Serial Game Movie

3 Questions Following Up Giving Up and Saddling Up

I am in the process of submitting my manuscript for my second childrens picture book to agents. I got a solid referral to a high-profile agent. The referral came from one of the agents award-winning illustrators. I sent my letter and submission but havent heard anything back after about two weeks. Should I follow-up? If so, should I follow-up with e-mail, or snail mail?

I would like to resume submitting my ms to other agents if hes not interested, and one agent had suggested revisions, so I dont want to keep her waiting.

What should I do?

A couple weeks is a very short time for most agents, so it would be nice if youd give him a little more time before emailing to follow up.

Unless you told him that it was an exclusive submission, though, I would not wait to continue submitting elsewhere.

I have written what I think to be the cutest little childrens picture book on boogers. However I keep getting rejected. With books like Captain Underpants, I thought my rhyming book would be at least acceptable material for a picture book, kids love things funny and gross. One potential agent even said it was "cute". Should I scrap the project all together?

Wow, an agent said it was cute?

Im sorry, sometimes the sarcasm just comes out before I can stop it. When youve gotten a few more rejections, youll start realizing that a lot of the soft words agents and editors use to cushion the blow are about as meaningful as feathers. The flip side of this is that a lot of the hard words that deliver the blow are meaningless, too. A rejection, whatever the words used, means nothing more than "no".

I cant tell you why your particular manuscript is getting rejected. Possibly agents are worried that since picture books are bought far more often by parents than are chapter books (Captain Underpants rose to popularity on the spending habits of children), the topic is too likely to foster bad behavior and conversation no one wants at the dinner table. Still, there are examples-- David Greenbergs Slugs-- of picture books that manage to be popular and disgusting. So perhaps your rhyme is not as solid as it needs to be?

Yes, after a certain number of rejections, its probably time to put that manuscript in a drawer somewhere... but its a pretty big number. Good luck with it.

I have a question that Im thinking you could answer. I have a cowboy poem that is Christmas oriented. I envision it in a childrens book format, although the poem itself is equally appealing to adults. So, what Im thinking is a few lines of the poem on a page along with an illustration. My question I guess is will this work, and if so, how do I go about submitting something like that and to whom?

I cannot tell from this whether it will work. Youll need to read a bunch of picture books, and read about picture book page counts to be sure you have enough action to carry the poem through a standard picture book length.

As for who you should submit to and how, this is research you need to do. Im sure there are authors in my readership who have some ideas-- and authors (and agents) generally know more about publisher submission guidelines and various publisher tastes than editors do. But market research is an important learning process for new authors, so you need to do this work. Good luck, partner.

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19th Birthday Post My Favourite Films About Growing Up That I Watched While Growing Up

This is a really dark birthday candle picture but I think its pretty and theres no 19th birthday photos anyway

Hi, I know, two posts in one week...damn the world must be headed for an apocalypse or something. Rather, it is my 19th birthday tomorrow. Which is interesting because I feel absolutely no excitement for this new age because it doesnt really mean anything. It is like being 17 - that awkward gap between sweet 16 and the big 18. So when it came time for me to think about doing a birthday post, I really didnt have anything to draw on because theres no such thing as R19 movies here (although there probably would be, considering that New Zealands rating system is just ridiculous) and Ive already "grown up" since I have to pay full adult price for everything now.

Seriously, it sucks having to draw my attention away from the kids menu at restaurants because Im an adult so I have to get steak.

In my thinking, though, I came to the realisation that even though 19 isnt a particularly special milestone age, this is the first birthday in my "new life", you could say. Gone are the days of growing up in a small town, since now Ive lived in Christchurch for over six months and passed my first semester of university. I no longer have to go grocery shopping with mum but I can buy chocolate whenever I want which is honestly the best part of growing up. Oh, and did I mention that I have a cinema five minutes bus ride away, with three others within a half an hour radius? If thats not cool, then I dont know what is.

In a way, 19 is a pretty important age to be. Whereas 18 is the age where you get slapped with the label "grown up", whether youre ready or not, by the time youre 19 youve done a spectacular amount of growing up. Well, I guess thats just how I feel now since a lot has changed since I turned 18 (I say this every year, but I could probably say now that just about every aspect of my life is so different from what it was last year). In celebration of that fact, heres a whole lot of films that taught me a bit about growing up while I was growing up. Dont expect John Hughes films (dont get me wrong, they had their influence), but more a bunch of films that came out at vital times in my life and gave me a bit of perspective. And yeah, things get mushy.


An Education - Earlier this year I outlined my intense love for this film, mainly because it shows the struggles of living up to unreasonable expectations in every way possible. Ive always found myself to be a little bit of a Jenny, trying my best to do things that I dont really care for, working hard but hoping that therell be a little bit of fun around the corner, and maybe being a little too pretentious for my age (now Im grown up and living with a whole lot of engineers, Im just known as the weird Arts degree student). Just as the title suggests, it has always been a film that I go back to get an education, whether it be about getting a "real" education or an education from "the university of life".




500 Days of Summer - Just because it gives you a lot of perspective on idealising and relying on other people to make you happy. And relationship stuff. And that expectations/reality scene still hurts me to this very day. Also, it spurred my five year long crush on Joseph Gordon-Levitt who is one of my favourite human beings on the planet and who inadvertently taught me how to be a better person. So I guess that counts as growing up also, doesnt it?


Cemetery Junction - This is an extremely underrated and underseen film, but one Ive held dear to my heart since I first gave it a blind watch in late 2010. Most of the reason why I connected with it so well (and pretty much whoever else I showed it to) was the fact that I lived in a place very similar to Cemetery Junction, where people very comfortably exist and dont really know whats going on outside of the town. Its something that Ive always hated and found most gratifying when I got out of Dannevirke, because the idea of making do with what little is there and existing is not one that Ive ever really enjoyed. Yet, the strange thing is that the people I grew up with became the new generation of people who could help Dannevirke be a better place, but we all left because we were so over it. And thats what Cemetery Junction is effectively about - those who outgrow their surroundings and what theyve always done, vs those who are far too comfortable with it. Of course, this is a film by Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais so theres a bit of off-humour in there, but this film deserves a lot more credit than it ever got.


Young Adult - This film isnt so much about growing up as it is about those who never grow up. Even though it never sets foot in a high school, it is just as much about high school as something like, say, Mean Girls. Mavis Gary may be somewhat successful, but everything she is about is all about who she was in high school. And that kind of fascinates me, since high school was generally a pretty okay time for me but you cant really apply any of the social things you learned at high school to real life. Basically - I dont wanna turn out like Mavis Gary. But shes a fascinating character nonetheless.


Before Sunrise/Before Sunset/Before Midnight - Basically because this film has given me a lot of conversations which I hope to have in the future. It isnt really about growing up, but more about living, and it is beautiful.


The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Obviously this was going to make the list. The Perks of Being a Wallflower was my go to movie last year. Through all of the good times and the tough times, it was always there. It was kind of a perfect film to have around when I was doing my final year of high school since most of it was about those final days (even if it was through the eyes of a junior) and those moments that make you alive as a teenager. Even at the risk of sounding like a little oversaturated Tumblr kid, the teenage years are the time to feel infinite. I kind of miss that feeling already.


The Spectacular Now - Just as The Perks of Being a Wallflower was there for my final high school year, The Spectacular Now came into my life right at the very end. It was just one of those movies that came along at a perfect time. As Ive said before, I am Aimee and that scares me a lot but it has comforted me a little bit through some trying times. Thats the real beauty of film in general - when you find a movie that you really connect with, theyre the best at giving you advice on life because someone is actually thinking like you. Plus, Im not gonna lie, but the final days of high school are actually pretty terrifying when youre not entirely sure of what you wanna do and you just wanna live in the "now". Even though pretty much everything is based on how well you do as a teenager, it is the time when you wanna live in the "now". The Spectacular Now is a pretty sad deconstruction of that, but itll probably be the film I go back to in order to live these formative years.


Boyhood - I realise that I only just saw this last week, but the bottom line is: this film is actually like watching my childhood unfold because the course of the film runs parallel to the time which I grew up in. Also, I love this film a lot. Thats really all I can say.

What were the films that told you about growing up? Any thoughts on being 19?

Available link for download

2010 Golden Globe Award for UP

We had a little champagne toast this morning with the guys. Hip hip! Hurray!

I almost missed it. I was driving home and caught the original broadcast winding down. I got email and notices on line congratulating me. I did see Pete Docter accept the award on the rebroadcast as well as Bob Peterson and Jonas Rivera in their group hug. Amazing.

ABC interview of Pete

Apparently they hung out with Paul McCartney quite a bit and noted that hes such a gentleman and a lot of fun.

My congratulations to Michael Giancchino for his Golden Globe win as well. I am very lucky to have worked with his music on this movie and on the Dug short.

Michael Giacchino after the award Q & A Wait for Pete heckling Michael.

Honored to have served on the movie with the entire UP crew. Among the highlights of being in this business I can say this is the brightest.

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6th Sketch Up Sculptures

Research:
1. 2. 3. Go to THIS PAGE for sculpture videos and examples. Ms. Fowler will present.
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (new sculptures)

CA Franconia Trip

Franconia Video
Olympic Sculpture Park
Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Other videos:
Creators Project Underwater Sculpture park
Theo Jansen

Sculpture Garden websites:
Walker Sculpture Garden
Franconia
Olympic Sculpture Park

4. Outdoor Sculptures

CA students at the Walker Sculpture Garden

5. What is scale? Scale (Element of art)

6. Pick two random adjectives to incorporate into your sculpture. Pick the first two, no cheating!

Past student examples

Design:

Google Sketch-Up tutorial video

Extra Time games:

HomeStyler
3Dtin

Available link for download

100 Verses Catch Up and Facebook Giveaway

      If youve been keeping up with my blog posts, then you know Ive been keeping busy with "nesting" projects around the house.  But you may have noticed that a fallen a bit...ahem...behind on my 100 Verses posts.  I do apologize!

     Nevertheless, the 100 Bible Verses in 2013 Facebook page is still active with over 400 members.  And I am happy to report that I am still keeping up with my goal of memorizing 2 verses a week!  Actually, those of us at the Facebook page are celebrating 25 verses memorized this week with a fun giveaway!  This giveaway is only happening on the Facebook page, but you are welcome to request to join if you are not already a member to get all of the entry details.  I did want to tell you a little about each awesome company that donated to our giveaway...

Robert J. Morgan

     Robert J. Morgan is the author of 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart which is the text that we are basing our 100 Verses in 2013 Challenge on.  From his website:

"Rob Morgan is the pastor of The Donelson Fellowship in Nashville, Tennessee, where he has served for over 31 years. He is a best-selling and Gold-Medallion winning writer with over 25 books in print and over 3.5 million in print circulation."

     His other best sellers include Red Sea Rules and Then Sings My Soul.  Youll find devotionals, study guides, childrens books and more at his website. 


      Lilla Rose is a direct sales company that offers a variety of beautiful hair products including Flexi clips, O Rings, Hair bands, Hair sticks, and Bobby pins.  Recently I wrote a review of their new product called You-pins.  You can read my review here, but just in case Ill give you a bit of a spoiler...I loved them!

     The Flexi Clip design is unique to Lilla Rose and can be worn in the hair in several ways.  Lilla Rose consultant Jennifer Miller has donated the choice of either the mini Classic Etched Cross Flexi clip (pictured above) or the medium Bronze Celtic Cross Flexi clip (not pictured because it is a discontinued style) to our Facebook giveaway.

     To say thank you for Jennifers donation, please support Jennifer by registering as a customer at http://www.lillarose.biz/prettyhair/ .  (Make sure it says prettyhair in the url so that you are not directed away to another consultants site.)  To register, click "shop now" then "create a new account."  Of course, you may also support her by purchasing Lilla Rose products at her website as well!

 Scripture Stickies
      Wow, am I excited that Julie from Scripture Stickies contacted me about her familys online business!  This neat product goes hand-in-hand with our 100 Verses Challenge.

    From the website: "(Scripture Stickies are) stickable Bible verses designed to help you memorize, meditate, encourage, and evangelize the Word of God.  They are great way to memorize Bible verses and make them really stick!"


      Most Scripture Stickies packs come with 10 stickable Bible verses (2 each of five different verses) and many themes are available.  Themes include Dont Worry, God Will Provide, Hope, and many more.  Kids study packs, Seasonal packs, and Party favor packs are available as well.

     Scripture Stickies uses 3Ms adhesive technology so that they will stick to any surface and can easily be removed.  You can post them around the house for meditation and memorization, or post them on gifts, in lunch boxes, or around your community for encouragement and evangelizing.

     Julie has lovingly offered one free Scripture Stickies pack of the winners choice in their preferred translation to our Facebook giveaway!  You can purchase your own Scripture Stickies at www.scripturestickies.com . 

Finally, lets play a game of catch-up!  Here are Weeks 10 - 13 memory verses.

Week 10 verses:

1 John 5:11-12  " And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."

Week 11 verses:

John 14: 1-2  "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Fathers house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you."

Week 12 verses:

John 14:3  "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

John 14:6  "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Week 13 verses:

John 14:27  "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Isaiah 26:3  "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."

 

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2014 Catching Up

Hello everyone, I know its been a while since the last post and Id really like to keep this place alive. The fact is that, since I got back from Los Angeles were Ive been working on ME AND MY SHADOW at Dreamworks Animation in 2013, I had a fairly busy year of 2014, working independently from my place in Paris. I would indeed love to share the work I did these past few months, but unfortunately and for the reason you may know, I will have to wait before being allowed to show anything. So the stuff I did does include some development for Aardman Animation on a project directed by Peter Lord, same thing on a TV show directed by the super nice Jan Lachauer (Room on the Broom). Ive been keeping up 2D animation too, with a contribution on the end credits sequence of THE BOXTROLLS for Laika, and a few scenes on Juanjo Guarnidos project FREAK OF THE WEEK for the swedish Metal band Freak Kitchen. Ive been animating with some good friends there.

Next to this I wanted to announce that my first short film THE INSPECTOR AND THE UMBRELLA is finished and will hopefully soon be released in festivals and internet.

I will post new things pretty soon, including animation pencil tests and some personal stuff that Im currently developping. I hope that you can enjoy it ! And thanks a lot to those who keep passing by !

Cheers !

Available link for download

6th Media Arts Sketch Up Sculpture

Research:
1. 2. 3. Go to THIS PAGE for sculpture videos and examples. Ms. Fowler will present.
Sculpture Garden websites:
Walker Sculpture Garden
Franconia
Olympic Sculpture Park

4. Outdoor Sculptures

CA students at the Walker Sculpture Garden

5. What is scale? Scale (Element of art)

6. Pick descriptive words

Past student examples

Design:

Google Sketch-Up tutorial video
Sculpture in Sketch Up

Extra Time games:

HomeStyler
Architect Studio 3D (might not work)
My Imaginary City

Available link for download

90s Slang Catch Phrase Mash Up Volume 2

Slang and colloquial expressions have a certain way of dating things. At the time, these phrases seemed so unspeakably fresh and modern, but in retrospect its clear that these slangy expressions are laughable at best. When we look back at the way we spoke just 10 or 15 years ago, its easy to cringe at the ridiculous words and phrases we peppered into our daily conversation to feel hip and cool. Ill raise the roof to that.

Whether you were a frequent user and abuser of the days trendiest terminology or simply dabbled in them recreationally, you cant deny their ubiquitousness in the 90s. Much as we may like to bury it away in our past, most of us were guilty of using these expressions at one point or another. I say, embrace your cheesy slang-dropping former self and revel in the wonder that is 90s slang--part two*:



Boo-Ya


Definition: (noun) Nonsensical noise to be used in situations where one emerges victorious over others and wishes to rub it in. The preferred exclamation of sore winners everywhere.

See also: In your face, BAM!

Example: I just got Jimmy in the face with my Super Soaker. Boo-ya!


Yo Mama


Definition: (noun) Your mother. While this seemingly innocuous phrase may not hold an inherent insult, its context usually suggests a derogatory connotation. In many cases followed by "so fat" or "so ugly" and an expository joke at your innocent mothers expense. As your mother is generally not directly involved in the back-and-forth trading of insults, its use suggests that your inherent familial stock resides at a Depression-era low. Plus, its just mean.

Example: Yo mamas so fat that when she sits around the house, she sits around the house.

Note: You could probably throw in a boo-ya at the end of that for good measure.


Whos Your Daddy?



Definition: (question, inquiry) Literally, who is your father? Maury Povich has spent countless television episodes examining this very topic, but this single phrase allows a similar impact with significantly less DNA sampling. The expression signifies your dominance over a competitor, implying you have embarrassed him to the extent that you have ascended to the rank of his father. Usually not accompanied by an outright spanking, but the phrase elicits a verbal one.

Example: Oh, I just schooled you in French verb conjugation! Whos your daddy?
Also acceptable in above example: Qui est votre pere?


Open Up a Can of Whoop-Ass

Definition: (verb) A generally empty threat of physical harm to another.

Process: Hold the can of whoop-ass perpendicular to a flat surface. Using a can opener or sharp knife, carefully pierce the outer edge of the lid. Peel lid from can. Discard. Proceed to beat the crap out of someone.

Example: Im about to open up a can of whoop-ass on whoever graffiti-ed obscenities all over my Trapper Keeper.


Whassup

Definition: (question, inquiry) What is up. Not meant to be taken literally, though true pains in the butt may gleefully respond, "The sky." Best received in delivered into the phone at an irritating decibel level with an incessant lengthening of each letter.

More: Budweiser popularized this pronunciation in an incredibly catchy but undeniably irritating 1999 ad campaign.

See also: How are you, whats new, whats (up arrow)

Example: Im probably going to do something Ill regret if I have to watch that Whasssssuuuuppp?? commercial one more time. Im warning you.


Raise the Roof


Definition: (verb) To delight in ones success. An outward expression of ones prideful joy.

Process: Bend arms upward, palms facing above you. Pump flat palms upwards several times in succession. Enjoy.

We would also accept: Remove roof from house. Raise skywards.

Example: This party is kickin--raise the roof!


Word (to your Mother)


Definition: (interjection) A salutation or indication of agreement. The "to your mother" part is optional, but reflects firmer agreement.

See also: I concur, well said sir

Example: Yo man, lets get out of here. Word to your mother.

Note: That example has been shamelessly lifted from the song "Ice Ice Baby"


As If
Definition: (exclamation, interjection) A comical expression of exaggerated outrage. Popularized by Cluelesss Cher Horowitz, the phrase indicates ones speculation on the unlikeliness of a situational outcome.

Example: Ugh, get off of me! As if!


Aiight

Definition: (adverb) An alternative pronunciation of "all right"; an indication of agreement with an inexplicable aversion to l-r connectivity.

Example: "You up for going out tonight?" "Aiiiiight."


Duh!


Definition: (exclamation, interjection) Of course, certainly. A reactive response to stupidity and obviousness. Grated on the nerves of a generation of parents who did not appreciate the sass.

Example: "Did you clean your room?" "Duh!"


My Bad

Definition: (interjection) Assumption of guilt or blame; admission of a mistake.

Example: (Nearly kills man on bicycle in out-of-control, poorly driven Jeep) "Oops! My bad!"
Note: Yes, thats a scene from Clueless. Chers coinage is legendary.


Phat
Definition: (adjective) According to slang lore, an acronym for "Pretty Hot and Tempting." An urban word adopted by suburban poseurs in typical filter-down slang fashion. Experienced extreme overuse and outwearing of welcome in the late 90s. For clarification purposes, may need qualifying statement regarding the "P-H" spelling.

See also: Cool, Jiggy...yes, Jiggy.

Example: "Man, that girl is phat. With a p-h. Also, kind of with an f."



*Find part 1 of the Children of the 90s Catch Phrase Mash-Up here

Available link for download