Epilogue of Sorts

Since "Debris" is now finished, and packaged up, and sent off to festivals from whence it can never return, I started thinking about Main Character. He's based loosely on my dad, but I never really gave him a name. I've gotten to know one part of his story so well, but I'd honestly never given thought to who he is outside of that particular journey. Maybe because the film is done, and maybe because I don't really have a project to fill the void yet, I find myself thinking about it more and more.

I figure after he arrives home, he decides to spend some more time with his family. He's always been a bit of a chef at heart, and one Saturday morning, he shows his youngest daughter how to make biscuits.

Maybe she'll be the next character I explore? Or his neighbor? Or a stranger he nods to in the grocery store?

Whatever road I explore next, I hope you'll come along with me as I follow it.
Cheers!

Updated on festival screenings, personal screenings, and all other matters of Debris-related ephemera can be found on the official "Debris" facebook page and (recently updated) website! www.debrisfilm.com
http://www.facebook.com/DebrisFilm

After Affected

I've hit a wall lately, which stinks because I need to get Debris cut together and finished before June. At least, I'd like to get it cut together and finished before June, but for whatever reason whenever I try to work on the film, something comes up. OH, I NEED TO WORK OUT. OH, I NEED TO FINISH MY TAXES. OH, I NEED TO PLAN A WEDDING. OH, I SHOULD WATCH THIS ANIME.

There's also the fact that I'm relatively new to After Effects, and while I can cut together a basic verion of the film, I want better than just "basic." I want to make sure it shines. There are apparently all manner of effects and tricks you can do with AEfx, but right now I can't even figure out how the hell to fade out on a scene. Ugh.

So - if you're reading this, you know After Effects, and perhaps you wouldn't mind sharing some skills, hit a lady up! debrisfilm@gmail.com, or go to www.facebook.com/debrisfilm and tell me all about your vectors and your framing quotients and your alpha channels. I need to know! I must know! Time is ticking, and June is closing in...

Debris animation is finished!

Holy gods. I have climbed the mountain, and it is made of AVIs.

Yesterday morning I exported the last scene in my pile of "scenes to animate." Three and a half years of drawing, planning, dreaming, wallowing in insecurity and self-loathing, fighting off cats, fighting computers and Flash, and learning more about the film-making process than I've ever before...if not finished, then well on its way to being so.

I've got a new mountain to climb now, and it's called "Notes and Fixes." And "Editing." And "Promotion and distribution to film festivals," and "Music," which is where these next two shout-outs come in:

Edie Nugent, my favorite lady from New York, is a PR goddess who's currently in the process of pulling my countless blogs/FB pages/websites for "Debris" into something resembling a coherent whole. Edie's a powerhouse, and she's going to be helping me out a lot in the next few weeks - keep an eye out for some new and exciting stuff on the blog and the FB page!

And Dave Zumsteg/Davey Rockets, LA musician and guitarist extraordinaire, is currently working out some tunes for the film! I send him various youtube videos of random songs I like and he turns them into some amazing stuff...I am SO excited to see everything put together. Dave is in several bands, and you can check them all out on one handy webpage here.

There will also be a DEBRIS KICKSTARTER coming in the new year, to raise funds for said composer and PR rep, as well as production costs, animators, a webpage re-design, and a few other things. Keep your eyes out for a link in early 2012!

Oh look look look at what I've gone and done.

An official Debris Facebook page!

I haven't gone and spammed everyone with a link yet; I'm still woozy from the vast array of spam I sent out about my gallery show this Saturday. I'll wait until next week to alert everyone in the known universe about it. But you, faithful blog readers. You get to see first!

Non-Debris related post #2

I'll have some non-Debris related collages on display at Co op 28, in Los Angeles starting next weekend! Opening reception is Saturday, October 15. The reception corresponds with a neighborhood block party and "open house" of sorts. Here are all the details.

The new pieces look a lot like clown barf, although it's the good sort of clown barf, if there is such a thing.

Still steadily working on Debris. Every morning, for at least an hour. It's into the home stretch now; I'm excited.

The last big push

Rough inbetweening!
Back to work on Debris. I've got 20 or so scenes to go, and 4 months to do them in. That's a scene (And maybe a half scene) per week, until the new year. GAH. So close! I can dooo theeeeesss...

Spent some time working on Good Vibes, then took on a second job at Wildbrain doing storyboards for the Ricky Gervais show. Also, I'm getting married next year. Ima be this guy's wiff!


He's the one being groped by Dangle.

Lately I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be an artist, and what I'm trying to say with my art/films. I go through phases like this every 5-6 years or so. I can describe myself as a person, but when I try to describe my body of work, I fail to come up with the right words. It's like trying to remember the name of a movie you love, and the name is on the tip of your tongue, but you're drawing a blank.

I feel like, more than anything else at this point, I'm making Debris for this guy:


Is that reason enough to make it? Does that give it meaning and worth? One can only hope.

In the meantime, back to ROUGH INBETWEEENING YALLLLLL.
xo

Focus Focus Focus

HAPPY NEW YEAR. It is what, February? I am so awesome at blog updating, you guys.

It's my shiny new new years' resolution to get Debris finished by the end of the year. So, in order to do that, I have enlisted a few other artists and friends to animate some scenes. They will use their art ninja skills and make Debris look amazing!

Without further ado, please welcome my first two animators:

Arie Monroe, from Kansas City, MO. Look at her awesome sexy pinups!

Katherine Waddell, from Boston, MA. Mad design and illustration skills! KA-POW!

I am on a wave of productiveness that may or may not be fueled by chocolate, insecurity, and Thomas Newman soundtracks. I am going to ride it while the gettin's good. Here's another still!