Congratulations on your music video for "Wasted". What a spectacular and complex piece of animation. How long did it take to complete?
Thank you. Well, I started it about a year ago in August of 2007. I had to stop altogether in December when I had to direct second unit on Love Ranch in New Mexico and couldn't get back to it until after another movie I did in the spring in Boston called The Proposal. In all, I probably completed it in about six months elapsed time.
How did you get involved in the project?
I am a big fan of Matthew Bryan. We met here in Vermont and I thought, wow, this guy is a unique raw talent that people need to know about. When he decided to move to Austin and pursue his career there, I offered to make him a video so he would have a kind of "calling card". As a painter, I would hire Matthew as a model and thought it would be great to combine the two mediums.
Is the process similar to what you do as a storyboard artist?
Similar in the way that in order to get it done I have to draw like a madman without even thinking about going back and making adjustments and changes to what I had already drawn. Very different in that it was much more of a creative endeavor with no restraints and I approached it as if I were just animating my doodles and free-form sketches that would reflect whatever was in my mind when I sat down that day to draw. The only constant was sticking to the mood of what I felt when I first heard his song and keeping Matthew well-rendered so that we could actually see him singing. He is amazing to watch.
When did you start drawing?
I always liked to draw, but somehow I was convinced that it wasn't a legit profession for an Ivy Leaguer to do for a living. I was a little ashamed of my talent, actually. I felt a bit like a living stereotype, in a way. The Latino artist making his way out of the barrio with a paint brush. Only there was no barrio. I was a football player and I couldn't speak Spanish.
Article comments
1 - MB
Amazing--can't wait for Welk!