September :: 2006

Welcome to my new format Alan, lets hold hands and jump right into the interview... For those unfamiliar with you I'll give 'em the 10 cent rundown and you can jump in if I'm blatantly wrong about something. You're Alan Saunders, you are Chicago-based, you've been in the scene for a number of years... you are probably most known for the B+W Drama Theater series but you've always been someone that also dabbles in all kinds of media. So what are you up to these days?

Upside down chin people. When you were a kid, did you ever stand in front of a mirror and draw a face on your chin and talk? It's more amusing than it sounds.

I did actually. But what made you come up with that, just boredom or was there some sort of traumatic event or point of enlightenment?

My mom showed it to me.
While we were in some log cabin up in Wisconsin.


You write music, paint/draw, write stories, make home movies, and all sorts of other shit.. which do you enjoy doing the most?

Well, music is the most fun WHILE you're doing it, but nothing beats the satisfaction of watching a cartoon you just finished.

Tis true. So I am required by law to ask one cliche question per interview:
Are there artists or art scenes that you like to keep tabs on?

David Shrigley, pbf comics, the lonely island, and Waverly films. Oh and Kris Moyes, this great Australian music video director.

Another cliche question while im on a roll...
What's your favorite piece you've done, and why?


I like my cartoon Glenn said.
I think it has to do with how it got made and some other external romantic circumstances. See, I made the song that was in it for one of my fans who was sad. So I was sitting there listening to it over and over and the image of a giraffe falling out of a plane kept popping up in my head, so, I sat down and tried to recreate it in Flash as best as I could.

Yeah that's probably my favorite movie of yours.. I find it interesting how you were able to make something so clean and polished, when you have a calling card for that hand crafted look like your site design. I found it refreshing.
So is there anything you're really horrible at? Cooking, water polo, tennis...etc. What's an interview without dirty laundry?

I am really really really really bad at job interviews. The last one I went to was at a creative staffing agency... and the woman who interviewed was exceedingly attractive. So, I was already nervous, but that just made it worse. I was having a hard time maintaining eye contact (with her being so attractive and all) so I would look away, only I kept accidentally looking at her chest.


Then my eyes would dart away. This happened like 7 or 8 times in a row.
I'm pretty sure she noticed, and I have not been contacted about any possible freelance job opportunities. :(

That sucks, well thank you for the chat and if people would like to learn more about you or your work they can check out Alanthebox.com

Did you like this interview? Write to me and tell me!