a - b

washington

4th

i'm out for the long weekend — have a good one!

thanks!

the odyssey

one of the projects i completed this year was a series paintings based on the odyssey for author Sarah Schmelling's upcoming book, Maidens Who Don't Float. a humorous retelling of literature through Facebook, the whole darn thing started with an article for McSweeney's: an account of hamlet's facebook status updates. the book will be released on august 25. pick one up when you can!

these are from the photo album of odysseus's recent trip through the greek isles. looks like fun! for more good times, please visit Sarah Schmelling's, "Maidens Who Don't Float"!

UP ^

i waited a few weeks to say anything, but I thought I should mention that our new film UP has opened! it's a really special movie, very strange, funny and affecting; it's a good picture. so far the reception has been incredible! it's actually a little hard to believe: we were the opening picture of the Cannes Film Festival, we're maintaining a 98% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and we're keeping in step with Nemo and the Incredibles at the box office. i saw the movie at the Castro Theatre the other weekend, and the line led down the block.

this is the film I was hired for and the impetus for my move to California. i feel so privileged to have worked on such an inspiring project, and with such nice and talented people. i really have to thank Ronnie Del Carmen, Pete Docter, Bob Peterson and Jonas Rivera for making everything happen. this was a risky picture for Pixar to make, and these guys did so much of the heavy lifting; i'm so glad that i work at a place where a movie like this can get made.

our thoughtful and action packed story crew, Tony Rosenast, Bill Presing, Enrico Casarosa, Josh Cooley, Justin Hunt and Bobby Rubio; Shannon Ryan, Veronica Watson and Brian Wright deserve many thanks, congratulations and pats on the back. somehow it all came together, and i'm so pleased i got to see it through with them! it was eye-opening to see the Pixar Story Process in action: a little scary, a little exhilarating, and completely rewarding. i'm excited to watch us all continue to learn and grow.

for those who haven't yet seen the film, go watch it now! catch it in theatres while you can, because it's really a great ride, and a lot more fun to see with a full house. i can honestly say that it's one of our best. adventure is out there!

Box Office Mojo

Rotten Tomatoes

Ronnie Del Carmen

Enrico Casarosa

Bill Presing

Justin Hunt

Josh Cooley

Bobby Rubio

coffee break

day break

chapter break

chapter 26

"Look at me, going everywhere! Why, I am a sort of Columbus of those near at hand and believe you can come to them in this immediate terra incognita that spreads out in every gaze. I may well be a flop at this line of endeavor. Columbus too thought he was a flop, probably, when they sent him back in chains. Which didn't prove there was no America." Saul Bellow


8 take risks
i don't know who's reading this stuff at this point, but i'm just gonna keep writing: take risks. extend yourself, and make it okay to fail. commit your energies to saving and sharing those things in this world that you truly value. keep things moving forward, and not just moving. want more! want better! push! put your heart on the line, have a pie in the sky dream, be visionary, get over yourself: whatever your version of risk taking is, take it! we only have so much time and only so many chances: let's make this the best life we can, k?