Well I have finally completed the video to accompany my track 'Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band The Sun is Down! (The Darkland Sensual Garden Remix)' and I have to say I am truly surprised and excited at the final cut. This is my first time ever doing a real music video or an animated feature or being a director or even going into the video foray. 'My love is Forever' doesn't count. That was me trying to keep something current on the net while I worked out my next plan of action and taught myself After Effects.
There were times and events that almost led to it not being completed. Like two trips to the e.r., the non-use of my right hand for two weeks due to tendinitis and having been bed-ridden the last two weeks due to a bout of pancreatitis that I refuse to give in to. I wanted this project completed at all costs!
I intended to have it uploaded in time for Yoko's birthday, but the pancreatitis made it very difficult to work.
I have a whole new appreciation for the art of animation. I have always been a huge fan from Bugs Bunny to Beavis and Butthead to The Simpsons and South Park. I had no idea what I was about to attempt.
The final product did not stray very far at all from the vision I had when I sat down to start this project. Fortunately, I have years of graphic art behind me to at least aid in getting what I see in my head to the screen. But, editing and syncing and time-stretching and camera directing and lights and just WOW! To come up with 5:07 minutes of animation is time consuming and tedious even if it is a labor of love. Accentuated even more-so if you are a director with a short attention span. That means animate everything and keep the attention of a viewer like me!!!!!!
I have been quite surprised at the response the first minute and a half of the video has received. So, here I sit excited to be able to share my artistic vision with the world at large. Normally when I do any work it is only seen by whomever contracted me for the work and my inner circle as I pass it around for feedback. This is truly the first time I am releasing anything visually artistic to a world that only knows what I sound like, LOL.
I'm happy to bring this project to a successful completion and hope the response to the video as a whole is as good, if not better, than it has been for the New Year's Eve posting of the first minute and a half.
Not sure if anyone ever reads this but:
Shout out to Luke Kurtis! Thanks for the use of your video.
Visit his channel at http://www.youtube/com/user/lukekurtis.
Yoko: Thanks for the great project that helped me find my feet as a director, animator and remix artist and gave me back my music.
Cheers to all and hope you enjoy the video!
AJ
