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02.28.09 * Stop
Motion Works Coraline Contest Winners ..... Randomly selected
with the assistance of my nephew
as the 'official bag shaker
& random picker' (Yes, he is multi-talented like his
Uncle). Each eligible contest entry
names were assigned numbers and then each number written on
7/8" x 3-1/4" size paper slips and tightly folded into one
quarter size, ending up as 13/16" x 3/4" size. The
receptacle used to 'contain' all
the  folded
slips of paper was a fresh & new,
environmentally Green-friendly  ,
brown
recyclable bag 11" x 3-1/2" x 6". The bag was
fluffed open for maximum space to acheive high turbulent
movement of paper slips. Top edge of bag folded
sharply to seal it. My nephew then grabbed top end of folded bag
and vigorously shook it for one full minute (I used a
digital timer). We placed the bag in the center of dining room table.
My nephew was wearing cotton T-shirt (short sleeves). I
unfolded the bag and guided my nephew's right hand who was
blindfolded (using one of my designer color
bandannas), to the top of open bag and at 20 second
intervals, one by one,he grabbed each slip of
paper.  Without further ado, here are the 3 winners: Tom P. from Sacramento, California (USA), Schuylr D. from New York, New York (USA), and Gordon Y. from Toronto, Ontario (Canada) A big congratulations to the winners  . Our Stop
Motion Works staff
will email you and also forward your contact information to
the
Coraline Contest Sponsor. For all who participated, we thank
you. As stated in our contest
rules & info, your contact information is absolutely confidential and
will be thoroughly shredded & disposed of. SMW being
environmentally Green-sensitive , we will
recycle, said
shredded cellulose content
material. We hope that all of you stay subscribed to Stop Motion Works, the only source that digs down deep into this specialty animation art & craft. Not just 'superficial surface' information about Stop Motion, but dares to expose the rumors, buzz, politics, etc. and asks the hard questions. Also including, the cogent & profound observations from LIO. You may not always agree with him, but he is straight-up direct. See what you just learned right now? The fascinating (?) behind the scenes of this Contest  . Astounding
isn't
it!?  We
will resume Stop Motion
Works News postings in a
few
days. As reminder, here
are the prizes
that each winner will receive.____________________ 02.19.09 * Stop Motion showcasing,
groups, exposure,
monetizing, etc. ..... I have already rambled
in past and
recently (directly & indirectly) about this. I do not feel like
doing another keyboarding rant and repeating myself. If you make effort
to search, you can find my various past views. At this
time, I am dubious about steady 'career' in just Stop Motion. Not
saying that it is impossible, but can be very difficult. Ideally, one
should strive to have multi-skillsets
(eclectic
talents) that can supplement Stop Motion. Some new observations I can add is .... Stop Motion is just one verrrry sma  ll
facet in the massiveness of entertainment
choices out there now. You are not just competing with other
animation styles (Cgi, 2D, Flash animation, Motion Graphics) but also,
with live action shorts. Especially
now, in this
brain
frying info internet excess, the masses are being exposed to a
plethora of
entertainment
venues & exposure outlets out there. Here is just a mere small
sample, StudentFilms.com
- YouTube's
Future Shorts
- YouTube's
Screening
Room. Some of the stuff may be mediocre but there are some very creative works
(undiscovered
talent) that the LCD
mainstream public will not usually see and the orthodox Tinsel Town
Gatekeepers aka 'Studio Suits' will likely ignore. The biggest
possible negative of Stop Motion is, that it can be very time consuming
compared to
other animation methodologies, however with digital tools &
creative resourcefulness, there are ways to somewhat reduce Stop Mo
production time.
Many at messageboard
seeking the
magic formula
to monetize
'Stop Motion'. There is no
simple A, B, C formula. Not
everyone can have the same success. This is the nature
of the 'arts-entertainment
biz' and is very competitive and only for those that are truly
passionate who can persevere the ups & downs. One way to perhaps help your self-marketing strategy, is to maybe combine your talents with others; a group working together on projects. Ron S. Cole and David Rosler have proposed some ideas here & here, which is GREAT, however, in my more realistic view, it can be difficult for a group of people to maintain a dedication to work spirit for the long haul especially when not being paid. Only the die-hard passionate Stop Motionists might honor that kind of commitments. In my case, I have loosely agreed with Ron and a group of other artisans to be part of, what we have called, a 'Consortium' where we all volunteer or donate our skill-set strengths towards possible joint projects, to produce finished proof of concepts demo works. I also have recently had some personal ephiphany-like realizations about my possible direction in Stop Motion as an info-tainment commentary tool in the area of 'public service' (not for profit). Something I prefer not to disclose, as this is not for personal publicity but for a higher calling . There is an online video of Ralph Bakshi, 2D Animator & Artist maestro (his website), sharing some of his wisdom about working as a 'group' with other like minded creatives. Mr. Bakshi is referring to 2D or Cgi animation but it obviously applies to Stop Motion, Surviving in Tough Times. Some other micro-sample of related links, Indie Films Hit the Web - Navigating the Digital Divide and much more, if you do research. EDIT: 02.20.09 ____________________ 02.14.09 * Jriggity aka
Justin Rasch going High Tech Replacement Stop Motion? .... A
brief comment by him at a blog,
stating, his next Stop Mo project, he may consider
using 3D printing
technology that was used in 'Coraline'
movie,
for the replacement  animation shapes (facial
features). I am guessing that Justin
& Shel
knows that Laika
used the Objet
Geometries 3D printers
with their cheapest model costing about $40,000 USA dollars
just for one  . Possibly
other
3D printer brands around that are more affordable but maybe not as
heavy duty as required by Laika's humongous use of these machines. They
seemed to have went hog wild in pumping out thousands of 3D printed
replacement face parts & shapes (for the 2 dozen animators) and
miniature props. A smaller Stop Mo project would likely not
need to go that excessive and maybe use 3D printer much more moderately.The MySpacey Generation© might not know Stop Motion history. 'Replacement animation' is not new but a classic ol' method that George Pal pioneered or extensively used this Stop Motion technique of replacement faces, heads, shapes, puppet walk cycles, etc. known as Puppetoons (Madcap Models). Examples - Philips Broadcast (1938) - Tulips Shall Grow (1942). Also in feature movies such as Brothers Grimm (1962): Shoemaker & Elves scene. All ol' school model/puppet fabrication methods before the current plethora of techo-wiz gadgetry. No 'Puters, stop mo capture software, digital-schmigital, 3D printers, etc. * 3-D Prophets vs. 3-D Naysayers ..... For me, I would possibly be in the 'middle'. 3-D Stereo can be very cool. It has existed for years in the arena of special marketing presentations and do-it-yourself/hobbyist 3-D'rs. For mainstream theatrically released movies, as I previously ranted here & elsewhere, 3-D perhaps will add a little more visual punch to specific genre categories (sci-fi, horror, animation, fantasy, etc). My view is, it would be Stupid to waste 3-D on just any movie. If over-used, I guarantee you that the short attention-span 'new millenium' public would get quickly jaded. Of course in mass 
media, pundits and so-called trend experts making all
kinds of predictions of consumer's future
habits: "A 3-D market
for the hard
core
home video gamers. Also, companies offering proprietary
3-D televisions or systems for Home TV viewing".
LIO insight  ....
Home TV 3-D will
defeat
Mainstream Movie Biz efforts to get
the public out of their homes and into the movie theaters.In my view, just because '3-D promoters' make predictions with supposed perception of authority, that DOES NOT mean it will happen, especially in these current tumultuous economic and financial times, any kind of accurate prognistication is uncertain. Consumers, businesses, and companies are in 'on hold' or 'cautious' mode because MONEY is hella cash-strap TIGHT. Anyway, if you got spare time, some reading for you, a mere sample (also, read the article replies/comments) The Dread 3-D - Fad or Future - 3-D`s popping off the screens again - 3D: Is this the resurgence that counts? - 3-D enthusiasm is anything but flat ____________________ 02.06.09 * 'Coraline'-O-Rama
up the WahZoo (or up the Yin-Yang) ..... I subscribe to
some news services and I cannot believe the plethoric
quantities of
'Coraline' stuff on the Internet. It seems that the 'Coraline'
marketing people have executed a very effective viral online
campaign. I do not watch much broadcast TV and for a long time, have
not subscribed to cable TV services, and so, I do not know if there has
been much 'Coraline' promotion on broadcast
television. However, this is kind of odd maybe .... when I
ask co-workers
at my Straight Joe-job
(pays the rent/bills), most all of them have not heard of
'Coraline'. I assume, paid commercial advertising in broadcast TV media
is big dollars pricey
but reaches the general 'Joe 6-pak Husband
&
Suzie Soccer Mom' public, whereas
'internet
marketing'  is
perhaps much more
cost-effective by comparison (to TV) but reaching a niche/specific
audience. As I already stated, there is so
much
online about
'Caroline' and some of it, is repetitive by the bloggers and reviewers,
reposting same articles, but I have weeded through some of it and at
end of this
ramble will post some of the 'Coraline' links that were somewhat
enlightening 'to me'. Just some free flow thought summary from what I have gleaned: Did you know that Laika Studio used a 3D Printing technology to produce the replaceable plastic facial parts for the stop motion puppets? "Utilizing UV-sensitive resin, the Objet Geometries printers helped the team build thousands of replacement faces & mouths that were modeled with CG software. In fact, all of the voice acting was completed in the computer first, and then printed out for the animators to slide into place, piece by piece. Its one of the few computer-aided elements of the film". So, in an indirect way, 'Coraline' somewhat used CGI methods, using best of both worlds: 'Traditional' & tweaking-enhancing with Hi-Tech. Next - Back in 2007 there was news announcement about Laika constructing a Campus/Studio. Obviously a costly venture. Well, Meister Henry Selick has suggested now, to perhaps put the campus/studio on the back-burner, and instead, direct the money to actual Stop Motion production. I totally agree with Henry! Excellent, 'Conservative' thinking and pragmatic, especially in these precarious economic times. Use the money WISELY. Personally, I do not give a rats ass about a modern slickified studio. Stop Motion functions excellently in converted warehouses and it's the the 'kindred and creative spirit' of the talented artisans that makes a 'Studio'. Next - Estimation as to the production cost of 'Coraline' is 60-70 million USA dollars. I suppose, that is maybe somewhat of a 'bargain' when compared to the almost obscene costs of today's CGI or Digital special FX laden wannabie blockbusters. My view, Stop Motion when done with small crew using all manner of creative resourcefulness, is very cost effective, however, when Stop Motion goes into the mainstream realm of big productions like 'Nightmare Before Christmas', 'James in the Giant Peach', 'Corpse Bride', 'Coraline', the production costs meteorically skyrockets. In my view, if Stop Motion is to compete in the mainstream with CGI, the production budget and time has to be attractive to the suits/studios (not take so long & less costly than CGI). Then there is the issue of having multiple mainstream Stop Motion features concurrently in production. Limited Stop Motion specialists crew (specifically, big stop mo features) and the sometimes prolonged time in ramping up a Stop Mo production. Majority of animation studios are CGI & 2D. They are not equipped or experienced in the Stop Motion production process. Next - There exists a small industry clique of pundits and commentary flick critics who like to predict, do quarterbacking analysis, or make pronouncements about success or failure of 'mainstream' movies. To me it's all a 'game' ever since the beginning of Hollywood Cinema but way more intense now. I read, that 'Coraline' requirements for box office success does not have to achieve the blockbuster status of Pixar-like CGI animated movies. If 'Coraline' achieves similar 'box office numbers' like Aardman's animated features, that should be a positive sign. That is good news to those of you who use 'mainstream' as barometer of a movie's success. Personally, I do not use 'mass LCD popularity' to determine 'quality'. Anyway, you better reserve some time to kick-back and slip on your reading glasses for some good reads .... Objet 3-D Printers Play Starring Role - Post Magazine: 'Coraline' Animated via Stop Motion - Suspended Animation - Laika hangs dreams on 'Coraline' - Laika hopes 'Coraline' shows the stop-motion way - Hollywood Knights - Vid 1: Coraline voice-over work - Vid 2: more voice-over work & modelers/animators - Vid 3: Model-sets, Studio, Animators - Hollywood Backlot: 'Coraline' - Henry Selick speaks - Just about all the 'Coraline Trailer clips - Rotten Tomatoes - MetaCritic.com - I think, I'm already 'Coraline' brain fried  and I
have
not even seen the frigg'n movie yet!! EDIT:
02.08.09* Tim
Burton's Stop Motion 'Frankenweenie' in
Black & White and 3-D Stereo ..... That's the buzz
I heard.
Hmmmm, all that laborious effort to produce
a mega-mega million dollar Stop Motion feature in black & white?
I already know,
it would probably be for 'artistic film noir'ish aesthetics'.
The original live action 'Frankenweenie'
(1984) was in B&W
and also the earlier 1982 stop mo short 'Vincent'.
Would you s  ave time & labor
painting the puppets, sets and props
in
B&W shade values
compared
to doing it all in glorious
color? Or just shoot/film it all in
color and in post production, convert to B&W??
I'm not sure if Black & White is going to be a possible
'negative' when it comes to marketing the Stop Motion version of
'Frankenweenie'. The New
Millennium Myspacey Generation 'weaned' on hyper
visual
cocaine-like CGI/Digital imagery up the wahZoo.
IMO, they might not appreciate (sip slowly, like 'fine wine'  ) the aesthetic
mood ambiance of 'Black & White'. I would think maybe, a hard
sell to the consumer audiences? Or perhaps, the supposed draw of '3-D
Stereo' and perhaps the 'Tim Burton' name will 'compensate' for the
Black & White?? John
August to Write Tim Burton's 'Frankenweenie' and here* 'BORN' shelved or still alive? Clive Barker & Del Toro feature ..... Original 
buzz was
back in 2007. I must have had a brief brain fart because I am not sure
if I heard about it back then. So, I just
accidentally
discovered this again. It's live action
combined with Stop Motion: "The
plot
reportedly revolves around a married couple, the husband of which is a
stop-motion animator, settling down in a quaint English town and then
getting terrorised by
his claymation creations." At the time of the original
news back
then, it said that the Chiodo
Brothers were being considered to do the
Stop Motion special effects. How many frigg'n projects does my Cousin
Del Torro have floating around? The
Hobbit, Pinocchio,
The
Witches and then 'Born'???
Hey Guillermo, "Llámame
si necesita
ayuda!" What's
Really Going On With Barker, Del Toro and Simpson?s 'Born'?* 'Coraline' to revive Stop Motion Animation? ..... Some of you regular followers of SMW News (aka LIO) seem to get amnesia sometimes: In my past diatribes, I have stated, do not look to 'mainstream' as an 'indicator' of Stop Motion  's
'Alive-ness or Deadness'. I am referring to the orthodox 'Tinsel-town'
culture of formulaic/homogenized movie products (not Laika Studio). In my
view, Stop Motion appears to have stronger viability in other markets
and venues (compared to just 'feature films'). On the
internet, Stop Mo has become very popular and generates lots of
interest from the general public. With the 'Arts', many times it is the
strong desire for creative expression that usually takes precedent over
just 'monetary' reasons. Unfortunately, if you are attempting
to pursue the
very specialized work in Stop Motion for $pay$, one usually adopts a
personal lifestyle of a nomad,
that is, in an effort to sustain somewhat regular income, you are
forced to geographically trek far and wide in search of Stop Motion
employment.An article I just read, mostly focuses on the 'Stop Motion Animators', who are, to the general public, 'anonymous' but within the Stop Motion 'community', sometimes considered the elite 'Celebrity Actor-Stars'. We of course know, in the larger animation productions, there is a Stop Motion crew of unsung heroes with unique skills & talents who are behind the 'Puppet Pushers'. I was surprised to read in that article, that Laika Stop Motion animators were making $60,000 to $100,000. To me, especially  in
the area of the 'Arts', that is pretty good
compensation.My brief pondering rambles are not negative but just telling it like IT IS. Do not go into denial by rejecting the hard truth . The other
alternative but also not easy, is to be an
enthusiastic entrepreneur
and proactively market & promote yourself as having a range
of skills
& services.
This is the opposite
of specializing.
You would be almost, a
small'ish boutique studio. There are a few rare
Stop Motionist eclectic-types who
can do it all
(takes dedicated perseverance to learn many skills). I always
have said, first
look at Stop Motion as your passionate creative outlet
and use your other
'pay
the bills & rent' joe-job
to subsidize
your
fulfilling hobby.
If you ever
do get
paid for your passion-hobby, you should consider
that extra
'icing' on the cake.
Do some research. You
are not 'alone'. These are precarious
economic & financial times for everyone
now. Animators
hope for a stop-motion revival with Laika's 'Coraline'
Wishing, good
luck &
success to 'Coraline'  EDIT:
02.03.09* February SMW Random Cinema©: 
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