Hello all you faithful bloggers.  Well, I promised myself that I wouldn’t get sucked into the filming of Engine Room and I lost that battle.  So big apologies for not writing sooner, don’t worry though, I’ve been keeping tabs on all the goings-on in our little site here. I’m just coming to from a daze.  I know it’s seemed quiet on the blog, and I appreciate your faithfulness. It’s all still happening just like we said, so we’ve been VERY busy making it all happen.

The past few weeks have gone by in a big blur.  I keep having dreams where I’m showing up late for a class on the last day and I haven’t attended all year…you know that dream.  I think it has something to do with the tension in the ER studio.  You know, you have an idea, and it all looks fantastic on paper and then suddenly real-live human beings show up and all of you have been feeding the energy of the show…it’s overwhelming and such an incredible feeling to know YOU ARE OUT THERE! IT LIVES!

The team is now in heavy post production mode, getting ready to launch the show.  You’ll all be able to see it soon enough, I haven’t even seen a stitch of the show.  I want to wait and see it with all of you.  I know the contestants have been through something that has changed their lives and I can’t wait for you to get to know them better as the season airs.  So, it’ll be interesting to see how it all turns out and how you and the cast feels once ER gets up and running.

Here’s a photo I took of the gorgeous girls of Team Europe in New York: Charlotte and Manon.

More to come…

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Hello My Engine Room Family!

So, I’ve been collecting your links like a greedy monkey and I know I’m slow, but here are the latest ones.

Speaking of things that inspire us.I thought I’d post this little video a good friend of mine (Alejandro Cardenas) and his brother (Daniel Cardenas) did. They’re both artists and this is a short they submitted about the afterlife! I thought I’d share and I knew you guys would appreciate it.

We’ve been busy in the Engine Room. I know you guys are going to flip when it hits the air. The challenges are tough and I think the contestants are feeling the pressure already.

The judges are really impressive and even I’m surprised at who we’re getting in, to look at your work. Again, we are going to be putting your portfolios in front of industry leaders from creative fields.artists, designers, ad execs, art directors, audio experts, etc., to get your work to as many decision makers as possible! In fact, we have a surprise for my next post.a special message just for all of you, our buzzing online community! Stay tuned and connected!

Xoxo
SuPak

p.s. So, this system is pretty rudimentary for now. I know that I didn’t get to all of your links, they will go up, but there’s only so much room! (Tony C, I’m going to have to start a second page for you! HA!) Click and enjoy.

Hi Guys! So, I thought it would be great if we could start cataloging and listing your favorite links that you’ve put up on the comment boards. Whether it’s a link to your own work or something that inspires you or you want to let the community know, I want to start scrolling them on the site! Let’s continue to promote each other and other creative artists! I’ve just gone through the past few posts and searched for links….so I’m sure I’ve missed some, please let me know if I have. I think I got most of them though!

Xoxo
SuPak

Hello my little ER family…First off - added some links on the right rail from our group in case anyone missed in the comments.  I’ll update and that way everyone will get a chance to see.

So just a couple of answers to some questions you guys had.  I’m trying to get through all of them.  I know a lot of you guys have been adding comments to previous posts and those conversations are still active and I’m reading all of them. 

Okay, to the question where can we get to see the show: 

The show airs on television starting September 15th. In the USA it airs on mtvU the MTV college channel which is on over 750 college campuses and on cable in bunch of college towns.  Check your listings to see if you have it.  mtvU are the producers behind Engine Room.  Some other MTV channels around the world will be showing too, mainly in Asia, so check your guides on that. However - EVERYONE will be able to watch episodes right on mtvEngineRoom.com!  

For Tony and those wondering about the portfolios: 

All portfolios (that comply with the guidelines) will go online in the portfolio showroom at mtvEngineRoom.com in September to co-incide with the show.  Aiming to get them up early September to have them all in place before show airs. The gallery will be sortable and browseable and you’ll be able to rate them. You’ll be given access to your profile and space to be able to present as you like. 

Again, I appreciate all the love and respect you guys have given each other on this blog.  It’s impressive, but at the same time, I would expect nothing less.  I feel like we’ve all gotten to know each other and agree that the goal of this project is to create a space where we can promote your work and find a supportive community.  And we are doing just that.

Xoxo-
SuPak 

So, today is the day. I know, I know, it took us a while, but isn’t it better to know that we’ve taken our time and care with each and every one of your submissions?! The Engine Room team reviewed THOUSANDS of portfolio pieces, so the decision making was obviously difficult. But here is the final list.

I can’t wait to meet you all!

TEAM ASIA PACIFIC
Santosh Gunaseelan
Jae Hyuck Lee
Mujia Liao
Jonathan Yuen

TEAM EUROPE
Slimane Aniss
Charlotte Cornaton
Manon Magnet
Matthew Snyman

TEAM LATIN AMERICA
Fred Lammie
Enrico Martin
Rey Ortiz
Luis Salcedo

TEAM NORTH AMERICA
Christopher Miles Astillero
Dillon McCarthy
Allison Torneros
Max Winston

Okay, so if you’ve made the list, BREATHE, RELAX, it’s going to be all good. I only have one piece of advice: ENJOY, cause you’ll never have another experience like this. In the end, the money will come and go…the show will come and go…but your experience and the contacts you make will be the only real, lasting reward.

And if you haven’t made the list, BREATHE, RELAX, it’s going to be all good. I only ask one thing of you, please continue to support your fellow artists. After a few moments of Haterade, (we’re not saints), get back into the warm fold and give these guys your love, support and advice! They will need it.

Soon the mtvEngineRoom.com site will have more info the team members and a snippet of their work. I’ll let you know when that goes up.

But remember, we’re all still in this together. We got the upcoming weekly audience prize of an HP Laptop to go with the high of being featured as a highlighted portfolio. More importantly, we’ve got each other!

So, the battle for glory continues, every notch on the belt is one more notch of achievement and an opportunity you didn’t have before. And as I’ve said, new ideas are in the works as well.

I have no doubt I will be working with a lot of you guys in the future. Be kind to me when you cross my path, I am but a lowly messenger.

Love you all and Good LUCK to the contestants!!!!!!

Xoxo
SuPak

I love that you guys are creating this crazy creative place on our site here. I mean, really, at this point, we here at Engine Room are proud participants of something you have created on your own. I can only imagine what the future holds and if this beautiful group photo is any indication, this is going to be a lot of fun (and hysterical.)

And of course there’s Demetrius’ film, starring us…I like the idea of us all running around in a twist and turn horror flick. Keep adding to the script…can you imagine the first film to be made from a group of digital artists that came together online?!?!

This whole experiment has become a huge, surprising choose your own adventure…it will continue to live on through your efforts and take shape as you want it! This blog, this site, will not go away after Wednesday, we have more plans for you guys and many more ideas for ways to get your creative juices flowing. This blog was just supposed to be a small start but because of your responses, we’re gaining more and more support and momentum to build more avenues to help you shine!!

Your participation here will determine where we go from here. A second season, an online community, tools for your trade, a space to celebrate and support your talents…all of that depends hugely on what you guys want and making yourselves heard. I say this only because I’ve seen “the suits” watching and flipping out over your comments, your level of participation and passion…it’s the power of the people, people!!

So, I’d love to hear from you guys what kind of things you would like to see from this site and how we can help you continue to pursue your passions and your dreams! What tools or forums or opportunities would you like to see available to digital artists?

Second, continue to keep our community alive and robust! Keep inspired and keep us inspired!!!

And finally, and most importantly, remember, this blog is as an important part of the Engine Room as the competition in NY. We will be shouting out our blogging stars, giving out prizes, showing off your work and here, we will build something bigger than any of us can do on our own.

AND FINALLY! Shout out to Rodrigo who posted the correct answer to our cryptic post. (What, can’t we have a little fun around here?!?!) Yes- it will be the Engine Room theme song.

From Rodrigo Bastos Didier (Posted on 7-11):
“The music on the intro video is YYZ by Rush… YYZ is morse code… if you listening the music you will see…
Look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXCZvRNgLnI”

Xoxo
SuPak

P.S. Rodrigo - you were wrong about me being one of the “others.” I’ll have to figure out how to get Krispy Kremes across international waters….hmmmmm…

HOME SWEET HOME!

Alright guys, here’s what we’ve been up to at Engine Room HQ. These are the first shots of the loft space we are busy building for our cast of artists. Does this get your heart racing as fast as it does mine?!! Forget the $$$, I want the loft when it’s all said and done!

Ok, so what do you think of the raw space? Inspiring?

I knew I loved this project when it landed in my lap, but I didn’t know how much it would grow and evolve…and that’s all in RESPONSE to your passion and enthusiasm.

So, keep it up everyone…Adam! Chris! Denesia! Liam! Drucifer! Tony! G! MakingLovingLikePornStar! (I couldn’t wait to write that one.) Shaleea Lucky Star! Tiiiiiiimmmm! All of you wonderful, amazing artists! Let’s make sure the guys in the corner office take notice and create more forums for you to CREATE and be RECOGNIZED!

p.s. Joel, it’s silly of you to play hard to get…really, just give in. ☺

Love you all,

Xoxo
SuPak