FROM A TO Z AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

The order in which scenes were shot on FILTH was anything but arbitrary. One day I may explain exactly why I chose the order that I did but for today let’s talk about the fight. I left this scene until the end because I knew these puppets would take an awful beating and by the end of the fight there would be no chance either of them could handle the scrutiny of a beauty shot … except for the battered beauty of the aftermath. This week my main character dislocated his shoulder. There was no way to fix him from the outside so I had to cut him open (ouch … always tricky) and replace the shoulder joint. He’s recovered now … actually better than before … and the fight goes on.

SHOWING SIGNS

Stop motion animation requires a bit of stamina, a lot of dexterity and a good deal of flexibility. Problem is I’m not as young as I used to be. My puppets have tie downs. Tie downs are little screws attached to the base of the puppet’s feet and by drilling a hole in the table you can secure your puppet to the set with long screws from underneath to keep them from falling over while shooting (take that gravity) But reaching those holes on such a big set can be a challenge. I know it’s all in service of the film but sometimes, late at night, on the couch after a long night of animating, holy god does my back hurt.

PUBLICITY

As I approach the end of filming I am now starting the process of assembling a press kit of which this site will be a part of.  It is by far the least enjoyable process for me but oh so important if you want to raise the profile of your film. In the end the film itself decides whether it will be popular or not but you have to at least give it a fighting chance.

THE BEST OF TIMES

Like most people I work for a living. I make my films on the side. You could call them a lot of things, a hobby, a habit, an obsession, an addiction. I’ve gone around the block with respect to working in the film industry and now find myself back at the beginning, making films for fun. It’s a really good place to be. Most people make short films as calling cards, a way to showcase their abilities, to get exposure, catch the eye of the industry and the public so they can move up the food chain to bigger things. That was me … a long time ago … but not today and quite likely never again.

COLLABORATION

It`s a necessary part of getting along in the working world and a skill we all need to have but on my films … if I might quote the poet George Thorogood… I drink alone. For better or worse, from the initial idea to the last mouse click, I work in relative isolation. It’s not that I don’t solicit opinions on occasion because I most certainly do but when it comes to the finished product what you’re seeing is a single, uncompromising, unfiltered and unapologetic point of view. There’s something very raw about that.