I’m proud to present my animated short, Space Base 8.
This post gives a bit of background on it and how it came to be.
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What happens when you’ve been writing a blog for seven years
Have I really been writing for seven years? Apparently so. What have I learned? How have I changed? Why has it become ever harder to sit down at the keyboard and type?
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An Interview with Independent Animator Signe Baumane
Latvian-born, New York City-based Signe Baumane has made a name for herself through her consistently intriguing works and willingness to tackle topics that others do not. Her 2014 feature film Rocks in my Pockets received widespread praise from critics and viewers alike. Currently in the midst of producing her next feature, My Love Affair With Marriage, Signe graciously took some time to answer a few tough questions from me.
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It’s Finally Time to Ignore the Hype
Hype and excessive hype surrounds animated films these days. It’s an endless parade of marketing strategy and clever psychological tricks that leaves audiences constantly in a state of suspense. The good news is that we’ve finally reached a point where we can ignore it altogether.
Why America Remains a Magnet for Animators: An Interview with Ricky Renna
Animation on a global scale is growing like never before. Unlike times gone past, there are now a multitude of local employment choices for animators in many countries. That said, America continues to be a draw for many foreign artists. I talked to Blue Sky animator Ricky Renna to find out why.
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What Kind of Challenges Does the Independent Producer Face?
Although I tend to focus more on larger industry matters here on the blog, I’ve an interest in smaller issues as well. For instance, what kind of things affect the independent animation producer. Frshta Mangal currently serves as producer of the animated series Library of Horror. She took the time to answer some of my questions on some of the unique challenges that she’s faced as the project came together.
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How YouTube’s Algorithm Stifles Animated Content
YouTube’s algorithm isn’t a friend of animation as of late. Changes announced a few years ago created a storm of protest from creators as they realised their revenues were at risk. Since then, things have failed to get better, and an analysis of the company’s method of delivering content proves that animation as an artform is not welcome on the platform.
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As Art, Why Doesn’t Animation Challenge Our Beliefs?
Animation is making leaps and bounds as I write this. So far, 2016 is turning out to be a great year for variety in terms of choice and styles. Yet in relative terms, we’re still well within the comfort zone. Animation art is entertaining us, and amazing us, but are we being challenged?
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Four Reasons Why The Simpsons Should Ditch The Half-Hour Episode
Half-hour episodes: the bedrock of just about every television success story. Efficient, profitable, and rapidly becoming outdated. The Simpsons owes a large chunk of its success to the format, but it blunts the show’s formerly raw edge.
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Petulant Fans As Investors: The Ugly Side of Crowdfunded Content
Is the relationship between creators and fans today a healthy one? Has the new closeness made things ever more personal? Kickstarter and other crowdfunded content are coming under increased scrutiny with the biggest lesson so far being that when backers contribute money, they don’t make requests, they make demands.
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What’s With Disney’s Push Into Luxury Fashion?
Traditionally, the twin concepts of Disney and high-fashion being mentioned in the same sentence would have been laughed at. Low-grade, mass-produced, and with mass-appeal are what defined Disney merchandise for decades. Things appear to be changing though, as the company makes a concerted push into luxury fashion in a move that is bewildering yet not entirely surprising.
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