JEFF GILL

Today's Mail Order Interview stars the fabulous, the talented, the pretty tall Jeff Gill.  Jeff is an animator based out of Los Angeles, California with an impressive resume.  He worked as an animator for South Park for three years and currently holds the position of Director of E-Cards with the very lovable JibJab Greeting Cards.  If you've sent out a holiday or special event JibJab card recently, odds are that Jeff had something to do with it!  Mr. Gill is incredibly talented and driven, but did you know that he's also a super awesome dude?  I've known Jeff for over a year now and I can say from personal experience that he's the best kind of talented fella - the humble kind.  That's why I want to brag about him here!  He deserves it.  

Jeff has also created some amazing animations that are featured on his YouTube channel.  This one's my personal favorite:

I love this little animation that Jeff created for a public access show that I put together last February.  It's a really smart concept - animation over a voicemail - and the animation is just superb.  I also have to highlight it because that voicemail you hear.. that goes on and on in a crazy sort of fashion.. was left on Jeff's phone by yours truly.  And that animated character?  That's me!  I feel so honored to have been animated by Jeff!  Geeze!  So cool.

Okay, okay!  The time has come!  Check out Jeff's interview... it's radtastic!

 

JULIA POTT

Today's Mail Order Interview is with an artist that I admire immensely.  Her name is Julia Pott and she is a force to reckoned with.  Julia is an animator from Brooklyn, New York who was named on the 25 New Faces of Independent Film by Filmmaker Magazine.  Her style is unique and beautiful and her animations are both poignant and humorous examinations of human nature.  She's worked with the likes of MTV, Chronicle Books, The Decemberists,  and Etsy (to name a few) and her recent animation, "Belly" was chosen as this year's selection at Sundance Film Festival.  

The first animation by Julia that ever had the pleasure of seeing was "My First Crush".  I fell in love with it immediately. How could I not?  Julia combined real audio interviews with quirky animation (of animals!) to tell people's stories of their first crushes.  The result is a heart-wrenching, hilarious, visually striking 3 minutes and 51 seconds that is not soon to be forgotten.  Check it out here!

I was so thrilled when Julia agreed to do a Mail Order Interview for my blog.  I knew that her interview would be amazing because, well,  she is!  So, allow me to present to you today's Mail Order Interview with the fabulous Julia Pott!

december 30, 2010 // my first crush

I love this video. The animation is adorable and and the dialogue is taken from interviews with people about their first crush. My first crush was on a handsome fellow-peschooler named Michael. Man, did he have it all and more. Julia Pott - You are one talented lady!

december 24, 2010 // merry play-doh christmas!

Even though I'm on the East Coast now, I'm still on California time.. which means I get up late and stay up even later. I tried going to bed earlier a few nights this week, but I find it nearly impossible. I've been trying to use my owl-like hours for creative endeavors. I made a calendar (which will be in my New Year's post and downloadable!), wrote a letter to Nickelodeon asking them to produce a final episode to one of my favorite shows as a kid (and let's face it.. as an adult too) - Hey Arnold! (I've also spent many a late house re-watching my favorite episodes), I've tried recording a song in GarageBand (which I will not be sharing here because any readers that I do have will stop visiting my blog after hearing that disaster..), and most recently I've tried my hand at animation. Here's a little Play-Doh animation I made for the festivities today and tomorrow. I hope that your holiday season has been joyful and fun so far! Thanks for visiting my little blog and Merry Christmas everyone!