Rob Birchall Dot Com

Octo-dancing

2008-08-16T12:39:00.002+01:00

I recently helped a colleague at work with a music video he was making for a friend. I added some stop motion and time lapse elements.
www.rezaart.com
film page
ink link

Home sweet Lomohome

2008-06-29T21:56:00.004+01:00

A place to hang all my lomography pictures:
www.lomohomes.com/invaderrob

P.s. I bought a Smena 8M a little while back from a Ukrainian called Igor. It's a year older than me and is great. I also bought a Smena from the 60's for 1.50 [!] (plus 16 quid postage [i]) but I haven't given that a whirl yet.
Nice one eBay.

Welded Wings

2008-06-26T20:04:00.004+01:00

I recently finished a short film and it's up on my video page. I've called it Welded Wings.

Magic!

2008-06-19T08:24:00.004+01:00

Here is a link to Cartoon Brew. It's an article about The Illusionist (working title); the film I've been working on at ink digital for nearly a year now. I've been helping to paint the characters. It's the new one by Sylvain Chomet due for release in 2009. This is the first image to be released which shows the final look of the film.
I will add updates when they happen.
Django Films - Our Main Studio

Bad taste

2008-05-03T15:17:00.003+01:00

I was perusing the goods of my local record shop the other day and came across these two items shelved together.

I was shocked:
No.1) Books and CD's should be shelved separately to avoid confusion:)
No.2) When Mark Chapman shot Lennon dead this was the book that he had in his pocket. Very bad (but witty) taste to you local record shop. The greatest 'hits' DOES put the icing on the cake. Its a good book too. I'd recommend it.

Make Beautiful Music

2008-04-09T23:55:00.004+01:00

More friends busy making Degree Shows:)

Sanna Dyker
Emily Jones

AND...

take a look at my mate Raymo's interactive musical project. He would like people to write and record a song inspired by the story written on his website. If you like making music then why not give it a go. To read the harrowing tale and to find out more information visit the Interactive Music Network.

Bloom

2008-04-03T19:46:00.006+01:00

On Tuesday I saw my first butterfly of the spring. On Wednesday the first bee. Today a ladybird landed on me while I was sitting eating my lunch on the grass. The sun is out, the birds are singing and not a moment too soon! Hopefully this shall herald an awesome summer!
On a side note my links page has been messed up for ages and I didn't realise. It is now thoroughly sorted (at least it should be) and I have added some friends who have recently made websites in preparation for their imminent degree shows.
Drop by and wish them luck!
Reza Dolatabadi
Catrin Jeans
Gemma Mannion
Graeme Plunkett
Nadia Rossi
Catherine Wier

Lomography!

2008-02-14T18:56:00.005Z

Today I bought an ActionSampler! Only 16 squid from my local art cinema shop. Photo's will now be taken.

"Lomography is the commercial trademark of Lomographische AG, Austria for products and services related to photography. The name is inspired by the former state-run optics manufacturer LOMO PLC of St. Petersburg, Russia".

Ta Wikipedia.

Projector Fest!

2008-02-05T23:14:00.000Z

Enough talk of pancakes. Something just as important that begins with the letter P is Projector Animation Festival which was held from the 30th Jan to the 2nd of Feb at Dundee Contemporary Arts. Much fun was had with my multipass:
*Lots of shorts including one by my friend Lesley Barnes' who's film Herzog and the Monsters was shown a grand total of three times. Not bad at all.
*An inspiring masterclass from Ed Hooks on how to act for animation.
*Very interesting talks by Phil Malloy, Sharon Colman and the one and only Bill Plympton! I got three things signed by him. Felt a bit greedy.
*Scottish Premier of Persepolis which was stunning!
*Party with drawing tools provided!

All should go next year.

Pancakes!

2008-02-05T22:42:00.000Z

Last year I made no pancakes. This year, to avoid repeating the disappointment I made sure that Shrove Tuesday 2008 was full of crepes and wasn't crap. My culinary attempts tasted awesome and I even managed to make a inflatable one completely by accident (when I flipped it it just started to expand and no I didn't use self raising flour. See photo for proof)
In the end it seems Delia Smith lies through her teeth. I only managed to make six and a half when the recipe promises 12 to 14.
Delia Smith's Highly Inaccurate Pancake Mix

The Seed Carriers

2008-01-28T23:27:00.000Z

Last week I saw something incredible! This is an adjective I use only in very special circumstances and Thursday night was one such occasion. I went to see a performance at the Rep Theatre in Dundee, an animation theatre show called the Seed Carriers by Stephen Mottram. It was part of the first annual Manipulate Visual Theatre Festival, a celebration of puppet theatre and visual performance running in conjunction with the Projector Animation Festival just across the road at Dundee Contemporary Arts.
On his self-contained circular stage, Mottram acts out a inspired story using slight-of-hand and a host of simple but beautifully carved marionettes. A story of mankind's greed towards precious seeds that the little humanoid creatures carry in their bellies. From the outset it was astounding to witness how much life he was able to conjure from the puppets, and how much empathy we as an audience felt for them. Its no wonder he's won so many awards in Eastern Europe, a place that has embraced puppet theatre for many decades. It took him two years to construct all the puppets for the show. A labour of love that can be clearly seen when he brings his creations to life. Well and truly inspired!

link

Bang!

2007-11-06T21:39:00.000Z

Remember remember the fifth of November,
GUNPOWDER, TREASON, PLOT,
I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.

I want a spaceship

2007-04-10T18:14:00.000+01:00

Went to see Sunshine tuther night.

It is an amazing film! I recommend it to the MAX (Infact I wonder if its on at IMAX? That would be a sight to behold).

Its been far too long since a proper Sci-Fi film graced the Movie-plex. This one has psycologicalness to it aswell. Oo Deep.
Well I want to go and see it again so thats definatly a good sign.

We're All Going to Die!!!

2007-03-09T18:48:00.000Z

Last week I saw Malcolm Middleton play in Fopp.
*two thumbs up*
I bought his new CD and got it signed :)

One of his songs is called We're All Going to Die. A strangly uplifting tune considering the title.
He is cool. He used to be in Arab Strap.
Check him out at malcolmmiddleton.co.uk

Fate ain't great

2007-03-02T02:02:00.000Z

Anyone notice that sometimes the planets align a bit too spooky for their own good?
Granted it's a small world but too often situations tinged with dramatic irony come to pass that jump up and surprise. This mostly happens when I least want it to.
Don't get me wrong, sometimes the planets align the best way possible which is excellent.
Like the other week I was chatting to random Glasgow Art Students on the train who got off at St Andrews. Next morning when I went for a run I passed them trying to hitchhike back to Glasgow on the road just outside my flat in Dundee. Random stuff.
Sometimes fate unfolds badly but with hilarious consequences. But every so often the most annoying and unlikely thing can happen. Anyone else?

Watching 24 last night I noticed It happens a lot there too.

Nice and vague innit?

Remedy for a sleepless night

2007-03-02T01:52:00.000Z

Watch lots of 24.

Warning! May cause extreme nightmares.

When I did get to sleep I dreampt that my home was under terrorist attack. Without warning, random people started exploding around the house. Suicide bombers who must have accidentally swallowed something explosive because they didn't know they were going to blow up. They let shower small marble sized 'bomblets' with Spiderman's face on them. Jack Bauer told me not to touch them.
"It's okay, I'll just go out the window", said I. So I did.

Then there appeared an alternate ending to Shaun of the Dead. Somehow Simon Pegg had been impregnated by a zombie : (
He was sat with Nick Frost on folding chairs at the edge of the running track at a Sports Day with a huge green Zombie baby on his knee.
"Isn't he a cute little fella" proclaimed Simon.

I woke slightly traumatised.

Ding Dong!

2007-02-27T13:51:00.000Z

Welcome welcome.

Come in sit down make yourself at home.
Tea? Coffee?

Buscuits?

I have bourbons. Yep...lots of bourbons!