Monday 29 December 2014

The final post of 2014

Greetings All,

As I write this final post of 2014 I find myself looking at the calendar and realising that there is only 2 days left.

This year has been like so many in the past, and has flown by so fast that I'm stunned to be reflecting and looking forward.

1 year ago when I wrote my post "The year comes to a close" I had so many anticipations for what 2014 would bring.  I had just completed a very eventful year and Capemedia was on the up.  I remember pledging to do more blogs, more Facebook and Twitter updates and keep people updated with where Capemedia was going.  Now I feel a little naïve looking back on this post.

2014 wasn't the building block I had hoped for!  2014 was both challenging and frustrating!

Sadly early on in the year my paying clients began to dry up and by the middle of the year I was scrambling around trying to get new work in.  This trend has continued through the remainder of the year and now I need to re-think the future of Capemedia as a limited company.

Due to my focus being in the paid work, most of my creative work suffered.  Not a single project got released.  The only video I managed to upload was my "Happy Demo Reel 2014" but sadly this was jumped upon by YouTube due to me using "Happy" by Pharrell Williams.  The video will not play and has been removed!

I'm seriously thinking of moving away from YouTube due to the licencing issues and the way you have to raise a dispute even if you have been wrongly accused.

Other then this video, I did release two trailers.  The first was for the Pinhead competition but again I got everything in place and then ran out of time.  Running out of time was an issue that plagued me the whole of 2014.  The second trailer was for "United Alliance", this was even played at the premiere of the "Trinket"



United Alliance has been in the creation process now coming up to 2 years and I'm running out of steam with it.  It so sad to think that I'm thinking this way but you can only be knocked down so many times before you take a rest before getting to your feet again.

Fortunately The year ended on a good note with me being asked to beta test the new iClone 6 that Reallusion have recently released.  It is an amazing piece of software and unbelievably powerful, more powerful then my PC can handle and a major upgrade will be needed in 2015.

This is my showcase of the software:-




So what now, where do I go from here?

I'm not really sure!  But it will be 10 years since Capemedia came into existence and I need to do something special.

 
Maybe I'll start a crowd funding campaign and finally raise the money to make my first professional animated short, take 3 months off work and create my dream....who knows

In ending, I would like to thank my wife and family for putting up with me and supporting me as always.  Also the people who have taken the time to read this blog, thank you.

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year and I think it's only fitting to close with a song I wrote about 4 years ago but it seems quite poignant now.

I leave you with "Hope" sung by my daughter Catherine Cooper:-



Take care

Colin

Sunday 21 September 2014

September passes at the speed of light

Hello Everyone,

This year I feel time is passing at light speed and this last month has gone so fast.

I updated the website over the first week of September with some major additions.  There is now free music available to anybody visiting and downloading the pack.  Also if you sign up for our newsletter you can get a free "Score Variations" pack.  So what are you waiting for?

I have continued to work on my projects but it has been at a slower pace due to many none Capemedia related reasons.

The best bit of news is that my 2013 short "Shapes" was selected for the Directors Reels in this years Machinima Expo 7.

See it here:-


Such a fast paced month but a few good things happened.

Thanks for your support and visiting

Colin

Thursday 28 August 2014

New Beginnings...Again

Hello Everyone

Back when I started blogger I called my opening blog “New Beginnings” and now looking back it wasn’t a new beginning just the start of a period of time where things would get steadily worse and worse to the point I am today.

Over this second year for Capemedia UK Limited things have been in decline.  I’ve tried to resurrect old partnerships and clients; I’ve tried new avenues and started new projects which I have not finished.  I’ve felt unloved!

After taking a long hard look at myself, I asked the question “Have I done enough?” and to be honest ‘No’.  Which makes me realise that if I don’t put the effort in nobody else is going to follow, support or even like my work.

So in summary since March 2014 I have failed.

Then I read these lines:-
 
“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.” Samuel Beckett


 
I talked though my concerns with my family and they agreed I took my eye off the ball and things have not gone well.  But it’s not the end, just the beginning of the next phase of Capemedia.

------

So what have I been doing in the last 6 months, nothing?

‘No’ I’ve worked on two major projects and written some music.  I just need to get it all finished.

For “United Alliance - Forged Universe” here is some concept art.




 
I will be updating my website over the next few days and starting my online shop.

So from the ashes of a poor last 6 months I’m determined to rise and bring new projects, music and art to everyone who follows us.

Thanks for your support

Colin.

Monday 24 March 2014

Of March and Men

Hello All,

My last blog post was from the 1st February and I remember thinking I need to keep things ticking over and keep my followers up to date.  In some respects I did and I regularly post updates on my Facebook page LINK.  Sadly my Twitter and BLOG have not been updated as much.  So I feel a little like Lennie Small in "Of Mice and Men" in that I have not taken care of the little things and not taking care can be catastrophic.

So that was then and this is now, what's been going on?

Well my Facebook page likes grew to over 400 over the last month which really surprised me and this has remained a constant.  It pays to keep people informed of what your doing and with these lessons learned I need to engage more, across all my social media outlets.

At the beginning of February I released a short Demo Reel "Capemedia Happy Demo Reel 2014" - I suspect the use of "Happy" by Pharrell Williams may have reduced the number of views significantly.  I will address this eventually, but for now if you can view have a watch and comment.


On the 22nd February, Capemedia UK Limited celebrate our first year as a limited company.  Even though we have been around for 9 years, this was quite a fundamental achievement for us.  Next May 2015 we will celebrate 10 years, that will be really special for us :)

Currently I'm working a logo for a production company in the States, which we are nearing the end of.  I'm glad to say that the company has been really good with us and supportive of the fact we a single studio and things take a little longer for the quality we aspire to produce.

My own projects are still "United Alliance" which is slowly gathering pace, here is another promotional piece of artwork.


 
Finally, I have began work on my next Score Variations pack.  I'm excited about this pack as it's aimed at a more dramatic productions and hopefully allow people to incorporate it into their projects.  My on-line store will feature my Score Variations music and I'll post a special promotion when the shop goes live on this blog, so please keep your eyes peeled.

OK that's all from me for now.

Thanks for following and reading

Kind Regards

Colin 
   






   

Saturday 1 February 2014

The year begins....slowly

Hello All,

Well today the 1st February 2014 has really come around quickly, in fact it feels like it's crept up on me while I was paying attention.

This first month has flown by but Capemedia has moved along very slowly.  Yes my client work has been done but not much else.

I'm currently still working on some long term projects but I have 2 new clients that I'm trying to free some time up for.

Time is something that is precious to me and it's a commodity that I cannot get enough of, but that's my problem and something I hope to resolve in 2014.

So other then my paying work what is my plans for 2014?

Well I want to complete my United Alliance project which will give me a good idea of how to make a project like this.

Here's another pic:-


Also I would like to enter a couple of competitions, one of them being the Pinhead annual comp:-

http://www.pinheadhq.com/welcome.php

I've always wanted to but that time issue has always got in the way.

Finally I heard that Nickelodeon is looking for new talent and ideas, I have a very old idea that I wrote for children when they were very young, that could be good.

http://signup.viacom.com/nickinternationalshorts/NickInternationalShorts.aspx

So other then the year going at light speed and my work going at a snails pace, everything is going plan :)

Until next time

Thanks for reading

Colin (aka Capemedia)