Some Very Disturbing News To Me- And It Involves You As Well.

I’ve just heard some reports about a deal that Google and Verizon are attempting to put together that will make it very difficult for you or I, ( and KaboingTV) to compete on a the Internet with huge companies and distribution platforms.

The reported Google-Verizon deal would allow giant corporations to control which websites load quickly and easily on the Internet and dump everyone else onto an Internet slow lane. This is exactly the kind of unequal playing field that Google itself has opposed in the past.

To Artists, Musicians, Filmmakers and all small businesses, the Internet has allowed us to have a fair shake at bringing our wares to an audience and buying public. That we can sidestep the big conglomo gatekeepers . This is driving them nuts. They want to be in control of what we produce. This move is similar to the Copyright bill that we have been fighting where only big business ( or those with the funds to pay the high fees) can legally copyright their own work. Now this is another attempt to give privilege and justice to those who have money to pay the  high fees, and those who don’t.

The Internet was founded on the principle that all data is equal—and that no corporation should be able to decide whose data goes faster or slower. It’s this principle, called Net Neutrality, that has made the Internet such an amazing platform for individual speech, democratic action, and entrepreneurial creativity.

I signed this petition to be sent to Google ( Whose motto is “Do No Evil” ) and tell them that this deal does just that.  If you feel strongly about this maybe you can too.

http://pol.moveon.org/google/?id=22383-7104424-7sjPD3x&t=4

As I polish up these two “Frog in a Suit” storyboards and get ready to start the animation on them, I keep getting visions of the book “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho in my head. I read it a couple of years ago, and it made quite an impression on me. ( I suppose more summer reading suggestions.)

I feel a lot like Santiago. We all have our “personal legend” that is discussed in the book. I am often amazed at the obstacles that are thrown my way along my path in order to gather my tools.And then the serendipitous happy surprises that happen. I constantly have thieves nipping at my heels all across the desert. I have been separated from my savings due to various degrees of consequences and paying for the “wreckage of my past” , but then helping hands come in and help me along. I trust it will work out as it should in the end.

I know this is getting a little cosmic, but I’m sharing my journey as I try and weave gold from frogs.

I was sad to see that Dennis Hopper had died over the weekend.

I always liked him as an actor ( I often joked that I wanted him to play Lilly Hopper’s dad in Frog in a Suit.) and he was quite a patron of the arts, as well as a photographer and sculptor himself.

A little crazy, which is maybe why I related with him as well.

He came into Cartoon Network once to do a voice on Kenny Scharf’s “pilot’ of the Groovinians ( Anyone see that? I think CN aired it once.) Anyway, at recording sessions for Lazlo, whenever we needed a pick me up, the engineer would put up the outtakes from the Dennis Hopper session where he and the director did not see ‘eye to eye’. ( Thats a polite way to say it.) on the way to read the lines.

I know he had this lingering cancer battle and he probably is in a better place. But I’m gonna miss him.

Well, Happy May Day all.

Life in a pledge drive, while maintaining my artist self is becoming quite a challenge. Although it seems to go with the territory, I’m not prone to salesmanship. I’m more of “Attraction rather than Promotion” kind of guy.

I feel a need to clarify a few things that have been said on other web sites about this KaboingTV project.

I  am not leading a charge on this to keep Networks from telling us what to do. When you enter into an agreement with a Network, or any business that invests in your project, there will be a professional give and take to find a compromise between your artistic vision, and the needs of the Network or studio investing in your creation. For the most part, I had a good experience doing that, ( although Nickelodeon did change the demographics they were aiming at, and wanted Rocko to change too, but thats I why I decided to call it quits. I was proud of the Rocko episodes I produced up to that point.)  But I do take issue with many practices of the huge conglom-o’s, and how artistic talent is often treated.  If you choose to go this route, you just have to realize what you are in for. There is a trade off.

My goal with Kaboing TV is merely to offer an alternative platform  for animators and creators to take their creations directly to the audience, and not have them owned by a huge corporate Giant all with “Rights covering the whole universe” ( an actual line from the contract. No lie).  Very simple.

Nothing wrong with choosing to go with selling your rights ( including the universe) as long as you know what you are trading off.

Happy Earth Day!

It’s interesting to watch the creators of other shows, ( and myself) in the journeys they take following a series. It’s funny in a way. The entertainment industry doesn’t quite know what to do with them if they don’t have another show. If you have a friend who has their own show, maybe  a former creator can work on it or help produce it, but most new creators of new shows don’t want the creator of a former show working on their show. It’s a control issue, or wanting it to be fresh without the influence of a previous show.

It’s sad, because there is a lot of wisdom that show creators can pass along to help any production.

It’s a little different for me since I never really felt like a complete member of the animation group in LA.( not in a better way, only different.)  I’ve only had my own shows, and came in from the independent film community. But I’ve seen those who have worked up through the ranks as loyal artists on other shows, then get their own show, and then have trouble finding work after their own show is over.

I’m not mentioning any names, but it’s just a part of the business that most don’t think about. It doesn’t help that the economy has limited the amount of overall jobs right now. And I know there are many creators who have still gone on to new things. It’s just a very youth oriented business with a high “burn em up” attitude.

Yup. Some of the other creators and myself have often joked around that we should have our own support group. Probably would be helpful.

Sometimes I never know why I’m feeling down, and then I remember a certain date. Today was the birthday of my wife Diane who committed suicide in 1992. I think about her a lot. I wonder how my life would have been different had she lived. What she would think about what I’ve done since her passing. Anyway, Happy Birthday to her.

Sorry for the downer post. Just saying what I’m feeling.

Sometimes it’s hard to post. How much do I want others to be aware of the demons that sometimes play in my head? I like to post on days I feel upbeat and optimistic, but then there are many days when I realize sometimes the years have beaten the optimism out of me. I’m still trying to raise my two daughters, and deal with the wreckage of a past marriage. But also be a positive light and give back to animation all that it has given me. But sometimes that is passing on the torch when I feel I’m growing tired of the marathon. Giving a few tips for others to carry on

When will it get easier? I don’t think life is about easier. I just want to make stories and characters, and the episodes and films in which they live. That’s a privilege. But I also need to support my kids, and uphold my obligations.

I’m tired.

So, Sgt. Enrique Mireles of the US Army stationed in Hawaii suddenly sends me an email after writing back and forth, that there is a package on the way, and to be careful. It’s a Hawaiian War Club.

I was a little puzzled by this email. But yesterday I picked up this package and almost cut myself on the sharks teeth ( yes real) that surround it. I was very touched by it. I’m assuming its for my USO work, or maybe just the great correspondence I get and return with members of our armed forces. It has a two very cool Army medallions  inlaid in it.

Sgt. Mireles is about to ship out on his third tour of duty in Iraq. He described what his new job will be, and all I have to say is , he must be an amazingly strong soldier to receive such orders.

My prayers are with him and his family. He promises to keep me posted. And thanks for the awesome war club. I will cherish it!