Monday, July 28, 2008

A Random Post...just because I can.


WHAT DOES THE GIFT OF LIFE HOLD INSIDE???


So I'm finally getting back into the swing of things as I come down off one project and get in touch with life before moving on to the next one. Yes, I finally finished my online Stop Motion Animation 1 course for the Academy of Art! Now the final touches are in my editors' hands and we all await some students possibly for the Fall. I'm already thinking ahead a bit for a "Level 2" course, which I'll also be writing before too long.

Until then, it's all about work, work and more work until our upcoming birthday party for Ariel and family vacation to Yellowstone! But all work and no play makes Ken a dull boy, so...

(image H.Jessup/W.Jenkins)

...one of my part-time students graciously gave me a copy of one of the rarest animation treasures out there, the UnCut version of Twice Upon a Time (with the naughty words intact). Apparently I also have his mom to thank as well, as they had taped it off HBO during of the 12 mysterious airings from the 80s and kept the tape. Pretty good transfer too! I haven't decided if the profanity makes this a better film or not...in most cases it doesn't, but I do chuckle when Scuzzbopper says "a***ole" off-screen.

My brother sent me this and I love it...



...this weekend we got to celebrate the wedding of our fellow VanArts comrades Blake & Nicole, who met at the school years ago through a series of personal connections & circumstances that ultimately led to this momentous day for them. I was so proud to have a little part of that! We had a great time. It's amazing how many lives have changed as a result of that place, and how all of our lives weave and connect together.

Mischevous Me creates a little 'Jack & Sally' drawing for the happy couple.


We got a little goofy leaving creative gifts at the table.


Awwww....


The VanArts American/Canadian Marriage Club claims another Victory!


...and this weekend we got to see SPAMALOT on its final day here in Vancouver. It was AWESOME to finally see it LIVE on a stage; the cast was great and threw in lots of Canadian touches too. Such a fun show!




...and now, HOLY CRAP!!! Coraline Puppets!!!!!!

Monday, July 14, 2008

Ken's iPod Shuffle

In response to my friend Meeka's recent post, I thought I would see what my iTunes Shuffle came up with while plundering away at course-writing this evening, for no other reason than to reveal my musical tastes and prove how either cool or dorky I am.

Step 1: Open your iTunes or other lesser MP3 player.
Step 2: Put all of your music on random.
Step 3: Write down the first 30 songs it plays, no matter how embarrassing

Honey Pie
- The Beatles
Standing - Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Once More with Feeling
Call Me When You're Sober - Evanescence
Ob-la-Di Ob-la-Da - The Beatles
Where Are You? - Spamalot Soundtrack
What You Own - Rent
Fat Albert Plays Dead - Bill Cosby
Kodachrome/Maybelline - Simon & Garfunkel
I'll See You in My Dreams - Giant
Synchronicity II - The Police
Violin - They Might Be Giants
Laker Girls Cheer - Spamalot Soundtrack
Screaming in Digital - Queensryche
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics
The Intermission - Spamalot Soundtrack
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me - Elton John
Wings for Marie Part 1 - Tool
Lucifer Sam - Pink Floyd
Maze - Phish
Making Christmas - Danny Elfman
Is There Anybody Out There? - Pink Floyd
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - Spamalot Soundtrack
Mary - Oingo Boingo
When Are You Coming Home? - Makkafroi (my friend Brandon's old band)
The Invention of Basketball - Bill Cosby
Ben's Death - Star Wars Soundtrack
Prophecy - Queensryche
Beside You - Queensryche
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel

Whattya got on YER pod?

Saturday, July 05, 2008

WALL*E Little Golden Book


I picked up the WALL*E Little Golden Book at London Drugs today, and as with the other recent film adaptations, really enjoy the illustrations. This page in particular made me laugh, due to the random cameo appearance by Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Kinex Images and more...

As I've been working on a puppet-building module for my course, it's caused me to collect some screen-grabs for the history of stop-motion puppets.

This is one frame of the Kinex Short Crossing the Alps, where the animator’s arm was accidentally captured on film! Who is this mystery person? Perhaps it could be Orville Goldner, who worked at the studio and years later worked on King Kong. The world may never know for sure, as there is little known documentation on the mysterious Kinex Films.



I've uploaded a bunch more stop-motion history stills here.