Hey everyone,

I just wanted to take a few minutes and update everyone with what is happening here at home, and what it means for my future and the future of OWF.

As some of you know from the chatroom, my girlfriend of many years (Lorna) was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Right now, she can barely see straight or walk.

In the last month, we've had to learn and prepare for what this means for life as we know it. We've had to make some serious changes, and my work schedule is one of the things that has changed drastically. Until she is cleared for disability, I am wholly responsible for all of our bills and expenses. This means I pretty much have to work non-stop these days until she is cleared and we have a secondary income source.

What does this mean for OWF? Mainly, it means aside from the obvious things like the voice over sessions and basic planning/financing and assorted little things, I have to step aside from OWF until next spring. This leaves you all with a few choices. Either someone else can step up and take charge in my absence, or you all can take a serious hiatus until then. I want to make clear though that ending the OWF project is not an option I am considering, and the site will remain online and funded (thanks to family right now), so OWF isn't going anywhere.

I can't apologize enough, I have been very neglectful of OWF. This is not a reflection of any loss of interest, it's just that right now, I have to secure us financially and help the love of my life adapt to a new world where she can no longer be independent. It's heartbreaking, tiring, full of paperwork, and generally only leaves me enough time left over to just barely make ends meet. For this reason, it's just not fair to expect all of you to wait for me. Please consider moving forward, maybe if Tmatt wants to take over or someone else...this project has to much strength still to allow it to vanish.

Once again, I do want to make clear two things: I am still doing the VO session and finishing up the storyboard animatic, and OWF will remain funded no matter what my financial situation becomes. At the moment, a very kind family member of mine has offered to take up the monthly cost of hosting until we are back on our feet here. I will still be here, but I honestly have no time or energy right now to do justice to what needs to be done here at OWF.

Anyway, sorry this was mostly a rant and stream-of-consciousness writing. It's been a long, terrible month, and both my energy and motivation levels are completely shot. I always try to keep a happy face while I am on this site, but the fact is that right now things don't look very good for us, and I can't lie to you guys about that.

I hope you all understand that my absence won't be permanent, and I hope you understand why. I'll be back to discuss this, because if you guys want to move forward without me, there are some things I need to explain to whoever takes the reigns. And I won't always be gone, I'll lurk occasionally whenever I get the chance...and next spring, the income problem should go away, and I can go back to being able to spend more time here.



I miss you guys.

CJ,

very sorry to hear about Lorna. Not a lot I can say that won't sound trite, but you both have my best wishes.

As regards OWF, I'm sure it will continue somehow, and still be here when you have more time. I can take over until you t get back on an even keel if you like, unless anyone else wants the job. I think we have a similar enough view of where it is going that it will not have turned into a movie about small furry bears that can fly ( or something else weird) by the time you get back to it!

Try not to stress too much, and stay in touch when you can.

Regards,

Matt

Ola CJ,

Just a quick note to let you know that also I frequently pop in here, and while my contribution is kind of at a minimum, I hope to be back in swing in due course. Currently my other half takes up most of my time, something I do not hesitate to recomend to anyone else and what I get left is mostly spent in blender testing and other associated what I refer to misc art.

Take care dude and pass on my thoughts to Lorna.

Please tell Lorna that everyone here is thinking of her. We'll miss you, CJ!

I'm really sorry about Lorna. Please know that I'm praying for both of you.

Try not to stress about us, CJ, we'll keep OWF going even if I have to take over (we'd better hope it never comes to that ).

We love you both!

-FD

Just checked in to see how everything was (not quite as busy with work at the moment) and saw this... man. I'm really sorry, CJ. I agree with Matt- it sounds so cliche, but seriously, my thoughts and best wishes are with both of you.

*hugs to both Lorna and CJ*

Thanks guys....(hugs all around).

Good news is the medicine she is on has been helping, so she is a bit more mobile lately and can see a little better. It's made things a little easier anyway, especially since I am at work all the time now

Just checking in...will be having a short meeting today about rescheduling the VO session (our Nia went out of town right after Halloween). I will post an update here about it as soon as I know for certain what is happening.

Wow, I missed a lot.... Sorry about that, internet was out this entire month, and its still a bit hectic right now because we're trying to settle into a new house.

But CJ, my best wishes are with you and Lorna. I know you both can make it through this.

And I'm confident OWF will stay up and keep going and welcome you back with open arms when you're ready.

First time I've logged on in nearly 2 months... My best wishes to Lorna and CJ.

hey, just thought I'd stop by to see how everything's going.. been a while

hope everything's okay, cj

so matt, are you running it now?

What there is to run. Seems that everyone is busy doing other stuff.

The project is a bit stalled until we can get the team back together.

Matt

Hey everyone!

Well....for the first time in over 6 months, we actually got some GOOD news for change. Lorna has been approved for her teacher disability benefits, and as of some time in the next 45 days, I will no longer have to work 3 jobs to make ends meet! Believe it or not, the first thing I aim to do is to get a week off from all work so I can get caught back up here at OWF and get things running again.

Keep in mind that for the next month or so, I am still very much spoken for. I have been doing tons of animating and web design work (and currently have 4 projects active), so I am still swamped. Luckily, I can now start to taper off that extra work as I finish each project.

FYI, Open World Film is always on my mind.....I cannot wait until I have a little of my life back and can get back to it. We got so close....we have some of the worst things taken care of. Now it's just a matter of getting the thing up and running again.

I appreciate everyone still posting and getting ideas thrown around. I apologize for not having read up on recent posts (yet), but I will as soon as I have a chance. I just wanted to post this to let you all know that our personal nightmare may finally be coming to an end

Oh.....and I am running FreeBSD at home these days....and loving it!

-CJ

Cj,

that's great news. The project needs your magic, as without you it seems to be spiralling into a hole in the ground. It's difficult to keep any enthusiasm going when you are the only person posting!

Matt

Lol...I have some ideas about boosting traffic, but truth be told, I've animated almost 20 minutes worth of product demos in the last few months, and I think my first order of business will be to try to get a solid 3D animatic totally done, while I am still in the zone. The site needs little bits of work, but I consider that a much lower priority right now than getting the film moving forward again.

Fingers crossed....it should be pretty soon now. No more than about a month max, at this point. We could have an animatic online within two months if all goes smoothly.

Good to see most of you are still around

Well.....just got our notice today, looks like things will be clearing up in the next 10 days!

That means I have to wind down two animations I am still working on, but those look to be done this week for their air date, so maybe, just maybe....I'll be online regularly by the end of this month altogether!