I just got back from Kidscreen. Good conference. As always, opportunities abound, and apart from talking to some broadcasters about pitching them new series concepts, I also met with a few producers about projects. Preschool may hold a few opportunities, but the 8 to 10 market, especially in Canada, seems the place to be right now. If I realized anything this time down to Kidscreen, it's just how well known Collideascope is internationally. When I mentioned who I was with, even to people I never met before, I always got back a knowing "Ohhh", followed by the many good things people heard of us. Can't say that's a bad thing. Once again, thanks to all Collideascopers, past and present, for contributing to that reputation...
So, work wise: Still working on something that may start in March and go about 3 to 4 months, and another larger project (about a year's work) that would likely start early fall. Still no word on Johnny Test Season 4, although Season 2 has been nominated for a Shaw Rocket Prize! That's 2 nominations in less than 12 months. Plus, JT is running 5 days a week on Cartoon Network. I can't see why they wouldn't keep production going. But then, I ain't a broadcaster, am I?
On the (less interesting to most) new media front, that game for Microsoft that I mentioned last post - it's going ahead. It'll be launched in about a month. Mystery Hunters Training School has 9 scripts done now by yours truly and the lovely and talented Anne-Renee Dumont. We're going to boards and software framework now.
Follow-up to the Speed Racer job: When I was visiting Animation Collective in NY, everyone at the studio who I was introduced to was very impressed and appreciative of the assist we gave them. So, good job again, everyone!
As with all of my posts, I'm going to be obtuse and let you know that there are a few very cool potential animation service projects out there that I'm working on, but that, as usual, I can't give you any detail about. However, I can confirm to you that we will not be doing anything with a certain very nice gentleman whose initials are D.S. ;)
Till next time,
M-A
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4 comments:
i'm confused. my friends have been hired for jonny test starting in april but you say there is still no news on another season. Its someone named ron who hired them. can you clarify?
No, they wouldn't have been hired. We often get requests inquiring as to when new work is coming in (when the next season of JT might happen, for example), but we have a strict policy of not hiring before there's a contract in place. Ron, like all of us, is very cognizant of not making promises we can't follow up on.
What may have happened is that people who were on the last season of JT may have a verbal assurance that we'd like to pick them up again if we get another season. However, we don't give out dates until we're given them by our production partners. The April date was probably an assumption based on the fact that we started in April last season. However, these things are never guaranteed to happen on the same timeline every time.
Depending on who I ask within the company I get different information about start dates and upcoming shows. (anim director vs. producer) But I will say that this blog has never lied to me and I will be coming here for straight answers from now on. Thanks M-A!
Thanks for the feedback! To tell the truth, it's nice to know someone is reading this. :)
I understand your frustration about information flow. That's a big reason I started this blog. I can assure you that changing information about projects is never done intentionally, and isn't really a factor of whether you're talking to a producer or a director, because neither has a lock on the "real story". To tell the truth, a lot of the information on start dates in any production for any production company (not just this one) is usually based on best guesses and innuendo until we hear something from the commissioning broadcaster or producer. Even then, start dates can change based upon unforeseen budgetary or scheduling changes even further up the line from them. The bottom line is that getting a TV show produced is such a complex undertaking (usually involving dozens of people making decisions in multiple provinces and / or countries) that I find it to be a miracle when things even start in the same year we hope for them to start.
We all share the latest information with each other here, but it changes like the wind, and so it can play hell with people who are wanting to know when work starts again. That's also why I keep it so vague on this blog about potential upcoming projects - there's a fine balance between trying to tell people when work might be coming in and being overly optimistic when we shouldn't say anything. We try our best, but it's never easy. ;)
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