Professor Productive Pants!!

Hey Guys!

   I'm very happy to say that I have been incredibly productive in the last 2 weeks. I managed to animate 7 nights in a row and pumped out 5 shots and 32 seconds of footage for the END chapter.

Professor Productive Pants!!

I feel VERY happy about this....and since shel and the kids were out of town for a week....I see this as showing how quickly I could finish this film is I just could work on it...I hope to continue the progress in the coming week although on the family plan since I will be back to real Life .

I am also starting to pull out of Freelance mode in the evenings which is going to be a HUGE mental relief . As much as I enjoy the jobs. Its an actual stress.....

Its very different staying up all night when your in the garage just moments from your bed- or food. Than working at a studio where people are counting on you and are expecting a high quality and on quota delivery by morning.......I look forward to simplifying my weeks.


At this point in the last chapter the Wind has Blown through  and they are figuring out what the next step is....
Lots of little subtle movements and looking around.....as the dust clears.

I had alot of FUN on this last shot-




I got to do some stuff I have never attempted in stop motion before. I wanted one of those cartoon spin your wheels visuals as Flea SUDDENLY- takes off for his helmut. I was finding that the gaps between my poses were too big especially for the speed I was looking for in the animation....

I looked over and saw my box of dead puppets and thought Ill just cut off some legs and extra arms so I can fill in the space with a smear type of pose....and ......It worked .

It put a HUGE Smile of happiness and felt like another super cool illusion from the Magic stop motion Lunchbox.

Here is a Pic of in progress....to share how it worked.

Moving forward- I am all set up for my next shot and already the Scene is presenting issues-Stopmo Problems here I come.

Ships Progress- The ARMADA has arrived.

We got our ships all Molded and Cast- Very Exciting- Shel will be Painting these guys up and getting them ready to Fly- I am about 6 shots from them taking off the planet....So it will be here before we know it!!

I have to say that I am looking so forward to finishing this film....Its been another incredibly Long road
and I am enjoying it deeply. But That Finished product- A story TOLD is what I am ready to feel.

   More animation shots to come - Ill be sharing here.

And I know this is a cheesy thing but-  Part of the DREAM of working on a film Like Paranorman IS seeing your name in the credits. As Dorky and silly as it is - Its that thing from when your a kid -Stopmotion Movies -any movies - are made by circus people -  Unreachable unless you are kinda born into it concept.



and then- There it is.....Realized. I am sure that many of you guys could understand that excitement....or might share the same dream. Its pretty freakin cool.

 jriggity

Stuck in a RUT- New winds

Hey guys,

 been a ruff 3 weeks for my progress on Line.....I feel like I am stuck in a bit of a Rut-

I am sure shel would not agree with that....but It sure feels bad not creating any new animation for 3 weeks.

well here is the run down-

Took a trip to Grandma's to see Paranorman-{Which was awesome}
 - got a cold - doing some more freelancing  and was tasked with lots of Film SETup in the garage and out.......ugggh...

busy I guess- well------We finished the Montage which required a set change- the Sand storm came through which covered up all the work our actors did in defining territories...

these meant fresh clay and a sandy finish much like what the planets skin first looked some 2+ years ago.

here's a pic of shel putting on the sandy touch after the whole family did some fresh clay squishing...line filling.

Here is some more cool Handy work from my talented film making partner-
Mini Flea ship- before it was ready for molding-

 so many cool little things are in this ship------ these pics don't show half of it.

It looks great and will make an awesome KIT - when molded and painted-

I on the other hand have been covering lines and sculpting new heads for the broken Dober puppets
between shots....

shel is going away to a conference and Taking Shamus to college in Washington so....I am going to have a pretty solid week of being a lonely guy at the house- I plan on shooting as much footage as possible while they are gone.....so redemption is in site.

So.....Paranoman has been released and I have seen it in its Film GLORY 3 times now. I LOVE it more and more every time I see it too . Its just crossed the $40 million dollar mark in the US.... That is super cool but I am very confused as to why it hasn't been more successful at the box office.....most CG films make that Opening weekend??

 Our film got great reviews....and it is Totally going to be a classic as the years roll on by...just like this gem of a film.

hmmmmm? what do you guys think it is?

 its still only week 3 at the theaters....tell your friends and get some butt in those seats. This film deserves to be seen by everyone.

here is another cool share- I received this t shirt gift  from LAIKA...which has the scooby doo vibe and its a great pic of the gang in action.

more to come soon guys- some fun posts ahead...I will crawl right out of this rut and be running full speed very soon.

Trick Of the week-

just wall front-

jus rob- over under wall riders


nephew Parker- takin the leap


        jriggity