I watched a lot of cartoons and movies. I draw incessantly and carry a sketchbook everywhere. I work in animation and self-publish my books. There are monsters in the streets, don't wear red. Mad bulls and monsters hate that color. I still watch cartoons.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

14th World Wide SketchCrawl and Emergency


Please watch Gino Strada talk about his work for Emergency in this video

Drawing with a purpose. A two-part fundraiser from your friendly neighborhood Sketchcrawl community. First, on May 19, 2007 Sketchcrawl 14 lends a hand to help Emergency with its mission around the world.

Emergency Mission Statement. In today’s conflicts 90 percent of the victims are civilians. Every year war takes the lives of millions of people worldwide. Emergency provides free of charge, high standard medical and surgical care in war-torn areas.

Emergency promotes a culture of peace, solidarity and respect of human rights.

Emergency is an independent, neutral and nonpolitical humanitarian organization established to provide care to civilian victims of war and of land mines. All Emergency facilities are designed, built and managed by specialized international staff committed to training local medical personnel.

Gabriele, is a logistician from Venice on a mission for Afghanistan with the humanitarian aid organization Emergency. After 25 years in local construction, Gabriele Gorup de Besanez from Dorsoduro, a village near Venice, has put his professional expertise to the service of Gino Strada’s organization Emergency. His quote below:

"In Kurdistan there was an old man whose arm had been torn apart by a firearm. He wanted an estimate for medical treatment costs before coming to our hospital as he didn't want to burden his family with debt. It took quite a bit to assure him that Emergency's services were free of charge. He couldn't believe it."


The Sketchcrawl 14 Mission. We have an opportunity to make a difference on our day of celebrating drawing outdoors. For one thing we do this anyway and have a jolly ol' time. But add this layer to it: We can ask people to sponsor our day of drawing by making a contribution, much like your Aids Ride or other marathons in support of a good cause. Enrico's got a form for it and everything. You can hand that to your friends and neighbors and ask them to donate how ever much they can, your goal being that you want to raise $100 in total for that day. Kinda like wishing you a good day of drawing and giving aid to people who needs our help.


Sketchcrawlers the world over love to congregate outdoors and draw the heck out of that day. Doesn't matter if you don't draw and just want to walk with us. We end up drawing people from the crawl a lot anyway. Bring a hat, they're easy to draw. Heh.

But Wait! There's more! The very next day, Sun May 20th, we have an ART AUCTION! This second part of the fundraiser, done in partnership with the marvelous folks at Maverix Studios.

where: Maverix Studios (1717 17th Street, SF)
when: 5pm to 9pm
how: silent bidding, Final bids at 7:30pm.
We will also have a benefit raffle with special prices.

A few of the confirmed artists:

Steve Purcell (author of Sam and Max)
Rhode Montijo (author of Pablo’s inferno and Cloud Boy
Pierre Alary (author of Belladonne)
Dice Tsutsumi (contributor to Out of Picture)
Ronnie del Carmen (Paper Biscuit)
Bill Presing (author of Rex Steele Nazi smasher)
Derek Thompson (of Derek Monster fame)
Scott Morse (author of Noble Boy, Souldwind, The Barefoot Serpent and more)
and many more are joining in this effort, we’ll keep you updated on this growing list of great artists.

So, remember those dates May 19, 2007 Enrico and I will be meeting all you generous sketchcrawl artists in San Francisco, at the Ferry Building at The Embarcadero, 11:00am (in front of Peet’s coffee). Sketchbook, pencils and waterbrushes on hand. A good day of drawing for a good cause. Then on May 20th it's at Maverix Studios. Have a grand time!

________________________________

Emergency
Maverix Studios
Sketchcrawl 14 Forum

Care to donate to Emergency directly? Please do so here: Emergency Paypal

Help us spread the word. Enrico's has some press releases. Good for newspapers, magazines and radio folks. You know you're out there, we can use the publicity. Press Releases

Here's what the form looks like. Hand it to your prospective sponsors so they can lend us a hand. Click on the image to get to the pdf.






Labels: , ,

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Sonoma Film Festival



Process Talk. This last weekend we did a longer version of "Trust the Process" talk at the Sonoma Film Festival. Mark Andrews, Jim Capobianco, Jason Katz and myself had done a shorter version of this talk before at the Screenwriters Expo. We were guest speakers because our big boss, John Lasseter was being honored there.

For the past decade, the Sonoma Valley Film Festival has heard the refrains of "You've Got A Friend In Me" from John Lasseter, the creative force behind Pixar.

Now the festival is turning the tables and planning quite a bash April 11-15 in recognition not only of its 10th anniversary but in tribute to its friend and one of the region's most beloved filmmakers.

In addition to screening some 75 films from 12 different countries, the festival is hosting a day chock full of events honoring Lasseter, an animator, director, producer and the vice president of Pixar. When the Walt Disney Company purchased Pixar in 2006, Lasseter also became chief creative officer of Walt Disney Feature Animation and principal creative adviser for Walt Disney Imagineering, the division responsible for creating theme park attractions.

"It is our tremendous honor to pay tribute to John Lasseter, the world’s premier storyteller,” said Marc Lhormer, executive director of the film festival. “A longtime Sonoma Valley resident and a supporter and friend of the festival over our 10 years of incredible growth, John is a legendary creative force inspiring a whole generation of filmmakers."


Jim and I drove up together with Tess and Gerin. When we got there we were met with very familiar faces and wonderful energy of celebrating films. Mark Showed up wearing a kilt,"Why wouldn't I be wearing a kilt? It's national tartan day!" (it was that, but on April 6th. I guess that makes it tartan month). John introduced us to a very welcoming crowd and we launched into the joys and sorrows of being a story person making animated features. John himself was right in front and he joined in, expanding on the history of story at Disney, Joe Ranft, and general story work.



Thanks to the organizers of the Sonoma Film Festival for the honor and though my family and I couldn't stay for the rest of the day's festivities we had a grand time.

Sonoma Film Festival tribute to John Lasseter




Labels: , , , , , , ,

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Swallow 3



What a collection! You know that award show nugget about having won already? Well, check out the roster in Swallow 3 and I can honestly say I'm feeling thoroughly golden just being in the list. Eternal thanks to the massively talented Ashley Wood for the invite and honor.



BARRON STOREY

ILANA KOHN

TED MCKEEVER

RIAN HUGHES

JEREMY GEDDES

ROBH RUPPEL

DAVID CHOE

FRANK STOCKTON

JOCK

JAMES JEAN

ANDREW ROBINSON

GREG STAPLES

UWE HEIDSCHOETTER

RONNIE DEL CARMEN

SEAN PHILLIPS

LOUIE DEL CARMEN

GLYN DILLON

DUNCAN FEGREDO

I know of most of the artists in the book, great artists all. My leetol bro, Louie is there too, which signals the very first time two of the three brothers del Carmen are in a book together. We'll have to get the three of us at the con next year. Whadya say, Rick?



Special mention: Baron Storey is here as well. I took several classes with Baron a long time ago at Pixar U and it was quite an edifying experience. I mean, the man was a illustration hero of mine and I got to sit in his class and got some pointers from him. Very grand. I've also paged through some of those journals he mentions in the book--every page, painted back and front, is a living explosion of what goes on in side that roiling visual storm that is Baron Storey's mind.

Swallow 3
Swallow 3 at Amazon.com
IDW Publishing: Swallow
Ashley Wood




Labels: , , , ,

Friday, April 06, 2007

The Brothers Bash at Fist-a-Cuffs


They have names, that's for sure. You'll have to visit the Fist-a-cuffs site to find out.

What da heck is going on? Just some mindless mayhem, 'is all. Enrico and I are in a tournament and we are kicking royal heinie at Sam Hiti's arena of mayhem, the battle of the drawn: Fist-a-Cuffs!

Just some good clean line fun. Check it out. Maybe even vote for the champs of your choice.

Pile drive on over!

Samhiti.com
Sam's Infatuations
Fist-a-Cuffs