I have finally stepped into the realm of (very very) amateur animation. Please find my first attempt here.
It is a heartfelt (but poorly recorded) message for our kids.
My youngest has seen it a few times now and had plenty of comments to make while I was filming and adding the voice.
I hope you enjoy it...
Wednesday, 6 August 2014
Monday, 4 August 2014
(VERY) Amateur Animation
A few weekends ago I discovered my old video camera that I took with me on my first overseas trip about twelve years ago. I have been using the camera to record some amateur animation and I am planning on loading to youtube a short film I did for the kids.
This may be the start of a run of short films, depending on the time I have and how much fun I am having with my trio of youngsters.
Stay tuned and hopefully I will have my first film up soon.
Not sure of the tags to use... Probably something like "So_Not_Disney"
Once I have it posted I would love for you to comment.
Is the original always the best?
Late last month I caught a few scenes of the Total Recall remake from 2012 starring Colin Farrell and thought that this movie looked pretty good. It had all the action, the strange sci fi elements of the original but looked more appealing. This made me wonder is this remake better than the original film with Arnie as the main man or is this 2012 film just homage to an amazing movie from my past... Also do either films stack up to the Philip K. Dick story 'We Can Remember it For You Wholesale'?
I for one believe that the book is always best. You cannot put all the character's thoughts into a film and most great books would be six hour films (or longer) if every moment remembered fondly was captured from page and revealed on screen. The other cool thing about books is that you the reader are left to imagine each character as the author introduces them... You project your own ideas on how they look, act, sound... The wrong actor can ruin a film for some viewers based purely on the strength of imagination.
Back to my original thought though... Did David Bowie do a better version of The Man Who Sold the World or was it Nirvana? So many examples out there... Is each occurrence to be judged separately or is there one consensus?
I for one believe that the book is always best. You cannot put all the character's thoughts into a film and most great books would be six hour films (or longer) if every moment remembered fondly was captured from page and revealed on screen. The other cool thing about books is that you the reader are left to imagine each character as the author introduces them... You project your own ideas on how they look, act, sound... The wrong actor can ruin a film for some viewers based purely on the strength of imagination.
Back to my original thought though... Did David Bowie do a better version of The Man Who Sold the World or was it Nirvana? So many examples out there... Is each occurrence to be judged separately or is there one consensus?
Thursday, 24 July 2014
Another of my favourite things... Travel
I have recently had a friend return to Oz from India and every time he jets off somewhere new it reminds me of that one time I was able to adventure off to foreign shores.
There is nothing like travelling overseas! Whether it is for work or pleasure or a mixture of both it can be a real thrill to hop onto a plane and leave the safety and security of friends and family. I see travel as the greatest education one can ever get, it is an opportunity to truly see and learn about other countries, other cultures and other people. It is also the ultimate education about yourself. Travel exposes you to new and unusual situations that you must deal with and learn from and all the while you have this great freedom and this eagerness to discover the new and unexplored.
I hope one day soon that I will get to travel again... This time it would be great to have my wonderful wife and beautiful kids along too... A chance to learn even more about ourselves and each other. Until that chance comes along though I will watch enviously (the sky and the web) as planes fly over my head and as gorgeous views from America, Italy, Spain, Ireland, etc. appear in my inbox or on facebook, glad that my mates are discovering a new experience, a new place and even something new about themselves.
Happy travels!!
There is nothing like travelling overseas! Whether it is for work or pleasure or a mixture of both it can be a real thrill to hop onto a plane and leave the safety and security of friends and family. I see travel as the greatest education one can ever get, it is an opportunity to truly see and learn about other countries, other cultures and other people. It is also the ultimate education about yourself. Travel exposes you to new and unusual situations that you must deal with and learn from and all the while you have this great freedom and this eagerness to discover the new and unexplored.
I hope one day soon that I will get to travel again... This time it would be great to have my wonderful wife and beautiful kids along too... A chance to learn even more about ourselves and each other. Until that chance comes along though I will watch enviously (the sky and the web) as planes fly over my head and as gorgeous views from America, Italy, Spain, Ireland, etc. appear in my inbox or on facebook, glad that my mates are discovering a new experience, a new place and even something new about themselves.
Happy travels!!
Tuesday, 22 July 2014
The Wonderful Chaos of School Term in Winter
The school term has begun again and I am beginning to curse the cool winter mornings.
The holidays have been great with the kids rising early with me so we can eat breakfast together while I get ready for work (a big thanks to my beautiful wife and our amazing friends who have looked after the little ones over the two week holiday break). Now that the older two are back at school and kindy has started another term I am finding less and less that the kids are up with me and happy around the breakfast table... Now I get them out of bed and they find a way to crawl back in.
I am struggling to get up each morning when the radio tells me it is a brisk 3 degrees, so I can sympathize with my kids... almost admiring their determination to gain that extra five minutes of warm snug as a bug feeling that can only be found under the blankets and eiderdown and surrounded by millions of teddy bears. I did say almost... Get up! Get out of bed!! Breakfast time!
Following breakfast is always two of the most frustrating games that parents and kids can ever play... Game one I like to call 'who can get dressed the slowest' and game two is 'what can I leave at home which I desperately need with me at school/kindy'. I wonder if you can guess how these games are played (and who usually wins!)?
I say bring on the weekend and a looooooovely sleep in!!!
The holidays have been great with the kids rising early with me so we can eat breakfast together while I get ready for work (a big thanks to my beautiful wife and our amazing friends who have looked after the little ones over the two week holiday break). Now that the older two are back at school and kindy has started another term I am finding less and less that the kids are up with me and happy around the breakfast table... Now I get them out of bed and they find a way to crawl back in.
I am struggling to get up each morning when the radio tells me it is a brisk 3 degrees, so I can sympathize with my kids... almost admiring their determination to gain that extra five minutes of warm snug as a bug feeling that can only be found under the blankets and eiderdown and surrounded by millions of teddy bears. I did say almost... Get up! Get out of bed!! Breakfast time!
Following breakfast is always two of the most frustrating games that parents and kids can ever play... Game one I like to call 'who can get dressed the slowest' and game two is 'what can I leave at home which I desperately need with me at school/kindy'. I wonder if you can guess how these games are played (and who usually wins!)?
I say bring on the weekend and a looooooovely sleep in!!!
Monday, 7 July 2014
Winter V Summer... Why I love winter the most
The greatest argument of all, the battle of the seasons... extreme heat verses extreme cool. Well here is why I love winter the most.
1. My birthday is in July and it is always a great chance to catch up with friends and family, get spoiled by the people I love and who love me, a wonderful reminder that life is awesome.
2. So many bed covers you feel like a bear slumbering until the spring (snuggling with the kids and my gorgeous wife are really nice too).
3. The wild weather, the sound of rain on the roof and windows, the flash of lightning and the BOOM of thunder... Nature at its wildest and craziest.
4. Fine red wine and dark chocolate... It seems to suit winter the best. If you can combine those two pleasures with an open fire roaring away then you have it made.
These are just four great things that come to mind when I think of winter. I argue that the old man image with the wispy white beard is unfair to label on such a wonderful season.
What do you think though? Do you love hitting the beach on a hot hot day and enjoying ice cream while soaking up the sweet sunshine?
1. My birthday is in July and it is always a great chance to catch up with friends and family, get spoiled by the people I love and who love me, a wonderful reminder that life is awesome.
2. So many bed covers you feel like a bear slumbering until the spring (snuggling with the kids and my gorgeous wife are really nice too).
3. The wild weather, the sound of rain on the roof and windows, the flash of lightning and the BOOM of thunder... Nature at its wildest and craziest.
4. Fine red wine and dark chocolate... It seems to suit winter the best. If you can combine those two pleasures with an open fire roaring away then you have it made.
These are just four great things that come to mind when I think of winter. I argue that the old man image with the wispy white beard is unfair to label on such a wonderful season.
What do you think though? Do you love hitting the beach on a hot hot day and enjoying ice cream while soaking up the sweet sunshine?
Thursday, 3 July 2014
Goodbye 34 years...
Such a special day yesterday. My birthday come and gone for another year. It reminds me of just how lucky I am with a family who loves me and does everything in their power to make my day such a special one. My youngest spent all lunchtime telling me she loved me (every five minutes... adorable) while my eight year old son and almost seven year old daughter were so eager to wish me the best day ever. My gorgeous wife, my princess and the love of my life went above and beyond as always to truly make me feel like her prince.
My friends too sent out text messages and other forms of social media to remind me that I was in their thoughts. So much love I hardly had time to respond to them all. Thank you everyone for your kind words and well wishes. To top off a brilliant day I also got a call from my brother and God son who did a happy birthday duet over the phone (got my birthday hug and high five!)
At work there was cake and a card and more well wishes. Thanks guys... A great day even if I was at work.
So I say goodbye to 34 and look forward to what lies ahead. I must say... So far so good!!
My friends too sent out text messages and other forms of social media to remind me that I was in their thoughts. So much love I hardly had time to respond to them all. Thank you everyone for your kind words and well wishes. To top off a brilliant day I also got a call from my brother and God son who did a happy birthday duet over the phone (got my birthday hug and high five!)
At work there was cake and a card and more well wishes. Thanks guys... A great day even if I was at work.
So I say goodbye to 34 and look forward to what lies ahead. I must say... So far so good!!
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