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Previous News
 04.28.07
* AFTERMATH:
Stop-Mo Expo '07.... So, according to Serious Bender (aka Travis), he thinks that Larry Loc (the Stop Mo Expo organizer) maybe has soured
on and will not do any future
Stop Motion events? Well, I hope not. Here is
Ryan Ball's version/summary, Joe's Meet Pros at Stop Mo
Stop Motion
is a solitary practice (like it has
always been) and maybe not as conducive to networking
because you all tend to be closeted
& lip-zipped  . IMO, this Expo perhaps, could have been better
promoted with more advance preparation &
time. Also , personal invititations
to potential vendors to set-up
booths/tables would have enhanced it.
I can think of a few who could have had booths there. I
know, I know, it is difficult to pull
these things off, especially with minimal staff
or people unwilling to volunteer. Jeff Taylor gave up on Imagine Nation Expo (in
Las Vegas) after 3 years, in which he invested his own
money with some partners. To draw a crowd,
Jeff combined Special FX and the Action/Fantasy
figure model kits attractions, and then supplemented
the Expo event with Stop Motion. They
had tables/booths for variety of
vendors (not just Stop Mo). Just IMO, but
perhaps, Stop Motion "gatherings/events" maybe
works out better if they are small, informal
& underground-type rendevous?
I recall Justin Kohn did have something like this at
his house some years ago.
A positive unexpected side
benefit from the Asifa Stop Mo Expo; a Documentary
might be in the works, to be spearheaded by John Ikuma (no website yet) & also Misha
Klein. John was at
the Expo, and shot some quick videos & interviews to
be posted in short 10 minute segments on YouTube
 (& maybe StopMoShorts). Here is Opening video clip. John's documentary
will be another separate project and will focus
on Stop Motion as an Underground
Art-Craft movement, which is a good
theme & approach, because historically, and
also, as you all know, how I tiraded so
many times (to you silent lurkers), tapping into my
perceptive observational powers  ; that is the nature of Stop Motion;
very up & down and it lives
in a fragile state of existence. Stop
Motion mostly shunned by mainstream
suits. Stop Mo is a culture
& production method, foreign
to "them"; it is more organic
& NOT as controllable like 2D
& CGI. Perhaps, Stop Motion's slow
renaissance comeback, has been energized
by the moderm high tech methods of communication,
distribution & marketing thanks to the Wonders
of the Internet, and also, especially
cost-effective and accessible production tools now
available (cameras & software). Tinsel Town
Suits, are NOT Gate
Keepers anymore, or choosing for you
and shoving down your throat; what "they
think", you should be entertained by.
Addendum: Informative overview of Stop Mo
event from Shelly Noble Blog. Good writing; elucidating her
views with some degree of calmness. No
loud Tirading-Ranting, like 'others'  Edit 04.29.07
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04.21.07
* FAST Takes:
MTV on CGI, Clash of Titans
Remake (maybe), USA Creature  Comforts .... To us, this is not new;
'mainstream' are myopic & slow but maybe recognizing
it CGI Effects Better Than
Old-Fashioned Movie Magic? .... As usual, Sequel-itis or Remake-o-tosis
from Tinsel Town  ; no originality or
fresh product Kasdan Remakes Clash Of The Titans & This Link .... June 4 on the American CBS
television network, the Yankee
version of the UK Aardman's Creature
Comforts will debut CBS Uncages Creature Comforts & CreatureComforts.TV
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04.14.07
* Make plans
NOW: Stop Motion Expo Next Week .... Giving this
another plug. Look dudes & dudettes, Randall William Cook is schedule to be there.
Lord of the Rings, Academy Award™ winner.
His background & creative roots
includes Hyper-Harryhausen™
style Stop Motion; way before
all this CGI excess. The Chiodo Brothers will be there too; unsung heroes
to the  general public. Their core
foundation is traditional special
effects, including puppetry, animatronics
& especially Stop
Motion (Chiodo's Reel). Many other guests
too. As I stated before, I am not sure if I can make it
down there. April seems like a bad
month for me. Things & stuff seem to be piling
up and I am pissed  . Why the Fugg did all this crunch
period have to be in April? Here is updated
Stop-Mo Expo (WoodBury University / Burbank, CA ) info at messageboard.
* Spreading
the Gospel: Stop Motion .... We have a few out there but not
enough maybe, as per my plethora of past tirades. Do not
assume or get too comfortable about S top Motion. Its survival in mainstream
is sporadic & insecure. However, perhaps you need not
worry; other venues,
markets or outlets may be a
niche for Stop Motion. I
already rambled many times before. Our man, Dan 'Animation
Daddy' Anderson, in his
own quiet but effective way, single
handly 'covering' the North East USA as one of the Stop
Motion Apostles . He recently
gave a talk at Kent State University.
Check it out, Animator Talks Technique
I mentioned Dan's
project last month and worth mentioning again, The Magic Candles. A recent behind the scenes topic
of Dan's work on a Stop Mo commercial. Also see AnimationDaddy @ YouTube and StopMoShorts Edit 04.14.07
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04.07.07
* Stop
Motion Expo, April 21, 2007.... Geeeez, this really needs more
promotion and I have not heard too much buzz about this elsewhere.
I did announce this event recently and at forum. What happen to all you supposed passionate
Stop Motionists especially those with website
blogs? Why don't you promote this
or post link or banner? Apathy,
I sometimes feel out there. Anthony Scott, do you have an announcement about
this?  I think, the Stop Mo Expo
people should have hired me as their publicist. Look
at this: Animation Magazine announced it but they did not
even include a direct, link
the Expo page. What the Fugg? Not very
to effective article for 'informing' .
Fortunately, for some
of you who earn your income in the 'Creative'
work area, perhaps you have a more flexible
schedule and might be able to attend? Those of us
with 'straight' 9 to 5 employment;
we, do not always have that luxury of randomly taking
'time off'. I do not know if I can go but you can perhaps
"represent" and take plenty
of pics & videos to share with us?
* Withdrawing
into my Cave? .... Like everyone else, I also,
might as well go the minimalist
way and cut-back
on my keyboarding verbosity. I,
alone, cannot  bear the burden
 of always prodding you all, to come
out of your Stop Motion
"closets". However, there are 'some'
of you, that do
chat it up at your blogs or message
board and do
contribute!  If
you have a website or blog and
do not update it somewhat regularly, or mostly
ignore it; you can be sure that the online
visitors will soon feel the staleness
& abandonment. Stop Motion needs
to have its gossip, buzz,
and talking it up. This is called marketing
& promoting "Stop Motion product".
If not done, then Stop Motion will only
exist in a black hole vacuum.
Stop Motion especially, has historically always
had a fragile existence, and requires
much more attention, i.e., "Constant
Vigilance"  Edit: 04.08.07
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