My last post of 2011...

Hey there, hope all's well. Still getting used to blogging, still punching words infrequently...here's some final updates before the new year. My resolution: to post more stuff with added frequency!

An animatic is now in progress for my grad film, "Yes By Jesus No". The film has to be three minutes or longer, and I'm finding that there's room for expansion. Hopefully it won't feel bloated, and hopefully it won't feel too slight, either.

Since next year will be my final year at university, a dissertation is inevitable. I'll explore the wonders of commercialism, capitalism and some other detrimental effects mainstream animation has had on this industry. Fun!

Happy holidays to everybody and have a splendid new year. Then again, there's that elephant in the room known as December 21st...let's not panic yet!

Workloads, Colds and Delays

Hey guys, it's been a while. Time for some quick updates!

Just been informed that my animation didn't make the cut for the Radio 1 project. Oh well. My congrats go to Jack Payne, who produced a terrific piece that was, to be honest, far above the shoulders of mine. I look forward to seeing the finished version in December!

"Yes By Jesus No" is moving quite slowly. I've had to animate tests and draw some storyboards. I should have an animatic ready by the end of this term.

I've been quite busy recently, so my presence hasn't been as frequent as before. I assure you that I am still alive (although this cold has tried to kill me!).

The Radio 1 Movie

There's a great reason why this post is late: I've been taking part in a competition for Radio 1!

I've been animating this tall, lanky Australian guy of an unknown age who's afraid of flying. I don't know if I can tell you any more details on this project, but this week's schedule has probably been the craziest I've ever embarked on. The brief was only explained to those taking part this Monday, and the hand-in is tomorrow, 2pm GMT. I had to come up with an idea by Monday evening and animate the darn thing in two days, but it was well worth the energy and time. Hey, I'm told that the animation industry works at this frantic pace anyway, so I might as well get used to it!

The 15-second spot is nearly done, and I have no idea how it will be used or if it will be used at all. I just hope that this week hasn't gone to waste and that the producers enjoy what they see, regardless if it makes it or not. But what a ride it's been.

The Radio 1 Movie will premiere online on Wednesday 7th December on the Radio 1 website. Wish me luck!

It's either gotta be a straight Yes, or a By Jesus No!

Storyboard frame, Digital

OK, so what do I have in development at this very moment? I have a short story about a dragonfly and a butterfly. Dragonfly falls in love with Butterfly. Butterfly rejects him. Dragonfly flies to Grasshopper, who turns him into a butterfly. Dragonfly and Butterfly kiss and make up.

And...that's the entire gist of this threadbare plot for my graduation film. This plot is not without inspiration, though. It's actually based on an old poem called "Yes By Jesus No" by New Zealand animator Len Lye. Who's this Len Lye, you might ask? In a nutshell, Lye was an experimental animator, whose favoured technique was to draw and paint directly onto strips of 35mm film. His fascination with motion drove his work, whether it would be film or kinetic sculpture.

Lye's best film (IMHO!) has to be "Trade Tattoo", a fine blend of discarded documentary footage and hand-painted stencils, all tied to lovely Cuban tunes. Unlike the large majority of his animations, which use a tacked-on advertisement at the very end, this film carries a promotional theme from start to finish, a shout-out to the post office labourers in late-30's Britain.

Keep following for more news on upcoming projects. I hope to have another post ready by Tuesday!

The first post ever made!

Hello everybody, welcome to my new blog! I hope your first stay here is pleasurable.

While you’re here, let me shed my proposal: this blog will oversee any projects that I’m making or supervising (provided I’m allowed to talk about them, of course) and give you a virtual rundown of their progress.  This time around, you’ll be here to witness the making of my final film! I’ll be posting sketches, storyboards, animation tests, you name it! I’ll also post some other art and bits and bobs from my archives, just to show how far I’ve come and how further I still have to go.

I’d like to say a big thank you to all my Twitter followers for staying loyal and putting up with some of my incessant rambling, my family and friends who have all supported me to this stage and my fellow tutors who have helped me get this far in the first place.

Why is it called "Inside Absurdity"? In a way, ideas start off as absurd, with no rhyme or reason, until you begin to question the reasons behind it. Well, sometimes you do, sometimes you don't. The thing about absurdity is, not only is it imaginative, but it can also be a spontaneous phenomenon. This name was a rare flash in the pan that can only come in brief, random spells.

And yes, most of that paragraph was a ramble. A winner is you for managing to read through it...

In the meantime, here’s a greeting from my mascot! If you’re a Twitter follower, you may have noticed her on my page.  She is a creature that I have made up, perhaps a few crosses between a Brontosaurus, a rabbit and a beaver, but who knows?  I have called her Pomchi for the time being; but what do you think? Are there any more attractive names out there that would suit her better? Please feel free to comment.

Again, I hope you enjoy the blog!