2016 is nearly over! Bring on 2017!

2016 has been a dark year. Even the most positive of optimists (and I include myself amongst them) can't fail to see how this year has proven to be the most miserable in at least, the last 10, if not more years.

We lost a great deal of talent. A very sad loss to their industries and fans - David Bowie, Victoria Wood, George Michael, Caroline Aherne, Alan Rickman, Carrie Fisher and Prince amongst those who left far too young. We also lost some who had a few more years on them, but will be still missed by many, including Terry Wogan, Carrie Fisher's mum Debbie Reynolds.

It was also the year anniversary of one my best friends passing.

In the political world, we lost a young politician, mother and wife, who was brutally killed for just doing her job, Jo Cox. Not forgetting the many victims of terrorism and violence - Aleppo, France, Belgium, Turkey, Germany, as well as the countless shootings in America from Orlando, through to Ohio State University. When will the USA ever tighten up their gun laws?

We had Brexit. The less said about the better...unless anyone can give me any actual facts, about what 52% of the UK voted for. Even still, no one knows what "Brexit means Brexit" means! We have a new Prime Minister, put in place after all the politicians responsible for the referendum and the scare mongering of the nation, did a runner!

We have Trump. Some how he became President of America. The chaos of the US election puts even more people into a greater state of WTF-ness. Things might not be so bad, if someone could just deactivate his sodding Twitter account!

2016 also saw random crazes like the Mannequin Challenge, Killer Clowns and the bonkers Deconstructed Coffee...and of course, who hasn't heard the mighty power of Pokemon Go!

Looking on the positives...I got engaged (I become a husband in 2017, how cool is that??)...and I finally got to see long awaited stage "sequel" to the Potter books, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I worked on 6 projects with Blue Zoo, became a BAFTA guru-pro and finally got to go Annecy Animation Festival. So, although 2016 was crappy for many, it wasn't all bad.

Wishing everyone a very successful 2017! Although its unlikely we'll get a BrexitEXIT, or a DumpTrump, I hope all your wishes for the new year come true.

Cheers
Marc x

Sausage Party Gate - Were the Animators Treated Fairly?

A hot topic amongst animation type social platforms have been the reports from the animation crew on Sausage Party, not being paid fairly, and not getting credit in the end titles. Check out the comments section of this report from Cartoon Brew to see what I mean.

I have so many mixed feelings on this. My first reaction was "gahd, cry me a river" and then, my reaction changed more towards a "gahd, that's terrible".

Having managed my own team of staff (sometimes up to 40, as well as being a manager of managers) for a considerable time, I know first hand how difficult some staff can be when things don't go how they feel it should. The work place can become very toxic, once people start feeling entitled, and let their ego over take their professionalism. I guess, what I mean to say is, why is it so important that your name isn't at the end of a movie? Sure, it's a lovely to see your name in the credits, but if it's not there, that doesn't take away from the fact that you did it. It also doesn't mean that you can't include the work you did on your show reel to show future employees. It's just an ego thing right?

If staff are being over worked, and under paid, then that's not good. However, if you're employed to deliver a service (which let's face it, is what every animator is), then bloody do it, and don't whinge about it. Put your head down, and deliver. Of course, easy for me to say, as I'm not in their situation, but I have read anonymous comments from animators who didn't suffer any stress or pressure to deliver their shots on time. It reminds me of a story a senior animator told me a while back, at their studio, the staff more or less went on strike as they were "made" to work until late to get their work done. When my friend was asked why he wasn't striking too, he simply couldn't, because he left eh studio at 6pm every day and.he.delivered.all.his.work.on.time. I wonder how many of those whingy Sausage Party worked spent most of their working day on facebook or youtube, instead of prioritising their work?

So, yeah, I guess I come from a place of bias, when I hear moany staff, to lean towards the side of the employer. However, of course, there are always employers who take the piss. It's finding that balance, I guess. Either way, I bet the Sausage Party studio are LOVING all the free publicity this controversy is getting them.

What do you think about it all?

Love
Marc x

What Does Brexit Mean for the Animation Industry?

Image used with permission © Francesca Adams

Unless you've been under a rock for the last week, you will of course know that the UK is facing a very strange time. The EU Referendum resulted in a 52% vote to leave the European Union. This is all well and good if you are a leave voter (of which, I am not), but the problem is, no one knows what this all means?

Apart from watching the GBP drops faster than you say "It's-Brexit-Bitch" what else will happen? Will there be international travel restrictions of some kind? Will we have to get different passports? And most importantly, as people who work in animation, will this mean it's harder for us to get work within other EU countries, and will our EU friends have trouble getting over here?

Much is still unknown (nice one, leave voters, thanks for that), although slowly but surely we are finding out a little bit more clarity amongst the murky aftermath of the toxic, political nightmare. We are finding reports and opinion on what exactly this means for all of us. Here are a few articles I've found that have been super interesting.

First up Skwigly online animation magazine, address the issue straight on: How Will Brexit Affect UK Animation Production, refering to many productions that may have not been made, had it not been for grants provided by EU money from Creative Europe UK. Somewhat worrying, right?

Secondly, another article I found interesting was from Stephenfollows.com - a writer and producer, who also researches stats and data from film industry. His post How will Brexit affect the UK film industry talks very practically about the pros and cons of Brexit, so we can get a very rough guess of what could happen in the near future, or at least once Brexit actually happens.

Well, in these uncertain times of stress, fear and anxiety, let's be reminded about the wonderful things animation can bring...and what better way to do that, than by sharing this trailer, to a lovely looking documentary about how animation helped an autistic child communicate and lead a better life. A friend at work shared it with us, just as things were looking twistedly dark - so I hope this can bring you a little ray of joy amongst the impending gloom of a Brexit country...

 

Cheers

Marc x