tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19218379.post116072279571665567..comments2023-09-11T01:08:04.956-07:00Comments on The Blackwing Diaries: Panel RecapJenny Lerewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06668171465801333811noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19218379.post-90173283365928551572007-03-07T08:48:00.000-08:002007-03-07T08:48:00.000-08:00Dear Jenny,Thanks again for having this blog up. I...Dear Jenny,<BR/><BR/>Thanks again for having this blog up. I'm so glad I was tipped about it; what a relief to know these issues are being discussed. This post in particular is a favorite of mine to read over and over again when I'm down. <BR/><BR/>I got into CalArt's Character Animation program as a 17 year old out of high school. I know that I should be animating - but I'm not, only because I can't afford it. I was so misinformed about base-need financial aid and I wish there was a scholarship open for just animation. Now, I haven't run across any - the only ones are for visual arts (and even with couldnt get me to afford CalArts). Would you happen to know of any?Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02078886389071923434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19218379.post-1161245617072592062006-10-19T01:13:00.000-07:002006-10-19T01:13:00.000-07:00We just put up the audio of the first half hour of...We just put up the audio of the first half hour of the panel <A HREF="http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/2006/10/see-jane-panel-soundtrack.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>. I wish we had the whole two hours, but it gives a good feel for the tone and substance of the panel.Kevin Kochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14678528568112279975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19218379.post-1161052007549991292006-10-16T19:26:00.000-07:002006-10-16T19:26:00.000-07:00Hey Jenny,I read your post and the TAG post, and I...Hey Jenny,<BR/><BR/>I read your post and the TAG post, and I'm bummed that I didn't have the means to get down to LA to see that panel - I would have loved to hear the whole thing, because women in animation and female characters is something that I've been thinking about a lot lately, desiring to become one myself (not just a woman, but a woman in animation).<BR/><BR/>I have so many thoughts on this that I'm trying to type out here, but it would end up as a novel and I should probably put it on my own blog instead of taking up your whole comments page! Briefly, though... <BR/><BR/>I don't think there's very much in the way of people deciding NOT to put women in a crowd scene, it's just one of those things where when you sit down to draw a crowd, you draw a bunch of dudes and a few chicks. If you're thinking about it, you can make decisions consciously instead of just whatever comes out first. It's not like some humongous world-shaking change. It is great, that attention is being called to it and that people are interested in changing it.<BR/><BR/>I remember going to see Mulan when I was twelve or so and being just thrilled to see it, the whole thing. I mean - does she even kiss the guy at the end? She fights, she rescues people, she takes down the bad guy herself... I mean, that to me is a strong girl.<BR/><BR/>It seems like a lot of the arguments over women in animated movies becomes arguments over strong women in animated movies, and then people throw out Ariel and Belle. I never thought those characters were terribly strong. They are interesting, but Prince Eric kills Ursula, and Belle just can't seem to figure out the right way to tell Gaston to leave her alone. Even though the stories are strong and the girls are the main characters, their bad guys are for their boys to take care of, and the problems that Ariel and Belle themselves have to overcome are related to Love. <BR/><BR/>Which is a valid story! I'm not saying it's not, and the thin ice that I always feel like I'm on when this subject comes up is that I'm not saying that these films should be changed, or are wrong. I enjoy watching The Little Mermaid. What I'm saying (and what I think you and the people on the tag panel were, too) is that with every new production, there is the opportunity to do something different, put more girls in the crowds, make the sidekick a girl. It doesn't have to be a criticism on the stories that came before...<BR/><BR/>Wow, so this ended up being long anyway. <BR/><BR/>One last thing - I thought it was interesting how Brenda said that Slinky or T-Rex could have been female, without changing the story. A couple of weeks ago I was talking about this with some friends, and we found that Nemo himself could have easily been a girl, too. No story changes! Just a girl!<BR/><BR/>Thank you for listening. I always enjoy reading your blog!Emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03701836084537450857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19218379.post-1160807835180520402006-10-13T23:37:00.000-07:002006-10-13T23:37:00.000-07:00Great posts, Jenny, as always. Thanks again for b...Great posts, Jenny, as always. Thanks again for being a panelist, and for being a beacon of sanity in our industry.<BR/><BR/>After the panel I had dinner with my girlfriend and a group of four other women, and they were all so grateful that we did it. It was a good thing.<BR/><BR/> I've been trying to put my finger on the mood I felt in the auditorium by the end of the evening, and the closest I can come is that it seemed like a lot of very creative and accomplished women (panelists and audience alike) were mutually giving themselves permission to start being BOTH animators/directors/writers AND women. That somehow no one has felt comfortable acknowledging the obvious, and that maybe the world won't end if we do.<BR/><BR/>I don't know . . . maybe I'm so worn out right now I'm getting philosophical, but I did feel some creative tectonic plates shifting, and I think some positive change will come from it.<BR/><BR/>By the way, I posted some notes and photos from the panel on the <A HREF="http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">TAG Blog</A>.Kevin Kochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14678528568112279975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19218379.post-1160788048986876582006-10-13T18:07:00.000-07:002006-10-13T18:07:00.000-07:00Hi Jenny -Met you briefly at the end of that meeti...Hi Jenny -<BR/><BR/>Met you briefly at the end of that meeting last night. I'm the efx animator who told you I read your blog everyday. I thought it was a great meeting. <BR/><BR/>I brought my daughter along to the meeting to show her that it's not at all bad to be in the business and be geeky and nerdy about cartoons. She knew this already from being around the business with me for the last 17 years. But it was added reassurance that it's okay and these might be the type of people she is looking for as she always complains she can't find the types of people like her that are nutty creative types. Look no further I said. <BR/><BR/>Keep up the great blog Jenny. I love the history and stories and especially the drawings. <BR/><BR/>Kevin O'NeilKevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03496640970640960494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19218379.post-1160787837452589522006-10-13T18:03:00.000-07:002006-10-13T18:03:00.000-07:00Wish I could have been there. Sounds like a great ...Wish I could have been there. Sounds like a great panel. Thanks for the Disney quote! I'd never read that one before. Great post as always!Eddie Pittmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04046731173537063675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19218379.post-1160778052881196132006-10-13T15:20:00.000-07:002006-10-13T15:20:00.000-07:00Huzzah! Good to see more thoughts on this subject....Huzzah! Good to see more thoughts on this subject. I too wish I could have been at this panel discussion. <BR/><BR/>Once a male producer owner of a studio said to me that he could see me as either a woman or a director but not as both. I guess that was a problem of HIS perception, not mine. I don't think I gave up being female in order to direct!<BR/><BR/>Recently I had the pleasure of working as a storyboard artist with director Lynn Reist on the Miss Spider television series. We shared a feeling of mutual acceptance and creative encouragement. This made work a whole lot of fun. I do think that there was something to the fact that we are both 'girls'. <BR/><BR/>Each person male or female brings their own rich p.o.v. to the creative table and all sexes should be welcome! I do feel though that the animation arts can stand a lot more 'feminizing'. Just look at the contributions from the likes of artists Deanna Marsigliese, Katie Rice and the magnificent Marlo Meekins. (I just want to say that name over again Marlo Meekins Marlo Meekins...Yup). Creative goodness. <BR/><BR/>As you say Jenny, 'the drawing is a creature of its own--who can tell the sex of the person who drew it? No one'.<BR/><BR/>adding to that: There's lots more drawings to be done!<BR/><BR/>Cheers,<BR/><BR/>~Arnathe doodlershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11550185004249639693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19218379.post-1160759375418352802006-10-13T10:09:00.000-07:002006-10-13T10:09:00.000-07:00The panel last night was great! Thanks for sharing...The panel last night was great! <BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing the Walt Disney quote...it's definitely inspiring to hear that at least one studio exec was thinking ahead back in 1941. :) <BR/><BR/>One of the women last night made a comment that really struck me, about how women are taught to police themselves, and to be good at something, but not TOO good, which I think is utterly ridiculous and frightening, especially in this day and age. Working in animation and filmmaking takes guts, and the ability to sell yourself and your abilities to a studio. I think the sad fact is that a lot of little girls are still taught that being meek and quiet and self-depricating is some sort of "virtue," and as a result nobody has the gumption to defy tradition and go into animation because art is commonly just seen as a "hobby" and not a real job. <BR/><BR/>I think the solution is twofold--getting the word out to high schools and colleges that animation is a real career, and teaching our daughters that confidence in their talents and abilities is nothing to be ashamed of!<BR/><BR/>/rantAnne-arkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07736482831477050502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19218379.post-1160756497193155112006-10-13T09:21:00.000-07:002006-10-13T09:21:00.000-07:00Hi Jenny:I love your thread here and hope you'll k...Hi Jenny:<BR/><BR/>I love your thread here and hope you'll keep it up. This is a sorely overlooked subject on all of the animation blogs.<BR/><BR/>Michael SpornMichael Spornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02018522723674960270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19218379.post-1160753976177857352006-10-13T08:39:00.000-07:002006-10-13T08:39:00.000-07:00Thanks for the report.Wow, that's quite a quote fr...Thanks for the report.<BR/><BR/>Wow, that's quite a quote from Walt. I've never seen that one before and in the context of what was happening in 1941 at his studio it is doubly amazing. <BR/><BR/>I was encouraged at the recent Ottawa Animation festival to meet quite a few young women enrolled in animation programs at Sheridan College, Algonquin College, Art Institute of Pittsburg, and other animation programs. And the four young Korean women who won for best High School film, Hye Jin Park , Hyun Joo Song , Ji na Yoon , and Min hee Jang. Their winning film, <B>"Black Box"</B> , was made at <B>Korea Animation High School</B> (how cool is that ?!) where they are third-year students. <BR/><BR/>Here's a link about them and their film (copy & paste into browser): http://tinyurl.com/y5y6mtDavidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02162612139500138953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19218379.post-1160738925680512522006-10-13T04:28:00.000-07:002006-10-13T04:28:00.000-07:00Hi Jenny. I wish I could have attended that panel...Hi Jenny. I wish I could have attended that panel.<BR/><BR/>Right now, the second year of Sheridan's animation program is approximately 43% female. This is the third year I've been teaching there, and that figure feels about right for the other years that I've taught.Mark Mayersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00065971589878678848noreply@blogger.com