Tell us about “MoreFrames” and what you guys do exactly?
Finding jobs is the hardest thing about what we do; at least half of our spare time here is spent in pursuit of them.  When we’re not working on a commissioned project, we’re developing our own material, drawing funny sketches of each other, using the need for fresh “inspiration” as an excuse to watch the occassional movie.

When we do have an official job, we begin by developing the base elements: theme, feel, characters, etc..  Then we draw and draw and draw.  The characters and setting are more or less solidified over the course of a few weeks.  Everything is storyboarded and we start animating.

Most of our animation is produced traditionally, on paper, and we scan the drawings into the computer, where we color digitally.  The 2D animation is composited with the backgrounds and whatever CGI and effects we might be using with After Effects.  Then we send the whole thing to the client and they call us up and say, “Good job!”

How many people are there in “MoreFrames”? Who are they and please state their roles?
The core of the group consists of 4 guys: Adam Calfee, Jordan Held, Ron Levellie and Gus Trauth.  Jordan is our CGI guru and the rest of us use pencils.  Our roles are not very well defined, as we all do a little bit of everything.  We work as a team, animating, designing, writing, coloring, etc.

Where are you located?
We live and work in gloomy yet charming Erie, Pensylvania.  With heavy snow on the ground half of the year, it’s a great place to hold a job where going outside for any extended period of time is frowned upon.

Describe how does “MoreFrames” feel at the starting of a new project?
Rampant excitement, followed by frenzied panic and horror.  The next stage usually represents a fever dream comprised of malicious headaches, cold sweats, energy drinks and fast food.  Then we take a dogpile nap until we’re awoken by the client calling us to say, “Good job!”

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Moonboy from MoreFrames on Vimeo.

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How did the team was formed (meet) originally?
We all met and worked together on a number of projects as students at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.  We decided to make a go of it ourselves after graduation, as opposed to pursuing industry jobs.  Since the ultimate goal is to have our own thing going on, why not go directly for it while we’re young?  What have we got to lose?  Besides our glory years, of course…

Where does “MoreFrames” get inspiration from?
There aren’t too many things that don’t inspire us.  We take our inspiration and ideas from many soucres: authors and illustrators, filmakers and musicians, painters and peers and nature and dreams.  The masterpiece graphic novel AKIRA by Katsuhiro Otomo is one of our favorite things here.  It just might be the coolest thing ever.  Seeing the work of other studios that we look up to can be a great inspiration as well — it gives us something to work toward and a goal to push ourselves to surpass.

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ILL BILL – “My Uncle” Official Video from MoreFrames on Vimeo.

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Could you share any insight for people (or group) just entering the profession?
Just entering the proffession ourselves, we were hoping that maybe someone had some insight for us.  If we had to give a single piece of advice, though, it’s to keep working really hard, harder than you think you can.  The only thing that keeps anyone from doing it is whether or not they decide to start doing it.  Don’t be afraid to do something you’ve never done before — everything is new at some point.

Who is the person “MoreFrames” look up to in the movie industry? Why so?
Nicholas Cage, due to the practically supernatural prolific composition of his career.

Really, though, there are quite a few filmakers that we’re big fans of.  Spike Jonze is a guy we really respect.  Having started off so small and having worked so long and hard to get to the point he’s at, where he can basically do what he wants, is a great inspiration.  That’s where we eventually want to end up.  His work is super creative and full of child-like wonder and just so COOL.  Everything he touches somehow transforms into visual magic.

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“War Is My Destiny”- Ill Bill (official video) from MoreFrames on Vimeo.

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How does “MoreFrames” overcome creative block?
Being in a group of creative people who are passionate about the same things is like Drano to creative blockage.  It keeps us from running up against creative block almost altogether.  After we work on a project for a long time, however, it can be hard to break out of the confines of the world that particular project has created.  When you draw the same character or set of characters for months on end, your brain gets locked into it.  It helps to have a number of ideas on the backburner that one can dive right into.  These ideas surface as we go along, sometimes coming together in bits and pieces, sometimes falling out of the sky and smashing through the roof of the car while we’re waiting at a red light.  It’s also nice to have a good old-fashioned breather every once in a while, when we can afford it.

A great animator is…..
There are two kinds of great animators: 1) Those who have mastered the craft completely.  They have a total, exhaustive understanding of physics and volume, and possess a total mastery of anatomy and drawing, and 2) Those who uncomprimisingly pursue their own artistic vision.  The term “animator” doesn’t neccesarily mean “artist.”  Animation is a craft, like anything else, and it can be used to create art.  So, on one hand there are great animators who are master craftsmen, but tell other’s stories, and on the other hand are great animators who, whether or not they are perfect craftsmen, tell his or her own stories.  Both kinds are amazing.  I suppose the master craftsperson who tells his or her own story is the greatest kind — elements of the two can be combined, usually to awe-inspiring results.  That’s the kind we aspire to one day become.

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Nike “stand your ground” (spec ad) from MoreFrames on Vimeo.

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How does the global economic recession affecting the industry, or the least affecting your business/ work/project?
Not unlike most other commercial studio right now, work comes very slowly.  We’re contacted multiple times a week by people wanting to hire us.  Nearly every time, after they discover that animation actually costs money to produce, they disappear entirely.  It can be very frustrating having your hopes boosted and dashed so often, and it’s easy to become jaded.  But we keep on keeping on.  At least we know that people out there are seeing our work.

What’s one thing “MoreFrames” wishes it knew when beginning its career?
We are (hopefully) still at the very beginning of our career.  We’re learning how to make this work as we go; once we figure it all out we’ll let you in on the secret.  For the time being… umm… in After Effects, if you hit the U key, the timeline displays just the layers with keyframes on them.  That would have been good to know a little earlier on.

How does “MoreFrames” see yourself 5 years from now?
Doing exactly what we’re doing now, but hopefully making a little more money with it.  That is, if 2012 doesn’t get us all first.

If “MoreFrames” has online portfolio (website/awards/credits/client’s showcase), what is the URL?
www.moreframes.com

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MoreFrames Show Reel 2009 from MoreFrames on Vimeo.

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