It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at.
Just moved out of the USA and that Rakim lyric came into my head
Imagination Rabbit has moved its base from Silicon Valley(California USA) to the Almada area of Portugal.
If you’ve followed my work- everything that you’ve seen so far came from California- a few songs like this one from Reykjavik, Iceland and other small things came from other places- I thought of this odd monstrosity while walking on a bridge in Prague after visiting a torture museum with my wife-
With my more twisted works- I’m wondering how much my environment influenced these works and how much is just me being fucked up.
I’ve never used any psychedelics but people often assume that’s what I use inspire strange things(man shrugging emoji)
From many people I’ve talked to- the part of California I’m from peaked somewhere around the mid 1960’s- all I’ve seen it do is decay from the 1980’s until now- decay physically(infrastructure), morally, mentally, spiritually, socially-
Yeah everyone has the newest iPhone and a Starbucks frappawhatever the fuck in hand BUT outside of that and being to buy anything you want at any time its been decaying since I’ve been alive-
Not going to get into too much as its just my opinion maaaaaaaan
It’s not something I’m afraid of- but I have been wondering that if I leave the den of madness and absurdity that California has become will the work I create become normal?
I’m going to find out-
If you’re using art/creation as an escape I imagine the things you are trying to escape from influences your work?
We have our own “personal” demons- and depending on where we are we might also have local demons walking around as well-
The last two years have been pretty hectic with a ton of travel so I haven’t completed a bigger project in a few years now- being out here in this nowhere where I know no one I’m looking forward to putting serious time into serious projects maaaaaan
Nikola Tesla said…..
“The mind is sharper and keener in seclusion and uninterrupted solitude. No big laboratory is needed in which to think. Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind. Be alone, that is the secret of invention; be alone, that is when ideas are born.”
I’ve been sitting on my next feature film(whether standard or interactive like “M doll”- several game prototypes- some writing projects- new major Nightmare Puppeteer features- a ton of stuff I couldn’t find myself committing to the past two years-
I want to stay isolated here so I can get some serious work done-
Not planning on staying in Portugal very long though- maybe 1-2 years from now-
So I’m an animation film director yeah- one of my major initial inspirations to get into animation was 80’s/90’s Japanese animation-
I won’t go into details but the next move is to Japan to start a business there- an animation/game/interactive/music studio-
Imagination Rabbit in Japan to make one animated feature film there at least- BUT I am not going to animate it in CG/Unity like I have been so far-
It’s going to be done in 2d and I’m going to hire animators/artists/designers there to create it-
And this is not some weeb pipe dream- I’m a professional animation filmmaker and the funding has already been secured- just have to do some Euro time out here in Portugal- get the legal work done in Japan then go over there and do that-
The way it works for foreign businesses/foreigner work visa’s in Japan rn is that you get a two year probation period for your business in which you can live there- then after two years your business is re-assessed to see if your visa can be renewed or not-
So I’m like- pop over to Japan for two years at least and make a film then see what we wanna do and where we want to go.
Anyway- its not where I’m from its where I’m at… inside my head(man shrugging emoji)
Always a insightful and inspiration write-up. Good to know things are going well. A bit sad you're not as close as you once were, but what's important is you're doing what you've always done and then some. I wish you and your wife a happy and fulfilling life!