videos, pictures, and text blog
1st year in Georgia
April 6, 2008
Sorry I haven't updated in a while. Things change when you work full-time. I've been recruited as a full-time graphic designer for a promising company for the past 6 months. Things are starting to settle in for me and I am finnnnallly starting to plan some long term creative goals TBA.
And what about the puppets you say?? Well, I tried out a halloween show this year for a b-day party. The puppets came out pretty cute. There's a blog and a dragon that I'll post when I get a chance. Unfortunately the camcorder died before the show so there's no footage. Also, I made puppets of my sister and now brother-in-law shawn for their wedding in October as part of my best man speak. Other than that, right now I'm concentrating on my job and what I can do on the internet. Planning is in the works. It'll start from a new site on babyspinach.com. Current content has already been prepared for the archive. That's at least what ive been planning over this past year! I'll post pictures soon of the previously mentioned puppets.
georgia spring and summer
Auguast 12, 2007
Hi all. It's been an enjoyable 6 months in georgia! I found a job as a preschool-kindergarten computer teacher where I've found myself wearing "many hats" as they say. As a computer teacher, i've gotten to make games, edit a graduation dvd, juggle, do magic and puppet shows in addition to the teaching aspect! I'm actually pretty disappointed with the amount of educational software out there that seems to have an effective impact. Since I do work full-time paying off my car and saving up for school, rent, food, etc.., it's been extremely difficult to create puppets and animation lately. a lot of times i come home, eat and fall right asleep. needless to say, these kids are draining! one day i will follow through and revamp babyspinach.com and make a much better polished puppet video project (when i save up enough funds). Today I found out that Nick Park, creator of Wallace and Gromit, spent 20,000 lbs on his college project "a grand day out." (that's roughly 40,000 dollars). Man I'd love to have that much money to work on a pilot again! who wouldn't?? just letting you know i'm continuing to dream and always will. Slowly I will save and create like so many artist seem to do.
back from india
February 24, 2007
Hey folks. I'm back from India and doing well. India was very beautiful and very crowded. Unfortunately I haven't been able to update my blog since my digital camera was stolen (among other things like my electric shaver, but i don't really need that to write a blog). people have such love in india and i'll never forget that. kind of reminds me of southern hospitality. so the first episode of the show and a few animations later, i decided it would be best to go home. i missed life in the US i'd hate to say, but i've been just drooling over even a multigrain bread, hummus, tofu, even a navel orange. i loved the food there, but never got used to the pace of life. i took for granted small things like watching movies in english, being in the woods, having a very comfy bed to sleep in. i'll always miss the people i worked with. just hope the show continues in production and hope it positively impacts the children of India the way we intended it. for now i anticipate a full time job to save up and help april with her student loans as soon as i am humanely able. speaking of which, we got engaged! and i even had a custom ring made for my sweet. here's to a new chapter in my life. lets make it a good one.
old city
December 2, 2006
Old city is a place where cars and people are like ants and bulls roam the street.
Video 6 of India
November 25, 2006
Test footage of puppets. pre-finished studio.
Videos 4 and 5 of India
November 24, 2006
All the videos have been re-editted shorter and true widescreen mode. These two videos have a little more of april and i in them than the previous two.
the show is underway with a few things to finish up such as the two new dog puppets. lots of practice is going on. i had a problem getting test footage off a camera, but will try to get a clip of what the show will be like up online soon if all goes well. lots of love to my family and friends. you are all missed.
Video 4. Mini Intro set test, puppet practice, and Music for the show.
Video 3 of India
November 9, 2006
Video 3. Garba Dancing and Monkeys. 8:35
Photos of Village Trip
November 8, 2006
Video 2 of India
November 8, 2006
Video 2. Farm and Puppet shopping. 9:26
Again?
November 7, 2006
So this time April and I are in the paper with the Sarabhai's. The "white kids" strike again!
April in the newspaper
November 4, 2006
This cameraman kept trying to take pictures of "the white kids" as my girlfriend April would say. Sure enough, here it is:
Video 1 of India
November 3, 2006
A day in India. 15:08 Click here
November 2, 2006 The set and all the puppets are done, except for the tree. The mechanics are worked out, but it needs paint, branches, and leaves. All the other puppets are done! We go clothes shopping for Golmol and Shakti over the next week. The first script is approved and we’ve been having workshops working with a monitor for on camera puppetry. Soon I will post pictures and video in the blog with description. September 9, 2006 I just finished reading “The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time” and the book is A. my favorite book of all time and B. made me fall in love with reading again. Thank you Mark Haddon. You’re a genious. April has been doing a lot of development work for the children’s show and I am almost finished working out the prototypes. Here’s where we are at with characters in the order of building: Golmol (chubby cheeks and pear shaped belly. Younger brother. ernie arm on one hand. Rod on the other. Jum Jum (small monkey based on monkeys in the streets of Ahmedabad) Rod hands. Shakti (means power. older sister. Wiser sibling) ernie arm on one hand. Rod on the other. Sunny TV (almost done making it) has eys that move up/down and left/right. Working out more prototypes the make the eyes move smoother and more natural. Banyan Tree has not been started. Off to DeComm where I make the puppets and others animate, do voice overs, shoot footage. September 22, 2006 3 plane rides, 4 airports, 2 layovers, 2 days of anti-malaria pills, and 30 hours in transit, April and I have arrived. The colors are vibrant from walls to skies, plants to bathroom lizards. My socks and sneakers are stored away indefinitely and I couldn’t be happier. All traffic, inches apart, no stop signs or lights, hold on tight. 90% of accidents are because of two wheelers. As I ride the back of a moped, Vasant zips through the streets. We stop at the doctor in a small studio sized room where he directed me for my typhoid shot. The smiling doctor gives a shot without a wink, rubs the spot saying “was that nice, no pain?” “Yes, no pain.” “Ah, there you go.” 300 rupees. 2 meals, acquainting the surroundings, and shopping for new threads, April and are off to bed. 
Making puppets
Good book. Puppet work.
Just arrived in Ahmedabad, India