Alright, first off I’ll just have to get it out there.
Episode 4 is due today. However, due to technical hurdles, we will be unlikely
to see it before tonight. Now, on to other news.
While working through the dragon animation, we discovered
some major issues with timing that we’re working to resolve. These eleventh
hour revisions tend to be a bit taxing. In better news, the team has put
together yet another fight scene for Season 2. It’s a joy to sit back and watch
them work.
Er… make that “observe from afar whilst training others.”
Animations for Episode 7 are almost completed, including
(but not limited to) a burning house. Now all that remains is the sound design.
Not my strong suit, but a rewarding process.
Now on to a more serious topic. During the time that I’ve
been writing these blogs, we’ve had our ups and downs, our trials and
tribulations, but I’ve always strove to cast them in the best light possible.
But, like the opening scene of The
Incredibles, eventually time runs out, and “okay” isn’t so okay anymore. To
be perfectly honest, I’m drained. Years of bucking the conventional wisdom, doing
big projects with almost no resources, volunteer cast and crew, and total
budgets smaller than the daily bottled water budget on your average film, have
finally taken their toll. We have done the impossible, and I’m quite proud of
that. But having little help and no money puts more weight on one pair of
shoulders than they were ever made to bear.
I need help, and I’m finally man enough to admit it to the
whole world. I’m caught between the rock of keeping my word and releasing the
episodes on time, and the hard place of the fact that I can’t even pay my rent.
We had hoped to film Season 2 this summer, but from where I sit that would be a
major miracle. So much needs to be done, but the stress and effort of releasing
the first season on time has drained me so that I don’t have the energy to do what
I must. (I hear being the writer/ director/ producer/ animation supervisor/ compositor/
color corrector/ sound designer/ editor/ social media manager/ casting agent/ set
designer/ propsman/ materials acquisition department/ ”I’m sure I’ve missed
some” does that.)
So if you have the means to help us, we would be grateful
for it. (Materials lists, cast and crew listings, and a donations button can be
found in the “Gatewalkers” section of our website Gatewalkers homepage) If not, I
understand. In the meantime I will go back to my work, and pray for a miracle.
Peace to you all.
