Enchanted Thyme background by Tiger Bells Animation. © 2009, Enchanted Thyme Ent. LLC.

It's amazing how far we've come.

This access to instant imagery sent around the world makes working with overseas companies so much easier. It also helps eliminate most of the language problems when working with companies in other countries.

Last night I had a video meeting with the owner of Tiger Bells, Vivek Kalyan. We were discussing the character and set designs for our pilot. Rather than just sending drawings back and forth and hoping our notes would be understood, we sketched back and forth, showing each other our ideas in realtime on the video connection, as if we were sitting across the table from one another.

When I need to show him an acting note, I no longer have to try and describe it or shoot a video, capture it, compress it and send it out. Vivek can see me live. We can easily capture that video feed for sharing the notes with his team. I love technology, especially when it's free.

When Vivek had files or online references for me, he quickly linked it in Skype and I saw it live while talking with him. We were not relying on basic e-mails and cryptic notes to understand each other. We were talking. You remember talking? It's an amazing thing. We understood each other quickly and easily.

Writing out every note takes time and can still be misunderstood. We now have cheap tools to allow us to work with people around the world as easily as if they were in the room with us. Plus, I have the benefit of working all day in my underwear.

Mark Simon is an award-winning animation producer/director and speaker. He owns Animatics & Storyboards, Inc, A&S Animation, Inc and is co-founder of SellYourTvConceptNow.com, the ultimate resource for TV show creators. He is offering AWN readers a FREE MONTH of his TV Pitch Tips Audio Postcards. Go to TvPitchTips.com and register for your weekly audio postcards of insider Hollywood pitch tips, tricks and secrets.