A BELATED HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO THOSE OF USA PERSUASION!
When folks say making a film is one of the hardest things to achieve –they are not kidding - especially if you are going it alone – in your own studio – on your own time – and without much of a budget.
Welcome to independent filmmaking 101!
When the project first began, I was coming off the success of our last film PETE’S ODYSSEY. We had a nice sized- crew – who were talented, eager and enthusiastic. We had a nice sized budget and it was executive produced by someone (Charlotte Rinderknecht) who trusted me, who was extremely supportive and she and her husband Bill were just fun to be around.
Now I have only me!
Last May, during the Incubator Studio at Bloomfield College, we produced an amazing amount of animation. Since then, I have had to go back and redo several scenes that needed touch-ups. Part of that process stems from the belief that this film could be special and it deserves the time and effort needed to improve the quality of the storytelling
Then, we moved from Savannah to the Orlando area - and my wife and I started new jobs.
I now teach at Full Sail University. The folks I work with are all former Disney artists from the Orlando feature animation studio -just being around them inspires me to want to do better animation.
And then there is my art… my attempts to keep up a sketch book. Lately, the process has gotten easier. As I do more art myself it transfers over to my animation – neat process.
Lately, I have taken up residency (seems that way) at Axum Coffee [1] in Winter Garden, Fl. All the profits from Axum Coffee go to support the village of Axum in Ethiopia. They support 100 orphans in Axum. It a win-win for me- I do my work, abide at a GREAT coffeehouse and my money goes to a good cause.
Last but not least, I have finished the first draft of a live-action screenplay – more on that another time!
ALWAYS ANIMATED!
Links:
[1] http://www.axumcoffee.com/