Toronto Fashion Week

A few days ago I took a little breather from work and biked over to the Exhibition to attend a show at Fashion Week. It's always a good place to draw and I really needed to get out in the public again!

There were a lot of ladies lounging about with cocktails with nearly everyone in heels. I was rocking my red Polish combat boots.

They had a station set up for one of the sponsors to do makeup and hair on people. So I plunked myself down for some good drawing times.

If only Torontonians dressed like this every day. Or at least ironed their shirts.

Have you ever been to a fashion show? I went to my first one a few years ago and was surprised at how short they were! Months of sewing and creating to then have it flash by in 20 minutes! Hmm, reminds me of animation production...

Well, back to work then!

Hothouse Week 2: Writing and Rewriting

After a hectic two-day schedule at the NFB in Montreal I booked it back to Toronto and got started with story revisions. I’ve been fussing with my boards for nearly a week and have finally found something that’s close to working.

The seventh edition of Hothouse requires the filmmakers to write to the theme “Here be Dragons” which references mysterious uncharted waters as marked on ancient maps. I took the chance to explore a lonesome man’s missed opportunity in a story familiar to anyone longing to connect in a sprawling urban setting. What is it that makes us so frightened of each other? Why is it so hard to say “hello”?

With 10 specially commissioned music tracks, we were asked to select one that would marry well with our story and explain why. To help brainstorm I went through each track jotting descriptive words and phrases that came to mind as I listened to the music. Some are a bit silly (FF7 and RPGs? I’m clearly a huge nerd!), but the point of the exercise was to get the creative juices flowing. In the end I chose Track 2 for the images it conjured and later found that it was composed by an indie band from Montreal called Pop Winds. They’re very nice fellows by the way. We all went out for dumplings!

Since then I’ve boarded out rough ideas and built a structure from which I will continue to work, late into the night. Then I roll over to my bed and start up again the next day. Working with the NFB is like living in a magic fantasy art world where you're inspired to reach  beyond your best and everyone's there to help each other through it.

About Town

Week One of Hothouse 7 is a GO! I spent the past few days in Montreal meeting the other Hothousers and the crew who will be guiding us to make our best films possible! So of course, I've been extremely busy and haven't had the luxury of updating my blog so much. However, we will all start blogging about our experiences soon. For now I can show you a few assorted drawings from the past week or so.

I took a streetcar ride along Queen all the way out to Etobicoke to visit my friend. The lumbering sway of our ride put a few passengers to sleep.

A very proper looking fellow.

Loved her hat. And also how she tied her scarf in such a way that strangled a few strands of black hair.

I sat at the bar of Oyster Boy on a cold Friday night and just asked them to surprise me. 

My neighbour had the most amazing droopy lower lip.

Forty minute wait.

It's not so bad when you're waiting with friends.

A regular grabs a pint.

I walked past Canteen at the base of TIFF's Bell Lightbox and felt overwhelmed with desire for sticky toffee pudding and tea. 

This guy is enjoying his brunch with a good read.

Grandpa and Granddaughter stop in after visiting the Tim Burton exhibition.

Out the window of a cafe on Queen West.

Ok then, time to get down to business!

NFB Hothouse 7

Ever wonder how my sketchbook drawings would look animated? Thanks to the wonderful people at the NFB, you're about to find out! Last week I was thrilled to discover that I had been accepted into Hothouse 7, a program where 6 emerging filmmakers are chosen to write and direct their own short films under the guidance of The National Film Board. This weekend I'll be off to Montreal to meet everyone and get started! And of course, I'll let you know how it goes every step of the way.

Here's the announcement as it appears on The Hothouse Website:

Announcing the Talent for Hothouse 7!

11-03-2011

We are thrilled to announce this year’s 6 filmmakers, selected out of more than 140 applications:

Aimée Drimmelen (Airdrie, Saskatchewan)

Andrew Hicks (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Candace Couse (Calgary, Alberta)

Eva Cvijanovic (Montreal, Quebec)

Paula Gillgannon (Montreal, Quebec)

Tabitha Fisher (Toronto, Ontario)

Thanks to the talented composers responsible for the music demos:

Eric Sen aka Kid Koala (tracks 1 & 8 )

Kyle Bennett, Austin Milne, and Devon Welsh aka Pop Winds (tracks 2 & 10)

Darren Fung (tracks 3 & 5)

Rebecca Foon (tracks 4 & 7)

Carrie Haber (tracks 6 & 9)

And introducing the Mentoring Director for Hothouse 7, animator, composer and sound designer Luigi Allemano.

And we’re off!

Lobby of the Royal York Hotel

Hotel lobbies are always great places to draw, so when I found myself in the neighbourhood of Union Station I walked right into The Royal York and snatched a plushy armchair with a view of the lounge.

There was some sort of conference for the TD bank going on, and very important-looking people in suits struggling with their luggage. 

The lobby of the Royal York feels like another world. I hadn't been inside until now, which is a shame since I've lived in this city for 15+ years and have always been curious. I used to be intimidated by places like this, but I've stopped caring about whether I fit in. You're never alone with a sketchbook. Explore your city!

A couple waits for a porter to carry their luggage outside.

Lost businessman.

Waiting for wife.

Taking a break.

End of the line.

White Squirrel

About four years ago I graduated from MTM Animation School which is located steps from Trinity Bellwoods park. At the time the neighbourhoood was still pretty rough, but definitely on the rise. (You could buy a 1 bedroom loft at the Chocolate Factory for under 200 thousand!!) On our break a few students would walk over to the park for a bout of Squirrel Fishing which involves a stick, a shoelace and a treat of some sort. What makes this park special for Squirrel Fishing is that it's home to a family of albino squirrels who are affectionately known as the White Squirrels of Trinity Bellwoods.

So I was delighted when someone decided to open a White Squirrel Coffee Shop a few years ago, directly across from the park. It's a nice spot with a very popular takeout window in the summer and seating upstairs with a view of the action. They even have their own White Squirrel flavour of Greg's Ice Cream, and that alone should be enough to make you fall in love.

What to order? Hmm...

Opening her bag to grab her wallet.

Some friends of the barista come to visit.

Just arrived, and taking over the shift from the other girl.

Wilderness explorer.

Oh ya, and I have some news. It's terribly exciting. I'll tell you soon!

The Mole People

Bay Street is parched with salt, vacant and cold in the dead of winter. It’s noon and I can’t spot a single suit in the centre of Toronto’s financial district. That’s because they’re lunching underground… in the PATH system!

PATH connects the entire business core with a complex series of walkways. In fact, it is the largest underground shopping complex in the world, linking office towers to eateries and transit. This is very helpful when you’ve got a business meeting at a neighbouring tower, but you’re wearing your Armani and it’s bloody cold outside!


They've really got everything you could ever want in the PATH. Including Manchu Wok.


Gossip girls.


A salad bar in the food court. There's something endearing about people in nice suits holding styrofoam takeout.


Salad Queen dishes out some more pickles.


Looking pretty bored at the cash, missing sunlight.


Business meeting at the Starbucks. Some talk of clients and mergers and portfolios...


These two looked important. They both had grey hair, sat alone, and didn't bother to wear suit jackets.


Poor girl looking half asleep at the Laura Secord chocolate stand.


Two investment bankers talking shop. Then one pulled out a fancy Visa card that impressed the other guy. What on earth was that about??


Waiting in line at the Timmy's.


Dinner break before catching the GO train.


Double Double, toil and trouble. Ahh, Timmy's....

Oh yes, and it might be of interest to mention that this is my 100th post on the blog! Yay!