McBlog: might be a waste of time, might not be
The online home of Neil McBean: creative professional and mauvais vivant
All companies and more than a few individuals now market themselves on the Web. Individual branding used to be something that movie stars and musicians did, but now everyone from Paris Hilton on down can get involved.
I hire freelancers, so if you are one you might see me as an adversary. Someone looking to exploit your talent for my gain, wringing out your soul for a buck. But I used to be a freelancer myself, and I negotiate with clients all the time, so I feel your pain. And I think the best way for us all to get past this contention is to understand where we’re all coming from, and construct some billing models that will leave us both happy with any future deal we may or may not make.
When I was a kid me and my brothers were obsessed with Shogun Warriors. We used to stage day long battles in the basement of our house.
Now someone who is apparently a clone of Michael Bay is putting together a film version of Gaiking (who was my battlebot of choice). Looks fun. Maybe.
Lately there’s been a fair amount of discussion on the Interwebs regarding the development of an organization to represent visual effects artists. Creatives of all stripes seem to be perking up their ears, and just like my doubts regarding the true number of Motrin moms, I also wonder how many creatives are really getting organized.
Last post I wrote a bit about animation/film/design schools, but didn’t really get into why I see them as ineffective. I can’t really comment on individual programs, only the work I see from students, so rather than point out what they aren’t doing well, I’ll point to what they, and anyone who wants to work in animation, should be doing.
Sure, some of my friends don’t agree, but I think Steven Spielberg is great. He’s created some of the most enduring images of anyone in film, and (after Chuck Jones, Michael Palin, and bad knees) he’s probably one of the reasons I do what I do.
So, anyhoo, I thought this was worth sharing.
Ever. This is a post update, ‘cause I changed the site around again. This video should never be lost to time. It’s an inspiration. If you want to make films, or games, or you’re a corporate lawyer who wants to know how to make films or games this is worth your time. Relax. Watch it.
