It has been WAY too long since my last post. So much has happened in the last few months and there has been so very little time to write about it all. I just managed to squeak in a few minutes to say a few words so that’s what I’ll do.
First off, things at March are going very well. I am currently directing the company’s second DVD feature for Playmobil and our team is moving along on production. It’s a very fun project and one I know my kids are going to love. We’ve already released our first production, “The Secret of Pirate Island” and it’s been well received by the critiques. The production for the first film was managed out of L.A. but March Entertainment is now handling the second feature here in Toronto. The Playmobil movies are fun interactive DVD adventure movies that allows the audience to choose which way the story progressed at certain “checkpoints” in the DVD. Here’s a little tidbit on the productions so far…
March Entertainment’s Playmobil Productions
I’m also very happy to announce that I am also Co-Directing on a new series for March Entertainment. I’ll be directing the series along with two very talented and inspiring artists, Bill Speers and Todd Jahnke. Bill is a veteran animator and one of Canada’s greatest animation professionals. He’s a legend here. Todd is a super talented CG expert extraordinaire and a dear friend of mine. We make a pretty good team, if I do say so myself. I’m a very lucky fella to be working with these guys and I am proud to be a part of this directing team and part of March for that matter.
Anyhow, the production is a wonderful and magical series that I am sure will be a great success. The designs are gorgeous and the characters are intriguing. The stories and scripts are being worked on now and I am very excited about what the future of the show is shaping to be. I can’t really say or show much of anything about this project but it is turning out to be a great experience altogether. Here’s a little bit on the project…
M4E Greenlights Hybrid Toon
As soon as I have the OK to show or say more on this series I’ll let you all know.
FUNhouse Interactive is on the move too. Charles Wardlaw and I are in the midst of a few things. TradigiTOOLS is getting a makeover and being re-developed. It will be even better then it is now but still as easy and fun to use. We’ll make more announcements as we progress. We’re also in pre-production on several video tutorials for rigging (in a smart way) and animation (the good ol’way) and we’re hoping to have these videos ready for delivery sometime in the new year. More to come on that front. We’re also developing (or trying to find the time to develop) several other tools that should knock your socks off but first things first… ;-)
That’s pretty much the latest. I’m still involved in AM and mentoring too, still loving and raising the family (obviously) and still having fun at it all.
Cheers!
-Dimos
P.S. I forgot too mention!!! We’ve just hired AM alumn and ex-FUNhouse programmer Chris Zurbrigg into the March Entertainment family. I am VERY excited myself as March has now hired 3 AM students to date. Charles Wardlaw, Mitch “Pookie” Yager and now Chris Zurbrigg. NEAT HUH!?
I know it has been sooooo very long since my last post. I wish I had more time lately to get in some time to post and share in my ideas and experiences but the past month or so has been surprisingly busier then expected.
As I stated in my last post I am trying to ease my workload and reduce some of my responsibilities but the more I do that the more I spend doing more for the remaining responsibilities I do have. More time Directing and doing my “day job” (which is still kick-@$$ awesome), more time trying to figure out the next steps for Circus Ink/Funhouse (which is shifting gears a little) and more time with my family (which is the best part of it all). Slowing down as I mentioned in my previous post, is not quite what is happening. It is more of a shifting focuses more so. This aint bad or anything like that but what I was looking forward to this summer season was a little bit of a rest or winding down period. That doesn’t look likely now. But at least I am spending more time with my kids. I just now need to find time to hang with my friends. That hasn’t happened for a long, long, LONG time.
That’s all really. I know it aint much but it is what I got for now. Have a good one! ;-)
Cheers!
-Dimos
Things have been fairly good for me lately. (Not that I mind it but) I have been working harder then ever for the past 4 to 5 years that I think that slowing down a bit may be a wise decision. With trying to start my own production/servicing studio, developing software and selling it to the industry I work in, continuing with my freelance career, raising a family with 3 kids and now heading up a CG studio and directing a feature for March Entertainment, all the while also mentoring at AnimationMentor.com, I may have officially started to feel tired. For obvious reasons, I had to stop taking any freelance work and postpone my efforts on Circus Ink so that all my production focus could be dedicated to March Entertainment. The FUNhouse Interactive part of my life must keep going because many professionals and studios are using our products in their production and relying on us to keep improving on tradigiTOOLS (plus we have a few other good ideas brewing).
Well, something has got to give and seeing as my family is the most important part of my life, I (sadly) have to cut back on my mentoring. For a long while I have been teaching multiple classes at AM but with all that is going on with my work I am forced to ease up on my obligations at AM. As of next term I will reduce my involvement at AM to one class (and a very small one at that). I was thinking of taking the summer term off completely but after a long time spent thinking about it, I decided I loved AM too much to stop it for even a short time. I did however choose to reduce my workload as a Mentor so that I could have more time to rejuvenate and recharge my batteries. As sad as I may feel to do that I know that in the long run it is a good choice for me. Hopefully, the rest is needed for only a short time.
I look forward to a more leisure summer! We’ll see, I guess. I do have 3 kids after all…. SHEEEEESH! I think I am getting even more tired now. :-)
Thanks for reading this useless blog. I just had to get it out there.
-Dimos
P.S. No worries Mike…. I am still there for “The Ottoman”!!! :-)