Welcome to the New Look

If you're a regular around these parts you're probably noticing the new look and layout of the site. If you didn't notice the new look, then you're probably a shredded cabbage in the ol' intellect department. Anyhooo, I've tried to streamline the usability of the site as much as possible. You'll notice I put direct links to my tutorials and short films on the left. You can also email me from there if you're of the mind to do such an insane thing.

This panel looks like a blog because, well.. it's a blog. Heh. I think that one of the things that kept me from updating my site more often was the hassle of creating new pages in Frontpage, uploading them via my FTP client and all that rot. So with this blog set up I can just fire off an email whenever the muse hits me with a wet salami and presto! You get to share in the joy with less than half the calories.

As you poke around you'll notice that I've put all my links in this blog frame here. Just scroll down and look on the right side and you'll see them all. Typical blog-ish layout in that regard. But there's a lot of really cool animation stuff at the end of those links, so go check 'em out if you haven't already.

The thing that'll probably be of interest to some of you is the little note on the bottom of the page about monthly video tutorials. I'm not ready to announce exactly what's going on with that for probably another week, but I'll leave it there for you to wonder what I'm up to. But I'll give you a hint: it has to do with new animation tutorials each month and video. Betcha couldn't have figured that out on your own, huh? ;o)

All the same, I hope the new look doesn't make your eyes bleed. Be sure to keep stopping by since I'll be posting a lot more frequently than I used to. I'm a blogger now, baby. I feel so metro. Where's my latte?

-k

Let's get the ball rolling...

Here's an image test, just for giggles....

Shame on Me...

OK, this is pathetic.

I just now realized that my last site update was at the end of August. That was.... 5 months ago??!!! Well, please accept my humble apologies for being so lax with the updates. Those who know me know I've been more than a little bit busy since the last one.

Since the last site update I co-directed a 70min direct to DVD animated movie for HasbroUK. Kids in the EU and UK can look for their copy of Action Man:X-Missions on store shelves in late March. I also animated a quick theater "turn off your mobile phones" PSA (again for the EU market) using the characters from the upcoming Blue Sky film "Robots". It was a fun challenge working with the fine folks at Blue Sky on that. In the end it looked pretty good. You can see the results on ReelFX's website in the latest online demo reel.

Let's see, what else has gone on since last update... oh right! Before I left the great folks at Blur Studio in LA to move to the more family friendly confines of the Dallas area, I was working with Jeff Fowler on his great little short film idea Gopher Broke. I was directing the project, doing a bunch of story work and cutting the animatic together before I moved on. Jeff took over the direction of the film and it ended up looking great! So great in fact that it's been nominated for an Oscar! So huge congrats to the cool cats at Blur, Jeff Fowler, Tim Miller and the whole gang. While it would have been sweet to be able to stay long enough to finish directing the film I'm super honored and thankful for the chance to play the role I did early on. So go Blur! And for any of you voting members of the Academy who happen to be reading this site (yeah, like that ever happens. hehe) well, let me offer a plug to vote for Gopher Broke for best animated short film award.

My own latest short film project is stumbling along, slowly but surely. Still nothing I'd like to show just yet. Soon, though! The script is on it's 6th revision, the voice tracks have been recorded and the boards have been made. I'm in the middle of editing the story reel. 80% of the actual CG assets are built and I should (Lord wiling and the creeks don't rise) be animating before the end of February. Now if only I could come up with a catchy name for it. In the meantime I do have hopes (I won't be so bold as to say "plans") for this site to evolve a bit into something a bit more than it has been for the last few years. As to when I'll have time to make these hopes become reality? Heaven only knows!

Anyhow, that's the latest from this end for now. I hope to be able to get a new update more often than 3 times a year from here on out. Til next time, be good
to each other and God bless!

-k