As we face an uncertain jobs market, many of you are asking yourselves 'What does the future of animation hold for me?'  To see what lies ahead, one only need look to the past...

I had one goal going into the Festival – to see as many independent live-action and animated shorts as possible. I would watch until my eyes blurred over, steamed up and dropped out from constant  extreme usage.

Special Guests:  Michael Markman / Sheila Sofian & David Fain 

 

The sounds of chewing, the sounds of music, the sounds of talking.  Episode 22 of the Frenzer Foreman Animation Forum.  Featuring: Joel, Alan, Sam Olschan, Computer, Guests, Alan's Cat, Beef Jerky, Sinatra, Elvis, Plucky Duck, Animated Documentaries, and Ricky Gervais.  Enjoy.

Let me count the ways.  Am I my resume?  Am I a brand?  Am I desperately seeking someone to show me the way?  If you are as confused by how you should define who and what you represent to the job world, get in line.  Most people today don’t know whether they are defined by the accomplishments listed on their 3-page resume or the idea that they should somehow convince themselves they are a brand like any common household product! Knowing who you are is important of course, but knowing what you stand for when faced with your inevitable job search is essential.

 

 

This Disney new 3D animation release opening TODAY (March 11, 2011) is mediocre at best.  The storyline about a young boy who went up to Mars to save his mom who was kidnapped by Martians is weak and not believable.  The character Gribble (stranded boy who grew up to be an adult on Mars) is not credible or well developed.  The visual is not that impressive either.

This short post demonstrates the use of low cost high speed video recording as a method for improving the recording and analysis of animation reference.  Results using two CASIO EXILIM cameras are discussed and links provided to recordings made at 210 frames per second.

There are only two things you need to do to become a better writer: study and write.  The question is: are you studying and writing optimally?

I wrote screenplays for Columbia and Paramount on instinct, and wrote hundreds of animation scripts the same way.  But I’d never really “learned” how to write. I finally decided to get serious about my craft and read all the best-selling screenwriting books.  I learned quite a bit.  But one of the most important things I learned was that WHAT you read is only half of the journey.  HOW to read is the other. Learn the three R's and become a better screenwriter...

All good salesmen understand the power of ABC.

After the emotional depth of Kung Fu Panda, the lazy humor of Monsters vs. Aliens was a major disappointment, and as a result I wasn’t holding out much hope for DreamWorks’ new How to Train Your Dragon. Guess what? I was wrong.

 

 

I've narrowed my list of available NYC indie cinemas to 2: IFC Center and Cinema Village.  Both are quite good and have a history of showing animated films. Both theaters seemed interested in Idiots & Angels, so I sent each booker a screener of the film plus the great reviews it got from Variety and The Village Voice.  My plan, and I do have a plan, everybody should have a plan, is this…