March Extensions

The teaser is out now and i'm thankful for the buzz that is building from the positive press/publics response to the teaser. It's rewarding since the film began from a very humbled and broken place and is now being promoted alongside much larger scale productions, etc. Humility is something we should all strive for since it is contrary to our nature especially when we gain even the slightest acceptance from the world. i have to keep telling myself that otherwise i cannot move forward and could lose the vision given to me. Read Ecclesiastes. The question though is what can fiscal means really contribute to an honest pursuit of inner art? If the spiritual and artistic work is done honestly through grace and one asks for the strength to do it he or she will receive it in accordance with His perfect will. I think spiritual surrealism can come out of that. 'Glitch in the Grid' continues to walk this path as the film enters the advanced stages of post production. I continue to trust my perspective of the film from when i was living in England which is difficult to maintain in NYC even though it is one of the most European US cities i've experienced like San Francisco and New Orleans. I've been trying to stay in touch with a world view by watching the BBC and NHK TV online and not fall into an isolationist outlook.

The only work i will continue to animate while Jeffrey scores the film and the sound work is done is the land animation. Some ideas have come to me that are special, ideas that will really push me beyond my ability. Look out NASA... I am scouting parks in New York and plan a day in the Sequoia's when i visit CA in April for my brothers wedding in the short term. That is one thing i'm really missing nowadays, being surrounded by nature. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:1

Catching Up-December-February blessings

Where to start? One of the reasons for my absence is due to the non stop work i have done on "Glitch in the Grid". The film has gone from many strong yet desperate sections into a rough cohesive whole in a matter of months. Immediately after i finished my MIT media lab proposal i embarked on animating the final sections of the film and editing. The big freeze hit the whole of the UK, the coldest winter in three decades with an unprecedented snowfall. Thankfully as far as the film is concerned this fell in line with the snow storm animation i had been storyboarding. Translating the landscape animation technique into snowy valleys reaped huge rewards with uncanny results but not without pain and anguish. i did fear for my health several times where various parts of my body went numb and for my camera which would freeze up electronically! i did most of this animation in Westfield near Hastings, UK at the Sanctuary for the Risen Christ which is both a place to worship God and a working farm filled with animals. Jennifer Benskins who lives, runs and founded the Sanctuary was a tremendous blessing to me as i hope i was the same to her, we struck up a meaningful friendship and prayed often. Collins a man from Ghana who was also staying at the Sanctuary was a great friend as well, we kept different hours but had many great conversations. I also befriended all of the animals both on the farm and off but a my closest animal friend of all was Abraham the 3 year old donkey who has a sweet heart and a sensitive but funny personality that warmed my heart. Abram would be my companion as i animated away in the peaceful and sublime English countryside. During the months of December and January i really came into the heart of the film and into a verydeeppart of my own heart, mind and soul. i felt like i did when i created my mid length film "Psalms" which i believe to date is my strongest work but even deeper with more wisdom. The imagery i created at the sanctuary allowed me to progress in that high form of visual language and experience the transformational redeeming power of creating art that only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ brings. Each new obstacle that daunted me when overcome would allow my spirit to ascend and grow stronger. Being among strong Christians once again allowed me to be bold in my walk and art to glorify Christ without hesitation. i feel very open and free to proclaim that i love Christ with all my heart and want everyone to know His love, His peace, His grace, His forgiveness and His salvation. As Haiti experienced and continues to deal with the horrible earthquake and our world continues to be in a fallen state i realize just how vital it is that i proclaim Christ in my art and life. My time in England will always serve as a vital guide post for me in times to come and yes i will return as the legend goes.

So now a teaser is completed and it will Lord willing be released through various publication's websites soon, my new 2010 reel is complete and the film is almost complete. I am having Jeffrey score the teaser and i am starting on the poster. A new website is planned to commence.

I now live in New York City on 2nd st in the lower east side with my wonderful, loving and intelligent wife Jenny Leiser and close to my incredible loving brother Jeffrey Leiser who will be married soon as well to his talented and sweet wife Lindy Fox. Praise God!

November's Hope/MIT Media Lab

Even though November has been over for sometime i felt that i could not pass over such a vital month of production due to it's rich content, innocence and experience. My Cousin Jay Masonek who plays the lead in 'Glitch in the Grid' came to Hastings, England for my wedding on Halloween and thankfully stayed for most of the month of November at our generous next door neighbors. This was vital for the film as many re shoots had to be completed and new scenes fleshed out. We also shared plenty of time together gaining spiritual insights into the film, clarifying the vision, going on strange adventures and listening to His guidance. The month was also a challenge in that i have been working steadily on the live action, animation, editing for Glitch during the day and my project proposal for the MIT Media Lab specifically the Object Based Media Lab and Center for Future Storytelling at night. I have had a fruitful previous correspondence regarding my holography and interest in developing Holographic Cinema at MIT while their holo video display develops. I recently visited MIT in September and met with Michael Bove Jr. Head of the Object Based Media Lab and Co-Director of the Center for Future Storytelling. The environment on campus is electric, i feel that i need to be at MIT in order to help create the cinema of the future with forward thinking people and grow out of my comfort zone artistically/technically. Anyways back to Glitch the outdoor animation had increased in difficulty due to November's stormy weather and gail force winds in Hastings and the greater UK. The new techniques i have been experimenting with also add to an already labor intensive struggle but i am very pleased with the results and visual/symbolic power of the images. I managed only 2 minutes of stop motion animation in November. This being mid December the tally is now 3 minutes and i am creating a short film called 'Regeneration' that i will be sending to festivals starting in January 2010 Lord willing. I did this with my short animated film 'Forest' before 'Imagination' came out. i also hope to cut a trailer before the new year. Enjoy these new production photos and be sure to check out Jay's facebook for the amazing pictures he took during his stay!

October's End

Well now that it is Dia de los Muertos i felt it's time to recap October's rich soil.

Animation is continuing strong although due to the nature of the outdoor animation technique it can only transpire from noon to 4pm so that the warm orange light stays consistent within the sequences among other factors. Animating outdoors is both sublime and tedious with factors of wind, earth, light, moisture, and animals all adding and often hindering the work. Still even though it is moving at a snails pace i am very happy with the results. More elaborate outdoor setups and camera moves are creating new techniques which push me further into the unknown. I have been animating the dove (Holy Spirit) puppet lately and have completed 1 of 7 sequences. i have been watching the dailies on HD 1920X1080 quicktimes and putting together whole sequences in final cut pro. I look forward to the day that i can put out my work at 4k resolution not 2k. The landscape animation ideas keeps challenging me with how far i can take it without losing all sense of sanity. I really ramble on this blog, anyway back to work where i belong! Praise God for all his blessings!

Jay and Jeff made the trip over to Hastings, UK for my wedding (yes i got married!) and the final section of the live action which went smoothly. I hope i can safely say live action is now wrapped and a rough rough cut of the film is firmly in place. Another memorable month heading toward toward the finish line.

memorable september

Hello to you, World Wide Web readerss of this international blogosphere,

I am J. Masonek and I have something to say.

Glitch in the Grid has survived 9-9-2009 with no battle wounds, i'm happy to say. We have been in the midst of a September Wrap-up, gathering vital bits and pieces needed to make this picture speak, speak to you. Our days are long and influenced by offbeat humor and blessings from on high. Thanks go out to those who've participated in front of Eric's sturdy Canon lens.

Welcome to the Glitch in the Grid Blog!

I thought it would be wise to start a blog charting the progress of my next feature film "Glitch in the Grid". Some of you may be familiar with my last feature film "Imagination" which has/is playing in festivals worldwide, had a 8 city theatrical run, has critical acclaim from over 80 critics, came out on DVD internationally through Vanguard Cinema on February of 2008 and is in the Modern Museum of Art, the BFI, the V&A Museum, etc. www.albinofawn.com is my website with supporting info.

To catch you up we began principle live action photography in February 2009 after our feature film "Finding Infinity" had it's funding delayed since Iceland went bankrupt. More on that film later.

Anyway, the live action for GG shoot was a duration of 7 weeks between Northern California and Los Angeles, New York City and England. Even though there are extensive pick up shots and reshoots on the way. The shoot went relatively smooth and we all bonded over the film. I am currently animating for the film which may take until December while the live action footage is almost at a rough cut. The film was shot on the Sony EX3 HD camera for the live action and the Canon 5D with L Series Lenses for the Animation. The film when finished will be shot in Sebastopol, CA, Bodega Bay, CA, Santa Rosa, Ca, Los Angeles Ca, Grand Canyon, AZ, NYC, NY, London, UK, Hastings, UK and Rome, Italy. The film is slated to be released in mid 2010.

here is a small synopsis:

"Glitch In The Grid" [2010] is a story about young artists dealing with life, love, work and weariness during the new American recession.