leonardo

adventure and absurdity in making an animated short

Monday, March 06, 2006

5 minutes a day

How do you find the time? Well I don't really find time or make time. I wish I could then I would have more then 24 hours and 7 days each week. What I do is use the time I have as wisely as I can. One of the biggest hurdles in making your own film on the side is to work a full day, spend quality time with the family, deal with the usual living stuff (ie. food shopping, eating said food, bill paying, unforeseen calamities) and still be able to make your film. Suddenly watching Lost and Desperate Housewives is not so interesting. Here's the thing I realized, that what ever you can do on your project each day is valuable. May it be five minutes or five hours. 5 drawings or 5 feet of film. You are 5 minutes, 5 drawings closer to your goal. The important thing is that you do it. Even if you have to eventually throw out those drawings, you had to do them to get to the next five. So quit whining that you don't have the time because you do. By the way one show I can't give up is the Daily Show, which was a nice 30 minute break before diving into the work. Then they had to go and add the Colbert Report! Oh, the world and time are against you, fight back with those five minutes.

31 Comments:

Blogger John S. said...

Hey Jim! It's John Sanford! Remember me? Hey, I'm very inspired by what you are accomplishing here. Good luck finishing the short! I can't wait to see it!

12:45 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hand drawn Animation ! YEAH !!
Man this is really Great.

This is the same thing I wanted to do (a hand drawn short)
But I still don't have tha right Story (the most imposrtant part).

Regards
Victor

6:59 AM  
Blogger Ward Jenkins said...

I so needed to hear this, Jim. Thank you for posting. I'm trying to eek out time to work on my own film and am having the hardest time to do so. It shouldn't have to be a large amount of time set aside, but even 5 minutes would be enough. Thank you.

7:46 AM  
Blogger Jenny Lerew said...

What beautiful drawings, Jim--can't wait to see this. I think that's the coolest thing in the world to be doing(and no, I cannot believe you find any time--puts the rest of us to shame).
I had no clue you had this blog going, but thanks to Cartoon Brew, you're probably going to be deluged. ; )
I'm adding you to my links right now. Cheers!

8:34 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for keeping up this blog.. it's very inspiring!

9:49 AM  
Blogger Frank said...

great inspiration words...good luck with the film!

10:22 AM  
Blogger John Nevarez said...

Jim, well said. So hard to find he time, but may the journey through be as rewarding. Good luck and I look forward to the progress. And yeah, the Daily Show is probably one of the best things on TV these days.

10:37 AM  
Blogger Steve said...

Jim, your blog is what I love about the internet. It really helps me to know I'm not the craziest person on the planet for wanting to make my own short film from start to finish.

I can't wait to see how all of this turns out =]

10:52 AM  
Blogger Cyrus Cords said...

You are so right. Five minutes makes a different. I can't pull myself away from Extreme Home Makeover, I have to tear up at least once a week.

I can't wait to see more of your stuff for your short. I try to post progress at least once a week on my short and sometimes it is just the five minute stuff that makes it.

11:06 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey jim,

Heard about your short through Cartoon Brew. Don't know if you remember me, but I'm indebted to you for all those Glen Keane Ariel xeroxes you gave me way back in '90 at CalArts.

Can't wait to see the short, and maybe I'll have to find 5 minutes of my own.

11:12 AM  
Blogger Jeremy Bernstein said...

Hi Jim,
Just found your link off of cartoon brew. Congratulations on working on this film. I know how hard it is. I'm working in 3d now but still have 2d ideas in my head just waiting to be done. Good luck and can't wait for the finished piece!

11:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jimbo-
I just found your blog through Cartoon Brew. I have been (and will continue) rooting for you in making this film. I know it is tough but you can do it! Keep up the great work. As I have offered before, call me if you need any help and I will be there. I think of you often brayskie, take care.
--Tony

2:41 PM  
Blogger Danny said...

Is there any way to contact you per emil? I have some questions regarding storyboarding and would be very grateful for your advice...

please feel free to write:
dploechinger@gmx.de

many thanks(!),
danny.

2:43 PM  
Blogger Tom Bancroft said...

Keep going Jimbo! I'm thrilled to hear that the "little film that could" is still going! Say "hi" to Kim and the kid(s) for me! IS it two kids? I can't remember. Check out my blog if you want. I have a company in Tennessee with my old Disney buddy, Rob Corley. I hope you are doing well! Long Live Leonardo! I still love the idea!

5:23 PM  
Blogger Jeremy said...

I'm in 3D animation school right now and I notice that things get bunched up time wise. what with all the actual learning of the software, the after school jobs and spending time with loved ones it's tough to get things going.

... I guess it all comes down to motivation.

9:49 PM  
Blogger Martin Wittig said...

Jim-- I found out about your blog/film through the Cartoon Brew. I'm glad that i did, the artwork looks great from what you have posted, and I can't wait to see more!!

12:07 AM  
Blogger Jason C said...

great blog! i look forward to seeing the film progress.. It's tough to find time after work to work on personal projects.. best of luck..

7:58 AM  
Blogger Jeff said...

Hey Jim! It's Jeff Ranjo! Caught wind of your site from Cartoon Brew! Awesome! Keep on with the vision my brother. I'll be here to support you! Great posts too!

9:38 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you skip the interviews in the Daily Show, that's 10 minutes right there.

There should be a way to listen to the Daily Show in the car, thereby combining required tasks. I'm just the idea man, somebody else make it happen please.

11:47 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That's great advice and perspective. Looking forward to your short.

12:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

4:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with everything you said, especially about the Daily Show and the Cobert Report. You have inspired me to put in my 5 minutes.

6:58 PM  
Blogger Amelia Lorenz said...

Hi Jim- I found your blog via the cartoon brew!
What a project you have been doing. Sounds great. Hope to hear more about it in the near future :)

a

10:22 PM  
Blogger Brian Brantley said...

Hey, I just wanted to say, this is really cool and inspirational. I too have often thought about making my own short. In an art school now, with an entire summer off save for a life drawing class once a week - I have no excuse not to give it a shot. Especially before I dive into learning computer animation in the following years with traditional animation being a medium I highly respect and love.

I'd love to hear more. Short summary of the film or dare I say rough animation clips? Well.. nevermind. Use those minutes for finishing up 5 more drawings. :) Good luck with everything.

And hey, if everything works out, why don't you give feature length entirely on ones a shot? Shouldn't take more than 25 years and a corporate mutilation of your work, for going over a deadline. :P

2:20 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you for this post - I, too am working on a short animated film, and am the victim of both the Daily Show and The Colbert Report. My wife and I can't stop watching, and afterwards, it's soooooooooo difficult to get into the mood to face the computer AGAIN after a full day of doing just that (I'm a Flash Animator). I'll be taking your words to heart though, and hope to change that.

Philip

9:28 AM  
Blogger Robiscus said...

i susually use the same philosophy that i use for my daily runs. i don't want to go. i don't want the pain.

so i resolve to not run hard, i'll just run lightly which will be refreshing and easy, but once i get out there i turn it up because i think: well i'm out here already, i might as well get a good workout.

the same goes for drawing, i'll just pick up a post it not and doodle something project related on it, and then it sweeps me away and before i know it i've transferred it to real paper and i actually have a lot of work done.

2:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jim-

Glad to see Leo's still flapping. Ran across your blog on CartoonBrew.

Tell Kim and the guys I say hello, and keep up the five minutes a day!


All the best,
-Romney

8:57 PM  
Blogger Eddie Pittman said...

Hi, Jim. I've always enjoyed your drawings. Great to see you blogging your short film. Very inspiring!

9:09 PM  
Blogger Steve Stark said...

I hear ya! I am working on two coming up. I go through waves of working hard then nothing... I hate not working on my project.

2:49 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

These are GREAT drawings!! Wonderful characters!

5:26 PM  
Blogger Jeff Pidgeon said...

Hey Jim,
Thanks again for this valuable thought!
If I hadn't read this, I might not have finished my Afterworks 2 story.
I've struggled for years to screw up the courage and initiative to do more work of my own, and I finally finished something!
Thanks very much, Jeff

8:06 AM  

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