tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1104652955309977942024-03-13T20:31:27.963-07:00Sumo LakeThe site for the best animated-dancing-wrestling-monster-romance film you'll probably ever see.Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-23153212344801377302014-10-13T15:38:00.004-07:002014-10-13T15:46:09.072-07:00Danza!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of the most interesting things about Sumo Lake is how the film has garnered interest outside of the expected crowd of animation and comedy viewers. Very pleased, and admittedly a little amused, to have Sumo Lake selected to screen at Choreoscope, "THE Dance Film Festival of Barcelona and Bucharest."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dNZ1LwpNF_w/VDxTUxDminI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/CW2sXr5ZXbA/s1600/official%2Bselection%2Bblack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dNZ1LwpNF_w/VDxTUxDminI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/CW2sXr5ZXbA/s1600/official%2Bselection%2Bblack.jpg" height="177" width="320" /></a></div>
From their <a href="http://choreoscope.com/" target="_blank">website: </a><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Choreoscope is a free event made for dance lovers and also, film lovers.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />Dance films need their own space; they need their home, their temple, a gathering place. Its audience is not limited only to people interested in dance and movement, but it also includes people interested in different approaches to the cinematographic language, those who prefer non-commercial movies, experimental movies, those who are eager to experience different types of movie narrative."</span></i><br />
<br />
First time I've been asked who was the choreographer of my film. The confession that I just made it all up with a pencil didn't seem to put them off. <br />
<br />
Please visit them <a href="https://www.facebook.com/choreoscope" target="_blank">online</a> for more info, or check out the festival itself if you're in that part of the world. <br />
<br /></div>
Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-78820542954219312712014-09-03T15:53:00.003-07:002014-09-03T16:04:46.591-07:002014 Kinofest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sumo Lake is one of 16 movies selected for the "micromovie" section of <a href="http://www.kinofest.com/en/" target="_blank">Kinofest International</a> Digital Film Festival. The films will be available in their youtube channel for viewing and voting (with that handy "like" button) until 28th September. Please enjoy the films and vote for your …*ahem* … favourite.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bdp1C0yiyto?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br /></div>
Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-35956676499790108652012-11-12T13:14:00.000-08:002012-11-12T13:14:10.983-08:00Sumo Lake goes to YouTube<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We've extended beyond the polite parlour of <a href="https://vimeo.com/22835484" target="_blank">Vimeo</a> and Sumo Lake is now available for everyone's viewing pleasure on the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/futureshorts" target="_blank">Future Shorts YouTube channel</a>. <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/u9q56jLVueo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Future Shorts has a swag of interesting films of all sorts online and quite happy to have my wrestling-ballet-monster-romance epic among their collection. Let the robust commentary begin!</div>
<br />Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-76213944739144880372012-09-27T04:23:00.000-07:002012-09-27T04:23:39.117-07:00More Festivals! Sugoi!There's still some festival life in this little scribbled epic, nearly two years after it's release.<br />
<br />
Extremely pleased to participating in the <a href="http://www.SDAFF.org/" target="_blank">San Diego Asian Film Festival </a>. This festival looks like a lot of fun, and I'm disappointed I'm too far away to enjoy the hospitality offered the filmmakers. However, anyone else nearby can check out Sumo Lake in big screen HD in in their animation programme on Sunday November 4 and Wednesday November 7th, and if you think you can do a passable impersonation of me, go ahead and take on the filmmaker Q & A and grab my share of any beer and canapes on offer.<br />
<br />
If you prefer wine to beer, or northern California to south, Sumo Lake is also part of the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/TheCIFF" target="_blank">Calaveras Film Festival. </a>The festival runs from Oct 12 to 14th and "celebrates the art of film, food, and wine in the Californian foothills." Sounds horrible. Don't know which night they'll be screening Sumo Lake, so best get tickets to all three. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5NPxF-zUYIM/UGQ24xs03PI/AAAAAAAAAa8/H1d-xvyLN20/s1600/sugoi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="417" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5NPxF-zUYIM/UGQ24xs03PI/AAAAAAAAAa8/H1d-xvyLN20/s640/sugoi.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-65701370173902500452012-06-06T23:22:00.001-07:002012-06-20T19:45:55.182-07:00Long ago, before Sumo …… I animated an ode to my childhood car trips across the great Canadian Prairie*. "Get in the Car" was released in 2003, played festivals around the world, and just this week found it's way onto Flickerfest's "Fresh Flicks" Youtube channel.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(*If you've ever been driven across them in the back seat of a 1970's Mercury station wagon, you may think the "great" referred only to the distance across them, but of course that's wrong. )</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rDJnWy2lNi8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now apologies to those outside of this wide brown land down under, but I believe this channel is blocked outside of Australia. In which case, all I can offer is the <a href="http://www.panicproductions.com.au/animation.html" target="_blank">teaser clip from my website</a>, or the trailer from the Animation Show of Shows DVD collection in which GITC appears. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y5qC5ouUiiQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
And while we're posting video clips only peripherally related to Sumo Lake, here's a recently released, partially animated trailer for the Captain Congo kid's book series I illustrate.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/y1HxgF19YbI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I woke up this morning to the news that the great Ray Bradbury had passed away. He called the internet a "distraction". Now that I've distracted both of us, I'm off to honour his memory by logging out and finding myself a good book. Right now.</div>Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-1210074480026700112012-04-27T16:30:00.000-07:002012-04-26T23:52:28.889-07:00BCN Sports Film Festival - Sumo animation aplenty!"Sumo Lake" is proudly participating in the<a href="http://www.bcnsportsfilm.org/en/index.php" target="_blank"> 2012 BCN Sports film festival</a>, Barcelona. Yeah, I guess we're a "sports film". Sumo wrestling is a sport, and "Sumo Lake" is a film - so why not?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bcnsportsfilm.org/en/index.php" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3RIXuTP__L4/T5o-gVtiDnI/AAAAAAAAAaU/blzXmmOehU8/s400/MASTER_FICTS_H264-poster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Surprised to learn that there's a number of films in their animation program. Not only are we kept company in the hand-drawn animation category with the work of some scribbler named <a href="http://scribblejunkies.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bill Plympton</a>, but there is a hand-drawn sumo wrestling film that's <i>not Sumo Lake</i>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Laurene Braibant's "Sumo" is done in a skillful render of charcoal. Very classy, very dramatic. Can't wait to see more than just the teasers available on Vimeo.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="410" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/31897096?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ffffff" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="513"></iframe>Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-62633523733373274702012-04-26T04:37:00.003-07:002012-04-26T17:38:43.018-07:00Sumo Loch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dmddrxr1Hmw/T5kzbgyK-bI/AAAAAAAAAaI/1yqFoSMIMm8/s1600/ScottishBallet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dmddrxr1Hmw/T5kzbgyK-bI/AAAAAAAAAaI/1yqFoSMIMm8/s1600/ScottishBallet.jpg" /></a></div>
If only Benjamin had worked bagpipes into the soundtrack, they would have <i>loved</i> it.Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-91479533800750543992012-02-14T17:58:00.000-08:002012-02-14T18:03:17.663-08:00N4YPSumo Lake, along with the earlier penguin-noir film "Black and White Red All Over" will be screening 17 February in the N4YP Animation Festival Launch Party. What's "N4YP"? They explain it best on <a href="http://n4yp.com/" target="_blank">their site</a>:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5;">
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The goal is fairly simple: provide support, knowledge, means, opportunity and empowerment to young people working to break into the media arts industries. Whether your interest lies in digital media, visual media, journalism, animation or any number of other things, N4YP will aim to provide you with resources to get you going.</em></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5;">
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.5; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Sounds like a good thing, and sounds like a good party. The venue is Jugend Widerstand Church, Berlin, and the event features a selection of international animated films along with reknowned DJs and musician</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;">s.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/183562758418604/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R80_CzWzsWc/TzsQ0RIktzI/AAAAAAAAAZY/g-clhRyT8hk/s320/n4yp-flyer-poster-withred.png" width="248" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Add Sumo wrestlers and penguins, and you have a perfect night out. </div>Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-36876185194217171442012-02-04T17:00:00.000-08:002012-02-14T18:00:54.392-08:00Moving Drawings<i><b>UPDATE: Well that was pretty underwhelming. </b></i><br />
<i>E-mail if you'd like another chance to add to your art collection while spreading some goodwill and stemming the bitterness of a cranky animator. </i><br />
<br />
Anyone within earshot of me in early 2011 heard me bang on about Sumo Lake taking 1300 drawings to make and I had the throbbing arm to prove it. (Actually, that's not a lot in animation terms, <a href="http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Features/ubiwerks.html" target="_blank">Ub Iwerk</a>s would have cranked out that many by the weekend, but I won't pretend not to be proud of my efforts.)<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Most of them are pretty nice drawings if I say so myself. Since there was no digital compositing, everything was done on the paper, and there aren't any incomplete and unsatisfying compositions (like that cel of Scratchy's arm that Bart Simpson buys). All of them are complete, and most of them are for sale.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A few have been sold since the film's release just under a year ago, via this site and e-bay. Not too long after I put the drawings up for sale Japan was hit by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami. We were all struck by a feeling of sympathy and helplessness, and these drawings presented an opportunity to give something back to the nation that has given me such inspiration and hospitality. Half the subsequent sale proceeds have been given to Mercy Corps Artists Help Japan Fund.<br />
<br />
However, Japan still needs help and I have a lot of drawings. I'd like to see a lot more people own Sumo Lake drawings, and I'd like to be able to transfer a much larger pile of dough to Japan to assist in a rebuilding effort that will likely take a generation.<br />
<br />
So as we approach the anniversary of Sumo Lake's release and the Japan disasters, a lot of drawings are going to be made available. They will be sold via ebay auctions, so there's a chance you might get yourself a bargain. In such case you should buy two, because once sales total $100, 75% of the money will be sent for disaster relief. Should there be enough enthusiasm to take us over $300, then from that point on I'll just cover my postage costs and hand over all that remains to <a href="http://www.mercycorps.org/countries/japan" target="_blank">Mercy Corps</a> and <a href="http://www.msf.org.au/" target="_blank">Medicins Sans Frontieres.</a><br />
<br />
Remember, all drawings will be signed. Personalized signings upon request - the perfect gift for that special dancer/wrestler/monster in your life.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/panic5070/m.html?item=270907439295&viewitem=&_trksid=p4340.l2562" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> (or on your favourite piece below) to get yourself to the Sumo Lake Artwork Auction Page and start bidding. Keep in mind that there will be no additional postage costs for additional drawings. One drawing, or eight drawings, same postage price. (They're not as heavy as they look.)</div>
<div>
<br />
New pieces will be put on the auction block as others move. If you are after a particular drawing or set of drawings, please e-mail with a screen grab or written description and we'll see what arrangements can be made.<br />
<br />
Domo Arigato!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sumo-Lake-original-animation-artwork-/270907439295?pt=AU_AnimationArt&hash=item3f135778bf" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9KTjLPrKl4s/Ty3TXjPSQjI/AAAAAAAAAYo/bSArVgM1jUA/s320/SumoLake11_0112.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sumo-Lake-original-animation-artwork-/270907437386?pt=AU_AnimationArt&hash=item3f1357714a#ht_500wt_1019" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xCmmzRH1HYQ/Ty3TY58klbI/AAAAAAAAAYw/DVVzQ8-pgV4/s320/SumoLake11_0150_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sumo-Lake-original-animation-artwork-/270907433701?pt=AU_AnimationArt&hash=item3f135762e5" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EdsD-9-SJXc/Ty3TZ1MsZwI/AAAAAAAAAY0/itVj07elgL0/s320/SumoLake30_0009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sumo-Lake-original-animation-artwork-/270907433957?pt=AU_AnimationArt&hash=item3f135763e5" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G5euPmfVNjs/Ty3Taqs1zbI/AAAAAAAAAZA/2selh5QuNBw/s320/SumoLake30_0011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sumo-Lake-original-animation-artwork-/270907424490?pt=AU_AnimationArt&hash=item3f13573eea" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T5uZXYxMY8U/TeWH_0wCLOI/AAAAAAAAATs/OF7TKGn3w38/s320/SumoLake29_0010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sumo-Lake-original-animation-artwork-/270907427752?pt=AU_AnimationArt&hash=item3f13574ba8" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x69ohfY7uQM/TiQKJgd1-mI/AAAAAAAAAVI/tyqe4wfYdJM/s320/SumoLake08_0008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sumo-Lake-original-animation-artwork-/270907424881?pt=AU_AnimationArt&hash=item3f13574071" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jMmTcWybSKQ/TiQKEV-la8I/AAAAAAAAAVE/9vALAkjNP-s/s320/SumoLake10_0077.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sumo-Lake-original-animation-artwork-/270907435441?pt=AU_AnimationArt&hash=item3f135769b1" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jd_J0eoAKQw/Ty3Tb9MW9mI/AAAAAAAAAZI/SbHyKPRARQ4/s320/SumoLake31_0003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-30348834958675959172012-01-02T05:47:00.000-08:002012-04-10T17:26:10.116-07:00From Ballet to Polka - UPDATED<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jo82GeCUX8A/TpbcfyRrNJI/AAAAAAAAAWA/4jmJNNMp0vE/s1600/WeirdAl_Holfeld.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jo82GeCUX8A/TpbcfyRrNJI/AAAAAAAAAWA/4jmJNNMp0vE/s640/WeirdAl_Holfeld.jpg" width="640" /></a>Not too long after releasing Sumo Lake, I got an e-mail from my mate <a href="http://www.acmefilmworks.com/">Ron Diamond</a> asking me if I'd like to participate in an animation collaboration to accompany <a href="http://www.weirdal.com/">Weird Al Yankovic's</a> "Polka Face", his latest medley of polka-fied pop tunes. The medleys have always been my favourite work of Mr. Yankovic since I heard him belt out "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ9r8LMU9bQ">Rock the Casbah</a>" on his squeezebox more than a quarter century ago. Of course I said "Heck, yeah!"<br />
<br />
It was what we call in the trade an open brief, meaning "do whatever ya want". The medley was composed of 17 or so different song segments and it was first in, first dibs from those of us interested from Ron's big phone book of animators.<br />
<br />
As Sumo Lake had rekindled my near-dead interest in animating, I wanted to use this re-discovered joyously scribbly style and, like Sumo Lake, draw something that would be self-indulgently fun rather than having to work hard doing a caricature of a pop artist I didn't know*. I also grabbed one of the shorter segments, mindful of how much pencil mileage had to be clocked up against a tight deadline.<br />
<br />
You can look and listen to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRJILK3NxSM&list=FLImtAO8I2GPjWEuE3JOBQXQ&index=1" target="_blank">Al's whole medley</a>** or cut to the chase and see my full 12 seconds right here.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="289" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/34487674?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ffffff" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="513"></iframe><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
* [ I animated to "Down" originally by Jay Sean. Never heard of him, or his contribution to the culture of the 21st century. Sure he'd say the same about me.]<br />
<br />
** [ Youtube comments would suggest audiences are more literal minded than I would have expected, or maybe just very particular about representations of livestock.]<br />
<br />Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-72811583265877576372011-11-28T04:05:00.001-08:002011-11-28T04:25:51.402-08:00Access All Areas Film FestivalLike to draw your attention ("<i>draw</i> your attention" Get it? Hyuk! Hyuk!) to something that might otherwise get a little bit lost on the festival listing page. "Sumo Lake" is part of the <a href="http://www.accessallareasfilmfestival.com.au/" target="_blank">Access All Areas Film Festival</a>, an Australian film festival dedicated to getting films out there so everyone can enjoy them, regardless of a disability that might otherwise make the film-going experience more difficult than it should be. Venues have wheelchair accessibility and extra space, most films are captioned and/or audio described (<i>"…and then they dance!</i>"), there are volunteers to assist the less mobile and the Sydney and Paramatta screenings will feature an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auslan" target="_blank">AUSLAN</a> interpreter.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ff9nry36zqc/Tcpfj8H3W3I/AAAAAAAAASI/-tbd0hAWau0/s1600/SumoLake_still03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ff9nry36zqc/Tcpfj8H3W3I/AAAAAAAAASI/-tbd0hAWau0/s320/SumoLake_still03.jpg" width="320" /></a>There will be screenings in a variety of schools in Queensland and New South Wales, and public screenings throughout NSW. Further details <a href="http://www.accessallareasfilmfestival.com.au/festival.html">here</a>, as well as information about hosting a screening in your community. It's a <a href="http://www.accessallareasfilmfestival.com.au/program.html" target="_blank">mighty program </a>of good Aussie cinema, and I'm proud to have my scribbled sumos in the mix of this great festival.Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-41875277567327662442011-09-27T03:46:00.000-07:002011-09-27T03:51:28.618-07:00Special Screening<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g6MRP5vFQak/ToGoHKV-2NI/AAAAAAAAAVk/sDUAnJQIlYA/s1600/JABCimage002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g6MRP5vFQak/ToGoHKV-2NI/AAAAAAAAAVk/sDUAnJQIlYA/s320/JABCimage002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Those of you who will be in Adelaide next week and keen to hear a blab about Sumo Lake, are welcome to attend the next meeting of the <a href="http://jabc.com.au/">Japan Australia Business Council of South Australia</a> where I'll be speaking along with Sam White of the <a href="http://thepra.com.au/">People's Republic of Animation</a>.<br />
<br />
I'm really looking forward to this. Not only because I get to sit in an audience during a screening of Sumo Lake, but I'm expecting a lively question and answer session after the film. I'm dead keen to hear the Japanese perspective on my admittedly irreverent yet not intentionally disrespectful take on these cultural icons. We may even get an aggrieved ballerina who wants to kick me in the nuts.<br />
<br />
As if that's not enough, there's also Sam on the bill presenting some of the latest work from the dynamic PRA studios and discussing the company's history and new projects. Non-members are welcome for a nominal admission, which is a bargain given that there's drinks and nibbles along with the cartoons. Mark the evening of <b>Thursday, October 6th</b> in your diary and use their online <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGNpVlo2V1NjcGZZY0dGVFI2OE1waVE6MA#gid=0">RSVP form</a> to secure your place. Hope to see you there. Expect a full report here if you can't make it!Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-47170610973646745952011-09-20T01:15:00.000-07:002011-09-20T01:15:41.753-07:00Yay! Laurels!We wear 'em with pride.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hOehitGy-kY/TnhKS-8qnjI/AAAAAAAAAVc/zhkW5DeGJgM/s1600/StL_laurels_selection+Zet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hOehitGy-kY/TnhKS-8qnjI/AAAAAAAAAVc/zhkW5DeGJgM/s320/StL_laurels_selection+Zet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Check the "Watch" page for more details.<br />
<br />
You'll also find us participating in the Australian edition of International Animation Day, Oct 29th and 30th in Brisbane.<br />
<br />
Visit <a href="http://www.animationalliance.org.au/">Animation Alliance Australia </a>for more info (like does it mean that all us animators are going to get presents and free drinks all day?).Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-44007966967941809652011-09-06T15:52:00.000-07:002011-09-27T03:48:29.575-07:00More Screenings and temporarily off-lineVery happy to say that Sumo Lake will be screening in competition at <a href="http://www.animafestival.com.ar/eng/">The Cordoba International Animation Festival </a> in the program "<i>Animations For Children That Won't Take A Nap"</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></span></span></span></span></span>(it's not clear to me if these films are meant to be punishment or sleep inducement). Further details soon on the <a href="http://sumolake.blogspot.com/p/watch-film.html">"Watch"</a> page.<br />
<br />
As posted earlier, we'll be part of the program this coming weekend at the <a href="http://sfshorts.com/page40/page40.html">San Francisco Shorts Festival</a>. As a courtesy to the festival, watching "Sumo Lake" online will be accessible only by password for the duration of the festival. It will be freely available again from Sept. 12, or if you e-mail me and ask for the password really, really nicely and promise you won't send it to someone in San Francisco.<br />
<br />
This may happen again from time to time at a festival's request. We're well past being able to enter festivals that only screen films that have not been distributed online (now <i>there's </i>a topic for discussion another day) but it is perfectly reasonable that a festival doesn't want some smart-arse showing a film on their smartphone in the foyer while waiting for the screening.<br />
<br />
And even if they did, Sumo Lake is all about scale. See and hear it big if you can.<br />
<br />
UPDATE: Back online for all! Congrats and thanks to San Francisco Shorts for a successful festival.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-30170047378353702692011-07-01T07:34:00.000-07:002011-07-01T07:34:13.322-07:00ScreeningsA couple screenings of Sumo Lake are taking place next week. Hopefully you can make one of them, but I doubt you'll make both. They're on opposite sides of the globe.<br />
<br />
Details on the <a href="http://sumolake.blogspot.com/p/watch-film.html">"Watch" page. </a>Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-35569311556543435962011-06-19T17:35:00.000-07:002011-06-23T15:46:50.803-07:00Sumo Lake - The "Lost" SceneMistakes and oversights can happen in the best managed and resourced productions, so when the means of making a film consists of one guy in a messy shed, it would seem inevitable that things go awry.<br />
<br />
I always say that part of an animator's brain needs to be an accountant. There's the flow and verve of creative engagement, but that can never get out of sight of the bean-counter in your head that numbers the images, does the math on the charts and timings, and keeps an eye on production output. One of my favourite quotes is from an interview with Tim Burton:<br />
<br />
"<i>The unholy alliance of animation is that on one hand you are called upon to be a creative artist, and on the other hand you are called upon to be a zombie factory worker." </i><br />
<br />
Had that hanging above my desk for years to remind myself to hear both callings - in that order. Can't handle zombie factory work? Then don't be an animator. (Try directing instead. It seems to have worked for Tim.)<br />
<br />
In the course of the furious few weeks of scribbling Sumo Lake, the Panic Productions line producer must have nodded off, because it wasn't until I had done the shoot and the first edit that I found a small folder of drawings at the back of the shelf for a shot that was intended for the end sequence.<br />
<br />
I scanned them and threw them into a movie file and showed them to editor <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3709501/">Victoria Cocks</a> when we were doing the final edit a couple days later. We both concluded we didn't need it. We would have missed it if we did. Maybe my Line Producer brain knew something my Director brain didn't.<br />
<br />
Here for your viewing pleasure is a clip of the missing 16 frames - a mere 2/3 of a second - that constitutes the lost footage of Sumo Lake. It was to be inserted after the Von Rothcart lizard sends Prince Siegfried Sumo flying of screen at the start of their final encounter. A cut-away just slowed it down.<br />
<br />
Enjoy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyIaSrEL-TmICKrqtOEsFuRihKazpHYu9oQoepyinhafaXlis6EOH_Yg5rZ2dsE_o2ALUJojG-a_Xo4DsyLOg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-14176238711897029802011-05-31T17:43:00.000-07:002011-06-19T17:05:47.674-07:00More ArtworkThanks to everyone who responded to the auction of original artwork.<br />
<br />
More <a href="http://sumolake.blogspot.com/p/purchase-artwork.html">original artwork</a> has been made available, only this time for direct purchase rather than auction, with 50% of the price going to assist with Japan's earthquake and tsunami relief through <a href="http://artistshelpjapan.blogspot.com/">Artists Help Japan</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1-8mQoi_zPk/TeWH-hjxuGI/AAAAAAAAATk/deifYz-sujg/s1600/SumoLake07_0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1-8mQoi_zPk/TeWH-hjxuGI/AAAAAAAAATk/deifYz-sujg/s320/SumoLake07_0028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-53678583000257490792011-05-24T06:21:00.000-07:002011-05-24T06:22:38.285-07:00100,000 views!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">The title says it all. "Sumo Lake" has had over 100,000 views since being posted publicly on Vimeo less than a fortnight ago.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Now I know I haven't had every one of those two hundred thousand eyeballs go the full three minute distance and love every frame of it, but that's still a lot of punters.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--9hyxxRScn4/Tduwi0xFtbI/AAAAAAAAATI/KkSNHG1wrgE/s1600/SumoScribble1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--9hyxxRScn4/Tduwi0xFtbI/AAAAAAAAATI/KkSNHG1wrgE/s320/SumoScribble1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Just might be something in this whole interweb thingy after all …</span></div>Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-86490186415947407652011-05-14T02:27:00.000-07:002011-05-14T02:28:54.941-07:00A Good Week for Sumo LakeIndeed it was. With the passing of the last of the festival entry restrictions holding it back, "Sumo Lake" was put online. The good folks at <a href="http://www.cartoonbrew.com/">Cartoon Brew</a> gave it a mention, and the hit counter has been running like a dodgy taxi meter ever since. As of this moment, over 30,000 pairs of eyeballs have gazed upon "Sumo Lake" and along with the many kind and complimentary comments, it's a little overwhelming.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ghTgUsOGeIk/Tc5JVpAjggI/AAAAAAAAASQ/iyNwhFgQEaA/s1600/SASAaward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ghTgUsOGeIk/Tc5JVpAjggI/AAAAAAAAASQ/iyNwhFgQEaA/s400/SASAaward.jpg" width="301" /></a>Then last night I had placed in my hands this little beauty for "Best Animation" at the South Australian Screen<br />
Awards. It was a fabulous evening. Those that were there will know it was a memorable event that we'll all have trouble remembering.<br />
<br />
Thanks to the<a href="http://www.mrc.org.au/"> Media Resource Centre</a> for being such great hosts, and big thanks to <a href="http://www.goorooanimation.com/">GooRoo Animation</a> for stepping up and sponsoring this award. Onya, guys!Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110465295530997794.post-53833072690778047042011-04-20T01:13:00.000-07:002011-04-27T19:12:05.421-07:00Welcome to Sumo Lake!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Come on in. The water's fine.</span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ndGetHTJc_M/Ta6Vbh-7niI/AAAAAAAAAR8/dvTgCdj0uY4/s1600/SumoLake_still06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ndGetHTJc_M/Ta6Vbh-7niI/AAAAAAAAAR8/dvTgCdj0uY4/s640/SumoLake_still06.jpg" width="640" /></a>Greg Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940589111584849442noreply@blogger.com1