OPENING DAY

As most of you know from the trailer, this film has been over ten years in the making. I'm sorry I could only have worked on the last year of production, because as some of you may know I'm a bit of a sci-fi nut, and early in production Wall-E was already one of my favorites. The entire crew was phenomenal, but the man whose work really shines is Ben Burtt, the sound designer and voice of Wall-E. As animators, we didn't get very many dialogue tracks, but Ben's sympathetic motors and humorous metallic whirs gave each robot a voice of their own, and made animating on this film a truly unique experience.
My hometown morning show, Good Day Sacramento, stopped by the studio yesterday and their jocose entertainment reporter, Mark S. Allen, interviewed Ben and myself. Talking with Mark was a blast because I pretty much grew up on that show and his movie reviews, so being on the other side of the camera with him was a real trip. You can catch Ben's interview here and mine here.
Anyway, hope you all enjoy Wall-E as much as I enjoyed working on it! In summary, go see Wall-E!

You'll believe a robot can fly.

ROCK'N' POLL CHAMPIONSHIP

It's been seven weeks since the genesis of the Rock'n'Poll tournament. Songs from twenty rock genres have contended, and at last the finalists have emerged from the smoke and wreckage of rock-combat. Which song will become the champion? Which tune will rock the choruses off of the other contenders? Which ballad is truly worthy to be deemed Greatest Rock'n'Roll Song of All Time? As Captain Planet once said, "The power is yours!" Now rock that flippin' vote.


In other news, the new Chades Challenge is NIGHTMARISH CONSTRUCTION WORKERS. Sketch greatly!

Arny vs. Sly
I saw this on Aintitcool and just had to share. Color correction works wonders.

Dungeons and Shenanigans, Part I

Story sketches from the latest DnD campaign. The first two of the halfling and kobold were drawn by Ms. Coats. Check for weekly updates at Dungeons and Shenanigans. Let the mocking begin.

Stan Winston (April 7, 1946-June 15, 2008)

In much sadder Jurassic Park-related news, Oscar award-winning makeup and special effects wizard Stan Winston passed away yesterday from complications due to multiple myeloma. Stan was one of my earliest artistic influences whether I realized it or not. Whether his work was as mind-blowing as Terminator and Predator, or as melancholy as Edward Scissorhands and Batman Returns, he never failed to transport me to another world populated by bizarre characters. His work lended as much atmosphere as the music or the cinematography, and was often more iconic. This is a tragic loss for the filmmaking community, but we will always have his characters, his art, and his inspiration.

On the heels of a scientific breakthrough!

The good John Dusenberry shared this article with me. It basically explains how we are a few decades away from reverse-engineering birds into dinosaurs using dormant genetic coding that exists from the days back when birds were dinosaurs, thus paving the way for a real-life Jurassic Park and possible dino-pets; no big deal, really.

In other news: Atlantis Discovered?

Chades Challenge XIV: Criminal Pygmies

More pygmies:
Leo "Abo" Matsuda
Josh "Poison Arrow" Billings
Rob "The Cannibal" Thompson


Next week: more criminal pygmies!

The Walking Whale and the Collapse of Intelligent Design

Did you know whales once walked the earth? Back then, they were called Ambulocetus. Well, we call them that now, but that's what they were, they just didn't know it yet. Ambulocetus is remarkable because it has an internal ear system that could hear just as well underwater as well as land, suggesting the animal was transitioning from a land-locked to more aquatic lifestyle. Fairly solid evidence that whales originally lived on land (though those ancestors had ancestors who lived in the ocean).

This is one of the many cool subjects mentioned in Ken Miller's lecture on evolution, and how it aught to be taught in the classroom. What I love about Mr. Miller is that he is a theist who, like me, goes to church and believes in the Christian concept of God and intelligent design (or ID), but sees that it is different from science. ID cannot yet be tested or proven through observation so it is by definition not a science. All around our country, folks are arguing otherwise, and men like Ben Stein are creating films lambasting the scientific community for keeping perspective, so it is important to take a long look at what we define as science and the importance of keeping education as objective as possible.
Anyway, for those of you who are curious about life, the universe, and everything, check out Ken's lecture (it's entertaining, I promise)!

Chades Challenge XIII: Mean Orcs

Sorry for the delay, folks. Wish I could say I was busy, but lazy's more like it. Ol' Bogrot here is supposed to be dragging someone behind him, I'll finish this week. More surly savages at the following blogs:
Car2oon
Cody Malick
Flaviano
Josh Billings
Leo Matsuda
Moro Rogers
Rob Thompson

Next week, Chades Challenge XIV: CRIMINAL PYGMIES

DTV Interview

Here's an interview with my friend Victor Jimenez from One Dream Studios. I know Vic from highschool, and I'm constantly inspired by his ability to keep creating films and telling stories, so I was more than happy to answer his questions about life, the industry, and everything. Note my intro tune...oh yeah, Star Tours, baby!

For those of you achin' for more interview goodness, here's one of me toothless that I gave to SECC after my Pixar internship in '05. This interview is great because if you pause on any given frame, I look completely deranged. Enjoy!

Sorry, I missed this week of Chades posting. Mean Orcs this Friday I promise. Check out the work from the two contenders who were up to the challenge.
Flaviano
Cody Malick

Also, make sure to vote on this week's Rock'n'Poll survey. Next week is the final three genres before THE CHAMPIONSHIP, when the the greatest rock'n'roll song of all time shall finally be revealed. So far the finalists are:

Hound Dog (Elvis Presley)
Paint it Black (Rolling Stones)
Welcome to the Jungle (Guns N' Roses)
Back in Black (AC/DC)
Run to the Hills (Iron Maiden)
Queen-Bohemian Rhapsody
Breakin' the Law (Judas Priest)
Like a Rolling Stone (Bob Dylan)
Whip It! (Devo)
Free Bird (Lynnard Skinnard)
Eye of the Tiger (Survivor)
Blitzkrieg Bop (The Ramones)
Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)

I know my musical knowledge is grossly incompetent, so if there are any songs you feel I've left out or bands that you feel have been gypped, speak now or forever hold your rock.

Again, tune in this friday for orcs and vote for them songs!