TGC2014 KEY MESSAGE OF THE DAY: Part 2!

Here is our second key message: "Instability vs. Stability". This is an important Habitat for Humanity message because they take unstable families and put them in situations that increase stability for the family members, especially the children. This poster was drawn by Niki Cleland-Hura, and uses crumbling dirt to represent instability and steel to represent stability.

If you haven't seen yesterday's key message, take a look at it by clicking here. Check back tomorrow for another one!

Day 3: Finding the Metaphor and Beginning Concept Artwork

Yesterday was a time of discovery; we drilled down on the messaging of the film and worked through different metaphors and ideas using sketches, doodles, and freeform painting!! By lunchtime, we found the visual metaphor we were looking for to strongly convey our message and began concept artwork. It's very exciting to have the general shape of the story idea!

Artists DJ Cleland-Hura, Tara Williamson, Skyler Punnett, Laura Bifano, and Clive Powsey have been working away, so we'll show you some of their illustrations and paintings soon!

Tara Williamson uses Photoshop to create concept artwork

Ian Blum uses a Cintiq and laptop to begin animation style exploration

A page of concept art on Skyler Punnett's Cintiq

A bulletin board is covered in key messages and ideas for the project

The palette and brushes of watercolor artist Clive Powsey rest on his desk

Remember to check our Facebook and Google+ pages for concept art albums, and look back here for more of our day-to-day updates. 

Also, thank you very much to the Royal Coachman Pub for sponsoring our meal (again!!). Dinner was fantastic!

TGC2014 KEY MESSAGE OF THE DAY!

Jr artist Niki Cleland-Hura has taken on the role of drawing up Team Generous + Habitat for Humanity's key message to keep the Team motivated and focused. We will post one each day, in order of importance to show you just what we're thinking as this project moves forward!

"Change SURVIVE to THRIVE":

After all the key messages have been posted, we'll compile the whole thing into an album both on Facebook and on Google+, so stay tuned for that!

Day 2: Brainstorming, Discussing, Being Creative

Yesterday was our first day in the office, which is situated in the Campbell River Enterprise Centre (we are very grateful to Rivercorp for providing the space!). We brainstormed our goals, objectives, expectations and challenges associated with the project, as well as our impressions so far from our contact with Habitat and the partner families.  Then we moved into developing metaphors as we come up with ideas for the style, the story, and the message of our short.

Sticky note walls in the background during a collaborative time in the studio

Sticky notes describing the Team's impressions of Habitat for Humanity cover one of the studio walls

Another wall is covered in goals and outcomes for the short film

Metaphors related to the project are represented on sticky notes and in artwork from our Aug 19th House Jam for Habitat

Sticky notes covered in Sharpie drawings and artwork litter the studio's communal round table

Everyone looks to Team member Diego Maclean as he expresses a thought

The entire day was extremely interesting and productive -- it's hard to put twelve creative people in a room and not generate a ton of ideas! The brainstorming continued after we left the studio, too: the Team further explored concepts during dinner and on the ferry. We aim to continue that flow of creativity throughout the next two weeks, so remember to click back here daily to see how it's going!

Day 1: Habitat for Humanity Build!

Sunday, September 14th, was Team Generous' build day on the Habitat for Humanity build site on Hilchey Road in Campbell River, BC. We volunteered as construction workers, met the Habitat partner families and future homeowners, learned from expert builders, and got constructive! Scroll through to see our progress throughout the day!

Volunteers, builders and team members discuss the day's plan

We donned boots...

...hard hats...

...and Team Generous t-shirts to build!

Thank you to the Royal Coachman Pub for sponsoring our lunch!!

This is the structure we met upon entering the building site

Team members Clive Powsey and Laura Bifano discussing at the front of the building

Hauling gravel and dirt to bury pipes is a big job!

The first wall is nearly ready to raise...

Everyone pitches in to raise the first wall!! Oyé!

Team member Clive Powsey checks the angle of the wall

Team member DJ Cleland-Hura chats with Sarah Clark while the second wall is being built

The second wall is raised, but not complete; a large section is missing!

The second wall's frame is whole and the third wall is in progress

The homeowners of the duplex-in-progress work together and build a relationship

On the other side of the structure, hammer-wielding team members construct the third wall's frame

Everyone cheers as the third wall goes up!

Wrapped up and weather-proofed, the third wall sports window and back door frames

What a productive day! Shade falls on the build site as Team Generous finishes up their work

After hours of hard construction work, everyone stops in the shade for drinks and snacks

What a great, positive experience for everyone!! Team building and house building -- a win-win for all. If you want to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, click here.

While everyone else worked on the house, team member Skyler Punnett had a special assignment. Check back later to see what it is and how it turned out!!

Day 0: Arrival!!

After a flurry of setup days, in which team leader Jericca Cleland converted a pile of boxes and an empty room into an animation studio, the Team has all arrived!!

Everyone met Saturday evening on spectacular Quadra Island, where we are camping in trailers for the full two weeks.  Dinner was a fantastic traditional First Nations BBQ hosted by the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre.

About the Centre: “The dramatic backdrop of the Discovery Passage frames the Village of Cape Mudge, home to Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre. This unique facility, the first of its kind in Canada, was designed specifically to house the Sacred Potlatch Collection returned from the Federal Government after more than twenty years of negotiations.”

[The Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre]

We were honored to enjoy some traditional First Nations singing and drumming and enjoyed the delicious food inside the Cultural Centre, which houses and incredible museum full of art and artifacts.  Many thanks to our generous hosts and to Jodi Simkin for organizing the Welcome Dinner!  We feel at home already!!  

 [We Wai Kai Campsite; photo courtesy of Joan Miller]

After a campfire on the beach with some brave souls swimming in the dark to experience the phosphorescent algae, we turned in to be ready to join in helping to build the Habitat home on Hilchey Road in Campbell River, BC!! We are so excited to donate ourselves to this cause and better understand who we are helping. Go Team Generous!

Welcome to the Team Generous Blog!

Welcome to the Team Generous Blog!!

Kicking it off with Team Generous Canada 2014
September 14-28th, Campbell River, British Columbia - Canada

in support of

We are heading into the final flurry of planning for TGC2014, which gets started on Saturday Sept 13th when the Team gathers on Quadra Island, BC, at the warm and wonderful We Wai Kai Campground--home for the next 2 weeks!

Check back regularly for updates on the event, which starts officially on Sunday, Sept 14th with the Team Generous volunteer build day on the Habitat for Humanity house site in Campbell River. 

Production on our short animated film for Habitat for Humanity Canada begins Sept 15th and wraps Sept 27th.  Keep an eye on how it's all going through this blog, Facebook, and Twitter @GoTeamGenerous!

The project is being led by Jericca Cleland (director/editor) and hosted by preproduction studio Twenty One Inc.  The Team Generous Canada 2014 team members are:

• Ian Blum: character animator - http://ianblum.com/ 

• Laura Bifano: storyboard artist/illustrator - http://www.laurabifano.com/

• Sitji Chou: animator/motion graphics artist - http://sitji.tumblr.com/

• Sarah Clark: motion graphics designer/animator - http://futureperfect.tv/

• DJ Cleland-Hura: painter/designer - https://www.facebook.com/djclelandhurafineart

• Diego Maclean: animator/motion graphics artist - http://www.diegomaclean.com

• Clive Powsey: painter/background artist - http://clivepowseywatercolour.weebly.com/

• Skyler Punnett: designer/illustrator - http://skylerlukepunnett.com/
  
• Tara Williamson: illustrator - www.taraywilliamson.com

Frederik Villumsen, CEO of Danish animation studio Nørlum, will be attending the event as well, hailing from Copenhagen, Denmark.  Niki Cleland-Hura will be handling our social media, pitching in, and taking care of the team!