COGS,

 Welcome to another crammed pack blog post.  I hadn't realized how long it's been since the last post until an intern at Buddy System Studios started nagging me about updating the blog.  So let's get to it.

                                                 
Part 1, IN THE FALL OF GRAVITY

First off, I want to start with a long overdue review and thanks.  I got my hands on a copy of R.S. Cole's movie "In The Fall Of Gravity".  This short film was the Winner of the 'Best Animation Short' at the New York International Film Festival in 2008, and is most deserving of it.  For most of you reading this, you've probably come across "In the Fall of Gravity", or clips of it, just by surfing the stop-motion websites that are out there.  I have this nagging memory of first seeing bits of it when stopmoshorts was around.  Sound correct?  Anyway, the great thing about dvds are the bonus features.  I absolutely love the 'behind the scenes' materials from "In the Fall of Gravity" because of intimacy of it all.  And I think the amazing thing is to finally see in detail the wire control rig that Mr. Cole built to animate his puppets.

If you haven't seen this movie, then search it out.  It's required viewing material.

Time for a short intermission, and special note...  

 Recently there have been some anonymous comment posting on my blog that have turned out to be advertisements for 'get rich quick' at home jobs, or for prescription medications for E.D. or Heart Care.  I do not support these comments, or endorse them in any way, and if they have effect the readers of this blog in any way I am sincerely sorry.  

Part 2.  I READ IT SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

 That's right boys and gals, I've delved into the pages of yet 'another' book focusing on the animation industry.  This month's read was "Drawing the Line" by Tom Sito.

                                            

Drawing the Line is historical documentation of the rise of the Animation Union(s) told by a former Union President.  I have to add in the Union President to that sentence because it truly affects the way the book is written and presented.  This is not to say that the point of view presented is wrong, but simply put, it's completely one sided.  Disney, Warner Bros., Hanna-Barbara, etc. are all named in this book as villains for their poor salaries and broken promises of bonuses.  I'm all for animation unions and I'm grateful for what they have done for us, but the anecdote after anecdote after anecdote after anecdote, followed up by extreme union POV recap made this a hard pill to swallow.  I'm completely torn on this book.  The information is wonderful, and I really believe that the author was sincere in his tellings, but maybe it was too personal a subject for the book to be meant for all.  I imagine that there a lot you out there who will disagree with me, and think that this book is absolutely astonishing.  I won't argue the point with you because it's completely valid.  All I can say is, if you are truly interested in being an animation professional, you should read this book.  But if you can't make it through, memorize the table of contents, leave the book on a shelf where everyone can see it, and talk about how the animation strike at Disney was the great Civil War of animation and forever defined our workplace.  My apologies and gratitude to Mr. Sito.

Part 3. Blog of Interest. 

I have a friend who sent me a link to a blog that revolves around the production of a stop-motion feature film being animated in Brazil.  I just received this today and haven't had the time to truly go in-depth, but just by skimming it, it looks really fun.  Check it out and send me any feedback you might have.

http://www.minhocasofilme.com.br/index.php?lang=ing

Part 4. Required Reading.

I originally graduated from Art Center with a degree in Illustration, so I have some drawing skills and occasionally take on side work which usually involves storyboards.  This is one of the most beneficial tools to anyone making a movie, especially stop-motion.  Storyboards allow you to pre-plan out your actions and make critical decisions in your story.  I realize I may be preaching to the choir, but this is one of those topics that is fundamental and can never be overstated.  Last week I was at a bookstore and noticed that there were about 4 different copies of books devoted to the topic of 'How to Storyboard'.  I've seen them all before, and own a couple of them, but the one that stands out the best is Don Bluth's.  Even if you don't read the book, the pictures can carry you through it.  Agree?  Disagree? Let me know.  

Part 5, The End

 Ending the blog entry today, I want to say thanks for reading and commenting.  Also, I've added quite a few links to the blog.  If you get a chance, check them out.  If you have a link that you don't see up there, drop me a line and I'll add it.  Also, current debates rage over Coraline vs. The Fantastic Mr. Fox.  Which side of the fence do you drop on?  For me, they're both great, but The Fantastic Mr. Fox promises to have a way cooler 'Making of' book than the Coraline visual companion, so I'm jaded.  Finally, for all of you out there working on you own projects, keep up the great work.