Previous News
OCTOBER
2003
10.27.03
* Another Euro (or non-USA) Stop
Motionist , who I have not heard of but as I have
commented before, many still practicing this animation
craft on their own without much networking with other
Stop Motion practioners. A Dutch native artist named Sjaak
Meilink who seems to be mostly known for his
short Stop Motion animated film Stiltwalkers Looks interesting. Wonder if anyone out
here has seen it?
* Stop
Motion or just general filmmaking, is all visual
first , hence Storyboarding is
a most efficient way to plan your movie. With animation,
storyboards are an accepted practice. I suppose one can
use something like Adobe's Premiere to
do storyboards, but here is a storyboard software
called BoardMaster which seems to be specialized for
the task. You can do Animatics (a
variation of story boarding) which will give you a better
idea and advance preview of the timing & pacing of
your film project. I could not find the price of this
software but it is available as a trial download if you
want to test it, and you can inquire about the cost.
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10.20.03
* We are starting to hear the
pronouncements by whoever, that 2D traditional animation
is on its supposed death bed. As I have
said often before, the microscopic Stop Motion field has
always had a much, much more checkered history (and still
does) in the mainstream biz. Disney selling off their
traditional animation tables? That's the myopic
Corporate Suits for you .... looking for the
cash cow, as though the CGI label will
automatically be the gateway to box office riches?
This article Death of 2D: Rush to Judgment presents some good points about
this, with a quick mention of Stop Motion.
* I think
you may had heard about the movie Elf It will be making its debut in USA
theatres, November 7. Here is a very
brief sound byte about the special effects Elf Short On CGI It will have some minor Stop
Motion effects. I have no knowledge whether it's going to
be a good movie but it certainly is being hyped/promoted.
____________________
10.13.03
* This is somewhat related to my
brief comment on 10.08.03 about artists/animators who are
doing Stop Motion but seem to be doing their work
secretly or do not seem to network or communicate with
other Stop Motionists. Here is an example: A
Stop Motion artist in New York City, who I have never
heard of George Higham He has done a 20 minute Stop Motion
animation piece based on Edgar A. Poe's poem, Annabel
Lee which looks like it was done around 2001.
His website is interesting with information and photos
about his work. Sort-of, a stylized Euro Trnka-Svankmajer
and Lovecraft/Clive Barker feel & look. Perhaps those
of you that live on the East Coast are more familiar with
George.
* Tim
Burton is the man behind The Corpse Bride which is gearing up for full
production in England. I have nothing against the
talented Brits, but I just have a bit of sadness that
CB it is not being shot here in the USA, where we also
have many talented Stop Motion artists, animators, techs,
craftspeople, etc.. We do not know the reasons why the UK
was chosen, but perhaps the Euro
media/entertainment/educational market over there is
more accepting and appreciative of traditional Stop
Motion (compared to mainstream biz here in USA),
or, maybe it is more cost-effective
to do it overseas? BTW, check out this link Tim Burton to host... He will be in Los Angeles area and
attend the 10th Anniversary, Halloween season screening
of The Nightmare Before Christmas at the
El Capitain movie theater, October 16.
____________________
10.08.03
* Late
breaking news and you probably already know ....
Arnold will be Governor of the State of
California (I Iive here). If so-called
"experienced" politicians cannot do their jobs,
I am for giving Arnold a chance. Hopefully, he will
gather and consult with the best minds & advisers to
help direct our State towards a positive
direction. Soooo, let's see .... Arnold
+ Terminator = Stop Motion! The first original Terminator
has always been one of my top favorite Sci-Fi films.
Perhaps the special effects are not as slick as today's
CGI sanitized works, but who gives a rat's pink butt.
Again, I thought, was a great story with a touch of
understated romantic chemistry between the loner &
stoic Kyle Reese (from the future) who came back in time
to primarily & finally meet Sarah Connor. If your
browser can play midi music .... click
on my Home page. I think .... I might put music on the Stop
Motion Works page on a more regular basis and change it
once in awhile for variety.
* New DVD release that includes both Robbie
the Reindeer animations, Hooves of Fire
and Legend of the Lost Tribe, created by
the ever popular Aardman Studio. Hooves was first aired about ' 99
then Lost Tribe in '02. Very affordable to include in
your reference library for some excellent character
animation study. Here is link that will take you directly
to this DVD at Amazon.com (USA)
* You
know .... even though the Internet has somewhat brought
together people from all over the world with a common
passion for Stop Motion, it seems to still be fragmented.
Many Stop Motion practioners perhaps still in their
metaphorical closets doing this unique
animation art/craft and they still may not even be aware
of the SMA.com website or they do not feel like being more
pro-active, vocal or sharing with other Stop Motion
kindred spirits.This is not a negative
criticism of them but only my personal observation. Seems
ironic, perhaps due to computer
technology (internet), that Stop Motion
Animation is maybe somehow just barely surviving through
the current & plethoric CGI bombardment.
____________________
10.06.03
* The Will Vinton verses Phil
Knight feud has been going on for many months.
We all know lawyers, legal system, courts, etc .....
endless appeals & delays (more cash for attorneys).
In this case however, I think this might be the final
chapter of this little drama here Judge throws out Vinton case. As for the future of Will Vinton ..... we don't know. With the new Vinton Studios, it is also hard to say if it can make a
comeback in these harder economic and competitive
dog-eat-dog times. Their biggest show under new ownership
is their partnering with others in the all stop motion Tim
Burton movie, The Corpse Bride, but that will
almost be exclusively done overseas in England by
mostly a Brit crew. I have always wondered to
myself why over there? Vinton Studio's
too expensive or what? Maybe Tim Burton just prefers
working with the English? BTW, the new Vinton's website
is mostly downloadable clips/samples of their past work.
Dial-up connection (most of the world uses that) will
not do it but if you are one of the elite few
with broadband internet..... then enjoy.
____________________
10.03.03
* Some very sad news here. Ralph
Cordero of Toxic Mom's Studio just contacted me about the unexpected
& sudden death of his wife. As I already communicated
with Ralph .... my sincerest heartfelt condolences goes
out to him and his family. In memory of his wife, Ralph
wrote this ....
Lisa Marie Cordero Memorium
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