Duel in Ether

Onward and Upward

2008-08-12T18:25:11+01:00

The pitch bible I've been slaving over for some odd months is nearing completion and not a moment too soon. I'm dying to get back to animation and we're fresh off our first festival nod. For those interested we didn't take home the prize, but we feel a nomination is a good sign.

There's talk of putting the Duel on hold (again) for a different approach on the animated world we're building. Perhaps something not so... episodic. Trust me, I want nothing more than to continue the Duel (being in the heartache-inducing position of having read all the scripts and knowing all the places it will take us,) but the simple fact is to continue the Duel we need money as well as a team that can do it justice.

We're moving ahead with what we decide is best for our series and you can put money on this: With all the hands-on experience I've had working in the NYC animation scene, the next thing I get my hands on is going to be fucking ace.

AoF: The Official Laurel...

2008-07-26T22:09:00+01:00

Tomorrow will be a fine day for all of us involved in the production of Ether. As previously posted, The Weak and the Wicked will screen as part of the Action on Film International Film Festival and just to make it a little more official...

Cheers to everyone who made this possible! Hopefully we'll be celebrating a win for best animation, but win or lose we will toast to the many exciting endeavors on Ether's horizon!

AoF Nomination: Best Animation!

2008-07-02T14:41:51+01:00

The official nomination has arrived. The Weak and the Wicked is up for Best Animation at the Action on Film Festival 2008 and we couldn't be more thrilled to see our baby getting some recognition. The screening mentioned last time hasn't changed. In a few short weeks you can catch TWTW on the big screen at the Laemmle Theater, located at One Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA on Sunday July 27, 2008 during the 1 pm Block.

I'm going to try to be there but either way if you're in the area you should drop in for our block. Tickets are on sale over at the Action on Film site.

I see it now, clear as a Sifrid Seer: there will be more, and soon.

Action on Film

2008-06-25T14:55:00+01:00

I just got an email from the Action on Film International Film Festival and we've got the screening date for youse. TWTW will be screening at the beautiful Laemmle Theater, located at One Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA on Sunday July 27, 2008 during the 1 pm Block.

There's no word on the category we've got the nomination for but it's safe to assume we're in the Best Animation category. Then again the fest also has awards like "Best Action Sequence - Martial Arts." That's right. The action sequence awards actually have subcategories. Hells yeah.

I'd also like to mention that our pitchbook is coming along smashingly. Some of the best character and background work I've ever done. This could explain why it's taking me so bloody long.

It's hard to believe but we've been working on Ether for 4 years next month...

Official Selection - AOF

2008-05-03T15:32:11+01:00

Good news, Etherites. The Weak and the Wicked has been selected to screen at the 2008 Action on Film Festival in California. It takes place the week of July 25th.

We hear through a mutual friend that Thicker Than Water has also been accepted- albeit into the Live Action category.

We're still waiting on the official schedule. I'll keep you posted!

-JM-

TV on the Internets

2008-03-07T16:16:53+01:00

There's been much confusion over our talk of "episodes," and what we're currently working on. I'd like to stress that Ether is, first and foremost, a concept for an animated series to air on Television. We've got 8 full-length episodes written, and barring a few more simple draft changes and grammar corrections, these are completed.

In 2005, with an earlier site build, we approached a representative of a pretty high-up cable network about our idea, to which the main question was "Do you have any animation?" We faltered a bit, pretty sure that the idea was to get some resources or money and THEN start production, but just the same it was decided to attempt a smaller web production to have something to show and maybe gain some attention. Thus, the "Duel in Ether," series of shorts was spawned.

The Duel is a series of shorts featuring a few of the main characters from the television series, with new locations, new characters, and a smaller episodic breadth- though no less 'epic' in scope. Currently there are 9 of these written with a plan for a few more to create a full arc for the shorts leading up to the start of the show proper.

At the moment I'm putting together the pitchbook for the main show, which will be a 20-30 page monster of story, data, and plenty of new concept art. The Duel has geared down a bit due to lack of art and animation support and so my duties shift to the main series as this is truly our baby and cash crop, so to speak.

So thanks to you who are pumped about the Duel, I apologize as it seems the second episode, "Bandit Dreams," will be a bit of a wait while the TV series gets a bump back to the spotlight.

For the Time Being

2008-02-02T10:02:00+01:00

It's been a while since we posted. If you're a new visitor, we hope you enjoy The Weak and the Wicked as much as we do. It's certainly not perfect, and we'd love for it to be just as gorgeous as a short from Gobelins or a serial from Production I.G, but there is no Great Ether Committee and we have but one animator. Many have been asking about Episode 2's status and the general answer is that it's on indefinite hold for that very reason. To put out the quality we strive for, and promise to everyone, and demand of ourselves, we require more resources. And let's be honest, true animators are a dying breed- despite the promise of a forthcoming 2-D renaissance that has yet to appear in the United States.

We continue to flesh out the world of Ether, of course, and between the numerous full-length episodic television episodes we've completed, the remaining short films to be produced, and the mountainous pitchbook currently being forged, we're not for want of content.

No, content and characters for this IP have never been an issue. We stand upon a veritable gemstone of an original IP, shouting through the foggy din of Remakes and Rehashses: "OVER HERE!!!" But no, our issue is, as it continues to be, finding a dedicated group of animators and artists willing, and able, to offer us their time. We have offered wages and freelance pay, to continued empty promises and flaky commitments.

At this point I must thank everyone in our team who has continued to offer their support and time; you've been wonderful. We continue on without those whom have not.

SO! Onward to the pitchbook and presentation, and a Story Reel, or animatic, of the entire pilot episode.

-JM-

Do Bandits Dream of Electric Goats Pt. I

2007-07-19T14:05:00+01:00

A rough shot from episode 2 is online over at the YouTube. Just a wink and a nudge from the Ether team that things are progressing on the next short. I've neglected the "making of," segments for a while, as the current production has superseded anything from the last- but I may decide to remedy this in the near future.

The Ether Lexicon is also awake, essentially a glossary of characters, cities, mythos, biology, and civilizations that we create. The catch is, we'll only be adding things as they're presented in the series, as to not spoil necessary reveals and revelations to come. In other words, speaking of the characters- they'll be updated in a specific fashion.

All the best.

We All Tube for You Tube!

2007-06-02T14:57:13+01:00

One might now find a smaller and slightly more pixellated version of The Weak and the Wicked over on YouTube for the ultimate convenience of embedding it on the blogs and MySpace pages of your closest friends and most wily enemies!

There's many exciting new things (besides episode 2) that are off the drawing board and into the foundry! I wish I could spill the beans but they're still very much stewing on the pot. Suffice it to say that the world we've built is big enough for much more than a single project.

Siteings

2007-05-04T22:27:28+01:00

Apologies for anyone who tried to access our short in the last few hours. I've been messing with with files and had some trouble getting everything back in place. The old trailer has been replaced with a cut specifically from The Weak and the Wicked. If you missed the old trailer it'll be in our behind the scenes video section momentarily. Until then, check out the new cut and stay tuned to behind the scenes for more Pics of the Week and production news!