Yippee, Skippy, Hurray and Hallelujah! I've finally finished my "Hair High" film - I just returned from the final sound session and as I speak, the editor is transferring picture and sound to DigiBeta.

Now, it's off to Bologna, Italy for the Future Film Festival, and then to the grand World Premiere of "Hair High" at Slamdance. I hope you all can make it, the screening is on January 21 at 11 pm at the Treasure Mountain Inn in Park City, and you're all invited.

But what have I been doing up until now, you ask? That's a great question and I'll reveal the answer to you now.

Thanksgiving I spent with my co-producer, Martha Plimpton, I had a wonderful time playing in the Thanksgiving snow. Also, I was able to visit my family in Oregon - got into the Christmas spirit. While out there, I began talking to people about setting up a big Oregon premiere at my high-school reunion this August - with big hair, 1950's cars and the works.

The other big event this month was watching all the Oscar-eligible films so I can vote. I sent in my ballot and my top three films are "Finding Nemo", "Kill Bill" and "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King".

Then, last week I saw the short list for animated shorts - among my favorites are "Nibble" by Chris Hinton, "Destino" by Dali and Disney, and "Gone Nutty" from Blue Sky Studios.

Two other projects I've been working on while "Hair High" was in post-production - "Guard Dog", a five-minute short about a paranoid dog, done in my traditional colored pencil style, but scanned into the computer - my first computerized film, and I think it's one of my funniest. (see sketch) And then, another short I'm working on is called "The Fan and the Flower", written by "Frasier" writer Dan O'Shannon.

I'm hoping "Guard Dog" should be finished by February, for the Annecy deadline, while "The Fan and the Flower" is a lot more intense, and won't be finished until April or May. (see sketch)

After a wonderful screening of "Triplets of Belleville", a few of us went to the opening of an exhibition of Playboy art. Lots of bunnies - yes, they're still around - and I got to pose with Victoria, the only artist authorized to paint Playboy imagery (see photo).

I forgot to mention that during my trip to the Chicago Animation Festival, I met a wonderfully talented animator named Carole-Shelley Abrams. She showed her crazy, funny film "Oola Oop Diner" - watch for her, she has a big future ahead of her.

This week's cartoon is an early cartoon about trying to find peace at a rock concert. Obviously, I attended many concerts and was inspired by the contrast of inner peace and the violent noise of rock. You can see the sketchy style starting to transition from Blechman look into the look I have today.

Bill