Delta Layover

Posted on by admin

COVID Dystopia was an official selection at the Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival. Festival sponsors helped with the hotel and plane flights. I decided to go for the last day of the festival to attend the awards ceremony. You never know.

There were no direct Delta flights to Pittsburgh. To fly out I had to fly to Atlanta first and catch a connecting flight to Pittsburgh. Getting up at 4am wasn’t good enough. When I got to the gate, I discovered I was the last person to board along with a couple in front of me. As I was getting my ticket scanned I heard my name echo out all through the airport. My seat was crammed between two other people, but knowing I was the last person to board, I went past that row and found my own row since the plane wasn’t very crowded.

In Atalanta I had to make my way to anther terminal for the connecting flight. It was a long walk. When I got to gate B33, Kevin the boarding agent was letting several people into the boardwalk. I sat down for a moment to hear what zone was being boarded. I was in zone 8, maybe I would have time to go to the bathroom before getting on board. The next time I looked up, Kevin was gone. I walked over and discovered the door to board the plane had been closed.

I rushed to another boarding area to ask what I should do. I was told I would have to walk to boarding zone B17 to get my ticket adjusted. When I was walking back, I saw Kevin had returned to his desk. Another woman had the same problem as me. As I waited, I saw my plane backing out of the terminal. Had I not sat down and relaxed for a second, I might have been on that flight. Kevin told me I could use my ticket to board another flight to Pittsburgh in another hour. No harm done, I just needed to be in Pittsburgh by 7pm for the awards ceremony.

Another flight had t board before the plane to Pittsburgh could roll in. That flight was experiencing delays. I asked Kevin how the delays might affect my plane to Pittsburgh, His abrupt response was, “I have no idea.” I don’t think Kevin likes his job. After I went back to sit down Kevin announced that my flight to Pittsburgh would leave from another gate.

I ultimately made it to my destination, but felt that the ticketing agents have no clue or don’t care what is going on. They are just going through the motions.

COVID Dystopia: Security

Posted on by admin

The barefoot woman in this scene remains perfectly still while the horde of zombies shuffle through the security checkpoint without bothering to take off their shoes. The security guard gently feels between the woman’s breasts to check for any hidden virus.

I am traveling quite a bit to Film Festivals across the country promoting COVID Dystopia. Having to remove the mask for security is probably the most dangerous thing I need to do other than crowding into a sardine can with recirculated air. After a long flight it is a relief to step outside and remove the mask for a deep breath of air. I have had a  cough for over a month. I have checked for COVID and it is not that, but even if is only the remnants of a cold, I don’t think it is wise to spread it around.

COVID Dystopia is available to be seen at the Virtual Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival happening now through November 24, 2024. COVID Dystopia can be seen in the Eventive – Chiller Theater Block 2 – Shorts online. It can be seen anywhere in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. After you start watching the films, you have 48 hours to complete watching them. Tickets are $18.

 

Macbeth First pass

Posted on by admin

On my first pass at creating the Macbeth poster, I decided to go with a golden skull with a large drop of blood creating a crown like splash.

This idea avoided me having to depict Macbeth who had not been cast yet. I have a tenancy to express my darkest impulses before finding the concept which has enough appeal draw an audience in.

At the time I also was not aware that UCF students would be presenting the play. Actually younger actors might take more chances and present Macbeth’s darker side.

I like some aspects of this sketch but others I would defiantly want to change. This skull motif would be good for a very tall poster. As it is, the skull seems to float in a vast expanse of black. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I usually populate every inch of space with something to chew on.

These performances are staged at various venues around Orlando since the Shakespeare Theater is undergoing renovations. Tickets.

NOVEMBER 1 & 2, 2024

Where: Fringe ArtSpace

54 W Church St Suite 201, Orlando, FL 32801

When:

November 1:

  • Evening: 7:30 – 8:50 PM

November 2:

  • Matinee: 2:00 – 3:20 PM
  • Evening: 7:30 – 8:50 PM

Macbeth

Posted on by admin

The Orlando Shakes will present Macbeth at Fringe Art Space on November 1 and 2, 2024. The play is being performed by UCF Master of Fine Arts students.

In a past production the Orlando Shakes staged this scene in which a darkly clad cast surrounded Macbeth with their faces hidden behind black stockings. In the haunting scene they lay their hands on the king. It is a creepy and inspired staging.

These performances are staged at various venues around Orlando since the Shakespeare Theater is undergoing renovations.

NOVEMBER 1 & 2, 2024

Where: Fringe ArtSpace

54 W Church St Suite 201, Orlando, FL 32801

When:

November 1:

  • Evening: 7:30 – 8:50 PM

November 2:

  • Matinee: 2:00 – 3:20 PM
  • Evening: 7:30 – 8:50 PM

Disney Feature Animation Internship: Discovery Island

Posted on by admin

As interns we got to go on sketching field trips.I liked Discovery Island which had a small zoo of animals to be sketched. Unfortunately Discovery Island is a thing of the past. I particularly liked sketching the howling monkeys who were always a blur of motion.

I had finished about two seconds of animation on the final project. Progress was slow. I was starting to feel the stress. Too much hinged on this one bit of animation. I never felt fully rested and my right eye was starting to twinge.

We watched The Black Cauldron which was a Disney animated film made back in the 1980s. This was a darker film from a darker time. Disney was being threatened with a corporate takeover by Steinberg. Disney ended the take over by buying back the 11.1% interest he held in the company for $300 million dollars and they added 28 million for out of pocket expenses.

COVID Dystopia: Reno Plans

Posted on by admin

I update the laurels and re-post the poster each time COVID Dystopia is accepted into a new film festival.

I booked plane tickets and the hotel in Reno. The full cost of the hotel will be reimbursed by the festival but the airfare is on me. The hotel room has a king size bed which is such a waste. I couldn’t find a smaller room in the Silver Legacy casino hotel which is where all the film makers will be staying.

Booking decent round trip flights is a challenge I haven’t yet mastered. Only after the tickets were booked did I discover that I have a 3 hour layover in Minneapolis. Well if I go out or sketch in the airport that will take carer of two hours. I have a similar 3 hour layover in Salt Lake City on the way back but that one goes until 1am. I might be less enthusiastic about sketching Salt Lake City that late at night but we will see. Hopefully I have learned from my mistakes. Actually the layovers are intentional. Had I paid several hundred more dollars for the tickets I could have flown much faster. In Iowa I am driving 6 hours to avoid a similar layover. I would rather watch the road flow by than sit inside an airport. No matter how challenging, this is all an adventure and I need to embrace that.

Disney Feature Animation Internship: Dancing Bushes

Posted on by admin

These dancing Hippo and Crocodile bushes were located right outside the animation tour building. They were in the MGM studio theme park for guests to enjoy, not necessarily the animators.

My evening of partying caught up with me and I had a horrible hangover. I had to leave work early.

I did get some work done on my quadruped assignment. I designed a centaur. The plan was to make the centaur walk onto the scene where he notices a female centaur and starts running after her. It was a great plan but a bit too much for my hungover brain to handle.

I was told that 23 positions were opening up in the animation studio in the next 18 months. There was hope to join the growing studio.

Disney Feature Animation Internship: Muppets on Location

Posted on by admin

The interns went to Pleasure Island to blow off some steam. My favorite venue there was the adventurer’s club, but there were a wide variety of dance clubs and comedy clubs. Unfortunately Disney shut down this more adult themes attraction.

I had a good conversation with Pete about the future possibilities of working in Animation. We both agreed that it is important to invest in your own ideas besides working on company projects.

Disney felt homogenized. It offered security, but a life of adventure would require more risks. I had 6 beers and felt I needed to figure out the trajectory of my life. The key is to take it one day at a time and keep moving in a direction. Just as I was searching for my next step then, I am searching for my next step now. I have several spreads in my book I need to lay out today. That is all I can think about for now.

COVID Dystopia: Screening at the Iowa Independent Film Festival

Posted on by admin

COVID Dystopia will be screening at the Iowa Independent film Festival in Clear Lake, Iowa on September 6, 2024 from 4pm to 6pm at The Lake Theater. It is right next door to the corner drug store.

In making travel plans I found the tiny puddle jumper airport does not have a car rental, si I am hoping that lyft will be able to get me around.I actually read an article online that said lyft does not exist in Clear, Lake Iowa. I will have to trust that can not be true or a taxi service at least must exist. The walk between the town is 3 and a half hours. I am not doing that but maybe I could find a bike rental. In some ways traveling to the middle of nowhere is terrifying but it is also thrilling.

The other Film Festival theater that is screening films is a 20 minute drive east at Mason City, Iowa. The awards ceremony and several after parties are in Mason City.

I decided I will stay in Clear Lake, Iowa. I found a very affordable hotel that overlooks the lake and is walking distance to the Lake Theater. I might bring my swim trunks although the water might be rather cold in Iowa come September.

My sound tech has offered to do a complete sound redesign for the film. That will not be ready by the time of the Iowa International Film Festival screening, but I am excited to see the film take another creative step forward.

It is exciting traveling to cities around the world to screen the film and spread the message that we might be done with COVID, but COVID is not done with us.

I am deep into designing a 200 page hardcover book that includes 600 of the COVID illustrations along with concise write ups for each day. One question at the Cleveland International Film Festival was, do I plan to make a longer version of the film? The book is that long form project. It allows a reader time to pause and think about the insanity that ensued. The film. COVID Dystopia hits like a slap in the face and is so fast paced that many can not keep up. In a way that is the point. I was the only artist trying to keep up and record what most want to ignore.

Disney Feature Animation Internship: MGM Studios Entrance

Posted on by admin

This is another lunchtime sketch inside Disney’s MGM Studios. On the weekend I took some time off and wandered through Epcot people watching and sketching. Such excursions helped keep me sane through the pressure cooker that was the internship.

I managed to get a sun burn on my forehead since I forgot to wear my baseball cap while sketching.

I tried to arrange a haircut with a Disney barber but was told I would need to return in a week because I didn’t have a reservation. Just figuring out basic survival needs is a learning process.

The next assignment was going to be figuring out how a horse walks. It was hard enough figuring out how two legs worked in a walk and now I had to face 4 legs. Well, if the horses can figure out the mechanics of walking, then so can I.