the yak occidental

Perhaps more of a Halloween-appropriate list, here are the most disturbing books I've read This is a picture of Harriet Richardson (later Staunton) at the time of her engagement in 1875, found on the Persephone site . Her life is the subject of Harriet by Elizabeth Jenkins CW: all sorts of abuse and violence are prominent themes in these books and I refer to a very disturbing Canadian news article We live in troubling enough times and so it may seem odd to post a list of "most disturbing books,"  and yet, I read [content warning for link]   this article on the CBC and was instantly reminded of Harriet by Elizabeth Jenkins . Jenkins' book has been reprinted in recent years by the incredibly Persephone books and is also one of the most disturbing books I have read the past few years. The book Harriet itself is evocative, engaging, and well written even despite its extremely upsetting content. I find it particularly devastating because Harriet is based on a true sto...

...or rather, against micromanagement. Working in Animation means we are working in an inherently creative environment. This begs the question - can you simultaneously run a tight ship while allowing for creative freedom?  In my opinion and experience yes, you can. Production needs to help build a solid basis for organization and processes that allows our creative and technical leadership to do what they do best – create.  To this end, Twyla Tharp, choreographer and author of The Creative Habit says,  “This, to me, is the most interesting paradox of creativity: in order to be habitually creative, you have to know how to prepare to be creative, but good planning alone won’t make your efforts successful; it’s only after you let go of your plans that you can breathe life into your efforts” - from The Creative Habit: Learn it and Use it for Life by Twyla Tharp Once we have provided the environment and support, we need to let people do their thing, and we get the best perform...

Here is a selection of memorable quotes from My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem. As you can, the first reason for this book is to share the most important, longest-running, yet least visible part of my life. It's my chance to do more than come home saying to friends, "I met an amazing person who ..." or "Here's a great new idea for..." or most of all, *We have to stop generalizing about the American people," as if we were one homogeneous lump. I'm also now immune to politicians who say, "I've traveled the length and breadth of this great land, and I know ... " I've traveled more than any of them, and I don't know.  What we're told about this country is way too limited by generalities, sound bites, and even the supposedly enlightened idea that there are two sides to every question. In fact, many questions have three or seven or a dozen sides. Sometimes I think the only real division into two is between people who divid...

Differing opinions is how we learn about different ways of doing things As practical and hands-on as I hope A Course In Production is, I admit that my favorite videos to make are these more philosophical ones. I think this is because I believe that critical thinking is a crucial skill for Production staff that is underemphasized.  I’m not talking about pondering Shotgrid/Shotgun/Flow filters for improved efficiency, I mean reflecting upon our motivations for being in a position of leadership in the first place, how we can constantly strive to be and do better, and being open to learning this information from a variety of different sources.  Even in making this very course, I have drawn on books and materials by lawyers, poets, poker players, choreographers, university professors, journalists, and basketball coaches. And this is all in the name of improving my work as a Production Manager in the Animation industry. Annie Duke, the aforementioned champion poker player and author...

Two great thinkers offer something simple: let's think of Love as a verb, rather than a noun. Dreaming Shepherdess by  BOUCHER, François ( c. 1763)   In the great literature of all progressive societies, love is a verb. Reactive people make it a feeling [...] If our feelings control our actions, it is because we have abdicated our responsibility and empowered them to do so.  Proactive people make love a verb. Love is something you do: the sacrifices you make, the giving of self [...] If you want to study love, study those who sacrifice for others, even for people who offend or do not love in return [...] Love is a value that is actualized through loving actions. Proactive people subordinate feelings to values. Love, the feeling, can be recaptured. - from  The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey The world "love" is most often defined as a noun, yet all the more astute theorists of love acknowledge that we would...

Here are five things to keep in mind when booking a meeting at work  Booking a meeting at work? Here are 5 main things to keep in mind while gathering people on the clock including: Event Description Who/attendees  Time Etiquette Meeting wrap up  The big thing with a meeting invite is that we want all the details included so that, theoretically, anyone could join and understand right away the purpose of the meeting, when it is happening, what they need to prepare for the meeting, or otherwise have context for the meeting.  Also, especially if you have a hybrid crew or crew in different time zones, take the time to reiterate in writing the date, time, and location of the meeting, whether it be a meeting for your in-studio crew or if you are using zoom, google meet, teams, etc. Event Description Checklist Reiterate date and time in event description, don't just leave it to the calendar booking software Reiterate meeting location (boardroom, zoom, google meet, etc) Atta...

Here are six things to keep in mind when emailing the client If your role entails direct communication with the client via email, here are some key things to keep in mind, particularly across 6 categories: Title of an email Body of the email Who the email is going to/distribution Tidiness/appearance of an email Email etiquette Email follow-up  For email titles, always include your show code/shorthand title of your show and what exactly you are referring to, whether it be a given shot, episode, asset, etc. If your client or studio has established email title naming practices, follow those.  Email Title Checklist Date of meeting notes included? example: SHOW CODE - [Client Name] x [Your Studio]: E109 Animation Dailies - 2022-04-28 Relevant department mentioned? Episode/Shot/Asset name clearly indicated? If your show or studio has specific email title format practices, make sure you are following those! For the email itself or body of the email, be sure to reiterate what you are ...