The always interesting MdotStrange recently blogged that he was seeking out other solo animated feature filmmakers to perhaps start a site that would provide info on how to get started making your own feature. He mentions Jeff Lew and his “Killer Bean” films, Dave4096 and his film Archon Defender, John Bergin’s From Inside and Bill Plympton’s solo 2D films. In the comments section, Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues is recommended (a great, great film) and Monty Oum’s films (remember his exciting film Haloid).
And although it isn’t a solo project, the recent release of the feature length Clear Skies 2 is a real shot in the arm for machinima feature length films. I’ll be be talking more about this film in a future blog and Machiniplex will be doing another Premiere for CK2 in a month or so.
Mdot also provided a link to a superb speech by Ralph Bakshi at a recent ComiCon convention. His comments are an inspiration to every filmmaker with a “box” (computer) that will “do what he/she tells it to”. Bakshi has his own individual style and a take-no-prisoners approach that is as entertaining as it is insightful. I guarantee that right after listening to Bakshi, you’ll be on your “box” and making movies.
The world needs more people like MdotStrange, Ian Chisholm and Ralph Bakshi.
I don’t have much of family and my communication with them is nill. But my partner Lisa Morton’s family are really great people and I enjoy spending time with them. This last Sunday, Lisa and I took her mom and boyfriend (yes, they are living in sin in their 70′s) to one of our favorite restaurants in California, the French restaurant Le Chene. Located in the horse country of Aqua Dulce, this place serves absolutely wonderful French cuisine.
Housed in an old, semi-stone building just off of a two-lane, backcountry road, Le Cheine was started by chef Juan Alonso in 1980. It takes its name from the large amount of wonderful oak trees in that area. The restaurant is open and airy. There’s a patio and a large garden out behind the building. Many’s the time I’ve wandered around sniffing the air after an incredible meal at Le Chene.
Of course, the place was packed for mother’s day and we had a good wait. But once we sat down and got our meal on the table, it was all worth it. I don’t know how their kitchen is able to consistently cook superb meals especially on very busy days, but they do it. In the 10 years I’ve been coming to the restuarant, I’ve never had a poorly prepared meal. It’s the kind of restaurant that gets the little things right. Like the small, baby carrots that came with the Pork Loin. These simple vegetables were actually the highlight of the meal they were so well cooked and well seasoned. And the fact that the cooks are able to get it right even while being harried with order after order just amazes me. A fantastic meal for less than what we would have spent at a four star French restaurant in LA or Santa Monica.
Lisa had her traditional crab quiche. Her mom had regular quiche lorraine. Ed (her mom’s boyfriend) had his Egg’s Benedict and I had Pork Loin with Apples. Since the place has a wonderful French Onion Soup for an appetizer, I had that to start with. They bake their own French bread, which is crunchy and superb.
Our only regreat was that we couldn’t stay for desert. But since Lisa has a big book deadline coming, we had to get back home soon after the dinner. The drive back provides a lot of sight-seeing fun and it was a perfect day weather wise: clear and not too hot.
By way of Vimeo.com, I came across this remarkable film, “Morgenrat“. It was directed by Jeff Desom and features the haunting music of Hauschka (Volker Bertlemann), an experimental musician/composer who lives in Dusseldorf. Apparently, the entire film was made using vintage photographs from the Library of Congress.
Promonews.tv has a nice interview with Jeff Desom, a Luxembourg filmmaker who has been associated with Hauschka for several years now (be sure to check out Jeff’s wonderful show reel at Vimeo). At Hauschka’s youtube site, there is a wonderful live action film also directed by Jeff Desom called “Blotsky” (his graduation film from the Bournemouth Arts Institute (2007) where Hauscka’s music is featured. Hauschka also plays the lead role (brilliantly). It’s a remarkable film as well and equally strange/poetic.
I love the haunting, decayed quality of Morgenrat. Reminds me a bit of the Quay Brothers, but simpler. You may not know exactly what the film means, but there’s a mood created with the sepia-toned films being pulled into the 3D world that is undeniable. And the music adds so much to emotional pull of the images. Even the frame of the film is rotting away.
Ricky Grove (aka Richard Grove, "gToon") is an actor, sound effects editor, writer, machinima filmmaker and bookstore clerk all rolled into one. He lives in Los Angeles with his partner, author Lisa Morton, in an apartment filled with books, Hong Kong DVD's and Halloween Antiques. Oh, and there are two swell cats; Roxie and Sylvia.
Current News
Here's what's going on with me this week
-All sound projects completed (Yay!)
-Just finished review of E-on's Vue xStream 8.5 for Renderosity
