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On why I quit filmmaking

Since someone I know has followed my work for some time asked me this on twitter I figure I should write up a proper post about it...

To make a long story short- I got bored with filmmaking- it just wasn't doing it for me anymore- I lost my love for it- and so instead of faking it- I quit.

It started to feel like I was just going through the motions with film- I had lost my passion for the process- and when you make films alone like I do if you don't have the passion you don't have much-

If you don't love what you're doing stop doing it- pretty simple.

I also came across a quote that was something like this "If you feel like you're in a hole, stop digging"

I did feel like I was in a hole with filmmaking so I decided to stop- I have no regrets with that decision.

I started working on We are the Strange in 2004. I released Heart String Marionette in 2012 and I released I am Nightmare at the end of 2013. So I made 3 animated feature films over the course of ten years.

I was planning to make a film a year from here on BUT I didn't love it anymore- I thought maybe if I immersed myself with so much work not loving it anymore might not matter...

I had wanted to learn how to make games for a few years now AND tons of people over the years have asked and sometimes BEGGED for me to make games- but I was always too busy with films to do it-

So once I finished I am Nightmare in Dec 2013 I decided to finally learn how to make games in Jan 2014- at first it was frustrating but after a few weeks I was hooked-

Fast forward 6 months and I made this game MagnetDroid

I love doing game development and have tons of ideas I'm going to work on-

Before I started making cg films- I made live action short films and did music with a band- those helped me when I got to cg feature production and now with game development my cg feature experience helps me GREATLY with creating 3d video games.

So making films was just a step in my evolution as an artist and storyteller-

I'm fascinated with programming characters and interactivity- I get to fuck with people in ways I never imagined possible ^ ^

I still have big ideas- I'm still going to create characters and tell my stories except now YOU GET TO EXPERIENCE THEM YOURSELVES and really be a part of them ^_^

My first big game project will be out next year AND it will have about 20-40 minutes of animated cinematics in it which will be like my films- so for those of you that loved my films you'll have to play the game to see my new films- as you will get to be the character!

And I'm SUPER excited about that game 0_0 It pretty much sums up my experience making films the past 10 years and my life experience in one game that is hopefully awesome and fun to play ^_^

So I'd like to express my gratitude and thanks to all of you who have followed me over the years and supported my work. If it wasn't for you all I wouldn't have gotten this far.

I just do what I feel I should do- thats what I've always done- and I have nothing to complain about in my life- I wish my films made like 1000x more money haha but my health is good- my family is good- I'm inspired and excited about the future of games so yeah I have lots to be thankful for.

I did everything I wanted to do with film- I had my way with it- and I don't love it anymore- so I quit with no regrets.

I'm thankful I was allowed to make those 3 films the past ten years- I'm sorry they weren't more successful but I did my best in the ways I knew how.

I lived and died as a filmmaker but I'm still alive- now look at this quote from Heart String Marionette

" I was born alone and I died alone... before I go you're all invited to the show"

In that film after the bad guys kill the main character in the beginning they throw him off a cliff where several dead clones of him are laying.... then he shows up again and again...

So through that film I was announcing my death as a filmmaker 0_0

At the end of I am Nightmare the films silent hero dives into a well leaving his friends and family behind as he "lives in dreams"

Film... and the characters in my films were my family and now I have to leave them behind to live in dreams.....

I learned a ton and will never give up on my dreams- some times our dreams change and grow- its ok to change and grow with them- don't hold on to dead dreams- there's new ones floating up there somewhere you just have to be quiet and listen for them-

My mission has not changed- I'm just learning new skills-

You can purchase the 3 films I made in the past ten years here if your interested. Just select the "M dot Strange Ultimate Trilogy"

I know it sounds cliche- but for M dot Strange and Mysterious Doll Studios.... this is just the beginning.

P.S. I'm now operating as "Mysterious Doll Studios" as its easier for most people to accept that a "studio" makes this stuff rather than one weirdo but YOU know the truth my friends.


Comments

  1. Thank you for the most inspiring fantastic contribution to the film world for no doubt ages to come. Thank you for reawakening my dead vision and empowering so many people to make their visions come to life. Thank you for doing your part in the grand scheme to heal the soul of the world. You are a Hero of film. Thanks for everything and I follow your career with great enthusiasm my friend.

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  2. I understand completely, but you got to know that I'm disappointed (I'll get over it). Good luck in making games. I'll always support you because you are so STRANGe!

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  3. Even if nothing is definitive (you might go back to animation wherever you like) the move to games was (probably) a good move.If someone compares what was going on at the time WeAreTheStrange came out on Youtube and the success it got, with what happens today its a different world.The quantity and the standarts are so hight, just look at Vimeo Picks, easely our stuf gets unnoticed. Thanks for your brilliant tutorials, podcasts and thoughts. Cheers

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  4. Hey man, thank you so much for the incredible post! I definitely feel the same way a lot of the time, and hope one day I can be brave enough to make a similar change. It's great that you are so honest with yourself and your interests: I know we will all support you in whatever you want to do (unless you want to become Hitler). I look forward to your future work!

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  5. Thanks for the great films and great advice M Dot! I wouldn't be the person I am now If I didn't find the W.A.T.S trailer on ytube many years ago. Your work opened many doors for me to things I never knew existed, and your films will always be a major influence on me and my work. It's great you're being honest and following your own path, I wouldn't expect anything less from a dude of your caliber. I'm really excited to see the ground you'll break and things you'll craft with games and story! Good luck M Dot, I'll always be a fan. - Hamish (permian)

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  6. I hope you'll return one day :) but glad you are progressing how you see fit, and doing what you need to do!

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  7. Please do a podcast on this and your upcoming work!!!

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  8. Your work was like a huge springboard for me. You had this huge dream of what fillm making could be and you passed it on too us in a way.You inspired a lot of us crazy kids and encouraged us to get crazier, and to BELIEVE in ourselves that we could create amazingness. It's sad that one era must come to a close but all good things must come to an end. Let the curtain fall, and let it reopen, a new play on the stage!

    Hope success follows passion, hope passion never dies, go for the gold, NEVER GIVE UP, keep on trucking, and remember, stay strange!

    -Drainage Sixty FOE

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