Close work

Making slow but good progress on the shadow sequence. Technology promises such glittering futures, but it's so often a complicated maze of cables, drivers, clashing software and miscommunication.

At last I think I've got a setup that works - I've found a fabulous freeware stopmotion programme - Monkeyjam - and I'm using a little webcam for this sequence.

I shot the sequence four times yesterday before my eyes/back/shoulders/patience gave up and ran out. Here goes take #5 - I'm hopeful!

Thanks for sticking with me on this long trip, visiting cosmonauts. Here's a little peek at what I've been doing.

Girl shaped hole

One of the people from the palanquin ... and an excuse to use a title I've been holding onto for a long, long while.

Wheels on fire

Wheels for the circus.

Happy Accident

The babe spills hundreds of tiny stars all over the floor and while I'm picking them up, I have an idea that I think will really help the last scene.

Also, while making the shadow puppets and props, I think - now, where the hell will I get a parachute? And remember the crap one that I bought for the babe, perfect size, readymade.

Serendipitous.

*Cough. Edited to add: I didn't actually intend to send the baby parachuting. I mean - it's a toy parachute. Not one that goes on him. I mean - oh, forget it. 

Perfect Circle

Something quite soothing about cutting out dozens of small paper circles.

Shadow dance

The next sequence I'm planning is a shadow-based animation, something like Lotte Reiniger's. With creatures, trapezes and silhouetted squeezes.