Elephants Dream
Elephants Dream is the world’s first open movie, made entirely with open source graphics software such as Blender, and with all production files freely available to use however you please, under a Creative Commons license.

The short film was created by the Orange Open Movie Project studio in Amsterdam during 2005/2006, bringing together a diverse team of artists and developers from all over the world. More about the project...

Scar Night Launch Party in Edinburgh

Went to Waterstones on Princes Street last night to witness Alan Campbell's epic embarassment at having to read aloud his own book in front of a crowd of friends and colleagues. Possibly the hardest thing to do. Certainly harder than performing other people's work in front of a thousand strangers. Not that I've done that (yet!). Which gives me nightmarish visions of a Tony Blair-esque, dad rock stadium gig in my dreams.

But back to last night. It was enjoyed by all, and even Alan I'm sure once the reading was over. Reminds me that Edinburgh is a small town, since I met people who I didn't know knew each other (if that makes sense). Always good to see disparate social groups coming together and getting on, of course they all have a common interest, revolving around various fermenting processes and the imbibing of these. As well as creative pursuits obviously.

A lot of talent in one room, not least of which was Mr Iain Banks (or maybe it was Iain M. Banks), who I managed to avoid speaking to, which cunningly negated the possibility of going all 'fan boy' and making an erse of myself. Must be quite strange though, a whole room full of people who'd really like to talk to you but are in quiet awe of your achievements. But good to have his presence there to add to my vicarious lifestyle, and to add considerable weight to Scar Night's launch.

And I'd like to make special mention of Linda Strachan, whose website I designed back in the mists of the dot com boom/bust. I can't take credit for what's up now, but at least she kept my dragon. Best of luck with Hamis McHaggis.

A grand night out.

Oh, and the book ain't half bad either!

Enlightened Conversations: Maybe that's the wine talking

Something's happening! Is it multiple mid-life crises? Or is there something deeper going on?

Almost everyone I know is expressing a deep dissatisfaction with, well, almost everything. Maybe that's something particular to artisans, or, it could be a genuine feeling that all ain't as it should be.

This has all been mere mutterings up until now. But they're voting with their feet, their heads, and the internet.

So what is the crux of all this?

Reality TV, crap and excessive packaging, money for nothing, famous for being famous, things we don't need, tongue cleaners on our toothbrushes, avian flu, media hype, shoddy politicians, shoddy politics, illegal wars, conspiracies, things that don't work, cling film that clings only to itself, right wing neo-conservatism, left wing idealism, double speak, marketing speak, boardroom speak, more Star Wars movies, W.A.G.s, nuclear power, neds, paedophilia, intolerance, James Blunt, web v2.0, the passing of Spike Milligan and Salvador Dali, excessive mourning, poor tradesmen, unimaginative architecture, racism, terrorism and James Blunt.

And so it was, that with the simple addition of 2 bottles of nice red wine all of these problems were solved.

Only wish I could remember what the solution was........

'Dan is definitely the Man'

These days I am a terrible reader. I read books sporadically and in really small pieces. Its not that I don't enjoy it, I just never make the time and when I do I'm usually tired.

With this in mind you'll probably think that I should stick to novellas or short stories, but unfortunately, I have a prediliction for vast, sweeping, Wagner-esque, sci-fi fantasy space operas.

A few years back I raced through all of Iain M. Banks' work and wasn't sure if anything else could live up to it. Then about 2 years agoI found myself taking a lot of long train journeys, mainly from Glasgow to Elgin, and the necessity for something new to read was large.

So I did the only thing I could, and I judged a book by its cover. I think 'Illium' grabbed me because the cover was so simple, just a Trojan helmet illuminated by bright sunlight. And everything else fitted as well, it was a vast sprawling epic but it wasn't Iain M. Banks.

This book read fairly quickly and I was mightily impressed by the way Dan Simmons managed to weave Homer's Iliad, Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' and Marcel Proust into a fairly hardcore sci-fi novel. I also learnt a lot about the Trojan wars and Ancient Greek history into the bargain. The end just left me wanting more.

Unfortunately when 'Olympus' the sequel was released in june 2005 I had bought a car. Driving up the A9 is close enough to suicide, so I desisted from reading as well. This only left me about 5-10mins every night before my eyes clamped shut. Which is why i have only just finished it, almost a year later.

Of course, I didn't make life easier by also reading his 'Hyperion' dualogy and starting Peter F. Hamilton's 'Night's Dawn' trilogy. None of which fall below 1500 pages and can be considered a bit more challenging than Dan Brown.

It was all worthwhile.................(?)

Only another 3000 pages of Peter F. Hamilton to go which at 2 minutes per page = 100 hours.

100 hours in 7 minute bursts per day equals.................

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!

When I got together with a friend of mine and started Fine Scottish Gifts at the beginning of this year, our intentions were (and still are) to promote the fact the Scotland has some of the finest designers and makers in the world.

Admittedly it hasn't been easy, but starting businesses, especially creative ones, never is. I was advised by a Marketing Consultant many years ago when I was first considering self-employment, to always appeal to the lowest common denominator if I wanted to make money. But my awkward Ayrshire streak just won't allow me to do this.

I mean, you can have too many tartan teddy bears, haggis hunting whistles and miscellaneous sugary Victoriana. And too many is not a large number in this case.

It does have its place though, but I would rather we pushed the higher end of our craftsmanship a bit more. It doesn't have to be expensive, it doesn't have to be unwearable and it can still represent a culture without being so obvious.

Take the work of Alicia MacInnes for example. With just the use of simple materials, elegant forms and a concise palette, Alicia produces a series of pendants, necklaces and other jewellery which make bold but elegant statements.

And all at a reasonable price (guv'nor).

Scottish food has already been pushed to the forefront of a luxury market, and the estate legacies of whisky, hunting and landscape have long been a staple of our tourist industry.

And I know for a fact that there are some genuine creative wonders out there who deserve to be seen as well.

Lotte Glob is a fine example. Although originally Danish, she has been living in the northern tip of the Scottish mainland for nearly 30 years, with a workshop close to Durness. Here she produces ethereal works which are technically mystifying as well as visually intriguing. And she has become a world renowned authority on ceramics.

And that's just the tip of the creative iceberg.

A lot of my friends have reached a stage where they feel they've been working for the 'man' for too long. It can't be helped. Going to Art College changes you. For 4 years you're skint, so when you leave you want to earn a bit of money. Then, 15 years later, you've earnt that bit of money but it feels like someone else has made a lot more from your efforts. And deep down you know that your talent, and those 4 years of eating beans and tatties (with different flavourings each night to save your palette from dying of boredom) has not been fully utilised. Inevitably, thoughts of controlling your own destiny begin to fill your waking hours.

So where is this inane ramble leading?

To 'hope'and to Mr Alan Campbell.

The first of my friends to make the break years ago and do what he'd always wanted to do. Write a book.

And today he's having his launch party down in London, having received a series of rave reviews already.

'Scar Night' - the first part of the Deepgate Codex trilogy has just been released and everyone wishes him well. Though from the various plaudits so far received, our wishes will be mere eddies in the wave of superlatives pushing his new career ahead.

Try reading some of these to see what I mean....

Forbidden Planet

Amazon

The Alien Online

TTA Press

Or better still get the gist from the horse's mouth at An Urban Fantasy

And with several other friends heading in the same direction it's good to see that a bit of belief, a lot of effort, and shed loads of beans and tatties can pay off.