So...

This year has been a year of change. Good ones at that!! Went home after waaaay to long... Saw Machu Picchu for the 2nd time in my life and it's still as AMAZING as I remembered it. Got to see almost all of my closests friends. Most of them looking quiet grown up! Also, Kim and I are going to Ohio to visit my in laws in Sept. And I'm still clinging to my idea of going to Japan in Nov (wallet permitting...)

The main change has been the professional focus. I decided some of my personal goals were being pushed back too much based on finances (arrrrg money!!) So I made up my mind and switched back to my 2nd trade, which is business. So far it has worked out INCREDIBLY well. And it has allowed me to reconsider the actual possibility of buying a home in CA... which is, by today standards, no small feat.

Animation is still a passion and I am not willing to give it up. I just rather do it on my own... to full fill my own visions and prospects, rather than working on somebody else's goals. And all this tumult has kept me away from the blog, the artistic circle and from posting on other people's blogs. Some of those blogs are no more! And that was sad to see... but hey, we've all got things to do and sometimes the internerd needs to be pushed back... Life goes on.

Regardless, I want to post some tests I have worked on. I'll put them on youtube and then I'll share them here. That way I can force myself to stay "sharp". Art can be so ungrateful when you neglect it...

In the meantime, my little "semi-regular" blog goes on...

Long time no see... or write

I've been away for a good while, but updates are coming!
PROMISE!!!

Happy New Year!!!

May 2007 bring peace, joy and success!! (and good music, good movies, good concerts...etc etc etc) Speaking of good movies, finally saw Happy Feet... LOVED it.

Said it for a while...

#1 at the box office?

Happy Feet.

Always back to the basics...

I was struggling with a bit of work last week and for the life of me I couldn't figure out why on earth it wasn't "working"... I liked the timing, the spacing was good... but something was wrong... it felt wrong. So I left the scene on stand by for a couple days (it's always good to keep your eyes fresh).

When I went back to it I figured out why. And yet again, I had to slap myself in the forehead. I wasn't paying attention to the rules. I got caught up in the details and forgot the structure. My contact poses were not hitting on a straight. Bah!

So today's reminder is... legs always hit contact positions on a straight...
Gotta love animation.

mau.

Oooohh Yeah!

Their 3rd album is coming!

It's a happy happy day!!

Clicky

mau

Pretty in Pink

Kim and I volunteered as crew for the 2006 Avon Breast Cancer Walk. We will be part of the Gear and Tent Team. It's pretty exciting and I'm really looking forward to it! Even though we start tomorrow at about 5am and pretty much don't stop until Sunday night. Definitely worth it though. Hopefully there will be time to snap some pics.

mau.

Do Not Forget

Never forget.

James Baxter Rough Animation

This is some of the work of my teacher's teacher.

!!



mau

This is awesome!

clicky

mau.

I've been saying it all along...

This movie is going to be amazing~!

Happy Feet

Go check Trailer #3

mau.

Oh man...

This is hillarious



thx JKrew

One of the things that's been keeping me busy

www.mauriciovasquez.net

It's not too fancy, but I'm happy... for now.
Besides that, que calor!!

mau.

VAMOS VAAAMOS!!!

Argentinaaaaa!!!

6-0!!!

Japan - Australia

What a Game!!!

Australia scored 3 goals in the last 6 minutes!!!

amazing.

mau.

CARS

Movies like this remind me why I love my career so so much. Pixar hasn't lost it's touch! Not to be a fan boy but they are as great as ever!! And One Man Band was amazing too!!

Go see CARS!!

Now!!

Go!!!!!

mau.

Temescal Canyon - Pacific Palisades -

Kim and I went for a really cool hike yesterday morning at Temescal in The Palisades. Click on the picture to check out the album!

If you live in LA you HAVE to do this one. It's by far the coolest one we've done so far. We did the Ridge Trail, which is mostly uphill and quiet long. But the views were worth the trip.

Check the pics!!

mau

Long week!

This last week and a half has been long. I took up on some extra (and welcomed) work. I don't think I'm allowed to talk about the projects but they were cool. Plus going back to Shadedbox for a bit was nice. Catch up with the guys and get some good work done.

Besides that, I'll have a couple more posts in a few days. I am still dealing with some unfinished work. In the meantime, Argentina won it's first match!!! Not the most impressive 2nd half I've seen, but a win non the less!

mau.

In my humble opinion...

First of all, you can never...EVER, trust critics. In particular, movie critics. I am sure there are 20 billion arguments that could be presented and argued in their favor, based on god knows what. In any case, experience dictates that I just don't necessarily see movies the way they do. So yes, I don't trust critics because I like to be able to create my own, non-biased opinion. I'm entitled to my opinion after all. And it just happened again tonight with "The Code".

I am not a conspiracy fanatic, as a matter of fact; I try really hard not to be a fanatic about anything. Sometimes I fail, sometimes I succeed. The reason I liked The DaVinci Code, was not because I necessarily believe that this fiction is plausible. I liked the book because it was a good read. It entertained me, quiet a bit. Did it spark a doubt in my mind about the veracity of its plot? Well... maybe it made me wonder a thing or 2, but I am not willing to change my views solely based on the fictional work of a relatively new author.

The movie, in my humble opinion, is a really good depiction of the book. The book is not a thriller by a long shot. The book, as I recall it, is pretty much a succession of events. Plain and simple. The cool factor is the meticulously woven plot. And the movie, in my eyes, delivered just that.

Many things can be argued about this book, its subject and the movie. I am for now just saying that I (again) do not agree with critics. I liked it. I thought it was true to the book. Maybe one of the very few films in the last few years able to honor a book, just like LOTR's did (to a whole different extent of course).

Do I have an opinion about the ridiculous and boisterous religious reactions to the movie? (not only from roman catholics, but from organized religious institutions in general) Of course I do, I think it's just that. Ridiculous. Why blow up a movie into such a big deal? What's all the fuss about? It's a F I C T I O N!!!! Geez.... Sometimes you really need to pick your battles people...

Being offended by every single thing that crosses your path or contradicts you in any way is such a waste of time... It almost makes it look like you suffer from an inferiority/paranoid complex of some kind... Unless of course, you are complaining because the "fiction" rings a bit too much like a possible truth... I guess we will never know.

mau

Unexpected Visitors

California's wildlife still amazes me. These 2 were right outside my apt. today... chilling in the courtyard.