My Update

Welly welly well, been a while since my last update. I have been studying, reading a lot, still practicing drawing, and coming to many realizations. Many involving me just looking at my limitations but realizing what I can do. Right now I'm more pumped that ever and although it won't be easy, I'll do it. The bottom line has basically come to this, just do something. Whether it's a relatively simple film or drawing out ideas for a comic, I'm gonna do it. It'll probably be a few days or so before I have a solid concept, but it'll be there.

After much preparation and cleaning, the first step is more clear than ever and I know what I must do.



I must eat this taco salad. Catch ya next time, whoever may be reading this.

My Progress

Well, there isn't too much progress as I'm still jumping around between all these things, but decisions are being made and I'm starting things, so it's definitely progress even though it's small at this point.

Since I've still got quite a bit to learn in drawing, I've decided to do mostly rough sketches of a story I plan on turning into a comic strip. They're very rough and I'm still finding the story, but it's a fun approach as it helps get ideas out. Once I've a solid idea on the story, I'll start refining the drawings, break sections up into the various installments and turn it into the strip. I'll still need to figure out where to upload the comic, but what's more important right now is finding and drawing out the story sketches.

As for the software side on filmmaking, well although I'd love to use OpenShot, it just won't run well on my computer. The video editing on Blender is pretty stable and clean though, so I'll just have to go with that. I won't be doing 3D stuff in it just yet since I do need to start simple, but I'm thinking of using it's node system along with Gimp Animation Package for certain effects and title cards.

So even though I've got the other idea for the comic, I'll still make films. Now the music side is a little crazy 'cause I've still gotta go through this theory book, but with the very basic stuff I've learned so far, I can improvise decently. Gotta bring that book out though 'cause that's what'll really help me.

Also, man these SmodCasts are crazy. Check 'em out

My Steps Forward

Well I've had some crazy things in my head for the last few months, and I've learned to let go of old habits. I'm really diving into things now and although there's still much to learn, I'll do whatever I need to do to bring these ideas to life even though it means working with and around limited resources. I wouldn't feel capable if it weren't for my friends and family, so I'm actually glad to have gone through all I've experienced 'cause even though some of it was hard, I learned something from it all.

I guess in the end you can't dwell on anything negative, you always have to ask yourself what good came out of something and be willing to face challenges. I understand this and I'm sure there's a lot more in my way, but I know I'll be ready.

Gotta get things done now =)

My Current Stage

Well, things are going pretty nicely. I feel that although doing the studies and taking notes is important, I really just gotta make a film. Every now and then I keep thinkin' I can't do something very big because of the limited resources, but if I can be really totally insanely out-of-my-mind, maybe the "effects" will make this work.

Then again, starting with fairly simple silent shorts is a great idea. I just need story ideas. A couple are starting to grow in my little brain, but I feel I can definitely expand on them. I won't say too much about them, but one is a horror concept, and the other may be a sci-fi concept. I love the idea of having my first film be a horror film, so I'll see what I can do with the story.

In other news, I'm starting to learn the music software I've chosen. It's LMMS (Linux MultiMedia Studio), and so far it's very fun. I think a few more videos and more studies of music concepts will give me enough to start making fairly simple music. Of course, starting with piano-only film scores is a fun idea as it will go with the silent films perfectly.

Okay, now for the drawing side. I have to admit I haven't been drawing as much as I should be. I'm still in the middle of a figure drawing book, I need to return to the composition techniques, and I'm still saving the animal drawing for last, but I think as far as core principles go I'm ok. It's just flat-out crazy with everything I'm trying to learn. It's all fun, but man I can only imagine what it'll be like when I'm actually making films and stuff.

Wellp, time to return to the studies. I'll have to make more posts here. With the news and updates on my favorite filmmakers' latest/upcoming work, I've been feeling totally motivated to get something done. Heh, it'll probably be a little weird seeing how my stuff turns out, but that's part of learning. I feel I'm quite ready.

My Steps to Discovery

Well a couple nights ago I went through David Mamet's filmmaking book again, only this time I typed up some notes. Now I'm going through James Scott Bell's Plot & Structure and am weaving notes from that into the notes from Mamet's book. Once this is complete, I will write it on paper not only to let these things seep into my brain, but also because my printer has no ink.

Anyways, this is all really fun and it's cool to see what goes with what. I'll use all this to analyze films as well as my own work as I'm writing and as I'm refining.

On another note, lol I knew it! Type "Robocop" in a twitter message, and Bixby Snyder will reply saying his catchphrase. How freakin' cool is that? It's way cool that's what it is! Maybe you'll have to be following him, but give it a try. I'm still totally amused by it.

Erm... so yeah, I'll keep going through books and weaving everything together as I get more books in the years to come. What I have right now though is a solid foundation for what I have to do.

It's crazy, the more I think about this, and the more I look at the various cheap funny effects I could do, the more I feel I can pull this off. Given my limited resources and whole thing of not having any actors, I really feel that I can make some crazy films. I think they'll be sorta' like B-movies, but that'll make it fun as far as effects go. Everything else will have more thought so it could be an interesting contrast.

I can so do this.

My Plan

Well, I've decided that I'll try to make general art my main focus right now. However, I'll try to make films on the side 'cause I finally have some concepts in mind. I've finally settled on what to edit video with, and that'll be Blender with Avidemux thrown in. Gimp Animation Package will be used for some things as well

As for music, I'll keep doing that too. After a lot of thinking, I figure that focusing on theory & blues really is the best place to start. I won't be composing my own blues stuff (although I do like that kinda' music), but it is the foundation for other styles so it'll be fun to see the similarities and differences. As for the software side, well I'll learn how to use it after I'm cool with theory; and I've decided on LMMS.

In case anyone's wondering, here are some books I am studying from:

On Directing Film - David Mamet
Writing Realistic Dialogue & Flash Fiction - Harvey Stanbrough
The Art of Creative Writing - Lajos Egri

My actual blog

okay, the thing at my Deviantart is something I won't really count because I'm mostly talking about drawing and my progress in that. this place is where I will talk of other things as well as drawing. What other things you may ask? Well heres the thing, I don't wanna say too much nor do I wanna hint at things.

heh.... that's it for now I guess. stay tuned if ya wanna lol