Tech Central's Guide to the Color Code Alert System (Animatic).

 Ever wondered what the animatic to this cartoon looks like?  Well here it is.  As you watch it, you will notice that there is a difference there.  Can you find out what they are?  Good luck.  

Enjoy. 

Tech Central's Guide to the Color Code Alert System (2016).

 I know it has been a long time since I used this blog, but don't worry it is back up again.  And now, I present to you a short film I made back in 2016.  As you can see, it all started back when I was working at Technology Central, or Tech Central for short, was having  trouble and it was starting become chaotic like The Muppet Show back stage.  With chaos, it can be controlled by order.  I was inspired by Kermit the Frog on the short lived ABC series, The Muppets where they had their color code alert system.  This was in the episode, "Hostile Makeover".  He said, and I quote: 

We've created a color code alert system to track Piggy's moods. Green, she's calm, but we've never been at green. Yellow, she's in tears. Orange, *I'm* in tears. And with a code red, if she locks eyes with you, it's already too late!  

Inspired by that clever amphibian, I got inspired.  However, before doing this I always seek consultation from my boss about making it.  I pitched it to her verbally because I didn't have time to make a pitch-reel.  She, my boss, Kimberly O'Toole, approved it.  After doing some research and consultation from boss, off I went to work on it.  During production, I got the gist from watching all those old educational safety films from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.  

I know that all along that this was going to be animated.  After all, it has been two years since I graduated back in 2014.  I didn't want these animation skills go down to waste.

I have been seeing these things via On-Demand TV back in mid 2000's on Something Weird On Demand. (It lasted until 2008.)  Those UPA-style drawing were eye-catching for time.  As eye-catching as those Cartoon Network shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s such as Dexter's Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls (the original not that jokey 2016 reboot), Courage the Cowardly Dog, Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, Codename: Kids Next Door, and The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy.  Inspired, I decided to take that style, aesthetics of the 1950s educational films, guidances from my boss, and keep that cartoon educational, while at the same time, be funny.  .  When it was completed, I presented it to the employees and superiors at work and the result was so wonderful, that they wanted and encore viewing.  So I did.  I hope you enjoy it.  

BELIEVE IT YOU'RE NUTS (2014).

 Here is my first CGI animated short. It is done with Maya. I did the voices too. It was done for my Digital Toolbox III class at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt).

Enjoy.

MATTHEW LAMONT by Noah Roscoe (2011)

Talk about getting a treatment. Don't we all wish we worked in Andy Warhol's Factory? That's what it felt like. Noah Roscoe asked me to be in his short film, I turned it up. It was a nice little offer I couldn't refuse! So he filmed my face, as I sat still only to follow his directions for a minute and that was it! Also, Noah, Zira (another student), and I were making a black and white 16-millimeter silent film about poverty. This film called BUMS (2011) had a brief animated scene in it. It had coins growing and shrinking representing the economy of 2008. Enough said. Now, here is MATTHEW LAMONT by Noah Roscoe, starring Matthew B. Lamont, which was made at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (i.e. MassArt).

Enjoy. 

THE LAUGHTER MAN (2009).

Here is a short film I worked on called THE LAUGHTER MAN (2009). This made at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt). I not only edited it but acted in it as well. It is about laughter being the best medicine. Say, in today's troublesome times, we can sure use a sense of humor every once in a while.

Enjoy. 

MERMANIAC (2014).

She's an underwater girl that comes out at night and gives you such a fright. You better watch out when she goes for a swim because your survival is going to get slim. She's Mermaniac, Mermaniac, that's for sure.  

I was one of the many students who helped out in this project for the Stop-Motion 2 class at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (or MassArt for short). 

Enjoy.

Equality in Poland (2013).

 Here is an animation about equality in Poland that I did, in MassArt, back in 2013. It is based on the poster by Sebastian Kubica.

Enjoy.

A Trip to T.U.F.F.

 Ten years ago, Butch Hartman's cartoon, T.U.F.F. PUPPY, premiered on Nickelodeon. It ran from 2010 to 2015 and guess what, I enjoyed it and I liked it because it was funny. I loved this cartoon so much that I decided to make a break-in recording of it. What's a break-in recording? It is an audio comedy skit, in a style of a news report, where there are samples of songs put in there for laughs. This was my final assignment for Introduction to Sound back in MassArt. Everyone loved it because it livened things up. I got a passing grade for that. Also, I always wanted to make something like that because I was inspired by Dickie Goodman. He was making those from 1957 to 1987. He died in 1989, but after his death, there were others like Whimsical Will to continue his legacy. A TRIP TO T.U.F.F. premiered on the radio show, "A-log on the Airwaves". This was hosted by Anthony Logatto. 

So in honor of T.U.F.F. PUPPY's 10th Anniversary, here is my break-in recording.  

Enjoy.

"A Cleaving in my Mind" by Emily Dickenson (2012).

 Here is an animation I made in MassArt based on one of Emily Dickenson's poems back in 2012.  

Enjoy. 

OUT OF THE ORDINARY (2015).

Here is a short film I made five years ago at MassArt while I was working at Tech Central. It's wild. It's weird. It's wonderful. It's so extraordinary, that it's out of the ordinary. Prepare yourself for this awesome combination between live-action and stop-motion animation.

Enjoy.

AN UNEARTHLY TRICK (2012).

Here is a short film I made at MassArt where it combines live-action with stop-motion animation. It is pure out-of-this-world fun!

Enjoy.

BUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE (2011).

Here is my short animated film, BUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE (2011). Here I used a Zoetrope and a rotoscope technique. If I were you, I would freeze-frame a specific scene that is heavily influenced by Looney Tunes and other pop-culture references. In fact, there is some pop-culture reference at the end.

Enjoy.

DESTINY (2011).

This is my first attempt in film-making when I was MassArt. It is called Destiny (2011) Nothing to see here, but the light represents finding a goal. Go in towards the light! The light at the end of the tunnel!

Enjoy.

Mermaniac (2014)

This video was made in Stop-Motion II class. In this class, you need to work in a team. I was not only in charge of visual effects but vocal effects too. I did some creature voices and the voice of Mermaniac and the old merman. However, the old mernan's voice was rejected and got replaced with the creature voices. Why did I do the voices for Mermaniac (which was never shown in the final cut), because everyone in my class, male or female refused to voice her! Sad eh, but someone has to do it! If Mel Blanc, Frank Oz, Paul Frees, Jerry Nelson, and Frank Welker can do female voices, so can I! Monty Python did some female roles too! So, I hope you enjoy it.



Enjoy.

Danny Darko (2014)

For Digital Toolbox II, I was assigned to work in a group to make an animation that involves darkness, my professor, Dan Rowe, and mustard. It was a messy job. While everyone was busy with the visuals, I ended up assigning myself doing the audio. I found this scary vampire howl from a horror video logo from the eighties. They liked it. Oh yeah, the CGI creepy face, that was Dan's animation.
Here it is.

Enjoy

Video Installation (2012)

This was a video installation assignment for Video II.  I shot myself in two different angles.  It was challenging, but hey, it was worth it.

Enjoy.

Counter Culture (2012)

This was the final assignment for Video II. Since I enjoyed making NOTHING ON TV, I wanted to use the three-screen projection system again, and I had a fascination with the counterculture (which came out of curiosity), I made this video, exploring goths, punks, and tattoos.

Enjoy.

Nothing on TV (2012)

This is a Video II assignment where we have to use the three screen projections projection. I made this because I was mad at the way television was going back then. There was reality TV dominating the airwaves and various shows with negative messages telling us to succumb to negativity. Not only in live-action but animation too. The cartoons not only had that, but they were messed up in terms of their stories, carried eyesore character designs and carry out shock moments (i.e. the stuff that can make Scooby-Doo look like Sesame Street). It made me miss the old days, where there was none of that stuff. Kids would watch cartoons unattended with no worries from the parents (because there was no TV-PG rating).
This is my exercise in social commentary.

Enjoy.

Trash Chutte Trouble (2012)

For Film II class I was assigned to make a short 16mm color film that uses color. I was going to use color gels for experimentation. Here, I chose, red for rage, yellow for fear and blue for sadness. The class liked it.

Enjoy.

Ten Object Project (2012)

For this Animation II assignment, we had to use random objects, change them from one thing to another without the aid of digital effects. It has to be done practically. I sought advice from Flip Johnson and he told me to look at the films of Jan Svankmajer. I did and I researched some of the works of Al Jarnow (if I were you, I would look up the film CELESTIAL NAVIGATIONS THE SHORT FILMS OF AL JARNOW). After following the advice and research, I made it and it worked. This was shown in one of the Animation All School Shows and it was a hit. Enjoyable with a capital E! I hope you enjoy it.