Sam Cundall : Animation director & Flash Animator : samcundall@hotmail.com : 07968122104

2008-07-03T17:39:00.021+01:00

First Sam Cundall Newsletter (July 2008)

I thought I'd start this Newsletter off as a way of showing some of the work I've been fortunate to work on this year. Links to all the work are at the end of this Newsletter, enjoy!

At the end of September 2007 I went to the National Gallery, "London Animation Studio Graduate Screening" and in the foyer on the way down to the cinema I was met by Steve and Birgitta, who mentioned that Paul Stone had left the Holborn Studio and asked if I would like to be the new animator in residence for the postgraduate course. I jumped at the chance, and on January 5th I was in there with my laptop, working next to Steve and being introduced to the students. A great experience where I get a free desk at the college and in return the students get to see how I work and ask questions about the industry, I also walk around the studio now and again and help out with flash questions and look at the students work and give advice. I'll definitely be there on the next course to see the new recruits!

The first half of this year has been quite good, January 2nd started on the second QueenAgram for LondonTown.com, a pretty straight forward production working with the creative director at londontown - Steve, my friend Stepan - composer and sound designer at LT, and TBFH, character designer and illustrator, whom I've been working with since 2005 and only in March went up to see him and put a face to all the designs I've been animating. In all we've made 19 films over the last 3 years;

2005 - 6 films for the BBC - "A Fairly Reliable History of British Film", where Keith Guttenberg claims he has been in every British film made, he sits in the boudoir of Luke Lucas, both on comfy chairs and they watch projector slides and pastiche films.

2007 - 10 films for The National Centre of Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics - "CCNBC", Tom and Judy host a "fake" American News Channel, and present misleading graphs, charts and calculations, while strange things happen behind the window - This is directed at young people and encourages students to identify and record the errors made.

2007/2008 - 2 films for LondonTown.com - "QueenAGram" or "Regina Monologues", Christmas and Valentines, where Charles, Philip, the Queen and her two Corgi's sing you a song, busking. These animations were used as a device for enticing residents and visitors of London to browse the LondonTown themed Map of London and book events and hotels. Sent as an email to 40,000 people, usually only 4% of people click on the link to the map - these animations succeeded in a 40% click rate! Unheard of and fantastic for people viewing our work.

2008 - and finally and most recent 1film for Kids Direct.gov - "Tax and Government Spending" - This animation journeys through some different situations, a supermarket, an office, a school - and explains why we pay tax on things and what that money is spent on.

In December job I pitched for Honda UK (officially named "ProblemPlayground") came to me in January. Not just an animating role but more using my knowledge of flash to optimize animations down to a size acceptable for the web and structure the files so that the developers can control the animations.

After February and the Direct Kids, I was contacted by EWAV "Eye to a view Works" to teach animation as part of a voluntary scheme for 20 something’s. The course was held on two days for 8 weeks, one day film and one day animation. The aim was to introduce the students to a new medium and make a film with animation, credits or a trailer, It proved a really good confidence booster and the students were able to express some issues which affected them and produce some really good work, I hope to do this again when it starts late summer.

In April, I contacted a few studios that I've always wanted to work at and to my surprise I was contacted by Passion Pictures to work with them on small project for Genworth Financial. It was fantastic working closely with the producer and director and being in the aura of a company that I really admire. Really nice people and I seem to have made an impression as I'm now requested to work on jobs there, and have just finished a small piece for the BBC Olympics - I look forward to working with them again.

Between the two jobs at Passion, I was asked to provide some bespoke animation for Learn Direct. Three ads were due to be aired in 1 month and we needed to create the website that these ads linked to. Working with a team of designers and developers, we acquired the assets from the ads as they were finished and worked out how we could incorporate them in to the website with the content. A few late nights and weekends later we produced a "hand made" website to compliment the ads. The ball of potential was a great challenge to animate and interact with the scene.

So now here in July, I've been working with a new company working on a series of ads for Fortis Banking and Insurance. One of the first times I've worked on an entire project on 1's! I wonder if I'll ever go back to 2's!

What's the next step?

After working with King Rollo films, in 2003 I moved back to the Isle of Wight, there I hired a studio for £80 a month, and set up studioeleven. 1 employee, a few flash jobs and a few clients. I asked a few animators if they would like to join but the idea ran out of steam as I got more work and had less time to concentrate on the company. Now in 2008 I’ve been thinking of how I can make this company work for five years and now the pieces are falling together. Tbfh and I have been talking about making a short film together, I've been offered desk space and in talks with one of my regular clients to start my company.

Thanks for reading

*Regina Monologues "Christmas"
*Regina Monologues "Valentines"
*A Fairly Reliable History of British Film
*The National Centre of Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics "CCNBC"
*Direct Kids "Tax and Government Spending"
*Honda’s "Problem Playground"
*Learn Direct "Nothing Can Stop You"
*Fortis "life is a curve" Campaign
*Genworth Financial "think it possible"
*BBC Olympics Desktop Monkey

A new year a new plan

2008-05-13T22:02:00.003+01:00

Well here I am its been a longtime since I wrote here. I came back from my travels in February 2007, and now May 2008! so this year I left LondonTown to go freelance again, i think a good choice, im doing a lot more animation working with my old friends and some new ones, just finished working for passion pictures which was amazing!!

I've been looking for a new house in battersea and its looking hopeful might even buy a place!. Currently im working for collective again, they normally do honda website but this month we are working on a learn direct site - its quite organic and should look very different.

Other than that, been out on a few dates, some went well some non starters and one a bit wierd - but i'm hopeful.

Got my dad blogging now so you can see his story, if your family.

I hope to put a few notes here now and agin when im thinking of stuff, better head home, all the best

Sam

7th Feb - back to London, UK

2007-02-07T12:22:00.001Z

on my way back to london see you all soon, had a great time

love Sam x

4th Feb - Singapore

2007-02-04T06:56:00.000Z

Here I am,

sorry Bali is still in the writing phase and im tired now in Singapore, maybe its to the enjoying business class too much!! I was one for the lucky ones and got sat next to an aussie and we watched flushed away - what a fatastic film!!! and then whilst enjoying the free booze got through the childrens fredo activity pack, Pairs went ok but the jizsaw just went to pot!

i've got plan for here now but i think i need to sleep more!

all the best and see you all very soon

cheers

Sam

22nd Christchurch - World Buskers festival

2007-01-22T23:45:00.000Z

hi there just a note for my last 5mins of internet - in christchurch at the world buskers festival - fantastic - 3 photos to see! its really inspired me to do more juggling and get really good at what i do! see you soon Sam (not sure why its all underlined!!)

18th Jan - Duneden, 19-20th Lake Tekapo

2007-01-22T23:42:00.000Z

14th - 18th Jan - Queenstown

2007-01-22T23:38:00.000Z

12th- 13th Jan Wanaka -Rock Climbing

2007-01-22T23:36:00.000Z

9-11th Jan, Greymouth - Frans Josef Glacier

2007-01-22T23:34:00.000Z

6-7th Jan Wellington 8th Picton to Nelson

2007-01-22T23:31:00.000Z

5th Jan - Wiatomo Caves - Blackwater rafting

2007-01-22T23:30:00.000Z

3rd-4th Jan Taupo - Tongaririo Crossing

2007-01-22T23:27:00.000Z

1st Jan 2007 - happy new year! Hot water Beach and Rotorura

2007-01-22T23:25:00.000Z

27th - 31st Dec Auckland and new years!

2007-01-22T23:19:00.000Z

10th Jan - Franz Josef Glacier

2007-01-10T02:18:00.000Z

Hi there,

been a bit slack on the photos - but they'll get home soon, also i'm way behind with the diary - and the scenerys is sooooo great! im just sitting in a bus thats been converted to an internet cafe with funky jazz music playing in the background - sweet!

tomorrow i go Ice Climbing on the Glacier!! sounds wicked - then its down to Wanaka to go Rock climbing - then queenstown for some stuff,

its all been good so far - waiting for my food to turn up - left it at the last hostel and i have to wait for the next bus to catch us up!

hope everything is cool at home and i'll try to get online in queenstown to update the blog

all the best

Sam

27th Dec - last day in Aus to NZ

2006-12-30T08:44:00.000Z

26th Dec Boxing Day -sydney hobart race

2006-12-30T08:43:00.000Z

25th Dec - Christmas Day Coogee beach

2006-12-30T08:42:00.000Z

24th Dec Sydney City Day

2006-12-30T08:38:00.000Z

23rd Dec Blue Mountains trip

2006-12-30T08:34:00.000Z

22nd Dec Manly - surfing!

2006-12-30T08:19:00.000Z

21st Dec Sydney

2006-12-30T08:16:00.000Z

16th Dec - 20th Dec Surf Trip to Sydney

2006-12-30T08:14:00.000Z

15th dec Surfers Paridise and Byron bay

2006-12-30T08:11:00.000Z

14 Dec Brisbane

2006-12-15T11:13:00.000Z

13th Dec Australia Zoo

2006-12-15T11:11:00.000Z

11/12th Dec Australia Zoo

2006-12-15T11:08:00.000Z

10th Dec Horse Ride

2006-12-15T11:04:00.000Z

8th Dec Sailing Trip on Maxi Hammer

2006-12-15T10:58:00.000Z

4/5th Dec Sky Rail and Kuaranda, 6th Dec Arlie beach

2006-12-15T10:51:00.000Z

8th Dec just a note.....

2006-12-08T01:22:00.000Z

Hi all just chilling out in Arlie Beach going sailing on a Maxi today called Hammer. so all's well pretty tight scedule on from here with night buses and tours staring from the bus stations!

next chance i'll get to upload is probably brisbane next week or sydney just before christmas,

booked my brigde climb, frasier island, surf trip and opera house tour, blue mountains trip andaustralia zoo is all falling in to place!

busy bee,

speak soon

Sam xx

1st - 3rd Dec - Advanced Diving Course on Great Barrier Reef

2006-12-04T04:05:00.000Z

29th Nov - Cape Tribulation day trip - Daintree River and 30th Boat Trip to Great Barrier Reef

2006-12-04T04:03:00.000Z

28th Flight to Cairns

2006-12-04T04:02:00.000Z

25th Nov - 3 Day tour to Ayres Rock and Kings Canyon

2006-12-04T03:52:00.000Z

24th Nov - Flight to Alice Springs

2006-12-04T03:51:00.000Z

23rd Nov - Borassa Wine Valley

2006-12-04T03:50:00.000Z

21st Kangaroo Island (more to come...)

2006-11-23T09:04:00.000Z

20th Nov Adalaid cont....

2006-11-23T09:01:00.000Z

17th - 19th Nov Great Ocean Road Tour

2006-11-23T08:56:00.000Z

16th Nov - Puffing Billy steam Train and Dandglongs

2006-11-23T08:52:00.000Z

14th Nov - Philip Island

2006-11-15T13:15:00.001Z

15th Nov - French Island

2006-11-15T13:15:00.000Z

as you've all been so good i thought I'd type while im upoading photos at midnight!

Anyway today I woke up on Philip Island in the Amaroo Park yha. had my free breakfast - which is just really make your own ceral and toast, its a very nice guest house and nice to get away from the city for 5 mins. I was staying in a place called Cowes, which is funny because I come form cowes!!! and there is even an isle of wight hotel!! it seems the guy who founded the area loved the isle of wight and wanted to name the place after it, soo cute!

Last night it was pissing it down like crazy and they haven't had water for ages so its a good thing - they are on stage 4 water sceme - no car washing, no garden hose, etc.

I went down to the place I had booked for my trip to french island and they said it was cancelled - bugger! so i went for a walk along the shore - very nice actually nice cute houses made of wood and sandy beaches - nothing like Cowes, IOW! the sun came out so I headed back to the town and just by chance popped in and they said it was back on!!! great

French Island has no electricity, no water supply, no gas - nothing! it has 80 residents, 100s of Koalas and lots of other wildlife! it also has one pop star KILIE!!!!!

We got on the ferry to go over and free tea coffee and buscuits were to hand, the guy gave a great presentation about the area - pointing out bits of land. we arrived at French Island to be met by a minibus on the pier, I wouldn't drive on that pier! Jumped in the bus and met Rod Johnson, what a character! he runs the tour and has for 12 years, he has just moved to the island and is now the guy responsible for doing up the guest house, the only one on the island - he hopes for people to visit n stay and do his tour. It was great he drove us around pointed out koalas and even said jump out and take a photo. we travelled across the island to the old prison which did become a school and now is an eco farm - grows everythign and no pesticides, people on the island get their food from there, we had a fantastic lunch, all from the garden,best meat balls! a tour of the farm, see the pigs and we were off again, he pointed out this house, which was Kilie monogue's retreat house - i think he had a soft spot for her because he said he thinks it would be great if she retires there. I acually sat in the same seat she did when she first came over to see the house, im not washing my trousers now!!!

I really enjoyed today, much better than the city and I even offered to help Rod with his lodge, if I come back, what a great day, byeee

13th Nov - around Melbourne

2006-11-15T13:14:00.000Z

12 Nov - St Kilda Beach (continued from last post)

2006-11-12T10:42:00.000Z

not wrote this but sorted out money problems - it was because I withdrew money saturday lunchtime and tried to withdraw on sunday morning but in the UK it was the same day so i went over my limit!!! now I know i'm realxed and can just write my blog tonight and upload pictures, see you soon Sam happier :)

11 Nov Melbourne

2006-11-12T10:39:00.000Z

9th Nov -Last day in Hong Kong

2006-11-12T10:36:00.000Z

each post reads downwards :)

8th Nov - Macau

2006-11-12T10:29:00.000Z

im going to start uploading the pages of my diary because I end up writing this twice, please let me know if its difficult to read (comments on my hand writing or spelling don't count!), cheers Sam

7th Nov - Kowloon, Hongkong

2006-11-07T14:55:00.001Z

Peak Tram, The Peak -Hong Kong

up early and went to Hong Kong Park, nice walk through past the lakes and people doing tai che. i went on to the peak tram, this tram goes nearly vertical!! (by the way sit on the right handside thats where the views are) its quick and the view from the top is fantastic! there is a cafe at the top and some touristic shops but the view is amazing! i then took the circular walk around the peak which took about 30mins - it looks like a path but it is actually a road and its a two way road!! there wasn't even enough room for one car, so when one car came in the other direction the other had to reverse about 1/2 a mile because there wasn't any passing places and then up to the top I met a guy who used to live in wales but now lives in HK, he told me not to go to Shenzen because people have been known to go missing and i would definitly lose my british passport! im so glad he told me!!

Kowloon, Hong Kong

so he told me about pubs to go to and where to buy a new camera and stuff then we walked back down to the tram and i jumped on this and headed over to the star ferry which goes across to Kowloon - then i had lunch in some dodgy chinese place - ended having what i had yesturday again! then up to the flower market, bird market, fish market and computer market and nigh market all cool things to see - but the bird market had loads and loads of bags of crickets and other things that crawl around in bags and that made me very itchy! and the fish market was like one fish to a medium sized sandwich bag, so cruel (i'll put the photos up soon)

after this i headed down to get some dinner at The Spagetti House, looks a tacky sign but its acually quite posh a good food, tons of it, after that on to the main sea front at 8pm don't be late its the worls biggest laser/light show to music its cool

then headed up to town to buy a new camera and now here - byeeeee!!!

6th Nov - Hong Kong Island

2006-11-07T04:38:00.000Z

Stanely Market, Hong Kong

Last one to wake up - maid wanted to make up my room.

jumped int he shower, put my stuff in the room safe and off i went down to central and a bus to stanlet market, so here i am, had a nice lunch at the rainbow cafe in stanley plaza, perfect! proper chinese food!

the market was ok, but a bit boring for me and not really worth the trip, but ok if i was looking for clothes.

Central - Hong Kong

so back to town, went up on the mid levels escalator which is 2km long! (well it has a few breaks in it so you can get off in places, but at the top turn left, down the hill and got to the zoo and botanical gardens, a bit commercil but ok, back down the hill now, wondered in to soho which is cool markets selling fish and meat, real fish that is still moving in small trays with bubbling water!! wondered around and went home dropped off my bags and then headed out to causway bay.

walked over to the royal hong kong yatch club - all closed off to walked back to the town causway bay is very busy - good, but i went on to wan Chai - the walk between the two places is not worth it because theres not much inbetween so should of taken the mrt, walked down a street with loads of girly bars, wanting me to come in and well - i just kept walking.....

had a BigMac at the place ervyone knows (sorry mum, just needed not chinese food) and went to a semi undodgee place called Galaxy, too quiet for my liking met some girls from Indonedisa they were nice and didn't want to marry me so that was ok! stayed till 12am then caught the last mrt home.

5th Nov - Arrived in Hong Kong

2006-11-07T04:23:00.000Z

Lan Tau Island - Hong Kong

Arrived an hour late but all was good - took me 30mins to work out how to use the telephone to call home! then on with the plan, book in my big bag and jump on the Npong ping 360 a new cable car that goes to the largest sittiing outside bronze buda in the world.

I was a bit exhausted now just jumping off a 12 hr flight straight into it -but worth it!! The views were amazing and it goes so high, by the way don't do a single unless you have got the energy for a 3hr walk back, but the wisodm path is good. anyways arrived at the Npong ping town - very touristic with a starbucks! home from home!
so onwards I went to the monestry first which has a great vegetarian resturant, get a meal ticket go to the woman with the mic and get a number which she is calling out, which you can't understand, so you have to watch her pointing to the numbers, till she gets to yours - then you get a table and three dishes are brought out, spring rolls, mushrooms and chinese cabbidge and peppers and beancurd and soup and tea and a huge sausepan of rice, yum yum!! (met a girl who works in picadilly) now up to the buda which is free if you show your meal ticket (also in to the exhibition hall) by this time i was ok after the food - but it was 3am english time!

The Buda is amazing as you come over on the cable car it is the one thing you notice, walking up the steps and the sun shines behind - its massive and very detailed.

on from here to the wisdom path, don't expect to walk on tracks because its all concreated paths to the infinaty belt, half tree logs stuck in the ground - nice! Then I decided to take the walk back to Tung Chung - not a good idea! took forever all downhill so i ended up running most of the way and then got to the bottom and it was still a bus journey to the town - oh and my ocopus card didn't work because i found out later you needed to put bus credit on it!

got my bag from the Airport and back to the North Point Ibis, im rubbish at directions so it took a long time to get there, but eventually made it.

the room is amazing, not small, fantastic views of the harbour - which is good that i did the upgrade to harbour views for 27quid.

so it came to 8pm and i had a shower and fell asleep only to wake up at 11am the next day!

4th Nov 2006 - Heathrow Airport

2006-11-07T03:35:00.000Z

My journey Started at check in, no liquids or gels, seen my parents off - mum crying a bit but not as bad as i thought she might be. Standing ready to go through the x- ray I heard "Hello Sir, you have been randomly selected for a three x ray body scan" don't think it was random -i was just day dreaming at the back of the queue and i think he wanted me to wake up - i did my three silly poses after taking off my shoes and belt and hey presto I was through the queue before everyone else!!

Now waiting to take off, waiting waiting zzzz

ok and by the way you don't need anything here on the plane - tv channels 16 radio stations and 10 games, you can play on this remote control but i've still got the psp for backup!! menu looks good too, see you in HK!

7pm - In the Air
anyway thought I'd get back before I got to HK we are half way flying at 547mph at 30,000ft and its -55deg C outside we've got 6hrs left and 3179 miles to go. we are just off Karaganda - great these screens!!

watch "my super Ex girlfriend" was quite funny! then watched xxx on my psp now listening to KT having a great time and i haven't even got there.

ok that's it better get some sleep!

ok last one... 1hr to go 650mph!!! 917 km.

route i'm taking

2006-10-27T14:45:00.000+01:00

How it came to age....

2006-10-24T23:48:00.000+01:00

Out on friday 13th 2006 after work for a meal at Pizza Express in Angel and on to Popstarz in Kings Cross, not sure how it happened, but standing at the Bar with my friends from work I suddenly decided to go Around the World (ok well nearly around the world - just missing america)