Hey gang, David Seger here, self-proclaimed Indy Mogul West Coast Correspondent. You may remember me from such Indy Mogul videos as Indy Mogul at the Film Independent Spirit Awards or playing Johnny Knifehands in Backyard FX: Fake Hand. But listen, this isn't about my history or love-affair with this site... it's about the now. For the next few weeks, I'm going to be offering up some ideas for blowing off steam. Filmmaking is hard work, especially without a budget - we owe it to ourselves to indulge in some silliness and distractions. It's how you stay sane.

So pause from your After-Effects rotoscoping, put down that chunk of ballistics gel you're painting to look like skin, or take a breather from your first feature screenplay... And allow me to introduce this week's Cheetos Boredom Buster!

XTRA NORMAL - Movies From Text

Xtra Normal is a free animated movie generator, and it's perfect for putting together something quick and ridiculous. Have you always wanted to make two CG characters talk about what's better, Swamp Thing or Man-Thing? Or you always wanted to create a movie where a cop and a clown agree to fight crime together? With a joyfully simple interface, you choose your characters and their world, and then start typing their dialog. Here's something I made, right now, before continuing with this blog. It only took about twenty minutes.

I call it -- "A Conversation with Erik Beck" --

You and I both know that it can take a long time to make a short film. Sometimes you have to spend months to get everything just right. Give yourself a break, and create something in an instant. They're fun, they're easy, and they'll bust your boredom. A helpful tip: Register before you start working on your movie, because you cannot publish your work until you're registered

Thanks. See ya next week, with another Cheetos Boredom Buster -- an excuse to take a break from the daily doldrums, and indulge in the important art of distraction. You deserve it.