My Bitcoin Wedding

So I just got married to my longtime girlfriend in Iceland. She @RakelMusicbox and I @MdotStrange make up the smallest animated feature film studio in the world as we work together on my films. The wedding only cost $60 because we just did the little civil ceremony.

We both do our best to be socially conscious people so when the minister asked us to present the rings I said “We don’t have any rings, I just gave her bitcoin”  because that’s what I did.

Children die because of diamonds. There is no such thing as a “Blood Bitcoin",  so why would anyone want a diamond to represent their relationship?! Bitcoin represents positive change for the world and will actually increase in value unlike diamonds.

So if you're planning on getting married forego the rings and exchange bitcoin instead. It’s better for the world and we need some new traditions for this new world we’re building everyday. AND if you end up getting divorced no one knows how much bitcoin you have so they can’t take half unless you want to give it to them ^_^

If you're feeling generous and want to help support the smallest, bitcoin married, animated feature film studio in the world- you can do so below ^_^  Thanks!

1PcGwsvQ8fiwpb8iDTCDFiGJDpAxukYStE

I AM NIGHTMARE Production Diary # 13

So this month has a relatively low quota of 10 shots a day- I've been keeping up with the quota and things have been going reasonably well- I'm coming up to the halfway point of the film and its still on target to be completed by the end of October 2013

I'm going to have to figure out how I'm going to render the film very soon as I'd like to release a teaser trailer by the end of June OR I could cut the trailer together using the temp renders then once the trailer is edited I could just render the shots in the trailer? NOW that seems like a good idea ^_^

As I edit the film- I use the music that MadDashiell or myself have already created for the soundtrack or I'll whip up some new music on the spot if nothing seems to fit

Since I'm going to be able to complete this whole film in one year total- I have to start planning my next one- my goal is to make an entirely new animated feature film every year- I have a couple feature scripts lying around that I wrote but I'm not sure if I'm going to do one of those or something new- on my recent flight back from Iceland I outlined two different animated feature ideas AND I reworked a script I had already written entitled "God Lives Underwater"

So I going to have to have to choose one pretty soon and get to pre-production work on it- I've always admired how Osamu Tezuka used his characters like Astroboy as actors in his films- if I am Nightmare and its characters are well received I'm thinking of using some of the characters as actors in my next film-

So for the next film I have to choose between one of these

God Lives Underwater- my own retelling of the popular "good vs. evil" myth popularized by the Bible
Darksided- A full length film based on my Darksided animated shorts (goal would be to create the most nightmarish animated feature film ever)
(Title withheld)- a story/film I've been building on since 2007, its my "post apocalyptic" film which I look at like my magnum opus- I've been afraid to start on it because I don't think I'm good enough at 3d to do it yet
(Untitled monster samurai film)- another idea I've been throwing around for a few years now but I haven't found the narrative hooks to make it really strong in my mind yet- just have character/settings and the basic narrative BUT I haven't discovered the hooks, the really powerful twists or story elements that make me want to make it a reality just yet

So yeh I'm just grinding away on I AM NIGHTMARE whilst pushing forward on the next project

Self actualisation- The greatest challenge?

It seems to me after venturing away from my computers for a few weeks and talking to a number of living humans that the one of the biggest challenges in life once basic needs to survive and be healthy are taken care of is trying to figure out what you want to do-

It makes me think of Maslow's hierarchy of needs

It's that self-actualisation phase at the top that I'm talking about- its attempting to tackle that which brings out the "what do I want to do" panic in many of us.

I think this is where Joseph Campbell's "follow your bliss" is very handy because it is as simple as that-

What do you love to do? What can you not stop thinking about? What are you endlessly curious about? What challenge fascinates you? What can you stay up all night doing/thinking about? What makes you angry/frustrated/sad? What causes your passion to erupt?

I feel if your an artist or solo creative person you have to jump from the Safety phase to the Self actualisation phase AND THEN you get the belonging and esteem.

That's what makes it such a difficult path- unless you've achieved your individual potential you can't afford a family (if you want one)  and you don't really have time to be a part of any groups as you have to work away in your own little cave.

So its like your in the null zone for a long time wherein no one knows who you are, no one praises your work, you're probably making very little if any money with your art/creative work. You constantly doubt yourself and your choice with this path in life.

You think about giving up and maybe even killing yourself because your such a failure and a let down to those around you.

So if your on your loner path right now and feel like your in this dead zone just know that it comes with the territory- you just have to occupy your mind with progressive thoughts all the time- thoughts of moving forward- plans for the future- small steps you can achieve whilst moving towards your goal.

FUCK THE WORLD that judges and berates people based on how much money they make or what they don't own.

Look into the dividends market and futures trading- or watch this Ted Talk that touches on "black box trading" on Wall Street, or check out how the Federal Reserve scam works here in the U.S.

Once you look at those things you'll see trillions of dollars generated from nothing- making scores of people rich- you'll realize the status quo is based on complete bullshit. Being "rich" doesn't mean your smarter, a harder worker or a better person.

So if you're creating things that you LOVE and completing them you are a SUCCESS! I believe that to be happy in life you've got to achieve your INDIVIDUAL GOALS not the goals of the group that is manipulated by mass media which is in turn guided by the banksters.

Worship that higher force inside yourself that pushes you to create, help others and be happy.

This current monetary system WILL DIE in time- so please don't go dying with it!

Find a way to somehow survive and work to achieve your individual potential because when this big game is all over you'll be glad you did.

When you've created your own things you're never alone- and they'll live on making people smile, cry, or laugh- the money you've left to your beneficiaries can't do that and I'm pretty sure it doesn't help people not feel alone.

The Forever Alone Filmmaking Podcast now has its own youtube channel

All of the podcast episodes have been uploaded to youtube for your listening pleasure ^_^

We'll upload each new episode onto that channel so subscribe if you prefer the podcast in this format.

While I was in Iceland my lovely assistant Rakel did all the work- so thanks to her for making it so!

Now that I'm back we'll be recording some new episodes so you don't have to be totally alone while working in your crazy forever alone filmmaking projects ^_^

Back on the animating joB

So my two week break in Iceland is over and I'm back to animating I am Nightmare- If you don't relax every once in awhile your mind and body will break down- I have a hard time relaxing when I'm in close proximity to my workstation- So I have to go 5000 miles away from it to relax.

On the flight back I bombed my notebook with new ideas and creepy things

I even storyboarded some new little sequences for parts of I am Nightmare I already animated

And I fantasized about making toys of my characters from We are the strange and Heart String Marionette

I'm just about to go storyboard the shots that I'm going to animate this month- its the 4th sequence of the films 9 sequences- it ends at page 48 of the scripts 102 pages-

I'm pretty sure I can animate both the films 4th AND 5th sequences this month- that would take me to page 60 of the scripts 102 pages and over the hour mark of finished film-

I'll be back animating live on Ustream real soon so follow me on twitter @mdotstrange to be notified of when I'm doing that-

So yeh- I'm back on the job so expect updates, blog posts and all that starting again real soon!

I AM NIGHTMARE Production Diary #12

I just finished animating the third sequence of the films nine sequences- this sequence was 177 shots and I completed it in about 12 days for an average of about 15 shots animated per day

So now the rough cut of the film with these three finished sequences is about 45 minutes long

I was animating live on ustream for the past week- thanks to Jemilla, Dash, Dave and the few other peeps who stopped by to see what I was doing.

The last thing I animated was this scene with the town drunk named Flan- it was fun to do as the voice actor does a hilarious and awesome job so I was laughing the whole time ^_^ I was laughing but its a pretty dark and creepy scene

I'll be in Iceland for two weeks come tomorrow- so I won't be animating the film live on ustream for another two weeks- follow me on twitter @mdotstrange as that's where I post the ustream links when I'm working on there

So yeh just moving forward on the film enjoying the animation/filmmaking process! I really think yall are going to love these characters! The voice actors really did a great job making them come to life- as I'm animating I'm just trying to bring out the life they've created with their voices

So this is the first time I recorded all the final voice actors ahead of time- so this is my first acting centered film- I'm not trying to wow with style or cool looking shit- I'm just trying to tell my story and have my little actors performances take center stage-

I'm really excited about the results and I think this will be a big step forward for me as a storyteller and a filmmaker- I think it will also open up my world to a lot of people who wouldn't step into my previous more esoteric films out of fear of WTF is this shit-ness ^_^

So yeh I'm just backing up files so I can go kick it in Iceland for two weeks with my lovely assistant/girlfriend Rakel ^_^ She actually modeled a fair bit of the props in I AM NIGHTMARE- the bottles and stacks of sandwiches and stuff on the above images were modelled by her.

So production will be on hold for two weeks- then by the end of May the film will be at or past the one hour mark ^_^

Getting back in the flow

I took five days off animating last week to go to a film related event and when I got back I had a bad case of "IT'S SO HARD TO SIT STILL AND WORK ON THIS" I'm locked back in now after 3-4 days of struggling with the evil forces of procrastination-

I'll be starting work in a little while which you can watch me work live on Ustream

It got me thinking about taking time away from your passions- I took five days off and felt totally lost and confused as to what I was doing for a few days- I got out of the flow- that was five days-

What would it be like after five weeks? Or five months? Or five years? Or if you buy the big lie and only chase your passion once you've "retired" how bout fifty years? 0_0

The more time you are "away" from actually working towards your passion the further out of the flow you get- the more alien it seems- the more difficult it is to get started- so we need to chip away each day even if we can only draw a few pictures, write a few lines- whatever! Gotta keep it alive! Gotta stay in the flow!

I was planning to storyboard for those five days- but my pen exploded as I was storyboarding on the flight over and I never got back to it-

After pen SPLOSION on plane

If ya ask me- STORYBOARDING IS FILMMAKING- so if all you can do is storyboard you can still sharpen your skills as a filmmaker.

If you've been away from your work and it seems like you lost the connection to it- you've got to re-immerse yourself in the ideas/emotions/concepts/feelings that inspired you to start it in the first place- go back to its roots- for my new film thats reading the script and listening to the music from the soundtrack- I've been listening to the music that Mad Dashiell has made for the soundtrack whilst working and that's really helped me stay in the flow so thanks for making all the dope tracks bro!

If you recently pre-ordered the film I'll be mailing out the next batch of hand drawn postcards this week!

So if you've let yourself get out of the flow- fight to get back in! It might take some time but you'll get there.

Watch me work on I AM NIGHTMARE live!

As an experiment I'm going to be streaming my desktop as I animate I AM NIGHTMARE for the next week or so- you can watch it here on Ustream

I HIGHLY recommend you install ADBLOCK for your browser or else Ustream is annoying with all the ad's

I can't guarantee how entertaining/educational it will be- just trying new things.

In the future I plan to do live Q&A's where I'll turn my mic on and answer your live questions about all things cg filmmaking and M dot Strange.

Get your garbage thrash on with KOOL SKULL

So I've known this d00d online for years- his name is KOOL SKULL- he's a dope artist and his newest album is awesome- I just bought it and if yer into edgiest underground stuff from the streets of LA throw KOOL SKULL some dollars on his bandcamp.

The songs are dope and they appease my inner old skool hiphop/chiptune geek.

My favorite song is probably "Cold Pizza"



The hook is "Fuck everything I don't really care- I just wanna eat cold pizza and skateboard to nowhere" If you've ever seen the wastelands in downtown LA known as "Skid Row"- the box cities, the grime- this song really captures that- I imagine some young crazy d00d skatin through those areas with a gameboy in his pocket writin rhymes on street corners eating cold pizza.

"Cowboy Hat" features KOOL SKULL rappin in old skool BIG EGO style "I'm from LA and I'm cooler than you" 

The hook reminds me of the golden age of hiphop where the DJ would scratch on the choruses but instead of a DJ scratching KOOL SKULL rocks on some chiptune stuff with his Gameboy which I think is dope ^_^

Buy the album at his bandcamp page

KOOL SKULL is %100 original, %100 real and his stuff is dope so I support him- if you like these songs drop the man some dollars so he can get some more cold pizza and skateboard to nowhere.

I AM NIGHTMARE Production Diary #11

I just got back from Texas where I got to hang out with my friend and fellow forever alone filmmaker Jimmy ScreamerClauz- here's Jimmy and food poisoned me in some cafe (I ate a little too much Tex-Mex and ended up half dead for two days 0_o)

Jimmy ScreamerClauz and a sick M dot Strange

Thanks to our homie Josh for flying us out there! It was nice to take a 5 day break and geek out for a bit.

I just finished storyboarding sequence 3 of the films 9 sequences. This sequence is 177 shots and covers  14 pages of script. I'll have a 15 shot/day quota this month- I start animation tomorrow and I'll finish Sequence 3 on the 21st of this month.

First page of I AM NIGHTMARE sequence 3 storyboards and 2013 schedule

Since I'm able to crank out animation so fast I'll be able to release the film on Xmas 2013 with no problem whatsoever-

I'll be in Iceland to visit my girlfriend and lovely assistant April 22nd - May 8th we're also going to planning a live action/animated documentary we're going to do on an icelandic sailor who has the best real life stories I've ever heard. He's an amazing storyteller and has some awesome and hilarious true stories. So in the documentary I hope to capture the stories of an icelandic sailor travelling the world in the 1950's through animation.

 I'm going to do as Jimmy Screamerclauz suggested in the comments on this here blog and leave one PC on to render while I'm gone- and once I get back I'll just leave that one PC rendering 24/7 as one PC won't destroy the power bill like seven will.

There is another STRANGE production on the horizon as well- I wrote an animated sci-fi feature script in 2011 which I wouldn't be able to produce with my normal no budget means. So what I've decided to do is this....

The first 7 pages of the script is like a short film in itself and also sort of a standalone trailer for the full film. So I'm collaborating with a talented musician in Moon and Azure Shadow- whose album I posted about here in the past in which I did the album art for ya see- buy it here its dope!

Moon and Azure Shadow CD

So I gave him the script last week or so ago- he's going to create the music for the 7 page snippet which will lead to the creation of a 5-8 minute short animated film- once we have the finished short we'll release it for free online and launch a kickstarter campaign to fund the full feature film in which I'll hire other modelers, animators and artists to work on it- if it gets funded we go ahead with it- if it doesn't the standalone short film will still be something we'll be proud of.

So yeh lots more to come! I have to get started on the next solo animated feature film I'm going to do after I AM NIGHTMARE as well- so lots to do but I love the work so its fun times ^_^

Mega thanks to the people who recently pre-ordered I AM NIGHTMARE! You should have received your hand drawn postcards by now- I'll be prepping the next pre-order bonus download soon and it MIGHT be a teaser trailer ^_^ Ok I'm back to work!

New Rabbit Junk music video + making of