Warrior VS Stormtroopers

New Blog!

Movingbox has a new blog over at WordPress, check it out!

The new Movingbox Blog has a ton of fun stuff from Movingbox members, including videos, behind-the-scenes peaks in the studio, and cool stuff we've found online.

http://movingboxblog.wordpress.com

This Blogspot blog will still be updated, but with information about our productions exclusively. For more of an up-to-date look inside Movingbox, visit our Wordpress Blog.

Ayurveda @ Grassroots '09

Ayurveda @ Grassroots '09 from Moving Box Studios on Vimeo.

Hey everyone, really proud to have this up. Two camera shoot with me and my man Nicoli. We got treated to an amazing performance from Ayurveda and am glad to be able to show it to all of you through our onstage eyes. Hope you enjoy and stay tuned for more content from Moving Box!

- Joe Zohar

Zampus.com Campaign

Hey Everyone, Just got done producing these three promotional videos for Zampus.com.

Zampus is doing some wonderful things to help acclimate incoming and current students with their campus. Zampus is a place where you can "Learn" about whats going on around campus, a place where you can "Vent" about anything bothering you without being censored by any administrators, and a place where anyone, including business's, can "promote" themselves to the student body without any bias. All in all a pretty powerful website that is fused with you existing facebook account so you don't have to reinvent your social networking wheel.

One of the most fun projects I have worked on in a while. Enjoy!

- Joe Zohar

One More Saturday Night

Moving Box Studios would like to send a special thank you to the Lost Dog Cafe and all of the amazing performers at our fundraiser event, One More Saturday Night.

Check out Moving Box Studios' very own DJ BEAT BOX performing Video Games.

We especially would like to thank the band AyurvedA for an incredible performance.

Watch our video of AyurvedA's Planck Time, live at the Grassroots music festival.

Moving Box Studios Presents

Moving Box Studios Presents
One More Saturday Night
July 25th 10:00PM - 1:30AM
Last Night of Live Music at the Lost Dog Cafe.

Lost Dog Cafe
106-112 South Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY

Music by:
Members of AyurvedA - 11:30PM
Open Jam Session (All are welcome) - 10:00PM
A final opportunity for a recorded open jam at the legendary Lost Dog Cafe!
Dr. Z - DJ/VJ in between sets
DJ Beat Box
& More

$4

More information available on our Facebook event.

Update 5/29

It's been a while since you've heard from us. We have lots to tell you. Ready to listen?

Nick Schweip has finished rotoscoping for the film noir, Chalk Outlines. The finished product will be online soon, but until then check out the trailer above. If you really want to be caught up with the film's production then watch Repentance, a precursor to Chalk Outlines.

We should also mention that we can breathe now. Our recording booth finally got proper ventilation which means no more coughing, headaches, and dead employees from the poisonous air. Next week we plan on starting the setup of our vocal booth. Our little recording studio is growing up so fast...

Film noirs, breathing, what could be next? How about film festivals! With the help of singer-songwriter Tom Knight and a website called Withoutabox we are now ready to send out The Elephant's Lullaby to film festivals across the country. We're very excited at the opportunity for audiences to watch the music video on a big screen. We're also excited to win first prize at every festival. You know that's what's going to happen.

Hopefully that was enough info to satisfy all appetites? It wasn't? Well, check back with us soon for more updates.

Volunteering at Cinemapolis

Here at Moving Box Studios, we not only believe in creating independent media, but also in supporting our local community in Ithaca, NY.  Today a large group of the Moving Box team volunteered our time painting and cleaning the new Cinemapolis theatre.  We had a great time and highly recommend it.

They still need more volunteers before they're grand reopening.  

For more information go to http://www.cinemapolis.org/.

MBS Summer 2009 Interns

Moving Box Studios is proud to welcome our new internship team. We have a talented group working with us and look forward to a productive summer.
Keep checking the blog to see what develops.

Oh, and have you seen the new video player on MovingBox.tv?

From left to right
Dan Curtain, Kevin Schultz, Steve Gillingham, Chris Davidson, Emily Benning, Nancy Foytho.

Interested in joining the Moving Box Studios crew?
Send resumé and work samples to MovingBoxStudios@gmail.com

Moving Box in The Lansing Star

What do you get when you put together a video studio with a recording studio, animation, wedding videos, and media transfer services? The answer is Moving Box Studios , an Ithaca based multi-media studio hidden away in the Community School of Music and Art building.

Read more...

We've submitted the Olympus Burger pilot to Adult Swim!

Today, we mailed the Olympus Burger pilot episode and bible to the late-night Cartoon Network block, Adult Swim! Getting onto Adult Swim has been our goal for Olympus Burger since the beginning (which was almost four years ago) so we're keeping our fingers and everything else crossed.

This picture was taken six minutes before the post office closed, but Chris* turned into The Flash and got it there just in time. He was locked in the post office for a couple minutes afterwards, but then he turned into the Hulk and...asked the lady at the desk to let him out.

Unless the mail gnomes get at it, the package will arrive in Adult Swim's submission box tomorrow. We'll put up another post when we hear from them, so check back soon!

*Even though that little sign says "Connor," that's Chris. Trust me.

Behind the Scenes: Interns!

Hello, world.

This is Steve, a current all-purpose animation intern at Moving Box Studios. My creative director Chris Davidson wants to give you all some insight into what us interns actually do (i.e. not watch cartoons all day), so here's some insider info.

I had my hands on the pilot episode of Java, correcting colors and whatnot. Java refused to "pop" against the background in his drab duds. We can't have our title character blending into the background, so I created a bunch of alternative palettes. I consulted with Chris on what the final color choice should be, and after picking it, I went to town in Adobe Flash changing each instance of Java to the new palette by Cmd + I'ing and Cmd + K'ing everything into submission. Repetitive? Eh, maybe, but it seriously helps develop an eye for color, attention to detail, and, well, using Flash in general. Java will be coming to your screen this summer... so I better hop to it.

That's all for now. Cheers!

Update 4/20

Here's some more content to make you drool - it's a short animation titled "Meet Java!" where you'll "meet" Java, Heidi, and Maddie - the three main characters from the upcoming series created by Danielle Chillemi, Java!

Watch it on Newgrounds too, and remember to vote 5!

The Java pilot episode is coming out this summer, so stay tuned.

Controversial Easter Video

Cartoonist and MySpace Whore Tony Glitz has recently released a controversial Easter video called Easter Is Gay. You can watch it over on YouTube. He's also posted an Extended Version for his alleged fans. Love it or hate it, you gotta admit Tony Glitz is one audacious character.

Coming Oh-So Soon: Purgatory Pizza

The flash version of Purgatory Pizza is coming soon!
Creator Christian Taranto, AKA MC Death Bear, took a twelve-hour bus ride from Virginia up to our studio last Friday, and he’s been working non-stop since he arrived.

Talk about dedication! But what would you expect from a guy who’s almost finished with a concept he started in ninth grade? That’s right, Purgatory Pizza was first conceptualized when Christian was a freshman in high school. Back then, it was a comic strip. It’s gone through many revision since then. At the beginning, it was known as “Outcasts,” and there wasn’t even a pizza place! But over the years, he’s worked at several pizza places, so he eventually decided to put his work experience to good use (or bad, who knows? It’s Purgatory).

Now at 22, Christian’s thrilled to see his teenage doodles come to life in magnificent moving media magic, not to mention that he’s at the helm of it all. But Christian isn’t the only one working. Chris Davidson’s been leading the animation, and he and Jeff Hellman have been hard at work on the sound design.

In fact, it was because of Chris Davidson that Purgatory Pizza got started on the road to cartoon-dom. Back in December 2007, Christian had an art show at Pixel Lounge. During the show, he mentioned how he had an idea for a cartoon and wanted to make it, and he was referred to Moving Box Studios by local DJ Chris Capulet. Christian had always be interested in animation, but he never got the chance until he and Chris teamed up.

Just like The Elephant’s Lullaby, Moving Box will be putting together a “making of” video for Purgatory Pizza. It’ll include commentary from those already mentioned, plus Christian’s cousin Law Tarello, the co-writer of the cartoon. Law will be arriving at the studio this Saturday to share his thoughts.

We're in the final pruduction stage of the final cut, but if you need something to do before Purgatory Pizza is released, head to SickDamage.com where Christian is a staff writer. No kidding, Christian isn’t just an artist and budding animator; he’s a talented writer as well.

Need something else? Get a Purgatory Pizza refresher – watch the teaser for the cartoon on Newgrounds.

Update 3/16

Oh boo it's Monday...

Wrong! I mean, it's still Monday, but there's nothing to "boo" about because there's a new release out from Moving Box, and boy do you wanna watch it!

By now you've seen Tom Knight's "The Elephant's Lullaby," and you know that it's one of the cuter things online, up there with that sneezing baby panda. Now you can get a behind-the-scenes look at how the animation was created, by watching...

The Making of "The Elephant's Lullaby"!

This featurette includes commentary from the team behind the animated video. With interesting and insightful words from Nutmeg Doherty (Executive Producer), Chris Davidson (Producer/Director), Wright Rickman (Production Designer/Lead Animator), Liz McLelland (Art Director), and Tom Knight (the Singer/Songwriter himself!), you'll probably want to go back and watch the original animation with all of your newly-acquired appreciation. 

In other news, Ithaca Tape to Disc is up and running. Check it out if you need your old video tapes converted to high-quality digital video.

Purgatory Pizza is in heavy production this week. Check back here soon for further details!

Update 2/11

Whatever the weather's like outside, you can be sure that inside Moving Box Studios, everything's coming up roses. (forgive me, please)

The Making of The Elephant's Lullaby has reached it's second cut, and the final cut is expected by the end of the month. Wanna see how the cutest animation you ever saw was put together? This'll be the one to watch.

Don't forget about Java! The pilot has gotten a sound-lock and the picture-lock will be finished next week. Plus, we've gotten some awesome additional art by Emily Benning (see the image above). Java will be out this Spring!

We have a full inventory of everything we need to complete Days of Our Lamps 2 - General Popsicle. We just had a shoot at a local hospital and have a new action sequence planned - it's gonna be epic! Don't let the sequel status fool you...this Summer blockbuster is gonna make you think in a whole new way about lamps and popsicles.

We're working on a cut for a highlight reel of completed Moving Box productions. It'll be featured on our website when it's done, so keep a lookout for that!

Moving Box Studios is launching a new service called Ithaca Tape to Disc. If you have any old home video tapes, you probably know by now that they wear down, and this service is the perfect solution - we'll convert your tapes to digital format! More details to follow.

Pushing Flash Animation (Escape from Nevara)

Check out Escape from Nevara by Zeurel over at Newgrounds. It's an animated continuation of a his online comic book on deviantART. Awesome art direction, animation and sound, this is definitely one to look out for.

Escape from Nevara: Episode 1 on Newgrounds.com

-Chris

Update 1/20

Happy New Year! Long time no update, but the weekly updates are starting again, and we here at Moving Box have got a lot of exciting stuff coming your way.

Our studio is in its last week of construction and we're excited to show it off! We'll be having an awesome opening event, and will post a date for that soon.

We've entered production for The Making of The Elephant's Lullaby, which is (as you've already guessed) a behind-the-scenes look at The Elephant's Lullaby. We expect to release "The Making" next month.

Dave Livingston has finished recording with Mike Brindisi and the New York Rock. Their new album, Counting Pennies, has entered the mixing stage with Alex Perialas of Pyramid Sound Studios. Counting Pennies is slated for release this March!

Joe Zohar's film noir, Chalk Outlines, is nearing completion! Haven Cousins from Nonfx has come aboard as visual effects supervisor, and Joe feels that this collaboration takes the film to a much higher level. Just check out that still from the film at the top.

Also working with Joe is Dillon McCarthy, a talented, on-the-rise student at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Dillon is working on the effects for one of the most visually challenging scenes in the film. Keep an eye out for this incredibly dedicated artist in the future.

Joe is delighted to have Eric Spangler, AKA DJ Dubble8 as composer for the film's score. Eric has worked with Joe and Moving Box Studios before, and Joe couldn't be happier to be working with him again on this project.

Ryan Mauk of Digital One is head of sound design for Chalk Outlines. Like Eric, Ryan's worked with Moving Box before, as sound designer both for the Chalk Outlines trailer and for Olympus Burger!

Chalk Outlines has been in production for a number of years now, and now with all of these talented people, Joe feels that he's found exactly the right team and is pleased to see everything coming together just right. He estimates completion in 2-3 months, and we're seriously pumped. We'll be having screenings here in the studio and elsewhere - check back here for updates!