sheep, sheep, sheep, crocodile...

The British Animation Awards came and went with a rushed visit to the BFI Southbank (which was quite fancy except for the toilets which reminded me of junior school). The student award went to Philip Bacon for Yellow Belly End, a very good film that was definitely more deserving than mine. I did get a mention in the public choice award for best film which made me very happy because it means I came at least 6th. Better than that, Heartstrings is on the DVD and it got a square on the cover that's not obscured by a sheep head.

Back in early March I was sent an e-mail from Animation Reporter magazine asking if I'd do an interview, as they were doing a piece on the festival Animated Exeter, where Heartstrings was commended in the student category. Of course I agreed and didn't really know what to expect, perhaps a small quote or little review. The magazine arrived in my post box yesterday and I was shocked to see an article. Hopefully it sounds like I know what I'm talking about.

do imps have opposable thumbs?

This award arrived from Stoke Your Fires Festival of Animation. It's ceramic and has a little imp on top giving me the thumbs up…what's not to like? In amongst all the packing pellets was also a signed copy of the Animator's Survival Kit, the extended edition which I don't have. I feel sorry for my old copy as the new one is sat next to it smugly.

Heartstrings has been to LA. It was shown as part of a Flux Screening Programme at the Hammer Museum (founded by Dr. Armand Hammer, I kid you not) which is associated with UCLA. The new new OkGo video was shown and the band performed live after the screening. I say new new because strangely there is an old new video for the same song which I think I prefer. The cinema part of the Hammer Museum is the Billy Wilder Theater and its decor challenges the star lined ceiling of Chapter Cardiff. Watching Star Wars in there would be great! I hope Heartstrings stays out on tour for a while, there will be no living with it after this.

The amazing company I talked about in the last post is Partizan and I now have my own page on their website right above Michel Gondry. I suppose I should start being a bit professional now. Hmm…professionals usually have phones that do more than just phone people, this might be the place to start.