Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Campaign Launched

After months of prep work I've finally launched the Indiegogo campaign to raise $10 000 in funds to finish the modelling and texturing of BOUNTY HUNTER BUNNY. Hopefully with a little left over to get the rigging done.

But, first things first, here's the link:

http://www.indiegogo.com/BOUNTY-HUNTER-BUNNY-1?a=19459

Please take a look, watch the animatic and give it some thought, along with the perks any contribution will be greatly appreciated.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Almost there.

I've been working on it for a while but the Indiegogo campaign is almost ready to go, hopefully in the next two weeks. The animatic is up on Youtube which will only be accessible via the link on the campaign.

It's kind of nerve wracking to show the animatic, it's so raw. A lot of people who will view it may not realize that it is far from the finished product. Those who have seen it have been favorable in their response so far which fills me with confidence. It's always hard when you're close to a project to be objective, there's always a point you doubt your own decisions.

$10 000 sounds like a lot to be trying to raise, but then I've spent almost $25 000 of my own money on modelling, having mattes painted and sound mixing for the animatic. Of course I also took the trouble to register a trade mark.

Seems to be a tough journey trying to get a short film with obviously commercial goals in mind done this way. I've been asked why not try and sell it?

There are two reasons for that:

a/the few studio type people who have looked at it liked it but only saw the cute aspect and simply said "Hollywood isn't doing that type of thing anymore, it's too cute."Well too me that means I'm on the right track, who wants to do what everybody else is doing? Besides did anyone read what type of project I have in mind? NO.  The look is just a way through the door.

b/ I've become convinced that trying to own your work as far into the development process if not beyond is the best way to get your vision up on screen and not somebody elses. Of course there's the plus side of greater financial reward if it takes off.

For now, I just want to make the film and have fun doing it. It's slow moving, working to pay the bills and using what spare cash is available to take steps forward, but I'm very thankful to those people who have volunteered their own time to the cause and look forward to sharing what the future brings with them.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

STINKY - a bad guy in the making


It's been too long since I last posted anything. At the moment I'm gearing up to take another stab at raising some funds on Indiegogo, this time I'll be making a draft of the animatic available for viewing.

The bad guy, STINKY has come a long way, he's now almost finished thanks to the efforts of my friend and modeller Steve Cypreos who's really nailed the character from my initial drawings. Great work Steve.

We'll be adding a holster and doing the blend shapes soon and then he'll be ready for texturing and rigging.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

BHB has a composer

It's official I finally have a composer for Bounty Hunter Bunny, Mike de Souza - welcome to the project.

I've opted to get away from the obvious cartoon type music, it always seems forced and tends to make the comedy not so funny, plus it sounds cheap. If you look at the classic cartoons of the 30s through to the 50s the music doesn't go out of i's way to sound goofy or silly, it's real music, some classical some contemporary.

Being a western it will need to sound like one but I'm hoping to avoid getting too country and western, but rather more modern with a more heavy guitar sound in the confrontational scenes and the earlier scenes being tempered by a quieter guitar tone to reflect the deleriousness of wandering across a hot desert landscape. Of course there will be the odd nod to Morricone, after all his work is ingrained in our collective consiousness now and it wouldn't be a western without some kind of reference.

The journey is just beginning I will leave it to Mike to find the sound - now for the next part finishing the characters and sets.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Readjusting animatic

Over the last couple of days I've been re-adjusting parts of the animatic. Mostly to sharpen the gags so that they play faster. I found it dragging in places and so did the people I've shown it too.

All too often I see animated shows where the gags are either too fast or too slow. Character based gags need time to build up and are driven by character nuances, surprise, punch in your face gags need to be fast to be funny.

I need to add some panels in places, I have till January 26 which is when I want to talk to my potential composer/musician Mike de Souza.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Moving Ahead

It's been a long time coming but BHB is finally moving forward. Over the past month and a half when I was between  How To Train Your Dragon   TV episode boards I've been modelling  my main exterior set. It's not complete yet but it is fine for the previz phase.

This way, once I have my shots set up I'll know what else I need to put into the set to help my compositions and then lock it in. It's fun and as I drop shots into the animatic even the basic animation gives the picture some life.

Maybe it's just because I'm so used to seeing it as storyboard panels.

My plan now is to do as much of the work as I can myself, this will bring the budget down making it easier to raise funds online for the all important animation and rendering. The added bonus is I get to broaden my experience as well, especially with 3D storyboarding fast approaching.

Music is taken care of, I will have a post about that soon.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Pledge Drive to raise $18 500

Hi everyone, thanks for dropping by . . .


Well - my latest attempt to raise funds for BOUNTY HUNTER BUNNY is up.

There are still some kinks to iron out in the coming weeks, I really want to upload the second draft animatic to give you all an idea of what the film will be like.

Of course I still have a day job to maintain.

When I failed to secure funding from Screen Australia I admit I did feel a bit down about it, but then I remembered what Thomas Edison said after failing multiple times at inventing the light bulb,  "I didn't fail 3,000 times. I found 3,000 ways how not to create a lightbulb".

I found one way not to fund my cartoon.

So I figured, let's try crowd funding again . . .

Walt Disney always believed in taking his films straight to the public when everyone else said the public wouldn't go for it, that's how Mickey was born. In a way crowd funding is the same thing, you get a chance to be involved with making the film and walk away with something in return.

A lot of animation directors are using this method to raise money for pilots or short films because networks are just not as willing these days to take a gamble on something new or different.

Me - I really want to see funny cartoons like the ones that used to be made. Bounty Hunter Bunny will be that and a little bit more - please give him a chance.

This blog will keep you updated on what's happening and show you some of the progress being made visually. You can see some material already posted. E-mails will also be sent out to supporters.

If you follow the link below  or the wanted poster above  you'll be sent to the funding site, please read carefully and check in regularly if you are unsure.

I will get this cartoon made somehow, your help makes it easier.

THANK YOU.

http://www.pozible.com.au/index.php/archive/index/907/description/0/0

For those wanting to know what they are getting into before going, here is the project description as listed.


Project Description


Whatever happened to the funny slapstick cartoons we used to see? Anvils on heads, exploding dynamite etc. Sure there's a lot of verbal comedy type cartoons, but really they are mostly just talking heads saying funny stuff.

I'm tired of watching the same old cartoons, just with different names.

That's what BOUNTY HUNTER BUNNY aims to change. It is a classic cartoon with a modern twist, by that I mean it will be made in CG and be more adult . . . violent, suggestive etc. Imagine say Looney Tunes meets Clint Eastwood meets Indiana Jones.

The target audience, university students and up, though I'm sure kids will love it too.

THE STORY:

A tiny, lone gunman, BOUNTY HUNTER BUNNY traverses the desert wastelands of the American Old West in search of financial freedom – and a drink.

THE PLAN:

The project has been budgeted at $149 000. CG is expensive. Unfortunately this being a short film with an untried character there's not much chance finding an investor or investors for that amount.

I plan to make the film in stages starting with this pledge drive of $18 500, with that I will be able to have the final character modeled, textured and rigged, have the two sets the film will use finished and have the score written.

Why have the score written so early? So we can animate to it.

Once the characters and sets are completed, images will be created for the blog and website to start introducing the characters to the world (along with a weekly comic strip) as well as raise further funds through selling T-shirts, posters etc.

The final product will be a combination of volunteer and paid work to bring the costs down. A number of people have already put their hands up to be a part of it. They will share in what grows out this.

WHERE TO ONCE DONE:

The internet is going to be the place to see Bounty Hunter Bunny, on your laptop, desktop or phone. There will also be film festival screenings. Hopefully there will be enough interest in the character from that point to begin a proper licensing campaign and attract investors to create more cartoons. Possibly pave the way for TV screenings and ultimately a movie.

YOU WILL BE PART OF THAT . . .

Ultimately, the goal is to create and present a new character to the world, outside the influence of broadcasters and sensors who only seem to repeat the same old formula. Like the famous cartoon stars of the past Bounty Hunter Bunny will grow and evolve through public feedback - I am excited at the prospect.

BUT . . .

The first step is to finish the preliminary work . . . WITH YOUR HELP.

REWARDS OFFERED:

A$10+and up, You will recieve a crew signed poster, and name listed on blog/website as PROJECT SUPPORTER. You will also be entitled to a 10% discount on future merchandise sold on website.
 
A$50+and up, You will recieve a crew signed poster and set of 2 8x10s, DVD copy of the film when released, and name listed on blog/website as PROJECT PARTNER and THANK YOU in end credit roll. You will also be entitled to a 30% discount on future merchandise sold on website.
 
A$100+and up, You will recieve a crew signed poster and set of 8 8x10s, T-shirt, DVD copy of the film when released, and name listed on blog/website as PROJECT HERO along with a SPECIAL THANK YOU end credit roll . You will also be entitled to a 50% discount on future merchandise sold on website.
 
A$500+and up, You will recieve a crew signed poster and set of 8 8x10s, 2 T-shirts, 2 specially pressed DVD copies of the film when released, special signed art book and name listed on blog/website as PROJECT ANGEL along with a PRODUCER credit. You will also be entitled to a 70% discount on future merchandise sold on website.