Kevin Paul Shaw Broden - Four Names of Creativity

Author - Artist - Voice Over Actor

It never rains in Southern California… Ya right!

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On December 11, 2008

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It never rains in Southern California… Ya right!

Our back yard is flooded, but hasn’t gotten in the house yet.

Boy this blogging thing is harder then I thought. 🙂

There hasn’t really been anything worth writing about, but always happy to do so.

The latest page of FLYING GLORY AND THE HOUNDS OF GLORY went up this weekend. I am really surprised at my art sometimes. Some of my work, and certain characters come across absolutely terrible, while other characters hit the mark perfectly and I find emotion and depth coming from their faces more then I expected. Check it out at www.flying-glory.com.

This past week I submitted a series proposal to a comic book company. Can’t say anything in fear that it won’t happen, but if nothing else, I am building a positive relationship with the editors.

The Christmas holidays are upon us, and I have to think gifts for family and friends. We all know how it’s not that easy. We all promise to start making notes early in the year as we learn what he or she is interested in, but by the time the holiday’s or their birthday shows up we haven’t a clue what that idea was.

Other random thoughts before I sign off. I’m discovering that facebook and twitter are becoming more useful then I first thought they would be. I know I need to network more and this seems to be working out better then going to an industry holiday party.

Enjoy the holidays everyone, hopefully I’ll post again before the end of the year.

Neither rain nor… from animation.

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On September 3, 2008

In Uncategorized

From facebook:

Shannon Muir wrote on your wall.
“Hey, you need to update your blog!
(Hey for that matter I need to update mine. 😉 Seem to have reduced my life to Facebook updates.)
We’re writers, we should be WRITING,…”

She’s absolutely right, I need to be writing more here on my blog, but I find writing a blog, or journal to be harder then writing anything else, would like to hear what your thoughts are on that.

That said, I’ll give it a shot.

A few years ago, during one of those rare moments that it rains in Southern California, I was heading towards a job. As when it does rain here, it was coming down hard, flooding streets and houses were sliding down hills (we’re thinking of making it an Olympic sport, House Sliding), and I was caught in the middle of it.

I had been called by my temp agency to head up to one of the studios to sit at someone’s desk. I’d prefer being hired on permanently, but I can’t turn down even the smallest job if it will get me closer to working in animation. So happy to have even a one day job, I jumped into the car and headed North towards the valley of the studios.

Heading up the 5 FWY, the rain was getting heavier, but that didn’t stop everyone in the cars around me to try and keep as close to the speed limit as possible. Moving at a “safe” speed I came to a place in the FWY where it drops down under a railroad bridge.

That’s when everything went crazy. The water was building up in the lower area of the road, and I hit it and began to hydroplane.

I lost control of the car and it flew across the road and spun around and came to a stop in the fast lane facing backwards. Realizing I had come to a stop I was able to take a breath and look over to see my passenger door only inches from the wall that supported to bridge above. Then I looked around to discover that there wasn’t one care on the road, when there had been many only moments earlier.

I began to thank God for protecting me, from hitting the wall, and for having cleared the raod so that no one else was caught in the accident.

The road remained clear long enough for me to turn the car around and get moving again, but it wasn’t long before others were traveling along side me once more. It was as if they had vanished from the road and now reappeared.

I remember pulling off the road into a parking lot to let my heart slow down, but once settled I started moving again and headed for the job.

A job, like I said, was a temp for only one day; but it was in or related to the animation industry that I kept going even after a near crash.

Though it has been a real struggle for e to find employment, especially in animation, I am so dedicated to it that nothing is going to stop me from working in it.

Now to get a long term job in animation, no car accident will keep me from it. I just need to find it.

Kevin

After Comic-Con 08

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On August 2, 2008

In Uncategorized

I’ve been home now nearly a week since the San Diego Comic-Con, boy does time fly.  Other people have already posted their thoughts on the Con, and I probably don’t have a lot to add, but here is a small ramble if nothing else.I’ve been attending the con for many many years now, since it was at the downtown convention hall and watched it grow every year since then. The first year I was there the total number was 5000, today we reach over 120,000 people and can’t really get much hire then that.

Even though it was crowded, I wasn’t really bothered by the crowds, I was a crowd to them after all.  I won’t even blame the greater influx of Hollywood.  Someone the other night said that it was Hollywood was taking too much of the con.  But I see all this as part of the same. Sure there is a love of comics that have been pushed into a corner, but truthfully we are all part of the same world of visual story telling.  Over sixty years ago there were comics based on movies and comedians like Jerry Lewis and Bob Hope.  I think that the important thing in all this is that the world, if for only those four days a year, sees comic books, animation, gaming, television, and movies as equals and all have time to shine all interconnected.

I guess I can say that because I have great dreams to be working in all those areas and see them all the same.  Sure writing for a comic is different then for movie, but it is still story telling and that’s what I dream to do.  There are those who get into animation as a step towards live action writing, but there are also live action television and movie writers who are now writing for comics because they love.

I haven’t always been the best at networking with people at the con, and the crowd makes it all the more fun at trying it.  But I came away from this con feeling much better about things, and making greater contacts along the way.

Didn’t expect my ramble to go in the direction it did, but that’s where it is. I have a passion for story telling, visual story telling, “narrative illustration” as my professor and I called. So I’m going be working in this world right along side the best comic, animation, gaming, and movie giants.

Hope you all had a good time and enjoying your summer.

Second Annual Animation Book Look

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On May 13, 2008

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A quick announcement and invitation.

Along with my fiancee Shannon Muir, I will be attending the Second Annual Animation Book Look to sign and sell copies of Shannon’s book: GARDNER’S GUIDE TO WRITING AND PRODUCING ANIMATION.  I provided all the interior art, and will be selling original art during the event.
There will be many other artists and authors from across the animation industry as well.
The Animation Book Look will be at the Van Eaton Galleries in Sherman Oaks on Saturday May 17th from 1pm to 6pm. Please visit the Animation Book Look website for further information.  It is co-sponsored by the Creative Talent Network.
Book Looking to seeing you all there.

Development and ReCreation

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On April 4, 2008

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Hi all,

Really didn’t want to take this long to get back to posting, but it happened all the same.
Here are a few things that I’ve been up to.
The final page of Issue 9 of Flying Glory and the Hounds of Glory. I’m currently painting the cover art for Issue 10 and hope to have it up with in the week.
I am also in the process of redesigning my website, but won’t post the link here until it’s finished. Will be really stressing my animation development and production work there.
Things seem to be going better in my pursuit for work. Though I not hired yet, I have been meeting with people from several different studio who are really interested working with me. Yesterday’s meeting could really turn into something fantastic.  I also got to pitch another series idea and expect to hear back on it in a month.
Looks like I may be in a gallery show next month, will post all the appropriate information when it’s ready.  Have to actually finish the art work itself first. 🙂
Speaking of art, as bonus for sticking with my quiet moments here, I’m posting drawing that will eventually be part of new website. I do most of this type of work, like I do the web comic, on my computer using Painter. So these “pencils” were actually done digitally, I will then “ink” it and paint it the same way.
When I wrote the Title line for this blog, I was thinking in one direction, and then I realized what I really wrote.  Don’t know about the rest of you, but thought my writing and art work is done for a job, it is also done out of enjoyment.  I love animation, that any hard job is also enjoyment. Creation is Recreation.  What do you think?
Stick around, I hope to have more postings soon.
Best,
Kevin

Comic Strip for Writers Strike

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On December 14, 2007

In Uncategorized

As a member of the Animation Writers Caucus, I am considered an associate member of the Writers Guild of America.
This allows me to watch this strike from slightly to outside the battle arena. As a non-voting member of the Guild, I have no influence on the outcome of this strike.  But the outcome of this strike will have an influence on my future and my standing as a member.
Yes, I’ve been on the picket lines, which has been fun and encouraging, as nearly everyone who drove past honked their horns with positive, supportive, enthusiasm.  (I say nearly everyone because I did see a few faces and downward pointed thumbs from people who are clearly not happy with what we are doing.  And I respect that.)
But I do feel guilty for not being there more frequently along side my fellow writers, so I try to contribute where possible.
The Guild is providing a news letter for the picketers called Writers: On the Line, and I am drawing comic strips to be included in it.
That was for Issue #3, I plan to do more.  Though truthfully we would all like to think that there wouldn’t be a need for too many more of these newsletters.
As I said, I can’t always be involved, but along with the comic strip, maybe there is something I can write here in support of my friends. These will be my own opinions on such matters, and I will try not to rehash what far better bloggers have already said.
Best,
Kevin

Yes, there are four names up there…

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On November 16, 2007

In Uncategorized

Yes, there are four names up there and they are all mine. It’s a family thing. What is important is people remember me because of it. At least one Hollywood Executive has called me “Mr. Four Names.”

Beyond my name, it is the subtitle that this blog is about; when you see or hear my four names you will think Professional Creativity and think of me.

For over twelve years, I have worked in a wide variety of areas across the entertainment industry, focusing on television animation. I have worked as an assistant to studio executives, producers, and can be wherever needed. I started out as a comic book illustrator, (which I still do online at http://www.flying-glory.com), then headed into animation both traditional and 3D. Along the way I realized what I was doing was story telling.

And that’s when my career as a professional television animation screenwriter began. Including having co-written episodes of the Japanese series MIDNIGHT HORROR SCHOOL for Milky Cartoons. I have been hired to write and develop a series bible and pilot script for an independent producer, that received positive responses at MIPCOM. I was also the creative/business consultant on the series as it went through many stages of development and pitching. Most recently, I had the opportunity to pitch a series of my own to both Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel.

While waiting for the next writing assignment, I am seeking a “day job,” which is just as hard as finding a show with a script opening. As my passion remains in animation, with an understanding of both story and art I am seeking a production position to coordinate both sides to produce the best possible series.

So, when you need a creative and professional mind to add to your show think of “the kids with too many names”, think of “Mr. Four Names,” think of…

Kevin Paul Shaw Broden

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