Dice Productions News

Bored Stiff Featured on Dailymotion

2009-07-18T12:05:00.007+01:00

Apologies for being a bit neglegent with news, shizzle and other video sites lately. But after finally getting Bored Stiff onto Dailymotion we were featured! Dailymotion are a little bit racier (they have a 'Sexy' category) than their YouTubian conterparts - maybe that's the French influence on the site. We're dandy with that as it means all our poop related silliness gets the exposure it probably doesn't deserve. Thanks Dailymotion!

In relation to that we were given an invite to the preview screening of Mad, Sad & Bad on Monday 20th July by Dailymotion. You can see the trailer here and you can watch the preview on Dailymotion at exactly the same time as the screening (8pm GMT 20th July).

Don't Touch goes to Glastonbury

2009-06-01T23:41:00.003+01:00

*Edit* Looking back through the emails I believe we were shown twice at Glasto, courtesy of the lovely ChewTV.

Don't Touch is off too Glastonbury Festival with thanks to Dave Allen of the mighty Animation Forum West Midlands! From what I've heard it'll be screened on the BBC's back-to-back 25m2 screens. Whoop-di-whoop. Other films being shown are Second Home Productions' The Animal Book, and The Brother McLeod's Codswallop. Fine company indeed.

For info and a bit of a history on Don't Touch lookee here.

Featured on FunnyorDie.co.uk

2009-05-31T10:05:00.004+01:00

Chuffed to see a Bored Stiff and Message in a Bottle is getting some love from the Funny or Die UK team, with Bored Stiff getting a lovely 'Best of the Week' honour.

The website is the UK branch of Will Ferrell's hugely successful approach at online comedy. Funny or Die UK is run by James Serafinowicz who is also brother of our own personal hero, Peter Serafinowicz. What's special about Funny or Die UK is that no one so far has put the amount of effort, professionalism and backing into a comedy video site that has as much an aim to promote emerging talent as it does to provide star comedians with a new media platform.

As Message in A Bottle never really had a proper chance to say hello on the blog , here it is:

Are you... Bored Stiff?

2009-05-15T15:28:00.005+01:00

May we introduce our sticky new born, 'Bored Stiff'. Here's what it has to say for itself:

Dr. Nick Deadly gets bored and takes time out to work on an extra-curricula project. Plus, there was queue for the toilet.

Click here to see it in all its (half) HD glory!

They said, 'It couldn't be done!'... well more, 'I don't want to do it!'. But one digital pen, 3 dogs lives and lawsuit later I had proved them wrong. If you're interested... Excuse me. Yep. Hi... here's the original scribbles I did on a tiny scrap of paper a few years ago. The words are me trying to give it a title.

Help us make some sketches!

2009-05-14T12:20:00.003+01:00

We're looking to put together a team to start making some low-to-no budget comedy sketches. Our aim is to populate our successful YouTube partner page with material to build a strong presence as producers of quality comedy content.

What we need is a camera operator with their own equipment or access to equipment, someone that knows their way around lighting, and someone with knowledge of sound recording for film. All of the material will be written by us, a lot of which is already done and waiting to get made. We will also be looking for additional actors to fill supporting roles once a definitive list of sketches to film has been decided.

The main qualities a team-member should possess are a sense of humour, enthusiasm for making some funny films, and an easy-going approach to help everything move along smoothly. Being local to Birmingham will be a bonus and flexible availability at the weekend or week-nights will help.

Participation will be on a voluntary basis and hopefully for the enjoyment and experience of the process as we're learning like anyone else. However, concerns about personal expenses can be lodged with us on an individual basis and we'll see what we can do.

Of course, you will receive full credit for your work and the potential to join bigger projects as we progress. We will also provide our recommendation to others requiring similar services for team members.

Please leave your details or questions in the comments section of this post, or email us directly at admin@diceproductions.co.uk

Hope to hear from you soon,

Ian, Tom and Louis

Interview with Channel Frederator

2009-05-03T09:36:00.002+01:00

Following our feature on Channel Frederator's Episode, 'Robbery! Notes! Goats! SWINE! #177', we did an interview with the big red robot himself. Here's the jist of it in their words:

Dice Productions' comedy trio (animator Louis Hudson, and writers Ian Ravenscroft and Tom Reid) talk about why they work funny, what’s next for them, and the hardest thing they’ve ever been bludgeoned with.

You can read the interview here.

Featured on Channel Frederator... Again!

2009-04-29T16:19:00.003+01:00

Yehy. Message in a Bottle was featured on Channel Frederator's episode, 'Robbery! Notes! Goats! SWINE! #177'

Please vote for it at http://www.channelfrederator.com/episode/CFR_20090428

- There's a 21" Cintiq up for grabs! The voting system isn't the most obvious, so here's handy visual aid. Click '(Read more)' near the top of the sidebar, and give a nice fat star rating under my name. We'll love you forever.

Fair Trade on XtraNormal

2009-04-20T10:53:00.000+01:00

Louis stumbled across animation site XtraNormal the other day, and I'm already hooked. It's a pretty powerful online animation tool that lets you make your own animated films without so much as a clue of how to animate. All you have to do is pick a setting, pick some characters, and type in a script for them to read out. I had a play with it by putting one of our sketches called Fair Trade into the system, you can see the results here:

The only downsides are the robotic voices, but to be fair, they aren't that bad. It isn't likely to be free for long, so get your creative juices flowing soon.

Introducing the Facts of Life

2009-04-04T18:39:00.004+01:00

The Facts of Life are indisputable, carved into the stones of history and knowledge forever to lay down the laws of this world. But who knows them? No one, that's who. So we've decided to put things right by finally educating the world of the amazing, true facts that make our planet such a rich and compelling place.

To advance your brain by up to a factor of six, go to www.twitter.com/thefactsoflif e to learn a new fact as they pour into the twittersphere. All of the incredible facts will be streamed on this very blog too, so don't waste any time, advance your mind now with The Facts of Life.

Based in the Jewellery Quarter

2009-03-06T11:08:00.004Z

Bit of a belated move of premises post, but here we go.

Quite a while ago now I moved to St Paul's Square with a new office. It even has a plaque on the building - Something about a Gentleman's Club and Titty Bottle Park. Classy.

In December Ian and Tom also moved in near by, so now we're living in the Jewellery Quarter like one big blinged up family.

So if you want to pop by for a chat (not about Jesus, thanks) I'll probably be in.

Cat Blog Mentions 'All Consuming Love'

2009-02-12T11:46:00.013Z

SacroBirmania.com - an Italian website that belongs to a cat - has kindly 'paw'sted (groan) about 'All Consuming Love'.

It's interesting that there are very few people out there in the badlands of YouTube who like both, cute cat videos and watching men rumaging inside cats.

Considering that SacroBirmania.com belongs to a cat, maybe YouTube's masses should wait a second just before firing off their wisdom bullets. Ask your cat what their view is. While films about cat related love triangles may seem obscure to us humans, pre-production for this film involved some of the world's most meticulous scientists, sensative equipment and about the broadest range of oppinionated cats known to man (Arnold Plotnick).

So let there be no mistake, it is scientific truth that cats '... Can't get enough of this shit.' - their words not mine.

4mations Top Users

2009-02-06T15:30:00.005Z

At the beginning of January that laser-kitten laden, 4mations website named us as one of their 'Top Users' which was nice.

Thanks.

You can see our 4mations page at: http://www.4mations.tv/DiceProductions

All About Law Illustrations

2009-01-06T14:42:00.006Z

Over Christmas I was asked to do a set of illustrations for several blog characters and a MILFy careers advisor for allaboutlaw.co.uk

Now get back to work or you're getting a lump of coal next Christmas! God knows Santa's got to streamline his production costs somehow.

YouTube Partners (that escalated quickly)

2008-12-03T10:08:00.003Z

We're now proud to be official YouTube partners. Yeehaw!... that really did escalate quite quickly. This means that we'll now earn a share of YouTube's advertising revenue in turn for us making highly viewed videos.

Thanks to CiB's Chris Unitt for plugging us too.

Funny link

2008-12-02T15:29:00.004Z

Flabber, a dutch speaking website, seems to empathise with Giles Quinton's musical ambitions.

That's what makes YouTube worth the effort, all the appendaged information and statistics.

4Talent Magazine: Awards Issue

2008-12-01T14:43:00.006Z

Ian's 4Talent Awards winner profile of James Knott and James Curran can now be bought and enjoyed in the latest edition of 4Talent magazine. Ian will also be giving a little round-up of the 4Talent awards ceremony soon, so watch this space.

Here's what's in the rest of the issue, which is great by the way and wholly recommended:

Our Face to Face talent includes Danny 'Trainspotting' Boyle, Victoria 'Green Wing' Pile, Graham 'IT Crowd' Linehan and Charlie 'Dead Set' Brooker. We also announce our 20 hotly-tipped 4Talent Award winners for 2008, delve into the depths of online drama and take the creative temperature of Barcelona.

Pretty good, huh?

ANOTHER YouTube Feature + Cue for Music Composer

2008-11-30T22:22:00.012Z

WTFs, LOLs and ROFLs are being banded around like nobody's business as the trailer for All Consuming Love (Man In A Cat) gets featured on YouTube. That makes two features in two weeks! If you can't see it being featured, that because it's featured 'Globally' and not in Britain... You'll have to ask YouTube how that one works.

The trailer does feature the opening score to Forest Gump. That was done as a last minute choice as things had got stuck with my sound designer at the time and the music does actually suit quite nicely. So, he next thing will be to get a lovely sound designer onboard and get all that sorted out.

Spotted by Aaron Simpson

2008-11-21T11:13:00.004Z

Found out that Aaron Simpson of 'Cold Hard Flash' fame has spotted us a couple of times on his new site 'Line Boil', which is nice. It's also nice to see that Aaron has set up the new site to cover the world of animation outside of Flash. With the rise the YouTube generation, Flash animation's web presence is in direct competition with every other form of video. So it's good to see him moving with the times whilst still providing an excellent site that nurishes Flash animators' knowledge and skills.

Featured on YouTube!

2008-11-14T15:02:00.011Z

Wowzers!, Zoiks! and indeed Blimey! 'DON'T TOUCH' got featured on YouTube!
Considering I can't stand watching the bugger any more I'm quite proud. I suppose it's appropriate to show you it again... as if it'll look any different featured. *edit - Thought I'd give you the new HD version to oggle at.

All Consuming Love (Man in a Cat) Trailer

2008-11-13T15:32:00.005Z

Here's the lastest glimpse of the upcoming film, All Consuming Love (Man in a Cat). Should be a good'un when it's done.

Ian's 4Talent Gigbeth blog

2008-11-11T14:42:00.006Z

Ian's blog from the 4Talent stage at Birmingham's Gigbeth festival is up on the 4Talent magazine site now.

Find out what he thought of the eclectic mix of acts, why light-sensitive robots are the future and how a two-chord song can knock your block off.

Ian's photos from Hot Monocles' performance at Gigbeth on Friday are up on Flickr now.

For some other blogs on Gigbeth (and a lovely plug for my effort) see Digbeth is Good and have a mooch for other Digbeth-related goodies while you're there.

Websites-a-go-go

2008-11-10T11:02:00.007Z

Been a bit webby lately.

Firstly, following up from the Birmingham Filmmakers meet up, we took things a bit further. So now we have Film Forum West Midlands! Subcribe via emails or RSS and get any of the latest on news, opportunities, collaborations and chances to meet your fellow filmmakers.

Next, St Patrick's Festival is finally back online in the form of stpatricksbirmingham.com. We'll be looking to get a dedicated volunteer blogger for it soon, and get some much needed updates on there.

Louis also was commissioned to design sexypennys.com, which is now being built.

Portfolio Review at Flip

2008-11-03T20:22:00.010Z

A veritable tirade of news lately. On Friday 4-5.30pm, 6 graduate animators, including myself, will be having our showreels ripped to shit by a panel of experts at The light House, Wolverhampton. It'll be like standing on stage with my balls hanging out for inspection. In the best possible way, of course.

The panelists include:

Dan Calvert, a senior animator at Blitz Games.
Mick Foley, from Sumo Dojo Productions. Member of PACT National Council for Animation and a council member on the Skillset Animation Forum
Roger McIntosh, an animation director with credits including, 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit', 'Peter Rabbit & Friends', 'Kipper' and 'Angelina Ballerina'.

Things that I'll try to get to:

Thurs 6th

7-9pm: Opening party at Millenium Point,

Fri 7th

4-5.30pm Portfolio Review Session (obviously),

6–7.30pm Sita Sings the Blues,

Sat 8th

11.15-12.30pm National Film & TV School Screening,

6.45 – 8.30pm: Student Competition (4 film's from my old college),

8.30pm Closing Party.

Louis & America

2008-11-03T12:12:00.003Z

Just started on a string of commissions for Las Vegas/L.A. based horror filmmaker William Rot. Very nice guy who's working on the feature 'Helter Skelter'.

Definitely exercising my dark side at the moment. I should start watching fluffy cartoons and doing charity work to keep myself clean, but I'll probably just watch porn and cry whilst cutting myself instead.

Birmingham Filmmakers

2008-11-03T09:50:00.008Z

We went to the Birmingham Filmmakers Meet Up and it was very productive.

Organised by FilmDash winner, Rill Marchant, there's finally a time and place for people wanting to get involved in film to chat to each other!

The Meet Ups are a great way for anyone interested in all aspects of film making to come along and meet people who can help them realise their plans. Great films rely on the combination of people's different talents and until now there hasn't been a platform for those people to mingle comfortably in one place.

The Facebook Group has 50+ members at the moment, so comparitively the turn out was shockingly low. However the meetup still served more than it's purpose. Hannah(?) from Team MMUG came along, who, being a lawyer-come-aspiring-filmmaker showed the sort diversity that B'ham Filmmakers combined. And, whilst, Rill explained that she wanted to provide technical services, we're predominately ideas people. We could have started film right there and then! Instead, we got down to how we could make this thing grow.

A proper blog is obviously the first step, concentrating on exposing opportunities and bringing people together from different disciplines of filmmaking. From then we'd need some set goals and ask the appropriae people for their support. Animation Forum West Midlands has hit the nail on the head, and it would be great to eventually have a network that's as effective, possibly even working with them - they've broken a lot of ground already after all.

So here's to a sociable, co-operative, heathly filmmaking comunity. Join the Facebook Group!