The Making of Tickle Me Silly

Riding off into the sunset (cue the end titles and music).

2010-04-14T18:06:00.000-07:00

Hola Amigos,

I believe we’ve reached the end of an incredibly successful journey and it’s time to take our boots off and count our gold, but not without saving the biggest news for last:

Tickle Me Silly won the Viewer’s Choice Award at the 2009 Nickelodeon Animation Festival.

That’s right! All our efforts and hard work were honored when our little film aired on the Nicktoons Channel and was watched and voted on by thousands (or maybe millions) of viewers. I couldn’t ask for anything better!

I’ll keep everyone posted if any new developments occur in the future, but until then I’d like to thank all of you once again from the bottom of my heart for all of your help and support. I hope to see you guys again on our next adventure.

Muchas Gracias

Miguel

Better late than never.

2009-01-27T18:50:00.000-08:00

I got amazing belated news! I just got confirmation that Tickle Me Silly won BEST TV PILOT COMEDY at the 2008 August Sun Film & TV Festival at The Crest Theatre in Westwood, California.
The festival took place back on August 28, 2008 however due to a stubborn email, we never received the news on time. But heck, we won! I ain’t complainin’!

Them beans ain’t done cooking yet.

2008-12-21T17:54:00.000-08:00

Our travels around the world aren’t over yet either. “Tickle Me Silly” will been shown at CAMBOFEST, Cambodia’s first internationally recognized independent movie festival, on December 26. The festival had an early screening of our film a few months ago and apparently it did very well with the local audiences. I wish everyone at CAMBOFEST much success at the festival.

Hope you all have a safe and happy holiday and new year!

In the Saddle Again

2008-11-09T20:26:00.001-08:00

It seems that the Big Apple is not done with us yet. “Tickle Me Silly” has been selected to screen as part of the 5th annual Big Apple Film Festival, taking place in Tribeca, New York City from November 19-22.
“Tickle Me Silly” will be shown on Saturday, November 22 at 6:00pm at the Tribeca Cinemas, Theater 1 (Program 19).
Tickets are now on sale at www.bigapplefilmfestival.com. Tickets can be purchased online through November 14. Be aware that tickets are $20 per person, but all the audience members with ticket stubs are welcome to attend the closing night (11/22) party in the Tribeca Cinemas Reception Lounge sponsored by Stella Artois, starting at approximately 10 p.m.

This will be everyone’s last chance to see the film on the big screen in New York City. For those who haven’t yet had the chance, don’t miss out. This promises to be a great festival, regardless of our film and I recommend you check out all the other films that are screening.

El Gaucho de las Pampas.

2008-10-13T18:11:00.000-07:00

It seems that “Tickle Me Silly” is not done traveling the world. I just got confirmation that the film got accepted and will be shown at the 2008 EXPOTOONS International Animation Festival in Argentina on October 27 & 28. This promises to be a huge animation event in Latin America and I’m thrilled and honored that our film is part of the Festival.
I hope our amigos in Argentina get a good laugh out of the film.

California or Bust!

2008-10-05T18:09:00.000-07:00

With all the excitement and commotion about the NTVF festival, I forgot to tell everybody that “Tickle Me Silly” got accepted and was shown at the Los Angeles International Children Festival on Sept. 20 & 21 at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach.

Also, the San Diego Film Festival requested to show “Tickle Me Silly” under their Little Critics Short Film Series on Sept 26th.

Sorry for not informing everyone earlier. I hope those who had a chance to see it had a great time.

Eureka!

2008-09-18T18:06:00.000-07:00

Tickle Me Silly WON BEST ANIMATED PILOT at the New York Television Festival!

The festival was awesome. We got to see a bunch of unique films and meet very interesting people, plus we got to hear major network producers talk and give feedback about the industry. My many thanks to the director and crew of the festival!

The film did great! It was amazing to hear the crowd laughing and truly enjoying themselves. Many people approached us and told us how much they enjoyed it.

I want to thank everyone who attended the festival in person and in spirit. It meant a lot to me. This award is thanks to all your support!

Thank you!

Well tie me up and call me Shirley!

2008-09-03T19:23:00.000-07:00

Awesome News! Tickle Me Silly was selected to be a part of the 2008 New York Television Festival (NYTV) in the Independent Pilot Competition.
This is a huge event where major network executives and industry figures will get a chance to see the film.

The Festival is FREE! So please come join me and show your support on:

Saturday, September 13th 11:00am
New World Stages 5 (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th)
or
Sunday, September 14th 10:45am
New World Stages 3 (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th)

I’ll be attending both screenings and would love to see your faces there as well.

The bigger the turnout the better, this one’s for all the refried beans!! Hope to see everyone there!

YEE HAW!

2008-09-01T20:04:00.000-07:00

Congratulation to all of us! Tickle Me Silly was awarded BEST ANIMATION BY A PROFESSIONAL in the 4th Annual Blue Plum Animation Festival in Johnson City, TN.
And if that wasn’t enough, it was also awarded the CHINH SPECIAL JURY AWARD at the CHINH INDIA KIDS FILM FESTIVAL 2008 in their animation category. WOOHOO!

Once again I’d like to thank all of you for your great help and support in making this film such a success.

Two hoots and a holler away.

2008-07-10T20:02:00.001-07:00

Now we’ve officially reached the other side of the world, INDIA!
I’ve just been informed that the film has been pre-selected for the CHINH INDIA KIDS FILM FESTIVAL 2008. This is a great festival where children get to select and judge the films. The CHINH INDIA KIDS JURY will announce their awards on 7th August 2008. I hope it goes over well with the kids in India!

Urban Cowboys

2008-07-07T20:03:00.000-07:00

Hey Gang

Awesome news! The film has been accepted into the 2008 Animation Block Party in Brooklyn, NY. The film will be screened twice as part of the ABP Bam Cinematek, Program Three, at 2 pm and 6:50 pm on Sunday, July 27.
This is a great opportunity for all of us in New York City to see it on the big screen.
I’ll be attending the 2 pm screening and I hope I get to see some of your friendly faces there.
Tickets will be on sale at the doors to each event, but you can also buy them in advance online.
For more info and tickets see below:
http://www.animationblock.com/summerfest08/

Bam Cinematek (Brooklyn Academy of Music) is on 30 Lafayette Avenue / Brooklyn, NY 11217
http://www.bam.org/visitor/index.aspx

Jumping Frijoles!

2008-07-06T17:47:00.000-07:00

I have more good news; the film has being accepted into the Urbis Animax Festival in Christchurch, New Zealand. That’s right… NEW ZEALAND BABY! The film has crossed international waters. Urbis Animax is an International Animation and Short Films Festival.
The film will screen on July 7-10 2008.

Now for news a bit closer to home, the film has been accepted into the 2008 Rome International Film Festival! (Rome, Georgia that is.) The film will be shown Friday, September 5, at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, September 6, at 11:00 a.m. and Sunday, September 7, at 11:00 a.m. at the Forum.

I hope everyone will enjoy the show.

Sweet Jalapeños!

2008-06-09T20:11:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,
Just wanted to let you all know that “Tickle Me Silly” just got an awesome write-up on the blog Cold Hard Flash. Big Thanks to Aaron.
Read all about it here:

http://coldhardflash.com/2008/06/tickle-me-silly-heads-to-festivals.html

Happy as a hog in mud.

2008-06-08T08:47:00.000-07:00

I’ve got more good news! Not only has the film been accepted to the 2008 California International Animation Festival, but it has also been nominated for the Best 2D Animation award and the Best Children’s Animation award. This is very exciting!

See TICKLE ME SILLY at CalAniFest at the State Theatre in Modesto, CA on July 19, 2008

You can’t beat that with a stick.

2008-06-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

I’m very excited to announce that Tickle Me Silly has been selected to be included in the third quarter KIDS FIRST! Film Festival 2008 .

This is a big deal for me because the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival is The Coalition for Quality Children's Media. They are a national, nonprofit organization that evaluates, rates and endorses children's feature films, DVDs, videos, CDs and TV shows using community-based juries comprising child development professionals, teachers as well as parents and children from diverse geographic, socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. Their support is a huge win for us.

The 8 Annual KIDS FIRST! Film Festival is on
July 15, 2008 to October 15, 2008

Riding Off Into The Sunset

2008-05-12T19:31:00.000-07:00

It gives me great pleasure to announce, “IT’S A WRAP”. Yes the Tickle Me Silly film is finished, completed, done! Now it’s time for it to spread its wings and soar free over the earth.
I’ll soon be making DVD copies for all of you who so bravely lent me a hand and I have already started the process of submitting it to animation festivals. Let’s cross our fingers! I truly hope that when the film reaches everyone out there, they get to enjoy it.

Here is a small clip of the finished film.

A Cowgirl's Hoedown

2008-02-22T18:02:00.000-08:00

After a 3-day music marathon, the music scores if finally done. Thanks to the very talented Yely Pillot. It sounds awesome!!!

A Little Taste...of the Old West

2008-01-15T19:30:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to put up a rough cut for you all to see. Enjoy!

Most Wanted

2008-01-15T19:28:00.001-08:00

I struck gold when Chris McCulloch, the creator of [adult swim]’s VENTURE BROS and the voices of many of his own characters, lent me his talents as the voices for El Pinto, the Mayor and Pancho the Warthog. Hilarious as always.
And I hit the jackpot when I met Mike Smith Rivera, a professional theater and film actor in NYC willing to do the voice of our hero, Raul Rattatan. He couldn't have been cast better.
Of course, I got the best out of these two fine actors thanks to my voice director, Nick DeMayo. Awesome job!

The Sheriff’s Posse

2008-01-15T17:38:00.001-08:00

There are many stages in an animated production and there is no way in heck I could have done everything on my own. Believe me, I tried. So I would like to take this moment to give many thanks to the wonderful artists that gave me a hand:

Layouts: Warren O’Neil

Inking: Lauren Monardo

Props: Alden Viguilla

Animation: Jean Tsen, Art Siriamonthep, Yuri Fain, Justin Roth, Justin Offner, Danny Hynes and Joseph Cappabianca.

More thanks to come.

The Blacksmiths Tools

2008-01-15T17:03:00.000-08:00

Even though 90% of the film has been done directly on the computer using mostly Flash and some Photoshop, I couldn’t help my old habits and chose to “character layout” the entire film using good old fashion pencil and paper. I was very fortunate to acquire the help of Warren O’Neil, one of the best animators and designers on the east coast, to give me a hand during this stage.

The Good Old-Modern Wild West

2008-01-14T19:53:00.000-08:00

I had a lot fun creating a world where the old west catches up to modern technology, but at the same time made sure I didn’t lose that special old town charm. I worked that out by carefully disguising the modern technology using elements from the Old West period.
I’d like to show off some of the backgrounds from the film here since I put so much effort and detail into them that I’m afraid they’ll go by too fast to be seen in detail during the film.

The Good, The Bad, and the Dim-witted

2008-01-13T19:45:00.000-08:00

Let me introduce you to the small but memorable cast of my film.

First up is the Mayor, an easy to recognize, angry old goat with a top hat and a satchel that reads, "I'm the Mayor". Next in line is El Pinto (a horse of course), part time taxi driver and full time evildoer. Following him is Pancho the Warthog, loyal but too inept to realize that he should have graduated from deputy ten times over by now. And last but not least is our hero, Raul Rattatan. A small but feisty purple raccoon, he is an incompetent but lovable young rookie, overeager to skip ahead in the steep ladder of law enforcement ranks to earn his precious badges.

Stick’em Up Partner

2008-01-13T09:04:00.000-08:00

While designing the film's title card, I hoped to capture the spirit of the old Spaghetti Western posters. Ironically, I spent hours trying to recreate the right distressed texture to make the digital image look weathered and old.

Hola Amigos

2008-01-13T08:54:00.000-08:00

I'm proud to introduce you all to the making of my latest independent animated short, "TICKLE ME SILLY". This short follows the hilarious adventures of the young raccoon crime fighter, Raul Rattatan, Junior Sheriff of the Petty Crime Unit, and his lovable sidekick, Deputy Pancho the warthog, in their quest to stop the notorious "El Pinto" and his tickling crime spree.

This short is a true labor of love that has been in the making for the past two years and includes the help of many talented volunteer artists.

I can't wait for you all to see it.