Screening with an Audience

  This past Sunday, against the stiff competition of the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, the AXES OF EVIL pilot preview screened in front of a crowd of one solid dozen! Featuring the footage submitted to that pilot competition I've been droning on and on about, the screening was organized quickly, before AXES could possibly be eliminated from that pilot competition I've been droning on and on about.

I forgot to take pictures, but this was pretty much how it went down.

  Composed of AXES fans and members of the cast, the audience was a great group, and the response was indeed enthusiastic. Some highlights: "Congrats, it looks awesome!""So funny, can't wait to see what happens next." "I laughed my axe off!""Where's my credit?"

  Most gratifying was the flurry of unforced laughter throughout the nine-minute preview. It's tough to step back after spending an hour matching mouth movements to a joke you could have sworn was funny six months ago, but regardless of where AXES goes from here, there's no better measure of success than a reactive audience. That and money.

  In all seriousness, though, thank you to everyone who made it! Your laughter is why we're doing this in the first place. To those who couldn't make it, this won't be your last chance - there's definitely more to come. Much love.

Deadline Passed! (A Good Thing.)

It's done, it's over, we made it! The submission period for the NYTVFCCPC, (not an officially recognized acronym), has now officially ended. We've received confirmation that the AXES OF EVIL application has been received and that all materials are in order, so now that wonderful waiting game can begin. The 25 finalists will be announced sometime close to February 29th, but even if AXES isn't among them, it was great to have some sort of deadline to aim for, instead of just animating into an endless void.

Of course, there's still a bunch more work to be done, but now, after having this deadline looming over the production for about four months, I think it's time I went to sleep.

Until next time, good night everyone...

Official Logo (Great for T-Shirts)

And now, it is my great pleasure to present to you all:

The official possibly temporary but for now totally official logo for AXES OF EVIL!

I mean, it could always use more axes, but I thought we'd go for something a little more elegant. You know, because I take myself too seriously.

If you were directed here from facebook, this really isn't news - the logo being my profile picture and all - but there's more fun coming soon!

Initial Homestretch

Well, the aforementioned comedy pilot competition deadline is just over a week away, and the actual animation is finally done. 

!

Now I just need to put on a little bit of sheen, assemble the entry materials, and of course, finalize the SOUND, courtesy of Axes co-creator Sean Brogan. I just thought I'd take a short break from working on this thing in order to provide a quick update, which I'm now realizing is not really a break. I should probably go to the bathroom or something.

Anyhoo, here are some more screen captures. Salivate away, and expect another update at the end of the month.

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!