HantaPrez

Yes, Donald Trump has experience with a pandemic

Clay Jones

One of the many disqualifiers that should have prevented Donald Trump from becoming president again, and this one’s near the top of the list, is the way he handled the coronavirus pandemic.

When the pandemic hit our nation, Donald Trump should have been a leader. He should’ve been on the front lines in the response to the pandemic. He should have been telling the nation to follow the guidelines, even if they were changing as we learned more about the virus, and he should’ve been following them himself as an example. He should have been active in making sure that every state received the medical supplies it needed to save lives. (snip-MORE)

Animated movie titles and credits

A geeky post even non-animators might find interesting

Ann Telnaes

[Click Through To See Her Video-It’s Cool!]

I just love animated film titles and credits. It’s a great way to grab the audience’s attention and give a glimpse of the movie they’re about to see. In the case of end credits, a clever animated sequence keeps the audience in their seats so proper acknowledgement can be given, not only to the stars but to all of the people who have worked on the film.

Here are some of my favorites:

1. Of course you can’t talk about animated titles and credits without mentioning the great Saul Bass. Anatomy of a Murder, North by Northwest, Psycho, It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, Ocean’s Eleven, I could go on and on. The end credits of Around the World in 80 Days is a masterclass in the use of stylized characters, design, color, music, and movement to tell a story (while managing to list the massive cast of the film.)Bass title sequences have obviously inspired other films, such as Netflix’s Feud: Bette and Joan and the television series Mad Men.
2. There are several Pink Panther movies with animated titles but my favorite is the first created by DePatie–Freleng Enterprises because of its simplicity and the interaction between the character and text/graphics.
3. Pixar’s Ratatuoille end credits, design lead Teddy Newton.Unlike the 3D computer generated style of the main body of the film, Ratatuoille’s end credits are in 2D. The character and background designs are wonderfully stylized and have the feel of loose sketches one would see in the conceptual stage of an animated feature. The color and music also contribute to this fantastic mini-movie. Love, love, love this.
4. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids title sequence/ Kroyer FilmsAnother wonderful title sequence in a 2D style.
5. City Slickers title sequence/ Kurtz & FriendsAnother great use of a character interacting with the text (cowboy and lasso).

The video posted above is the end credits to Democracy Under Siege, the documentary some of you might have viewed last week. While I created the hand drawn gifs, all the credit for this marvelous sequence goes to Antoine Vermeesch of Clin d’oiel films. His selection of sound effects and music melded perfectly with the animation.

FB-lie Detector

Kash Patel is forcing FBI agents to take polygraph tests to find out who told a reporter he has a drinking problem

Clay Jones

Kash Patel, the worst FBI Director in the history of the bureau, has ordered the polygraphing of more than two dozen former and current members of his security detail, as well as other staff, to find leakers among his team, according to two people briefed on the development.

They described Kash as being in panic mode to save his job after negative publicity about his drinking, partying, and other extracurricular activities had come to Donald Trump’s attention.

Kash demanded the polygraph examinations to determine if any members of the team that travels with him or staff who have access to sensitive details about his decisions have communicated with reporters, according to the people, who asked to speak anonymously due to the threat of retribution.

The FBI has opened a criminal investigation into Sarah Fitzpatrick, the reporter who wrote that “excessive drinking” was causing deep concern in the bureau. Patel is suing The Atlantic for $250 million over the story. Because of the story, more informers from within the FBI are contacting Fitzpatrick and the magazine to provide dirt on Patel.

And because of these informers, we have learned that Patel is handing out personalized, branded bottles of bourbon. (snip-MORE)