Some fun emails recently. Former MCC Animation student, Jordan Pack is up at BYU finishing his program. A terrific and talented guy, Jordan updated me on his exciting adventures with Pixar and Disney.
Jordan says, “Animation life is also good. I work part time at Avalanche, Disney’s game studio in SLC, as a work builder (modeling, texturing, and game play set-up). I’m finishing producing a short animation mentored by Pixar. Two of my classmates/friends just got accepted as interns. So I am hopeful that there is an opportunity there for me, too.” Jordan has a second website with artwork and commentary. I’m expecting great things from Jordan.
Talk about a blast from the past! I grew up in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Much of my family and some of my dear friends still live in that small town. Two young fellows from Chippewa decided to get into the film industry. Jason Behnke came to Arizona to attend Scottsdale Community College’s film program and ultimately went to LA where he now works as an editor. One of his good friends, Noah Arntson went to school in Florida and now lives in LA and does 3D work. Noah has also worked on live action films like the Jim Carey film, BRUCE ALMIGHTY. It was fun to get an email from him with a link to his portfolio.
I’ve been getting a load of grief for not blogging more. I’ve got friends, family and former students writing to chastise me for being so sloppy about blogging. I wish I had a good excuse but I just don’t. It isn’t that I haven’t been doing anything. We have been busy editing the feature, trying to meet a couple of important festival deadlines. We are working on the documentary; it’s got a new “B” story that needs to be worked in. All of the film work is no different than usual.
On top of that, I’ve been tutoring animation and filmmaking for fun and profit. I’ve got a wonderful young guy (13-year-old, seventh grader) who loves all things Maya, AfterEffects, FinalCut, Flash and Motion. We have a lot of fun. Working with him reminds me of the things that make me passionate about teaching. On top of that, the company has been doing classes at ASU and for private clients. So, it’s not like I’m sitting around sticking my fingers in my ears but, if the truth be told, I do have time to blog … I just don’t know what to blog about these days. Most of what I’m working on is related to the Zambia films … which people have been hearing about for the last year and one-half. Some of the other things I’ve been working on are under a bit under wraps. So, it really limits what I can write about.
So, if you’re a former student, send an email or two on what you’re doing these days (so I can write about it) or send an email about what you’d like to read more about. Either thing would be much appreciated. On that note, I’m going to end this post and do another one … so it LOOKS like I’m being diligent.
The votes are being counted and Obama is having a good evening. He’s taking many of the states in the nation’s mid-section, some by substantial margin. In terms of both popular vote and delegates, it’s a squeaker, right now. The current delegate estimate is 837 for Clinton, 841 for Obama. Thus far, Obama has won 13 states. With the Kennedy Blessing, the Oprah Endorsement and an inspiring speaking style, Obama sure seems to have the mojo.
And, in the Republican race, McCain is the fellow with the mojo. All of the major victories were his — California, New York, Missouri. Romney had a pretty dismal showing and may be folding up shop. Rush Limbaugh’s rant against McCain may be having some impact (for those who don’t follow the foul-mouthed fellow, he has said he’d rather have Hillary Clinton than John McCain). Huckabee did a lot better than anyone thought he would and, tonight, they announced he is meeting with some super right-wing fat cats who want to throw money at his campaign.
The most important thing about all of this political upheaval is that it shows how concerned the American public is with the state of the nation. When the races started, the war in Iraq was a big concern but, over the last few weeks, the economy has moved to the forefront. Today, the stock market fell 370 points and the service sector lost jobs. Several economists now say that we are in a recession. So, the choice of our next national leader seems to be of great concern to every age group. And this concern is making the candidates bring their “A” game to the political arena.
It’s the eve of Super Tuesday and the Democratic contest is tight. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are in a statistical dead heat. It’s an exciting time for politics in America. Either a woman or an African American will be the Democratic candidate for President. I can’t imagine the Republicans will hang on to the White House. Given the terrible state of the economy, the Iraq War and Bush’s gross deficit budget proposal, I just can’t imagine it. But, of course, I didn’t think Bush would win a second term, so there’s no accounting for the blind faith of humans, especially in politics.
Obama really has the momentum right now. I wonder if it will keep growing or stall as time goes on. Only time will reveal what will ultimately happen. I can hardly wait to see how this all shakes out. Even Arizona is in play. So, get out there and vote!
Tomorrow is also Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, which is celebrated with such flair in New Orleans.
Last week, I was working on an endurance task. We were stitching the hems on three (3) pieces of canvas that were 18 FEET by 33 FEET. That is one big piece of canvas. Anyway, while one is working on that sort of task, lots of conversation will surely occur and that conversation will cover a broad range of topics. At some point, my memory drifted over the tragic fire that occurred in 2003 in Providence, Rhode Island. No doubt we were talking about our next screenplay and I was drifting through whatever memories I had of Rhode Island. The fire popped in.
My recollection was that the band GREAT WHITE was performing, the pyrotechnics at the beginning of the show ignited the foam on the ceiling, the fire spread extremely rapidly, at least one of the escape doors was blocked or chained and over a hundred people died. That was what I thought I could remember.
So, last night, I searched YOU TUBE, Wikipedia, CNN and (in an homage to George Bush) the Internets. My memory was pretty accurate. Almost everything was correct (only 96 died in the fire, four from injuries later). I haven’t been able to find anything about blocked escape routes yet. I’m still looking for that. The owners of the club and the manager of the band all made plea agreements in the years following the deadly blaze.
NOW, here’s the weird part of the story.
TODAY, in the New York Times, a settlement was announced about that very fire. WPRI-TV News Videographer Brian Butler was at The Station (that was the name of the nightclub) gathering video for a news story on safety in public places. The television station was sued by survivors and family members of the deceased saying Butler had blocked the exit while filming the spread of the fire and frantic escape of the audience. A tentative $30 million dollar settlement has been reached. A quick look at the video reveals how quickly the fire spread. Computer simulations by the NSIT show the fire spreading at the rate of a FOOT per SECOND. There was no sprinkler system in the facility even though it should have had one according to fire code.
Video of the fire can be found on You Tube. CNN also had a link but it was invalid. There isn’t anything that points to the importance of safety in public places. I just think it is weird that I was thinking about and talking about it last week and an article appears in the NY Times today. That is just weird.
New age thinking (like the thinking that gave rise to THE SECRET) suggests that one needs to visualize what one wants and “be the change one wants” to have it manifest itself. Other new age thinkers suggest that one must look at one’s life and see what is “opening up” to ascertain where the energy is and what one should be doing. Of course, I like this theory because of the signs and portents portion of my personality. Theoretically, one simply needs to look at what is expanding in one’s life.
So, what’s been happening for me in 2008?
Last week, I got an email from a woman in Canada wanting advice on filmmaking in Zambia. Apparently she’s working on a documentary about AIDS, art and children. She had originally planned on shooting in Kenya but the political situation killed that location. Her secondary choices were Lesotho or Zambia. We, of course, are partial to Zambia because it is familiar and safe. I advised her about Carnets, Visas, the Zambian National Arts Council and gave her the names of Zambian advisors.
The week before, a graduate film student at one of the major California films schools called to discuss her plans on a documentary and feature she was working on about Zimbabwe. She was planning on shooting in South Africa. The political situation in Zimbabwe makes it impossible to shoot there. 
My inclination would be to shoot in Zambia over South Africa because, in our experience, Zambia was so much safer. That was over a year and one-half ago so things may have changed but that was initial thought. And, maybe, it’s just that I favor Zambia and would like them to get the film business. Besides, it’s just across the border from Zimbabwe.
So, I’ve spent the last few weeks becoming an expert on Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Kenya. I’ve been reading about the Chinese investment in African nations. A recent NYTimes article on the slipping hegemony of the U.S. brings the African situation in to sharper focus. And there’s more.
I’ve had an invitation to go to Sacramento to share our filmmaking experiences with the Figg Rig and other DIY equipment. By the way, I found the most incredible site to purchase camera rig plans and another site with 17 DIY camera rig tutorials that can be purchased together or separately.
Then, a call from a former colleague who now teaches at Purdue University in the technology school. Animation, robotics and digital video. So, Africa, digital filmmaking and animation continue to beckon. At this new age in my career, new age signs suggest I am pointed in the right direction.
Yesterday, I wrote about signs and portents and why I like birthdays. I mentioned that I liked birthdays because of astrology and the illusion of certainty. The other reason I like birthdays is the opportunity to reflect on what has occurred and what I hope will occur. My birthday is in December. The echo of Pamela Jo’s birthday this week has me looking at the joint project we’ve been working on the last two years. The Zambian films. It has been a long and wild ride.
On both of our birthdays, I found myself reflecting on the value of our lives and our contributions. We’re a bit different but Pamela Jo and I are very similar in that we have both wanted to make films for decades. That’s right, decades. I spent 17 years teaching. She spent 17 years raising a family in northern Mexico. Both waiting, waiting, waiting to do the thing we love, the thing we want to do, the creative work we hoped to have. Upon this year’s birthday reflection, I had a most reassuring realization. I realized that — if either of us died tomorrow — we would both know that we have been able to accomplish a significant life dream. We made a film. In fact, we made two films. Do you have any idea how many people say they want to do that? It must be in the millions. We did it. And we did it in Africa, for heaven’s sake, we did it in Africa.
As we work on the edit of BAD TIMING and VOICE OF AN AFRICAN NATION, I am so pleased at how well it’s coming together. Now that we’re no longer focusing on hearings and evidence and lawyers, all of our creative energy is going into the films and it is good. 
We grew up in a generation where one is always trying to do good, trying to do the “right” thing, trying to make a difference in the world. Touch the world in a positive way. We had made the decision that, no matter what, we were going to make sure both films got done and distributed so that the Zambian actors could share their work with the world and the Crew could share their experience through the doc. By the end of February, we will have both films ready for the audio mix and distribution. Of course, we’ll begin with the festival circuit. I do think audiences will want to see Zambia’s first effort.
I think this is a good thing that we have done and are doing. The film of a Zambian story, directed by a Zambian, starring Zambians. A film done by a committed crew of fourteen. As I reflect on the path of our lives, the influence of the heavens on our paths, I am satisfied with what is happening.
And, when the films are done, I get to do the thing I want to do most of all, write the script we’ve been sitting on since October 20 (I know the date because I was in New York for Alec’s birthday). It’s an amazing story that I want to get in front of other creative women. I think of Kathy Bates as a director. Pamela Jo thinks of Meryl Streep for Anne. I think of Jennifer Connelly for Mary. I’m planning a research trip for early March with three solid weeks of writing. I can hardly wait.
Next year, on my birthday, I want to be reflecting on the completion of the story of Anne and Mary and knowing the difference this story made in the world. It is an amazing and powerful story that will make a difference. At least we sure think so.
Thus far, 2008 has been a remarkable year. On Thursday evening, I watched LOST. I loved the preceding “re-cap hour” where they bring everyone up to speed on the LOST mythology. In the re-cap, the narrator says the survivors of Oceanic 815 had the rare opportunity to restart their lives anew. I loved that line. As I make my way in my brand, new transformed life, I relate to this opportunity to discover life again. Choose anew. As I age, I believe more and more that we humans are odd creatures. We do everything we can to make life feel safe and predictable but life is an adventure that has an uncanny knack for doing its own thing when we least expect it.
I don’t know what other people do but I look for signs and portents. That’s right. I look for meaning in the chaos. I look for a guiding hand of divinity.
As I mentioned, Pamela Jo turned 50 last week. I love birthdays for a number of reasons. An odd reason is that I enjoy astrology. It’s an amusing pastime, doing a number of complex calculations to ascertain where the planets were located at one’s birth and finding where they are now. Gauging the planetary relationships and relative influence they have upon on another, that’s where the signs and portents can be found. Every year, I have a solar return chart done to see what the following year is supposed to bring. Friends have always said “you’re such an intelligent, savvy human being, why do you get your chart done?” The illusion of certainty, I say, the illusion of certainty.
So, according to my astrologers (yes, I have more than one), the next two years will be quite significant with a big payoff coming due in two years. (Won’t that be fun? I’m looking forward to it already.) Supposedly, I am learning difficult new things that have been missing from my repertoire of skills. Financing and distribution is what I’m learning, now. The Zambian feature and doc are being finalized and the reviewers have been very positive. So, it is time to complete the process now.
Right now, an important portent and sign I’m seeking is the dollar sign affirming I’m heading in the right direction.
