strange frame: Love & Sax

First they cut Act 221 and now they put the Film Commissioner’s job on the chopping block. KHNL caught me and tried editing my rant together with some images of Johnny Depp

Of course I didn’t Direct Pirates of the Caribbean, but KHNL’s clip implies it was my production.

In “actual” I’m more articulate than on television.

I like how the other clip they used has Jason Scott Lee who is indeed in our film.

Enjoy.

Naia Sings

We locked picture on Reel #2 today. This is just a small piece of the animation with the music composition by Shelley. This is not the final music. Just the sketch she did for this piece.

Let me know what you think.

If you wan to pick my brain on how we do this style of art, I’m on a panel for Animation at the Tech Hui Conference. Click on the flyer below for more info. Hope to see you there!

Ralph Bakshi really has insight why we do this.

Every animator should see/hear this:

Now go make your own film!

Building a Film Community

With: GB Hajim
Info: Jul 9 • Thu • 7:00-9:00pm • Yukiyoshi Room, Krauss Hall 012 • Free • Call 956-8244 for information.
Event ID: EV0010319L

How do you develop a film industry and retain talent during tough times? Hire locally and train your employees to meet global standards. Following the example of WETA in New Zealand, GB Hajim and friends are building a film industry from the ground up. Come see what is being done on the Big Island to create a unique production niche while developing the local production community through internships.

GB Hajim is an award-winning independent filmmaker living on the Big Island. Since 1995, he has been directing, shooting and editing Hawaiian language dramas, animations and educational shorts. He has produced over 100 projects ranging from the many 15-second long Hawaiian Word of the Day spots on KITV to feature length dramas and documentaries. Currently, Hajim is working on a series of science fiction animated features. He has dedicated himself to making the process as important as the product and has been working with local schools to find talented artists to train in animation. In 2005, he won an INDE Award for Inspiring and Educating Hawaii`s Youth.

I was extremely excited to see some of our favorite thespians and genre stars on the lists of people who want to do voices for the movie. Like a kid in a candy store as the saying goes. Every character has a fantastic person wanting to play the role, but alas- too many choices! And some kind of funky heartbreak too.

For three years, I wanted a certain musical star to play a role in our movie. I even did full character art based on her. I listen to her music almost daily as I animate. Naively, I tried to contact her directly with no luck. A few months ago Shelley and I decided to move forward with the soundtrack. Drawing from the very talented people that Shelley already has worked with she came up with some fantastic music.

Last week, that very musical star asked to be in our movie. I was happy and crushed at the same time. The animation for the scenes I wanted her in are 30% done. The artwork for those scenes is 100% done. I made a commitment to the musicians and they made a commitment to us to do great which they delivered on. With all this weighing on me, I cannot go backwards.

We might have this R&B Queen play a different role, but, for now, I’m feeling like Stanley Kubrick, who wanted Pink Floyd to play on 2001: A Space Odyssey and only finding out years later they’d love to have done it. I feel kind of futzed up….at least we lined up our Floyd song last year.

Floating down through the clouds
Memories come rushing up to meet me now.
In the space between the heavens
and in the corner of some foreign field
I had a dream.
I had a dream.
Good-bye Max.
Good-bye Ma.
After the service when you’re walking slowly to the car
And the silver in her hair shines in the cold November air
You hear the tolling bell
And touch the silk in your lapel
And as the tear drops rise to meet the comfort of the band
You take her frail hand
And hold on to the dream.

-Roger Waters – Pink Floyd – The Final Cut

Nothing is simple. I read a ton of indie blogs about what we as indie filmmakers are supposed to be doing in this brave new future of social media. Don’t take the following in the wrong spirit- like many, I spend way too much time on FB and reading blogs of other filmmakers. Take it as a rant, use it or ignore it or as my Dad writes me- “Glance at and discard.”

This is my response to a blog about the importance of audience building before your movie comes out through social media:

I think there are very few ideas that you can hang a hat on these days because the dynamics of the world are changing so quickly- economically, technologically, and socially.

I’m headed out to tend my chickens, goats, and do maintenance on our alternative power system. Peace.