Wednesday, September 05, 2007

KILLER of SHEEP

I love Animation. I've been unknowingly doing it since I was 12
years old. But as of late I've taken an interest in live action film making.


There is something extraordinary about shooting a live human being. The
range of emotion, the subtleties, capturing their essence. Showing these
qualities in animation are no easy task. Your sitting there at your desk, alone,
trying to concentrate, hoping to bring forth some illusion of life. If your lucky
every now and then you stumble on something. A break through! You get excited
and you are recharged. You keep going. On and On plowing forward, looking for
the next plateau, Like a crackhead. Dang.... Yeah animators are crack heads.
I suppose that's where the magic comes in. Why animators do it in the first
place. To get that high. That feeling of satisfaction. Then you play it over
and over, marveling at your new accomplishment. Its supremely
challenging, and can be very rewarding.

Film however is an entirely different story

The thing I love about animation is that you can tell your story entirely by
yourself. You can sit there and create all of your characters, sets, and props.
You could disappear into a dark room for 8 years by yourself and come out
with the next star wars. You don't have to worry about whiny ass prima
donna actors. Every last element is created.

Ironically enough, that's also the same thing I hate about animation. I miss
the human interaction. The bond you develop when you work closely with
others. In animation most of your time is spent at a desk, by yourself.
Focusing and concentrating, trying to create those characters, sets and props.
Your in doors all day, unless you dig laptop glare. Oh and did I mention
that there are absolutely no sistas in animation! I remember hearing
a long time ago that in the animation industry that there are hardly any
women. Well if there are hardly any women in animation. Finding a black female
animator is like finding Al Sharpton at a Ralph Bakshi screening.

Anyway...

Here is a classic I recently discovered that you have probably never heard of.

These are the types of films that greatly inspire me as an Artist and Animator.

Marvelous Film.
Directed by Charles Burnett


12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have got to get that movie for my library! Thanks podna!

gemini82 said...

If you get a chance go check out David Brodwell observation on film and art. Its a decent blog and you really learn alot about the film process.

http://www.davidbordwell.net/blog/

maarten said...

"You could disappear into a dark room for 8 years by yourself and come out
with the next star wars. "
HAHAHAHAHAHA

Hmm dont know what to think about the lonely behind a desk aspect.. Guess theres a little truth in it.. Then again it seems pretty cool (and social) to me to work in a team.

BlueJackJohnson said...

Dayyum how did I miss this one. looks great. Good look!

"no sistas in animation"

TOO FUNNY

Neverrated said...

"no sistas in animation"

At my school there are some that are studying animation, but it seems true that there isn't any actually in the industry, but i know they are out there...

Hobo Divine said...

Thank you for posting this.

:)
Hobo

gemini82 said...

No problem man. Happy to provide

g1toons said...

nice post, i will look into this

Oasis Mountain said...

looks very interesting thanks for posting.

Invisible Woman said...

I'm glad this film and it's director are finally getting the attention they deserve...

Jamal O said...

I've just seen this movie and WOW, (read below)

Spent 40 BUX on the Burnett collection DVD. (See Charles I'm Supporting)

I'm Disappointed.

Apparently its not a narrative at all. While I thoroughly enjoy masterful compositions and pretty pictures, I am a fan of, how do we say,... a story?

This Film has none. A picture montage if you will. A collection of vignettes similar to the russian propaganda film "I AM CUBA"

A huge monstrous Cloverfield WTF?

I had high hopes.

oh well.

The saving grace of this film is it's style. As far as Black cinema is concerned I've never seen anything like it, even in 2007.

Killer of Sheep's portrayal of a 1970's los angeles has a very different honest sensibility, especially compared to all the other JIVE TALKING, MUTHAFUKA SAYING, PIMP SLAPPING, BLAXPLOITATION films of that time.

In that respect alone, well, also coupled with a keen eye of a talented director, the film deserves a watch.

I was just hoping for more i guess.

On another note. I checked another film that same night. The Japanese anime TEKKONKINKREET. Interesting enough, I enjoyed this 10 times more. Somehow those animated characters were more fun to watch than the human ones. A powerful story about duality and friendship.

It was Trippy. I loved that shit. Pardon my french.

~J

A Smith said...

hey i saw this too, about the same time... loved it!