Catching up...HOUSE OF BLACK WINGS

Going back to talk about projects I missed...

Last year I got an email from Craig Mullins of UNFILMABLE.COM (one of my favorite websites, devoted to Lovecraftian cinema) introducing me to a creative & driven young director named David Schmidt, who heads the Chicago-based SWORD & CLOAK PRODUCTIONS. David and his colleagues were finishing up on his second feature film, the Lovecraft-inspired HOUSE OF BLACK WINGS, a wonderfully creepy tale set in an old hotel infested with "Dreamfeeders"--strange, insect-like creatures that feed on people's subconsciouses. David asked if I'd be interested in creating a stop-motion shot of a Dreamfeeder for a sequence in the film.

David, you had me at "strange, insect-like creatures"...



It was interesting that this came along after I had done the fly puppets for the COMFORT DRAG video, since I was going to be using the same bug-making techniques again, only on a fantastical kind of animal.
I ended up making a wire armature and using Magic Sculpt for the legs and carapace--the long drying time makes it possible to sculpt in nice details and insert individual nylon hairs. The puppet was fully poseable with a segmented body, antennae and a couple of whiplike tails. I don't mind telling you, the damn thing creeps me out...
The Dreamfeeder was lit with one 60-watt bulb bounced off a small, adjustable mirror that could be animated like a flashlight beam. We talked out the blocking of the shot, and I filmed it in one, ten-hour session.
I'm really excited to see the finished film...'until then, here's the super-creepy trailer:

SICK! (and brilliant...)

Ok, I don't know who is responsible for this video, but I have my suspicions...I laughed my ass off so much I had to post it:

**UPDATE: I've gotten confirmation that this is indeed the work of Space Bass Films, under the wonderfully-warped direction of Corky Quakenbush. My friend Robin Jennings sculpted the characters and did the majority of the animation. Way to go, Robin!! Awesome work!

SAN ANDREAS SNOWMAN, now online...

The SANTASIA guys I told you about 2 posts ago have put SAN ANDREAS SNOWMAN up on YouTube. Give it a look and let me know what you think!

We're already in pre-production for a new piece for this year's SANTASIA, and it's going to be really funny! More on that as it comes together...

"Comfort Drag" Video unleashed...

Last September I blogged about a puppet making gig I undertook: creating an animatable housefly for a music video. Well, the director, Chris Calzia, and the Artist, Talons of Spring, have finally finished assembling their vision for the song, "Comfort Drag" and uploaded it for all to see. Chris did the animation himself on set using just a digital still camera to take pictures of the puppet which he edited down to a couple of frames each in post to create the creepy stop-mo effect seen here...I'm glad the puppet got some good screen time!

Catching up..."SAN ANDREAS SNOWMAN"

(Going back to talk about projects I haven't had time to cover...)

Back in December 2005 Gary and I went to see a great show that's become a Christmas tradition over in Sherman Oaks: SANTASIA! For those of you unfamiliar with it, picture "THE KIDS IN THE HALL" meets every Christmas special you've ever seen in your life and you get the idea. G and I have gone every year, and now we take along friends just to watch their (shocked) reactions. Although most of the show happens live onstage, they also have several filmed sequences that play within the show. So I was THRILLED when they contacted me about doing an animated short to include in Santasia 2007!

Santasia director Shaun Loeser had written a great little script (more of an outline, really) titled SAN ANDREAS SNOWMAN, about two kids who set out to build a Snowman, with unexpected results. Despite my schedule, it was too good an opportunity to pass up. Plus, it was an opportunity to build some cool puppets and utilize the costuming skills I'd acquired working over at Shadow Machine Films on ROBOT CHICKEN SEASON 3.

The armatures were simple wire construction built up with cotton and latex. To give the bodies that unique winter bell shape I used...wait for it...styrofoam cups! The cups gave just the right amount of rigidity without adding unnecessary bulk to the puppets, allowing their legs to move freely. The heads were made of Super Sculpey baked and painted. I went with stick-on mouths and eyes to give 'em that Rankin/Bass Christmas Special-ly feel.

The snowman was built out of three styrofoam balls coated with artist's gesso and various prop parts. The super-simple set was cotton batting and a white skydrop, with a couple miniature fir trees to break things up visually.


The guys at SANTASIA really went wild for the finished short, and the audience response was HUGE the night G and I saw the show. Hopefully, we'll get to collaborate on more cool stop-mo projects with these guys in the future!

(To visit the SANTASIA website, click here.)

Just a brief update:

MYTHIC JOURNEYS is still trucking along, and I've been privileged to get to do some really fun and challenging animation on it so far! I've had to take a little time off from that project to film...

...ADVENTURES WITH THE AMBERSONS, Episode 4!
In this next installment of the SuperDeluxe.com series, Marshall, Wes and Polly are surprised to find the family dog, Mr. Tinkles, brought back to life after being exploded to pieces in Episode 1. Mr. Tinkles has come back from the grave with special powers and a vendetta against Marshall for turning him into a monster.
The time-travelling trio stop for a potty break and realize they've landed in the little town of Bethlehem, right next to a manger full of livestock...and a man and his VERY pregnant wife! Could they be about to witness the birth of Jesus? Coming soon to SuperDeluxe.com!












Also...

Animation has wrapped on THE SNOW PRINCESS!

After many weeks of building and animating, this delightful fantasy film has now left the Red Hatchet Films studio, and is currently in post-production under the watchful eye of writer/director Audrey Holland.
Thanks to my good friends Tommy Keiser and Robin Jennings for helping with the puppet construction. I look forward to seeing this one when it finally screens to the world!


More to come...

Going out of my gourd for a GREAT cause...

Well, I took the plunge. After mulling it over and not being able to talk myself out of it, I started training this morning to run the 2008 SAN FRANCISCO MARATHON! Assuming that I finish (and don't get eaten alive by those gigantic hills!) this will be my second marathon (after Dublin, Ireland, in 2005) in which I will be raising money for the angels at AIDS Project Los Angeles, who minister much-needed food, transportation, housing, and medical services to our thousands of brothers and sisters living with HIV-AIDS.

There are lots of reasons NOT to want to run 26.2 brain-melting miles, but this is a cause I truly believe in, as I also believe in giving back to the universe when the universe is good to you. I've been really blessed in the last year, and the timing, as busy as things are right now, feels absolutely right. So, for the next six months, I'll be getting up at the crack of dawn to run my skinny ass off to help raise money to make the lives of others a little better. If you would like to join TEAM MIKE and help me out in reaching my fundraising goal of $2400, please feel free to DONATE HERE.

Thanks, everyone!