This little film was made as proof of concept for its big brother, Burp’s Christmas. When talking with potential investors, it’s very helpful to have a little example like this one to point to and say “see – this here is what we’re going for. Invest in us, and we’ll make something even more beautiful”.

I think, however, that The Darkest Evening… stands on its own two feet, even though its characters and themes are borrowed from another project.

With this and Burp’s Christmas, I wanted to touch on a lot of the aspects of the season not represented in most animated yuletide adventures. Stillness, silence, worry, anticipation, hope, mystery, doubt… a real need for a savior to be born into our lives, then and now. I’ve always equated the poem “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost with Christmas Eve, ever since a pastor at my childhood church applied it to his Christmas Eve sermon. Miles to go before I sleep – these beautiful words speak deftly to the state of how many of us feel right now.



Going to finish up May by working on three design projects – two tattoo designs for friends and my very own Saves the Date card for my wedding in the fall.

Tomorrow I’m going to be dressed as a giant pizza slice for the Kinetic Sculpture Derby.

Might start a tumbler sketch blog soon, ala mad master Dan Pinto.

That’s it for now,
peace,
MPH

Read the first eight pages of the Burp’s Christmas screenplay, in .pdf format.

Man, I’m really considering calling this thing The Holy & The Ivy instead.

Note: This screenplay is not locked, yet, and will most undergo further drafts and revisions before production.

As with most new websites… this one still needs some TLC. A lot of content isn’t up yet. Most of the illustration pages aren’t finished/are awaiting more photos. Some of the links might be a bit screwy.

I’ll have all these problems resolved (as well as much more artwork) by mid April.

Until then, look around, and if you like what you see, be sure to come back later!

peace,
MPH

OFFICIAL WEBSITE • OFFICIAL BLOG

Burp’s Christmas will be my second animated feature film. Currently, we’re attempting to raise the ambitious (but, compared to studio animated features, pretty small) budget of $200,000 so we can make what will be the best Christmas cartoon ever made. If you are a generous, passionate person who is tired of the onslaught of sequels, prequels, remakes, adaptations, and otherwise poorly-plotted, souless, ball-less, corporate crap films, I encourage you to put your money where your heart is and donate to our production. We’re re-imagining the entire film making process and brainstorming ways to create & relate with media that are enriching and beneficial – not driven out of a need to make unethical sums of money by affirming the lowest common denominators of our human conditions. Burp’s Christmas is the next step in this lifelong process. Please help!

In the meantime, I’ve been creating pre-viz artwork and updating my progress at Odds Bodkins’ Magical Five & Dime, the film’s official blog. Check in from time to time and watch us grow this film from a tiny seedling to a fruit bearing tree.