Showing posts with label behind the scenes of cool town. Show all posts
Showing posts with label behind the scenes of cool town. Show all posts

Saturday, January 14, 2012

The New 'Cool'

This is Carol Ras- here, creator of Cool Town, and I just wanted to update this blog to let our loyal fans know what's been going down in Cool Town!

As some of you may know by now, I am heavily involved in all of our 'Cool' projects---from development to set and character designs, to directing and animating, and finally to editing and viralizing. Seems like a lot of work because it is...but occasionally I do get help with these things, so it's not all me, all of the time---I must say that I am truly humbled and blessed to have such a great team of people who work alongside of me in these projects and who really bring great ideas and creations to the table. They're the few people that can genuinely match my efforts, and it's indescribable how much I appreciate them. Shout out to the 'Cool' Team, you know who you are! =)

With that said, the payoff is immense and, it too, is indescribable. I usually never realize how much work is put into what we do until someone asks me about what it is that we do, or how we do what we do. That's when I'm finally able to wrap my head around the intensity of this form of art and why so many people can be intimidated by it. It certainly takes a great deal of patience, trial and error and a few bad ideas to generate good ones.  And no matter what level you're performing at (beginner, hobbyist or experienced), and correct me if I'm wrong because it could just be me, but the results are always mind-blowing because you get to see your efforts literally come to Life! 

Squeaky Clean. Refreshing our Freshness.
Okay, okay, enough rambling about a bunch of nothing---=) I'm really here to let you know that I've been exploring and discovering a lot of new, interesting and innovative ways to utilize not just what we have access to, but what we're limited to as well, and coupling a few odd aesthetics to create a more dynamic way to share our stories and concepts. Things that are indescribable seem to the be the theme of this post because I can't quite explain it, but this combination of technology and natural ability is what we're trying to better understand so we execute our projects in the most efficient and prolific way. 

Now, we're no experts, just a couple of artists stumbling through the process to be better than we were...or until one of us hits the lottery, whichever comes first...=D Until then, we will continue to work less in the real world and more in our 'little' world...(one could only hope=).

Anyhow, that's it for now, not for good---stay tuned for more updates---check out our Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr...for more updates if you don't see any here. 

Thursday, June 2, 2011

"The Notorious 101" is finally available for viewing!



It's finally here and ready to watch! Our latest collaborative project with Umbrella House Productions, "The Notorious 101" is a spec-spot for Tongal.com's Brisk Ice Tea Video Competition. Co-Directors, Carol Ras- of Cool Town & Greg Whitehead of Umbrella House, saw this challenge as an opportunity to finally work alongside one another as Directors. And, this is only the beginning of many future collaborations!
About the Contest:
The contest brief is to create a video between 30-60 seconds long demonstrating what we felt needed to be more "Brisk" is Life. The idea that spawned was a no-brainer being that both productions are Los Angeles based and know much about the chaotic, hot-mess-of-a-traffic-system we so graciously love to half-heartedly tan in. So, naturally and immediately, this became the concept that we kicked into gear and began developing. 
 And, unlike the traditional Cool Towners, these characters have FACES--WHOA!!! Is this a new realm for Cool Town? Possibly. But nonetheless, the faceless characters are somewhat of a trademark, however, that won't stop us from exploring and taking you in different parts of this fictional world where there are characters with features and other strange, unique and rather unusual traits. Be on the lookout!

In conclusion, this project opened up a new chapter for us and we are truly stoked about taking our viewers for a new adventure! 
WAIT!
Scroll down for some Behind the Scenes Photos!


































Monday, March 28, 2011

Podcast With The Aristrocrats!

Peep the podcast that I was on with The Aristrocrats, which included Kahlier Hart who is the voice of our very own "Liberty Layne" (also a cast memmber of the Aristrocrats), in downtown Van Nuys! I had a blast spreading the word about Cool Town and our newest adventure, "Fresher Than Cool". We talked about some interesting and thought provoking topics as well. Check it out: http://thearistocratscast.podbean.com/
Kahlier Hart with mini-Klay-lier, "Liberty Layne" (in set) during the podcast.
Enjoy!
-Carol K. Ras-

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Cool Town Exhibition

Hey, Folks!
Here are a few pictures of our set pieces on display. This was while we were setting up for the exhibition. If you missed it, you still have the rest of the month to come down to Long Beach to check them out at Nino's Restaurant. The address is on the flyer in the post below! (if you don't see the post, refresh to our homepage)