“How are you?”
“Good, and you?
“Good”
—silence—

This is the last set of the new film, the clock shop. I’ll need to add a few more details before shooting, but for now what a relief to finish all the sets!
The construction went fast, it was only less than 2 weeks.

I wish I could live here. (Well, I actually prefer the bakery over this clock shop)
We put so much care into these miniature houses that they are far more thought-out and decorated than our own house.

Our hope is that once we move, we will slowly put more care into our surroundings, which will happen soon. Because starting June, we are moving into a new studio which we will share with our friend, Rachel from Red Prairie Press ! So excited! I have been missing the artist studio environment since I left the Netherlands so when Rachel asked if we want to share the studio space with her, I did not even have to think for a sec. (Animation talk: I only thought about it for only 1 frame, and did not need 23.976 frames)
Pictures will come soon when we’re settled in.

Back to set building! One set a week!
After a long period of staring at computer monitors, it’s so nice to physically touch and smell materials.
These are all minor sets for 1-3 shots. So not much detail compare to other sets.

A peak into a little bedroom of the baker.

Plump Lady’s living room.

Oulala. Loving time!

Now, moving on to the final set which is the clock shop. I’m having mixed feelings of excitement to finish set-building and sad that it’s the last one since it’s my favorite part of making a film.
Anybody in Baltimore area who wants to join me making 50+ miniature non-working clocks….?

Bicycles are very versatile.

I’ve noticed that it’s been awhile since I posted work-in-progress from our new film.
Are we even working on the film? Yes we are. In fact, working VERY hard!
Since September, it’s been mainly character animation in Cinema 4D.
We are happy to say that 95% of the film is animated!
But it looks like this

We call this “Film Puberty”. It’s this awkward, middle stage that you don’t want to show to anybody.
Remember when you were in middle school and you just wanted to hide out in your bedroom?
As you can see, without the texture, final render, background and atmosphere, it doesn’t feel right.
With all the rig controls (colorful boxes, arrows and lines), the scenes feels so mechanical.
In a way, the animatic stage had more emotion.
So we have 13.5 minutes of this awkward and cold stage of the film.
That’s why I haven’t updated anything.

And this is how it will look.

Another one.
Before

After

Max has been working on the final lighting, rendering and compositing and sequences are starting to look like how it should be.
I will be back on making the last 3 sets next week. I’ve been in front of the computer for the past 6 months that I’m excited to be back on working with my hands. Soon enough, we’ll pass the puberty stage and have more mature parts.

Everybody is very particular about bread.

An event that comes every year.

My friend, Ayumi, had an idea to craft an air balloon for his son, Taro. Somehow, I got obsessed with this idea and made an air balloon! She has been a wonderful and supportive friend in the Netherlands so I wanted to make something to thank her.

Flying all over Tilburg.

Since I finished making the air balloon right before I left Holland that I didn’t get to see Taro’s reaction. Thankfully Ayumi took pictures and sent them to me.