EPT
I’ve wanted to make this post for a long while now. It’s about what I’ve been doing with my good friend and business partner Simon Griesser over the last year and a half. Now that our short film has had its world premier, at the European short film festival in Paris, I’m finally able to show all of you my pride and joy. Its the official web kick off, this is a big moment for me.
I suppose this post is all about my experience producing the film itself, called MuchBetterNow, and how important Teamliquid.net and its community have been to me.
What I had really wanted was a chance to show you guys the results of all the time and effort that have gone into the film. If I could give you a glimpse behind the scenes, I could give you some idea of the dizzying highs and abysmal lows of a project like this. It’s been the biggest enterprise I’ve ever undertaken on my own.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/FMABt.jpg)
MUCH BETTER NOW
This is the title of my shortfilm; it’s all about life, being stuck, taking a chance, and eventually, with a lot of passion and perseverance, succeeding. It pretty much sums up my last five or so years, so I can’t help but feel that the short has a lot of autobiographic elements; there’s a lot of me in it - probably like in every passionate person's work.
But that’s enough talk for now; please take the time to sit back and enjoy the next six minutes.
![[image loading]](http://muchbetternow.salonalpin.net/img/gal/0000.jpg)
WATCH FILM NOW
So that’s the end product, but getting to that point was long and arduous. Even at the worst of times, though, it was still fun and exciting.
Here is what some notorious friends at TL had to say about it:
Liquid`TLO:
I watched ''Much better Now'' a couple of times now over the past months and it always puts me in a good mood. The Graphics are top notch and the story is simple, just doing fine without any dialogue, yet captivating. Oh and the music of course, perfect choice, overall the movie really wants me to make a holiday at a beach... Proud to have someone as talented as lip the pencilboy on board with TL. Definitely watch it, you won't regret it and it's only five minutes.
SirJolt:
It’s hard to know what to say about something as short as MuchBetterNow, but that it is a short, sweet, and reaffirming. The film is suffused with a sense of light and texture that manages to communicate a warmth, and a genuineness, that’s a pleasure to see.
Liquid`Nazgul:
TeamLiquid and the SC2 community are lucky to have you. Besides all the other amazing things you have done, this is the work of your life. I hope you all take the time to watch this and let Lip know what you think.
HawaiianPig:
Without a word, "Much Better Now" speaks volumes. It urges introspection, as you witness a journey of discovery and self-actualization. It gracefully reminds us that to succeed, perseverance and curiosity are crucial. Through it all, it reminds us that the end of a story can bring new opportunities.
Plexa:
It is about people being able to move on and explore new options in life. In the first third of the film, we see the bookmark in a book where it sits for some considerable time and ages. I read this as representing how its easy for people to stay in one place without having to move on in life. Wind blows open the book, making the bookmark come to life and *surf* through the pages of the book. The bookmark clearly enjoys this and represents how people are content with the status quo. However, the wind forces the surfing to eventually come to a close mirroring the fact that periods in your life or experiences in your life do have to come to an end and you can't keep living through them again and again. The conclusion of the film remarks that actually, this isn't the end of the road and there are a lot more stories out there (representing life choices, life experiences and whatnot) for the bookmark to explore and enjoy.
Here is a video of the making of, and behind the scene footage:
WATCH MAKING OF NOW
![[image loading]](http://muchbetternow.salonalpin.net/img/mo/making02.jpg)
How did TL support me on my project?
Over the last year or two, I got into SC2; I came to TeamLiquid and I was lucky enough to get to know impressive personalities who then gave me their trust. People like Disciple, IntoThewow, and even Nazgul himself were there from the start, always ready with a kind word when I showed them my works-in-progress. I let them see them some of what I was working on, and they helped me understand that these were ideas I should see through to completion. Even the TL projects I worked on over the same period, like PonyTales 2-4 and the race logo shirts, gave me the breaths of fresh air I needed to keep chasing the dream.
Of course, playing a little SC2 and watching some high calibre streams on TL has helped me relax and cool down on those days when I’d been focussed on work for too long.
![[image loading]](http://muchbetternow.salonalpin.net/img/mo/making10.jpg)
So, there you have it, this has been a slice of my life. Now that it’s all done, I look back on those days and nights spent in the basement fondly. I really feel as though I could be that bookmark, standing in front of a thousand new opportunities.
Maybe now is the time that you feel the same way. Don’t let it pass you by. There is a whole world out there, go get it; grab it with both hands and don’t let go.
Now we come to the part where I ask you guys for a bit of a favour. Our business, like so many others, relies on exposure. If you enjoyed MuchBetterNow, it would really help my new company, Salon Alpin, a lot if you could take a few seconds and like us on Facebook. Maybe even show it your friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, mother. I’d be endlessly grateful to anyone who does; it helps us out more than you might think.
SALON ALPIN ON FACEBOOK
![[image loading]](http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/403284_273571806046831_205225071_n.jpg)
me and my partner Simon on a tipical working day
Thanks for taking the time to read through this and to watch my film. I hope you’ve enjoyed it,
Sincerely,
Lip
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/SPePa.jpg)
