Hello Fons

Here below is a conversation I had via Skype yesterday with Fons Schiedon, hope you all will find it as insightful as I did. If this is not a wake-up call to push us to be serious about working together I don't know then what will....

Hello Fons, how are you? Many compliments for your beautiful music video, really fantastic work! :)

Fons Schiedon says: hey cesare. thanks ver much :)

cesare davolio says: thank you for the inspiration

FS: glad if it did.

You working on something nice?

CD: well, i got together with Simon, Jelle, Menno and Niels to talk about pulling together our resources towards making an amination portfolio, so i am working with Jelle some ideas...and trying to improve my animation skills...

FS: cool. whats the plan?

CD: we've set up a blog, and are posting things that maybe interesting to develop,

CD: that's how i saw your recent masterpiece... :)

FS: the blog is a very nice idea

although I would make it a policy to do all posts in english, because that way if it develops, it becomes accessible to international enthusiasts.

if you can get some animation people to comment on it, I believe that could really be stimulating and pushing the development of your project :)

because - and just shut me up if this bothers you - you are all very nice guys...but if you want to make this good and interesting, you have to stop being nice ;)

CD: how do you mean?

FS: well, and I mean this in general - I don’t know how this is with you guys. BUt, there's a risk in collaborations, especially with people who are more or less working in the same business (illustration), that there's too much consensus...or willingness to be positive and generate mostly happy feedback. But this is bad for animation. haha :)

CD: i was thinking to meet with the ka-ching cartoons guys, know them? i'd like to hear thier experience in animation...

FS: Ive met the ka-ching guys..They're very nice, go meet them

CD: ok! maybe they can share some tips...

FS: very young, but with a strong focus on creating quality material…and much experience already

CD: yes, i followed their work with skunk-fu, liked the animation a lot...

FS: they're good, definitely.

CD: about 'nice', is true, we have to watch out for wrong turns and being honest in our opinions, but at the moment is still about finding out if we can work as a team...for me this initiative has already proved fruitful because i like to have a structure and an 'audience', keeps me focused, so is a good start, i think me and Jelle are going to be the motor, and so far he's coming up strong...

FS: you know what the thing is about being nice? It's about being positive, even when you don't like what's going on.

If an animatic - for instance - is not as good as it could be, you have to go back and change it until it works. Same for backgrounds, characters. I love the animators I work with, but if they deliver a scene that doesnt work, they'll redo it. And if yhey get an animatic from me that they think doesnt work, they'll tell me and I'll go and change it.

The best way to find out if you work as a team is to focus on the work and be honest if you dig it or not, otherwise you're wasting your time

CD: yes, is a good point you make...also about being positive, is to see criticism as a way to become better at what you do...

FS: yes, I believe so.

you are all very talented, so that's great. But it's not like it adds up by default, you know what I mean? To unleash that potential, you have to challenge what you're doing.

And…I believe there's a role for you, being most experienced and - I mean this in the best way possible - "the man in the other room". :D

CD: that's a great line, 'the man in the other room'....for sure none of the guys lack talent, so for that we're covered, and i feel i have a lot to learn if i want to grow professionally but i believe i have the human experience to be the 'glue' for the projects, and to keep continuity in what we should do and keep the communication flowing...

FS: absolutely, that's it

CD: i have to head out to pick up Eliot from school, this has been a great little conversation, do you mind if i post it on the blog?

FS: thought so too.

yeah, no problem, just beep out any swear words ;)

CD: Ciao!

FS: see ya later

CD: what can i say? you're one of a kind, thanks also for the tip about the robot anima walk cycle!