Happy New Year everyone! I hope your holidays were invigorating and that you were able to surround yourselves with family & loved ones.
If you are like me, the new year brings powerful waves of conflicting emotion; I have to exert conscientious effort to push aside anxieties in order to keep the feelings of hope and excitement pure and unsullied.
I want to let each of you know that I am still here, my heart and mind both filled to overflowing with determination and the force of my imaginations for The Price. And whenever that conflict between hope and despair (which seems to be an integral part of any creative endeavor) starts to tip the scales into darker territory, I think about them many, many encouraging messages I have received, always at just the right moment to dispel the gloom and restore balance.
The community of support that has grown up around The Price is built upon a foundation of common interests and emotional connections. Many of you have shared your stories with me, and it has been such a joyful experience that I wanted to feature one of them in the following Videoblog: allow me introduce you to my good friend, Dhugael McLean Perry…
I really wish it were a possibility to meet each of you and listen to what connects you to The Price, but I’m glad you’ll get to know a little about Dhugael. He is a wildly talented fellow in a broad variety of disciplines, including the creation (and sale) of a highly-successful company, to being a literal computer-guru, actor, foodie and a gifted photographer (check out some examples of his stunning photography — including a few featuring none other than Mr. Neil Gaiman himself). Passionate and intelligent, Dhugael is as inspiring as he is unique.
Sadly, 2 of his lovable “Baker’s Dozen” passed away this last year: Joey (19) and Rorshack (21).
Photos by: Dhugael McLean Perry
And they were not alone; my Producer-Extraordinaire Cat Mihos lost her beloved Batman…
Photo by: Cat Mihos
… while Castle Gaiman lost its matriarch, the venerable Princess Snowflake (who is a featured player in The Price).
Photo by: Kyle Cassidy
The loss of one we love isn’t something we can ever truly prepare for; the deep things we come to understand from such trials are one of the reasons we pass through them.
I am so grateful for the things I have that continue to add richness and depth to my life: my wife and family, the kindness of both friends and strangers (many of whom have since become friends), and for the endless possibilities that pure creativity offers each of us.
My sincere thanks again for helping this dream to come true; have the very best year — ever!!!
Keep up the work man, I know it must be frustrating dealing with all the technical difficulties after so much time already, but i’m certain it will all be worth it, been anticipating this for ages, love the story and can see that your passionate and experienced enough to make it worth the wait, from what I have seen you’re doing a great job and it would kill me to see you give up
Best of luck, a fellow fan.
Thank you Oisin, and don’t worry: you’re not gonna die!
Enjoy hearing how things are going, and appreciate your taking the time to send us updates when you can. We know you love the story as much as we do, and are taking good are of every bit of it. Don’t worry about perfect…. it’s the love and caring and spirit of it that is important, and that you definitely have.
Happy New Year, and keep going. It will be wonderful.
Sandra
You are very kind to say so Sandra — and I’m really not trying to achieve “perfection.” As I began developing the production assets, I discovered ideas and new techniques that could take my initial concepts to a different level, and I felt that because of the unique circumstances with The Price, that I needed to go there (as I may never have an opportunity like this again). Thanks so much for your encouraging words!
Thanks for the update.
Not a Kickstarter backer, (didn’t really know what Kickstarter was and how it worked actually).
Not really even a Gaiman fan, sort of indifferent to his writing (sorry, I know that’s heresy around here!)
Found your project through a series of web links about cats (the internet is made of them after all), the cat Zoe that Neil had that passed away, etc… I found the story of Zoe’s passing as described by Neil to be quite moving, and I decided to read The Price since it was about a cat. I liked the story, and have been watching your progress with interest.
I am really looking forward to the finished product, I actually liked the demo stop action video you did a lot and I’m sure your finished film will have much heart and impact. I was surprised how professional the demo looked, you really have some vision and skills.
I’m still a little disappointed that you didn’t tell the story as if the narrator is actually suffering from progressive insanity and a persecution complex that leads him to create the harm that is befalling his family and blame it on the Devil, but I like the story as straight-up fantasy also.
Don’t give up!
Hey cool to hear Dhugael is on board on this project.
Does this hint at a possible recruitment of other VSS talents?
😉
Keep on at it Chris.
~~Richard~~
Thanks Richard, and yeah, I’d love to get some of the “alumni” together to work on something soon!
If the method of animation you want to use is too expensive/difficult or whatever. Can’t you scale back your ambitions a bit? tell the story using stills? Or maybe just admit that the project is unworkable and return the pledges?
You have my every sympathy for your personal troubles but, dude, it’s getting on for three years and it’s beginning to border on the ridiculous. Maybe it’s time to draw a line under all this.
To make matters even more extreme, I’ve actually been working on this project since December 27th, 2005 (if you want to be excruciatingly accurate), which was the day I first thought about the possibility of creating this project…so, it’s been more like 8 years and some change.
Unworkable? I disagree.
Give up now? Unthinkable!!!
I am truly sorry to make you and everyone else wait (and in reality, I have waited the longest and am far more impatient), but the Kickstarter campaign was a plea to help me realize this particular dream, and slowly but surely, it will come to pass.
But, thanks for the suggestion anyway, “mac!”
Chris, always know you have a very special place to premiere your film in the City of Lowell! We’ve been in touch once or twice the last couple of years and I’d still love to get a regional premiere together when the time is right and the project is complete and beautiful. If the process of creating and fulfilling a dream were easy this world would be a much different place! Keep up the dream and remember that we’re all behind you! Most admirably, Suzz Cromwell
Suzzanne, your comments are most appreciated — these golden rays of encouragement from you and others always seem to arrive at just the right time!
I am very flattered that you are keeping an eye on The Price, and would be honored to be able to show the finished film at the Lowell festival! The fact that so many people keep trying to peruse their dreams (no matter how many obstacles pop-up to block the way) adds a degree of hope to the comings & goings of this world that is — to me — absolutely vital. Thanks again!!!