hear all you internets kids say...but yes, Portland! Home of heavyweight contender Laika (formerly Will Vinton studios, of whom I actually got to see at the festival in person), Bent, and other mid-sized animation studios that play more of a major role in the industry than some of you are aware. It's also quite the lovely city and easy to get around, plus uber kindly bus drivers that one so used to NYC like me are not accustomed to.

Platform was the best...and the very first international animation fest stateside (the big one in North America being in Ottawa, Canada every year), and I encourage all you festival attenders and animators alike to add Platform to your calendar of "must do"s for next year's show.

Funny enough, Platform was a last minute gee-golly I think I WILL go decision on my part, and I'm very thankful I decided to do so. Much like what I'm doing now, planning a trip BACK out to the west coast for the San Diego Comic con. I've told myself for 3 years now I'd go, and I almost didn't plan for it this year...what with all the traveling I AM planning...but getting paychecks has been a sweet sweet gift this summer, and even after paying rent and groceries I find myself aching to splurge a bit on footing it out of town. So San Diego will be graced by the blue raptor later this month.

After SDCC, Chicago will see quite a bit of me, especially at the Chicago Comic con once again...though this time just as an attendee, and not to make dough on raptor goods only to barely break even on expenses....ha. So hopefully I'll get to hang out with more fine and dandy artists in Chicago for the month of August.

Boy oh boy...here's my lineup!

:::June - Platform....CHECK!
:::July - SDCC....GOING!
:::August - Chicago Comic Con....GOING!
:::September - Ottawa International Animation Festival....PENDING...
:::Sept/October - National Caricaturist Network Convention....GOING!

Let me know who's gonna be where...I'd like to run into lots'a'ya'll.

Some pics from the glorious mystical land of Portland and Platform:





A rad picnic requires deep thoughts...


...and some baseball throwin'.


Drinking and animating is apparently a huge hit.


Capture Master Javan Ivey muscling the "film" around.


Car trip!!


lol band photo.


A night of free arcade games, cheap beer, and Voodoo donuts.


Everyone loves award ceremony time!


Don't give anything to Don...he likes breaking things.



But congrats to Lee and Dan, who took home an award for their producing and collaborating in The Secret Life of Robots!


=)

Alright, Role Call

-Senior shows were a blast.
-School's done.
-Visited home in Orlando for a week.
-Moved into my new place in Brooklyn.
-Workin' freelance animation and havin' a great time.

-And just finished the Preacher series that one of my room mates had on him. Had to beg him to buy the last one's when I started! Just 'bout cried my heart out at the end. I don't read many series, or loads of comics in general, but this was one of those good choices with a great story.



Also, I'm drawing more for FUN again. Imagine THAT.

SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

just continuing to spread the word everywhurrr.



my film, "The Packrat", will be shown black and white since the animation itself won't be colored.

i suggest you check out the postings over at our campus' animation blog to get a sneak peak at the other students work and such.

break from thesis

...actually, not really. breaks don't exist. but i do get really annoyed now and then animating the same two characters day in and day out, so i ruffed this out in about an hour last night just to loosen up and have a little fun:



it's animated in plastic animation paper, which i highly suggest all you animators check out. right now they're still working on the mac version tho, sowwie. it's a great little program right now, and i can work so fast in it that half of my thesis film is being done with its aid.

in past events, i also went to go see Meet the Robinsons on the 9th this month. i was going to write a long review on it but i've realized i've been wasting too much energy doing so. i'll just leave all of you to determine for yourselves whether it's good or not, and i'm sure many of you are familiar as to my opinion of it, but for record i gave it a rating of 6 out of 10.

i think i found the problem...

heheh. been meaning to draw this.

Run Gary Run

Some more movement for your eyes.

Because photos are phun

...and internet spelling is phunnier. i am very tired.

A night working in the studio at Pratt with yours truly and the other animation bandits, sans one (Manny) who commutes to campus.


lucky bastards at calarts with their own little cubicles have nothin' against our little room and it's wall of skulls! (note kindergarten-like colored cut-outs on walls)

my little crooked desk I obtain the use of at times.

a defaced Meet the Robinsons poster, percentage done bars (ie. guilt trip), and lists of things to do make for a grand time.

deep thinking for my tush.

scissor fight!


*ponder*ponder*