My Storyboard

This had been a very exciting moment in my life. It started in 1994 when I walked in through the doors of the
National Film Board of Canada. I dropped off a few original story ideas in hopes that I could have the opportunity
to get at least one of the published.

I kept calling to see if anyone got to look at my ideas, but no response came. A few weeks later I got a call from
one of the producers. He asked me to come in for a meeting with him in order to talk about the work I dropped off.

He had been impressed with some of the characters and asked that I use them to be a ten minute cartoon based
on a common experience that is happening on a daily bases. The subject of divorce came up, so I used that for
the story plot. Right then and there he told me the Film Board would put up a $2500.00 limit to pay for this project.

In no time I got the story written up. He helped me to edit and chop out what isn't really needed for the story. By
luck, I had a friend that went to school in voice broadcasting. She was able to recruit a talented team of voice
actors for the cast. I even did a cameo as one of the characters.

Through another friend, I met an animator. He seemed very enthusiastic to be apart of this project. With his help,
the storyboard came out great. Later, through advertising, another animator stepped in to do the background
layouts.

My former teacher from high school, and also professional musician offered his talent to create background
music, and theme song for the short animation.

But it seemed every corner we came, challenges had cropped up in front of this project. Timing was one of them.
Anytime the group was ready to do their part, the producer either went on vacation, or is working on other
projects for the Film Board. This went on for years. In the process, I missed a chance with the Oprah Winfrey
show in 1997. It broke my heart when they called me up and asked if I could show them my cartoon, but all I could
say was that I didn't have anything to show them.

Eventually, shortly after we were able to get the voices recorded and edited onto cd with the storyboard and
sound effects included in 1999, financial situations got worse. Both animators had to bail the project. I, myself,
went through that myself. Working seemed to take presidents in order to pay bills, rent, and have food on the
table. Not to mention my husband's health had been taking a turn for the worse. It was that year when I had to
unfortunately hang up the towel on the project.

In no way am I blaming anyone for the failure of this project. In fact I have learned more through it then I would
have in any school. I thank the National Film Board of Canada for giving me a shot of a lifetime. It is just a shame I
could not finish what I had started. If anything, I was the one that failed all of those that worked so hard to try
lifting my dreams into reality. For this project could have benefited them as well.

This ten minute short was to be a pre-pilot to an animated TV series idea that I had.