"You want ants?! Cause THAT'S how you get ants..."

Man, oh man. It's been a hot minute since I touched this. A lot has happened in almost a year. Where to start?

Last update, I was interning at Radical Axis studios in Atlanta, GA. After the internship ended, I decided that staying in Atlanta to try to work the contacts I'd made would be a good idea. And it turns out, it was.

Radical underwent a few changes in that month, inviting what used to be studio 7030 (Sealab 2021, Frisky Dingo) under their roof for a new project. Some people who were working on Squidbillies and Aqua Teen Hunger Force were shuffled over to help with he new project. I was invited back to the studio at that time, to fill in those gaps. I worked on Squids and Aqua Teen for about 3 or 4 months, at which point, I was invited over to the new project in the back, which turned out to be Fx's new show, Archer. So I've been on that production since about Thanksgiving, and I've had the time of my life so far.

It's hard to believe it's been almost a year since I started my internship, and I've learned so, so much, and grown not only as an artist, but as a person. I'm incredibly grateful to be in the position I'm in now, and I appreciate it almost every day. The artists at the studio are all incredibly talented, and super helpful - any time I have a question on something, people are very quick to try and help. It really has been a blast, and with Archer picking up its second season, I'll be able to stay and learn even more from the artists there. It's very exciting.

I'm also going to try and use this more for art updates, as I want to be more consistent with sketching on a regular basis. I've started doing sketches for the blog at work, The Radical Axis Sketch Blog, and I want to keep doing my own personal stuff again. Schedule is busy, but I'mma try.

Till next time.

Life's pretty Radical...

Been awhile since I've updated, but it's because I've been pretty busy in the last few months, and for good reason! I come bearing exciting news!

Hard work and persistence finally paid off, as I'm currently located in Atlanta, Georgia working a 3 month internship with the animation house Radical Axis. Radical Axis is most widely known for it's work on [adult swim]'s Squidbillies, as well as the short-lived Comedy Central show, Freak Show, as well as the short web series, Window Seat. I've already learned so much, and look forward to the next 2 months as I try to learn and grow even more as a young animator.

The best part of the internship, by far, is that I'm not stuck doing exercises or running to get coffee. I'm actually setting up, keying, and tweening scenes for syndicated television network shows. Production credits people! That's HUGE, and more then makes up for the lack of pay. I hope that in my time here, I can leave some sort of lasting impression, and hope that enough work rolls into the studio that I might get the opportunity to hang around. I've really grown to like the people I work with, as they're all incredibly talented, smart, funny people. It's a great work environment, and I don't really want to think about leaving them in a few months. BUT, such is life, and if it must be, then it must. All I can do is work hard and wait to see what happens.

Other then that, life has been pretty uneventful. Most of my days are spent at Radical, with a bit of freelance or side project tossed in on nights and weekends. I turned 23, which was interesting being so far from home, friends, and family. I suppose that's what happens when you get older and venture farther and farther down the road of adulthood. All in all, though, I can't complain.

Even after just a month at Radical, it's become very apparent what level of animation I need to achieve to make it in the industry. And even though I've only been here a month, I look at my demo reel and think of how much stronger it needs to be. My entire portfolio in general really. I've gained so much confidence and drive by just being in a professional studio (everyone at work would give me hard time for calling it "professional", though I beg to differ), and I look forward to approaching future challenges with a sense of pride and determination. Very exciting stuff!

So that's it, really. If and when some of my work hits the air, I'll be sure to let everyone know. Until then, stay happy, healthy, and continue to do things that makes you smile. Can't really ask for more then that!

"Just lookin' for what's comin..."

I watched No Country for Old Men this weekend with my friend Morgan, and I really was upset with the ending (as with most Cohen Brother's movies), but with my predictable Cohen-frustration comes a second wind, where I watch the movie again and see what they were trying to say. What I got from it was this - that life happens, and you can't predict what's coming. There's just things in life that you can't undo, and we have to live with our decisions sometimes. We all have to play the hand we're dealt, with no real certainty about how it's gonna turn out. It also touches on points of fate or chance, and how most times, in the end, it's just an extension of you.

Family went to Mexico (minus my brother and myself), enjoying the sun and good times that warm weather has to offer. I'm still plugging away at work and spending my evenings prepping my portfolio for the career fair in a few days. It's funny what I've gotten done since I've graduated - it didn't feel like much, and although it doesn't compare to what I produced taking 3 new classes every few month for school, I did get a handful of new work that shows a wider variety of my skills. So I'm proud of that.

I'm headed back home after the career fair to help a good friend, Dan Edwards, with some storyboard stuff. I really can't thank Dan enough for what he's done for me creatively and personally, as a friend. He's always been supportive of my work, and he's always eager to involve me in projects and career related tasks. I'm really looking forward to getting back to start on this project as well - it's funny and creative, and I've been looking for a project to really flex my acting and staging muscles for animation. I hope it can turn into something, but it has potential to be a great portfolio piece either way.

So I guess that's it for now.
Until next time!

And that's the way/ this wheel/ keeps turning now...

Life calls for moments in time where you stop, look around, and assess your situation and surroundings. Now I say "calls for moments", because we can really do this whenever we want, at any moment in time, but I think sometimes people are scared, or afraid of what they might find if they stop and look at themselves. But every now and again, we are forced to stop and look.

And what do you see? Well, you see it all..Are you happy? Healthy? Do you have many friends? Is your life enjoyable on a day-to-day basis? It's almost crippling if you answer any of these questions with "No". I suppose life is never meant to give you all of everything at once, but one thing that will never change is that we are in charge of what we want and what we do. So if you're not happy, go and get happy. Whatever that is. If you're not healthy, then go and get healthy. If you've no friends, go out and make some. And if you're not enjoying life - well, go out there and do whatever you need to do so that you ARE enjoying life (I'd say keep it safe and healthy, but we're all allowed to mess up every now and again, so go ahead and make a mistake - as long as you learn from it.)

Reflection is good. Makes us stronger. Gauges what you're really made of, based on how hard you look, and what you do about what you find. You gonna continue to walk over the dirty pile of laundry strewn about over your minds floor, or are you finally gonna pick it up and put it away?

I've been able to reflect over this holiday break, and I've realized that I'm going to make one, if not several, big decisions soon. I have a few loose ends I need to tie up where I am, but then I need to get out. Out and away. I want to go and get lost in the world again. It's what I did when I came to Savannah for college, and now it's what I need to do for life after college. I've been waiting for job opportunity to find me, and I'm waiting on life to happen to me based off the idea of a no-name job falling into my lap. But now it's time for a change.

I think I'm heading back to my home town in a month or so to help my friend with a big project, but after that, who knows. I'm setting the limit so high up, I don't want to see the top.

Update on life

For the last 2 weeks, I've called the couch of a good friend's family in Atlanta, home. They have been absolutely wonderful hosts, and I feel like a lazy slob spending most of my day working from their couch. I'm going to have to get them a nice, little Christmas something.

So this Sunday is pretty exciting - my old professor and good friend, Jason Maurer, is having his feature film, Delgo, released nation wide. Unfortunately, I'm in Atlanta, so I'll have to see it here, but won't be able to see it in Savannah, where Jason is planning on seeing it with everyone. It doesn't feel like a huge deal, which is odd. Perhaps it's due to knowing Jason on a personal level. In reality, though, it's hardly the case. This is huge for Jason and the Fathom Studios team. Working as hard as they did to make this, it's good to see their persistence and dedication to the film has finally paid off. Knowing what I do about major distribution (which is honestly very little), I know how hard it can be to get your film noticed nationally like that. I hope Jason and the rest of Fathom Studios gets some well deserved street cred, or some returned profit income.

Anyway, life moves ahead for me. Still working contract on advertising projects, applying to animation and storyboard studios around the country and abroad, trying to work my film into various festivals and showings, and dealing with corporate America and the ever tightening belt of economic recession. But, post-college awkwardness can't last forever, right? Right.

You know it's bad when...

...Australia is taking jabs at the US.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7771002.stm

I found this to be very interesting, and reflected how we as Americans, more often then not, feel a compulsive need to be the best, the greatest, the grandest. It's a simple article about drinking in Australia, and how bad it's gotten.

The BBC reporter asks the following question to a British migrant:

BBC Reporter: "As a British Migrant to Australia, where does this country get its boozey reputation from?"

British Migrant: "Western Culture. Western Culture, isn't it? Western Culture...you gotta be doing things in excess. You gotta be assumed to be having the best time, the greatest time, the biggest time - the best weekend ever."

I mean, he's absolutely right.
"Can I get that super sized?"
"This is gonna be the best birthday ever."
"Give it your best shot."

Why not just give it a "shot" sometimes? Why do we always compete in this country? Land of opportunity, sure, but how many college students end up in the hospital with stress related sicknesses ever semester?

It really gives you that knock in your stomach - that awful, guilty feeling. It's like being associated with that kid who causes trouble in school, even though you know deep down he's got good intentions. But what's that saying, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions"?

Aniboom Continues

I'm not entirely convinced that these Aniboom Awards are judged correctly. Whether it be a flawed voting system, or just the general publics sense of taste, many great films are going entirely unnoticed. It should also be said, that if you're looking for top-notch films and fair play in judging, this is most definitely not your venue. But the simple fact that someone's class exercise is outranking some wonderful short films is appalling to me. So, I guess in taking action and doing what I can about the situation, I thought I'd share some films I think deserve to be in the top ten.

*Note - none of these films are even in the top 30.