JUST ANOTHER LUNCH AT THE RANCH

No joke. This actually happened at lunch today. We got a private airshow by a couple P51's during our soccer match. One of those moments in life you'll never forget. I love this job.

Indiana Jones Preview!

I got a once in a while opportunity to something pretty damn cool. I got to see a private early screening of an Indiana Jones movie! Plus after the screening, Lucasfilm threw a luncheon and had ALL kinds of displays of the movie's props, sets, and wardrobe! Here's the safe stuff I know I can show...

'MOM' TATTOO

LUCASFILM CO-WORKERS!

One of the things I like best about changing jobs is that I get to meet all kinds of new and talented artists. I've been fortunate to work with some amazing people in the past and here at Lucasfilm, it looks like my luck is going to continue. I've added some new links to my blog list. So if you have some free time and wanna get inspired, click on the links below!

BLOG LINKS

Stop by my BLOG LIST when you get a chance. I've added some new people and revamped the layout. I've also added a new "Blog of the Week" feature which I plan on updating every Monday. So check it out!

Pitch Designs

I was cleaning out an old folder of mine when I stumbled across some designs I did for a show I was developing called "Lutefisk". Not sure if I'll dust off the idea, but I liked what I came up with in terms of the look and feel.

Anthony Minghella 1954-2008

I hate it when the phone rings early in the morning. Not because it interrupts my sleep, but because it usually has bad news on the other end. On Tuesday morning our phone rang and the world lost a decent, kind, and gentle man. And most importantly, a dear friend of ours lost her father.

Anthony Mighella passed away Tuesday morning at the age of 54. Way too early in his life and career. When you talk to him personally, you'd never know that he was such a successful director/writer. He was so soft spoken and humble. A real pleasure to be around. I'm glad we got a chance to spend some time with him.

He was most known for his writing, but it was the cinematography of his films that first knocked me off my feet. I thought "The English Patient" was one of the most romantic film ever put on screen. Full of dignity, grace, and utter beauty. I feel sad thinking about his family and the world that's going to miss out on the stories he had left to tell.

Cheap Models

Your family is the best and most inexpensive models you can find! As you can see, we're also expecting one more model!


Spencer's a great model to study. He's quick so he makes for perfect gestures!

WONDERCON!

I got a chance to stop by and see Comic Con's little sister, Wondercon! It's a lot like Comic Con, only smaller. And I'd have to say a bit more claustrophobic. At least in at the San Diego Convention Center, I feel like there's some open areas to go catch your breath. I never really got that at Wondercon. There were people everywhere! Plus you couldn't escape outside since it was raining! But I still had a good time seeing old friends and checking out the "Clone Wars" panel with some new ones! Kudos to Dave and Catherine for doing a great job!

If I was feeling better, I would have done a sketch or two. So in lieu of that, here's a sketch I did at last year's Comic Con...

NEW JOB!

I've been gone for a while, but not without a good reason. I got a new kick ass job! I just accepted a postion at Lucasfilm Animation! I've been swamped with the move up to the Bay area and going thru training. Which I really can't complain about since I spent my first week getting trained in 3D at ILM! I took a job working in the 3D story department on the "Clone Wars" television series. Which ironicly has just been announced to air on Cartoon Network!

The coolest thing about this job (besides working on Star Wars of course) is that I get to drive onto Skywalker Ranch everyday!
The main house at the Ranch is nothing short of stunning. I just had lunch here with a fellow new employee, Ira Owens. We ate with George. Well, next to him.

It's really been a great experience so far and I'm really proud to be a part of the team here. I've got a lot to learn and even more to prove, which is why I've been away for a while. But now that I'm getting a bit more settled, it's time to start blogging again!

CARTOON NETWORK SHORTS

For the past two years I've been working at Cartoon Network running their "new media" department. A fancy title that means I make shorts for all their current shows. I jump from show to show and make a series of 2 minute shorts. I initially was hired to make 90! And believe it or not, I'm almost done with those! That's over 180 minutes worth of footage!

The other interesting thing about my department is that it's run with just two people. Myself and a production manager (Nate Funaro). Of course we freelance out a bit. He have a couple writers and sheet timers that we like to use. But for the most part, it's just Nate and I. So I get to wear a lot of hats, and so do the shorts themselves. They have been aired on television, cel phones, podcasts, and even in movie theaters!

Now that I'm almost done, it's fun to look back on all the shorts and see what we've done. Follow the links to some samples...































*all shorts are copyright Cartoon Network ©

Amazing Screw On Head part2

I was going thru an old folder of mine and I came across some boards I thought I'd post. I did this for Titmouse Animation back in 2005 I think. I had a blast doing this. Did it all in Photoshop. I submitted these to the Emmy's, but apparently the voters aren't Mingola fans. Or they just thought it sucked. Either way, I didn't hear anything. Oh well, there's always next year.

(click here for part one of my ASOH posts)

"BATHROOM BREAK" SHORT

Someone posted on You Tube a short I made a while back. It's a "Gym Partner" short I directed, storyboarded, and wrote with Darrick Bachman. I thought it turned out pretty good. I liked the timing and pacing we got. Tony Tedford was the editor on this one and I can really see his fingerprint. Check it out before the CN police take it down (click on the image)

Jim Henson was brilliant

It's easy to dismiss the work of Jim Henson as cute kid's fare. Stuff for 6 year olds. A lot of people overlook what Henson and his team did together. What they made together was nothing short of brilliant. Look at this scene from "The Muppet Movie". This is a song Gonzo sings after the gang's bus breaks down and it looks as though their plans to reach their goals have come to a dead end. Paul Williams' lyrics are elegant, poetic, and touching. Dave Golez gives a performance as Gonzo that is full of warmth and soul. It's an incredibly moving song that is easily overlooked. Not many films go beneath the surface and speak about something so deep and soulfull. I have no idea how this didn't win an Academy Award.

Oh, that's right...a puppet sang it.

3D FOSTERS EPISODE

So an episode that I boarded is going to air this Friday. It's a Halloween episode and it's going to be in 3D! That's the good news. The bad news (especially if you're a kid) is that you have to make your own glasses to watch it! Check out the official site if you don't believe me. Luckily we've got glasses around the studio otherwise I'd have to make a trip to the craft store!

Check out the website for when it airs in your part of the world!

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