Daily post 23 Apr 2010 06:23 am
B’day
- Today’s William Shakespeare’s birthday. It’s an odd choice of date given that there’s so little information about the guy. But since today’s also my birthday, I’ll enjoy the association by accident.
I’ve decided to post something that’s been floating around my studio for the past couple of years. It’s one of those things that never got properly put away once we moved into the new digs. (New, that is, five years ago.) But since I like seeing it, I also like stumbling across it in the morass of paper in my office.
Tissa David did a birthday card for me for my 50th birthday. She recounted, in storyboard, our first meeting. I was on my second day working for the Hubleys – my first animation job.
It’s close to being accurate, but not as nasty as the version in my head. Here’s Tissa’s board.
Helen, is Helen Komar, a lifelong assistant working in NY first at Paramount then onto lots of other places. She managed the animation area for John and Faith for a couple of years. Another great person who slips through the history books.
I had inbetweened two of Tissa’s scenes on the first day of work. Tissa came in the next day while I was busy working on more. She went to Helen’s desk and the two of them talked for a short bit. Then I heard, “Who has made these HORRIBLE inbetweens?” spoken in the most definitive Hungarian accent you’ll ever hear.
When I sheepishly admitted to it – since only Helen or I could have done them, and there was no doubt Helen hadn’t – Tissa offered to give me some lessons in how to make a proper inbetween. Those lessons seem to have been ongoing most of my life. I’m not sure I can do one to this day.
on 23 Apr 2010 at 7:13 am 1.willva said …
happy bday mate =)
on 23 Apr 2010 at 7:13 am 2.Pierre said …
Happy Birthday Michael! Thanks for the great story. Thank God that a moment of embarrassment with Tissa resulted in learning moment and more importantly, a life-long friendship.
Pierre
on 23 Apr 2010 at 9:14 am 3.John Celestri said …
Happy Birthday, Michael! I never worked on one of Tissa’s scenes, but I believe it was she who told me in conversation, “Every drawing is coming from somewhere, and going somewhere.”
on 23 Apr 2010 at 9:29 am 4.George Griffin said …
When that happens, that’s the time you feel the urge to make all the drawings.
Tissa’s spontaneous figural invention is in a class by itself, almost defying imitation: perfect economy of gesture.
on 23 Apr 2010 at 10:13 am 5.Rudy Agresta said …
Have a Blessed Birthday Michael and many, many more!
Sincerely,
Rudy Agresta
on 23 Apr 2010 at 10:44 am 6.richard o'connor said …
Happy birthday!
What makes Tissa so wonderful is that she’ll scold you for doing horrible animation, then take the time to show you how to do it better.
on 23 Apr 2010 at 12:28 pm 7.Jonah Sidhom said …
Happy Birthday!
Thank you for all you do with this amazing blog!
on 23 Apr 2010 at 1:33 pm 8.Holly Stallings said …
Happy Happy Birthday Michael! The knew your birthday was soon. Interesting you share it with the ‘Bard’. I believe old William would have been 446 years old?
I really enjoy the “Splog”. Tissa’s art work and panels are wonderful! I hope your feeling better.
on 23 Apr 2010 at 2:25 pm 9.Teodor said …
happy birthday
on 23 Apr 2010 at 2:37 pm 10.Mark Mayerson said …
Happy Birthday, Michael. And please send regards to Tissa the next time you see her.
on 23 Apr 2010 at 5:12 pm 11.Hachtman said …
Delightful Tissa Short Storyboard! and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY from Joey and Tom.
on 24 Apr 2010 at 8:20 am 12.Stephen Macquignon said …
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL!
on 24 Apr 2010 at 1:39 pm 13.Larry Ruppel said …
Hope you had a great birthday Michael!
All I can add is that in addition to Will Shakespeare, you share a birthday with Shirley Temple, Sandra Dee and YouTube (5 years ago the first video was uploaded)!
Cheers!