Shel here:
Aedon demonstrating the studiness of the new shelves i built (not, maybe, completely necessary, but there was some empty wall space.....)
Lots to report and not alot of time to do it in (speed blogging):
1. i CLEANED what used to be the garage -- it all started with an innocent, "hey babe, can you park your car on the street for awhile so i can shoot this film in the garage?"---4 years later, we finally banished all things "garage" and the space is now strickly, beautifully STUDIO......this is very exciting...... my friend nancy generously gave me shelves and extra "studio stuff" she wasn't using, and i had a date to start making ships for LINE (working title of our new film) the day after we got back from NYC. so i MADWOMANED the place before we left and it's so ORGANIZED!! it's all STOP MO--tools, materials and equipment......it makes me way too happy (i don't have time to psychologize that right now......but i just noticed how "organized" and "orgasm" sound sort of connected.....)
STUDIO/GARAGE MESS BEFORE:
ORGANIZED GLORY AFTER
Aedon demonstrating the studiness of the new shelves i built (not, maybe, completely necessary, but there was some empty wall space.....)2. the night before we went to New York, Jeff Set Master Cross came over 
and we discussed how we'll go about building the ships when we get back. stop motion coninues to put us in contact with the coolest people ever, and jeff is no exception. we made up a tool and material list (what's a DREMEL?) and got on the plane the next morning.
and we discussed how we'll go about building the ships when we get back. stop motion coninues to put us in contact with the coolest people ever, and jeff is no exception. we made up a tool and material list (what's a DREMEL?) and got on the plane the next morning. 3. Tribecca - we saw our film on the airplane....
that was very much fun. we met cool people, saw some good films,
got to hang out with my sister and neice (my fav part),
walked ALOT, went to the awards party.......we didn't win, which is too bad cuz that would have been a pretty feather in our cap.....but in truth we've gotten SO MUCH from all the exposure.....very interesting and cool people continue to contact us saying they've seen the film on the airplane and loved it, "made me cry" (aww, thanks!) and can they buy a DVD (not yet), or would we like them to work with us on making our next film 3D (yes!), or can they distribute our film (not now but we'll keep your info for later), or are we looking for investors and what other projects are we working on (let us tell you!!). it's been incredibly beneficial and we are GRATEFUL!
that was very much fun. we met cool people, saw some good films, got to hang out with my sister and neice (my fav part), walked ALOT, went to the awards party.......we didn't win, which is too bad cuz that would have been a pretty feather in our cap.....but in truth we've gotten SO MUCH from all the exposure.....very interesting and cool people continue to contact us saying they've seen the film on the airplane and loved it, "made me cry" (aww, thanks!) and can they buy a DVD (not yet), or would we like them to work with us on making our next film 3D (yes!), or can they distribute our film (not now but we'll keep your info for later), or are we looking for investors and what other projects are we working on (let us tell you!!). it's been incredibly beneficial and we are GRATEFUL!4. Came home sunday night, went to home depot, bought a BAND SAW, DREMEL and BELT SANDER (okay, this is like christmas for me!!). 
monday morning jeff comes over and we start SHIPS.
Jeff is teaching me how as we go and i so excited to be learning this stuff (and i'm in love with my new Dremel!). 
Jeff's such a kind and open teacher, to have a SUPER PRO be so open and comfy with my ideas in the problem solving is giving me tons of confidence........
5. Oh yeah, and the week before we went to NYC i put together an investment package for the new short. Complete with a Deal Structure, Detailed Budget, Cash Flow Schedule, etc., etc., etc. this was so interesting and insightful......clarifies the project on a whole different level (we're pretty clear on the art level). Writing it all down from a financial/marketing POV helped us look at LINE in relationship to our BIG GOAL of making our feature, and what we want to get out of the experience of making this short. 3D is a big part of that, but that will have to be another post, cuz i have some ships to build!
monday morning jeff comes over and we start SHIPS. Jeff is teaching me how as we go and i so excited to be learning this stuff (and i'm in love with my new Dremel!). Jeff's such a kind and open teacher, to have a SUPER PRO be so open and comfy with my ideas in the problem solving is giving me tons of confidence........5. Oh yeah, and the week before we went to NYC i put together an investment package for the new short. Complete with a Deal Structure, Detailed Budget, Cash Flow Schedule, etc., etc., etc. this was so interesting and insightful......clarifies the project on a whole different level (we're pretty clear on the art level). Writing it all down from a financial/marketing POV helped us look at LINE in relationship to our BIG GOAL of making our feature, and what we want to get out of the experience of making this short. 3D is a big part of that, but that will have to be another post, cuz i have some ships to build!
......We were contacted by a 3D camera company wishing to work with us on our next film.....as well as being contacted by many more Gerald fans from DELTA airlines. ....so cool.
We leave for {Tribecca Film Fest Next week} and we are totally excited for the trip. We also will find out if we won the Film contest. If we do Win we will be the only animated film to play at Tribecca!! FINGERS CROSSED!!That would be so freakin AWESOME to me. 
We have always been of the mind that we would look for financeing on one of our upcomeing films........but Now seems like the perfect time to do it.
Wisdom.!!
send them our way.
Shooting in 3d will require special equipment - knowledge and it will definately slow down the process of film makeing .........but.....
So we are now in the process of shopping the Film....Storyboarding.....and Ship Construction.
We are back from an Inspireing trip to Sonoma International Film Fest. I took off both Thursday and Friday
We drove up with our Composer{Robert Litton} who actually did all of the driveing. Nice for us.......We Arrived and picked out some films for the weekend we would like to see off a nicely put together schedule. We also were just In time the Opening Film "The Answer Man"
It was a great start to the fest.....because we were Filmakers and we had full access to all of the Shows with no waiting in line.{Loooong Lines}
The film was very fun.....as was the Audiance..... and it kicked off a High Quality of cinema that maintained throughout most of the fest. One thing they had us do each film was take a ballot and Vote on the films we just saw. 1 to 5....bad to Great...We voted and moved on.
It also had an awesome Giant pool POWER SHOWER
which we took full advantage of.
We drove there through bueatifull Rolling GREEN hills and arrived at the Gate. 
After Robert Used his Jedi Mind Trick on the guards and we were allowed access to the Mighty Ranch.... Robert Turned on the Radio which Blasted the Opening theme to Star wars....Ha! It was a well planned Joke that was appreciated by my dorkness and set up a fun time.
. We parked and went into the Leslies Building....
which was just down the main street from the Main House which is where George works and a bunch of the treasures from his films can be found. 
She had to give Some Pixar People a little Audio tour so we just sat for a bit{They just finished the movie -Up} Skywalker did the sound for it like most major films these days. While walking around the Buildings there are Posters from tons of old movies that I never even heard of. I imagine a bunch of them had a special place in Georges heart since they were sci fi- wartime or big romance movies. We hung out for a bit and then she took us to the main House where we were to grab lunch. 
As you walk up you see the House of course. 
Then You see this amazeing Porch.
And this Amazing Main area.
On the way in the main house We passed a Bunch of cases with some of the Most famous props from Film History. I was really excited to see an ATAT in person
....as well as the Indy Hat....and Willow props.
Leslie treated us to lunch and conversation....then she took us around the house for the big tour. We went to the famous Skywalker Library....This place is amazeing!!!!
It looks like its straight out of Hogwarts from Harry potter. Bueatifull Lighting....rich Wood....and Design. This is where shel was offered to come down for a few days to write and research for our feature film we've been working on. She was incredibly inspired by this and was completely Stoked on Skywalker Ranch!
we got our seats and watched a Skywalker Demo reel that was being played for the Pixar people.....then......
I can only imagine.
What A day guys...and this is just Lunch....We go out to the dock and take a few pics before we leave....POWERFULL!
So....back to the Film fest.
This was our second film and I lOVED it! Wow ...2 for 2 guys. This film sucked me in right away....and I was Hooked the whole ride. Such an Inspireing - Artistically -storytelling wise film.
It was pretty funny and was at the same theatre we were screening at at 9:15pm. The Crowd was nice and loose for our screening since the wine is free everywhere you go in Sonoma. They were very Loud and very excited for the showing. I was a bit concerned about attendance but it was a full house. Lines out the door.... 
As our Shorts Block started the crowd cheered Heavily for the coming films. It started with a very artsy film that the crowd didnt quite know what to think of....ha! They clapped politely and the next film started which was very entertaining{ 
.This was more of a crowd pleaser but it ended very darkly. There were a couple more DARK - films then GLD played.
The crowd was very very Into the film....you could feel a thick energy in the air as the film went on and they became more and more invested in Gerald. The crowd was offering many comments like{Do you see the scratches on the wall} ...they were really digging it
{He he!! Film makeing is so fun!}This is where the audiance got a bit worried. They did not do that. Is Gerald going to Die? With the types of films at most fests you have to wonder. There was an incredibly Thick Silence and tension in the room as the Music cut out and Edwardo walked by.
WOW!!!!! I could see the excitement on Roberts and Shels Faces...dang. What a reaction.
Our film was like oxygen to a Diver trapped under water..and they appreciated it. It was an amazeing cap to an amazeing day. The rest of the show was pretty Dark and Heavy as we waited for the Q and A.
One thing about animation is that most people have'nt got a real clear idea as to how much time it actually takes to create.Especially stopmotion. They enjoyed our talk and could easily tell we love the craft and working together.
They provide 6 guarenteed seats to all filmakers and it was our last day to pick. We picked out or films while robert watched the films again.....we waited to hear our music then Poped in to watch the screening.
I could feel it to...I didnt even know it was that Pounding....untill I felt her pressure on my chest.
lots of questions answered and people so happy we had a happy ending. The person who ran the MIC had runny makeup from crying and a bit embarrased....admitted to crying every time she watches our film. POWERFULL indeed!! Thats priceless right there.
Neither of us really wanted to go....but it might be an opporotunity to find people that like our film and our interested in working with us....Alrrright...I guess
{Crank Balls} a stop motion animated film...most of the rest were dark and dank.There was one Dark film that was a great piece of filmmakeing though.{Next Floor} from canada. It was an excellent film on all levels.
In this panel - filmmakers could pitch their ideas to a group of professionals who would critic and answer questions. The coolest part is you got to hear and watch everyones pitch.
Watching the kids and family respond to our story makes it so clear that this is exactly what I want to do in Life....Tell Storys through animation. 
Livin life people...its freakin exciteing stuff.