My Two Cents

Hi.

Remember me?

I used to write a blog about storyboarding. Well okay, I still do… just not lately.

*slaps wrist*

And I’ve been stressing about starting up again because it’s been so long. As in…the first post back better be a GOOD ONE.

So I’m going to write a crappy one just to take the edge off, if that’s okay.

Rest assured I am very much alive and well.

I’ve just been suffering from a case of post-storyboard-contract “Lazy-ass-itis”.

Here’s what I’ve been doing.

I ended my Kid vs Kat contract at the end of May. *whew*

And survived.

I went to Hawaii at the beginning of June.

See?

Sweet, sweet Hawaii. *sigh*

Then home and relaxed some more. (That’s about when the “Lazy-ass-itis” kicked in.)

I turned down some work. (See above.)

I saw ‘Toy Story 3’. Twice.

Loved it. *sniff*

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Thank goodness May is here. Because April was emotionally draining.

I was looking forward to April ending because of all the ‘death stuff‘, then on the morning of the 30th (the last day of the month) I received an email with more sad news.

My ex-boss and friend of many years had succumbed to cancer and passed away at the age of 59.

I burst into tears. And cried all day.

But I don’t want to write another post about death (one was enough don’t ya think?). So I’d rather tell you the good stuff about my friend and one great art lesson he taught me ‘way back when’.

Call it a little tribute.

As I’ve mentioned before on the blog, I used to be a graphic designer in my twenties (remember…I’m old). I worked at a small studio out of college for a year or two, then tried to go the freelancing route at 22. A bit risky. But I was still living at home so the timing was good.

Through a mutual connection, I met Steve Buist who was looking for a little extra help around his small graphic design studio. He took a chance on me and I did some work for him off and on for another two years or so.

Then he offered me a full time position. I took it and worked at D-Zign S.A.B. for the next six years until I left to pursue animation with Steve’s blessing.

Back then, the studio was just me, Steve, another guy named LP and Steve’s wonderful wife Cheryl. Steve was a boss who wasn’t a ‘boss’. His clients loved him. His suppliers loved him.

He loved his job, he loved his family and he loved cars.

Anyone would be lucky to work for a guy like Steve. We were a little family in that studio.

I saw his three girls grow up. We knew what was going on in each others lives. We drank a lot at our little Christmas parties.

And I learned tons about graphic design.

Now, this was a time when a graphic designer didn’t mean ‘someone with 3 months of training and a MacBook’.

When I started, it was markers, paste-ups, wax machines, rubber cement thinner, x-acto knives, T-squares, Letraset and stat cameras (Google it). Half of the supplies could cause some serious health issues or cut the end of your finger off! Those were the days, baby.

Everything was done by hand. It rocked.

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I hope this post isn’t too much of a downer. But it might be.

Sorry.

Because it’s a little off-subject and might not have the comic snark you’re used to if you come here often. If you are new (hi!), just know this isn’t the norm and I will get back to the business of boards eventually. I’m still in Kid vs Kat vs Karen mode.

But here it goes anyway.

A man died in front of me a week ago.

His funeral was yesterday but I didn’t go because I had to work and I didn’t really know him.

But I was thinking about him. Because I witnessed the last moments of his life.

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Okay, this is a cop-out. I admit it.

I’m really working on a post (or series of posts) with an interview I did with Anne Denman of Studio B Productions about resumes, portfolios and applying to studios and stuff.

We recorded the interview during lunch on an audio cassette and I’ve transcribed it. But digging through it all and actually *writing* the article is inflicting all sorts of procrastination-ish stuff on me.

I will get it done though!

So to fill in the gap, I’m going to pimp out a few artists.

This is what happens when you sign up to the Storyboard Club Mailing List Which Is Really Kind Of A Newsletter Thingy on your right.

Some of my ‘list people’ wrote to me and gave me a link to their sites. And they’re very good, so you should look at them and learn.

There are some good examples of making a blog a half-decent portfolio. And some are just really nice drawings.

Take it away Eric the orchestra leader!

(Name that reference and you get a cookie.)

Aidan Casserly has two nice sites. Aidan’s portfolio site is clean and easy to navigate. Aidan’s blog is full of more storyboard goodness. Check them out.

Drew Blom. After reading my series of posts on making a portfolio site, Drew made a very nice site on Weebly.com. Watch and learn folks.

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Lookie! New stuff in the sidebar!

(If you’re reading this in a feed reader, head on over here and take a peek.)

I’m starting a little club.

The Storyboard Club.

At this point, it’s just a free mailing list. But it will turn into more.

With this list, I will occasionally keep in touch with you by email. I might send out a monthly ‘blog round-up’ of the month’s posts with some extra insights. Or a newsletter-ish thingy. Or give you a link to something cool I won’t necessarily post on the blog.

When I make an eBook or host a webinar, you will hear about it first. And you will get it for less money than the general public. First dibs, baby.

Because when you’re part of my ‘club’, you’re all special and stuff.

If this appeals to you at all, I’d love you to sign up!

To top it off, you get a cool free thing when you do. A big ol’ Storyboard Template Pack and Short Film Tip Sheet.

If you like the free templates I already offer, you will love this thing. Head on over to the Download Page for all the juicy details.

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© 2009 Laika Entertainment.

I took my little ten year-old companion to see ‘Coraline‘ last weekend.

So why not give my two cents about it? (Plus, I didn’t know what else to write about this week.)

Much like my little review of ‘Igor‘, I won’t be going the normal ‘movie review’ route. As in, no story synopsis and naming all the people involved and all that. You can search that stuff on Google.

I prefer to talk about the experience of seeing the movie. First impressions. My impressions. Story stuff.

But not give it all away or anything.

I have not read the book or the graphic novel. I went in cold with no expectations.

And I have only seen it once. When I watch a movie for the first time, I’m all in ‘viewer mode’ and not thinking too much like a storyboard artist or industry person. I like to let that go and just watch.

And hopefully enjoy.

I enjoyed.

While I can name a whole whack of things that stink about going to a matinee full of kids with a kid, sometimes it’s a delight.

This time was a delight. Yippee.

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