Yes today is my websites 2nd anniversary, and blogs 1yr anniversary, so some updates to the main part and some minor ones. As you can see to I have had a bit of fun a did my own little parodies. The one above is my dreamworks version, I have a Pixar like one but this one is better. But loads of fun to make and Ognom is just cute in it. Awwww.
Anyway website updates.
Home page has had a little update and some rearranging and now contains my twitter feed on it and not in the bottom left as before
The shop has now been deleted and removed from links as was proving fruitless and now will be relying on work from Phokki.com
The "Website Spotlight" has now been replaced with the link to the vote caster Just to save on the time it takes to update regularly.
The "Contact" page has had a little revamp as well as the CV page getting an update
My show reels have also had new updates to it and are a lot better then the previous vids.
All this is on my NEW YouTube page. I took a leap to YouTube as it's more popular then veoh.com. Reason never did it before was mainly because I got some nasty comments on youtube about my work so packed it in for a while, now I have more control over the comments so all helpful comments, and creative criticism always welcomed but nasty and downright rude comments get deleted and blocked. Not putting up with idiot's like that.
Since my host had a reboot of there systems this year I do not have an accurate visitor count from November last year I only have the number from April this year so no visitor count this time round but it's about the 60,000 mark.
The blog has been a big successful addition to the website since I added it last year and received 2 awards for it. Also big year for recognition of my work, newsletter feature for my Phoenix art work and Editor's pick for my Philips advert, as well as some work experience. Many thanks to Creative Protege on that chance.
Hopefully after moving to London things will get even better and hopefully some paid work. Will of course let you know on when that happens.
As always you can subscribe to this blog using the email box on the right hand corner or you can follow me on: Twitter YouTube Facebook
So check out the website and make a comment here. Remember you don't have to be a bravenet member to make a comment.
Well....... What can I say? You know in an episode of FRIENDS, when Joey swapped books with Rachel and he read Little Women and she read The Shining and at the end Joey wanted to out the book in the freezer to stop things from happening?
Well I wanted to do that at one point in the novel. Seriously.
Such a sad book from beginning to end.
This copy of the book opens with a preface from the first edition by the writer Thomas Hardy (Not recent obviously) when the book was first published in full as it was serialized before that and received much controversy. I enjoyed reading it as he seemed to of had a good sense of humor about himself despite no longer writing novels after this book was published because of the criticism he got about it.
Basically it follows the life of Jude Fawley, from young boy to adult hood and beyond. He has hopes and aspirations to become a great scholar at Christminster (Hardy's equivalent to Oxford today) thous dreams are soon destroyed by a loveless marriage and poverty. He then falls in love with his cousin Sue Bridehead and try to find true happiness until a tragedy changes there lives. Obviously won't tell you the end as would ruin it for you. Thou despite me knowing what would happen it still got me upset.
The book is wonderfully written. It's been written in six parts. You could almost taste and hear the hustle and bustle of Wessex (where the book is based and where Hardy lived and loved) of that time and you are drawn into the character's almost immediately just from reading the page you could feel the emotion that went into it. Even the first chapter was pretty sad to read. And as the book progress you find yourself even questioning your own views of love and marriage as both take a pretty big beating in this book as well as some religious views of the day. And I do like the fact that thou both the main characters are cousins it's not really touched upon in this book other then by Sue's first husband Mr. Phillotson, who you do feel somewhat sorry for as well, but also angry that he does seem to take advantage of Sue's emotions. But remains a love story as it should despite of that.
I must admit I did find some of the sentences hard to read as uses long writer's words as used back then by novelists that aren't used today as well as a lot of Latin (which I looked up as they do have importance to the story) And despite not wishing things to happen that did happen I still couldn't put it down and when I did I couldn't wait to pick it up again to find out and hope for things that should be happening. If you are easily upset probably not the book for you but if you like reading tragic love stories or just a good read then I would recommend this to you.
I am now torn to watch the film adaptation of it with Christopher Eccleston and Kate Winslet in "Jude" thou now I know what happens it might be easier thou I have heard it is more graphic then the book, especially a birthing scene so should be interesting. Will let you know LOL.
In other news: Website going a bit slow right now. Having hardware issues so may be a bit rushed for the 19th.
Got a great response to my add on Spareroom.co.uk. Off to see a couple of rooms in Sydenham this afternoon and the live in land lord is an animator in London sounds nice so fingers crossed.
And it's remembrance Sunday today so where you poppy with pride.
Watching/Listening:The best of Have I Got News for You
Current Project:Website video
Reading:Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
Yup Dreamworks are at it again. The creators of Shrek and Madagascar are back with a new animated adventure that looks like fun. The full length trailer was released yesterday and it looks like what you would expect from Dreamworks.
I heard about this a few years ago but never really heard anything till today and I must say I am very much surprised. Sporting the trademark character style of it's previous projects this looks like Dreamworks have finally bought out an original idea for an animated movie. Don't know if anyone else has noticed but most of the animations being bought out over the few years since Toy Story and Shrek were released each one sported very much the same stories. Now the studios are getting it together again, with "UP", "9" and now "How to Train your Dragon" we could be seeing more great animations.
"Synopsis: A Viking teenager named Hiccup lives on the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is a way of life. The teen’s smarts and offbeat sense of humor don’t sit too well with his tribe or its chief… who just happens to be Hiccup’s father. However, when Hiccup is included in Dragon Training with the other Viking teens, he sees his chance to prove he has what it takes to be a fighter. But when he encounters (and ultimately befriends) an injured dragon, his world is flipped upside down, and what started out as Hiccup’s one shot to prove himself turns into an opportunity to set a new course for the future of the entire tribe."
The dragon looks very cute in this. Almost Pokemon like I suppose and definitely different from most dragon designs and concepts out there like the long snake like neck, thou saying that it is very snake like in appearance. This is being bought to the cinema's in 3D, which seems to be the in thing for films these days, which is why parts of the trailer run threw or the camera view looks towards something coming towards you and sometimes look out of place. And this film from the looks of it will suit in 3D. I love the eye's of the dragon as it changes from sharp and hard like a snake to cute and cuddly, so great.
Watching/Listening:The best of Have I Got News for You
Current Project:Website video
Reading:Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
After a long wait the new Avatar trailer is now available online in hi-def and looks amazing.
"Avatar is the story of an ex-Marine on the planet Pandora who, as an Avatar – a human mind in an alien body – finds himself in a desperate fight for his survival and that of the indigenous beings called Na’vi."
Hopefully this will not echo films like "Final Fantasy: The Spirits within" with stunning visual effects but poor storyline but so far it's looking pretty damned good.
Nice little in-names there. The title "Avatar" makes more sense now with the humans using half-human half-Na'Vi and using them as puppets (bit like the avatars in things like second life) and the planet name "Pandora"? Now there is a name that is bound to bring in a lot of trouble.
Thou some of the animation does look "animated" which brings you back to reality but for the most it still looks impressive and dying to see it now. Some I have heard complain that it looks flat but that's becuase this is going to be coming out in 3-D in cinema's which is why it tends to look flat to the naked eye. If this is in 3-D it's going to look amazing.
Watch the trailer and then at the end admit that your jaw is wide open
In Other News: Flat hunting has been very disappointing from rooms that were not as advertised to agents not turning up. But seeing a nice little flat share on Monday so finger's crossed.
Doctor Who: Waters of Mars has had a confirmed air date of Nov 16th on BBC 1
The Recession and the British film and VFX industry
Mood:
Watching/Listening:Batman Returns
Current Project:Halloween 2009 - No title as yet.
Reading:Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
I have been meaning to write this for some time but been a bit busy. Now I finally have the time for this entry.
Obviously the recession affected a lot of people. But with me finding it hard to get work, many of my friends and relatives I find are often asking the same questions to me "Will the recession have an effect on the film industry?"
It does seem impossible with the amount of films being released each year that film makers or VFX artist are having trouble, especially in the UK where a lot of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters are being filmed and made yet no one seems to think the UK could be capable of competing with the likes of ILM (Industrial Light and Magic) and other effects houses and film studio's located across America's southern states. We don't seem to be doing bad.
I have read a report from the UK film council on UK films production from Jan 09 to Sept 09. Film production in the first nine months of this year were £857.2 million, compared to last years £512.3 mill from the same first months as last year thou we seemed be making less films and spending more on them, average budgets are also up from previous years. But these tend to be contributions from multiple sources outside. The recession has had some effect with some drop in the the averages of budgets yet we seem to be making more films.
But surely more films are being made without VFX and CGI to save on money? From the looks of it no.
The London VFX houses don't seem to be having much trouble. In fact a couple of the biggest houses in London are reporting to be fully booked with work till 2011, with the new Harry Potter effects being generated in London as well as the new film "Where the Wild Things" London is making it self more known for it's CG and VFX and a lot of it in high quality.
I have been noticing more job openings coming up in the British film industry, and with some reports early this year from various job sites mentioning the film industry making a quicker recovery. Seems this may be coming true thou not entirely recovered what with budget cuts to TV shows and re-showing of old shows instead of making new ones. Film doesn't seem too bad at this point and all thou budget is down quality doesn't seem to be.
This was leaked a few days ago but the official release today is today at 9pm Pacific time, but since I don't live in Pacific time I am going to share it today just a few hours earlier then Disney's release.
Over the past few weeks teaser posters have been released over the internet featuring various character's. Even these look funny.
I think I like the Rex one, he's always been a secret favorite of mine.
As most already know the film is about what happens to our heroes when Andy goes to College and his box of toys are donated to a day care center (Nursery is the UK equivalent). The new trailer encompasses that as well as a cute montage of young Andy with the toys in the form of a home movie made by "mum". Then the real action of the trailer begins.
Just by watching the trailer you can see how far Pixar has come since Toy Story 1. The human animation, modeling and expression have vastly improved and makes the film seemed more polished. The film also keeps up with the quick quips, gags, and funny montages like the series of Day Care mishaps with the kids and the issue with Buzz's resetting to factory standard language will also keep folks laughing. Who doesn't want a Spanish speaking pom pas spaceman?
Animation looks as good as ever.
Cinema Release: 18 June - US, 23rd July - UK
I did have my reservations about a 3rd installment of this film franchise and thinking that Disney exec's would kill Toy Story by sequel it to death. Which nearly happened when they bought the Toy Story name and franchise from Pixar, but luckily Pixar saved the day by re-doing the story and bringing out trailers that actually make it look like it is as good as the previous 2. Thou fears are not fully rested it is chained up for the moment but I'm sure things will be fine.
Enjoy the new trailer and share your thoughts. Remember you don't have to be a bravejournal member to make a comment.
Got confirmation of this animations entry late last night. Sad thing Is there is only 5 other entries with 6 days to go, need 20 for the competition to go ahead, so fingers crossed.
This does sound better on my machine, I think it's the compression.
Current Project:AntiHIVirus campaign - Awaitng Approval
Reading:Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
Yup the BBC released it this morning
I loved it the moment I first saw it on the official website this morning.
Different yet familiar. I think most have read that this new series is going to be a reboot of what has gone before, the TARDIS has gone back to the same design on the outside as William Hartnell's 1st Doctor back in 1963. Not sure about the inside but I do know that the inside of the TARDIS and the screwdriver have had a makeover. Always been a but skeptical about reboots but from what I have heard so far it is looking good. I have talked about it briefly in another blog post
I love how this new logo has gone back to the familiar taking inspiration from the classic logos
It's got a nice little Hartnell feel to it and the "Doctor Who 2010" gives it an futuristic/modern reminder. Will be interesting to see what they do with the titles as I understand it they are bringing back the face in the title sequence as well, thou I will miss the TARDIS flying threw the Vortex at speed.
Still got 3 more specials with David Tennant coming this year with "Waters of Mars" being aired soon, no confirmed date as yet, it was said to be around Halloween.
Logo is available as a wallpaper on the BBC website, but sticking to my Christopher Eccleston/Destro one for now (Just love the suit look)
What do you think about the new logo? You can comment on the post using the form below, you don't have to be a bravenet member to make a comment just post away and/or you can vote on what you think here would love to see what others think of it.
In Other News: HIV campaign vid is now done and uploaded to Eyeka.com waiting for confirmation of acceptance before sharing I think in case there is a problem. Closing date is soon so I am hoping to hear something, only thing is there is one other entry and if they don't get 20 videos by the 13th then it won't go ahead which is a real shame. So much work goes into these videos and then nothing happens.
Happy Birthday to mum today, she is out enjoying the sun in Greece with Dad.
Still flat hunting, just been told one of the flats I wanted to see has just this minute gone. Typical, still got some to see hopefully will have days and times soon.
Oh yeah Website will be 2 years old on the 19th Nov, so going to do some updating, deleting and moving about but nothing major so stayed tuned by subscribing to the blog, following me on Twitter, or becoming a friend on Facebook. If you are going to follow me on Facebook put "LottyAnimatedUK" in the message so I know your not a spammer.
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