Once I finished the cartoon, of course I had to find an audience, however small. And so I post FLiP's first ever editorial cartoon. Hopefully it makes you laugh (unless you're part of the problem, then by all means gnash your teeth in ire).
-Steve
Once I finished the cartoon, of course I had to find an audience, however small. And so I post FLiP's first ever editorial cartoon. Hopefully it makes you laugh (unless you're part of the problem, then by all means gnash your teeth in ire).
-Steve
Reading that Tony Bennett has Alzheimer's Disease turned my thoughts to Long Beach, where I saw him perform one year ago today. I had seen him twice before at the Hollywood Bowl, in 1993 and 1995. He was getting up in age back then, so I was surprised to find he was still at it and jumped at the chance to see him for what would likely be the last time.
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Tony Bennett and his band at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach, February 2, 2020 |
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Worms composting. If you stare at this image long enough, you will see the pouting face of Donald Trump. |
I can think of no better way to personally commemorate the end of Donald Trump's presidency than to write about worms and their poo. Last summer, I sought to buy a composter for my vegetable garden. While looking online, I discovered worm composting.
It seemed simple enough:
1. Put worms in a bin of garbage.
2. Worms eat garbage.
3. Worms excrete castings as compost.
After much browsing, I bought a 'worm hotel' - a series of stackable tray bins with mesh bottoms which I furnished NOT with casting couches, but with garbage and shredded paper. One hundred hotel guests arrived by mail in a sack from Uncle Jim's Worm Farm in Pennsylvania. I made a little sign, "The Wiggle Inn", and waited for compost to happen.
Kirk Wise is back with a new feature, Bobbleheads: The Movie. In FLiP's first ever podcast, he talks about his long journey from Atlantis to a series of dead end projects, a long sabbatical, and return. Oh, and Cher. He talks about Cher.
Here's a trailer for the film, streaming now on Netflix.
What sudden and sad news to hear of Alex Trebek's passing. There have been new episodes of Jeopardy! running daily, with no sign that his death was imminent. Reading the news reminded me of the 30 seconds we spent together in London. I warn you - this story does not have a good ending.
In June of 1993, I was directing the ill-fated Betty Boop movie for MGM. I was sent to London with producers Leslie Hough and Steve Leiva to meet with John Leatherbarrow from Premier Films, the studio that would potentially do a large chunk of the animation. In fact, it was from this meeting that Premier would later work on Space Jam - but I digress.
Steve Leiva insisted we stay at the very ritzy Hyde Park Hotel, across the street from the famous Harrod's department store. This place was waaay too swanky for this South Jersey kid. I never needed a maid to pull down a bed sheet for me, it's really not that complicated. But the chocolates left on the pillows were nice, so long as you noticed before plopping down on the bed.
The Hyde Park Hotel is an old, historic place, used as a hospital during the World War II bombings of London. It has tiny elevators that fit four people snugly. I was in one such tiny elevator with another hotel guest when it stopped and the doors opened to reveal a moustachioed Alex Trebek. He took two steps directly toward me, then rotated around and pushed the button for the ground floor. The other hotel guest spoke to him, and he said here was in town for the Wimbledon tennis championships.
For 30 seconds, I had a very close up view of the back of Alex Trebek's head. I could only think, "Don't sneeze, Steve. Whatever you do. Don't sneeze!" At last the doors opened. Alex walked out, through the lobby, and into the streets of London - our paths never to cross again. I told you the story didn't have a good ending.
Thinking about it now, I saw more of the back of Alex's head that day than has been shown in 36 years of his hosting Jeopardy! I consider that my special privilege.
Jeopardy riddle -
Answer: An expression of good wishes to a person starting a journey.
Question: What is Godspeed, Alex?
-Steve
Anxiously await election results? I am. Meanwhile, this old commercial got stuck in my head, now it's in yours too. Only Chocodiles can save us now.
I have vivid memories of being teased for being 'the kid' at work, like it was just a few years ago. But through my own lack of vigilance, time accelerated 36 years into the future, slip-sliding to the year 2020. 2020! When I was starting out in animation, sci-fi movies portrayed the year 2020 as a dystopian future where the environment is ruined by man's greedy industrial pursuits and chaos rules - like that could come to pass.
Since moving back to Los Angeles after thirteen years on the east coast, I have been living in my own, personal Back to the Future sequel. Everything is the same, but different. Landmarks I once used for directions are gone. Downtown LA is barely recognizable. And no more Mo's, Billy's Deli, or World Art Supply.
Recently, I crossed the threshold where friends and colleagues die, and not by accident. Two passed this summer - Kelly Asbury and Sue Nichols. I attended a memorial service for Kelly last month. Arriving late, I sat in the back of the outdoor venue. I saw the backs of a lot of older people in masks, then realized - these are my peers! They appeared to wearing age makeup to appear older, except they weren't. I just had not seen them in 20 years. The Back to the Future Effect strikes again.
After the service, we all said our hello's through masks and distance. They seemed to be experiencing the Back to the Future Effect themselves. Standing there with former CalArts classmates Chris Sanders, Gary Trousdale, and Jeff DeGrandis, we talked about the incredulous reality of aging. "Consider this," I said, "If we juxtaposed our career timelines over Frank and Ollie's, we'd be at Aristocats."
That comment was met with groans, gasps, and cartoon takes. None of us feels like we're anywhere near the twilight of our careers. Our skills are the sharpest ever, and our resumes speak to the solid experience we bring any production. But the reality of how we are perceived by the industry cannot be denied. I've met many recruiters and executives since returning from New Jersey, all much younger than me, all fascinated to meet someone who actually worked on A Goofy Movie. It's like they are surprised I'm still at it, still hustling for work at my age. It might be a different story if storyboard artists and animators got residuals like voice actors, but alas....
Where are you on the Frank and Ollie timeline? If you're at Pinocchio, you may want to consider fighting for those residuals. It's a fight that has been fought before, but never with the number of artists that animation has today. David's odds against Goliath are the best they've ever been. But do it soon, the Frank and Ollie timeline moves fast! Once you've reached The Sword in the Stone, the industry doesn't take you seriously anymore.
Steve
FLiP wishes Chris a most speedy recovery.
Animation lost another great artist yesterday, as Sue Nichols lost her life after a long battle with cancer. FLiP posted about her fight back in March of 2015, ten months after cancer took my wife, Donna. And though we weren't close, I really, REALLY wanted Sue to make it. Medical justice, I guess.
Sue worked in story and development on a heap of features, from Beauty and the Beast to Princess and the Frog, and most recently, Ugly Dolls. I knew her from our student days at CalArts where she was best friends with Brenda Chapman, a friendship that lasted until the day she died. Often, if I ran into Brenda somewhere, Sue was with her. She had a big bright smile and taste for twisted humor. At CalArts, she was responsible for creating a series of haunted house mazes in good ol' A-113. I experienced one of these mazes first hand, and I can attest to their brilliance. There's a FLiP post about it from back in 2012 that is a worthy tribute to Sue. Click here to check it out.
So long, Sue!
-Steve
Harold Rees is the father of my longtime friend and animation colleague Jerry Rees. Over the past 35 years, I have seen Mr. Rees at Jerry's house on many occasions. I've also seen many of his handmade instruments - violins, violas, banjos, and ukuleles. After one such visit to Jerry's with my wife Donna, she commented on the incredible craftsmanship in Mr Rees' work. I confessed to her that I had always wanted to buy one of his ukuleles but was afraid to ask.
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Top row: Kevin Lima, Steve Moore, Chris Bailey, Fred Cline. Middle row: Kirk Wise, Dan Jeup, Rob Minkoff, Wendell Luebbe. Bottom row: Tim Hauser, Butch Hartman. |
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CalArts dorm, July 1984. From left: Mark Rouse, Kirk Wise (white shirt), Butch Hartman, Steve Moore, and Kelly Asbury. Photo by Kevin Lima |
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Thorfinn, aka Richard Morgan - the nicest viking indeed. |
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Kelly at the "Nightmare Before Christmas" wrap party. To his right, Allison Abbate dances with Joe Ranft. |