Sunday, March 31, 2013

Finding Inspiration

I've had several sources of inspiration over the years that have formed this one big mass I call my imagination.  It's multi-generational, multi-faceted, a little multi-lingual.

My most earliest source of inspiration that I can remember was Walt Disney and his world.  His world of animated shorts, films, and of course, the Magic Kingdom, where my imagination ran wild.   As I was six years old when my family first went.  Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Pluto, Donald, Goofy, and all the others there to greet me.  The lands -- Adventure, Frontier, Tomorrow, Fantasy -- and their attention to detail.  The rides.  The Haunted Mansion.  Pirates of the Caribbean.  Peter Pan's Flight.  All spirited me away into a brief world of imagination.

Another source was the world of Hanna-Barbera.  I was a kid who grew up on Saturday morning cartoons.  I remember on Friday nights before the first Saturday of the new season they aired a special to introduce the  new cartoons.   Scooby-Doo, The Flintstones and all their family and friends.

Movies galore!   I have always been a movie fan and sometimes film my book as I go along.  In other words, I cast my characters, provide wardrobe, dialogue, actions, etc.   I've found my biggest sources of inspiration through Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Alfred Hitchcock, Roger Corman -- to name a few.  Not to mention the numerous individual movies.

My most important source of inspiration has been people.   I can sit and people-watch for a couple of hours and observe them without their ever noticing.   And that's only part of it.   The best part is that I pick ideas for characters.   The way they move their head.  Their mannerisms.  The way they wear their hats. The way they sip their tea.   (Oops.. Did mention that I also listen to a lot a music.)  I find it useful to make mental notes of people's habits, traits, and overall appearance.

People.  You all make great sources of inspiration.  Find your own inspiration and embrace it.

CSM 



 

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