"Finish those tutorials."

"I thought you were a great teacher, what happened?"

"All kids do is take, so often without a word of thanks, after all these years, I am tired of giving for free."

"You receive popularity and fame as reward."

"That's not the kind of fame I want, I want people to look at my art, not just my tutorials. I don't make a living doing tutorials."

"You shouldn't look at yourself as poor, I think you have a lot of wealth in you, I want you to share this wealth, do it for me. I want you to finish those tutorials."

"oooookaaayyy...." (unwillingly.) 

"Kids (people) are blank sheets of paper, you have to lead by example to teach them how to be grateful for what they are receiving." 

"The true poor people are the people with wealth that they can't share with the world."

..... time to finish those animation related tutorial and manga tutorial part 2.... -_-b

"You know, compare to doing fanart, I think free tutorial is a better way to gain popularity."

"O_o that's... true. At least I am not borrowing anyone else's fame."

idol m@ster reminded me something important...

The newest season of Idol Master anime really gave me a lesson here being an artist or running a studio.

1. Producer's role: to discover the strength of each character and find jobs suitable to them. Every member is important, even the one that's sleeping can turn out to be a sparkling gem.

2. Producer's role: need to assign jobs, and public presentation that fits the talent.

In a way, this series is an artist handling 13 characters all and all, it's not a small number to write, or to handle at any point.

I took at look at how I handled my characters, I haven't been doing that. Not even to some of my best characters, I haven't found all of the best fitting model to present them. I need to start doing that. I also haven't given them the roles they will like most of the time. I haven't explored all aspect of what they can develop into. I need to make adjustments to the way I handle them.

For a moment I did feel convicted. (think: omg I made all the producer's beginner mistakes)


"Use your lowest of low to rise to the highest of high."
I felt that in later episodes, it was moving.


Family and unity: "When everyone is standing on the stage together to put up a good show, that's when I feel most like an idol."

For some reason that line also touched me.
I handle my characters like my family too, for they are the memories of what my family is about, it is my biggest joy to bring them to the readers/audience. Even if they are fictional characters.

I am suddenly reminded this is what I need to do as an author.

Forget marketing, forget trendy appeal for a moment here...
and find what's best to sell "my idols" to the public with what's available.
Each of them will have their own uniqueness to offer to different people, and I have to find what's best for them.

I am glad I realized it now, even if this show is under attack from the game fans, it has my appreciation as an author, it has certainly touched me deeply. 

My source of inspiration

I was thinking to make a post on DA journal to ask everyone about their root of inspiration for their art and story.

Usually, when someone asked me what is my inspiration for art, my answer is usually simple: Life.
Or some kind of research I have done...
I wanted it to be generic on purpose, to stay away from the big story I don't usually want to spend the time to describe.

A post on someone else's poll reminded me once again what part of my inspiration I don't talk about is...


Unfortunately when I was trying to describe mine for a DA journal topic starter, *thinking it would make a good forum topic...*
My source inspiration became too dark for me to feel comfortable sharing with the public on that art gallery site, where I had 6000 followers and up, so it is moved here, where most barely visit where I may monologue for as much as I desire. It is literally like opening up a diary that's smeared and burnt I guess.

My work, like many other's... is also an outlet to something painful to me as well. It's also where I might mourn about someone's loss of life, and I make my characters suffer through it, in term, perhaps make my readers suffer.

My experience may still be limited, but I have seen quite a bit of cases in my life...
from cancer patient dying in my home, a drunkard that never got out of his addiction and died....
to a bipolar schizophrenia patient that tried to kill herself in front of us... ex prostitute whose fate I do not know now because she married the wrong guy....

These all become part of my work, because they are not people others would remember, but through a fictional story, they might be remembered.

NOTE: a good portion of these people did turn into my characters, but other than a select few, they hardly share any relations appearance wise, its usually a portion of the traits that get picked up.
I will share about that in the future.... *have to wait for them to all show up first at least lol*


Of course there are miracles (unexplained good things) as well,
kidney shut down patient urinate and discharged out of the hospital two weeks after we prayed for them,
my family found our house which we live in now over my mother's directional dream, and my own vision.
 if only that type of miracles comes whenever we wish for it.

Those memory will probably stay with me for a while.
2Masters carried most of these, it is why it's a series that will be quite dark. (with my hopes and positive experience as well of course, hence the healing power of the Yehwehs)

E-depth is an experimental project overall, but I did ask a question "What if the lovable is the unlovable, the ones who need help don't want your help?" Through out the whole series that theme is repeated over, and over, and over, from Angel to Lien, Lien to Angel, and the conflict of the family and the brothers... etc.

As for Shenshu, I did it for my grandfather, who wished one of his children will carry on the love for calligraphy, but his forceful way of training did not forge any calligrapher in the family, but all his children are calligraphy lovers. In order for his dream to continue, a manga dedicated to calligraphy is my choice of medium, in honor of his passing. Tian Sung's father, is modeled after my uncle, who is also deceased.

 It's like I am remembering the dead when I talk about this part of my inspiration. 
This is another reason why I keep the same characters in different series. They are memoirs as well to me.

The other side of life to me is the definitions to the word "God"
God is life, and life is God.

All of its ups and downs, good and evil, love and hate, peace and chaos, time, and timelessness...
That seems like a picture of a well with limitless depth, a source of inspiration one can't get enough of.

CD Diary, carry the happiest of all my inspirations...
From my family holiday gathering, to random fun, or making fun of random things... or make a commentary/fan work on a song, a character, a story... etc. Or something to help me release my seasonal frustration...or desire to get out of boredom. Occasionally, my parent's influence slip in again and it turns all "therapist" like trying to resolve someone's problem. lol


Funny how my long series carry painful stuff and all my short stories are mostly the fond memories I have. =w= ha ha ha


This... in a nutshell, is what "life" is to me, my source of inspiration.

The art of animation

In reaction to this post: http://tompreston.deviantart.com/journal/Animation-techniques-and-more-Ghibli-thoughts-268085271

Well I don't feel like starting an argument right on his blog and take the next few days of my precious time on a pen war of any kind.



Let's just put it this way... this comes down to the argument of what is better animation by personal standards.


I disagree with his post about the lack of squash and stretch, HECK are you paying attention to the form changes in anime? They don't stretch their figures like Disney/Warner Bros and do all the exaggerated bounce doesn't mean they don't use it.
Using such exaggeration has a neck for comedy which is what Disney aimed for, it doesn't fit the series/drama anime usually tells. (Beauty doesn't bounce that much either compare to Donald Duck, she flows, twirl, use her head and her joints to show squash and stretch effect.)

Similarly, Japanese are using secondary action in the character's hair, clothing, and their exaggerated posture on push and pull to introduce the overall form of squash and stretch and the affects of weight. You can't look at different solutions the same way.
(Though I love how elastic American animation gets with their face. That's just awesome.)



The biggest argument would be timing issues... timing affects how many drawings you need in a second.
Let me argue about timing here...

Timing wise, there's two ways to appreciate timing:
1. Appreciate the timing of the acting in the consistent frame rate drawing (like Disney)
2. Appreciate the use of timing with limited animation, achieve more with less.


Animators in the US has this bias "more is better" and always want a lot of drawings for the feature film, like the Disney films. Because of the nice environment Hollywood has given them for the rich budgets and the what nots. (they sometimes try to achieve that with TV shows budget... not a great idea)

Japanese has the "less is more" bias instead.

Now after all these years of developments... I think USA still dominated the Feature film animations world wide, while Japanese dominated in TV series animation world wide. (judging by result of influence.)


Let's talk about TV series animation for now...
I argue that Japanese animation mastered the art of limited animation. That's why they flourished.

I don't want to talk about Miyazaki right now, why not look at K-on's animation? They won best animated series award in Japan after all.
Feature...
How about Cowboy bepop?
What about Tokyo Godfather? Akira?
What about FateStay Knight the movie? It's 60 frames per second in their animation. Crazy smooth.



Why is it everytime we are comparing animation its always Miyazaki vs Disney?
Is it even fair to compare? The budget and size of both are so drastically different. Miyazaki works with a class size of animators while Disney work with an army size!


I personally admire Japanese animators as the gods of timing in animation. 

Because of their limited budget, their limited environment, they come up with the most creative ways to satisfy their personal achievement and perfection. They can achieve making you believe animation is smooth with their timing until you pause their animation and look at it frame by frame and realized how many freaken short cuts they have taken. I find that the most amusing, and amazing.
They haven't stopped fooling me.

I have seen great American animators using timing like this in the earlier days, but Japanese pushed it to the extreme due to constantly solving budget issues against their perfectionism. 


(manga is exaggrated you can tell... but its believable he would do something like this during that era. lol)
Itano is one of my heroes!

For example, and eye blink animation, what the animation book taught me needed 4-5 drawings for a good blink, a good Japanese anime fooled me into thinking there's 4-5 drawings when there's only 3.

Why draw 5 drawings when you can do away with 3?

They are superb with timing, and in my opinion, it takes MUCH MORE skill in getting that kind of timing down and achieve it looking good than always drawing 12 frames per second.

And because of that limited use of animation, they can develop illustrative quality to go with it.
And don't call using 3D cheating.
WTH?
I mean WTH is with this trend of thinking that 3D is cheating?
3D opens up a new door to 2D animation freeing up the camera and allow us to control the budget more efficiently, allowing the film to be more dynamic.
And that's CHEATING?
WTBEEEP*
It's mixed medium at best. Dear, mixed medium in film.


If someone prefers the painted look, go look at Old man and the sea or something...
someone still does it, go into indy films and search, ok?

Don't go calling 3D cheating!

it takes just as much time to prepare 3D as 2D until you stock up 3D stocks file.
2D has its own way of cheating without the 3D as well.

In my opinion, Feature film american animators has too good of a life with the rich budgets, they have a tendency to over animate and over spend and not know how to save time with short cuts and what could have worked easier.

Acting wise I have liked both sides they have different takes on what is important, timing wise, it depends on what budget, what time frame, and what result and fan following they have generated.

Overall rating between USA and Japan, I think Japan won the best timing and the most resourceful on production management for me.


I end my case. 

After 23 auditions...tips for basic issues 4 online Voice actors

Recruiting for Cat's LadyStar anime project...

After 23 auditions... 3 for Devin Brook which i am still trying to figure out what it is and where it's from...
20 of those for LadyStar....

Thanks to everyone who recorded, spent their time and do work to the best of their ability, and those who took the time to put together a reel and such.

Now... I do have to say... 90% of these don't meet professional standard, but I do feel a good 10% did meet it, and another 20% of the people who auditioned have a good chance to be tweaked to professional standard.
Most are good for hobbyist and fun projects online, but can't work for professional recording quality. I do feel we need.... a tutorial.... just to make sure to bring up average audition levels... It is better than 2 years ago on average, but not yet to enough pro level work ratio.
It all has to do with sound knowledge.
As a VA at home, you MUST have the right set up, if you don't, your voice recording just isn't clean enough to be considered in a professional production. (its fine if it's for fun, just that no one will pay for it.)

GREG~~~~~~!!!! PLEASE MAKE A TUTORIAL! It will spare us from all the basic problems for start up productions. >.< I can't take it anymore~~~ OTL

OK... what I need people to do in the future.... as a favor for those who are listening... please please please:
(You can tell I'm going nuts here... pardon my tone, I am just going to vent it out)



1. Check your room tone:
An easy way to check for your room tone is to record your room without you speaking into it, then compare it to your recorded lines. (OUT LOUD on speakers on all highest volume setting! Not just your headphones! That's how we check if it passes for surround, professional production has to pass surround sound test.)

If you HEAR your room noise CLEARLY in the back drop against your voice, it's no pass, it's not clean enough.
If you hear slight room noise in your voice, but its not big.... perhaps we can tweak it a bit and try to cover it up. That's doable.
Do not, and I repeat.... DO NOT attempt to clean your lines yourself unless we want you to do it. It will change your voice quality if you don't know what you are doing or if you don't have the right tools. And there's issues with combining it with other voice actor's lines as well if their quality is slightly different from yours.

Make sure you can minimize any room noise to the minimum! If you simply don't have a quiet environment at home, please go to find a friend who has a studio or a school studio.


2. Clipping, peaking:
Basic problem NUMBER 2! The one I hear most! Everyone's peaking at yelling, louder lines. Yelling lines in anime doesn't mean "YELL" it means "express yelling." Your volume should not change! Study some anime for this, and watch it with volume up on speaker on their yelling sequence, and then compare to yours. You will notice their volume is still flat like any normal speech.

If you need to do an yelling line, do me a favor, record yourself yelling from a distance for practice, RECORD yourself. And STUDY your yelling, study the heck out of it, the expression of it.
Then FIGURE out how to say the exact same feeling without raising your volume in the official recording.


3. GET POP FILTERS!
This is a slightly more minor issues, but a lot of people have no pop filters, I know because plosives like P, B, T, S go crazy being breath into the mic. Get your pop filters if you want to get paid for doing this, or learn to eliminate your plosives and raise the quality of the recording. Some of you who have a strong voice might need double pop filters to do the job. Try to figure out what you need and get your suitable pop filter.

-----

With these three issues taken care of, so many more people can be considered into professional production.
It's a regret many auditions just fell through because of these basic issues not resolved.

I am not a voice actor I can't do this like you guys do, so for you who are interested in doing it, get serious, get the tools you need, and then you can get paid for it.

A leader must choose

A leader must choose not to act on insecurity - it hurts the team mates.
A leader must choose not to act on fear - it brings chaos and poor solutions 
A leader must choose to branch out- and not be satisfied with limited abilities ---- always
A leader must choose to dedicate and trust - so the team can complete the tasks most efficiently ----yep
A leader must always try to get feedback - it's tough to hear the truth and bear it, to improve performance
A leader must choose to care about teammate's well being over their own
A leader must sell, sell, sell their team's objectives and direction and get people to buy in
A leader must knock and kick doors open so others can proceed to enter 
A leader must provide for the need of the team
A leader must give credit where it's due --- done
A leader must challenge the team and push teammates further in skill level.   ---- starting
A leader must has consistency in personal expression and choice making ---- not sure....
A leader must prepare to let people go, and help them expand for their own dreams --- working on that
A leader must reward the good, and punish the bad 
A leader must be initiative, and be bold and careful about it
A leader must protect teammates when teammates come under attack
A leader needs to be well rounded --- heard about this.... but i need to know what "well rounded" mean in different situation, a person can't be best at everything.

Hight lighted areas are the areas i think i need to improve on...
Is there more?
9_9 i have a lot to level up in. Just a bit too much lol~ Oh God...HELP~~~!

Currently: Level....4 leader... I only fulfilled 4 out of my list.
Trying to level up in some of them... there's others I am completely.... sucking at right now.

Director's Anxiety

Since Roxanne is starting her game project, she starts to experience the Director's Anxiety. Yes I just made a name for it. lol

It's something I have gone through before, and still have it occasionally, the worry of "what if it fails? After all of these efforts? All of these time, all of the time of the teammates and everyone else who pour their souls and heart into the project?" 

For Roxie's game, it's a demo currently... maybe it will need 100 hours... for my Edepth anime, it's something that would take up at least 1000 hours of all of our combine efforts... it's that costly.

Eventually I got tired of worrying about the unknown, if it has not happened... it has not happened.
The good thing is... the US... or somewhere around the world, is big enough to accept our projects, someone, somewhere out there might like it. 2Master's short film, being where it was won us some money, I am sure the next one will do better because it's a lot more effort going into it.

As for effort...
Zeiva , Mirage, once mentioned how she felt about her games not doing as well as she wanted after working on it for 3 years... I do fully understand effort does not equal to success... I feel for her on that part...some of the most popular stuff out there are not things that took too much effort... it's about the trend.

However... it is also suggested by Fred from Frederator, who made many kids show possible: "Do something you love. Don't care about the times. You never can predict the trend 3 years later."

Doing this kind of stuff is just a risk. You never know. You can guess all you want but trends in popular media change every year or two... while some part of it is ever lasting similarity (like shonen shojo) others are completely up in the air... it's like stock market right now, unpredictable. So all that's left is just enjoy what you do... If I must dance in the rain, I might as well enjoy being soaked. It's the path I chose.
It's not like I haven't been soaked before... If my stuff is out there, I will get negative comments. I view them as a form of baptism. lol~ Being showered by the market itself.

It's not your friends cheering you on, it's not your mom saying "good job." it's not your family who support you... but it's a bunch of people nit-picking praising, loving, supporting, stealing, hating your work, tearing it up, ignoring or worshiping it, I have one thing to say:
Welcome to the real market, where everything goes.Welcome to the pro world, this is just a norm.

If my project is only good enough for a small handful of people to like it, that's where I am. I have to level up, push it farther. Or just stick with what I have.

If my project is good enough for a lot of people to like it, then it's a success, and we don't have to talk more about this anxiety. 


As for my team, everyone who put time into it... I have obligation to them to sell this project as much as I can, to do my best, exhaust all resources I can to push it out there. I may not have the best personality for it, but that's not an excuse for me to just make stuff and not promote.

I am doing everything I can... I hope I will be joined by my teammates in the future to help make the project a success.... as for how big of a success... we will have to wait and see.

For now, just making it happen is enough work for us.

Creative entertainment projects is a form of self-torture for others' enjoyment... one really have to be a little crazy to keep doing this.

Types of leaderships

I made two polls for the type of leadership that people may prefer, or the type of leadership flaws that drive people nuts.

Leadership style you prefer: http://mayshing.deviantart.com/journal/poll/2207040/

Leadership flaw that drives you nuts: http://mayshing.deviantart.com/journal/poll/2208412/



I listed all the types of Leaders I know and came across. (of course my polls might not be worded the best so the poll has certain level of bias, it's a good reference to me nevertheless. )
You are welcome to add/comment to my points so I may learn as well.


Usually, most leaders have several types of these personalities... one type is more dominant than others.




***

Truthful Leaders: Leaders who tell the truth like it is, no sugar coating, no lies, you can count on them to tell you what they think whether you like it or not.

Pros: You don't ever have to guess about this leader, clear on directions, determined, no bull shit, get things done. You can feel very motivated to do well under them.

Cons: When you get on the leader's bad side, you have it coming at you. They will not shelter you or hide any of your flaws for you, they tell it as it is when others asked.


***

Encouraging Leaders: They focus on making the team stay motivated, happy, when they criticize they word it nicely and stay on positive side. "What you did is good. Can you just add a bit more of this?"

Pros: You will often feel valued, happy, you will improve when the leader's standard is high, and structure is tight. Team atmosphere will stay harmonious.

Cons: If the leader focus too much on making people stay happy,  they might choose to let bad results through, or cover up for weak team mates they should fire, and hurt the whole project and eventually the whole team. In the cruel market, it's a deadly issue because the company can close down! This type of leader also doesn't like to deal with conflict and tend to avoid it, or let it drag on until it turns into a huge drama.



***


Mastery Leaders: Very strict leaders, they are not there to pat you on the back, they train you military style, meet the standard and you are in, if you can't make it you are out.

Pros: This type of leader usually really really know their stuff, they are experienced, skilled, and strict. They will make sure the project/team delivers the highest quality of standards. You will become an elite under their watch.

Cons: They are usually never satisfied, it's hard to please them, you tend to know what you did wrong, not what you did right. You can be doing endless revisions, or same tasks, practices until they think you get it.




***

Friendly Leaders: Letting people have a lot of room, loose on time line, loose on specifics, giving you all of the freedom to deal with your project. They trust you to complete on time and on your own.

Pros: If the team members are highly experienced, this kind of hands off leader can be great, they shield you from all the worries, provide for you, take care of your needs. You are mostly approved of anything you want to do.

Cons: Lack of direction, lacking of structure, people can lack respect to this type of leader. Most often they have a hidden standard, when the result isn't what they wanted, they will be upset, and you can feel like you wasted your time. Sometimes when drama happens, this type of leader would be ineffective.


***

My own preference: I prefer Encouraging and Friendly leaders, over Truthful and Mastery at times. I chose a Friendly leader for my thesis film, but I adore Truthful Leaders.
Mastery leaders I appreciate but rather not work under.


Now I reflect upon this, my own style of leading is actually more "Encourage" type, I rather be more truthful sometimes it can help, but I lack the guts to be so honest at all times.
The way I deal with my leadership style weakness is recruiting other types of leaders and work with them. They cover for my weakness.


***

If I was a publisher, this is what i would do...

Anyone is welcomed to steal this idea and use it. I don't have the power to execute it and I don't mind those who have it do it more.

中文翻譯

-------------------------

Build a manga hosting site, as powerful and permissive as DA, or spider forest, or SJ
(Some publishers who need quality control can have a submission process.)
Separate into doujinshi and professional work category, with needed sub categories.

Allow anyone to post on my site, allow anyone to view it freely when they sign up, allow those experienced creators to upload their resume so I can separate them from the normal crowd and give them bigger features. Allow the artists to customize their page.
Professionals who already published or (was under my publishing) shall be paid at minimum yearly wage, all of their bonus are from the fans, if they don't make enough money or get enough fandom, they will be moved to doujinshi section.

Implement my own micro-financing system on my site similar to flattr, and let the people put in real money from their account, or paypal.

Beside every artist's work, have that flatter button automatically posted as soon as their work is up.
Get merchandise company to buy in with ready merchandising to give people a reason to sign up and spend while they read the comics. Display merchandise related to the series they are reading for the professional section, for the doujinshi section, let the artist do their own business upload their own info, any money exchange will be charged a small percentage, like 3-5%. etc.

If their work is not flattred, an ad will be displayed to make up for the traffic cost, (to members and especially non-members) if their work is flattred beyond a point where it generates significant profit, ads can be eliminated to the members viewing. This will encourage fans to flattr their work.

Link recommendation of doujinshi with titles related to the original on display, and the original to the doujinshi.

Any non-original title will need to mark where their title is from, and the flattr button generated will fund the original artist instead. Violation or false reports will be removed. But allow the doujinshi artist to sell/advertise their work in physical form.

Allow translation groups to participate in the doujinshi section, and put in ads and link to the original work. Translation group will need to mark their work as translation, and the flattr on that title will go to the artist.


Let people know the artists will get money if they flattr the artist, if they don't flattr the artist the artist can loose interest or loose their job. (works like the magazine cut system)

Subscription will work if you promise return on more than just "reading the comics" such as merchandise, signature, discount on conventions or tickets to see the artists, etc.

For the fans who spend a significant amount, they should get special reward from merchandise or the artists themselves. (such as spending over 1000 USD on the site get a sketch signature mailed to them. etc)

This can work pretty well, I would imagine.

Translation of this article welcomed.

Rant on studying DC/Marvel's mainstream comic style

I watched the movie Green Lantern, and thought the story/setting of the world was quite awesome, and I wanted to do something about that kind of concept and practice this "American super hero comic style" at the same time for a short.

Upon drawing my pencil and start to study the style of paneling, figure, and drawing for the comic styling, I hit upon a few things that really really make me want to rant about in this style of drawings.... especially on women figures: (Male figures are fine I don't have a problem with them)

1. WTBEEEP is with all the red thick lips and giant boobs?! They are just CREEPY after you look at it for a while! Can these men not draw a woman LIKE a REGULAR woman not a porn star?! Can you not draw a "sharp eye- I will to eat you" woman for once or a girl without boobs not looking like a boy?

You know it's extremely hard even for me, a woman artist, to draw a woman who does not look like a Bitch in this sort of style. They just have to always tilt that eye corner upward, making her look sharper, hard cut chin/lines, extra thick lips.... you know... those are actually muscular designs. O_o They make a woman look not-so-feminine, . It does not hide the fact that they can't do subtle curves/expression on a woman. A real woman in cosplay looks better than these heroines, I swear.


2. WTBBEEEEP is with the lack of expression and acting here?! I surfed through a bunch of pages and even try googling to find more, all I find is something that look like it's copied off a magazine cover girl. Only those who studied Disney style or Anime actually show some different and more elegant expression apart from: Anger, serious, flirty/sexy, superficial sadness or some advertising smile.

May I suggest that some of those illustrators can learn to animate a bit? How about study some "micro-expressions?" How about actually get up and act out the scene and say the line?



I know American artists can do expression, apparently they aren't here in this main stream comic style, the concern to be accurate with figures outweighs the actual emotionally engaging acting.

3. WHAT's with the porn star get up all over the place and all the blonds?! Please do a better job with your fashion statement.

They do their figures, buildings, illustrative composition just about perfect, (not always comic page composition, mind you;)  but body gestures, fight design, fashion design, and expressions are FAIL for me on many levels from many many series... Occasionally there's these few artists who actually have these skills.

I have just found another reason WHY I am not into this super hero genre. WTBEEP! I have thought it was just the layout/ small lettering, but nooooo~ There was more reasons for me not to like this genre on the art side. I will stick to the movies.... -_-

Clover con report

I did very well from my local Clover Con, (I think I probably did the best out of all the artists because I was the only one doing portraits, kids wouldn't go for portraits unless they have friends and family, but their parents always want to get one, lol... it's a cheap con so I hope everyone made profit.)

The nicest thing is that they have waiters for artists/dealers who sat at the table and couldn't move to get out to get lunch. XD Only in small cons.... that was a niiiice touch. Though I had my own lunch and drink, I bought something anyway. The downside is it was in a gym without much air con so it was hot occasionally.

I am going back to it again, it's actually the first time I had to work with clients who doesn't even know that much anime, and it was quite interesting.

One girl couldn't tell link from Zelda, and another boy doesn't even know what chobits or k-on was... All they know were Pokemon and maybe.... mario and sonic?

Normal anime prints would not have done well there unless you are pokemon, sonic, zelda, all those Video game related stuff, or if you do portraits. XD

Story tellers can serve a higher purpose

Since the ancient times, entertainers such as storytellers, musicians, artists all have served a higher purpose than just entertaining people.
Many still perform those duties today... but some have moved away from that sense of purpose.
I would like to remind myself, and perhaps others with it.

Since the old times, stories are always meant to teach a lesson, promote a good value, record history, in order to securely build a culture where people who grow up with it can feel they belong to. Same with music, and its lyrics. Visual Arts wise... it's what gave people identity. (fashion, pottery, items)

While most of us remember this... some don't.

Therefore it is not good for some entertainers to forget that and think they are just entertaining people.
When people look to them, they dodge their responsibility by saying "Hey I am just an entertainer."
Like making an overly violent game with no positive messages in the end, and then say "hey, I'm just a game developer."
BULL****

I'm not against violence/sex/drugs as a tool for a good message, I use them ALL.
The world has violence/sex/drugs, we need to know/learn about it, covering it up doesn't make it go away, kids want to know about it, so it's better to talk about it, than to think they are all little angels shielded away from the world's dirtiness, no they are not. Be real about this, they want to grow up, into this world.
There are deviant entertainers who perform with contents that are questionable even to me, but they can reach an audience I can't reach, so if they can still be good leaders, I don't mind their rebellious contents.

I personally actually have gone the opposite way... making mature material with kids in mind. lol I have always pictured one of my reader is probably 9-11 year olds... even if I am making a story for adults. And it's true.... some of my readers appear to be that age, and they are so desensitized it doesn't bother them. (though that bothers me a bit.)

I support adult material, if they are sensible and make good messages. (past legends have no "ratings" its Rated E for everyone... with all the sick stuff in it anyway.)

While it's no good to just be a preacher, (leave that to the politicians/elders) our jobs as storytellers, entertainers, should be recognizing what role we are playing to the people who are watching us. We are potential moral role models. So it doesn't matter if the work is full of curses, or violence, or sex or bad things... its the end message that counts. However, I support ratings... so kids who want to peek in at least know what they are getting into.

All writers, comic artists, animators, film makers, musicians, actors, game developers are part of the storytelling team... if anyone's involved in these media reading this, I hope they understand the power that they have, the influence that they have over all their viewers/readers/audience.

Direction for my art. for the job market

Just a little mental note for myself.
I am learning about myself after adapting both cartoony, and concept art styles....
I knew I leaned toward it, but now i know for certain, after forcing myself trying out more cartoony thing things and other styles....

I learned that I prefer high realism, concept art that's super detailed, high fantasy or sci-fi for games today, or more painterly, traditional folk art style for children's book, more than American traditional cartoons. I like watching them, but I don't necessary enjoy working on them.


Saying this will certainly narrow my job prospect.
But since I am going into this field, might as well do what i prefer more,
other wise i might as well go work in super market or be an office assistant. 
I prefer having the challenge of illustrating high quality illustration.

I learned that I am naturally good at character illustration, but I hope to balance it with higher ability to illustrate environment, I also love designing high fantasy environments, making environments for people to enjoy, to play in.

I will be aiming to level up and work toward that area for my future portfolio.

I won't be attempting to do cartoons anymore, job wise. (probably go more illustrating and lay-outs, and animate just for anime style.)

New year plan

Jan:

1. Finish animatic for Edepth
2. Contact Taiwan printer, prepare vol 1 of each series to print
3. Finish pitch animation
4. Hunt for a steady part time job of any kind that I can bear with. ^^bb

Feb:

1. Books sent to print
2. Seon Background buildings model must be finished or I will have to take over and model it myself.... -_-
3. Start on Animation stills for the pitch

March
Hopefully book arrives and get ready to sell.
Work more on final animatic and manga itself

April:
Anime boston

That's about it so far.... Well.... IDEALLY that's what i would like to happen, but realistically, so far everything i have planned always push back for 1 month. Darn it.

Year end already huh

Ah poooo.... my animatic is not done like I hoped...... I don't like the fact i got so sick from seasonal flu. -__-b It totally put me out of business for a week. This year end is a whole lot of things I don't like.
Still recovering but I'm a lot better today.
And lately Complex has been helping me restore my site, due to our server getting hacked, all of the php application that uses MySQL went down with error. Good thing my comic pages aren't using MySQL.... if I was using Wordpress all my comics would be gone. 
2010 Year end events I hate:
1. getting sick
2. Site got hacked, all my forum, oekakis board, manga folder went down
3. My student loan payment flew to no where (glad now it's resolved)
4. More art thief dealing 
5. period came when i am sick
6. My left hand got tortured by a random stranger visiting our house. (he just grabbed it and start pressing on it saying he's massaging for me)

During my sickness:
I took the time to work more on the story for Edepth's... extended version. lol

Actually the extended version is probably enough to run it 3-5 more years until the anime finish.
I decided to use the opportunity to brush up on my mech, spaceship designing skill, not really aiming to be original, but more.... parody design approach. Just for the sake of learning.

I want to try something like Macross next but Macross style with spaceship transformation is just intimidating.

2010, i think it sums up as a year of regrets and great team work learning for me, there's a lot to be learned. I haven't really done serious job search (looking here and trying there) but already lost a lot of jobs opportunities either due to timing issues or money or negotiation issues. I'm also quite buried into my own work to be willing to give up too much of my time for another job. I guess this is one aspect of me that's not going to change, after all I sacrificed my memory of graduation of my favorite school for a chance at a pitch for my voice actor. (which didn't land anything but we tried)

The most wonderful thing about 2010 is I get to experience those who are my real teammates, supporting my vision and really willing to go all out for me, some went as far as investing not just time but also money. It really humbles me to have great teammates to support my work. I can't thank them enough for helping me.

Onemanga comment

Ooops, when did they changed reply mode? O_o On my own thread at Onemanga?
Did I do something wrong? I wonder.

OK I am moving my reply here just in case.

I am serious about not taking more freelance jobs even if the money is good, if it can not offer me job securities, then it's not really in my interest to take more than I can bear. On that note, I'm not lying about "Even if you give me money, I will not do it."

And even if the money is good, if it's a short term, I might have to consider how much time I actually have to do it. I might very well pass it to someone else I know who can handle it.
I have done it before.
That's how one works in this business, you don't say no to customers knocking your door, more for the sake of others than yourself, I might be involved in cases I pick up, but may very well not be the one doing it at this point in time with my life.

update plan changes

CD reports: In order to do enough 2Masters (the whole 25 volumes planned, 14 years of work at pro speed) before I die... and complete Edepth anime while it's manga is still going.

My update schedule changes as follows:

1. 2Masters will become priority- the goal will be to meet 20 pages per month and update twice, one time around the 20th, another chosen time is to be decided.

2. Edepth will turn into weekly update, on Sat or Sun, however, each time only 1-2 pages. Unlike before.

I will need 1 month to get this prepared to get it to work...

Shenfu test clip2

An experimental clip I completed while I was out over seas. (the bg will come later?)


I'm back.
Right now I have a terrible headache argh.

Mainly it's the financial situation I have that puts me on stress, I tried thinking like my mom suggests but it's too difficult for me right now. I believe this will be the last time I travel for a while unless I can figure out how to solve my debt problem.

I will call my card companies to ask for deferment and start job hunting soon. At this point I won't be picky, I just need a steady stream of income.

I will do the fun posts later when I recover more.

Entertainment biz is a hot date

Edepth updated: 109-113

Coming back from Robotech's marketer's Kevin McKeever "independent film panel" today from Animenext,
 I have a new found understanding about film/entertainment industry.

"This industry is built on the word, NO." - Kevin McKeever

"It's an industry everyone wants to get into, but not a lot of slots are open."

In another word,
Going into animation/film/entertainment biz is like dating a hot girl.

It's a sexy biz. Everyone wants that hot-chick, you have a lot of competition, and the girl saying "No" to you.
You have to relentlessly go after her, empty your wallet and try to get that date.

With no guarantee she will ever fall in low with you, but if she did, that's your dream come true.

=D

Animenext finally got its first power-guest this year, (congrat to animenext) the director of Ghost in the shell, but i didn't bother to go see that guy. I always hated the crazy fan crowds.

My summer...

Mine... so far pretty insane, booked, as usual. I knew it would come to this. u.u I am not even preparing anything for con this year except a panel i guess. (which i still haven't prepared for. lol)

Sketching for Winged One until page 70, start inking it, retouching some older pages to bring up quality

Need to read 2-3 books, Story by Robert Mckee, the bible of writers.

Out of Salt Shaker- mission trip requirement




360 degree leader work book- mission trip requirement and personal interest

June 11-12- a church retreat.

June 13, a graduation party for me so i better be there. X3
convention of Animenext June 18-20th
I am leaving country on June 23rd...

Hopefully I get to talk with a few important business people in Shanghai when I get there.
(gotta prepare E-depth for continuous update too during that time)

After returning in August 1st, take some rest, turn back time zone, continue Winged One, start a real job hunting. @_@b
Finish kickstarter fund rising project then.

Continue E-depth production, first publish the books in fall, then get back to Anime storyboard and bring it into completion by Jan 2011. (hopefully, if that didn't fly... probably finish the storyboard before Summer 2011 will be cool, then start animating and recruiting animators.)

That's my summer for now. Tongue