Rocky and Bullwinkle statue taken down

The statue of Rocky and Bullwinkle on Sunset Blvd. has been taken down. From what I could find online, it seems Dreamworks has taken the statue down for restoration. The reports say the statue will not be returned to it's spot on Sunset. From what I understand, Dreamworks now owns the rights to Rocky and Bullwinkle.
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/biz/dreamworks-animation-agrees-to-acquire-classic-media-66896.html

                                  (My photos from fall 2006)

Bullwinkle stands here in the newer "Wassamatta U" color scheme. (Or is it "Wossamatta"?) Older photos show him in a blue, white and light purple outfit, and Rocky wasn't holding a "Wassamatta U" pennant. Jay Ward and Bill Scott must have figured bad publicity was better than no publicity at all, right?

http://www.seeing-stars.com/imagepages/bullwinklephoto1.shtml

Still, it comes from a time when we could laugh at ourselves more easily by concocting these abstract characters. L.A. has been criticized over and over again for being an ugly city, and I'm forced to agree. Hollywood has already been turned into a stack of giant boxes, and little things with some charm or whimsy always seem to get bulldozed under. Establishments like "Tail of the Pup", and even Bob's Big Boy are vulnerable to being swept aside by developers for another Starbuck's/Subway/nail salon strip mall.

Here's a last look at our heroes walking off into the sunset. True, it was a battered piece of paper mache' and plastic that needed a major restoration, but that doesn't make it worthless. Perhaps they'll resurface someday. Stay tuned for our next episode. Right now, I can't think one of those groaner punchlines the way they could.

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/07/breaking_52yearold_bullwinkle_statue_lifted_off_the_strip_1.php

http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2013/07/bullwinkle_statue_moved_o.php

Summer Vacation

Or, what I didn't do this summer. So far. I fell way behind on animation news, technology and art in general. I did get to see the Superman display at Cleveland Hopkins airport back in June.

                                              (Superman copyright DC/Time Warner)

The biggest drama in June before my summer trip was having our new PC crash. I mean, totally dead, just a black screen with a cursor. The boot sector was totally corrupted. And the kicker was it was our only Toon Boom Storyboard Pro station at the Animation Guild computer lab.

Finally managed to copy the files using the command prompt, and then reformat the disk. What a nightmare. All the "home remedy" advice for repairing the boot sector, and avoiding reinstalling everything never panned out. I was biting my nails making sure everyone's files made it off safely before I wiped out the drive.

I think I know what caused it, but I can't go into here. I'll get on ordering backup drives to soften the blow next time. Got to spend a week at my dad's place north of Toronto.

I also got my parents old PC and laptop running again, with some vital help from my brother. I'm still a bit disgusted with all the electronics people are hauling up to their cabins. Fortunately, the local township seems conscientious about recycling. Saw a couple old PC's at the transfer station last year.

Blew off Comic-Con and Siggraph. I need something else to inspire me. Tired of the same old thing.

Here's what I started this spring. I'm not sure how it's going to turn out.
http://kenroskosanimationthesis.blogspot.com/

Ah yes, and someone "kidnapped" the Rocky and Bullwinkle statue from Sunset Blvd. Taken in for repairs they say, but it may never be returned to that fabled spot. You can read more about it here.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/animationscoop/bullwinkle-statue-removed

Go away for awhile and L.A. just falls apart!

Ernest & Celestine Trailer

I need to see where I can buy this, and just bypass the old Hollywood system that stifles so many fresh ideas. It looks good...

(Artwork copyright-)

• La Parti Productions
• Les Armateurs
• Maybe Movies
• Mélusine Productions
• StudioCanal

Here's the link to the trailer -

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=ernest+and+celestine+trailor&mid=2DC0F8C9DC003C9FF7C72DC0F8C9DC003C9FF7C7&view=detail&FORM=VIRE3

Directed by Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar and Benjamin Renner. Based on a children's book written and illustrated by Gabrielle Vincent.

time lapse sketching

Hello blog, haven't posted here in a while. Here's my first attempt at time lapse sketching using Video Velocity software.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj6QkdvN8DE

http://www.candylabs.com/videovelocity

Mandelbulber

Cool "3D" Mandelbrot generator.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/mandelbulber/?source=dlp

More spam

Some people will do anything to make money. Spam sites like topblogstories tried to attack my computer, but the Norton stopped it. Makes me wonder if blogging is worth it.

https://productforums.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!topic/blogger/2HeLlFIRbbM

Angelina Jolie is Tigress!

 Angelina is a true warrior. Fight on!

Lord, this must take courage to get this preemptive surgery, I tip my hat to Angelina. I freak out just going in for a checkup.

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-angelina-jolie-mastectomy-first-person-20130515-dto,0,5217359.htmlstory

(Artwork copyright Dreamworks SKG)

Link courtesy of neofundi.com


http://www.neofundi.com/profiles/blogs/the-best-of-angelina-jolie

I have to admit: the first time I saw Kung Fu Panda was on a flight back to L.A. I don't like watching movies on a jet with headphones and the small screen overhead. But KFP kept grabbing my attention, and I kept watching it. Without sound, and the lousy monitors on the jet, I thought Tigress was a guy!

I regret not seeing KFP on the big screen. It was definitely on my DVD list when I got home.

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/po%20and%20tigress?language=pt_BR

Ray Harryhausen San Diego Comic Con interview 2005

Here's a scan on the Ray Harryhausen interview from the San Diego Comic Con update flyer that came in the mail in 2005. I'm still intrigued how Harryhausen met Willis O'Brien, and worked for George Pal.

(Writer unknown, copyright 2005, San Diego Comic Con)

Ray Harryhausen at the Motion Picture Academy 1997

This xerox had been stuck to my fridge since 1997. I must confess, I don't remember much from that night. Since the passing of Ray Harryhausen, I finally scanned before it completely deteriorates. I'll let you read this hand out, and imagine what that evening was like a the Motion Picture Academy back in 1997.

Saul Bass' Birthday

Interesting, how we lost Ray Harryhausen, and today is Saul Bass' Birthday. I just learned from one of my Maya students about Saul Bass's collaboration with John Whitney. Whitney invented an analog computer from the gun sight system of a WWII anti-aircraft gun. Together they worked on the titles for Hitchcock's Vertigo.

https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en&tab=ww

I wonder if either one bumped into Ray Harryhausen or George Pal...

Ray Harryhausen1920 – 2013

(Darth Vader scream) Noooo!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Harryhausen

According to Wikipedia, Ray Harryhausen was born in Los Angeles on June 29, 1920. He met the animator of King Kong, Willis O'Brien, worked for George Pal and became a good friend of Ray Bradbury.I'd say that's pretty impressive, career and life-wise.

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-ray-harryhausen-20130508,0,7687365.story

Back at summer camp, my dad managed to get a copy of Jason and the Argonauts on 16mm film. Set up the projector, got the kids together, and get the popcorn going: pure heaven!

(Copyright 1963 Columbia Pictures)

I'll never forget Jason fighting those skeletons. At the time, I had no idea who Ray Harryhausen was.
Later on, I could detect the differences in the film grain and exposure between the actors and the stop motion figures when his films came to video, but it's still a great experience.

With digital technology, I wonder what it would take to recreate that stop motion look from the early 1960's. What lenses, what film stock, lights and materials did Harryhausen use?

I'm still on my own quest for the Golden Fleece. Need a break from all this technology, get back to some earthy type of creation.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057197/

I don't know what else to say. A great time in film history.
He was 92. I hope I can make that.

http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=806440http://movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=806440

http://www.rayharryhausen.com/index.php

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/07/181931429/ray-harryhausen-master-of-stop-motion-animation-dies

Flamingo Waitress as Green Lantern

Okay, she does have a secret identity. I read too many comics, I guess. Quick sketch colored in Photoshop.

And she's keeping her skates. She just had to replace those yellow wheels with white ones. True fans will understand why;)

top blog topics

Here's what I've gathered so far, in no particular order -

01 money/finance
02 fashion/shopping
03 politics
04 religion/philosophy
05 sex/relationships
06 gadgets/tech/internet
07 learning/self improvement/questions in general
08 health/fitness/lifestyle
09 entertainment/celebrities
10 travel/leisure
11 hobbies/crafts

Almost forgot!

12 art/culture

And blogs just about blogging itself?

This was interesting today -

http://blog.ted.com/2013/03/14/the-10-most-popular-ted-ed-lessons-so-far/

The Bad Guy

Monday was a rough day. News about the attack in Boston, and just finding out about the white ribbon campaign just leaves me more staggered about life, and what our responsibilities are toward each other.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_ribbon

Conflict is a part of life. But we have to decide on how big the repercussions will be if we lash out. Individuals and governments can lash out blindly, or they can proceed in a destructive manner with some high degrees of premeditation. To me, it's how big of a mess do we leave behind for someone else.

Here we go again. As a storyteller, I'm still fascinated by the cute character in jeopardy. Good stories need bad guys, and we get a thrill watching them carry out their dirty deeds. As long as they are confined to a screen, or on the pages of a book or comic. We even had the "noble villain" in Leader Desslok from Starblazers. They see themselves as the heroes.

 http://www.fanboy.com/2009/08/desslok.html

I liked the ironic twist to the villain Darla Dimple in "Cats don't Dance".

L.B. Mammoth: Ah, the recipe for a Darla Dimple movie. Begin with one part adorable character in jeopardy.
[inside the soundstage, Darla has tied up Pudge]

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001421/?ref_=tt_trv_qu

It takes only one, or a handful of crazed or enraged people to blow us all to Hell. Stopping their plots takes work, time and insight. But I don't want a police state either. I want to trust people. I don't have a good answer. And we always seem to have the time, people and resources to bust heads afterwards.

Van Eaton Galleries "THE HB SHOW”

Hoo-Ha! Saturday morning becomes Saturday night for grownups, and kids of all ages.
It was fun! Saw a few familiar faces, I think the show was a success. But my head is exploding right now. Have a good night folks.

(Art copyright Gris Grimly)

http://www.vegalleries.com/thehbshow.html

http://www.superpunch.net/2013/04/hanna-barbera-themed-art-show.html

How Hollywood still sees computers

Here's a cute article on how Hollywood is still using old film cliche's when it comes to technology.
Via Tom Sito- Evil geniuses, evil machines taking over the world. The real threat comes from our own laziness.
http://www.denofgeek.com/games/24877/the-things-the-movies-think-computers-do

This is the guts of my old Compaq. I still don't have the energy to take it the recyclers. Had two old Macs go out on me at the Guild computer lab this winter. Need to have a wake for them as well.

They sure got the mileage out of those Burroughs B-205's; Lost in Space, Batman, Time Tunnel. Speaking of time tunnels-

http://www.angelfire.com/scifi/B205/

http://www.starringthecomputer.com/computer.html?c=45

Animation Guild sends Pizza Planet truck to Rhythm & Hues

No more free grub for the remaining R&H artists working overtime. Cutbacks and stuff. The Animation Guild brought the pizza! (But they didn't use the Pizza Planet truck.)

Some devoted fans re-created the Pizza Planet truck from Toy Story. Sorry, I didn't get their names.
This was next to the Marriott at the 2012 CTN Expo in Burbank. (The Pizza Planet truck copyright Pixar/Disney)

http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/cheese-tomatoes-and-all-fixings.html

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/animation-guild-picks-up-lunch-425759

Best visual effects Oscar acceptance speech cut short or too long?

Underbidding, the big fish eat the little fish, "we'll do anything to get into the movies"... Maybe I'm resorting to some hysterics in this headline, just to get Google hits. Still the VFX workers could not get the chance to organize, until it was too late. Now R&H is reforming itself just to work overseas?!

 http://www.deadline.com/2013/02/rhythm-hues-facility-to-open-in-taiwan-by-late-march-report/

Still, I'm using the green box to stand with the workers.

http://blogs.wsj.com/bankruptcy/2013/02/25/rhythm-hues-gets-oscars-shout-out/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2013/feb/25/oscars-protest-life-of-pi

Camera Craft closing it's doors in North Hollywood

After 50 years of business, Camera Craft is closing it's doors in North Hollywood. Nancy, the owner, says the building will be preserved. She said it will be converted to some kind of cafe/bakery. The store was originally a private home that was moved to that crazy corner of Vineland, Lankershim and Camarillo . I picked up some spare parts along with some odds and ends on their last day of business today. Someday, I'll build my own shooting stand.

Long live Camera Craft, we hardly knew ye! Long live film!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/a-1-camera-craft-sales-and-rentals-co-north-hollywood

http://cameracraftnh.com/

VFX Work leaving Canada

And if R&H's troubles weren't enough-

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/02/28/bc-film-jobs-special-effects-overseas_n_2785756.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cathryndc/4603093826/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/friedmud/5484155085/

(Photos copyright of each flickr user)