Deadline in Sight! (Good Thing?)

Well, since the last update was...

Oh, early October... wow, okay.

There's a reason for this apparent neglect, though, as we've been working very, very hard because we hope to enter AXES OF EVIL in the New York Television Festival Comedy Central Short Pilot Competition! The deadline is January 27th, requiring an 8-15 pilot presentation, and 8 minutes of animation, no matter how crappy, takes a long time. As of now, we have a little over 5, so with a month-and-a-half to go, we're in decent shape, but there's not really much time to slow down or proof-read blog entrees.

It's very exciting, though, as the winning pilot receives a development deal with Comedy Central! You can enter a sketch show, sitcom, animation - anything that would fit under the Comedy Central banner - but you shouldn't because we don't want any quality competition!

So don't.

Full-Frontal Nerdity

To those who are unaware (i.e. those who don't live with me), my average day is broken down as follows:

9 hours: Working for money/barrel-bottom scraping

2 hours (If I am lucky): Rotting in the subway

7 hours: This Axes thing

5 hours: Sleeping/Dreaming

1 hour: Eating/Bathing/Misc.

   Now that you know far too much about me, prepare for a little more. A few weeks ago, I used some "Misc. Time" to help direct a music video for good buddy and AXES OF EVIL voice-actor Joshua Desjardins, pictured below.

Bow-tie: Straight
Wearer: Not so much

  More recently, the video itself was unleashed upon the world, and has already made all of us very rich... in spirit or something. But yes, it's gotten some great responses, and even been featured on a few websites and blogs, including TV Addict and a meticulously detailed breakdown from FizzyPop. It's an unabashedly silly song and video, but it's also kind of an anthem of joy and pride and being yourself and there are lots of pretty colors, so watch it. I'm proud to have been involved.

Oh, also, the video itself:

Biggest Update Ever! (So Far!)

Get excited! As promised, an actual, fully-animated preview, in living color! Yes, this is the first cut of the  first scene of the first episode of the first... animated series starring a time-travelling King Solomon, at least as far as I know.

So, yes, without any more messing about, the video!

Don't forget, you can click the youtube icon for additional viewing options, like fullscreen n' stuff.

Someone please let me know if I can change the viewing settings here.

Keep in mind that this is not the ultimate final version, as there are a few little technical glitches and timing issues, as well as a lack of any sound effects or music. Nonetheless, it functions as a wonderful little preview for the madness and hilarity ahead.

Thanks for sticking around so far, and don't forget to tell all your friends, acquaintances, and co-workers!

Recording Complete

Great news: One phase among the multitude has been completed. After a rousing session earlier this week, all of the voices have been recorded! There for the occasion was another member of the AXES family, Matt Portman, who came all the way from the West Coast just to make sure everything went smoothly. Actually, he just happened to be in New York this week, but it was nonetheless great to have him. There were only two actors for this final round of recording, but jeepers did we ever have fun!

First, we had reigning "love-meister" Nate Chapman of Dateocracy fame as the Slumberjack...

Pending proposal for a live-action adaptation.

...and ABC Family heartthrob Zander Eckhouse in the role of God.

Seen here posing for a Windows XP background.

Both gave great performances, and really took the care to bring actual depth to their characters. I would like to take this opportunity to semi-publicly thank all those who have volunteered their time and talents to AXES thus far. Everyone, without exception, has given it their all, which will make my job much easier as I continue to animate this thing. With every session, I've been increasingly happy with my decision NOT to do all the voices myself. The next update, (hopefully) later this week, will be the BIGGEST EVER, so hang onto your modems!

Bible Comics!

Guess what? There's been progress.

   Last week, we successfully recorded even more voices, and there's just one more session on the way, most likely mid-September. In the meantime, there is kind of a lot of other work to be done, so I've begun some storyboards and - as referenced previously - actual animation!

   I may post some videos soon, but since posting pictures is far less complicated/labor-intensive, here are the completed storyboards for the opening scene, gloriously off-model. (Note to self: Make model sheet.)

As can see (if you do that whole "click and enlarge" thing), it is a very lovely recreation of everyone's favorite Old Testament romp. Now that I have it as a reference, I know that it will at least sort of work on screen. Only 1400 more drawings left before it's animated, so I'd better get moving.

Sunshine and Such

Still plugging away... backgrounds... storyboards... organizing the second and hopefully final recording session for next week. Speaking of which, a shout-out and thank you to Solar Film/Video Productions for providing AXES with recording facilities. Quality studios are hard to come by, and they're usually super expensive, so I must express my appreciation to owner/president/oddity Eric Lau. Also, filmmaker friends, if you're in the NYC area and are looking to improve your production chops, I oh-so-shamelessly must point you to Eric's monthly lighting workshop. He's done some seminars on behalf of Apple (COMPUTERS!), had Oscar-nominated participants, and I'm seriously done plugging now.

  With the nod to Solar behind us, I feel it's time to go in the complete opposite direction and post something with a flagrant lack of sun, so here it is: the tower of the Electrocutioner.

Maybe some day I'll have something to show besides backgrounds, like possibly animation or something. You won't want to miss it!

Sound Studio Success!

What a week! The first recording session for Axes is over! Lots of fun, fantastic cast, but I'm glad to be through it. With production ramping up, there may be some changes to this here blog, which might mean fewer updates, but rest assured: progress is happening. And now, as a partial non-sequitur, here's a poster from Finn's room. Is there anyone out there who would NOT want to see this movie?

Our Neo-Pop Phase? Something Like That.

   I was just taking a trip down memory lane, (or the online equivalent), and came across this old gem. Although it's not directly related to AXES OF EVIL, it does mark the first animated collaborative effort of the AXES team, (that is: the creative team, not the characters). It's a bit superfluous, but given the success of a certain movie this past week, it's at least sort of relevant. Also, I have nothing interesting to say about production right now. How disconcerting.

Mini-Update: Evening in Harlem

Although I learned last time that "Mini-Update" results in "Mini-Interest," there hasn't been a lot of progress this weekend other than additional casting and artwork, (exciting, but more of the same). Eagle-eyed viewers might have noticed some Christmas signage within the previously posted butcher shop background, but been confused by the lack of Christmas weather. This update remedies that baffling conundrum, and showcases the versatility of these backgrounds. Not only is the winter setting more clear, but it's also nighttime!

Because we wanted to make the sight gags harder to spot.

Admittedly, this is a baby-step. I won't be posting every single tiny bit of artwork associated with Axes in the future, but these backgrounds are the brunt of production right now. I'm also learning a lot about both Photoshop and After Effects, so hooray for career-related skill development!

Friendship, Love, and Meat

  Amazingly enough, we actually got some responses to our casting call, and it looks like we may be on track to record within the next two weeks. Don't let that discourage you or your thespian comrades from e-mailing us, though, as there are still some choice parts remaining. There's still a chance to join our talented cast.

  Speaking of our talented cast, (segue alert!), our very own Nate Chapman has just unleashed his own project into an unsuspecting world. Since he's been working so darn hard, and it's turning out really incredible, here's a link to Dateocracy! As the host, Nate explains the concept pretty succinctly, so I won't overdo it here, but it's a more-than-nifty online dating show with a bunch of fun, interactive twists. Go support Nate and Dateocracy with your participation!

  Back to Axes, though, because that's really why we're all here, (unless you are one of the many who got here by mistake). All you media-lovers may now sink your teeth into this freeze-frame worthy background, unless you're a vegetarian, in which case you may silently disapprove.

  Don't forget to click the picture in order to get a full-size view. There are a lot of mediocre sight gags and details, and five seconds of eventual screentime won't justify the thought and work put into them. Okay, that's all for now. You have our permission to have a good weekend.

Make a Choice: Contribute Your Voice

   The script should be completely finished by the end of this week, so we are about to enter a new phase of production: VOICEOVER RECORDING. We already have a talented handful of performers confirmed, but there are still a few parts, both major and minor, that still need to be cast. We have super-professional recording facilities available as well, so it won't be long before we have an aurally transcendent vocal track. In the meantime, we've got this blog space, so why not use it to extend a casting call to our biggest fans!?

   If you or anyone you know, (based in either the New York or Los Angeles areas), are interested in participating, please send an email expressing enthusiasm to axesofevilofficial@gmail.com, subject line: CASTING. We've got characters of all ages, genders, and nationalities, so even if there's no place for you in the pilot, who knows who we'll need down the line. Résumés and links to reels are encouraged, but not necessary. Headshots... significantly less necessary, but who doesn't like pictures?

   Speaking of pictures, what would these updates be without some sort of visual stimulation? Thus, here is a forest floor background, which will be integrated into the previously posted Canadian vista shot. In fact, it already has! We'll be sure to post it once some additional elements have been added.

(Our) First Animation Test Video Ever!!!

   This past week has seen quite a bit of action for us, production-wise. We've had an acceptably productive pair of script meetings, begun to solidify our marketing (i.e. awareness) strategy out west, and even managed to churn out the following animation test, featuring the Slumberjack's home turf.

   So behold, as we start with this masterful sketch:

which leads to this delightful rendering:


and then, finally, this video composite:

  Once again, this is just a test, so there are a couple of rough edges to iron out. The pink void that takes up the entire second half will be replaced with a background of the forest floor, followed by fighting and frolicking, we promise. Keep those modems running, there's more to come.

Character Introduction #5: The Electrocutioner

Your wait is over, eager readers, as the final member of the team is revealed!

The Electrocutioner (Anonymous Finch)

Age: 36

Plucked from: London, England, 1240 AD

   During the height of his career, Anonymous was a living legend as a killing machine, having essentially picked up where the plague left off. He was so well-respected that all future executioners would take on his moniker as a tribute. In short, life was good for Anonymous, until one fateful night, when he was struck by lightning during a routine execution. Interpreting it as an act of God, a newly-recovered Anonymous adopted the attitude that it was not his place to take lives. Not only was he guilt-ridden over beating out smallpox in London's death poll, but he was also out of a job, so he left.

   Next came a pilgrimage, the discovery of his electric powers, me revealing the plot of the second episode, and Solomon. As part of the team, Anonymous is thankful to have a noble purpose in life, but his attempts at pacifism are tragic failures. Here's a tip: Don't let this man walk your dog.

   And that's it for the team, but that doesn't mean the fun's over. There's been plenty going on behind-the-scenes, so check back real soon.

Mini-Update: It's Good to be the King (We Assume)

   Oh, goodie! The crew just had a pleasant and productive bicoastal meeting. More on that later, but I was just so darn excited I thought we could all use a nice little update. Below is simply a test, combining the soon-to-be animated characters and backgrounds within Adobe Flash. Eventually, we'll get AfterEffects involved and there will be some really cool shading and textures and movement and sound and PASSION AND ENERGY AND FIRE!!...

   ... but this actually looks pretty decent for now.

Clearly ecstatic to be involved.

Soon, we shall introduce the final member of the team, but try not to let the anticipation keep you awake.

Character Introduction #4: Slaughterhouse Jive

Now this is where things get weird. Again.

Slaughterhouse Jive (Finian "Finn" Mathers)

Age: 19

Plucked from: New York, United States, 1982 AD

   Born a poor white child in Harlem, NYC, young Finn grew up enamored with African American culture, a longing outsider within his own neighborhood. Actually, he was more enamored with African American pop culture, forming his perception not from his surrounding reality, but instead from blaxploitation classics, early hip-hop, and stage acts. Stereotypes were increasingly enforced and accepted with everything he saw, from early minstrel shows to cutting-edge stand-up.

   By age thirteen, Finn was a good-natured, but wildly misinformed "afrophile." Alienated by both his schoolmates and his sexaholic single mother, Finn was able to secure a job at a butcher shop. Then, after eating a radioactive Christmas ham given to him by his boss, his melanin output increased tenfold and he became, in a word, black. Also, he got some superpowers or something.

   So yes, we agree that Finn is a bizarre, somewhat controversial character, but bear with us here. Finn isn't simply a misguided twist on the "token black" teammate so prevalent in today's entertainment. We of course plan to use him as a vessel in which to explore a number of other sociopolitical themes, an axe-wielding John Howard Griffin, if you will. Or maybe our pilot will get picked up by a wary network, and we'll be forced to change Finn into a genuinely African political activist named Malcolm Axe. Sigh... one can dream.

Solomon's Palace

   Here's an itty-bitty little behind-the-scenes update for you. A work-in-progress of our very first background from Solomon's impressive palace. It's a bit sterile, could use some more furniture, and the lighting effects are incomplete, but this is essentially the style we're going for.

Note: Solomon does not reflect final animation design. It's just a silly drawing.

   There are many reasons we started this production blog. The first and most obvious is to spread the word and make people care about this thing that already means a lot to us. Second, it keeps us accountable if we have an audience clamoring for, or at least curious about, more updates. Third - and this is theoretically where it gets fun - we want feedback.

   If you have an opinion about any aspect of the show, share it. Want to discuss your favorite character? Have a question about our production techniques? Think you could make a better background and have time on your hands or, better yet, own a television network and don't know how to fill up all those pesky timeslots?! Tell us. Use that comments button. Be our friend! It would be wonderful to have a community of AXES OF EVIL aficionados, and might even make the world a more magical place.

   Just remember, we weren't being facetious in our inaugural first update: we want this to be a happy, fun, and safe place. Criticism is welcome, but please be aware that this past season of American Idol has provided everyone's tear-ducts with enough of a workout.

Character Introduction #3: Nurse Hatchet

Oh, boy! It's another character, and she's a lady!

 

Nurse Leslie "Hot Lips" Hatchet

Age: 32

Plucked from: Melbourne, Australia, 1932 AD

   First thing's first: Leslie is borderline psychotic. After growing up on her family's koala farm and spending much of her childhood as a medic for the fuzzy little guys, she decided to leave home for Melbourne and become a fighter in the city's underground women's boxing league. For years, Leslie thrived in the ring, but after some dude at a costume party told her how hot she looked in her nurse outfit, she realized her fate was sealed within the world of medicine.

  Then came World War I, and Leslie proved herself an outstanding nurse. She didn't lose a single patient, including a handful that had been declared legally dead by the time they made it to her tent. Following a particularly brutal battle, Leslie found that all of her scalpels were in use, and successfully operated on a soldier using a fire axe. (To be clear, this was not an amputation, but a stress-fueled bout of appendicitis.)

   After the war, she was easily able to find a job at a hospital, but she soon grew dissatisfied with effortlessly saving people's lives. In order to satisfy her blood lust, she started to let a few of the most despicable of her patients die. Essentially, she got her kicks from playing God. Enter Solomon.

   Among the team, she probably has the most outgoing personality. In other words, she scares the shit out of everyone. After all, she's been exposed to violence and injury all her life, and has been completely hardened to it. Actually, she kind of likes it. A lot. Almost as much as we like her!

  Up next: I haven't planned that far ahead. Enjoy your barbecues and fireworks tomorrow, fellow Americans. Non-fellow Americans, enjoy your regular, unworthy-of-celebration Monday.

All About ME!!

   I hope you've been digging the characters so far, but there's been a concern that things have been getting a little too exciting and interesting. To remedy that situation, I am now going to take the time to introduce myself. So begins the tale of Joey Abisso.

This is why I don't eat vegetables. We're kindred spirits.

  I was born in 1987 and raised in the bustling town of Andover, Massachusetts. It wasn't quite bustling enough, though, because immediately after high school, I moved to New York City. I did the whole college thing at NYU, where my skills as a filmmaker were nurtured, developed, and occasionally lauded. (My skills as a human pea-pod were not so well-received, but my heart wasn't in it by that point anyway.) It was during this time that "Axes of Evil" was developed with some good buddies, but this update is about me, not (gag!) others.

   Since then, I've been able to procure a few odd jobs with comparably odd people; screenwriting, animating, and lots and lots of babysitting. Having reaffirmed my belief that artists are bonkers, I figured it was time to commit myself to the flock and really dive into a project of my own, which leads us to now.

Forever a tourist.

   On "Axes of Evil," my current roles include head writer, designer, and animator. I am not alone in this, though, and some other members of the team will likely be introducing themselves shortly. So, um, yes...To conclude, I am an overall delightful fellow who enjoys movies, novels, writing, laughter, kittens, laughing kittens, beef, poultry, doodling, and brief walks on the beach. Thanks for indulging me.

Ta-ta! I'm off to Grey Gardens.

Character Introduction #2: King Solomon

Here he is! The leader of our time-hopping heroes:

King Solomon

Age: 67

Plucked From: Jerusalem, Israel, 936 BC

   Yes, we're dealing with the same King Solomon of Old Testament fame, best known for suggesting a baby be chopped in half in order to trick a hooker. It is this demonstration of wisdom that convinces God Himself to bestow upon Solomon the responsibility of saving the universe as we know it, locating and leading the other wielders of the Axes of Power, (the aforementioned "good axes"), and defeating the wielders of the Axes of Evil, (which are the...evil...yeah, you get it, it's the title of the show).

   Now, because our plan is to take a pretty detailed look at the production process, some inevitable plot details will be revealed, such as the entire preceding paragraph. That's fine; it's the premise. Nonetheless, we will TRY to minimize any spoilers that would negate one's theoretical/eventual enjoyment of the content we are trying to create.

   That being said, though Solomon might come across as a crotchety old man, his reputation as one of history's wisest men is well-earned. There's a lot more to him than he lets on. Oooh, mysterious, right? We hope so. And for even more information, you can go read your Bibles!

  Coming up: more characters and wholesome messages.

Character Introduction #1: The Slumberjack

   Plucked from various times and places in order to fulfill their collective destiny, our heroes are ready for their introduction! Actually, just one is. We have to space these updates out. Since you've already gotten a taste of King Solomon, let's start with someone a little bit less familiar.

The Slumberjack (Louis LeBlanc)

Age: 36

Plucked From: Ontario, Canada, 2079 AD

   Before becoming a superhero, Louis was a mere lumberjack-turned-environmentalist, protesting against the mistreatment of his arboreal neighbors. Without giving too much away, that career went south, and Louis found himself living in a Canada far removed from the idyllic, syrup-guzzling nation we know today.

   One night soon thereafter, Louis was blessed with the power to induce narcoleptic tendencies in his foes, a power he received in a dream. Thus, the newly-christened Slumberjack became a beacon of hope; a Canadian beacon, if you will. Alongside his sidekick/mascot, the Slumberjackrabbit, Louis has had enough adventures to provide fodder for his own spin-off series, but we're getting waaaaay ahead of ourselves. What's important to note, though, is that there was no shortage of activity for the Slumberjack, and he developed an unfortunate addiction to crystal meth in a foolhardy attempt to stay wired and fight crime 24/7.

   Once he joins Solomon's team, he provides a near-endless source of joviality and brute strength, but traveling through time causes him to crash hard. He's a lovable guy, but his methamphetamine-fueled buffoonery only serves our show's ultimate message: DRUGS ARE BAD, KIDS!

  Alright, that's a fair enough little biography. Stay tuned for more real soon.

Chop the Umbilical Cord - A Blog is Born

   Yes, it's true. Another bloody, screaming word-filled entity has been birthed into the online abyss. Before we extend the metaphor to a disgusting breaking point, (most likely involving robot placenta), let us simply welcome you to this happy, fun, and most importantly, SAFE place.

   From here on out, this blog will focus on the production of the fledgling animated action-comedy series, "Axes of Evil." If that goes south, we will default to pictures and videos of adorable animals, but in the meantime, "Axes of Evil" chronicles the adventures of a time-traveling team of heroes as they attempt to prevent Satan from messing up the future!...And before you ask, yes there are axes involved. Evil axes! (Also good axes.)

   This simple idea has been gestating for a couple of years, spawning a few scripts, character designs, and a T-shirt, but we recently decided to throw caution to the wind and get this party started. Making an animated pilot, (and God willing, subsequent series), will be quite an undertaking, so we thought we'd share the process with you, inch-by-delightfully-painful-inch.

   More to come very soon, including a proper introduction to the team, (both the characters and their creators), as well as many theoretically fun behind-the-scenes goodies.

   Until then, much love, and stay sane.