June 2004

Dear Friends,

This note is devoted to one of my favorite subjects and continuous sources of inspiration--animals, particularly household pets. Animals have always played an important part in the life and art of Exit Studio, even inspiring a vital plot in one of our most ambitious videos.

When I started out Exit Studio back in 1994, my specific mission was to create art with new perspectives and not art just for its own sake. Although most of my new creations were now geared towards children, they also had to be relevant, intelligent (without being stuffy), and just plain fun! I wanted to share my excitement in the new subjects I was finding for my books and activities. While pondering what new projects my company would undertake, it became clear to me that I had to take advantage of daily experiences going on around me and in my life. Six months after launching my second video, Taíno: Guanín's Story, and its companion activity book, I was fired up to start thinking about my next project. It was then I decided to begin preparations for what became one of my favorite and most demanding projects, Heart of the Imaginero: Little Wood Carver. Instinctively, I sensed it was going to be a difficult project and time proved me right! Imaginero was an arduous undertaking that took four years to complete.

During the pre-production process, when I was hard at work in my studio trying to shape up the story line and concept, one of my cats kept pestering me for attention and distracting me with his arbitrary and anarchic behavior. Anyone who has a cat knows exactly what I'm talking about. Not that it ever bothered me. On the contrary, I always thought of Raymond as my son who just happened to have a tail! Unfortunately his incessant requests for attention at that particular time were, to say the least, inconvenient. Carmen, my other beautiful calico girl, was on the other hand more demure and better behaved. She knew better when and how to make her presence known, even though I have to admit that as sweet as she was, she had a vindictive streak that she very skillfully played to her advantage.

It did not take long for me to succumb to their relentless demands, but I was simultaneously struck with a moment of transcendental inspiration! Cats with such nerve, self assurance, and chutzpah deserved to be acknowledged and leave their marks (other than on the furniture!). Raymond, in particular, was a cat that was not afraid to go after what he wanted and demand what he considered was his God given right. Sure enough, it was clear to me that he had to be written into the story.

Raymond and Carmen are no longer with me but at least now they are an even a bigger part of me, and are linked to the deeply personal story of Heart of the Imaginero. Raymond and Carmen will always be present in my life, in my art, and my heart. Today, there are two new fire crackers that keep me on my toes, which you will get to know better in the future. This and many other simple, everyday experiences keep me grounded and focused on what Exit Studio's mission is--recreating beautiful aspects of life, breathing them anew as art, not only for me but for everyone that stumbles onto our site!

Until next month,

Edwin