firday was like a special highlight in this UK trip.
i wake up 8:15am in the morning and take the train to manchester piccadily station at 9:38am
i arrive manchester at 1:00pm and i took the metrolink the tram to navigation road, where i walk 20 minutes to hot animation, which is the studio that i am going to visit!!
Liz Whitaker - the director of bob the builder and pingu, she is super nice to me.
she start showing me every part of the studio, and explaining to me the whole production process of the two series, starting from story creation, scripting writing, lip sync breakdown....etc.
she took me to all the studio space and introduce me to all the sets, props and puppets of bob the builder and pingu, not that i can see the puppets, she let me touch them and feel all the joints and skeleton of all the puppets!! I GET TO SEE HOW THE ANIMATORS WORK, and i get to ask them very practical and technical questions and that is very good for me as i can really learn something from it!! they are so organize to all the puppets, all the different animation movement cycles are all put together in a very organized way!!
the studio space is huge and there are around 75 people working there. i get to see all their cameras and motion control rigs which is also memorable. i have wrote down a lot of questions for Liz and she systematically answer all of them which is fantastic!!
i have prepared a lot for this visit really, i bought a bob the builder dvd and a pingue dvd for her to sign...and of course the big animadrid book that I am going to send you one robbie!! i also gave her my films and also some souvenirs from Hong Kong of couse!! i am glad that my mum picked out some gifts for me to bring here as they are all given out to some very nice people that i met during this trip!
Liz told me about her background, that she start from art school doing painting, then did a 3 years course in animation. and from there, she has always been working, starting from making models to props, fashion models and animation. she worked in holland for a year and then she was employed full time in this hot animation studio as a full time director! She has been animating for 18 years now!!
oh, and one of the interesting places that she showed me was the sound department, they do all their sounds inhouse and guess how many people are working there.....just two girls, and they are doing all the foley, sound editing, dialogue recording, sound design, and temp mix, their gear is top notch, they are using pro tools HD and got a mixing console and all that!! you really should check them out next time when you are in Manchester really!!
and i was telling Liz how there are no claymation or stop motion animation in asia and that is good for them because Asia don't have the talents yet to do it, so they are pretty much save from the whole globalization trend where all the massive production are brought to the international factory - China! and i got a feeling that all the animators there are very hands on and dont really like 3d or computer graphics animations...haha!!
Liz spend 3 hours to give me this grand tour and she said she dont usually give people a tour, and usually a producer would do it, so that was really my special privilege!! and I am very thankful for that.
i leave their studio at 5pm, rush it back to the train station and have my 2 hours train ride back to london....after the whole day....
i was just completely smashed!!
Saturday, October 14, 2006
reply to Joanna Quinn
HI Joanna,
great to hear from you!!
you know, that night at the ANIMADRID awards ceremony, i really want to come and talk to you but you were already surrounded by so many people~....and then i missed you .... haha... i must come back to UK as it's such a beautiful place and of course Wales!! I really want to be like you...being able to work around the world, that must be so exciting for you!!
i would love you to have a copy of all my two shortfilms as i would love to hear your feedbacks!!
I am still very green the world of animation and i would love to talk to you more about it if we have a chance.
oh, and one more thing, is there any chance that I could get a hold of your films for my own watching? can I purchase it from somewhere? please let me know as your films really blows my mind, i instantly fell in love with them and I want to watch it over and over again to learn from it~
it is such an honour for my film to be in the same screening program with you really!
anyway, looking forward to hear from you!
got to go grab a bite and then i am going to the british museum~~
cheers
Thomas
reply from Joanna Quinn
Hi Thomas
Sorry not to have replied sooner...I have been away from my computer! I was very sorry to have missed you because I would have loved to have had a chat.I loved your film and when I was watching it I was hoping you were at thefestival so I could meet you! What a loevly person you must be.
I wasn't at the festival much either because I was teaching in a collage inMadrid all week! I'm back now but going to Ireland tomorrow, so I'm sadly going to miss you! I do remember you in the lobby at the hotel but I didn'tknow who you were...I
should have asked but it's always a bit embarrassingin case you say you made a film that I haven't seen and vice versa and thenit goes all quiet...especially as I hadn't seen most of the films!
I hope you had a good time in Europe and sorry you never saw the greenmountains of Wales. You'll have to come again!
All the best
Joanna
Sorry not to have replied sooner...I have been away from my computer! I was very sorry to have missed you because I would have loved to have had a chat.I loved your film and when I was watching it I was hoping you were at thefestival so I could meet you! What a loevly person you must be.
I wasn't at the festival much either because I was teaching in a collage inMadrid all week! I'm back now but going to Ireland tomorrow, so I'm sadly going to miss you! I do remember you in the lobby at the hotel but I didn'tknow who you were...I
should have asked but it's always a bit embarrassingin case you say you made a film that I haven't seen and vice versa and thenit goes all quiet...especially as I hadn't seen most of the films!
I hope you had a good time in Europe and sorry you never saw the greenmountains of Wales. You'll have to come again!
All the best
Joanna
Friday, October 13, 2006
Manchester, here I come!
i will be spending my whole day in manchester tomorrow (13-10) friday
so, unless i got access to internet there, there will not be any post tomorrow¬
so, unless i got access to internet there, there will not be any post tomorrow¬
SOHO is fuckin awesome!!
today, after meeting with future shorts about the contract stuff...(i still havent had lunch yet)....and i went to rushes post production to have a grand tour!! nickki showed me the whole studio inside and out...and she end up introducing me to one of the guys at the rushes studio that does motion capture....i've spend roughly 2 hours in their studio just keep asking question in regards to motion control working in london and other stuffs!!
it was really a dream comes true when he lets me direct him for a test with the motion control rig, which i suggested doing a 180 degree overhead pan with this hair gel bottle....WOW...that made my day really...while i was seeing the whole motion camera rig moves...when the little motors are moving up and down, camera rotating, tilting, panning.......tears coming out of my eyes and i was really really happy at that moment!! i just couldnt stop smiling all the way!!
oh...and guess what, i 've managed to grab all the digibeta tapes that we submitted for submission, so that could save us a few bucks of doing some more dubs in the future!! Nickki said...i am probably the best filmmaker that actually came all over to london to collect the master tapes...haha!!
what i might do now....is grab a bite, no.....actually i will award myself with a nice dinner, then go back to sleep earlier to prepare for my manchester trip tomorrow morning!!
until next time
it was really a dream comes true when he lets me direct him for a test with the motion control rig, which i suggested doing a 180 degree overhead pan with this hair gel bottle....WOW...that made my day really...while i was seeing the whole motion camera rig moves...when the little motors are moving up and down, camera rotating, tilting, panning.......tears coming out of my eyes and i was really really happy at that moment!! i just couldnt stop smiling all the way!!
oh...and guess what, i 've managed to grab all the digibeta tapes that we submitted for submission, so that could save us a few bucks of doing some more dubs in the future!! Nickki said...i am probably the best filmmaker that actually came all over to london to collect the master tapes...haha!!
what i might do now....is grab a bite, no.....actually i will award myself with a nice dinner, then go back to sleep earlier to prepare for my manchester trip tomorrow morning!!
until next time
Thursday, October 12, 2006
email to tim hope
hi there,
how are you going?? hope everything is fine on your side!!
my name is Thomas Leung and I am an animator from Hong Kong, and now, i am just travelling in london for holiday and I was just wondering if i could meet one of your directors - Tim Hope?
I have been watching his works for a very long time and i really really loved it and always give me inspirations!! I was wondering if you could kindly forward this email to him to see if we could meet?
I am going to manchester tomorrow but will come back on the same day! I am going back to Hong Kong monday night. (16th oct)
really looking forward to hear from you!!
cheers
Thomas
how are you going?? hope everything is fine on your side!!
my name is Thomas Leung and I am an animator from Hong Kong, and now, i am just travelling in london for holiday and I was just wondering if i could meet one of your directors - Tim Hope?
I have been watching his works for a very long time and i really really loved it and always give me inspirations!! I was wondering if you could kindly forward this email to him to see if we could meet?
I am going to manchester tomorrow but will come back on the same day! I am going back to Hong Kong monday night. (16th oct)
really looking forward to hear from you!!
cheers
Thomas
meeting with the disbtibution company
I 've just had a nice meeting with Luke, who is the guy responsible for my distribution contract and he is very nice!
What i have clarified from talking to him is that they have their own theatrical network around the world, and they organizes regular screenings (in cinemas), which i think is very good for reaching a wide amount of audience.
in terms of the rights, they do not submit film to film festivals, so i can still do all these myself. And that means for theatrical rights, that would be non - exclusive. For rights on other mediums like tv stations...internet...etc...they are asking for exclusive rights on that, just so that its easier for them to keep track of all the distribution rights. For me that sounds reasonable. it is tough when my films are being distributed to tv stations with a few distributors and that might get a bit crazy.
For the sales (revenues generated), they will take certain amount (which cap between 200 - 150 pounds) and then for the remaining, they will spilt 50 % with me. Apart from the initial delivery of the masters, i don't have to pay for any of the future expenses like tapes and dub, and they will do all that for me. that sounds very good to me.
To clear the rights, they will send me a template and i might get you guys to sign it so that it is more official and will make the lawyers happy.
after meeting with them, i feel very good about it because i wont be able to send my films to all these mediums and i think they can really help out. the amount that they take from the revenue is reasonable considering all the cost that are needed (it's so expensive when making digiBeta dubs)
i 've also asked them what will happen in the future when i have signed the contract, is that whenever a tv station / company that wants to show my films. put my film in their dvds / broadcast, i will put them in contact with future shorts and they will sort it all out for me. It's like i have my own sales representative! pretty cool!
what's next is that i will get the release forms and get them all signed by you guys, and then i will contact them to draft a final contract for me and then we can get the ball rolling. So, don't worry, i didn't rush and sign anything, not yet!!
going to manchester tomorrow and meet the director of Bob the builder tomorrow, bought the dvd at HMV yesterday and i am so excited!!!
What i have clarified from talking to him is that they have their own theatrical network around the world, and they organizes regular screenings (in cinemas), which i think is very good for reaching a wide amount of audience.
in terms of the rights, they do not submit film to film festivals, so i can still do all these myself. And that means for theatrical rights, that would be non - exclusive. For rights on other mediums like tv stations...internet...etc...they are asking for exclusive rights on that, just so that its easier for them to keep track of all the distribution rights. For me that sounds reasonable. it is tough when my films are being distributed to tv stations with a few distributors and that might get a bit crazy.
For the sales (revenues generated), they will take certain amount (which cap between 200 - 150 pounds) and then for the remaining, they will spilt 50 % with me. Apart from the initial delivery of the masters, i don't have to pay for any of the future expenses like tapes and dub, and they will do all that for me. that sounds very good to me.
To clear the rights, they will send me a template and i might get you guys to sign it so that it is more official and will make the lawyers happy.
after meeting with them, i feel very good about it because i wont be able to send my films to all these mediums and i think they can really help out. the amount that they take from the revenue is reasonable considering all the cost that are needed (it's so expensive when making digiBeta dubs)
i 've also asked them what will happen in the future when i have signed the contract, is that whenever a tv station / company that wants to show my films. put my film in their dvds / broadcast, i will put them in contact with future shorts and they will sort it all out for me. It's like i have my own sales representative! pretty cool!
what's next is that i will get the release forms and get them all signed by you guys, and then i will contact them to draft a final contract for me and then we can get the ball rolling. So, don't worry, i didn't rush and sign anything, not yet!!
going to manchester tomorrow and meet the director of Bob the builder tomorrow, bought the dvd at HMV yesterday and i am so excited!!!
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
girls in london and madrid
whenever i am walking on the street or in the subway (metro)....i just can't help myself looking at them.....their are features are just so nice....their hair, their blue/ green eyes....their body...it's just so nice!! the only thing that i didnt do is to talk to them....ah well...
3rd day in london
this is a very productive day,
spend the morning finding myself the accommodation for my last two nights in london, and i got myself a nice bed and breakfast single room that cost me 45 pounds a night, not bad for a downtown location.
after that, i went to have a descent lunch....i went to spaghetti house...not like the one in Hong kong, but a real italian restaurant run by italians. I had spaghetti bolognese and it was so nice....much better than the burgers at mc donalds or the chickens at KFC.
after lunch, i went to eshton station to buy my tickets to machester!! yes i am going there to see an animation director who director some popular children animation like bob the builder... http://www.bobthebuilder.com/uk/index.html speaking of that i have to go buy myself some bob the builder dvds for her to sign!! for the manchester trip, my train leaves at 9:30am and reach there at 1pm. so, i will meet Liz Whitaker the director and after that, i am just going to walk about manchester~ i will go back to london that night.
called ida today and we might catchup either on saturday or thursday night depends on her schedule.
for me, my plans for the rest of my trip are all set!
today, after internet cafe....it is 4:30 pm now....i will go to buckingham palace, hyde park, kensington palace, princess diana memorial...then going to the screening of the distribution company that wants to distribute my two shorts, that is at 7 pm....after the screening, will have dinner and then go home a bit earlier today!
tomorrow, meeting with future shorts and discuss contract and then visiting rushes post productions at 2:00pm.
speaking of that....i did something that i 've always wanted ..... just walk around soho and take a picture of all the post production companies there that i can find....moving picture company, the MILL....framestore CFC...hehe i was like in heaven yesterday!!
then on friday, its manchester, and then for the weekend, i will basically dedicated them for museums!! (british museum or if i can mange, tate museum as well. )
i love doing this travel blog as while i am writing it, i am actually planning for my trip as well!!
Brilliant!!
alright got to go and see the buckingham palace now, tata
spend the morning finding myself the accommodation for my last two nights in london, and i got myself a nice bed and breakfast single room that cost me 45 pounds a night, not bad for a downtown location.
after that, i went to have a descent lunch....i went to spaghetti house...not like the one in Hong kong, but a real italian restaurant run by italians. I had spaghetti bolognese and it was so nice....much better than the burgers at mc donalds or the chickens at KFC.
after lunch, i went to eshton station to buy my tickets to machester!! yes i am going there to see an animation director who director some popular children animation like bob the builder... http://www.bobthebuilder.com/uk/index.html speaking of that i have to go buy myself some bob the builder dvds for her to sign!! for the manchester trip, my train leaves at 9:30am and reach there at 1pm. so, i will meet Liz Whitaker the director and after that, i am just going to walk about manchester~ i will go back to london that night.
called ida today and we might catchup either on saturday or thursday night depends on her schedule.
for me, my plans for the rest of my trip are all set!
today, after internet cafe....it is 4:30 pm now....i will go to buckingham palace, hyde park, kensington palace, princess diana memorial...then going to the screening of the distribution company that wants to distribute my two shorts, that is at 7 pm....after the screening, will have dinner and then go home a bit earlier today!
tomorrow, meeting with future shorts and discuss contract and then visiting rushes post productions at 2:00pm.
speaking of that....i did something that i 've always wanted ..... just walk around soho and take a picture of all the post production companies there that i can find....moving picture company, the MILL....framestore CFC...hehe i was like in heaven yesterday!!
then on friday, its manchester, and then for the weekend, i will basically dedicated them for museums!! (british museum or if i can mange, tate museum as well. )
i love doing this travel blog as while i am writing it, i am actually planning for my trip as well!!
Brilliant!!
alright got to go and see the buckingham palace now, tata
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
message to Katerina
hi Katerina,
how are you going?? I hope you have made your safe journey back to Moscow!!
it was an honour to meet you and i wish i brought my electronic translator with me so we could communicate a bit better, but I am sure that we will have a chance in the future!! I would love to talk about your works in animation and watch your films and this is something that i really look forward to!!!
i am now in london and i will go back to Hong Kong next week, and then i will write you a longer email and of course sending you all the photos that we took!!
i hope you can understand my email~
looking forward to hear from you and please keep in touch with me!!
with love,
Thomas
how are you going?? I hope you have made your safe journey back to Moscow!!
it was an honour to meet you and i wish i brought my electronic translator with me so we could communicate a bit better, but I am sure that we will have a chance in the future!! I would love to talk about your works in animation and watch your films and this is something that i really look forward to!!!
i am now in london and i will go back to Hong Kong next week, and then i will write you a longer email and of course sending you all the photos that we took!!
i hope you can understand my email~
looking forward to hear from you and please keep in touch with me!!
with love,
Thomas
an email to my animation teacher - Maree Woolley
Dear Maree,
thanks for the info about the copyrights!
haha!! you really showed Joanna Quinns showreel this morning? what a coincidence!!
well...i have just sent her an email to tell her i would like to go and see her! Let's see if she will reply....i was reading from the festival catalogue that she might be working and living in Wales...i am not sure.
haha animation gurus.....they are just like ordinary people!! i met a croatian couple which are so nice!!hehe i will tell you more about it later!
i am now contacting Liz Whitaker, she directs Bob the builder and a new one called Pingu...her studio is in manchester and i might go and see her this friday!!
anyway, will keep you posted and if i get to see Jonna, will ask for her works....u know there are so many films that i saw in the festival that i want to keep a copy myself!!
here's one for you...."the danish poet" after watching that...my heart stops....
ok, talk soon,
cheers
Thomas
thanks for the info about the copyrights!
haha!! you really showed Joanna Quinns showreel this morning? what a coincidence!!
well...i have just sent her an email to tell her i would like to go and see her! Let's see if she will reply....i was reading from the festival catalogue that she might be working and living in Wales...i am not sure.
haha animation gurus.....they are just like ordinary people!! i met a croatian couple which are so nice!!hehe i will tell you more about it later!
i am now contacting Liz Whitaker, she directs Bob the builder and a new one called Pingu...her studio is in manchester and i might go and see her this friday!!
anyway, will keep you posted and if i get to see Jonna, will ask for her works....u know there are so many films that i saw in the festival that i want to keep a copy myself!!
here's one for you...."the danish poet" after watching that...my heart stops....
ok, talk soon,
cheers
Thomas
1st day in london!
here are a list of things that i might go to see today!
basically i am just going to take it easy today and just have a nice walk to familiarize myself with the city!!
-trafalgar sauware
- westminster
- buckingham palace
- tate museum
wow!! it should be exciting !!!
basically i am just going to take it easy today and just have a nice walk to familiarize myself with the city!!
-trafalgar sauware
- westminster
- buckingham palace
- tate museum
wow!! it should be exciting !!!
Monday, October 09, 2006
last day in madrid
i am going to london this afternoon....geez...the time really flies.
just want to note down a few keypoints here ....as there are so many things happened in the last couple of days and i am worried that i will forget....will write in detail when i get back.
- met so many animator friends and contacts. I wish i made more dvd copies of my films, now,
i ´ve got only one left.
- the funny holland guy with his film rufus!!
- met a nice croatian couple, they are here in madrid to present their stop motion animation soldat. i wish we met earlier as i ´ve had such long chats with them for the last two days of my festival times.
- the russian girl in madrid that i had a little crush on...that is really really sweet.
- nice pedro that let me sleepover at his place
- watching so many films and getting so inspired!! ( around5 hours a day at the cinema )....just constantly watching films that blow my mind and being touched.
- visited museo du prado
- had a nice day in the madrid city with mei lan
- me being very good with the subway system and able to get around by myself without getting lost (that´s very rare for me when travelin)
the next post from me would be in london...here I come baby yeah!
cheers
Thomas
just want to note down a few keypoints here ....as there are so many things happened in the last couple of days and i am worried that i will forget....will write in detail when i get back.
- met so many animator friends and contacts. I wish i made more dvd copies of my films, now,
i ´ve got only one left.
- the funny holland guy with his film rufus!!
- met a nice croatian couple, they are here in madrid to present their stop motion animation soldat. i wish we met earlier as i ´ve had such long chats with them for the last two days of my festival times.
- the russian girl in madrid that i had a little crush on...that is really really sweet.
- nice pedro that let me sleepover at his place
- watching so many films and getting so inspired!! ( around5 hours a day at the cinema )....just constantly watching films that blow my mind and being touched.
- visited museo du prado
- had a nice day in the madrid city with mei lan
- me being very good with the subway system and able to get around by myself without getting lost (that´s very rare for me when travelin)
the next post from me would be in london...here I come baby yeah!
cheers
Thomas
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