Or at least that was the title of the event. But he was right there, talking deeply about his beliefs on life and story. Truly a great master of plot and what the theory is behind a good working story. Any story you could probably ask him to make he would know the "knots and bolts of it" (as he said). Until that point I never really thought of story so mechanically, yes I knew there was a rising action and a climax and all that but there's so much more. Which most people would be terrified of but not me, I've been searching for these answers to writing so long. Like how to make a story fantastic, most of the time I'd try to put as much fantastic stuff into a story and have it coming out being all fantastic nothingness. Bird explained that it's the mundane stuff of the story that leads up to the fantastic. I got so much wisdom in that one speech than I have gotten from so many people who work in the business.
Some things he talked about were:
"Doubt is like a weed to a good idea." I never thought about how much I've been doubting myself and my work lately.
"Movies are like a salad bar of arts, study everything." This was the answer to a girls question about how to get into his position of work.
"Good movies are like good music." This one really caught my attention because of my close upbringing to music. Bird said not only the new stuff, older music and that got me excited because I adore the old much more than most of the new. I could tell he was my kind of guy by all the old 1930-1970's movies he knew about and referenced. And he referenced them well, you could tell that he really observed them and he even watched peoples reactions to them so he knows what an audience wants. He even knew the reason for all the sequel movies we have in this day and age. His explanation was that not only are the people who go to theaters seeing the second movie but the people who rented the first movie on dvd are seeing them and they keep coming back for more. In the old days they kept making new movies because it was on word of mouth how good the story was and who was in the film. These days producers and execs know if a movie does good more will go to see the sequels. He just knew everything! I would have liked to listen to him longer but the program was only for an hour or so and he got pummeled by people who wanted his autograph. I didn't need it, he had given me so much more that I needed. I didn't need an autograph to show that I saw him because I now have some of his knowledge. He had mentioned that night that he works with geniuses at Pixar but I hope he knows how much of a genius he is to - In the sweet humble way that he is.


My guys, Brad Bird and Peter O'toole.

It's been going rather slow but I've been at this pace so long that I enjoy it, a little too much.  I know I'll have to start working soon because of the economy but I wish I could enjoy this blessed peace a bit longer.

I have started to notice a lot of complaints and rants at my school the "Academy of Art University" in San Francisco. My will declines the act of joining them. For their rants are based on the idea that we are paying half a hundred thousand to have a decent education. And that percentage seems to be getting higher and higher as other key points play a role in this matter; like the financial crisis this country is going through, the principals habit of showing off her wealth, and the new sports system (my friends favorite subject to criticize) which basically gave a good portion of the schools "undeserving" students a free ride as long as they attract more students to the school. For their sake I give them the benefit of the doubt, some of them are passionate about their work and the sport is just a golden ticket. But the others who just came here cause it's San Francisco and can do whatever the hell they like as long as they maintane a passing grade in the course that they don't give a damn about is sheer madness. That's not what this school was built for, it is a haven for artists to practice their craft, create connections to make their way in the world without resorting to becoming a "starving artist". This is precisely why I came here. Not to worry about our countries failing government, complain about our principal's arrogance, or criticize the jocks (no matter how tempting it is ). I came here to improve my skills, to gain knowledge of the inner workings of art and animation in the business world today. And most importantly, to inspire! Not only others but myself included, for once I finish a drawing that is better than I could have imagined, a deep sense of pride swells within me. Giving me the courage to venture forth and take these giant leaps on my own.

This is why I cannot join my friends in their conversations of moaning and groaning about the schools system. I knew before I came to this school that there would be a few punches thrown at me, weather it would be in my pocket book or my past dreams (I seem to have gained some new ones ). I'm looking at the big picture, to much talk is focused on the school but really it is just a stepping stone for me. And really, that is what my mind is always thinking about, me. For we should all be the main character in the book that is our life.

“No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did he would cease to be an artist.”
Oscar Wilde