Artist of the Month
masterswordman February 5th, 2008
Luis Castanon
February 2008
Q:
As you may have already guessed, this month’s AOTM is a little different than usual. The artist this month is Luis Castanon, who is the person this site is based on and the regular interviewer for this feature. Filling in for Luis as the interviewer is Josh B. Anyway, on to the interview. First question, how and when did you first become a part of the flash scene and what made you stick with it?
A:
I got into animation at about 2000, I originally was intruigued by it because to put it bluntly, I was a piece of shit. Friends were hard to come by, I was really frusterated with my life and animation was sort of a safe haven, in the world of animation I was in control and I called all the shots, so as pathetic as that sounds it was encouraging and I found myself not so depressed about
things because after a shitty day I could go back to my room and make animations where i killed off everyone that pissed me off. Obviously I’m not quite that negative anymore, but I still find alot of power behind the medium. I’m a power hungry kind of guy I suppose.
Q:
Wow, I guess animation really helped you cope. Ok, what would have to be your proudest accomplishment so far flash-wise?
A:
I dont think I really have a proudest ‘accomplishment’, I do have an animation I’m most proud of though, that would be One O’ Clock Jump. Years later I still am impressed when I watch it. It’s one of those collaborative projects that worked flawlessly, I always wonder if I’ll ever be able to create something that seamless again. The chemistry and execution of that piece was just top notch, and it was totally a novell concept in the world of collaborative Flash pieces. When I die I will have a url to that movie on my gravestone. Thats kind of nerdy isnt it.
SERIOUSLY THOUGH its that damn good.
Q:
The concept behind One O’ Clock was neat and the whole thing turned out really smooth. I definitely enjoyed watching it.
Your “specialty” is considered animating along with accompanying music. How did you start this habit of animating and why do you usually prefer it to, say, voice acting?
A:
I like making animations weaved out of music. I find it more challenging, its like a ghetto approach to animation, you’re sort of
working with what’s given to you and making a masterpiece out of it. You could compare me to Mugato’s Derelicte line of clothing from Zoolander. You work with whats given to you and you breathe life into something that originally was never meant to be given life. Also theres the practical matters, I’m one guy, not a studio or corporate giant. I dont have voice actors at my disposal nor the budget to hire any so part of it is just practical reasons. There’s more challenge in telling a story out of rythm and music anyway. Voiced animations seem like an obvious way of getting from point A to B. I prefer to get to point B going the much longer and more scenic route. I think in a perfect world I’d hire my personal Danny Elfman and would just be like go in that room and just CREATE. No parameters, no scripts, no anything, just let artists go wild and then make something out of the bi-product. It’s much more organic and exciting that way.
Q:
Animating along to music certainly has a different feeling to it, and is a great inspiration for many artists.
People still recognize you for your older flash animations, such as Perverto. How do you feel about these ancient relics, and how do you feel it compares to a lot of your work today?
A:
I dont mind them, I dont plug Perverto on my site simply because I’m not like an immature kid anymore. Back when I got started with Newgrounds it was like one of those edgy site’s who embraced and rewarded abrasiveness and so Perverto was deeply influenced by Brian Beaton’s Scrotum the Puppy, Will Stampers Street Life, and Tom Fulps Assasin series. As for how it compares to my work today, well I’d like to think my work now is more sophisticated both in execution and subject matter. I realize now that I dont need gratuitous violence and rape to make people pay attention to my work. Just an occasional cock joke maybe.
Q:
I still think those old films still have a certain charm to them. All the classic gore and rape to them.
One thing you’re known to do is host meetups for different flash artists to get together in places throughout the globe. Why do you organize these meetups and what do you like most about them?
A:
Hmm.. well I dont know if that’s something I really want to be ‘known’ for. I just like to travel, and being able to talk to other Flash nerds and creative types is really motivating. I come home feeling refreshed and ready to hit the front lines. It’s also really cool to converse with artists you respect and have followed for so many years. It’s almost surreal in a way to sit there at the bar and know that you are talking to THE krinkels or THE guy who gave Pico street cred (Mindchamber).
Q:
Traveling and boozing it up with other flash people in real life certainly sounds a lot of fun, minus the hangovers of course.
Anyways, you recently finished up the Munny Project, tell us more about what that whole mess was about.
A:
I’m a deeply collaborative guy and as of late I’ve begun extending that craving beyond the Flash medium. The Munny Competition was a nice little art project that was graciously sponsored by NG and allowed me to send out little blank figurines all across the world and then have artist create something with them and send them back. The whole ordeal can be witnessed here. It blew my own expectations and it was deeply rewarding not only for me but for the NG family.
Q:
A lot of the finished products turned out really great. There’s some really talented artists who joined in.
Another project you’re famous for organizing on a yearly basis is the NG Sketchbook Tour. Whats the big deal about this?
A:
NG Sketchbook Tour is on its third year this year. It’s another one of those global art projects. A bunch of pages of a sketchbook are sent out. People draw on them and mail them back. It’s a simple concept that is very time consuming but also really rewarding when it all comes together. Again another instance of a collaborative project that Newgrounds sponsors and supports. The NG community is a very unique community, they are deeply creative, more so than people give it credit for. They just need someone to take some reigns and gather the troops. I like to think I’m that person.
Q:
I felt this project was another creative idea with plenty of talented artists a part of it. I hope to see this years’ filled with as much creativity.
Recently, some Newgrounds Flash Forum members decided to honor you with creating a Luis Day, where people made Flashes honoring, and insulting, your mexicanness. How’d you react to this celebration? With eternal gratitude or with raging fury?
A:
Luis day was kind of silly. I’m a fairly soft-spoken guy believe it or not, so to have a day where I’m link under a blinding limelight was kind of strange. I really am flattered about it though, even the animations that diss me and take shots at my heritage (I am not mexican btw). It’s just cool that people take time out of their day to make something specifically for me. Even if its negative, I feel truly flattered that I can piss someone off so much that they are willing to burn even 15 mins to have a go at me. It’s a win for me on all fronts in my opinion.
I am flattered to have been an internet fad for a day, would i want that again on a yearly basis? Probably not. It’s just not part of my personality.
Q:
People just want to poke fun at someone like you for a day. Even if its about untrue heritages.
I’m done inflating your internet ego, do you have any real world interests or hobbies you like to partake in?
A:
My real world interest is in travel. I enjoy going somewhere/anywhere atleast once a month. It gives me a chance to recharge my batteries and reevaluate where I am in my life and career.
Also, I’m a single guy and I’m doing okay financially so I want to like squeeze out the rockstar lifestyle out of these last couple years before i finally settle down and sell my convertible, buy a minivan and a ball and chain.
Q:
I can’t picture you as a married man. Mainly because you’re such an independent person.
What upcoming flash projects, meetups, or events will we expect from you in the near future?
A:
Well in term of meet-ups, I’ll probably be in Montreal in March for a meet that isnt hosted by me but by my pal poxpower, then in April I’m getting together with Mindchamber to see if we can get a small NG prescence at the NY comic con. In June i’ll be back in Philadelphia to get together with the NG goons, the month after that I’ll probably pop my head in San Diego for Comic-Con, and in August I’ll probably be back in London. God I love that city. It’s a shame the dollar is worth shit overseas. But fuck it, if the opportunity is there i’ll be right back over there. I think that about wraps it in regards to meetups.
In regards to animations, I have my Pico Day animation that I will be starting up when I get back from the Bahamas next week, then I have a serious movie I want to get done and I’ll have some smaller collaborative projects sprinkled in as well. Most of which I havent put a whole lot of thought into, but basically 2 major movies and alot of little projects this year. I may do something for Madness Day also but we’ll see.
Q:
Hope you have a blast at the meetups. Can’t wait to see what movies you’ll have coming as well.
Time to bring this interview to a close. Any final comments or remarks you’d like to add, such as how terrible an interviewer I am, before we end this?
A:
This was a terrible interview, you are a terrible interviewerrr
and thankfully I’ll be back in control of this feature next month!
CIAO.
