Animated Mice

 

Clink on my illustration,

the link will show you the mice swimming.

 

 This is part of a payment for creating color designs for a possible animated series

I somehow found my self

 knee deep in  

14th Annual SCBWI Winter Conference 2013

My Mentor Patti Stren has always said: “It’s a Bunny eat Bunny world”.

And this Friday February 1st I am going right into the bunny den that’s right it’s the 2013 14th Annual SCBWI Winter Conference.

Three days of meeting others like me, who are trying to break into the business or become more successful at it; on Friday part of the program is having your portfolio reviewed by editors, publishers, agents … I spent most of 2012 with help from Patti finding a new voice and I’m hoping it will attracted new interest in my artwork, I also recruited help from a friend of mine Simone who is a very talented artist. We sat down together one Friday evening a couple of months back in the New York Public Library and put together my new portfolio it was an experience letting someone else take control and see things through their eyes .
    
But thanks to Simone I also put together a dummy picture book for them to see it was her encouragement that put the fire under my … to complete the book.

So I am now armed with my new portfolio, new postcards, I even have a new website. It’s all exciting and I am looking forward to giving the lowdown after it is all done.

Lost & Found

How often do you misplace something?

How many years later does it come back to find you?

Well it happened to me yesterday.

 On Valentine’s Day I sent out my email V-Day cards my mentor Patti Stren was one of them. She loved the little snail so much she asked me about the little guy, if there was a story?  I said yes and after talking about it she insist I re visit him and make it into a picture book. 

Okay I am now looking in an old sketch book were the little story has been sleeping and in the front of the sketch book is a card from Sandie Rosa; Sandie and I worked together many moons ago at equinox. We opened the new Columbus circle location together, she was the spa coordinator and I was one of the massage therapists.          

The sketch book is gift from her when she decided to leave, it was her way to say thank you for all my hard work. It came with this great jacket cover I added the Harley Davidson later it was from an old vest of mine that was falling apart.  

So of course I do a web search on Sandie, this is not the first time I try but in the past nothing ever came up. But this time I find a bunch of images and her acting credits I also find her actively working as an actor on

“The Electric Company” playing "Annie Scrambler".

WOW!!!

But sadly I cannot find anyway of contacting her (yes I tried Facebook) So Sandie if you bump into my blog I would love to hear from you.

Stephen

Academy Salute to John Hubley

On the evening of Monday October 10, I was sitting in the Academy Theater. Enjoying a salute to John Hubley animated films from (1914-1977)

What a treat! His work is inspirational.

John Canemaker did a fabulous job Hosting the event

John Canemaker, Emily Hubley, and Michael Sporn

program part 1

The Ragtime bear, par John Hubley by jedall

I did not have a ticket and the show was sold out. I just did not think I would need to order one in advance. I had it all planed out leave work by 6:00 get to the theater no later than 6:30 buy a ticket show starts at 7:00 Done! Easy, it was easy until I got an email from my friend Patti asking if I was going? Moreover, do I have a ticket because are friend Michael told her it looks like the show is filling up fast.

program part 2

(Spit take) Wha? Noooo!



program part 3



   Therefore, this is when I became concerned Patti suggested ordering a ticket now and pick it up at the theater. Good idea but I do not carry any credit cards with me, so I text my gal asked her if she would call and order it for me; was text back telling me that ticket sales for phone order closed at noon it was 3:00.


  She suggested I call Michael and see if he can be any help another quick email and Michael responded by giving me a phone # to call to see if they were sold out and he wished me luck. I called, They were, but said if I can get there early enough and get on the waiting list usually the first 15-20 people get in.

Now my day job is being a massage therapist I could not leave any earlier then 6:00 because of an appointment that finished up at 5:45 so…

I am feeling like I will not get in. Nevertheless, I go to the theater expecting a line out the door and 21 people on the waiting list, that is not the case no line at all I thought I was in the wrong building. Went to the ticket sales table asked if they had any available seats for sale for the show, they said no. However, do you want to be on the waiting list? I looked at the list only about 8-10 people on the list so I said “Why not!” then waited in the lobby. While waiting I saw Heidi Michael’s wife and my friend.
 Michael must of told her what I said to him she asked if I had any luck getting a ticket? I said no I am on a short waiting list. She said to me let me talk to Michael maybe he can pull a few strings (just so everyone knows it is really cool to be friends with one of the most powerful men in animation).

(BTW Heidi pulled the strings)

She went to talk to Michael I waited and then my ship came in a man went to the ticket table and said he had an extra ticket is there a waiting list? One of the women behind the table got up and started calling out the names on the list one by one she called and no one answered except one.

me in the second row taking to a very nice woman,
Heidi one row in front of me
and John Canemaker to the left of Heidi
and Michael taking the picture 

That's ME!

  I felt like Charley and that I just got “The Golden Ticket”, I pulled out my wallet to pay for the ticket he declined my money and told me to enjoy the show. Within a few minutes, someone is calling out my name Heidi is smiling at me as my escort led me to privet get together. I ate a little something and then went with the rest of the guest from the party into the theater before the rest of the ticket holders.
    Did I say how cool it is to know one of the most important men in animation?

More John Hubley Films Link
Micheal's splog link 1, Link 2