August 17, 2005
melanie @ 10:42 am

I just got a call from one of my friends at Pixar. Joe Ranft was killed in a car accident over the weekend. I’m stunned and incredibly sad about it. So much so, that I’m having a hard time working. I never knew Joe personally, (I met him a couple of times) but no one in my industry can deny the impact of his talent and the mark he will leave. If you just look at his filmography, i think it will paint an accurate picture of how much he has contributed over the years.

Joe Ranft’s filmography

A great talent in the animation industry has just winked out. Joe, you will be missed…

August 12, 2005
melanie @ 1:45 pm

YAY! Comments are now working so if anyone is still poking around on this blog they can leave one.
Sweet…

August 8, 2005
melanie @ 11:18 am

With my new interested in sketching i realized that i should post a link to some of my old work…. just for context. Here’s a bunch of sketches and drawings i did a long time ago. I’m hoping by reminding myself what I USED to do, I’ll inspire myself to get back into it even more. You can tune into my drawings at my website at this link.

http://www.hiddentower.com/Melanie/

I really need to add links to this blog that ties everything in to my homepage: http://www.hiddentower.com

melanie @ 10:52 am

So it’s been months since i’ve actually posted something and most of the people who used to check up on this blog have probably given up on me. Can’t say that I blame them. Mostly I’ve been wrapped up in the pregnancy and work, and really haven’t had much time for anything else. Honestly, i think i just fried in terms of online communication; so much of my day is wrapped up in it. And frankly, there’s something slightly cultish about the whole blog culture. Most of the blogs I tune into are friends who link to other friends who basically all give each other props for being out there in cyberspace. On the one hand, it’s really supportive and good, but on the other hand… it feels a little incestuous to be tuning into the same blogs over and over constantly recycling similiar information from one to the other. If some of my friends are tuning into this and feeling offended.. please don’t take it personally. It’s not you I’m railing against but the trend of blogging itself. I think i started balking when I felt the need to NOT make my blog boring, and this was definitely the wrong attitude to have. But how can you help but not worry about what you are writing? A blog puts one perpetually on stage, and i find that instead of seeking fame thru funny insights and the written word, i like to merrily plod along and do my Work; whatever Work that may be. So my new philosophy is: If you notice… GREAT. If not, that’s ok too.

On animation i should note that i purchaised a Tablet PC and slowly but surely i’ve been getting back in my drawing. It’s been a blast and something I have been chewing at the bit to do for quite some time. I kid-tested my monitor this weekend by allowing my 10 year old neice to design prom dresses in Corel Painter. It was a great success!!! As hard as she pressed, she didn’t scratch the screen. I was most impressessed.

On the pregnancy front I should mention: I have an alien in my belly and she definitely doesn’t like it when i lay on my back.