:: Dano's Production Journal ::

:: 12/29/2004 ::

"...Alllllllright."


"But maybe it's all in my head..."

"...what you said."

"That you wanted me to love you 'til the end of time."

"Raise the children in a cottage on a mountainside..."

Next update, the Charlies will be handsome.

:: Dano 11:38 PM [+] ::
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Save lives.

:: Dano 7:42 PM [+] ::
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"Maybe it's just..."



"... my imagination..."



"But in the evening when I hold you tight..."



"you push me back as if to say, it's not all right...."
:: Dano 9:48 PM [+] ::
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Frustration: Sometimes it takes 1 day to animate 10 seconds.
And sometimes it takes 3 days to animate 3 seconds.

NEWSFLASH! Cat gives birth to real kittens! Son commissioned to make video featuring kittens... or else!


:: Dano 7:17 AM [+] ::
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24 seconds in, 47 shots to go. More coffee please?
:: Dano 10:36 AM [+] ::
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What's the better name for a vacuum cleaner brand: 'Suck Amuck' or 'Suck 'Em Up?'

Man, Palisades Toys really wants all of my money, don't they?

:: Dano 4:35 PM [+] ::
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People of New York City! Look out! White Blood Cell coming at ya!

THE REEL DEAL EPISODE 10
THURSDAY, DEC. 9 @ 10 PM
Ch. 56/17 (Time Warner) or Ch. 108/111 (RCN)
Watch Reel Deal Live Online at http://mnn.org
http://reeldealtv.com

That's right. White Blood Cell isn't just for Austin Cable Access anymore. We're on in the Big Apple! Tell everyone that they can see "White Blood Cell Saves Christmas" and "White Blood Cell in the Wild West" on their tee-vees. Or their computers.

:: Dano 9:43 PM [+] ::
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Ranting post!



Hilarious... yet so sad... British zoologist and author Richard Dawkins was on NOW with Bill Moyers Friday. He didn't get why Americans were so stupid (my words not his). But he figures if some people believe we FOUND WMD in Iraq (as a plurality of Bush supporters do), then they probably can't understand the overwhelming molecular evidence for evolution.

And Thomas Friedman of the New York Times laments that the National Science Foundation budget was cut by 2% recently. Experts predict:

"If we don't do something soon and dramatic to reverse this "erosion," Shirley Ann Jackson, the president of Rensselaer Polytechnic and president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, told me, we are not going to have the scientific foundation to sustain our high standard of living in 15 or 20 years"

Nice. So soon India and China will lead the world in technology while Americans church it up old school...er... old Testament style.

In related news, Jesus quits. (Thanks to The Daily Show.
:: Dano 2:09 PM [+] ::
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Playing movies about talking cybernetic German Shepherd police dogs at 3 AM doesn't make it right.

:: Dano 4:03 AM [+] ::
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A bit of previsualization for the SXSW "work in progress" entry:





More to come...
:: Dano 11:03 AM [+] ::
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:: Dano 4:21 PM [+] ::
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Note to New Yorkers, see holiday classic "White Blood Cell Saves Christmas" Sunday night at First Sundays! It looks like a fun show. And Santa's going to be there!




:: Dano 9:01 AM [+] ::
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:: Dano 9:01 PM [+] ::
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You know, making videos would be a lot easier if my computer didn't mysteriously eat recent saved files and revert them to older, unfinished files.

At least there's the new U2 and new Muppet action figures. Phew.

Best movie opening lines: "Yellow Submarine"
"Once upon a time... or twice..."
:: Dano 2:52 PM [+] ::
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Oddest thought of the evening:
"Man, this would have been easier with puppets."

Oddest thing at the Thanksgiving dinner table:
A Lutheran pastor nearly crying over a tale of a chihuahua named Tiger Puppy humping a chain-smoking mole-woman's arm.

Things I'm thankful for:
Adrienne and her family surviving a car accident unharmed, only for her to be embarrassed when a cop discovered her secret collection of Christian Bale photos on her laptop.
:: Dano 11:05 PM [+] ::
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Workin' on da heads....
:: Dano 11:59 PM [+] ::
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coming along... a tad bit behind though.
:: Dano 4:01 AM [+] ::
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Oddest comment of the weekend:
"So you're NOT married with kids?"

:: Dano 9:10 PM [+] ::
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New demo reel is up at www.danojohnson.com. You can watch some Zowzoo clips. More new clips coming soon. Probably some Charlies stuff.
:: Dano 8:54 AM [+] ::
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From a Handsome Charlie:

"Hello Everyone!

If you come to one Handsome Charlies show this year, let it be tonight's
performance at the Red Eyed Fly. Filmmaker Rene Pinnell will be shooting
footage of the event, and it would be the BEST THING EVER to have a large
and enthusiastic crowd. Please come.

Here again is the info:
Friday, November 12th
@Red Eyed Fly
11PM
w/THE UNBEARABLES, ALMOST FAILING, and GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY

Rene Pinnell is directing our first music video for "Makes Me Love You." He
and his crew are doing a fantastic job. We can't wait to see the finished
product of the video and of the concert footage he'll be shooting tonight.

Also in the works: Dano Johnson, animator extraordinaire and the Voice of
Enspire, is creating the Charlies' second music video for "My Imagination."
We saw his storyboards, and they blew our minds. Except for Hamish's, since
the poor chap lives in the technological Dark Ages. Anyway, check out Dano's
previous work at www.danojohnson.com.

We Charlies are extremely honored to be working with such talented people.
Thanks!

See you at the Fly!
Nathan Aloysius
www.handsomecharlies.com
:: Dano 1:02 PM [+] ::
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"White Blood Cell Saves Christmas" - coming soon to Manhattan Public Access!

You know what rocks? Surprise belated birthday presents rock!

Update: You know what rocks more? Cartoon Network writing you the day after you submitted your demo reel, saying that they are personally walking your resume to the creator of Harvey Birdman, since "you have a certain style to your design and composites that might be well suited to our Digital Animation group."

HOLY GUACAMOLE! What's next? Chocolate Mint Ice Cream raining from above?
:: Dano 10:44 AM [+] ::
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My first mention in a newspaper for a while - from the San Marcos Daily Record:

"The band has a few visual recordings underway as well. This weekend The HC will be rehearsing for a secret video project. An animated video for "My Imagination" with Dano Johnson is also in the works."

:: Dano 9:35 AM [+] ::
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The internet is fun.
:: Dano 5:46 PM [+] ::
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For a more uplifting multi-media experience, click here, use the scrollers at the bottom of the page to click on 'videos', then watch the contest winner for "Hold Me Now." It's Polyphonic Puppets!

Also, the UK video for my favorite song from their new album, Two Thousand Places, is really good too.

"You gotta be good
You gotta be strong
You gotta be two thousand places at once.
And time will show the way
and love will shine today
and time will go away
so love can grow."

:: Dano 10:54 PM [+] ::
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Well, on the plus side, I guess I get fewer spam emails from Move On & Mary-Beth Cahill.

On the downside... I guess I'll have to cancel my Bible-burning, diplomatic foreign policy driven, gay wedding.


:: Dano 2:43 PM [+] ::
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:: Dano 6:14 PM [+] ::
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:: Dano 2:22 PM [+] ::
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If you live in Travis County and don't vote, I will find you and shame you publicly. Do it.

:: Dano 1:23 AM [+] ::
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Exciting.

I think Invader Zim is affecting my creativity. I have the urge to drop mooses and pigs into my Ignite videos.
:: Dano 4:10 PM [+] ::
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1 more week of early voting! Do it!


:: Dano 1:14 PM [+] ::
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Don is hilarious. He told the funniest story EVER last night at the Austin Film Festival. He is so funny. I crown Don King Funny... or Funny King Don.

If he loved you he'd tell the story to you.


:: Dano 3:07 PM [+] ::
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The most important film I saw at AFF:
Searching for Angela Shelton

:: Dano 5:16 PM [+] ::
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Look for these collectible Austin Film Festival 2004 badges being sported by lucky friends of mine:









:: Dano 10:21 AM [+] ::
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Now this is just getting silly.

PS - email me if you think I've sent you a virus. Cuz maybe I did. I swear...
:: Dano 10:57 PM [+] ::
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Things not to bring to a Houston Texans game:

Minnesota Vikings jerseys
a Kerry/Edwards flag
Sodomites for Gay Marriage caps
Dennis Kucinich


At one point after the game, some Texans fans (disappointed by their loss) jeered us with anti-Minnesota slogans. I'm not quite sure how to be insulted by "No more fishing, go skinny-dipping", but I wanted to cheer back, "Hooray for Texas! Hooray for executing the retarded and teenagers! Hooray for sky-rocketing teen-pregnancies and inefficient sex-education! Hooray for re-districting and disenfranchising minorities!" but all I could come up with was, "Good game, morons."

:: Dano 3:05 PM [+] ::
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Round 1 of character designs for Flatland.

Well, off to the 3rd Annual Johnson men Vikings football weekend extravaganza.
:: Dano 1:41 PM [+] ::
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There's something a bit weird about digitally deleting yourself from hundreds of frames of video on your birthday.


:: Dano 9:56 AM [+] ::
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I'm blessed with talented and humorous friends!

:: Dano 10:33 PM [+] ::
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Zowzoo's heart was crushed yet again. "This is the last time, Bridgette." he whispered, knowing no one would hear him but his ever-quickly multiplying parasites.
:: Dano 11:15 PM [+] ::
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I'm back online! Here's what you missed: the origins of Zowzoo!


Here's master puppet builder Angie showing Zowzoo's head, which is based on a sculpt we made.


Zowzoo makes a good hiding place for the always inquisitive Sweetums.


Zowzoo close up.


Angie tries on Zowzoo's lower half.


Shooting day comes...


This sucker's big.
:: Dano 3:02 PM [+] ::
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Soon you will hear my voice on KGSR and KLBJ radio pitching the Austin Film Festival!

I am moving this weekend and don't know when I'll get internet service up and running. So if emails get bounced back, call me at my new number (if I remembered to email it to you).

Oh, and THIS rules. I recommend the audible.com audio book version, read by the Daily Show cast. It's so nice to hear Jon Stewart getting to swear.

:: Dano 2:39 PM [+] ::
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Now online: "The Teaser" extended director's cut! Now with more sex and violence!

:: Dano 1:55 PM [+] ::
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You can call me a wimp and a copyright violator, but you can't call me an IMMORAL wimpy copyright violator...


:: Dano 3:57 PM [+] ::
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Out of the Mouths of Babes: Stories from a Montessori School Teacher

During playtime, one young student declared himself President of the cushion-constructed fort. Another youngster declared he was stupid.

Teacher: Why did you call him stupid? That's not nice.
Youngster: Well, he is.
Teacher: Why?
Youngster: Well, President Bush is stupid. So that means he has to be stupid.
Teacher: (holding back laughter) Well, what makes you think President Bush is stupid.
Youngster: He has to be, because he's always on vacation.

:: Dano 7:31 AM [+] ::
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Well, she looks better than Nathan Lane...

:: Dano 1:03 AM [+] ::
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Dude!

So like 80 people used up .25 GB of bandwidth checking out my webpage today. Who are you?

Polyphonic Spree plays Stubbs 9/22! Come along!

My room smells like clay. As do my hands. Pictures to explain soon.
:: Dano 10:15 PM [+] ::
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Damn, Scarlett Johannson, you all grow'd up! And your face is hard to draw! Almost as hard as Nathan Lane's...
:: Dano 4:36 PM [+] ::
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"Big Will make fishin' look good..."


"Worm's in the water so it's understood..."



coming soon:
"Can I 'help' you boys?"
:: Dano 11:17 AM [+] ::
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