WHAT'S REALLY STOPPING US?
Those who have big dreams must at some point ask themselves the question, "What's really stopping me?" Any of us can take a look around and see that we have the technology. We have a vast network which allows, with but a bit of effort, to reach masses with a message. Few obstacles stand in the way of any dream in this day and age, especially compared to any other. Old media no longer guards all the doors nor holds all the keys.I heard it said of old time that the successful make decisions promptly and change them very slowly, as needed, if at all. The unsuccessful arrive at decisions very slowly, change them frequently and rarely get anything finished. I know that I myself have been a victim of that "better idea" syndrome many times.
Inspiration strikes like lightning. When you have a definite plan and conviction of purpose, that's when it usually hits. That's what ANIGEN was for me. That first idea was probably "The One". Unfortunately, consciousness often takes over and begins to second guess inspiration. Consciousness begins to ask "what if" questions in the wrong sense, the negative sense. Consciousness begins to create barriers in the form of reasons why you can't or shouldn't do the idea. These reasons are usually based on worrying what someone else will think. It's because consciousness lacks imagination.
We are creators of our art, but how often do we limit our imagination to our stories and characters. That same imagination must also be used in getting it done and in the devising of ways to get it out to our audience. Henry Ford was told by his own engineers that his imaginative ideas, like an 8 cylinder engine block cast as a single piece, were foolish and impossible. He didn't worry about what other people thought. Inspiration said it was the thing to do and so he did it, even through many failures and over two years. How far do we get in our projects before the first obstacle turns us around?
We live in an internet age full of immeasurable opportunity for the one with imagination. It's like the dawn of radio all over again, where someone who has the ideas and creates programs that can capture audiences can command huge sums of money. Those who went beyond the simple comedian or news show became stars of their time. Now the internet is vast and open and opportunities are everywhere lying in wait for the imagination that will claim them. Great fortunes possibly lie right behind them. So what's really stopping us?
14 Comments:
this thing called 'laziness' :<
For me is WoW(World of Warcraft)
LOMA @calilifestyle. That was friggin hilarious. In my own case, indecision is killing me but I have put that behind me and focused on one project. Fortunately I have ignored every 'better' idea.
For me it was putting the needs and wants of others ahead of my own.
But guess what?
Not any more.
"What's really stopping us?"
For me, that would be college.
Terrence, Great post and I sent you an email about dvd resolutions in Vue 5 Infinite. I create music, art and dvd authroing with a chronic pain illness. I am now a published artist (several book covers, dvd authoring and more) and I did it with the very same attitude you speak of so elequently in this Aug 30 post ... great to hear such enthusiasm put into action! :)
Thanks Jack. Those are really inspiring words. Nothing's stopping you and it proves there's no reason to let anything stand in the way of our art.
Except World of Warcraft... ;)
Bring on the next Anigen episode!
I'll tell you what is stopping me for now, just a rut.
Money and style.
I have the story, post work etc done, and once I can get my hands on animating there is no stopping me.
However.....
I want my movie to be done in a cool, unique style. Problem is finding that artist and at the price I can afford.
I'm sorry but I don't want my film to be in my particular style. It sucks for the movie I want to make.
I have hired 4 artists thus far.
First artist was more amateur, err... I mean skilled but starting out, had heart and a good style, problem is he took the characters in the wrong direction. He was gracious and hard working but in the end descided thats not the look I was goin for.
Second artist...was professional and a great artist with cool style, however he changed the characters of mine so much and did his own rendition, they looked nothing like the characters at all. My wife was look "which character is this" One character had army pants, a belt, boots, was blue and semitrasnparent and about 20 years old, when this guy got a hold of him he was 45 years old, had tights, bare feet and looked like a space captain in tights and when I wanted him to revise the characters he wanted more money, problem was he finished the work before signing my contract, didn't send a preliminary sketch and was not about to do more work to fix it. I wonder if I should share the before and after? You think that unprofessional of me?
One guy took my money and ran, I haven't been able to get ahold of him since. He did work for me before and did a dang good job and was dedicated, now....I haven't seen or heard from him in 4 months. Maybe he died, I don't know.
Fourth guy I hired, he did some prelim sketches and said he would be done and I hadn't heard from him since (I'm giving him another week to at least send an email)
I have modellers lined up and props made already. I just need the 2d style to translate to 3d models.
I've put out ads looking for artists. Half of them are really bad, the other half are great, but not anything what I even asked for in style. I'm particularly looking for a style that I"ll know when I see it, not the fact that you can draw in that style. I am looking for a style.
So that is what has held me back in production at this time...other than that I have a good schedule for it and a few funds to get what I need, modellers ready to model, but no characters styled, designed but not styled.
Hey if you know anyone.....sarms@austin.rr.com
:)
Shawn: My Illustration instructor always told me to watch out for clients like you. :D
The problem (at least from what I'm hearing) is that you want the characters to have designs that are "unique", but you can't really describe what that style is, only that "you'll know it when you see it". Sorry, but you're going to have a very hard time finding something if you can't say what it is you're looking for.
The problem is, if you're going to be hiring out artists to conceptualize your film, you are going to have to accept some amount of compromise between your imagination and the other person's art - they may not be 100% the way you envisioned in your head, but that's that way it goes when you're dealing with another person to put your thoughts on paper.
Also, make sure you have a contract signed at the very beginning - I've seen a lot of people (and have dealt with it twice myself) get shafted from not having a business contract drafted up from the start.
To add to that, only someone like George Lucas is really in a position to "know it when he sees it." He doesn't hire out a single concept artist. He has a room full of concept artists working at the ranch in preproduction. Each of them does multiple drawings of a particular character design. Some do scultpures. Then Lucas can walk in with dozens of drawings to choose from for a character like, say, General Grevious and he may not even pick just one, but say "I like the dead from this one, but the body of this other one and the arms from this one over there."
With that many artists and that many drawings, you can get away with that. With a single artist, you may just drive them mad. ;)
Th thing holding me back..fear,other people opinions,learning curve and money.
But I really don't care what others think any more.
Now if WoW was holding me back..then this would be a totaly different story.
I have my characters designed. All they have to do is translate it in their style, not redesign the character.
For example when you see this picture
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/29150118/?qo=44&q=by%3Aherms85+sort%3Atime+-in%3Ascraps
Who is that? IMmediately you see Peter Parker as spiderman
Here is another example
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/28818646/?qo=48&q=by%3Aherms85+sort%3Atime+-in%3Ascraps
Venom right off the back.
I'm not looking for concept artists, just a style. It's simple enough, just draw the character in your style.
The artists I had drew a totally differant character. Not recognizalbe. I have all the characters designed and drawn in my style.
Here is an example of my character
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/37616126/?q=by%3Athemightyflog+in%3Ascraps+sort%3Atime
I had notes about the head being big, like Juggernaut from Xmen, Panda/Teddy bear ears. The pants, the belt, etc.
Now I love thist great artists style below, but here is how he changed the character.
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/35951383/?qo=2&q=by%3Athemightyflog+in%3Ascraps+sort%3Atime
I am not looking for someone to redesign the characters, just translate to their personal style. That is the problem I ran into. And believe me I was really descriptive, with pictures, etc.
Style, a translation into a cool style. It has to be a style that the artist already does himself. As you see from the examples there is a certain style, but you recognize the characters.
I'm not looking for someone who can draw, I"m looking for the style of the artist who can then translate my characters into his/her style.
Oh and that first artist I showed who did Spiderman and such....he was too busy for the project but he did throw an Alienboy version which was perfect...my way when we met at the comicon.
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/30429071/?qo=21&q=by%3Athemightyflog+sort%3Atime+-in%3Ascraps
Here is my version
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/30429098/?qo=8&q=by%3Athemightyflog+in%3Ascraps+sort%3Atime
He did a great job. So style not a redesign as some keep doing. I"m really not that hard to work for. I have good references for those who have worked for me :)
My problem is...I can't draw the simplest of things. Sad, I know, but I have a very very detailed and (I think) cool idea for an anime "series". I WISH I COULD DRAW :-(
lol
-Joe
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