Sunday, February 13, 2011
March 6, 1942
Thursday 7:30 P.M.
My darling,
This is the last sheet of my paper, and from now until some more arrives, you’ll have to be satisfied with some regular Jefferson Barracks paper.
I managed to get a letter off to Eric and Aunt Tryx last night, and this morning before breakfast I was able to scribble a note to Elsa, thus taking a great load off my mind. Seems as if my letters are getting shorter and shorter--there’s so little for me to say that the folks back home don’t already know.
It was another one of those beautiful days today and though they still tell us that we’re quarantined, I can’t see it. This morning we went out with the rest of the boys for our regular three hour drill period, and this afternoon repeated the same procedure. The one thing in the line of variety was, that instead of drilling in two files as usual, we drilled in three. Oh yes, I have something else to look forward to tonight, and so has Ralph. They’ve been skipping all around our names, and they finally got to ours--now the next thing we know we’ll be doing K.P. tonight from 2:00 A.M. to 4:00 A.M., yours truly is to do guard duty, up and down one of the streets of our squadron area. It’s a nice clear night and the moon is almost full, so it shouldn’t be much of an ordeal--two full hours to dream of you!
Only one letter today, and that was from Aunt Louise--looks as if my mail is dropping off--but it will probably be back to normal tomorrow. Art’s folks were over to the house the other evening, and though Aunt Louise has spoken with them many times by phone, she shad never met them. They’re very jolly people, and made a big hit with the folks. Of course the entire topic of conversation was Art, you, and I.
I picked up my pictures today at last, adn I suppose I’ll just have to be satisfied. You were at least lucky to have as many sittings as you had--and by the way, he couldn’t have been so good, if after eight proofs you have to go back for some more. I’m sending you one of the pictures tonight, and you’ll have to like it in spite of the dizzy grin I’ve got on my face. It took exactly five minutes to take the pictures and we had our choice out of two of them, so see how lucky you are to be able to choose out of so many proofs? I had six made up in all--one for you and Aunt Louise, and four little ones for the rest of the relatives.
Darling, I hope that you don’t have any more of those headaches--they’re miserable, and I don’t like them, so please dear, if you’re troubled, do what Mother thinks best.
Yes, I’ll be with you tonight at 8:00 o’clock New York time as I’ve got all my change all lined up already.
After you get your A on your report, and after it’s returned to you, I’d like to be enlightened as to the “Changing Culture of an American Indian Tribe,” so how are my chances of getting it? I haven’t read anything good for an age.
Some of the boys in our Flight are already beginning to move out of here. I think Bill Mooney was in on that picture you have--well he left today for Pasadena, California. He knew he was going there before the Post was quarantined and left today, right after the ban was officially lifted. Uncle Fred and Aunt Millie are out there, and I told him to look them up when he gets into town, as they’ll be wonderful to him.
Darling, it’s getting late, and I want to get these pictures over to the Post Office before they close, so there will be a brief intermission until tomorrow morning when the house phone will ring at eight o’clock. (I hope_
So, little princess, I’ll say goodnight, and as I close I’m very happy when I realize that on our second anniversary we’ll both be together. Darling, I love you, and I’ll be thinking of you all night tonight.
All my love--lovely one,
Edward
INDIAN FOR PENNY BANK FOR SATURDAY NITE TREAT
TODAY’S COUNT
2,505,600
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Ideas
I've read my favorite book so many times, each time underlining more and more beautiful ideas and eloquent phrases, that nearly the entire book is underlined.
I have so many ideas. Ideas from that book. Ideas from The Daily Practice of Painting, which I'm currently reading as well. Ideas from beautiful videos on Vimeo. Ideas from conversations with friends. Ideas from classy films. Ideas from photos of complete strangers who are probably long gone. Ideas from beautiful songs with rhythmic lyrics. Ideas from everywhere. And when I do cartwheels in my studio because I need a break, I feel them rushing to my brain, ready to burst.
I just did an interview for my department, talking about animation. The kind of interview where they ask you about what you love and what are some challenges and what do you want to do after school. And I felt all of my ideas surging through my veins. I love what I do. And when I graduate, I want to do more of it.
I want to see constellations. I want to visit libraries across the country. I want to become fluent in French. I want to grow my own vegetables. I want to start a garden of peonies. I want to paint my floorboards white. I want to wake up to sunshine and beautiful shadows. I want to embroider stories into the lining of my coat. I want to collect millions of photographs and letters and personal memories of complete strangers. I want to tell stories. I want to write stories. I want to buy a cursive typewriter. I want to have a pug or two, and a pet rabbit. I want to trace shadows. I want to tangle string into knots. I want to paint on film. I want to learn sign language. I want to communicate with tin can telephones. I want to make snowstorms of paper snowflakes. I want to give Mia the biggest hug she's ever had every single time I see her. I want to make people happy. I want to let all my ideas escape before they strangle me. Because I'm pretty sure that's how I'm going to die. Maybe it's the same thing as old age. To some people, maybe. But to me, my veins would only be able to hold so many secrets, and my heart would only be able to pump so many thoughts, and my brain would become too full of memories of people I don't even know. And just like that, my body would become tired, too full of ideas, and I'd sleep.
I have so many ideas. Ideas from that book. Ideas from The Daily Practice of Painting, which I'm currently reading as well. Ideas from beautiful videos on Vimeo. Ideas from conversations with friends. Ideas from classy films. Ideas from photos of complete strangers who are probably long gone. Ideas from beautiful songs with rhythmic lyrics. Ideas from everywhere. And when I do cartwheels in my studio because I need a break, I feel them rushing to my brain, ready to burst.
I just did an interview for my department, talking about animation. The kind of interview where they ask you about what you love and what are some challenges and what do you want to do after school. And I felt all of my ideas surging through my veins. I love what I do. And when I graduate, I want to do more of it.
I want to see constellations. I want to visit libraries across the country. I want to become fluent in French. I want to grow my own vegetables. I want to start a garden of peonies. I want to paint my floorboards white. I want to wake up to sunshine and beautiful shadows. I want to embroider stories into the lining of my coat. I want to collect millions of photographs and letters and personal memories of complete strangers. I want to tell stories. I want to write stories. I want to buy a cursive typewriter. I want to have a pug or two, and a pet rabbit. I want to trace shadows. I want to tangle string into knots. I want to paint on film. I want to learn sign language. I want to communicate with tin can telephones. I want to make snowstorms of paper snowflakes. I want to give Mia the biggest hug she's ever had every single time I see her. I want to make people happy. I want to let all my ideas escape before they strangle me. Because I'm pretty sure that's how I'm going to die. Maybe it's the same thing as old age. To some people, maybe. But to me, my veins would only be able to hold so many secrets, and my heart would only be able to pump so many thoughts, and my brain would become too full of memories of people I don't even know. And just like that, my body would become tired, too full of ideas, and I'd sleep.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Things I Have Done Lately
Saw this movie:
Listened them on vinyl quite a bit:
Read parts of my favorite book (again, as always), and found out it's going to be made into a movie, which at this point, I'm a little upset about.
Silkscreened some bears and my grandpa.
Typed about twenty To Do Lists, Things I Need To Accomplish Soon Lists, Things I Would Do If I Had The Time Lists, but didn't scan them yet.
Lived in the library (well, not quite, but not far from it).
And dreamed that I was taking a nap. Those are the best kinds of dreams (at least for those of us who can't seem to ever nap).
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Seven Henrietta Street
I'm not gonna lie: I'm really critical when there's a new video/animation/short film on Youtube or Vimeo that everybody seems to be talking about. Not just any video, but those that are very similar to my style and aesthetic. Why? Because I either realize that I have competition out there, and, especially as a student, I have to work hard to make sure my ideas are completely original and my execution that much stronger. Or I know that I could have done a better job, if only they knew to call me. Haha. Especially when these videos involve stop motion. Especially when that stop motion is pixilation (animating a real person like a puppet, frame by frame).
I have a running list of Good Stop Motion Music Videos And Related Shorts, featuring just that. Videos that implement my favorite method put to music or telling a great story. I also have another list: Bad Stop Motion Videos That Everyone Mistakenly Thinks Are Somehow Good. I won't share this list. It's more of a personal note to myself to not sell out, to always do my best, and to always be original. Granted, most of these have some admirable quality to them, be it the story, the lighting, the concept, the set, the budget I wish I had... So they're bookmarked, favorited, and often liked. Even though I don't really like them as a whole.
For the most part, the biggest problem is the animation. The actors (because pixilation is suddenly becoming more popular, something that I have mixed feelings about) often don't know how to move incrementally. It's a hard thing, I won't lie. But that doesn't mean it should look like they're having a seizure. There's really no excuse for that. Besides the actors, the frame rate is another factor that easily drives me crazy. Sometimes they're slow enough that they should be presented as a slideshow, a series of photographs, rather than an animation. Sometimes they're a little faster than that, but just enough to create the actor-seizure-phenomenon I am so fond of.
So let me clear something up for you right now.
And for all you photographers out there, if you feel the need to move things incrementally, please shoot for a minimum of 10 frames per second. Otherwise, please stick with your strength and create beautiful photographs for me to favorite on Flickr. Oh, and a montage of scenes with pretty girls with typewriters and teacups and other kitschy items does not automatically qualify as brilliant. It can work, and I happen to be fond of my Smith Coronas and strawberry print cup-and-saucers. But please include a [unique] narrative.
Alright, now that I'm done ranting, you should be able to see why it's so exciting to me to find a respectable video. One that presents some competition for me. One that pushes me to exceed my own expectations. One that encourages me to be a better artist. One like Seven Henrietta Street, made for Kate Spade. Look at the stop motion details (my favorite thing to add to a piece). Look at that frame rate. Thank you Kinga Burza for proving to me that decent frame rates do still exist.
Of course, when I come across videos like this, my brain explodes a little bit (in the good way) and I end up with oodles of ideas scrawled across sketchbook pages and Moleskine calendars and Post-Its and hands and any other patches of exposed skin. And I need to make something. Now. Maybe I can fit in some animation sketches over the weekend. I've been dying to start doing little experiments in After Effects. But nothing satisfies me like moving something one frame at a time.
I have a running list of Good Stop Motion Music Videos And Related Shorts, featuring just that. Videos that implement my favorite method put to music or telling a great story. I also have another list: Bad Stop Motion Videos That Everyone Mistakenly Thinks Are Somehow Good. I won't share this list. It's more of a personal note to myself to not sell out, to always do my best, and to always be original. Granted, most of these have some admirable quality to them, be it the story, the lighting, the concept, the set, the budget I wish I had... So they're bookmarked, favorited, and often liked. Even though I don't really like them as a whole.
For the most part, the biggest problem is the animation. The actors (because pixilation is suddenly becoming more popular, something that I have mixed feelings about) often don't know how to move incrementally. It's a hard thing, I won't lie. But that doesn't mean it should look like they're having a seizure. There's really no excuse for that. Besides the actors, the frame rate is another factor that easily drives me crazy. Sometimes they're slow enough that they should be presented as a slideshow, a series of photographs, rather than an animation. Sometimes they're a little faster than that, but just enough to create the actor-seizure-phenomenon I am so fond of.
So let me clear something up for you right now.
Alright, now that I'm done ranting, you should be able to see why it's so exciting to me to find a respectable video. One that presents some competition for me. One that pushes me to exceed my own expectations. One that encourages me to be a better artist. One like Seven Henrietta Street, made for Kate Spade. Look at the stop motion details (my favorite thing to add to a piece). Look at that frame rate. Thank you Kinga Burza for proving to me that decent frame rates do still exist.
Of course, when I come across videos like this, my brain explodes a little bit (in the good way) and I end up with oodles of ideas scrawled across sketchbook pages and Moleskine calendars and Post-Its and hands and any other patches of exposed skin. And I need to make something. Now. Maybe I can fit in some animation sketches over the weekend. I've been dying to start doing little experiments in After Effects. But nothing satisfies me like moving something one frame at a time.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Nopocalypse.
Let me tell you about my day.
I woke up at 7am and stayed in bed trying to remember what it was like to be warm while listening to Esteban meow because he was bored.
I got out of bed, made my bed, folded laundry, and cleaned my room. I played some ukulele, read some of my favorite book, and talked with my roommate about animation, rap, and Katie Perry.
I got dressed, did something with my hair, threw on makeup, found a cardigan and legwarmers, packed my backpack, and left to catch the bus before 10am.
I walked toward the bus stop, crossed the street, and discovered that the snow was up to my ribcage. So I walked down the busy road to the other stop, all while having cars drive by and kick slush up onto me. Awesome.
I waited at that bus stop until 20 minutes after the bus was supposed to be there. I finally gave up and decided to walk to my studio.
I walked down the sidewalk, came up to the first bus stop, and continued through the unshoveled, waist deep (well, almost...and I am on the short side) snow, all the while carrying my very heavy yellow backpack. I remembered that I still needed to waterproof my boots, but in order to do that, they need to be dry. So I prayed that my boots would somehow magically resist water, just for today.
My feet seemed to be dry as I went on, though my knees were not to happy and my tendonitis was less than pleased. I ended up behind an old man with a snow blower. Which meant that I was stuck behind him, as he took 5 steps a minute, with snow being thrown in my face. Unless I wanted to continue in the deep snow in front of him. Cool.
I finally made it to my studio, only to discover that the air conditioning was on. Oh, and that my boots were soaked. My feet were just numb, so I didn't know.
Realizing that my face was also numb (and having fun with that) and that my hands were frozen in place, I found some change and went to get coffee. The vending machine ate my money and didn't give me coffee. So my hands remained cold. I was irritated.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, 27 OF MY FACEBOOK FRIENDS DECIDED TO ATTEND THE SNOWPOCALYPSE. No thank you. I will not willingly attend this Snowpocalyse unless I look like THIS GUY:
No, thank you. I would much rather stay inside, wearing my glow-in-the-dark footie pajamas, wrapped in my animal print Snuggie (ok, I don't really own a Snuggie...), wearing slippers, inside a sleeping bag, tucked inside a cozy fort, while sipping hot chocolate, with marshmallows (because I have gone back to eating gelatin), watching a beautiful movie (like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or The Fountain).
I really can't wait until I can be barefoot all the time without risking frostbite, and my windows are open.
A lot of classes were canceled, or at least delayed, today. Mine was canceled tonight. The school might be closed tomorrow. Which means more time for me to get work done.
However, after being cranky and cold all day, I have to admit a Snowpocalypse could be a pretty epic start of a stop motion animation. Just look at Bumble, here!
I woke up at 7am and stayed in bed trying to remember what it was like to be warm while listening to Esteban meow because he was bored.
I got out of bed, made my bed, folded laundry, and cleaned my room. I played some ukulele, read some of my favorite book, and talked with my roommate about animation, rap, and Katie Perry.
I got dressed, did something with my hair, threw on makeup, found a cardigan and legwarmers, packed my backpack, and left to catch the bus before 10am.
I walked toward the bus stop, crossed the street, and discovered that the snow was up to my ribcage. So I walked down the busy road to the other stop, all while having cars drive by and kick slush up onto me. Awesome.
I waited at that bus stop until 20 minutes after the bus was supposed to be there. I finally gave up and decided to walk to my studio.
I walked down the sidewalk, came up to the first bus stop, and continued through the unshoveled, waist deep (well, almost...and I am on the short side) snow, all the while carrying my very heavy yellow backpack. I remembered that I still needed to waterproof my boots, but in order to do that, they need to be dry. So I prayed that my boots would somehow magically resist water, just for today.
My feet seemed to be dry as I went on, though my knees were not to happy and my tendonitis was less than pleased. I ended up behind an old man with a snow blower. Which meant that I was stuck behind him, as he took 5 steps a minute, with snow being thrown in my face. Unless I wanted to continue in the deep snow in front of him. Cool.
I finally made it to my studio, only to discover that the air conditioning was on. Oh, and that my boots were soaked. My feet were just numb, so I didn't know.
Realizing that my face was also numb (and having fun with that) and that my hands were frozen in place, I found some change and went to get coffee. The vending machine ate my money and didn't give me coffee. So my hands remained cold. I was irritated.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, 27 OF MY FACEBOOK FRIENDS DECIDED TO ATTEND THE SNOWPOCALYPSE. No thank you. I will not willingly attend this Snowpocalyse unless I look like THIS GUY:
No, thank you. I would much rather stay inside, wearing my glow-in-the-dark footie pajamas, wrapped in my animal print Snuggie (ok, I don't really own a Snuggie...), wearing slippers, inside a sleeping bag, tucked inside a cozy fort, while sipping hot chocolate, with marshmallows (because I have gone back to eating gelatin), watching a beautiful movie (like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or The Fountain).
I really can't wait until I can be barefoot all the time without risking frostbite, and my windows are open.
A lot of classes were canceled, or at least delayed, today. Mine was canceled tonight. The school might be closed tomorrow. Which means more time for me to get work done.
However, after being cranky and cold all day, I have to admit a Snowpocalypse could be a pretty epic start of a stop motion animation. Just look at Bumble, here!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
16mm
Guess what I just did. I'll give you a hint...
THAT'S RIGHT. I just loaded a new roll of film into this beautiful 16mm camera (that I want oh so badly). I get to shoot with it for the first time this afternoon, but my Cinema class this semester is going to require me to use them on a regular basis. Granted, I haven't done anything with film before, and all editing has to be done in camera (for this assignment, anyway), and I only have two and a half minutes, and I can't mess up, but I'm still SO excited. And completely in love with this camera. That's probably because of the sound it makes while the film's rolling. It's absolutely swoon-worthy.
I know I'm not one to wish I was rich, but if I had some money lying around, I'm pretty certain this would become my new obsession. I've officially added "Own a Bolex h16" to my list of Things I Would Like To Do Before I Die If At All Possible.
Time to get ready to shoot! Our assignment was to make a [silent] instructional video. So what would make the most sense to show with such a classy camera? I'll let you know later!
Ps. If you haven't already, you should definitely watch my latest animation, Nothing Was Coherent. And tell me what you think!
THAT'S RIGHT. I just loaded a new roll of film into this beautiful 16mm camera (that I want oh so badly). I get to shoot with it for the first time this afternoon, but my Cinema class this semester is going to require me to use them on a regular basis. Granted, I haven't done anything with film before, and all editing has to be done in camera (for this assignment, anyway), and I only have two and a half minutes, and I can't mess up, but I'm still SO excited. And completely in love with this camera. That's probably because of the sound it makes while the film's rolling. It's absolutely swoon-worthy.
I know I'm not one to wish I was rich, but if I had some money lying around, I'm pretty certain this would become my new obsession. I've officially added "Own a Bolex h16" to my list of Things I Would Like To Do Before I Die If At All Possible.
Time to get ready to shoot! Our assignment was to make a [silent] instructional video. So what would make the most sense to show with such a classy camera? I'll let you know later!
Ps. If you haven't already, you should definitely watch my latest animation, Nothing Was Coherent. And tell me what you think!
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